Obstetrics and Gynecology Commons^™

Facilitators And Barriers To Mobile Health Unit Implementation: A Qualitative-Dominant Mixed Methods Study Exploring Staff Perspectives And Service Outreach, Kelsey Hardin

MUSC Theses and Dissertations

Background: Health disparities are linked to rising healthcare costs in the United States, particularly related to healthcare accessibility. Mobile Health Units (MHUs) have proven to be an effective intervention in reducing barriers to healthcare services, for example, providing early access to prenatal care, thus reducing infant mortality rates. This study focused on the facilitators and barriers to implementing an MHU program, based on staff perspectives and service outreach, to improve maternal and infant health outcomes.

Methods: This study employed a qualitative-dominant mixed-methods research design. Data was collected through interviews to assess staff perspectives. Secondary data analysis of quantitative data was …

Kelim Score Predicts Recurrence And Survival In Bevacizumab-Treated Advanced Ovarian Cancer: A Real-World Pilot Study, Mohammed Elshafey, Pontia Doroudian, Madeline Ruth Evans, Ira Winer

Medical Student Research Symposium

Background:
The KELIM score, derived from CA-125 kinetics, reflects intrinsic tumor chemosensitivity in ovarian cancer. This retrospective study evaluated whether KELIM predicts clinical outcomes in patients receiving bevacizumab in a real-world setting.

Methods:
Twenty-four patients with advanced ovarian cancer treated with platinum-based chemotherapy and bevacizumab at a tertiary center in Detroit, MI, were included. KELIM scores were calculated from CA-125 values during the first 100 treatment days (www.biomarker-kinetics.org) and classified as favorable (≥1.0) or unfavorable (< 1.0). Progression-free survival (PFS) was measured from diagnosis to recurrence, and overall survival (OS) from diagnosis to last contact or death. Surgical outcomes, debulking approach, PARP inhibitor use, and survival status were analyzed descriptively.

Results:
Nineteen patients (79%) had favorable KELIM, and five (21%) had unfavorable KELIM. Compared to the favorable group, the unfavorable group had …

Hormonal Birth Control Misinformation On Tiktok: A Content Analysis Of Influencer Narratives, Sarah Bdeir, Jana Hatahet, Liselle Tungol, Khush Hussain, Rumyah Rafique, Raneem Sabbaq, Ragad Almsaddi

Medical Student Research Symposium

Background:

Hormonal birth control is the most common form of reversible contraception. In the U.S., pharmacy data show oral contraceptive pill prescriptions declined 25.6% from March 2021 to October 2023. Meanwhile, patients increasingly seek health information on social media. On TikTok, “hormone hacking” content has surged, often portraying birth control as artificial, harmful, or even carcinogenic, despite a lack of supporting evidence. While accessible information on social media can be valuable, such narratives risk spreading misinformation, fueling mistrust in women’s health.

Methods:

We conducted a qualitative content analysis of 50 TikTok videos (March and September 2025) under #birthcontrol, #hormonehealth, #birthcontroltoxicity, …

Does The Placenta Predict Depression During Pregnancy? Investigating Hormonal Links In High-Risk Pregnancies, Sonia Cerrillo, Hanne Hoffmann Phd

Posters - 2026

• Perinatal depression is a common disorder that affects maternal and infant well-being.

• Serotonin is an important mood-regulating neurotransmitter, and reduced serotonin signaling has been linked to depressive symptoms.

• Tryptophan (TRP) is the precursor for serotonin, where most TRP is metabolized through the kynurenine pathway.

• TPH supports serotonin synthesis, while IDO and TDO drive kynurenine production.

• During pregnancy, inflammation and stress may shift TRP away from serotonin, creating a placental “tryptophan steal.”

• We examined whether placental DNA methylation of these genes differs in high-risk pregnancies.

