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Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

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Full-Text Articles in Epidemiology

Feeding Practices And Nutritional Status Of Infants In Northwest Nigeria, Michael Enyi Enwere Jan 2019

Feeding Practices And Nutritional Status Of Infants In Northwest Nigeria, Michael Enyi Enwere

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Infants and young children in the Northwest province of Nigeria are susceptible to malnutrition. Inappropriate and inadequate breastfeeding and complementary feeding result in stunting, underweight, and wasting. The purpose of this cross-sectional study was to examine current feeding practices of infants not older than 2 years and their nutritional status in Northwest Nigeria. The theory of planned behavior was adopted in this research. With a total sample size of 3,861, multiple linear regression was adopted as a predictive analysis to delineate the correlation between two or more independent variables and one continuous dependent variable. Also, adopted was an independent t …


Socioeconomic Determinants Of Physical Activity Among Adult Arab Immigrants In Edmonton, Alberta, Samer Kobrosly Jan 2019

Socioeconomic Determinants Of Physical Activity Among Adult Arab Immigrants In Edmonton, Alberta, Samer Kobrosly

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Little is known about leisure-time physical activity (LTPA) habits of Arab immigrants in Canada. Leisure-time physical activity has been linked to decreased risks for cancer, cardiovascular disease, and all causes mortality and increased life expectancy. Socioeconomic status has been recognized as a significant factor affecting health and wellbeing due to its impact on individuals’ attitudes, experiences, and exposure to several risk factors. The purpose of this cross-sectional descriptive study was to explore the levels of participation in LTPA among adult Arab immigrants in central Alberta, Canada, to examine the socioeconomic determinants of LTPA, and to investigate which individual, social, and …


Accessibility Of Innovative Services In Radiation Oncology, Patricia Sansourekidou Jan 2019

Accessibility Of Innovative Services In Radiation Oncology, Patricia Sansourekidou

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The field of radiation oncology (RO) involves the use of highly advanced techniques to treat cancer and safely spare healthy organs. The discipline has experienced rapid growth in the past 25 years, with technological advancement as the driving force. Available data and an instrument to effectively measure the accessibility of innovation in the field were lacking. The purpose of this study was to investigate the accessibility of innovative services in RO in the United States and assess possible diffusion patterns. Two hundred and forty medical physicists practicing in RO in the United States completed a custom Internet-based survey. The diffusion …


Family Predictive Factors Of Rural Malaria Prevalence In Nsukka, Eastern Nigeria, Gabriel Ugwuja Ugwu Jan 2019

Family Predictive Factors Of Rural Malaria Prevalence In Nsukka, Eastern Nigeria, Gabriel Ugwuja Ugwu

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Children in early childhood are still suffering from burdens of malaria-related morbidity and mortality. There have been insufficient studies on how family-level factors may predict the prevalence of malaria (PoM), and negatively impact the control of malaria in rural areas, especially among children. In this study, potential family factors were explored to address the challenges associated with the increase in PoM among the children in rural areas of Nsukka. Socioecological framework guided this study at the interpersonal level. The quantitative cross-sectional study used secondary data from Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS) of 2015 in Nsukka rural communities. Data were analyzed …


Factors Associated With Prostate Cancer Screening Intentions Among Adult Men In Nigeria, Ifeanyi N. Malu Jan 2019

Factors Associated With Prostate Cancer Screening Intentions Among Adult Men In Nigeria, Ifeanyi N. Malu

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Timely detection of prostate cancer (PCA) with prostate-specific antigens (PSA) and digital rectal examinations (DRE) are essential in optimizing incidence, minimizing prevalence, and reducing mortality rates. Given the low levels of participation in cancer screening, this study was conducted to examine the factors men consider when deciding whether to screen for PCA in Nigeria. A cross-sectional, online-based survey of 180 consenting Nigerian men 50 years old and older was carried out. Logistic regression analysis and descriptive statistics were used to analyze the data. Based on the data, there was a moderate positive association between the health belief model constructs and …


