Epidemiology Commons^™

Planned Behavior And Congolese Physicians’ Practice: Predicting Advanced Preventive Health Services Provision, Jean-Clément Milabu Mumbusi

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The provision of preventive services, health promotion, and health maintenance has become the cornerstone of primary care practice in the United States and other Western countries to prevent morbidity and premature mortality and to increase the quality and years of a healthy life. Unfortunately, the delivery of these advanced preventive health services (APHS) has been sporadic in the Democratic Republic of Congo, a country with poor health indicators. The purpose of this cross-sectional mixed-method study was to apply Ajzen’s theory of planned behavior (TPB) to predict the intention of Congolese primary care physicians (PCPs) in the provision of APHS. Using …

Association Between Childhood Secondhand Smoke Exposure And Inflammatory Bowel Disease Development, Stephanie Eve Walsh

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a group of diseases that affect the gastrointestinal tract. Environmental factors, such as smoking, have been shown to play a role in the development of IBD; however, minimal research regarding secondhand smoke (SHS) exposure and the development of IBD has been conducted. The purpose of this study was to examine whether there was a relationship between childhood SHS exposure and the development of IBD. Bronfenbrenner’s ecological systems theory was used in this study as a basis that the environment can aid in the development of disease. The research questions addressed the potential association between childhood …

Medical Skepticism And Diabetes Management In African Americans, Pamela Bouyer

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Type 2 diabetes (T2DM) in African Americans is a manageable disease, and self-management interventions reduce complications and hospital stays. However, in the African American population, traditional T2DM self-management interventions do not produce long-term effects on lifestyle and behavior changes. Researchers have analyzed the barriers and interventions associated with the disease, but the problem still exists. Medical skepticism may influence T2DM management and health outcomes in African Americans. However, there is scarce literature addressing the relationship between medical skepticism and health outcomes (eye and kidney problems). The purpose of the study is to assess the relationship between medical skepticism and outcomes …

Tetanus Immunity Among Adults In The Democratic Republic Of The Congo, Sue K. Gerber

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Although tetanus is not a contagious disease, it can be deadly for people who are exposed and do

not have protective immunity against tetanus, which can be acquired only through vaccination.

Most studies on adult tetanus protective immunity are from high-income countries; limited

studies occur in Africa, and none has been reported from the Democratic Republic of the Congo

(DRC). This study sought to determine protective immunity against tetanus among adults in

DRC in relation to their age, sex, place of residence, and for women, antenatal care. The primary

purpose of this observational cross-sectional study using a nested serosurvey within …

Epidemiology Of Marijuana Use And Mental Health In The Context Of Changing Policies, David G. Harvey Ii

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

There is a growing body of evidence supporting the association between cannabis use and the development of mental health disorders, but few studies have addressed this association following the recent increase in marijuana legalization laws. Therefore, using the social ecological model and the self-medication theory of addiction as theoretical frameworks, the purpose of this retrospective database study was to assess the relationship between marijuana use and major depression and suicidal ideation in both adults and adolescents in 2008 and 2017. Data from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health were analyzed using logistic regression at the p < .05 threshold for statistical significance. Results demonstrated positive, statistically significant relationships between marijuana use and both major depression and suicidal ideation for both adults and adolescents in both 2008 and 2017. Further, the strengths of these relationships generally increased between 2008 and 2017, coincident with the increase in marijuana legalization laws. These findings provide empirical support to the association between cannabis use and the development of mental health disorders, and that the strength of these associations is increasing following the increase in marijuana legalization laws. This study has important implication for positive social change by identifying significant relationships between cannabis use and the development of mental health disorders and revealing that these relationships are strengthening over time, coincident with the increase in marijuana legalization laws.

