Epidemiology Commons^™

Trends And Correlates Of Breakthrough Infections With Sars-Cov-2, Jose-Miguel Yamal, Savitri Appana, Mengxi Wang, Luis Leon-Novelo, Eric Bakota, Yuanqing Ye, Shreela Sharma, Alanna C Morrison, Dritana Marko, Stephen H Linder, Alison Rector, Katelyn K Jetelina, Eric Boerwinkle, Marcia De Oliveira Otto

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) delta variant has been hypothesized to decrease the efficacy of COVID-19 vaccines. Factors associated with infections with SARS-CoV-2 after vaccination are unknown. In this observational cohort study, we examined two groups in Harris County, Texas: (1) individuals with positive Nucleic Acid Amplification test between 12/14/2020 and 9/30/2021 and (2) the subset of individuals fully vaccinated in the same time period. Infected individuals were classified as a breakthrough if their infection occurred 14 days after their vaccination had been completed. Among fully vaccinated individuals, demographic and vaccine factors associated with breakthrough infections were …

Incidence Rate Of Psychiatric Disorders In 2020: The Pivotal Role Played By Sars-Cov-2 Infection, Antonio L Teixeira, Regina M Hansen, Joseph S Wozny, Caroline M Schaefer, Rodrigo Machado-Vieira, Lokesh Shahani, Scott D Lane, Jair C Soares, Trudy M Krause

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

IMPORTANCE: The Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) pandemic has significantly impacted mental health outcomes. While the frequency of anxiety and depressive symptoms has increased in the whole population, the relationship between COVID-19 and new psychiatric diagnoses remains unclear.

OBJECTIVE: to compare the population incidence rate of emergence of de novo psychiatric disorders in 2020 compared to the previous years, and to compare the incidence rate of new psychiatric disorder diagnoses between people with vs without COVID-19.

DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: This study utilized administrative claims data from the Clinformatics® Data Mart database, licensed from Optum®. The study is a cross-sectional analysis that …

Covid-19 Vaccination In Palestine/Israel: Citizenship, Capitalism, And The Logic Of Elimination, Nicolas Howard, Emily Schneider

Sociology & Criminal Justice Faculty Publications

Despite Israel’s responsibility under international law to combat the spread of contagious diseases and epidemics in its occupied territories, Israeli officials have refused to distribute COVID-19 vaccines to Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. Through a critical discourse analysis of Israeli officials’ statements regarding Israel’s COVID-19 vaccination campaign, this paper explores how Israel evades this responsibility while presenting itself as committed to public health and human rights. We find that Israeli officials strategically present Palestinians as an autonomous nation when discussing COVID-19 vaccinations, despite Israel’s ongoing attempts to prevent the creation of a Palestinian state. Relatedly, Israel justifies …

Sociodemographic Factors As Predictors Of Low Influenza Vaccination In Chicago, Illinois, Ingrid L. Jeske

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Outbursts of seasonal influenza contribute to morbidity and mortality in the United States. Influenza is a contagious disease caused by influenza viruses. The main subtypes of the influenza virus are Type A and Type B. Influenza vaccines are among the most effective methods in preventing the spread of the influenza virus because they offer the best immune defense. However, health care providers face significant challenges due to low patient compliance with current vaccine recommendations and misinformation. Scholars have yet to expand and further explore the reasons for the gap in influenza vaccination between White individuals and minorities, such as the …

Predictors Of Homelessness Among Female Veterans And Civilians, Victoria Caridad Justiniano Quinones

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Homelessness among female veterans is a problem that is likely to increase as growing numbers of women in the U.S. military reestablish themselves into their communities as veterans. There has been increasing concern about the greater risk for homelessness found among female veterans when compared to their nonveteran counterparts, so further investigation of homeless incidence by gender is also warranted. This quantitative, exploratory study was grounded in the social ecological theory, the Balshem and colleagues conceptual model of risk factors for veteran homelessness, and the Susser, Moore, and Link conceptual model which investigated causal pathways that are possible risk factors …

Risk Factors Of Infant Mortality Among Sub-Saharan Immigrants In The United States, Roland Lankah

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

While prepregnancy body mass index (BMI), gestational weight gain (GWG), and birthplace have been suggested to play a key role in predicting infant mortality outcomes, they have not been thoroughly investigated across all races/ethnicities. The purpose of this study was to examine the associations between prepregnancy BMI, GWG, birthplace as independent variables, and infant mortality as the outcome variable within the United States Sub-Saharan African Immigrants (SSAI). A quantitative cross-sectional study design grounded in the biopsychosocial model was used. Data were extracted from the 2017-2018 natality-linked birth/infant death file from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Wonder Database. It …

