School of Public Health
Permanent URI for this collectionhttps://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12503/21845
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Browsing School of Public Health by Author "Balcazar, Hector"
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Item A Path Analysis of Body Mass Index, Body Image, and Unhealthy Dietary Behavior as Contributors to Suicidal Behavior in Female Adolescents(2004-05-01) Rorie, Michele Taylor; Balcazar, Hector; Lurie, Sue; ReneRorie, Michele Taylor, A Path Analysis of Body Mass Index, Body Image and Unhealthy Dietary Behavior as Contributors to Suicidal Behavior in Female Adolescents. Doctor of Public Health (Social and Behavioral Sciences), May 2004, 120 pp., 17 tables, 6 illustrations, references, 106 titles. Objectives- This study examined the pattern and magnitude of relationships between body mass index, body image, unhealthy dietary behaviors, and suicidal behavior among a sample of White, African American, and Hispanic adolescent females. Methods-This study employed secondary analysis of the 2001 Youth Risk Behavior Survey public-use dataset to provide quantitative estimates of the causal connections between body mass index, body image, dietary behaviors, and suicidal behavior. A sample (n=5,218) of White, African American, and Hispanic adolescent females aged 14-17 were selected for analysis. This cross-sectional study involved public high school students in grades 9-12. The variables/constructs BMI, Body Image, and Dietary Behavior were examined using a path analysis to determine the magnitude of effects on Suicidal Behavior in adolescent females. Results- The path coefficients were obtained for the path model using multiple regression equations, which took direct and indirect effects into account. The Female Adolescent Model (n= 5,218) yielded an R2 = .27. This meant that 27% of the variance in Suicidal Behavior was explained by BMI, Body Image, and Dietary Behavior. When race/ethnicity was analyzed separately, different values were observed. The White Adolescent Female Model (n=2,768) had an R2=.32. The Black or African American Model (n=1,206) had an R2=.23, and the Hispanic or Latino Model (n=1,224) had an R2=.27. Conclusion- The basic state of what is an actual fact about a person (i.e. weight) does not cause an increase of harmful or destructive behavior. The person’s beliefs drive intention as it was demonstrated through the immergence of significant indirect pathways from BMI through Body Image and Dietary Behavior to Suicidal Behavior. The path analyses for the three racial groups suggest that there are varying degrees of influence among BMI, Body Image, Dietary Behaviors, and Suicidal Behaviors.Item Evaluating the Sustainability of THE NORTH TEXAS SALUD PARA SU CORAZON PROGRAM: Effects of the Program on Promotores and the Partner Organizations(2008-05-01) Kourosh, Elham Rastegar; Lurie, Sue; Balcazar, Hector; Hollen, MaryKourosh, Elham R., Evaluating the Sustainability of the NORTH TEXAS SALUD PARA SU CORAZON PROGRAM: Effects of the Program on Promotores and the Partner Organizations. Doctor of Public Health, May 2008, 117 pp., 1 table, bibliography, 47 titles. In the light of the rapid growth of the Latino population in Texas, the need for culturally and linguistically appropriate health promotion programs for Latinos is becoming apparent. It is essential that these programs address CVD prevention for this population, since the results of an assessment conducted by the City of Fort Worth in 1998 confirmed that the Latino population in the area is heavily burdened by CVD risk factors such as diabetes and lack of physical activity. It is also important, in light of limited resources for health promotion, that the community health impacts of such programs be sustainable. The purpose of this research was to evaluate the sustainability of the North Texas Salud Para Su Corazon program, by examining two major elements of the program for sustainability: (1) the professional development and work-related experiences of the promotores who participated during the 3 years of operation of the program, and (2) the continuation of the activites that were supported by the network of community partner organizations during the initial period. North Texas Salud Para Su Corazon was a heart health promotion program which trained and mobilized promotores in the Fort Worth area from 2001 to 2004. Guided interviews with a key informant (project director), 14 promotores, and nine partner organization representatives were analyzed using qualitative methods and showed that project activities and effects endured beyond the funding period