Public Health Education and Promotion Commons^™

Access To Healthcare For American Indians Residing In The Northeast United States, Kristine D. Thomas-Jones

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Urban American Indians/Alaskan Natives (AIs/ANs) have limited access to health care in comparison to non-Hispanic Whites (NHWs), which furthers health disparities for indigenous communities. The purpose of this quantitative, nonexperimental study, which was guided by the socioecological model, was to examine the relationship between access to health care and healthcare utilization among urban AIs/ANs and urban NHWs in the Northeast United States. The research questions addressed the difference in access to healthcare based on health insurance, difference in healthcare utilization, and whether there is an association between health care access and health care utilization for AIs in the Northeast United …

Sexual Behavior, Contraceptive Use, And Unmet Needs Among Unmarried Teenage Women In Uganda, Lawrence Were

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

At 25%, teenage pregnancy in Uganda is one of the highest in the world, and this has been mainly attributed to low contraceptive use and a high unmet need for modern contraceptives. Unmarried women aged 15 to 19 years in Uganda face unique cultural, ethical, financial, and legal barriers to the use of contraception. The purpose of this study was to investigate how sexual behavior, contraceptive use, and unmet needs among unmarried teenage women in Uganda aged 15 to 19 years are influenced by personal and environmental factors. Bandura’s social cognitive theory was used as a theoretical framework for this …

Nurse Practitioner Approach To Care For Peripheral Vascular Disease, Jessica R. Wozniak

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The Amputation Coalition indicates that there were approximately 2 million people with limb loss in the United States primarily caused by peripheral vascular disease in 2019. Those with amputation related to vascular disease have a 5-year mortality rate. The gap in clinical practice at the facility used for this project is that there were no comprehensive program guidelines for nurse practitioners and other health care professionals working with people who are at risk for vascular intervention or limb loss. The practice-focused question was answered that an interprofessional team did develop a prototype for a comprehensive peripheral vascular program that serves …

Association Between Obesity, Socioeconomics, Mental Illness, And Education In Native American Communities, Darrell D. Wright

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Obesity is a profound health epidemic that adversely affects the health of all ethnicities. This growing health crisis has been found to be linked to several chronic diseases such as stroke, diabetes, and several forms of cancer. As in Native American populations, increased morbidity and mortality rates associated with obesity prevalence in minority populations has been linked to variables such as income, education, mental illness, and age. The purpose of this research was to examine the association of obesity with socioeconomic status, education, mental illness, and age in Native American populations. The theoretical framework used in this study was based …

Changes In Operating Performance In Rural Hospitals From 2012 To 2019, Oluwaseyi Tami Young-Harry

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Rural hospitals treat patients while dealing with the challenges of an inadequate workforce, limited financial resources, and an isolated geographic location, leading to difficulties in achieving financial viability. The purpose of this quantitative study was to analyze the operating performance of rural, general, medical and surgical hospitals in the United States and to determine if performance had changed from 2012 to 2019. Guided by x-efficiency theory, this study addressed whether hospital ownership explained variation in performance and if performance had changed from 2012 to 2019. A random sample of 394 rural hospitals was used, with data drawn from the American …

Impact Of Medicare Utilization On Mortality And Readmission Rates Of Heart Failure Patients 65 Years And Over, Joanna Alexander

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Roughly 25% of individuals 65 years and over hospitalized with heart failure are readmitted within 30 days after discharge. Elderly individuals identified with heart failure possess a 5-year mortality approaching 50%. The purpose of this study was to determine if there is a relationship between Medicare-covered services for care, mortality rates, and readmission rates for beneficiaries 65 years and over with heart failure. To address this topic, the chosen approach was retrospective and quantitative. The theoretical foundation was the Chronic Care Model. The research questions sought to determine if there is a relationship between the Medicare-covered services for care and …

Recovering Illicit Substance Users' Perspective About Mandatory Drug Testing In Schools, Julie Bowser

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The purpose of this exploratory qualitative study was to examine recovering substance

abusers' perceptions about the usefulness of mandatory drug testing in schools for adolescent substance abuse. Illegal substance abuse has reached epidemic proportions as more than half of U.S. adolescents, aged 12 to 17 years, have engaged in illicit drug use. Substance abuse information has been a part of school health education programs since the United States Drug Free Schools and Communities Act of 1986. Despite substance abuse education and school programs about the effects of drug use, many high school students abuse illicit drugs. Face-to-face interviews were conducted …

