PhD
November 18, 2020
Early childhood diarrhea and growth among HIV-exposed, uninfected infants in Kenya
BACKGROUND Diarrhea and poor linear growth are leading causes of childhood morbidity and mortality in low- and middle- income countries. While global childhood mortality has been significantly reduced in the past decades, further reductions will likely require a better understanding of the causes of and relationship between diarrhea and linear growth in vulnerable populations. The…
Evaluating risk factors and synergistic effects of two common HIV-1 coinfections: schistosomiasis and trichomoniasis
INTRODUCTION HIV-1 coinfections have long been suspected of catalyzing the HIV-1 epidemic by increasing HIV-1 transmission or acquisition risk. The geographical distribution of coinfections may explain why some regions have been more heavily impacted by HIV-1. The primary objective of this dissertation was to expand our understanding of two common HIV-1 coinfections that have been…
Antidepressant medication continuation during pregnancy and perinatal outcomes, including gestational weight gain, gestational diabetes, and birth weight
BACKGROUND Every year, approximately 7–8% of pregnant women in the US (~300,000 women) use antidepressants. Use of certain antidepressants in non-pregnant populations has been associated with weight loss, whereas others have been associated with weight gain; in pregnant women, the association of antidepressant use and gestational weight gain has not been thoroughly investigated. Some studies…
Unexpected consequences of cannabis legalization on youth
In 2014, Oregon became the 3rd state to legalize the local production, processing and sale of cannabis to persons 21 and older for non-medical use. The nature and direction of the impacts of this initiative on neighborhoods, underage commercial product use and juvenile justice are unknown. As more states turn to decriminalizing cannabis and opening…
From pediatric to adolescent HIV: mortality, viral suppression and transition to adult care
University of Washington Abstract From pediatric to adolescent HIV: mortality, viral suppression and transition to adult care Irene Nyambura Njuguna Chair of the Supervisory Committee: Professor Grace John-Stewart Departments of Global Health and Epidemiology Introduction: Global scale-up of prevention of mother to child transmission (PMTCT) programs and expansion of pediatric HIV testing and treatment have…
Urethral sexual exposures: relationship with prevalent nongonococcal urethritis, the urethral microbiota, and resolution of symptoms
Non-gonococcal urethritis (NGU), the most common male genital tract syndrome, is often caused by Chlamydia trachomatis (CT) and Mycoplasma genitalium (MG). However, up to 50% of cases are of unknown etiology, and yet-unidentified pathogens and polymicrobial communities likely play a role in some of these cases. Studies suggest that specific urethral sexual exposures influence the…
PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis) adherence among East African women
HIV incidence remains disproportionately high for women, particularly young women, in Sub-Saharan Africa; women are also at heightened risk while pregnant, which may account for a substantial portion of their adult lives. Although HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) in pill form is known to be efficacious for women, there remain unanswered questions about adherence in open-label…
Effect of road safety-conscious motorcycle taxi programs on riding behaviors and risk of road traffic crash among motorcycle taxi drivers in Kampala, Uganda
Background: SafeBoda is a private transportation company that started providing motorcycle taxi services in Kampala in 2015. Prior to the introduction of SafeBoda, motorcycle taxi services in Kampala were entirely provided by independent motorcycle taxi drivers with limited formal training on road safety and proclivity for risky riding behaviors (e.g., driving without protective gear and…
Molecular epidemiology of the multidrug-resistant Escherichia coli sequence type 131-H30 lineage among U.S. Children
Escherichia coli sequence type 131-H30 is a globally important pathogen implicated in rising rates of antimicrobial resistance among extraintestinal E. coli infections. H30 causes both community- and healthcare-associated infections, and is associated with resistance to several commonly used antimicrobial agents. This dissertation addresses several knowledge gaps about the epidemiology and transmission dynamics of H30 among…
Effects of Parental Mental Illness on Common Child Health Outcomes
Background: Serious mental illness (SMI), including major depression, bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia, in parents is a major public health concern. Parental mental illness can adversely affect the health and well-being of children. Prior studies have demonstrated associations between maternal depression and child physical health conditions, including infection and injury, which are leading causes of morbidity…
Previous page Next page