Impact Of Socioeconomic Status And Health-Seeking Behavior On Malaria In Pregnancy, Ifeanyi Livinus Udenweze Jan 2019

Impact Of Socioeconomic Status And Health-Seeking Behavior On Malaria In Pregnancy, Ifeanyi Livinus Udenweze

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Malaria in pregnancy remains a public health challenge in Nigeria despite the fund appropriation for malaria control. The health challenges of malaria in pregnancy vary with populations and there is limited knowledge on the impact of the socioeconomic status and health-seeking behavior on malaria in pregnancy in Nigeria. The objective of this cross-sectional quantitative survey was to examine whether socioeconomic status and health-seeking behavior predict malaria in pregnancy in Nigeria using the social cognitive theoretical model. The data from a 2015 Nigeria Malaria Indicator Survey was used in this study. Data were analyzed using chi-square, binary, and multivariate logistics regression …


Trends In Prevalence And Predictors Of Undernutrition Among Children In South Central, Monica Kabahimba Zikusooka Jan 2019

Trends In Prevalence And Predictors Of Undernutrition Among Children In South Central, Monica Kabahimba Zikusooka

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Undernutrition is a global public health challenge. In Somalia, undernutrition is chronic with the situation often graded for emergency response. The purpose of this study was to provide contextual evidence regarding trends of prevalence and predictors of undernutrition in South Central Somalia. Following the UNICEF conceptual framework of determinants of undernutrition, the study examined which individual, household, and society factors were associated with undernutrition. Using secondary data from cross-sectional nutritional surveys implemented by the Somalia Food Security and Nutrition Analysis Unit from 2007 to 2012, a sample of 75,756 and 60,856 children aged 6-59 months was used in analyzing trends …


Adherence To Art Among Hiv Infected Female Sex Workers In Nigeria, Abass Babatunde Yusuf Jan 2019

Adherence To Art Among Hiv Infected Female Sex Workers In Nigeria, Abass Babatunde Yusuf

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

A lack of adherence to antiretroviral therapy (ART) increases the risk of onward human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) transmission and mortality. The purpose of this cross-sectional study based on Andersen's conceptual framework was to test the associations between age, marital status, job/occupational status, education, membership in a peer support group, community, and facility ARV drug refill and alcohol and substance use, and adherence to ART among female sex workers (FSWs) who are 15 years and older in Rivers and Cross Rivers states Nigeria. Data were abstracted from existing program data collected between January 2015 and December 2017 by Heartland Alliance International, …


Effects Of Neighborhood Membership And Hypertensive Disorders In Pregnancy On Adverse Birth Outcomes, Chinyere Onyebuchi Jan 2019

Effects Of Neighborhood Membership And Hypertensive Disorders In Pregnancy On Adverse Birth Outcomes, Chinyere Onyebuchi

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Infant mortality (IM) rates in the United States remains high. The higher rates of IM among specific groups in the United States is believed to be fueled by the high rates of adverse birth outcomes including low birthweight (LBW) and preterm births (PTB) among these groups. Adverse birth outcomes have also been linked to the presence of hypertensive disorders during pregnancy. The purpose of this cross-sectional study was to explore the association between hypertensive disorders during pregnancy and adverse birth outcomes and the impact of the residential neighborhood of expectant mothers on this association. The life course health development theory …


Optimizing A Disease Severity Scale For Evaluating Travelers' Diarrhea In Adults, Nicole Maier Jan 2019

Optimizing A Disease Severity Scale For Evaluating Travelers' Diarrhea In Adults, Nicole Maier

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Primary efficacy endpoints for interventional products targeting travelers’ diarrhea (TD) prevention have been predominately based on stool frequency. However, reliance on stool-based endpoints alone may obscure potentially meaningful differences in illness profiles. A single, standardized scoring system optimized for use in adult travelers is needed to accurately measure TD severity and enable more robust estimates of treatment or intervention effectiveness. The purpose of this quantitative secondary data analysis was to describe the variability in TD signs and symptoms across traditional severity metrics such as stool output, identify which symptoms were significantly associated with a negative impact on activity, and determine …


