Public Health Commons^™

Public Support For Tobacco Control Policies Among Mississippi Adults, Emily Mcclelland, Tiffany Johnson, Robert Mcmillen

Journal of Public Health in the Deep South

Background: Smoking kills 5,000 Mississippi adults per year and more than a third of cancer deaths are attributable to smoking. The annual healthcare costs to Mississippi due to smoking are $1.43 billion.

Purpose: Assess public support for policies that reduce tobacco use.

Methods: Telephone surveys were administered to a representative sample of 900 Mississippi adults in 2023. Participants were asked about their support or opposition to implementing a statewide smokefree law, restricting where people can vape, increasing the state cigarette tax, taxing e-cigarettes, and restricting e-cigarette advertising.

Results: The majority of respondents support each of these five policies, with an …

Teachers’ Perceptions Of An Integrated Nutrition Education Curriculum And The Impact On Preschoolers' Food Liking, Alicia Stapp, Laurel Lambert, Georgianna Mann, Kaitlyn Sills, Kenya Wolff

Journal of Public Health in the Deep South

Background: Nutrition education during early childhood that includes experiential learning, modeling, and family engagement can support lifelong healthy eating habits.

Purpose: The present study examined the impact of a nutrition-integrated, 32-week supplemental curriculum entitled Growing Healthy Minds, Bodies, and Communities on children’s exposure to fruits and vegetables, ability to identify fruits and vegetables, liking of fruit and vegetables, and teachers’ perceptions of the curriculum.

Methods: A pre- and post- fruit and vegetable pictorial Likert survey was administered to 261 Pre-K4 children. To investigate teachers’ perceptions of the curriculum, a post-intervention focus group was conducted with 19 teachers.

Results: Significant differences …

The Prevalence Rate Of Syphilis And Hiv Across Different Genders, Races, And Ages From 2017 To 2021 In The Southern Region Of The United States, Nafiseh Gavari, Rita Momah, Jessica Green Collins, Elizabeth Jones

Journal of Public Health in the Deep South

This study investigates the prevalence rates of Syphilis and HIV across different genders, races, and ages from 2017 to 2021 in regions 4 (Kentucky, North Carolina, Mississippi, Tennessee, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, and Alabama) and 6 (New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas, Arkansas, and Louisiana). These regions have been identified as high-risk areas for sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). Our study seeks to shed light on the trends and disparities in STD prevalence within these specific regions over the specified timeframe. Data were collected and analyzed from the AtlasPlus database, providing insights into the epidemiology of these diseases. The findings reveal increasing trends …

Social Determinants Of Alzheimer’S Disease And Dementia: The Mississippi Landscape, Kenneth R. Butler Jr., Denise Lafferty, Stacee B. Naylor, Kimberly C. Tarver Md

Journal of Public Health in the Deep South

Social determinants of health (SDOH) are those conditions in the environment where people are born, live, learn, work, play, worship, and age that affect a wide range of health, physical and cognitive functions, and quality-of-life outcomes and risks. Numerous social factors are significant contributors to the development and progression of various diseases. Recently, much attention has focused on assessing the impact of social factors on Alzheimer's disease and related dementias (ADRD). The objective of this commentary is to describe and assess the SDOH that have been associated with increased risk of ADRD in the context of the social environment in …

The Jackson Water Crisis Across The Lifespan: Living And Dying For Clean Water, Ashley W. Jones, Antonio J. Gardner

Journal of Public Health in the Deep South

At the height of the COVID-19 pandemic and in the midst of freezing temperatures from a snowstorm, the city of Jackson, MS faced the potential demise of its drinking water infrastructure. Triggered by the freezing of water pipes in the city and a subsequent fire at a local water treatment facility, the lack of clean, accessible water made daily tasks more difficult for the city’s older adult population who had limited mobility, income, and ability to relocate. This commentary examines the effects of ongoing water infrastructure issues in Jackson, MS and its effect on aging in place. Considerations for a …

Seeding Belonging: Project Dig Short Report, Jeff Gutierrez, Connie Lewis, University Of Montana Rural Institute

