Women's Health Commons^™

Nurturing Beginnings, Madison K. Hanson

Occupational Therapy Capstone Presentations

Early intervention for postpartum mothers and their infants plays a critical role in supporting long-term health outcomes for both members of the dyad. Maternal well-being is closely linked to a child’s development, and challenges such as stress, physical changes, and undiagnosed postpartum depression can disrupt bonding, parenting, and early skill development. Because the transition to motherhood is complex, consistent support and interventions are essential for both mom and baby. Strengthening public education and improving developmental screening practices can help ensure mothers and infants are receiving needed support early in life. Nurturing Beginnings worked to bridge the service gaps between healthcare …

Demographic Disparities In Contraceptive Use: Insights From Female Nsfg Respondents, 2015–2023, Adira Brenner

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Disparities in contraceptive use persist in the United States despite expanded access to family planning services. Historical policies and ongoing social determinants of health (SDOH) are significant drivers of the continued inequality in reproductive healthcare access and utilization. This study examines demographic trends in contraceptive use using data from the National Survey of Family Growth (NSFG) between 2015 and 2023.

Data were obtained from the NSFG and the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) datasets. A cross-comparison was conducted, focusing on variables such as age, race/ethnicity, and educational attainment.

The consensus was that contraceptive use increased to approximately 65% in …

Gender-Specific Mental Health Outcomes In Central America: A Natural Experiment, Thea Nagasuru

Computer Science Summer Fellows

While COVID lockdown measures have had varying effects on the mental health of different demographics, several bodies of research have noted their disparate effect on women. Why is women's mental health more negatively impacted by lockdown measures, and how much more are they impacted than men? How can we predict and mitigate these negative effects on women? This paper aims to contribute to answering those questions by comparing COVID stringency measures and their effect on the gap in depression rates between men and women in two neighboring countries: Nicaragua and Honduras.

A Novel Approach To Hiv Testing: Group Harm Reduction And Testing For High Risk Women In Nj, Gabrianna A. Andrews

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Outreach programs have been implemented aimed at providing healthcare to minority populations and those considered high-risk for acquiring HIV. Variables such as these cause hesitance in community members, preventing HIV screenings and adherence to follow-ups. This study provides and evaluates a new approach: group HIV testing. Data was collected from 6/2/2023 to 4/19/2024 by surveying participants at the end of the interaction. 87.5% of participants rated their care at the mobile clinic as ‘Excellent’, 8% as ‘Very Good’, and 4.5% as ‘Good’. 95.6% of participants ranked Group Harm Reduction Counseling as ‘Definitely’ helpful. 84.4% of participants did not find that …

Community Health Workers, Stress Reduction, And Racial Equity In Infant Vitality, Justin Rex

ICS Fellow Lectures

How can communities help mothers reduce stress during pregnancy and provide the social supports that contribute to infant vitality? This talk presented findings from an evaluation of the Northwest Ohio Pathways HUB program, a nationally recognized best practice program model that pairs at-risk mothers with community health workers (CHWs) who connect mothers to services that reduce pregnancy risks. The talk included stories from mothers and CHWs about the challenges and stresses they face as well as data from interviews and surveys that quantify the impact CHWs have for reducing mothers' stress and providing supports that help mothers and their children …

Reproductive Health In America: A History Of Patriarchal Control, Hailey Mccool

Undergraduate Research Conference

The United States is often referred to as the land of opportunity and the home of the free, yet today, those who challenge the patriarchal system are not treated fairly or equitably. Historically, from owning land to voting women have fought for the same rights enjoyed by men. The effort of early feminist movements paved the way for the Supreme Court to protect women’s reproductive rights through Roe v. Wade. For decades, women were able to make a choice regarding their reproductive health. However, in just the past year (2022), the Supreme Court ruled to strike down Roe v. …

Post-Partum Depression (Ppd) Screening Tools Effectiveness In Refugee Populations, Joshua Jensen

Annual Research Symposium

Purpose:

Immigrant mothers check all the boxes that are significant risk factors for developing or exacerbating Postpartum Depression (PPD). These risk factors include, suffering in solitude, cultural conceptualizations, barriers to help seeking, and a lack of facilitators to help seeking. Despite this very little research has been done to find effective screening methods for this population.

The purpose of this research project is to compile the works of those before me to determine whether the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression or the PHQ 9 screening tool is the most effective for immigrant mothers.

Methods:

Research determining the effectivity of the two tests …

Early Marriage And Reproductive Health Outcomes Among Women In South Asia, Sameen Kazmi

Annual Research Symposium

No abstract provided.

The Lifecourse Perspective Theory As A Strategy For Improving Maternal Mortality In Georgia, Joanne Chopak-Foss, Alisha Riggins

Georgia Public Health Association Annual Meeting & Conference

Background: Maternal mortality and morbidity outcomes in Georgia are among the highest in the United States, with women of color experiencing higher rates of morbidity and mortality compared to their White counterparts. Public health policies such as Medicaid expansion have been suggested as one method for improving maternal mortality. In addition, the Life Course Perspective or Theory approach to maternal and child health suggests a complex interplay of biological, behavioral, psychological and social protective factors contributes to health outcomes across the span of a person’s life.

