Public Health Commons^™

Morality-Based Messaging? An Examination Of State Health Departments’ Facebook Posts In Advertising Covid-19 Vaccines, Kylee R. Casner

Honors Theses and Capstones

COVID-19 vaccination is an important public health tool in curbing the COVID-19 pandemic, but vaccination rates in the U.S. are inadequate for reaching herd immunity, leaving public health officials to develop strategies to increase vaccination rates. The field of public health has historically used stigmatizing messaging to encourage health behaviors. Through a content analysis COVID-19 Facebook posts made by the Alabama Public Health, Mississippi State Department of Health, Rhode Island Department of Health, and Vermont Department of Health, this study explores the types of messaging used to influence COVID-19 vaccination behavior and looks to determine if stigmatization of non-vaccination is …

Protective Factors Against Self-Harm And Suicidality Among Australian Indigenous Adolescents: A Strengths-Based Analysis Of The Longitudinal Study Of Indigenous Children, Irteja Islam, Lisa Sharwood, Verity Chadwick, Tuguy Esgin, Alexandra Martiniuk

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Background: Understanding and encouraging social and emotional well-being (SEWB) among Indigenous adolescents is vital in countering the impacts of colonisation and intergenerational trauma. As self-harm and suicidality are considered markers of poor SEWB among Indigenous communities, we aimed to identify the individual-level and community-level factors protecting Indigenous adolescents from self-harm and suicidality. Methods: Data came from Footprints in Time—The Longitudinal Study of Indigenous Children (waves 10 and 11), conducted among Indigenous families across Australia. A strengths-based analysis fitted multilevel logistic regression to explore associations with factors proposed as protective against self-reported self-harm and suicidality among Indigenous adolescents. Results: Our study …

Factors Associated With Intention To Disclose Concussive Symptoms In Active Duty Soldiers, Carly Beck

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

Background: Concussion disclosure is a heavily researched topic, and while previous literature has explored predictors of concussion disclosure in numerous populations, research within the active duty Soldier population is limited. This study further explored predictors of concussion disclosure to a medical professional or leadership in the active duty Solider population through the lens of the Theory of Planned Behavior. Methods: A cross-sectional electronic survey was distributed to 181 active duty Soldiers. Descriptive statistics were used to report frequency of high intention to disclose concussive symptoms among demographics, and a multivariate regression model was used to assess significant predictors of intention …

Examining The Spatial Relationship Between Maternal Morbidity, Access To Health Care, And Community Characteristics In West Virginia, Sarah E. Woolard

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Maternal-related morbidity rates in the United States have risen almost three fold since the early 1990’s. Issues related to rurality, socioeconomic disparities, and pre-existing health conditions increase the risk of poor pregnancy outcomes and introduce barriers to accessing advanced maternal health care. West Virginia (WV) has higher maternal morbidity rates than many other states in the United States (US), and is considered to be driven by all 55 counties being classified as Appalachian, possessing the highest prenatal smoking rate in the US, and having disparities in access to health care. Despite this, no previous studies have evaluated maternal morbidity in …

Risk Factors Of Infant Mortality Among Sub-Saharan Immigrants In The United States, Roland Lankah

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

While prepregnancy body mass index (BMI), gestational weight gain (GWG), and birthplace have been suggested to play a key role in predicting infant mortality outcomes, they have not been thoroughly investigated across all races/ethnicities. The purpose of this study was to examine the associations between prepregnancy BMI, GWG, birthplace as independent variables, and infant mortality as the outcome variable within the United States Sub-Saharan African Immigrants (SSAI). A quantitative cross-sectional study design grounded in the biopsychosocial model was used. Data were extracted from the 2017-2018 natality-linked birth/infant death file from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Wonder Database. It …

Experiences Of Individuals With Opioid Use Disorder In Medication Assisted Treatment Programs, Lynda M. Maxfield

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractOpioid use accounts for many deaths each day in the United States. Although research has shown that retention in medication assisted treatment (MAT) programs increases quality of life for those individuals with opioid use disorder (OUD) and decreases premature death, there has been limited research on the perspectives of individuals with OUD in MAT programs and why they remained in or left the programs. The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study, guided by Merleau-Ponty’s theory of perception, was to explore the lived experiences of those with OUD treated in a MAT program. An algorithm type interview was conducted to ask …

