M Withers
Dados Biográficos
| ID | 29196 |
|---|---|
| NOME | M Withers |
| PRENOMES | M |
| SOBRENOME | Withers |
| ASSINATURA | WITHERS M |
| AFILIAÇÕES | University of Southern California |
| ORCID | 0000-0001-7754-0206 |
| VERIFICADO | Sim |
| TOTAL DE OBRAS | 34 |
| TOTAL DE CITAÇÕES | 6 |
| TOTAL COMO AUTOR | 34 |
| TOTAL COMO EDITOR | 0 |
| PRIMEIRO ANO DE PUBLICAÇÃO | 2007 |
| ANO MAIS RECENTE DE PUBLICAÇÃO | 2026 |
| ÍNDICE H | 1 |
A collaborative multi-university virtual model for global health leadership education integrating educational technology
Challenges and constraints in global health practice such as inadequate international cooperation, cultural sensitivity, and interdisciplinary collaboration inform key gaps and opportunities to strengthen global health education, including technical skills and competencies needed for the next generation of global health leaders. We describe an innovative model of global health education leveraging advances in educational technology, co-developed …
Advancing equitable access to digital mental health in the Asia-Pacific region in the context of the Covid-19 pandemic and beyond
The COVID-19 pandemic had an unprecedented impact on global mental health and well-being, including across the Asia-Pacific. Efforts to mitigate virus spread led to far-reaching disruption in the delivery of health and social services. In response, there was a rapid shift to the use of digital mental health (DMH) approaches. Though these technologies helped to improve access to care for many, there was also substantial risk of access barriers lea…
Factors of Overweight and Obesity Among Employees of Petrochemical Manufacturing Companies
The high prevalence of overweight and obesity is a major contributor to the global burden of disease, and create an economic burden for nations, including both direct and indirect costs. Although the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is rapidly industrializing and the economy is now less dependent on oil, oil industry is still the main contributor to the Saudi labor force (41%). However, the productivity growth lags behind many developing countries. No stu…
Resilience level and its association with maladaptive coping behaviours in the Covid-19 pandemic
BACKGROUND: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has induced a significant global concern on mental health. However few studies have measured the ability of individuals to "withstand setbacks, adapt positively, and bounce back from adversity" on a global scale. We aimed to examine the level of resilience, its determinants, and its association with maladaptive coping behaviours during the pandemic. METHODS: The Association of Pacific R…
Breaking the Cycle of Family Violence
As the intergenerational transmission of family violence is associated with numerous negative outcomes, interventions are needed to interrupt this cycle. Our aim is to review the family violence intervention literature and to assess whether and how interventions interrupt the intergenerational transmission of family violence. Papers about interventions were identified through database searches (PubMed, JSTOR, CINAHL, PsycINFO), supplemented by re…
Psychosocial barriers to, and enablers of, intimate partner violence disclosure among Asian-American immigrant women
Although Asian women immigrants to the USA rarely disclose intimate partner violence, local research indicates that among them domestic abuse is prevalent. This study aimed to determine the main psychosocial barriers and enablers to disclosure among Asian-American women in California, and whether barriers outweighed benefits. We used a novel qualitative methodology of indirect and direct questioning with sixty married women from four ethnicities …
Empowering the next generation
This article explores the ethical implications of mandatory parental consent requirements for adolescents seeking sexual and reproductive health services (SRHS). Using a Reproductive Justice framework, which identifies systemic barriers to accessing healthcare services, we examine ageism as a potential factor restricting adolescents' access to SRHS. While the Reproductive Justice framework has addressed systemic issues like racism and ableism in …
They should ask about our feelings
Between 16 and 20% of perinatal women in low- and middle-income countries experience depression. Addressing postpartum depression (PPD) requires an appreciation of how it manifests and is understood in different cultural settings. This study explores postpartum Mongolian women's perceptions and experiences of PPD. We conducted interviews with 35 postpartum women who screened positive for possible depression to examine: (1) personal experiences of…
Engaging youth in global health and social justice
BACKGROUND: Education and training in global health and social justice is crucial to ensuring the next generation of health professionals are poised to tackle the pressing issues of our time. OBJECTIVES: To develop and implement an intensive summer course on global health and social justice for high school students at the University of Southern California. METHODS: This paper reviews the course aims and curriculum, its implementation both onsite …
Reducing stigma associated with mental health problems among university students in the Asia-Pacific
