School of Public Health

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The collections in this community comprise faculty research works, as well as graduate theses and dissertations.

Note: Prior to July 1, 2007, the School of Public Health was named the College of Health & Human Performance.

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    THE CONCORDANCE OF INFLUENZA VACCINATION BEHAVIORS AMONG ADULTS AND CHILDREN RESIDING WITHIN THE SAME HOUSEHOLD IN THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, MARYLAND, AND VIRGINIA
    (2014) Motley, Danielle Olon; Butler, III, James; Public and Community Health; Digital Repository at the University of Maryland; University of Maryland (College Park, Md.)
    Background: The distinctive barking sound of whooping cough and rubella's birth defects highlight vaccinations' importance as a public health initiative and medical advancement of the twentieth century. However, little research examines concordance of influenza vaccination uptake between same-household adults and children. Methods: A secondary data analysis of CDC's 2009 National H1N1 Flu Survey (NHFS) examined concordance between adults' influenza vaccination behaviors and responses to NHFS questions representing HBM constructs with the influenza vaccination of same-household children from the District of Columbia, Maryland, and Virginia (DMV). Results: Concordance existed between influenza vaccination statuses of adults and same-household children. HBM constructs of perceived susceptibility, severity, and the cue to action of physician vaccine recommendation were associated with more vaccinated children. Conclusions: This research highlights adults' influenza vaccination status impact on same-household DMV children. Future research is needed to examine parental influenza vaccination effects on influenza vaccination status of their biological children.
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    Factors Influencing Childhood Swimming Instruction: Evaluation of the "Safe Water Initiative: Maryland" Program for Drowning Prevention
    (2010) Monteiro, Erinn Hurley; Green, Kerry M; Public and Community Health; Digital Repository at the University of Maryland; University of Maryland (College Park, Md.)
    Background: Increasing swimming ability is a key preventive step in decreasing childhood drowning, a leading cause of unintentional mortality in the U.S. Yet, it remains unclear what factors influence parents to ensure that their children learn to swim. This study examined how attitudes, beliefs, perceptions, and barriers relate to parents' intentions and decisions to seek swimming instruction for their children. The evaluation also examined whether free introductory swimming lessons may be a useful model in changing any of these factors. Methods: The Safe Water Initiative: Maryland (SWI:M) community-based program provided free introductory lessons in summer 2010 to over 100 children who had previously never received swimming instruction. Parents/guardians completed pretest (N = 81) and posttest (N = 79) written surveys as well as a second follow-up online survey six weeks after the program ended (N = 71). The pre-and post-test surveys included questions about barriers as well as two scales on attitudes/beliefs about swimming importance and perceptions about drowning risk. These two scales were developed and their reliability (alpha=.70-.89) and validity evaluated as part of this study. Results: Participants were predominantly African-American mothers, the majority of whom had little to no swimming ability. Results revealed significant increases in attitudes/beliefs, perceptions, and intentions from the beginning to the end of the SWI:M program. While attitudes/beliefs and perceived susceptibility were significant predictors of intentions, strong intentions did not predict behavior, as only 14% of participants' children had received additional swimming lessons by the second post-test. Cost was reported as a significant barrier to pursuing additional instruction. Conclusions: This study provides preliminary findings for future research investigating factors influencing childhood swimming instruction. Reduced- or no-cost swimming lessons may be a key drowning prevention method, but additional research is warranted to find ways to address prevailing barriers. Evaluating the effectiveness of this and other programs is an important step in potentially decreasing morbidity and mortality due to drowning.