Public Health Commons^™

Strategies For Addressing Vaccination Disparities And Rates In The U.S Among Racial/Ethnic Minority Adults, Harpreet Kaur

Master's Projects and Capstones

As new and emerging infectious diseases surface, public health officials are working harder to close the immunization gap. Every year, thousands of adults in the U.S suffer adverse health outcomes and die from vaccine-preventable diseases. The COVID-19 pandemic has reminded us of the power of vaccines as they have been able to eradicate diseases, save lives, and create healthier communities. A literature review was conducted to identify the gaps in research as it relates to vaccine disparities among racial/ethnic adult populations.

The literature indicates that ethnic/racial minorities are at disproportionate risk for vaccine-preventable diseases and data has shown increasingly high …

Digital Equity Is An Environmental Justice Issue, Courtney B. Cooper

Master's Projects and Capstones

Digital equity has evolved into a more critical area of focus due to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. The COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated the existing digital divide, or the divide that exists between those who have access to the internet and those that do not, by moving many important services and resources online to reduce the spread of the virus. This shift has created more challenges for communities who either lack or have inadequate access to the internet. Furthermore, it is likely that internet utilization will only increase as we continue to recognize its capabilities. A lack of or inadequate access …

Investigation Of Environmental Lead Exposures In Children At A Midwestern City With Superfund Site, Zijian Qin

Theses & Dissertations

Childhood exposure to lead is known to cause a host of adverse health effects in children, with no safe blood lead level indicated. Environmental lead contamination is prevalent throughout the United States and remains a threat to the healthy development of children living in these areas, including children in Omaha, Nebraska. The overall objectives of this dissertation were to characterize potential sources of lead in the community – where children play and where children live through the use of environmental exposure sampling. This dissertation also provides insight into current Nebraska children's blood lead levels and identifies local populational attributes that …

Increasing Public Health Mosquito Surveillance In Hidalgo County, Texas To Monitor Vector And Arboviral Presence, Clarissa D. Guerrero, Steven Hinojosa, Diana Vanegas, Niko Tapangan, Matthew Guajardo, Sara Alaniz, Narda Cano, Christopher Vitek, John M. Thomas, Valerie Hernandez, Juan Garcia Jr.

School of Integrative Biological & Chemical Sciences (Formerly Dept. of Biology)

From 2016 to 2018, Hidalgo County observed the emergence of Zika virus (ZIKV) infections along with sporadic cases of Dengue virus (DENV) and West Nile virus (WNV). Due to the emergence of ZIKV and the historical presence of other mosquito-borne illnesses, Hidalgo County obtained funding to enhance mosquito surveillance and educate residents on arboviruses and travel risks. During this time period, Hidalgo County mosquito surveillance efforts increased by 1.275%. This increase resulted in >8000 mosquitoes collected, and 28 mosquito species identified. Aedes aegypti, Ae albopictus and Culex quinquefasciatus made up approximately two-thirds of the mosquitoes collected in 2018 (4122/6171). Spatiotemporal …

Protective Factors That Foster Resilience To Hiv/Aids: Insights And Lived Experiences Of Older Gay, Bisexual, And Other Men Who Have Sex With Men, Renato M. Liboro, Tammy C. Yates, Sherry Bell, Brandon Ranuschio, George Da Silva, Charles Fehr, Francisco Ibañez-Carrasco, Paul A. Shuper

Psychology Faculty Research

Since the beginning of the HIV/AIDS epidemic, gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (gbMSM) have been disproportionately impacted by HIV/AIDS health disparities. Research showed that resilience to HIV/AIDS is associated with increased use of relevant health services, lower sexual health risks, and improved mental health outcomes among racially and ethnically diverse gbMSM. As the subpopulation that has historically been impacted by HIV/AIDS the longest, older gbMSM living with HIV/AIDS have inarguably exhibited resilience to HIV/AIDS the most. The qualitative study described in this paper sought to identify and examine protective factors that fostered resilience to HIV/AIDS …

Exploring Community Perceptions, Attitudes And Practices Regarding The Covid-19 Pandemic In Karachi, Pakistan, Anam Shahil Feroz, Naureen Akber Ali, Ridah Feroz, Noshaba Akber, Salima Nazim Meghani

