Health Policy Commons^™

House: Homeless Opioid User Service Engagement Program. Year 1 Report, Mary Lindsey Smith Phd, Katharine Knight Mph, Evelyn Ali Bs, Thomas Chalmers Mclaughlin Msw, Phd, Katie Rosingana Ba, Tyler Egeland Ba, Mark Richards Bs, Karen Pearson Mlis, Ma

Substance Use Research & Evaluation

Homelessness and lack of stable housing is often a barrier to achieving stability for individuals who are experiencing homelessness (IWAEH) with an OUD. In order to meet the complex needs of IWAEH with OUD, the Department of Health and Human Services funded a pilot program in 2021, the Homeless Opioid Users Service Engagement (HOUSE) Program; clinicians at Greater Portland Health provide clients with low-barrier Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT), while staff at Preble Street provide casework support and rapid housing assistance to individuals who have been identified as being at high risk of overdose, are experiencing homelessness, and are diagnosed with …

Defensa Y Oposición Al Aborto Legal: Una Exploración De Las Estrategias Y Las Agendas Dentro De Los Movimientos A Favor Y En Contra De Los Derechos Reproductivos En Buenos Aires, Argentina / Defense And Opposition Of Legal Abortion: An Exploration Of The Strategies And Agendas Within Pro- And Anti- Reproductive Rights Movements In Buenos Aires, Argentina, Hannah Levenstein

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

La Ley para legalizar el aborto en la Argentina fue sancionada en diciembre de 2020. Esta expansión de los derechos reproductivos fue un resultado de años de lucha y debate entre dos activismos opuestos, un movimiento a favor y otro en contra de la legalización del aborto. Este proyecto es una investigación exploratoria de las estrategias usadas por los dos activismos, cómo han cambiado antes y después de la legalización del aborto, y cuáles son los próximos pasos cada uno de estos grupos. Analizando cinco entrevistas con militantes de los activismos pro-aborto y anti-aborto, complementado con una investigación bibliográfica en …

Asian Americans And The Covid-19 Pandemic: A Multi-Lingual Survey In Greater Boston, Carolyn Wong, Ziting Kuang

Institute for Asian American Studies Publications

This report on Asian Americans and the Covid-19 Pandemic describes lessons from a multilingual survey administered in Greater Boston during the Fall, Winter, and early Spring of 2020-21. The Institute for Asian American Studies (IAAS) at UMass Boston designed and administered the IAAS Covid-19 Survey on the health, economic, and social impacts of the pandemic for Asian Americans. The IAAS Covid-19 Survey was designed to fill significant gaps in data available from a previous Spring 2020 survey, Living in Boston During Covid-19, which was funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF) and administered by UMass Boston’s Center for Survey Research …

La Política Cultural Del Aborto: Las Percepciones Y El Manejo Del Aborto En Arica, Chile, Eva Strelitz-Block

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

Chile has a long history of restricting access to legal abortion. Until 2017, when the government passed the law N° 21.030 decriminalizing abortion on three grounds, abortion was completely illegal. However, despite this movement towards decriminalization, legal abortion access is still very limited and highly restricted. In this criminalized, highly stigmatized environment, self-managed abortion has emerged as a way to transform the landscape of abortion. This qualitative, exploratory study seeks to explore perceptions of abortion and practices of abortion management both within and outside of the official healthcare system among women and people with the capacity to become pregnant and …

A Comparative Analysis Of Migrant Health Policies And Practices In The Us And Switzerland, Rebecca Mak

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

Migrants compose a large proportion of the population in both the US and Switzerland. The social vulnerability of migrants has been well-established in literature, but few studies have attempted to compare healthcare policies and approaches that most effectively support migrant health using multiple measures.

To fill this gap in the literature, this study will comparatively analyze of the efficacy of US and Switzerland migrant health policies and services by assessing access to and quality of care for migrants in each country. Four main features of healthcare systems were analyzed: insurance policy, healthcare utilization, NCD outcomes, and patient perceptions of care. …

Evaluating The Validity Of Restrictions On Blood Donation Eligibility For Men Who Have Sex With Men (Msm) In The United States, France, And Switzerland, Swathi Gorantla

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

For the first time in a decade, the number of new human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) diagnoses is higher for heterosexual people compared to gay and bisexual men (Florêncio, 2022). Additionally, in the United States, the American Red Cross has declared a national blood crisis due to the nationwide shortage of donated blood. During this crisis, charged with the new information on HIV diagnosis rates, many advocates for the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer (LGBTQ+) community question why discriminatory policy surrounding gay and bisexual men donating still exist around the world. These policies are changing worldwide – several European countries have …

