Public Health Commons^™

Design For A Cluster Randomized Controlled Trial To Evaluate The Effects Of The Catch Healthy Smiles School-Based Oral Health Promotion Intervention Among Elementary School Children, Ru-Jye Chuang, Courtney Byrd-Williams, Jose-Miguel Yamal, Kila Johnson, Steven Kelder, Suchitra Nelson, Dania Mofleh, Shreela V Sharma

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

BACKGROUND: The top two oral diseases (tooth decay and gum disease) are preventable, yet dental caries is the most common childhood disease with 68% of children entering kindergarten having tooth decay. CATCH Healthy Smiles is a coordinated school health program to prevent cavities for students in kindergarten, 1st, and 2nd grade, and is based on the framework of Coordinated Approach to Child Health (CATCH), an evidence-based coordinated school health program. CATCH has undergone several cluster-randomized controlled trials (CRCT) demonstrating sustainable long-term effectiveness in incorporating the factors surrounding children, in improving eating and physical activity behaviors, and reductions in obesity prevalence …

A Qualitative Investigation Of The Barriers And Facilitators To Hepatitis C Virus (Hcv) Screening Among Individuals Experiencing Homelessness In Houston, Texas, Alane Celeste-Villalvir, J Michael Wilkerson, Christine Markham, Lourdes Rodriguez, Vanessa Schick

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

BACKGROUND: Individuals experiencing homelessness may be at a higher risk for hepatitis C infection because many are vulnerable to risk factors related to HCV. Screening is the very first step in the HCV care continuum, but it remains unclear how to improve HCV screening among this hard-to-reach population. Thus, the present study investigated the barriers and facilitators to HCV screening from the perspective of individuals experiencing homelessness within a non-residential social service setting.

METHODS: Individuals experiencing homelessness (aged 18+) were approached while they were seeking services at two community-based organizations in Houston, Texas, during August 2020. Participants (

RESULTS: Participants …

Associations Of The Covid-19 Pandemic With Older Individuals' Healthcare Utilization And Self-Reported Health Status: A Longitudinal Analysis From Singapore, Sangnam Ahn, Seonghoon Kim, Kanghyock Koh

Research Collection School Of Economics

Background: The COVID–19 pandemic has challenged the capacity of healthcare systems around the world and can potentially compromise healthcare utilization and health outcomes among non-COVID–19 patients. Objectives: To examine the associations of the COVID-19 pandemic with healthcare utilization, out-of-pocket medical costs, and perceived health among middle-aged and older individuals in Singapore. Method: Utilizing data collected from a monthly panel survey, a difference-in-differences approach was used to characterize monthly changes of healthcare use and spending and estimate the probability of being diagnosed with a chronic condition and self-reported health status before and during the COVID-19 outbreak in 2020. Subjects: Data were …

When Intelligence Hurts And Ignorance Is Bliss: Global Pandemic As An Evolutionarily Novel Threat To Happiness, Satoshi Kanazawa, Norman P. Li, Jose C. Yong

Research Collection School of Social Sciences

Introduction: The savanna theory of happiness posits that it is not only the current consequences of a given situation that affect happiness but also its ancestral consequences, and that the effect of ancestral consequences on happiness is stronger among less intelligent individuals. But what about situations that did not exist in the ancestral environment and thus have no ancestral consequences? Global pandemic is one such situation that has no ancestral analog, and the theory predicts such evolutionarily novel threats to have a negative effect disproportionately on the life satisfaction of more intelligent individuals.Methods: We analyzed prospectively longitudinal data from population …

Species Data And Vector Modeling: Evaluating Datasets For Improved Models Of Ixodes Ricinus Tick Distribution In Europe Under A Changing Climate, Steven Jones

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

To increase capacity for monitoring and surveillance of tick-borne diseases, publicly available tick distribution and climate change datasets are required to create accurate predictive distribution models. It is difficult, however, to assess model accuracy and utility when using incomplete datasets.  The more recent development of comprehensive tick databases for Europe and availability of climate change scenarios from multiple IPCC Assessment Reports allows for improved modeling efforts. Multiple tick datasets were combined and three climate change projections were compared by predicting current and future distributions of Ixodes ricinus ticks in Europe using the MaxEnt species distribution model. Overall, much of Europe …

