Digital Commons Network^™

Book Review. From Anarchy To Allottopia, David P. Fidler

Articles by Maurer Faculty

No abstract provided.

Caught Between Paradise And Power: Public Health, Pathogenic Threats, And The Axis Of Illness, David P. Fidler

Articles by Maurer Faculty

No abstract provided.

Health Educators In Florida’S County Public Health Departments: Frequency Of And Perceived Confidence In Performing Entry-Level Competencies, Gwendolyn Matthews, Michele Johnson Moore, Chudley Werch

Public Health Faculty Research and Scholarship

The purpose of this study was to determine whether the activities of health educators in Florida’s county health departments concur with the responsibilities and competencies for health educators that have been established by the National Commission for Health Education Credentialing (NCHEC, 2003). Fifty-three (68.8%) county public health department health educators completed a modified version of the Self-Assessment for the Health Education Specialist instrument (National Task Force, 1987) to determine the frequency and perceived confidence in performing entry-level health educator responsibilities. The data indicated that the entry-level responsibilities reflect the current health education practice in this group of health educators. The …

The Implications Of Early Marriage For Hiv/Aids Policy, Judith Bruce, Shelley Clark

Poverty, Gender, and Youth

This brief is based on a background paper prepared for the WHO/UNFPA/Population Council Technical Consultation on Married Adolescents, held in Geneva, Switzerland, December 9–12, 2003. The final paper is entitled “Including married adolescents in adolescent reproductive health and HIV/AIDS policy.” The consultation brought together experts from the United Nations, donors, and nongovernmental agencies to consider the evidence regarding married adolescent girls’ reproductive health, vulnerability to HIV infection, social and economic disadvantage, and rights. The relationships to major policy initiatives—including safe motherhood, HIV, adolescent sexual and reproductive health, and reproductive rights—were explored, and emerging findings from the still relatively rare programs …

Including Married Adolescents In Adolescent Reproductive Health And Hiv/Aids Policy, Judith Bruce, Shelley Clark

Poverty, Gender, and Youth

The majority of sexually active girls aged 15–19 in developing countries are married, and married adolescent girls tend to have higher rates of HIV infection than their sexually active, unmarried peers. Married adolescent girls represent a sizable fraction of adolescents at risk and experience some of the highest rates of HIV prevalence of any group. Nonetheless, married adolescents have been marginal in adolescent HIV/AIDS policies and programs and have not been the central subjects for programs aimed at adult married women. This paper offers a partial explanation for why married adolescents have so often been overlooked, the reasons why marriage …

Socioeconomic Disadvantage And Unsafe Sexual Behaviors Among Young Women And Men In South Africa, Kelly Hallman

Poverty, Gender, and Youth

This study investigates how relative socioeconomic status influences the sexual behaviors of young women and men aged 14–24 years in KwaZulu-Natal Province, South Africa—an environment characterized by high HIV prevalence and high rates of poverty and inequality. Relative economic disadvantage is found to significantly increase the likelihood of a variety of unsafe sexual behaviors and experiences. Poorer young people, especially females, also have significantly lower access to media sources for family planning information. Without sufficient attention in the design and placement of HIV prevention programs to the economic and social conditions in which individuals live, the potential effectiveness of the …

Popular Perceptions Of Emerging Influences On Mortality And Longevity In Bangladesh And West Bengal, Sajeda Amin, Alaka Malwade Basu

Poverty, Gender, and Youth

Although new environmental and pathological threats to human survival and longevity have been documented, relatively little is known about how these threats are perceived in the popular imagination. During fieldwork in rural Bangladesh and West Bengal, India, researching the changing costs of and motivations for reproduction, the authors included survey questions on respondents’ perceptions of changing mortality. Child-mortality levels were perceived to have fallen drastically in recent times, but for the middle-aged and the elderly, the past was seen as a better time in terms of health and survival. The decline in adult health is attributed to environmental deterioration and …

