Social determinants have impacted disease states. The purpose of this study was to determine the influence of social determinants on the incidence of tuberculosis over a 20-year period for the state of New Jersey to determine interventions that can be developed for the state. The epidemiological triad (host-agent-environment) served as the theoretical foundation for this study. A quantitative series of cross sectional analyses were performed using secondary data from a New Jersey Department of Health database on population tuberculosis incidence for the state. Categorical data analyses were used to describe the data. According to study results, certain social determinants; such as gender, substance abuse, residence, and place of birth; and the age of the patient had an impact on tuberculosis incidence trend at the state level. The social change implications for this project could be that identifying the factors that impact tuberculosis incidence may reduce and lead to more targeted interventions, which in turn, would help to reduce the different kind of burdens; such as financial, social, and emotional; associated with this disease on the community where it is occurring.

The city of Seattle, Washington made headlines in 2014 when its city council enacted the highest minimum wage in the history of the United States. The ruling appeared to begin a trend as similar policies began diffusing in cities across the country. In reality, however, municipal minimum wage ordinances have existed since the early 1990’s. Yet, despite over two decade’s worth of data on the subject, little research has been conducted to understand the characteristics that influence cities to enact minimum wages in the first place. This study contributes to our understanding of the predictors of minimum wage ordinances by retesting prior variables of significance over a more recent time period, while also introducing a new set of variables to the literature. I find that cities with an increased percentage of residents with bachelor’s degrees face an increased likelihood for future policy adoption. Additionally, I find that some age demographics may be significant predictors in future studies of minimum wage.

Malaria is a vector borne, acute febrile illness, caused by Plasmodium parasites. Malaria impacts the medical and socioeconomic development programs of affected communities, as it diverts both individual and national resources into managing the disease burden. The purpose of this study was to explore and evaluate household determinants of malaria in Mutasa District, Zimbabwe. The precede-proceed theoretical model guided the study. Secondary data from Demographic Health Survey and District Health Management Information System, and current data from household determinant questionnaires, were used to evaluate the influence and significance of identified household determinants. Multiple logistic regression models were used to examine the association between malaria prevalence and the identified household determinant factors. The study result showed the existence of household determinant factors that affected the prevalence of malaria in Mutasa District. The presence of livestock animals within a 50-meter radius of the household, ownership of animal drawn carts and low socioeconomic status significantly increased malaria risk, while availability of drinking water within a 50-meter radius of the household, significantly reduced malaria risk. Other variables, although not statistically significant, had varied levels of malaria infection risk. The study results may contribute to positive social change by providing an insight into innovative strategies that enhance existing interventions. The study results may also provide opportunities for upgrading malaria intervention policies and sustainable community participation, thus enhancing malaria elimination efforts

Rural adults engage in less physical activity and are less likely to meet activity recommendations than urban or suburban adults. Understanding determinants of this behavior can help design interventions for increasing activity levels. This series of studies examined the perceived determinants of physical activity in the social, physical, and policy environments of rural adults, using the following aims: Aim 1: A secondary analysis was conducted of a cross-sectional survey among 407 adults from two rural towns to examine determinants of physical activity separately by the domain in which this behavior occurs (i.e. home care, active living, etc.). Multiple regression analyses found that social characteristics (such as support from friends), policy attitudes (such as workplace incentives for exercise), and physical environmental factors (such as an activity-friendly neighborhood) were positively associated with total physical activity, active living, and sport. Barriers were negatively associated with these domains. No factors were associated with physical activity in work or home care. Physical activity determinants are specific to the domain of physical activity, and more research needs to be done to determine factors associated with physical activity in home or work. Aim 2: Measurement tools should be culturally relevant to a specific population for accurate measurement. Three focus groups were conducted (n=19) in a rural Midwestern county to tailor existing measurement tools to this population. Focus group members were asked about the activities they engaged in and facilitators and barriers to those activities. Important factors associated with physical activity include social support and modeling active behavior. Focus group members desired to see community buildings be open to the public for exercise. This study revealed contextual issues and cultural language for tailoring physical activity measurement tools for rural adults. Aim 3: Ecological models propose that the environment impacts behavior on several different levels. Using a tailored survey instrument, this study examined social, environmental, and policy-level determinants of physical activity at different levels of an ecological approach. A cross-sectional survey was given to 143 individuals residing in a rural Midwestern county. Test-retest reliability was examined using correlations and kappa statistics, and was found to be very good to substantial. Multiple regression analyses were conducted using general linear modeling. Social factors were associated with total physical activity; environmental factors were associated with active transport, house and yard work, vigorous activity, and walking; and policy factors were associated with physical activity at work, and moderate-intensity activity. Findings can be used to tailor physical activity interventions using an ecological approach in rural adults, based on the specific domain and intensity in which the activity occurs. These studies provide insight into the contextual factors that are associated with physical activity in rural Midwestern adults, and provide evidence that determinants should be examined and presented by the domain and intensity in which this behavior occurs. It is clear that social and physical environments and policy attitudes are associated with domain- and intensity-specific physical activity in this population.

