Browsing by Author "Hernandez, Daphne C."
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Item Association between Food Insecurity and Diabetes: Differences by Sex and Socio-economic Status among Older Adults(2017-10-12) Shipchandler, Fatema; Reesor, Layton; Murillo, Rosenda; Scott, ClaudiaThe purpose of the study is to examine sex and socio-economic differences in the relationship between food insecurity and diabetes among low-income older adults.Item Childhood, Adulthood, and Cumulative Traumatic Experiences as a Predictor of Deportation Fears(2020-09-29) Garcia Marroquin, NadiaBackground The current political climate has increased deportation fears and these fears may be magnified by prior or current traumatic experiences. While research has focused on the causality of Latino children’s traumatic experiences as a consequence of deportation, it has not examined prior traumatic experiences in relation to heightened deportation fears among adults. We examined measures of childhood, adulthood, and cumulative trauma in relation to deportation fears among low-income Latino immigrants. Methods This was a cross-sectional pilot study designed to examine the impact of individual and cumulative stressors on the health measures listed above. Data collection occurred August 2018 – April 2019 in Houston-area community centers. Participants were surveyed using trauma and deportation fear subscales and demographic and socio-economic measures. A series of descriptive and linear regression models were conducted to evaluate various forms of trauma as predictors deportation fears. Results The majority of participants experienced at least one incident of physical and emotional trauma during childhood and almost three incidents of general trauma in adulthood. Deportation fears averaged to 2.86 (SD = 1.57) out of a 5-point scale. Physical and emotional trauma during childhood each predicted increased deportation fears, as did general trauma in adulthood. In addition, the cumulative trauma score was positively associated with deportation fears. Conclusion The unaddressed chronic stress associated trauma places individuals at risk for severe mental health disorders. Addressing Latino immigrants’ health needs through trauma-informed care is important as prior research suggest that negative health consequences are transmitted to succeeding generations. This project was completed with contributions from Hua Zhao from University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center.Item Children's Sleep Patterns During the School Year and Summer Break(2017-10-12) Christian, JessicaThe objective of this study was to explore potential causes of children’s accelerated weight gain during the summer months. This study examined differences in children’s parent-reported sleep patterns during the school year and summer among 5-8 year-old children. This project was completed with contributions from Jennette Moreno from the Baylor College of Medicine Children’s Nutrition Research Center.Item Cultural Adaptation of 'Healthy Dad Healthy Kids' (HDHK) for Hispanic Families: Fundamental Movement Skills Play Card get a Cultural Face Lift(2017-10-12) Orozco Mendoza, JhonathanPrevalence of childhood obesity is a serious problem in the United States putting kids in serious risk for poor health. In 2011-2014, for children and adolescents aged 2-19 years: The prevalence of obesity has remained fairly stable at about 17% and affects about 12.7 million children and adolescents. The prevalence of obesity was higher among Hispanics (21.9%) and non-Hispanic blacks (19.5%) than among non-Hispanic whites (14.7%). Fathers who are active, who engage with their children in games and activities, are more likely to have children who are also physically active. Healthy Dads, Healthy Kids (HDHK) is a community-based, multi-award winning program, aimed at engaging fathers in positive lifestyle role modelling and effective parenting strategies to improve the physical activity and dietary behaviors of both themselves and their children. Culturally adapting a program like HDHK is an important and pivotal step toward assuring the impact we seek to have on the obesity epidemic that plagues our Hispanic communities in Houston. The HDHK Play Cards resulted with significant changes from pictures, layout changes, language and with culturally relevant games that better represent the community it is poised to serve in Houston. Though early in its development, the cards are sure to get many more changes before the final product is determined. This project was completed with contributions from Alicia Beltran, Oriana Perez, and Teresia O’Conner from the USDA/ARS Children’s Nutrition Research Center, Academic General Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine.Item Early Childhood Food Insecurity Experiences and School Behavior Problems during Middle Childhood(2017) Hatem, Cherine; Hernandez, Daphne C.Early childhood prevention programs geared towards children living in poverty, such as Head Start, have been shown to promote social-emotional school readiness. Continuing these prevention programs during middle