Gender Differences In Time Use Among Adolescents In Developing Countries: Implications Of Rising School Enrollment Rates, Amanda Ritchie, Cynthia B. Lloyd, Monica J. Grant

Poverty, Gender, and Youth

Researchers at the Population Council have been involved in the collection of data on time use from adolescents in India, Kenya, Pakistan, and South Africa. Three questions are addressed in this working paper: (1) How does time use change during the transition to adulthood? (2) Does gender role differentiation intensify during the transition? (3) Does school attendance attenuate gender differences? The data document differences in time use patterns between students and nonstudents. Although female adolescent students still work longer hours than male adolescent students, the gender division of labor that typically develops during adolescence is greatly attenuated among students when …

Do Recent Data From The Seychelles Islands Alter The Conclusions Of The Nrc Report On The Toxicological Effects Of Methylmercury?, Alan H. Stern, Joseph L. Jacobson, Louise Ryan, Thomas A. Burke

Wayne State University Associated BioMed Central Scholarship

Abstract

In 2000, the National Research Council (NRC), an arm of the National Academy of Sciences, released a report entitled, "Toxicological Effects of Methylmercury." The overall conclusion of that report was that, at levels of exposure in some fish- and marine mammal-consuming communities (including those in the Faroe Islands and New Zealand), subtle but significant adverse effects on neuropsychological development were occurring as a result of in utero exposure. Since the release of that report, there has been continuing discussion of the public health relevance of current levels of exposure to Methylmercury. Much of this discussion has been linked to …

The Roles, Responsibilities, And Realities Of Married Adolescent Males And Adolescent Fathers: A Brief Literature Review, Gary Barker, Jorge Lyra, Benedito Medrado

Poverty, Gender, and Youth

From the perspective of developing countries, we know relatively little about married adolescent males and adolescent fathers, and much of what we know is inferred from research with young women or comes from a few specific regions in the world. However, there has been a growing interest in the issue on the part of researchers, policy-makers, and program staff. This interest has coincided with increasing attention in general to men, with gender studies, and with sexual and reproductive health initiatives. Early marriage and early childbearing are much more prevalent among young women than young men, and the negative consequences are …

Le Pronostic Occupationnel Des Travailleurs Aux Prises Avec Des Affections Vertébrales, Clermont Dionne, Renée Bourbonnais, Pierre Frémont, Michel Rossignol, Susan Stock

Rapports de recherche scientifique

Problématique de santé et sécurité du travail et objectifs spécifiques du projet : Au Québec, en 2000, les maux de dos représentaient près du tiers des lésions professionnelles avec indemnisation, entraînant des coûts de plus de 425 millions de dollars en frais directs. Il est d’autre part reconnu que près de 80% des ressources allouées aux maux de dos chez les travailleurs sont dirigées vers une minorité de cas (moins de 10%) ayant nécessité un arrêt de travail de plus de six mois. Il importe donc de concentrer des efforts de recherche sur cette minorité de cas sévères, de façon …

Forced Sexual Relations Among Married Young Women In Developing Countries, Deepika Ganju, William Finger, Shireen J. Jejeebhoy, Vijaya Nidadavolu, K.G. Santhya, Iqbal Shah, Shyam Thapa, Ina Warriner

Poverty, Gender, and Youth

Recent research in developing countries suggests that a considerable number of young women may experience forced sex within marriage, but most women may be inhibited from reporting these experiences due to shame, fear of reprisal, or deep-rooted unequal gender norms. In September 2003, a global consultative meeting on nonconsensual sex among young people in developing countries was held in New Delhi, India. The meeting was organized by the Population Council in collaboration with World Health Organization/Department of Reproductive Health and Research, and Family Health International/YouthNet. Participants included researchers, legal analysts, representatives from community-based NGOs, policy-makers, and young people themselves. Papers …

Trends And Transitions In Children's Coresidence With Older Adults In Beijing Municipality, Zachary Zimmer, Xianghua Fang, Toshiko Kaneda, Zhe Tang, Julia Kwong

