cometadata/datacite-rtg-text-other-reclassification-records huggingface dataset:
Risk Of Asthma Due To Obesity Among  American Children: An Examination Of NHANES Data Regarding Childhood Obesity And Asthma
Creators: name: Sanni, Oluwole
Publisher: name: Georgia State University
Year: 2013

description: Background: Obesity and asthma are significant public health problems and epidemics among children. From 1980 to 1994 the prevalence of self reported asthma in children increased 75% while the prevalence of childhood obesity increased by 100%. Studies have demonstrated a complex, but poorly understood association between obesity and childhood asthma. This study further examines the relationship between obesity and asthma in children and adolescents.
Methods: Using secondary data from National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey NHANES 2005-2006, univariate analysis was used to examine the association between obesity and selected independent variables and current asthma status. Multivariate analysis was also used to examine the association between obesity and current asthma status. Independent t-test was used to compare mean values of continuous variables across asthma status. Finally, chi square test was used to compare categorical variables across asthma status. A p-value of < 0.05 and 95% confidence intervals were used to determine statistical significance throughout all the analyses performed.
Results: In total 3,515 cases were included in the study analysis, out of which 50% are boys and 50% are girls. Results of multivariate analysis showed that obese children had 1.64 higher odds of having current asthma (Odds Ratio 1.64, 95% CI: 1.63-1.64, p-value of
Conclusion: Obesity is significantly associated with current asthma status among children and adolescents. It may be beneficial to target obesity prevention in our efforts to control the asthma epidemic. Even small changes in mean population body mass index (BMI) may translate into significant increases or decreases in asthma incidence in children and adolescents.
An Examination of Parental Skill Acquisition Resulting From a  State-Wide Dissemination of SafeCare®
Creators: name: McFry, Erin
Publisher: name: Georgia State University
Year: 2013

description: Family level data was collected from those served in a state-wide rollout of SafeCare® in Georgia between January of 2010 and November of 2011.  Families who received SafeCare were trained in the intervention’s three modules: Parent-Child or Parent-Infant Interaction, Home Safety, and Child Health.  The purpose of this study was to measure changes in parental skill demonstration by analyzing pre- and post-training assessments.  Additionally, parental demographic characteristics were also assessed for associations with skill acquisition within each module.  Follow-up analysis concluded that families displayed increases in parenting skills among all SafeCare modules.  Moderator analysis showed that those with only one child showed greater decreases in home hazards as did those with two children.  Also, it was found that income level moderated performance in the Parent-Child Interaction module with participants below the median income level exhibiting a greater increase in PCI skill demonstration than those above the median income level.  Further research should consider modeling multiple parental characters (e.g. CPS status and income) with skill performance over time. Lastly, additional research should aim to determine if those who exhibit increases in parenting skills are also less likely to experience future child maltreatment reports.
Income Payment Structure and its Influence on Food Security and Fruit Consumption
Creators: name: Mays, Shelley
Publisher: name: Georgia State University
Year: 2013

description: Background: Despite the growing evidence of the positive effects of fruit consumption on health, many individuals do not consume the recommended dietary guideline amounts.  It has been suggested that socioeconomic status and income have an influence on food choices and consumption.  The aim of this study is not only to examine whether payment structure has an association with food choices but also to assess fruit consumption independent of vegetables in the US.

Methods:  The 2011 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System was utilized and the study design led to a sample size that was n= 19,122 respondents.  Variables that were selected for associations with sufficient fruit consumption  included demographic data, employment status, payment structure, education, and home ownership status.  A p-value of <0.05 and 95% confidence intervals were used to determine statistical significance of the analyses performed.
Results:   Factors that were associated with greater odds of sufficient fruit consumption included being African-American, education- all levels of high school graduate and higher, all income categories above $15,000 annually, those employed, and those who rent a home (p-value<0.01).  Multivariate logistic regression analysis indicated that respondents' education defined as having college education was associated with increased odds of sufficient fruit consumption (OR = 7.09: CI =1.86-27.09] (p-value<0.01). 
Conclusions:  Assessing fruit consumption alone did not provide greater insight on sufficiency with the exception of race's (specifically African American) influence.  Payment structure was found not associated with increased fruit consumption.  Promotion of education on the relevance of fruit consumption to overall health is critical and necessary in the United States.
Calcium Intake Patterns in Association with Demographic and Socioeconomic Factors in US Population 2-69 Years of Age: A Cross-Sectional Study
Creators: name: Raoof, Farah
Publisher: name: Georgia State University
Year: 2013

