Publications

Scholarly Journals--Accepted

• Obiokor G, Banta J, Sinclair R, Baba Djara M, Mataya R, Wiafe S. (2023) The Impact of Social Determinants of Maternal Mental Health in Marginalized Mothers.  Journal of Women's Health (08/2023)

Scholarly Journals--Published

• Pfeiffer J, Baba Djara M, Gillespie T. (2023) A University-Church-Community Look at Community Health Using Community-Based-Participatory Research, Religions, 14(6), 760 The purpose of this sequential explanatory mixed-method approach using quantitative methods followed by qualitative inquiry was to assess a Southern California community’s perception of its health and of barriers to improving health. The qualitative aspects of this mixed-method CBPR project by a church-university-community partnership further describe member perceptions of their community and contributors/barriers to community health. Four focus group interviews were conducted over eight months at two elementary schools with the mothers of school children (N = 21) in the 2017–2018 and 2018–2019 school years, including one Spanish-only group. Four themes emerged, describing the contributors and barriers to community health and well-being: lack of connection, poor communication, fear/anxiety, and lack of access to affordable healthcare. The findings highlight how small anchor institutions, those whose primary mission is not health (church, school, trailer park, local businesses, etc.), can be facilitators of health and address these disruptions of connectivity, communication, and care present within the healthcare system itself, and its disappointed community recipients of “care”. The church as a community of care, in collaboration with educational institutions, is suited to invite community participation, affirm humanness, build trust, and offer increased access to care in the neighborhoods surrounding its location. Keywords:  community-based participatory research; access to healthcare services; social determinants of health; university-church-community partnerships; church as a community of care (06/2023) (link)
• Marmolejo C, Banta JE, Siapco G, Baba Djara M. (2022) Examining the association of student mental health and food security with college GPA, Journal of American College Health. https://DOI:10.1080/07448481.2022.2058327   Abstract Background: Low food security and poor mental health are a persistent concern for college students. Objective: Examine how food security and mental health are associated with college student's grade point average (GPA). Methods: American College Health Association (ACHA)-National College Health Assessment III survey data Spring 2020 of students from 75 US universities (n = 48,103) were utilized to examine relationships among mental health, food security and academic performance (GPA). Results: The majority of the population self-reported high food security (58.3%) and moderate psychological distress (50.8%). Very low food security (B = -.523, OR = .59, p < .001) and moderate psychological distress (B = -0.19, OR = .83, p < .001) were inversely associated with high GPA. Reduced food security was associated with worse mental health measures. Conclusions: Food security and mental health are negatively associated with GPA. To improve student success, universities must enhance services that address food insecurity and mental health. Keywords: Academic performance; food insecurity; loneliness; psychological distress; psychological well-being. (04/2022) (link)

Online Publications

• McCleary K, Baba-Djara M, Shah H., Wiafe S, Sealy D. Hwang RS, Huthinson J, Camarena M, Belliard JC, Palaad S. Community Health Needs Assessment: Loma Linda University Hospitals; 2022. 89 p. Retrieved from: https://lluh.org/sites/lluh.org/files/2022-08/lluh-chna_2022.pdf Purpose of the Community Health Needs Assessment (CHNA) The Affordable Care Act requires health care institutions to conduct a Community Health Needs Assessment (CHNA) every three years in communities where they have licensed facilities, submit the report to the Internal Revenue Service, and post the report publicly on the hospital website by the last day of the fiscal year in which the CHNA is conducted (June 30 for LLUH). The purpose of this Community Health Needs Assessment is to help LLUH’s licensed hospitals meet and exceed state and federal regulations on surveying the extended community’s health needs. It aims to identify key strategic areas of potential community investment that can optimize the overall health and well-being in our region. We seek to better understand the needs of the most vulnerable community members in our hospitals’ primary and secondary service regions which include both San Bernardino and Riverside counties. Despite the regulatory requirements, this process allows our Health System to go beyond our hospital walls and continue to fulfill our institutional mission: to further the teaching and healing ministry of Jesus Christ to make man whole. The findings of this assessment are meant to be used as our “North Star” in addressing unmet health needs in the community and promoting health equity within the region. (09/2022) (link)