Poverty, Gender, and Youth

The reduction in family size in China and concurrent social and economic change are raising concerns that traditional sources of support may be eroding. This Population Council working paper paper examines a) whether rates of coresidence between older adults and their adult children in the Beijing municipality of China have been declining, and b) the determinants of coresidence and coresidence transitions. Results suggest that family support structures for the elderly, when they are facilitated through coresidence, remain basically intact, particularly for those who require the greatest amount of support. Further assessment is required to elucidate the effects of availability, need, …

Promoting Young People's Sexual And Reproductive Health: Stigma, Discrimination And Human Rights, Kate Wood, Peter Aggleton

Reproductive Health

Sponsored jointly by the DFID-supported Safe Passages to Adulthood program, John Snow International, YouthNet/Family Health International, and the Population Council, the international knowledge synthesis meeting on Promoting Young People’s Sexual and Reproductive Health: Stigma, Discrimination and Human Rights took place in Brighton, England, June 5–7, 2003. Participants from a wide variety of countries were invited to describe their experiences of working to challenge stigma and discrimination and promote human rights as they relate to young people’s sexual and reproductive health. The meeting brought together program leaders from a variety of countries to discuss stigma, discrimination, and human rights in relation …

Unwanted Pregnancy And Induced Abortion In Rajasthan, India: A Qualitative Exploration, Batya Elul, Hillary J. Bracken, Shalini Verma, Rajani Ved, Rajesh Singhi, Karin Lockwood

Reproductive Health

As part of a Population Council program of research on unwanted pregnancy and induced abortion in Rajasthan, the Council and Ibtada conducted a qualitative exploration of attitudes and behaviors regarding unwanted pregnancy and induced abortion in Alwar district. The study was intended to lay the groundwork for two quantitative studies on abortion undertaken subsequently in six districts of Rajasthan. The qualitative exploration shows that women, particularly those who are poor, turn to largely untrained community-level providers for abortion services. Additionally, women use home remedies in an often unsuccessful attempt to terminate unwanted pregnancies. Women with greater financial means obtain surgical …

Introduction Of Emergency Contraception In Bangladesh: Using Operations Research For Policy Decisions, M.E. Khan, Sharif M.I. Hossain, Md. Moshiur Rahman

Reproductive Health

The Directorate of Family Planning, Bangladesh, the Population Council, Pathfinder International, and John Snow Incorporated collaborated to conduct this operations research study to assess the acceptability and feasibility of providing emergency contraception pills (ECP) as a backup support to existing family planning methods. The study demonstrated that all categories of health providers, including NGO outreach workers, could be effectively trained to provide ECP services. The study also demonstrated high acceptability of ECP and revealed that if used correctly, the success rate in avoiding unwanted pregnancy was extremely high. The positive findings of the study have helped the Ministry of Health …

Integrating Adolescent Livelihood Activities Within A Reproductive Health Program For Urban Slum Dwellers In India, Dale Huntington, Mary Philip Sebastian, Barbara Mensch, Wesley H. Clark, Aditya Narain Singh, Sohini Roychowdhury, M.E. Khan, Nirmala Selvam, Bella C. Patel, Sandhya Barge, Y.P. Gupta, Lovleen Johri, Gita Biswas, Manohar Shenoy

Reproductive Health

The Population Council’s Frontiers in Reproductive Health (FRONTIERS) program and Policy Research Division, in collaboration with CARE India, conducted an operations research study in Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh to examine the feasibility and impact of adding livelihood counseling and training, savings formation activities, and follow-up support to an ongoing reproductive health program for adolescents. The short-term objective of the study was to foster development of alternative socialization processes for adolescent girls that encourage positive sexual and reproductive health behaviors. The study also aimed to produce a replicable model for CARE and other agencies to use in adding livelihood activities to adolescent …

Youth Behavioral Risks And Psychosocial Resources In Peru's Alternative-Development Zones, Federico R. Leon, Mary L. Claux