• We hypothesized that placental DNA methylation of genes in …

The Effects Of Body Mass Index On Fertility And In Vitro Fertilization, Morgan R. Kidd

Honors College Theses

In-vitro fertilization (IVF) is the most widely used type of assisted reproductive technology for treating infertility arising from a number of conditions. As obesity rates continue to climb in the United States, infertility has been discovered to have a direct correlation. Individuals that fall below or above the healthy body mass index range are found to have disrupted regulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis, resulting in diminished reproductive health. Those that are diagnosed as infertile due to conditions caused by the effects of low body mass index or high body mass index may seek assisted reproductive technologies to intervene in achieving …

Impaired Fetal Brain Growth And Neurodevelopmental Deficits At 2 Years: Deep Phenotyping Of Maternal–Fetal Pathophysiology, José Villar, Maria Carvalho, Robert Gunier, Rose Mcgready, Yolotzin Valdespino, Kim Lagerborg, Fernando Barros, Agustin Conde-Agudelo, Shane Norris, R. Ochieng

Obstetrics and Gynaecology, East Africa

Background Impaired fetal cranial growth trajectories, diverging before 20 weeks' gestation, are associated with growth, vision, and neurodevelopment deficits at age 2 years. We aimed to understand the maternal–fetal pathophysiological processes underlying childhood developmental deficiencies.

Methods: Between 2012 and 2019, the INTERBIO-21st Fetal Study enrolled 3598 pregnant women who initiated antenatal care before 14 weeks' gestation. We prospectively measured fetal cranial and linear growth and brain volume, and we monitored the infants' health, growth, and development from birth to age 2 years to identify growth and development phenotypes. We grouped the observed cranial growth into five distinct phenotypes: median growth …

Feasibility And Safety Of Intrapartum Foetal Pulse Oximetry Using A Disposable Scalp Probe: A Cross-Sectional Study, Felix Oindi, Mukaindo Mwaniki, Sikolia Wanyonyi, Marleen Temmerman

Obstetrics and Gynaecology, East Africa

Background Assessment of foetal wellbeing during labour is critical for reducing adverse perinatal outcomes. While pulse oximetry is widely used in adult and paediatric medicine, its application in intrapartum foetal monitoring remains limited. This study aimed to evaluate the feasibility and safety of a foetal pulse oximeter device (OxiReed™, formerly First Touch™) for obtaining intrapartum foetal oxygen saturation (SpO₂) measurements.

Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted at a tertiary referral hospital involving 110 women in the first or second stage of labour. Eligible participants had singleton pregnancies at ≥ 34 weeks’ gestation, vertex presentation, and ruptured membranes. A disposable foetal …

A Comparative Analysis Of Group Care: Trust, Professional Identity, And Health System Structure In The United Kingdom And The Netherlands, Samantha J. Kohlmann

Senior Theses

Group prenatal care (Group Care) has been associated with improved maternal experiences and select clinical outcomes, yet less is understood about how it functions within high-resource health systems and what mechanisms underlie its impact. This study examines how Group Care is implemented in the United Kingdom and the Netherlands, with particular attention to professional roles, relational dynamics, and health system context.

I employed a qualitative, comparative design and conducted four semi-structured interviews with midwife researchers involved in Group Care implementation in both countries. Data were analyzed thematically, with attention to cross-context similarities and differences.

Findings indicate that Group Care operates …

Co-Designing An Adolescent Perinatal Mental Health Intervention In Kenya And Mozambique: The Inspire Project, Tatiana Salisbury, Fernando Chissale, Margrette Hanselmann, Evaline Langat, Sarah Kinja, Violet Naanyu, Mark Nyalumbe, Mellan Lilumbi, Lucy Nyaga, Marleen Temmerman

Centre of Excellence in Women and Child Health

Background Interventions to support adolescent perinatal mental health are limited and largely developed for delivery in high-income countries. This study aimed to co-design an intervention to improve mental health outcomes among pregnant and post-partum adolescent girls in Mozambique and Kenya.