Socioeconomic And Health Impact Of Opioid Overuse On Working-Age Population In Minnesota, Colette Ngum Ngwa

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Abstract The United States faces numerous challenges associated with the ongoing opioid crisis. Although the opioid epidemic is complex, opioid overuse affects users’ health and has a far-reaching impact on socioeconomic well-being. This study employed a quantitative cross-sectional design using secondary data from a 2018 national survey of working-age individuals ages 18 to 45. Multivariate regression analysis was used to examine the associations between opioid overuse and socioeconomic status, health status, and perceived need for substance abuse treatment. The addiction career concept and chronic illness model theory were used to analyze these correlations. The findings indicated that people with higher …

The Experience And Perception Of Contraceptive Use Among Teenage Girls Living In Lagos, Nigeria, Kikelomo Omotoso

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractThere is a low level of contraceptive use among Nigerian teenagers, leading to unwanted pregnancies and subsequently unsafe abortions. Sexual activities among teenagers in Lagos, Nigeria, are a major public health problem. The principal factors leading to this health problem are poverty, peer pressure among university students leading to involvement in the sex trade, and early marriage in some cultures. There are myths and perceptions about the use of contraception in society, especially concerning the use of condoms, which Nigerian teenagers believe do not make intercourse interesting or satisfying; these ideas can lead to unwanted pregnancies, sexually transmitted infections (STIs), …

Role Of Hypertension In Low-Birth-Weight Racial Disparities Among Virginian Women, Ashli Owen

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Low birth weight (LBW) is a leading cause of infant mortality globally, but it disproportionately burdens the Black community in the United States, with a rate twice that of White women. Further, hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDsP) increase LBW incidence. The purpose of the study was to assess the association between HDsP and LBW, maternal race and LBW, and the moderation effect of HDsP on race and LBW on Black and White women in Virginia. The theoretical framework for this study was based on the lifecourse health development model, which states that health should be viewed as an outcome of …

Factors Influencing Human Papillomavirus Vaccination Among Hispanic Youth In Bexar County, Texas, Timothy Edward Wallum

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

A high number of Hispanic youth in Bexar County, Texas, face morbidity and mortality related to human papillomavirus (HPV) infection due to inadequate vaccination coverage youth. A better understanding of the factors that influence vaccination might help public health authorities to increase coverage. The aim of this quantitative, cross-sectional study, which was based on the socioecological model and involved analysis of weighted survey data from the 2016 to 2018 National Immunization Survey-Teen, was to better understand the multilevel factors influencing HPV vaccine use among Hispanic youth. The weighted sample was representative of the study population in terms of survey characteristics …

Relationships Between Stress Self-Management, Social Support, And Health In Hispanic Informal Caregiver Burnout Prevention, Nicole Alexandra Mas Román

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Burnout syndrome is a psychological disorder characterized by physical, emotional, and mental distress and exhaustion resulting in feelings of depression, anxiety, irritability, and negative attitudes. If left unattended, burnout syndrome can lead to new or worsening health outcomes. The purpose of this nonexperimental quantitative study was to examine the relationship between stress self-management, perceived social support, health status, and burden among Puerto Rican informal caregivers. The theoretical foundations for this research were the informal caregiving integrative model and the individual and family self-management theory. Survey data were collected from 415 participants. Multiple regression analyses were performed to determine the relationship …

Type Of Union And Reproductive Health Influence On Domestic Violence In Sierra Leone, Yvonne Rowe

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Domestic violence (DV) is one of the most hidden but prevalent public health concerns affecting women of childbearing age in Africa, despite ongoing prevention initiatives. Lack of power and control in the household is a significant precursor of DV in women, especially in sub-Saharan Africa. While poverty, gender inequality, and societal norms have been identified as directly related to DV, the factors of type of union and reproductive health choice remain unexplored. This quantitative study with a cross-sectional design assessed the relationship between the type of union, female contraceptive use, and type of DV amongst women in Sierra Leone. Anchored …

The Interaction Of Children Living In Single-Parent Households With Healthcare In Tennessee, Molly Balcer

