Public Health Education and Promotion Commons^™

The Influence Of Violence, Policing, And Substance Use Stigma On Sexual And Substance Use Risk Engagement In Substance Using Men Along The U.S.-Mexico Border, William Campillo Terrazas

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Background: Cities along the U.S.-Mexico border are unique environments where structural level variables place residents at risk for increased substance use subsequently impacting HIV rates and acquisition. Growing evidence emphasizes the importance of understanding how structural drivers of infectious diseases impact community and social networks to develop interventions to reduce HIV transmission among hard-to-reach populations.

Aims and Objectives: The goal of this study was to investigate the influence of structural factors such as neighborhood disruption, harsh policing, and substance use stigma on engagement of HIV risk behaviors among social networks of people who use drugs and who reside in El …

Regulation Of C-C Chemokine Receptor 7 (Ccr7) Ligand-Mediated Internalization And Chemotaxis By G Protein-Coupled Receptor Kinase Family 4 (Grk-4, 5, 6) In Human Pediatric T-Cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (T-All), Eduardo Elias Chaib

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Background and Significance: The Hispanic population is disproportionally affected by T-ALL (T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia) when compared to other races in the US. C-C Chemokine Receptor 7 (CCR7) in T-ALL is used during disease progression, and may lead to migration of cancerous cells into the Central Nervous System (CNS) of patients. Goals and Objectives: This project aims to find relevant rates and risk factors for T-ALL for the Hispanic population in the US/Mexico border region. The other aim is to assess the effect of the G protein-coupled Receptor Kinase 4 (GRK-4) family proteins on migration and receptor internalization through CCR7 …

The Use Of Person-First Language In Diabetes Care & Research. How Far Have We Come Since Ada & Adces Recommendations?: A Systematic Review, Denise Nicole Portillo

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Background: Diabetes is a chronic medical condition that affects more than 34 million people across the United States (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 2020). Diabetes is characterized as the inability to create or regulate insulin adequately (Costabile et al., 2020). There are three main types of diabetes, type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1D), type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2D), and gestational diabetes (CDC, 2020). Of the more than 34 million people with diabetes, 5 to 10% have T1D, while the remaining 90-95% have T2D (CDC, 2020). In 2017, the Association of Diabetes Care & Education Specialists (ADCES) and the American …

Associations Between Living On The Texas-Mexico Border, Drug Use, And Sexual Behaviors Among Sexual Minority Men During The First Shelter-In-Place Order Of The Coronavirus Pandemic, Nqobile Nzama

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Background: There have been changes in drug use and sexual behaviors among sexual minority men since the coronavirus pandemic. At this time, there is not adequate literature focusing on the state of Texas. Aims and Objective: The aims of this secondary data analysis and exploratory study are to determine associations between sociodemographic characteristics and living on the Texas-Mexico border, drug use, sexual behaviors, and use of dating/hook-up apps among sexual minority men who completed the COVID-19 & You Survey conducted between May 1, 2020 to July 31, 2020, during the first shelter-in-place order of the Coronavirus pandemic. Hypotheses: The hypotheses …

Influence Of Political Affiliation, Distrust Of Government And Pharmaceutical Companies On Hpv Vaccination Intentions And Uptake, Alyssa Andrea Martinez

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Background and Significance: The Human Papillomavirus (HPV) is the most common sexually transmitted infection (STI) in the United States. Currently, approximately 79 million people in the United States are infected with HPV. The CDC estimates that there are nearly 31,500 cases of cancers caused by HPV each year in the United States. Cervical cancer is the most common HPV-related cancer and almost all cervical cancers are caused by a few strains of HPV. Research suggests that Latinx women residing in the U.S.-Mexico border may be at increased risk of contracting HPV types that cause cervical cancer. Although there is no …

A Critical Analysis On Mexican Americans Associated With Gangs Living In San Antonio, Texas, Rubi Guadalupe Gonzales

