Community Health and Preventive Medicine Commons^™

Diabetes And Hypertension Frequencies And Trends In The Health Districts Of Sololá, Alejandro Cerón, Sophie Perfetto, Ana Textor, Sidona Alemayehu, Emilia Alvear Escobar, Adele Beard, Sarah Berson, Rachel Bryant, Jennifer Calzontzi, Rylee Castro, Eva Cress Palencia, Jake Czarnecki, Jordyn Epstein, Nikki Harris, Patience Hinojos, Max Hippisley, Erin House, Jackson Hullett, Nathan Johnson, Amelie King, Saule Lankelyte, Juan Loya, Ashley Mackenzie, Ilana Mighdoll, Molly Morrill, Maria De Jesus Ramos Jimenez, Lilly Teklemedhin, Joseph Trujillo, Lauren Verachtert, Nathan Verachtert, Violet Vreeland, Alex Welch, Jada Wright

Anthropology: Undergraduate Student Scholarship

This report was prepared by the students, Graduate Teaching Assistants, and instructor of “The Social Determination of Health” class taught in the fall of 2025 at the University of Denver. The report was prepared for Dr. Luis Pablo Méndez, of the Vice Ministry of Health Regulation, Surveillance and Control, of the Ministry of Public Health and Social Assistance of Guatemala. The work used the following guiding question: How can available data about service production can be used to inform the planning process for the implementation of the Global Hearts Initiative’s HEARTS technical package in the Distrito de Redes Integradas de …

Across The Pond, Across The Waistline: A Comparative Look At The Childhood Obesity Crisis In The United States And United Kingdom, Samantha N. Eales

Honors College Theses

Childhood obesity is no longer just a local concern; it’s a global epidemic shaping the health of future generations. This paper compares how two similar nations with drastically different healthcare systems, the United States and the United Kingdom, tackle this growing crisis. Although both countries struggle with fast food culture, sedentary lifestyles, and targeted marketing, their health policy strategies differ dramatically. The U.S. leans on community programs and education, while the U.K. enforces stronger national regulations and advertising restrictions. By examining nutrition, physical activity, and policy, this thesis explores what each country does well and where they fall short. It …

A Quantitative Exploration Of Risk And Protective Factors Affecting The Mental Health Of Chitimacha Tribal Youth, Daphnie Vilcan-Tanner

University of New Orleans Theses and Dissertations

This study examines the relationships between demographics, risk factors, and protective factors with mental distress among Chitimacha Tribal adolescents aged 12 to 18. Using a Positive Youth Development framework, the research aimed to identify the prevalence of mental distress, trauma, discrimination, and protective factors, as well as their collective and individual impacts on mental health. Data were collected through online surveys completed by 73 participants residing on or near the Chitimacha Tribal Reservation. Descriptive statistics and multiple linear regression analyses were conducted to analyze the data. Results revealed that while trauma and discrimination collectively predicted mental distress, family and community …

Evaluating Parent Workshops To Reduce Sexual Health Misinformation, Marshall Farrior

Capstone Projects and Master's Theses

This capstone project addressed the problem of sexual health misinformation among youth in Santa Cruz County, which stems from cultural factors, limited parental communication, and inadequate comprehensive sexual health education. Implemented through the Santa Cruz County Public Health Department’s Teen Health Outreach (THO) program, the project evaluated the effectiveness of parent workshops designed to build the capacity of adults’ knowledge and confidence to discuss sexual and reproductive health topics with youth. Serving primarily Hispanic/Latino communities in Watsonville and Freedom, THO collaborates with local schools and organizations to deliver workshops. The intervention aimed to reduce misinformation by empowering parents as trusted …

Identifying Barriers For Community Pharmacies As Vaccines For Children (Vfc) Providers In Rural Alabama: Opportunities For Solutions, Myra Bajwa

Honors Theses

Significant Human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination disparities exist between rural and urban areas in the US. A primary contributor is low access to preventive care in rural areas. Among the most promising strategies to overcome this is increasing access through offering HPV vaccination in non-traditional, convenient health settings such as pharmacies. In rural areas, community pharmacies are trusted, convenient pillars of the community. In Alabama, community pharmacies are eligible for enrollment in the Vaccines for Children (VFC) Program, a federally-funded program that provides free vaccines to children and adolescents under 18 years old who are uninsured, underinsured, American Indian, or Alaska …

