Community Health and Preventive Medicine Commons^™

Association Between Maternal Factors And Stunting Based On The Indonesia Family Life Survey 5 (Ifls-5), Charissa Otniel Sukamto, Siti Nur Fatimah, Noormarina Indraswari

Makara Journal of Health Research

Background: Stunting remains a major issue in Indonesia. Maternal factors during pregnancy are one of the key determinants in preventing stunting. This study aimed to analyze the association between maternal history during pregnancy (age, height, parity, and inter-pregnancy interval) and stunting, with a comparison between urban and rural areas.

Methods: This analytical cross-sectional study used data from 3,639 children aged 1-5 years old from the household survey of Indonesia Family Life Survey 5, conducted between late October 2014 and August 2015 within 13 provinces in Indonesia. Data was analyzed using chi-square and binary logistic regression methods.

Results: …

Examining The Psychometric Properties Of The Big Three Perfectionism Scale–Short Form (Btps-Sf) Among Malaysian Chinese Students At A Private University, Kam-Fong Lee, Ashraf Sadat Ahadzadeh, Shin Ling Wu

Makara Journal of Health Research

Background: Perfectionism is increasingly prevalent among young adults and is a significant predictor of pathological and behavioral outcomes. Despite its relevance, validated and reliable measures of perfectionism tailored to university students, particularly within the Malaysian cultural and academic context, are lacking. This study addresses this gap by examining the psychometric properties of the BTPS-SF among Chinese students at a private university in Malaysia.

Methods: Data were collected using a cross-sectional design with convenience and snowball sampling from 380 students aged 18–25 years, predominantly from a Chinese student population.

Results: The results of the exploratory factor analysis, conducted …

Questionnaire For Eudaimonic Well-Being: Psychometric Validation Among Malaysian Youth, Mohd Ahsani A. Malek, Nurulwahida Saad, Suzana Mohd. Hoesni, Muhamad Ariff Ibrahim, Nurul Shafira Adi, Mohd Nazir Mohd Nazori

Makara Journal of Health Research

Background: The rising prevalence of mental illness underscores the need to understand how individuals can live and flourish under such conditions. In Malaysia, research has largely emphasized diagnosis and treatment, with limited focus on positive psychology and few validated instruments. This study aimed to translate and validate the questionnaire for eudaimonic well-being (QEWB) among Malaysian youth.

Methods: The QEWB was translated into Malay using back-to-back translation and administered to undergraduates from four public universities through a cross-sectional survey design. Convenience quota sampling was used, resulting in 229 respondents completing the online form to measure sociodemographic characteristics, eudaimonic well-being, …

Changes In Activity Levels Observed In Elementary Grade Levels., Kelsie R. Harvey

2026 Honors Symposium

Background: Physical activity is important for children, recess is a great opportunity for physical activity, however, little is known how physical activity during recess changes throughout a school year, which is important for identifying key potential intervention points.  Purpose: To determine how physical activity of elementary students changes throughout the school year. Methodology: This is a research-based, longitudinal, observational study design. Through local observations at a nearby elementary school, we can analyze the activity levels of elementary students. Trained research assistants conducted systematic research observation using SOPLAY (System for Observing Play and Leisure Activity in Youth) method. SOPLAY measures the …

Evaluating An Lgbtq+ Adolescent Sexual Health Toolkit: Boosting Confidence And Provider Knowledge, Joslyn Lypka

Doctoral Dissertations & Projects

When leveraged correctly, sexual health education empowers youth to build resilience, deepen self-understanding, and confidently navigate gender and sexual identities. However, many school-based programs emphasize cisgender and heterosexual norms, leaving LGBTQ+ adolescents with limited access to inclusive and affirming sexual health information. This project aimed to develop and evaluate an online sexual health education toolkit designed to increase knowledge and support self-advocacy among LGBTQ+ adolescents, parents/caregivers, and healthcare providers. In collaboration with a Midwest nonprofit organization serving sexual and gender-diverse individuals, an online toolkit was developed and evaluated using two sequential Plan–Do–Study–Act (PDSA) cycles. During the first cycle, subject matter …

