Public Health Undergraduate Student Papers (UMKC)
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Item The State of Maternal and Child Health in Kansas City: A Report(University of Missouri -- Kansas City, 2022) Gilham, EmmaBackground: Maternal and child health (MCH) is an important aspect of a community’s health. Understanding how to improve MCH depends on knowing the needs of the community and the interventions that improve it. Cradle KC supported the creation of a MCH report for the eight counties surrounding Kansas City that they serve. Methods: Data were gathered from public sources to formulate a report on MCH for the Kansas City region. Data for the MCH report were collected from: the Census Bureau, March of Dimes, the Annie E. Casey Kids Count Data Center, Missouri Public Health Information Systems, Missouri Department of Social Services, Kansas Information for Communities, Kansas Department of Health and Environment, Kansas Maternal Mortality Review Committee, and Kansas Health Matters. After being compared, analyzed, and formatted, the data were added into the report draft guided by an Asset Model approach. Results: Between 2017 and 2019, Black women were three times more likely to die from pregnancy related causes in Missouri, and in Kansas, between 2016 and 2018, non-White minorities were nearly two times more likely to die a year after pregnancy than non-Hispanic White women. The average infant mortality rate for the region is 6.8 for every 1,000 live births. The average infant mortality rate for Black infants was over 4 times higher than White infants. The average percentage of births that were low-birth weight in the region was 7.5%. Teen birth counts in the region decreased between 2005 and 2020. Prenatal care initiation in the first trimester was at an average of 77.5%. Smoking during pregnancy between 2005 and 2020 had an average decrease of 7.7%. On average the percentage of births that were less than 18 months apart was 9.7%. The average rate of uninsured children in the region was 5.4%, and the average rate of breastfeeding initiation in the region is 88.7%. The average high school graduation rate was 89.8%. Conclusion: Reducing racial disparities and continual work to prevent maternal and infant deaths are major priorities for the Kansas City region. Areas of improvement for the region include improving breastfeeding retention, and immunization rates. Additionally, access to health insurance and access to quality prenatal care must be intentionally improved in Jackson and Wyandotte counties to help reduce disparities. Data collection must be standardized to collect information on the same key indicators and social determinants of health across the region. Streamlining data dissemination should be a priority for all health organizations in the region that focus on maternal and child health in order to be more effective, informed, and timely with interventions.Item Growing the Food We Eat-Benefits of Neighborhood Gardening(University of Missouri -- Kansas City, 2022) Carrasco, JoseBackground: Not enough people in the United States eat fruits and vegetables. The United States Department of Alimentation (USDA) indicates that 90% of the population in the country fell behind in eating the recommended vegetables and 80% in the recommended fruits according to the dietary guidelines for Americans. Living close to green areas can be a benefit for anyone to understanding that there are certain opportunities out there that can allow people to stay healthy, safe, and save some money at the same time. This study aims to understand the perspective of Homeowners Associations (HOA), and those involved with neighborhood gardening within the city limits of Overland Park in Johnson County. Methods: Collection of HOAs answers throughout univariate analysis using a survey to obtain information about specific regulations or policies of the implementation of neighborhood gardening in neighborhoods in the City of Overland Park, mapping potential locations that have HOAs and places where the neighborhood gardening can become a big alternative for unused spaces. Results: The majority of HOAs reported that community gardens are allowed (N= 6, 85. 71 %), while (N= 1, 14.29 %) did not allowed it. Written guidelines or restrictions in the HOAs neighborhood, (N=4, 100%) said no. Front yard or backyard to use for food gardening. would allow front and backyard (N=3, 75%), participants responded only backyard (N=1,25%). The participants that would be willing to share information about their regulations for the use of the neighborhood space (N= 3, 75%), and some participants did not want to share information (N=1, 25%). Share education and awareness about growing food in their neighborhood using social media (N=3, 75%) said yes, and (N=1, 25%) said no.Item Community Health Improvement Plans and Physical Activity Implementation Strategies: Findings from a Cross-Sectional Survey of US Local Health Departments(University of Missouri -- Kansas City, 2022) Ziegler, NancyAmericans do not engage in enough physical activity (PA) to achieve health benefits. Community Health Improvement Plans (CHIPs) are tools that local health departments (LHDs) can use to strategically change PA levels. However, strategies to implement physical activity are understudied, making it challenging for public health practitioners to use them to their full potential. This study aimed to describe the PA implementation strategies that LHDs use within their CHIPs. An online survey was developed and distributed to 67 randomly chosen, accredited LHDs within the United States. Questions were asked about respondents’ CHIP physical activity goals and objectives, barriers to