Public Health Education and Promotion Commons^™

The Talk Of Unwed Adolescent Fathers Of Mexican Origin: A Discourse Analysis, Jose Arturo Jaime

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Since the 1970s, changing family and marriage trends in the United States have led to a dramatic 41% increase in the rate of unwed parents also known as fragile families, i.e., those at high risk of living in poverty and/or disintegrating (McLanahan, Garfinkel, Mincy, & Donahue, 2013, p.3). By 2011, more than 20 million children (28%) lived in biological father-absent homes and one-fourth, or five million, of these children were Hispanic of any race (U.S. Census Bureau, 2012). Recent studies suggest a clear disparity in cognitive, behavioral and health outcomes for children who live with single or cohabiting parents when …

Barriers To Disaster Preparedness, Evacuation, And Emergency Response In The Colonias Of El Paso County, Anthony Mark Lechuga

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

The colonias serve as a unique challenge to healthcare professionals and government agencies in developing programs and policies to reach these underserved communities. Minorities, persons of low socioeconomic status, and disabled or medically dependent persons are disproportionally affected by disasters. Researchers have studied several health outcomes prevalent in residents of colonias; however, barriers to disaster preparedness, evacuation, and emergency response have rarely, if ever, been studied in this population. This cross-sectional study applied the constructs of the Health Belief Model to identify common factors, barriers, and attitudes related to disaster preparedness, evacuation, disaster perceptions, and risk communication. Participants of this …

Association Between Hepatitis C Virus Knowledge And Drug Use Risk Behaviors Among People Who Inject Drugs, Ciudad Juárez, Chihuahua, 2012, Leah Nicole Morgan

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

BACKGROUND: Needle sharing during injection drug use is the most common mode of transmission for the Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) in the U.S. The scientific literature on the relationship between knowledge and risk behaviors for HCV transmission among people who inject drugs (PWID) is minimal. Evidence-based and harm reduction programs (e.g., needle exchange programs; reducing needle and works sharing) exist to reduce the risks of HCV and other blood-borne pathogens, however these programs are not widely available. Solutions to reduce HCV transmission in the general population involve changes at the individual level as well as at the policy level. On …

Developmental And Autism Screening Process By Pediatrician Offices In El Paso County, Julian Thomas Murillo

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) is a group of neurodevelopmental disorders characterized by either an emerging and gradual course or developmental regression in early childhood. Symptoms of ASD typically include deficits in social interaction and communication with unusually restricted interests. Due to the concern of the recent increase in diagnosis of ASD and the broadening of ASD diagnosis with the updates to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manuel (DSM), the process of how qualified physicians and other clinicians go about diagnosing ASD is often overlooked. Early diagnosis of ASD is crucial given that the earlier the diagnosis is given, the sooner intervention …

Primary Drug And Multidrug Resistant Tuberculosis, Of The Diagnostic Properties Of The Sputum Smear Versus Culture Method For Tuberculosis Diagnosis In An Ecuadorian Urban Public Health Facility, Sandra Luz Groeschel

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Background: The accurate diagnosis and effective prevention and control of tuberculosis (TB) are major global public health challenges. Ecuador has among the highest documented TB incidence (59/100,000 inhabitants) and mortality rates in the Americas region (27/100,000 inhabitants). In addition, TB multi-drug resistance is becoming increasingly common. The culture method is the preferred method of choice for diagnosing TB in the United States and many other high resource countries due to its high documented sensitivity. An added benefit of the methods is that it also can be used to detect primary TB resistance. In contrast, despite its lower diagnostic sensitivity, …

Arab Muslim Immigrant Women's Experiences Of Living In The United States: A Qualitative Descriptive Study, Maissa Khatib

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Background: Over three million Arab Muslims live in the United States, and more than half are women (Nasser-McMillan, 2003). Little is known about these women in the growing and diverse Arab American Muslim population, and there is limited information available regarding their experiences of living in the U.S. Their experiences influence multiple aspects of their lives, including functioning in mainstream culture, use of resources or agencies, and the decisions they make that shape their acculturation outcome.

