Assessing the acceptability of a culturally adapted group-based pediatric intervention, Kokajjiriri, for Marshallese mothers and infants to improve nutrition and prevent childhood obesity.

Background: Marshallese Pacific Islanders experience higher rates of obesity than other racial and/or ethnic communities. Despite the obesity rates experienced in this community, there are currently no childhood obesity prevention interventions designed for Marshallese Pacific Islanders in the United States. The purpose of this study is to assess the acceptability and feasibility of a culturally adapted group-based pediatric intervention, Kokajjiriri, with Marshallese mothers to improve nutrition and reduce childhood obesity.

Providers' Perspectives of a Culturally Adapted CenteringPregnancy Intervention for Marshallese Women in Arkansas.

Objective: To explore health care providers' perspectives on the successes, challenges, and suggestions for future directions regarding the implementation of CenteringPregnancy for Marshallese women in Arkansas.

Design: A descriptive qualitative design was used as an exploratory method.

Setting/local Problem: This study took place in northwest Arkansas.

Breastfeeding Intentions among Pregnant Women Enrolled in a Healthy Start Program in Arkansas.

Introduction: Exclusive breastfeeding is recognized as the optimal source of nutrition for infants. Although exclusive breastfeeding rates have increased overall in the United States, substantial inequities exist in breastfeeding among individuals of different socioeconomic statuses, races, and ethnicities. The purpose of this study was to examine characteristics associated with exclusive breastfeeding intentions among pregnant women in Arkansas enrolled in a Healthy Start program.

Assessing the acceptability and implementation feasibility of a culturally adapted parenting intervention for Marshallese mothers: A study protocol.

Background: Pacific Islanders, including the Marshallese, face higher rates of obesity and obesity-related chronic conditions. Early-life interventions targeting eating patterns during the first 1000 days of life are essential to promote proper nutrition and growth. Marshallese mothers and caregivers are important decision-makers for feeding practices that could affect childhood obesity rates in Marshallese children.

Association Between Mental Health Conditions at the Hospitalization for Birth and Postpartum Hospital Readmission.

The relationship between physical comorbidities and postpartum hospital readmission is well studied, with less research regarding the impact of mental health conditions on postpartum readmission. Using hospital discharge data (2016-2019) from the Hospital Cost and Utilization Project Nationwide Readmissions Database ( = 12,222,654 weighted), we evaluated the impact of mental health conditions (0, 1, 2, and ≥3), as well as five individual conditions (anxiety, depressive, bipolar, schizophrenic, and traumatic/stress-related conditions) on readmission within 42 days, 1-7 days ("early"), and 8-42 days ("late") of hospitalization for birth. In adjusted analyses, the rate of 42-day readmission was 2.

Exploring the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary effectiveness of a culturally adapted group prenatal program, CenteringPregnancy, to reduce maternal and infant health disparities among Marshallese Pacific Islanders: A study protocol.

Background: Marshallese Pacific Islanders residing in the United States have higher rates of adverse perinatal outcomes than the general population and experience numerous barriers to prenatal care. CenteringPregnancy is a group prenatal care model which occurs in the patient's community. CenteringPregnancy, when applied to the Marshallese population, presents a potentially highly successful group-based intervention that can mitigate adverse perinatal outcomes among Marshallese Pacific Islanders.

Application Status Among Women Enrolled in a Healthy Start Program in Arkansas for the Special Nutrition Program for Women and Children.

This study aimed to examine the demographic characteristics of pregnant women in a Healthy Start program who are presumed eligible for the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), but who have not yet applied for WIC benefits. We used a cross sectional evaluation of data collected from pregnant women (n=203) participating in a Healthy Start program. Data came from surveys administered at enrollment in the Healthy Start program from July 15th, 2019 until January 14th, 2022.

Marshallese Mothers' and Marshallese Maternal Healthcare Providers' Perspectives on Contraceptive Use and Reproductive Life Planning Practices and Influences.

Pacific Islander communities experience significant maternal and infant health disparities including high maternal and infant mortality. Contraception and reproductive life planning prevent approximately one-third of pregnancy-related deaths and neonatal deaths. We report the results of formative research devoted to understanding Marshallese mothers' as well as their maternal healthcare providers' practices and influences related to contraceptive use and reproductive life planning.

"It was kind of a nightmare, it really was:" financial toxicity among rural women cancer survivors.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine how rural women cancer survivors experience and manage financial toxicity.

Methods: A qualitative descriptive design was used to explore experiences of financial toxicity among rural women who received cancer treatment. We conducted qualitative interviews with 36 socioeconomically diverse rural women cancer survivors.

"Life is hard": How the COVID-19 pandemic affected daily stressors of women.

The COVID-19 pandemic radically and rapidly altered Americans' daily life as they navigated quarantines, school closings, job insecurity, and disrupted social activities. The COVID-19 pandemic has disproportionately affected women who have reported higher levels of stress, anxiety, and depression related to the pandemic compared to men. The study explored how the COVID-19 pandemic affected daily stressors of women.

Dietary Practices during Pregnancy in a Marshallese Community: A Mixed Methods Analysis.

Dietary practices during pregnancy play a pivotal role in the health of women and their children and set the foundation for long-term health. Marshallese women have disproportionally higher rates of maternal and infant health disparities, yet little is known about the dietary practices during their pregnancy. The purpose of this study was to identify dietary practices during pregnancy among Marshallese women.

Stressful life events and social support among pregnant Marshallese women.

