Enhancing engagement in HIV care among adolescents and young adults: A focus on phone-based navigation and relationship building to address barriers in HIV care

Structural, psychological, and clinical barriers to HIV care engagement among adolescents and young adults living with HIV (AYAH) persist globally despite gains in HIV epidemic control. Phone-based peer navigation may provide critical peer support, increase delivery flexibility, and require fewer resources. Prior studies show that phone-based navigation and automated text messaging interventions improve HIV care engagement, adherence, and retention among AYAH. However, little is known about AYAH experiences utilizing electronic phone-based peer navigation and automated text messaging (E-NAV). We assessed the experiences of AYAH receiving phone-based peer navigation to address barriers to HIV care engagement and viral suppression. We purposefully selected participants randomized to E-NAV within the Adapt for Adolescents in Kisumu, Kenya, and conducted 20 in-depth interviews. Interviews were conducted by a trained qualitative researcher between October and December 2021 and explored topics such as health-seeking and care experiences, E-NAV acceptability and benefits, and the client-navigator relationship. The interviews were audio-recorded and transcribed. We then applied inductive and deductive coding, followed by thematic analysis. Overall, participants found E-NAV acceptable in regard to content and frequency–particularly the opportunity to select a preferred time for calls/text messages, including evenings and weekends. They found the tone of navigator calls and messages friendly, supporting relationship building. Further, AYAH-navigator relationships were described as fraternal, client-focused, and confidential, which supported a personal connection and trust. Reported E-NAV benefits included adherence and appointment reminders, increased knowledge about HIV care, and strategies to address HIV stigma. Electronic navigation is a promising method for youth peer navigation because it optimizes reach (both in time and space) for youth that have severe constraints on both while preserving the ability to create a rapport and a relationship with patients

Automated tools for systematic review screening methods: an application of machine learning for sexual orientation and gender identity measurement in health research

Objective: Sexual and gender minority (SGM) populations experience health disparities compared to heterosexual and cisgender populations. The development of accurate, comprehensive sexual orientation and gender identity (SOGI) measures is fundamental to quantify and address SGM disparities, which first requires identifying SOGI-related research. As part of a larger project reviewing and synthesizing how SOGI has been assessed within the health literature, we provide an example of the application of automated tools for systematic reviews to the area of SOGI measurement. Methods: In collaboration with research librarians, a three-phase approach was used to prioritize screening for a set of 11,441 SOGI measurement studies published since 2012. In Phase 1, search results were stratified into two groups (title with vs. without measurement-related terms); titles with measurement-related terms were manually screened. In Phase 2, supervised clustering using DoCTER software was used to sort the remaining studies based on relevance. In Phase 3, supervised machine learning using DoCTER was used to further identify which studies deemed low relevance in Phase 2 should be prioritized for manual screening. Results: 1,607 studies were identified in Phase 1. Across Phases 2 and 3, the research team excluded 5,056 of the remaining 9,834 studies using DoCTER. In manual review, the percentage of relevant studies in results screened manually was low, ranging from 0.1 to 7.8 percent. Conclusions: Automated tools used in collaboration with research librarians have the potential to save hundreds of hours of human labor in large-scale systematic reviews of SGM health research

Fair Use Deep Dive Slides

These slides were created and presented by Rachel Bridgewater and Elsa Loftis for the "Copyright Basics and Fair Use Deep Dive" workshop at Portland State University on Friday, January 31, 2025. This workshop was hosted by the Western Copyright Alliance and Library Copyright Institute

Divine Design: Revitalizing Church Website Usability

This thesis evaluates and proposes a redesign of the Greater Shiloh Missionary Baptist Church (GSMBC) website to enhance user experience. Usability testing and strategic design methodologies were used to identify limitations in navigation, content clarity, and visual appeal in the current website, impacting both congregants and non-congregants. An initial analysis of the website informed a comprehensive user experience (UX) test to gather feedback on key aspects of the site, focusing on usability, functionality, and emotional response. This test asked a group of users about the website’s navigability, understanding of the content, and overall interaction with the website. Special attention was paid to ensuring a diverse participant pool to capture varied experiences, although direct recruitment of individuals with visual impairments was beyond the study's scope. Data on vision impairment, education level, and income were collected to contextualize the findings and foster inclusivity. User-centric design principles derived from Maslow’s Hierarchy of User Experience and insights from “Design is Storytelling” were used to create a pleasurable, functional, and reliable prototype of a redesigned website. The redesign emphasizes responsiveness, recognizing that there are over 5.4 billion website visitors each year (ITU, 2023). The website prototype therefore optimizes user satisfaction and engagement and demonstrates how thoughtful digital design can enhance community outreach and involvement in religious organizations.Master of Arts in Digital Communicatio

