Other Public Health Commons^™

Perceptions Of Classroom Physical Activity, Kailey Snyder, Danae M. Dinkel, Connie Schaefer, Jung-Min Lee

Research Presentations

Background: Few children meet the physical activity (PA) recommendations. One new and innovative ways school have tried to improve this is through classroom PA. Studies have found that incorporating opportunities for classroom PA can not only increase PA but also increase children’s time on-task as well as academic scores. However little is known about teachers’ perceptions of.classroom PA Purpose: The purpose of the study was to determine teacher’s perceptions regarding classroom PA. Methods: Four school districts in a metropolitan Midwest City were recruited to participate. Twelve teachers from each district took part in a semi-structured interview over the …

Utilization Of Classroom Physical Activity Breaks, Danae M. Dinkel, Jung-Min Lee, Caitlin Golden, Connie Schaffer

Research Presentations

Historically within schools, physical education and recess periods have been utilized as the primary times for children to obtain some portion of physical activity (PA) recommendations during the school day. Due to academic pressure, opportunities for physical education and recess periods have been reduced. Fewer than 5% of schools require daily physical education and fewer than 12% require daily recess. Additional PA opportunities are needed throughout school day.

PURPOSE: The overall purpose of this study was to examine teachers’ utilization of classroom PA breaks.

METHODS: 332 Elementary school teachers from five school districts in a Midwest city were …

An Exploratory Study Of Infant Physical Activity In Relation To Obesity, Danae M. Dinkel, Jung-Min Lee, Kailey Snyder, Anastasia Kyvelidou

Research Presentations

Historically, society has thought that infants (0 to 1 year of age) are “active enough” and not in need of efforts to promote physical activity (PA). However, approximately 10% of infants in the U.S. are obese and research has shown low PA is one of the risk factors for obesity in toddlers. Little research has been done to systematically compare PA levels between normal weight infants and obese/overweight infants in the first year of life. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to determine the level of PA in normal weight and overweight infants. METHODS: Twenty-one normal weight …

Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factors In Structural Firefighters, Nicholas W. Trubee

Theses and Dissertations--Kinesiology and Health Promotion

This dissertation is composed of two manuscripts assessing cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk in structural firefighters. Study 1 compared traditional CVD risk factors and health-related behaviors between professional and volunteer firefighters. Online questionnaires were sent to approximately 4000 firefighters in the state of Kentucky. The results indicated that 90% of volunteer and 58% of professional firefighters were classified as moderate-to-high CVD risk. Volunteer firefighters were significantly (p < 0.001) older and more likely (p = 0.026) to be current cigarette smokers. The mean body mass index among all firefighters in the sample was 30.8 kg·m^-2. Nearly 60% of volunteer firefighters were obese. Obese firefighters were more likely (p < 0.05) to have been diagnosed as diabetic or pre-diabetes compared to overweight and normal weight firefighters. These results indicate that volunteer firefighters may be at a greater CVD risk compared to professional firefighters.

Study 2 investigated the association of cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) and body fat with arterial stiffness in professional firefighters. Forty-six …

Investigation Of Interferences And Development Of Pre-Treatment Methods For Arsenic Analysis By Anodic Stripping Voltammetry, Paul Lewtas

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

Contamination of drinking water is a serious health issue in many developing countries and there is a recognised need for low cost portable systems that are capable of analysing drinking water down to low ppb levels. Anodic Stripping Voltammetry (ASV) instruments meet these requirements but suffer interferences from other species which may also be present in the sample, particularly organics, other metals and sulfides. The last of these has received surprisingly little attention in the literature, despite being a proven interferent.