description: Background: Calcium is important to various aspects of health and is necessary for life. Inadequate calcium intake has serious consequence on health, such as osteoporosis, impaired muscle and nerve functions and obesity. Similarly, excessive intake is associated with cardiovascular risks and urinary tract stone formation. Therefore a balanced calcium intake is of utmost importance especially knowing that maximum calcium storage potential in bones is reached roughly in late 20s of age and starts gradually declining thereafter.
Objective: The objective of this study is to explore calcium intake patterns in the United States population in association with a number of selected demographic and Socio Economic Status-associated factors.
Methods: The 2009–2010 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) data, obtained from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)’s National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS), was used for this investigation. This study is a cross-sectional study using a sample of 8,675 respondents (N= 8,675) within the age range of 2-69 years. A number of demographic and SES-related factors were analyzed on three consecutive stages by Univariate and Multivariate Linear Regressions on the estimated daily calcium intake of respondents.
Results: Calcium intake was demonstrated to be associated with a number of the variables included in this study. Of these, the statistically significant associations (P-Value <0.01) included Gender, Age, Race/ Ethnicity and Education. In addition, for some of the respondents within this study coverage by Medicaid or by Private Health Insurance also had some association with calcium intake levels.
Conclusions: The estimated daily calcium intake levels were higher among white, older females in the study population and were lower among the youngest age groups and respondents with the lowest levels of education among the oldest population. They were also lower among Non-White population in general. Coverage by Medicaid is associated with lower calcium intake levels among young children (4-8 years of age).Conversely, coverage by private health insurance was associated with higher levels of calcium intake among female respondents. Further studies are needed to assess the reasons for these patterns and to identify public health measures that can be taken to improve calcium intake levels in the Non-white population (especially those at the extremes of age range), the younger population, and people with lower levels of education.
HIV in African American women: Evidence that elevated rate of infection cannot be explained solely on the basis of known individual risk behaviors.
Creators: name: Francois, Bermann
Publisher: name: Georgia State University
Year: 2013

description: Objective: To compare known individual risk behaviors in African American, Whites, and Hispanic women as found in the literature and support those findings by analyzing data available through NHANES in order to find out if the higher rate of HIV infection in African American women is a direct result of higher risk behaviors. Those risk behaviors include lower rates of condom use, higher rates of drug use including those taken intravenously, higher rates of risky sex habits, higher number of sexual partners over their lifetime, and a more extensive history of sexually transmitted infections. This study also aims to draw attention to larger factors that may foster the conditions for increased HIV rates in African American women.
Results: The perception that higher rate of HIV infection is the result of increased risk factors among African American women is not supported either in the literature or in the analysis of NHANES data. For instance, results from data analysis found that African American women had fewer average number of sexual partners (P ? 0.05), lower overall rate of drug use (P ? 0.01), lower rates of risky sexual practices (P ? 0.01), but more likely to report a history of STIs (P ? 0.01) than Whites. The literature also confirmed that current HIV testing recommendations do not cover a large enough portion of the population to make a significant impact on HIV incidence. In addition, socioeconomic situations further exacerbate the conditions favorable to the transmission of the disease in African American women.
Conclusion: Prevention programs that rely on individual risk behaviors alone may not be enough to reduce HIV rates in African American women, though those same programs may be working in MSM. Programs that address socioeconomic disparities and testing recommendations that cover more people are needed in order to drive down HIV infection rates in African American women.
Impact of Maternal Health Literacy Training on the Knowledge of Women who have been Homeless
Creators: name: Oves, Danielle
Publisher: name: Georgia State University
Year: 2013

description: Children’s health outcomes are affected by multiple variables, including biological, environmental, psychological and social factors. Many determinants are decided after birth depending on the surrounding physical, psychological and social environment that the child enters. Elements such as socioeconomic status, marital status, race, education level and access to healthcare greatly affect a mother’s health literacy, and, thus, her ability to adequately care for her child(ren).
This project examines the impact of maternal health literacy training on the knowledge of mothers, who have been homeless. Ninety-one women completed a six-hour maternal health literacy training. A pre-posttest design was used to measure maternal knowledge change as the result of the training. The same measure was used at both time points, and the measure was designed in a multiple-choice format. Outcomes indicate that the maternal health literacy training positively impacted reported maternal child health knowledge. Additionally, a follow-up survey was given to 11% of the total sample, to examine the sustainability of the knowledge gains 2-4 months post-training. Findings indicate that the women who took the follow-up survey retained a considerable amount of health literacy knowledge. This is a first step into research examining how maternal health literacy training improves short and long term knowledge in a high risk sample of mothers. The positive outcomes suggest that this program could be beneficial to agencies across the country serving maternal needs in similar circumstances. Recommendations for further research are discussed.
Rotavirus Vaccination Rate Disparities Seen Among Infants with Acute Gastroenteritis (AGE)
Creators: name: Chan, Trisha
Publisher: name: Georgia State University
Year: 2013

