Public Health Education and Promotion Commons^™

The Reproductive Health Of Young People In Egypt, Nahla G. Abdel-Tawab, Noha Roushdy, Maia Sieverding

Poverty, Gender, and Youth

This Population Council brief presents results from the Survey of Young People in Egypt (SYPE) on reproductive health (RH). The SYPE results underscore the need for: the assessment of state and civil society initiatives to transmit RH information; a national, comprehensive, age-appropriate reproductive health module to be integrated into the educational program; a national campaign on HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted infections that targets young people of reproductive age; the integration of female circumcision into a broader approach to youth reproductive health and bodily rights; specialized reproductive health services for married adolescent girls; and further research on sexuality and reproductive …

Formative Research On Hpv Vaccine Acceptability With Latina Farmworkers, John S. Luque, Heide Castañeda, Dinorah Martinez Tyson, Natalia Vargas, Meade

Community Health: Faculty Publications

The purpose of this study was to identify the barriers and benefits to human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination in a low-income, Latina farmworker population in central Florida. This study reports on formative qualitative research conducted on perceptions of benefits, barriers, costs, place, and promotion related to the HPV vaccine from surveys and interviews with a sample of 46 low-income, Latina farm workers and 19 health care workers serving this population. It was found that Latina farmworkers hold many misperceptions about the HPV vaccine and the potential links between HPV infection and cervical cancer. In addition, it was observed that HPV vaccination …

Impact Of Nutrition Education In High School Students, Leticia Cortez

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

The diet of adolescents is typically high in calories, fat, and saturated fat and often fails to meet the daily recommended amounts of fruits, vegetables, and calcium-rich foods. The frequent consumption of unhealthy diets in combination with the lack of physical activity has resulted in a high prevalence of obesity worldwide. Approximately 17% of adolescents in the United States are obese. Obesity is a common risk factor for the development of chronic disease such as heart disease and diabetes. In the last few decades and along with a high prevalence of obesity there has also been an increased prevalence of …

Evaluation Of Protection Induced By Dna Vaccine Candidate Against Leishmania Mexicana In Balb/C Mice Model, Rosina Rodarte

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Background and Significance. The leishmaniases are a diverse group of diseases with four major clinical manifestations: cutaneous, mucocutaneous, visceral, and diffuse. Approximately 21 Leishmania species and 30 sandfly vectors have been implicated in human leishmaniasis. Leishmaniasis is endemic in 88 countries, 72 are developing countries. Currently, 350 million people live in leishmaniasis-endemic areas around the world. The true incidence of the disease is not known. However, the estimated incidence for visceral leishmaniasis is 500,000 cases per year, and for cutaneous and mucocutaneous leishmaniasis 1.5-2 million cases per year. Visceral leishmaniasis causes 70,000 deaths each year. In the Americas region, …

Improving School Lunches And Environment Through On-Site Gardens, Benjamin J. Spoden

A with Honors Projects

This project is a proposal to illustrate the pros and cons of building a program for school lunches and horticulture education. Building community, knowledge, and health by an on-site gardening program.

Physical Activity, Sleep Patterns, And Health Outcomes In University Law Enforcement Officers, Nicole C. Koebke

Theses and Dissertations--Kinesiology and Health Promotion

Research indicates that law enforcement officers (LEOs) have a higher prevalence of developing coronary artery disease (CAD) compared to the general population. Sleep deprivation and physical inactivity have been found to be related to many risk factors for CAD. This cross-sectional study examined the health status and the relationship between sleep and physical activity outcomes versus CAD risk factors among 27 University LEOs. The subjects’ health behaviors, and CAD and metabolic syndrome risk factors were described using basic statistics. Accelerometer derived sleep and physical activity outcomes were correlated to measures of health to identify potential relationships. 33% of LEOs were …

Factors Relating To Hpv Behaviors Of Female College Students, Nicole Rachael Peritore

Theses and Dissertations--Kinesiology and Health Promotion

This study examined the knowledge, sources of information, reasons for and against Gardasil® uptake, and possible relationships between unhealthy behaviors and vaccination for undergraduate college females at a public university. Utilizing an online survey, 2400 random students were emailed as well as recruited through online classes. The final sample size was 516 females. The study determined how many participants had been vaccinated and their rationale for or against vaccination. The majority of study participants were knowledgeable about HPV and Gardasil®. The primary sources of information about HPV and Gardasil® were doctors and television; however parents and friends were also common …

The Impact Of Maternal Smoking In Kentucky And Effect Of The Giving Infants And Families Tobacco-Free Starts Pilot Project On Smoking Cessation And Birth Outcomes, Joyce Madeline Robl

Theses and Dissertations--Kinesiology and Health Promotion

Smoking during pregnancy remains a significant public health issue despite knowledge about the adverse maternal and fetal health effects. This research had six purposes: identifying effective smoking cessation strategies for low income pregnant women; identifying characteristics of Kentucky women who smoke during pregnancy; estimating the role of smoking on birth outcomes in Kentucky; exploring the impact of tobacco reduction on birth outcomes; identifying the characteristics of women participating in the Giving Infants and Families Tobacco-free Starts (GIFTS) pilot program; and evaluating the impact of GIFTS on smoking status and birth outcomes.