Methods 159 adolescent girls (aged 15–19 years) and young women (aged 20–24 years) with experience of a pregnancy during adolescence, their partners and family members, service providers and community influencers were recruited in Kilifi County, Kenya and Moatize District, Mozambique. Those who consented took part in individual interviews, focus group discussions, observations, and workshops to identify key priorities for supporting …

Comparison Of Levels Of Bmi, Stress, And Depression Of Women During The Prenatal Period Relative To Their Activity Levels, Kalayna King

Honors Theses

This study aimed to analyze the relationships between activity levels, Body Mass Index (BMI), stress levels, and depression symptoms in obese pregnant women in Arkansas. Two separate exercise intervention studies were combined in this analysis to ultimately give a sample size of 293 pregnant women who were randomized into standard of care group (control) and an exercise group (treatment/experimental) (n = 115 and n = 178, respectively). Women in the control groups were instructed to independently continue to follow the physical activity guidelines recommended by their gynecologist, whereas the experimental groups participated in a combination of aerobic and resistance exercise …

Availability Of Cancer Screening Across Hiv Treatment Sites In The Iedea Consortium, Rachael Pellegrino, Bryan Shepherd, Sanjay Pujari, Valeria Fink, Gad Murenzi, Miriam Nakalembe, Sally Coburn, Eliane Rohner, Antoine Jaquet, Elkanah Orang'o

Obstetrics and Gynaecology, East Africa

Cancer remains a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in people with HIV, and the importance of cancer screening increasesas this population ages. In 2017, 2020, and 2023, cross-sectional surveys were conducted at HIV care sites across 5 continentswithin the International epidemiology Databases to Evaluate AIDS (IeDEA) consortium. We described cancer screening avail-ability in 2023 and over time for cervical and anal cancer screening using generalized estimating equations with a logit linkfunction to account for site clustering, rurality, and country income. Of the 220 sites in the 2023 survey, 61% (134/220) reportedcervical cancer screening by cytology or human papillomavirus (HPV) …

Availability Of Cancer Screening Across Hiv Treatment Sites In The Iedea Consortium, Rachael Pellegrino, Bryan Shepherd, Sanjay Pujari, Valeria Fink, Gad Murenzi, Miriam Nakalembe, Sally Coburn, Eliane Rohner, Antoine Jaquet, Elkanah Orang'o

Obstetrics and Gynaecology, East Africa

Cancer remains a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in people with HIV, and the importance of cancer screening increasesas this population ages. In 2017, 2020, and 2023, cross-sectional surveys were conducted at HIV care sites across 5 continentswithin the International epidemiology Databases to Evaluate AIDS (IeDEA) consortium. We described cancer screening avail-ability in 2023 and over time for cervical and anal cancer screening using generalized estimating equations with a logit linkfunction to account for site clustering, rurality, and country income. Of the 220 sites in the 2023 survey, 61% (134/220) reportedcervical cancer screening by cytology or human papillomavirus (HPV) …

Beyond Parallel Programmes: A Roadmap For Operational Integration Of Family Planning And Nutrition In Low- And Middle-Income Countries, Marleen Temmerman, Samuel Ojong

Centre of Excellence in Women and Child Health

No abstract provided.

Beyond Parallel Programmes: A Roadmap For Operational Integration Of Family Planning And Nutrition In Low- And Middle-Income Countries, Marleen Temmerman, Samuel Ojong

Centre of Excellence in Women and Child Health

No abstract provided.

Daily Outdoor Pm2.5 Exposure Characterization And Road Edge Effect During A 2022 - 2023 Monitoring Campaign In Gambia, Kenya And Mozambique, Terence Mushore, Handsome Nyoni, Laura Munthali, Sibusisiwe Makhanya, Laurine Chikoko, Anotida Chapunza, Stanley Luchters, Matthew Chersich, Marleen Temmerman, Angela Koech