Vitamin D Receptor Gene Polymorphisms Knowledge And Breast Cancer In Texas, Ejike Roland Egwuekwe Jan 2019

Vitamin D Receptor Gene Polymorphisms Knowledge And Breast Cancer In Texas, Ejike Roland Egwuekwe

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Breast cancer is a world health problem and is a leading cause of cancer-related death among women in the United States. However, breast cancer risks were reported to be reduced through exposure to Vitamin D through its Receptors identified as the p53 target gene. The purpose of this study was to assess the associations between VDR gene polymorphisms knowledge/awareness and decisions to reduce breast cancer risks and likelihood of mammogram screening among women in Texas. Data from survey were used. Roy adaptation model was the theoretical framework that guided this quasi- experimental, quantitative research. The dependent variables were decisions to …


Examining Relationships Between Sexual Education And Behaviors Among Virginia College Students, Dyani Meggett-Sowell Jan 2019

Examining Relationships Between Sexual Education And Behaviors Among Virginia College Students, Dyani Meggett-Sowell

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The college student population has a high prevalence of sexually transmitted infections (STI)s due to their participation in higher risk sexual behaviors such as serial relationships, drug and alcohol use and abuse, and inconsistent use of condoms. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between student exposure of sexual education and their sexual behaviors among college going students in Virginia. Guided by the health belief model, this quantitative cross-sectional study involved a random selection process to recruit college students to test the hypothesis. The research questions were designed to examine participants' exposure to sexual education, sexual behaviors, …


Smoking And Surgical Site Infection In Orthopedic Patients' Lower Extremity Arthroplasty, Alicia Y. Mingo Jan 2019

Smoking And Surgical Site Infection In Orthopedic Patients' Lower Extremity Arthroplasty, Alicia Y. Mingo

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Cigarette smoking has been a public health concern for many years, and the possible impact of smoking on surgical site infection (SSI) has been studied broadly. However, a gap in understanding has persisted concerning whether there is an association between smoking tobacco and the development of SSI among patients who undergo lower extremity surgery, specifically total knee arthroplasty (TKA). The purpose of this study was to examine the association between smoking and lower extremity SSI. Andersen's behavioral model (BM) was used to understand the risk factors relevant to the interaction between smoking and SSI. Application of the BM categories of …


Connecticut Primary Care Physicians And Chronic Lyme Disease, Yvette P. Ghannam Jan 2019

Connecticut Primary Care Physicians And Chronic Lyme Disease, Yvette P. Ghannam

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The prevalence of chronic Lyme disease (CLD) remains relatively unknown in Connecticut because there is not an agreement on what CLD is and how it should be diagnosed in addition to which pathological agent causes CLD. The aim of this quantitative study was to assess whether there were significant differences between two groups of primary care physicians (PCP) working in Connecticut from two different points in time regarding their knowledge in the diagnosis, treatment, and management of CLD. A knowledge, attitude, and practice model was used as the underlying theoretical framework for this study. A random cross-sectional survey was mailed …


Evaluation By Geospatial And Spatiotemporal Distribution Of Tularemia Cases In Arkansas, Toni Kathleen Beavers Jan 2019

Evaluation By Geospatial And Spatiotemporal Distribution Of Tularemia Cases In Arkansas, Toni Kathleen Beavers

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Tularemia is a vector-borne disease of global concern with diverse regional foci. Arkansas is an endemic state with differences in case distribution and land suitability supporting host and vector sustainment. The aim of this study was to conduct a geospatial and spatiotemporal assessment of factors associated with case distribution and timeliness and completeness of public reporting. Guided with direction from spatial epidemiology and nidality, referring to the association of ecology, climate, and proximity of disease, analysis included secondary data collected from the Arkansas Department of Health between 1995 and 2018. Using Poisson-based software, 2 clusters were found: a high-risk cluster …