Mortality Disparities Among Puerto Rican Infants In 2015, Maria Del Carmen Medina

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

There is a well-established disparity between infant mortality rates among women residing in rural areas in Puerto Rico in comparison with woman residing in urban areas of Puerto Rico. There is a significant amount of research that connects infant mortality to low birth weight, congenital malformations, and premature births. The purpose of this study was to determine infant mortality and its relationship with the geographical location of Puerto Rican mothers. The study also examined whether there is a relationship between infant mortality and the area of residence (rural/urban) of the mother, marital status, race, and education level of the mother. …

Sociopolitical Determinants Of Parental Acceptance Of Childhood Vaccination In Abuja, Nigeria, Lawrence Madu Ohammah

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Despite the efficacy of vaccines, some parents still reject vaccination of their children, resulting in low vaccination coverage, a greater burden of vaccine-preventable diseases, and high infant mortality. The purpose of this study was to investigate the sociopolitical determinants of vaccination status among children, aged 0-24 months, and identify the factors that drive vaccine hesitancy. The social ecological model served as the theoretical framework. The study research design was a quantitative cross-sectional survey. An interviewer-administered questionnaire was used to collect primary data from parents and caregivers in 384 randomly selected households from 48 settlements in the Abuja Municipal Area Council. …

Predictors Of Condom Use Among High School Students In North Carolina, Danielle Cierra Robinson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The spread of sexually transmitted diseases is a major ongoing public health issue in North Carolina. Adolescents between the ages of 13 and 19 years have consistently contributed to this trend. Researchers have found that condom use among high school students has decreased. High school students continue to engage in sex with multiple partners, with lack of knowledge about sexually transmitted diseases, even though sex education and prevention programs have been recommended. The purpose of this quantitative study was to evaluate the predictors of condom use among adolescents. The socioecological model theoretical framework was applied to guide this research involving …

Socioeconomic And Sociocultural Factors Associated With Parenting Choice And Fertility Experience Among Lesbian And Nonlesbian Women, Annette Silvia

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Minorities including lesbians may face disparities that contribute to minority stress, which leads to adverse health outcomes. The purpose of this social epidemiology study was to examine the association between insured status, perceived stress, and parental status among lesbians and nonlesbians. The theoretical foundation was minority stress, and the design was quantitative with a convenience sample of women aged 18 years and older. Data on demographics, perceived stress, fertility quality of life, and lesbian identity disclosure were collected via online survey. Among the 314 respondents, 102 self-selected as lesbian (49% parents), and 212 self-selected as nonlesbian (73.1% parents). More than …

Predictors Of Colorectal Cancer Screening Among Maryland Adults, Aged 50–75 Years, Pamela Manwi Asangong

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Screening plays an essential role in reducing colorectal cancer (CRC) incidence and mortality rates, yet CRC screening use remains low in Maryland and lower in some age and racial/ethnic groups with limited resources to participate in CRC screening programs. The purpose of this quantitative, cross-sectional study is to investigate whether age group, sex, race/ethnicity, education level, income level, health insurance coverage, and access to health care professional can predict an individual, 50–75 years of age, in Maryland to take action to fully meet the United States Preventive Services Task Force CRC screening test recommendation within the recommended time interval. The …

Predictors Of Hiv Testing Among African American Men Who Have Sex With Men, Jeanette Marie Higgins

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infections affect more than 1.2 million people living in the United States and disproportionately affect African Americans (AA) men who have sex with men (MSM). The numbers of those who have HIV infections are likely higher due to lack of HIV testing by all individuals living at risk for HIV in the United States. Prior research has been inconclusive in determining the exact cause of the disparity among AA MSM. Therefore, the purpose of this quantitative secondary data study was to explore barriers to HIV testing within the AA MSM population. The sample for this study …

Demographic, Environmental, And Clinical Variables Associated With Dengue In Saint Lucia, Brendan Lee

