Prevalence, characteristics, and adverse birth outcomes of teen births in West Virginia: A population-based study.

Study Objective: Despite falling teen birth rates in the United States, there is a disproportionate burden of teen births in rural regions. The study aims to investigate the characteristics of teenage mothers and examine the relationships between teen birth and adverse birth outcomes in the rural Appalachian state of West Virginia (WV).

Methods: Data was obtained from a population-based cohort (Project WATCH) of all singleton live births in WV between May 2018 and April 2023.

Anger and associated risk and protective factors among rural American adolescents: Implications for violence prevention.

Background: Adolescent violence in the United States is a prevalent public health problem and is understudied in rural settings. Anger is a significant risk factor for adolescent violence. To better craft adolescent violence interventions, it is important to examine anger and identify its most significant associated factors.

Maternal Age and Inadequate Prenatal Care in West Virginia: A Project WATCH Study.

Introduction: Adequate prenatal care (PNC) is essential to the overall health of mother and infant. Teen age and advanced maternal age (AMA) are known risk factors for poor birth outcomes. However, less is known about whether these age groups are associated with inadequate PNC.

Association of cardiovascular disease and cardiovascular health with disability status in a nationally representative sample of US adults: CVD and CVH among Adults with Disabilities.

Background: A better understanding of cardiovascular disease (CVD), and cardiovascular health (CVH) among adults with disabilities is needed to address disability related health disparities.

Methods: This study analyzed National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) questionnaires, medical examinations, and 24-hour dietary recall data from 2013-2018 for adults age 20-79 years with and without self-reported disability. CVD was dichotomous based on self-report and CVH was assessed using American Heart Association Life's Essential 8 (LE8) comprised of four health behaviors (diet, physical activity, nicotine exposure, and sleep health) and four health factors (body mass index, blood lipids, blood glucose, and blood pressure) with higher scores indicating better CVH.

Detecting sleep and physical activity changes across the perinatal period using wearable technology.

Background: Pregnant women may not experience disruptions in sleep duration throughout the course of pregnancy, however, their sleep quality is dramatically impaired. Sleep quality deteriorates throughout pregnancy, reaching its lowest in the third trimester. The purpose of this study was to understand the change in sleep patterns across the perinatal period, as well as the impact of physical activity on sleep.