of the project. Promotores continued to disseminate heart health information after the end of the project, and organizational structures are evolving to support promotora activities, enabling the health effects of the project to continue in the community. Recommendations were made for further support of these activities and included university sponsored studies of the promotores’ work, annual conferences and award ceremonies highlighting their service, and the development of funding for continuous education and job creation programs involving promotores in the health care sector.Item Health Care Access Patterns in Relation to Ethnic/Racial and Health Insurance Status at an Osteopathic Hospital for 1998 through 2001(2003-12-01) Mego, Charles B.W.; Lurie, Sue; Balcazar, Hector; TrevinoMego, III, Charles B.W., Health Care Access Patterns in Relation to Ethnic/Racial and Health Insurance Status at an Osteopathic Hospital for 998 through 2001. Doctor of Public Health (Social and Behavioral Sciences), December 2003, 106 p.p., 25 tables, 5 illustrations, references, 44 titles. The patient population of the Osteopathic Health System of Texas (OHST), an academic health center with a 256-bed teaching hospital, was analyzed for health care access as measured by health services utilization in 1998 through 2001. This study explored the question of whether there was less health care access among minorities than among the White non-Hispanic majority within the patient population at OHST. The Tarrant County population was compared to OHST’s population demographics. This assessment determined which Ethnic/Racial groups had the highest medical services utilization and their payment methods. Patient data obtained from the OHST’s Meditech database was analyzed using Epi-Info. White non-Hispanics made up over fifty percent of the Emergency Room (ER), Inpatient and Outpatient service utilization in 1998 through 2001. The Outpatient component made up just over fifty percent of the OHST’s patient. African-Americans were over represented in the ER, Inpatient, and Outpatient service components relative to the Tarrant County demographics for 1998 through 2001. The Hispanic ER Managed Care category increased 7% and confirmed a growth rate of 29% more ER Managed Care in 2001, as compared to 1998 (URR=1.29, [1.24-`.35], x2 = 142.49, p [less than] .01). The Hispanic ER Medicaid category decreased 4.1% and indicated a reduced growth rate of 17% less ER Medicaid in 2001 as compared to 1998 (URR = 0.83, [0.79-0/87], x2 = 57.69, p,.01). The Hispanic Inpatient Managed Care category increased 13.2% and revealed a positive growth rate with 52% more Inpatient Managed Care in 2001 as compared to 1998 (URR=1.52, [1.44-1.61]. x2 = 224.92, p [less than] .01). The Hispanic Inpatient Medicaid category decreased 14.4% and showed a reduced growth rate of 38% less Inpatient Medicaid in 2001 as compared to 1998 (URR=0.62, [0.59-0.66], x2=274.58, p [less than] .01). The Hispanic and the Other groups relied heavily upon ER Self Pay, with a general decrease in Medicaid coverage and an increase in Managed Care. The Hispanic and Other groups have medical needs that are being neglected at OHST, and may lead to serious health problems that could be more costly if still treatable.Item The Effects of a School-Based Intervention on the Physical Activity Behaviors of Latino High School Students(2004-05-01) Pena, Eva; Balcazar, Hector; Lurie, Sue; Morrow, James R.Pena, Eva, The Effects of a School-Based Intervention on the Physical Activity Behaviors of Latino High School Students. Master of Public Health (Community Health), May 2004, 66 pp., 5 tables, 2 illustrations, 6 titles. The study was to determine if a culturally appropriate school-based intervention increases self-reported levels of physical activity (PA) in 9th grade Latinos. A culturally appropriate intervention could help Latino youth adopt and maintain PA. Students from two primarily Latino schools served as subjects. Experimental students received a modified form of Salud Para Su Corazon, a Latino community-based cardiovascular health initiative. Questions from CDC’s YRBSS were used to measure PA changes. A 3-way mixed model ANOVA was used investigate the effect of pre-post, treatment, and gender on self-reported days of participation in moderate (M) and vigorous (V) PA. Students reported increased M and V PA at the post-test compared to the pre-test. The experimental students tended to report greater increases in V PA following intervention compared to controls. Males reported higher levels of V PA than females. Results suggest some potential effect on student PA behaviors as a result of the intervention.