Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Health Literacy In The Mathematics Classroom: The Iowa Core Curriculum As An Opportunity To Deepen Students’ Understanding Of Mathematics, Elana Joram, Susan Roberts-Dobie, Nadene Davidson

Faculty Publications

By 2012, all high schools in Iowa will be required to incorporate the new Iowa Core Curriculum, followed by elementary and middle schools in 2014 (Iowa Department of Education, 2009). The Iowa Core Curriculum addresses the question: "How is Iowa's educational system preparing our youth for successful lives in the 21st-century global environment?" (Davidson, 2009). It consists of core content standards, and identifies essential concepts and skills for content areas. The Iowa Core Curriculum also includes the ―21st Century Skills‖ of ―health, financial, technology, and civic literacy, and employability skills. These skills are to be infused into existing subject matter …

Human Traffficking In Romania: An Analysis Of Prevention And Outreach Activities, Janet Ho, Noemi Salantiu, Georgiana But, Susan Roberts-Dobie, Anca Magyar, Razvan Chereches

International Journal of Global Health and Health Disparities

Human trafficking is a growing problem in Romania and around the world. Romania is considered a transit and origin country for human trafficking. Most victims are transported externally to more developed countries, although many victims will stay within Romanian borders. The Romanian government, Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs), and other stakeholders are making efforts to prevent trafficking. This descriptive study, based on a series of qualitative interviews, examines the actions NGOs, governmental organizations, and church leaders in Cluj County, Romania are taking to prevent trafficking. The strengths and weaknesses of existing programs, as well as recommendations for future action are discussed. A …

Infected Justice : The Impact Of Hiv/Aids On The Police In Anglo-Phone Sub-Saharan Africa, Nathan Carl Meehan

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

Sub-Saharan Africa is an epicenter of the HIV/AIDS epidemic. This disease is affecting nearly every aspect of society in this region. This disease destroys individuals, strains family structures, weakens economies, burdens health systems, and can destabilize entire countries. The police are also being affected by HIV/AIDS. The way in which this disease impacts police organizations in sub-Saharan Africa is understudied. This project sought to estimate the HIV/AIDS impacts on police organizations in Anglo-phone sub-Sahara by utilizing the available literature on how HIV/AIDS affects military, civil service, healthcare, and education organizations in these same countries. It also attempts to identify the …

Harm Reduction In Outpatient Drug-Free Substance Abuse Treatment Settings, Michael Eversman

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

In the United States, drug-free substance abuse treatment programs generally operate under an abstinence-only, disease model based service orientation. Citing several reasons, critics suggest disease model approaches hinder client utilization and retention within such services. The framework of harm reduction offers an alternative approach to substance abuse treatment services and may have potential for improving utilization and retention outcomes. Yet little is known about how harm reduction is perceived by practitioners in drug-free substance abuse treatment settings, and the circumstances in which harm reduction may or may not be accepted. In addition, despite a body of narrative literature suggesting harm …

Multiple Antibiotic Resistant Staphylococcus Spp. In Environmental Settings, Stephen Shost

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

Ninety staphylococci carrying the mecA gene, including 17 strains of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), were isolated from environmental settings within New York State. Waterborne staphylococci harboring mecA were isolated from multiple sources: the Hudson River near a combined sewage overflow; urban streams; freshwater and marine beaches; a swimming pool; swimming pool decks; combined sewage; as well as wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) primary sewage influent, mixed liquor, aeration water, and final (unchlorinated) effluent. Environmental MRSA strains were isolated from beach water (n=3); swimming pool deck water (n=1); Hudson River water (n=2); combined sewage (n=3); as well as wastewater treatment plant mixed …

Identification Of B-Cell Epitopes On Domain 4 Of Anthrax Protective Antigen, Cassandra D. Kelly-Cirino

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

Protective Antigen (PA) is the receptor binding subunit common to both Lethal (LT) and Edema (ET) toxins, which contribute to the mortality associated with Bacillus anthracis infection. While recombinant PA (rPA) is likely to be an important constituent of second generation anthrax vaccines, evaluating the effectiveness of candidate vaccines is currently difficult, because the specific B cell epitopes involved in toxin neutralization have not been completely defined. The only well characterized antibody, 14B7, has been shown to disrupt the association of PA with the anthrax toxin receptors (ATR) by binding to domain 4 of PA. I hypothesized that other domain …

Biomonitoring For Exposure To Trace Elements In Utero : Analysis Of The Human Placenta, Pamela Catherine Kruger

