Public Health Commons^™

The Aging Ovary Stands On The Shoulders Of Giant Multinucleated Cells, Avery A Ahmed, Stephanie A Pangas

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Reproductive aging is associated with declining fertility and increasing inflammation, though these events are not well understood. An exciting new study in PLOS Biology utilizes cutting-edge technologies to characterize the role of multinucleated giant cells in ovarian aging.

Dietary Interventions To Support And Improve Sleep Disturbances And Insomnia Disorder In Menopause: From Bench To Bedside, Rosie H Musgrave, Sara Nowakowski, Tamlyn J Watermeyer, Emily J Arentson-Lantz, Greg J Elder

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Sleep is essential for maintaining physical and psychological health, and also cognitive health (referred to as 'brain health'). However, the transition to menopause has a direct impact upon sleep. Sleep disturbances are reported by approximately 40%-60% of menopausal women, and insomnia disorder is also prevalent. Diet-based interventions could potentially be used to improve subjective sleep quality in this population, and although there are several promising interventions which have been used in other groups that could be trialled, the evidence base is currently lacking. One particularly promising area for future research is that these interventions might be used alongside, or instead …

Core Domain Set For Chronic And/Or Recurrent Manifestations Of Calcium Pyrophosphate Deposition Disease: Omeract Delphi Survey To Establish Consensus, Yiling Zhang, Sara K Tedeschi, Abhishek Abhishek, Owen Hensey, David Grossberg, Ken Cai, Beverley Shea, Jasvinder A Singh, Robin Christensen, Teodora Serban, Edoardo Cipolletta, Konstantinos Parperis, Cesar Diaz-Torne, Geraldine M Mccarthy, Fabio Becce, Tamer A Gheita, Silvia Sirotti, Sara Nysom Christiansen, Luis Coronel, Lisa K Stamp, Yousra H Abdel-Fattah, Tristan Pascart, Georgios Filippou, Lih En Hong, John Fitzgerald, Nicola Dalbeth

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Objective: To agree on important domains for the Outcome Measures in Rheumatology (OMERACT) core domain set for chronic and/or recurrent manifestations of calcium pyrophosphate deposition (CPPD) disease.

Methods: Patient research partners (PRPs) and other participants (mainly clinicians and researchers) contributed to three rounds of a consensus survey using Delphi methodology. Consensus was defined if ≥70% of both patients and other participants scored the domain as 'critically important domain to include'. In a subsequent ranking exercise, all participants were asked to select and rank up to 10 of the domains reaching consensus.

Results: Fifteen domains reached consensus as critically important. Within …

Epidemiology Of Intestinal Parasite Infections And Multiparasitism And Their Impact On Growth And Hemoglobin Levels During Childhood In Tropical Ecuador: A Longitudinal Study Using Molecular Detection Methods, Rojelio Mejia, Irina Chis Ster, Martha E Chico, Irene Guadalupe, Andrea Arévalo-Cortés, Andrea Lopez, Aida Y Oviedo-Vera, Philip J Cooper

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Background: There are few longitudinal epidemiological studies of intestinal parasitic infections (IPI) and their health effects. We studied the epidemiology and determinants of IPI and multiparasitism during childhood using molecular methods for parasite detection and analysed their effects on growth and hemoglobin levels.

Methods: Random sample of 401 children from an Ecuadorian birth cohort followed up to 8 years of age. Data on environmental and sociodemographic characteristics were collected by questionnaires. Stool samples were collected, and weight, height, and hemoglobin levels were measured at 7 and 13 months, and 2, 3, 5, and 8 years. Stool samples were analysed using …

Aapm Task Group No 249b-Essentials And Guidelines For Clinical Medical Physics Residency Training Programs, Jonathon A Nye, Joseph P Dugas, William D Erwin, David P Gierga, Darryl G Kaurin, Stephanie M Leon, Ho-Ling Anthony Liu, Zheng Feng Lu, Alphonso W Magri, Lynn N Rill, Leah K Schubert, Beth A Schueler, Irina Vergalasova, John Vetter, Brian D Wichman, Amy Shu-Jung Yu, Dandan Zheng