INTRODUCTION: Studies have demonstrated that mental health problems among university students may be increasing in both prevalence and severity. This study aimed to identify ways to reduce stigma and improve students' utilization of mental health services. METHODS: We performed a content analysis on video proposals to address stigma and mental health at universities, submitted by 15 teams from nine Asian-Pacific countries as part of a case compet…
Predictors of Healthcare Access and Utilization by Syrian Americans in the United States
Needs, gaps and opportunities for standard and e-mental health care among at-risk populations in the Asia Pacific in the context of Covid-19
The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the urgent need for equitable standard and e-mental health care. It has also highlighted the persistent social and structural inequities that contribute to poor mental health. The APEC region is vast and diverse; findings from the region can guide policy and practice in the delivery of equitable mental health care in the region and beyond
Challenges of Using Videos in Exam Rooms of Safety-Net Clinics to Encourage Patient Self-Disclosure of Intimate Partner Violence and to Increase Provider Screening
Identifying intimate partner violence (IPV) in clinics allows for early intervention. We tested a comprehensive approach in five safety-net clinics to encourage female victims to self-identify and providers to screen. The main components were (a) short, multilingual videos for female patients; (b) provider training; and (c) management tools. Although videos were viewed 2,150 times, only 9% of eligible patients watched them. IPV disclosure increas…
Measuring Men’s Gender Norm Beliefs Related to Contraception
Male partner resistance is identified as a key factor that influences women’s contraceptive use. Examination of the masculine norms that shape men’s resistance to contraception—and how to intervene on these norms—is needed. To assess a gender-transformative intervention in Kenya, we developed and evaluated a masculinity-informed instrument to measure men’s contraceptive acceptance—the Masculine Norms and Family Planning Acceptance (MNFPA) scale. …
The Manila Declaration on Migration and Health
BACKGROUND: Migration has played, and continues to play, an important role in shaping our global economy. As of 2017, there were 258 million international migrants worldwide, over 100 million of whom came from the Asia-Pacific region. Migration is increasingly recognized as a social determinant of health, as migrants often experience vulnerabilities that make them susceptible to a range of negative health outcomes. Addressing the health and human…
Social, economic, and political events affect gender equity in China, Nepal, and Nicaragua
Background: Progress in gender equity can improve health at the individual and country levels.Objectives: This study’s objective was to analyze recent trends in gender equity and identify historical and contextual factors that contributed to changes in gender equity in three countries: China, Nepal, and Nicaragua.Methods: To assess gender equity trends, we used the Gender Gap Index (GGI) from the World Economic Forum’s Global Gender Gap Report (2…
National nutrition strategies that focus on maternal, infant, and young child nutrition in Southeast Asia do not consistently align with regional and international recommendations
We examined the consistency of national nutrition strategies and action plans (NNS) focusing on maternal, infant, and young child nutrition in Southeast Asia with regional and international recommendations. Between July and December 2017, we identified and extracted information on context, objectives, interventions, indicators, strategies, and coordination mechanisms from the most recent NNS in nine Southeast Asian countries. All NNS described co…
Women’s Empowerment and Family Planning
This paper reviews the literature examining the relationship between women’s empowerment and contraceptive use, unmet need for contraception and related family planning topics in developing countries. Searches were conducted using PubMed, Popline and Web of Science search engines in May 2013 to examine literature published between January 1990 and December 2012. Among the 46 articles included in the review, the majority were conducted in South As…
Training the next generation of global health experts
BACKGROUND: Finding solutions to global health problems will require a highly-trained, inter-disciplinary workforce. Global health education and research can potentially have long-range impact in addressing the global burden of disease and protecting and improving the health of the global population. METHODS: We conducted an online survey of twelve higher education institutions in the Pacific Rim that spanned the period 2005-2011. Program adminis…
Estimates of the quality of complementary feeding among Vietnamese infants aged 6−23 months varied by how commercial baby cereals were classified in 24‐h recalls
The World Health Organization's (WHO) standardized questionnaire for assessing infant and young child feeding practices does not include commercial baby cereals (CBC), which are derived from several food groups and are fortified with micronutrients. We examined how different scenarios for classifying CBC affect estimates of the quality of complementary feeding in children ages 6-23 months in Vietnam in 2014 (n = 4811). In addition to the WHO stan…
