Substance use in Indigenous communities remains a significant public health concern for Indigenous communities worldwide, greatly affecting physical, mental, and social well-being. Substance use in Indigenous communities is nearly double that observed in the non-Indigenous population (Geia, et al., 2018). Such prevalence of substance use among Indigenous populations has been a source of stigma greatly related to colonialism. This study examines the prevalence of substance use among Indigenous populations in Australia, New Zealand, Canada, and the United States identifying patterns within communities and successful intervention strategies to decrease substance use in these communities. A systematic review of literature conducted in the countries mentioned above reveals that Indigenous communities experience high rates of alcohol, tobacco, and illicit drug use. Secondary to trauma and socioeconomic disparities paired with limited access to secular healthcare contributes to the exacerbation of the cycle of addiction (Spillane, et al., 2023). Specific led interventions sculpted around Indigenous culture and various community-driven, utilised participatory approaches show a high chance of decreasing substance use in these communities (Geia, et al., 2018). With such findings, the need for healthcare services that remain respectful to Indigenous culture and overall strengthen community engagement can be put in place to mitigate the prevalence of substance use in these communities and the corresponding risk factors that contribute to such circumstances. My presentation will demonstrate how the high levels of alcohol and substance use can be reduced in Indigenous communities when ethical interventions are implemented that provide long-term care for rehabilitation. This long-term care should include education, harm reduction, and encouragement for partnership between Indigenous individuals and their families and healthcare providers within the programs. The long-term care is to be residential to those struggling with substance use, rather than mainstream outside of reservations, to ensure the patients feel safe.

Unlawful behavior by both the government and its civilians in Mexico has developed into a crisis of violent crimes and corruption. There is a culture of high disregard of the law that is fueled by distrust in the government, subcultures such as Narco-culture, as well as institutional weakness. The aims of this study are to learn of the experiences Mexican citizens have with unlawful behavior and corruption in their government as well as understand the motivations behind this kind of behavior. For the purpose of this study, unlawful behavior will be defined as any behavior or action that violates Mexican law. Through semi-structured interviews of adult Mexican citizens I will gain insight on their thoughts and experiences. They will be asked questions regarding their participation and experiences with unlawful behavior. Due to travel limitations, the Mexican citizens interviewed for this study will be residents of Washington state. It is Mexican citizens that are facing the consequences of the high crime and corruption which makes it imperative to amplify their stories and understand their experiences and perceptions. The information collected through this research may aid in finding a solution to Mexico's crisis of crime and corruption in hope of providing Mexican civilians with a better quality of life. 

Despite advances in modern medicine in the United States, maternal and child health (MCH) outcomes continue to decline due to the social determinants of health (SDOH), resulting in poor health outcomes and death for mothers and babies. However, community-based models (CBM) of maternal and child health care have been identified as effective interventions that mitigate these negative outcomes by addressing the SDOH. Existing literature identifies CBMs as effective interventions using quantitative methods and analysis. However, my research focuses on qualitative methods and their human-centered real-world applications of CBMs. The goal of my study is to highlight the role that communities play in influencing maternal and child health outcomes and understand the effect of CMBs on participants. To investigate the impact of community-based models on MCH outcomes, I am using two questions to guide semi-structured interviews with expectant families, parents, and community health workers. My research questions are, 1) What are the experiences of providers and recipients of community-based models of maternal and child health care? and 2) Do Black, Hispanic, Indigenous, and White communities in King County experience gaps in maternal and child health care services, and, if so, how do these gaps differ among communities? I am recording demographic data from participants for coding after interviews have concluded. This study will help create a more comprehensive understanding of CBMs of MCH in the field. These narratives will help further legitimize the practice of community care in traditional Western medical spaces as an effective tool to improve maternal and child health outcomes in the United States.