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

The establishment of guidelines and curriculum standards for medical physics residency training is a critical component of setting expectations and competencies for the profession. Since the last publication of these standards, residency training has become integrated into the eligibility criteria for most medical physics certification bodies. The rapid growth of medical physics requires periodic review of the curriculum to remove outdated approaches, update established knowledge, and add emerging technologies. The goal of this document is to provide a reference standard for residency training program directors, training mentors, and residents to guide creation and/or optimization of their program's curriculum. The document …

Consumers' Perspectives On The Design Of A New Digital Frailty Education Course, ‘Focus On Frailty’: A Qualitative Co-Design Study, Kristiana Ludlow, Benignus Logan, Jhalak Arora, Sarah Martin, Elizabeth Miller, Ruth E. Hubbard, Nicola Warren, Olivia Gallagher, Rosemary Saunders

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Introduction: Frailty-focused care in hospitals is hindered by systemic barriers, ageism and stereotypes about older adults and frailty. There is a need for frailty education to increase healthcare professionals' and students' understanding of frailty. Objective: As part of a larger study to co-design a new digital frailty education course, ‘Focus on Frailty’, this study aimed to explore consumers' and caregivers' perspectives on (i) how frailty and older adults should be represented in frailty education and (ii) what healthcare professionals should be taught about caring for older adults and people who are frail in hospitals. Design: This was a qualitative co-design …

Implementation Of An Opt-Out And Rapid Point-Of-Care Syphilis Testing Program For Pregnant Patients Presenting To The Emergency Department, Irene Stafford, Carrie Bakunas, Joe Haydamous, Ana Mosqueda, Jeffrey D Klausner, Leandro Mena, Sean C Blackwell

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: Adult and congenital syphilis rates are rising in the United States. The aim of this pre- and post-implementation study was to determine whether implementation of an opt-out laboratory-based and rapid syphilis point-of-care testing program in the emergency department (ED) improves the detection and treatment of syphilis during pregnancy in a high-prevalence region.

Methods: This pre- and post-implementation study was conducted at the University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston, TX. During the pre-implementation phase (November 1, 2023-February 29, 2024), pregnant patients presenting to the ED underwent laboratory-based syphilis testing using the reverse algorithm only when clinically indicated. In the …

Geographic Inequalities, And Social-Demographic Determinants Of Reproductive, Maternal And Child Health At Sub-National Levels In Kenya, Janette Karimi, Anitah Cherono, Victor Alegana, Martin Mutua, Hellen Kiarie, Rose Muthee, Marleen Temmerman, Peter Gichangi

Centre of Excellence in Women and Child Health

Background; Global initiatives have emphasized tracking indicators to monitor progress, particularly in countries with the highest maternal and child mortality. Routine data can be used to monitor indicators for improved target setting at national and subnational levels. Our objective was to assess the geographic inequalities in estimates of reproductive, maternal and child health indicators from routine data at the subnational level in Kenya.

Methods; Monthly data from 47 counties clustered in 8 regions, from January 2018 to December 2021 were assembled from the District Health Information Software version 2 (DHIS2) in Kenya. This included women of reproductive age receiving family …

The Impact Of Implementing The Women's Reproductive Rights Agenda On Climate Change, Marleen Temmerman, Emilie Peeters, Celine Delacroix, Malachi Arunda, Sara Khalid, Claudia Hanson, Samuel Ojong

Centre of Excellence in Women and Child Health

The 1994 International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) established sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) as foundational to sustainable development. Thirty years later, advancing women's reproductive rights (WRR), encompassing agency, decision-making autonomy, and universal access to family planning—remains critical not only for health and gender equity but also for mitigating environmental degradation. By reducing unintended pregnancies and empowering women to align childbearing with personal and ecological capacity, WRR alleviates ecological stressors such as deforestation while enhancing health resilience in climate-vulnerable communities. Yet, despite well-documented linkages between population dynamics and environmental change, contemporary climate policies and funding mechanisms persistently …

