Digital Commons Network^™

La Feminización De La Especialidad De Pediatría En La Ciudad De Buenos Aires, Argentina / The Feminization Of The Specialty Of Pediatrics In The City Of Buenos Aires, Argentina, Jessica Wilder

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

Background: In the context of feminization of pediatrics that is occurring rapidly worldwide, this investigation seeks to determine the underlying causes of the phenomenon in Argentina. It focuses on the field of pediatrics because pediatrics is one of the most feminized medical specialties. Through this narrowed focus, the investigation intends to suggest causes for the feminization occurring in all of medicine. It studies the pediatricians of the Autonomous City of Buenos Aires in order to illuminate the social, logistical, and personal motivations that attracted them to pediatrics. It is very important to discover these motivations and causes because they reflect …

Nurturing The Whole Body: The Benefits Of Supplementing Tuberculosis Chemotherapy With Traditional Chinese Medical Practices, Rachel Levine

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

Although modern medicine has found a cure for Tuberculosis (TB), it remains a worldwide health threat. Due to poor adherence to TB chemotherapya multi-drug resistant strain of the TB bacteria (MDR-TB) has been created.It has been found that poor adherence is caused by many factors, two of which include the high cost of treatment and the many uncomfortable side effects. Through a month of research based in Kunming, China including interviews, observations and surveys,this project hoped to compare Western biomedicine and Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) to determine the potential benefits TCM holds for TB patients. TCM improves a TB patient’s …

Socio-Cultural Barriers To Family Planning Access, Aasha Jackson

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

This paper attempts to discern barriers to family planning access and use in the Manguier quarter of Yaoundé, Cameroon based on research collected during a three week period. Questionnaires and interviews were used to measure women’s use of and opinions towards family planning consultations and methods. The spread of rumors regarding negative side effects, mistaken beliefs about family planning, husband’s disapproval, and the availability of contraceptives elsewhere were found to be the major deterrents to the use of family planning by women in this study. This research shows the need for campaigns to educate women and men alike on the …

A Silent Killer Of India’S Women: Investigating The Barriers To Adequate Tuberculosis Treatment And Diagnosis For Women In Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, Evonne Mcarthur

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

Nearly 20 years ago, the World Health Organization declared tuberculosis as a global public health emergency, yet today TB still remains a major global health challenge. It is estimated that during 2012 8.6 million were infected with TB and 1.3 million died from the disease (WHO, 2013). Globally, more than one third of the population is infected with TB and, after HIV/AIDS, TB is the greatest killer world-wide due to a single infectious agent. 95 percent of the global TB burden lies within low and middle-income countries and among the 22 countries determined to be high epidemiological burden countries, India …

An Autoethnographic Exploration Of Holistic Wellness Through Three Paradigms Of Wellness; Western Medicine, Traditional African Healing, And Herbalism., Alison Frankel

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

As globalization persists and varying cultures come into increasing contact with each other, people are becoming more exposed to a multitude of approaches to wellness. With the opportunity to examine wellness from multiple perspectives, people have the chance to blend aspects of different systems. Each paradigm of wellness posses it’s own virtues and failures, but is incomplete on its own, and thus a more holistic and integrative approach is in order. In this process, the notions of “holism” and of “wellness” demand to be contemplated and reconsidered, and ultimately united to establish a goal for healthy living. Once this is …

Gender Disparities In Access To Hiv Testing And Antiretroviral Treatment Services, Wyatt Lombard Smith

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

Throughout a six-week practicum period at TASO Mulago in Kampala, Uganda and St. Francis Naggalama Hospital in Naggalama, Uganda, the researcher aimed to find methods to increase male engagement in all facets of comprehensive HIV/AIDS care. Women and children generally receive most global attention on the issue of HIV/AIDS in Uganda but men are beginning to demand more attention. Antiretroviral treatment has been critical in allowing countless people to live functionally with HIV but many research projects have hypothesized that delayed access to HIV/AIDS treatment and prevention methods has resulted in men exhibiting higher mortality rates upon initiation of this …