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

The placenta forms in eutherian mammals, and is responsible for the nutrition of the developing fetus. However, maternal exposure to environmental pollutants both before and during pregnancy may result in the passage of toxins through the placental barrier and into fetal tissues. The placenta is the only organ derived from both maternal and fetal tissues, and establishes a link between the fetus and the environmental exposures of the mother. The analysis of placentae for the presence of environmental pollutants offers the possibility of exposure measurements in both the mother and the developing fetus. Specifically, trace element determination in human placentae …

The Adolescent Experience In-Depth: Using Data To Identify And Reach The Most Vulnerable Young People—Lesotho 2004, Population Council

Poverty, Gender, and Youth

“The Adolescent Experience In-Depth: Using Data to Identify and Reach the Most Vulnerable Young People: Lesotho 2004” is part of a series of Population Council guides that draw principally on data from the Demographic and Health Surveys to provide decisionmakers at all levels—from governments, nongovernmental organizations, and advocacy groups—with evidence on the situation of adolescent girls and boys and young women aged 10–24 years. The data are presented in graphs, tables, and maps (wherever possible), providing multiple formats to make the information accessible to a range of audiences. Section I is the Foreword. Section II offers brief technical notes specific …

Youth In India: Situation And Needs 2006-2007, Rajasthan, International Institute For Population Sciences (Iips), Population Council

Poverty, Gender, and Youth

This report is the result of a sub-national study undertaken by the International Institute for Population Sciences, Mumbai and the Population Council, New Delhi, as part of a project to collect information on key transitions experienced by youth in India. This report from the Youth in India: Situation and Needs study describes the transition to adulthood experienced by young men and women in Rajasthan. In brief, the Youth Study has documented, for the first time, the multifaceted situation of youth in Rajasthan, emphasizing their heterogeneity, not only in terms of their situation but also with regard to their stated needs …

The Making Of The Kenya Sexual Offenses Act, 2006: Behind The Scenes, Washington Onyango-Ouma, Njoki Ndung'u, Nancy Baraza, Harriet Birungi

Reproductive Health

Kenya’s enactment of the Sexual Offenses Bill in 2006 was a milestone in dealing with sexual offenses and gender-based violence. The bill is Kenya’s first legal recognition of the many sex crimes that occur in the country. Among other things, the law criminalizes deliberate transmission of HIV/AIDS and provides rape victims with free medical care and counseling in public institutions. Convicted rapists will now face a minimum sentence of ten years, while a maximum penalty will be life imprisonment. A retrospective study was conducted to document the process leading to the enactment of the law. The objective was to document …

Provision Of Health Care Services In Canada: Challenges And Opportunities, Rosa Rodriguez-Monguio, Enrique Seoane-Vazquez, Fernando Antoñanzas Villar

Pharmacy Faculty Articles and Research

The Canadian health care system provides comprehensive coverage of hospital and outpatient care, including therapeutic, diagnostic and preventive services. The level of coverage of services varies across the country. This study examines the key characteristics of the Canadian health and long-term care systems; presents a structured analysis of the insurance, financing and provision of health and long-term care services in Canada; describes the main challenges of the Canadian health and long-term care systems; and concludes with feasible opportunities for the Canadian health policy.

Main challenges to the Canadian system are related to population ageing; prevalence of avoidable diseases caused by …

Hegemony Of The West And The Librarian’S Role In The Struggle Against Hiv/Aids In Africa, Emy Nelson Decker

Collaborative Librarianship

Africa needs information about HIV/AIDS. Librarian activists have a duty to organize, repackage, and circulate HIV/AIDS information. Unfortunately, this has led in some cases to an unintentional assertion of cultural hegemony, which operates invisibly to those who are part of the “dominant” or “dominating” culture. Unexamined assumptions of “superiority” have led to a bias that the West possesses the only correct method for codifying knowledge. The West cannot appropriately evaluate the successes or failures of HIV/AIDS education in Africa if it employs only American or Western ideas, categories, and sensibilities. This is detrimental to African people and cultures lacking the …

Cartographie Sociale Des Espaces De Rencontres Des Adolescentes Mariées Ou Non Dans La Zone D'Intervention Du Projet, Gisele Kaboré, Abdoulaye Semde, Lanko Some

Poverty, Gender, and Youth

L’étude sur la cartographie sociale des espaces de rencontres des adolescentes mariées ou non dans les zones d’intervention du projet « Éliminer le mariage des enfants au Burkina : un plan pour la protection, le renforcement et l’action communautaire » s’est déroulée dans les 24 sites du projet. Elle a permis de recenser dans les différentes localités en plus des structures publiques, des groupements, des associations, des ONG et projets, des radios, et des espaces de rencontre des adolescents. Des recommendations formulées pour l’atteinte des objectifs du projet comprennent: la création des espaces de rencontre des adolescent(e)s, la promotion des …

