Victoria Shelus
Biographic Data
| ID | 5992693 |
|---|---|
| NAME | Victoria Shelus |
| GIVEN NAMES | Victoria |
| FAMILY NAME | Shelus |
| SIGNATURE | SHELUS V |
| AFFILIATIONS | University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill |
| ORCID | 0000-0001-7418-6002 |
| VERIFIED | Yes |
| TOTAL WORKS | 11 |
| TOTAL CITATIONS | 0 |
| WORKS AS AUTHOR | 11 |
| WORKS AS EDITOR | 0 |
| FIRST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2014 |
| LATEST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2025 |
| H-INDEX | 0 |
We might have been prescribing antibiotics to clients who do not need them”
In many resource-constrained settings, community health workers (CHW) often provide the initial care for children under five years of age. As part of integrated community case management (iCCM) programs, CHW frequently diagnose and treat acute respiratory illness (ARI), a leading cause of pediatric mortality and indication for antibiotic use globally. Yet knowledge and perceptions of antibiotic prescribing for ARI among CHW are not well-studied. …
Private sector antimalarial sales a decade after “test and treat”
Background: The World Health Organization has promoted "test and treat" guidelines for malaria since 2010, recommending all suspected malaria cases be confirmed with a parasitological test, typically a rapid diagnostic test (RDT), prior to treatment with antimalarial medications. However, many fevers at private drug shops in Uganda continue to be treated presumptively as malaria without diagnostic testing. Methods: = 46) recorded information abou…
HIV Treatment and Mental Health Outcomes Among Gay, Bisexual, and Other Men Who Have Sex With Men Living With HIV in a Pilot Multicomponent Intervention in Guatemala City
Globally, gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (GBMSM) are disproportionately affected by HIV, but few interventions address mental health and HIV outcomes among GBMSM living with HIV. The purpose of this study was to pilot a multicomponent intervention, integrating emotional well-being (EW) and health navigation for GBMSM living with HIV in Guatemala City. We implemented a 12-month intervention, including a four-session EW componen…
Barriers to and Facilitators of Covid-19 Prevention Behaviors Among North Carolina Residents
COVID-19 was the third leading cause of death in the United States in 2020. Prior to the wide dissemination of SARS-CoV-2 vaccines, individual prevention behaviors, such as wearing face masks, have been the primary non-pharmaceutical interventions to reduce infections. We surveyed 404 North Carolina residents recruited through Amazon MTurk in July 2020 to assess adherence to key prevention behaviors (6-foot distancing, mask wearing, and gathering…
“Testing for malaria does not cure any pain” A qualitative study exploring low use of malaria rapid diagnostic tests at drug shops in rural Uganda
The World Health Organization recommends all suspected malaria cases be confirmed with a parasitological test, typically a rapid diagnostic test (RDT), prior to treatment. Despite recommendations, many fevers presenting at private drug shops are treated presumptively as malaria without diagnostic testing. The purpose of this qualitative study was to describe community perceptions of RDTs and explore ways to improve malaria case management at drug…
Motivations and Barriers for the Use of Face Coverings during the Covid-19 Pandemic
Widespread use of face coverings is a key public health strategy to prevent the spread of COVID-19. However, few studies have examined why Americans use or do not use face coverings, and little is known about the most effective messaging strategies. This study explored perceptions of face coverings, including motivations and barriers for use, and examined reactions to messaging promoting the use of face coverings. Six virtual focus groups were co…
Considering Alternate Pathways of Drinking-Water Contamination
Deep tubewells are a key component of arsenic mitigation programs in rural Bangladesh. Compared to widely prevalent shallow tubewells, deep tubewells reduce ground-water arsenic exposure and provide better microbial water quality at source. However, the benefits of clean drinking-water at these more distant sources may be abated by higher levels of microbial contamination at point-of-use. One such potential pathway is the use of contaminated surf…
Assessing the Competency and Acceptability of Community Health Worker Provision of Standard Days Method® in Family Planning Services in Gisagara District, Rwanda
This study assesses the competency and acceptability of community‐based provision of Standard Days Method ® (SDM) to first‐time users in Rwanda. The national strategy equips community health workers (CHWs) to resupply pills, injectables and condoms to existing clients. With the aim of expanding access, SDM provision to first‐time users was added to the method mix in Gisagara district and assessed with a 12 month prospective, mixed methods study. …
Preventing Pregnancy in Kenya Through Distribution and Use of the CycleBeads Mobile Application
CONTEXT: Given the proportion of Kenyan women not using hormonal contraceptives, the country appears to have a substantial need for a modern, natural family planning option. The CycleBeads® mobile phone application (app), a digital platform for the Standard Days Method® of family planning, could help address this issue. METHODS: After the CycleBeads app was promoted in Kenya in May-June 2015, a three-month pilot study was conducted to collect qua…
The Role of Financial Incentives Along the Antiretroviral Therapy Adherence Continuum
The stages of change (SOC) theory suggests individuals adapt incrementally to behaviors like adherence, requiring different strategies over the behavior change continuum. Offering financial incentives (FIs) is one strategy to motivate adherence. This qualitative sub-study examined adherence barriers and the role of FIs to increase viral suppression (VS) among HIV Prevention Trials Network (HPTN) 065 study participants categorized into SOC-related…
Injectable Contraceptive Sales at Licensed Chemical Seller Shops in Ghana
CONTEXT: Most women in Ghana obtain oral contraceptives and condoms from shops run by licensed chemical sellers, but such shops are not legally permitted to sell the country's most widely used method, the injectable. Allowing shops to sell the injectable could increase access to and use of the method. METHODS: In 2012-2013, semistructured telephone interviews were conducted among convenience samples of 94 licensed chemical seller shop operators i…
