Honors Projects for Public Health
Permanent URI for this collection
Browse
Recent Submissions
Item Increasing Access to Reproductive Healthcare in Hawaiʻi Through Policy Reformation(University of Hawaii at Manoa, 2023) Kobayashi, Julie; Nelson-Hurwitz, Denise; Public HealthItem The Influence of Diet on Fertility in Women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome(University of Hawaii at Manoa, 2024) Blackman, Faye; Buchthal, Opal; Public HealthItem The Role of Street Medicine Programs for Management of Diabetic Foot Ulcers Among Unsheltered Individuals Living in Hawaiʻi(University of Hawaii at Manoa, 2024) Apo Takayama, Nadia; Buchthal, Opal; Public HealthItem Addressing food insecurity in Hawai‘i to prevent type 2 diabetes(University of Hawaii at Manoa, 2022) Espinoza, Aydya; Nelson-Hurwitz, Denise; Public HealthItem Increasing Language Access Services Through Policy for Health Entities in Hawai‘i(University of Hawaii at Manoa, 2021) Acosta, Lindney; Tagorda, Michelle; Public HealthItem Improving Access to Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) in Indonesian Youth(University of Hawaii at Manoa, 2020) Graham, Nicole; Nelson-Hurwitz, Denise; Public HealthItem Addressing Obesity Through Food Access and Nutritional Education Among Native Hawaiian Youth in Hawai‘i: A Policy Analysis(University of Hawaii at Manoa, 2019) Nieto, Robert; Nelson-Hurwitz, Denise; Public HealthObesity is an international epidemic that impacts all ethnicities and ages, and has become more prominent over the last few decades. The rise of globalization, processed foods, and a sedentary lifestyles have contributed to the rise of obesity rates, which has subsequently increased diabetes, hypertension, and cardiovascular illnesses that claim millions of lives every year. While obesity itself is a non-communicable disease, there are disparities that have disproportionately affected Native Hawaiian communities in the United States, particularly among youth in Hawai‘i. Risk factors for obesity exist at multiple levels, including at the individual level such as a physical inactivity or socio-economic status, while other factors are present at the governmental level where public policy may support a business agenda over health and wellness. Obesity is a central issue for Native Hawaiian youth. While present statistics illustrate an increase in obesity, there are potential solutions that may be implemented at the policy level. Based on policies selected, and analyzed, immediate recommendations include adoption of a policy centered on nutritious food access in after-school programming, accompanied by physical activity promotion. Policies such as this may provide a bright future for the next generation of Native Hawaiians can live and maintain a healthy weight throughout their lifetime.Item Increasing Access to Family Planning Services Among Low Income Uninsured Women in the State of South Dakota(University of Hawaii at Manoa, 2020) Banks, Renee; Nelson-Hurwitz, Denise; Public HealthReproductive health is a vital component of women’s health and well-being. A woman's reproductive system is a very complex structure in the body. It is vital to take steps to protect it from infections and diseases - including long term health complications. Barriers in women’s reproductive health care access are increasing locally, regionally, and nationally through numerous institutional, legislative, and regulatory restriction levels. Lack of access to these services makes it even more difficult for women to utilize and afford reproductive health care. This lack of access can lead to serious health, social, and economic consequences for women and their families. Disproportionately low-income women are impacted prominently with these consequences as they more often than others qualify for little to no health care insurance coverage. Insurance coverage is critical for making reproductive health services affordable and accessible for low-income women as the financial burden of health care can be unreasonably high. Lack of coverage among low-income women is a prominent challenge in the United States especially in states that did not adopt the Affordable Care Act (ACA) Medicaid expansion and no longer benefit from Title X funding. South Dakota, with its high prevalence of low-income uninsured residents, has many residents who fall within the coverage gap. Through increasing provider participation, access and funding, health care clinics can connect low-income uninsured women to family planning programs and other viable reproductive health care insurance programs.Item What I Chose: Enhancing Suicide Prevention through Young Adult (YA) Fiction(University of Hawaii at Manoa, 2017-05) Uekawa, Madisyn; Schultz, Susan; Public HealthWhat I Chose is a Young Adult (YA) fictional novella that emerged from my desire to use popular literature as a tool to promote good health. I read and evaluated a series of six popular YA fiction books that contain themes of suicide, and I attempt to emulate the effective literary techniques of these best-selling authors alongside safe messaging into my work. I use my protagonist, Kiara, and Emma, her deceased twin who died by suicide, to exemplify individuals at risk for suicide. I also include supporting characters that show readers a way to reach out to those that display suicidal signs. I form my novella around Kiara’s journey as a transfer freshman at UH who is looking for a restart in life but finds herself uncovering the death and story of her twin that she had no prior knowledge of. Kiara is looked at by those who knew Emma as if she had returned from the dead, and she finds herself given a second chance at life. Similar to most of the YA novels I read in my research, What I Chose aims to hopefully illuminate the meaning in finding purpose, hope, and embracing the choices we are given in this life. Since popular culture and ideology can be influenced by successful YA literature (due to its large readership), it is essential to appropriately expand upon a YA “health promoting” subgenre that can be didactic and that can potentially improve holistic well-being and possibly reduce detrimental behavior.Item Preventing Infant Deaths Through Safe Sleep Education(University of Hawaii at Manoa, 2017-05) Lam, Karolyn; Kimura, Lisa; Public HealthSudden unexpected infant death (SUID) is the death of an infant less than 1 year of age and can be reported as sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), unknown cause, or accidental strangulation and suffocation. These reports are determined upon completion of a thorough investigation. SIDS is the leading cause of death in infants in the United States. Healthy Mothers Healthy Babies (HMHB) Coalition of Hawai‘i is a local nonprofit that provides mothers with proper education and prenatal programs. This project focuses primarily on the Hawaii Cribs for Kids Program facilitated by HMHB. The purpose of this study was to identify the demographics of mothers who attend the Cribs for Kids classes in Hawaii and identify common misconceptions about safe sleep practices. By having this information readily available, HMHB can improve class material to be more culturally appropriate and to teach recommendations and prioritize mothers at high risk when doing outreach. Results indicated that mothers learned most about pacifier use for safe sleep and how bumper pads and wedges or positioners can be hazardous when placed in an infant’s sleep environment.