Epidemiology Commons^™

Broken Promises: Prolonged Diminished Quality-Of-Life Among Liberian Ebola Survivors Half A Decade After The 2014-16 West African Outbreak, Jessi Hanson-Defusco, Decontee Davis, Meghana Bommareddy, Zainab Olaniyan

Journal of Social, Behavioral, and Health Sciences

The 2014–2016 Ebola outbreak left thousands of Liberian survivors with severely diminished quality of life. Applying a social determinants framework, this mixed method study investigates to what extent Ebola virus disease (EVD) survivors suffer long-haul psychosocial stress, diminished quality-of-life factors, and the impact of EVD-related service provisions on their ongoing healing. We present the results of a quantitative analysis survey of data collected from 19 Liberian EVD survivors in 2022 using snowball sampling. Additionally, a qualitative analysis of survivor statements helps triangulate key statistical findings and inform causal mechanisms. Survivors report experiencing 5.25 of a total of 7 ongoing stressors …

Sex-Based Differences In Melanoma Survival Improvement From 2004 To 2018, Vikram R Shaw, Angela Hudock, Baoyi Zhang, Christopher Amos, Chao Cheng

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Simple Summary

Melanoma is the deadliest form of skin cancer and its incidence and mortality may vary by demographic factors, such as sex, age, race, and socioeconomic status. Few studies, however, have characterized disparities in survival improvement across these demographic groups in melanoma. In the present study, the authors highlight disparities in melanoma survival improvement, both in diagnosed melanoma and carcinoma in situ. While melanoma survival has improved overall, some patient subgroups have experienced a lower improvement in survival from 2004 to 2018.

Abstract

Background: Melanoma is the deadliest form of skin cancer and its incidence and mortality vary by …

Examining Childhood Trauma And Substance Use Problems Among Justice-Involved Adolescents In Florida, Skye C. Bristol

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this dissertation was to assess the relationship between childhood trauma and substance use problems as latent constructs among justice-involved adolescents (JIA). Additionally, racial differences and spatial analyses were examined. Previous research underscores the limitations of conceptualizing childhood trauma solely through Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs). This justified integrating child welfare involvement, or out-of-home placement, as an additional indicator to develop a comprehensive scope of childhood trauma among JIA. Furthermore, current literature established that childhood trauma is a key predictor of substance misuse among JIA. However, the lack of a standardized measure of substance misuse across juvenile justice systems …

Evaluating The Oral Health-Related Quality Of Life Among Dental Patients In South India - A Descriptive Study, Dheekshitha P K, Sudeep C B Dr., Sunil P M Dr., Suji M Dr.

Annual Research Symposium

This study aims to evaluate the oral health-related quality of life among dental patients in South India.

Alzheimer’S Disease And Inflammatory Biomarkers Positively Correlate In Plasma In The Uk-Adrc Cohort, Kate E. Foley, Zachary Winder, Tiffany L. Sudduth, Barbara J. Martin, Peter T. Nelson, Gregory Jicha, Jordan P. Harp, Erica M. Weekman, Donna M. Wilcock

Neurology Faculty Publications

INTRODUCTION: Protein-based plasma assays provide hope for improving accessibility and specificity of molecular diagnostics to diagnose dementia. METHODS: Plasma was obtained from participants (N = 837) in our community-based University of Kentucky Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center cohort. We evaluated six Alzheimer’s disease (AD)- and neurodegeneration-related (Aβ40, Aβ42, Aβ42/40, p- tau181, total tau, and NfLight) and five inflammatory biomarkers (TNF𝛼, IL6, IL8, IL10, and GFAP) using the SIMOA-based protein assay platform. Statistics were performed to assess correlations. RESULTS: Our large cohort reflects previous plasma biomarker findings. Relationships between biomarkers to understand AD–inflammatory biomarker correlations showed significant associations between AD and inflammatory …

Sex-Specific Disparities In Covid-19 Outcomes, Zubaid Rafique, Valerie Durkalski-Mauldin, William F Peacock, Kabir Yadav, Joshua C Reynolds, Clifton W Callaway

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

OBJECTIVES: Sex-specific disparities in morbidity and mortality of COVID-19 illness are not well understood. Neutralizing antibodies (Ab) may protect against severe COVID-19 illness. We investigated the association of sex with disease progression and SARS-CoV-2 Ab response.

