Preparing Students for the Public Health Workforce: The Role of Effective High-Impact Educational Practices in Undergraduate Public Health Program Curricula.

There are several institutions of higher learning in the United States that award degrees in public health to undergraduate students. While these institutions serve as potential pipelines for the public health workforce, it is unclear if the curricula and training students receive from these institutions, really prepare them for the public health workforce or higher education. The questions sometimes asked are whether the programs offered by these institutions exist to provide students with a good understanding of public health issues so they can become good citizens for building a responsible society, or if it is to prepare students for graduate school.

Alternative Tobacco Product Use and Smoking Quit Attempts Among Teenagers in the United States: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Background Public health interventions have heightened awareness of risk factors and ill effects of tobacco use. Though sales of conventional tobacco products have been steadily declining, there is the advent of a new generation of alternative tobacco products marketed with claims of reduced harms and smoking cessation aids. These products are increasing in prevalence and popularity among adolescents.

COVID-19 and Distance Learning: Effects on Georgia State University School of Public Health Students.

On March 11, 2020, the World Health organization declared COVID-19 a global pandemic. Following the speed with which COVID-19 spread to all parts of the world, and to contain the spread of the disease, most governments around the world, including the US, authorized unprecedented social containment measures to stem the tide. These measures among others required social distancing and the temporary physical closure of educational institutions.

Tenofovir-associated renal toxicity in a cohort of HIV infected patients in Ghana.

Objective: Tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF) is a nucleotide analogue recommended in international HIV treatment guidelines. Purpose of this study was to estimate the long term effects of TDF on renal profile in a cohort of HIV patients in Ghana. Three hundred (300) consecutive HIV-positive patients who initiated TDF-based antiretroviral treatment in 2008 at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital were sampled.

Effect of marijuana use on cardiovascular and cerebrovascular mortality: A study using the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey linked mortality file.

Background Reports associate marijuana use with cardiovascular emergencies. Studies relating marijuana use to cardiovascular mortality are scarce. Recent advance towards marijuana use legalization emphasizes the importance of understanding relationships between marijuana use and cardiovascular deaths; the primary ranked mortality.

Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis for HIV Prevention: Safety Concerns.

Available evidence supports the efficacy of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) in decreasing the incidence of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection among high-risk individuals, especially when used in combination with other behavioural preventive methods. Safety concerns about PrEP present challenges in the implementation and use of PrEP. The aim of this review is to discuss safety concerns observed in completed clinical trials on the use of PrEP.

Association Between the Occurrence of Adverse Drug Events and Modification of First-Line Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy in Ghanaian HIV Patients.

Introduction: Patients initiated on highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) generally remain on medication indefinitely. A modification in the HAART regimen may become necessary because of possible acute or chronic toxicities, concomitant clinical conditions, development of virological failure or the advent of adverse drug events. The study documents adverse drug events of HIV-positive Ghanaian patients with HAART modifications.

A cross-sectional analysis of the association between marijuana and cigarette smoking with metabolic syndrome among adults in the United States.

Aim: To assess the relationship between marijuana use, cigarette smoking and metabolic syndrome among adults in the United States who reported they use marijuana or cigarettes in comparison to non-marijuana and non-cigarette users.

Method: We conducted multiple logistic regression analyses using data from the 2011-2012 United States National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey to estimate relationships between cardio-metabolic risk factors and increasing years of smoking cigarette or marijuana use. Statistical adjustments were made for both demographic and endogenous factors related to recreational substance use.

Determinants of unintended pregnancies in rural Ghana.

Background: Unintended pregnancies may carry serious consequences for women and their families, including the possibility of unsafe abortion, delayed prenatal care, poor maternal mental health and poor child health outcomes. Although between 1993 and 2008, unintended births decreased from 42% to 37% in Ghana, the rate of decline is low, whilst levels are still very high. This raises the need to understand factors associated with unintended pregnancies, especially among women in rural settings where the rates and risks are highest to help improve maternal health.