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Injectable Contraceptive Sales at Licensed Chemical Seller Shops in Ghana
CONTEXT: Most women in Ghana obtain oral contraceptives and condoms from shops run by licensed chemical sellers, but such shops are not legally permitted to sell the country's most widely used method, the injectable. Allowing shops to sell the injectable could increase access to and use of the method. METHODS: In 2012-2013, semistructured telephone interviews were conducted among convenience samples of 94 licensed chemical seller shop operators i…
Preventing Pregnancy in Kenya Through Distribution and Use of the CycleBeads Mobile Application
CONTEXT: Given the proportion of Kenyan women not using hormonal contraceptives, the country appears to have a substantial need for a modern, natural family planning option. The CycleBeads® mobile phone application (app), a digital platform for the Standard Days Method® of family planning, could help address this issue. METHODS: After the CycleBeads app was promoted in Kenya in May-June 2015, a three-month pilot study was conducted to collect qua…
The Role of Financial Incentives Along the Antiretroviral Therapy Adherence Continuum
The stages of change (SOC) theory suggests individuals adapt incrementally to behaviors like adherence, requiring different strategies over the behavior change continuum. Offering financial incentives (FIs) is one strategy to motivate adherence. This qualitative sub-study examined adherence barriers and the role of FIs to increase viral suppression (VS) among HIV Prevention Trials Network (HPTN) 065 study participants categorized into SOC-related…
Assessing the Competency and Acceptability of Community Health Worker Provision of Standard Days Method® in Family Planning Services in Gisagara District, Rwanda
This study assesses the competency and acceptability of community‐based provision of Standard Days Method ® (SDM) to first‐time users in Rwanda. The national strategy equips community health workers (CHWs) to resupply pills, injectables and condoms to existing clients. With the aim of expanding access, SDM provision to first‐time users was added to the method mix in Gisagara district and assessed with a 12 month prospective, mixed methods study. …
Motivations and Barriers for the Use of Face Coverings during the Covid-19 Pandemic
Widespread use of face coverings is a key public health strategy to prevent the spread of COVID-19. However, few studies have examined why Americans use or do not use face coverings, and little is known about the most effective messaging strategies. This study explored perceptions of face coverings, including motivations and barriers for use, and examined reactions to messaging promoting the use of face coverings. Six virtual focus groups were co…
Considering Alternate Pathways of Drinking-Water Contamination
Deep tubewells are a key component of arsenic mitigation programs in rural Bangladesh. Compared to widely prevalent shallow tubewells, deep tubewells reduce ground-water arsenic exposure and provide better microbial water quality at source. However, the benefits of clean drinking-water at these more distant sources may be abated by higher levels of microbial contamination at point-of-use. One such potential pathway is the use of contaminated surf…
Barriers to and Facilitators of Covid-19 Prevention Behaviors Among North Carolina Residents
COVID-19 was the third leading cause of death in the United States in 2020. Prior to the wide dissemination of SARS-CoV-2 vaccines, individual prevention behaviors, such as wearing face masks, have been the primary non-pharmaceutical interventions to reduce infections. We surveyed 404 North Carolina residents recruited through Amazon MTurk in July 2020 to assess adherence to key prevention behaviors (6-foot distancing, mask wearing, and gathering…
“Testing for malaria does not cure any pain” A qualitative study exploring low use of malaria rapid diagnostic tests at drug shops in rural Uganda
The World Health Organization recommends all suspected malaria cases be confirmed with a parasitological test, typically a rapid diagnostic test (RDT), prior to treatment. Despite recommendations, many fevers presenting at private drug shops are treated presumptively as malaria without diagnostic testing. The purpose of this qualitative study was to describe community perceptions of RDTs and explore ways to improve malaria case management at drug…
Private sector antimalarial sales a decade after “test and treat”
Background: The World Health Organization has promoted "test and treat" guidelines for malaria since 2010, recommending all suspected malaria cases be confirmed with a parasitological test, typically a rapid diagnostic test (RDT), prior to treatment with antimalarial medications. However, many fevers at private drug shops in Uganda continue to be treated presumptively as malaria without diagnostic testing. Methods: = 46) recorded information abou…
HIV Treatment and Mental Health Outcomes Among Gay, Bisexual, and Other Men Who Have Sex With Men Living With HIV in a Pilot Multicomponent Intervention in Guatemala City
Globally, gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (GBMSM) are disproportionately affected by HIV, but few interventions address mental health and HIV outcomes among GBMSM living with HIV. The purpose of this study was to pilot a multicomponent intervention, integrating emotional well-being (EW) and health navigation for GBMSM living with HIV in Guatemala City. We implemented a 12-month intervention, including a four-session EW componen…
We might have been prescribing antibiotics to clients who do not need them”
In many resource-constrained settings, community health workers (CHW) often provide the initial care for children under five years of age. As part of integrated community case management (iCCM) programs, CHW frequently diagnose and treat acute respiratory illness (ARI), a leading cause of pediatric mortality and indication for antibiotic use globally. Yet knowledge and perceptions of antibiotic prescribing for ARI among CHW are not well-studied. …
Medicine (10 works) · Environmental health (5 works) · Family medicine (5 works) · Public health (5 works) · Business (4 works) · Global Maternal and Child Health (4 works) · Nursing (4 works) · Psychology (4 works) · Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health (3 works) · Economic growth (3 works)