Journal of the Georgia Public Health Association最新文献

{"title":"Improving the Public’s Health Through Sustained, Multidisciplinary Academic and Community Partnerships: The MSM Model","authors":"D. Rivers, C. Walker, A. Mitchell, Shirleta Lawrence, C. R. Bayer","doi":"10.20429/jgpha.2020.080115","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.20429/jgpha.2020.080115","url":null,"abstract":"Background: ​To meet the growing needs of communities with increased chronic conditions, decreased access to health services, and a changing sociocultural environment, there is a critical need for community-oriented physicians equipped with the skills to attend to the health of underserved populations. The Morehouse School of Medicine Community Health Course’s (CHC) purpose is to inculcate service-learning and public health techniques to equip community-oriented physicians with empathy and tools to effectively engage diverse communities and provide care that addresses the social determinants of health to achieve health equity. The purpose of this practice note is to discuss CHC multidisciplinary strategies used to sustain community partner relationships and impact public health. Methods: ​We work to effectively engage community partners in a number of ways including: a core approach that the partnership is designed to assess, listen to, and meet the communities’ needs; that community partners inform the course curriculum through a community advisory board, an introductory course community panel (of advice for effective engagement), and attendance at course meetings and retreats; a continued relationship between the course faculty and the community site over time; community representatives as co-authors on presentations and publications; and, at times, maintained student contact with the community sites for volunteer activities after completion of the course. Results: ​The Community Health Course collaborates with its community partners to educate medical students, provide requested services to the communities, and impact the health needs of the communities. The course has developed long-term partnerships varying in lengths from 1 year to over 15 years. The partner organizations over the last ten years have included pre-K-12 schools, independent senior living facilities, youth organizations, community-based organizations, and homeless shelters. Conclusions: ​Through long-standing collaborations with partnering organizations, the CHC has participated in the development of several sustainable projects traversing multiple levels of the social ecological model.","PeriodicalId":73981,"journal":{"name":"Journal of the Georgia Public Health Association","volume":"8 1","pages":"119-127"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2020-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"67545283","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Maternal Mortality among African American Women in the State of Georgia, Causes, Policy, and Ethical Considerations","authors":"Zahra Shahin, Isabella Hardwick, Nancy Jeffery, J. Jordan, William Mase","doi":"10.20429/jgpha.2020.080104","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.20429/jgpha.2020.080104","url":null,"abstract":"Background: The U.S. is currently one of thirteen countries where maternal mortality rates (MMR) is worse now than it was fifteen years ago. Reducing maternal mortality is one of the significant challenges facing the health system in the United States, especially in the State of Georgia, which has one of the highest MMR in the nation. The purpose of this review is to explore the causes, policy, and ethical contextual factors contributing to increased maternal mortality rates among African American women in the State of Georgia. Also, identifying and addressing weaknesses and gaps that exist in the healthcare system and recommending policy implications to seek to reduce the MMR. Methods: This study conducted a comprehensive literature review from the online database and also used data from CDC Wonder, OASIS Georgia, and Georgia Department of Public Health website to identify the primary antecedents of elevated MMR among African American women in the State of Georgia with specific attention to policy and ethical considerations. Results: This review found factors that were related to causes of maternal death in the U.S. include socioeconomic status, communication between patient and healthcare provider, and maternal medical conditions and complications during pregnancy. In the State of Georgia, complications during pregnancy and cardiomyopathy were the leading cause of MMR, particularly among African American women in comparison with other races. However, inconsistency in reporting maternal death data was another issue that is discussed in this review. Conclusions: Policies that incorporate ethical considerations need to be developed to benefit the family and society. Policymakers should seek to develop targeted policies in support of specific vulnerable populations through improving maternal screening, health promotion, behavior uptake, and effective case management.","PeriodicalId":73981,"journal":{"name":"Journal of the Georgia Public Health Association","volume":"8 1","pages":"14-22"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2020-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"67545120","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Examining the Effectiveness of a Nutrition Education Intervention for Hispanic Participants","authors":"Ginnefer O. Cox, B. Rotberg, Melanie K. Ng, S. Henes, S. Giraudo","doi":"10.20429/jgpha.2020.080109","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.20429/jgpha.2020.080109","url":null,"abstract":"Background: ​The Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP) ​Food Talk nutrition education curriculum in the state of Georgia was specifically tailored towards Hispanic EFNEP participants in order to test the effectiveness of the intervention in the Hispanic population. Methods: ​455 Hispanic EFNEP individuals