Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Perspectives On Psychosis From Dharmashala’S Tibetan Community In Exile, Teddy Daniel

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

What is psychosis? The term itself is relatively recent. Yet clinicians and religious figures have tried to explain ‘psychosis’ from pathological and nonpathological perspectives for hundreds of years. From an allopathic, medical standpoint, psychotic disorders are devastating diseases. Up to 3% of the world’s population struggle with hallucinations, delusions, and cognitive impairments that make it difficult or impossible to function in society. Tibetan Buddhism does not have an exact analogue to the clinical term ‘psychotic disorders’. Nevertheless, Tibetan medicine understands some cases of psychosis as pathological. For instance, the Tibetan word smyo nad (སྡོ་ནད་) roughly translates to madness. Yet in …

“En Defensa Por La Salud”: Los Actores Sociales En La Construcción Del Movimiento Social En Chile, Karina Martinez

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

This investigation aimed to describe the construction of the social movement for health demands in the frame of the social outbreak in Chile in October 2019. In addition to identifying the main health demands of this movement, it also had a focus on understanding the role of social organizations in the construction of the movement and placing it within the broader socio-political movement that arises from the social outbreak. The research design was qualitative and descriptive. Having been a remote investigation, it was largely based on literature review with the support of information from a semi-structured interview. Regarding the results, …

Adicción Como Un Hecho Político Económico: Un Análisis De Servicios De Atención De Abuso De Drogas Y Alcohol En Arica, Chile, Jack Steffy

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

Research question – What is the current landscape of drug abuse in Chile and how has the state attempted to address this problem?

Objectives – The objectives of the paper were to characterize drug use patterns in Chile since 1994, revise drug abuse services, and offer possible improvements for the system of drug abuse treatment.

Background – Chile, despite being one of the most well economically-developed countries in South America, has some of the worst mental health indicators, one of these being drug abuse. Since 1994, use of alcohol and marihuana has increased, while use of cocaine products has remained …

Pasantía En Red Oss: Más Que Una Clínica, Saad Ehsan

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

RED OSS es una organización en Conchalí, Santiago que provee pruebas rápidas de VIH y actualiza otras pruebas para ETS en una manera gratuita desde 1991. Durante mi pasantía, investigué como una organización disminuye las desigualdades de salud. También aprendí sobre el financiamiento de RED OSS, las pruebas rápidas y el nicho de RED OSS en un país con un sistema pública. Utilicé observaciones y entrevistas para estudiar la clínica. Tuve oportunidades para asistir los talleres para prevenir homofobia y ver las consejerías con un voluntario. También actualicé el sitio web para reflejar los servicios que RED OSS ofrece. En …

Las Perspectivas De Los Trabajadores Sobre La Accesibilidad A Los Recursos Públicos Para El Tratamiento De Depresión Y Ansiedad En La Actualidad En El Área Metropolitana De Buenos Aires: Estudio Cualitativo De Tipo Exploratorio-Descriptivo. / Perspectives Of Workers On The Accessibility Of Public Resources For The Treatment Of Depression And Anxiety In The Metropolitan Area Of Buenos Aires: Qualitative Exploratory-Descriptive Study., Ellen Broaddus

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

En los últimos años, el tema de la salud mental se ha convertido en un elemento fundamental para la salud y el bienestar. Con la ley nacional 26.657 de 2010, Argentina declaró que todos tendrían servicios de salud mental gratuitos y accesibles y que no serían discriminados por sus trastornos. Sin embargo, los trastornos mentales, especialmente la depresión y la ansiedad, siguen siendo muy frecuentes, y en realidad muchos de los recursos públicos prometidos no son en realidad accesibles. Para investigar el estado actual de la salud mental pública, esta investigación buscó en los profesionales del campo para explorar sus …

The Contributing Factors To Adolescent Depression, Josie H. Lee

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

Objective: This paper reviews individual, familial, peer, and societal factors influencing adolescent depression in developed countries. Background: Depression usually onsets at adolescence and contributes to high DALYs. Since depression is treatable, efforts should be made to reduce its prevalence and effect. Methods: The research consisted of looking at literature relevant to the topic and age group and conducting interviews with experts who know about and have worked with adolescent depression. Discussion: Adolescents begins at the onset of puberty, allowing different biological factors such as genetics, stress of puberty, and cognitive changes to increase vulnerability to depression. Adolescents who had substance …