Can Tanzanian Neurosurgeons Access Tanzanian Neurosurgical Literature? A Systematic Review And Survey Of Neurosurgical Publications, Sabas Romani R, Woodfield Julie, Ikwuegbuenyi Chibuikem Anthony, Cadieux Magalie, Shayo Consolata, Shabhay Zarina, Rabiel Happiness, Beverly Cheserem, Bwemelo Joel, Wright Drew N

General Surgery, East Africa

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Free and open access to research data and findings promotes equity in access to healthcare knowledge and equity in patient care and treatment. To benefit the health care of the population studied, research findings must be accessible to clinicians, academics, and policymakers serving those populations. The aim of this study was to assess the extent of published Tanzanian neurosurgical data and its accessibility to those practicing within the country.

METHODS: A systematic review of all published neurosurgical studies from Tanzania was conducted. Authorship, funding, and open-access status were recorded. Tanzanian neurosurgeons were surveyed by telephone …

Epidemiology Of Shigella Species And Serotypes In Children: A Retrospective Substudy Of The Mal-Ed Observational Birth Cohort Study, Elizabeth T. Rogawski Mcquade, Jie Liu, Mustafa Mahfuz, Alexandre Havt, Furqan Kabir, Adil Kalam, Fatima Aziz, Sahrish Muneer, Najeeha Talat Iqbal, Zulfiqar Ahmed Bhutta

Department of Paediatrics and Child Health

Background: Shigellosis is a leading cause of diarrhoea in children globally. We aimed to assess the burden of specific Shigella species and Shigella flexneri serotypes, characterise their clinical syndromes and natural immunity, and evaluate their relevance as causes of diarrhoea and linear growth faltering.
Methods: In the MAL-ED birth cohort study, children younger than 17 days were enrolled from Nov 3, 2009, to Feb 29, 2012, in Bangladesh, Brazil, India, Nepal, Pakistan, Peru, Tanzania, and South Africa and were followed up for 2 years. In this retrospective substudy, we retested Shigella quantitative PCR-positive diarrhoeal and non-diarrhoeal stool samples with molecular …

A Farewell Message, Misty L. Rhoads

Journal of Transformative Touch

No abstract provided.

Determinants Of Teenage Pregnancy In Tanzania, Harun Yussuf Ayoub, Kemal Nazaruddin Siregar

Jurnal Biostatistik, Kependudukan, dan Informatika Kesehatan

Teenage pregnancies are among the leading public health problems in Tanzania. This was linked to limited education, socioeconomic disparities, cultural barriers, and inadequate access to healthcare centers. Thus, this study aims to explore the prevalence and predictors of teenage pregnancy among adolescent women using data from the 2022-2023 Tanzanian Demographic Health Survey (TDHS). The research design employed a cross-sectional approach and utilized TDHS data. The population for this study was female adolescents, while the sample was 7,545 adolescent women aged 15-24 years. Predictor variables were education level, socioeconomic status, place of residence, employment status, and lifestyle factors, including alcohol consumption …

High Prevalence Of Diabetes Mellitus Among Patients With Fabry Disease In Taiwan: A Cross-Sectional Study, Shih Han Hung, Sudha Xirasagar Mbbs., Ph.D, Yen Fu Cheng, Herng Ching Lin, Chin Shyan Chen

Publications

Objectives This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of diabetes mellitus in patients with Fabry disease using a nationwide population-based dataset. We hypothesised that patients with Fabry disease would have a higher prevalence of diabetes mellitus compared with the general population. Design A cross-sectional study. Setting Taiwan. Participants We identified a study sample from Taiwan's LHID2010 Database. There were 9408 sampled patients in this study, 2352 study patients with Fabry disease and 7056 propensity-score-matched comparison patients. Primary outcome measures Multiple logistic regression analyses were conducted to explore the association between diabetes mellitus and Fabry disease after taking the variables of …

Investigating The Associations Of Cognitive Health, Health Behaviors, And Personality In Older Community-Dwelling Adults, Yan-Jhu Su

Graduate Doctoral Dissertations

Cognitive decline poses a significant public health challenge, with profound implications for aging populations. This dissertation investigates the associations between health behaviors, leisure activities, personality traits, and cognitive function in older U.S. adults, using data from the Health and Retirement Study (HRS) and the Consumption and Activities Mail Survey (CAMS). This work comprises three studies that explore both cross-sectional and longitudinal perspectives on cognitive aging.