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Dengue is the most important arboviral disease of public health concern on the world stage. In Saint Lucia, the disease has been endemic for years. Little research has been published on the specific epidemiology of dengue in Saint Lucia, and this study sought to identify the risk factors associated with the disease specific to the island. This study was underpinned by ecological theory, which is used to explain the possible relationships between risk factors and the occurrence of dengue. This three-manuscript study was used to evaluate the relationship between demographic, environmental, and clinical variables and the occurrence of dengue as …

Accuracy Of Death Certificate Data In Reporting Suicide In The United States, Miland Ned Palmer

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Suicide is one of the leading causes of death in the United States. Death certificates are currently being used by public health professionals and policy makers as a main source of public health surveillance data on suicide. The accuracy of death certificates in tracking and reporting suicides has not been well quantified or evaluated in the United States. Death certificates from other countries have been found to under-report suicide. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the accuracy of death certificates in reporting suicides in the United States. The National Violence Death Reporting System (NVDRS) collects information on all …

Mothers' Knowledge, Clinic Staff, Community Support, And Breastfeeding Practices, Ubong Usua

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Among low-income mothers enrolled in the Women Infant and Child (WIC) program and Medicaid, the rate of initiating breastfeeding immediately after delivery is low (57%) compared to high-income mothers (74%). Among the many factors contributing to this are low-income mothers' poor knowledge of the benefits of breast-feeding and lack of support and encouragement from clinical staff, family, and community. However, few studies have singled out the role of community and family support in improving maternal knowledge and breastfeeding practices. Using the Theory of Planned Behavior framework, this quantitative study used WIC data from the Texas Department of Health and Human …

Health Behaviors Of Fruit And Vegetable Consumption, Physical Activity, And Breast Cancer Among African American Women, Nicole Ekoue

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Breast cancer incidence is suddenly increasing among African American women. Recent studies indicate that health behaviors are thought to confer important health benefits and have the potential to lowering breast cancer incidence. Guided by the social ecological model, the purpose of this quantitative, cross-sectional study was to investigate the association between health behaviors of fruit consumption, vegetable consumption, and physical activity and breast cancer after adjusting for age, body mass index, and smoker status. Social support and income level were assessed as modifiers. Using the 2012 to 2017 Health Information and National Trends Survey data, this study was conducted with …

Microcystins And Liver Disease Mortality, Insights From An Ecological Study, Rajesh Tirpaul Melaram

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Microcystins (MCs) are toxic secondary metabolites produced by freshwater cyanobacteria. Algal bloom subsidence can stimulate MC release, which can impair liver function if orally exposed to in large doses. The purpose of this retrospective, U.S. ecological study was to determine if MC exposure represented an environmental risk factor for liver disease mortality using a socioecological approach. A longitudinal ecological substudy investigated the association between average total MCs in Lake Washington and Lake Manatee and age-adjusted chronic liver disease (CLD)/cirrhosis death rates in Brevard County and Manatee County, Florida (FL). A prediction model of total MCs was deduced by quantifying levels …

Childhood Blood Lead Levels And Adolescent Crime Rates In The United States, Jude Juiye Soweh

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Juvenile violent crime rates in the United States have been on a continuous decline since 1996. Despite this decrease, youth violence as well as racial differences in crime rates continues to be a public health issue in the United States. Researchers have linked externalization behavior in children to factors including genetics, parental upbringing, abuse, school environment, and media exposure but have not fully considered the relationship between early childhood lead contamination and youth violence. This was an ecologic study of the relationship between early childhood blood lead levels (BLLs; ≥ 10µg/dL before 2012 or ≥ 5µg/dL after 2012) and crime …

Sexual Orientation, Body Mass Index, And Methamphetamine Use Among Chicago Youth, Nileshkumar Panchal

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Drug use and obesity are two of the most challenging health-related issues that young people face. Obesity, substance abuse, and drug addiction lead to brain dysfunction, which can decrease the quality of life and academic performance as well as increase the vulnerability of developing chronic diseases. To date, there has been little research to determine whether sexual orientation influences the relationship between body mass index (BMI) and methamphetamine use. Focusing on youth, the relationship between BMI, methamphetamine use, and sexual orientation were examined in this study through secondary data analysis of the Youth Risk Behavioral Surveillance System in Chicago. Guided …

