August Summers - Academia.edu (original) (raw)
Papers by August Summers
(2012). "Body composition, dietary composition, and components of metabolic syndrome in ... more (2012). "Body composition, dietary composition, and components of metabolic syndrome in overweight and obese adults after a 12-week trial on dietary treatments focused on portion control, energy density, or glycemic index. " Nutrition Journal, 11(1), 57.
Body composition, dietary composition, and components of metabolic syndrome in overweight and obe... more Body composition, dietary composition, and components of metabolic syndrome in overweight and obese adults after a 12-week trial on dietary treatments focused on portion control, energy density, or glycemic index
Journal of the American Dietetic Association, 2008
Learning Outcome: Gain an understanding of the relationship between prepregnancy body mass index ... more Learning Outcome: Gain an understanding of the relationship between prepregnancy body mass index and glucose and insulin in the mother's milk. Text: Background: In spite of a plethora of research on the benefits of breast-feeding, little to no attention has been given to the effects of the mother's body composition and its effects on the composition of breastmilk. The aim of this study was to analyze the relationship between mother's pre-pregnancy body mass index (BMI) and its relationship to the glucose and insulin levels in the breast-milk. Methods: Participants were 31 exclusively breast-feeding mothers'. Participants were assigned to either normal weight (group1) or overweight/obese (group2) based on their pre-pregnancy BMI. Milk samples were collected at six weeks postpartum and analyzed for glucose and insulin by enzyme linked immunoassay. Results: Thirty-one lactating mothers' 18-35 years of age of normal weight women (nϭ 20), (BMI between 18.5 and 24.9 kg/m 2) and overweight / obese (nϭ 11), (BMI Ն 25 kg/m 2) were recruited. A positive correlation between mother's pre-pregnancy BMI, and glucose (r ϭ 0.483, p ϭ 0.005) and insulin (r ϭ 0.565, p ϭ .001) levels in the breast-milk was found at six weeks postpartum. Mean Ϯ standard deviation (SD) milk-glucose value of group 1 and 2 was 32.6 Ϯ 21.8 mg/dL and 51.9 Ϯ 20.5 mg/dL, respectively. Mean milk-insulin value of group 1 and 2 was 4.5 Ϯ 7.6 IU/mL and 30.1 Ϯ 56.3 IU/mL, respectively. Conclusion: This study found that mothers pre-pregnancy BMI is correlated with glucose and insulin values in breast-milk. Further studies are needed to understand the mechanism and consequences of infant exposure to glucose and insulin in breast-milk.
Journal of the American Dietetic Association, 2008
Learning Outcome: To determine the prevalence, usage and disclosure patterns of dietary supplemen... more Learning Outcome: To determine the prevalence, usage and disclosure patterns of dietary supplements among cancer patients. Text: Objective: To determine prevalence, reasons for use, and disclosure patterns of dietary supplements (DS) among patients at a NCI designated Cancer Center (NCICC) in New Jersey. Design: 2,782 randomly selected individuals, over age 18 who sought care at an NCICC were mailed a survey. Descriptive and chi-square statistics were performed using SPSSv13.0; ␣ set at pϭ0.05. Results: 628 (23%) surveys were returned; 62% (nϭ386) were usable. Of the 23% (nϭ89) respondents who used DS after cancer diagnosis, breast cancer (nϭ35, 41.6%), Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) (nϭ9, 10.7%), and colon/rectal cancer (nϭ8, 9.5%) were the most common diagnoses. Common DS were green tea (nϭ38, 43%), vitamins E (nϭ30, 34%) and C (nϭ24, 27%), and multivitamin/minerals (nϭ30, 34%). There was a significant difference between cancer type and DS used (pϭ0.0026); twice as many NHL (nϭ 6, 66.7%) and colon/rectal cancer (nϭ5, 62.5%) patients used green tea as compared to breast cancer patients (nϭ9, 25.7%). The most frequent reason for use was to "improve the immune system" (nϭ23, 37 %). The most common response for oncologists' reaction to disclosure was "encouraged to continue using" (nϭ7, 78%). The most frequent reason for nondisclosure was "he/she never asked" (nϭ15, 83%). The only "other health care provider" that DS users consistently disclosed to was their primary physician (nϭ23, 68%).