description: Background: Rotavirus is one of the most common diarrheal diseases in children less than 5 years of age. Rotavirus vaccines have greatly reduced this burden in the United States. An examination was conducted to determine possible disparities in RV vaccination rates compared to DTaP.
Methods: Children were actively enrolled during two rotavirus seasons from January-June of 2010 and 2011 in the Emergency Departments (ED) and inpatient floors from all Children's Healthcare of Atlanta (CHOA) sites (Scottish Rite, Egleston, and Hughes Spalding) with acute gastroenteritis (AGE). Data and a stool sample were collected from enrolled children and samples were tested for presence of rotavirus using an enzyme immunoassay (EIA) kit (Rotaclone). Vaccination records were abstracted from the state immunization registry and primary healthcare providers to examine complete and incomplete vaccination status. This cohort of children with vaccination records were used for this analysis. Cases were identified as children receiving a complete RV dose series and controls were identified as children with incomplete RV doses. A logistic regression model was used to determine disparities seen amongst children with incomplete vaccination status.
Results: Of the 660 patients that were approached for this study, 414 participants were included in this retrospective cohort analysis. 46.9% had incomplete rotavirus vaccination status and were more likely to be positive for rotavirus AGE (OR 1.76, 95% CI 1.46-2.13). Black infants had a higher rate of incomplete RV compared to whites (p-value 0.0006). When controlling for covariates, racial differences were no longer significant (OR 1.37 95% CI 0.77-2.57); however household size (p-value 0.0343), age at onset of illness (p-value 0.0061), and DTaP vaccination status (p-value < 0.0001) were all significant in determining vaccination status for children.
Conclusions: Racial disparities and socioeconomic differences are not evident in determining rotavirus vaccination rates; however, household size, a possible social determinant, has an effect on RV status. In addition, timely vaccinations are important in preventing incomplete RV vaccination status, due to RV vaccine age restrictions.
Introducing an Innovative Brain and Spinal Cord Injury Prevention Curriculum to Adolescents: Evaluation Results
Creators: name: Templeton, Sandy
Publisher: name: Georgia State University
Year: 2013

description: Introduction: In the U.S., injuries account for over half of all deaths among persons age 1-44 which is more deaths than non-communicable and infectious diseases combined. Adolescents and males are disproportionately affected.
Objective
The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of an injury prevention curriculum for adolescents.
Methods
A curriculum employing indirect instructional strategies was implemented with 7th graders in four local middle schools in Cobb County, Georgia. A 45-item test assessing 6 injury-related theoretical domains: awareness of severity, preventability, risk and susceptibility; intention to behave protectively and to advocate for safety, was administered at baseline, and 4 weeks later, following curriculum completion. Dependent t-tests were run to evaluate differences in average pre- and post-test responses. Independent t-tests were conducted to investigate gender differences.
Results
A total of 678 matched pre- and post-tests were included in analysis, 44% male/56% female. Dependent t-test results revealed that respondents' awareness of severity, preventability, risk and susceptibility, as well as intention to behave protectively and advocate for safety, increased significantly. Significant post-test gender differences were only observed in the intention to behave protectively domain; where female gains were greater than male gains.
Discussion
Results demonstrate the effectiveness of indirect instructional strategies which make positive use of adolescent egocentrism, an important characteristic that puts adolescents at greater risk for brain and spinal cord injury. This curriculum demonstrates promise in influencing adolescents' beliefs in invincibility. Future studies should evaluate effectiveness in other communities and amongst students with diverse socio-demographic backgrounds.
Evaluation of the Risk Factors for Antibiotic Resistance in Streptococcus Pneumoniae Cases in Georgia
Creators: name: LaClair, Bethany
Publisher: name: Georgia State University
Year: 2013

description: Introduction: Streptococcus pneumoniae is the main bacterial cause of pneumonia, bacteremia and meningitis. Incidence rates have decreased since the initiation of pneumococcal vaccines, but antibiotic resistant strains continue to emerge and place a heavy burden on healthcare systems to treat such serious resistant infections. This study looks at risk factors that increase a patients probability of contracting a drug resistant strain of S. pneumo.
Methods: Confirmed cases of S. pneumo were acquired through the Active Bacterial Core Surveillance program from 2009-2012 for the state of Georgia. Cumulative incidence rates, odds ratios and Pearson’s chi square were calculated to test for trends. Multi-logistic regression model was designed to control for covariates. Antibiotic Susceptibility results were analyzed by resistant profiles through WHONET.
Results: Cumulative incidence rates have decreased significantly, however antibiotic resistant and multidrug resistant strains have increased. Incidence rates for children less than five and adults over 65 have decreased, however, the burden of disease remains in young to middle adults. Antibiotic resistant strains have shifted from penicillin to erythromycin and cefotaxime.
Discussion: Interventions need to be targeted towards young to middle aged adults. Antibiotic stewardship programs should seek uniform guidelines to battle the increasing emergence of multidrug resistant strains.
Legal vulnerability – police officers’ stories in their meeting with people with intellectual disabilities
Creators: name: Moen, Karianne
name: Hee Áker, Tone
name: Gulati, Gautam
Publisher: name: University of Limerick
Year: 2024
Subjects: classificationCode: 48
subject: Law and legal studies
classificationCode: 42
subject: Health sciences
subject: FOS: Health sciences

description: This study examines the legal vulnerability of people with intellectual disabilities exposed to domestic violence and sexual abuse, and has the research question: How is the legal vulnerability of people with intellectual disabilities represented in stories of abuse and violence told by the police? The study is based on interviews with 11 police officers who coordinate such cases. The term legal vulnerability and Goffman’s theoretical perspectives of the interaction order is used to provide an understanding of factors which may challenge the competence in safeguarding their legal rights. The analysis generated five themes. Our findings suggest that their lack of competence or experience in social interaction with others makes them vulnerable to exploitation. Legal vulnerability also occurs in the interaction with the police, due to a mismatch in police officers’ expectations of an investigative interview and their challenges to account for what they have been subjected to.
An Evaluation of Pregnancy-associated Morbidity among Georgia's USDA Designated Food Deserts, 2009-2010
Creators: name: Burnam, Yonte
Publisher: name: Georgia State University
Year: 2013

description: Objective: To assess the affect of pregnant women residing in a USDA designated food desert on the development of pregnancy-associated morbidities

Results: Living in a USDA food desert is not significantly associated with the development of pregnancy-associated morbidity  [OR=0.973; CI: 0.835-1.134; p-value=0.728]. Backward stepwise regression showed all proposed potential confounders were significantly associated with the development of pregnancy-associated morbidity. These potential confounders include maternal age, regular exercise routine or previous diagnosis of diabetes or hypertension (p-values < 0.02).

Conclusion: Residing in a USDA designated food desert is not associated with the development of pregnancy-related morbidity. This analysis suggests other sociodemographic risk factors, such as maternal age or exercise routine, as indicators of morbidity rather than food accessibility.
An Analysis of Selected Predictive Factors Associated with Adolescent HPV Vaccination Initiation and Completion Rates in the United States:  2011 National Immunization Survey - Teen
Creators: name: Oliver, Kristen
Publisher: name: Georgia State University
Year: 2013

description: Background
Human papillomavirus (HPV) is the most common sexually transmitted infection in the United States, and adolescents have the highest incidence.  To decrease the burden of HPV and HPV-associated cancers, two vaccines were developed and require a 3 dose series.  This study assesses factors that may predict whether a teen will either initiate or complete the vaccine series.

Methods
National Immunization Survey -Teen 2011 data was used to assess demographic (age, sex, and race/ethnicity) and socioeconomic (poverty and insurance status) factors as they related to vaccine initiation and completion.  Bivariate and multivariate analyses were used to determine strength of association.

Results
Females were more likely than males to initiate and complete the series. Compared to whites, Hispanic teens were 1.5 times more likely to initiate but less likely to complete. Blacks were least likely to complete. Teens below the poverty line were more likely to initiate compared to teens above poverty but less likely to complete.  Teens with at least one form of health insurance were 1.2 times more likely to complete than those with no insurance.

Conclusion
HPV vaccination rates are increasing and need to continue to do so.  Emphasis needs to be placed on completing the series to confer complete resistance.  This is especially true for blacks and Hispanics who are at a higher risk of HPV-related morbidities.
MIC Distributions and Epidemiological Cut-off Values for Azithromycin in Neisseria gonorrhoeae as Determined by Agar Dilution
Creators: name: Lupoli, Kathryn
Publisher: name: Georgia State University
Year: 2013

description: Background: Clinical breakpoints and epidemiological cut-off values for N. gonorrhoeae azithromycin antimicrobial susceptibility testing have not been established. This study utilized existing minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) data from CDC’s Gonococcal Isolate Surveillance Project (GISP) to establish epidemiological cut-off values for azithromycin and N. gonorrhoeae as determined by agar dilution.
Methods: MIC distributions for the pooled dataset and each data year (2005-2012) were constructed. Epidemiological cut-off values were calculated using two methods. Method 1 considers the wild-type MIC distribution, the modal MIC for the distribution, and the inherent variability of the test (±1 twofold-dilution). Method 2 defines the epidemiological cut-off value as two twofold-dilutions higher than the MIC50.
Results: Taking into consideration the wild-type MIC distributions and the inherent variability of the test, the epidemiological cut-off value chosen for the pooled dataset and each data year using Method 1 was ?1.0 µg/mL. The MIC50 for the pooled dataset and each data year was 0.25 µg/mL. Two twofold-dilutions higher than the MIC50 (0.25 µg/mL) for the pooled dataset and each data year was 1.0 µg/mL.
Discussion: The epidemiological cut-off values chosen using Methods 1 and 2 (?1.0 µg/mL) were identical for the pooled dataset and each data year, indicating the epidemiological cut-off value has not changed from 2005-2012. The epidemiological cut-off value for N. gonorrhoeae azithromycin agar dilution antimicrobial susceptibility testing established during this study can be used to help set clinical breakpoints and identify isolates with reduced susceptibility to azithromycin.
Investigating the Health Profile and Quality of Life of Adult Marijuana Users in the United States: Analysis of Self-reported NHANES 2007-2010 Data
Creators: name: Lane, Crystal
Publisher: name: Georgia State University
Year: 2013