Jordanian University Student’S Attitudes And Perceptions On Mental Health, Amira Khablein

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

The present study examines the attitudes and perceptions of students at a private, Jordanian University to examine, through surveys, interviews and a focus group whether the stigma commonly associated with mental health in the Middle East and North African region persists for students and the reasons behind this stigma. It was also investigated what kind of disorders came to mind when asked to name specifics to see if students focused on the illness of psychological disorders when weighing mental health. It was found that the stigma does not necessarily exist for students, though it is perpetuated throughout the community and …

Los Determinantes De La Diferencia En La Tasa De Fecundidad Adolescente Entre Comunidades Pobres Y Ricas En Buenos Aires, Emily Turner

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

The city of Buenos Aires has some of the lowest rates of teenage fertility in Argentina (Gogna, Binstock, Fernández, Ibarlucía, & Zamberlin, 2008). However, this aggregated number obscures the huge variance within the city. In the most current available data (2010/2012) from the government of the city of Buenos Aires (GCBA) broken down by comunas (areas) highest fertility rate for 15-19 year olds was 81.6 births (per 1000) versus the lowest fertility rate which was only 6.2 (D. d. e. d. GCBA). This discrepancy is huge and reflects the incredible economic disparity in Buenos Aires. The comunas with the three …

La Opinión Pública Sobre El Aborto En Chile: Conceptos Públicos De Moralidad Y De Derechos De Las Mujeres En Relación Con Aborto, Sarah Smith

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

Background: Abortion legislation in Chile is among the most restrictive in the world, with abortion being illegal without exception. However, while abortion remains completely illegal in Chile, there are an estimated 125,000-175,000 clandestine abortions being carried out each year. Illegal abortions account for about 30% of maternal deaths in Chile. It is important to understand public opinions on abortion in order to understand this discrepancy between legislation and reality.

Research Objectives:What is the public opinion of Chileans on the legal and moral status of abortion in Chile? Do Chileans relate the topic of abortion to the theme of women’s …

Mapping The Knowledge Economy Of Medicinal Plants In Northern Madagascar: Information And Resource Flow In Traditional Health Practices, Chanelle Adams

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

In the wake of pharmaceutical success with alkaloid compounds found in the Madagascar periwinkle (Catharanthus roseus), there has been increased attention towards identifying medicinal properties in the country’s rich flora. Both native and foreign companies seek profitable use of wild plant species found within Madagascar’s unique biodiversity. Many conservation organizations believe that the world’s forests in biological “hot spots” contain cures unknown to modern science and therefore, their preservation essential.

While the protection of these natural resources is important to Western medicine, it is even more vital for local people who depend on the forest as their primary …

Public Perceptions On Family Planning And Birth Spacing In The Cultural And Religious Context Of Senegal: A Case Study In Dakar, Senegal, Heidi Kahle

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

Much prior research has examined the prevalence rates of family planning and contraceptive use in Senegal, as well as the importance of family planning for reducing maternal and infant mortality, improving the well being of families, and improving the national economy. Few studies, though, have captured the perspectives of Senegalese persons and their attitudes and beliefs toward family planning, rumors and stigmas that surround it, and how different actors can work together to dispel rumors and encourage the use of family planning. I conducted my research in Dakar, Senegal, where I interviewed a variety of persons – two gynecologists, a …

A Comparison Of Malnutrition Causes And Treatments: A Case Of Mwanamugimu Nutrition Unit, Mulago National Referral Hospital, Kampala District And Nakifuma Government Health Unit, Mukono District, Berkley Singer

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

In beginning of the investigation process, the researcher set out to study malnutrition in Uganda. She wanted to study an urban region in comparison to a rural region and so based her research out of both Kampala and the Mukono region. The researcher set out to learn more about the causes of the condition and why children become malnourished. She also was interested in the differences that exist between the two different locations and why they exist. Finally, the researcher was eager to learn what malnutrition meant to each community and how health care professionals go about treating the condition …