Perceptions Of Hiv Testing Among African-Born Immigrants In Washington State, Phoebe Kirigo Mugo

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

African born immigrants (ABIs) face challenges associated with HIV testing. As a result, many ABIs are not tested for HIV, and this population is among some of the most diagnosed at late stages of HIV/AIDS. The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study was to explore and seek to understand the lived experiences of ABI adults ages 25 to 49 living in Washington State. I gathered data to gain their perceptions of HIV testing through in-depth interviews. The study was informed by the health belief model, which helped to understand the complex nature of healthcare-seeking behaviors among this population and how …

Risk Factors Associated With Type 2 Diabetes Among Adults In Alabama, Peter Okeke

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

In the 21stcentury Diabetes mellitus is recognized as one of the most important public

health challenges that carry a substantial individual and community burden.

It is necessary to do a detailed search regarding DM2 from adolescence till adulthood is in

Alabama which should aim to provide recent information. T2D is influenced by a many

factors including demographics including age, sex, income level, educational, BMI,

physical activities, etc. Identification of the associated risk factors is very important to

inform decision making by concerned bodies and T2D management. The study aimed to

examine the risk factors associated with T2D in adults aged …

Non-Disclosure Of Child Sexual Abuse: The Lived Experience Of Victims In South Africa, Chima Obiora Ozor

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Child sexual assault (CSA) has been reported all over the world. Studies indicated that South Africa has one of the highest incidences with far reaching social, physical and emotional consequences. However, non-disclosure is common, which increases the risk of revictimization. Understanding the complexities surrounding the low reporting and non-disclosure will provide guidance for better intervention of CSA in South Africa. This study explored the past experiences of adults who were sexually abused as minors, and how their experiences and outcomes may have been influenced by factors at the micro, meso, macro, and chrono-system levels of Bronfenbrenner’s social ecological model. The …

Impact Of Poverty On Antibiotic Prescribing Rates In The United States Through Mediation Effects Of Underlying Health Conditions, Nato Tarkhashvili

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Resistance to antibiotics among bacteria develops largely due to frequent use of antibiotics in human and animal medicine. Little is known about how patients’ socioeconomic factors, in conjunction with chronic health conditions, impact antibiotic prescribing rates in the United States. The research questions aimed to explore the relationship between poverty and antibiotic prescribing rates while also adjusting for confounders such as population aged ≥ 65, physician density, prevalence of obesity, diabetes, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The relationships were evaluated using a quantitative, ecological study design using the ecosocial theory and mediation analysis of 2020 survey results provided by …

Vitamin K Deficiency And Ischemic Stroke In Atrial Fibrillation Patients On Warfarin, Kimberly Therese Thompson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Individuals with poor nutritional vitamin K status can suffer from atrial fibrillation (AF) due to misinterpretation of warfarin instructions by healthcare providers. The purpose of this quantitative study was to determine if there was an association between inadequate dietary vitamin K intake in AF patients and stroke outcomes to address the lack of research surrounding stroke outcomes in patients with true vitamin K deficiency. Grounded in the health belief model, this study assessed if individual beliefs from health education influenced the nutritional quality of their diet and health outcomes. The study is a secondary data analysis of the Framingham Heart …

Assessment Of Multidrug Resistance Among Tuberculosis Patients In Lesotho, Jerry Yakubu Yahaya

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The emergence of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) jeopardizes the tremendous efforts in the fight against tuberculosis in Lesotho. To understand the occurrence of MDR-TB, it is important to identify the associated risk factors and how to address them. There is a literature gap on the sociodemographic risk factors associated with MDR-TB in Lesotho. This study assessed whether there is any significant association between age, employment, income, sex, education, place of residence and MDR-TB. The association between HIV and MDR-TB was also evaluated. Guided by the health belief model and social cognitive theory, a retrospective case-control study design and a proportionate stratified …

Gestational Weight Gain, Level Of Education, And Infant Mortality Among African American Women, George Lee Amanambu

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Abstract

African American (AA) women in Mississippi have a higher burden of infant mortality, especially those with low income and educational levels, as compared to other regions of the country. However, it is unknown if abnormal gestation weight gain (GWG) is contributing to this increased burden. This quantitative cross-sectional study examined the association between GWG (25-35lbs), level of education, income, and infant mortality among AA women with normal prepregnancy body weight who were between 30 to 47 years old in the state of Mississippi from 2016 to 2018. Biopsychosocial and ecosocial models were used as the theoretical foundation to design …