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

The U.S has a major national concern of mass incarceration. Mass incarceration poses a threat to achieve health equity as there are many adverse health effects documented related to incarceration (i.e., posttraumatic stress disorder, depression, anxiety, hypertension, diabetes, asthma, hepatitis, HIV, tuberculosis, etc.,). There is a great need to conduct research on incarceration with a critical lens. The present study examined the incarceration trajectories of Mexican American men who were associated with gangs during their youth and lived in the west side of San Antonio. This cohort of males were followed at three different timepoints in their life using retrospective …

Translation And Validation Of The Spanish Version Of The Quality Of Life Inventory For Adolescents (Qolie-Ad-48), Perla Michelle Martinez

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Background: In 1999, an instrument was developed to assess quality of life (QoL) among adolescences with epilepsy. To our knowledge there is not a validated Spanish version of this questionnaire. There is a gap in the literature about QoL and epilepsy among speaking Spanish populations. Objectives: 1) To conduct an English-Spanish translation of the QOLIE-AD-48; 2) to evaluate the reliability of the Spanish version of the QoLIE-AD-48; and 3) to assess the validity of the Spanish version of the QoLIE-AD-48. Method: Phase 1 translation: Methods followed the published work of Sousa and Rojjanasrirat (2010). Phase 2 Pilot study: the sample …

Surveillance Of Ticks And Associated Pathogens In Central Texas, Alexa Mendoza

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Background: Ticks are the second most common vector of human and veterinary pathogens, after mosquitoes, which results in a number of different diseases around the world. These diseases, referred to as tick-borne diseases (TBDs), are increasing in their prevalence around the world as the geographical distribution of ticks change due to environmental and human factors. Increased testing for pathogens and a better comprehension of their relationship to different tick species will be crucial in deepening our understanding of TBDs and protecting our human and animal populations. Increasing surveillance of ticks and the potential pathogens they may be vectors for and …

Exploring The Relationship Between The Distance Of Parks And Rates Of Adult Obesity In El Paso, Texas, Shawna Payan

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Background: In El Paso, areas of the city do not have access to parks within walking distance. The rates of people suffering from obesity and the comorbidities that come with obesity are rising annually. Physical activity has been shown to increase lifespan and provide positive health outcomes for the individual. Increasing physical activity in adults by using the parks can decrease their risk for heart disease and diabetes. Objectives: The overall aim of the procedure is to determine a relationship between park density and distance from residence to the nearest park, adult population density, and the obesity rate density within …

Systematic Review Of Alternative Interventions For Construction Workers To Manage Work-Related Musculoskeletal Pain And Discomfort, Isaac Abraham Rodriguez

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Background: The prevalence of Work-Related Musculoskeletal Pain and Discomfort (WRMSPD) among construction workers in 2017 was almost 20,000 injuries. Close to 60% were overexertion, others included lifting and lowering. The most common form of WRMSPD could originate from the upper back to lower back and neck pain. It was reported that the highest prevalence of WRMSPD were in the upper extremities (nearing 60%) because of the physically demanding factor of the job (heavy lifting and repetitive movement). Over 250,000 cases were reported to be WRMSPD in the private sector of the U.S. Purpose: The purpose of this systematic review was …

Key Performance Indicators Of Health Cte Students At For-Profit Colleges And Public Community Colleges, Souraya Hajjar

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

The advent of for-profit colleges to the higher education scene in the U.S. has challenged public community colleges on all levels; financial, academic, and consumerism. Research has shown that key performance indicators are more favorable at public community colleges than at for-profit colleges. Determining size and type of colleges, ethnicity and gender differences that contribute to total graduation rate of health Career and Technical Education (CTE) students will add to the limited research on the relationship between these constructs and provide information to prospective health CTE students about college enrollment. The study aims to examine institutional performance variables to assist …

Does The Type Of Housing A Child Lives In Predict Blood Lead Level?, Elizabeth Alvarado Navarro

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Background and Significance: Childhood lead exposure continues to be a global health problem that can compromise children's long-term health. Identifying factors that predict which children may be at the highest risk of exposure is a strategy that could help focus child lead surveillance. Lead is a natural element found in small amounts in the earth's crust and has been widely used in industry and consumer products since the time of the Romans. Lead, however, is highly toxic for humans and serves no biological purpose in the human body. There is substantial evidence that, even at the lowest levels of exposure, …

Association Of A Repetitive Manual Task On Inflammatory Biomarker Expression, Heart Rate Variability And Rating Of Perceived Exertion, Daniel Conde

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) defines work related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs) as a group of disorders involving muscles, tendons, and nerves. The WMSDs symptoms are considered the most common occupational disease, causing limitations in daily activities. Even though there is an association between repetitive manual tasks involving short work cycles, force demanding tasks, and the development of WMSDs, the specific cause of the physiological changes over a long period of time is a cause of debate. The study of mechanisms underlying the physiological changes is essential for the early detection, diagnosis, and appropriate management of WMSDs.