description: Background: Marijuana is the most widely used illicit substance in the United States. Public approval of marijuana has driven its legalization in twenty states and the District of Columbia for medical use; and, this year alone (2013), two states have legalized recreational use of the drug. Despite the nation’s growing trend towards marijuana acceptance, the evidence regarding the health effects of its use remains vague. This study was designed to evaluate the health profile of marijuana users by determining the association of marijuana use with quality of life, defined in terms of perceived overall health and as self-reported medical conditions.
Methods: The 2007-2010 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey data was used to evaluate the health profile and quality of life of marijuana smokers. Chi-square and one-way ANOVA analyses were respectively used to compare prevalence and mean differences of select characteristics across different categories grouped by marijuana use. Logistic regression analyses were then performed to determine the association between the reported number of unhealthy days or medical conditions and marijuana use in the past month. All analyses were performed with SAS 9.2 software using weighted data, while 95% confidence intervals were used to determine statistical significance.
Results: In total, 7716 cases were included in the study analysis. The prevalence of lifetime marijuana use was 59% (N = 3632), while the prevalence of current (past month) marijuana use was 12.6% (N = 861). Current marijuana users differed significantly from never users with respect to age, gender, income-to-poverty ratio, cigarette smoking, and alcohol and drug use. Current marijuana users also reported more unhealthy days per month, but less frequently reported diagnosis of a medical condition. Results of logistic regression analysis demonstrated that after controlling for confounders, there was no significant association between unhealthy days and current marijuana use, but there was an inverse association with reporting 3+ medical conditions and current marijuana use.
Conclusions: This study shows that marijuana users are more likely to engage in health risk behaviors, and report lower quality of life when compared to individuals who have never used marijuana. However, after controlling for confounders, marijuana use was not found to be associated with poor health outcomes.
Designing the Primary Care Assessment Tool for Physician Performance Tracking in Indonesia;  A Program Planning
Creators: name: Hendrawan, Donni
Publisher: name: Georgia State University
Year: 2013

description: Designing the Primary Care Assessment Tool for Physician Performance Tracking in Indonesia;
A Program Planning
Primary care within the Indonesia health care system is key to maintain health of Indonesians. To ensure its function, it is very important to know how Indonesian primary care providers are meeting minimal standards of performance based on key health indicators. This can be measured by using the transcultural adapted tool known as Primary Care Assessment Tool (PCAT). The focus of this capstone is to design a program plan to establish a culturally-sensitive PCAT tool for use in Indonesia. The program plan will include an extensive literature review and comprehensive review of PCAT tool’s content, possible utility and ease of use so it will be more readily accepted and widely used by Indonesian primary care physicians.
Based on the study result, there are several conceptual differences in each subdimension found between the original concept and existing condition in Indonesia. These differences mostly focus on health care delivery system aspects consist of three question from dimension of first contact, one question from dimension of coordination and six question from dimension of comprehensiveness. It is proposed to exclude question regarding general check up from first contact question and two question regarding WIC and test for lead and HIV from dimension of comprehensiveness. Also, there are four questions from additional domain that should be adjusted to better fit an Indonesian context. To preserve its content validity, an expert panel must be constituted follow by pre-test/pilot testing. The length of time needed to deliver the questionnaire, difficulities to assemble expert panel and impact from changing or eliminating cultural contextual difference might influence the cross cultural process
Establishment of Indonesian PCAT through cross cultural adaptation is very likely to be successful, since Indonesia has adequate resources and support. Furthermore, increase national policy focus on gatekeeper function, create greater need for the transcultural tool.
Keyword: primary care, performance, PCAT, cross cultural adaptation, Askes, Indonesia
A Common Monitoring & Evaluation Framework Guided by the Collective Impact Model: Recommendations to Enhance the Tobacco Control Effort in Sub-Saharan Africa
Creators: name: Anand, Meenu
Publisher: name: Georgia State University
Year: 2013