Scholarship in Medicine - All Papers

The objective of this paper is to examine how a child living in a single-parent home is able to interact with healthcare in the state of Tennessee in 2020. Family structure in the United States trends away from the nuclear family, with 32% of households containing children headed by single-parents in 2018 as recorded by the United States Census Bureau. Given the knowledge that children in single-parent families are at higher risk for unmet healthcare needs, it is prudent to determine whether these trends are mirrored in Tennessee. Tests of statistical analysis were conducted on publicly available data collected from …

Factors Affecting The Rates Of Childhood Poverty In Tennessee, Aleeya F. Shareef

Scholarship in Medicine - All Papers

Objective: The goal of this investigation is to analyze data to determine the factors that influence childhood poverty in Tennessee. Specifically, I am examining how child poverty has changed over the past years, as well as determining its associations with residential segregation (Black/white), food insecurity, teen births, low birthweights, child and infant mortalities, drug overdose deaths, access to healthy foods, premature deaths, and uninsured children. Data was used from the County Health Rankings website. Their data has been collected from surveys. Paired t-tests, unpaired t-tests, Pearson correlations, and stepwise linear regressions were performed. Results indicated that Tennessee has had decreased …

Relationship Between Poverty And Ed Visit Rate (Per 10,000) With Primary Diagnosis Of Asthma Amongst Ohio Counties, Emily Schneider

Scholarship in Medicine - All Papers

Objective: Previous literature have found mixed results regarding poverty as a risk factor for asthma prevalence. More recently, national data obtained from Medicaid has shown that there is no association between poverty and asthma prevalence but has shown an association with asthma-related Emergency Department (ED) visits and hospitalizations. The objective of this study is to determine if this relationship is evident amongst the 88 counties in Ohio. Methods: Pearson correlations were conducted with the following variables: percent in poverty under age 18 and the ED visit rate with a primary diagnosis of asthma amongst children in each Ohio county. This …

The Impact Of Covid-19 On Collaboration And Turnover Among State Health Leadership, Kaylee Gouge

Theses and Dissertations--Public Health (M.P.H. & Dr.P.H.)

Background/Objectives: State Health Officials (SHOs), the physician-leaders of state public health departments in the US, have long been indicated as potential peacemakers between the fields of medicine and public health. However, the average term length of SHOs has declined in recent years. Meanwhile, the COVID-19 pandemic has increased public visibility of state public health departments and their leadership. Some have hypothesized that the political strain of the pandemic has further accelerated SHO turnover, compromising their leadership efficacy. Contrarily, others have suggested that the pandemic would force public health and organized medicine into closer collaborative alignment through a common enemy. …

Fully Automated Life Support Training Effects On Inpatient, Cardiac Arrest Survival Rates, Adessa D. Goss

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

In the United States, more than 200,000 adult patients die annually from inpatient cardiac arrest with survival rates stagnated at 22%–25% nationally. Recently, the adoption of fully automated life support training modalities by health care organizations has become widespread with limited literature available showing the effects on inpatient, cardiac arrest survival. The purpose of this quantitative study was to investigate the effects of fully automated life support training on inpatient, cardiac arrest survival. Applying Bloom’s mastery learning theory, the impact of the Resuscitation Quality Improvement (RQI) quarterly training and hospital unit compliance on inpatient cardiac arrest return of spontaneous circulation …

Social Distance Compliance And Perceived Importance Of Online Youtube Diabetes Prevention Programs, Bettyann Rogers

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This quantitative, nonexperimental survey was designed using a five-point Likert scale to measure the differences in the perceived importance scores for enrollment practices into nationally accredited YouTube diabetes prevention programs, or YouTube DPP, among online U.S. adult participants during the COVID-19 pandemic based on the social cognitive framework and was validated with Cronbach’s alpha. G* Power analysis for alpha level = 0.05, standard power = 0.08, and the effect size = 0.25 was calculated for a target population of over 100,000. Responses (i.e., N = 258) from the COVID-19 Blood Sugar Wellness Survey were uploaded from SurveyMonkey. The perceived important …

Factors Associated With Nonmedical Prescription Opioid Use And Prescription Opioid Misuse Among Rural Americans, Brittany Cox