childhood may reduce school behavior problems.Item Effects of Immigration Status and Maternal Health Behaviors on Gestational Weight Gain and Adherence to Institute of Medicine Gestational Weight Gain Recommendations(2018-05) Daundasekara, Sajeevika Saumali; Ledoux, Tracey A.; Hernandez, Daphne C.; O'Connor, Daniel P.; Berger Cardoso, JodiGestational weight gain (GWG) is an important consideration during pregnancy as excess weight gains could lead to adverse health conditions in both mother and the child. Immigration status is a potential risk factor of excess GWG. It is important to understand the relationship between immigration status and GWG to design better interventions to control excess GWG. Therefore, the objectives of the current study were 1) to understand the differences between the first and second generation immigrants and non-immigrants with respect to the socio-demographic characteristics and maternal behaviors, 2) to understand whether immigration status is associated with the total GWG and the risk of excess GWG, 3) to determine the socio-demographic and maternal behavior profile of women exceeding the GWG recommendations. The study was conducted as a secondary data analysis using the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth 1979. The study sample included 2823 women (184 first generation, 207 second generation and 2432 non-immigrants) with term, singleton pregnancies reported after 1986. Socio-demographic data, maternal health behaviors, pre-pregnancy weight, GWG and immigration data were extracted from the survey reporting the pregnancy. ANOVA or Chi-square test was performed to determine socio-demographic and maternal behavior differences among the immigration groups. ANCOVA was used to determine differences in total GWG and logistic regression was used to assess the risk of excess GWG among the groups. Finally the characteristic profile of women exceeding GWG recommendations was identified using classification tree analysis. Finding from this study shows that immigration groups in the current study were different on their racial/ethnic composition, employment status, and marital status and education levels. The groups also were different in their smoking and alcohol consumption prior to and during pregnancy. However, after controlling for the covariates there were no differences in the total GWG among the three immigration groups. Also, there was no difference in the risk of exceeding GWG recommendation between the three immigration groups. According to the CRT analysis, among the first generation immigrants, pre-pregnancy overweight/obese and VISA/residency status indicated risk of excess GWG. Among second generation immigrants those who are overweight and obese prior to pregnancy were most likely to have excess GWG. Among non-immigrants, pre-pregnant overweight/obese, first child, and unplanned pregnancy indicated risk of excess GWG. Also, attempts to reduce caloric intake among non-Hispanic white women further increased the risk of excess GWG, whereas for all other racial/ethnic groups no attempts to reduce caloric intake increased the risk.Item Hands on Learning: Designing a Vegetable Garden for the Hilton College of Hotel and Restaurant Management(2017-10-12) Fernandes, AmaryllisThe UH mission: to offer nationally competitive and internationally recognized opportunities for learning, discovery and engagement to a diverse population of students in a real-world setting. In keeping with this core value, Hilton College cooking classes could be enriched by allowing students to grow the vegetables they will be cooking. Conclusion. Starting a vegetable garden at the UH Hilton is not only economically and practically feasible, but will provide students with the unique opportunity to grow the foods they will use in class.Item "I'm Helpless, but I'm not Completely Helpless": Agency, Identity Work, and Resilience Among Low-Income Elderly(2018-08) Oncken, Lindsay; Kwan, Samantha; Anderson, Kathryn F.; Hernandez, Daphne C.In order to better serve a growing elderly population in the United States, it is important to understand the influence of resilience––or one’s ability to bounce back from negative experiences––on seniors’ sense of wellness. While existing research documents the importance of social interaction to seniors’ resilience development, several key gaps remain: First, research on seniors does not often sample from vulnerable elderly populations, such as seniors of color and seniors living in poverty, who are arguably in the greatest need of resilience to buffer them from negative experiences. Second, there has not been much theoretical development regarding the content of social interaction most likely to facilitate resilience development among the elderly; in particular, little attention has been paid to the role of identity negotiation in seniors’ resilience development. The present research seeks to fill these gaps using in-depth, qualitative interviews with at-risk seniors enrolled in a local Meals on Wheels program. My research was guided by two key questions: (1) What are the most salient challenges seniors typically