METHODS: In this exploratory analysis of the phase 3, multicenter, randomized, placebo-controlled Convalescent Plasma in Outpatients (C3PO) trial, we examined whether sex was associated with progression to severe illness, defined as a composite of all-cause hospitalization, emergency/urgent care visit, or death within 15 days from study enrollment. Patients had a positive severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) test, symptom onset within 7 days, …

Hidradenitis Suppurativa Disease Severity And Outcomes Among Black Patients From Low-Income Neighborhoods At A Tertiary Care Hospital: A Retrospective Review, Anna M. Catinis, Olivia A. Gioe, Caroline Savoie, Erika Rosen, Deborah Hilton

School of Medicine Faculty Publications

Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) is a debilitating, inflammatory condition of apocrine sweat glands. Black patients are disproportionately affected, a finding largely attributed to lower socioeconomic status (SES) in the literature; yet, most HS studies include majority White cohorts. We present, to our knowledge, the first retrospective review of an entirely Black patient population living in low-income neighborhoods diagnosed with hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) to identify potentially modifiable factors related to disease severity and outcomes. We reviewed charts of Black patients with an encounter for HS from 2010-2020 in the New Orleans University Medical Center database. Hurley stage III (HSt III) disease was …

Outpatient Fall Prevention In Ambulatory Adults 65 Years Old And Over, Dorothy L. Osborne-White

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Scholarly Projects - Archive

Background: In the United States (U.S.), falls are the leading cause of injury among adults 65 and over, resulting in 36 million falls yearly (Moreland et al., 2020). According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC, 2023), one in four older adults experiences a fall each year. Falls are the world's second most prominent cause of accidental deaths (World Health Organization [WHO], 2021). Falls are the leading cause of both fatal and non-fatal injuries among older adults (Moreland et al., 2020).

Methods: A quality improvement project that included a fall bundle was implemented in a primary clinic. A …

The Association Of Skin Cancer Prevention Knowledge, Sun-Protective Attitudes, And Sun-Protective Behaviors In A Navy Population, Rachel Newnam, Uyen Le-Jenkins, Carolyn Rutledge, Craig Cunningham

Ellmer School of Nursing Faculty Publications

Introduction: U.S. Navy service members are primarily between the ages of 18 and 30 years and often required to be outside for extended periods of time in geographical locations with increased and often unfamiliar ultraviolet indexes that collectively increase their risk for skin cancer. Skin cancer is the country's most common form of cancer, yet there is a paucity of skin cancer prevention literature, especially within the U.S. Navy. The purpose of this study was to describe skin cancer risk and skin cancer prevention "cues-to-action" and to determine if skin cancer prevention knowledge was associated with sun-protective attitudes (e.g., prevention …

Availability, Use, And Impact Of Workplace Mental Health Supports During The Covid-19 Pandemic In A Canadian Cohort Of Healthcare Workers, Shannon Ruzycki, Anil Adisesh, Igor Burstyn, Quentin Durand-Moreau, France Labreche, Tanis Zadunayski, Nicola Cherry

Études primaires

We investigated the availability and use of workplace mental health (MH) supports during the COVID-19 pandemic in a Canadian cohort of healthcare workers (HCW) and measured anxiety and depression by the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) completed at four contacts 2020–2022. Reports were available for 4400 HCW working with patients. Half the HCWs had a clinically significant HADS score at one or more contacts Access to MH supports increased during the pandemic, with 94% reporting access to some workplace support by 2022: 47% had made use of at least one support. 25% of those with high HADS scores used …

Different Cohort, Disparate Results: Selection Bias Is A Key Factor In Autopsy Cohorts, Kathryn Gauthreaux, Walter A. Kukull, Karin B. Nelson, Charles Mock, Yen-Chi Chen, Kwun C. G. Chan, David W. Fardo, Yuriko Katsumata, Erin L. Abner, Peter T. Nelson

Neurology Faculty Publications

INTRODUCTION: Research-oriented autopsy cohorts provide critical insights into dementia pathobiology. However, different studies sometimes report disparate findings, partially because each study has its own recruitment biases. We hypothesized that a straightforward metric, related to the percentage of research volunteers cognitively normal at recruitment, would predict other inter-cohort differences.

METHODS: The National Alzheimer’s Coordinating Center (NACC) provided data on N = 7178 autopsied participants from 28 individual research centers. Research cohorts were grouped based on the proportion of participants with normal cognition at initial clinical visit.

