Kelsey Needham Dancause
Dados Biográficos
| ID | 112466 |
|---|---|
| NOME | Kelsey Needham Dancause |
| PRENOMES | Kelsey Needham |
| SOBRENOME | Dancause |
| ASSINATURA | DANCAUSE K N |
| AFILIAÇÕES | Université du Québec à Montréal |
| ORCID | 0000-0002-8677-9953 |
| VERIFICADO | Sim |
| TOTAL DE OBRAS | 23 |
| TOTAL DE CITAÇÕES | 8 |
| TOTAL COMO AUTOR | 23 |
| TOTAL COMO EDITOR | 0 |
| PRIMEIRO ANO DE PUBLICAÇÃO | 2010 |
| ANO MAIS RECENTE DE PUBLICAÇÃO | 2023 |
| ÍNDICE H | 2 |
Maternal stress and hair cortisol among pregnant women following hurricane Florence
Natural disasters represent major stressors, resulting in psychological distress and physiological responses such as increased cortisol. During pregnancy, this impacts not only maternal well-being, but also fetal development. In 2018, Hurricane Florence caused extensive damage across the eastern United States. Studies indicated that compared to married pregnant women, unmarried pregnant women had higher risk of distress. Here we assess hair corti…
Challenges and opportunities in rapid disaster research
Rapid research is essential to assess impacts in communities affected by disasters, particularly those communities made "hard-to-reach" due to their active marginalization across history and in contemporary practices. In this article, we describe two rapid research projects developed to assess needs for and experiences of communities hard-hit by disasters. The first is a project on the COVID-19 pandemic in southern New Mexico (USA) that was devel…
Patterns of distress and psychosocial support 2 years post-displacement following a natural disaster in a lower middle income country
Background Displacement due to natural disaster exposure is a major source of distress, and disproportionately affects people in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Public mental health resources following natural disasters and displacement are often limited in LMICs. In 2017, the population of one island in Vanuatu, a lower-middle income country, was displaced due to volcanic activity. Following the launch of a public mental health policy …
Go with the Flo”
In this article, we explore the challenges of conceptualizing, designing, and establishing a rapid research agenda as a local researcher following a disaster. We share what we learned while developing and implementing this rapid study and explore the challenges shaped by time pressures, our local context, and resource availability. We identify four core challenges, experienced conducting rapid research, and provide suggestions to overcome these c…
Relationships between mental health and diet during pregnancy and birth outcomes in a lower‐middle income country
Poor maternal mental health during pregnancy is associated with adverse birth outcomes, including lower birthweight and gestational age. However, few studies assess both mental health and diet, which might have interactive effects. Furthermore, most studies are in high-income countries, though patterns might differ in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). OBJECTIVES: To analyze relationships between mental health and diet during pregnancy wit…
Relationships between Objectively Measured Sedentary Behavior during Pregnancy and Infant Birthweight
Considering the high levels of sedentary behavior during pregnancy observed in many studies, even modest associations with birthweight merit further consideration. Relationships might not be evident later in pregnancy or if only linear relationships are considered. More detailed studies could help guide recommendations on sedentary behavior during pregnancy and the development of more comprehensive interventions
Maternal marital status predicts self‐reported stress among pregnant women following hurricane Florence
OBJECTIVES: The effects of stress caused by natural disasters may be more pronounced in individuals with preexisting disadvantages. The degree of hardship and psychological distress associated with Hurricane Florence was assessed in 83 pregnant women. This research helps identify unmarried pregnant women as a group particularly at risk of distress following a natural disaster. METHODS: We assessed hardship associated with the hurricane using a qu…
Relationships between Prenatal Distress and Infant Body Mass Index in the First Year of Life in a Lower-Middle Income Country
Prenatal stress affects body composition in childhood and later in life. However, few studies assess body composition in infancy. Furthermore, most are in high-income countries and do not consider interactive or curvilinear relationships. We assessed distress and diet during pregnancy via questionnaires among 310 women in Vanuatu, a lower-middle income country. We measured body mass index (BMI) among 54 infants at 4-12 months of age. We analyzed …
Variations in Relationships Between Perceived Stress and Birth Outcomes by Immigration Status