face?, and (2) In what ways does social interaction promote resilience development in the face of these challenges? I find that seniors commonly face severe limitations to their autonomy as a result of health and other age-related decline. I find that seniors cope with these challenges by engaging in forms of socially facilitated identity work that help them promote a more agentive sense of self. This sense of agency, I argue, is a key mechanism by which social interaction fosters resilience among seniors. I argue that practitioners should consider social interaction as a key site of identity work when developing programs and policies to foster senior wellness, and I encourage future researchers to further explore the relationship between identity work and resilience among seniors.Item India's Approach to Women's Health(2018-10-18) Shipchandler, FatemaHome to over 1.3 billion people, India faces enormous public health challenges. Moreover, many Indian traditions—especially those involving women—may be keeping half the country's population from achieving optimal health. My poster will assess Indian traditions that could be detrimental to women’s health. Additionally, it will highlight India’s grassroots approach to improve the lives of women and children. While conducting interviews in Pune-area clinics, many patients and providers elaborated on traditions still practiced in both urban and rural settings. Governed by culture, status, and gender roles, these traditions are often detrimental to focal aspects of women’s health. One culture restricts new mothers from eating fruits and vegetables, which can severely impair both the mother and child’s nutrition. Healthcare providers spoke at length about health education programs, set up by the government and nonprofit entities, to educate women and children on recommended health practices. Initiatives like ‘Catch them Young’, ‘Manyata’, and the ‘ASHA’ program have taken the grassroots approach to educating underserved populations on family planning, nutrition, immunizations, and proper hygiene. These programs simultaneously help mitigate culturally-derived misconceptions. Their results are being seen through drastically improved maternal and infant mortality rates over the past decade.Item Instructional video for collecting saliva samples (Video instructivo para recolectar muestras de saliva)(2019) Yip, MaggieThe Stress and Spit Study aims to measure differences in stress between and within Latino undocumented and documented immigrant families. Although family stress can lead to serious health problems such as mental health disorders or substance use issues, little is known about stress within Latino immigrant parent-U.S. born adolescent dyads. Stress can be measured through self-reported surveys or through biological markers, such as cortisol. The use of surveys is beneficial to understanding associations between different types of stress. However, measuring cortisol levels through the collection of participants’ saliva samples can more accurately examine chronic stress and stress regulation within vulnerable families. To collect saliva samples, instructional videos were created in both English and Spanish to meet the needs of the study population. Alongside the UH Instructional Design team, three HOUSTON Academy students, consisting of one English speaker, one Spanish speaker, and one actor, assisted with creating the videos. The videos were then published to YouTube and are shown to participants during data collection events. Currently, research assistants have been scheduling a day and time to retrieve the saliva samples and collection diaries from participants within 48 hours of completion. Samples will be kept in a freezer at UH prior to cortisol analysis. This data can potentially be used to inform psychosocial intervention and prevention programs for Latino immigrant families. This project was completed with contributions from Geselle Zuniga from Texas Southern University and Laura Gonzalez from Rice University.Item PREDICTORS OF PHYSICAL ACTIVITY DURING PREGNANCY IN OVERWEIGHT AND OBESE WOMEN(2014-12) Saher, Najmus; Ledoux, Tracey A.; Hernandez, Daphne C.; Parrish, Danielle E.Background: Obesity is a nationwide problem. More and more women are overweight/obese during pregnancy. It is important to target behavioral interventions during pregnancy as women are more motivated to make behavioral changes, for the wellbeing of themselves and their baby. Physical activity is well established intervention to fight the problem of obesity. The purpose of this study is to find predictors of physical activity during pregnancy among overweight/obese women using the health belief model (HBM). The proposed predictors knowledge of risks of obesity during pregnancy, perceived susceptibility, and pre-pregnancy BMI measured the three constructs of the HBM, perceived severity, perceived susceptibility and perceived barriers respectively. Method: Secondary data analysis was performed on data collected from a previous study. Only overweight/obese pregnant women (N=164) from the sample were included in the study. The variables