description: Background: Tobacco use is one of the most ubiquitous causes of death and disability worldwide. In sub-Saharan Africa, despite the rising trend the use of tobacco in generally low among adults - less than 10% in men and around 2% in women. As a result the region is viewed as being in the early stages of the four stage tobacco epidemic model. Projections suggest that the tobacco epidemic, if unchecked, can peak in Sub-Saharan Africa in the middle of this century. This offers the public health community an extraordinary opportunity – not only is the epidemic predicted so far in the future, there is knowledge on how to prevent it. The purpose of this study is to (a) research and assess case studies and theoretical frameworks used to guide global collaborative efforts in public health and development; (b) develop, administer, and summarize feedback collected from key stakeholders representing organizations critical in SSA tobacco control efforts; (c) analyze findings and identify gaps in the collective action; recommend opportunities to improve the systematic operations/capacity of all collaborating partners within SSA so that progress and collective impacts are maximized in the future.
Methods: Secondary data was first sorted using a comparative, thematic approach to detect themes related to M&E practices at individual (organizational) level and at the group (collective) level. The sorted data was then analyzed using hypothesized content analysis for alignment of individual and group perceptions across the five components necessary for a collaborative effort to achieve a collective impact - shared agenda, shared measurements, mutually reinforcing activities, on-going communications, and support organization.
Results: Current practices of M&E are perceived as sub-optimal both at individual and group levels. Even though the secondary data was focused primarily on shared measurements, the mapping of individual and group level perceptions against the five components of collective impact indicates that attributes of the other four components were organically included in the discussion in varied depths. Analysis of perception indicates general willingness to adopt a common monitoring and evaluation framework.
Conclusions: A common M&E framework remains a missing component of the collaborative effort striving to prevent the tobacco epidemic in sub-Saharan Africa. It is needed to learn from past successes and challenges and to inform strategy of current and future initiatives so that collaborating organizations are better able seize the unprecedented opportunity of preventing death and suffering from tobacco related illnesses in sub-Saharan Africa. It is important that such an M&E framework be thoughtfully conceptualized within the context of a common agenda, and supported by processes that facilitate mutually reinforcing activities and continuous communication among collaborators.
Trends in Vibriosis Transmission among the Top Four Vibrio Species, United States, 1988-2012
Creators: name: Conrad, Amanda
Publisher: name: Georgia State University
Year: 2013

description: Background
Vibrio infection (vibriosis) results from consuming contaminated seafood or exposing skin directly to marine waters or raw seafood. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that 80,000 illnesses occur each year in the United States. Four species, V. parahaemolyticus, V. vulnificus, V. alginolyticus, and V. cholerae (excluding toxigenic O1 and O139), are responsible for most cases. Understanding foodborne and non-foodborne transmission routes is important for describing epidemiological trends and for directing prevention efforts.
Methods
Demographic, clinical, and epidemiological data for cases reported between 1988 and 2012 were extracted from CDC’s Cholera and Other Vibrio Illness Surveillance System (COVIS). Outcomes and seasonal trends were described by species and transmission route.
Results
A total of 10,173 domestically acquired, non-toxigenic cases of vibriosis were reported, including 4,224 (41.5%) V. parahaemolyticus cases, 1,998 (19.6%) V. vulnificus cases, 1,267 (12.5%) V. alginolyticus cases, and 963 (9.5%) V. cholerae cases. There were 4,026 hospitalizations and 795 deaths reported. When categorized by transmission route, 5,775 (56.8%) cases were foodborne and 3,317 (32.6%) were non-foodborne.. Most (52.4%) cases occurred during the summer months with peaks in July and August. Only 140 cases were reported from eight states in 1988 compared to 907 cases reported by 42 states in 2012. The overall crude incidence in 2011 was 0.26 cases per 100,000 population.
Discussion
The number of reported cases of vibriosis has been increasing steadily since 1988. Increased prevention efforts, including safer seafood products and consumer education, are needed.These efforts should focus on specific populations and transmission routes for each of the top four species that cause most vibriosis cases in the United States.
Systematic Review of Infection Prevention and Control Policies and Nosocomial Transmission of Drug-Resistant Tuberculosis
Creators: name: Estebesova, Aida
Publisher: name: Georgia State University
Year: 2013

