Public Health – Page 8 – UROP Spring Symposium 2021

Public Health

Data Gathering Data Analysis Toward Better Air Quality Outcomes in SW Detroit

In 2019, a resident of southwest Detroit called SDEV to ask for help with air pollution that was getting into her house. The problem was so bad that she had to change furnace filters monthly, which were completely caked with black soot. SDEV visited the resident’s home to learn more and received a furnace filter from the resident. My project involved launching a survey of residents to see how many are experiencing similar indoor air quality concerns and quantifying the information to present at SDEV’s annual member’s meeting and to the City of Detroit’s Council meeting. Using a google form, the survey was created with feedback from University of Michigan Public Health experts and other professional resources. With the internet, phone, and physical canvassing efforts, data was collected from 48 residents. We have found a majority of residents surveyed do experience some kind of air quality problems inside the house (grime, soot collecting on the walls, furnace filter color black, etc.) persisting for at least over a year. SDEV intends to use this data to push for real change and bring more resources to address the problem in people’s homes. By making the data accessible to the public, government decision-makers, and others who can bring resources, SDEV will work with community members and others to address the problem of indoor air quality. We have and will continue to connect with community members to bring awareness to the resources that can mitigate the impact of pollution at home. This work aligns with the recommendations of the community-based participatory research initiative Community Action to Promote Healthy Environments (CAPHE) facilitated by University of Michigan with SDEV and other local partners.

Geospatial analysis of wildland fire-PM2.5 in relation to geographic location of susceptible populations in California

Wildfires are becoming more frequent and more intense due to climate change, forest management practices, and settlement patterns. There are well-researched negative health effects caused by wildfire smoke, such as increased instances of respiratory disease like COPD and asthma, and particulate matter is causally associated with cardiovascular diseases. Particulate matter (PM 2.5) from wildfire smoke contributes to these health conditions. Children (18 and under), pregnant women, the elderly (65 and older), people with pre-existing conditions (COPD, asthma, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, people with cancer), and outdoor workers are at higher risk for these negative health effects due to biological susceptibility and social vulnerabilities. . We conducted a e study of exposure to demonstrate possible co-occurrences of fire-PM2.5 and vulnerable populations in California. This study uses modeled Community Multiscale Air Quality (CMAQ) estimates of fire-PM2.5 exposure, US Census data, and California Department of Public Health data to map multiple demographic characteristics of communities in California alongside concentrations of fire-PM2.5 pollution. The resulting quantification of risk factors compared to fire PM2.5 concentration estimates in California can help inform the decisions of public health officials and policymakers in regards to protection of communities from the negative health effects associated with fire PM2.5.

Geospatial analysis of wildland fire-PM2.5 in relation to geographic location of susceptible populations in California

Gabrielle Demott Pronouns: she/they Research Mentor(s): Patricia Koman, Research Investigator Research Mentor School/College/Department: School of Public Health, Presentation Date: Thursday, April 22, 2021 Session: Session 1 (10am-10:50am) Breakout Room: Room 8 Presenter: 2 Event Link Abstract For privacy concerns this abstract cannot be published at this time. Authors: Gabrielle Demott Research Method: Data Collection and …

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Data Gathering Data Analysis Toward Better Air Quality Outcomes in SW Detroit

In support of the ongoing initiatives by community advocates to cut diesel emissions in Southwest Detroit, this research aims to gauge the effects on air quality that commercial vehicles have in residential areas when using their streets as routes. SW Detroit has some of the highest levels of PM and toxic pollutants measured in Detroit, with Detroit having the worst air quality conditions in Michigan. This study accesses the ambient air quality in residential areas that have a high frequency of commercial trucks traveling their streets. We want to know how each passing truck contributes to the air pollution on the street it is using.

Data Gathering Data Analysis Toward Better Air Quality Outcomes in SW Detroit

In support of the ongoing initiatives by community advocates to cut diesel emissions in Southwest Detroit, this research aims to gauge the effects on air quality that commercial vehicles have in residential areas when using their streets as routes. SW Detroit has some of the highest levels of PM and toxic pollutants measured in Detroit, with Detroit having the worst air quality conditions in Michigan. This study accesses the ambient air quality in residential areas that have a high frequency of commercial trucks traveling their streets. We want to know how each passing truck contributes to the air pollution on the street it is using.

Exploring Feeding Cues in Older Hospitalized Infants: A Survey Among Hospital Staff and Feeding Specialists

Some hospitals feed infants on a provider-driven schedule, which emphasizes quantity of the oral feed over the quality and frequently ignores infant oral-feeding engagement and disengagement cues to quickly meet oral feeding goals. Infants who are fed using this type of approach quickly learn that eating is a scary process that should be limited or avoided entirely. Alternatively, a cue-based feeding approach focuses on responding to behaviors infants use to communicate oral-feeding readiness and disengagement. Cue-based feeding promotes safe, efficient oral feeding skill acquisition and avoids negative feeding experiences that result in oral aversions. Currently, the majority of the cue-based feeding literature focuses on premature infants and newborns, and there is a lack of research for implementation with older infants (6-12 months). The research that does exist primarily focuses on behaviors observed in typically developing, healthy infants; however, behaviors of older hospitalized infants can differ dramatically from healthy infants. Consequently, cue-based feeding guidelines for older hospitalized infants do not exist. To address this gap in the literature, we used a brief 15-question online Qualtrics survey to gather information about (1) the use of cue-based feeding in older hospitalized infants and (2) specific feeding behaviors observed in older hospitalized infants. Participants included nurses, feeding therapists, and unit techs. Participation was incentivized with the chance to win a gift card. Data analysis will include frequency counts and chi-square tests to identify relationships between hospital position, length of employment, and cue-based feeding beliefs. The information gleaned from this study, in combination with existing literature on cue-based feeding, will add critical knowledge to enhance the implementation of a cue-based feeding protocol hospital wide, ensuring that even older infants will be protected from scary and overwhelming feeding experiences that place them at risk for long-term feeding issues.

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