Impact In Action: Your Michigan Dental Association Foundation, Anne Berquist

The Journal of the Michigan Dental Association

The Michigan Dental Association (MDA) Foundation, a 501(c)3 non-profit, works to promote better dental health and support the future dental workforce through educational scholarships. The Foundation’s impact is increasing yearly, evidenced by a 42% increase in scholarship awards in 2024, providing $44,000 to 15 recipients. It also provides grants to statewide organizations delivering dental care to uninsured, impoverished, and underserved populations, awarding $141,500 in 2025. A high-profile program is the biannual Michigan Mission of Mercy (MOM), which provided over $1.1 million in donated care in Flint in 2024. Support is generated through various fundraisers, including the Year-End Fundraising Campaign.

Tricounty Vaccine Improvement Program (Tc-Vip): Enhancing Vaccine Confidence And Uptake In Rural Utah, Aaron Hunt, Yvette Rea, Annalyz Castro

Outcomes and Impact Quarterly

The Utah State University Extension TriCounty Vaccine Improvement Program addressed low rural vaccination rates across a three-county area through bilingual social media campaigns, health fairs, training in motivational interviewing, and neuromarketing. Evaluation results showed improved skills, broad community reach, and positive participant feedback, demonstrating a replicable model to reduce vaccine hesitancy and strengthen rural health systems.

Young Adults And Early-Onset Psychosis: A Grounded Theory Study Of Experiences Of Identity Development, Katherine Hayden-Lewis, Deborah Rubel

The Qualitative Report

While identity development is a crucial task for young individuals ages 15-25, current research inadequately centralizes identity development in the context of first-time psychosis related to schizophrenia spectrum disorders. This study addresses the knowledge gap by exploring the grand research question, “How does a young person experience their identity development after the first episode of psychosis?”. Constructivist grounded theory methods influenced by critical frameworks were used to collect and analyze data with seven young adults engaged in first episode psychosis programs. Participants were young adults, between the ages of 19-24, that at the time of the study were enrolled in …

Assessing Hesitancy Towards Paediatric Vaccines Among Healthcare Professionals: A Descriptive Cross-Sectional Study From The United Arab Emirates, Drishti D. Kampani, Kamel A. Samara, Mohammed Mahfouz, Ahmad Hisham Al-Anoud, Amna Basel Al-Beer, Humaid Altaheri, Hiba Jawdat Barqawi, Eman Abu-Gharbieh

Abington Jefferson Health Papers

BACKGROUND: Vaccination is one of the most effective public health interventions, preventing millions of deaths globally. However, vaccine hesitancy persists, not only among the public, but also among healthcare professionals (HCPs), who serve as key sources of vaccine information. This study assesses HCPs' vaccination attitudes and estimates the prevalence and determinants of vaccine hesitancy in the UAE.

DESIGN AND METHODS: This cross-sectional, descriptive study surveyed HCPs across the UAE from March to October 2024 using a 57-item questionnaire adapted from previous literature. Univariate, bivariate (chi-squared test), and multivariate (logistic regression) analyses were conducted.

RESULTS: HCPs demonstrated generally positive attitudes towards …

Development And Applications Of A Health Equity Summary Score Using The Medical Expenditure Panel Survey, Ronald R. Sanchez

Dissertations and Theses

Despite sustained national efforts, disparities in healthcare delivery persist among racial and ethnic minorities, low-income individuals, and socially at-risk populations. Monitoring modifiable aspects of care delivery, such as the structures and processes that health systems can directly improve, is a key strategy for addressing these gaps. However, most measures evaluate modifiable aspects of care delivery separately, limiting understanding of how improvements in one domain reinforce the other and how their combined effect influences equitable care.