RESULTS: Cohorts with more participants who were cognitively normal at recruitment contained more individuals who …

Work Characteristics, Workplace Support, And Mental Ill-Health In A Canadian Cohort Of Healthcare Workers During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Nicola Cherry, Anil Adisesh, Igor Burstyn, Quentin Durand-Moreau, Jean-Michel Galarneau, France Labrèche, Shannon Ruzycki, Tanis Zadunayski

Études primaires

Objective The aim of the study was to identify determinants of mental health in healthcare workers (HCW) during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods A cohort of Canadian HCW completed four questionnaires giving details of work with patients, ratings of workplace supports, a mental health questionnaire, and substance use. Principal components were extracted from 23 rating scales. Risk factors were examined by Poisson regression. Results A total of 4854 (97.8%) of 4964 participants completed ratings and mental health questionnaires. Healthcare workers working with patients with COVID-19 had high anxiety and depression scores. One of three extracted components, 'poor support,' was related to …

Understanding Guardian Perceptions Of Whole-Foods Plant-Based Diets As Interventions In Pediatric Medicine, Vijay R. Luthra

Honors Undergraduate Theses

The obesity epidemic is widespread in American society, often affecting children who bear its consequences innocently. Due to a lack of nutrition knowledge, children rely on caregivers to meet their nutritional needs and instill healthy habits. This study examines parents' attitudes, knowledge, and behaviors, as well as perceived barriers to adopting a whole-foods plant-based diet (WFPD) for their children. Using a modified survey instrument by Morton et al., this study focused on parents and children regarding dietary choices. Participants were recruited from the waiting area of a pediatric clinic at the Medical College of Georgia between April and May 2023. …

Work As A Social Determinant Of Maternal Health: A Qualitative Exploration Of College-Educated Black Women’S Experiences At Work During Pregnancy And Postpartum, Serwaa S Omowale, Laurenia C Mangum, Andrea Joseph-Mccatty, Cherell Cottrell-Daniels, Kaiya A Farris, Rashon King, Brittany C Slatton

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

BACKGROUND: Black women are disproportionately impacted by higher rates of maternal mortality in the United States (US). Limited research has focused on adverse maternal health outcomes among college-educated Black women, although research has found these outcomes persistent among this population.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to fill a critical gap in current research by elucidating the nuanced experiences of college-educated Black women in the workplace during pregnancy and postpartum. By exploring this under-researched area, our study contributes to the academic discourse on Black maternal health disparities within the scope of occupational health. It offers practical insights for enhancing workplace gender equity, …

Self-Perception Of Mental Health, Covid-19 And Associated Sociodemographic-Contextual Factors In Latin America, Pablo Roa, Guillermo Rosas, Gloria Isabel Niño-Cruz, Sergio Mauricio Moreno-López, Juliana Mejía-Grueso, Haney Aguirre-Loaiza, Javiera Alarcón-Aguilar, Rodrigo Reis, Adriano Akira Ferreira Hino, Fernando López, Deborah Salvo, Andrea Ramírez-Varela

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of alterations in self-perceived mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic and their associated factors in four Latin American countries. This is a cross-sectional study based on data collected from adults in 2021 through the Collaborative Response COVID-19 Survey by the MacDonnell Academy at Washington University in St. Louis (United States). The sample was composed of 8,125 individuals from Brazil, Colombia, Mexico, and Chile. A generalized linear model for a binary outcome variable with a logistic link and fixed country effects was used. There were 2,336 (28.75%) individuals who considered having suffered alterations in …

The Investigation Of The Effects Of Adolescent Substance Use On Socioeconomic Outcomes During Adulthood, Bedis Elkamel

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Background: Adolescence is a crucial point in life where choices, behaviors, and environmental influences can significantly shape future outcomes. This research investigates the increasing concerns surrounding adolescent substance use and examines its long-term effects on socioeconomic status (SES) in adulthood. Substance use during adolescence has been shown to have significant long-term physiological impacts, as the brain is still developing at this age. Additionally, many short- and long-term effects are associated with substance use, such as impacts on academics, physical and emotional well-being, and social life. Several studies have been conducted to explore the relationship between substance use and SES, however, …

Racial Disparities In Hpv Vaccine Uptake Among Adult Black And White Latinx Cisgender Men In The United States: Behavioral Risk Factors Surveillance System 2014-2022, Nixon R. Arauz, M.A., Dina T. Garcia, Ph.D., M.P.H., M.Ed.

Graduate Research Posters

Background: Latinx men are more likely to get human papillomavirus (HPV) and cancers caused by HPV compared non-Latinx whites. Despite a national vaccination rate of 59%, only 25% of adult Latinx men are vaccinated. Notably, Latinx individuals can belong to any race. Existing research often overlooks nuances like experiences with structural racism in healthcare settings when examining HPV vaccine uptake among Latinx individuals. This study addresses this gap by investigating HPV vaccination factors among Latinx adults, with a focus on racial disparities.