Journal of Midwifery & Women's Health
The American College of Nurse-Midwives (ACNM) Division of Research, Division of Global Health, an... more The American College of Nurse-Midwives (ACNM) Division of Research, Division of Global Health, and the Journal of Midwifery & Women's Health are pleased to present the abstracts from the 2020 Research Forum podium presentations. The podium presentations were selected in a blinded peer review process and presented at the ACNM Annual Meeting in May 2020. The abstracts of completed research were eligible for presentation and therefore publication. The abstracts presented here demonstrate the breadth and quality of research being conducted about midwifery and women's health by midwifery researchers and our colleagues.
The FASEB Journal, 2011
Churches have great potential to engage communities and sustain health interventions. We are cond... more Churches have great potential to engage communities and sustain health interventions. We are conducting a diabetes risk behavior intervention trial in 12 African American churches in Baltimore city...
Additional file 1 : Supplement Table 1. Crude and Sequentially Adjusted Associations of Maternal ... more Additional file 1 : Supplement Table 1. Crude and Sequentially Adjusted Associations of Maternal Age with Adverse Pregnancy Outcomes (N=8509). Supplement Table 2. Maternal age, race, nutritional status, and other characteristics associated with adverse outcomes (N=8509).
JAMA Network Open, 2022
IMPORTANCE Stigma toward people with opioid use disorder (OUD) is pervasive in clinical settings,... more IMPORTANCE Stigma toward people with opioid use disorder (OUD) is pervasive in clinical settings, impeding delivery of high-quality care. To date, no study has evaluated the effect of different stigma-reduction messages or messengers among health care professionals. OBJECTIVE To evaluate the effect of OUD-related messages delivered by different messengers on stigma and attitudes toward people with OUD among health care professionals. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS This randomized clinical trial examined the effects of OUD-related messages delivered by a visual campaign alone or in combination with a written narrative vignette from the perspective of 1 of 3 messengers. Health care professionals in the US were recruited from 2 national online survey panels (Ipsos KnowledgePanel and SurveyHealthcareGlobus). A total of 1842 participants completed a web-based survey measuring stigma toward people with OUD from November 13 to 30, 2020. INTERVENTIONS Eight groups were exposed to 1 of 2 message frames. One frame (Words Matter) emphasized the harm of stigmatizing language, and the other (Medication Treatment Works) focused on the effectiveness of medications approved by the US Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of OUD. Message frames were communicated through either a visual campaign alone or a visual campaign in combination with a written narrative vignette from the perspective of a simulated patient with OUD, a clinician, or a health care system administrator. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES Dimensions of stigma toward people with OUD were measured on 5-point Likert scales that included items about desire for social distance from people with OUD, perception of individual blame for OUD, perspective of OUD as a medical condition, and support for increased governmental spending on OUD treatment. The level of warmth felt toward people with OUD was measured by a feeling thermometer (range, 0-100 points). RESULTS Among 1842 participants, the mean (SD) age was 47 (13) years; 1324 participants (71.9%) were female, 145 (7.9%) were Hispanic, 140 (7.6%) were non-Hispanic Black, 1344 (73.0%) were non-Hispanic White, and 213 (11.6%) were of other non-Hispanic race (ie, individuals who did not selfreport race as Black or White and did not self-report ethnicity as Hispanic). Compared with nonexposure, exposure to the combination of visual campaign and narrative vignette communicating the importance of nonstigmatizing language from the perspective of a patient with OUD was associated with a lower probability (difference, −16.8 percentage points, 95% CI, −26.1 to −7.4; P < .001) of unwillingness to have a person with OUD marry into the family (a measure of social distance preference) and a 7.2-point (95% CI, 3.2-11.1; P < .001) higher warmth rating. Participants exposed to the combined visual campaign and patient vignette about the value of medication (continued) Key Points Question Are specific communication strategies effective in reducing stigma toward people with opioid use disorder (OUD) among health care professionals? Findings In this randomized clinical trial involving a national sample of 1842 health care professionals, exposure to visual campaigns combined with short narrative vignettes told from the perspective of a patient with OUD that emphasized the harm of stigmatizing language or the effectiveness of medications for treating OUD was associated with reduced levels of stigma. Meaning The findings of this randomized clinical trial suggest that carefully designed communication campaigns may reduce OUD-related stigma among health care professionals.