This study investigates the impact of each of these interference types, as well as a number of traditional and …

Freshman 15: How The University Of Akron Is Affected Per Residence Hall, Daniel G. Mcquillen

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

Students entering their freshmen year of college face a variety of lifestyle changes. These changes often include increased caloric consumption, increased levels of stress, decreased physical activity, and increased alcohol consumption. Because of these lifestyle changes, it is commonly asserted that freshman gain weight throughout their first year in college. A common expression used to describe this weight gain is the “Freshman 15,” which asserts that the average student gains 15 pounds during their freshman year. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to gather data regarding the on-campus freshmen’s diet and exercise habits. The data gathered was used to …

Global Response To Local Problems:The Global Health Community Response To The Ebola Outbreak Of 2014, Nicole Thelen

Undergraduate Theses, Professional Papers, and Capstone Artifacts

Health crises are often met with much support from the global health aid communities, who strive to contain the current health crisis and improve the conditions of the affected society. The recent Ebola outbreak of 2014 is no exception. Driven by public panic and media coverage, the global health community responded in force, dispatching aid organizations, monetary help, and military assistance to both assist those affected with the disease and prevent it from spreading. The World Health Organization, along with Doctors without Borders and many other global organizations, swept in to provide aid to the affected areas. This project examines …

Parasitology In An Archaeological Context: Analysis Of Medieval Burials In Nivelles, Belgium, S. E. Rácz, Elisa Pucu De Araujo, E. Jensen, C. Mostek, Johnica J. Morrow, M. L. Van Hove, R. Bianucci, D. Willems, F. Heller, Adauto Araujo, Karl Reinhard

Karl Reinhard Publications

Coprolites were recovered from three burials near the Grand Place of Nivelles, Belgium. These remains yielded evidence of geohelminth parasitism. The evidence contributes to studies of differential parasite egg preservation related to the taphonomic conditions within the three burials. Using coprolite analysis techniques, parasite egg concentrations were quantified for each burial. Coprolites from the individual in Burial 122 were abnormally large and abundant, indicating an intestinal blockage. Additionally, this individual hosted an extremely high number of parasites evinced by the calculated parasite egg concentrations (Trichuris trichiura = 1,577,679 total eggs; Ascaris lumbricoides = 202,350 total eggs). Statistical analyses revealed …

Paleoparasitology – Human Parasites In Ancient Material, Adauto Araújo, Karl Reinhard, Luiz Fernando Ferreira

Karl Reinhard Publications

Parasite finds in ancient material launched a new field of science: paleoparasitology. Ever since the pioneering studies, parasites were identified in archaeological and paleontological remains, some preserved for millions of years by fossilization. However, the paleoparasitological record consists mainly of parasites found specifically in human archaeological material, preserved in ancient occupation sites, from prehistory until closer to 2015. The results include some helminth intestinal parasites still commonly found in 2015, such as Ascaris lumbricoides, Trichuris trichiura and hookworms, besides others such as Amoebidae and Giardia intestinalis, as well as viruses, bacteria, fungi and arthropods. These parasites as a …

Forensic Palynological Analysis Of Intestinal Contents Of A Korean Mummy, Paulette Arguelles, Karl Reinhard, Dong Hoon Shin

Karl Reinhard Publications

Experimental studies show that pollen resides in the intestinal tract for a minimum of seven days to at least 21 days. Because of this long residence time, pollen analysis is an important avenue of forensic research. Pollen provides evidence of the environment of the decedent as well as foods and medicine. We analyzed a coprolite recovered from a Korean mummy. The decedent was a high-ranking general who lived during the 16th or 17th centuries. Twenty pollen types were recovered. These ranged from 100s to 10,000s of pollen grains per gram of coprolite. Importantly, comparison of the coprolite pollen spectrum to …

Impact Of E-Cigarettes On Physician Recommendations Of Tobacco Use Cessation Pharmacotherapy, Omar El Shahawy

Theses and Dissertations

Introduction: E-cigarettes have been marketed as smoking cessation aids and harm reduction strategies. Prior regional surveys found that physicians are recommending them to patients despite the lack of evidence supporting these industry claims. Yet, little is known about physicians’ beliefs regarding e-cigarettes and whether these beliefs are associated with them recommending e-cigarette use in clinical practice. Methods: This three-manuscript dissertation used a mixed-methods approach including both qualitative and quantitative research methods. The aims were to: (1) Uncover the factors associated with primary care physicians’ (PCPs) decisions to recommend e-cigarettes to their patients for tobacco use cessation; (2) Estimate the prevalence …

Reducing Childhood Obesity In America Through National Legislation, Sailee A. Joshi

UROP Posters

According to the Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health, the American childhood obesity rate has increased threefold within the past 25 years, a trend accompanied by increasing rates of hypertension, type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, certain types of cancer, and even mortality. Obesity has grown so prevalent, in fact, that Centers for Disease Control estimate that one in three American children is obese. According to the Chan School of Public Health, unless legislation directly targeting America’s spiraling obesity rate is passed, the trend shows no signs of slowing or reversing.