Methods: Using data from the 2014-2022 Behavioral Risk Factors Surveillance System, this study examined HPV vaccine uptake among …

"Shut Down And Closed Off": A Routine Activity Approach To Investigating The Relationship Between Covid-19 School Closures And Child Sexual Abuse Report Characteristics In Georgia, Spencer E. Riner

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

The COVID-19 pandemic of 2020 created a public health crisis that led to an unprecedented number of school closures. A major concern raised by child advocates, law enforcement, and social service providers was the possible increase in undetected child abuse and maltreatment. Undergirding this concern was the belief that this mitigation effort might place child abuse victims and offenders within proximity for extended periods of time. While this was a significant concern, it has rarely been analyzed empirically. To address this gap in the literature, this thesis investigates how school closures impacted the characteristics of child sexual abuse (CSA) reports …

How Individuals’ Opinions Influence Society’S Resistance To Epidemics: An Agent-Based Model Approach, Geonsik Yu, Michael J. Garee, Mario Ventresca, Yuehwern Yih

Faculty Publications

Background: Protecting public health from infectious diseases often relies on the cooperation of citizens, especially when self-care interventions are the only viable tools for disease mitigation. Accordingly, social aspects related to public opinion have been studied in the context of the recent COVID-19 pandemic. However, a comprehensive understanding of the effects of opinion-related factors on disease spread still requires further exploration. Methods: We propose an agent-based simulation framework incorporating opinion dynamics within an epidemic model based on the assumption that mass media channels play a leading role in opinion dynamics. The model simulates how opinions about preventive interventions change over …

An Appalachian Perspective On Suicide: A Focus On West Virginia’S Unique Context, Erin Delaney Caswell

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

INTRODUCTION: The Appalachian region, spanning 13 states from New York to northern Mississippi, experiences the suicide rates in the United States (U.S.), underscoring a public health crisis exacerbated by persistent socioeconomic challenges. West Virginia (WV), the only state entirely within Appalachia, serves as a focal point for understanding the broader suicide crisis in the region, as WV has the highest suicide rates in the region. Moreover, the state has several unique socioeconomic factors, like increased poverty, lower educational attainment, limited access to healthcare, and a high prevalence of chronic pain and substance that may contribute to elevated rates of suicide. …

A Descriptive Analysis Of Depressive Symptoms And Body Image By Race/Ethnicity And Nativity Status Among Adolescents, Radhika Prasad

Electronic Theses & Dissertations (2024 - present)

Previous research on the immigrant health paradox among children and adolescents show a mental health advantage yet it is unclear if this applies in a similar magnitude to females (Fillion et al., 2018; Zarei et al., 2023). Immigrants may be exposed to stressors related to immigration and acculturation. Some research suggests that females respond more to stress through internalizing symptoms relative to males (Hall-Lande et al., 2007; Adkins et al., 2009). Given these gender differences in stress response, female immigrants may be particularly vulnerable to the psychological consequences of immigration related stressors. The immigrant health paradox has also overlooked subjective …

Assessment Of Deficits In Specific Cognitive Domains In Older Adults Living With Hiv., Andrea Reyes-Vega, Harideep Samanapally, Rishikesh Rijal, Stephen P. Furmanek, Christopher B. Shields, Brandon C. Dennis, Smita Ghare, Shirish Barve

Faculty and Staff Scholarship

A significant proportion of people living with HIV (PLWH) have cognitive impairment. Moreover, approximately 70% of PLWH in the United States will be ≥50 years old by 2030, raising concerns of a higher incidence of dementia as they age. Accordingly, there is a clinical need to monitor their cognitive status. The aim of this study was to delineate specific cognition areas impacted in OALWH with a clinical diagnosis of neurocognitive impairment. We used a comprehensive set of tests (paper and NIH Toolbox Cognition Battery), to assess different cognitive domains in a total of 25 OALWH ≥ 50 years. 64% were …

Where Did All The Bed Bugs Go?, Lauren Friedman

Capstones

In the early 2000s in New York City, everyone was talking about bed bugs. The disc-shaped, bloodsucking pests had been a common domestic nuisance up to the World War II era, but in the decades since, they’d mostly faded into obscurity. That was until bed bug infestations, which are often psychologically distressing and sometimes impossible to overcome, suddenly became routine across the five boroughs, driving people from their apartments and stoking fear about everything from upholstered theater seats to thrift stores.

