Between the years 2006-2007, Harris County, located at the heart of the Houston metropolitan area, experienced a nearly 90% decline in the number of female mosquitoes which tested positive for the West Nile virus. Different theories exist as to why such a precipitous drop occurred and this study attempts to determine the extent to which climatic variability between the two years played a role. The Mosquito Control Division of Harris County Public Health and Environmental Services gathered the data on vectors and reservoirs. Then using GIS, spatial analysis, and geostatistical tools the vector and reservoir data was compared to climatic data to investigate any changes in viral distribution. Previous studies of the area until now have used a limited amount of climatic data; this study seeks to improve the resolution of climatic data analyzed. A higher resolution of data was achieved by including as-of-yet unused data from a network of over 150 gauges maintained by various state and local agencies in addition to previously used data from NOAA COOP stations. Using this dense network of station's values for precipitation, temperature and other climatic variables were interpolated for all of Harris County and used in the analysis. Based on results, water availability was the most likely out of all the climatic variables to the precipitous drop of West Nile virus positive female mosquitoes from 2006-2007. Correlations between all climatic variables and mosquito abundance and West Nile virus positives showed mixed results compared to a previous study in the same area.

Previous research suggests that prisons may be fueling the spread of HIV infection in the general population. In 2005, the HIV rate was more than 2.5 times higher in US prison populations. Environmental factors in prisons such as illicit drug use and unprotected sexual activities can be conducive for HIV transmission. Because the vast majority of prison inmates are incarcerated for less than three years, transmission of HIV between prison inmates and members of the general population may occur at a high rate. The environment in which an individual lives and the entities that comprise it affect the health of that person. Thus the location of prisons within communities, as well as socio-demographic characteristics may influence the geography of HIV infection. HIV surveillance data, obtained from the Texas Department of State Health Services, were used to investigate the relationship between the location of prison units in Texas and HIV infection rates in the surrounding zip codes. The results suggest that HIV prevalence rates are higher among geographic areas in close proximity to a prison unit. With continued behavioral risks and low treatment adherence rates among individuals infected with HIV, there is a possibility of increased HIV prevalence. Vulnerable places, locations with higher HIV prevalence, should be targeted for resource allocation and HIV prevention and care service. This study illustrates the importance of spatial analysis of places vulnerable to increased HIV prevalence in creating more effective public health prevention strategies and interventions.

published_or_final_version / China Development Studies / Master / Master of Arts in China Development Studies

No description available.

Thesis (M.A.) in Mathematics--University of Maine, 2004. / Includes vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaf 51).

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Southwest Texas State University, 2001. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 174-201).

Thesis (Ph.D.)--McMaster University, 2003. / Advisor: Susan Elliott. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 217-246). Also available via World Wide Web.

Thesis (M. Sc.)--University of Canterbury, 2007. / Typescript (photocopy). Includes bibliographical references (leaves 124-142). Also available via the World Wide Web.

Thesis (M.A.)--Georgia State University, 2005. / Title from title screen. Jeremy Crampton, committee chair; Michael Eriksen, Dona Stewart, committee members. Electronic text (94 p. : ill., maps (some col.)) : digital, PDF file. Description based on contents viewed July 10, 2007. Includes bibliographical references (p. 88-94).

Field research was undertaken in three Jamaican farming communities to understand the localized health impact of pesticide poisoning in a developing country. The primary research tool was the collection of data through an intra-household survey, complemented by field observations. The goal was to gather information on the extent to which pesticides are used, the physiological symptoms experienced during or after pesticide exposure, and the farmers' knowledge, attitude, and practice of safe pesticide use. Secondly, I examined the structural constraints to regulating pesticide usage and promoting safe practices, based on interviews with local health care providers and key officials in agriculture, health, and agro-business. The research proved that acute pesticide poisoning is widespread in Jamaica. Furthermore, health outcomes varied geographically particularly as related to the nature of the crop and pest problems. There was some effort within the agricultural and medical branch of the Jamaican government to address this concern; however, evidence that farmers had widely adopted safe application practices did not exist. I found that hazardous pesticide practices were not simply traced to farmers' ignorance. Rather, farmers showed substantial awareness of safety procedures but often chose not to practice them. The matter was further complicated by the general lack of knowledge among health care providers in identification and proper treatment of poisoning. / Master of Science