Passing effective legislation requires a both an understanding …

Provider Recommendations For Human Papillomavirus Vaccine (Hpv) Among Adolescent Males In Southwest Georgia Counties And The Associated Hpv Prevalence In This Population, Benjamin K. Poku

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

Objective: The purpose of this research study was to examine the variation in healthcare providers’ behavior in recommending the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine to young male adolescents (aged 11-12), middle male adolescents (aged 13-17) and late male adolescents (aged 18-26) in rural Southwest Georgia counties. This research also aimed to identify factors associated with providers’ behaviors concerning HPV vaccination recommendation to youth in various age groups.

Methods: Upon IRB approval, secondary data were obtained from Albany Area Primary Care for a paper-based survey that was conducted in 2014 using a representative random sample of family physicians (n=12), pediatricians (n=6), and …

‘‘We Can Wipe An Entire Culture’’: Fears And Promises Of Dna Biobanking Among Native Americans, Roberto Abadie, Kathleen Heaney

Department of Sociology: Faculty Publications

This paper explores Native American perceptions on DNA biobanking. A qualitative study was conducted among self-declared Native Americans living off reservation in two Midwest cities. Findings demonstrate a paradox: Informants maintain strong hopes for the transformative power of gene-based research while voicing very particular social anxieties. Emerging genomic technologies elicit concerns over the potential for genetic stigmatization or discrimination based on race, preventing access to health insurance or employment. Frequently, social anxieties adopt the narrative form of conspiracy theories which portray powerful agents exploiting or abusing a disenfranchised population. We argue that while Native Americans do not have a monopoly …

The Creation And Implementation Of A Transgender Cultural Competence Nursing Education Toolkit, James Bl Donovan

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Projects

Healthcare disparities in the transgender populations have been linked to lack of healthcare provider cultural competence (IOM, 2011; Bradford et al., Harbin et al., 2012; Eliason, Dibble, & DeJoseph, 2010; Lim, Brown, & Jones, 2013). Prior research has identified that healthcare providers receive little, if any, transgender cultural competence training during their formal education. A survey of nursing educators at the University of San Francisco School (USF) of Nursing and Health Professions suggested that few educators are providing transgender content or understand the unique healthcare needs of that population. A literature review concluded that little is known about the best …

Healthy And Livable Pittsburg Initiative: Master Of Public Health Culminating Experience, Jasmine L. Bernal

Master's Projects and Capstones

Contra Costa Health Services Department of Community Wellness and Prevention sole purpose is to improve the environmental, social and economic conditions that contribute to poor health, and support a quality of life that promotes the health and well being of all residents within the county, with major attention to those underserved. The Healthy and Livable Pittsburg Initiative tries to address those issues within the city of Pittsburg. The project aims to engage certain members of the community within Pittsburg to be involved in the future community action plan, which will improve the lives of every resident in Pittsburg. The first …

Prevention Of Vaccine-Preventable Diseases Through Information And Education At The California Department Of Public Health, Vaisali M. Patel

Master's Projects and Capstones

Immunizations are one of the most important developments in the twentieth century towards the prevention of infectious diseases. Vaccinations against communicable diseases have helped reduce morbidity and mortality all over the world. Despite having numerous vaccines that protect individuals from serious and deadly diseases, vaccination rates in the United States remain at an all-time low. The Information and Education section of the Immunization Branch within the Division of Communicable Disease Control at the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) focuses on working with local health departments, primary care providers, immunization coalitions, and other statewide organizations to increase the rates of …

Evaluating The Effectivesness Of Information Sources Regarding Hiv Among Gold Miners In Quảng Nam, Noah Landesberg

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

Young migrant males in strenuous manual labor environments represent a high-­‐risk population for the transmission of HIV/AIDS. In Vietnam, gold miners are representative of this high-­‐risk population. Phước Sơn district, Quảng Nam province is home to much of Vietnam’s mining activity and has a comparatively high rate of HIV. Previous studies have been done on HIV/AIDS prevalence in Quảng Nam as well as related knowledge and practices. This analysis of a 2014 questionnaire examines the effects of varying information sources on HIV/AIDS knowledge. The sample of workers was mostly male and between 25 and 49 years old. Migrants made up …

¿Cómo Amigos Comparten La Salud? Las Redes Sociales Y Factores De Riesgo. / How Do Friends Share Health? Social Networks And Risk Factors., Joanna Emerson

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

Research question: How are health risk factors shared between people by means of their social networks? Objectives: The main objective of the study is to determine the correlation between a person's social network and which health risk factors are most prevalent in network members. The first specific objective is to evaluate the rates of the most common risk factors in social networks and how these disperse throughout the network. The second is to analyze whether people with similar health risk factors have similar social tendencies. The final objective is to identify the risk factors most transmittable through social networks. Background: …

Erratum (For “In Adult Smokers Unwilling Or Unable To Quit, Does Changing From Tobacco Cigarettes To Electronic Cigarettes Decrease The Incidence Of Negative Health Effects Associated With Smoking Tobacco? A Clin-Iq”)

Journal of Patient-Centered Research and Reviews

In Volume 1, Issue 2, the article “In Adult Smokers Unwilling or Unable to Quit, Does Changing From Tobacco Cigarettes to Electronic Cigarettes Decrease the Incidence of Negative Health Effects Associated With Smoking Tobacco? A Clin-IQ” (J Patient-Centered Res Rev. 2014;1:99-101) mistakenly reported the delivery agent in e-cigarettes as diethylene glycol instead of propylene glycol. Propylene glycol is a relatively benign substance commonly used in concert smoke machines. Diethylene glycol, a highly toxic substance, was reportedly found in only one e-cigarette cartridge studied in the literature, which may have been due to use of a nonpharmaceutical grade propylene …

Death Patterns During The 1918 Influenza Pandemic In Chile, Gerardo Chowell, Lone Simonsen, Jose Flores, Mark A. Miller, Cecile G. Viboud

Global Health Faculty Publications

Scarce information about the epidemiology of historical influenza pandemics in South America prevents complete understanding of pandemic patterns throughout the continent and across different climatic zones. To fill gaps with regard to spatiotemporal patterns of deaths associated with the 1918 influenza pandemic in Chile, we reviewed archival records. We found evidence that multiple pandemic waves at various times of the year and of varying intensities occurred during 1918-1921 and that influenza-related excess deaths peaked during July-August 1919. Pandemic-associated mortality rates were elevated for all age groups, including for adults >50 years of age; elevation from baseline was highest for young …

The Burden Of Underweight And Overweight Among Women In Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, Yibeltal Tebekaw, Charles Teller, Uriyoan Colón-Ramos

Global Health Faculty Publications

Background

Obesity and overweight are rising worldwide while underweight rates persist in low-income countries. The aim of this study was to examine changes in the prevalence of underweight and overweight/obesity among non-pregnant women aged 15-49 years, and its socio-demographic correlates in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Methods

The data are from 2000, 2005 and 2011 nationally representative Ethiopian Demographic and Health Surveys in Addis Ababa. The dependent variable was women’s nutritional status measured in terms of body mass index coded in binary outcomes to examine risk of being underweight (<18.5 kg/m² vs. ≥18.5 kg/m²) or overweight/obese (>25 kg/m^{2 …}

Establishing Tobacco Origin From Pollen Identification: An Approach To Resolving The Debate, Shane Williams, Shelby Hubbard, Karl Reinhard, Sérgio Augusto De Miranda Chaves

Karl Reinhard Publications

Previous research into pollen content of tobacco resulted in a debate. We address this debate and determine that pollen analysis may be able to assist with identifying geographical origin of tobacco. However, the value of any results should be assessed on a case-by-case regional basis until sufficient database information is available for an objective interpretation to be undertaken on a global basis. As a first step toward developing comparative data for South America, we analyzed a tobacco sample from Brazil in an effort to identify signature taxa from the state of Minas Gerais. We also assessed the role of honey …

Human Papillomavirus And The Gardasil Vaccine: Medicalization And The Gendering Of Bodies And Bodily Risk, Lauren Camara

Laurier Undergraduate Journal of the Arts

No abstract provided.