But then, just as quickly as bed bugs had invaded, they seemed to fade away. In a 2022 study …

Editorial: The Public Health Scholars As The Health Leaders, Al Asyary, Meita Veruswati, Putri Bungsu Machmud, Indri Hapsari Susilowati

Kesmas

1. Achmadi UF. Kesehatan Masyarakat: Teori dan Aplikasi. Jakarta: Rajawali Pers; 2014.

2. Asyary A. Editorial. Kesmas. 2023; 18 (Special Issue 1): 1-3. DOI: 10.21109/kesmas.v18isp1.7201

3. Badan Kebijakan Pembangunan Kesehatan. Pembangunan Kesehatan di Indonesia melalui Kesinambungan Finansial Jaminan Kesehatan serta Meningkatkan Kualitas Layanan dengan Integrasi Data. Jakarta: Kementerian Kesehatan Republik Indonesia; 2023.

Spatial Associations Of Liver Disease Rates With Socioeconomic And Health Risk Factors In Georgia, Nguyet Le

Symposium of Student Scholars

According to the CDC Cancer Statistics Report in 2020, Liver and Intrahepatic Bile Duct is the 6th leading cancer in both USA and the State of Georgia ranked by Rates of Cancer Death. Aflatoxin-containing foods, alcohol consumption, smoking, overeating, and other risky behaviors are among the factors linked to liver diseases. They have also been related to the socioeconomic status (SES) of individuals. The behaviors and SES of individuals are affected by the socioeconomic characteristics of the communities where they live. However, the relationships between the rates of liver diseases and community-level socioeconomic factors are not well studied. The objective …

Exploration Of The Implementation Of An Integrated Electronic Laboratory Information Management System On Quality Diagnostics Service Indicators At A County Level Public Hospital In Western Kenya., Kelly Allen

Capstone Collection

Underinvestment in pathology and laboratory capacity caused by low visibility in research and in prioritization by public health leaders results in limited effective healthcare coverage and an estimated 1.1 million premature deaths annually in Low-and-Middle-Income Countries. Kenya’s public health laboratories provide a median 41% of the Essential Diagnostic List to their patients and in Kisumu County, as much as 44.2% of the population has little to no access to essential diagnostics. The government of Kisumu implemented the county Health Laboratory Strategic Plan 2018-2022 to address this public health challenge. Little information exists on the effectiveness of these initiatives and the …

Characterizing How Food Advertising And Genetic Obesity Risk Factors Affect Neural Reward Reactivity And Eating In The Absence Of Hunger In Children, Dabin Yeum

Dartmouth College Ph.D Dissertations

The complex and multifactorial etiology of obesity involves the interaction of numerous risk factors. Assessing the gene-environment interaction of pediatric obesity can provide valuable insights for the characterization of key factors contributing to obesity and identification of potential points of intervention. The data used in this thesis comes from a single sample of young children recruited from the communities surrounding Dartmouth College. The primary objective of this thesis is to assess the impacts of complicated gene-environment interaction on pediatric obesity. First, we assessed the dynamic and static advertising of food cues to examine they lead to differential neural reward responsivity. …

