Schools Of Public Health Research Articles

Striving towards true equity in global health: A checklist for bilateral research partnerships.

Interest in "global health" among schools of medicine, public health, and other health disciplines in high-income countries (HIC) continues to rise. Persistent power imbalances, racism, and maintenance of colonialism/neocolonialism plague global health efforts, including global health scholarship. Scholarly projects conducted in low- and middle-income countries (LMIC) by trainees at these schools in HIC often exacerbate these problems. Drawing on published literature and shared experiences, we review key inequalities within each phase of research, from design through implementation and analysis/dissemination, and make concrete and practical recommendations to improve equity at each stage. Key problems facing global health scholarship include HIC-centric nature of global health organizations, paucity of funding directly available for LMIC investigators and trainees, misplaced emphasis on HIC selected issues rather than local solutions to local problems, the dominance of English language in the scientific literature, and exploitation of LMIC team members. Four key principles lie at the foundation of all our recommendations: 1) seek locally derived and relevant solutions to global health issues, 2) create paired collaborations between HIC and LMIC institutions at all levels of training, 3) provide funding for both HIC and LMIC team members, 4) assign clear roles and responsibilities to value, leverage, and share the strengths of all team members. When funding for global health research is predicated upon more ethical and equitable collaborations, the nature of global health collaborations will evolve to be more ethical and equitable. Therefore, we propose the Douala Equity Checklist as a 20-item tool HIC and LMIC institutions can use throughout the conduct of global health projects to ensure more equitable collaborations.

Ralph L. Sacco, 65, Dies: Stroke Expert With a Talent for Architectural Design.

Ralph L. Sacco, 65, Dies: Stroke Expert With a Talent for Architectural Design.

Ralph L. Sacco, 65, Dies: Stroke Expert With a Talent for Architectural Design.

Ralph L. Sacco, 65, Dies: Stroke Expert With a Talent for Architectural Design.

Health and Equity Data to Teach the Next Generation of Public Health Leaders.

The COVID-19 pandemic restructured university learning environments while also underscoring the need for granular local health data. We describe how the University of Memphis School of Public Health used the City Health Dashboard, an online resource providing data at the city and neighborhood level for more than 35 measures of health outcomes, health drivers, and health equity for all US cities with populations >50 000, to enrich students' learning of applying data to community health policy. By facilitating students' engagement with population needs, assets, and capacities that affect communities' health-key components of the master of public health accreditation process-the Dashboard supports in-person and virtual learning at undergraduate and graduate levels and is recommended as a novel and rigorous data source for public health trainees.

Characterizing physician concerns with publicly supporting abortion at Wisconsin's largest medical school.

To examine factors associated with physicians' level of concern and perceived consequences of publicly supporting abortion at Wisconsin's largest and only publicly funded medical school. We surveyed physicians at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health about their knowledge, attitudes, and referral practices regarding abortion care. Among those who expressed support for abortion (N= 701), we analyzed perceived concerns about making their support public. Nearly a quarter (22%) of respondents felt very or extremely concerned that taking a strong public stance on abortion would alienate patients and 17% felt very or extremely concerned that doing so would alienate coworkers. More than a quarter (27%) felt very or extremely concerned that publicly supporting abortion would lead to harassment or harm. Those with greater concerns about expressing public support for abortion were comparatively less willing to refer for or participate in abortion care themselves. Many physicians supportive of abortion reported concerns over publicizing their support for this common health care service. These concerns may render physicians less likely to refer patients for needed abortion care or weigh in on abortion policy.

Where are nurse-scientists? Academic nursing research at critical crossroads

BackgroundAcademic nursing research is at a critical impasse after the great retirement and resignation during COVID-19. Sustaining and replenishing senior nurse-scientist faculty that are clinical experts with real-world clinical practice is critical. Leveraging the mission of nursing scholarship within the business of building and sustaining externally funded research enterprises in schools of nursing presents conundrums, especially with persistent nursing faculty vacancies. Purpose and MethodsThrough a lens of intersectionality within the context of academic bias and nursing education regulation, we address challenges in NIH funding for nurse-scientist faculty. Publicly available data reveal equity, inclusion, and advancement issues that make it an unequal playing field for nurse-scientist faculty if expected to achieve similar NIH funding as faculty in schools of public health and medicine. DiscussionUnderstanding research enterprises requires appreciation of the complex interplay between academic nursing units, university infrastructures, and academic budgetary models. Creative support for both nursing deans and their faculty is needed.

The War on Reproductive Health Care in the United States.

EditorialsFebruary 2023The War on Reproductive Health Care in the United StatesCarol J. Hogue, PhD, MPHCarol J. Hogue, PhD, MPHDepartment of Epidemiology, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GeorgiaSearch for more papers by this authorAuthor, Article, and Disclosure Informationhttps://doi.org/10.7326/M22-3634 SectionsAboutFull TextPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissions ShareFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail Within the United States, a raging war on reproductive health care is not healthy for women or their children. Its long history dates back to the late 19th century, when Anthony Comstock effectively advocated for federal laws outlawing sale, distribution, and even information about contraceptives (1). This year, the Supreme Court's decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization opened a new front, not only denying that abortion is a fundamental right previously established in 1973 by the decision in Roe v. Wade but also inviting state regulation of reproductive health care and hinting that previous Supreme Court decisions overruling ...