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Opioid misuse is a rapidly evolving health epidemic in the United States, leading to opioid use disorders, overdose deaths, and disparities in treatment. The rural population may be more susceptible given socioeconomic status, less educational attainment, and lower income. The impact on specific populations is not well understood. The purpose of this study was to identify the association of nonmedical prescription opioid use (NPOU), prescription opioid misuse (POM), and treatment-seeking with race, age, sex, education, and insurance status among rural Americans. The social-ecological model (SEM) served as the theoretical framework. The SEM described the interplay between individual, relationship, community, and …

Five-Year Cervical Cancer Survival Rates By Stage At Diagnosis, Race, And Place Of Residence In Georgia, Usa, Layal Mansour

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Despite breakthroughs and improvement in cervical cancer (cercancer) management strategies over the years, racial and geographical disparities on 5-year relative survival rates (RSRs) persist. Studies showed black women have higher mortality rates than white women with the majority of deaths occurring among women above age 45. The aim of this cross-sectional study was to investigate the predicting abilities of race and residence on 5-year RSRs by stage at diagnosis and the potential effect on survival probability in the early stage of cercancer for women above 45 years living in Georgia. Anderson's behavioral model for inequalities in healthcare was the theoretical …

Jiann-Ping Hsu College Of Public Health Magazine, Georgia Southern University

College of Public Health: News & Publications

• Message from the Dean: Stuart H. Tedders, PhD
• One-On-One: Marshall in Conversation with Aslan
• Alumni Feature: Improving the Body Art Industry
• Truth is Better than Fiction
• An Invisible Danger
• New Development Council
• The Period Equity Movement
• Averitt Award Winner and Together United
• Our Students Around the World
• Justice, Equity, Diversity & Inclusion
• Center for Addiction Recovery Making an impact: Scholarship recipient named
• Karl E. Peace Center for Biostatistics and Survey Research Working together: Biostatistics collaborations
• Center for Public Health Practice and Research Improving Health Outcomes
• Faculty and Students
• Office of Practice and Research
• College
• Photos

Maternal Occupational Exposure To Organic Solvents And Noise: Maternal Effects And Infant Outcomes, Kristen Van Buren

Theses and Dissertations--Public Health (M.P.H. & Dr.P.H.)

Introduction: Several maternal occupational exposures have not yet been studied for potential reproductive harm or have inconsistent findings in the literature. Despite the challenges, identification of potential risk factors, specifically reproductive toxicants, is necessary to mitigate and prevent adverse health outcomes for working mothers and their infants. The purpose of this study was to examine maternal occupational exposure to organic solvents and noise to small-for-gestational age (SGA) and preterm birth (PTB) among infants. Additionally, the study sought to examine maternal occupational exposure to noise and presence of gestational diabetes (GDM) and pregnancy-related hypertension among participant mothers.

Methods: The study population …

Potential Impact Of Socioeconomic Status On Complications Associated With Obesity In Adult Women In The United States., Cassidy Taylor

Theses and Dissertations--Public Health (M.P.H. & Dr.P.H.)

Abstract

The purpose of this project is to determine whether there is an association between socioeconomic factors and complications of obesity in adult women in the United States based on the national 2020 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) data.

Dependent variables were categorized as complications associated with obesity in adult, obese women. BRFSS items that referenced objective measures regarding chronic obesity-related complications included items such as diabetes, heart disease, arthritis, and breast cancer diagnosis. Two measures relating to participants’ socioeconomic status were also used as independent variables. BRFSS items that referenced objective measures regarding socioeconomic status are educational attainment, …

Attitudes Towards Fentanyl Test Strips Among A Cohort Of People Who Use Drugs In Rural Kentucky, Alaina Murphy

Theses and Dissertations--Public Health (M.P.H. & Dr.P.H.)

Background and aims Fentanyl-related overdoses have largely contributed to the nearly 500,000 opioid overdose deaths in the United States since 1999. Fentanyl test strips (FTS) are a new technology that is designed to help prevent these overdoses. People who use drugs (PWUD) can test their drug supply for fentanyl by placing the strip in a sample of the drug. However, access to FTS varies across the country. This variance is largely due to rural PWUD not having the same access to harm reduction programs, compared to urban settings. This study uses data on PWUD in rural Kentucky to evaluate attitudes …

Local Public Health System Comprehensiveness And Opioid Overdose Mortality, 2012-2018, Stephanie Courtney

Theses and Dissertations--Public Health (M.P.H. & Dr.P.H.)