Relationships between psychological distress and health behaviors among Canadian adults
Psychosocial health might contribute to persistent socioeconomic disparities in health in part through relationships with health behaviors, although relationships in the general population are modest. Health behavior interventions incorporating psychosocial health might need to be tailored based on socioeconomic characteristics, and future research on intersections between multiple sociodemographic risk factors remains necessary
Psychosocial Stress, Sedentary Behavior, and Physical Activity during Pregnancy among Canadian Women
Psychosocial stress represents one risk factor for sedentarity, with relationships evident throughout pregnancy and at the population level. Relationships with physical activity are less consistent, but stress might represent a risk factor for low physical activity in early to mid-pregnancy. Results might guide the development of more comprehensive interventions targeting stress, sedentarity, and physical activity. In particular, integrating psyc…
Using multiple correspondence analysis to identify behaviour patterns associated with overweight and obesity in Vanuatu adults
Objective The present study evaluates the use of multiple correspondence analysis (MCA), a type of exploratory factor analysis designed to reduce the dimensionality of large categorical data sets, in identifying behaviours associated with measures of overweight/obesity in Vanuatu, a rapidly modernizing Pacific Island country. Design Starting with seventy-three true/false questions regarding a variety of behaviours, MCA identified twelve most sign…
Relationships between psychosocial distress and diet during pregnancy and infant birthweight in a lower-middle income country
Maternal distress following a natural disaster has important implications for maternal and child health. In LMICs, low birthweight remains a pressing public health concern. Distress during pregnancy might represent one underlying risk factor
Coming to grips with economic development
OBJECTIVES: To determine whether (1) maximal handgrip strength (HGS) is associated with inter-island level of economic development in Vanuatu, (2) how associations between island of residence and HGS are mediated by age, sex, body size/composition, and individual sociodeomographic variation, and (3) whether HGS is predictive of hypertension. MATERIAL AND METHODS: HGS was collected from 833 adult (aged 18 and older) men and women on five islands r…
Ownership of consumer electronics is associated with measures of adiposity during health transition in Vanuatu
OBJECTIVE: The Republic of Vanuatu, like many developing nations, is undergoing a rapid health transition. Our previous study identified several behavioral risk factors for the rising prevalence of obesity. Unexpectedly, daily time spent using television and radio was revealed as a protective factor for obesity in 2007. In this study, we sought to explore associations between ownership of consumer electronics (CE) and measures of adiposity in Van…
Secular change in adult stature associated with modernization in Vanuatu
OBJECTIVE: To determine whether: (1) there is a secular increase in adult stature in Vanuatu, and (2) whether adult stature is positively associated with modernization in Vanuatu. METHODS: This study reports on stature measurements collected on 650 adult (age > 17 years) men and women from four islands of varying economic development in Vanuatu. Measurements were collected as part of the Vanuatu Health Transitions Research Project in 2007 and 201…
Dietary change mediates relationships between stress during pregnancy and infant head circumference measures
Prenatal maternal stress can adversely affect birth outcomes, likely reflecting effects of maternal stress hormones on fetal development. Maternal stress might also induce behavioural changes, such as dietary change, that might influence fetal development. Few studies have documented relationships between stress and dietary change in pregnancy. We analysed stress and dietary change among 222 pregnant women exposed to the 2011 Queensland Floods. W…
Impact of modernization on adult body composition on five islands of varying economic development in vanuatu
OBJECTIVE: The Republic of Vanuatu, similar to other South Pacific island nations, is undergoing a rapid health transition as a consequence of modernization. The pace of modernization is uneven across Vanuatu's 63 inhabited islands, resulting in differential impacts on overall body composition and prevalence of obesity among islands, and between men and women. In this study, we investigated (1) how modernization impacts body composition between a…
Patterns of childhood and adolescent overweight and obesity during health transition in Vanuatu