Gendered power dynamics and women’s negotiation of family planning in a high HIV prevalence setting
In sub-Saharan Africa, high burdens of HIV and unmet need for contraception often coexist. Research emphasises the need to engage men and couples in reproductive health, yet couples' negotiations around fertility and family planning in the context of HIV have been sparsely studied. This study examined the gendered power dynamics that frame women's and couples' negotiations of contraceptive use in western Kenya. We conducted 76 in-depth interviews…
Intimate Partner Violence Screening Practices in California After Passage of the Affordable Care Act
Under the Affordable Care Act (ACA), insurance coverage should include screening for intimate partner violence (IPV). In this article, we present self-reported IPV screening practices and provider confidence from a post-ACA cross-sectional survey of 137 primary care clinicians in California. Only 14% of the providers reported always screening female patients for IPV and about one third seemed never to screen. Female providers were more likely to …
Women now wear trousers’
Gender inequity has been closely linked with unmet need for family planning among women in sub-Saharan Africa but the factors related to male family planning disapproval are not well-understood. This qualitative study explored men's perspectives of gender roles and cultural norms as they pertain to family planning. Twelve small group meetings were held with 106 married men in Nyanza Province, Kenya. Shifting gender relations made the definitions …
Men's Perspectives on Their Role in Family Planning in Nyanza Province, Kenya
Research has indicated that gender dynamics—and in particular men's disapproval of family planning—have had an influence on the low levels of contraceptive use in sub‐Saharan Africa. Limited evidence exists, however, on effective strategies to increase male approval. We conducted 12 focus group discussions with married men aged 20–66 (N = 106) in Kenya to explore FP perceptions. Men's disapproval of FP was associated with anxieties regarding male…
Gender, masculinity and migration
An appreciation of the social, cultural and economic dimensions of gender and sexuality is important in increasing reproductive health service utilisation. This analysis of recent Mexican male immigrants in Southern California focuses on changing views of gender roles, masculinity and relationship dynamics in the context of migration in order to explain low levels of reproductive healthcare utilisation. Semi-structured, in-depth interviews were c…
Men's Perspectives on Their Role in Family Planning in Nyanza Province, Kenya
Research has indicated that gender dynamics—and in particular men's disapproval of family planning—have had an influence on the low levels of contraceptive use in sub‐Saharan Africa. Limited evidence exists, however, on effective strategies to increase male approval. We conducted 12 focus group discussions with married men aged 20–66 (N = 106) in Kenya to explore FP perceptions. Men's disapproval of FP was associated with anxieties regarding male…
Intimate Partner Violence Screening Practices in California After Passage of the Affordable Care Act
Under the Affordable Care Act (ACA), insurance coverage should include screening for intimate partner violence (IPV). In this article, we present self-reported IPV screening practices and provider confidence from a post-ACA cross-sectional survey of 137 primary care clinicians in California. Only 14% of the providers reported always screening female patients for IPV and about one third seemed never to screen. Female providers were more likely to …
Predictors of workplace sexual health policy at sex work establishments in the Philippines
Based on the literature, we identified manager and establishment characteristics that we hypothesized are related to workplace policies that support HIV protective behavior. We developed a sexual health policy index consisting of 11 items as our outcome variable. We utilized both bivariate and multivariate analysis of variance. The significant variables in our bivariate analyses (establishment type, number of employees, manager age, and membershi…
Desire for More Children, Contraceptive Use and Unmet Need for Family Planning in a Remote Area of Bali, Indonesia
Exploring fertility preferences in relation to contraceptive use can increase the understanding of future reproductive behaviour and unmet family planning needs. This knowledge can help assist women in meeting their reproductive goals. The influences on the desire for more children and current contraceptive use were examined among 1528 married women of reproductive age in an isolated community in Bali, Indonesia, using multivariate logistic regre…
Do Ambivalent Women Have an Unmet Need for Family Planning? A Longitudinal Study from Bali, Indonesia
Who Meets Their Intentions to Stop Childbearing? Results of a Longitudinal Study in Rural Eastern Bali, Indonesia
In this longitudinal study from rural Bali, Indonesia, we sought to identify the predictors of birth avoidance among 665 married women of reproductive age who reported the intention to stop childbearing. We found that almost 30% of women who wanted no more children had a subsequent birth during the 4-year study period. Women at highest risk for an unwanted birth were younger, had fewer children, and did not use a long-term contraceptive method. T…