ages 18-61 in the state of Georgia participated in the data collection. Measures collected include 24 hour diet recall, and food behavior checklist to compare consumption and food behavior practices both before and after nutrition education intervention. Results: ​Measurable objectives of the study include statistically significant increases (p<.001) in fruit, vegetable and milk consumption and consumption of fruits, vegetables and milk group foods closer to the recommended levels of USDA MyPlate guidelines for the nutrition education intervention group. Results also showed statistically significant (p<.0001) improvements in nutrition-related behaviors. Conclusions: ​This study supports a nutrition intervention developed to improve dietary behaviors for EFNEP participants that will be effective in the Hispanic population of Georgia with modifications to the nutrition education curriculum.","PeriodicalId":73981,"journal":{"name":"Journal of the Georgia Public Health Association","volume":"8 1","pages":"58-68"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2020-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"67544935","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Serving Their Needs: A Qualitative Examination of Nutrition Policy Implementation in the Early Care and Education Setting","authors":"C. Cotwright, J. Hall, N. Arrington, Nathalie Celestin, Hayley M Sanders, Taylor Ragan, S. Stotz, L. Birch","doi":"10.20429/jgpha.2020.080110","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.20429/jgpha.2020.080110","url":null,"abstract":"Background: ​Childhood obesity is a growing problem in the United States and results in increased risk for chronic diseases such as diabetes, heart disease, and hypertension. Thirteen percent of youth in Georgia are obese. Identifying strategies to assist children in establishing healthy habits is essential to reduce the risk of childhood obesity. The Early Care and Education (ECE) setting is ideal for the implementation of obesity prevention practices. However, there are barriers present for implementing nutrition policies in this setting. This report explores the implementation of food and beverage best practices in the ECE setting and highlights barriers to and facilitators for adopting these policies. Methods: ​We conducted 24 interviews and 6 focus groups with ECE program directors and teachers in 6 regions in Georgia. The statewide sample included directors from child care learning centers, family child care homes, and license-exempt programs. A trained qualitative researcher facilitated focus groups and interviews. Data were audio recorded and transcribed verbatim. Qualitative data analysis software, NVivo 10, was used to code data and identify emergent themes. Results: ​Several key themes related to barriers to food and beverage policy implementation emerged including the need for: 1) enhanced parent communication, 2) resources to limit juice consumption, and 3) financial support to decrease food costs. Facilitators of nutrition policy implementation included: 1) ease of access to water, 2) children’s preferences for fruits and vegetables, and 3) availability of existing nutrition resources. Findings will inform the development of resources to support nutrition policy implementation as well as policy training for ECE teachers in Georgia. Conclusions: ​Study themes may provide insight about how to improve current resources and develop new solutions to improve adoption and implementation of nutrition policies in the ECE setting in the future.","PeriodicalId":73981,"journal":{"name":"Journal of the Georgia Public Health Association","volume":"8 1","pages":"69-78"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2020-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"67544957","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Bridge Builders to Health Equity: The High School Community Health Worker Training Program","authors":"Arletha Williams-Livingston, Christopher Ervin, Gail G. McCray","doi":"10.20429/jgpha.2020.080114","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.20429/jgpha.2020.080114","url":null,"abstract":"Background: During the summers of 2016-2019, Morehouse School of Medicine (MSM) with the support of community partners, developed, piloted and implemented an innovative Community Health Worker Training Program for High School students (HSCHW). Training high school community health workers can impact health and social disparities in underserved populations and demonstrates the pipeline of future workers in community health and other health careers. The program has achieved promising outcomes, and access to the program model has been requested by many universities and community-based organizations. Method: The HSCHW training consists of summer classroom instruction, field instruction and monthly continuing education during the school year. The students are trained in CHW core competencies through a combination of online curriculum, interactive classroom experiences, and field activities provided by community partners, multidisciplinary MSM clinical instructors, and graduate student interns. Results: 77 high school students from metropolitan Atlanta High Schools and rural Columbus, GA have been trained as CHWs in the HSCHW program. Students are ages 15-18 and are rising sophomores to recent high school graduates. All participants (100%) were from economically disadvantaged communities. Sixteen school-based and community-based health improvement projects have been developed and implemented by teams of trained HSCHWs. Additionally, over 300 individuals (family and community members) received monthly health monitoring by trained HSCHWs. Conclusions: Overall, the HSCHW program models the engagement of community partners in translational educational initiatives to support community transformation. It can be a giant leap toward improved population health and achieving health equity in underserved communities. It has had a tremendous impact on the youth themselves, their