Purpose: To describe the experiences of Arab Muslim immigrant women living in the U.S.

Methods: This qualitative study examined the shared experiences of immigrant …

Knowledge, Perceptions, Discrimination, Health Self-Efficacy, And Risky Behaviors For Hiv/Aids And Its Association With Migration Time Among Mixtec And Zapotec Men Who Migrate, 2012, Sandra Iveth Bejarano

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

BACKGROUND AND SIGNIFICANCE: Historically, there has been a transnational migration flow from Mexico to the United States. There are many reasons for which people make the decision to migrate; the most common ones are unemployment and economic hardship. Currently, Oaxaca is considered one of the states with the highest poverty levels in Mexico. As a result of extreme poverty groups of indigenous people, such as Zapotec and Mixtec, are forced to migrate out of their communities in order to find jobs. Migration has been associated with various health outcomes, including diabetes, high blood pressure, and heart disease as well as …

The Mediating Role Of Dietary Patterns On The Relation Between Acculturation, Psychosocial Factors, And Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factors In The U.S. - Mexico Border, Ximena Burgos

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Chronic diseases affect both, developed and developing countries around the world. In the U.S., cardiovascular diseases (CVD) are the leading cause of death for all groups including Hispanics (Heron, 2009). Hispanics are disproportionally affected by CVD and experience risk factors at higher rates than non-Hispanic whites (Swenson, 2002). Although CVD are among the most expensive and widespread health problems, they are among the most preventable. Evidence shows that diet plays a very important role in the development of chronic diseases; current dietary changes are partially responsible for the increasing epidemic of chronic diseases worldwide. It is well established that the …

The Association Of Vitamin D Status With Allergy And Asthma In Children: Findings From The National Health And Nutrition Examination Survey (Nhanes) 2005-2006, Silvia Flores

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

About 23 million people, including almost 10 million children, have asthma in the United States. Asthma prevalence is higher among families with lower incomes living at the US/ Mexico Border and represents the most common serious chronic diseases of childhood. It is the third-ranking cause of hospitalization among children under 15, (De Frances, 2007) as well as the cause of seven million physician visits and nearly 200,000 hospitalizations every year. An average of one out of every ten school-aged children has asthma and, 13 million school days are missed each year due to asthma symptoms (Akinbami, 2006). According to the …

Potential For Sylvatic Mammals And Stray Canines In Transmission Of Leishmaniasis And Trypanosoma Cruzi In Paso Del Norte Border Area, Jacqueline Alyssa Mariscal

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Potential for sylvatic mammals and stray canines in transmission of leishmaniasis and Trypanosoma cruzi in Paso del Norte Border Area

Background. New World leishmaniasis is a zoonotic protozoal disease caused by various species of the genus Leishmania1. A number of mammalian species have been described as hosts for Leishmania2. Some of them also are considered to play important roles as disease reservoirs. Chagas' disease, also known as American trypanosomiasis, is a potentially life-threatening illness caused by the protozoan parasite, Trypanosoma cruzi, (T. cruzi)3. It is well recognized that T. cruzi is endemic in the United States, as evidenced by infections …

The Role Of A Culturally Appropriate Lifestyle Intervention On Cardiovascular Disease Risk In Hispanic Adults From El Paso, Texas, Julio Ramirez

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) has become a worldwide epidemic in the last decade and is the leading cause of death in the U.S. population, including Hispanics. The objective of this study was to conduct secondary data analyses to assess the impact of a lifestyle intervention on clinical and behavioral measures of Hispanic participants. A 16-week culturally appropriate lifestyle intervention was part of the Health Education and Assessment Research Team - H.E.A.R.T. Project, a community-based participatory research that is framed around the socio-ecological approach and employs Community Health Workers (CHW) to address cardiovascular disease risk factors among Hispanics living in El Paso, …

Determinants Of Condom Use And Hiv Prevention Among East-African Immigrants In Minnesota, Mahamud Ahmed