Objective Rapid economic development and subsequent changes in lifestyle and disease burdens (‘health transition’) is associated with increasing prevalence of obesity among both adults and children. However, because of continued infectious diseases and undernutrition during the early stages of transition, monitoring childhood obesity has not been prioritized in many countries and the scope of the problem is unknown. Therefore we sought to charact…
Brief communication
Stress during the prenatal and early postnatal periods (perinatal stress, PS) is known to impact offspring cognitive, behavioral, and physical development, but effects on skeletal growth are not clear. Our objective was to analyze effects of variable, mild, daily PS exposure on adult offspring long bone length. Twelve pregnant rat dams were randomly assigned to receive variable stress from gestational days 14–21 (Prenatal group), postpartum days …
Behavioral changes associated with economic development in the South Pacific
Health patterns are changing in developing countries; as diet and activity patterns change with economic development, chronic disease prevalence increases, which is a characteristic of health transition. The islands of Vanuatu (South Pacific) have varying rates of economic development and provide a natural experimental model of health transition. Objectives: To characterize behavioral changes associated with modernization. Methods: We surveyed 42…
Chronic radiation exposure in the Rivne‐Polissia region of Ukraine
OBJECTIVES: The health effects of chronic low-dose radiation exposure remains a controversial question. Monitoring after the Chernobyl nuclear accident in Ukraine suggested that chronic low-dose radiation exposure was not linked to cancer mortality among the general population. However, elevated rates of birth defects in contaminated compared to uncontaminated regions suggest that exposure to radiation in utero might impact development and that c…
Beer is the cattle of women
Beer is the cattle of women
Go with the Flo”
In this article, we explore the challenges of conceptualizing, designing, and establishing a rapid research agenda as a local researcher following a disaster. We share what we learned while developing and implementing this rapid study and explore the challenges shaped by time pressures, our local context, and resource availability. We identify four core challenges, experienced conducting rapid research, and provide suggestions to overcome these c…
Brief communication
Stress during the prenatal and early postnatal periods (perinatal stress, PS) is known to impact offspring cognitive, behavioral, and physical development, but effects on skeletal growth are not clear. Our objective was to analyze effects of variable, mild, daily PS exposure on adult offspring long bone length. Twelve pregnant rat dams were randomly assigned to receive variable stress from gestational days 14–21 (Prenatal group), postpartum days …
Coming to grips with economic development
OBJECTIVES: To determine whether (1) maximal handgrip strength (HGS) is associated with inter-island level of economic development in Vanuatu, (2) how associations between island of residence and HGS are mediated by age, sex, body size/composition, and individual sociodeomographic variation, and (3) whether HGS is predictive of hypertension. MATERIAL AND METHODS: HGS was collected from 833 adult (aged 18 and older) men and women on five islands r…
Chronic radiation exposure in the Rivne‐Polissia region of Ukraine
OBJECTIVES: The health effects of chronic low-dose radiation exposure remains a controversial question. Monitoring after the Chernobyl nuclear accident in Ukraine suggested that chronic low-dose radiation exposure was not linked to cancer mortality among the general population. However, elevated rates of birth defects in contaminated compared to uncontaminated regions suggest that exposure to radiation in utero might impact development and that c…
Beer is the cattle of women
Behavioral changes associated with economic development in the South Pacific
Health patterns are changing in developing countries; as diet and activity patterns change with economic development, chronic disease prevalence increases, which is a characteristic of health transition. The islands of Vanuatu (South Pacific) have varying rates of economic development and provide a natural experimental model of health transition. Objectives: To characterize behavioral changes associated with modernization. Methods: We surveyed 42…
Patterns of childhood and adolescent overweight and obesity during health transition in Vanuatu
Objective Rapid economic development and subsequent changes in lifestyle and disease burdens (‘health transition’) is associated with increasing prevalence of obesity among both adults and children. However, because of continued infectious diseases and undernutrition during the early stages of transition, monitoring childhood obesity has not been prioritized in many countries and the scope of the problem is unknown. Therefore we sought to charact…
Brief communication