Reproductive Health

Alternative-development programs are being offered to the population of seven regions of central-eastern Peru involved in coca cropping. The youth of these regions are above the national average in risk of pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections, use of alcohol and drugs, and violence against women. This study sought to identify and describe protective factors expected to function as counterforces to such risks; develop reliable indicators and provide a baseline concerning the risk behaviors and protective factors; compare youth by gender, developmental stage, urbanization, and geography to determine whether segmented interventions are required; and recommend specific intervention strategies. The results of …

Culturally Appropriate Information, Education And Communication Strategies For Improving Adolescent Reproductive Health In Cusco, Peru, Marco Florez-Arestegui Cornejo, Rosalinda Barreto Silva

Reproductive Health

The project Culturally Appropriate Information, Education and Communication Strategies for Improving Adolescent Reproductive Health in Cusco, Peru was designed in response to the evident lack of information and education on adolescent reproductive health in the country and, in particular, in the rural areas of the department of Cusco. Research revealed that a great need for sexual and reproductive health information still exists among indigenous adolescents in the rural areas of the region and that sexual education programs have to be sustainable. This report recommends that the Ministry of Education train more teachers in sexual and reproductive health topics, taking into …

Testing The Effectiveness Of Integrating Community-Based Approaches For Encouraging Abandonment Of Female Genital Cutting Into Care's Reproductive Health Programs In Ethiopia And Kenya, Jane Chege, Ian Askew, Susan Igras, Jacinta Muteshi-Strachan

Reproductive Health

CARE International, with technical support from the Frontiers in Reproductive Health Program completed a study in Ethiopia and Kenya designed to test the effectiveness of education activities using behavior change communication (BCC) approaches and advocacy activities by religious and other key leaders to abandon female genital cutting (FGC). In Ethiopia, the increased knowledge of harmful FGC effects and human rights issues translated to a positive attitude in support of FGC abandonment and an intention not to cut their daughters in the future. In Kenya, the analysis indicated mixed results in attitude and intended behavior change.

Medicalization Of Female Genital Cutting Among The Abagusii In Nyanza Province, Kenya, Carolyne Njue, Ian Askew

Reproductive Health

This study sought to understand the role that health providers play in the medicalization of female genital cutting (FGC) among the Abagusii community in western Kenya, among whom the practice continues to be almost universal. Interviews with service providers and their clients revealed an overwhelming belief that FGC fulfills a traditional cultural obligation among the Abagusii, and that it limits a woman’s sexual desire and confers respect on girls. New approaches are needed within this community to present FGC as violating human rights and national laws, as well as threatening girls’ and women’s health. The study recommends measures such as …

Female Circumcision In Indonesia. Extent, Implications And Possible Interventions To Uphold Women's Health Rights, Meiwita P. Budiharsana, Lila Amaliah, Budi Utomo

Reproductive Health

In Indonesia, the practice of female circumcision (FC) has long existed, but information concerning where and how it is carried out has been limited. The specific aims of the study conducted by the Population Council Jakarta were to provide research-based information on FC customary practices and their socio-cultural determinants, and if possible, to assess any long-term physical and psychological consequences. Study findings indicate that in general Muslim communities support the continuation of FC practice, because they perceive it as both a societal custom and a religious duty. The report strongly recommends that key donor agencies pressure the Ministry of Health …

Body Image And Attitudes Toward Obesity In College Students, Sarah Rebecca Goodwin

Theses and Dissertations

The current study was conducted in order to examine the impact of ethnicity on gender differences in body type preferences and perceptions and add to the literature examining racial differences in body type preferences and perceptions. The current study was an expansion of one by Gipson et al conducted at a historically Black university in 2004, in which responses and BMI measurements of 191 college students were examined for associations between BMI and gender, and body image and attitudes toward obesity. For the current study the sample of 176 college students enrolled at Virginia Commonwealth University, an ethnically diverse institution, …

Attitudes Of Preventive Care Specialists And Registered Dietitians Toward Their Obese Patients, Maryanna Gabriel