This dissertation addresses this gap by combining patient experience and clinical quality, two modifiable aspects of care that captures how patients interact with the health …

Understanding The U.S. Maternal Healthcare System At The Intersection Of Asian American Birth Outcomes And The Model Minority Stereotype: A Literature Review, Sophia Hevel

University Honors Theses

This thesis aims to explore the maternal healthcare system in the United States as it pertains to Asian American birthing people, the ways in which their racial, ethnic, and cultural identities are interacted with within the U.S. Healthcare system, and subsequently the detrimental effects of the medical system's devaluation of culturally specific birthing and postpartum practices have on Asian American birthing experiences. This will be accomplished through an exploration of the United States' maternal healthcare system, or rather, its crisis; how Asian Americans navigate a system that has not been structured to support their specific needs; and lastly, a discussion …

Exploring The Acceptability Of The Kimberley Mum’S Mood Scale For Perinatal Mental Health Screening In Gove District Hospital, North-East Arnhem Land, Tom P. Atkinson, Erica P. Spry, David Atkinson, Julia V. Marley, Emma Carlin

Journal of the Australian Indigenous HealthInfoNet

Objective: Across Australia perinatal mental health challenges disproportionately impact Aboriginal women. Identifying Aboriginal women at risk of adverse mental health outcomes in the perinatal period is an important step in supporting their overall health and wellness. Current screening tools have significant limitations when used with Aboriginal women.

The Kimberley Mums Mood Scale (KMMS) is a culturally secure approach to screening for perinatal mental health disorders in Aboriginal women. It has been validated in the Kimberley region of Western Australia and may be able to improve mental health screening in other regions. In this study the KMMS was trialled at a …

Band-Aids And Backroads: Surviving Rural Healthcare In South-Central Mississippi, Cambry L. Craft

Honors Theses

Health is more than the absence of disease—it is the product of opportunity, trust, and access. Yet for millions living in rural areas of the United States, equitable healthcare remains out of reach. This thesis seeks to amplify the voices of rural residents in Mississippi and uncover how their experiences, beliefs, and cultural values shape their perception of their local hospital and the care that is provided there. This qualitative research study examines the experiences and opinions of a rural community in south-central Mississippi regarding their local hospital, as well as their perceptions of the most effective approach to prevent …

From Urban Models To Rural Realities: Adapting Hepatitis C (Hcv) Care For Underserved Communities, Caitlin A. Mccain

2025 Fall Honors Capstones Projects - Archive

This literature review examines how Hepatitis C (HCV) screening and care programs can better serve underserved populations, particularly Spanish-speaking rural communities in border states. The research supports the Hep C- Colonias Advancing & Restoring Esperanza (C.A.R.E) program’s mission by incorporating recent findings from 32 studies gathered through PubMed, Medline and Google Scholar. Hep C C.A.R.E expanded from the HepVISTA expansion project provides HCV screening, education, vaccination and linkage to care for uninsured patients at partner sites in Laredo and Maverick County. Results indicate that while HCV elimination is feasible, significant gaps persist among rural uninsured and minority populations. Effective strategies …

Mapping Respiratory Health Digital Interventions In South And Southeast Asia: A Scoping Review, Laura Evans, Jay Evans, Paul Barach, Adina Abdullah, Zakiuddin Ahmed, Respire Collaboration

College of Population Health Faculty Papers

BACKGROUND: The growing burden of respiratory disease, particularly in Asia, where mortality is higher and awareness and policy engagement lag, could be mitigated through rapidly advancing digital health tools that offer opportunities for improved management, prevention, and personal health empowerment. We aimed to map the existing evidence, technologies, opportunities, and gaps related to respiratory digital health interventions in South and Southeast Asia and propose relevant recommendations.

METHODS: We used a scoping review methodology, where we searched MEDLINE, Embase, CINAHL, PsycINFO, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, PakMediNet, and MyMedR along with grey literature databases (ProQuest Thesis and Dissertations, Digital Health Atlas, …

Applying The One Health Approach To Study The Policy And Institutional Determinants To Control And Prevent Zoonoses In A Low-Resource Setting, Lisset Dumet, Erin S. Kenzie, Veronika Merino, Vanessa Cruz, Ruth Atto, Percy Vilchez, Seth O'Neal, Julia Goodman

OHSU-PSU School of Public Health Faculty Publications and Presentations

Zoonoses - diseases transmitted between animals and people - disproportionally affect low-resource countries (LRCs). The complex nature of zoonoses adds substantial barriers to implementing multisectoral policies to address them. Research on the policy process could help illuminate the significant factors influencing policy change among the complex systems involved in managing zoonoses. We applied the One Health (OH) approach to describe the policy process among the systems involved in preventing and controlling zoonoses in Peru. The study's purpose is to (1) describe the priority-making process and the driving or limiting factors, (2) describe the process for selecting policy solutions and (3) …

Increasing Pediatric Hpv Vaccination Rates, Brooke A. Nicholas

Dissertations

Increasing Pediatric HPV Vaccination Rates

Abstract

Problem: The human papillomavirus (HPV) is a sexually transmitted infection that affects more than 80% of the population within the United States (Eisenhauer et al., 2020). HPV can develop into cervical, anogenital, and oropharyngeal cancers (Eisenhauer et al., 2020). About 4,000 individuals die from cervical cancer alone each year (O’Leary, 2022). The HPV vaccine, though recommended by the ACIP and AAP, is below national vaccination rates in comparison to other vaccines (O’Leary, 2022).

