Maternal and Child Health Commons^™

Facilitators To Cervical Cancer Screening In A Minority, Urban, Underserved Population, Noel Higgason, Linh Nguyen, Yen-Chi Le, Ogochukwu Juliet Ezeigwe, Tong Han Chung, Natalia Williams, Xochitl K Olguin, Abigail S Zamorano

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

OBJECTIVES: Cervical cancer has markedly declined due to widespread use of screening, but Hispanic women continue to bear a disproportionate amount of the cervical cancer burden due to under-screening. Previous studies have explored barriers to screening but have failed to identify targetable facilitators in this group. We aimed to assess facilitators to cervical cancer screening among a predominantly urban, Hispanic population who presented to a no-cost, community-based clinic.

METHODS: Patients completed demographic and health information, a validated social determinants of health (SDOH) screen, and a self-reported facilitators survey on factors which enabled them to present to clinic. Descriptive statistics were …

Women In Health And Their Economic, Equity And Livelihood Statuses During Emergency Preparedness And Response (Wheeler) Protocol: A Mixed Methods Study In Kenya., Evaline Chepchirchir Langat, Bilali Yusuf Mazoya, Pauline Oginga, Ferdinand Okwaro, Norah Matheka, Irene Kibara, Rhoda Otieno, Michaela Mantel, Robert Lorway, Marleen Temmerman

Centre of Excellence in Women and Child Health

Introduction: Kenya reported its first COVID-19 case on 13 March 2020. Pandemic-driven health system changes followed and unforeseen societal, economic and health effects reported. This protocol aims to describe the methods used to identify the gender equality and health equity gaps and possible disproportional health and socioeconomic impacts experienced by paid and unpaid (community health volunteer) female healthcare providers in Kilifi and Mombasa Counties, Kenya during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods and analysis: Participatory mixed methods framed by gender analysis and human-centred design will be used. Research implementation will follow four of the five phases of the human-centred design approach. Community …

Prenatal Cocaine Exposure And Its Influence On Pediatric Epigenetic Clocks And Epigenetic Scores In Humans, Thiago Wendt Viola, Christina Danzer, Victor Mardini, Claudia Szobot, João Henrique Chrusciel, Laura Stertz, Joy M Schmitz, Consuelo Walss-Bass, Gabriel R Fries, Rodrigo Grassi-Oliveira

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

The investigation of the effects of prenatal cocaine exposure (PCE) on offspring has been inconsistent, with few studies investigating biological outcomes in humans. We profiled genome-wide DNA methylation (DNAm) of umbilical cord blood (UCB) from newborns with (n = 35) and without (n = 47) PCE. We used DNAm data to (1) assess pediatric epigenetic clocks at birth and (2) to estimate epigenetic scores (ES) for lifetime disorders. We generated gestational epigenetic age estimates (DNAmGA) based on Knight and Bohlin epigenetic clocks. We also investigated the association between DNAmGA and UCB serum brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) levels. Considering the large-scale …

Editorial: Care During Pregnancy And Early Childhood For Growth And Development In Low- And Middle- Income Countries, Ranadip Chowdhury, Ravi Prakash Upadhyay, Bireshwar Sinha, Nita Bhandari, Sunita Taneja, Jai K. Das

Centre of Excellence in Women and Child Health

No abstract provided.

Lipid Genetics In Pregnant Women: Maneuvering The Challenges Of Using Degraded Samples, Kylee Meece

Mahurin Honors College Capstone Experience/Thesis Projects

The results of this project will explore a novel approach to lipid metabolism in pregnant women by exploring the relationship between maternal gene expression of genes critical for fat metabolism, protein expression, and maternal and neonatal outcomes. The study will also examine gene expression in lean pregnant women compared to obese pregnant women, shedding light into the adverse pathology of obesity during pregnancy. These findings may uncover a mechanism related to gene-expression that connects unfavorable maternal fat metabolism to inflammation and/or insulin resistance, which may help to uncover future targets for interventions.

