Women's Health Commons^™

Nourishing Births: A Program Evaluation Proposal For Community-Based Nutrition Education, Food Access, And Garden Engagement Among Black Birthing People, Naa Deedei-Vera Hammond

Master's Projects and Capstones

Black birthing people in the United States continue to experience unequal maternal health outcomes, shaped in part by racism and barriers to nutritious food, culturally relevant health education, and supportive community spaces. While prenatal nutrition education and food assistance programs can provide important resources, information alone cannot address the challenges many people face when trying to access healthy and affordable food during pregnancy. The Nourishing Births Initiative is a proposed community-based maternal health program designed to respond to these needs by bringing together prenatal nutrition education, help connecting to food resources, community gardening, and peer support for Black birthing people …

Analysis Of The Deborah Sampson Act Of 2020: Improving Women Veterans’ Care, Jessica N. Shipp

All Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Scholarly Projects

Problem: Women Veterans are one of the fastest-growing populations served by the Veterans Health Administration (VHA), yet gaps persist in access to gender-responsive, trauma-informed care. Despite requirements established by the Deborah Sampson Act (DSA) of 2020, implementation remains inconsistent in Women's Health Primary Care Provider (WH-PCP) access, women's mental health (MH) services, military sexual trauma (MST) care, workforce capacity, care coordination, and accountability.

Aim of the Project: The aim was to evaluate the effectiveness, feasibility, equity, and implementation fidelity of the DSA using the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Policy Analytical Framework (POLARIS) and identify evidence-based recommendations to …

Environmental Perspective For System Dynamics Modeling Of Stunting Mitigation To Achieve The Sustainable Development Goals In West Sumatra, Indonesia, Elsa Yuniarti, Nabila Azzahra, Yulhendri Yulhendri, Heldi Heldi, Mery Delvina, Saskia Putri Azeli

Kesmas

This study developed a system dynamics model to simulate stunting reduction in West Sumatra Province, Indonesia, by integrating infant and toddler health, maternal health, and environmental determinants. Secondary data from 2020–2024 on low birth weight, immunization, malnutrition, exclusive breastfeeding, maternal chronic energy deficiency, iron and folic acid supplement distribution, sanitation, and safe drinking water access were compiled from West Sumatra Provincial Health Office and Statistics Indonesia, and validated through consultation with five stakeholder institutions. Causal Loop Diagrams mapped feedback relationships among determinants and were translated into Stock Flow Diagrams using Powersim Studio 10. The model was validated through structural verification, …

Women Refugees & Immigrants: What Utahns Need To Know, Susan R. Madsen, Deborah Lin

Marketing and Strategy Faculty Publications

Refugee and immigrant women are an integral part of Utah’s communities, contributing as neighbors, workers, entrepreneurs, caregivers, and advocates. They enrich our state through their diverse perspectives, experiences, and talents. Utah has a long tradition of welcoming newcomers, and our communities are stronger when everyone has the opportunity to belong and contribute. At the same time, research shows that many of the challenges facing Utah women and girls disproportionately affect refugee and immigrant women. Understanding the experiences, needs, and contributions of these women is essential to fostering welcoming, supportive communities so that all Utah women and girls can thrive.

Determinants Of Corporal Punishment And Severe Physical Punishment In Egypt: A Mixed-Methods Analysis For Child Protection Policy, Marwa Moustafa Nassef

Theses and Dissertations

Corporal punishment (CP) and severe physical punishment (SPP) remain a major public health, child rights, and child protection policy concern. In Egypt, despite legislative reforms, survey-weighted analysis of the 2021 Egypt Family Health Survey (EFHS) 2021 (CAPMAS, 2022) reveals prevalence rates of 60.5% for CP and 27.4% for SPP among children aged 1–14 (author’s calculations using EFHS-2021, n=7623), yet evidence distinguishing the determinants of routine corporal punishment from escalation to severe physical punishment remains limited in low- and middle-income contexts. Guided by Bronfenbrenner’s ecological framework, this mixed-methods study identifies key drivers of CP and its escalation to SPP among Egyptian …

Beyond The Ban: Chhaupadi Abolition And The Governance Of Menstrual Autonomy In Western Nepal, Nikita Paudel