Community Health Sciences

Background: The Government of Pakistan is facing difficulty to contain the surge of COVID-19 due to the country's social, political, economical and cultural context. Experiences from the previous epidemic suggest that community perceptions, social norms and cultural practices can impede COVID-19 containment. To understand social responses towards COVID-19, the study aims to explore the understanding of COVID-19 and the acceptance of control measures among community members.
Methods: We conducted an exploratory qualitative study using a purposive sampling approach, at two communities of Karachi, Pakistan. In-depth interviews were conducted with community members including, young, middle-aged and older adults of both genders. …

Community-Dwelling Older Adult Fall Prevention Improvement Project, Evan Edminster Bsn, Rn, Cfrn, Tcrn, Cen, Nhdp-Bc

Master's Projects and Capstones

Abstract

Problem: Ground-level falls among community-dwelling adults 60 years and older are significant and contribute to adverse health outcomes such as fractures, functional decline, disability, and death. Additionally, falls among community-dwelling older adults are the number one mechanism of injury seen at a Northern California Level II trauma center. Falls often lead to post-fall fear, activity restriction, and physical deconditioning, further compounding fall risk.

Context: When trauma centers provide targeted outreach and screening for unmanaged health risks such as falls, they reduce unnecessary disability and premature death in the local population. Reducing total fall victim numbers and fall recidivism also …

Eservice-Learning During Covid-19: How Community-Engaged Learning Courses At The University Of San Francisco Responded To The Pandemic, Erin I. Hassett

Master's Projects and Capstones

During the COVID-19 pandemic, universities and colleges had to quickly transition their courses from in-person to online. This switch to online learning heavily impacted community-engaged learning (CEL) courses because it meant that internships with community partners had to become remote as well as the coursework. The University of San Francisco (USF) requires their undergraduate students to take at least one CEL course during their four years there as a way to connect them to the school’s Jesuit Catholic values, so pivoting these courses to a remote setting and keeping them available to students throughout the pandemic was imperative. This paper …

Guiding Change: A Multidisciplinary Framework For Interventions Addressing Systemic Racism In Healthcare, Lavette D. King

Master's Projects and Capstones

The relationship between systemic and institutional racism in the U.S., and health outcomes in people of the African Diaspora have been well documented (Bailey et al., 2017). Distrust in the healthcare system is the result of generational trauma compounded by an ongoing issue that has yet to be fully addressed (Scharff et al., 2015). For decades people of African descent have expressed concern about negative experiences with the U.S. healthcare system. Often the encounters leave them feeling, mistreated, unheard and or criminalized. These feelings result in trepidation over using the healthcare system which often further compounds health issues (Washington, 2008). …

U.S. Cosmetic Policy Reform: A Growing Need To Protect Communities Of Color From Exposure To Toxic Chemicals, Amna Haslam

Master's Projects and Capstones

Women of color are at a higher risk of exposure to toxic chemicals because of their use of more personal care products when compared to white women. A literature review was conducted focusing on mercury, a highly toxic heavy metal, found in some skin lightening creams used in Latinx, Black, and Southeast Asian communities to evaluate the impact of toxic chemicals used in communities of color. The use of skin lightening products is associated with the perception of beauty and social advantage. Further, women of color regardless of educational attainment experience the same social pressures to lighten their skin. This …

#Selfcare On Instagram: Proactive Mental Health Has Its Moment, Collin Mullis, Luke Nguyen, Calista Pappas

PANDION: The Osprey Journal of Research and Ideas

While widely used by clinicians, self-care has recently emerged as a trending topic in mainstream and social media. Informal health and support communities have formed on social media sites such as Instagram, which hosts more than one billion monthly users and ranks as the second most popular social networking application in the United States (U.S). This study investigates how the term self-care is portrayed on Instagram. In particular, the researchers were interested in whether or not current portrayals of self-care on Instagram aligned with the health themes previously established in the clinical definitions of self-care. Using the search term #selfcare, …

Apple Cider Vinegar Weight Loss Drinks: Portrayal On Pinterest, Sydney Chamberlain, Jana Mitchell, Davis Major, Lena Elemam, Cassandra Cleland