The analysis of lipid gene expression requires the …

The Effects Of Adverse Childhood Experiences And Racism On The Risk For Poor Birth Outcomes In Women Of Color, Audrey Hermosura

Nursing | Senior Theses

Background: Adverse childhood experiences, or ACEs, are traumatic challenges experienced before the age of 18. These adversities have lifelong effects on physiologic and mental health. A relationship has been made between the number of ACEs and occurrences of poor birth outcomes. The toxic stress that accumulates from ACEs compounded by racism increases the risk for poor birth outcomes in women of color. Understanding the importance of screening for these events can mitigate the negative effects on women’s health during and after gestation. Purpose: This current paper, in addition to a literature review, proposes a research design to validate the feasibility …

Doulas In Modern Health Care, Gabriella J. Lawrence

Soaring: A Journal of Undergraduate Research

This paper looks into whether the implementation of doulas by all hospitals would benefit mothers before, during, and after childbirth. Through previous research it is shown how traumatizing birth can be for mothers who don't feel that they have control within the labor and delivery room. High rates of augmentation, epidural anesthesia, and cesarean sections within hospitals are all causes of postpartum anxiety and depression among new mothers. By researching who a doula is and what they can do for mothers during childbirth, we can get a better understanding on how to prevent mental health disorders that are caused by …

Primary Care Physician Trust: The Importance Of Early Medical Intervention For African American Children With Asthma, Harrish Ganesh

AUCTUS: The Journal of Undergraduate Research and Creative Scholarship

Asthma is a prevalent condition characterized by an individual’s airway becoming inflamed, constricted, and leads to the formation of mucus and difficulty breathing. Nearly 27 million individuals are currently diagnosed with Asthma in the United States, and African Americans are 40% more likely to be diagnosed with asthma than Caucasians. This literature review analyzed multifaceted barriers that restrict African American asthmatic children from gaining consistent asthma treatment. Some of these barriers range from historical racial discrimination that leads to parental mistrust to financial and educational barriers that result in inconsistent pediatric care for asthmatic children. The combination of the above …

Inequalities In Use Of Hospitals For Childbirth Among Rural Women In Sub-Saharan Africa: A Comparative Analysis Of 18 Countries Using Demographic And Health Survey Data., Manuela Straneo, Claudia Hanson, Thomas Van Den Akker, Bosede Afolabi, Anteneh Asefa, Alexandre Delamou, Mardieh Dennis, Luis Gadama, Nyika Mahachi, Welcome Mlilo

Centre of Excellence in Women and Child Health

Introduction; Rising facility births in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) mask inequalities in higher-level emergency care— typically in hospitals. Limited research has addressed hospital use in women at risk of or with complications, such as high parity, linked to poverty and rurality, for whom hospital care is essential. We aimed to address this gap, by comparatively assessing hospital use in rural SSA by wealth and parity.

Methods; Countries in SSA with a Demographic and Health Survey since 2015 were included. We assessed rural hospital childbirth stratifying by wealth (wealthier/poorer) and parity (nulliparity/high parity≥5), and their combination. We computed percentages, 95% CIs and …

Understanding Social Dynamics In Toxic Conversations And Public Health Intervention Acceptance On Social Media, Ana Aleksandric

Computer Science and Engineering Dissertations - Archive

Social media is now central to daily life, offering users a space to share content and opinions. However, these platforms also facilitate the spread of hate speech and misinformation, which can negatively impact public health. This dissertation develops methodologies to analyze social media data for insights that could inform health interventions. The research first examines user responses to toxic content, focusing on behavioral and emotional reactions, as well as group dynamics and bystander effects in toxic interactions. Another key focus is public opinion toward health interventions, particularly COVID-19 vaccination, using geolocated posts and analyzing factors such as race, ethnicity, and …

