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Papers by Whitney Bignell

Research paper thumbnail of Prevention Table of Contents

Children’s Healthcare of AtlantaOBESITY

Research paper thumbnail of Design, implementation, and evaluation of a collaborative online case-based learning curriculum about obesity prevention and treatment

Research paper thumbnail of Use of Online Collaborative Case Study Modules for Obesity Education

The FASEB Journal, 2015

Nutrition curricula need to comprehensively address obesity management. Course time constraints m... more Nutrition curricula need to comprehensively address obesity management. Course time constraints may limit in-depth coverage. Added online case studies can provide experiential learning and enhance ...

Research paper thumbnail of The implication of training in breastfeeding peer counselor support

Research paper thumbnail of Awareness of Breastfeeding Laws and Provisions of Students and Employees of Institutions of Higher Learning in Georgia

Journal of Human Lactation, 2018

Background: Over the past 2 decades, southern states in the United States have recorded the lowes... more Background: Over the past 2 decades, southern states in the United States have recorded the lowest breastfeeding rates. It is not known whether awareness of breastfeeding laws and provision of resources play any role in their breastfeeding practices. Research aims: The aims were (a) to describe awareness of breastfeeding laws and provisions by students and employees of institutions of higher learning in the state of Georgia, (b) to describe awareness by race and ethnicity, and (c) to determine factors associated with awareness of breastfeeding laws and provisions among students and employees within Georgia institutions of higher learning. Methods: A cross-sectional online survey of students ( n = 1,923) and employees ( n = 1,311) associated with five institutions within the University System of Georgia ( N = 3,271) was completed. Convenience sampling was used. Data were collected through Qualtrics. Chi-square test was used to examine differences between groups, while logistic regres...

Research paper thumbnail of Risk Factors for Malnutrition among Children 5-years and Younger in the Akuapim-North District in the Eastern Region of Ghana

… Research Journal of …, 2010

Malnutrition remains a significant public health problem in developing countries. The aim of this... more Malnutrition remains a significant public health problem in developing countries. The aim of this study was to identify risk factors for malnutrition among preschool children in the Akwapim-North District in the Eastern Region of Ghana. This was a cross-sectional study. Mothers who brought their children to the "Well Baby Check-up" clinics were invited to participate. Anthropometric measurements (weight and height/length) and blood hemoglobin were measured. Mothers also completed a questionnaire consisting of closed and open-ended questions. A total of 305 preschool age children were included in this study. Of this sample, 43.3% were males, and 56.7% were females. The prevalence of wasting, stunting, and underweight was 6.2, 11.4 and 7.3%, respectively. The majority of the children (80.7%) were anemic. Children who were exclusively breastfed for 6 months showed slightly lower prevalence of both anemia (75.5% vs. 89.0%) and stunting (8% vs. 13%) but not wasting (8.3% vs. 4.3%) or underweight (8.3% vs. 5.2%) compared to their mixed feeding counterparts. Children under 12 months of age showed a higher prevalence of wasting (9.4%) compared to other age groups. Children from homes with electricity showed lower prevalence of stunting (9.7% vs. 17.6%, p = 0.050), and children from households with a radio showed lower prevalence of wasting (5.3% vs. 19.0%, p = 0.033). Nutrition education encouraging exclusive breastfeeding and adequate provision of animal protein to preschool children is important in semi-rural and farming communities in developing countries such as Ghana in order to combat the prevalence of childhood malnutrition (stunting, wasting, underweight and anemia).

Research paper thumbnail of “It's Not the Child's Fault” – Students' Perceived Learning About Pediatric Obesity in a Collaborative Online Case Study

Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior, 2014

Objective: The objective of this collaborative online case study was to increase undergraduate st... more Objective: The objective of this collaborative online case study was to increase undergraduate students' pediatric obesity management knowledge and skills. Target Audience: The target audience for this case study was undergraduate students in a life cycle nutrition class. Theory, Prior Research, Rationale:Multiple levels of factors impact children's weight status (social ecological model), and parents and community members may be able to change these factors. Undergraduate nutrition programs should include a review of obesity management but time constraints often prohibit covering material in depth. Online collaborative case-based learning (CBL) may overcome these barriers; however, few have evaluated the effectiveness of online CBL in nutrition courses. Description: This online case study module was one of six to be implemented across the curriculum. Students in small groups completed the module consisting of PowerPoint presentations to scaffold learning, self-reflective essays, group discussion boards, and collaborative development of a nutrition care plan consistent with recommended guidelines for the ‘‘case family.’’ Evaluation: Eighty-eight students were included in analyses. The mean difference between pre-tests and post-tests was +10.3% (SEM 1.2%, P< 0.001). Qualitative thematic analyses of students' self-reflective essays indicated that the majority did not previously recognize the extent of the obesity epidemic, the impact of multiple factors on weight status, and the need to involve families in behavior change. Most students intended to apply knowledge gained to their own behavior. Conclusions and Implications: An online collaborative case study including self-reflection was effective in increasing students' awareness of obesity-related factors and need to involve family in nutrition care planning. Funding: College of Family and Consumer Sciences, University of Georgia