Call For Emergency Action To Restore Dietary Diversity And Protect Global Food Systems In Times Of Covid-19 And Beyond: Results From A Cross-Sectional Study In 38 Countries, Maha Hoteit, Reem Hoteit, Ayoub Aljawaldeh, Kathleen Van Royen, Sara Pabian, Paulien Decorte, Isabelle Cuykx, Lauranna Teunissen, Charlotte De Backer, Ina Bergheim, Raphaela Staltner, Amanda Devine, Ros Sambell, Ruth Wallace, Sabika S. Allehdan, Tariq A. Alalwan, Mariam A. Al-Mannai, Gaëlle Ouvrein, Karolien Poels, Heidi Vandebosch, Katrien Maldoy, Christophe Matthys, Tim Smits, Jules Vrinten, Ann Desmet, Nelleke Teughels, Maggie Geuens, Iris Vermeir, Viktor Proesmans, Liselot Hudders, Marcia D. De Barcellos, Cristina Ostermann, Ana L. Brock, Cynthia Favieiro, Rafaela Trizotto, Isadora Stangherlin, Anthonieta L. Mafra, Marco A. C. Varella, Jaroslava V. Valentova, Maryanne L. Fisher, Melanie Maceacheron, Katherine White, Rishad Habib, David S. Dobson, Berta Schnettler, Ligia Orellana, Edgardo Miranda-Zapata, Angela W. Y. Chang, Wen Jiao, Matthew T. Liu, Klaus G. Grunert, Rikke N. Christensen, Lucia Reisch, Meike Janssen, Victoria Abril-Ulloa, Lorena Encalada, Iman Kamel, Annukka Vainio, Mari Niva, Laura Salmivaara, Johanna Mäkelä, Kaisa Torkkeli, Robert Mai, Pamela K. Risch, Efthymios Altsitsiadis, Angelos Stamos, Andreas Antronikidis, Maeve Henchion, Sinead Mccarthy, Mary Mccarthy, Alessandra Micalizzi, Peter J. Schulz, Manuela Farisnosi, Hidenori Komatsu, Nobuyuki Tanaka, Hiromi Kubota, Reema Tayyem, Narmeen J. Al-Awwad, Nahla Al-Bayyari, Mohammed O. Ibrahim, Fadwa Hammouh, Somaia Dashti, Basma Dashti, Dhuha Alkharaif, Amani Alshatti, Maryam Al Mazedi, Rania Mansour, Elissa Naim, Hussein Mortada, Yareni Y. G. Gomez, Kelly Geyskens, Caroline Goukens, Rajshri Roy, Victoria Egli, Lisa T. Morenga, Mostafa Waly, Radwan Qasrawi, Motasem Hamdan, Rania A. Sier, Diala A. A. Halawa, Hazem Agha, María R. L. Domínguez, Lita Palomares, Grazyna Wasowicz, Hiba Bawadi, Manal Othman, Jaafar Pakari, Allam A. Farha, Rasha Abu-El-Ruz, Dacinia C. Petrescu, Ruxandra M. P. Mag, Felix Arion, Stefan C. Vesa, Majid M. Alkhalaf, Khlood Bookari, Jamila Arrish, Zackaria Rahim, Roy Kheng, Yandisa Ngqangashe, Zandile J. R. Mchiza, Marcela Gonzalez-Gross, Lisset Pantoja-Arévalo, Eva Gesteiro, Yolanda Ríos, Peter Yiga, Patrick Ogwok, Denis Ocen, Michael Bamuwamye, Haleama A. Sabbah, Zainab Taha, Leila C. Ismail, Ayesha Aldhaheri, Elisa Pineda, Marisa Miraldo, Dawn L. Holford, Hilde Van Den Bulck, The Corona Cooking Survey Study Group

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has revealed the fragility of the global food system, sending shockwaves across countries' societies and economy. This has presented formidable challenges to sustaining a healthy and resilient lifestyle. The objective of this study is to examine the food consumption patterns and assess diet diversity indicators, primarily focusing on the food consumption score (FCS), among households in 38 countries both before and during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: A cross-sectional study with 37 207 participants (mean age: 36.70 ± 14.79, with 77 % women) was conducted in 38 countries through an online survey administered …

Association Of Social Vulnerability And Covid-19 Mortality Rates In Texas Between 15 March 2020, And 21 July 2022: An Ecological Analysis, Dennis Ogeto Nyachoti, Nalini Ranjit, Ryan Ramphul, Leah D Whigham, Andrew E Springer

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

BACKGROUND: Despite the key role of social vulnerability such as economic disadvantage in health outcomes, research is limited on the impact of social vulnerabilities on COVID-19-related deaths, especially at the state and county level in the USA.

METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional ecologic analysis of COVID-19 mortality by the county-level Minority Health Social Vulnerability Index (MH SVI) and each of its components in Texas. Negative binomial regression (NBR) analyses were used to estimate the association between the composite MH SVI (and its components) and COVID-19 mortality.

RESULTS: A 0.1-unit increase in the overall MH SVI (IRR, 1.27; 95% CI, 1.04-1.55; …

Universal Health Coverage: A Basis For Pandemic Preparedness?, Merline Feero

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

Amid extensive research and reporting on the effects of COVID-19 on Universal Health Coverage (UHC) progress, this study explores an often neglected topic: the potential of UHC to contribute to the foundations of pandemic preparedness. Herein, quantitative analysis reveals that countries with higher UHC coverage tend to exhibit greater pandemic preparedness (as determined by the UHC Service Coverage Index and the Global Health Security Index). Complementary qualitative analysis is used to further illustrate and explain the correlation between UHC and pandemic preparedness using four case study countries, integrating literature reviews and relevant expert interviews. Through these methods, a clear tie …