Long Work Hours, Suboptimal Diabetes Management, And Differences By Sex And Race/Ethnicity, Nhanes (2011-2018), Tailisha Gonzalez, Margrethe Horlyck-Romanovsky, Terry T.-K. Huang, Sandra E. Echeverria

Publications and Research

In the United States (US), occupational segregation by sex and race/ethnicity can contribute to health disparities. Although work schedule characteristics have been previously linked to elevated cardiovascular risk, little is known about the effects on chronic disease management in women and minoritized workers. We examined the association between work hours and diabetes management among US workers, testing for differences by sex and race/ethnicity. We utilized 2011–2018 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) data on working adults (age ≥20 years) with diagnosed diabetes (n = 1041). Suboptimal diabetes management was defined as HbA1c ≥7%. Work hours were categorized per WHO …

From Tradition To Transition: Evaluating Culinary Medicine As A Tool For Metabolic Health Among Nigerian Immigrants In The United States And The United Kingdom, Simi Oduwole M.S.

Department of Nutrition Student Projects

This scoping review examines existing publications to evaluate whether Culinary Medicine can be used as a tool for metabolic health among Nigerian immigrants in the United States and the United Kingdom. Nigeria is one of the fastest-growing populations globally, with increasing migration to high-income countries such as the United States and the United Kingdom. Evidence suggests that Nigerian immigrants experience a rise in diet-related chronic diseases, including obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease, as duration of residence increases. This phenomenon is often attributed to dietary acculturation and shifts toward Westernized eating patterns. This scoping review evaluates whether culinary medicine can mitigate …

First Covid-19 Vaccination Rates Among Pregnant Tennessee Women By Month Of Conception And Urbanization Level: March 2021 – November 2021, Claudia Valenzuela, Anne K. Driscoll, Elizabeth Harvey, Heather Wingate

Journal of Appalachian Health

Introduction: Throughout the pandemic, COVID-19 vaccination coverage was lower for the general population living in rural counties than in urban counties. In Tennessee (TN), COVID-19 vaccinations became available to pregnant women in March 2021. Little is known about rates of COVID-19 vaccination in pregnancy during the pandemic, or whether these rates changed or differed by urbanization level.

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to describe COVID-19 vaccination rates among pregnant women in TN by month of conception and urbanization level.

Methods: COVID-19 vaccination data from the TN Immunization Information System and the TN Surveillance for Emerging Threats to Mothers …

Evaluating The Feasibility And Preliminary Effectiveness Of A Tailored Diabetes Education Program For Rural Residents, Brittany L. Smalls, Oluwatosin Leshi, Suraksha Khanal, Grejika E. Abram-Erby

Journal of Appalachian Health

Introduction: Diabetes is a top ten Rural Healthy People 2030 priority for health improvement among rural Americans. Socioeconomic, environmental, geographic and political barriers contribute to the type 2 diabetes (T2D) prevalence and its disparate impact in rural communities. However, promoting proper self-care behaviors via self-management education can help people with diabetes better manage their condition.

Purpose: To account for the social environmental factors that affect rural residents, a tailored diabetes education program was developed, and the program’s effectiveness in improving diabetes knowledge and T2D-related health outcomes was assessed.

Methods: Using data collected from Appalachian Kentucky residents enrolled in a six-week, …

Rural Community Perspectives On Hurricane Helene In Western North Carolina, Jennifer A. Horney, Lilly Moreau, Search Wnc

Journal of Appalachian Health

Introduction: After making landfall on the Florida Gulf Coast in September 2024, Hurricane Helene impacted Western North Carolina (WNC) with historic flooding, landslides, and hurricane-force winds. More than 100 deaths in the region were attributed to the storm’s direct impacts.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to assess community perspectives of long-term recovery in Mitchell and Yancey Counties, two rural WNC counties severely impacted by Hurricane Helene.

Methods: A 14-question interview guide was developed based on prior disaster research and the community engagement work of Sustaining Essential and Rural Community Healthcare (SEARCH). Questions covered post-Helene experiences related to access …

Exploring Systemic Challenges In The Western North Carolina Dental Safety Net: A Qualitative Analysis, Blaire Mirmow, Bill Milner, Nadia Laniado

Journal of Appalachian Health

Introduction: Despite statewide growth, rural communities in Western North Carolina (WNC) face persistent barriers to oral health care driven by chronic dental workforce shortages and systemic geographic disparities. Within this Appalachian region, the dental safety net serves as a vital yet strained support system, struggling with limited financial resources and a lack of provider participation that leaves many underserved populations without essential oral health services.

Purpose: This study aims to explore the experiences of individuals working within the WNC dental safety net to identify barriers and strategies required to strengthen the delivery of oral health care in high-need rural settings. …

The Effects Of Hurricane Helene On Mental Health And Physical Activity, Hunter Smathers, Robyn York, Jarrett Walbolt

Journal of Appalachian Health

Introduction: Hurricane Helene brought widespread damage to Southern Appalachia, disrupting utilities, health care, and recreation. While natural disasters are linked to declines in mental and physical health, few studies have examined their effects on distinct types of physical activity (PA).

Purpose: This study evaluated the effects of Hurricane Helene on perceived stress, depressive symptoms, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptomology, and intentional (exercise for health benefits) and incidental (physical labor or transportation) PA. Evacuation status influence was also explored.

Methods: Twenty participants completed assessments four weeks before (BASE), immediately after (0POST), and four weeks after landfall (4POST). Measures included the Perceived …

Starting With Story, Not Symptom: Narrative Collapse And Cultural Repair In Appalachia, Wayne Coombs Ph.D.

Journal of Appalachian Health

Appalachia’s opioid crisis reflects uneven burdens, especially in distressed coalfield counties, and it cannot be solved by symptom tracking alone. This commentary argues for a narrative shift, starting with story and cultural repair alongside clinical care. Narrative collapse is defined here as the loss of shared, dependable public meaning across groups, not the absence of storytelling in families, churches, and recovery circles. Trauma science suggests that chronic threat reshapes nervous systems across generations, making safety a prerequisite for renewed trust. Drawing on narrative identity research, the piece proposes peer story work as infrastructure that can reduce shame, support treatment engagement, …

Health Data And Policy Related To Methamphetamine-Use Suicide In Mississippi, Mary C. Drane

Honors Theses

The purpose of this research is to investigate how methamphetamine use in Mississippi, especially in its rural areas, intersects with public health, policy, and suicide outcomes in the state. Mississippi's methamphetamine crisis has evolved significantly, shifting from locally produced drugs to cartel-supplied crystal methamphetamine, while state and federal policies have struggled to keep pace with the scale and complexity of the problem. Using a convergent parallel mixed-methods design, this research analyzed CDC Wonder multiple causes of death data and SAMHSA Treatment Episode Data Set Admissions (TEDS-A) data from 2018 to 2024 alongside four qualitative key informant interviews with stakeholders across …

Connectivity, Classroom, And Contagion: An Ecological Analysis Of Testing Availability, Sex Education, And Sti Rates In The Upper Midwest, Macey M. Boerhave

Honors Thesis

Rural and frontier communities in the Upper Midwest face unique challenges that shape how young people access sexual health information and testing. While sexually transmitted infection (STI) rates continue to rise nationally, less is known about how sexual health education, digital access, and geographic distance influence these trends at a county level. This study examines the relationship between broadband internet access rates, poverty rates, proximity to free or low-cost STI testing sites, and county-level STI rates among individuals aged 15-24 in selected counties across South Dakota, North Dakota, Minnesota, Iowa, and Nebraska. Using an ecological, cross-sectional design, county-level STI surveillance …

Does What Happens In Vegas Increase Pedestrian Safety? A Longitudinal Study On The Effectiveness Of Pedestrian Bridges, Jalen Paulos, Joaquin Miguel Del Mundo, Brock Wentz, Janel Pietryga

Department of Orthopaedics Faculty Research

Urban populations continue to rise and the frequency that pedestrians are exposed to vehicular traffic continues to increase. The result is an increase in automobile versus pedestrian collisions. This study aims to determine the efficacy of pedestrian bridges in reducing the rates of automobile‒pedestrian collisions. Data for all automobile versus pedestrian collisions and injuries from July 1997 through December 2023 at four distinct intersections along Las Vegas Boulevard were retrieved from the Nevada Department of Transportation. These sites were chosen because of their historically high rates of automobile versus pedestrian incidents and the construction of pedestrian bridges at three of …

Leveling The Playing Field: Ensuring Hydration Equity For Detroit’S Student-Athletes, David Abdelnour, Noah Kos, Alqasim Elnaggar, Jack Mao, Rumyah Rafique, Julian D Johnson, Marley Sternberg, Audrey Millar, Faith Scott, Susan Lagrand, Ammar Chaudhri, Magd Boutany, Rahul Vaidya

Medical Student Research Symposium

Background:

The Detroit Public Schools Health Corps (DPSHC) provides free sideline medical coverage to Detroit Public Schools Community District (DPSCD) athletic events to address healthcare disparities in underserved communities. During 408 hours of coverage across 214 games, DPSHC volunteers observed frequent shortages of water and electrolyte drinks among teams. Given the importance of hydration in preventing heat-related illness and optimizing athletic performance, a systematic needs assessment was conducted.

Methods:

A survey was distributed to athletic coaches and administrators across DPSCD schools. Survey questions evaluated the availability of hydration resources, frequency of shortages, responsible providers, and priority needs for additional funding …

Healthcare Systems & Policy Implications For The Impact Of State Medicaid Reimbursement Rates On Access To Primary Care Services In Rural Communities: Turning Knowledge Into Action, Miriam Martinez

Posters - 2026

• Where a child lives can determine whether they receive care or go without it. • Access to primary care is essential for prevention, early diagnosis, and treatment, but rural areas face persistent challenges such as provider shortages and geographic isolation. • Medicaid serves as the primary source of health coverage for low-income children; however, reimbursement rates vary by state and are often lower than other forms of insurance. • This study examines how Medicaid reimbursement policy contributes to disparities in access to care for rural children and reflects broader structural inequalities within the healthcare system.

Knowledgable Births: Advancing Informed Consent In Maternal Healthcare, Ella A. Forrester

Senior Theses

Background:

Informed consent is both a legal requirement and an ethical cornerstone of healthcare, ensuring that patients understand and voluntarily agree to medical treatments. However, evidence suggests that the informed consent process is often inadequately implemented in maternal healthcare settings, particularly during childbirth. While giving birth, women retain full decision-making capacity but are not consistently provided with sufficient information or support to exercise this right. Contributing factors include ineffective patient–provider communication, limited health literacy, and insufficient access to culturally responsive educational resources.

Methods:

This study aimed to address gaps in accessible prenatal education by developing an online resource platform, Know …

Volunteering: Service To Humanity Is The Best Work Of Life, William Chase Dds, Maom

The Journal of the Michigan Dental Association

Dr. William Chase reflects on a 45-year career enriched by dental volunteering and humanitarian missions. Chronicling his experiences treating patients in the Philippines and Brazil, he illustrates how altruism provides professional satisfaction that transcends financial gain. The article outlines various domestic opportunities for service, such as the MDA Foundation’s Mission of Mercy and the Donated Dental Services (DDS) program. Chase provides a checklist for interested volunteers and encourages colleagues to emerge from their comfort zones to provide life-altering care to underserved populations locally and abroad.