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

your words

Factors Associated With Consistent Condom Use Among Mixtec And Zapotec Men Who Migrate, Aldo Carrasco

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Migration has been associated with higher incidence and prevalence of illness among those who migrate when compared to the general population. One of the main concerns when referring to illness among migrant populations is HIV and other STDs. Due to several factors that present to migrant populations they have been found at higher risk for contracting these diseases. Lack of condom use has been found to be a risk factor amongst migrant populations. This study is a secondary data analysis of a previous study performed in California, Chihuahua, and Oaxaca, with Mixtec and Zapotec migrant populations. The purpose of this …

Functional Data Analysis To Guide A Conditional Likelihood Regression In A Case-Crossover Study Investigating Whether Social Characteristics Modify The Health Effects Of Air Pollution, Juana Maribel Herrera Hernandez

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

In this study we are focused on exploring whether social characteristics modify the relationship between air pollution and hospitalizations due to asthma or chronic pulmonary obstructive disease (COPD) in El Paso, Tx. The case-crossover design with conditional regression analysis was used, here the controls and the case are the same subject at different

times and has the advantage of removing confounding by permanently confounding factors. Social characteristics are included in the models as interactions with the pollutants, variables included are age, sex, ethnicity and insurance status as indicator for the socio-economic status. The pollutant's lags were chosen using the historical …

Life And Health Outside Prison, Tiffany Amorette Young

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

This qualitative study explores the subjective understandings of formerly incarcerated individuals' experiences of health and healthcare prior to, during, and post release. The study incorporates in depth ethnographic interviews, participant observation, and life charting to formulate a holistic understanding of how incarceration has impacted the health and lives of the participants recruited for this study. All participants were incarcerated for a minimum of one year in the U.S. prison system. This interdisciplinary study contributes to the fields of sociology, criminology, and public health, and builds on the literature of race, health, and corrections in the United States.

Ethnicity And Gender As Predictors Of Physical Activity And Social Cognitive Determinants, Amber Luana Bridges-Arzaga

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to examine ethnicity and gender as predictors of physical activity (PA) and the Social Cognitive Theory (SCT) constructs related to physical activity among college students. Specifically, the study examined differences in PA between Hispanic college students and their non-Hispanic White counterparts. The study also examined differences between Hispanic and non-Hispanic White participants in SCT constructs regarding PA, such as social support, self-efficacy, outcome expectancies, and self-regulation. Additionally, the study assessed differences between male and female college students in relation to PA and SCT constructs. Finally, the study explored meditational effects of SCT constructs on …

Coping As A Mediator Between Proximity To Violence In Juarez, And Ptsd Symptoms Among College Students Attending A University On The Texas - Mexico Border, Francis Javier Reyes

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

The present study directly examined whether proximity to ongoing violence might lead to symptoms of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) in a sample of students attending a border university less than a mile from the US Mexico border. Exposure to violence is a common cause of PTSD symptomology. Prior research in the region suggests that ongoing traumatic stress due to the violence in Juarez is associated with increased PTSD symptomology. Because coping skills are thought to protect individuals from PTSD the Transactional Model of Stress and Coping (Lazarus & Folkman, 1984) guided the study. The purpose of this study was to …

Impact Of Nutrition Education In High School Students, Leticia Cortez

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

The diet of adolescents is typically high in calories, fat, and saturated fat and often fails to meet the daily recommended amounts of fruits, vegetables, and calcium-rich foods. The frequent consumption of unhealthy diets in combination with the lack of physical activity has resulted in a high prevalence of obesity worldwide. Approximately 17% of adolescents in the United States are obese. Obesity is a common risk factor for the development of chronic disease such as heart disease and diabetes. In the last few decades and along with a high prevalence of obesity there has also been an increased prevalence of …

Evaluation Of Protection Induced By Dna Vaccine Candidate Against Leishmania Mexicana In Balb/C Mice Model, Rosina Rodarte

