Theses and Dissertations at Montana State University (MSU)
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Item Environmental risk reduction through nursing intervention and education : a look at parents' perceptions of risk of children's exposure to environmental toxins(Montana State University - Bozeman, College of Education, Health & Human Development, 2005) Penniman, Megkian Aliisa; Chairperson, Graduate Committee: Priscilla Lund.The success of efforts to provide environmental health (EH) information to families relies on testing interventions delivered in home and clinic settings. Few rural children's EH studies targeting multiple exposure pathways have been conducted. It is recommended that EH programs be framed and delivered in a manner meaningful to families and high-risk subgroups. This research addresses two questions: 1.) What are the risk avoidance behaviors regarding environmental tobacco smoke, radon, well water contamination, lead, and CO among a sample of rural households? 2.) Is there a difference in perception of risk between households that undertake risk avoidance actions and those that do not? Answers to these questions advised educational intervention construction. Participants were referred by public health nurses (PHN) serving pediatric programs within the Gallatin City County Health Department. All participants met specific enrollment criteria. Baseline biomonitoring, household exposure and self-reported knowledge/attitude/behavior (KAB) data were completed for 31 rural families. Biomarker data was collected from each child under age 6, each home was tested for radon and CO, and well water was processed using a well screen.Item Food security and family well-being(Montana State University - Bozeman, College of Education, Health & Human Development, 2007) Long, Lauren Christine; Chairperson, Graduate Committee: Bethany L. LetiecqEach year, millions of individuals in the United States experience hunger yet can not afford to obtain food. This feeling of hunger and uncertain ability to obtain food can have many consequences including food insecurity. Food insecurity is a growing problem which has severe implications for the individual and family. Among these implications are parental depression and child behavior problems. Additionally, there is increasing research pertaining to the uniqueness of rural locales and the increased risk for food insecurity in these areas. Although there is a growing body of literature examining food insecurity, no studies exist that examine the relationships between food insecurity, maternal depression, and child behavior among low-income families residing in rural locales. To shed light on this topic, this study examined the ways in which food insecurity-and varying levels of food insecurity-related to maternal depression and child behavior problems. This study also examined these variables as a function of rurality. And lastly, this study examined the combined effect of rurality and food insecurity on maternal depression and child behavior problems. Sixty-seven low income women were surveyed at either the local Food Bank or the Head Start program using a convenience sample.