The Influence Of Race And Ethnicity On The Prevalence Of Social Stigma For People With Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus, Donielle Hyde

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Various studies attempting to evaluate the prevalence of health-related social stigma in people with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) identified themes that coincide with increased prevalence including anxiety, low self-esteem, depression, fear of judgement, anger, and feeling ashamed. This phenomenon is believed to be due to the lack of knowledge and understanding about the differences between the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention strategies for T1DM and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). The Resilient, Empowered, Active Living intervention dataset (n=115) was utilized to further examine this phenomenon by determining whether race and ethnicity influence the prevalence of the following health-related social stigma …

Diabetes, Obesity, Geographic Location Of The Patient And Clostridium Difficile Infection In The United States, Mary (Maribeth) Greenway

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractClostridium difficile infection (CDI) is a major nosocomial threat to be reckoned with in the current health care setting in the United States. Advancing age, underlying chronic disease associated with inflammation (including Diabetes Mellitus Type I ([DMI]), Diabetes Type II ([DMII]), and obesity), trauma, immunodeficiency and other factors that diminish the overall health of an individual, and increase an individual’s susceptibility to CDI. The ecological framework was used to determine the relationship between geographic, chronic diseases and the occurrence of infectious diseases. To continue enhancing knowledge related to CDI susceptibility this quantitative study used the 2010 National Hospital Discharge Survey …

Bullying, Participation In Violence, Suicidal Ideation, And Behavior Among African American Youth, Kierystan Lorquoyea Johnson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Suicide is the second leading cause of death among adolescent, teens, and young adults. Suicidal ideation is a predictor of suicide attempts. Guided by the integrated motivational-volitional model and social cognitive theory, Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance Survey data were used to investigate whether traditional bullying, cyberbullying, and participation in physically violent behavior (independent variables) were associated with suicidal ideation and behavior (dependent variables) among African American high school aged youth controlling for age, gender, physical, and sexual abuse. It was found that experiencing traditional bullying increased suicidal ideation significantly, as there is an 82% increase in likelihood. There was also …

Microaggression Experiences Among African American Women And Their Effects On Health In Academia, Anta'sha Moni Jones

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Racial microaggressions are brief daily negative verbal behaviors and environmental slights directed as intentional or unintentional towards minorities. These negative interactions lead minorities to feel powerless and oppressed in their environments. These adverse experiences result from stressors in their environment that negatively affect the human body by causing acute and chronic stress. This qualitative study aimed to investigate the relationship between personal, racial microaggression experiences, and their impact on health through a phenomenological approach. The critical race theory provided a framework to explore and understand how systematic discrimination experiences impacted the 17 African American faculty member participants’ health. A phenomenological …

External Validation And Modification Of A 30-Day Readmission Risk Prediction Model For Heart Failure Patients, Debra Kelly

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The development and validation of 30-day readmission risk prediction models, such as the LACE index, have been of interest to researchers and healthcare organizations, especially since the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services began to impose monetary penalties on hospitals with higher than expected 30-day readmission rates. However, there is a lack of consensus concerning the efficacy of the LACE index in the heart failure population. The purpose of the study was to examine the discriminative accuracy of the LACE index to predict all-cause 30-day readmission for heart failure patients and to build a modified 30-day readmission risk prediction model …

Stigma And Discrimination’S Effect On Hiv Testing Of Pregnant Women In Nigeria, Charles Echezona Nzelu

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The utilization of HIV testing services among pregnant women in Nigeria has not been optimal. Although much is known about the determinants of HIV testing among pregnant women, there is a gap in knowledge on determinants for pregnant women infected with the virus, specifically whether stigma and discrimination are barriers. The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of stigmatizing attitudes and personal knowledge of discriminatory practices towards persons living with HIV/AIDS on the decision by pregnant Nigerian women aged 15-49 years to test for HIV during antenatal visits or childbirth. The health belief model served as the …

Health Department Prevention/Education Plans And Perceived Risks Of Zika Infection, Lacey Jacques

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractZika virus is an infectious disease caused by the bite of an infected mosquito that has been linked to increased rates of microcephaly and other devastating birth defects. The existing body of knowledge has focused on the individual-level factors that influence a person’s decisions about prevention activities and risk perceptions related to Zika virus. The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between state-level plans for prevention and education and individual-level risk perceptions. Rosenstock’s health belief model lays a foundation for why individuals make the health decisions they do and helps explain how these can be influenced for …