Food Safety Attitudes, Behaviors, And Hygiene Measures Among Predominantly Low-Income Parents In Houston, Texas, Christina K Carstens, Joelle K Salazar, Shreela V Sharma, Wenyaw Chan, Charles Darkoh

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

ABSTRACT: Foodborne infections in the United States affect racial-ethnic minority and low-income populations at higher rates than the general population. to identify the prevalence of food safety behaviors and demographic characteristics associated with food handling practices among a susceptible, high-risk population, a cross-sectional survey was administered to 106 parents with children enrolled at two elementary schools serving predominantly low-income families in Houston, Texas. Relationships between demographic characteristics and food safety behavioral outcomes were examined using cross-tabulations and Fisher's exact test. Most respondents were female (93.4%), Hispanic, Latino, or Mexican American (94.9%), and had no previous food handling employment experience (75.0%). …

Genetic Diversity Fuels Gene Discovery For Tobacco And Alcohol Use, Gretchen R B Saunders, Xingyan Wang, Fang Chen, Seon-Kyeong Jang, Mengzhen Liu, Chen Wang, Shuang Gao, Yu Jiang, Chachrit Khunsriraksakul, Jacqueline M Otto, Clifton Addison, Masato Akiyama, Christine M Albert, Fazil Aliev, Alvaro Alonso, Donna K Arnett, Allison E Ashley-Koch, Aneel A Ashrani, Kathleen C Barnes, R Graham Barr, Traci M Bartz, Diane M Becker, Lawrence F Bielak, Emelia J Benjamin, Joshua C Bis, Gyda Bjornsdottir, John Blangero, Eugene R Bleecker, Jason D Boardman, Eric Boerwinkle, Dorret I Boomsma, Meher Preethi Boorgula, Donald W Bowden, Jennifer A Brody, Brian E Cade, Daniel I Chasman, Sameer Chavan, Yii-Der Ida Chen, Zhengming Chen, Iona Cheng, Michael H Cho, Hélène Choquet, John W Cole, Marilyn C Cornelis, Francesco Cucca, Joanne E Curran, Mariza De Andrade, Danielle M Dick, Anna R Docherty, Ravindranath Duggirala, Charles B Eaton, Marissa A Ehringer, Tõnu Esko, Jessica D Faul, Lilian Fernandes Silva, Edoardo Fiorillo, Myriam Fornage, Barry I Freedman, Maiken E Gabrielsen, Melanie E Garrett, Sina A Gharib, Christian Gieger, Nathan Gillespie, David C Glahn, Scott D Gordon, Charles C Gu, Dongfeng Gu, Daniel F Gudbjartsson, Xiuqing Guo, Jeffrey Haessler, Michael E Hall, Toomas Haller, Kathleen Mullan Harris, Jiang He, Pamela Herd, John K Hewitt, Ian Hickie, Bertha Hidalgo, John E Hokanson, Christian Hopfer, Joukejan Hottenga, Lifang Hou, Hongyan Huang, Yi-Jen Hung, David J Hunter, Kristian Hveem, Shih-Jen Hwang, Chii-Min Hwu, William Iacono, Marguerite R Irvin, Yon Ho Jee, Eric O Johnson, Yoonjung Y Joo, Eric Jorgenson, Anne E Justice, Yoichiro Kamatani, Robert C Kaplan, Jaakko Kaprio, Sharon L R Kardia, Matthew C Keller, Tanika N Kelly, Charles Kooperberg, Tellervo Korhonen, Peter Kraft, Kenneth Krauter, Johanna Kuusisto, Markku Laakso, Jessica Lasky-Su, Wen-Jane Lee, James J Lee, Daniel Levy, Liming Li, Kevin Li, Yuqing Li, Kuang Lin, Penelope A Lind, Chunyu Liu, Donald M Lloyd-Jones, Sharon M Lutz, Jiantao Ma, Reedik Mägi, Ani Manichaikul, Nicholas G Martin, Ravi Mathur, Nana Matoba, Patrick F Mcardle, Matt Mcgue, Matthew B Mcqueen, Sarah E Medland, Andres Metspalu, Deborah A Meyers, Iona Y Millwood, Braxton D Mitchell, Karen L Mohlke, Matthew Moll, May E Montasser, Alanna C Morrison, Antonella Mulas, Jonas B Nielsen, Kari E North, Elizabeth C Oelsner, Yukinori Okada, Valeria Orrù, Nicholette D Palmer, Teemu Palviainen, Anita Pandit, S Lani Park, Ulrike Peters, Annette Peters, Patricia A Peyser, Tinca J C Polderman, Nicholas Rafaels, Susan Redline, Robert M Reed, Alex P Reiner, John P Rice, Stephen S Rich, Nicole E Richmond, Carol Roan, Jerome I Rotter, Michael N Rueschman, Valgerdur Runarsdottir, Nancy L Saccone, David A Schwartz, Aladdin H Shadyab, Jingchunzi Shi, Suyash S Shringarpure, Kamil Sicinski, Anne Heidi Skogholt, Jennifer A Smith, Nicholas L Smith, Nona Sotoodehnia, Michael C Stallings, Hreinn Stefansson, Kari Stefansson, Jerry A Stitzel, Xiao Sun, Moin Syed, Ruth Tal-Singer, Amy E Taylor, Kent D Taylor, Marilyn J Telen, Khanh K Thai, Hemant Tiwari, Constance Turman, Thorarinn Tyrfingsson, Tamara L Wall, Robin G Walters, David R Weir, Scott T Weiss, Wendy B White, John B Whitfield, Kerri L Wiggins, Gonneke Willemsen, Cristen J Willer, Bendik S Winsvold, Huichun Xu, Lisa R Yanek, Jie Yin, Kristin L Young, Kendra A Young, Bing Yu, Wei Zhao, Wei Zhou, Sebastian Zöllner, Luisa Zuccolo, 23andme Research Team, Biobank Japan Project, Chiara Batini, Andrew W Bergen, Laura J Bierut, Sean P David, Sarah A Gagliano Taliun, Dana B Hancock, Bibo Jiang, Marcus R Munafò, Thorgeir E Thorgeirsson, Dajiang J Liu, Scott Vrieze