Voluntary Male Circumcision And Risk For Human Immunodeficiency Virus In Homa Bay, Kenya, George Obhai Gabriel

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The role played by the belief about voluntary medical male circumcision (VMMC) in predicting HIV status has not been examined. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether there were any differences between belief about VMMC, unprotected sex, age, number of sexual partners, relationship status, and HIV status among circumcised males aged between 18-49 years in Homa Bay County, Kenya. Drawing from the health belief model and case-control study design, 936 men were recruited based on their HIV status (468 HIV cases and 468 controls). A bivariate logistic regression was applied, and the results indicated that unprotected sex, age, …

Obesity, Snoring, Sleep Apnea, And Coronary Heart Disease, Maryam Khalilah Muhammad

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Coronary heart disease (CHD) is a significant public health issue that affects communities across all socioeconomic and demographic groups. Risk factors for CHD include sleep apnea and snoring. Obesity with short sleep duration also places individuals at higher risk for CHD. Although limited research has been conducted on CHD and its relationship to obesity, sleep apnea, and snoring as individual risk factors for CHD, a gap exists as these factors had not been studied as paired in this study. The purpose of this quantitative, cross sectional study was to determine if a significant relationship existed between obesity, snoring, sleep apnea, …

Factors Associated With Hepatitis B Vaccination Among Asian Adults (≥ 18 Years) In The United States., Naana Abena Ohemeng-Tinyase

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

In the United States, hepatitis B disproportionately affects Asian and Pacific Islanders (AAPIs). Hepatitis B related liver cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths among Asian Americans. Despite the proven significant economic, health, and social effect of hepatitis B virus, immunization rates remain low. The purpose of this study is to examine the association between sociodemographic factors (age, marital status, gender, work experiences), health status factors (chronic disease, nonchronic disease), health behavior factors (smoking, alcohol intake, tobacco use, physical activity), and hepatitis B vaccination among Asian adults (≥ 18 years) in the United States. The main theory that frames …

Education To Improve Health For Rural Africa American Women With Diabetes, Monique Deidre Pendleton

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Diabetes (DM) is the 7th leading cause of death in the United States. Minorities like Hispanics and African Americans (AA) are at greater risk of developing DM. The prevalence and outcomes affecting diabetes are attributed to socioeconomic status, sex differences, ethnic, cultural, and religious status. Diabetes-related mortality is a major health problem in AA in rural America. The focus for this project was to identify the best evidence regarding educational counseling on lifestyle modifications that positively impact adult AA women with diabetes living in Rural America. The social-ecological theory and health belief model informed this project because these models incorporate …

Relationship Between Clostridium Difficile Testing Method, Antibiotic Treatment, And Clinical Symptoms, Jennifer L. Sanguinet

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Clostridium difficile (C. difficile) infection is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in the United States, making the infection a top public health priority. Early and accurate identification of disease is a critical factor in successful management, including clinical symptomology. The testing methods for C. difficile have improved in efficiency and sensitivity, which potentially causes over- or underprescribing behavior. Guided by the symbolic theory, the purpose of this study was to examine the association between C. difficile testing method by case year (2015 and 2018) and antibiotic treatment with the potential moderation of clinical symptoms. The secondary correlational analysis …

Association Between Mentoring Interventions And Drug Abuse Among African Americans Aged 10-24 Years, Anthonia Ifeyinwa Dunkwu

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Drug abuse represents a significant public health problem worldwide, with socioeconomic consequences shaped by a cluster of behavioral, cognitive, and physiological phenomena and serious social, physical, emotional problems. The purpose of this study was to assess the association between mentoring interventions and drug abuse among African American young people. The health belief model was the theoretical framework. The secondary data analysis was done using the data set from the 2014 National Survey on Drug Use and Health. The dependent variable was drug abuse, while the independent variable was mentoring interventions. The Chi-square analysis revealed an association between participation in school-based …

Predictors Of Use Of Pap Tests Among Ghanaian Immigrant Women In Ohio, Baaba Forson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