The FASEB Journal, 2009
•We examined the changes on body composition in 128 participants (BMI 2240) for 24 weeks. •DASH-S... more •We examined the changes on body composition in 128 participants (BMI 2240) for 24 weeks. •DASH-Style diet and exercise (DS; n=70) •Exercise only (EO, n=58) •Both groups received an exercise prescription recommending a minimum of: •moderate physical activity •15 minutes per session, progressing to 45 minutes •3 days per week progressing to 4 days per week by week 12. •They were provided support via once weekly meetings with an exercise physiologist for 12 weeks and biweekly thereafter. •The DS group also followed a standardized dietary approach consisting of: •a reduced calorie eating pattern •Incorporation of one commercially prepared healthy frozen meal and one other selected grocery item each day •dietary counseling from a dietician once weekly for 12 weeks and biweekly thereafter. Results
Frontiers in Public Health, 2021
Excess dietary sodium contributes to the burden of chronic disease, including cardiovascular dise... more Excess dietary sodium contributes to the burden of chronic disease, including cardiovascular disease and stroke. Media-based health education campaigns are one strategy to raise awareness among populations at greater risk for stroke, including African Americans. During 2014–2015, the Philadelphia Department of Public Health conducted a health education campaign using radio, print news, and transit ads, to promote awareness of the link between dietary sodium, hypertension and stroke, and encourage reduced consumption of high sodium foods. Using a repeated cross-sectional design, street intercept surveys were conducted with ~400 Philadelphia residents representing the campaign's priority audience (African Americans ages 35–55) before and 6–13 weeks after the campaign, to evaluate both process (campaign exposure) and impact (recall of key health messages). Thirty percent of post-campaign respondents reported familiarity with one of the most engaging radio spots, and 17% provided ac...
BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth, 2021
Background Given the trend of increasing maternal age and associated adverse reproductive outcome... more Background Given the trend of increasing maternal age and associated adverse reproductive outcomes in the US, this study aimed to assess whether this association is due to an independent aging or confounded by sociodemographic, biomedical, or behavioral determinants in a predominantly Black US population. Methods Data was from 8509 women enrolled in the Boston Birth Cohort. Adverse reproductive outcomes included spontaneous preterm delivery, cesarean delivery, and low birth weight. Covariates included sociodemographic (parity, race/ethnicity, education, marital status, income, receipt of public assistance, nativity); biomedical (obesity, hypertensive disorders, diabetes mellitus); and behavioral (consistent intake of multivitamin supplements, support from father of baby, support from family, major stress in pregnancy, cigarette smoking, alcohol intake). Analysis included Lowess and marginal probability plots, crude and adjusted sequential logistic regression models to examine age-ou...
Journal of Hunger & Environmental Nutrition, 2019
Objective. To evaluate the impact of a faith-based diabetes risk prevention program. Design. Nine... more Objective. To evaluate the impact of a faith-based diabetes risk prevention program. Design. Nine predominately African American (AA) churches were randomized to one of three groupsgroup 1 (intervention group) received the Healthy Bodies Healthy Souls faithbased intervention and Project POWER (HBHS+PP), group 2 received PP only, and group 3 received a delayed intervention (comparison group). Results. Church members in the HBHS+PP intervention group significantly decreased systolic and diastolic blood pressure (p = 0.02 and 0.01, respectively), showed greater improvement in food-related self-efficacy (p = 0.04), had a trend toward increased purchasing of healthy foods (p = 0.06), and decreased their purchasing of less healthy foods (p = 0.02) compared to churches receiving PP alone or the delayed intervention. Conclusions. The combined HBHS+PP program shows promise toward promoting a healthier lifestyle and behaviors in AA church members.