This thesis evaluates the utility of �social capital� for public health in four dimensions (communication, explanation, practice and measurement) and at two levels (macro and micro), using interviews with public health workers and a theoretical analysis of social capital. It concludes that the concept is potentially useful for public health but that there are limitations to its utility, arising from the presence of two competing discourses or world views identified in the social capital literature: the rational choice discourse and the political economy discourse. This thesis argues that although social capital is widely perceived to have rhetorical leverage in macro-level policy debates, its contested meaning draws into question the value of any consensus built on the glossing over of different world views. The concept has no value for communication at the micro level. The rational choice theory of social capital appears useful for explaining the social determinants of health although it does not adequately account for the power structures which shape and constrain access to social capital, and it undervalues many aspects of social relationships. The political economy approach is more useful in these respects but is far more complex and difficult to quantify. It is unclear whether either of these theories adds much value to the existing literature which social capital tends to eclipse. The concept has limited value for public health practice, as the dual world views embedded in it can be used to support widely varying policy directions. It is also limited by its inability to describe the dynamics of change or to identify levers for initiating change. The meaningfulness of social capital indicators is compromised by the reductionism of the rational choice paradigm. The political economy discourse renders the development of quantitative indicators far more problematic but may be useful for informing qualitative research.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--Memorial University of Newfoundland, 2005. / Includes bibliographical references.

ABSTRACT INTRODUCTION: Multi-drug resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) poses a great threat to the eradication of TB. In the US, MDR-TB is faced with inadequate diagnostic tools and long and expensive treatment regimens. Therefore, preventing the disease is the key to saving lives and resources. Social and behavioral variables play a big part in this prevention. It is important to determine the social factors that may lead to MDR-TB in order to set up prevention programs and more efficient treatment regimens. AIM: This study was conducted to ascertain the social determinants of MDR-TB in the US between the years of 2005 and 2009 to better equip public health officials to deal with this growing threat. METHODS: This study used the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Online Tuberculosis Information System (OTIS) database to find associations between certain social variables and MDR-TB. The variables that were tested were whether or not the individual had lived in a correctional facility for the past year; HIV status; homelessness; whether or not the individual had an occupation; and whether the individual was foreign-born or US-born. An unadjusted odds ratio (OR) was calculated to find this association. The variables were then stratified with age; sex; race; age and race; age and sex; and age, sex, and race to see whether or not the strata were confounders. RESULTS: The variables of having lived in a correctional facility and homelessness were found to be associated with MDR-TB. However, all of the strata were found to be confounders for this relationship. Having HIV and being US-born were not found to be associated with MDR-TB. All of the strata for HIV were found to be confounders. But for place of birth, stratifying by age, sex, and both age and sex were not confounders. The rest of the strata were. The OR for occupation versus MDR-TB was almost at 1, meaning that those with a job and those without a job had almost equal odds of having MDR-TB. Effect modification was present for the strata in all variables, meaning that the risk of having MDR-TB varied with each different age, sex, and racial group. DISCUSSION: Results from this study showed which variables were more likely to be associated with MDR-TB in the US between the years of 2005 and 2009. However, when compared to the literature that exists, the results showed that more research needs to be done to properly ascertain this relationship. Using this study, public health officials can identify which populations to focus prevention efforts on.

The goal of this study is to search for the January anomaly based on some economic theories and determining factors. By anomaly, we refer to any strange, unusual, or unique occurrence which deviates from established trends or economic principles. These economic theories attempt to explain the equilibrium and disequilibrium in the foreign exchange market. We aim at gauging when the SEK is likely to be misaligned and if an identified anomaly is evidence of a stable and long running phenomenon which an investment strategy could be based on, or whether it is just a short-term unique mispricing which will disappear in the long term. The research questions for this paper include:          What factors account for fluctuations in the Swedish Krona?          Is there evidence of a January effect in the Swedish Krona?   These questions will be evaluated based on the results of our computations on MS excel. Multiple regression analysis will be used to determine the level of significance for the monthly dummy variables. The exchange rates used in this paper include the SEK/€ and the SEK/$.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Missouri-Columbia, 1999. / Typescript. Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 52-53). Also available on the Internet.

This research aimed to explore the nutritional vulnerability of homeless adult men. Using a mixed methods approach, risk factors for chronic illness, food security status, dietary intake adequacy, and how the study participants navigate the food supply system to obtain food were investigated. This study assessed differences in nutrition vulnerability between participants that use solvents and those that do not. The findings reveal that all participants were nutritionally vulnerable. A majority was overweight or obese; nearly all experienced food insecurity; and most did not meet the daily food intake guidelines established by Canada’s Food Guide. Daily efforts by participants to obtain food from charitable meal programs helped to meet physiological needs, as well as social, economic, safety and security needs. Participants using solvents had different nutritional and food experiences than non-solvent users. This was identified by a higher prevalence of severe food insecurity and social exclusion compared to non-solvent using homeless participants. This study provides important information to program planners and policy-makers necessary in order to help meet the food and nutritional needs of adult homeless populations. Findings may be translated into policies and programs aimed at improving accessibility to healthy foods.