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Tobacco and alcohol use are heritable behaviours associated with 15% and 5.3% of worldwide deaths, respectively, due largely to broad increased risk for disease and injury1-4. These substances are used across the globe, yet genome-wide association studies have focused largely on individuals of European ancestries5. Here we leveraged global genetic diversity across 3.4 million individuals from four major clines of global ancestry (approximately 21% non-European) to power the discovery and fine-mapping of genomic loci associated with tobacco and alcohol use, to inform function of these loci via ancestry-aware transcriptome-wide association studies, and to evaluate the genetic architecture and predictive power …

Leveraging Pleiotropy To Discover And Interpret Gwas Results For Sleep-Associated Traits, Sung Chun, Sebastian Akle, Athanasios Teodosiadis, Brian E Cade, Heming Wang, Tamar Sofer, Daniel S Evans, Katie L Stone, Sina A Gharib, Sutapa Mukherjee, Lyle J Palmer, David Hillman, Jerome I Rotter, Craig L Hanis, John A Stamatoyannopoulos, Susan Redline, Chris Cotsapas, Shamil R Sunyaev

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Genetic association studies of many heritable traits resulting from physiological testing often have modest sample sizes due to the cost and burden of the required phenotyping. This reduces statistical power and limits discovery of multiple genetic associations. We present a strategy to leverage pleiotropy between traits to both discover new loci and to provide mechanistic hypotheses of the underlying pathophysiology. Specifically, we combine a colocalization test with a locus-level test of pleiotropy. In simulations, we show that this approach is highly selective for identifying true pleiotropy driven by the same causative variant, thereby improves the chance to replicate the associations …

