Browsing by Subject "Place and Environment"
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Item Characteristics of Primary Care Physicians Serving in Texas Medically Underserved Areas(2006-08-01) Lancaster, Scott Bradley; Lykens, Kristine; Gamber, Russell; Talbert, JeffreyLancaster, Scott Bradley, Characteristics of Primary Care Physicians Serving in Texas Medically Underserved Areas, 2005. Master of Public Health (Health Management and Policy), May 2006, 63 pp., 13 tables, bibliography, 59 titles. Primary care physician demographics were examined to determine if subgroups differed in choice of practice location in urban and rural Medically Underserved Areas (MUAs) in Texas. Compared with the overall proportion of physicians practicing in rural MUAs (8.8%), subgroups that significantly differed were Dos (13.5%), males (10.6%), general practitioners (19.4%), family physicians (12.4%), and graduates of medical school prior to or during 1960 (18.8%) and from 1961-1970 (11.2%). Compared with the overall proportion of physicians practicing in urban MUAs (23.2%), subgroups that significantly differed were females (25%), Blacks (29.7%), and Latinos (38.7). Binary logistic regression showed that Asian ethnicity, general practice specialty, and graduate year of 1961-1970 predicted MUA practice location. The statistically significant differences observed underscore the importance of further study to examine potential differences between rural and urban MUAs. Public policy that provides incentives for more equitable physician distribution should be based on sound research.Item Epidemiology of Cholera in Malawi, 2002-2003(2004-08-01) Nkhoma, Ella; Bae, Sejong; Rene, Antonio; Sandhu, RaghbirNkhoma, Ella, Epidemiology of Cholera in Malawi, 2002-2003. Master of Public Health (Epidemiology), August 2004, 33pp., 4 tables, 3 figures, bibliography, 24 titles. The objective of the present study was to characterize epidemic cholera in Malawi from 2002-2003. National and district-level surveillance records were used for the analyses in this study. The study employed Poisson regression, log-linear analysis, epidemic curve analysis, curve-fitting procedures and epidemic model simulations. District-level determinants of cholera mortality included various sociodemographic indicators. Significant two-way interactions were observed for age and district, with the oldest age group (65+) experiencing the highest risk of symptomatic cholera and residents of Nkhatabay districts also experiencing the most increased risk. Temporal analysis revealed the existence of secondary outbreaks and demonstrated the contribution of preexisting immunity to epidemic dynamics.Item HIV Related Risk Behaviors: A Comparitive Study of Urban, Suburban, and Rural U.S. Adolescents(2006-08-01) Patil, Godavari D.; Singh, Karan; Bae, Sejong; Soto Mas, FranciseGodavari D. Patil, HIV Related Risk Behaviors: A Comparative Study of Urban, Suburban, and Rural U.S. Adolescents. Masters of Public Health (Biostatistics), August 2006, 120 pp., 29 tables, References, 209 titles. This explorative study YRBS 2003 data provides the prevalence of HIV-related risky sexual behaviors and predictors of such behaviors across gender, race/ethnicity, and metro status (N=15, 214) during 2003. Overall, more urban male adolescents engaged in health-compromising behaviors. A significant association was found between gender, race/ethnicity, and metro status and sexual behaviors and associated risk behaviors such as alcohol, drug use, and mental health indicators. These associated risk behaviors were not only associated among themselves and with sexual behaviors variables but also turned out to be responsible predictor variables for HIV related sexual risk behaviors. Minority groups especially black adolescents were at higher risk of contracting HIV infection as having multiple sexual partners was highest (8 fold) among black adolescents compared to mixed & other race, and Hispanic adolescents. Suburban adolescents were nearly two times more likely that rural and urban adolescents to having multiple partners. Results indicated that younger the age more the involvement in sexual and other risky behaviors.Item Osteopathic Physicians in Primary Care, Texas 2003(2003-12-01) Miller, Thaddeus L.; Roderick Hooker; Doug A. MainsMiller, Thaddeus L., Osteopathic Physicians in Primary Care, Texas, 2003. Master of Public Health (Health Management and Policy), December 2003, 62 pp., 11 tables, 4 illustrations, bibliography, 51 titles. Physician demographics were examined to determine if female osteopaths differ in choice of practice