The Changing and Challenging Role of Deans of Schools of Public Health

The average tenure of a Dean is 4.1 years according to The National Jurist Magazine [1]. Today it appears that Deans of Schools of Public Health and/or Health Sciences pass fleetingly on the academic chessboard in higher education institutions. They then return to either to the classroom as a faculty member or disappear into the mist of the academic unknown as an emeritus professor. The challenges and changing roles of Dean's duties and responsibilities in the School of Public Health, College of Health Sciences, or Medical Schools are different today than they were twenty years ago. This paper will focus on what new Deans must understand and do to succeed today in higher education institutions in the 21st century. Key words: Academic Leadership; Higher Education Institutions; School of Public Health; Colleges of Health Science; Medical School Leadership; Dean’s Responsibilities.

Marginal Engagement: The Adverse Experiences of White Women and People of Color Alumni at a PWI School of Public Health.

The University of Minnesota (UMN) School of Public Health (SPH) asked graduates about their experiences as students and as alumni. Of 1186 respondents indicating gender, 140 were women who self-identified as members of a marginalized group. Fifty-one percent of these respondents were White women. Compared with White women, Black, Indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC) women were more likely to report that they felt they did not belong, were uncomfortable, or experienced bias and/or discrimination in their program, although the results were not statistically significantly different at P < .05. Survey results show a clear difference in experience between White and BIPOC alumni. The results indicate a need to improve cultural competence/humility, along with a need to move away from what may be construed as White-centered events, pedagogy, and leadership. With this evidence, the UMN SPH has an opportunity to improve our outreach strategies and initiatives.

Implementing Change Using Best Practice Program Design Principles

Nico P. Pronk, Ph.D., FACSM, FAWHP,is president of the HealthPartners Institute and chief science officer at HealthPartners in Minneapolis, MN. Dr. Pronk is an affiliate full professor of Health Policy and Management at the University of Minnesota School of Public Health and a visiting scientist at the Harvard University T.H. Chan School of Public Health. He is a past president of the International Association for Worksite Health Promotion (IAWHP), coauthor of the IAWHP Online Certificate Course, editor of ACSM's Worksite Health Handbook, 2nd edition, and associate editor for ACSM's Health & Fitness Journal®. Joel B. Spoonheim, MUP,is the senior director of Worksite Health & Population Well-Being for HealthPartners. As part of an integrated health plan and care delivery system, the department delivers in-person care, virtual care, and well-being improvement solutions in new ways to make health care simpler and more affordable. Joel's teams serve customers ranging from small to Fortune 500 employers, individual consumers, Medicare and Medicaid populations, and individual patients. DisclosureThe authors declare no conflict of interest and do not have any financial disclosures.

A cross-sectional study to assess the magnitude of depression among young adults at selected higher educational institutions in Tamil Nadu, India: A study protocol.

One in ten young adults aged 20 to 24 years was diagnosed as suffering from DSM-IV disorder with associated impairment. Depression is a major challenge to public health around the world. The main aim of this project is to estimate the burden of depression among young adults and this is the first kind of study in nature that tends to establish a depression prevention resource center for young adults. A descriptive cross-sectional study will be conducted among 6922 young adults. A simple random sampling strategy will be used to obtain the study sample. The semi-structured tool will be used to obtain the result. Descriptive statistics and frequency percentages will be determined for categorical variables. Mean, median, and range will be calculated along with standard deviations (SD) and interquartile range (IQR). Percentage prevalence will be calculated for each categorical variable with a 95% confidence interval (CI). The P-value of <0.05 will be considered as statistically significant. A semi-structured questionnaire was developed and the questionnaires were translated into Tamil (for local relevancy), and back translated into English. Data regarding socio-demographic and mental health-related information, such as coping ability, problem-solving, personal history, academic performance, and treatment history will be collected. The study was authorized by the Institutional Review Board (IRB), School of Public Health, SRMIST, and Institutional Ethics Committee (IEC) in Chengalpattu, Tamil Nadu, with the IEC Protocol Number: P0/2020/10/02. The ethics committee evaluated and rated the methods and tools used to assess depression among young adults.

Editorial introductions.

Editorial introductions.

Biosensor as a novel alternative approach for early diagnosis of monkeypox virus.

Biosensor as a novel alternative approach for early diagnosis of monkeypox virus.

Editorial introductions.

Editorial introductions.