Master in Public Policy Theses

This thesis examines how two decades of efforts to abolish chhaupadi have shaped the everyday conditions under which women and girls experience menstruation in western Nepal. Chhaupadi, commonly understood as menstrual seclusion, has been addressed through Supreme Court directives, national policy, criminal law, municipal implementation instruments, hut demolition campaigns, public health programming, and rights-based advocacy. Yet the practice has persisted, adapted, and in some cases moved into less visible spaces. Rather than treating this as a simple gap between law and practice, this thesis asks how abolition efforts themselves have become part of the regulatory regime through which menstruation is …

“There Was Nothing Left To Give”: Experiences Of Compassion Fatigue Among Former In-Patient Psychiatric Clinicians, Katie Ladner

Counseling and Psychology Dissertations

Compassion Fatigue (CF) is a state of emotional and physical exhaustion resulting from prolonged exposure to stressful or traumatic experiences, specifically among healthcare workers, and it negatively impacts their ability to provide care to their patients and perform their jobs effectively (Singh et al., 2020). The purpose of this qualitative study is to explore the lived experiences of compassion fatigue in mental health clinicians who previously worked in in-patient psychiatric hospitals and their subsequent resignations. This phenomenological research explored participants' understanding and descriptions of their CF experiences in their roles within psychiatric hospitals and how CF contributed to their leaving …

Menstruation Behind Bars: A Mixed-Methods Study On Menstrual Product Access And Distribution Practices In Mississippi County Jails, Eron Hendrix

Honors Theses

This study examines menstrual product access and distribution practices in Mississippi county jails. It highlights the impact of period poverty as a critical yet underexplored public health and human rights issue within the corrections system. While existing research documents widespread inequities in access to menstrual products women’s healthcare in the correctional system, limited attention has been given to menstrual health at the local jail level. Using a mixed-methods approach, this study combines qualitative interviews with jail correctional staff and quantitative survey data from formerly incarcerated women to better understand institutional practices and lived experiences.

Interviews were conducted with sheriffs, jail …

It’S Up To The States: The Role Of State-Based Safety Net Programs In Maternal Health Outcomes, Brooklyn Hall

Honors Theses

This thesis explores the relationship between state-based safety net programs and maternal health outcomes in the United States. Using the case studies of five states, namely Mississippi, Alabama, Wisconsin, Minnesota, and California, this research examines how variations in programs such as Medicaid, the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC), Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), and Paid Family Leave (PFL) influence maternal mortality rates and overall maternal health outcomes. The analysis shows that states with more generous and comprehensive safety net programs, like California and Minnesota, tend to report lower maternal mortality rates. In contrast, states with less robust programs, such …

Abortion Politics And Policy: Stigma And Access In The Silver State, Celene Fuller

Lincy Institute Events

In the aftermath of the Supreme Court’s Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization (2022) overturning Roe V. Wade, states have taken divergent paths in regulating access to abortion services. In 2024, Nevada voters overwhelmingly passed Question 6 proposing to codify abortion rights into the state constitution. In November 2026, Question 6 will again be on the ballot for final confirmation. If it passes, these rights will be protected from future legislative action.

Despite Nevadans’ strong support for abortion rights, the state’s dearth of abortion providers limits access to these services. As this lecture explores, both providers and individuals seeking abortions, …

Domestic Violence In The Mountain West, 2026, Isabelle G. Graham, Olivia K. Cheche, Caitlin J. Saladino, William E. Brown Jr.

Criminal Justice

This fact sheet presents 2026 data on domestic violence in the five Mountain West states of Arizona, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, and Utah. The World Population Review report, “Domestic Violence by State 2026,” reports data on the percentage of women and men in each state who report experiences of domestic violence in their lifetime.This fact sheet highlights state-level data on different forms of domestic violence reported across the Mountain West.

The Role Of Gynecologic Oncologists In Improving Survival Outcomes Of Epithelial Ovarian Cancer: A Retrospective Cohort Study, Widyorini Lh Hanafy, Bambang Dwipoyono, Asri C. Adisasmita, Yosephine E. Regina, Airine S. Lians, Oktaviani P. Rahayu, Jane G. Auwelia

Kesmas

Epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) is a leading cause of gynecological cancer mortality and is often diagnosed at an advanced stage, resulting in poor survival outcomes. Access to specialized gynecological oncology services has been associated with improved prognosis; however, data on its impact in Indonesia remain limited. This study aimed to evaluate the association between gynecologic oncologist (GO) services and disease-free survival (DFS) in patients with EOC. This retrospective cohort study included 76 patients with EOC who were treated at a national cancer hospital in Jakarta between 2015 and 2018. Patient data were obtained from medical records and followed for three …