The Art In Science: The University Of Michigan’S Bioartography Project, Deborah L. Gumucio Phd

The Journal of the Michigan Dental Association

"The Art in Science: The University of Michigan’s BioArtography Project" emphasizes the importance of using art to convey scientific information to the public. Scientists and medical professionals often struggle to communicate their research effectively to non-experts. The BioArtography Project, initiated in 2005, combines art and science to bridge this communication gap. It features striking images of cells and tissues under microscopes, accompanied by lay-language descriptions of the research behind each image. The project aims to engage the public, stimulate curiosity, and convey information about scientific discoveries. BioArtography images have led to meaningful discussions with the public, dispelling myths and educating …

Environmental Cleaning Evaluation Project For Rural Tribal Health Center, Brad Strait

Capstone Experience: Master of Public Health

This Tribal health clinic is located on reservation land and serves a community of approximately 1,550 members located over 64,000 acres located in Nevada and California. The clinic offers general health practice and podiatry at its central clinic with satellite offices located off-reservation offering dentistry, optometry, and behavioral health. The clinic is operated by Tribal staff and partners with the Indian Health Service (IHS) for environmental survey on an annual basis for compliance with Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care (AAAHC) standards. While this clinic only offers outpatient services, the disinfection and cleaning protocols are an important step in limiting …

School-Based E-Cigarette Education Curriculum, “Team No Vaping”: Impact On Knowledge Of E-Cigarettes, Harm Perception, And Media Literacy Among Middle/High School Students, Niran Tamrakar

Capstone Experience: Master of Public Health

E-cigarettes are the most used tobacco products among middle/high school students. Youth e-cigarette use is at an epidemic level. While school-based vaping prevention programs exist, there is limited evidence on the effectiveness of such programs. To address vaping prevention among this vulnerable population, University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC) in collaboration with the Tobacco Education & Advocacy of the Midlands (TEAM) developed and implemented a school-based e-cigarette education curriculum, “TEAM No Vaping.” This study evaluated the impact of the “TEAM No Vaping” program on increasing the knowledge, harm perception, and susceptibility to e-cigarettes, and vaping media literacy for vaping prevention …

An Epidemiological Synthesis Of Emerging And Re-Emerging Zoonotic Disease Threats In Cameroon, 2000-2022 And Community Stakeholder Mapping, Nancy Tahmo

Capstone Experience: Master of Public Health

Introduction: Population factors such as urbanization, socio-economic, and environmental factors are driving forces for emerging/re-emerging diseases in Cameroon, and the effects of these are experienced differently across demographics. Indigenous rainforest communities in the Congo Basin, for example, suffer worse health outcomes compared to neighboring communities, like the Pygmies, who have a life expectancy of 22 years less than neighboring Bantus. It is important to characterize the risk of exposure of these vulnerable communities and map out, through a systematic review, descriptive epidemiological data around zoonoses, to inform preparedness and research efforts.

Methods: Following the PRISMA guidelines, a protocol was registered …

Evaluating How Physical Activity Affects The Perception Of Resilience In Box Butte County, Nebraska, Eric Pulver

Capstone Experience: Master of Public Health

Physical activity is one of the modern hallmarks for good health in individuals and the public, in general. Resiliency is a growing concentration in all levels of disaster preparedness where the focus is on how to deal with the growing number of disasters stemming from global climate change. This research project’s aim is to look at the possible relationships between physical activity and resiliency in a rural Nebraska population. This was done with the use of a cross-sectional study utilizing a fifteen-question survey to gather demographics, assess the amount of physical activity, and then apply a perception of resilience tool …

Urban/Rural Disparities Of Thyroid Cancer Using The Integrated Cancer Repository For Cancer Research (Icare2), Sunita Regmi

Capstone Experience: Master of Public Health

Abstract:

Background and objective: Multiple studies have shown that the place of residence and the distance to travel from one's residence to nearby health care providers impact cancer diagnosis and treatment. The stage of cancer at the time of diagnosis is paramount for cancer treatment and affects survival. Disparities in cancer treatment exist which affect the outcome disproportionately to certain segments of the population. To date, much of the focus has been on the racial and socioeconomic disparities in the management of thyroid cancer. The effect of geography and location (urban-rural status) on thyroid cancer stage diagnosis has …

Process Evaluation Of A Community Asset Mapping Protocol For Diabetes Prevention And Management, Andrea Peterson

Capstone Experience: Master of Public Health

Prediabetes and type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) are highly prevalent conditions with new diagnoses occurring each year (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2022a). Type 2 DM negatively impacts many aspects of life, to include social, financial, cultural, and everyday living. Asset mapping is a useful tool to build upon existing resources to help community members identify and expand services based on understanding the interconnected systems that influence type 2 DM prevention, screening, education, and care management. An Asset Mapping Protocol was created and piloted through a rural community coalition in Nebraska. The protocol includes an activity for community stakeholders …

A Systematic Literature Review On The Capability Of Sio₂-Np’S Exposure To Exacerbate Parkinson’S (Pd) Pathology And The Risk Factors For Biomedical Applications In Pd, Seth Abdallah

Capstone Experience: Master of Public Health

Silica Dioxide nanoparticles (SiO₂-NP) have become increasingly ubiquitous in industry, which has stimulated research into the potential toxicity of these compounds. Recent studies have explored the association between amorphous silica nanoparticle exposure and the potential for neurotoxicity. Additionally, research has been conducted in the application of SiO₂-NP’s in theranostics and as drug directing agents , which based on current literature may be contraindicated for individuals with conditions such as Parkinson's Disease (PD) which is characterized by neuroinflammation. The following literature review will discuss evidence for silica dioxide nanoparticle exposure to induce neurotoxicity which may exacerbate neurodegenerative diseases such as PD. …

Identifying & Addressing Barriers To Child Care For Formerly Incarcerated Mothers, Joanne Bird

Capstone Experience: Master of Public Health

As women’s incarceration rates have risen significantly in recent decades, gender-specific programs are needed to meet the needs of formerly incarcerated mothers (FIM). Although child care can be difficult to access for many families, this marginalized population faces unique obstacles to accessing child care. In order for FIM to be employed and reintegrate, they must be able to access child care; however, FIM experience unique barriers to securing child care services. This policy brief aims to identify the special considerations FIM face, as well as to explore why existing programs are not meeting their specific needs. A literature review was …

Evaluating How The Impacts Of Climate Change On Arizona's Water Supply Will Influence Public Health, Patricia Wrona

Capstone Experience: Master of Public Health

Over the last century, Arizona’s climate has increased more than 1.1 to 1.4 degrees Celsius or 2 to 2.5 degrees Fahrenheit. The temperature in Arizona is expected to increase an additional 2.2°C to 2.8°C in the next 40 years. Climate change poses various health and environmental hazards for the residents of Arizona. One of the most significant impacts is on water supply. As temperatures continue to rise in the desert, the demand for water will increase while the water supply will reduce. A literature review and program evaluation were conducted to evaluate how the impacts of climate change on Arizona’s …

Evaluation Of Human Trafficking Training/Educating Of Nursing Professionals, Emily Morris

Capstone Experience: Master of Public Health

Background: Human trafficking (HT) is a serious public health issue. Victims may present to medical facilities for a variety of health concerns, and therefore, healthcare professionals can identify and provide aid to trafficking victims. However, research shows that providers do not feel adequately trained to identify and support victims. This study evaluates the outcomes of a three hour in-person HT workshop for nurses.

Methods: We administered an online survey with closed- and open-ended questions before and after the workshop to assess improvement in knowledge, health impact, strategies for identification and assessment, and response and follow up of HT.

