UCB MCAH Publications

MCAH Publications

Lived Experiences of Families Navigating Safety Net Expansions and Retractions During the Pandemic: A Qualitative Study

Nicole Fernández-Viña MPH, ORCID Icon Lia C. H. Fernald PhD, MBA, ORCID Icon Rita Hamad MD, PhD, ORCID Icon Kaitlyn E. Jackson MPH, and Wendi Gosliner DrPH, RD
2025

Objectives. To understand the experiences of families with low income in California with pandemic safety net support expansions and retractions, including barriers to program access.

Methods. Using open-ended questions, we explored the self-reported experiences of pandemic-era safety net expansions and expirations between January and June 2023 among a group of caregivers of young children (n = 44). We used the Immersion-Crystallization technique to analyze the data, creating a codebook and identifying themes as they emerged.

Results. We identified 4 main themes, including...

The role of reward-related brain activity in response to treatment and later depression severity: data from a randomized controlled trial in early adolescents with anxiety disorders

Cecilia A Westbrook 1 , Michael Schlund 2 , Jennifer S Silk 3 4 , Erika E Forbes 3 4 , Neal D Ryan 3 , Ronald E Dahl 5 , Dana L McMakin 6 , Philip C Kendall 7 , Anthony Mannarino 8 , Cecile D Ladouceur
2025

Alterations in reward-related brain activity have been linked to response to psychological treatment in adolescents with anxiety disorders. However, it remains unknown whether these effects are driven by reward anticipation or feedback, which reflect different functional roles in motivated behavior, or whether brain activity changes as a function of treatment response. The current study investigated these questions in the context of a randomized controlled trial of cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) for anxiety disorders in adolescents. This study used an fMRI paradigm to investigate...

Understanding stakeholder perspectives on integrating and sustaining a vertical HIV prevention programme into routine health services in Zimbabwe: a qualitative study

Amanda Marr Chung 1 2 , Joseph Murungu 3 , Peter Case 4 5 6 , Precious Chitapi 7 , Rudo Chikodzore, ... Getrude Ncube, Owen Mugurungi , Patience Kunaka, Ndola Prata, ..., Stefano M Bertozzi, Colette Auerswald
2025

Introduction: The transition of voluntary medical male circumcision (VMMC), an HIV prevention service, in Zimbabwe from a donor-funded to a government-owned programme involves the collective efforts and alignment of national and subnational government leaders, managers, healthcare providers, village health workers, community members, donors and implementing partners. We sought to understand stakeholders' perspectives on barriers, facilitators and recommendations as a vertical HIV prevention programme transitioned to an integrated, government-led model.

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Effect of a Gender-Synchronized Family Planning Intervention on Inequitable Gender Norms in a Cluster Randomized Control Trial Among Husbands of Married Adolescent Girls in Dosso, Niger

Sabrina C Boyce 1 , Alexandra M Minnis 2 , Julianna Deardorff 1 , Sandra I McCoy 3 , Sneha Challa 4 , Nicole E Johns 5 , Sani Aliou 6 , Mohamad I Brooks 7 , Abdoul-Moumouni Nouhou 8 , Holly Baker 5 , Jay G Silverman
2025

Gender inequitable norms have severe consequences for safety and health globally. Using data from a four-arm cluster randomized control trial of the Reaching Married Adolescents in Niger (RMA) intervention (2016-2019), this study assesses effects on gender norms among husbands of married adolescent girls (n = 1,055). Using an adjusted hierarchical difference-in-differences model, we found assignment to the RMA small groups intervention to be associated with a 0.62 decrease in inequitable gender norms (95% CI: -1.05, -0.18). As a cost-effective, scalable, and transferable intervention, this...

Investing in the development of the next generation of MCH leaders

Karen A McDonnell 1 , Jamal Percy 2 , Lisa Anders 3 , Monique J Brown 4 , Alice R Richman 5 , Julianna Deardorff 6 , Monica S Ruiz 1 , Jihong Liu 4 , Kelli Russell 5 , Audrey Snyder 3 , Cassondra Marshall
2025

The public health landscape is constantly evolving to address the strengths and needs of the community. Training for the public health workforce is leading the way, establishing an ecosystem approach that integrates individuals within social, political, and environmental contexts to promote health equity within a framework of social justice. One area of public health that is innovatively preparing the next generation of leaders is maternal and child health (MCH). In the United States, key indicators of health disparities within MCH remain stagnant, highlighting the need for training...

