Digital Commons Network^™

Exploring The Links Between Drug Use And Sexual Vulnerability Among Young Female Injecting Drug Users In Manipur, Archana Oinam

Reproductive Health

Given the high prevalence of HIV in Manipur, India and the critical role that female injecting drug users play in the transmission of HIV infection, it is becoming increasingly important to understand the sexual behaviors and drug use experiences of this group. This report describes the health status and patterns of treatment-seeking of female injecting drug users aged 15–34 in Manipur, and explores the factors underlying their vulnerability to HIV, including limited in-depth awareness of safe sexual behaviors and drug use practices, and limited self-perception of HIV risk. The report recommends development of IEC materials that address these information gaps …

Obstetric Fistula: Can Community Midwives Make A Difference? Findings From Four Districts In Kenya, Charlotte E. Warren, Annie Mwangi

Reproductive Health

As part of the UNFPA Global Campaign to End Obstetric Fistula, the Population Council and UNFPA built on Kenya’s Community Midwifery Approach to develop a comprehensive community midwifery intervention strategy that aimed at increasing skilled attendants at birth and prevention of obstetric fistula. This report seeks to understand the experiences of women affected by fistula and whether community midwives can contribute to preventing obstetric fistula in rural settings in Kenya. The key recommendations emerging from this report are to: update health facility midwives in maternal and neonatal health (MNH) skills including prevention, treatment, and care of obstetric fistula; train more …

Strengthening Health And Family Planning Services In Low Performing And Hard-To-Reach Areas Of Bangladesh: Workshop Report, Ubaidur Rob, Md. Noorunnabi Talukder

Reproductive Health

Although Bangladesh has established a comprehensive physical infrastructure to deliver health and family planning services with a network of primary health care facilities in rural areas, the impact of this health service network has been much less than expected because services do not reach all regions effectively. Two divisions, Sylhet and Chittagong, remain the most disadvantaged in terms of health and population outcomes and access to services, compounded by poor utilization of facilities in these areas. Moreover, the current health and population sector programs are beset with human resources and infrastructural problems. The Population Council organized a workshop to find …

Pakistan: Effects Of Decentralization On Women, Daniela Stojkova '08

Res Publica - Journal of Undergraduate Research

Research shows that female status in Pakistan is far behind that in most other nations. The vast gender inequality is gaining more attention from international actors but no success has been reported. I analyze interviews conducted with directors of local Women’s Policy Machinery groups in Pakistan in 2007. In analyzing the surveys I test three hypotheses in regards to the question: will decentralization lead the government to be more responsive to women? In completing my research I have come to the conclusion that the instability of the country as well as its strong traditions will continue to hold women back. …

Apopo Annual Report 2008, Apopo

Global CWD Repository

2008 was a year of transformation and consolidation for APOPO.

Besides the technical achievements in the training and research programmes, APOPO went through a phase of restructuring and strategic revision of future plans. I firmly believe that this collective effort will result in a more sustainable social enterprise with a higher social impact in the future.

I am also proud to say that the long anticipated output of the Mine Detection Rats finally materialized in Mozambique, and we are confident this will trigger more operational deployment of the Mine Detection Rats in the region soon.

The research carried out with …

Adaptive Technology Catalog, Cisr

Global CWD Repository

By design, the purpose of this Adaptive Technology Catalog is to provide a resource for governments, survivor-assistance and other agencies to help victims of landmines and other explosive remnants of war (ERW) and other disabled workers get back to self-sufficiency and paid work.

Designing, developing and identifying simple and inexpensive tools and programs that assist with survivor work reintegration is a challenge with broad implications for the economic recovery of communities and nations as they emerge from conflict. The Adaptive Technology Catalog was created to offer information pertaining to both products that are readily available for use and those that …

Global Education And Training Initiatives Directory (Geti), Cisr

Global CWD Repository

The Global Education and Training Initiatives Directory has been created through the generous funding of the U.S. Department of State, Office of Weapons Removal and Abatement (PM/WRA).

The Global Education and Training Initiatives Directory represents a first effort to document the collective training and education opportunities that span a range of technical activities within mine action, explosive ordnance disposal and small arms/light weapons control and destruction. Efforts to counter the threats of landmines, unexploded ordnance and small arms/light weapons have traditionally been treated as separate entities; however, this directory is an effort to bring them together.