PANDION: The Osprey Journal of Research and Ideas

Apple cider vinegar has shown great promise for weight loss in controlled lab settings, yet these claims are widely shared on social media and may not yield the same benefits. This study used directed content analysis to examine how apple cider vinegar weight loss drinks were portrayed on Pinterest, a social media website utilized to bookmark online content. Using the search terms “apple cider vinegar weight loss drinks,” researchers sampled every fifth pin to collect 200 relevant pins. A codebook was developed, pilot tested and used to code pins. Of the 200 pins, the majority of pins (66%) positively portrayed …

2021-08-12_Michiganoverview_Covidoutbreak, Michigan Department Of Health & Human Services

Michigan COVID-19 Outbreak Reports

The Outbreak Data page was obtained from Michigan's COVID-19 data page: https://www.michigan.gov/coronavirus/0,9753,7-406-98163_98173_102057---,00.html.

This report is created by the Michigan Department of Health & Human Services from data self-reported by local health departments. Data is updated every week.

COVID-19 outbreaks are generally defined as two or more cases with a link by place and time indicating a shared exposure outside of a household. Local health departments report the number of new and ongoing outbreaks they are investigating by the setting of the outbreak. New outbreaks are those outbreaks that were first identified during the current reporting week. Ongoing outbreaks are …

2021-08-12_Michiganoverview_Misc, Michigan Department Of Health & Human Services

Michigan COVID-19 MIS-C Data

The MIS-C Data page was obtained from Michigan's COVID-19 data page: https://www.michigan.gov/coronavirus/0,9753,7-406-98163_98173_104661---,00.html.

This report is created by the Michigan Department of Health & Human Services from data self-reported by health care providers and local health departments. Data is updated on the first and third Thursdays of the month.

Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children (MIS-C) is a condition in children and adolescents under 21 years of age where multiple organ systems become inflamed or dysfunctional which occurs in association with illness. Children with MIS-C may have a fever and various symptoms, including abdominal (gut) pain, vomiting, diarrhea, neck pain, rash, …

Controlling Vector-Borne Diseases Through Paratransgenesis, Juliane Buzzon Meneghesso Verga

International Programs

The high incidence of Vector-borne diseases (VBDs) and the inefficiency of current methods in preventing and treating them have been driving research for alternative solutions. Here, we present an approach called paratransgenesis that could help in such challenge. In paratransgenesis, genetic modification in vectors' symbionts can be used to block the transmission of various pathogens and help preventing or even eradicate insect-transmitted diseases.

Use Of Geographic Information System Technology To Evaluate Health Disparities In Smoking Cessation Class Accessibility For Patients In Louisiana Public Hospitals, Tung-Sung Tseng, Michael D. Celestin, Qingzhao Yu, Mirandy Li, Ting Luo, Sarah Moody-Thomas

School of Public Health Faculty Publications

Research has shown cigarette smoking is a major risk factors for many type of cancer or cancer prognosis. Tobacco related health disparities were addressed continually in cancer screening, diagnosis, treatment, prevention and control. The present study evaluated the health disparities in attendance of smoking cessation counseling classes for 4,826 patients scheduled to attend between 2005 and 2007. Of 3,781 (78.4%) patients with records to calculate the distance from their home domicile to counseling sites using Geographic Information System technology, 1,435 (38%) of smokers who attended counseling had shorter travel distances to counseling sites (11.6 miles, SD = 11.29) compared to …

Adaptation Of The Agency For Healthcare Research And Quality’S ‘Hospital Survey On Patient Safety Culture’ To The Bosnia And Herzegovina Context, Šehad Draganović, Guido Offermanns, Rachel E. Davis

Faculty Publications

OBJECTIVES: Measuring staff perspectives on patient safety culture (PSC) can identify areas of concern that, if addressed, could lead to improvements in healthcare. To date, there is no validated measure to assess PSC that has been tested and adapted for use in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH). This research addresses the gap in the evidence through the psychometric assessment of the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality's: 'Hospital Survey on Patient Safety Culture' (HSOPSC), to determine its suitability for the health system in BiH. SETTING: Nine hospitals. PARTICIPANTS: Healthcare professionals (n=1429); nurse (n=823), doctors (n=328), other clinical personnel (n=111), non-clinical personnel …

Maternal Diet During Pregnancy And Lactation And Child Food Preferences, Dietary Patterns, And Weight Outcomes: A Review Of Recent Research, Alison K. Ventura, Suzanne Phelan, Karina Silva Garcia

Kinesiology and Public Health

Purpose of Review Efforts to promote children’s preferences for healthy foods hold much potential for improving diet quality and preventing obesity. The purpose of this review was to summarize recent evidence for associations between maternal diet during pregnancy and lactation and child food preferences, dietary patterns, and weight outcomes.