description: Emerging multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR/XDR-TB) has become a major public health problem, placing millions at risk. Further, nosocomial transmission of MDR/XDR-TB places both patients and healthcare workers at an even higher risk. Effective tuberculosis (TB) infection prevention and control (IPC) policies in high-risk settings must use evidence-based science and should be customized to the setting. However, the growing incidence of MDR/XDR-TB in some global settings raises questions about whether adequate healthcare-related TB IPC policies are in place and whether they are implemented effectively. The purpose of this systematic literature review was to catalogue healthcare-related TB IPC policy research conducted in high-prevalence settings and draw a picture of existing evidence-based TB IPC policies and their implementation, with a focus on preventing and controlling nosocomial transmission of MDR/XDR-TB. Two databases (PubMed and Embase) were searched from 1990 – 2013 and outputs were categorized by region/country, income, MDR/XDR-TB incidence, level of IC intervention, and time period. None of the 20 captured research studies were conducted in TB high-prevalence, low-income settings. Most (12/20) were implemented within the Pan American Health Organization region, followed by the African (4/20) and European (4, 20%) regions. Most studies reviewed (70%) were undertaken because of an outbreak and most (70%) were published between 1990 – 2000. This systematic literature review showed a gap in research on TB IPC policies addressing nosocomial transmission of MDR/XDR-TB in high-prevalence, low-income settings. TB IPC policy development and implementation should be routinely undertaken as a part of effective and efficient public health practice. Development of TB IPC global best practices should be guaranteed and a concerted effort to promote, distribute, train, and implement these TB IPC best practices in low-resource countries would help mitigate the growing incidence of MDR/XDR-TB worldwide.
A Systematic Review of the Health Impact of Employer-sponsored Wellness Programs
Creators: name: Buseman-Williams, Anna
Publisher: name: Georgia State University
Year: 2014

description: The CDC has identified the four modifiable health risk behaviors of physical activity, poor nutrition, tobacco use, and alcohol use as being responsible for much of the illness and early death associated with chronic disease. The purpose of this review to is analyze the literature on existing employer sponsored lifestyle management wellness programs targeted at these risk factors and their associated biometric measures, the characteristics of these programs, and the demonstrated health impact. A literature review was conducted using PUBMEB and CINAHL for studies published from 2009-2013 within the United States. The employer characteristics, characteristics of the wellness program, incentives used within the wellness program, employee characteristics of those who participated in the wellness program, and outcome of the intervention were extracted from the studies. The review yielded five relevant studies with a total of 47 outcomes assessed. The studies indicated that employer sponsored wellness programs can be successful with the proper level of resources, incentivizing, and commitment by the employer, however additional future studies with comparison groups are recommended.
title: THE DISAPPEARANCE OF SHANNON WHITE
Creators: name: Limberg, Kathryn J.
Publisher: name: University of Kentucky Libraries
Year: 2025
Subjects: classificationCode: 6
subject: FOS: Humanities

description: The Disappearance of Shannon White is a Mystery-Thriller novel. The aim of the piece is to explore thematic components including perseverance, socio-economic inequities, the stigmas and medical malpractice of the American mental health system in the late twentieth century, and, ultimately, to entertain. My earliest love in the literary world was science fiction and fantasy. Writers like Robert Jordan, and more recently, Simone St. James, create worlds that test the bounds of reality in a way that I find liberating, and I seek to implement this in my own work. Such authors have taught me that fiction offers freedom to the imagination, and creates a space for the artist to take internalized and important matters to the public sphere. I try to create art that both speaks to my desire to be an entertainer while also unpacking current topics with the same urgency that realism often harnesses well. Ultimately, I desire to create art that captures an audience with the high-impact entertainment factors of genre while also incorporating bigger, more abstract ideas that color the nature of our humanity.
description: © 2025 Kathryn J. Limberg
A Preliminary Analysis of the Relationship between Hazards in the Home and the Potential for Abuse with Families At-Risk
Creators: name: Walsh, Jyll
Publisher: name: Georgia State University
Year: 2014

description: Child maltreatment (CM) and unintentional childhood injury affects millions of children and cost society billions of dollars annually. The population at risk for CM has congruent demographic characteristics as children that are more likely to have unintentional injuries.  Preventing CM through evidence-based home-visiting programs has been shown effective and cost efficient, and the inclusion of home safety in such programs, demonstrates significant reduction of hazards in the home. The overarching goal of the current research is to make a statistical connection between the population at risk for CM and amount of hazards in the home; that these two populations have enough overlap to validate the inclusion of home safety components in CM prevention programs. This study uses data from an ongoing research project that braids two evidence-based parenting programs: SafeCare® and Parents as Teachers. Findings indicate that the correlation between potential for abuse, measured by BCAP scores, and hazards in the home, measured by the HAPI, show a significant correlation r = .23, p < .05. Other variables such as loneliness, distress, and marital status were also found to contribute to this relationship.
Spatial and Temporal Variation in Water Quality Along an Urban Stretch of the Chattahoochee River and Utoy Creek in Atlanta, Georgia, 2013
Creators: name: Perkins, Charity
Publisher: name: Georgia State University
Year: 2014