Training and education opportunities …

Podcasting’S Possibilities, Mimi Leonard

Inquiry: The Journal of the Virginia Community Colleges

In 2005, Wytheville Community College developed a Quality Enhancement Plan to emphasize student speaking and listening competencies. This article suggests that podcasting is a promising instructional technique to build oral skills and to enliven teaching and learning.

Germanna’S Treasure Trove Of History: A Journey Of Discovery, Rob Sherwood

Inquiry: The Journal of the Virginia Community Colleges

The author shares the rich historical setting of Germanna Community College’s Locust Grove Campus, as well as the classroom and college activities and events that have grown alongside his discoveries.

Bolivia: A Gender Focus In Service Delivery Improves Quality Of Care, Population Council

Reproductive Health

A program to operationalize and institutionalize a gender perspective in reproductive health services in Bolivia resulted in a significant reduc­tion in unmet need for contraception, increased client satisfaction, and improved communication between partners. Bolivia’s Integral Health Coordination Program (PROCOSI) encourages member NGOs to address gender-based differences in roles, relationships, access to services, and service needs in their RH programs. In 2005, FRONTIERS collaborated with PRO­COSI to test the feasibility and costs of a sys­tem for certifying that its member organizations provided gender-sensitive RH services. The two-year project followed a 2000 intervention to incorporate gender perspectives in PROCOSI clinics that led …

Burkina Faso: Political Will, Law Enforcement, And Educational Campaigns Appear To Be Reducing Fgm/C, Population Council

Reproductive Health

In 2006, FRONTIERS collaborated with the National Committee Against the Practice of FGM/C on an analysis of recent trends in female genital mutilation/circumcision (FGM/C) in rural and urban Burkina Faso. The study, conducted to help develop policies and programs for FGM/C abandonment in Burkina Faso and more widely in Africa, had three components: a description of the institutional, political, and programmatic environ­ment in Burkina; a secondary analysis of data from existing studies; and an assessment of the community’s perceptions and behavior regarding FGM/C, as well as the factors that contribute to abandonment or continuation of the practice. For the policy …

Adapting Focused Antenatal Care: Lessons From Three African Countries, Harriet Birungi

Reproductive Health

In 2001, the World Health Organization issued guidance on a new model of antenatal care (ANC) called goal-oriented or focused antenatal care (FANC), for implementation in developing countries. The new model reduces the number of required antenatal visits to four, and provides focused services shown to improve maternal outcomes. FANC emphasizes helping women maintain normal pregnancies by identifying existing health conditions, detecting emerging complications, promoting health, preparing for a healthy birth, and educating clients on postpartum care including nutrition, breastfeeding, and family planning. Trials conducted in Argentina, Cuba, Saudi Arabia, and Thailand proved that FANC was safe and was a …

Multisectoral Youth Rh Interventions: The Scale-Up Process In Kenya And Senegal, Stephanie Joyce, Ian Askew, Anta Fall Diagne, Nafissatou J. Diop, Humphres Evelia

Reproductive Health

As in many developing countries, young people in Kenya and Senegal (aged 10–20) account for about 25 percent of the population. To ensure their future contribution to their countries, it is of vital strategic importance to safeguard their welfare. Rapid social change in both countries exposes youth to sexual and reproductive health (RH) risks, including unintended pregnancy, sexually transmitted infections including HIV, and sexual violence. Beginning in 1999, the Population Council’s FRONTIERS program conducted operations research studies that tested the feasibility, acceptability, and cost of a public-sector, multisectoral intervention to enhance young people’s RH knowledge and behavior. Study findings showed …

Increasing Women's Use Of The Iud For Family Planning, Ricardo Vernon

Reproductive Health

The intrauterine device (IUD) is highly effective, easy to use, and has few side effects. The device costs the provider about US$2 and offers a duration of protection that makes it the most cost-effective of the temporary methods if used for two years or more. The IUD's many advantages also make it a good alternative for reducing unmet need for long-term contraception around the world. Between 5 and 17 percent of all married women of reproductive age in 53 less developed countries do not want to have more children but are not using a contraceptive method. Because the IUD can …