From Coverage To Care: Evaluating The Effects Of Aca Medicaid Expansion On Birth Outcomes, Bailey R. Lengfelder

Economics Honors Projects

I examine the impact of the Affordable Care Act’s Medicaid expansion on maternal and fetal health outcomes using National Center for Health Statistics Natality data from 2006 to 2023. I exploit staggered state adoption as a quasi-experiment, and the staggered differences-in-differences estimates indicate an increase in the share of Medicaid births but broadly no impact on maternal prenatal care, maternal health, and fetal health. The absence of statistically significant effects is consistent across heterogeneity groups. These null findings indicate that expanded insurance access through the Affordable Care Act may be insufficient to improve health outcomes. I do find a statistically …

Creating An Abortion Safe Harbor Using The Doctrine Of Double Effect, Evelyn M. Tenenbaum

American University Journal of Gender, Social Policy & the Law

[INTRODUCTION] In the three years since the Supreme Court’s decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization (Dobbs) holding that women no longer have a constitutional right to an abortion, many family physicians, obstetricians, and gynecologists have refrained from—or delayed—providing abortion services to pregnant women, even when that restraint created a substantial risk of causing serious injury or death. This reluctance to provide care is labeled physician hesitancy, which is defined as physicians acting in their own professional or personal interest to deny or delay care that would otherwise be provided under the prevailing standard of care.

It …

Improving Maternal Health: Investigating The Early Impacts Of Medicaid Coverage Of Doulas In Oregon, Miriam Akhmetshin

Scripps Senior Theses

While the U.S. spends more per-capita than any country on healthcare, we experience the worst maternal health outcomes of high-income nations. In addition to hefty healthcare bills, an overwhelming majority of mothers experience pregnancy-related health issues that decrease productivity and utility. Thus, it is critical to research cost-effective solutions that can improve maternal health and promote equitable outcomes. Doulas are trained non-medical professionals who support mothers and families before, during and after birth. As a growing body of medical literature points to the role of doulas in decreasing costly medical interventions, insurance companies have begun covering their services. In 2014, …

Racial Disparities In Maternal Mortality: The Role Of Explicit And Implicit Bias In U.S. Healthcare, Lailah Allen

Capstone Showcase

Maternal mortality in the United States remains a critical public health crisis, with disproportionately high rates among Black and other minority women. Despite advances in obstetric medicine, racial disparities in pregnancy-related deaths persist due to structural inequities, implicit bias in healthcare delivery, unequal access to prenatal and postpartum care, and broader social determinants of health. Nationally, Black women are significantly more likely to experience severe maternal morbidity and mortality compared to White women, reflecting longstanding inequities embedded within the healthcare system. This paper examines the relationship between race, healthcare access, and maternal outcomes through a focused case study of and …

Maternal Healthcare In The United States: An Exploration Of The Organizational And Political Determinants Of Maternal Healthcare Quality And Outcomes, Tamaya S. Browder

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

Despite having an advanced U.S. healthcare system, childbirth remains risky in the US, especially for socially vulnerable populations. Medicaid covers a large portion of births and is equipped to implement large-scale interventions to improve maternity care and patient outcomes. Two studies were conducted to (a) examine the relationship between organizational factors in U.S. hospitals and adverse clinical outcomes among Medicaid-insured maternity patients, and (b) analyze state-level Medicaid bundled payment models for maternity care. Guided by the Donabedian Quality of Care Model, Study One used logistic regression on data from the 2018-2020 National Inpatient Sample to explore how hospital organizational factors …

Association Between Neighborhood Social Determinants Of Health And Stillbirth, Tetsuya Kawakita, Misa Hayasaka, Ann M. Harper, John Brush, George Saade

Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology Faculty Publications

OBJECTIVE:

To examine the association between neighborhood-level social determinants of health and stillbirth.