Study 1 examines the complex interactions between personality traits, education, health behaviors, and cognitive function. The study is divided into two parts: Study 1a explores the role of health behaviors—smoking, alcohol use, and physical activity—as …

Prosthesis, Alexander A. Grosek

Masters Theses

This thesis explores the hospital as a prosthetic—a structural and spatial support for the human body in moments of vulnerability. Like a crutch or cast, the hospital temporarily supports patients in their transition from horizontal (infirm) to vertical (mobile), yet its architecture often fails to contribute meaningfully to that healing process. While clinical treatment is prioritized, the spatial, emotional, and sensory dimensions of care are neglected. What supports what becomes a central question: the building holds the body, but the body also gives meaning to the building. Their relationship is reciprocal.

Rather than proving that good design improves health—an idea …

Development Of Audiovisual Media For Reproductive Health Education For Parents Of Adolescents, Tanjung Anitasari Indah Kusumaningrum, Nurul Latifatul Inayati, Setia Asyanti, Ayu Khoirotul Umaroh, Wardhatul Livia, Ramadani Nur Laili, Trijaya Trijaya, Ririn Cahya Dewanti, Yuli Kusumawati, Izzatul Arifah

Kesmas

Parents are the primary source of information for adolescents, but many parents lack an understanding of health materials. For knowledge to be increased, health media, one of which is audiovisual media, are desirable. This study aimed to develop audiovisual media on adolescents’ reproductive health. Media development utilized the analyze, design, develop, implement, and evaluate (ADDIE) model. The respondents in this study were parents of adolescents aged 10–14 years, comprising 10 parents in the small group evaluation, 20 in the field evaluation, and 10 in the implementation stage. The effectiveness of the media was tested through pretests and posttests. Using a …

Social Eating Role In Ultra-Processed Food Consumption Among Urban Young Adults: The 2018 Indonesian Food Barometer, Imas Arumsari, Nabilla Ayusyah Putri, Siti Nur Lulu Lathifah, Gita Aisyah Astrid Rosalba, Helda Khusun, Judhiastuty Februhartanty, Rahmatika Nur Aini

Kesmas

This study investigated the differences in ultra-processed food (UPF), fruit, vegetable, and total fat consumption in different aspects of social eating among urban young adults. This cross-sectional study used the 2018 Indonesian Food Barometer dataset with 180 participants aged 18–25 years living in urban areas from 6 provinces in Indonesia. The data on social eating (cooking habits, eating out, and eating alone), UPF, fruits, and vegetables were obtained from an extended 24-hour food recall interview. The Mann-Whitney U test (CI 95%) was employed for data analysis. This study found that groups with less frequent cooking habits tended to have more …

Job Satisfaction Among Health Workers At Primary Health Care In Palembang City, Indonesia, Asmaripa Ainy, Merri Nurmala Sarri, Poppy Fujiyanti, Hartati Inaku, Tannia Tembo

Kesmas

Health workers at primary health care are the frontline providers of community health services. This study aimed to investigate the level of job satisfaction of health workers at primary health care in Palembang City, South Sumatra Province, Indonesia, and its influencing factors. Using a questionnaire developed by the authors' team, the study involved 257 samples. A total of 66.15% of respondents indicated high satisfaction, 21.79% reported moderate satisfaction, and 12.06% expressed dissatisfaction. A statistically significant correlation was found between knowledge, skills, income, promotion opportunities, work supervision, and relationships with colleagues and job satisfaction (p-value <0.001). The correlations were strong, with Spearman's rho of 0.822, 0.869, 0.912, 0.895, and 0.821, respectively. Statistical analysis of the Wilcoxon rank-sum and Kruskal-Wallis tests showed no significant differences in median satisfaction scores between sociodemographic groups (p-value 0.072 to 0.552>0.05). These findings showed that job …