Methods: Using the Lifecourse Theory Perspective/Theory along with current maternal health policies the presenters …

Pharmacist-Prescribed Birth Control: A Policy Analysis, Brianna Full

UNO Student Research and Creative Activity Fair

Although unintended pregnancy in the United States has steadily decreased from 2008, rates are still unacceptably high as almost half (42%) of all pregnancies are not wanted or timed correctly (Finer & Zolna). In 2011, 2.8 million of the 6.1 million pregnancies in the United States each year were unintended. Public health professionals are worried about unintended pregnancy because research shows that unwanted or mistimed pregnancies come with associations to adverse maternal and child health outcomes, such as delayed prenatal care, premature birth, and negative physical and mental health effects for children (Frost, Frohwirth & Zolna, 2016). Also, two-thirds (68%) …

Unintended Pregnancy Among The Lgbtq+ Population, Kenna M. Barnes

UNO Student Research and Creative Activity Fair

Unintended births are related to adverse health outcomes for both parents and children (Mosher, et al., 2012). For the context of this research, unintended will include both mistimed (too early) and unwanted (wanted to avoid pregnancy) pregnancies. Non-heterosexual women, defined as anyone who has same-sex sexual behaviors, attractions, or identities, make up about 5.1% of the population according to Williams Institute (2019). The impact of unintended pregnancy among non-heterosexual individuals is not well understood, creating large disparities in the community. This has manifested in emotional, physical, and social wellness gaps compared to their heterosexual counterparts (Buchmueller & Carpenter, 2010; Everett …

Why Doula Services Should Become An Essential Health Benefit In New York State, Jalisha Hanshaw, Amy White

Publications and Research

Doulas are birth workers who assist expecting mothers through pregnancy, birth and postpartum using holistic techniques. Techniques include: prenatal yoga, birth affirmations and induction acupuncture. Doulas are underrated healthcare providers who deserve the same respect as clinical and non-clinical providers. Doulas are well-rounded alternative care providers who focus on mental, emotional, and physical well being of mothers. Also, they know special alternative medical techniques that prevent mothers from maternal mortality among other negative health outcomes. The amount of time and effort doulas perform with expecting mothers are equal or more than the average medical healthcare provider and should be a …

Perceptions Of Physical Activity While Breastfeeding: 
A Mixed Methods Approach, Kailey Snyder

UNO Student Research and Creative Activity Fair

Background: Being physically active and breastfeeding can greatly support a new mother’s physiological and psychological health. However, within the United States, only 35% of women are maintaining their pre-pregnancy physical activity after childbirth and only 31% of infants are being breastfed at 12 months of age. Preliminary investigations suggest barriers such as lack of time and knowledge hinder a breastfeeding woman’s ability to be physically active however more research is needed. Purpose: The purpose of this study was to explore women’s perceptions of physical activity while breastfeeding. Methods: This mixed methods study utilized quantitative (survey) and qualitative (interview) measures, both …

Exploring The Need Of Hpv Education Programs In Korean American Communities, Emilia Mondragón, Young-Me Lee

Grace Peterson Nursing Research Colloquium

Aim: 1) To identify cultural influences and other barriers affecting HPV vaccination decisions, 2) To identify educational methods that can deliver HPV related information to Korean American (KA) parents effectively

Background: Given significant concerns about HPV infection, lower immunization rates, and higher cervical cancer risks facing Korean Americans, it is imperative to better understand the barriers to vaccination. Currently, there is no HPV-focused education program that considers the linguistic and cultural barriers of the KA community. Additionally, there is a lack of effective educational content and methods available to reach KA parents.

Methods: An exploratory, qualitative design was conducted. Content …

Postpartum Physical Activity And Sleep Levels In Overweight And Normal Weight Mothers, Shane Warehime

UNO Student Research and Creative Activity Fair

Objective: Objectively examine postpartum mothers’ physical activity (PA) and sleep. Compare PA and sleep of overweight/obese and normal weight postpartum mothers. Setting: A mid-sized city in the Midwestern United States. Participants: Twenty-one mothers who had an infant at least three months old. Participants were classified as normal weight (n = 8) or overweight (n = 13). Methods: PA and sleep levels were gathered for four days at three time intervals in the six months following childbirth. Wrist-worn Actigraph accelerometers were used to collect data. Results: All participants increased PA over time, especially from visit two to visit three. When separated …

Living In Freedom Together (Lift), Marianne Sarkis, Cora Torton, Isabel Szatkowski, Nicole Bell, Rebecca Wallace, Macy Golman

Local Knowledge: Worcester Area Community-Based Research

A poster created for a proposed housing plan through Living in Freedom Together (LIFT). The house would serve as a safe space for women seeking to get out of prostitution through social services and mentorship.