from the study were taken from the items on a questionnaire that the women completed in the original study. Descriptive analyses were performed to determine participant characteristics. Univariable analyses (t-tests and chi square tests) were performed to find any covariates from the demographic variables. Logistic regression was performed to determine if the independent variables, knowledge of obesity risk in pregnancy, perceived susceptibility to risk and pre-pregnancy BMI are the predictors of physical activity during pregnancy, controlling for any covariates. Results: Our results indicate that none of the proposed predictors have a significant relationship with the dependent variable. Discussion: Identifying predictors of physical activity (PA) during pregnancy can lead to informed behavioral interventions. This study uses only three constructs of the HBM to predict PA during pregnancy. Future studies should aim for a better design and reliable measures to find predictors of PA during pregnancy and should include variables that measure all constructs of the HBM.Item Relationship between Socioeconomic Status, Physical Activity, and Health Outcomes: National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey(2020-08) Reesor-Oyer, Layton; O'Connor, Daniel P.; Hernandez, Daphne C.; Murillo, Rosenda; LaVoy, Emily C.According to the Social Determinants of Health, social factors such as education, income, and employment (i.e. factors that comprise socio-economic status, SES) impact adult health and associated health behaviors such as physical activity (PA). The purpose of this three-paper dissertation was to better understand the inter-relationship of SES, PA, sedentary behaviors (SB), and health (including metabolic syndrome and overweight/obesity) among a nationally representative sample of U.S. adults. Specifically, the three aims addressed the following 1) examined the relationship between three SES indicators: education, income, and employment status with non-leisure time physical activity (non-LTPA), 2) evaluated the relationship of occupational physical activity (OPA) and metabolic syndrome and its components, 3) assessed the role of LTPA and SB in the income-overweight/obesity relationship. To do this, all three aims utilized four waves of publicly available data from The National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) (2007– 2014), which included a total of 15,376 non-pregnant, non-older adults (aged 20-59 years). The sample was reduced to only include individuals who met the criteria and without missing data on the variables of interest for each aim (Aim 1: n=11,985, Aim 2: n= 3,253, Aim 3: n =10,348). Descriptive statistics, as well as weighted linear and logistic regression analyses were conducted using STATA version 15.0 statistical software (Aim 1 and 2). Structural equation modeling was conducted in Mplus version 8.3 (Aim 3). Survey procedures were used in all analyses to account for the NHANES sampling design. Aim 1: When examining the relationship between three SES indicators: education, income, and employment status with non-LTPA, findings indicated that only education and employment were related to non-LTPA. Having less than a high school education [OR = 1.44 (0.18), p < .01] and having a high school education [OR = 1.43 (0.12), p < .001] were associated with increased odds of meeting PA guidelines from non-LTPA, compared to a college degree. Part-time employment was associated with increased odds of meeting PA guidelines from non-LTPA [OR= 1.28 (0.12); p < .01], compared to full-time employment. Aim 2: When evaluating the relationship of OPA with metabolic syndrome and its components, findings suggest that OPA was not associated with metabolic syndrome, nor its components (p >.05). Further, the relationships did not differ between women and men (interaction term p >.05). Aim 3: When assessing the role of LTPA and SB in the income-overweight/obesity relationship, income indirectly influences overweight/obesity through its association with LTPA and SB. Greater income was negatively associated with overweight/obesity (Total effect: B=-0.046; 95%CI=-0.07,-0.02). Income indirectly influenced overweight/obesity through LPTA (Indirect effect: B=-0.005; 95%CI=-0.01,-0.003) and through SB (Indirect effect: B=0.008; 95%CI=0.005,0.01), but in opposing directions. The direct effect from income to overweight/obesity remained statistically significant (Direct Effect: B=-0.049; 95%C =-0.07;-0.02). LTPA partially accounted for the negative relationship between income and overweight/obesity; SB reduced the strength of the negative relationship between income and overweight/obesity. Aim 1 provides a comprehensive understanding of how SES is related to non-LTPA. Consequently, it raises awareness of the need to consider non-LTPA among low SES populations. Practitioners attempting to increase PA should consider these complexities and assess non-LTPA in addition to LTPA. Aim 2 indicated that there were no substantial associations between OPA and cardiovascular health indicators among a U.S. nationally representative cross-sectional sample. This