About

Andy Hirneisen, MA is a Distinguished Extension Educator and Team Leader in Retail and Consumer Food Safety. He holds a bachelor's degree in Food Science from Penn State University and a master's degree in Management and Leadership from Liberty University. His expertise includes food safety, food quality, environmental monitoring, and home food preservation. Andy is a certified ServSafe instructor and proctor, focusing on providing food safety education to industry professionals, volunteer organizations, and individuals. Prior to his role in Extension, Andy worked for the Hershey Company as a microbiologist, where he was involved in developing environmental monitoring programs, incident troubleshooting, and supporting Hershey's global laboratory network as the manufacturing lab coordinator. He also has experience in the retail food industry and worked as a restaurant inspector. His work emphasizes food safety education, environmental monitoring, and supporting food safety practices across various sectors.

Research topics

• Medicine
• Psychology
• Family medicine
• Gerontology
• Demography

Selected publications

• Intimate Partner Violence and Depression among Sexual and Gender Minorities in Nepal: Challenges and Recommendations for Mental Health Services

  International Journal of Social Determinants of Health and Health Services · 2026-05-15

  article

  Research studies focusing on intimate partner violence (IPV) and depression among sexual and gender minorities (SGMs) are conducted more in developed countries, with few research conducted in Nepal. This study aimed to find out the prevalence of IPV and depression among SGMs in Nepal, assess the relationship between IPV and depression, identify challenges faced by SGMs in accessing mental health services, and provide recommendations to address them. A cross-sectional mixed-method study was used to collect data from 122 SGMs in Kathmandu, Nepal, from February–May 2024. Participants were recruited using respondent-driven sampling and completed self-administered questionnaires via Qualtrics XM . Approximately 81.1% of participants experienced at least one form of emotional violence in their lifetime, 59.8% experienced physical violence, and 36.9% experienced sexual violence. Similarly, 33.6% of participants reported moderate to severe depression. Bivariate linear regression analysis showed a positive relationship between IPV and depression ( B = 0.458, p < .001). Participants highlighted barriers to accessing mental health services, including limited availability, lack of LGBTQIA+-friendly care, and financial constraints. Participants emphasized expanding online mental health services, providing cost-free care, and increasing government support to improve SGMs’ access to mental health services. This study highlighted the need to address socioeconomic and structural barriers to reduce distal (e.g., violence) and proximal minority stressors, and its psychological consequences among SGMs in Nepal.

  PublisherDOI

• Exploring the Psychological Impact of Constraints to Exclusive Breastfeeding on Working Mothers in Lagos, Nigeria.

  2025-11-08

  articleOpen access

  Introduction Exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) for the first six months of life is recommended by the World Health Organization to promote infant health and development. Despite high breastfeeding initiation rates, Nigeria’s EBF prevalence remains low, particularly among working mothers who face workplace-related challenges. This study examined EBF knowledge, workplace constraints, and their psychological impact among working breastfeeding mothers in Lagos, Nigeria. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted at Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH) with 437 employed breastfeeding mothers aged 23–45 years. Data was collected using a 23-item interviewer-administered questionnaire including the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale (DASS-12). Descriptive statistics summarized socio-demographics, EBF knowledge, and workplace constraints. Chi-square tests were used to examine associations between workplace constraints and psychological outcomes. Results Most participants (93.6%) correctly defined EBF, and 94.3% identified the recommended six-month duration for exclusive breastfeeding. Workplace barriers were identified, with 57.2% having only three months of maternity leave, 46.5% not able to breastfeed at work, and 41.2% lacking access to a nearby crèche. A significant association between inability to breastfeed at work and levels of depression, anxiety, and stress was found (p < 0.05). Crèche accessibility was also significantly associated with depression (p < 0.05), while maternity leave duration showed no significant association with psychological outcomes. Conclusion Although knowledge of EBF was high, workplace barriers significantly affected mothers’ ability to sustain the practice and were linked to psychological distress. Supportive policies, including extended maternity leave, breastfeeding facilities, and accessible childcare, are needed to improve EBF rates and safeguard maternal mental health in Nigeria.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Beliefs and Attitudes toward Mental Health Post-COVID-19 Lockdown among Adults in the Democratic Republic of Congo