Health and Wellness

This short report provides a snapshot of Project DIG, a therapeutic horticulture (TH) pilot project of the Rural Institute for Inclusive Communities. It contains information about and recommendations for TH as an increased practice for supporting and promoting the quality of life and well-being of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Correcting Misperceptions About Very Low Nicotine Cigarettes For Cigarette-Only Smokers, Dual/Poly Smokers, Other Tobacco Users, And Non-Tobacco Users, Rui Shi, Robert Feldman, Jiaying Liu, Pamela I. Clark

College of Communication & Creative Arts Departmental Research

Background

Methods

Increased Risks Of Maternal Mental Health Conditions Following Covid-19 Pandemic, Anita Zhou, Allison Zetterman, Megan Ott, Colman Freel, Kayla Adams, Charmayne R. Adams

Office of Health Promotion Scholarship

Background: Women are at an increased risk of developing psychiatric conditions such as anxiety and depression during pregnancy. Psychiatric conditions during pregnancy can put mothers and fetuses at risk of worse physical and mental health before, during, and after the completion of a pregnancy. Previous research indicates that women pregnant during COVID-19 were at a greater risk of developing mental health conditions and being exposed to stressors. While most of the research in the field focuses solely on maternal mental health or interactions between stressors and maternal mental health, little research has been done comparing maternal mental health, demographic variables, …

The Psychological Impacts Of Algorithmic And Ai-Driven Social Media On Teenagers: A Call To Action, Sunil Arora, Sahil Arora, John Hastings

Research & Publications

This study investigates the meta-issues surrounding social media, which, while theoretically designed to enhance social interactions and improve our social lives by facilitating the sharing of personal experiences and life events, often results in adverse psychological impacts. Our investigation reveals a paradoxical outcome: rather than fostering closer relationships and improving social lives, the algorithms and structures that underlie social media platforms inadvertently contribute to a profound psychological impact on individuals, influencing them in unforeseen ways. This phenomenon is particularly pronounced among teenagers, who are disproportionately affected by curated online personas, peer pressure to present a perfect digital image, and the …

Advances In Biomedical Research And Treatments: What Is Acceptable?, Michael L. Clancy, Khalid M. Iskandarani, Mitchell C. Mccrea

Journal of Health Ethics

This study investigated the technology acceptance (TA) of twenty-first century biomedical treatments by adults in the United States. A new TA instrument was created, using five distinct levels: (1) Healing and Prevention, (2) Replacement Organs, (3) Enhancements-Medical, (4) Enhancements-Discretionary, and (5) Transhumans. An on-line survey produced 353 usable responses, which showed distinct patterns for each of five biomedical treatment levels. There was clear support for Levels 1–3, but very strong opposition to Levels 4–5. The TA finding draws the line between which human interventions are acceptable versus others that should be prohibited through public policies and medical guidelines.

All Kinds Of People, One Caring Place (Spanish), Your Very Favorite, Children's Health

Spanish

two-pages, Spanish

Blood, Heart, And Circulation, Your Very Favorite, Children's Health

English

single-page

Brain And Nerves, Your Very Favorite, Children's Health

English

single-page

Digestive System, Your Very Favorite, Children's Health

English

single-page

Ear, Nose, And Throat, Your Very Favorite, Children's Health

English

single-page

Endocrine System, Your Very Favorite, Children's Health

English

single-page

Eyes And Vision, Your Very Favorite, Children's Health

English

single-page

Hair, Skin, And Nails, Your Very Favorite, Children's Health

English

single-page

Immune System, Your Very Favorite, Children's Health

English

single-page

Kidneys, And Urinary System, Your Very Favorite, Children's Health

English

single-page

Lungs And Breathing, Your Very Favorite, Children's Health

English

single-page

Mouth And Teeth, Your Very Favorite, Children's Health

English

single-page

Muscular System, Your Very Favorite, Children's Health

English

single-page

Reproductive System, Your Very Favorite, Children's Health

English

single-page

Skeletal System, Your Very Favorite, Children's Health

English

single-page

Building Blocks Of Our Body, Your Very Favorite, Children's Health

English

two-pages

Building Blocks Of Our Body, Your Very Favorite, Children's Health

English

11x17 page

Exercise, Your Very Favorite, Children's Health

English

11x17 page

Germs And Microbes, Your Very Favorite, Children's Health

English

single-page

Medicines Timeline, Your Very Favorite, Children's Health

English

11x17 page