Results: At …

An Analysis Of Climate Factors And Their Relationship With Lyme Disease And West Nile Virus In California From 2011 To 2020, Emma Dubas

Capstone Experience: Master of Public Health

The World Health Organization estimates that approximately one-sixth of illnesses and disabilities suffered worldwide are due to vector-borne diseases, and more than half of the world’s population is at risk. Additionally, vector-borne diseases have significant socioeconomic impacts and inflate health inequities, with the greatest burden on poor populations. Lyme disease is the top tick-borne disease in the state of California and West Nile virus (WNV) is the top mosquito-borne disease in the state of California. Vector-borne diseases have a high sensitivity to climatic factors. Research shows that ongoing trends of increasing temperature and varying weather conditions will weaken recent global …

The Merit Of Inclusion: A Policy Review Examining The Convergence Of Special Education And Inclusions Policies With Compensatory Medicaid Policies In The Wake Of The Covid-19 Pandemic, Corbyn Baggett

Capstone Experience: Master of Public Health

On March 11, 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) formally recognized the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak as a global pandemic. This global issue compelled governments to announce careful virus containing policies in order to prevent further spread and control of the disease. Although it has been proven that measures like social isolation could aid in scaling the spread of illness, the resulting extended school closures that occurred in response to an increased number of COVID-19 outbreaks posed significant challenges for all students, but especially those students with special needs. The unpredictable nature of COVID-19 at the outset of the pandemic …

Health Effects Of Neonicotinoids On An Agricultural Community, Jocelyn Rodriguez-Paar

Capstone Experience: Master of Public Health

Mead, Nebraska, a small United States agricultural community consisting of approximately 600 people, was accidentally exposed to high amounts of neonicotinoids when AltEn, an ethanol plant that used neonicotinoid coated corn and soybean seeds for biofuel, was discovered not disposing of the toxic byproduct safely. Coincidentally, there was also a leak in their wastewater system that also contaminated the nearby areas. Although neonicotinoids are not considered highly dangerous with low dose exposures, large dose exposures can cause symptoms similarly to nicotine poisonings, such as difficulty breathing, vomiting, nausea, hypertension, tachycardia, and lethargy (Imamura, T. et al., 2010). Neonicotinoid poisoning can …

The Risk Factors Of Long Covid In The Acute Covid And Solid Organ Transplant Retrospective Cohorts, Ahmed Nyandemoh

Capstone Experience: Master of Public Health

Background: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in solid organ transplant (SOT) patients is associated with more severe outcomes than non-immunosuppressed hosts. The risk factors for developing the long COVID in acute COVID remain unknown, and the survival outcomes of long COVID in SOT patients remain understudied.

Methods: We developed several retrospective cohorts. This project included all patients identified with acute COVID in the National COVID Collaborative Cohort Registry from July 1, 2020, to June 30, 2022.

Patients with long COVID were compared to those without long COVID in the acute COVID cohorts. Similarly, we compared the patient demographic with long COVID …

Descriptive Epidemiology Of West Nile Virus In Nebraska, 2005-2021, Luke Murphy

Capstone Experience: Master of Public Health

Objectives: West Nile virus (WNV) is a mosquito-borne flavivirus that is naturally sustained in a Culex mosquito-bird-mosquito transmission cycle and can cause disease in birds, equines, and humans. Most human infections with WNV are asymptomatic; however, West Nile fever (WNF), or West Nile neuroinvasive disease (WNND) can develop and be fatal in some circumstances. Between 2005 and 2021 there have been over 1,800 cumulative cases of WNV in Nebraska, which currently ranks as fourth in the United States for reported cases. WNV cases are a mandatory reportable disease in Nebraska through an electronic reporting system managed by the Nebraska Department …

Barriers To Healthcare Access For Refugees And Immigrants With Limited English Proficiency In Nebraska: A Systematic Review Of The Literature, Mawada Mohammed

Capstone Experience: Master of Public Health

Refugees and immigrants in the United States from a multitude of backgrounds are impacted by limited English proficiency (LEP), resulting in a health disparity. LEP in vulnerable populations can create obstacles in healthcare. In healthcare settings LEP patients experience adverse health events such as longer hospital stays, negative drug reaction, and patient dissatisfaction (Berdahl & Kirby, 2019). The following project aims to identify barriers for refugees and immigrants with limited English proficiency (LEP) in primary healthcare settings in Nebraska. The project utilized a systematic literature review using peer-reviewed and gray literature. The research was conducted utilizing databases: PsycINFO, PubMed, Google …