Seven randomized controlled trials targeting low income women with …

Energy Drink Consumption (With And Without Alcohol) And Its Relationship To Risky Behavior, Risk Awareness, And Behavioral Intention In College Students, Julia K. Buchanan

Theses and Dissertations--Kinesiology and Health Promotion

The purpose of this study was to assess the relationships between energy drink consumption (with and without alcohol) and other risky behaviors; students’ overall awareness level of the risks for consuming energy drinks; and overall behavioral intention to consume energy drinks among college students at the University of Kentucky. A total of 277 students enrolled during the Spring 2012 semester responded to the online survey, 46.5% (n=129) of which were considered energy drink users. Students classified as energy drink users participated in other risky behaviors more often than non-users (p=0.001). In addition, energy drink users exhibited a higher …

Relationships Of Access And Affordability To Household Food Security Status Among Rural, Low Income Caregivers, Jodi Elaine Marani

Theses and Dissertations--Kinesiology and Health Promotion

Household food security status in rural areas is a significant issue facing caregivers as positive health outcomes depend on appropriate access to healthy foods necessary to lead an active life. Access and affordability of healthy foods are two mediating factors of household food security that may be improved to ultimately increase rates of food security and overall health status among rural, low income populations.

The purpose of the study was to examine the factors of access and affordability of nutritionally adequate food sources in one rural community in relation to food security status through the perspective of its caregivers. In …

The Relationship Between Religiosity & Selected Health Behaviors Of African Americans Of The Pentecostal Faith, Caprice Jones-Agunbiade

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

The purpose of this study was to assess the relationship between religiosity and selected health behaviors of African Americans in the Pentecostal faith. A 43 question printed survey was administered to 300 adult attendees from selected Pentecostal churches. The purposive sample was obtained from the Holy Christian Church of Mankato, Brooklyn Park, and St. Paul. The printed survey focused on information about demographics such as age, gender, ethnicity, marital status, education, fellowship, membership, and also health behaviors, perceived weight, weight goals, health classes desired, utilization of a community health educator and religiosity. The findings of the study indicated that high …

The Impact Of Water Supply And Sanitation On Child Health: Evidence From Egypt, Rania Roushdy, Maia Sieverding, Hanan Radwan

Poverty, Gender, and Youth

Using a combination of qualitative and quantitative data, this working paper investigates whether access to improved sources of water and sanitation is an effective “treatment” for the incidence of diarrhea among children under five years of age in Egypt. Both components of the study indicate that widespread access to improved sources of drinking water and toilet facilities exists across Egypt; however, service quality remains a significant problem in many areas. In particular, cuts in water supply—and the resulting practice of storing water—are quite common; a sizable percentage of flush toilet facilities are not connected to the public sewer system; and …

Incentivizing Providers To Improve Maternal, Newborn And Child Health Services In Bangladesh: Pay-For-Performance Model Refinement And Advocacy (P4p Mra) Final Report, Md. Noorunnabi Talukder, Ubaidur Rob, Laila Rahman, A.K.M. Zafar Ullah Khan, Riad Mahmud, Azizul Alim, Ismat Ara Hena, Farhana Akter, Anup Kumar Dey

Reproductive Health

An operations research project by the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of Bangladesh tested the feasibility of a pay-for-performance (P4P) approach, which offered financial incentives to reward service providers for meeting and exceeding specified performance targets for maternal, newborn, and child health services. In response to the encouraging findings, the DGHS implemented a follow-up project, with technical assistance from Population Council and UNICEF, to utilize the experiences and findings of the P4P OR project. Despite it short duration, implementation of the revised P4P scheme induced improvements in service volume and …

Introduction Of Emergency Contraceptive Pills (Ecps) Through Lady Health Workers (Lhws) Program In Pakistan: Findings Of An Evaluation Study, Arshad Mahmood, Yasir Bin Nisar

Reproductive Health

This report documents the findings from a five-day study tour of Pakistani officials to Bangladesh, organized by the Population Council, to afford an opportunity for representatives of both the Ministry of Health and Population Welfare to learn from the experience of Bangladesh in introducing emergency contraceptive pills (ECPs) through their National Public Health System. One of the recommendations was to enhance the availability of emergency contraception in Pakistan by making it available through outlets of the health system, especially through the network of the community-based Lady Health Workers (LHWs). There is a high unmet need for ECP in LHW areas, …