In the United States, cervical cancer disproportionately affects members of ethnic minorities, including immigrant women from Ghana. Overall cervical cancer incidence and mortality rates have declined in the United States due to opportunistic screening with Pap tests; however, rates have not declined for Black women and immigrant women, who continue to experience higher than average mortality rates. Immigrant women, including Ghanaian women, use screening less than nonimmigrant women. Several factors including poor acculturation, low educational level, certain personal attitudes, and lack of health insurance are known to reduce participation in screening. Using the theory of planned behavior as a guide, …

Relationship Between Clostridium Difficile Testing Method, Antibiotic Treatment, And Clinical Symptoms, Jennifer L. Sanguinet

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Clostridium difficile (C. difficile) infection is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in the United States, making the infection a top public health priority. Early and accurate identification of disease is a critical factor in successful management, including clinical symptomology. The testing methods for C. difficile have improved in efficiency and sensitivity, which potentially causes over- or underprescribing behavior. Guided by the symbolic theory, the purpose of this study was to examine the association between C. difficile testing method by case year (2015 and 2018) and antibiotic treatment with the potential moderation of clinical symptoms. The secondary correlational analysis …

Child Marriage: Parents' Lived Experience Of Decision-Making Processes And Consequential Health Effects, Hadiza Yakub

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Child or early marriage is increasingly recognized as a public health concern that poses significant health challenges for a young bride. This qualitative research explored child marriage among Hausa-Fulani ethnolinguistic communities in Northeastern Nigeria. Qualitative interviews were conducted with parents who married off their underage children. The central research questions relied on a theoretical foundation of social values theory and interpretative phenomenological analysis. The study results provide an in-depth understanding of the child marriage phenomenon by exploring parents' lived experiences and the role of a child bride's health in the decision-making process and illustrates how social values and norms drive …

Association Of State Tobacco 21 Law With Tobacco Consumption Among Youth, Rebecca Adamson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The study is an investigation of the association between the Tobacco 21 Law and youth tobacco usage rates in Hawaii. Researchers have documented a gap in the research regarding the effectiveness of such laws. Several studies that have been conducted have shown mixed results. The purpose of this study was to better understand any association that may exist in Hawaii. The social ecological model (SEM) of health is the theoretical foundation for the study. The SEM of health includes five sources which influence health, and these consist of intrapersonal factors, interpersonal factors, institutional factors, community factors, and public policy. Tobacco …

Quality Of Life, Physical Activity, And Weight Status For A Sample Of Online Students, Walaa Awad

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Obesity has been identified as a global health problem and a risk factor for many chronic diseases. While previous studies discussed the weight status and factors associated with overweight and obesity among adults enrolled in traditional universities, few studies have yet estimated the obesity rate among adults who choose online education. Guided by the social cognitive theory, this descriptive exploratory quantitative study used a survey to collect primary data from adult online students of three higher educational institutions. The survey examined the effect of quality of life and physical activity level on the weight status of the participants; taking into …

The Relationship Between Mental Illness And Mass Shooting, Priscilla Ngozi Chukwueke

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractWhenever a mass shooting occurs, it impacts the immediate families of the perpetrator, victims, and the whole nation: emotionally and financially. The research on the association between mental illness (MI) and mass shooting fatalities is limited. The purpose of this quantitative, cross-sectional study was to explore the association between MI and mass shooting using the archival data of the Stanford University database of mass shootings in America from 2000 to 2016. The theoretical framework was based on Bronfenbrenner’s social-ecological theory and the cognitive-behavioral theory to explain socio-environmental factors that impact human growth and development. The results showed that the proportion …

Risk Factors Of Infant Mortality Disparity In Indian River County, Florida, Cecilia Miguelina Escorbore

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Infant mortality in the United States is a great concern to families, communities, and professionals in the public health field. More concerning is the infant mortality racial disparity, prevalent throughout the United States. The purpose of this study was to explore risk factors of infant mortality disparity in Indian River County (IRC), Florida. Using socioecological theory as the theoretical framework, this study explored whether there is an association between infant mortality among Black infants and geographic location as well as measures of socioeconomic status (age, educational level, health insurance status, and marital status) associated with infant mortality among Black infants …