Recent Findings Recent research illustrates greater maternal vegetable intakes during pregnancy and lactation predict greater child preferences for and intakes of vegetables. Recent randomized clinical trials to improve maternal weight outcomes during the perinatal period via behavioral lifestyle interventions that included dietary components have yielded mixed findings for effects on child …

Reporting Adherence To Resistance Training In Cancer Survivors And Their Partners: A Comparison Between Prescribed And Received Training Dose, Oliver Lumbad, Kerri Winters-Stone

McNair Symposium

Resistance training is increasingly recognized as a behavioral strategy that can negate the adverse effects of cancer treatment. The exercise prescriptions were derived from trial method reports which may not reflect the actual dose of exercise in relation to study outcomes. It is possible, therefore, that the dose of exercise necessary to evoke a particular benefit may differ from published recommendations. Purpose: To report exercise adherence and dose in a resistance training program for cancer survivors and their partners. Furthermore, we aim to assess tolerability, compliance, and strength outcomes by comparing received training volume. Methods: Preliminary data from 25 participants …

The Social Determinants Of Human Milk Banking: Impacts Of Demographic And Geographical Factors On Human Milk Donor Behavior, Zayba Z. Afshar, Claire Wheeler

McNair Symposium

Human milk banking is a vital source of milk for infants for a multitude of reasons. Many of which go to medically fragile infants in Newborn Intensive Care Units (NICUs). The purpose of this study is to learn about how the social determinants of health and graphical factors affect human milk donor behavior through GIS (Geographic Information System) mapping to provide recommendations on how to improve overall donor participation. This research was conducted through a partnership with a local human milk bank accredited by HMBANA called Northwest Mothers Milk Bank (NWMMB) located in Tigard, OR. Demographic and geographic data was …

The Role Of Neighborhood And Social Determinants Of Health: Investigating Health-Related Social Needs Among The Portland Metropolitan Area In Oregon, Roselie Agulto, Bruce Goldberg

McNair Symposium

Intersecting factors of social determinants of health have a significant impact on both individual and community well-being, however, a growing body of research highlights disproportionate disparities among neighborhood locations. Accessible resources, clinics, programs, and other community infrastructure are some characteristics that promote a healthy local economy. Locations lacking these aspects are where concentrated areas of poverty are inclined to exist, which often, correlate to higher rates of basic needs and adverse health outcomes. As part of the Accountable Health Communities (AHC) project—a 5-year research study to bridge the gap between clinical and social providers to lower hospitalization and total cost …

Using Blood Biomarkers To Predict Traumatic Brain Injury, Rosol Hatim Mikail, Martin Schreiber

McNair Symposium

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a serious medical condition that needs a diagnosis to be treated. The neurological exam used for diagnosis is not able to detect all TBIs. Without a TBI diagnosis, a patient is not able to get the necessary medical care in time which could potentially lead to long-term brain damage and mortality. Some blood biomarkers have been investigated and found to have a correlation with TBI. Testing the blood is more accessible to diagnose TBI; this could connect the patient with further medical treatment when a TBI is suspected through the test. In this experiment, the …

Exploring The Impact Of Interpersonal Trust On Health Outcomes In Rapidly Gentrifying Neighborhoods In Portland, Oregon, Julie Ha, Yves Labissiere

McNair Symposium

Social determinants have been recognized to be significant factors contributing to the overall health outcomes of individuals. However, there is limited research on how these factors have directly impacted the mental and physical wellness of people in neighborhoods who are experiencing rapid gentrification. The objective of this study is to determine whether the level of interpersonal trust present between individuals in neighborhoods is associated with the mental and physical health outcomes among its residents. This quantitative study uses the Albina-Rockwood Neighborhood Promise Survey, which uses data from a random sample of families living in two rapidly gentrified neighborhoods in Portland, …

Efficacy Of Curcumin In Asthma: A Systematic Review And Meta Analysis, Tabitha Grow, Adam Sadowski