Demographics, Naloxone Accessibility, And Repeat Opioid Overdose In The United States, Craig Hamp Booker

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Approximately 2.1 million people in the United States suffer from opioid use disorder, and over 47,600 people die from opioid-related overdoses each year. Opioid overdose is often treated with naloxone, a quick-acting medication that counteracts the effects of an overdose. This quantitative, correlational study was conducted to determine whether demographics (gender, age, and race) and naloxone accessibility were predictors of repeat opioid overdose in a Tennessee county in the United States. The study was developed and conducted using principles of the diffusion of innovations theory. Descriptive and inferential analyses were conducted using secondary, county-level data (n = 967) from emergency …

Area-Level Factors Linked To Obesity In African American And Caucasian Women In Michigan, Marjorie Arrey

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Obesity is a major public health crisis, affecting every segment of the U.S. population. African American women have higher prevalence of obesity than all other subpopulations and are disproportionately burdened by the disease and its comorbidities. Despite this disparity, African American women are often underrepresented in obesity research. This research examined obesity-related risk factors specific to African American women compared to those for Caucasian women. The design was based on the socioecological model and social cognitive theory, both emphasizing the impact of social factors on health outcomes. The data set included only adult Michigan women from the NHANES study. Multiple …

Racial Disparities In Periconceptual Folic Acid Levels, Kelvin Gibson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Periconceptional folate level deficiencies are associated with birth defects of the brain and spinal cord, posing a significant public health problem. In 2009, Black and Hispanic women exhibited lower periconceptual folate levels and higher rates of folate-related birth defects compared with non-Hispanic White women, prior to enactment of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) of 2010. It is not known if improved access to prenatal care under the ACA narrowed the gap in mean periconceptual folate levels between non-Hispanic White, Black, and Hispanic women between 2009 and 2017. The purpose of this causal-comparative cross-sectional quantitative study was to determine whether there …

Sexual Education, Sexual Initiation, And Contraceptive Use Among African American Young Women, Kineka J. Hull

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Unintended pregnancy is associated with adverse social, economic, and health outcomes making it a public health concern. African American (AA) women aged 18–24 are at higher risk of unintended pregnancy due to earlier sexual initiation and non-use, inconsistent, or improper use of contraceptive methods (CM). The purpose of this study was to investigate the extent to which receipt of formal sexual health education (FSHE) impacts age of sexual initiation and contraceptive use and selection of more effective CMs (ECMs) among AA women aged 18–24 (N = 242) who have sex with men. Driven by the reasoned action approach, 2015–2017 National …

Examining The Mortality Risk Of A Population With Mental Illness, Glorimar Ortiz

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Individuals with mental illness experience increased mortality and premature death. In a sample composed of 88% decedents with mental illness who were Black, the findings from three research studies provided insight about excess and premature mortality, odds of dying by cause of death, and risk factors associated with premature mortality. The purpose of this quantitative study was to examine the mortality of a population group with mental illness that was served in a public mental health system (PMHS). The ecoepidemiological life course framework for health, disease, and mortality was used to link mechanisms that may influence health and longevity in …

Family Rejection And Unprotected Sex Inlatino Gay Men, Juan Alejandro De Llano Montano

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The present work explored the role of family rejection on the sexual behavior of Latino gay men under the guidance of the minority stress model. Family rejection was analyzed as a distal stressor, self-esteem as a proximal stressor, and unprotected sex as the outcome. The hypotheses were tested using regression, mediation, and multiple regression of secondary data from the Latino men who have sex with men (MSM) community involvement project. The results suggested that family rejection is a weak predictor of low self-esteem and engaging in receptive unprotected sex with more partners. Low self-esteem did not mediate the relationship between …