  Universal Journal of Public Health · 2025-01-01

  articleOpen accessSenior author

  Understanding the perception of mental illness is important to implement interventions to reduce stigma, especially in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). In the DRC, attitudes and behaviors toward mental health tend to be shaped by cultural and spiritual beliefs. In this study, we examined the attitude and perception of mental illness and explored its relationship with depression and stress during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study was a cross-sectional study that used snowball sampling. A total of 267 participants completed an online survey, where 87% of the participants agreed that mental illness is a disease, 90% agreed that mental illness can be cured, while 57% agreed that mental illness has biological roots. In addition, 14% agreed that mental illness is caused by someone putting a spell on you, 80% agreed that mental illness is not caused by the possession of evil spirits, 60% agreed that mental illnesses such as depression are synonymous with sadness, and 97% agreed that mental illness is not caused by God's punishment. Moreover, 54% agreed that spiritual guidance is needed when one experiences mental health illnesses, and almost 50% agreed that mentally ill people are dangerous because of violent behavior. Participants who disagreed that mental illness was caused by someone putting a spell on them and disagreed that mental illness was caused by God's punishment reported higher stress levels during the pandemic (p=0.03 and p=0.04, respectively). Those diagnosed with COVID-19 during the lockdown period reported higher levels of depression compared to those without COVID-19 diagnosis (p=0.005 and p=0.02, respectively). These results enhance the need to incorporate culturally sensitive practices into promoting mental well-being in the DRC. This would result in the creation of tailored mental health interventions for individuals affected by COVID-19 in African countries, especially the DRC.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Time-Dependent Shortest Path Optimization in Urban Multimodal Transportation Networks with Integrated Timetables

  Vehicles · 2025-05-09 · 2 citations

  articleOpen access

  Urban transportation systems evolve toward greater diversification, scalability, and complexity. To address the escalating issue of urban traffic congestion, leveraging modern information technologies to enhance the integration of multiple transportation modes and maximize overall efficiency has emerged as a promising strategy. This study focuses on the decision making problem of urban multimodal transportation travel paths, integrating the time-varying characteristics of public transportation schedules and networks. We consider passengers’ diverse needs and systematically investigate how to optimize travel paths to minimize travel time while adhering to constraints, such as the number of interchanges and travel costs. To address this NP-hard problem, we propose and implement two optimization algorithms: a variable-length coding genetic algorithm (V-GA) and a full permutation coding genetic algorithm (F-GA). Detailed numerical analysis validates the effectiveness of both algorithms, with the V-GA demonstrating significant advantages over the F-GA in terms of solution efficiency. Our findings provide novel perspectives and methodologies for optimizing urban multimodal transportation travel paths, offering robust theoretical foundations and practical tools for enhancing urban traffic planning and travel service efficiency.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• A Comparative Study on Factors Contributing to Unprotected Sex Among University Students in the United States and Nigeria

  2025-11-09

  articleOpen accessSenior author

  Introduction According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 20% of all new HIV diagnoses were among young people (ages 13–24) living in the United States. Nigeria, with a population of over 200 million people, has the world's second-largest HIV epidemic and one of the highest rates of new infections in Sub-Saharan Africa. This study aims to identify and compare the factors contributing to unprotected sex among university students in the United States and Nigeria. Methods We conducted a comparative study using literature searched electronically from the following sources: PubMed, SIUE Libguides, Google Scholar, and Elsevier. We identified eleven journal articles that met our inclusion criteria for unprotected sex among university students in Nigeria and the United States. Results Results suggest that several factors, such as a history of abuse/neglect, poverty, media, and substance abuse, contribute to university students participating in unprotected sex. However,this study focuses on three (3) common factors between Nigeria and the United States that need to increase public health awareness. These include sexual satisfaction, broken homes, and sexual identity crises. Conclusion This study highlights factors that should be considered when developing policies and intervention initiatives to address the rate of unprotected sex among university students in the United States and Nigeria. Effective health education programs should target university students to improve their knowledge of sexual issues, promote abstinence, and motivate behaviors that reduce sexual risk.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• The Effect of Social Isolation Due to the COVID-19 Pandemic on the Mental Health of Geriatric Patients in Outpatient Clinic in Illinois: An Exploratory Pilot Study

  Journal of Public Health Issues and Practices · 2023-01-01

  articleOpen access

  The COVID-19 pandemic contributed to a severe burden on the physical and mental health of people around the globe. It contributed to fear, uncertainty, stress, isolation, and loneliness amongst the geriatric population. These feelings were often higher in people with mental health disorders. Having a prior history of psychiatric disorders can be a risk factor for increased psychological distress after going through any disaster-related traumatic experience. The present exploratory pilot study aimed to understand the adverse effects of social isolation due to the pandemic on geriatric patients’ mental health and awareness of the available resources provided by both government and private agencies, to cope with stress. The study included a questionnaire that was administered to 50 geriatric patients. Descriptive statistics were conducted using Microsoft Excel. The results showed that 56% of the participants reported that their mental health was affected due to the social isolation from the pandemic. Statistical significance (p<0.05) was observed amongst the participants who reported feeling socially isolated and lonely during the pandemic. Worsening of mood, anxiety, sleep disturbances, loss of interest, appetite changes, weight issues, and concentration difficulties were statistically significant. Statistical significance was also observed for symptom worsening compared to the pre-pandemic period and for the awareness of lack of resources. About 60% of participants reported that they were not aware of the resources to cope with stress during the pandemic. The study findings suggest that the mental health of geriatric patients was adversely affected by the social isolation from the COVID-19 pandemic. It is important to focus on the physical and mental health of vulnerable populations, such as geriatric patients, and to carefully monitor them during difficult times including pandemics and other emergency situations.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Perceived Mental Health Among Adult Residents Living in Region 4 Illinois, U.S., During COVID-19 Pandemic: A Cross-Sectional Study

  Journal of Public Health Issues and Practices · 2022-01-01

  articleOpen access

  As of July 22, 2022, there were 3,528,282 total confirmed COVID-19 cases in Illinois, United States. The purpose of this study was to examine how the COVID-19 pandemic has contributed to Illinois Region 4 adult residents’ poor mental health and assess the mental health burden the residents experienced during the pandemic. A cross-sectional survey was administered via Qualtrics. Participants (N=632) living in the Illinois Region 4 counties of Bond, Clinton, Madison, Monroe, Randolph, St. Clair, and Washington were recruited through Facebook. The questionnaire was developed based on the current literature review and was validated by colleagues in public health. Both descriptive statistics and logistic regression were used for data analysis using SPSS. Most of the participants identified as female (86.7%). Many of the participants had an associate’s (23.6%) or a bachelor’s (29.4%) degree. About 84% of the participants reported that COVID-19 had changed things in their daily life (e.g., work, family, and social life). There was significantly more perceived mental health burden during the pandemic than there was before the pandemic (p<0.001). Approximately 68% of participants believed more mental health resources should be made available within their county of residence. Overall, the study findings suggest the perceived mental health burden among Region 4 adults, which highlight the need for mental health issues to be prioritized and the allocation of mental health resources to be optimized.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Health Vulnerability Model for Latinx Sexual and Gender Minorities: Typologies with Socioeconomic Stability, Health Care Access, and Social Characteristics Indicators

  Health Behavior Research · 2021-04-23 · 1 citations

  articleOpen access1st authorCorresponding

  Vulnerability can undermine positive health outcomes and challenge healthcare services access. However, to date, vulnerable populations research has been limited by overly broad definitions, lack of clear indicators, and failure to explore subtypes of vulnerability. Informed by literature and theory, this analysis used a specific operationalization of health vulnerability to identify typologies among a sample of Latinx sexual and gender minorities. We analyzed baseline data from Latinx sexual and gender minorities (N = 186) recruited for a community-based HIV intervention. We performed latent class analysis to operationalize vulnerability using eight socioeconomic stability, health care access, and social characteristics indicators. We identified three typologies of vulnerability from our sample: Low Education and High Social Support (63.4% of sample), High Education and Year-round Employment (18.8%), and High Education and High Discrimination (17.7%). Using specific indicators produced more nuanced vulnerability typologies which, after further testing, can assist in informing tailored health promotion interventions.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Examining the Intersection of Alcohol Use and Hookups among Transgender College Students: A Descriptive Study

  Journal of Public Health Issues and Practices · 2021-01-01

  articleOpen access1st authorCorresponding

  We examined the intersection of alcohol use and hookups among transgender college students to identify sexual behaviors that may reduce negative hookup experiences. Our analytic sample included US college students who identified as transgender (n=36; 11 trans men and 25 trans women). Descriptive analyses were performed using the Online College Social Life Survey (2005–2011) to describe transgender students’ alcohol use, hookups, and related sexual behaviors. Twenty-five (69.4%) transgender students reported a hookup since entering college. The majority (n=19; 76.0%) of hookups included only non-penetrative sexual behaviors. Of these hookups, nearly half (n=9; 47.4%) reported heavy drinking. Some condom use was reported with penetrative hookups. This suggests that transgender students use some lower risk strategies during hookups. Alcohol use was high, which has implications for the consistent use of these behaviors to reduce negative hookup experiences.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Typologies of Sexual Health Vulnerability Predicting STI Preventive Behaviors Among Latinx Adults in the U.S.: A Latent Class Analysis Approach

  Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health · 2021-10-16 · 1 citations

  article1st authorCorresponding
  PublisherDOI

Frequent coauthors

• Amanda E. Tanner

  University of North Carolina at Greensboro

  24 shared

• J. Dennis Fortenberry

  Indiana University – Purdue University Indianapolis

  22 shared

• Brittany D. Chambers

  University of California, Davis

  18 shared

• Morgan M. Philbin

  University of California, San Francisco

  12 shared

• Sonia Lee

  The Francis Crick Institute

  11 shared

• Samuella Ware

  Bethany University

  10 shared

• Jorge Alonzo

  Wake Forest University

  6 shared

• Elizabeth N. Kinnard

  Boston Medical Center

  6 shared

Education

• MPH, Department of Public Health Education

  University of North Carolina at Greensboro

• BA, Department of Psychology

  University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

• PhD, Department of Public Health Education

  University of North Carolina at Greensboro

Awards & honors

• certified ServSafe instructor and proctor