Methods: This quality improvement project is a non-randomized controlled trial that observed HPV vaccine dose completion rates for patients aged 9-14 …

Validation Of A Risk Score For Cancer-Associated Thrombosis Using Nationwide Ehr Data, Ang Li, Omid Jafari, Barbara D Lam, Jun Y Jiang, Rock Bum Kim, Shengling Ma, Emily Zhou, Joyce W Tiong, Elizabeth C Chiang, Justine Ryu, Christopher I Amos, Jennifer La, Nathanael R Fillmore

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Importance: Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is associated with increased mortality and morbidity in patients with cancer. Existing risk prediction models are typically validated within individual sites, a fragmented approach that limits clinical adoption.

Objective: To validate the electronic health record cancer-associated thrombosis (EHR-CAT) score compared with the benchmark Khorana score in a contemporary cohort of patients with cancer across the nation, before and after treatment, excluding those at high risk of bleeding.

Design, setting, and participants: This prognostic study included patients in a nationwide longitudinal EHR database from January 2018 to December 2023 with follow-up continuing to April 2025. Patients with …

The Battle Over Water Fluoridation Comes To New York City: Organized Dentistry Is Quick To Respond To Ill-Conceived Effort To End 60-Year Practice And Vows To Stay With It Until The Threat Passes., Lance Plunkett Jd, Llm

The New York State Dental Journal

Water fluoridation has been experiencing its woes lately, beset by an adverse court decision, questionable science, collapsing federal public health priorities and public suspicion often fueled by hysteria. Against all this, New York City stood strong as a pioneering large municipality safely fluoridating its water since 1965 for the benefit of the public and reducing dental caries significantly over decades.

From Listening To Action: Building Effective Community-Academic Partnerships In Environmental Health [Lightning Talk], Dani Mcbride

University Faculty Publications and Creative Works

The slides from a lightning talk given at the Michigan Premier Public Health Conference in Muskegon, MI on October 28, 2025.

Community Factors And County-Level Cancer Screening, Prevalence, And Mortality, Alexandra R. Drake, Eric W. Christensen, Augusto C. Ochoa, William Small, Jinel Scott, Elizabeth Y. Rula

School of Medicine Faculty Publications

IMPORTANCE Cancer screening, prevalence, and mortality vary across US counties; the broad set of community factors associated with these differences are not well understood. OBJECTIVE To assess the relative importance of diverse community measures for explaining county-level variance in cancer screening, prevalence, and mortality rates for breast, colorectal, lung, and prostate cancers. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS This geospatial cross-sectional analysis across all US counties used random forest algorithms to estimate the relative importance of 24 community measures—including health behaviors and lifestyle, socioeconomic, and environment factors—as explanatory factors for cancer screening, prevalence, and mortality. For each cancer, county-level cancer screening and …

Eye On The Prize: Expanding Student Awareness Of Optometry As A Profession, Lorena Flores-Hernandez

MedEd Teaching Certificate Program

The proposed Doctor of Optometry program at UTRGV has the potential to positively enhance the ocular health of our communities. Implementing an outreach program highlighting a career path in optometry will be essential for the future of eyecare in the Rio Grande Valley.

According to data from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, the optometric workforce is projected to grow over the next decade. The increased demand for optometrists is related to multiple factors including an aging population with chronic diseases and a nationwide shortage of ophthalmology practitioners.

Nationally, the Optometry Gives Me Life campaign, launched by the Association of …

Silent Signals: Human Trafficking And The Dental Professional’S Duty To Act, Pamela Zarkowski

Journal of the American College of Dentists

Human trafficking is a global public health and human rights crisis that includes forced labor and commercial sexual exploitation. Dental professionals are uniquely positioned to recognize signs of trafficking, as many victims encounter healthcare settings, including dental offices, during their exploitation. This article introduces the types and prevalence of trafficking, outlines legal and ethical responsibilities, and provides clinical red flags, case scenarios, and actionable strategies for screening and reporting. Myths that hinder detection are also addressed. By recognizing their ethical duty to protect vulnerable patients, dental professionals can become vital allies in the identification and support of trafficking survivors.