Stress during the prenatal and early postnatal periods (perinatal stress, PS) is known to impact offspring cognitive, behavioral, and physical development, but effects on skeletal growth are not clear. Our objective was to analyze effects of variable, mild, daily PS exposure on adult offspring long bone length. Twelve pregnant rat dams were randomly assigned to receive variable stress from gestational days 14–21 (Prenatal group), postpartum days …
Impact of modernization on adult body composition on five islands of varying economic development in vanuatu
OBJECTIVE: The Republic of Vanuatu, similar to other South Pacific island nations, is undergoing a rapid health transition as a consequence of modernization. The pace of modernization is uneven across Vanuatu's 63 inhabited islands, resulting in differential impacts on overall body composition and prevalence of obesity among islands, and between men and women. In this study, we investigated (1) how modernization impacts body composition between a…
Dietary change mediates relationships between stress during pregnancy and infant head circumference measures
Prenatal maternal stress can adversely affect birth outcomes, likely reflecting effects of maternal stress hormones on fetal development. Maternal stress might also induce behavioural changes, such as dietary change, that might influence fetal development. Few studies have documented relationships between stress and dietary change in pregnancy. We analysed stress and dietary change among 222 pregnant women exposed to the 2011 Queensland Floods. W…
Ownership of consumer electronics is associated with measures of adiposity during health transition in Vanuatu
OBJECTIVE: The Republic of Vanuatu, like many developing nations, is undergoing a rapid health transition. Our previous study identified several behavioral risk factors for the rising prevalence of obesity. Unexpectedly, daily time spent using television and radio was revealed as a protective factor for obesity in 2007. In this study, we sought to explore associations between ownership of consumer electronics (CE) and measures of adiposity in Van…
Secular change in adult stature associated with modernization in Vanuatu
OBJECTIVE: To determine whether: (1) there is a secular increase in adult stature in Vanuatu, and (2) whether adult stature is positively associated with modernization in Vanuatu. METHODS: This study reports on stature measurements collected on 650 adult (age > 17 years) men and women from four islands of varying economic development in Vanuatu. Measurements were collected as part of the Vanuatu Health Transitions Research Project in 2007 and 201…
Relationships between psychosocial distress and diet during pregnancy and infant birthweight in a lower-middle income country
Maternal distress following a natural disaster has important implications for maternal and child health. In LMICs, low birthweight remains a pressing public health concern. Distress during pregnancy might represent one underlying risk factor
Coming to grips with economic development
OBJECTIVES: To determine whether (1) maximal handgrip strength (HGS) is associated with inter-island level of economic development in Vanuatu, (2) how associations between island of residence and HGS are mediated by age, sex, body size/composition, and individual sociodeomographic variation, and (3) whether HGS is predictive of hypertension. MATERIAL AND METHODS: HGS was collected from 833 adult (aged 18 and older) men and women on five islands r…
Relationships between psychological distress and health behaviors among Canadian adults
Psychosocial health might contribute to persistent socioeconomic disparities in health in part through relationships with health behaviors, although relationships in the general population are modest. Health behavior interventions incorporating psychosocial health might need to be tailored based on socioeconomic characteristics, and future research on intersections between multiple sociodemographic risk factors remains necessary
Psychosocial Stress, Sedentary Behavior, and Physical Activity during Pregnancy among Canadian Women
Psychosocial stress represents one risk factor for sedentarity, with relationships evident throughout pregnancy and at the population level. Relationships with physical activity are less consistent, but stress might represent a risk factor for low physical activity in early to mid-pregnancy. Results might guide the development of more comprehensive interventions targeting stress, sedentarity, and physical activity. In particular, integrating psyc…
Using multiple correspondence analysis to identify behaviour patterns associated with overweight and obesity in Vanuatu adults
Objective The present study evaluates the use of multiple correspondence analysis (MCA), a type of exploratory factor analysis designed to reduce the dimensionality of large categorical data sets, in identifying behaviours associated with measures of overweight/obesity in Vanuatu, a rapidly modernizing Pacific Island country. Design Starting with seventy-three true/false questions regarding a variety of behaviours, MCA identified twelve most sign…