Neighborhood Factors, Depression, And Body Mass Index Among Patients With Lupus In Georgia, Aisha L. Hill

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Elevated BMI (overweight and obesity) is a common health-related issue and affects more than half of the lupus population. Weight issues lead to additional health-related issues, such as heart disease and disabilities in the lupus population. To address the shortage of research focusing on this specific issue in the lupus population, one approach is a novel outlook on how neighborhood factors have the capability of determining or altering behaviors, such as physical activity, healthy eating, and healthy social relationships. Another variable to consider is depression and its capability of altering interactions, relationships, self-esteem, or even the inflammatory state of the …

Retention, Viral Suppression, And Care Models In Hiv Positive Children And Adolescents In Cameroon, Eveline Mboh Khan

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) remains a significant public health problem in Sub-Saharan Africa with poor treatment outcomes in children and adolescents (C&As). There is a lack of information on the effects of various HIV care models (Child and Adolescent Friendly Clinic model and Support Group model) on retention in care and Viral Suppression (VS) in Cameroon. This study was carried out to identify the care model with the best outcomes for C&As, inform national scale-up strategies, resource prioritization, and contribute to the existing literature. A quantitative retrospective cohort review approach guided by the social cognitive theory was used to analyze …

Rickettsialpox – A Rare But Not Extinct Disease: A Review Of The Literature And New Directions, Marina Eremeeva, Kamalich Muniz-Rodriguez

Biostatistics, Epidemiology & Environmental Health Sciences: Faculty Publications

Smallpox rickettsia is an urban zoonosis caused by Rickettsia akari. To date, R. akari is the only characterized representative of the group of spotted fevers transmitted by the gamasid mite Liponyssoides sanguineus, which is common among peridomic rodents. This disease was first described in New York in 1946, and a few years later a similar outbreak occurred in the Ukrainian SSR. Numerous serological studies and diagnostics of sporadic cases of smallpox rickettsiosis suggest its widespread occurrence on the planet; however, the current geography and incidence of smallpox rickettsiosis is unknown. Smallpox rickettsiosis is characterized by the classic clinical triad of …

Covid-19: A Simple Curve Approximation Tool, Jane Courtney

Articles

In the current COVID-19 pandemic, much focus is put on ‘flattening the curve’. This ‘curve’ refers to the cases versus time graph, which shows the rise of a disease to its peak before descending. The aim in a pandemic is to flatten this curve by reducing the peak and spreading out the timeline. However, the models used to predict this curve are often not clearly outlined, no model parameters are given, and models are not tested against real data. This lack of detail makes it difficult to recreate the curve from these models. What is much needed is a simple …

Rethinking Global Governance To Address Zoonotic Disease Risks: Connecting The Dots, Kelley Lee

Animal Sentience

Large-scale changes in human behaviour are urgently needed to prevent future pandemics involving zoonotic diseases such as COVID-19. However, this will not happen to the required degree, and with sufficient speed, without a major shift in how humanity collectively governs itself. Alongside a shift in focus from individual behaviours to the structural conditions underpinning the world economy that shape human behaviours, effective global governance presses us to connect more dots than ever before. The One Health approach is an important starting point but we need to go much further.

Health Information Seeking Among General Public In India During Covid 19 Outbreak: Exploring Healthcare Practices, Information Needs, Preferred Information Sources And Problems, Nida Nafees, Daud Khan

Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal)

Background: As of October 1, 2020, World Health Organization (WHO) reports that COVID-19 has spread in 216 countries or territories or areas which results into throwing billions of lives under lockdown as healthcare services struggle to cope. Therefore, timely access to healthcare information during COVID-19 crisis is mandatory to restrain its spread.

Objectives: To comprehend the information needs and seeking behaviour of general public during COVID-19 outbreak in India.

Methods: A national survey through an online questionnaire was conducted in India and 1310 respondents participated in the study through snowball sampling technique.

Results: The most decisive information needs of majority …