Jordanian Ethical Perceptions Of Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis, Sarah C. Miller

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis (PGD) is a procedure that can be done during In Vitro Fertilization (IVF), involving genetic and chromosomal screening of fertilized embryos prior to implantation into a woman’s uterus. After PGD, only the embryos possessing the desired characteristics are implanted, while the other embryos are frozen for future use, or discarded. PGD is used for family balancing (gender selection for balancing the gender dynamic within a family), gender selection to screen out sex-linked diseases, or a broader genetic screening for diseases known to be present in the patient’s family history.

Many ethical questions have been raised about PGD, …

Opinions Of Individuals In The Greater Durban Area Concerning Government Healthcare, Alexander Braun

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

One important determinant of health in South Africa is how government entities, from the local level to the national level, use their health budgets. A complex system of organizations involving many government employees at the various levels are involved in the process of turning a budget allocation of Rand into healthcare services and goods that make their way to the South African people. What do individuals in the greater Durban area think about that process as it exists currently, and what do they think of the services that are eventually delivered to them? This is an important question, especially in …

Challenges Of Containing New Hiv Infections In Ethiopia: Unacknowledged Transmission Route, Dessu Sam

Capstone Collection

As the main goal of the Partnership Framework (PF) between the Government of Ethiopia (GoE) and the U.S. Government (USG), Ethiopia has set a national target of reducing new HIV infections by 50% by the end of 2014 (National Target). Funded by the USG, the PF provides a five-year joint strategic plan (2010-2014) for cooperation to support Ethiopia’s national HIV/AIDS response (PEPFAR, 2010). Ethiopia has an estimated adult prevalence of 1.5% and about a million people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) (ECSA & IFC, 2012), among countries most affected by the epidemic. The International Labor Organization (ILO) projection for 2015 indicates …

Integrated Health Care Systems: A Holistic Approach To Medicine, Tatiana Kaehler

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

This paper examines how the strengths of both allopathic and traditional medical systems are harnessed in integrated health care systems – a system which “consciously targets and harnesses people’s links with biodiversity for health care reasons” (Quansah, personal communication, July 1, 2013). It uses examples of integrated health care in Madagascar to prove that integrated health care systems offers health care in an affordable and accessible manner, while also promoting cultural sustainability and conservation of biodiversity. By recognizing and establishing integrated health care systems throughout the world, global health disparities can be addressed and various health goals can be accomplished.

Dipo Rites And Women’S Health: Tradition Empowering Krobo Female Identity And Reproductive Health In Manya-Krobo, Nina Kearin

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

Objective: To understand the meaning and process of dipo rites and the correlation (if any) to the reproductive health of women in Manya-Krobo. This led to the research being aimed at answering three major questions.

1. What are dipo rites? This is taking into consideration the history of the rites, meaning of the rites, the process of the rites, and who practices the rites.
2. What is the status of women’s reproductive health in Manya-Krobo?
3. How are the dipo rites and the reproductive health of the women who practice them interconnected?

Methodology: I lived in Manya Krobo for most of April, 2013 …

Legislative Impact Of The Construction Of An “Abortion Culture”: A Comparative Analysis Of The Enaction And Impact Of Abortion Restriction Legislation In The Netherlands And The United States, Anna Schmitz

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

This study investigates the different socio-political causes leading to the implementation of similar abortion restrictions (mandatory parental notification for minors, mandatory counseling, and a waiting period) in the Netherlands and the United States. It first investigates the “abortion cultures” of the two countries, using personal interviews with Dutch and American citizens to analyze the social perceptions of abortion and a comparison of sexual health and legislation data to create a wider picture of abortion within both countries. It then investigates the political opportunity structure leading to the implementation of the restrictions of abortion in each country, and then investigates differences …