Papanicolaou Test Status Among Inner-City Adolescent Girls In Accra, Ghana, Collins Kwesi Asamoa-Afriyie Jan 2019

Papanicolaou Test Status Among Inner-City Adolescent Girls In Accra, Ghana, Collins Kwesi Asamoa-Afriyie

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Cervical cancer is an emerging public health problem in developing countries. Globally, it is the 3rd most common malignancy in women after breast and colorectal cancers and 4th most frequent cancer in women, with an estimated 570,000 new cases and 311,000 deaths in 2018. Cervical cancer screening in the developed countries is credited with the reductions in cervical cancer morbidity and mortality during the last 50 years. However, nearly 90% of cervical cancer deaths occur in less developed countries. Ghana has a cervical cancer rate of 26.4%. Further, it is the highest cancer incidence faced among women 25 to 44 …


Child Malnutrition In A Developing Country: A Persistent Challenge In Haiti, Jeanne M. Constant-Edma Jan 2019

Child Malnutrition In A Developing Country: A Persistent Challenge In Haiti, Jeanne M. Constant-Edma

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Malnutrition is characterized by the insufficient intake of certain nutrients and the inability of the body to absorb or use these nutrients. This health problem continues to be a persistent challenge among children under 5 years of age in developing countries, including Haiti, despite food aid provided. The purpose of this study was to determine the association between dietary habits in children under 5 years of age in Haiti and their malnutrition status. Community organization theory was used to determine the association between determinants of health such as dietary habits, parents' knowledge and experience, cultural eating habits, socioeconomic status, and …


The Impacts Of Race, Residence, And Prenatal Care On Infant Mortality, Mary Christine Dorley Jan 2019

The Impacts Of Race, Residence, And Prenatal Care On Infant Mortality, Mary Christine Dorley

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Tennessee ranks high for infant mortality (IM) in the United States. Despite public health efforts, the IM rate for Blacks is twice that of Whites mimicking what is observed nationally. Several risk factors for IM have been identified; however, it was still unclear how places of residence and prenatal care (PNC) affect IM for Tennesseans. The purpose of this study was to assess the relationship between places of residence (conceptualized by rurality and racial concentration), PNC, and IM among racial groups across Tennessee and to determine if race modified these associations. This was a cross-sectional study using data from the …


Factors Associated With Maternal Mortality In Greater Accra Ghana 2016: Case-Control Study, Edmund Sekyi Eghan Jan 2019

Factors Associated With Maternal Mortality In Greater Accra Ghana 2016: Case-Control Study, Edmund Sekyi Eghan

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Maternal mortality is a critical area of concern globally, despite the availability of accessible preventive measures. The role of sociodemographic and service delivery factors in maternal mortality in the Accra Metropolitan Area of Ghana are important to examine. As part of the United Nations (UN) Millennium Campaign, the UN implemented 8 Millennium Development Goals (MDGs); maternal mortality reduction by 75% between 1990 and 2015 was among the fundamental MDGs to be achieved by 2015. The purpose of this case-control study was to use secondary data to assess the relationships between sociodemographic variables, service delivery factors, and maternal mortality among 8,171 …


Predictors Of Poor Pregnancy Outcomes Among Pregnant Women In Island Maternity, Nigeria, Letam Nwi-Ue Jan 2019

Predictors Of Poor Pregnancy Outcomes Among Pregnant Women In Island Maternity, Nigeria, Letam Nwi-Ue

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Pregnancy outcomes have improved tremendously in developed countries. Notwithstanding, it is still a huge challenge in developing countries, especially Sub-Saharan Africa. In 2015 in Nigeria, about 145 women died daily from pregnancy-related causes. Similarly, nearly 2,300 children under 5 years were lost in the same year. Nigeria consistently underperformed in some of the critical pregnancy indicators such as maternal and neonatal mortality, second worst only to India in the world. Studies on poor pregnancy outcomes are scarce in Nigeria. The purpose of this quantitative, retrospective cross-sectional study was to use local evidence to ascertain the risk factors that predict poor …