Public Health Nutrition, 2018
ObjectiveWhile maternal folate deficiency has been linked to poor pregnancy outcomes such as neur... more ObjectiveWhile maternal folate deficiency has been linked to poor pregnancy outcomes such as neural tube defects, anaemia and low birth weight, the relationship between folate and preterm birth (PTB) in the context of the US post-folic acid fortification era is inconclusive. We sought to explore the relationship between maternal folate status and PTB and its subtypes, i.e. spontaneous and medically indicated PTB.DesignObservational study.SettingBoston Birth Cohort, a predominantly urban, low-income, race/ethnic minority population at a high risk for PTB.ParticipantsMother–infant dyads (n 7675) enrolled in the Boston Birth Cohort. A sub-sample (n 2313) of these dyads had maternal plasma folate samples collected 24–72 h after delivery.ResultsUnadjusted and adjusted logistic regressions revealed an inverse relationship between the frequency of multivitamin supplement intake and PTB. Compared with less frequent use, multivitamin supplement intake 3–5 times/week (adjusted OR (aOR) = 0·78...
Women's health issues : official publication of the Jacobs Institute of Women's Health, Oct 17, 2017
Pregnant obese women have an increased risk for infant mortality and poor maternal outcomes. Envi... more Pregnant obese women have an increased risk for infant mortality and poor maternal outcomes. Environmental and social conditions pose barriers for less-advantaged overweight women to participate in weight loss interventions. The B'more Fit for Healthy Babies Program aimed to address existing gender inequities that persist where exposure to community-level trauma is present. A gender-based analysis using qualitative and quantitative approaches informed B'more Fit's intervention and identified opportunities for trauma-informed care policies. Key data sources for analyses included two series of focus groups and a quantitative survey. Review of additional Baltimore-based literature and research also informed policy development. A workgroup formulated policies for B'more Fit staff and participants. Policies involved technical assistance, staff consultation, and gender-sensitive counseling sessions. These activities gained the attention of the Baltimore City Health Departm...
(2012). "Body composition, dietary composition, and components of metabolic syndrome in ... more (2012). "Body composition, dietary composition, and components of metabolic syndrome in overweight and obese adults after a 12-week trial on dietary treatments focused on portion control, energy density, or glycemic index. " Nutrition Journal, 11(1), 57.
Body composition, dietary composition, and components of metabolic syndrome in overweight and obe... more Body composition, dietary composition, and components of metabolic syndrome in overweight and obese adults after a 12-week trial on dietary treatments focused on portion control, energy density, or glycemic index
Journal of the American Dietetic Association, 2008
Learning Outcome: Gain an understanding of the relationship between prepregnancy body mass index ... more Learning Outcome: Gain an understanding of the relationship between prepregnancy body mass index and glucose and insulin in the mother's milk. Text: Background: In spite of a plethora of research on the benefits of breast-feeding, little to no attention has been given to the effects of the mother's body composition and its effects on the composition of breastmilk. The aim of this study was to analyze the relationship between mother's pre-pregnancy body mass index (BMI) and its relationship to the glucose and insulin levels in the breast-milk. Methods: Participants were 31 exclusively breast-feeding mothers'. Participants were assigned to either normal weight (group1) or overweight/obese (group2) based on their pre-pregnancy BMI. Milk samples were collected at six weeks postpartum and analyzed for glucose and insulin by enzyme linked immunoassay. Results: Thirty-one lactating mothers' 18-35 years of age of normal weight women (nϭ 20), (BMI between 18.5 and 24.9 kg/m 2) and overweight / obese (nϭ 11), (BMI Ն 25 kg/m 2) were recruited. A positive correlation between mother's pre-pregnancy BMI, and glucose (r ϭ 0.483, p ϭ 0.005) and insulin (r ϭ 0.565, p ϭ .001) levels in the breast-milk was found at six weeks postpartum. Mean Ϯ standard deviation (SD) milk-glucose value of group 1 and 2 was 32.6 Ϯ 21.8 mg/dL and 51.9 Ϯ 20.5 mg/dL, respectively. Mean milk-insulin value of group 1 and 2 was 4.5 Ϯ 7.6 IU/mL and 30.1 Ϯ 56.3 IU/mL, respectively. Conclusion: This study found that mothers pre-pregnancy BMI is correlated with glucose and insulin values in breast-milk. Further studies are needed to understand the mechanism and consequences of infant exposure to glucose and insulin in breast-milk.