Assessing Cervical Cancer Knowledge Among High-Risk Women Living In The Us-Mexico Border Region In El Paso, Tx, Crystal Costa

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Despite major decreases in cervical cancer incidence rates in the U.S. over the past several decades, certain populations of women continue to be disproportionately affected by it. One of these groups includes US Latina/Hispanic women who have the highest cervical cancer incidence rates as compared to their racial/ethnic counterparts. To improve detection and prevention in US Latina/Hispanic women, it is important to first understand their current knowledge and health literacy with regard to cervical cancer.

This cross-sectional study examined perceived self-knowledge of cervical cancer and cervical cancer functional health literacy in high-risk Hispanic women living in the El Paso, Texas …

Validity Of A Portable X-Ray Fluorescence Device For Analyzing Field Dust Wipe Samples For Lead, Alexander Boakye Obeng

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Background and Significance. Interior dust lead loadings on floors and windowsills are reliable predictors of a child’s blood lead level and an important predictor in “clearance testing” of residences. The traditional method of determining dust lead levels on surfaces is to send dust wipe samples to a laboratory for analysis. These laboratory analyses are expensive and analysis reports typically take up to 2 weeks to complete. The portable X-ray fluorescence device has been touted as a technique that can provide fast, accurate, and precise results regarding the presence of dust lead hazards in residences but needs to be further evaluated …

The Associations Between Socioeconomic Status And Childhood And Adult Psychosocial Experiences Among Men Living In El Paso, Texas, Sophia Marie Ornelas

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

BACKGROUND: Substantial evidence indicates that low levels of Socioeconomic Status (SES) can have adverse psychosocial health implications in early childhood that can persist into adulthood. While there is extensive research about this relationship very little is known about the relationship between SES characteristics and adult psychosocial burden among Hispanic men. OBJECTIVE: This research aims to explore the associations between SES characteristics and childhood adverse experiences, adult perceived stress burden, and depressive symptoms among Hispanic men living in El Paso, Texas. METHODS: This research used data from a cross-sectional study of 100 adult men residing in El Paso, Texas in 2018. …

Assessing The Relationship Between Diabetes Causation Beliefs, Diabetes Risk, And Intent To Engage In Healthy Lifestyles Among Mexican American Men, Brisa Evet Rodriguez Alcantar

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Background: The Hispanic population is the largest growing ethnic group and is estimated to reach 27% of the US population by 2050. Compared to non-Hispanic groups and other racial/ethnic minority groups they have the highest diabetes related mortality rate. Income, education, and health insurance put the Hispanic population at greater risk for diabetes, diabetes related complications, and diabetes mortality. Objectives: The objective of this research is to: 1) identify which diabetes causation beliefs (i.e., biological, psychological, socioenvironmental, behavior, fatalistic) are the most common among Hispanic men; 2) examine the relationship between men's diabetes causation belief and diabetes risk (HbA1c); and …

Evaluating The Impact Of The In-Store Programming And Outreach Coalition (Ipoc) On Increasing Access To Healthy Food And Healthcare Services In Paso Del Norte Region: First-Person Account Of Stakeholders' Perspective, Dennis Nyachoti

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Grocery stores can provide a conducive environment for interventions targeting healthy eating and access to health services, particularly in low-income communities. Nationally, several organizations have implemented grocery store interventions and have shown impact on perceptions of purchasing nutritious food, especially by raising awareness of fruits and vegetables. However, most of those programs have not been implemented in a coordinated manner despite being delivered in the same location. Collaboration of local health promotion organizations with grocery stores could increase consumers' access to and selection of healthy foods, as well as access to and use of services.