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Background and Significance. The leishmaniases are a diverse group of diseases with four major clinical manifestations: cutaneous, mucocutaneous, visceral, and diffuse. Approximately 21 Leishmania species and 30 sandfly vectors have been implicated in human leishmaniasis. Leishmaniasis is endemic in 88 countries, 72 are developing countries. Currently, 350 million people live in leishmaniasis-endemic areas around the world. The true incidence of the disease is not known. However, the estimated incidence for visceral leishmaniasis is 500,000 cases per year, and for cutaneous and mucocutaneous leishmaniasis 1.5-2 million cases per year. Visceral leishmaniasis causes 70,000 deaths each year. In the Americas region, …

"The Strictest Smoking Ban In The Nation": A Retrospective Case Study Of The Political Factors That Facilitated And Inhibited The Passage Of El Paso's Clean Indoor Air Ordinance, Xochiquetzalli Gamboa

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

The purpose of this report is to describe, using archival print media sources, the factors that influenced the passage of the controversial El Paso Clean Indoor Air Ordinance in 2001. Although public health professionals had had more than 50 years of evidence proving the dangers of tobacco consumption, very few municipalities were concerned with implementing bans of any type on indoor smoking in public places ten years ago.

El Paso, TX, made national history when it introduced and approved what was then called "the strictest smoking ban in the nation" (Falgoust, 2004). How was such a progressive measure enacted in …

Employers' Perceptions Of Factors Related To The Workforce Development Of Community Health Workers In El Paso, Texas: A Descriptive Study, Aurora Aguirre Polanco

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Workforce studies are necessary for regional economic development and for having a diverse workforce that meets the communities' needs. Workforce studies explore the most salient factors of models aimed at balancing economic forces of supply and demand. Community Health Workers (CHWs) are frontline health workers recognized by both the United States (US) Department of Labor (DOL) and the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010 (PPACA). CHWs' service is oriented towards health promotion and disease prevention; they deliver public health interventions.

External and internal factors to the US health care system such as health care and wealth disparities, changing …

Disparities In Park Availability, Features, And Characteristics By Social Determinants Of Health Within A U.S.-Mexico Border Urban Area, Amir Kamel

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Background: Parks have been shown to be a key feature in the built environment that promote physical activity and positively influence health. However, a number of studies have highlighted that park availability, park features (e.g., park facilities, amenities, and aesthetic features), and park characteristics (e.g., quality/safety concerns of the park and surrounding neighborhood) are not equally distributed across neighborhoods in the U.S, specifically areas of low socioeconomic status and diverse racial/ethnic composition. The overall aim of this study was to examine and describe park availability, park features, and park characteristics, and determine their association with two social determinants of health …

Optimal Control Applied To A Discrete Time Influenza Model, Paula Andrea Gonzalez Parra

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

For the last decades, mathematical epidemiological models have been used to understand the dynamics of infectious diseases and guide public health policy.

In particular, several continuous models have been considered to study influenza outbreaks and their controls policies. However, most epidemiological data is discrete; therefore, a discrete formulation is more convenient to compare collected data with the output of the model. We introduce a discrete time model in order to study optimal control strategies for influenza transmission.

In our model, we divide the population into four classes: susceptible, infectious, treated, and recovered individuals.

In particular, we evaluate the potential effect …

Gender Differences In Food Habits, Beliefs, And Fast Food Consumption Among A Predominantly Hispanic College Student Population, Alma Xochitl Ortega Gomez

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Fast food consumption in the United States (U.S.) has been increasing steadily during the last decades. This trend has been linked to the increased prevalence of overweight and obesity among the population (Barnard, 2010; Currie, Della Vigna, Moretti & Pathania, 2009). Several sociodemographic characteristics that have been associated with the likelihood of frequent fast food consumption include income, ethnicity, gender and age (Block, Scribner, DeSalvo, 2004; Bowman & Vinyard, 2004; Drewnoski & Darmon, 2005; Driskell et al., 2006; Morse & Diskell, 2009; Paeratakul et al., 2003). Most studies related to fast food consumption have been conducted in adult population, only …

Application Of The Water Poverty Index In Border Colonias Of West Texas, Marcelo Korc

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

This study applied the Water Poverty Index (WPI) in border colonias and other rural areas of west Texas. The colonias are mostly unincorporated communities located primarily in New Mexico and Texas along the border with Mexico and are characterized by high poverty rates and substandard living conditions. In Texas, access to drinking water and sanitation services has been identified as one of the most significant determinants of health in over 350 colonias with about 50 thousand residents.