Predictors Of Rapid Repeat Pregnancy In Zimbabwe, Thenjiwe Sisimayi Jan 2019

Predictors Of Rapid Repeat Pregnancy In Zimbabwe, Thenjiwe Sisimayi

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Rapid repeat pregnancy (RRP) is associated with adverse maternal and infant outcomes and a range of undesirable social and economic challenges for the mother, her baby, and society. Although the consequences of RRP are well known, Zimbabwe—a country with some of the poorest maternal health indicators—has not investigated or made efforts to directly address this problem. This is confirmed by the lack of targeted programs to curb RRP, the unavailability of documented evidence regarding RRP significant risk factors, and the lack of understanding of the extent of RRP in the country. Using social cognitive theory as the theoretical framework, an …


Effects Of Medical Professionals' Communication With Men Sleeping With Men And Hiv/Aids, Dawne D. Dickerson Jan 2019

Effects Of Medical Professionals' Communication With Men Sleeping With Men And Hiv/Aids, Dawne D. Dickerson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) initially emerged in the 1980s and ever since, a battle has been underway with regard to understanding some of the root issues attributed to behavior and HIV/AIDS. AIDS is prevalent in the men sleeping with men (MSM) community. There is lack of studies evaluating the quality and quantity of communication between MSM and medical professionals, which can be a catalyst to help reduce HIV/AIDS within this community. The aim of this quantitative study was to evaluate the relationship between quantity and quality of medical professionals' communication and regular HIV …


A Conflictive Triuvirate Consruct Of Epidemiologic Systems Failure, Ngozi Lois Ulinwa Jan 2019

A Conflictive Triuvirate Consruct Of Epidemiologic Systems Failure, Ngozi Lois Ulinwa

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Epidemiologic systems failure (ESF) is a major hurdle in minimizing the spread of infectious diseases during outbreaks. The reasons for ESF include the technical limitation of personnel handling epidemic crises, strictly defined health policies that limit the actions of epidemiologists, and personal perspective's reservations towards the intentions of health agencies. The purpose of this triumvirate mixed-methods case study was to examine factors of infectious disease control mechanisms useful for determining ESF. Three juxtaposed pre-emptive factors (technical [T], organizational [O], and personal [P] perspectives were used to determine how the multiple perspectives inquiring systems and fuzzy logic revealed factors causing ESF …


Use Of Medical Care And Suicide Among Veterans, Wyatt Edward Meriwether Jan 2019

Use Of Medical Care And Suicide Among Veterans, Wyatt Edward Meriwether

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Due to rising veteran suicide rates, the veteran population has become a focus of practitioners, research scientists, and policymakers. Although researchers have studied the relationship between suicidality and the environment, more research is required to evaluate how suicidal behavior, suicidal ideation, and suicide risk are associated with a veteran's use of medical care services within the Veterans Health Administration (VHA). Therefore, this study focused on environmental variables (medical care usage and rurality), and their relationship with suicidal behavior (Manuscript 1), suicidal ideation (Manuscript 2), and suicide risk (Manuscript 3). The social ecological model was used to better understand the interaction …


Factors That Influence Place Of Delivery Choice Among Expectant Mothers In Ghana, Baba Ibrahim Mahama Jan 2019

Factors That Influence Place Of Delivery Choice Among Expectant Mothers In Ghana, Baba Ibrahim Mahama

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Several factors may affect the choice of place of delivery among expectant mothers in Ghana and few studies have examined the choice of place of delivery with a focus on differences between rural and urban areas. In this study, the factors that influence the choice of place of delivery among expectant mothers in both rural (Tolon District) and urban (Tamale) settings in the northern part of Ghana were identified and compared using the conceptual framework provided by Thaddeus and Maine. A mixed-method study was used to examine expectant mothers and their responses related to factors that affect their choice of …