McNair Symposium

Over 23 million people are affected by asthma in the United States and 262 million individuals globally. Asthma, if poorly controlled, is associated with significant morbidity as well as increased risk for mortality. Asthma involves several complex inflammatory pathways and processes including an increase in immune cell activation. Curcumin, the active constituent found in turmeric, has been studied in numerous in-vivo and in-vitro studies to generate anti-inflammatory effects in pulmonary diseases and, more recently, an increase in clinical data has become available. Since the most recent review assessing the role of curcumin in pulmonary disorders, additional clinical trials have been …

Associations Of Hair Dye And Relaxer Use With Breast Tumor Clinicopathologic Features: Findings From The Women’S Circle Of Health Study, Rohan Rao, Jasmine A. Mcdonald, Emily Barrett, Patricia Greenberg, Dede K. Teteh, Susanne B. Montgomery, Bo Qin, Yong Lin, Chi-Chen Hong, Christine B. Ambrosone, Kitaw Demissie, Elisa V. Bandera, Adana A.M. Llanos

Health Sciences and Kinesiology Faculty Articles

Background

Building upon our earlier findings of significant associations between hair dye and relaxer use with increased breast cancer risk, we evaluated associations of select characteristics of use with breast tumor clinicopathology.

Methods

Using multivariable-adjusted models we examined the associations of interest in a case-only study of 2998 women with breast cancer, overall and stratified by race and estrogen receptor (ER) status, addressing multiple comparisons using Bonferroni correction.

Results

Compared to salon application of permanent hair dye, home kit and combination application (both salon and home kit application) were associated with increased odds of poorly differentiated tumors in the overall …

2021-08-11_Michigandaily_Covidmap, Michigan Department Of Health & Human Services

Daily Michigan COVID-19 Update

The "WHERE WE STAND WITH COVID-19" map was obtained from Michigan's main COVID-19 page: https://www.michigan.gov/coronavirus. Data was compiled by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS). The information was updated daily at 3p.m., Monday - Saturday.

The State of Michigan is working around the clock to test and treat COVID-19 patients. Below is the most recent data healthcare experts across the state have compiled.

The image contained a map, indicating total cases by county, and also provides statistics on Total Confirmed Cases, Total COVID-19 Deaths, Daily Confirmed Cases, and Daily COVID-19 Deaths. There …

2021-08-11_Michiganoverview_Covidstats, Michigan Department Of Health & Human Services

Cumulative Michigan COVID-19 Data

The COVID Overview page was obtained from Michigan's main COVID-19 page: https:/www.michigan.gov/coronavirus/0,9753,7-406-98163-520743--,00.html.

The State of Michigan is working around the clock to test and treat COVID-19 patients. Below is the most recent data healthcare experts across the state have compiled. COVID case and testing data will be posted three times a week on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.
This report is provisional and subject to change. City of Detroit and Wayne County are reported separately. MDHHS began tracking probable cases April 5, 2020. FCI indicates federal correctional institute. MDOC indicates Michigan Department of Corrections. Diagnostic tests, including nucleic acid amplification/real-time …

Environmental Influences On Pediatric Asthma: The Role Of Social Determinants Of Health In Costa Rica, Katherine Huber

Theses and Graduate Projects

Pediatric asthma is one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality among children worldwide. In Costa Rica, rates of childhood asthma are among the highest in the world. Many factors contribute to the rising prevalence of asthma, including increasing urbanization and westernization, indoor and outdoor air pollution, diet, and lifestyle. According to the WHO, air quality in Costa Rica is considered moderately unsafe, with a disproportionate exposure to air pollution in low-income urban areas. Social inequalities further contribute to the development and progression of asthma in Costa Rica. Children living in low socioeconomic neighborhoods have greater exposures to air …

The Increasing Role Of Pragmatic Clinical Trials And Real-World Data In Healthcare Research, Julio A. Ramirez, Ruth Carrico

The University of Louisville Journal of Respiratory Infections

No abstract provided.

2021-08-11_Michiganoverview_Covidbedppe, Michigan Department Of Health & Human Services

Michigan COVID-19 Hospital Data

Contains the tables Statewide Hospital Capacity Report for COVID-19, COVID-19 Metrics, Statewide Hospital Available PPE Tracking for COVID-19, as well as the tables PPE Days On Hand and Patient Census.