Impact Of Coalition Building To Promote Maternal Infant Health Equity In The District Of Columbia, Maryland, And Virginia, Sydney J. Turner

Capstone Experience: Master of Public Health

The health of women and babies is critical to creating a healthy world. Stratified data shows the overwhelming rates at which Blacks are affected more than Whites. Literature has shown that leveraging partnerships and community engagement are critical components of decision-making and can positively impact the health of communities. Through a direct observational study, the Community Coalition Action Theory was used to analyze the current structure of the March of Dimes Maternal Infant Healthy Equity Coalition. The study aimed to identify strengths and gaps and subsequently provide recommendations to advance the coalition work and promote maternal and infant health equity …

Hispanic/Latino Mothers Of Children With Developmental Disabilities: Identifying Factors Associated With Practicing Self-Care And Mental Health Outcomes, Jessica Gutierrez

Capstone Experience: Master of Public Health

Caring for a child with developmental disabilities can be challenging, exhausting, and overwhelming for many parents. The level of care that a child with disabilities requires can be intense, resulting in stress and negatively impacting caregivers' mental health. Many Hispanic/Latino mothers of children with developmental disabilities are not practicing self-care or using support services; thus, the mothers may experience high stress, depression, and anxiety. Previous research studies have found adverse psychological effects such as high levels of stress, depression, and anxiety. This quantitative study sought to identify the gaps and barriers Hispanic/Latino mothers of children with developmental disabilities encounter when …

Program Planning On Social Determinants Of Health For Rural Nebraska, Maria H. Cantu Hines

Capstone Experience: Master of Public Health

Social determinants of health (SDOH) are non-health factors that impact health in both direct and indirect ways. Research into SDOH and their effects has been extensive in recent years and has been further documented by the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite the wealth of the literature on the SDOH, awareness of these important factors is not prevalent among community residents. Rural communities are as subject to the impact of SDOH just as their urban counterparts and experience additional complexities related to geography and topography.

This capstone project aims to raise awareness, provide education, and assist with tools and resources, to empower rural …

Distress In The Workplace: Characterizing The Relationship Of Burnout Measures To The Occupational Depression Inventory, Irvin Sam Schonfeld, Renzo Bianchi

Publications and Research

Burnout has been found to problematically overlap with depression. However, the generalizability of this finding remains disputed. This study examined burnout–depression overlap using the recently developed Occupational Depression Inventory (ODI) and two burnout measures, the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI) and the Copenhagen Burnout Inventory (CBI). The study involved two teacher samples employed in France (N = 1,450) and New Zealand (N = 492). We found the correlations of the ODI with (a) the MBI’s emotional exhaustion (EE) subscale and (b) the CBI to reach .80. An explanation of these high correlations based on content overlap in fatigue-related items was ruled …

Pregnancy And Childbirth: Male Partner Involvement In Uasin Gishu, Kenya, Kamau Tabitha, Roselyter Riang’A, Mwanzia Lydia, Buluku Elizabeth, Sawe Caroline, Wambugu Beth, Patel Kirtika, Mutai Judith, Pauline Mwenje, Kemboi Sharon

Population Health, East Africa

Introduction: In many African countries, pregnancy and childbirth has traditionally beenregarded as a woman’s affair. As a result, male partner involvement and participationin pregnancy and childbirth has been minimal, which is thought to have contributed tothe high rate of maternal and neonatal morbidities and mortalities. Male partners areoften key decision-makers in African households for cultural reasons, yet their role inpregnancy and childbirth is not clearly defined. The aim of this study was to examine anddocument male partner involvement in maternal healthcare in Kenya.

Methods: A health facility-based cross-sectional descriptive study design was used.Systematic random sampling was used to …