Social And Structural Barriers To Safer Sex Among Heterosexual Female Sex Workers, Erika Nikole Harding-Davis Jan 2019

Social And Structural Barriers To Safer Sex Among Heterosexual Female Sex Workers, Erika Nikole Harding-Davis

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Individuals infected with HIV through heterosexual contact made up 24% (9,578) of all new infections in the United States. Female sex workers are at increased risk of getting HIV and other sexually transmitted infections (STI) because they may be more likely to participate in risky sexual behaviors including sex with multiple partners and condom-less anal/vaginal sex. Guided by the syndemic theory, the purpose of this study was to explore the relationships between social and structural factors (homelessness, substance use, immigration status, and use of healthcare) and risky sexual behaviors (condom-less vaginal sex and multiple sex partners) among female sex workers …


Perspectives Of Patients With Comorbidity On The Use Of Ehealth Technology For Self-Management At Kenyatta National Hospital, Dorcas Waithira Maina Jan 2019

Perspectives Of Patients With Comorbidity On The Use Of Ehealth Technology For Self-Management At Kenyatta National Hospital, Dorcas Waithira Maina

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Health care systems still focus on single disease management and ignore the complexities of multiple conditions management. Though self-management is the focus of chronic disease management, patients with comorbidities face challenges in meeting their self-management goals. The purpose of this study was to explore the perspectives of patients with comorbid conditions on the use of eHealth technology to promote self-management. The research was grounded on the technology acceptance model. I sought to explore the participants' understanding of self-management, the challenges to self-management and their perspectives on the use of eHealth for self-management. In this phenomenological study, 10 interviews were conducted …


Factors That Influence The Prevalence Of Type 2 Diabetes Among Aboriginals In Canada, Olayinka Awoyemi Jan 2019

Factors That Influence The Prevalence Of Type 2 Diabetes Among Aboriginals In Canada, Olayinka Awoyemi

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The focus of this study was on potential social determinants of health factors that influence the prevalence of type 2 diabetes in the general population of Canada, with emphasis on the disproportion in rates of the disease between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal populations of Canada. This study also examined the risk factors that are peculiar to the general, Aboriginal, and non-Aboriginal population of Canada. A total number of 101,080 individuals who were 18 years and above provided data for this study. The data and information obtained from these participants were used to answer the major research questions regarding if there was …


Analysis Of Control Measures Used During Cholera Outbreaks Among Internally Displaced Persons, Nicole Devine Carneal-Frazer Jan 2019

Analysis Of Control Measures Used During Cholera Outbreaks Among Internally Displaced Persons, Nicole Devine Carneal-Frazer

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Cholera remains a major public health problem affecting high-risk populations such as camps of internally displaced persons. During a cholera outbreak, it is essential to reduce transmission and minimize new infections. The Miasma theory, host-agent-environment model and Ecosocial theory were utilized for this study. This study was a retrospective comparison to determine whether historical cholera control measures are effective during current cholera outbreaks within camps of internally displaced persons. A quantitative approach ascertained changes in incidence and mortality rates following implementation of primary and/or secondary control measures. Cholera outbreaks were identified from the World Health Organization's (WHO) Disease Outbreak News …


Hazardous Waste Site Proximity And Type 2 Diabetes: From Youths To Adults, Theresa Ann Johnson Jan 2019

Hazardous Waste Site Proximity And Type 2 Diabetes: From Youths To Adults, Theresa Ann Johnson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Type 2 diabetes has reached epidemic proportions in adults and youths. Persistent organic pollutants and endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs), such as pesticides, dioxins, and organochlorines, are omnipresent and persist in the environment with potential for human exposure via contaminated air, waterways, soil, and human food supply. EDCs have been correlated with diabetes incidence and risks. Residential proximity to hazardous waste sites (HWS) has been correlated with increased hospital admission rates for diabetes. The study used a sample population (N = 1,724), ages ≥ 12 years from the 2005-2012 Continuous NHANES and HWS data from the National Priorities List of Superfund Sites. …