nayavill – Page 20 – Gillings Around the globe

Family Time and The Final Stages

Posted on September 16, 2020 by nayavill

I can’t believe it’s already September. For the most part, I remain in Carrboro with my roommate, only seeing a tiny social circle. I’m still on the sourdough bread making train and successfully grew a small handful of tomatoes on my back porch.

I took a break from my work in mid-July to visit my family in Massachusetts. Flying was not so bad – RDU was pretty empty and everyone wore masks. In Massachusetts, I was able to easily obtain a negative Covid rapid test (results in about 2 hours!) so that I was able to also visit some family in Connecticut. My mom, my sisters, and I drove down to see my cousin and her new baby (7 weeks!), her brother and his two babies (7 months and 3 years), their spouses, my aunt and uncle, and my grandmother. My family then drove up to Maine where we spent the week on Mount Desert Island, close to where my dad grew up. We spent the week hiking, biking, and swimming, perfect outdoor activities to stay apart from other people. Acadia National Park is amazing. In birding news, I saw some Common Eiders, three Bald Eagles, and a Black Guillemot in Maine.

My mom, my two sisters, and I on a bike ride on the Acadia National Park carriage trails.

My birthday cake! I celebrated 25 years with my family on August 6th.

With regards to my practicum, I am currently working on wrapping up the final stages of our project. I am currently drafting a write-up of my data analysis results and discussion in the form of a manuscript. As a refresher, my practicum is conducting a data analysis on a household survey in rural Western Uganda. The survey looked at bed net use and malaria status in children while collecting geographic factors. With Varun Goel from the geography department, we have looked at the relationship between geographic factors, bed net use, and malaria status. By showing that malaria is rare at high elevations, we can provide evidence for more effective distribution of malaria prevention efforts. By examining who owns bed nets, we can show that people in the most rural areas are underserved by bed net distribution through health centers.

Enjoying the slightly cooler weather on my front porch.

Although I’ve encountered some delays along the way, it’s been incredibly rewarding to take an analysis from start to finish. I’ve always known that I was terrible at work-from-home, and this summer has been no exception. Starting up classes has been great for my productivity because I love having more routine. As the weather just begins to cool off, I’m also enjoying returning to my favorite cafes to enjoy their well-spaced outdoor seating.

I’m also really enjoying my classes this semester. I’m taking One Health, mHealth, and Pandemics in addition to my concentration courses, Implementation Science for Global Health and Professional Development. It’s been really nice to have lots of opportunity to work on topics I’m really interested in.

Stay Safe,

Claire M. Côté

Endings and Beginnings

Posted on September 15, 2020 by nayavill

Looking back on the summer, I cannot believe how quickly my practicum flew by. As the first week of school came to a close on August 14th, so did my practicum at NARAL Pro-Choice NC. The last week of my practicum was a busy one, as I began to acclimate to my new classes while finishing up my projects from the summer. Although my summer was mostly spent sitting behind a desk, I am really excited about the work I was able to accomplish.

Throughout my practicum, I examined the communication strategies implemented by crisis pregnancy centers (CPCs), also known as fake clinics, and researched the manipulation tactics they use. I was also able to interview a variety of stakeholders in order to better understand their perspectives and priorities on repro health and justice. All of my practicum work was sprinkled with fun activities, including exploring the beautiful NC outdoors, trying some new DIY projects, and teaching parking lot workout classes at Threehouse Studios in Durham. I was able to take a short trip to the Outer Banks, hike some new destinations, and find new places to sweat outdoors.

– Rachel

UNDERESTIMATING THE STRENGTH IN NUMBERS

Posted on September 10, 2020 by nayavill

As I come to the end of my summer practicum, addressing patient satisfaction in maternal health services in Ghana, I ponder on how underestimated the power in numbers are. Just like the popular African proverb says, “If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to far, go together,” I reflect on my overall experience in comparison to the adage which brought a whole lot of understanding and meaning to my life and how I approach my career. It further reflects the importance of multidisciplinary approach to solving problems. The recent pandemic robbed us of the physical support system but has also made us develop the skills in virtual communication.

At the start of my practicum, I wondered how I could make an impact without being physically present in the practicum setting. But as I conclude, I realize I learnt a lot and still had my usual support though virtual but very present. Help was always an email, phone call or Zoom meeting away and surprisingly equally as effective.

Patient satisfaction is considered a proxy for quality of health care. This practicum enlightened me on many aspects of care that is neglected which when considered greatly impacts service delivery. Something as basic as provider introduction and knowledge of service rendered prior gave patients a sense of trust and increased assess to health care and compliance.

My mini "African Union" in N.C. — My mini “African Union” in N.C.

In all, I learned that to make interventions that are sustainable, the voice of the patient must be considered. I am glad that I got to be a part of a team that worked virtually to impact a change in my home country and grateful for the support from my mini “African Union.”

– Janet