Evaluation of large-scale implementation of obstetric point of care ultrasound in eight counties in Kenya using RE-AIM framework

Grace Githemo 1 , Anthony Wanyoro 2 , Jacob Masika 2 , Lister Onsongo 2 , Sarah Bett 2 , Stephen Githuku 2 , Grace Gachuiri 2 , Dilys Walker 3 , Nicole Santos 3 , Rakesh Ghosh 3 , George Otieno
2025

Background: Obstetric Point-of-Care Ultrasound (O-POCUS) holds promise for strengthening maternal health services particularly in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). However, its widespread use is hindered by limited provider training and resource constraints within health facilities. To address this gap, a large-scale O-POCUS program was implemented across eight counties of Kenya whereby 468 healthcare providers (HCPs) from 224 facilities were trained in five basic O-POCUS parameters. This study evaluated the reach, effectiveness, adoption, implementation, and...

The Impact of Air Quality on Patient Mortality: A National Study

Divya Periyakoil 1 2 3 , Isabella Chu 4 , Ndola Prata 5 , Marie Diener-West
2025

Introduction: Air pollution is a risk factor for a variety of cardiopulmonary diseases and is a contributing factor to cancer, diabetes, and cognitive impairment. The impact on mortality is not clearly elucidated. Objectives: The goal of this study is to determine the impact (if any) of air pollution on the 5-year mortality of patients in the American Family Cohort (AFC) dataset. Methods: The AFC dataset is derived from the American Board of Family Medicine PRIME Registry electronic health record data. It includes longitudinal information from 6.6 million unique patients from an estimated...

Cluster randomised controlled trial of a household-level, group preconception nutrition awareness and norm intervention (SUMADHUR) combined with multiple micronutrient supplements (MMS) for newly married households: a protocol

Nadia Diamond-Smith 1 , Mahesh C Puri 2 , Lily Borak 3 , Dilys Walker 4 , Edwin Charlebois 5 , Sheri D Weiser 6 , Christine M McDonald
2025

Introduction: Micronutrient deficiencies remain prominent drivers of adverse maternal and child health outcomes in Nepal. Gender-based inequalities and norms around women's status and access to nutrition exacerbate poor nutritional status. Many newly married, preconception women lack adequate nutrition due to delayed engagement with the health system and limited autonomy to prioritise their own health. To address this gap, the Sumadhur trial provides multiple micronutrient supplements (MMS) alongside a household-level behavioural intervention targeting newly married women...

"Sometimes the Doulas, They Need a Doula": A Qualitative Analysis of Black and Pacific Islander Doulas' Perspectives on Personal and Professional Growth as Birth Workers

Ashley Nguyen 1 , Marlee-I Mystic 2 , Alli Cuentos 2 , Marna Armstead 2 , Stephanie Arteaga 3 , Jennet Arcara 3 , Andrea V Jackson 4 , Cassondra Marshall 1 , Anu Manchikanti Gómez
2025

This qualitative study examines the impact of working for SisterWeb San Francisco Community Doula Network, a community-based doula organization, on Black and Pacific Islander doulas who provide culturally congruent support to individuals before, during, and after childbirth. We interviewed eight doulas at three timepoints (2020, 2021, and 2022). Participants described how their confidence as doulas grew while working at SisterWeb, partially due to gaining more experience as birth workers within a supportive learning environment. Attending professional development sessions and receiving...

Evaluation of a multicomponent child development intervention delivered through the government health system: a feasibility study

Jesmin Sultana 1 , Helen O Pitchik 2 , Abul Kasham Shoab 1 , Tarique Md Nurul Huda 3 , Rezaul Hasan 1 4 , Fahmida Akter 5 , Tania Jahir, ... Lia C Fernald
2025

Introduction: Small efficacy trials have demonstrated that multicomponent interventions can improve early child development. We evaluated the large-scale delivery of a multicomponent intervention delivered by government health workers throughout a rural subdistrict in northwestern Bangladesh.

Methods: We evaluated a group-based, multicomponent intervention with a curriculum covering responsive parenting, caregivers' mental health, lead exposure prevention strategies at the household level, water, sanitation, hygiene and nutrition. Group sessions...