An Exploration Of Diabetes Care In Durban, Kwa-Zulu Natal, Suburbs As Seen Through The Work Of Diabetes South Africa, Mallory Bernstein

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

This study portrays the lived experiences of diabetics and diabetes caregivers in Durban suburbs through the lens of Diabetes South Africa (DSA), a Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) operating out of Durban. Furthermore, this study also analyzes the progression of the treatment and services offered to diabetics. The specific aim of this study was to understand the situation of diabetic care in the suburbs and the obstacles to improvement. Because diabetes is registered by the World Health Organization (WHO) as a worldwide epidemic and because the rate of diagnosis will be increasing (World Health Organization: Diabetes updated March 2013), it is necessary …

Health As A Human Right: An Analysis Of Healthcare Delivery To Bidonvilles, Juliana Saracino

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

Morocco is often characterized by its diverse geographical elements such as deserts, waterfalls, mountains, and beachfronts, but an element that Morocco may not be as proud of yet can be found throughout the country is the bidonville. These small communities that tend to compose sub-sections of major cities host an astonishing number of the urban poor who are forced to live in compromised health and social stigma. Through an investigation of the bidonville dwellers’ experiences with the heath care services, this paper attempts to assess the relationship between the Moroccan healthcare system and the marginalized people it endeavors to, but …

Adding Injustice To Injury - Health Perceptions, Plurality, And Power In The Ongoing Bhopal Disaster, Ruth Markwardt

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

Standards of health, human rights, and development are typically defined and dictated by policymakers instead of the populations directly affected by so-called development efforts. This paper seeks to contextualize global development efforts by highlighting specific local realities among the community of Bhopal Disaster survivors in Madhya Pradesh, India. As the site of the world’s largest industrial disaster, a disaster which is not over but ongoing, Bhopal represents an important population to highlight as the disaster continues. The Political Ecology of Health model was used to highlight political and environmental influences on community health. Within Political Ecology, this study takes a …

Reaching Millennium Development Goal Target 5.A.: Progress Towards Improving Maternal Health, Christina Kang

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

In September 2000, 189 countries agreed upon striving to reach Millennium Development Goal 5, making great strides to improving maternal health by 2015. The indicators that would prove the goal’s success were determined to be directly correlated to a reduction of three-quarters of Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR) from 1990 figures and having Skilled Birth Attendants (SBAs) present at all births by 2015 (United Nations, n.d.-a). Research has proven that while there has been a global trend towards reaching MDG 5, there is a large discrepancy amongst different regions and countries influencing its success. Through the usage of official United Nations …

Femininity, Dependency, And Patriarchy: The Marginalization Of Women With Japanese Encephalitis And Neurological Sequelae In The Northern Terai Region Of Uttar Pradesh, Katherine Ehrenreich

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

The present study seeks to determine how girls and women who have suffered from neurological sequelae after a Japanese encephalitis (JE) infection are marginalized in the Northern Terai region of Uttar Pradesh, India. Societal and familial values were studied in comparison to behaviors towards a neurologically disabled girl after a JE infection in order to determine how women infected with JE are excluded from cultural practices and norms. The 4 study was conducted in the Northern Terai region of Uttar Pradesh in the districts of Bahraich and Shrawasti under the guidance of DEHAT and Dr. Jitendra Chaturvedi. Semi-structured interviewing was …

Sexual Education For Youth In Rwanda: A Case Study Of Methods, Effectiveness, And Response At The Kimisagara One Stop Youth Center, Leslie Massicotte

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

In examining the increasing influence of states in contemporary society, this paper explores the concept of biopower, particularly in the area of sexual health, as a critical control mechanism that solidifies state legitimacy. By turning control mechanisms inwards, into minds and physical bodies, the state utilizes its monopoly over the legitimate use of symbolic violence to convince citizens of the assumed universality of structures and mindsets that solidify state power. Reproductive health has emerged as a crucial site of consolidating state control, perpetuating the assumed necessity of state regulation of bodies for the betterment of the nation. In Rwanda, with …