Microplastics, The Environment, And Reproductive Health: How Is The Accumulation Of Microplastics In Our Environment And Bodies Impacting Reproductive Health?, Katherine Hayward

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

As global trends in both production and consumption of plastics continue to evolve, the bioaccumulation and biomagnification of microplastic particles in our everyday lives follow suit. This increasingly relevant problem has only recently been explored in the context of global health, and more specifically, reproductive health. Along with this steady increase in plastics and our exposure to them, researchers have separately observed adverse patterns in reproductive health. The chemicals involved throughout the microplastic life cycle may be playing a key role in these simultaneous patterns. With the aid of previous studies and publications on microplastics, exposure pathways, endocrine disruptors, and …

The Relationship Between Eviction, Rent Burden, And Poor Births In Kalamazoo County, Michigan, Joseph Agati

Masters Theses

Millions of Americans get evicted every year, with thousands coming from Kalamazoo County, Michigan alone. Additionally, many more live with rent burden, paying over 30% of their monthly income on rent. Both eviction and rent burden have been linked to adverse health effects, such as depression and anxiety, and negative coping mechanisms, such as alcoholism and smoking. This study asks if eviction and rent burden are correlated with poor births in Kalamazoo County as there are hundreds of poor births in the county every year, as well as which social vulnerability themes are most predictive of eviction and poor births. …

Prevalence Of Metabolic Syndrome Among The Adult Population In Western China And The Association With Socioeconomic And Individual Factors: Four Cross-Sectional Studies, Xin Zhang, Shuwen Cheng, Xiaobo Zhou, Maigeng Zhou, Ling Niu, Guanghui Yi, You Li, Lishi Zhang, Yin Deng, Xianping Wu

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Objectives: This study explored the prevalence of and individual influencing factors for metabolic syndrome (MS) as well as associated socioeconomic factors and regional aggregation.

Design: Four cross-sectional surveys were analysed for trends in MS and associations with socioeconomic and individual factors through multilevel logistic regression analyses. The risk associated with nutrient intake was also assessed through a dietary survey in 2015.

Setting: From 2010 to 2018, 8-15 counties/districts of West China were included.

Participants: A total of 28 274 adults were included in the prevalence analysis. A total of 23 708 adults were used to analyse the related factors.

Results: …

Multi-Modality Typical Imaging Features In Superior Pulmonary Sulcus (Pancoast) Tumour: A Case Report, Dr Chakka Sneha, Dr Rudresh Hiremath, Dr Gurumurthy B

Radiology Teaching Files

A 53 years old male patient came with complaints of pain and tingling sensation of left shoulder joint & left upper limb since 3 months. Patient is a chronic smoker with past history pulmonary tuberculosis. The patient had completed ATT 15 years back

Pericallosal Lipoma With Corpus Callosal Dysgenesis In An Elderly Patient: A Rare Case Report, Dr Theertha K C, Dr Sudha Kiran Das, Dr Gurumurthy B

Radiology Teaching Files

A 55 year old female patient came to the neurology OPD with complaints of giddiness since 1month and vomiting since 15 days. There was no history of focal neurological deficit/ fever/ seizures/ headache/visual disturbances. No history of any co-morbidities. Neurological examination was normal.

Children Receiving A Nutrition And High-Quality Early Childhood Education Intervention Are Associated With Greater Math And Fluid Intelligence Scores: The Guatemala City Municipal Nurseries, Ana M. Palacios, Lisa A. Villanueva, Matthew B. Flynn, Erik Parker, Stephanie Dickinson, Helen W. Bland, Greg A. Reinhart

Health Policy & Community Health: Faculty Publications

Background: About 47% of children < 5 years of age are stunted in Guatemala. In this study, the investigators aimed to compare growth and cognitive outcomes between children in second grade that attended five Guatemala City Municipal Nurseries (GCMN) vs. same sex, grade, and age-matched children. Methods: A cross-sectional design nested in a retrospective cohort was implemented between 2015 and 2019. Children that attended the GCMN and matched controls completed a math test and validated receptive language and fluid intelligence tests. The primary caregivers completed a sociodemographic survey. General and generalized linear mixed effect models were used to compare children that attended the GCMN vs. controls. The models were adjusted by maternal education, sex, asset score, and other relevant covariates. Results: Children that attended the GCMN exhibited greater math and fluid intelligence scores relative to the controls in the adjusted models (ß = 6.48; 95% CI (2.35–10.61)) and (ß = 1.20; 95% CI (0.12–2.29)), respectively. Lower odds of stunting were significant for children who went to any early childcare institution (AOR = 0.28; 95% CI (0.09–0.89)). Conclusions: The importance of integrating nutrition and high-quality early childhood education interventions in cognitive and growth outcomes is highlighted in this study. The GCMN model may be a scalable model in similar low-resource settings.

