Faculty Sponsor: Widline Senatus
Live Poster Session: Zoom Link
Widline Senatus
Widline Senatus is a Senior at Wesleyan University class of 2023, graduating with a degree in Molecular Biology and Biochemistry alongside a Chemistry minor in the spring. Following commencement, she will be attending graduate school in the fall and pursuing a masters in public health with an epidemiology concentration. She will be pursuing research related to the public health realm as how to quantitatively analyze the issues affecting certain populations. She plans to gained a deeper understanding of how social determinants of health can significantly impact the well-being of vulnerable populations.
Abstract: This research quantitatively examines the significance of routine health screening in childhood and its association in avoiding and controlling the development of chronic illnesses in adulthood. Chronic diseases account for the vast majority of fatalities in adults worldwide, so identify measure contributing to its development in at risk populations is imperative. This study analyzes the individual attitudes regarding health screenings and how it shapes individual attitudes in regards to engaging in routine health screening. This research offers a community-based cross-sectional study that finds that the locations and accessibility of the tests, as well as the pricing of the screenings, are factors that greatly influence participants’ motivation to participate in chronic disease health screenings. It is emphasized access to healthcare services for routine health checks remains a difficulty for children, even those who have insurance. The study aims to discover the link between a lack of health checks and chronic illnesses as children grow into adults. Data for this study are drawn from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health (AddHealth) waves 1 and 5, with a sample of 6,504 participants. The study’s measures included individuals’ perceptions regarding their general health, chronic illness diagnosis, frequency of doctor visits, and obstacles to medical tests. Whether individuals who have difficulty accessing healthcare services such as routine health screens are more susceptible to developing chronic diseases later on in life was investigated. The physical, economic, and social determinants of accessing healthcare services, especially health screenings, even if individuals have insurance is highlighted in this study.
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