This evaluation of the In-Store …

Directory Of Services And Resources To Support Breastfeeding Initiation, Exclusivity, And Longevity In The El Paso Texas Region, Tiffany Nichelle Butler

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Human milk is recognized as the ideal food for infants; however, in order for human milk to get to the infants, breastfeeding requires the support of the healthcare system. Among infants born in 2015 in United States, 4 out of 5 started to breastfeed and despite of this high rate, only 22% of mothers exclusively breastfed for 6 months. The decisions to breastfeed are influenced by multiple factors including breastfeeding education and support, hospital practices, and participating in tailored education programs. The Office of the Surgeon General has identified the need for healthcare systems to "guarantee continuity of skilled support …

Exploring The Association Between Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder And Social Connectedness With Quality Of Life Among High-Risk Hispanic Women Living In The U.S.-Mexico Border: A Mixed Methods Approach, Tamanna Ferdous

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Quality of life (QOL) is an emerging significant public health concern. The QOL among the women living in the U.S.-MX border region is different than that of other parts of the United States. The unique characteristics of U.S.-MX border include lower socioeconomic status, immigration and acculturation challenges. These along with social, structural, and regional norms place individuals, particularly women, living in this region at high-risk for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), substance use disorder (SUD), weakened social connectedness, and domestic violence, which in turn affect their QOL. The purpose of this study is to examine the effects of PTSD and social …

Psychologically Satisfying: Exploring Client Experiences With Dynamics Of Shared Decision-Making In Care From Prescribing Psychologists, Ashley Graboski-Bauer

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to explore the field of prescribing psychology as it is practiced by providers and experienced by clients in New Mexico. Prescribing psychology is an emerging field of hybrid mental healthcare in which psychologists with special post-doctoral training can obtain prescriptive authority in certain jurisdictions. The study sought to take a client-centered approach to investigating the type and quality of care provided to clients by prescribing psychologists (RxPs). This study included a provider survey of knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding health literacy and shared decision-making, and a client survey of satisfaction and experiences with care …

Associations Between Perceptions Of U.S. Immigration Enforcement Policies, Physical Health, Psychological Distress, And Health Care Utilization In A Hispanic Border Community, Isabel Katharina Maria Latz

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Since the beginning of the current U.S. federal administration, immigration policies have become more restrictive and immigration enforcement has been strengthened. This cross-sectional survey study examines associations between perceptions of and experiences with current immigration enforcement policies and self-rated physical health, psychological distress, and health care utilization among Hispanic adults with different residency statuses in the U.S. Paso del Norte region. This study further investigates moderating effects of collective efficacy and engaged coping strategies on associations between policy perceptions and psychological distress.

The study sample included 211 Hispanic adult residents of the U.S. Paso del Norte Region (i.e., El Paso, …

Regional Differences In Feto-Infant Mortality In The U.S. - Mexico Border Region: Using The Perinatal Period Of Risk (Ppor) Approach, Dyanne G. Herrera

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Introduction. Infant mortality (IM) is a critical indicator of the health of communities because societal factors that affect population health directly impact the mortality rate of infants. There is limited infant mortality data for the U.S. side of the U.S.-Mexico Border Region, defined as the areas within 100 km north of the border. Data from 2005-2007 show that the average IM rate for the border states combined was 5.8 infant deaths per 1,000 live births; for the border counties, the rate was 5.4 per 1,000. Although IM rates were lower in the border counties than in the border states, risk …

Geographic And Multilevel Influences Of School Environments On The Development Of Obesity And Physical Activity Among School Children In A U.S.-Mexico Border Community, Teresa M. Anchondo

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Childhood obesity, especially in Hispanic populations, is the most serious public health challenge of the 21st century (World Health Organization, 2014). Identifying risk factors at the individual, school and neighborhood level will help prevent the development of poor health outcomes such as diabetes and heart disease. The purpose of this study was to determine the associations between neighborhood deprivation, the retail food environment, obesity and physical fitness in children residing in El Paso, Texas. The study population included children in grades three through eight attending school in the El Paso Independent School District from 2009 to 2013. Approximately 42,000 student …