Radiological Review Of Dumbbell-Shaped Spinal Schwannoma With Extradural And Intradural-Extramedullary Components, Dr Sai Siddartha Kosinepalli, Dr. Sudha Kiran Das, Dr Gurumurthy B

Radiology Teaching Files

Complains of paresthesia in the bilateral lower limbs. No e/o pain. CBC, RFT, LFT, ESR, CRP are within normal limits.

Association Between Serum Lycopene And Lung Cancer Mortality: An 18-Year Follow-Up Study Of A National Cohort, Evans Afriyie-Gyawu, Padmini Shankar, Gulzar H. Shah, Alicia A. Brown, Shannon Cearley, Akwasi Ampofo-Yeboah, Nathaniel Abrams, Jian Zhang

Health Policy & Community Health: Faculty Publications

Background: Lycopene is a carotenoid found in some fruits and vegetables that is responsible for the red pigment in tomatoes and tomato products. While many studies have shown a link between lycopene and protection against the initiation and/or progression of lung cancer, data on its effect on lung cancer survivability is limited.

Objective: The primary objective of this study was to see if there was a link between lycopene levels in the blood and lung cancer mortality. A secondary goal was to see if dietary factors influence lycopene levels in the blood.

Materials and Methods: A retrospective …

Safest Cities In The Mountain West, Saha Salahi, Dielle T. Telada, Zachary Walusek, William E. Brown Jr., Caitlin J. Saladino

Cities & Metros

This fact sheet examines AdvisorSmith’s ranking list of the safest U.S. cities, drawing from the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s (FBI) Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) dataset released in September 2021. Monthly crime data are presented for violent crimes (e.g. murder, rape, robbery, assault) and property crimes (e.g. burglary, larceny, motor vehicle theft). Data for the Mountain West states of Arizona, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, and Utah are included.

Covid-19 And Social Determinants Of Health: Medicaid Managed Care Organizations’ Experiences With Addressing Member Social Needs, Samuel T. Opoku, Bettye Apenteng, Linda Kimsey, Angela H. Peden, Charles F. Owens

Health Policy & Community Health: Faculty Publications

Background

The significant adverse social and economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic has cast broader light on the importance of addressing social determinants of health (SDOH). Medicaid Managed Care Organizations (MMCOs) have increasingly taken on a leadership role in integrating medical and social services for Medicaid members. However, the experiences of MMCOs in addressing member social needs during the pandemic has not yet been examined.

Aim

The purpose of this study was to describe MMCOs’ experiences with addressing the social needs of Medicaid members during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods

The study was a qualitative study using data from 28 semi-structured …

R.A.C.E. To Recovery Year 1 Evaluation Summary Report, Katie Rosingana Ba, Evelyn Ali Bs, Tyler Egeland Ba, Mary Lindsey Smith Phd

Substance Use Research & Evaluation

Through a collaborative effort led by the Healthy Community Coalition, the multi-sector Rural Addiction Care Expansion (R.A.C.E.) to Recovery initiative consortium is utilizing evidence-based, community-wide response to impact and reduce the effects of the opioid epidemic in the Western Maine Public Health District/ Greater Franklin County. To assess and evaluate the implementation, successes, and challenges of the RACE to Recovery project, the Cutler Institute is collecting and analyzing data for both process and outcomes of the initiative.

In the first year of the initiative, the Cutler evaluation team utilized both primary and secondary data to assess RACE to Recovery program …

Policy And Behavior: Comparisons Between Twitter Discussions About The Us Tobacco 21 Law And Other Age-Related Behaviors, Page D. Dobbs, Jason B. Colditz, Shelby Shields, Anna Meadows, Brian A. Primack

Health, Human Performance and Recreation Faculty Publications and Presentations

To combat the e-cigarette epidemic among young audiences, a federal law was passed in the US that raised the minimum legal sales age of tobacco to 21 years (commonly known as Tobacco 21). Little is known about sentiment toward this law. Thus, the purpose of our study was to systematically explore trends about Tobacco 21 discussions and comparisons to other age-restriction behaviors on Twitter. Twitter data (n = 4628) were collected from September to December of 2019 that were related to Tobacco 21. A random subsample of identified tweets was used to develop a codebook. Two trained coders independently coded …