Journal of the American Dietetic Association, 2008
Learning Outcome: To determine the prevalence, usage and disclosure patterns of dietary supplemen... more Learning Outcome: To determine the prevalence, usage and disclosure patterns of dietary supplements among cancer patients. Text: Objective: To determine prevalence, reasons for use, and disclosure patterns of dietary supplements (DS) among patients at a NCI designated Cancer Center (NCICC) in New Jersey. Design: 2,782 randomly selected individuals, over age 18 who sought care at an NCICC were mailed a survey. Descriptive and chi-square statistics were performed using SPSSv13.0; ␣ set at pϭ0.05. Results: 628 (23%) surveys were returned; 62% (nϭ386) were usable. Of the 23% (nϭ89) respondents who used DS after cancer diagnosis, breast cancer (nϭ35, 41.6%), Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) (nϭ9, 10.7%), and colon/rectal cancer (nϭ8, 9.5%) were the most common diagnoses. Common DS were green tea (nϭ38, 43%), vitamins E (nϭ30, 34%) and C (nϭ24, 27%), and multivitamin/minerals (nϭ30, 34%). There was a significant difference between cancer type and DS used (pϭ0.0026); twice as many NHL (nϭ 6, 66.7%) and colon/rectal cancer (nϭ5, 62.5%) patients used green tea as compared to breast cancer patients (nϭ9, 25.7%). The most frequent reason for use was to "improve the immune system" (nϭ23, 37 %). The most common response for oncologists' reaction to disclosure was "encouraged to continue using" (nϭ7, 78%). The most frequent reason for nondisclosure was "he/she never asked" (nϭ15, 83%). The only "other health care provider" that DS users consistently disclosed to was their primary physician (nϭ23, 68%).
Journal of Midwifery & Women's Health
The American College of Nurse-Midwives (ACNM) Division of Research, Division of Global Health, an... more The American College of Nurse-Midwives (ACNM) Division of Research, Division of Global Health, and the Journal of Midwifery & Women's Health are pleased to present the abstracts from the 2020 Research Forum podium presentations. The podium presentations were selected in a blinded peer review process and presented at the ACNM Annual Meeting in May 2020. The abstracts of completed research were eligible for presentation and therefore publication. The abstracts presented here demonstrate the breadth and quality of research being conducted about midwifery and women's health by midwifery researchers and our colleagues.
The FASEB Journal, 2011
Churches have great potential to engage communities and sustain health interventions. We are cond... more Churches have great potential to engage communities and sustain health interventions. We are conducting a diabetes risk behavior intervention trial in 12 African American churches in Baltimore city...
Additional file 1 : Supplement Table 1. Crude and Sequentially Adjusted Associations of Maternal ... more Additional file 1 : Supplement Table 1. Crude and Sequentially Adjusted Associations of Maternal Age with Adverse Pregnancy Outcomes (N=8509). Supplement Table 2. Maternal age, race, nutritional status, and other characteristics associated with adverse outcomes (N=8509).