contrasts findings from non-US-based samples which identified OPA as a risk factor for cardiovascular disease, especially among males (i.e. PA Health Paradox), Future prospective, longitudinal studies are needed to understand the long-term effects of OPA on the risk of experiencing metabolic syndrome among the U.S. population. Aim 3 suggests that targeted behavior approaches for weight management by income may be beneficial. Increasing LTPA among adults with lower income and decreasing SB among adults with higher income may provide some overweight/obesity protection. Taken together, these findings illustrate the complexities of the inter-relationships of SES, PA, SB, and health.Item Shelter Service Utilization among Homeless Adults: Associations with Substance Use Disorder, Mental Health Diagnosis, and Dual Diagnosis(2018-10-18) Yip, MaggieAlthough substance use and mental health disorders among homeless adults remains a prevalent public health issue, accessing treatment and shelter services has proved challenging. Surveying 565 homeless adults from six-area shelters in Oklahoma City, OK, we examined the association between substance use disorder diagnosis, mental health diagnosis, dual diagnosis, and socio-demographic characteristics on the utilization of 13 types of shelter services. These associations were measured through covariate-adjusted logistic regression models. Among the services, receiving meals at a shelter, spending the night at a shelter, and meeting with a case manager were the most utilized. Participants with only a mental health diagnosis tended to utilize mental health counseling and a case manager, while participants with only a substance use disorder diagnosis tended to utilize substance abuse counseling and attending educational group meetings. Those with dual diagnosis were more likely to utilize eight of the 13 services. Participants without an official diagnosis were less likely to seek shelter services than those with an official mental health and/or substance use diagnosis. Age, gender, race/ethnicity, and marital status, were also associated with shelter service utilization. To meet the needs of this vulnerable population, shelters should consider providing more opportunities for a clinical diagnosis.Item The Association of Neighborhood Social Cohesion with Sleep Duration by Latino Subgroup(2017-10-12) Agrawal, Pooja; Ayalew, Leilina; Guzman, Francisco J.; Ortega, Lily M.; Yanez, Jocelyn G.; Hernandez, Daphne C.PURPOSE: To examine the association between neighborhood social cohesion and sleep duration by Latino subgroup. CONCLUSIONS: Among Mexican/Mexican-Americans, Puerto Ricans, and Central or South Americans, individuals reporting medium levels of neighborhood social cohesion were significantly more likely to report normal sleep duration. Among Mexican/Mexican-Americans, Cuban/Cuban American, and Central or South Americans those who reported high neighborhood social cohesion were significantly more likely to report normal sleep duration. Health promotion programs aimed at promoting healthy sleep duration levels among Latino subpopulations should consider the role of the neighborhood environment, such as neighborhood social cohesion, in sleep quality.Item The Impact of Hurricane Harvey on the Physical Activity Behaviors of Low Income, Ethnic Minority Adolescents(2018-10-18) Longoria, ArleenBackground: Little is known about how natural disasters impact youth health behaviors. This study aimed to examine adolescent physical activity throughout Hurricane Harvey. Methods: Adolescents (n=177) were recruited from an independent school district in Houston, Texas. Participants self-reported demographic information, light and moderate-vigorous physical activity (LPA; MVPA), and number of sedentary hours using the School Physical Activity and Nutrition (SPAN) questionnaire. Students completed the SPAN questionnaire two days prior to the hurricane, and three, eight, and fifteen weeks post-hurricane. Adjusted for demographic variables, four separate repeated measures ANCOVA models examined the changes in physical activity variables over time. Results: Participants were primarily Hispanic (78%) and were 14.61 ± 1.75 years old. Repeated measures ANOVA indicated LPA was lower during the hurricane than at all other time points (F (3,177) =11.98, p<0.001). After adjusting for gender, time spent playing video games was significantly higher during the hurricane than prior to the hurricane and at the end of the quarter (F (3, 176) =3.38, p<0.05). No differences in MVPA were found. Conclusions: Although physical activity patterns were disrupted during the hurricane, students were able to resume their normal activities within the span of a semester.Item The Impact of Undergraduate Research Training on Students' Perceived Level of Skills(2020-09-29) Ferrer, AlexThe (HOUSTON) Academy is housed in the Department of Health and Human Performance. With funding from the United States Department of Agriculture, the HOUSTON Academy provides undergraduate students from institutions across the US with applied research experiences with UH faculty and