Key Opinion Leaders' Views Regarding Emergency Contraception In India, M.E. Khan, Isha Bhatnagar, Deepthi S. Varma, Anvita Dixit

Reproductive Health

This policy brief explores the views of key opinion leaders (KOLs) in the field of reproductive health and family welfare on provision of emergency contraception (ECPs). The study’s objective was to gain a better understanding of how the attitudes and beliefs of KOLs might influence policy and program implementation, either encouraging or opposing ECP promotion and service delivery. Results suggest strong support by the majority of KOLs to continue the sale of ECP as an over-the-counter drug. KOLs also emphasized the importance of comprehending and addressing the main barriers to ECP provision and use: poor knowledge, lack of training, moral …

Providers' Attitudes And Practices Regarding Emergency Contraception In India: Key Findings, M.E. Khan, Isha Bhatnagar, Deepthi S. Varma, Anvita Dixit

Reproductive Health

This policy brief reports key findings of a study in India that explored providers’ knowledge of how emergency contraception (ECP) works and its safety and effectiveness, their perceptions of the frequency of repeat use, their provision of ECP, and their attitudes toward women who seek it. Many of the findings of this study are encouraging. Most providers believed that ECP is an effective and safe method to prevent pregnancy and that it cannot induce abortion, and half supported the over-the-counter provision of ECP. Nevertheless, the study revealed many biases and gaps in knowledge. Recommendations include a number of ways to …

Increasing Access To Family Planning And Reproductive Health Services Through Community Work: A Case Study Of A Dual Cadre Model In India, Jaleel Ahmad, Isha Bhatnagar, M.E. Khan

Reproductive Health

Before the introduction of Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHAs) in India, mid-level auxiliary nurse midwives (ANMs) were responsible for community health education and services such as antenatal care, delivery, IUCD insertion, and sterilization referrals. The Population Council studied how community extension work and some primary care responsibilities have been shifted to ASHAs, who are tasked with identifying pregnant women; facilitating ANC check-ups; motivating women for institutional deliveries during ANC checkups; and organizing child immunization. Establishing dual worker cadres in India by shifting community extension tasks from ANMs to local ASHAs has been well conceived. Task shifting has allowed ANMs, as …

Situation Analysis Of Behavior Change Communication Activities In Bihar: A Step Towards Developing A Comprehensive Bcc Strategy, M.E. Khan, Isha Bhatnagar, Avishek Hazra, Mukesh Kumar

Reproductive Health

A situation analysis undertaken by the Population Council in Bihar, India assessed a number of contributing factors to a behavior change communication (BCC) strategy. Social norms and practices can be changed if appropriate messages are delivered through a combination of communication channels including mass, mid-, and other media, coupled with improved interactions between frontline healthcare workers and target populations at family and community levels. The analysis notes that effective BCC strategy should be measured in terms of actual behavior change. Impact of BCC activities can be measured by immediate outputs and intermediate and final outcomes depending on implementation duration. The …

Repositioning Community-Based Family Planning In Ghana: A Case Study Of Community-Based Health Planning And Services (Chps), Stephen Ntsua, Placide Tapsoba, Gloria Quansah Asare, Frank K. Nyonator

Reproductive Health

The Population Council conducted a diagnostic appraisal of delivering family planning services using the community-based health planning and services (CHPS model) in Ghana. This study’s results indicate that the CHPS program is well appreciated by rural communities where it is operational. However, the study identified several developments with implications for service delivery: increased community health officer (CHO) workloads and concomitant reductions in outreach services and home visits by community health visitors (CHVs) have weakened the CHO-CHV working relationship, leaving both cadres working in isolation. CHPS has significantly improved health indices but its contribution to increasing family planning is limited and …

Providers' And Key Opinion Leaders' Attitudes And Practices Regarding Emergency Contraception In Senegal: Key Findings, Babacar Mane, Martha Brady, Saumya Ramarao, Fatou Bintou Mbow

Reproductive Health

This study examines providers’ and key opinion leaders’ knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding the emergency contraceptive pill (ECP) in Senegal, and synthesizes the findings to suggest program and policy recommendations. Analysis of providers’ opinions and beliefs reveals that although many providers believe ECP is a safe product, persistent negative views remain. KOLs and providers recognize the importance of ECP for preventing unintended pregnancy and are supportive of the integration of ECP into national guidelines. They note, however, the need to improve accessibility and quality of provision. Given the magnitude of sexual violence and abuse, considerable interest exists in devising strategies …