Research paper thumbnail of Impact of Education and Training on Type of Care Provided by Breastfeeding Peer Counselors

Journal of The American Dietetic Association, 2010

Background: Studies using community-based breastfeeding counselors (CBBCs) have repeatedly shown ... more Background: Studies using community-based breastfeeding counselors (CBBCs) have repeatedly shown positive impact on breastfeeding initiation, exclusivity and duration, particularly among low-income mothers. To date, there has not been a comprehensive study to determine the impact of CBBC attributes such as educational background and training, on the type of care that CBBCs provide. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study of a convenience sample of CBBCs to ascertain the influence of counselor education and type of training on type of support and proficiency of CBBCs in communities across the United States. Invitations to participate in this online survey of CBBCs were e-mailed to program coordinators of the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), La Leche League, and other community-based health organizations, who in turn invited and encouraged their CBBCs to participate. Descriptive analysis was used to describe participants (N = 847), while bivariate analysis using χ 2 test was used to examine the differences between CBBC education, training received and breastfeeding support skills used. Multivariate logistic regression was used to assess the independent determinants of specific breastfeeding support skills. Results: The major findings from the research indicate that overall, educational attainment of CBBCs is not a significant predictor for the curriculum used in their training and type of support skills used during counseling sessions, but initial training duration was positively associated with the use of many breastfeeding support skills. Another major influence of counselor support to clients is the type of continuing education they receive after their initial training, with higher likelihood of use of desirable support skills associated with counselors continuing their breastfeeding education at conferences or trainings away from their job sites. Conclusions: Our results show that different programs use different training curricula to train their CBBCs varying in duration and content. Counselor education is not a significant predictor of the type of training they receive. Continuing breastfeeding education is a significant determinant of type of counseling techniques used with clients. Further research is therefore needed to critically examine the content of the various training curricula of CBBC programs. This may show a need for a standardized training curriculum for all CBBC programs worldwide to make CBBCs more proficient and efficient, ensuring successful and optimum breastfeeding experiences for mothers and their newborns.

Research paper thumbnail of Provision of Support Strategies and Services - A Comparison between Paid and Volunteer Breastfeeding Peer Counselors

Journal of The American Dietetic Association, 2010

Research paper thumbnail of Predictors of Weight and Adiposity During Early InfancyA Prospective Study

Ican: Infant, Child, & Adolescent Nutrition, 2009

Research paper thumbnail of Provision of Support Strategies and Services: Results from an Internet-Based Survey of Community-Based Breastfeeding Counselors

Journal of Human Lactation, 2012

Research paper thumbnail of Prevention Table of Contents

Children’s Healthcare of AtlantaOBESITY

Research paper thumbnail of Design, implementation, and evaluation of a collaborative online case-based learning curriculum about obesity prevention and treatment

Research paper thumbnail of Use of Online Collaborative Case Study Modules for Obesity Education

The FASEB Journal, 2015

Nutrition curricula need to comprehensively address obesity management. Course time constraints m... more Nutrition curricula need to comprehensively address obesity management. Course time constraints may limit in-depth coverage. Added online case studies can provide experiential learning and enhance ...

Research paper thumbnail of The implication of training in breastfeeding peer counselor support

Research paper thumbnail of Awareness of Breastfeeding Laws and Provisions of Students and Employees of Institutions of Higher Learning in Georgia

Journal of Human Lactation, 2018

Background: Over the past 2 decades, southern states in the United States have recorded the lowes... more Background: Over the past 2 decades, southern states in the United States have recorded the lowest breastfeeding rates. It is not known whether awareness of breastfeeding laws and provision of resources play any role in their breastfeeding practices. Research aims: The aims were (a) to describe awareness of breastfeeding laws and provisions by students and employees of institutions of higher learning in the state of Georgia, (b) to describe awareness by race and ethnicity, and (c) to determine factors associated with awareness of breastfeeding laws and provisions among students and employees within Georgia institutions of higher learning. Methods: A cross-sectional online survey of students ( n = 1,923) and employees ( n = 1,311) associated with five institutions within the University System of Georgia ( N = 3,271) was completed. Convenience sampling was used. Data were collected through Qualtrics. Chi-square test was used to examine differences between groups, while logistic regres...

Research paper thumbnail of Risk Factors for Malnutrition among Children 5-years and Younger in the Akuapim-North District in the Eastern Region of Ghana