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

The purpose of this study was to compare preventive care specialists and registered dietitians regarding attitudes toward obese patients, to compare both groups with Canadian and American nurses previously studied, and to determine whether relationships exist between personal characteristics and attitudes toward obese patients. Questionnaires were sent to members of the American Preventive Care Association and 1,000 randomly selected members of the California Dietetic Association. Sixty-seven preventive care specialists and 579 registered dietitians participated in the study. A modified version of the Attitudes Toward Obesity scale, developed by Bagley, et al. was used to measure attitudes. Preventive care specialists and …

Characteristics Of Help-Seeking Among First-Year Community College Students, Patricia A. Smith

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

Health trends among freshmen entering college indicate that 2-year college students are especially vulnerable to engaging in risky health behaviors, yet many do not seek help. There was a need to more directly assess those who use college health services and factors that enable them to seek help when others do not.

The purpose of this study was to examine factors associated with help-seeking among two groups of first-year community college students: those who utilized the student health center and those who had not.

This study used a cross-sectional study design to examine differences between first year community college students …

Impact Of Extra-Curricular Activities On Adolescents' Connectedness And Cigarette Smoking: Annual Report, Donna Cross, Greg Hamilton, Rob Mcgee, Margaret Hall

Research outputs pre 2011

Cigarette smoking is the primary cause of preventable death in Australia, killing approximately 19,000 people every year.⁸ Up to 90% of smokers begin smoking by 18 years of age.^9,10 In spite of the obvious public health burden, current approaches have led to very modest decreases in adolescent smoking in the past 10 years. ¹¹ The Smoking Cessation for Youth Project (SCYP)⁴ was a cluster randomised control trial that resulted in lower cigarette smoking among Year 10 students who received a harm minimisation intervention over two years. This project also led to the identification of connectedness as a …

Male Sexuality And Masculinity: Implications For Stis/Hiv And Sexual Health Interventions In Bangladesh, Sharful I. Khan

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

My thesis concerns male sexuality as revealed by men living in contemporary urban and rural Bangladesh. I pursue what men think it means to be a man. dimensions of manliness and manhood, and male influences in the construction of male/female relationships. Significant meanings men attribute to sexual acts, pleasure, pain,. risk and safety in multiple social realities, particularly in the era of HIV/AIDS, were explored. A social constructionist perspective guided my research. Using qualitative research methods, I conducted 50 in-depth interviews with men aged between 18 and 58 years from diverse socio-occupational backgrounds. Twenty key informants included religious leaders. traditional …

Identifying And Enabling Core Management Competencies And Compliance Factors In High Reliability Organisations : A Study In Organisational Risk Management Psychology And Training: A Small N Modified Grounded Theory Qualitative Analysis, Patrick S. Maher

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

High reliability entities governed by statutory regulations are required to comply with safety guidelines and specifications. When fatalities or serious injuries occur in otherwise preventable accidents these entities are routinely exonerated from any responsibility by claiming to have ‘systemic management problems’ and their managing coalitions have been able to hide behind the ‘corporate veil’. This thesis maintains that the core managerial competencies needed to prevent preventable accidents, can be acquired through training, particularly if their mastery is mandated by a strong regulatory and compliance regime. The cases chosen for analysis revealed ten core managerial and organisational competencies and compliance as …

Hiv/Aids Related Stigma In Sub-Saharan Africa: Context And Consequences, Chinyelu B. Okafor, Barbara Holder

International Journal of Global Health and Health Disparities

While HIV infection has been a worldwide epidemic, minority and poor rural groups the world over have been disproportionately affected by the disease. People of color have been most affected, particularly in rural areas of sub-Saharan Africa and the United States. HIV/AIDS is a highly stigmatized disease, and the stigma attached to the disease has fed into, and in many ways strengthened, pre-existing stigma and prejudice against certain groups in the society. This paper gives an analysis of factors that create and sustain such stigma in rural communities, with particular reference to Nigeria, which is Africa's most populous country. The …

Constitutional Outlines Of Public Health's "New World Order", David P. Fidler

Articles by Maurer Faculty

No abstract provided.