Centre of Excellence in Women and Child Health

Air pollution is a major contributor to mortality and adverse health outcomes, particularly in pregnant women and children, with vehicular emissions as a key source. This study aimed to characterize long-term exposure to fine particulate matter (PM2.5), evaluate potential health risks, and quantify the contribution of road transport and proximity to roads in The Gambia, Kenya, and Mozambique. Multi-temporal personal exposure data were interpolated into continuous spatial surfaces and aggregated into daily averages, which were then compared with World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines to assess potential health impacts. Multi-distance buffers at 10 m intervals up to 1000m from major roads …

Improving Awareness Of Physician Ergonomics In Gynecologic Surgery, Priyanka Raju Md, Annika Eveland Md, Tamara Lalovic Do, Dominic Cammarano Do

Transformative Medicine

Introduction:
Surgeons experience disproportionately high rates of work-related musculoskeletal (MSK) disorders due to prolonged static postures, repetitive motions, and suboptimal instrument design. Gynecologic surgery, in particular, involves sustained non-neutral positioning and physical strain, yet formal ergonomic education is lacking. This study aimed to evaluate gynecologic surgeons’ awareness of ergonomic principles and determine whether targeted education improves knowledge and recognition of ergonomic risk factors during surgery.

Methods: A quality improvement intervention was implemented at a large teaching hospital. Eighty-three recorded gynecologic surgeries (open, laparoscopic, and vaginal) were analyzed for common postural deviations based on ergonomic guidelines. The most frequent errors were …

Maternal Respiratory Syncytial Virus Vaccination And Preterm Birth A Utah Statewide Retrospective Cohort Study, Amy Solsman, Torri Metz, Josh Benton, Shana Godfred-Cato

Knowledge and Creativity Expo

We conducted a statewide, retrospective cohort study to evaluate the association between maternal receipt of the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccine and preterm birth. All individuals who delivered a singleton neonate in Utah and were between 32 0/7 and 36 6/7 weeks of gestation from September 2023 to February 2024 were included and followed up until delivery. Overall, 2,733 of 24,213 individuals (11.3%) received the vaccine. Vaccine receipt was associated with lower odds of preterm birth (5.5% vaccinated group vs 6.8% unvaccinated group, adjusted odds ratio 0.80, 95% CI, 0.67–0.95). Receipt of the RSV vaccine was not associated with any …

Examining The Relationship Between A Positive Obstructive Sleep Apnea Diagnosis And Referring Symptoms Of The Pregnant Patient, Christina Emerson, Beth Tremblay

Knowledge and Creativity Expo

PROBLEM: Many healthcare providers do not routinely screen pregnant individuals for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), contributing to its underdiagnosis and potentially leading to various pregnancy-related health issues. Currently used OSA screening tools, such as the Berlin Questionnaire, STOP-BANG Questionnaire, and Epworth Sleepiness Scale, often demonstrate poor predictive value in pregnant women due to the dynamic physiological changes of pregnancy and the differing presentation of OSA in this population.

PURPOSE: To examine the relationships between a positive OSA diagnosis, patient characteristics, and the symptoms among pregnant patients referred for sleep studies.

EBP QUESTIONS: 1) Is there a relationship between certain referring …

Educational Intervention To Improve Awareness Of The Female Athlete Triad Among Division I Athletes, Carly J. Haring, Jonathan Olson Md

Aesculapius Journal (Health Sciences & Medicine)

Introduction: The Female Athlete Triad poses short- and long-term health risks for female athletes through the interrelated components of low energy availability, menstrual dysfunction, and impaired bone health. Despite its prevalence, awareness and education surrounding the Triad remain limited, contributing to delayed recognition and care. The objective of this project was to assess baseline knowledge and comfort discussing Female Athlete Triad–related topics among Division I female athletes and to evaluate the impact of a brief educational intervention on knowledge, attitudes, and help-seeking intentions.

Methods: A community-based educational initiative was conducted in November 2025 among Division I female athletes …

Reducing Surgical Site Infections Post Cesarean Section Through Multi-Modal Standardized Education, Ari Meyers, Fereshteh Pirayesh, Tracie Tolme

Providence Nursing Research Conference 2023 – Present

No abstract provided.