description: The Chattahoochee River is the most utilized surface water in Georgia, and it and Utoy Creek are receiving waters for Atlanta stormwater and wastewater effluent. Population growth and record-breaking rainfall in 2013 has led to potential stress from stormwater runoff and nonpoint source loading.
            The goals of this research are to examine spatial and temporal variations in E. coli and the bacteriophage MS2 and relationships with DO, turbidity, rainfall, and riverflow; to determine if E. coli in water is correlated with E. coli in sediment; and to determine if wastewater effluent discharges influence downstream sample sites. Water samples were collected at fifteen sample sites and two outfall sites in the Chattachoochee, and ten sites in Utoy Creek. No significant spatial variation in E. coli was found for the Chattahoochee, although there was significant temporal variation in mean E. coli concentrations. The lowest mean DO values and the highest mean turbidity levels both occurred on the date of the highest mean E. coli concentrations. Effluent from the two outfalls did not contaminate downstream sample sites. In Utoy Creek, E. coli concentrations showed spatial and temporal variation in water samples, but not for sediment samples. Turbidity was found to be positively correlated with both E. coli in sediment and MS2.
            These findings suggest that nonpoint source loading is a potential cause of contamination. Since DO, turbidity, and rainfall were correlated with E. coli and MS2, these parameters could be used as indicators of pollution for future monitoring of the Chattahoochee River and Utoy Creek.
title: Griechenlands systematische Pushback-Praxis ist menschenrechtswidrig – Die EGMR-Entscheidungen vom 7.1.2025
Creators: name: Nalbantis, Leonard
Publisher: name: Fachinformationsdienst für internationale und interdisziplinäre Rechtsforschung
Year: 2025
Subjects: subject: 340

description: JuWissBlog
Understanding Barriers to Enrollment and Completion of Evidence-based  Interventions for Trauma Exposed Youth: the Potential Predictive Role of Parental  Trauma Exposure
Creators: name: Roby, Sarah
Publisher: name: Georgia State University
Year: 2014

description: Child trauma exposure (CTE) is an important public health concern in the U.S.; more than two-thirds of children report experiencing a traumatic event by the age of 16. CTE may have important acute and long-term physiological, developmental, behavioral, and psychological implications if not addressed. Trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy (TF-CBT) is the gold standard for treatment of child trauma and is well-supported for resulting in significant decreases in negative mental health outcomes associated with CTE. Despite the efficacy of evidence-based interventions such as TF-CBT, many children do not receive treatment due to a variety of contextual, logistical, and interpersonal barriers. This mixed-methods exploratory study examines possible predictors of enrollment and completion of TF-CBT, specifically parental trauma exposure, at a community organization that serves abused and traumatized children in the metro Atlanta area. Data were collected during individual assessments consisting of a computer survey and semi-structured interview (n=41). Data analysis focused on parental trauma exposure, and qualitative interviews were examined for common themes regarding intentions for their child’s enrollment and completion of services. Results indicated that caregivers of children referred to services had relatively high (56.1%) rates of trauma exposure. Results from logistical regression indicate that parents with a trauma history were 10.5 times more likely to have a child enroll in therapy. These results indicate that parents with personal trauma histories may be more committed to their child receiving services, therefore public health efforts aimed towards educating parents without trauma histories may be beneficial.
Determinants of Regional Disparities in Under Age five Mortality in Cote d'Ivoire
Creators: name: Assi Kouame, Poquelin
Publisher: name: Georgia State University
Year: 2014

description: Background: The launch of the Millennium Development Goal4, in 2000 and the national and international mobilization it spurs results to a decline of child under age five mortality rate from 90 per 1000 living birth in 1990 to 40 per thousands in 2012. That decline however is not evenly distributed across the globe and the majority of countries in the Sub-Saharan African region continue to experience a higher rate of under age five mortality than expected in 2013. Within country disparities in child mortality and it determinants was suggested to account for the lagging of those countries to reduce their under age five mortality rate. Objective: the study examined the variation in child mortality across statistical regions in Cote d’Ivoire and the community level factors that can explain those variations after controlling child, the mothers and the household characteristics. Method: The study used data obtained from the 2011-2012 Cote d’Ivoire’ Demography Health Survey. The study population consisted of 7511 children born within the 5 years preceding the survey.  Frequency tables were created to show the distribution of the selected child mortality determinants across regions in Cote d’ivoire and three Logistic models were run to measure the association between the under age five mortality and the selected determinants. Results: The proportion of under age five mortality in the study population was 8.52%. There was a statistically significant variation in child mortality across regions. At the community level, the proportion of mothers with a least a secondary education was associated with under-age five mortality risk (OR=0.99, CI=0.98-0.99). There was no significant association between child mortality and the other selected community factors included in the study. Conclusion: This study reveals a significant variation of under age five mortality rate across region in Cote d’Ivoire, even after controlling or child, mother and household level factors. The findings of this study suggest a need for further exploration of the factors that can explain those differences.