Process Evaluation Of The Batterer Intervention And Prevention Program Of The Center Against Sexual And Family Violence In El Paso, Texas, Kathleen Anne O'Connor

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Background: Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a significant public health issue. One in five women and one in seven men will experience severe physical violence from an intimate partner in their lifetime in the US; and one in three women globally (Breiding, Basile, Smith, Black, & Mahendra, 2015; World Health Organization, 2017). Notwithstanding such stark statistics, there is a gap in research on batterers and on batterer intervention and prevention programs (BIPP). Purpose: Program processes related to follow-up of clients were evaluated at the Center Against Sexual and Family Violence Batterer Intervention and Prevention Program (CASFV BIPP) through a mixed-methods …

Development And Validation Of A Measure Assessing Blind Patients' Perceptions Of Their Healthcare Providers' Stereotype Content, Nazanin Mina Heydarian

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

People with disabilities (PWDs) constitute about 15-20% of the total population. Health disparities among PWD's are due, in part, to stereotypes about PWDs as incompetent. These stereotypes may lead some healthcare providers (HCP) to patronize PWDs, over-focus on the PWDs' impairments and potentially neglect their presenting problem. Moreover, if the PWD violates stereotypical assumptions, the HCP may actively interfere with the PWD's goals. This Dissertation focused on the blind population because this is a large, stigmatized and understudied subpopulation of PWDs. In Study 1, the content of stereotypes about blind patients in the clinical setting were examined from the patient …

Prevalence Of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (Mrsa) Colonization In Medical Students At The El Paso/Cd. Juarez Border Region, Samantha Michelle Meza

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Background: Due to the constant use, misuse, and over-prescription of antibiotics, antibiotic resistance has become a global public health threat. Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) continues to prevail in healthcare settings and is the cause of many nosocomial infections worldwide. A risk factor for developing an active MRSA infection is the colonization of the pathogen in the anterior nares. Over the past two decades, MRSA infections have increased in both the hospital and the community setting, often infecting healthy individuals lacking common risk factors. Healthcare workers with constant exposure to MRSA are more likely to be colonized and can potentially serve …

A Test Of Criteria For Determining "Optimal" Ppor Model Reference Groups: Measuring Excess Infant Deaths In The Border Region, Alexis Nicole Ramos

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Background: Infant mortality is one of the strongest indicators of social and economic development in all countries. Understanding infant mortality is critical for understanding the health of nations. Strategies for lowering infant death rates are needed. The Perinatal Periods of Risk Model (PPOR) is an approach that allows communities to determine when infant death and excess death is occurring by categorizing death into four perinatal categories. Excess infant deaths are determined by defining a reference group with the lowest mortality rate, and then comparing the reference group rate to other subgroups. The typical reference group has been defined as white, …

Understanding The Multidimensional Factors That Influence Hiv Testing Among Women In The Democratic Republic Of Congo, Danielle Walker

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Approximately 37 million people worldwide are infected with the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), with the majority located in sub-Saharan Africa where women are more likely than men to become infected. Even though universal models such as the "HIV Continuum of Care" and the "Bar Before the Bars" exist that provide a context to identify barriers and tools to build the capacity for HIV testing and linkage to care, sub-Saharan Africa remains an HIV epicenter accounting for 72% of all worldwide HIV-related deaths in 2016. HIV testing rates vary significantly among many Central African countries; the DRC in particular has one …

Nutrition Label Accuracy And The Theory Of Triadic Influence: The Impact Of Knowledge On Healthy Food Choices In A Predominantly Hispanic Sample, Mosi Staudt Dane'el

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Unhealthy food choices and the outcomes of those choices are a significant concern in the United States. Multiple governmental agencies recommend using nutrition labels to promote healthier food choices. This study investigated this claim using the theory of triadic influence to examine the efficacious use of nutrition labels on food choices. The theory of triadic influence presents a model of variables that affect food choice, including knowledge pathways on which this study focuses. Within the model, we expected increased scores on two measures of health knowledge to predict nutrition label understanding, which predict healthy food attitudes. Next, we expected that …