Staff Matters: Is Our Practice Required To Mandate Employee Vaccination For Covid-19?, Jodi Schafer Sphr, Shrm-Scp

The Journal of the Michigan Dental Association

This Staff Matters Column addresses the confusion surrounding COVID-19 vaccination mandates for private dental practices. Following the U.S. Supreme Court's decision, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) vaccine mandate was upheld. However, the CMS rule, clarified through FAQs, applies to specific health care facilities accepting Medicare or Medicaid funding and does not include private dental practices. The article navigates the nuances of the CMS rule, emphasizing its impact on certain health care settings rather than private dental practices, offering clarity on vaccination requirements for dental professionals.

The Governor’S Budget Awareness For Dentistry, Christopher J. Smiley Dds

The Journal of the Michigan Dental Association

This editorial highlights the significance of the Governor's proposed budget in February, marking a substantial step forward for oral health awareness in Michigan. The budget allocates funds for long-sought oral health initiatives, including addressing barriers to hospital-based dental care, enhancing Medicaid coverage for adults, and streamlining dental plans. With a focus on workforce availability, the editorial emphasizes the critical role of oral health in employability. The proposed budget, influenced by effective MDA advocacy, reflects a notable achievement in prioritizing dentistry, underscoring the potential for future opportunities.

The 2025 Michigan State Oral Health Plan, Ellen Sugrue Hyman Jd

The Journal of the Michigan Dental Association

This feature article explores the 2025 Michigan State Oral Health Plan (SOHP), a comprehensive initiative developed by the Michigan Oral Health Coalition (MOHC) and a statewide coalition, including the Michigan Dental Association (MDA). With a focus on enhancing oral health for all Michigan residents, the SOHP prioritizes addressing economic and racial disparities. The plan, guided by three key goals—Increasing Awareness and Education, Dental-Health Integration, and Access and Infrastructure—aims to improve oral health outcomes. The article discusses the plan's development process, key findings highlighting existing disparities, workforce challenges, and the strategic implementation of the SOHP through collaborative efforts and workgroups.

Senior Hunger In The Mountain West, 2019, Ally M. Beckwith, Caitlin J. Saladino, William E. Brown Jr.

Health

This fact sheet highlights data on senior hunger in the Mountain West region in 2019 as originally reported in Feeding America’s The State of Senior Hunger annual series. This report focuses on the extent of food insecurity among seniors in the United States. Seniors are defined as those who are 60 years of age or older.

The State Of Mental Health In The Mountain West, Olivia K. Cheche, Kristian Thymianos, Katie M. Gilbertson, Kelliann Beavers, Caitlin J. Saladino, William E. Brown Jr.

Health

This fact sheet explores mental health rankings of Mountain West states from Mental Health America’s (MHA) 2022 report, The State of Mental Health in America. This study offers a snapshot of U.S. mental health based on data across all 50 states and the District of Columbia. MHA is the nation’s leading community based mental health nonprofit, founded in 1909, and “dedicated to addressing the needs of those living with mental illness and promoting the overall mental health of all.” This report is a companion to MHA’s interactive data available through its website.

Consumption Of Sugar-Sweetened Beverages And Its Potential Health Implications In Indonesia, Ratu Ayu D. Sartika, Atmarita Atmarita, M. I Zulkarnain Duki, Saptawati Bardosono, Lindawati Wibowo, Widjaja Lukito

Kesmas

The broad availability of sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) in the Indonesian market is increasing consumption. It, combined with escalating incidence and prevalence of diabetes and related non-communicable diseases (NCDs), and the ongoing debate on policies, has called for a comprehensive review as described in this study. Data was compiled from various sources but mainly gathered from the reported or published documents because of no direct access to the necessary data set. The lack of studies that assessed the direct relationship between SSB consumption and health outcomes in the Indonesian context also became a strong reason for the preparation of this review …

Body Image, Quality Of Life, And Their Predicting Factors In Pregnant Women: A Cross-Sectional Study, Zeynab Rezaei Fard, Arman Azadi, Yousef Veisani