Introduction: Women from racial and ethnic minority groups in the United States are disproportionately likely to experience adverse perinatal outcomes such as preterm birth, low birthweight infants, and infant mortality. Previous research has demonstrated that exposure to stressful life events and social support may influence perinatal outcomes. Although studies have documented stressful life events and social support for the general United States population and minority groups, less is known about the experiences of Pacific Islander women in the United States, and no prior studies have documented these experiences in Marshallese Pacific Islander women.

"It's Okay With Our Culture but We're in a Different Place and We Have to Show Respect": Marshallese Migrants and Exclusive Breastfeeding Initiation.

Background: Pacific Islanders in the United States have lower initiation rates and shorter duration of exclusive breastfeeding compared to other racial/ethnic groups.

Research Aim: To describe infant feeding beliefs and experiences of Marshallese living in the United States.

Methods: We used a prospective and cross-sectional exploratory, descriptive qualitative design with Marshallese participants ( = 36) residing in the United States between July 2019 and July 2020.

Best of Intentions: Influential Factors in Infant Feeding Intent among Marshallese Pregnant Women.

The purpose of this study is to explore the beliefs, intentions, and influences that serve as barriers and facilitators to exclusive breastfeeding intent among Marshallese pregnant women in the United States (US). The study used a descriptive qualitative design. In total, 36 Marshallese women in their third trimester of pregnancy participated.

Facilitators and barriers to employment for rural women cancer survivors.

Purpose: Limited research exists on the employment experiences of rural women cancer survivors, yet this population may face unique barriers to employment following a cancer diagnosis. This study aims to identify facilitators and barriers to employment for rural women cancer survivors.

Methods: We used a qualitative descriptive design to examine facilitators and barriers to employment for rural women cancer survivors.

Gestational weight gain influences, beliefs, and goals among Marshallese pregnant women in Arkansas: a mixed-methods analysis.

Despite the high rate of maternal and child health disparities among the Marshallese, there are no studies documenting gestational weight gain influences, beliefs, and goals among the Marshallese. From March 2019 to March 2020, a purposive sample of 33 participants took part in the mixed methods study. Two themes emerged: (1) Gestational Weight Gain Influences and (2) Excessive Gestational Weight Gain Perceptions.

Diabetes Self-Care Behaviors and Barriers to Clinical Care During COVID-19 Pandemic for Marshallese Adults.

Purpose: The purpose of the study was to explore experiences of Marshallese adults related to diabetes self-care behaviors during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods: A qualitative descriptive design was utilized to understand participants' diabetes self-care behaviors during the pandemic. Nine focus groups with 53 participants were held via videoconference and conducted in English, Marshallese, or a mixture of both languages.

A mixed-methods longitudinal study of Marshallese infant feeding beliefs and experiences in the United States: a study protocol.

Background: Arkansas has the largest population of Marshallese Pacific Islanders residing in the continental United States. Marshallese are disproportionately burdened by poorer maternal and infant health outcomes. Exclusive breastfeeding can prevent or help mitigate maternal and infant health disparities.

Multicomponent Informed Consent with Marshallese Participants.

Pacific Islanders are the second fastest-growing population in the United States; however, Pacific Islanders, and Marshallese specifically, are underrepresented in health research. A community-based participatory research (CBPR) approach was used to engage Marshallese stakeholders and build an academic-community research collaborative to conduct health disparities research. Our CBPR partnership pilot tested a multicomponent consent process that provides participants the option to control the use of their data.

Documenting and characterising gestational weight gain beliefs and experiences among Marshallese pregnant women in Arkansas: a protocol for a longitudinal mixed-methods study.

Introduction: Arkansas has the largest population of Marshallese Pacific Islanders residing in the continental USA. The Marshallese have higher rates of obesity, type 2 diabetes, pre-term births, low birthweight babies, infant mortality, and inadequate or no prenatal care. Despite the high rates of cardiometabolic and maternal and child health disparities among Marshallese, there are no studies documenting gestational weight gain or perceptions about gestational weight gain among the Marshallese population residing in the USA.

Food Security Status of Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders in the US: Analysis of a National Survey.

Objective: To document food insecurity prevalence among a nationally representative sample of Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander (NHPI) adults and compare differences in food security status across races/ethnicities in the US.

Methods: Using 2014 National Health Interview Survey and 2014 NHPI-National Health Interview Survey data, food insecurity among the NHPI population is described and food security status across racial/ethnic groups is compared using Rao-Scott chi-square and multinomial logistic regression.

Results: Food insecurity prevalence was 20.

Best Practices for Community-Engaged Research with Pacific Islander Communities in the US and USAPI: A Scoping Review.

This scoping review identifies the best practices of community-based participatory research with Pacific Islanders in the United States and United States Affiliated Pacific Islands. Eighty-four articles from January 2000 to December 2017 were included in the review. Best practices included the importance of engaging Pacific Islander community leaders as research staff, community co-investigators, and community advisory board members.

Nuclear radiation and prevalence of structural birth defects among infants born to women from the Marshall Islands.

Background: With their unique history of exposure to extensive nuclear testing between 1946 and 1958, descendants of Marshall Island residents may have underappreciated genetic abnormalities, increasing their risk of birth defects.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study of resident women with at least one singleton live birth between 1997 and 2013 in northwest Arkansas using state birth certificate data linked to data from the Arkansas Reproductive Health Monitoring System, a statewide birth defects registry. We calculated unadjusted and adjusted prevalence ratios (PR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) from modified Poisson regression analyses for non-Hispanic (NH) whites, NH-blacks, Hispanics and Marshallese, using NH-whites as the reference group.