METHODS:

We performed a retrospective cohort study of deliveries that occurred at a gestational age of at least 20 weeks within a five-hospital system (2012-2022). Electronic health record data mapped to the Observational Medical Outcomes Partnership Common Data Model were geocoded using addresses at the time of delivery and linked to neighborhood health indices, which included the Area Deprivation Index (ADI), Maternal Vulnerability Index (MVI), and Social Vulnerability Index (SVI) at the Census tract level. Stillbirths were adjudicated by medical record review. Modified Poisson regression generated relative …

Workplace Policy And Associated Factors Of Minimum Acceptable Diet Practices: An Online Survey Among Working Mothers In Indonesia, Fadhila Iswi Deandra, Judhiastuty Februhartanty, Muchtaruddin Mansyur

Kesmas

Working mothers in Indonesia may influence complementary feeding practices, particularly their ability to ensure that their infants properly meet the minimum acceptable diet (MAD). In this cross-sectional study, an online survey was distributed through various online platforms where participants were recruited using convenience sampling. The questionnaire covered sociodemographic factors, workplace policies, and infant and young child feeding (IYCF) practices. Descriptive and logistic regression analyses were conducted. A total of 394 working mothers participated, of which over 90% of the respondents reported meeting minimum dietary diversity, minimum milk frequency, minimum milk feeding frequency, and MAD indicators as assessed with a standardized …

Venezuelan Migrants In Prostitution: A Personal Decision?, Yazmin Maria Lucila Cadena Camargo, Izara Maite Mondragon Moreno, Isabela Osorio Jaramillo, Paula Angélica Suárez Álvarez, Andrés Duarte Osorio, Carlos Gómez-Restrepo

Dignity: A Journal of Analysis of Exploitation and Violence

This paper explores the multifaceted experiences of Venezuelan migrant women engaged in prostitution, framed through three critical moments: the “decision to enter in prostitution,” the unique abuses faced, and the resultant consequences on mental, physical, and social health. The study highlights how socioeconomic vulnerabilities—exacerbated by migration and poverty—significantly influence the likelihood of entering prostitution. It also shows how traumatic experiences, particularly in childhood and adolescence, coupled with a lack of support networks, contribute to a heightened risk of exploitation. Eleven life stories were collected through a phenomenological approach, revealing a common narrative of abuse, poverty, and the search for survival …

Barriers To Implementing Comprehensive Sexuality Education As A Strategy To Prevent Adolescent Pregnancy In Indramayu District, Indonesia, Een Kurnaesih, Chahya Kharin Herbawani, Nelly Febriani

Kesmas

The implementation of comprehensive sexuality education (CSE) is not optimal. This qualitative study aimed to identify and contextualize barriers to CSE implementation, specifically in Indramayu District, Indonesia. Conventional content analysis procedures were used. Seven participants, consisting of relevant authorities, were interviewed. A purposive sampling technique was employed to select participants. Data were collected through in-depth, semi-structured interviews. All interviews were recorded and transcribed verbatim. Data were analyzed using conventional qualitative content analysis. The barriers to CSE implementation in Indramayu District were identified across five themes: advocacy, technical considerations, coordination and collaboration, integration with other sexual and reproductive health projects, and …

A Qualitative Analysis Of The Lived Experience Of Active-Duty Servicewomen Receiving Perinatal Care Within The Military Health System., Caitlin Russell, Emily Balog, Anne Teitelman, Rosemary Polomano

Rowan-Virtua School of Osteopathic Medicine Departmental Research

OBJECTIVES: We explored the lived experiences of active-duty servicewomen (ADSW) accessing and receiving care during the perinatal period (from discovery of pregnancy to 1 year postpartum) within the Military Health System.

STUDY DESIGN: Using qualitative methods, we conducted semi-structured interviews between September 2022 and February 2023 with 23 ADSW participants who were pregnant or within their first year postpartum. Data were analyzed using inductive coding and thematic analysis techniques.

RESULTS: Participants reported bureaucratic hurdles and long wait times for accessing care, too little choice in providers, and inadequate coordination between civilian and military care providers. Those who experienced perinatal complications …

The Association Between Economic Outcomes And Abortion: A Scoping Review, Larisa Nicole Stephenson

Capstone Experience: Master of Public Health

Background: Abortion access is not just an issue of autonomy, but an economic issue as well. Evidence of the intersectionality of abortion health care and economics has endured due to the financial cascading effects a denial of an abortion, or the inability to access an abortion, has on one’s personal, professional, and economic upward mobility. A change in recent policies impacting access to abortion warrants an updated synthesis examining the relationships between economic outcomes and abortion access for people of reproductive age in the United States (U.S.).