increasing physical activity, and types of chosen implementation strategies using their perceived beliefs. Responses were analyzed using both qualitative theming analysis and descriptive statistics. A majority of respondents reported that their CHIPs addressed PA (75%). Respondents reported that the PA implementation strategies used within their CHIPs were safe (mean=4.57, SD=0.75), but the belief that strategies would increase PA levels was low (mean=3.39, SD=1.12). Qualitatively, respondents most commonly reported PA objectives within the built environment/infrastructure theme (mean=5.16, SD=3.23). However, this was not reflected quantitatively when out of nine strategy categories, infrastructure changes were the least selected (39.3%, 1≥ strategy selected). PA is a commonly reported priority area among LHD’s CHIPs, with a majority implementing well-studied, evidence-based strategies. However, there are inconsistencies between described health outcomes and the chosen implementation strategies to achieve them. This indicates a need to make implementation strategy terminology and components more consistent and to encourage a comprehensive collection of implementation strategies that is accessible to LHDs. This also calls for more research into the design and administration of CHIPs to encourage an increase in PA by selecting appropriate strategies, and to increase LHD’s understanding of implementation strategies.Item Effects of a Workplace Wellness Program in the Public Health Workforce: Small-Scale Study at a Local Health Department(University of Missouri -- Kansas City, 2021) Muensterman, Emily GraceBackground: The COVID-19 pandemic has a profound impact on the physical and mental well being of the public health workforce. Past research on worksite health promotion programs (WHPPs) shows improved employee health outcomes and increased workplace productivity. Yet, there is little research on WHPPs at local health departments around the United States. Objective: Therefore, the purpose of this study was to determine the effectiveness of a short term WHPP at the Jefferson County Health Department located in Eastern Missouri. Methods: During the 4-week experiment, employees (N=34) received emails with self-guided mediation videos from the Headspace and Calm YouTube channels and nutrition education infographics with recipe ideas. Self-reported stress levels and fruit and vegetable consumption were assessed using the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) with 10-items and 2011 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) Questionnaire over fruit and vegetable intake at baseline and after the 4-week experiment. Employees also completed weekly progress report surveys to track participation. The intervention group (N=14) completed all challenge surveys, and the control group (N=20) completed the pre-challenge survey. Results: T-tests for the intervention group found statistical significance for PSS items 2 and 10 (unable to control, could not overcome) between the pre-challenge and post-challenge surveys. T-tests for the intervention and control groups found statistical significance for demographic item 1 (years) and the fruit and vegetable consumption items 2 and 5 (fresh/frozen/canned fruit, orange vegetables). Conclusion: Public health urgently needs to invest in the health of its workforce. This study highlights the effectiveness of mediation videos at reducing stress within a workplace. Future research should evaluate the long-term effects and motivation factors of WHPPs for public health employees.Item Gun Violence as a Public Health Issue: Evaluating the Interventions of KC Mothers in Charge(University of Missouri -- Kansas City, 2021) Abdi, ArfonBackground: Each year, 38,000 individuals die due to gun violence in the United States. Gun violence affects morbidity and mortality as one of the leading causes of death. In 2020, Missouri experienced the deadliest year for gun violence. There is a multitude of consequences that arise due to gun violence that adversely affect the victim’s family including financial, physical, and mental hardships. Kansas City Mothers in Charge was established in 2013 to alleviate the difficulties faced by those who have been harmed by violence and prevent others from experiencing the tragedy of homicide. Objective: It is unclear the impacts that the support and educational services of KC Mothers in Charge have had on participants. This study intends to examine the effects of the Why Are We So Angry? (WAWSA) initiative and the prison outreach on the target audiences. Methods: The measurement tool that was utilized in the first study assessing the neighborhood-based violence prevention program (WAWSA) was a survey administered at the block party that concluded the program. The surveys from the prison outreach presentations between 2018 and 2019 were used to evaluate participants’ perspectives and identify themes. Results: The WAWSA survey revealed that many of the residents’ needs were met, however, there is a need for greater program awareness and an emphasis on conflict resolution to ensure residents feel equipped to respond to violence in their neighborhood. The 9 themes identified from the prison outreach survey include thought-provoking, realness, touching, concern, inspiration, relatability, strength, nothing, and appreciation. Conclusion: Findings from this study illustrate the meaningful impact of community needs-centered intervention as well as sharing the realities of violence to offenders. Further program evaluation is needed to continue having the desired impact and ultimately reduce violence and promote safety.
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