Clinical Characteristics And Outcomes Of Patients With Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension In East Africa: A Retrospective Cross-Sectional Study, Zian Muikamba

Master of Internal Medicine

Introduction; Idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH) is a neurological condition characterized by elevated intracranial cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) pressure without demonstratable evident causes. The mechanisms leading to a particular predilection for women of childbearing age who are overweight and obese or who have recent rapid weight changes remain imprecisely described. The Modified Dandy criteria is used for diagnosis and includes-clinical symptoms, papilledema, lumbar puncture (LP) opening pressure, and neuroimaging. If undiagnosed, it can progress to disabling irreversible visual loss. Weight loss is useful in addition to medical therapy in treating the condition. Data in Sub-Saharan Africa is scarce.

Methods; This study described …

Too Hot To Thrive: A Qualitative Inquiry Of Community Perspectives On The Effect Of High Ambient Temperature On Postpartum Women And Neonates In Kilifi, Kenya., Adelaide Lusambili, Sari Kovats, Britt Nakstad, Veronique Filippi, Peter Khaemba, Nathalie Roos, Cherie Part, Stanley Luchters, Matthew Chersich, Jeremy Hess

Institute for Human Development, East Africa

Objectives; To understand community perspectives on the effects of high ambient temperature on the health and wellbeing of neonates, and impacts on post-partum women and infant care in Kilifi.

Design; Qualitative study using key informant interviews, in-depth interviews and focus group discussions with pregnant and postpartum women (n = 22), mothers-in-law (n = 19), male spouses (n = 20), community health volunteers (CHVs) (n = 22) and stakeholders from health and government ministries (n = 16).

Settings; We conducted our research in Kilifi County in Kenya’s Coast Province. The area is largely rural and during …

Exploring The Willingness Toward Hiv Immediate Test And Treat Among Msm In Nairobi And Its Environs: A Cross-Sectional Study., Kingori Ndungu, Peter Gichanga, Marleen Temmerman

Centre of Excellence in Women and Child Health

Background: In the test and treat initiative, high-risk populations are screened for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection and start early treatment if diagnosed positive. This study explores factors associated with willingness to initiate testing and immediate treatment among men who have sex with men (MSM) in Nairobi and its environs. The study was informed by a conceptual framework combining the AIDS Risk Reduction Model (ARRM) and the Modified Social Ecological Model.

Methods: This cross-sectional exploratory study targeted MSM (aged 18–60 years) reporting active engagement in anal or oral sex with men in Nairobi and its surrounding areas. Purposive sampling was …

The Impact Of Scaling And Root Planning Combined With Mouthwash During Pregnancy On Preterm Birth And Low Birth Weight: A Systematic Review And Meta-Analysis, May Salama, Abdullah Al-Taiar, Denise C. Mckinney, Estiar Rahman, Anwar T. Merchant

Dental Hygiene Faculty Publications

The effect of treating periodontal disease (PD) during pregnancy on adverse birth outcomes, such as preterm birth (PTB) and/or low birth weight (LBW), remains unclear. This is partially due to the fact that Randomized Controlled Trials (RCTs) have used different combinations of treatment approaches to test this hypothesis. In this meta-analysis of RCTs, we assessed the impact of treating PD during pregnancy with scaling and root planning (SRP) and mouthwash use on PTB and LBW.

Background

The effect of treating periodontal disease (PD) during pregnancy on adverse birth outcomes, such as preterm birth (PTB) and/or low birth weight (LBW), remains …

Identifying Youth Appeals In Alcohol Alternative Social Media Content Through Framing, Melina Oneal

West Chester University Master’s Theses

Proposed regulations for alcohol advertising prevent beverage companies from targeting people under the legal drinking age. However, similar regulations for alcohol alternative beverages are less explored, which could allow alcohol alternative products to create awareness for alcoholic beverages among youth. Alcohol alternatives beverages, including no-alcohol and low-alcohol products, are increasing in popularity and can function as compliments to alcoholic products to decrease the total alcohol volume consumed or as substitutes for alcoholic products. Framing theory can be operationalized through the Content Appealing to Youth Index, an index of content elements found in research literature to be appealing to youth, to …