Background: Deaths due to opioid overdose are a significant public health burden in the United States. Studies suggest that local public health systems that perform a high number of essential activities where local health departments contribute to the delivery of the activities and promote increased partnership may positively influence population health outcomes such as overdose mortality. Studies have shown that comprehensive public health systems are associated with improved health outcomes, but this association has not been addressed in the context of opioid overdose deaths. Study Aim: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the associations between local public health …

Can Environmental Law Solve The "Forever Chemical" Problem?, Mark P. Nevitt, Robert V. Percival

Faculty Articles

Although federal environmental law purports to provide the public with comprehensive protection against chemical risks, the U.S. chemical industry is characterized by self­ regulation. This self-regulation is exemplified by the dangers posed by per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (''PFAS'')­ broad classes of persistent toxic substances that have now entered nearly every American's bloodstream and hundreds of public drinking water systems. Despite data linking exposure to these "forever chemicals" to cancer, infertility, and a host of other public health harms, environmental law has failed to safeguard the American people from PFAS' toxic legacy. How did this occur? And what should be done …

Coping, Affirmation, Resilience, And Empowerment (Care) Program And Its Impact On Depression And Quality Of Life Among Youth Living With Depression In Banjarmasin City, Indonesia : A Mixed-Method Study, Lafi Munira

Chulalongkorn University Theses and Dissertations (Chula ETD)

Background: The national prevalence of depression among young adults in Indonesia was 29.3% for moderate and 8.0% for severe depression. There are few intervention studies on coping skills training and group cognitive therapy through internet-based intervention for youth living with depression in Indonesia. Objectives: 1) To explore participants’ perception, experience, and cope with depression before and after CARE Program; 2) To investigate effects CARE Program on depression and quality of life among youth living with depression in Banjarmasin City, Indonesia. Method: This study used a convergent parallel mixed method. A qualitative and quasi experimental with two groups pre-post tests among …

Assessment Of Psychological Impact Of Covid-19 Among Healthcare Professionals In Yangon, Myanmar, Nyein Chan Aung

Chulalongkorn University Theses and Dissertations (Chula ETD)

Background: Millions of people worldwide have been infected by the Covid-19 pandemic, devastatingly affecting their physical and mental health. During the covid-19 outbreak with the delta variant in 2021, Myanmar experienced its worst healthcare crisis, resulting in work burden, exhaustion, and psychological distress among healthcare professionals. Therefore, the study aimed to determine the psychological impacts of Covid-19 on healthcare professionals in Yangon, Myanmar. Methodology: A cross-sectional study was employed to determine the prevalence and associated factors of Depression, Anxiety, Stress, and Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among healthcare professionals, who aged 18 and older with at least two years of experience …

Factors Associated With The Utilization Of Preventive Dental Treatments Among Elderly Patients In Faculty Of Dentistry, Chulalongkorn University: A Secondary Data Analysis, Weerachon Panthueng

Chulalongkorn University Theses and Dissertations (Chula ETD)

Objective: This study aimed to explore the potential factors associated with utilization of preventive dentistry among elderly patients attending a university dental hospital in Thailand. Materials and methods: The research design of this study was a cross-sectional study. This study used secondary data from a cross-sectional study from undergraduate project, conducted completely during July 2021- January 2022 for independent data and dependent variable from dental hospital resource system. The participants were 363 elderly patients who were both males and females in Faculty of Dentistry Chulalongkorn University. Descriptive statistics, chi-square test, and binary logistic regression were performed to analyze the data. …

Occupational Hazards And Mental Health Among Myanmar Migrant Workers In Samut Sakhon Province, Thailand, Myo Myint Kyaw

Chulalongkorn University Theses and Dissertations (Chula ETD)

Background: Myanmar migrant workers play a crucial role in the local workforce, especially in industries like seafood processing and manufacturing. These workers frequently encounter difficult working conditions and are exposed to various occupational hazards, which can negatively affect both their physical and mental well-being. Despite the significance of this issue, only limited research has been conducted to explore the connection between occupational hazards and mental health among this vulnerable population. Objective: To study an association between occupational hazards and levels of depression, anxiety, and stress among Myanmar migrant workers in Samut Sakhon Province, Thailand Method: A cross-sectional survey was conducted …