Negotiating Masculinity: How Infertility Impacts Hegemonic Masculinity, Myscha Burton

Laurier Undergraduate Journal of the Arts

No abstract provided.

The Implications Of Regional And National Demographic Projections For Future Gms Costs In Ireland Through To 2026, Aisling Conway Lenihan, Martin Keneally, Noel Woods, Andreas Thummel, Marie Ryan

Dept. of Management & Enterprise Publications

As the health services in Ireland have become more resource-constrained, pressure has increased to reduce public spending on community drug schemes such as General Medical Services (GMS) drug prescribing and to understand current and future trends in prescribing. The GMS scheme covers approximately 37% of the Irish population in 2011 and entitles them, inter alia, to free prescription drugs and appliances. This paper projects the effects of future changes in population, coverage, claims rates and average claims cost on GMS costs in Ireland.

Behavioral Attitudes And Preferences In Cooking Practices With Traditional Open-Fire Stoves In Peru, Nepal, And Kenya: Implications For Improved Cookstove Interventions, Evelyn L. Rhodes, Robert Dreibelbis, Elizabeth M. Klasen, Neha Naithani, Joyce Baliddawa, Diana Menya, Subarna Khatry, Stephanie Levy, James M. Tielsch, J. Jaime Miranda, Caitlin Kennedy, William Checkley

Global Health Faculty Publications

Global efforts are underway to develop and promote improved cookstoves which may reduce the negative health and environmental effects of burning solid fuels on health and the environment. Behavioral studies have considered cookstove user practices, needs and preferences in the design and implementation of cookstove projects; however, these studies have not examined the implications of the traditional stove use and design across multiple resource-poor settings in the implementation and promotion of improved cookstove projects that utilize a single, standardized stove design. We conducted in-depth interviews and direct observations of meal preparation and traditional, open-fire stove use of 137 women aged …

The Association Of Meningococcal Disease With Influenza In The United States, 1989-2009, Jessica Hartman Jacobs, Cecile Viboud, Eric Tchetgen Tchetgen, Joel Schwartz, Claudia Steiner, Lone Simonsen, Marc Lipsitch

Global Health Faculty Publications

Importance and Objective

Prior influenza infection is a risk factor for invasive meningococcal disease. Quantifying the fraction of meningococcal disease attributable to influenza could improve understanding of viral-bacterial interaction and indicate additional health benefits to influenza immunization.

Design, Setting and Participants

A time series analysis of the association of influenza and meningococcal disease using hospitalizations in 9 states from 1989–2009 included in the State Inpatient Databases from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality and the proportion of positive influenza tests by subtype reported to the Centers for Disease Control. The model accounts for the autocorrelation of meningococcal disease and …

Seasonality Of Birth Outcomes In Rural Sarlahi District, Nepal: A Population-Based Prospective Cohort, Michelle M. Hughes, Joanne Katz, Luke C. Mullany, Subarna K. Khatry, Steven C. Leclerq, Gary L. Darmstadt, James M. Tielsch

Global Health Faculty Publications

Background

While seasonality of birth outcomes has been documented in a variety of settings, data from rural South Asia are lacking. We report a descriptive study of the seasonality of prematurity, low birth weight, small for gestational age, neonatal deaths, and stillbirths in the plains of Nepal.

Methods

Using data collected prospectively during a randomized controlled trial of neonatal skin and umbilical cord cleansing with chlorhexidine, we analyzed a cohort of 23,662 babies born between September 2002 and January 2006. Project workers collected data on birth outcomes at the infant’s household. Supplemental data from other studies conducted at the same …

Intimate Partner Violence And Mental Health, Mary Ellsberg, Maria Emmelin

Global Health Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.