Assessing The Impact Of The First Feeding Practice On Wasting Risk Among Indonesian Children Under The Age Of Five, Azrimaidaliza Azrimaidaliza, Annisa Dwi Apriliani, Mutiara Tirta Prabandari Lintang Kusuma

Kesmas

The problem of undernutrition among children under the age of five (the under-five) continues to be alarmingly high in Indonesia, including in West Sumatra Province. Various factors contribute to this issue, with studies suggesting a relationship between intergenerational causes and undernutrition. This study analyzed the main risk factors of wasting among children in Padang City. Data were collected from 174 under-five and divided into unmatched cases that were selected randomly and control groups. The mothers were interviewed using a questionnaire regarding their children’s feeding habits, and weight and height data were collected from primary health care. Multiple logistic regression analysis …

Factors Associated With Caregivers' Concern In Maintaining The Oral Function Of Elderly Living In Long-Term Care Facilities, Susiana Nugraha, Tri Budi Wahyuni Rahardjo, Misako Higashijima, Yuko Hirano

Kesmas

This study investigated the attentiveness of elderly caregivers in long-term care facilities in maintaining oral function. A cross-sectional approach was used to achieve the study's purpose. The sample size formula accounted for 213 caregivers randomly selected from 18 long-term care facilities in 4 provinces. A self-reported questionnaire of sociodemographic characteristics and an adapted Leopold’s oral care checklist was distributed. The average age of study participants was 35.24 (±11.2 SD; aged 18–70 years), dominated by females (62.9%), and only 39% had experienced long-term care training. Multiple linear regression analysis indicated that younger caregivers likely pay more attention in the swallowing periods …

Risk Factors Associated With Long Covid Among Hospitalized Adults In Several Hospitals In Palembang City, Indonesia, Hotma Martogi Lorensi Hutapea, Mondastri Korib Sudaryo, Arli Aditya Parikesit, Tri Yunis Miko Wahyono, Nelda Aprilia Salim

Kesmas

Long COVID is characterized by one or more symptoms experienced by individuals prior to a COVID-19 infection that last for ≥2 months, and its risk factors remain unclear. This study aimed to identify risk factors associated with long COVID among patients admitted between June 1, 2020, and October 31, 2023, at three referral COVID-19 hospitals in Palembang City, Indonesia. This cohort study included adults who were admitted for ≥5 days. The participant’s medical records were reviewed for admission and discharge dates, sociodemographic and clinical characteristics, and vaccination and therapy status. A standardized and validated instrument was used to assess fatigue …

Machine Learning For Preeclampsia Prediction: Enhancing Screening In Primary Health Care, Dwirani Amelia, Asri Adisasmita, Kemal N. Siregar, Detty Siti Nurdiati

Kesmas

Preeclampsia is a leading cause of maternal morbidity and mortality worldwide, with early detection being critical for reducing adverse outcomes. This study aimed to develop a machine learning model for predicting the risk of preeclampsia using readily available maternal characteristics such as body mass index, mean arterial pressure, and clinical history of hypertension or diabetes mellitus. Secondary data from 2,250 pregnancies were analyzed, addressing challenges such as missing data and class imbalance through preprocessing. Various algorithms, including support vector machines, random forest, and logistic regression, were evaluated. Herein, a support vector machines model with threshold adjustment showed the best performance, …

Availability And Distribution Of Stoma Bags For Colorectal Cancer Patients: A Case Study At National Referral And Private Hospitals, Ratna Aryani, Toar Jm Lalisang, Debie Dahlia, Evi Martha, Achir Yani S Hamid, Sukma Wicaturatmashudi, Helen Helen