Aim: This scoping review summarizes evidence pertaining to the association …

The Politics Of The Black Womb: How Education And Power Reinforce The U.S. Black Maternal Health Crisis, Foluke Akinkunmi

Honors Scholar Theses

This study investigates the alarming maternal mortality rates among Black women in the U.S. today first by exploring the historical exploitation of Black maternal bodies during enslavement and with the rise of professionalized gynecology. It challenges the narrative that attributes these outcomes to individual choices or supposedly inherent biological factors, arguing instead that the devaluing of Black women’s well-being and authoritative knowledge have been constructed along with the United States itself. To advance a constructive response, the paper analyzes curriculum competencies for obstetric and midwifery healthcare providers, surveys of Black women's birthing experiences in the previous 20 years, and interviews …

"Health Gatekeepers": The Influence Of Women On Health Practices In Rural, Central Appalachia, Reese Lycan

Senior Theses

Women have historically assumed leadership roles in familial and community health promotion, intervention, and facilitation. While the role of women in family health is globally understood and the historical importance of female leadership has been documented, there remains a gap in knowledge regarding the role of women as “health gatekeepers”. Furthermore, when considering the Appalachian region, there are limited studies regarding women’s place in leadership as far as health is concerned. Therefore, this study employs a hermeneutic phenomenological framework to explore the lived experiences of women in relation to their family and community’s health in rural, Central Appalachia- a region …

Health Equity & Parental Leave: Addressing Gaps In Maternal Health Policy, Destiny L. Smith

Public Health Capstone Projects

Objective: This capstone project at Duquesne University will address health equity by focusing on employer-provided maternal and parental leave policies in the United States among underserved groups. It aims to address the gaps in these policies and analyze how disparities in leave policies across different industries can impact maternal and infant health outcomes.

Priority Population Served: This study will primarily target underserved employees who had to take some type of leave policy while working for an intended employer.

Methods: This project will engage in data analysis of the 2024 BIRTH survey results that the Pittsburgh Business Group on …

Quality Over Quantity: Doula Perspectives On Equity, Access, And Quality Of Care In Black Maternal Health Outcomes, Terry-Ann E. Lynch

West Chester University Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Final Projects

Black maternal mortality in the United States is a public health crisis. There are a plethora of reasons as to why maternal and fetal deaths disproportionately impact Black women. From a public health perspective, health disparities are an area of concern in marginalized communities, with Black maternal mortality being a risk factor. “According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), in 2021, the maternal mortality rate for non-Hispanic Black (subsequently, Black) women was 69.9 deaths per 100,000 live births, 2.6 times the rate for non-Hispanic White (subsequently, White) women (26.6)” Maternal Mortality Rates in the United States, 2021” …

Journey To Well-Being: An Exploration Of Thrivership Post-Domestic Violence, Kader Gumus

Antioch University Dissertations & Theses

Domestic violence profoundly affects multiple facets of a survivor’s life. While most existing literature on survivorship addresses the immediate aftermath of domestic violence, this study delves into the extended process following the trauma of abuse to attain “thrivership,” a new concept in the scholarly and practice literature that emphasizes enduring well-being and flourishing. This dissertation examines the journeys from surviving to thriving for 13 women who transformed themselves and their lives to achieve well-being after traumatic domestic violence. Bronfenbrenner’s ecological systems theory was applied to examine the multiple layers of environmental influences on an individual’s development, including the micro, meso, …

Black Birth Work As Radical Praxis: A Hermeneutic Phenomenological Inquiry Of Leadership Among Black Birth Workers, Lesa C. Clark

Antioch University Dissertations & Theses

This hermeneutic phenomenological study explores the leadership experiences of Black birth workers (BBWs), revealing critical insights into leadership dynamics within maternal healthcare. Through a theoretical framework integrating African feminism, Black feminism, and anti-racist feminism, the research examines how BBWs conceptualize and enact leadership through embodied, relational, and liberatory approaches. This study addresses a significant gap in leadership literature, particularly regarding generational knowledge and practices of BBWs, which remain understudied despite their vital role in Black maternal healthcare. This study reveals distinct leadership perspectives and methodologies through in-depth interviews with eight BBWs and a detailed interpretive analysis. The findings contribute to …

Addressing The Public Health Concern Of Maternal Mortality In Houston, Texas, Lucy Couture

Dissertations and Theses (Open Access)

Maternal mortality remains a pressing public health concern in the United States, with disproportionate consequences for marginalized communities. Despite being a developed nation, the U.S. reports one of the highest maternal mortality rates among its peers, with approximately 80% of maternal deaths deemed preventable. Texas reflects this national crisis, particularly affecting Black women, whose maternal mortality rate is significantly higher than that of other racial and ethnic groups. This thesis explores maternal mortality trends in Houston, Texas, analyzing the roles of systemic inequities, social determinants of health, and disparities in access to quality care. Drawing on data from the Texas …