families, and the communities in which they live. In communities with disparate prevalence of chronic disease and unhealthy behaviors, early exposure may mitigate exacerbation or early onset of disease among the participants and their families. High School Community Health Workers are bridges to health equity.","PeriodicalId":73981,"journal":{"name":"Journal of the Georgia Public Health Association","volume":"10 1","pages":"107-118"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2020-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"67545154","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Utilization of a Community-based Participatory Approach to Design and Implement a Peer-led Parenting Pilot Intervention to Influence Child Nutritional and Physical Activity Behaviors","authors":"Mph Tabia K. Henry Akintobi, D. Satcher, Mbbs Victor Ede, G. Wrenn, Cassandra Bolar, Aneeqah Ferguson, Evonne Perdue, Martha Okafor, Kisha B. Holden, Leroy Reese","doi":"10.20429/jgpha.2020.080111","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.20429/jgpha.2020.080111","url":null,"abstract":"Parents and primary child guardians within the household play critical roles in shaping their children’s nutritional and physical activity behaviors, which are among the individual-level determinants of childhood obesity and other chronic conditions. There are well-established correlations between race, socioeconomic status and the risk for obesity calling for both contextuallyand individual-centered interventions that are community-driven. The Using Quality Parenting (UQP) pilot intervention was a peer-led, parenting education intervention developed in collaboration with community residents in Atlanta, Georgia to influence child nutritional and physical activity behaviors in African American low socioeconomic status communities. A community-based participatory research (CBPR) framework was used to conduct a mixed-methods needs assessment designed to the UQP curriculum. The UQP program targeted parents of children ages 6-14. The overarching aim was to increase quality parenting and address community identified child obesity disparities and inequities in early and middle childhood. The topics pertaining to parenting to children’s health/well-being addressed by the UQP included nutrition, physical activity, socio-emotional development, positive parenting, coping skills, child advocacy, and community development. Analyses were conducted using PSAW 18 statistical software. Descriptive statistics, including frequencies, means, standard deviations, and ranges for the individual survey items were conducted. A t-test was performed comparing preand post-program participation. A repeated measure analysis of variance was conducted on the items that demonstrated a significant t-test. The analytic sample was composed of 46 African American parents, with over 50% of the sample earning an annual household income of $25,000 or less. Participating parents reported significantly higher levels of water consumption for their children post-program in comparison to pre-test reports (p = .010). Additionally, based on t-test analyses, parents reported that their children consumed significantly higher levels of proteins, grains, fruits and vegetables at each meal, post-program (p=0.03). These findings highlight the potential efficacy of community-informed, parent-led interventions in improving health disparities and related outcomes for children.","PeriodicalId":73981,"journal":{"name":"Journal of the Georgia Public Health Association","volume":"8 1","pages":"79-89"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2020-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"67545024","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The Relationship Between Per Capita Income, Uninsured Rates, and Cardiovascular Mortality in Georgia Between 1994 – 2016","authors":"M. Bethel, Mark A. Thompson, A. Berman","doi":"10.20429/jgpha.2019.070210","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.20429/jgpha.2019.070210","url":null,"abstract":"Background : The association between cardiovascular mortality, per capita income and uninsured rates in Georgia have not been well described. Methods : Cardiovascular mortality rates, per capita income and uninsured rates were obtained for the years 1994-2016, and their relationships were analyzed using univariate and multivariate statistical techniques. Results : In bivariate analysis, a strong inverse relationship between cardiovascular mortality and per capita income (r = -0.917, p < 0.0001) was detected, while bivariate analysis detected no relationship between cardiovascular mortality and uninsured rates. Both per capita income and uninsured rates were negative predictors of cardiovascular mortality in multivariate analysis. Conclusions : Per capita income increases in Georgia were strongly correlated with reductions in cardiovascular mortality. While there was not a linear correlation of healthcare coverage status and cardiovascular mortality, it demonstrated a protective effect in multivariate analysis.","PeriodicalId":73981,"journal":{"name":"Journal of the Georgia Public Health Association","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2019-10-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"49057497","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Social Media Usage and Influenza Beliefs, Risk Perceptions and Behavioral Intentions Among Students at a University in Southeastern US","authors":"Jingjing Yin, Pei-Ling Tseng, K. Zerbo, Z. Tse, L. Ross, I. C. Fung","doi":"10.20429/jgpha.2019.070204","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.20429/jgpha.2019.070204","url":null,"abstract":"Background: To document social media usage for the retrieval of health information among college students; and to understand the beliefs, risk perceptions and behavioral intentions among participants who retrieved CDC influenza information via social media. Methods: We conducted an online survey to a convenience sample of