Assessing Integration Methodology (Aim): A Handbook For Measuring And Assessing The Integration Of Family Planning And Other Reproductive Health Services, M. Estela Rivero-Fuentes, Saumya Ramarao, Ricardo Estrada, Charlotte E. Warren, Saiqa Mullick, Ian Askew, Harriet Birungi, John Townsend, Susana Medina

Reproductive Health

Several international statements over the past two decades have endorsed the integration of family planning (FP) services with other reproductive health (RH) services as a means of expanding availability and access for potential users. Many rationales underlie the move toward integrating FP with other services. First is that it provides benefits to the client and the program. Moreover, there is the expectation that the costs to the health system of configuring two or more services will cost less than providing them independently. However, there is still little empirical evidence available about integration of services. Over time, a number of methodologies …

Family Planning And Comprehensive Abortion Care Handbook For Medical Students And House Officers, Population Council

Reproductive Health

The persistently high maternal mortality and morbidity in Ghana is partly due to high rates of unwanted fertility, unsafe abortion, and relatively low use of modern contraception. In 2006, a consortium of agencies, including the Population Council, initiated the Reducing Maternal Mortality and Morbidity program. The program provides financial and technical resources that will enable the government to significantly expand women's access to modern family planning, contraception, and comprehensive abortion care (CAC) to reduce maternal mortality in Ghana. This handbook on FP and CAC was developed as part of the program. It updates a previous document produced more than ten …

Africa Regional Sexual And Gender-Based Violence Network Consultation: Technical Exchange And Planning Meeting, Population Council

Reproductive Health

In March 2008, the Population Council brought together members of the Africa Regional Sexual and Gender Based Violence (SGBV) Network for a South-South technical exchange meeting. The objectives were to identify best practices from existing programs, provide an evidence base for new programming, and develop mechanisms for South-South technical assistance. As detailed in this report, discussions covered the medical, legal, and psychosocial issues associated with SGBV prevention and response activities. Participants identified the following: Protocols and guidance documents are essential for ensuring comprehensive, quality response at all levels. Enabling access and utilization of the full range of medical services remains …

Study Of Sexually Transmitted Infections Among Urban Men In Pakistan: Identifying The Bridging Population, Ali M. Mir, Laura Reichenbach, Abdul Wajid, Mumraiz Khan

Reproductive Health

Pakistan currently has low levels of HIV infection, however the country is considered at high potential risk for an HIV epidemic. In major cities there are large concentrations of individuals whose behaviors make them extremely vulnerable to the rapid spread of HIV and of classical sexually transmitted infections (STIs), including male and female sex workers, men who have sex with men, and injecting drug users. HIV can spread to the general population through individuals who have contact with both high-risk groups and the general heterosexual population (the “bridging population”). Identifying the bridging population and bridging behaviors among urban men and …

The Development Of Pre-Service Teachers’ Technology Specific Pedagogy, Rachel Harrington

Faculty Publications - College of Education

The purpose of this study was to document the development of pre-service teachers’ Technology Specific Pedagogy as they learned to teach mathematics with technology during their initial licensure program. The study investigated the pre-service teachers’ learning using both a social and a psychological perspective of teacher learning. Two research questions were used to guide the research:

1. What patterns of participation are displayed across learning contexts as pre-service teachers reason pedagogically about teaching mathematics with technology prior to their full-time student teaching?
2. In what ways do the Technology Partnership Project and its features facilitate pre-service mathematics teachers’ development of TPCK?

The …

Spotlight On Success: What's Working In Oregon High Schools? - South Wasco County High School, Ginny Birky

Faculty Publications - College of Education

No abstract provided.

Spotlight On Success: What's Working In Oregon High Schools? - Tillamook High School, Ginny Birky

Faculty Publications - College of Education

No abstract provided.

Spotlight On Success: What's Working In Oregon High Schools? - North Eugene High School, Ginny Birky

Faculty Publications - College of Education

No abstract provided.