Managing Health In All The Helpers: A Survey Of Mental Health Services For Humanitarian Aid Workers, Erin Mercado

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

Humanitarianism has been a long-standing principle of helping those in need. However, the work of providing such assistance is not an easy feat. Humanitarian work is mentally taxing because of the high daily demands of the job as well as the potential for exposure to direct and secondary traumatization. These mental health risks can manifest into the mental health disorders if the stressors of the job are not well managed by individual aid workers and by the humanitarian organizations. The most common mental health disorders experienced by aid workers are depression, anxiety, burnout, and PTSD. Research into mental health and …

Sex Work And Compromised Health: Health Conditions And The Barriers To Accessing Treatment Services In Pelourinho, Salvador, Amelia Fox

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

Sex workers remain one of the most marginalized populations in Brazilian society, both coming from and living within realities defined by poverty and poor health. Through partnership with Força Feminina – an organization located in Salvador, dedicated to aiding local sex workers– I explored the day-to-day health complications sex workers encounter and the impact these problems have on quality of life. I then questioned how discrimination and stigma impact a woman’s willingness to prioritize her health and seek out healthcare services. To pursue these questions, I utilized participant observation, interviews with 4 staff members – a pastoral educator, financial coordinator, …

The Shifting Roles Of Dai Maas: An Intersection Of Healthcare And Female Empowerment In Rural Udaipur, Julie Morel

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

Traditional Birth Attendants (TBAs), known as dais in an Indian context, have historically served as women’s primary caregivers throughout their pregnancies and during childbirth in rural regions where access to formal healthcare institutions is nearly impossible. With a heavy reliance on traditional knowledge passed down through generations, dais have aided with home deliveries for millennia. Approximately 15 years ago, however, groups such as WHO, UNICEF, World Bank, and the UN began addressing India’s high maternal mortality rate (MMR), thereby instigating the discouragement of home deliveries in favor of the encouragement of institutional deliveries. Infrastructural changes were established to improve accessibility …

Las Condiciones De Vida De Los Usuarios Adultos Mayores Del Hospital Makewe / The Living Conditions Of Elderly Users Of Makewe Hospital, Taylor Selembo

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

Life conditions are a fundamental aspect of the health of senior citizens, as these are the factors that determine their quality of life and capacity to satisfy their needs. Life conditions are dependent on the particular social, political, economic, and geographic context of the region. This study intends to answer the following question: How are the life conditions of senior citizens belonging to Hospital Makewe, located in the IX region of Chile? This quali-quantitative study utilized observation, surveys (n = 40) and interviews (n = 15) in order to accomplish the main objective. The main objective was to describe senior …

El Acceso Y Uso De Las Pruebas Genéticas Para La Detección Precoz De Enfermedades Congénitas En Mujeres Embarazadas En La Ciudad Autónoma De Buenos Aires En El Año 2017 \ The Access And Use Of Genetic Tests For Early Detection Of Congenital Diseases In Pregnant Women In The Autonomous City Of Buenos Aires In The Year 2017, Anna Anna Bauer

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

Las pruebas genéticas son una herramienta útil para la prevención y el diagnóstico de defectos congénitos en las mujeres embarazadas. Esta investigación explora el acceso y uso de estas pruebas para mujeres que residen en la Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires en el año 2017. Se trata de un tema amerita una investigación porque la tecnología para hacer estudios genéticos todavía es algo novedosa. Además, a través de las pruebas genéticas es posible detectar si el feto tiene un alto riesgo para desarrollar un defecto congénito, el cual es una de las causas más importantes de la mortalidad prenatal y …

Abordajes De Nuevos Tratamientos Para La Enfermedad De Chagas Y Su Potencial Aplicación En Pacientes Desde Las Perspectivas De Los Profesionales En La Ciudad Autónoma De Buenos Aires, Argentina / Approaches To New Treatments For Chagas Disease And Their Potential Application In Patients From The Perspectives Of Professionals In The Autonomous City Of Buenos Aires, Argentina, Chelsea Hipwell

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

Más de cien años después del descubrimiento de la enfermedad de Chagas, esta enfermedad desatendida sigue afectando más de 6 millones de personas en Latinoamérica, de las cuales 1.5 millones son de Argentina. Al día de hoy, solo existen dos medicamentos para tratar esta enfermedad. El presente proyecto se basa sobre un estudio exploratorio de los desafíos de tratar la enfermedad de Chagas en sus distintas fases y los abordajes actuales para nuevos tratamientos.