The WPI is a multidimensional measure that links household welfare with water availability. WPI components were identified and prioritized by a wide range …

Development And Evaluation Of A Personalized Normative Feedback Intervention For Hispanic Youth At High Risk Of Smoking, Holly Mata

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Despite reductions in overall smoking rates, data show that adolescents continue to smoke at higher rates than adults and that adolescents living in the Texas-Mexico border area are more likely than their counterparts living elsewhere in Texas to smoke. While adult smoking in the Paso del Norte Region has decreased significantly over the past decade, area youth smoking rates exceed both state and national averages. Recent estimates report cigarette smoking among El Paso youth in the past month to be slightly more than 28% as compared with 21% among Texas youth participating in the 2009 statewide Youth Risk Behavior Survey …

Relationships Between Central Obesity, Fructose Intake, And Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease In Overweight Hispanic Adolescents, Hector Reyes

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Introduction: The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether central (visceral) fat measured as waist circumference and daily fructose intake were associated with measures of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in Hispanic overweight adolescents.

Methodology: Thirty four obese boys (n=15) and girls (n=19) between the ages of 13 and 18 years were measured for body composition, waist circumference, and dietary fructose intake. Fasting alanine (ALT) and aspartate (AST) aminotransferase levels in blood, ALT/AST ratio, and hepatic fat fraction (HFF) by magnetic resonance imaging were measured and used as surrogates for NAFLD. Pearson Product-Moment correlation analyses were used …

Assessment Of Intra-Urban Traffic-Related Air Pollution On Asthmatic Children's Exposure At Schools In The Paso Del Norte Region, Amit Ugamraj Raysoni

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Traffic-related air pollution can be a major public health concern in any urban area. This problem is compounded in the Paso del Norte region that has experienced rapid economic growth, and a substantial number of people living in close vicinity of major roadways. The desert surroundings, arid weather, frequent temperature inversions, heavy border traffic at the international ports of entry between El Paso and Ciudad Juárez, and poorly maintained vehicle fleet further exacerbates this problem. A growing body of air quality and epidemiologic research has discerned the linkage between traffic emissions and respiratory disorders.

Initial health investigations in the Paso …

Development Of A Novel Metallo-Lipid Microparticle Delivery System For A Leishmania Mexicana Dna Vaccine Candidate, Joanna B. Valencia

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

ABSTRACT

Background and Significance.

The leishmaniases are an important group of neglected tropical parasitic diseases caused by parasitic protozoa of the genus Leishmania. International health authorities estimate that 350 million people around the world are at risk for contracting leishmaniasis. Two million new cases occur each year and 12 million people are presently infected worldwide. Leishmaniasis is endemic throughout the Americas region including all of Central America, most of South America, Mexico and southern Texas. Leishmania is also considered a threat to the military readiness of U.S. troops deployed to the Middle East or Latin America.

First- and second-line treatments …

Safe Medication Use Among Hispanic College Students: Knowledge, Attitudes And Behaviors, Tania Guadalupe Quiroz

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

College students are at increased risk of medication errors. Research suggests that young adults are active users of over-the- counter (OTC) medications and other products that may increase the risk for negative health outcomes. Therefore, it is very important to analyze young adults' attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors about medication use among college students in order to provide them with the necessary information. Due to language and cultural factors, the issue is particularly relevant in U.S.-Mexico border communities. This casual-comparative study examined knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors regarding medication use among Hispanic college students. Data was collected through a survey developed by …