CREATING HEALTHY AND AFFORDABLE RENTAL HOUSING IN GRANVILLE AND VANCE COUNTIES, NORTH CAROLINA

This proposal addresses the critical necessity for Affordable and Healthy Housing in Granville and Vance counties, North Carolina, a wicked problem within the "Neighborhood and Built Environment" domain of the Social Determinants of Health. This proposal presents systemic barriers, identifies a steering committee of diverse partners, and analyzes current policies to address fixes that backfired in the Fair Housing Act and Tenant-Based Rental Assistance initiative. This proposal aims to foster healthy and affordable housing in Granville and Vance counties, North Carolina, by promoting community engagement, legal reformation, and a sustainable development plan.Master of Public Healt

IMPROVING CHILD FOOD SECURITY WITH SCHOOL MEAL PROGRAMS IN GRANVILLE AND VANCE COUNTIES, NORTH CAROLINA

This report is generated by the economic group for the commissioner’s office and examines the critical issue of child food insecurity in Granville and Vance Counties in North Carolina. The contextual analysis evaluates the current and historical socio-economic factors that contribute to food insecurity, a high-priority social determinant of health that has a long-lasting impact on children’s mental and physical health. A multifaceted approach was utilized for stakeholder mapping and engagement, analysis of past policies, and development of new potential policies. The design process utilized quality tools to develop the change idea, focusing on and enhancing the school meal program and enhancing local food access. The design process emphasized the feasibility, sustainability, and scalability of the school meal program by establishing a steering committee to oversee the implementation and iteration process. This comprehensive assessment aims to inform policy and practice to reduce child food insecurity and improve health outcomes.Master of Public Healt

ODSI VGDP 042-01

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ODSI VGDP 029-01

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Large-scale multi-omics analyses in Hispanic/Latino populations identify genes for cardiometabolic traits

Here, we present a multi-omics study of type 2 diabetes and quantitative blood lipid and lipoprotein traits conducted to date in Hispanic/Latino populations (nmax = 63,184). We conduct a meta-analysis of 16 type 2 diabetes and 19 lipid trait GWAS, identifying 20 genome-wide significant loci for type 2 diabetes, including one novel locus and novel signals at two known loci, based on fine-mapping. We also identify sixty-one genome-wide significant loci across the lipid/lipoprotein traits, including nine novel loci, and novel signals at 19 known loci through fine-mapping. Next, we analyze genetically regulated expression, perform Mendelian randomization, and analyze association with transcriptomic and proteomic measure using multi-omics data from a Hispanic/Latino population. Using this approach, we identify genes linked to type 2 diabetes and lipid/lipoprotein traits, including TMEM205 and NEDD9 for HDL cholesterol, TREH for triglycerides, and ANXA4 for type 2 diabetes

Add Health as a Resource for the Science of the Exposome: Health Context Measures

The health context dataset described in this user guide includes measures capturing the degree to which environments support the health and wellbeing of residents—a result of social and structural inequality. Subjects covered include birth outcomes, health status, mortality, health insurance coverage and health expenditures, access to care, health behaviors, health disparities, state safety net generosity, and environmental factors. This health context dataset is part of a larger data collection effort that was designed to help scientists more effectively operationalize and study the exposome – the constellation of social, economic, psychological, behavioral, environmental, and biological factors that combine to shape the onset and progression of chronic disease, morbidity, and mortality. The measures described in this guide were assembled, cleaned, and merged to Add Health’s core and biological data by Taylor Hargrove, Brian Frizzelle, and Sarah Petry, under the direction of Robert A. Hummer, at the Carolina Population Center (CPC) at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill