Three public health students were selected to receive McClure Scholarships
The W.K. McClure and Mae Scheib Scholarship Fund for the Study of World Affairs is offered by the University of Tennessee Center for Global Engagement. The program, which is open to both graduate and undergraduate students, awards research and creative projects that seek to internationally promote education for world responsibility issues. Recipients can expect to receive up to $5000 for use toward their research.
The Department of Public Health is proud of our students for the recognition they have received and of their ambition to use rigorous academic scholarship and research to improve the health of communities across the globe.
Sumon Ghosh, DVM
Sumon Ghosh, DVM
PhD Student
Project: Compliance to rabies post-exposure prophylaxis among animal bite victims in Bangladesh.
Rabies is a fatal zoonotic viral disease that can cause approximately 59,000 human deaths worldwide annually. Despite the availability of vaccines for over a century, rabies-related deaths remain a significant concern, especially in low-resource countries. Poor compliance to post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) is one of the major concerns for rabies deaths. This research proposal aims to investigate the compliance rate of rabies PEP among animal bite victims in Bangladesh, specifically focusing on the completion of the recommended anti-rabies vaccination (ARV) regimen. The study will be conducted at the Infectious Diseases Hospital in Dhaka, with participants being animal bite victims who have visited the hospital within the last 30 days. Data will be collected through structured questionnaires and medical record reviews to gather information on demographic characteristics, knowledge about rabies, previous vaccination history, and adherence to PEP. Participants will be followed up for a period of one month to assess their adherence to the WHO recommended ARV regimen. The compliance rate for completing the ARV regimen will be calculated, and risk factors associated with non-compliance will be identified through epidemiological investigation. Statistical analysis will be performed to evaluate the factors influencing compliance with PEP. The goal of the research is to improve understanding of PEP compliance among animal bite victims in Bangladesh and to identify strategies to enhance adherence to the ARV regimen.
Sompa Reza
Sompa Reza
PhD Student
Project: Exploring the Barriers to Tuberculosis Treatment Access and Adherence among Children in Low-Resource Settings: A Caregivers Perspective in Bangladesh.
Sompa will be working on a community health project titled “Exploring the Barriers to Tuberculosis Treatment Access and Adherence among Children in Low-Resource Settings: A Caregivers Perspective in Bangladesh.
Bangladesh is one of the most TB prevalent countries. Children represent 11% of reported TB cases but are often under-diagnosed and under-treated. The aim of this qualitative study is to investigate the barriers and facilitators caregivers experience in tuberculosis diagnosis and treatment for their children in Bangladesh. She will utilize a phenomenological approach to gain an in-depth understanding of caregivers’ lived experiences and perceptions. Participants will be recruited from two hospitals (Bangladesh Pediatric Hospital and Pabna Tuberculosis Hospital) through purposive sampling and collect data utilizing semi-structured interviews. The interview guide will cover topics such as symptom recognition, care-seeking practices, diagnosis and treatment barriers/facilitators, treatment affordability, and adherence challenges. We will record the interview and utilize field notes to supplement the data. Thematic analysis will be performed to identify recurring themes and patterns. The study findings will highlight priority areas for intervention and policies, ultimately contributing to improving pediatric TB outcomes in Bangladesh.
Su Chen Tan
Su Chen Tan
MPH Student – CHE Concentration
Project: Evaluating the Adaptation of Psychological First Aid (PFA) Training in 3 Contexts: Malaysia, Libya, and Afghanistan.
This summer, Su Chen will be conducting a research study evaluating the adaptation of Psychological First Aid (PFA) training with humanitarian responders to a refugee crisis, a flood, and an earthquake in Malaysia, Libya, and Afghanistan, respectively. This project will be an opportunity to integrate public health and behavioral health knowledge to contribute to the scientific literature of culturally responsive PFA training in cross-cultural settings and inform the PFA training practices of MERCY, an international medical relief agency based in Malaysia.