The fitness industry actively influences how people define health, shaping their actions and self-image. My qualitative research examines how University of Washington students navigate fitness messaging in gym culture, social media, and advertising, analyzing its effects on self-perception, mental health, and behaviors. Since Winter 2024, I have used ethnographic methods, including semi-structured interviews with 30 consenting individuals and participant observations at the IMA gym, with IRB certification for ethical compliance, to identify key trends. This research focuses on four objectives: analyzing fitness industry messages around body image, exercise, and diet; investigating how these messages shape student perceptions and behaviors; examining intersections with public health, media studies, and psychology; and evaluating the ethical implications of these narratives. Preliminary findings reveal that while fitness and nutrition can improve health, commercialized messaging often leads to the opposite. Without evidence-based guidance, individuals accept and internalize health narratives that may not align with their needs, which can be detrimental. My research has revealed fitness culture reinforcing societal pressures, creating confusion about health, and leaving young adults vulnerable to misinformation, with some experiencing serious health consequences from extreme regimens promoted online. The emphasis on aesthetics often overshadows long-term well-being, contributing to over-exercise, disordered eating, and supplement misuse. This presentation will initiate critical dialogue on how fitness industry messaging impacts health behaviors and inform strategies for public health, policy, and education to address these issues. It will also raise awareness of the urgent need to evaluate health messages critically, empowering individuals to make informed decisions. I want to ensure that fitness is used as a tool for sustainable health rather than a driver of harmful standards. As I prepare for graduate studies in medical anthropology and global health this work is a critical step in my commitment to addressing health disparities.

Nepali migrants play a significant role in India’s workforce, facilitated by the open-border policy established under the 1950 Indo-Nepali Treaty of Peace and Friendship. However, they face numerous challenges in accessing healthcare, particularly those employed in informal sectors. This research paper examines the healthcare barriers experienced by Nepali migrants in both North and South India, including overcrowded public hospitals, legal restrictions, language barriers, and work-related health concerns. Using a literature review and qualitative exploratory research based on interviews with Nepali migrant adults aged 20-45, the study highlights how, in North India, the high concentration of Nepali migrants places additional strain on healthcare infrastructure, while seasonal migration disrupts continuity of care. In South India, key challenges include social isolation, language difficulties, and dependence on costly private healthcare. Findings reveal significant policy gaps, such as the absence of a bilateral healthcare agreement between India and Nepal and the exclusion of Nepali migrants from India’s national health insurance programs. To address these issues, this paper proposes solutions, including employer-provided health insurance, mobile clinics, language-inclusive healthcare services, and cross-border cooperation modelled on successful approaches from Thailand and Germany.

Tattooing is an ancient practice with many different significances and cultural meanings across time and space. However, there has been a lack of research on the relatively common themes of transformation and healing that emerge from the ritual of tattooing. This presentation is part of an ongoing research project investigating how tattoos are part of transformative healing processes. By conducting literature review and qualitative analysis of semi-structured interviews with participants who had tattoos they identified as healing, I identified three (3) frameworks of tattoos that commonly hold healing significance: 1) biomedical tattoos, (such as those used for radiology treatment), 2) paramedical tattoos, including scar camouflage and decoration (for example those after mastectomies), and 3) those that promote abstract healing, focusing on mental health and grief. This research thus shows how tattoos contribute to a transformative healing journey, and how these frameworks of tattoos differ in their symbolism and healing significance. I argue that tattoos of all types are inherently transformative, though the subjective dimensions of such transformation varied immensely. I also found that each recipient’s healing journey is personal, specific, and complex. Furthermore, the process of receiving, healing, and wearing a tattoo indexes healing cosmologies and practices, demanding self-reflection, agency over one’s body and life, undergoing physical pain, self-care, and ultimately, transformation. 

I aim to uncover the impact of mass graves on indigenous populations, particularly focusing on how such atrocities contributes to the dehumanization and cultural erasure of these communities. Throughout history, colonization, genocide, and systemic violence have led to the forced removal and killing of indigenous people. When examining these sites, I hope to illuminate how the existence of mass graves strips indigenous populations of their humanity, undermines their grief and cultural practices, and perpetuates cycles of trauma. This research also integrates the concepts of necropower and necropolitics to further understand the dynamics surrounding mass graves and their implications. Necropower refers to the ways in which political power determines who is allowed to live and who must die, thereby shaping life through the control of death. Within this framework, mass graves are not merely sites of death; they symbolize a historical and ongoing exertion of power over indigenous bodies, reflecting systemic oppressions that dictate the value of life within these communities. Similarly, the concept of necropolitics will be explored to analyze the ramifications of governmental and societal decisions regarding the recognition, treatment, and memorialization of mass graves. Necropolitics involves the regulation of populations and life through the lens of death, revealing how political authorities often manipulate narratives around mortality to control and marginalize indigenous peoples. By investigating the political implications of mass grave sites, this research will illuminate the struggles for justice and recognition faced by indigenous communities. Questions that will be explored: How is the relationship between state policies and indigenous rights reflected in the treatment and acknowledgment of mass graves, and what are the potential paths toward justice? How do indigenous communities respond to the existence of mass graves? What strategies do they employ to resist the narratives of dehumanization and cultural loss?