Trends in Degree Conferrals, Degree-Associated Debt, and Employment Outcomes Among Undergraduate Public Health Degree Graduates, 2001‒2020

Objectives. To characterize the trends in degree conferrals, degree-associated debt, and employment outcomes among undergraduate public health degree (UGPHD) graduates. Methods. We reported administrative data on degree conferrals from 2001 to 2020 from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES). For alumni graduating from 2015 to 2019, we also reported degree-associated debt and earnings 1 year after graduation compiled by NCES. Finally, we utilized a data set on 1-year postgraduation employment outcomes for graduates from 2015 to 2020 from the Association of Schools and Programs of Public Health. Results. As of 2020, more than 18 000 UGPHDs were awarded each year, more than 140 000 in total over the past 20 years. UGPHD graduates are highly diverse, with more than 80% being women and 55% being individuals from communities of color. We find alumni worked mostly in for-profit organizations (34%), health care (28%), nonprofits (11%), academic organizations (10%), government (10%), and other (6%). Degree-associated debt was $24 000, and the median first-year earnings were $34 000. Conclusions. While growth in UGPHD conferrals has slowed, it remains among the fastest-growing degree in the nation. However, the limited pathways into government remains a significant challenge. (Am J Public Health. 2023;113(1):115-123. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2022.307113).

Abstract A130: Trends and factors associated with receipt of human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine in private, public and alternative settings

Abstract Introduction: Hospitals and private healthcare facilities are the primary setting for administering the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine. A goal of the President's Cancer Panel on HPV vaccination is to maximize access to vaccination services through expansion of alternative settings for receiving the HPV vaccine, such as in public health settings, schools and pharmacies. It is unclear whether utilization of these alternative settings for HPV vaccination is increasing, and which factors are associated with accessing these alternative avenues. Methods: In a cross-sectional analysis, we utilized the National Immunization Survey-Teen data from 2014 to 2020 (n = 59,140) to describe trends and factors associated with HPV vaccine uptake in private, public, and alternative settings. We calculated average annual percent change (AAPC) between 2014 and 2020, estimating the proportion of HPV vaccine across settings. Using multinomial logistic regression, we estimated the odds of receipt of HPV vaccine in public health settings and other alternative settings compared to private healthcare settings, adjusting for sociodemographic covariates. Results: We found a non-significant decrease in proportion of individuals receiving vaccines at public health settings (17.7% in 2014 vs. 13.5% in 2020; AAPC = -3.2), and a non-significant increase in private healthcare settings (79.2% in 2014 vs. 83.9% in 2020; AAPC = 0.6). We also found a non-significant decrease in the proportion of individuals receiving vaccines in alternative settings such as schools and pharmacies (3.1% in 2014 and 2.6% in 2020; AAPC = -0.9). Adjusted multinomial logistic regression analyses found several sociodemographic/socioeconomic factors associated with receiving HPV vaccine at public health facilities versus private/hospital settings. The log odds of receiving vaccinations at a public facility vs. a private facility increases almost four times moving from above poverty (earning≥ $75,000) to below poverty (aOR = 3.74; 95% CI 3.06, 4.57). The log odds of receiving HPV vaccines at a public facility compared to a private facility decreased by 26% for White teenagers vs. Black teenagers (aOR = 0.74; 95% CI 0.64, 0.86), and by 24% (aOR = 0.76; 95% CI 0.58, 0.98) for log odds of receiving vaccine at alternative settings for White teenagers vs. Black teenagers. There was also an association between educational level and log odds of receiving vaccines at a public facility (high school or less vs. college graduate aOR = 0.38; 95% CI 0.31, 0.46), and people without physician recommendations were significantly more likely to receive vaccines at public versus private settings (aOR = 1.71, 95% CI 1.41, 2.08). Conclusions: Sociodemographic and socioeconomic factors such as race, poverty, education, and access to physician HPV recommendations are all associated with receiving the HPV vaccine at public health facilities versus private settings. This information is important in targeting increased vaccine uptake among individuals with less access to care due to these factors. Citation Format: Melissa Christina White, Oyomoare L. Osazuwa-Peters, Dina K. Abouelella, Justin M. Barnes, Eric Adjei Boakye, Trinitia Y. Cannon, Tammara L. Watts, Nosayaba Osazuwa-Peters. Trends and factors associated with receipt of human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine in private, public and alternative settings [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 15th AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; 2022 Sep 16-19; Philadelphia, PA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2022;31(1 Suppl):Abstract nr A130.

Editorial introductions.

Editorial introductions.

A Conversation with David Sullivan, MD, Professor, Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.

A Conversation with David Sullivan, MD, Professor, Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.

Carlos E Rodríguez-Díaz: community centred public health scientist

“I am a community centred scientist, meaning I don’t do any public health work that is not relevant to the community”, says Carlos E Rodríguez-Díaz, Associate Professor and Vice Chair of the Department of Prevention and Community Health at George Washington University–Milken Institute School of Public Health in Washington, DC, USA. His research focuses on public health intervention development with and for populations made socially vulnerable in Puerto Rico, the Caribbean region, and the USA, including people with HIV, incarcerated individuals, Latinx people, and sexual and gender minority groups.

Sexual well-being among older adults in China (SWELL): protocol for a multicenter cross-sectional study

IntroductionExisting studies on sexual health generally focus on younger populations, while the sexual well-being of older adults has received insufficient attention. This protocol describes the design of a study on...