specialty and location in Texas. Taken relative to gender and medical degree type female osteopaths have the highest rate of primary care practice, with over 70% engaged in family or general practice, internal medicine, or pediatrics. Female osteopaths have an odds ratio 4 times greater than other physicians to practice primary care. Female osteopaths are also 2.5 times likelier than female allopaths to practice rural primary care. Male osteopaths are 2.3 times likelier than other physicians to practice rural primary care. Primary care osteopaths are 1.4 times likelier to practice rural primary care than allopaths. Policy intended to produce primary or rural primary care physicians should encourage medical school candidates to consider osteopathy.Item Recreational Justice and City Planning(2006-08-01) Romero, Ana; Lurie, SueRomero, Ana. Recreational Justice and City Planning. Master of Public Health (Environmental), August 2006, 70 pp., 14 tables, 3 illustrations, 4 maps, bibliography, 42 titles. Environmental justice has been defined by the unfairly exposure of minorities to hazardous materials, in this study we consider another aspect of environmental justice by analysis de exposure of population to beneficial sources for the environment. Population living around 1 mile from the parks of the cities of Dallas, Plano, Midlothian and McKinney were analyzed base on descriptive statistics, compare of means among and within the city by an analysis of variance, and a distance prediction on demographics characteristic of race/ethnicity, age, economics, and education obtained from the U.S. census of 2000. Plano and Dallas have 98% and 97% population coverage; this resulted in statistical significant differences in all demographics McKinney and Midlothian reported less than 78% of coverage with only education as significant predictor of distance. Recreational justice does not substitute environmental justice; however it should be considered to evaluate this condition.Item Rural Vs. Urban Residents and Obesity in Texas(2005-05-01) Ohagi, Emeka J.; Borders, Ty; Hilsenrath, Peter; Cardarelli, KathrynOhagi, Emeka J., Rural vs. Urban Residents and Obesity in Texas. Master of Public Health (Health Informatics), May 2005, 52 pp., 3 tables, bibliography, 90 titles. Obesity in the United States has been described as an epidemic and Texas has been identified as one of the most obese states in the country. The purpose of this study is to examine obesity among Texas adults in order to determine if there are differences in obesity levels based on residence, and to explore the influence of other demographic, socioeconomic, health and behavioral factors on the distribution of obesity. Results indicate that urban and suburban dwellers are less likely than rural dwellers to be obese (adj. OR=0.64; 0.68, respectively). However, residents of frontier communities have slightly higher odds of obesity (adj. OR=1.09) than rural residents. Age was found to be an important factor in obesity. It is hoped that these and other results will facilitate appropriate channeling of public health response.Item The Geography of the Risk Factors for Type 2 Diabetes in Fifth-Grade School Children in Fort Worth, Texas: Spatial Associations with Obesity and Fast Food Restaurants(2006-05-01) Pepper, Catherine A.Pepper, Catherine A. The Geography of the Risk Factors for Type 2 Diabetes in Fifth-Grade Schoolchildren in Fort Worth, Texas: Spatial Associations with Obesity and Fast Food Restaurants. Master of Public Health (Public Health Informatics), May 2006, 48pp., 3 tables, 5 illustrations, bibliography, 47 titles. In examining risk for Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) in Fort Worth elementary schools, the investigator answered the following questions: What is the geographical distribution of risk for T2DM in Fort Worth elementary schoolchildren? How is that related to the prevalence of obesity? To what extent is the spatial concentration of fast food restaurants a factor in the risk for diabetes and obesity prevalence in this population? The investigator also makes policy recommendations regarding the prevention of diabetes in children. Statistical and spatial analysis of data, provided from a previous study at UNTHSC that assessed overweight and risk for T2DM in elementary school children in the Fort Worth Independent School District, was used to assess the association between risk of diabetes in children and proximity to fast food restaurants. Geographic Information Systems (GIS) analysis was applied to the data to determine if such an association could elucidated.