Age matters
This paper analyses the impact of high quality, user-friendly, comprehensive sliding-scale post-abortion services on clients' uptake of contraception in a Kenyan town. Data were drawn from detailed physician records in a private clinic that served 1080 post-abortion clients in 2006. All clients received confidential family planning counselling and were offered a complete range of contraceptives at no additional cost. One quarter of clients were b…
The changing contexts of fertility outcomes
In the context of ready access to contraceptives, we sought to determine which individual and socio-cultural factors were most important in the dramatic fertility decline seen in an impoverished rural Balinese community. The study built on a 2002 longitudinal survey of 1528 Balinese reproductive-age married women that four years later found a significant proportion did not meet their expressed fertility aspirations. Four case studies of women who…
Fertility intentions among HIV-infected, sero-concordant couples in Nyanza province, Kenya
Research in sub-Saharan Africa has shown significant diversity in how HIV influences infected couples' fertility intentions. Supporting HIV-infected, sero-concordant couples in sub-Saharan Africa to make informed choices about their fertility options has not received sufficient attention. In-depth interviews were conducted among 23 HIV-positive, sero-concordant married couples in Kenya, to better understand how HIV impacted fertility intentions. …
Gender, masculinity and migration
An appreciation of the social, cultural and economic dimensions of gender and sexuality is important in increasing reproductive health service utilisation. This analysis of recent Mexican male immigrants in Southern California focuses on changing views of gender roles, masculinity and relationship dynamics in the context of migration in order to explain low levels of reproductive healthcare utilisation. Semi-structured, in-depth interviews were c…
Women's empowerment and fertility
Perceptions of misoprostol among providers and women seeking post-abortion care in Zimbabwe
In Zimbabwe, abortions are legally restricted and complications from unsafe abortions are a major public health concern. This study in 2012 explored women's and providers' perspectives in Zimbabwe on the acceptability of the use of misoprostol as a form of treatment for complications of abortion in post-abortion care. In-depth interviews were conducted with 115 participants at seven post-abortion care facilities. Participants included 73 women of…
Women now wear trousers’
Gender inequity has been closely linked with unmet need for family planning among women in sub-Saharan Africa but the factors related to male family planning disapproval are not well-understood. This qualitative study explored men's perspectives of gender roles and cultural norms as they pertain to family planning. Twelve small group meetings were held with 106 married men in Nyanza Province, Kenya. Shifting gender relations made the definitions …
Men's Perspectives on Their Role in Family Planning in Nyanza Province, Kenya
Research has indicated that gender dynamics—and in particular men's disapproval of family planning—have had an influence on the low levels of contraceptive use in sub‐Saharan Africa. Limited evidence exists, however, on effective strategies to increase male approval. We conducted 12 focus group discussions with married men aged 20–66 (N = 106) in Kenya to explore FP perceptions. Men's disapproval of FP was associated with anxieties regarding male…
Training the next generation of global health experts
BACKGROUND: Finding solutions to global health problems will require a highly-trained, inter-disciplinary workforce. Global health education and research can potentially have long-range impact in addressing the global burden of disease and protecting and improving the health of the global population. METHODS: We conducted an online survey of twelve higher education institutions in the Pacific Rim that spanned the period 2005-2011. Program adminis…
Estimates of the quality of complementary feeding among Vietnamese infants aged 6−23 months varied by how commercial baby cereals were classified in 24‐h recalls
The World Health Organization's (WHO) standardized questionnaire for assessing infant and young child feeding practices does not include commercial baby cereals (CBC), which are derived from several food groups and are fortified with micronutrients. We examined how different scenarios for classifying CBC affect estimates of the quality of complementary feeding in children ages 6-23 months in Vietnam in 2014 (n = 4811). In addition to the WHO stan…
Gendered power dynamics and women’s negotiation of family planning in a high HIV prevalence setting
In sub-Saharan Africa, high burdens of HIV and unmet need for contraception often coexist. Research emphasises the need to engage men and couples in reproductive health, yet couples' negotiations around fertility and family planning in the context of HIV have been sparsely studied. This study examined the gendered power dynamics that frame women's and couples' negotiations of contraceptive use in western Kenya. We conducted 76 in-depth interviews…