JAMA Network Open, 2022
IMPORTANCE Stigma toward people with opioid use disorder (OUD) is pervasive in clinical settings,... more IMPORTANCE Stigma toward people with opioid use disorder (OUD) is pervasive in clinical settings, impeding delivery of high-quality care. To date, no study has evaluated the effect of different stigma-reduction messages or messengers among health care professionals. OBJECTIVE To evaluate the effect of OUD-related messages delivered by different messengers on stigma and attitudes toward people with OUD among health care professionals. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS This randomized clinical trial examined the effects of OUD-related messages delivered by a visual campaign alone or in combination with a written narrative vignette from the perspective of 1 of 3 messengers. Health care professionals in the US were recruited from 2 national online survey panels (Ipsos KnowledgePanel and SurveyHealthcareGlobus). A total of 1842 participants completed a web-based survey measuring stigma toward people with OUD from November 13 to 30, 2020. INTERVENTIONS Eight groups were exposed to 1 of 2 message frames. One frame (Words Matter) emphasized the harm of stigmatizing language, and the other (Medication Treatment Works) focused on the effectiveness of medications approved by the US Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of OUD. Message frames were communicated through either a visual campaign alone or a visual campaign in combination with a written narrative vignette from the perspective of a simulated patient with OUD, a clinician, or a health care system administrator. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES Dimensions of stigma toward people with OUD were measured on 5-point Likert scales that included items about desire for social distance from people with OUD, perception of individual blame for OUD, perspective of OUD as a medical condition, and support for increased governmental spending on OUD treatment. The level of warmth felt toward people with OUD was measured by a feeling thermometer (range, 0-100 points). RESULTS Among 1842 participants, the mean (SD) age was 47 (13) years; 1324 participants (71.9%) were female, 145 (7.9%) were Hispanic, 140 (7.6%) were non-Hispanic Black, 1344 (73.0%) were non-Hispanic White, and 213 (11.6%) were of other non-Hispanic race (ie, individuals who did not selfreport race as Black or White and did not self-report ethnicity as Hispanic). Compared with nonexposure, exposure to the combination of visual campaign and narrative vignette communicating the importance of nonstigmatizing language from the perspective of a patient with OUD was associated with a lower probability (difference, −16.8 percentage points, 95% CI, −26.1 to −7.4; P < .001) of unwillingness to have a person with OUD marry into the family (a measure of social distance preference) and a 7.2-point (95% CI, 3.2-11.1; P < .001) higher warmth rating. Participants exposed to the combined visual campaign and patient vignette about the value of medication (continued) Key Points Question Are specific communication strategies effective in reducing stigma toward people with opioid use disorder (OUD) among health care professionals? Findings In this randomized clinical trial involving a national sample of 1842 health care professionals, exposure to visual campaigns combined with short narrative vignettes told from the perspective of a patient with OUD that emphasized the harm of stigmatizing language or the effectiveness of medications for treating OUD was associated with reduced levels of stigma. Meaning The findings of this randomized clinical trial suggest that carefully designed communication campaigns may reduce OUD-related stigma among health care professionals.
The FASEB Journal, 2009
•We examined the changes on body composition in 128 participants (BMI 2240) for 24 weeks. •DASH-S... more •We examined the changes on body composition in 128 participants (BMI 2240) for 24 weeks. •DASH-Style diet and exercise (DS; n=70) •Exercise only (EO, n=58) •Both groups received an exercise prescription recommending a minimum of: •moderate physical activity •15 minutes per session, progressing to 45 minutes •3 days per week progressing to 4 days per week by week 12. •They were provided support via once weekly meetings with an exercise physiologist for 12 weeks and biweekly thereafter. •The DS group also followed a standardized dietary approach consisting of: •a reduced calorie eating pattern •Incorporation of one commercially prepared healthy frozen meal and one other selected grocery item each day •dietary counseling from a dietician once weekly for 12 weeks and biweekly thereafter. Results
Frontiers in Public Health, 2021
Excess dietary sodium contributes to the burden of chronic disease, including cardiovascular dise... more Excess dietary sodium contributes to the burden of chronic disease, including cardiovascular disease and stroke. Media-based health education campaigns are one strategy to raise awareness among populations at greater risk for stroke, including African Americans. During 2014–2015, the Philadelphia Department of Public Health conducted a health education campaign using radio, print news, and transit ads, to promote awareness of the link between dietary sodium, hypertension and stroke, and encourage reduced consumption of high sodium foods. Using a repeated cross-sectional design, street intercept surveys were conducted with ~400 Philadelphia residents representing the campaign's priority audience (African Americans ages 35–55) before and 6–13 weeks after the campaign, to evaluate both process (campaign exposure) and impact (recall of key health messages). Thirty percent of post-campaign respondents reported familiarity with one of the most engaging radio spots, and 17% provided ac...
BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth, 2021
Background Given the trend of increasing maternal age and associated adverse reproductive outcome... more Background Given the trend of increasing maternal age and associated adverse reproductive outcomes in the US, this study aimed to assess whether this association is due to an independent aging or confounded by sociodemographic, biomedical, or behavioral determinants in a predominantly Black US population. Methods Data was from 8509 women enrolled in the Boston Birth Cohort. Adverse reproductive outcomes included spontaneous preterm delivery, cesarean delivery, and low birth weight. Covariates included sociodemographic (parity, race/ethnicity, education, marital status, income, receipt of public assistance, nativity); biomedical (obesity, hypertensive disorders, diabetes mellitus); and behavioral (consistent intake of multivitamin supplements, support from father of baby, support from family, major stress in pregnancy, cigarette smoking, alcohol intake). Analysis included Lowess and marginal probability plots, crude and adjusted sequential logistic regression models to examine age-ou...
Journal of Hunger & Environmental Nutrition, 2019
Objective. To evaluate the impact of a faith-based diabetes risk prevention program. Design. Nine... more Objective. To evaluate the impact of a faith-based diabetes risk prevention program. Design. Nine predominately African American (AA) churches were randomized to one of three groupsgroup 1 (intervention group) received the Healthy Bodies Healthy Souls faithbased intervention and Project POWER (HBHS+PP), group 2 received PP only, and group 3 received a delayed intervention (comparison group). Results. Church members in the HBHS+PP intervention group significantly decreased systolic and diastolic blood pressure (p = 0.02 and 0.01, respectively), showed greater improvement in food-related self-efficacy (p = 0.04), had a trend toward increased purchasing of healthy foods (p = 0.06), and decreased their purchasing of less healthy foods (p = 0.02) compared to churches receiving PP alone or the delayed intervention. Conclusions. The combined HBHS+PP program shows promise toward promoting a healthier lifestyle and behaviors in AA church members.
Public Health Nutrition, 2018
ObjectiveWhile maternal folate deficiency has been linked to poor pregnancy outcomes such as neur... more ObjectiveWhile maternal folate deficiency has been linked to poor pregnancy outcomes such as neural tube defects, anaemia and low birth weight, the relationship between folate and preterm birth (PTB) in the context of the US post-folic acid fortification era is inconclusive. We sought to explore the relationship between maternal folate status and PTB and its subtypes, i.e. spontaneous and medically indicated PTB.DesignObservational study.SettingBoston Birth Cohort, a predominantly urban, low-income, race/ethnic minority population at a high risk for PTB.ParticipantsMother–infant dyads (n 7675) enrolled in the Boston Birth Cohort. A sub-sample (n 2313) of these dyads had maternal plasma folate samples collected 24–72 h after delivery.ResultsUnadjusted and adjusted logistic regressions revealed an inverse relationship between the frequency of multivitamin supplement intake and PTB. Compared with less frequent use, multivitamin supplement intake 3–5 times/week (adjusted OR (aOR) = 0·78...
Women's health issues : official publication of the Jacobs Institute of Women's Health, Oct 17, 2017
Pregnant obese women have an increased risk for infant mortality and poor maternal outcomes. Envi... more Pregnant obese women have an increased risk for infant mortality and poor maternal outcomes. Environmental and social conditions pose barriers for less-advantaged overweight women to participate in weight loss interventions. The B'more Fit for Healthy Babies Program aimed to address existing gender inequities that persist where exposure to community-level trauma is present. A gender-based analysis using qualitative and quantitative approaches informed B'more Fit's intervention and identified opportunities for trauma-informed care policies. Key data sources for analyses included two series of focus groups and a quantitative survey. Review of additional Baltimore-based literature and research also informed policy development. A workgroup formulated policies for B'more Fit staff and participants. Policies involved technical assistance, staff consultation, and gender-sensitive counseling sessions. These activities gained the attention of the Baltimore City Health Departm...