U.S. Army Enlisted Soldiers' Adherence To Prescribed Malaria Chemoprophylaxis In Afghanistan,
2015
Walden University
U.S. Army Enlisted Soldiers' Adherence To Prescribed Malaria Chemoprophylaxis In Afghanistan, Michael Paul Brisson
Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies
Over the past 13 years, the United States Army has been engaged in armed conflict within Afghanistan. Unfortunately, the United States Army has been forced to evacuate soldiers from the battlefield because of malaria, a parasitic disease that is endemic in Afghanistan. Even though the U.S. Army has adopted an effective chemoprophylaxis protocol, soldiers' adherence to their prescribed medication has been historically low. This research addressed a gap in literature regarding the adherence rates of U.S. Army enlisted soldiers to their prescribed oral malaria chemoprophylaxis. In addition, this research investigated self-reported reasons for soldiers' nonadherence to this medication. The study …
Albumin Levels In Hispanic Dialysis Patients With And Without Type Ii Diabetes,
2015
Walden University
Albumin Levels In Hispanic Dialysis Patients With And Without Type Ii Diabetes, Hector Hernandez
Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies
Albumin provides the vital scaffolding for growth and tissue repair and supports oncotic blood pressure and hemodynamics. In hemodialysis patients, albumin aids with fluid removal by drawing excess fluid from edematous tissues back into the blood where it can then be removed by a dialyzer. The hyperglycemia seen in dialysis patients with Type II diabetes progressively damages kidney glomeruli, which permits albumin seepage into the urine, thus lowering serum albumin. The conceptual framework underpinning this research is the van't Hoff theory of osmotic pressure. Under this framework, the solute-solvent relationship largely contributes to the osmotic movement of fluid. The purpose …
Female Genital Mutilation/Circumcision: Culture And Sexual Health In Igbo Women In Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas,
2015
Walden University
Female Genital Mutilation/Circumcision: Culture And Sexual Health In Igbo Women In Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas, Dorothy Ebere Ukoha
Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies
Female genital mutilation (FGM) is practiced primarily in many African countries as well as some in Asia and the Arab Peninsula; however, it also takes place elsewhere around the globe among those who migrate from countries to which it is indigenous. This study was designed (a) to investigate the prevalence of FGM among the Igbo women in the Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) area in Texas and (b) to understand the factors that support the continuation of the practice and the effects on women's sexual health. Using a quantitative approach to examine a variety of social variables aligning with the ecological framework, …
Emergency Medical Service Worker Knowledge Of And Compliance With Occupational Exposures To Infectious Diseases,
2015
Walden University
Emergency Medical Service Worker Knowledge Of And Compliance With Occupational Exposures To Infectious Diseases, Debra Ann Wrentz-Hudson
Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies
Firefighter Emergency Medical Service (EMS) responder personnel are at a high risk for occupational exposures to bloodborne and airborne infectious pathogens due to their unpredictable work duties in the pre-hospital environment. Not much is known about the compliance with Universal Precautions (UP) among firefighter EMS responders' personnel with regards to occupational exposures to infectious diseases. The purpose of this cross-sectional research study was to determine the relationship between compliance with UP, knowledge of UP, attitudes towards UP, occupational practices, and occupational exposures to bloodborne and airborne pathogens to prevent transmission of infectious disease among firefighter EMS responder personnel in the …
Social Network Correlates Of Hcv And Hiv Transmission Risk Behaviors Among Injecting Drug Users,
2015
Walden University
Social Network Correlates Of Hcv And Hiv Transmission Risk Behaviors Among Injecting Drug Users, Victor Emanuel Reyes-Ortiz
Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies
Drug injection is an increasingly important risk factor in the transmission of blood-borne pathogens, including the hepatitis C virus (HCV) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). The purpose of the study was to examine the influence of social network factors on HCV and HIV. The study was grounded in social network theory and sought to determine whether social network characteristics affect high-risk sexual and drug injection behavior as well as self-reported HIV and HCV status. The study design was a quantitative cross-sectional survey. A total of 181 participants in a needle exchange program completed a survey in Spanish assessing individual drug …
The Association Of Lead With Cataracts And Vision-Related Problems In Perimenopausal Women,
2015
Walden University
The Association Of Lead With Cataracts And Vision-Related Problems In Perimenopausal Women, Imogene Drakes
Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies
Around the world, women are subject to an earlier incidence of cataracts, have a higher risk for cataracts, and also have a higher risk for other vision-related problems than men. Previous research has indicated an association between endogenous lead stored in long bones and cataracts in men over 60 years of age; however, a similar study in women did not reveal an association. This case control study was conducted to investigate whether perimenopausal mobilization of endogenous lead serves as a possible causative factor for women's generalized vision issues and cataract incidence in particular. Secondary data were gathered from 1,416 women …
Nitrate In Private Wells:Knowledge, Oppinions,And Perceptions Of Stakeholders,
2015
Walden University
Nitrate In Private Wells:Knowledge, Oppinions,And Perceptions Of Stakeholders, Augustus D. Jaja
Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies
The purpose of this quantitative study was to examine data describing nitrate concentration and cases of congenital cardiac defects. Residents with private wells and other stakeholders need data to make informed environmental decisions about the adverse health implications of nitrate contamination of private well water. Researchers have examined the exposure of nitrate in contaminated groundwater, but they have not examined nitrate levels in unregulated water systems. This gap in the literature highlighted the need to provide nitrate data for future research and private well users. Guided by the social ecological model, a quantitative, cross-sectional, nonexperimental design was used to survey …
Glioblastoma Multiforme: Geographic Variations In Tumor Size, Treatment Options, And Survival Rate,
2015
Walden University
Glioblastoma Multiforme: Geographic Variations In Tumor Size, Treatment Options, And Survival Rate, Susan Rebecca Nohelty
Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies
Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is a destructive brain cancer that results in death 12 to 15 months after diagnosis. The purpose of this retrospective study was to determine if variations in tumor size at diagnosis, treatment options, and survival rate occur in GBM patients living in urban and rural areas of the United States. Using the behavior model of health services as the theoretical framework, this study used secondary data sets of GBM cases reported from 1988 to 2011 from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results program. Tumor size was measured in millimeters; treatment was evaluated by ascertaining the number of …
Social Determinants Of Health Inequality And Life Expectancy Among Women Of Edo State, Nigeria,
2015
Walden University
Social Determinants Of Health Inequality And Life Expectancy Among Women Of Edo State, Nigeria, Daniel Aromeh Odekina
Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies
Health inequality conflates a huge number of economic, social, and political issues. These issues, together described as social determinants, determine a population's health through influencing health status and life expectancy. The research purpose of this study was to examine how social determinants affected the life expectancy of the women of Edo State, based on secondary data from Nigeria's 2008 demographic and health survey (NDHS). The theories that guided the study were self-efficacy beliefs of the social cognitive theory and physical self-concept of the health belief model. This quantitative cross-sectional study examined the associations between socioeconomic status, nutritional status, literacy/educational attainment, …
Hiv Testing Among Young African American Men Who Have Sex With Men,
2015
Walden University
Hiv Testing Among Young African American Men Who Have Sex With Men, Tayo B. Awopeju
Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies
Young African American men who have sex with men (AAMSM) are at greater risk of being infected with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and less likely to seek HIV testing than are members of other demographic groups. This behavior results in a significant public health threat because young AAMSM with an unrecognized HIV infection are less likely to practice safer sex and, therefore, more likely to pass the infection on to their partners. This study is an examination of the social and personality factors that influence HIV testing rates among young AAMSM, using Aday's model of the social determinants of …
Association Between Psychological Trauma From Assault In Childhood And Metabolic Syndrome,
2015
Walden University
Association Between Psychological Trauma From Assault In Childhood And Metabolic Syndrome, W Sumner Davis
Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies
Metabolic syndrome and its component conditions of hypertension, obesity, and insulin resistance are on the increase in United States. Metabolic syndrome substantially increases the risk of cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes (T2D). To date, no published study has examined the relationship between psychological traumas from physical and/or sexual assault in childhood and metabolic syndrome or its components. This study, using the psychoneuroimmunology (PNI) model, investigated associations between psychological trauma (physical/sexual abuse) in childhood and metabolic syndrome in adulthood using data from the Midlife in the United States II (MIDUS-II) study. This research was undertaken to investigate whether a history …
The Role Of Religious Vaccination Exemptions In The Ocean County, New Jersey Pertussis Outbreak,
2015
Walden University
The Role Of Religious Vaccination Exemptions In The Ocean County, New Jersey Pertussis Outbreak, Siobhan Bridget Pappas
Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies
Pertussis, also known as whooping cough, is a vaccine-preventable disease that is on the rise in the United States, a trend which has been attributed to vaccination exemption. Indeed, the pertussis outbreak that occurred in February, 2012 in Ocean County, New Jersey was associated with vaccine exemption. Considering that pertussis is deadly to young children, it is important to understand why this disease rate is on the rise. The research questions were focused on whether a relationship existed between pertussis status (no, yes) and exemption status (no, yes), sex (male, female), and county type (Middlesex, Ocean, or Other), using a …
Predictors Of Full Childhood Immunization Status In Owerri, Nigeria,
2015
Walden University
Predictors Of Full Childhood Immunization Status In Owerri, Nigeria, Osuala Uzor Kelvin
Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies
Full (complete) childhood immunization against tuberculosis, poliomyelitis, diphtheria, tetanus, hepatitis B, yellow fever, measles, and the maternal retention of immunization documentation are the most cost-effective interventions against vaccine-preventable childhood diseases. The full childhood immunization rate in Nigeria has not reached the expected target level of compliance at 90%. Using the social ecological model, this study investigated the influence of maternal satisfaction with postnatal services and paternal support on full childhood immunization status; it also examined the association between maternal factors and the maternal retention of immunization documentation in Owerri, Nigeria. The hypotheses were that maternal satisfaction with postnatal services and …
Physicians' Perceptions And Practice Regarding The Prevention Of Catheter-Associated Urinary Tract Infections In The Icu,
2015
Walden University
Physicians' Perceptions And Practice Regarding The Prevention Of Catheter-Associated Urinary Tract Infections In The Icu, Marilyn Keng-Nasang Mbi Feh
Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies
Catheter associated urinary tract infection (CAUTI) incidence continue to rise despite all prevention efforts. The state of Georgia incidence of CAUTI between 2012 and 2013 showed an increase by 350 cases. The challenge is translating CAUTI prevention knowledge into practice by all physicians. The purpose of this correlational study was to improve the epidemiological understanding of CAUTI. Looking at physicians’ perception and practice of CAUTI preventions was necessary. A total of 336 physicians from the state of Georgia completed a 26-item survey. Additionally, a pilot study was conducted on a small sample of participants. The result of the Cronbach alpha …
Psychosocial Determinants Of Elective Cesarean Section Deliveries In Selected Obstetric Facilities In Nairobi, Kenya,
2015
Walden University
Psychosocial Determinants Of Elective Cesarean Section Deliveries In Selected Obstetric Facilities In Nairobi, Kenya, Tom Joseph Oguta
Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies
Cesarean section (CS) rates have generally increased across the world in the past decade. Reducing elective cesarean section (ECS) rates is imperative as many countries aim to maintain threshold CS rates at or below 15%, the level recommended by the United States' National Institutes of Health. Women are believed to consider ECS for various interconnected psychosocial reasons, but few quantitative studies have investigated these factors. This prospective cohort study was based on the social ecological model (SEM) and the theory of planned behavior (TPB) models, and identified the psychosocial predictors of ECS among 1,268 expectant women in 2 hospitals in …
Vitamin D Deficiency And Immune Function In African American, Hiv-Infected Men,
2015
Walden University
Vitamin D Deficiency And Immune Function In African American, Hiv-Infected Men, Rana H. Ismail
Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies
Vitamin D deficiency is common in individuals diagnosed with HIV and is known for its detrimental health effects. Its recognition as a potent immune-modulator with possible immune health implications in HIV disease progression was the main impetus for this study. The association between Vitamin D and CD4 count falls short of being consistent and is too weak to allow conclusions. Similarly, the literature is inconsistent with regard to the impact of Vitamin D supplementation on CD4. This observational, retrospective chart review study aimed to explore the relationship between Vitamin D deficiency and CD4 count/percent, and to evaluate whether changes in …
The Association Between Rheumatoid Arthritis And Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus,
2015
Walden University
The Association Between Rheumatoid Arthritis And Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus, Magaly Perez Nieves
Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies
A research report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) indicated that more than 50% of people with diabetes mellitus (DM) in the United States (U.S.) also have arthritis. The diabetes population is disproportionately affected by arthritis, but there has been limited and inconsistent research to confirm the association between type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The current study aimed to identify an association between T2DM and RA for noninstitutionalized U.S. adults between 1999 and 2012 using a nationally representative sample from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) database (n =31,488 ). A …
The Distribution Of Type 1 Diabetes Onset In The United States By Demographic Factors,
2015
Walden University
The Distribution Of Type 1 Diabetes Onset In The United States By Demographic Factors, Margaret Beckstrand
Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies
Type 1 diabetes (T1D) is a chronic and lifelong condition, often diagnosed in childhood. Patients with T1D are at elevated risks of associated health complications, comorbidities, and mortality. Occurrence, clinical presentation, and complications related to T1D differ by age of onset, ethnicity, and gender. The last reported population-based estimates regarding the burden of T1D in children using the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) were published in 2008, and these estimates were not well stratified by age of onset, ethnicity, and gender. The purpose of this study was to examine these demographics within the conceptual framework of the hygiene …
Knowledge, Attitudes, Beliefs, And Behaviors Of Diabetes Among Afro-Caribbeans Near Brooklyn,
2015
Walden University
Knowledge, Attitudes, Beliefs, And Behaviors Of Diabetes Among Afro-Caribbeans Near Brooklyn, Sophia I. Allen
Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies
Literature has found that some minority groups with diabetes have a negative perception of medical professionals when a health problem occurs. This trend is particularly problematic with the diabetes epidemic in the United States. African Americans are more than 2 times as likely to die from diabetes than are Whites, and diabetes prevalence has increased exponentially in New York City where a majority of Afro-Caribbeans live. To address this problem, a cross-sectional design was used to recruit Afro-Caribbeans diagnosed with type 2 diabetes across 7 churches to examine whether shared knowledge, attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors about diabetes screening and its …
Third-Degree Family Health History And Perception Of Disease Risk,
2015
Walden University
Third-Degree Family Health History And Perception Of Disease Risk, Liana Carrasco Romero
Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies
Chronic diseases are a significant cause of illness and mortality in the United States. Hereditary predisposition to chronic diseases is a useful indicator for identifying people at risk for disease development. An ideal tool for determining this predisposition is the CDC, NIH, and AAFP recommended third-degree family health history (FHH). The aim of this quantitative, cross-sectional study, based on the theoretical frameworks of social constructivism and the health belief model, was to assess the possible influence between the completed third-degree FHH and the participant's perception of disease risk. Two-hundred seventy-three participants were recruited from health care facilities and from the …