Intimate Partner Violence Screening Practices in California After Passage of the Affordable Care Act
Under the Affordable Care Act (ACA), insurance coverage should include screening for intimate partner violence (IPV). In this article, we present self-reported IPV screening practices and provider confidence from a post-ACA cross-sectional survey of 137 primary care clinicians in California. Only 14% of the providers reported always screening female patients for IPV and about one third seemed never to screen. Female providers were more likely to …
Women’s Empowerment and Family Planning
This paper reviews the literature examining the relationship between women’s empowerment and contraceptive use, unmet need for contraception and related family planning topics in developing countries. Searches were conducted using PubMed, Popline and Web of Science search engines in May 2013 to examine literature published between January 1990 and December 2012. Among the 46 articles included in the review, the majority were conducted in South As…
The Manila Declaration on Migration and Health
BACKGROUND: Migration has played, and continues to play, an important role in shaping our global economy. As of 2017, there were 258 million international migrants worldwide, over 100 million of whom came from the Asia-Pacific region. Migration is increasingly recognized as a social determinant of health, as migrants often experience vulnerabilities that make them susceptible to a range of negative health outcomes. Addressing the health and human…
Social, economic, and political events affect gender equity in China, Nepal, and Nicaragua
Background: Progress in gender equity can improve health at the individual and country levels.Objectives: This study’s objective was to analyze recent trends in gender equity and identify historical and contextual factors that contributed to changes in gender equity in three countries: China, Nepal, and Nicaragua.Methods: To assess gender equity trends, we used the Gender Gap Index (GGI) from the World Economic Forum’s Global Gender Gap Report (2…
National nutrition strategies that focus on maternal, infant, and young child nutrition in Southeast Asia do not consistently align with regional and international recommendations
We examined the consistency of national nutrition strategies and action plans (NNS) focusing on maternal, infant, and young child nutrition in Southeast Asia with regional and international recommendations. Between July and December 2017, we identified and extracted information on context, objectives, interventions, indicators, strategies, and coordination mechanisms from the most recent NNS in nine Southeast Asian countries. All NNS described co…
Predictors of Healthcare Access and Utilization by Syrian Americans in the United States
Needs, gaps and opportunities for standard and e-mental health care among at-risk populations in the Asia Pacific in the context of Covid-19
The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the urgent need for equitable standard and e-mental health care. It has also highlighted the persistent social and structural inequities that contribute to poor mental health. The APEC region is vast and diverse; findings from the region can guide policy and practice in the delivery of equitable mental health care in the region and beyond
Challenges of Using Videos in Exam Rooms of Safety-Net Clinics to Encourage Patient Self-Disclosure of Intimate Partner Violence and to Increase Provider Screening
Identifying intimate partner violence (IPV) in clinics allows for early intervention. We tested a comprehensive approach in five safety-net clinics to encourage female victims to self-identify and providers to screen. The main components were (a) short, multilingual videos for female patients; (b) provider training; and (c) management tools. Although videos were viewed 2,150 times, only 9% of eligible patients watched them. IPV disclosure increas…
Measuring Men’s Gender Norm Beliefs Related to Contraception
Male partner resistance is identified as a key factor that influences women’s contraceptive use. Examination of the masculine norms that shape men’s resistance to contraception—and how to intervene on these norms—is needed. To assess a gender-transformative intervention in Kenya, we developed and evaluated a masculinity-informed instrument to measure men’s contraceptive acceptance—the Masculine Norms and Family Planning Acceptance (MNFPA) scale. …
Engaging youth in global health and social justice
BACKGROUND: Education and training in global health and social justice is crucial to ensuring the next generation of health professionals are poised to tackle the pressing issues of our time. OBJECTIVES: To develop and implement an intensive summer course on global health and social justice for high school students at the University of Southern California. METHODS: This paper reviews the course aims and curriculum, its implementation both onsite …
Medicine (26 obras) · Population (21 obras) · Environmental health (17 obras) · Psychology (17 obras) · Global Maternal and Child Health (13 obras) · Political science (13 obras) · Sociology (13 obras) · Demography (12 obras) · Economic growth (12 obras) · Family planning (12 obras)