21st-Century Dental Public Health: Revisiting The Role Of Community Water Fluoridation, Larry Williams, Preetha Kanjirath

Journal of the American College of Dentists

Community water fluoridation (CWF) has been celebrated as a major public health achievement, significantly reducing dental caries and narrowing oral health disparities. While historically effective, today’s fluoride exposure landscape has shifted, with multiple sources contributing to cumulative intake. This article reviews the scientific foundation, mechanisms of action, public health benefits, and ethical considerations surrounding CWF, alongside real-world outcomes from policy reversals. It examines contemporary concerns, including potential neurodevelopmental risks and vulnerable populations, and calls for recalibrated policies that maintain caries prevention benefits while monitoring total fluoride exposure to ensure safety in modern contexts.

Ethical Dilemmas Surrounding Community Water Fluoridation, Roopwant Kaur, Herminio Perez, Mark Moss

Journal of the American College of Dentists

Since the 1950s, community water fluoridation (CWF) has stood as a cornerstone of dental public health. However, a growing amount of public scrutiny necessitates reflection on the ethical basis for coming to a firm position on the topic. Aside from CWF, fluoride in the form of ingestible supplements has recently been identified as a concern by the US Food and Drug Administration. Indeed, it is challenging to wade through the facts, opinions, misinformation, and policy shifts. This article examines the ethical dilemmas that surround CWF through the lens of the American Dental Association (ADA) Principles of Ethics and Code of …

J Am Coll Dent 2025 92 1

Journal of the American College of Dentists

The Journal of the American College of Dentists (JACD) publishes scholarly articles, editorials, essays, and reflections addressing the ethical, professional, and social dimensions of dentistry. The Journal serves as a forum for advancing ethics, professionalism, leadership, and excellence within the dental community. By fostering dialogue across disciplines and perspectives, JACD provides readers with insights that encourage ethical, professional practice, lifelong learning, and service to the public, reinforcing dentistry’s commitment to advancing oral healthcare and the common good.

Housing Insecurity Is Associated With Higher Utilization Of Acute Care Services Among Oregon Health Plan Members With Behavioral Health Conditions, Megan Holtorf, Cat Livingston

Articles, Abstracts, and Reports

No abstract provided.

Addressing Housing As A Health-Related Social Need: Insights And Impacts From Health Share’S Housing Benefit Pilot Program, Monique Gill, Benjamin Gronowski, Megan Holtorf

Articles, Abstracts, and Reports

No abstract provided.

Predictors Of Parental Behavior And Child Weight Status, Fidelia Senayah, Heba M. Athar, Allison G. Litton

Journal of Social, Behavioral, and Health Sciences

Childhood obesity is a major health issue globally. The prevalence rate remains high in Ohio, with associated complications among affected children and adolescents. The current study examined the association among obesity risk knowledge, risk perception, feeding behavior, and child weight outcome while controlling for race, gender, income, and education. We collected quantitative data through an online survey of parents in Northwest Ohio (n = 71) using the obesity risk knowledge scale and factors from the Child Feeding Questionnaire. We analyzed data using multiple linear regression. The primary outcome measures were feeding behavior and child weight status. Parental obesity risk …

Assessment Of Microbial Contamination On High-Touch Public Surfaces And Its Implications For Community Health: A Cross-Sectional Study From Urban South India, Muhammed Suhail S

Journal Of Indian Physician Associates

Objectives High-contact public surfaces, such as bus seatbacks, mall escalator belts, and theater armrests, may act as reservoirs of opportunistic and antimicrobial-resistant microorganisms, posing a significant but underreported risk to community health. In urban environments like Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, surface-level microbial surveillance remains poorly characterized. This study aimed to assess the magnitude, composition, and density of microbial contaminants on commonly touched surfaces across transit and commercial hubs.

Methods A total of 30 surface swab samples were collected from five public locations, including intra-city TNSTC buses, inter-state SETC coaches, Brookfields Mall escalator handrails, multiplex theaters and local bus seat-grips. Standardized 25 …