Maternal marital status predicts self‐reported stress among pregnant women following hurricane Florence
OBJECTIVES: The effects of stress caused by natural disasters may be more pronounced in individuals with preexisting disadvantages. The degree of hardship and psychological distress associated with Hurricane Florence was assessed in 83 pregnant women. This research helps identify unmarried pregnant women as a group particularly at risk of distress following a natural disaster. METHODS: We assessed hardship associated with the hurricane using a qu…
Relationships between Prenatal Distress and Infant Body Mass Index in the First Year of Life in a Lower-Middle Income Country
Prenatal stress affects body composition in childhood and later in life. However, few studies assess body composition in infancy. Furthermore, most are in high-income countries and do not consider interactive or curvilinear relationships. We assessed distress and diet during pregnancy via questionnaires among 310 women in Vanuatu, a lower-middle income country. We measured body mass index (BMI) among 54 infants at 4-12 months of age. We analyzed …
Variations in Relationships Between Perceived Stress and Birth Outcomes by Immigration Status
Relationships between mental health and diet during pregnancy and birth outcomes in a lower‐middle income country
Poor maternal mental health during pregnancy is associated with adverse birth outcomes, including lower birthweight and gestational age. However, few studies assess both mental health and diet, which might have interactive effects. Furthermore, most studies are in high-income countries, though patterns might differ in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). OBJECTIVES: To analyze relationships between mental health and diet during pregnancy wit…
Relationships between Objectively Measured Sedentary Behavior during Pregnancy and Infant Birthweight
Considering the high levels of sedentary behavior during pregnancy observed in many studies, even modest associations with birthweight merit further consideration. Relationships might not be evident later in pregnancy or if only linear relationships are considered. More detailed studies could help guide recommendations on sedentary behavior during pregnancy and the development of more comprehensive interventions
Patterns of distress and psychosocial support 2 years post-displacement following a natural disaster in a lower middle income country
Background Displacement due to natural disaster exposure is a major source of distress, and disproportionately affects people in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Public mental health resources following natural disasters and displacement are often limited in LMICs. In 2017, the population of one island in Vanuatu, a lower-middle income country, was displaced due to volcanic activity. Following the launch of a public mental health policy …
Go with the Flo”
In this article, we explore the challenges of conceptualizing, designing, and establishing a rapid research agenda as a local researcher following a disaster. We share what we learned while developing and implementing this rapid study and explore the challenges shaped by time pressures, our local context, and resource availability. We identify four core challenges, experienced conducting rapid research, and provide suggestions to overcome these c…
Maternal stress and hair cortisol among pregnant women following hurricane Florence
Natural disasters represent major stressors, resulting in psychological distress and physiological responses such as increased cortisol. During pregnancy, this impacts not only maternal well-being, but also fetal development. In 2018, Hurricane Florence caused extensive damage across the eastern United States. Studies indicated that compared to married pregnant women, unmarried pregnant women had higher risk of distress. Here we assess hair corti…
Challenges and opportunities in rapid disaster research
Rapid research is essential to assess impacts in communities affected by disasters, particularly those communities made "hard-to-reach" due to their active marginalization across history and in contemporary practices. In this article, we describe two rapid research projects developed to assess needs for and experiences of communities hard-hit by disasters. The first is a project on the COVID-19 pandemic in southern New Mexico (USA) that was devel…
Medicine (21 obras) · Demography (15 obras) · Environmental health (11 obras) · Sociology (11 obras) · Geography (10 obras) · Demography (8 obras) · Gerontology (8 obras) · Pregnancy (8 obras) · Clinical Psychology (7 obras) · Maternal Mental Health During Pregnancy and Postpartum (7 obras)