Kesmas

Pregnancy can influence women’s psychological health, including body image and quality of life. This study aimed to examine the relationship between body image and quality of life and their predicting factors in pregnant women. This cross-sectional study was conducted on 250 pregnant women referred to health centers in Ilam City, Iran. Participants were selected using a random sampling method. Data collection tools comprised a sociodemographic questionnaire, Body Image Concern Inventory (BICI), and quality of life questionnaire (Short Form-12). Data were analyzed using statistical software. The mean ± SD of body image concern and quality of life was estimated at 31.77 …

The Estimation Of Excess Mortality During The Covid-19 Pandemic In Jakarta, Indonesia, Madona Yunita Wijaya

Kesmas

Indonesia is among the countries affected by the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, and DKI Jakarta Province recorded the highest number of deaths. This study aimed to analyze the excess mortality across five administrative cities in Jakarta stratified by gender to assess the pandemic impact on mortality. The monthly mortality data from January 2018 to December 2020 was obtained through government sources. This data helped to measure excess mortality by estimating the baseline mortality had the COVID-19 pandemic not occurred. The analysis used a linear mixed model because of its ease and flexibility in forecasting subject-specific mortality. The results showed …

Increased Thyroid Hormone Levels In Pesticide Sprayer At Agricultural Area, Aditya Pawitra, Khuliyah Candraning Diyanah, Mohd Talib Latif, Beni Hari Susanto, Muhammad F D Lusno

Kesmas

Pesticides used massively in the agricultural sector would cause many poisoning and serious health problems. Organophosphate pesticides have been identified as endocrine-disrupting chemicals. This study aimed to compare thyroid hormone levels between the sprayers chronically exposed to pesticides and the control respondents who had never been exposed to pesticides. This study was an analytical observational with a cross-sectional design. The total number of respondents was 150, 50 as sprayers and 100 as control respondents. The venous blood samples were examined using the Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA). The findings significantly showed that the sprayer had a higher level of thyroid-stimulating hormone …

The Determinants Of Covid-19 Vaccine Acceptance In Sumatra, Cindy Sidarta, Andree Kurniawan, Nata P H Lugito, Jeremia Imanuel Siregar, Veli Sungono, Rivaldo Steven Heriyanto, Novia Lauren Sieto, Devina Adella Halim, Claudia Jodhinata, Saraswati Anindita Rizki, Terry Devita Sinaga, Chintya Marcella, Felix Wijovi, Billy Susanto, Elizabeth Marcella, Johan Wibowo, Jonathan Juniard Anurantha, Michelle Imanuelly, Michele Indrawan, Nadia Khoirunnisa Heryadi

Kesmas

In light of the current coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination programs being implemented worldwide, this study aimed to evaluate the COVID-19 vaccine acceptance survey in Indonesia conducted by the World Health Organization (WHO), the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Indonesia, the National Immunization Technical Advisory Group (NITAG), and the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), published in November 2020. It was found that Sumatra Island having lower COVID-19 vaccine acceptance rates, with Aceh Province displaying the lowest level of vaccine acceptance. Thus, a cross-sectional study was conducted, and a logistic regression analysis was used to identify the factors affecting …

The Development Of A Work Stress Model For Air Traffic Controllers In Indonesia, Lalu Muhammad Saleh, Syamsiar Siang Russeng, Istiana Tadjuddin, Iva Hardi Yanti, Nurul Mawaddah Syafitri, Mahfuddin Yusbud, Yulianah Rahmadani

Kesmas

The workload complexity experienced by and expected air traffic controllers (ATCs) causes psychological fatigue, engenders stressful conditions, and affects their quality of life. This study investigated the development of a model of psychological fatigue in ATCs in Indonesia, which affected their work stress levels and quality of life. This cross-sectional, three-month study focused on 185 ATCs randomly selected from six AirNavs based on strata. The results indicated a relationship between work duration (p-value = 0.033) and stress on ATCs; additionally, a relationship between work time and the opportunity to meet personal life needs (p-value = 0.007) were found. Feelings of …

Effectiveness Of Using Information, Education, And Communication Flowchart Media In Implementation Of Early Breastfeeding Initiation, Rizna Notarianti, Sandra Fikawati, Alifani Faiz Faradhila

Kesmas

Early initiation of breastfeeding (EIB) has many benefits for both the baby and the mother. However, in Bogor City, there are still many babies who do not get EIB when they are born (33.6%). The implementation of EIB is not optimal due to the absence of standard procedures to equalize its theory and perception. This study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of using Information, Education, and Communication (IEC) flowchart media concerning the standard procedure for EIB implementation in the Primary Health Care (PHC) in Bogor City. A quasi-experimental research was conducted on 58 midwives divided into the intervention and control …