Los objetivos de este trabajo fueron los siguientes: en primer lugar, estudiar el contexto socio-económico en que existe esta enfermedad y las implicaciones de este contexto …

Definiendo La Concepción De La Salud Mental Y Espiritual: La Influencia De La Biomedicina Y La Religión Occidental En La Comunidad Mapuche De La Araucanía, Maya Salvio

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

Research Question: In what ways has occidental religions and the biomedical health system influenced the conception of mental health in the Mapuche community in the Araucania?

Objectives: The general objective of this study is to identify the ways in which mental and spiritual health are conceptualized by the Mapuche community and identify the influences of occidental religion and biomedicine in Carahue and Saavedra. The specific objectives are to identify the conceptions of mental and spiritual health among the three predominant ideologies, characterize their perceptions of anxiety and depression (two occidental mental illnesses), identify the relationships between the three ideologies, and …

Maternity Care: A Case Study At Centro De Parto Normal, Kemi Oladipo

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

An overwhelming percentage of Brazil’s population has caesarean births (C-sections), and during pregnancies many women endure violations of their rights such as mental and physical abuse. The main objective of my community study project (CSP) is to learn more about normal childbirth through fieldwork at Centro de Parto Normal (CPN). The goal is to understand how CPN’s approach and principles create a better birthing experience with quality maternity care. My second objective is to learn how CPN mitigate issues with accessibility to health facilities, especially in Brown and Black locations. A general goal is to share my acquired knowledge and …

Health Literacy Skills Of Aging Populations And Its Impact On The Prevention Of Cardiovascular Disease, Peter Gorman

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) represents a threat to both the economic and social well being of Switzerland. Cardiovascular disease is easily a preventable disease, yet continues to take over the world. One’s ability to read and comprehend health information from medical professionals is a vital component of maintaining and improving an individuals’ overall health. Health literacy can have an impact on the effectiveness of preventive interventions in health behaviors and the success of health outcomes. Studies have shown that well-educated and financially improved persons have a higher health competence than lower educated persons.1 Given that cardiovascular disease is the number one …

The Disappearance Of Nyoman And Ketut, Laura Michelle Garvie

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

No abstract provided.

Discourses Of Psychiatry And Culture: The Interface Between Western And Traditional Medicine In The Treatment Of Mental Illness, Madeline Molot

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

Mental illness is a burden of disease that, in many countries, is neglected; South Africa is no exception. There are many reasons for this, including but not limited to a lack of specialized mental health personnel in primary care settings, a budget that favors South Africa’s communicable disease epidemic, and a continued stigma around mental illness. Whenever discussing the healthcare system in South Africa, however, it is important to note another parallel system of care, one with little to no budget or regulation: that of traditional healing. It is estimated that over 70% of South Africans have at some point …

Una Exploración Del Proceso De Recuperación Frente A Desastres Y Las Fuentes De Resiliencia En Alimapu, "La Tierra Quemada” / An Exploration Of The Disaster Recovery Process And Sources Of Resilience In Alimapu, "La Tierra Quemada", Alison Stewart

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

The history of Chile has been fraught by natural and socionatural disasters. Nevertheless, research on the mental health effects on the disaster survivors and the mechanisms used to overcome the catastrophes and mend the psychological damage is scarce. Therefore, this descriptive study explored the experiences of those that were affected by the great fire of Valparaíso, Chile in 2014 and the work of those involved in the recuperation process in order to reveal the manner in which resilience is manifested among the communities of disaster sufferers. The sample population was composed of 7 disaster survivors from the communities of Cerro …