… Research Journal of …, 2010

Malnutrition remains a significant public health problem in developing countries. The aim of this... more Malnutrition remains a significant public health problem in developing countries. The aim of this study was to identify risk factors for malnutrition among preschool children in the Akwapim-North District in the Eastern Region of Ghana. This was a cross-sectional study. Mothers who brought their children to the "Well Baby Check-up" clinics were invited to participate. Anthropometric measurements (weight and height/length) and blood hemoglobin were measured. Mothers also completed a questionnaire consisting of closed and open-ended questions. A total of 305 preschool age children were included in this study. Of this sample, 43.3% were males, and 56.7% were females. The prevalence of wasting, stunting, and underweight was 6.2, 11.4 and 7.3%, respectively. The majority of the children (80.7%) were anemic. Children who were exclusively breastfed for 6 months showed slightly lower prevalence of both anemia (75.5% vs. 89.0%) and stunting (8% vs. 13%) but not wasting (8.3% vs. 4.3%) or underweight (8.3% vs. 5.2%) compared to their mixed feeding counterparts. Children under 12 months of age showed a higher prevalence of wasting (9.4%) compared to other age groups. Children from homes with electricity showed lower prevalence of stunting (9.7% vs. 17.6%, p = 0.050), and children from households with a radio showed lower prevalence of wasting (5.3% vs. 19.0%, p = 0.033). Nutrition education encouraging exclusive breastfeeding and adequate provision of animal protein to preschool children is important in semi-rural and farming communities in developing countries such as Ghana in order to combat the prevalence of childhood malnutrition (stunting, wasting, underweight and anemia).

Research paper thumbnail of “It's Not the Child's Fault” – Students' Perceived Learning About Pediatric Obesity in a Collaborative Online Case Study

Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior, 2014

Objective: The objective of this collaborative online case study was to increase undergraduate st... more Objective: The objective of this collaborative online case study was to increase undergraduate students' pediatric obesity management knowledge and skills. Target Audience: The target audience for this case study was undergraduate students in a life cycle nutrition class. Theory, Prior Research, Rationale:Multiple levels of factors impact children's weight status (social ecological model), and parents and community members may be able to change these factors. Undergraduate nutrition programs should include a review of obesity management but time constraints often prohibit covering material in depth. Online collaborative case-based learning (CBL) may overcome these barriers; however, few have evaluated the effectiveness of online CBL in nutrition courses. Description: This online case study module was one of six to be implemented across the curriculum. Students in small groups completed the module consisting of PowerPoint presentations to scaffold learning, self-reflective essays, group discussion boards, and collaborative development of a nutrition care plan consistent with recommended guidelines for the ‘‘case family.’’ Evaluation: Eighty-eight students were included in analyses. The mean difference between pre-tests and post-tests was +10.3% (SEM 1.2%, P< 0.001). Qualitative thematic analyses of students' self-reflective essays indicated that the majority did not previously recognize the extent of the obesity epidemic, the impact of multiple factors on weight status, and the need to involve families in behavior change. Most students intended to apply knowledge gained to their own behavior. Conclusions and Implications: An online collaborative case study including self-reflection was effective in increasing students' awareness of obesity-related factors and need to involve family in nutrition care planning. Funding: College of Family and Consumer Sciences, University of Georgia

Research paper thumbnail of Impact of Education and Training on Type of Care Provided by Breastfeeding Peer Counselors

Journal of The American Dietetic Association, 2010

Background: Studies using community-based breastfeeding counselors (CBBCs) have repeatedly shown ... more Background: Studies using community-based breastfeeding counselors (CBBCs) have repeatedly shown positive impact on breastfeeding initiation, exclusivity and duration, particularly among low-income mothers. To date, there has not been a comprehensive study to determine the impact of CBBC attributes such as educational background and training, on the type of care that CBBCs provide. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study of a convenience sample of CBBCs to ascertain the influence of counselor education and type of training on type of support and proficiency of CBBCs in communities across the United States. Invitations to participate in this online survey of CBBCs were e-mailed to program coordinators of the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), La Leche League, and other community-based health organizations, who in turn invited and encouraged their CBBCs to participate. Descriptive analysis was used to describe participants (N = 847), while bivariate analysis using χ 2 test was used to examine the differences between CBBC education, training received and breastfeeding support skills used. Multivariate logistic regression was used to assess the independent determinants of specific breastfeeding support skills. Results: The major findings from the research indicate that overall, educational attainment of CBBCs is not a significant predictor for the curriculum used in their training and type of support skills used during counseling sessions, but initial training duration was positively associated with the use of many breastfeeding support skills. Another major influence of counselor support to clients is the type of continuing education they receive after their initial training, with higher likelihood of use of desirable support skills associated with counselors continuing their breastfeeding education at conferences or trainings away from their job sites. Conclusions: Our results show that different programs use different training curricula to train their CBBCs varying in duration and content. Counselor education is not a significant predictor of the type of training they receive. Continuing breastfeeding education is a significant determinant of type of counseling techniques used with clients. Further research is therefore needed to critically examine the content of the various training curricula of CBBC programs. This may show a need for a standardized training curriculum for all CBBC programs worldwide to make CBBCs more proficient and efficient, ensuring successful and optimum breastfeeding experiences for mothers and their newborns.

Research paper thumbnail of Provision of Support Strategies and Services - A Comparison between Paid and Volunteer Breastfeeding Peer Counselors

Journal of The American Dietetic Association, 2010

Research paper thumbnail of Predictors of Weight and Adiposity During Early InfancyA Prospective Study

Ican: Infant, Child, & Adolescent Nutrition, 2009

Research paper thumbnail of Provision of Support Strategies and Services: Results from an Internet-Based Survey of Community-Based Breastfeeding Counselors

Journal of Human Lactation, 2012