nutrition learning experiences in the community. Student-centered outcomes include the development and delivery of nutrition education workshops, on-campus and external conference presentations, and research publications. Students also attend professional development workshops that focus on, but not limited to, development of CV/resumes, e-portfolios, and employment and graduate admissions process. During their first semester in HOUSTON Academy students are surveyed at the beginning and at the end of the semester using the Survey of Undergraduate Research Experiences III. Results (n=29) indicate that students perceive their skills to have increased in the areas of math skills (48.3% to 55.2%, z=-.053, p=0.300), writing skills (65.5% to 72.4%, z=-0.57, p=0.285), and computer skills (34.5% to 37.9%, z=0.27, p=0.392). Small sample sizes contribute to non-significance. Thus, through applied research opportunities with faculty, nutrition learning experiences in the community, and professional development workshops students are growing more confidents in their skills.Item The Impact of Undergraduate Research Training on Students' Post Graduation Plans(2020-09-29) Naik, AnamThe Houston-area Opportunities for Undergraduate Student Training in Obesity & Nutrition (HOUSTON) Academy is housed in the Department of Health and Human Performance. The HOUSTON Academy provides undergraduate students from institutions across the US with applied research and nutrition learning experiences through support from the United States Department of Agriculture. By engaging in research projects, students are exposed to research-related careers pertaining to food insecurity, obesity/weight management, and nutrition. Students obtain research skills by assisting with recruitment and retention of research participants, data collection, data entry, presenting research at internal/external conferences, and assisting with manuscript preparation. During their first semester in HOUSTON Academy students respond to the Survey of Undergraduate Research Experiences III at the start and end of the semester. Results (n=29) indicate that 62% of the students had no prior research experience. Also, there was an increased in the percentage of students that could visualize what it meant to be a career scientist (20.7% to 41.4%, z=-1.70, p=0.044). There was an increased interest in the percentage of students wanting to pursue a PhD or MD/OD, but small sample sizes contributed to non-significance. Exposing undergraduate students to experiential learning experiences increases their interest in research-related fields post-graduation.Item Understanding Women's Hidden Health Issues Through Media And Health Communication Campaigns(2019-05) Slaughter, Kara; Vardeman-Winter, Jennifer; Hernandez, Daphne C.; Yamasaki, JillThis paper starts by identifying literature to bring awareness and understanding to three critical areas that are important to focus on for this study, including breast cancer health communications, cultural studies, and the spiral of silence. This paper examines the way in which women’s hidden health issues, including endometriosis, pelvic floor disorders, and infertility, are currently presented in popular media outlets used by millennial women, including BuzzFeed, The New York Times, Cosmopolitan, Refinery29, and Elite Daily. Additionally, this paper also examines the way in which women’s hidden health issues, including endometriosis, pelvic floor disorders, and infertility, are currently presented in health campaigns.Item Whole Grains: Are They Worth It?(2014-05) Vollrath, Kirstin; Ledoux, Tracey A.; Hernandez, Daphne C.; Zuppann, C. AndrewBackground: Whole grains are an important component of a healthful, high quality diet. Consumption of whole grains may reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease and is associated with lower body weight. Whole grains are relatively inexpensive when compared to other high quality foods such as fruits and vegetables, lean meat and fish. The cost of whole grain foods is high relative to refined grain foods but this gap has been shrinking in recent years. Substituting whole grains for refined grains may be a cost effective method for increasing diet quality. Methods: Observed dietary intake of grain products from 24-hour recalls were matched with national average retail price data and compared to a substitution model diet that meets dietary guidelines for whole grains. Comparisons were made across sociodemographic strata on cost and a subset of nutrients prevalent in grain foods as a measure of diet quality. Results: The substitution model diet was more expensive for all sociodemographic groups with larger cost effects for young adults and those with lower levels of income and education. The substitution model diet provided more dietary fiber and magnesium but less folate than observed diets. Discussion: Cost may keep some American adults from consuming whole grains at recommended levels. Consuming a diet with whole grains is beneficial for health but should be combined with foods fortified with folic acid to ensure all dietary guidelines are met.