The Impact Of Roe V. Wade Overturning On Women’S Access To Medical Abortions: Exploring Alternative Care Models, Gillie Mason

Nursing | Student Research Posters

The Impact of Roe v. Wade Overturning on Women’s Access to Medical Abortions: Exploring Alternative Care Models

Medical abortion access is heavily influenced by state laws, with restrictive policies posing significant barriers for women seeking care. These barriers include limited local resources, travel burdens, and legal restrictions, which disproportionately affect marginalized populations. The Health Belief Model (HBM) highlights how individuals' perceptions of risks, benefits, and barriers shape their health decisions, making it an ideal framework for studying this issue (Rosenstock, 1974).

This research focuses on educating California-based providers to increase access to medical abortion services for patients in restrictive states. …

A Scoping Review Of Perceptions And Fears Experienced By Families With Children With Developmental Disabilities In Sub-Saharan Africa., Isaac Twum Boamah

Theses and Dissertations

The prevalence of perception and fear surrounding families with children with developmental disabilities in Sub-Saharan Africa reveal a complex interplay of cultural, social, economic, and healthcare factors. This interplay of factors results in stigma, which often leads to societal misconceptions and discrimination, exacerbating the challenges faced by affected families. This study seeks to identify the individual and family perception of developmental disabilities, document the stigma experienced by the individual and their families, and document the resources available to help alleviate the plight faced by the individuals and their families. It further seeks to find gaps in the literature on developmental …

Examining The Feasibility Of Implementing Farm To School Programs In Rural Kentucky Schools: Barriers And Successes Of Initiating Programming As Identified Through Teacher’S Observations, Christina Wilson

Theses and Dissertations--Nutrition and Food Systems

Farm to School (FTS) programs provide experiential learning opportunities to children that have the potential to shape eating patterns and, in turn, improve health and learning outcomes. Participation in FTS programs in Kentucky is growing. However, programming varies widely across schools, and few have an edible school garden. This study examined the feasibility of establishing an edible school garden while incorporating FTS programming by evaluating teachers' observations and experiences. Six rural Kentucky schools were selected to receive a $5,000 grant to initiate an edible school garden and incorporate FTS programming. A Qualtrics survey measured six categories regarding implementation. The results …

Role Of Social Determinants Of Health And The Renin- Angiotensin Aldosterone System In Risk For Hypertensive Disorders Of Pregnancy And Related Adverse Outcomes., Esther Letushila Ndashaala

Theses and Dissertations--Nutrition and Food Systems

Background: Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP) represent a significant public health issue, contributing to maternal and fetal morbidity and mortality. Women from lower socioeconomic backgrounds or marginalized racial and ethnic groups face higher risks of HDP, which have been incompletely described. In addition, risk for HDP may be linked to a reduction in the normal activity of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS). This study investigates the role of socioeconomic factors and RAAS components in the risk for HDP and adverse maternal and neonatal outcomes. Methods: This study is a secondary analysis of data from 180 pregnant individuals from a high-risk maternal-fetal …

Demonstrating The Need For Intergenerational Trauma-Specific Substance Use Treatment For Mothers Receiving Substance Use Treatment And Their Children, Brittany Ti-Esha Smith

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

For decades the United States has faced substance use epidemics that have devastating public health consequences, with the most recent epidemic being the opioid epidemic. While the substance that is the center of the epidemic’s changes over time, one factor that has been found to be positively related to substance use has remained consistent, that preventable risk factor is adverse childhood experiences (ACEs). Those who experience ACEs are at elevated risk for developing SUD. If the trauma that is a result of experiencing ACE is not treated it can complicate recovery and impact the individuals’ families. The children of individuals …