Breast Is Best: Determinants Of Breastfeeding In Bali, Leah Hardenbergh

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

Breastfeeding greatly benefits the health of newborns, providing them with needed antibodies and protection from numerous diseases, including some of the leading causes of infant mortality. This paper explores breastfeeding practices in Bali, and the wide array of factors that have led to these practices. After discussing how breastfeeding fits into the larger context of maternal and newborn health, I explain factors in Bali that affect a woman’s decision to breastfeed and experience while breastfeeding. Determinants include those related to health, financial position, and social status. I explore the history of formula companies and formula as an alternative to breastmilk, …

A Preliminary Study Of Intergenerational Differences In Masxha Regarding Practice And Attitudes Towards Zulu Traditions During Pregnancy And Birth, Momoko Oyama

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

In the Zulu culture, several traditions and rituals are practiced during a woman’s pregnancy and perinatal period. However, as urbanization spreads and western influences strengthen, these rituals risk being lost. This project aims to capture existing knowledge of these traditions and to assess the intergenerational changes in practice and attitudes towards practicing the rituals.

Information on Zulu traditions practiced during a woman’s pregnancy and perinatal period was collected through two interviews and a focus group consisting of three elderly women in Masxha, a Black township in KwaZulu-Natal. Following the interviews and focus group, 32 Masxha residents were recruited to complete …

Powerful Words: An Exploration Of Linguistic Hierarchy In Moroccan Hospitals, Ellelan Degife

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

Morocco is a country of distinct diversity, which exists as a result of the settling of multiple peoples and European colonization. As a result of this diversity, many languages are employed in different settings and spaces, and of these languages, French represents remnants of colonialism and continual elitism in the country. One of the spheres that French commands in Moroccan society is medicine, which creates a dichotomy between the educated health care providers and the underprivileged patients in public hospitals. The aim of this paper is to explore the effect of French on the doctor-patient relationship in urban, public Moroccan …

Self-Perceptions Of Disability And Impairment In An Indian Prosthetic Population Using Jaipur Foot Technology, Litany Esguerra

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

Twenty-nine first time and repeat prosthetic users were interviewed over a period of three weeks to determine how they perceived their own disability at Bhagwan Mahaveer Viklang Sahayata Samiti, or Jaipur Foot, located in Jaipur, India. The questions delineated different aspects of people’s disabilities and impairment, and asked a multitude of questions regarding social, economic, political, and other contexts, influenced by the conceptual framework of the International Classification of Functioning (ICF). The study analyzed all of the factors as specified by the questionnaire and found that many varying trends over all types of prosthetic users. The study also used the …

Sugar And Spice, Not Everything's Nice: Changing Dietary Habits In Bali, Harry Teplow

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

In this paper, I will explore the ways in which locals interact with new food options on the island of Bali. Specifically, I will explore dietary behaviors surrounding pre-­‐ packaged snacks and ‘fast-­‐food’ chains and determine whether the presence of these food options is affecting the Balinese’s relationship with more traditional cuisine. I will use everyday observations and conversations with locals to analyze dietary habits and the various food items that are being consumed while examining the potential dietary differentiation between two age groups. I will also consider health outcomes in Bali and discuss how changing dietary habits may be …

Multi-Sector Analysis Of The Progress And Challenges Of Soil-Transmitted Helminth Eradication In Rural Udaipur, Jessica Ellis

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

India is home to 240 million children currently at risk of Soil-Transmitted Helminthiasis, which is spread via unclean water, soil, and food, and causes acute pain and malnutrition. While acknowledging the research debates over WASH and mass drug administration, this study seeks to identify the systemic multidisciplinary issues affecting STH elimination efforts in rural Udaipur. Twenty-three interviews were conducted in villages, government departments, NGOs, and medical sectors to identify the challenges within each approach to deworming, and their experiences with multi-sectoral collaboration. The most recurring issues across disciplines were need for invested local leadership, increase in health literacy of adults, …

Un Análisis Post-Colonial: La Encarnación De La Pérdida Histórica En La Manifestación De Depresión En Personas Mapuche En El Contexto Urbano, Haley Case