Kesmas

Stoma bags are essential for colorectal cancer (CRC) patients with stomas. However, access and affordability in Indonesia remain challenging as the National Health Insurance (NHI) does not fully cover these devices. This study aimed to describe the availability and distribution of stoma bags for patients with CRC in national referral and private hospitals, focusing on outpatient access. A qualitative case study was conducted through observations and in-depth interviews with four enterostomal therapy nurses and six patients across three national referral hospitals and one private hospital in the Jakarta Metropolitan Area, Indonesia. Notably, the availability of stoma bags was limited in …

Secreted Phosphoprotein 1 In Lung Diseases, Hongli Liu, Cristian Coarfa, Arzoo N Charania, Jennifer L Larson-Casey, Ivan O Rosas, Chao He

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Secreted phosphoprotein 1 (SPP1), also known as osteopontin (OPN) or early T lymphocyte activation protein 1 (ETA-1), is a multifunctional protein involved in numerous biological processes, including immune modulation, stress response, and tissue remodeling. The role of SPP1 in interstitial lung diseases (ILDs) has become an area of increasing interest, given its elevated expression in various ILDs such as idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), connective tissue disease-associated ILD (CTD-ILD), and pneumoconiosis, especially with recent data derived from single-cell RNA sequencing. In addition to ILDs, SPP1 has been implicated in infectious granulomatous lung diseases, lung and pleural malignancies, airway diseases, and COVID-19. …

Understanding Occupational Health And Safety Regulations And The Influence On Students' Behavior In Practical Workshops, M. Yusuf, I Ketut Gde Juli Suarbawa, Ni Wayan Merda Surya Dewi, Ni Wayan Sadiyani, I Made Sudana

Kesmas

Understanding occupational health and safety (OHS) is essential for engineering students, especially in high-risk environments such as mechanical workshops, where unsafe practices can lead to accidents and injuries. Although Regulation Number 5 of 2018 from the Indonesian Ministry of Manpower mandates OHS implementation in all workplaces, students’ knowledge and behavior still fall short of the expected safety standards. This study aimed to measure students’ understanding of OHS, their basic knowledge of OHS law, and their behavior during workshop practicum activities. A cross-sectional research design was used, involving 203 students in State Polytechnic in Badung District, Indonesia. Data were collected through …

Food Hygiene And Sanitation Of The University Canteens In South Sumatra Province, Indonesia, Anita Rahmiwati, Fatmalina Febry, Fenny Etrawati, Indah Purnama Sari, Yeni Yeni, Virgina Putri Sabila, Erike Septa Prautami, Maretalinia Maretalinia

Kesmas

Food safety is a critical public health issue, especially in institutional settings such as university canteens, where large populations are served daily. Inadequate hygiene and sanitation practices by food handlers can lead to foodborne illnesses, placing students and staff at risk. This study evaluated hygiene and sanitation conditions in the canteens of a leading public university in South Sumatra Province, Indonesia, known for its active food service facilities. This study examined food handlers’ knowledge, attitudes, and practices and assessed the microbiological safety of chicken curry by testing for Escherichia coli (E. coli) contamination and total plate count. Using a cross-sectional …

Enhancing Colorectal Cancer Screening Awareness In A Primary Care Clinic Through Visual Aids And Posters: A Quality Improvement Initiative, Austin W. Wheeler Md

Quality Improvement & Patient Safety Forum

No abstract provided.

Improving Rsv Vaccination Rates In The Resident Clinic With Rsv Vaccination Campaign, Allen Byl Do, Ilija Zecevic Md, Hannah Porter Md

Quality Improvement & Patient Safety Forum

No abstract provided.

From Shrugs To Skills: Mastering The Shoulder Exam In The Family Medicine Clinic, Thomas Vu Md, Arden Lagrone Md, Patrick Orange Md, Raquelle Collins Md

Quality Improvement & Patient Safety Forum

No abstract provided.