students at a university in Southeastern United States during Spring 2015. The survey was self-administered and every matriculating student received an electronic invitation to participate at least once. Results: A total of 930 students completed the online survey. Most participants (n=905, 97.3%) reported that they had used a social networking site in the previous 12 months. However, only one-third (n=317, 34.1%) reported that they used social networking sites to read CDC health information or messages. Nearly one-fifth of participants (n=172, 18.5%) reported reading CDC influenza information during the 2014-15 influenza season. Among the subset of readers of CDC influenza information during the 2014-15 influenza season (N=153), 77 (50.99%) reported that it was likely they would get the influenza vaccine in the next 12 months. Women reported stronger risk perceptions and behavioral intentions than men. Blacks/African Americans reported more negative influenza-related beliefs and weaker risk perceptions compared to Whites. Conclusions: While social media penetration is high among university students in Southeastern US, only a minority of survey participants retrieved CDC influenza information via social media. Among these individuals, about half reported that they intended to vaccinate against influenza. Further research is needed to enhance CDC social media penetration among college students.","PeriodicalId":73981,"journal":{"name":"Journal of the Georgia Public Health Association","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2019-10-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"44679112","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"How Breastfeeding Behavior is Affected by the Breastfeeding Perspectives of Fathers in Georgia (USA)","authors":"L. Irby, Emily C. Graybill, Cassandra White","doi":"10.20429/jgpha.2019.070212","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.20429/jgpha.2019.070212","url":null,"abstract":"Background: Father support has recently been associated with increasing breastfeeding rates, but research is limited on how the American father’s perspectives of breastfeeding influence breastfeeding behavior. The aim of the study was to investigate the perspectives of fathers residing in Georgia on breastfeeding and to understand if it contributed to mothers’ decisions to breastfeed. Methods: We conducted 10 semi-structured, in-depth interviews with parents of ever-breastfeed infants who were at least six months of age. Results: Mothers often led the decision-making process to breastfeed based on her prepartum knowledge of breastfeeding. Many fathers had no prepartum opinion on breastfeeding, and their lack of opinion was not a determining factor in a mother's decision to initiate and continue exclusive breastfeeding. Fathers generally developed a favorable opinion of breastfeeding due to the perceived benefits their child(ren) received. Data also suggested that reasons for supplementing or transitioning to formula were not associated with the father’s perspective of breastfeeding. Conclusions: Although the father’s perspective on breastfeeding had minimal impact on the mother’s decision to breastfeed, having the father's support during breastfeeding aided mothers on their breastfeeding journey and with everyday care taking.","PeriodicalId":73981,"journal":{"name":"Journal of the Georgia Public Health Association","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2019-10-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"42320174","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Characteristics of the Health Information Technology Workforce in Georgia","authors":"Imaobong Ekpo, E. Akowuah, Bettye A Apenteng, Samuel T. Opoku","doi":"10.20429/jgpha.2019.070213","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.20429/jgpha.2019.070213","url":null,"abstract":"Background: Advancement in medical technology, as well as the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act, has in part influenced the demand for health information technology (HIT) workers. While other sectors have experienced a tremendous increase in the information technology workforce, the health sector lags in this regard. The aim of this study was to describe the characteristics of the HIT workforce in Georgia, relative to surrounding states and the United States. Methods: The supply of the HIT workforce in Georgia, surrounding states, and the United States was estimated using data from the 2014-2016 American Community Survey (ACS). The 2010 ACS Occupation Codes and 2012 ACS Industry Codes were used to identify the HIT workforce. Population data for 2015, obtained from the US Census Bureau was used for standardization of the total supply of the HIT workforce. Data were analyzed using Stata 14.0. Results: The number of HIT workforce supply for Georgia (206.4 per 100,000 population) trails national (275.4 per 100,000) and regional (233 per 100,000) estimates. In terms of demographic characteristics, Georgia has a more racially diverse HIT workforce, compared to the surrounding states and the nation but lacked Hispanic representation. Additionally, compared to the surrounding states and the US, Georgia has a higher proportion of females in this workforce (80.9%). Most HIT workers are employed in hospitals and work full-time. Conclusions: The supply of the HIT workforce in Georgia currently trails regional and national estimates. With the advancements in medical technology and the HITECH Act, there is an increasing demand for health information technology workers. As such, attention should be paid to recruitment and retention efforts. This report may serve as a reference for future evaluation and monitoring of trends in the HIT workforce in the state.","PeriodicalId":73981,"journal":{"name":"Journal of the Georgia Public Health Association","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2019-10-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"42865941","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}