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

Esta investigación buscaba evaluar las manifestaciones cualitativas y simbólicas de la depresión en la población Mapuche de la región de Santiago a través de la aplicación de teoría que aborda del sufrimiento social y la violencia estructural. Métodos etnográficos se fueron utilizados por la realización de observaciones y entrevistas semi-estructuradas con personas involucradas en la comunidad Mapuche y el sistema de salud biomédico en las comunas de La Pintana y Lampa en la Región Metropolitana. Según la cosmovisión Mapuche, la salud tiene base fundamental en la armonización del cuerpo, alma, espíritu y mente de un ser humano con su familia, …

Los Riesgos Sobre La Salud De Los Trabajadores Inmigrantes Bolivianos En Los Talleres Textiles En La Ciudad Autónoma Buenos Aires: Las Experiencias De Los Trabajadores De La Cooperativa La Alameda / The Health Risks Of Bolivian Immigrant Workers In Textile Workshops In The Autonomous City Of Buenos Aires: The Experiences Of Workers At Cooperative La Alameda, Marian Gardner

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

Los bolivianos inmigran a Argentina para escapar de la falta de oportunidades laborales y de la pobreza. Sin embargo, una vez en Argentina, su inserción laboral es precaria e informal, principalmente, son contratados en los talleres textiles clandestinos. En éstos , donde la mayoría de ellos también vive, se ven reducidos a condiciones de servidumbre, explotación y son sometidos a condiciones de semi esclavitud, como lo demuestran las 14 a 18 horas de trabajo que realizan los siete días de la semana por sólo alrededor de $ 1300 a $ 3000 pesos argentinos por mes. Además, las condiciones laborales suponen …

The Beast Inside Your Head: A Look At Mental Health Issues In Samoa, Brandon Nelson

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

Mental illness remains a very controversial and prevalent problem for the entire world, especially the Pacific. This study examines some prevalent mental health issues and looks at how suicide, youth, alcohol, and prison correlate with mental health issues and illness in Samoa. It also looks at the Mental Health Unit (MHU) at National Hospital and programs implemented to help Samoans suffering within the four areas of mental health researched. Quantitative data from international organizations, government bureaus, and surveys, helps describe the current status of mental health issues in Samoa. One hundred twenty four surveys (124) were distributed about mental health …

Dying For A Drink: How The Consumption Of Home Brews Affects Health Within The Kibera Slum Of Nairobi, Kenya, Teaka Jackson

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

Home-brewed alcohols are inexpensive, thus they are especially consumed by low-income individuals such as those residing in Kibera. This project investigates three alcohols brewed within this area: muratina (mugasha), busaa and chang’aa. With the help of Philip Ndemwa, a nutrition expert from the Kenya Medical Research Institute, I was able to gain insight regarding the process of these alcohols, as well as the sanitation conditions of the production sites of these home brews and how these factors affect the health of the consumer. Both qualitative and quantitative research methods were utilized in order to fully understand the health repercussions from …

Processes, Practices And Politics In The Treatment Centers For Addictions And Problematic Consumptions: An Analysis Of The Perspectives And Practices Of The Professionals In A Treatment Center In The Autonomous City Of Buenos Aires, Chiara Lawrence

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

Contextual Information: Historically in Argentina, as well as globally, the politics regarding the use of “drugs” have been prohibitionist and treatment centers have implemented these politics with models of abstinence. More recently, the need for both the politics and the treatment to prioritize the rights and health of the drug uses has become more widely recognized in both social and political contexts, as much as among professionals in treatment centers. New laws have been passed proposing the implementation of harm reduction strategies in the treatment of addictions and problematic drug use. In the Autonomous City of Buenos Aires there are …

Autism Spectrum Disorder In An Indian Context: Impact Of Socioeconomic Factors On The Experiences Of Individuals With Asd And Their Families, Kendall Harman

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

While Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a condition that appears in comparable rates across social, ethnic and geographic groups, the quality and quantity of ASD-related resources and services is significantly lower in developing countries, including India. Moreover, sociocultural factors play a major role in the experiences of people with ASD. Yet, the bulk of ASD-related research has been conducted in developed countries. This study aimed to examine how social, cultural, political and economic factors impact the experiences of people with ASD living in India and their families. Seventeen parents of children with ASD were interviewed, and semi-structured observations of different …