Lynn Magazine - Winter 2008, Lynn University

Lynn Magazine / LYNN

Main Stories:

• Push the limit
• The blog squad
• Doing the math

Comparison Of The Physical And Non-Physical Functioning Between The Patients With Multiple Sclerosis And Healthy Subjects, Ali Kitis, Filiz Altug, Ugur Cavlak, Beyza Akdag

Neurosciences

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the relationship between physical functioning, non-physical functioning, and upper extremity functional abilities in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) and healthy subjects. METHODS: A total of 63 patients with MS [Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) score; 3-8] and 52 healthy subjects attending the Pamukkale University, School of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation in Denizli, Turkey were studied in the period from February 2006 to June 2006. To allow further evaluation, 63 individuals with MS were divided into 2 groups according to their ambulation ability level. The physical functioning was assessed with the Functional Independence Measure (FIM), the Purdue Pegboard …

Corpus Callosum And Optic Chiasm In Early Blind Adults, Mustafa Aktekin, Zeliha Kurtoglu, Ozay Oz, Serhan Sevim, Ozlem Yildirim, Ahmet H. Ozturk, Refik M. Saygili, Arzu Kanik

Neurosciences

OBJECTIVE: Certain callosal dimensions, callosal areas, and the optic chiasm (OC) thickness were measured in order to detect any morphometric difference that would imply plastic changes in a selected group of adults. METHODS: Seventeen early blinds were selected among a group of blind adults after performing interviews. These selected blind subjects, and 23 adults with normal vision of both genders were examined by MRI. The study was conducted in Mersin, Turkey between the years 2004 and 2006. RESULTS: Only 14 early blind subjects completed the MR imaging procedure. Statistically significant difference between the OC thicknesses of 2 groups was found …

Dermatological Manifestations Of Epilepsy Among Adult Sudanese Epileptic Patients, Abbashar H. Mohmad, Amar E. Mohmad, Faroug Y. Omer, Amira S. Abdulgalil, Esam M. Ahmad, Mohmad M. Aldar

Neurosciences

OBJECTIVE: To study the pattern of dermatological changes associated with epilepsy among adult Sudanese epileptic patients. METHODS: This non-interventional descriptive study included 360 adult Sudanese epileptic patients and was conducted at the El Shaab Teaching Hospital, Khartoum, Sudan, from February 2004 to August 2007. All patients had full detailed history and clinical examination. A dermatologist assessed the dermatological changes. Investigations carried out included EEG, CT brain, and serial of drug serum levels. RESULTS: Out of 360 patients, 31 were found to have scars due to repeated attacks of convulsions, one patient was found to have neurofibromatoma, one had tuberous-sclerosis, one …

Cerebral Venous Sinus Thrombosis Following Tamoxifen Prescription, Farzad Fatehi, Mohammad Saadatnia, Mohammad Zare

Neurosciences

No abstract provided.

Teratogenic Effects Of Gabapentin On Neural Tube And Limb Development In Mice, Mohammad Afshar, Mohammad J. Golalipour

Neurosciences

No abstract provided.

Poststroke Depressive Symptoms And Their Relationship With Quality Of Life, Functional Status, And Severity Of Stroke, Demet Unalan, Saliha Ozsoy, Ferhan Soyuer, Ahmet Ozturk

Neurosciences

OBJECTIVE: The present study aimed to investigate the relationship between depressive symptoms in 6 months after stroke and the quality of life (QOL), clinical and socio-demographical characteristics, functional status, and severity of stroke. METHODS: Ninety consecutive stroke patients who attended the neurology outpatient clinic at Erciyes University, Kayseri, Turkey from March 2004 to March 2005 were evaluated for the study. Seventy outpatients who had a stroke 6 months previously were included in the study. As a data-collecting device, Short Form 36, Functional Independence Measure (FIM), Canadian Neurological Scale, and Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) were used. In addition, a questionnaire was …

Community Pharmacists Attitudes Towards Mental Illness And Providing Pharmaceutical Care For Mentally Ill Patients, Mohammed N. Al-Arifi

Neurosciences

OBJECTIVE: To examine the attitudes of community pharmacist to both mental illness and provision of pharmaceutical care. METHODS: The study was conducted from May 2006 to September 2006 in College of Pharmacy, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The survey composed of the demographic characteristics of the respondents, who were asked 6 Likert type questions on the attitudes of the pharmacists toward mental illness, providing pharmaceutical care to mentally ill patients, the barriers of the provision of the service and differentiation between different types of mental illness. RESULTS: Forty-three pharmacists participated in the study. Eighty-eight percent of the pharmacists felt …