Etude Qualitative Sur Le Mariage Précoce Des Adolescentes: Leur Vécu, Leurs Besoins En Matière D'Éducation, De Santé De La Reproduction Et D'Opportunités Socio-Économiques, Gisele Kaboré

Poverty, Gender, and Youth

La présente étude sur le mariage précoce des adolescentes à été commanditée par l’UNFPA en collaboration avec l’UNICEF et le Ministère de l’Action Sociale dans le cadre du projet « Éliminer le mariage des enfants au Burkina : un plan pour la protection, le renforcement et l’action communautaire ». Elle vise à fournir des informations relatives à la pratique du mariage précoce sur les zones d’intervention du projet, afin de faciliter les interventions visant à améliorer les conditions de vie des adolescentes mariées ou non. Il s’agissait d’analyser le contexte socioculturel du mariage des adolescentes ainsi que leur vécu et …

Itinéraires Thérapeutiques Des Adolescentes Pendant La Grossesse, L'Accouchement Et La Période Post-Partum Dans La Zone D'Intervention Du Projet, Gisele Kaboré, Aicha Tamboura/Diawara, Assita Nacanabo Diallo, Abdoulaye Karama

Poverty, Gender, and Youth

Le Population Council a réalisé une étude sur « les itinéraires thérapeutiques des adolescentes pendant la grossesse, l’accouchement et la période post-partum » dans cinq régions du Burkina Faso. Il s’agissait d’une étude qualitative, exploratoire qui a permis d’identifier et de décrire les itinéraires thérapeutiques des adolescentes en grossesse et post-partum en vue de déceler les obstacles liés à la fréquentation des centres de santé dans le suivi de la grossesse, de l’accouchement assisté et des soins aux nouveau-nés. Les résultats de l’étude montrent que, d’une manière générale, les adolescentes mariées ou non ont recours aux soins traditionnels à domicile …

Mesures De La Qualité De L'Emploi Au Maroc: Vers La Construction D'Un Indicateur Composite, Touhami Abdelkhalek, Aziz Ajbilou, Mohamed Benkassmi

Poverty, Gender, and Youth

La qualité de l’emploi, son approche et sa mesure sont devenues des préoccupations majeures de plusieurs pays et organisations internationales dont le Bureau International du Travail (BIT). Dans ce travail, nous essayons de poser ce problème pour la première fois au Maroc. La prise de conscience relative à ce phénomène s’est retrouvée au cœur des débats dans les pays en développement, surtout ceux qui ont connu une libéralisation accrue des échanges et des ajustements sur les législations du marché du travail. Au Maroc, comme dans d’autres pays, un constat encourageant a été enregistré avec la baisse tendancielle du taux de …

Youth In India: Situation And Needs 2006-2007, Bihar, International Institute For Population Sciences (Iips), Population Council

Poverty, Gender, and Youth

This report is the result of a sub-national study undertaken by the International Institute for Population Sciences, Mumbai and the Population Council, New Delhi, as part of a project to collect information on key transitions experienced by youth in India. The report focuses on findings from the survey conducted in Bihar. The four leading problems facing youth expressed by both young men and women were unemployment, poverty, lack of amenities, and lack of educational opportunities. The study alerts us to the many challenges confronting youth and their ability to make a successful transition to adulthood, and emphasizes the heterogeneity of …

Youth In India: Situation And Needs 2006-2007, Tamil Nadu, International Institute For Population Sciences (Iips), Population Council

Poverty, Gender, and Youth

This report is the result of a sub-national study undertaken by the International Institute for Population Sciences, Mumbai and the Population Council, New Delhi, as part of a project to collect information on key transitions experienced by youth in India. The report focuses on findings from the survey conducted in Tamil Nadu. The Youth Study findings highlight the need for further study in terms of formative research that explores in greater depth the factors impeding successful transitions to adulthood, in the areas, for example, of secondary school completion, economic activity, sexual relations, and marriage and parenthood. The study alerts us …

Demographic Data For Development In Sub-Saharan Africa, Wendy Baldwin, Judith A. Diers

Poverty, Gender, and Youth

More demographic data are being collected throughout the developing world than ever before, but the effective use of that data to further development goals is often lacking. This working paper summarizes case studies on the demand for data in four sub-Saharan African countries, namely Ethiopia, Ghana, Senegal, and Uganda. The project’s objective was to create a detailed portrait of access and demand at the country level, and to determine whether policymakers are getting the data they need to develop sound policies. Common findings across the four countries include an increased external demand from international initiatives that has not necessarily translated …

Educational Inequalities In The Midst Of Persistent Poverty: Diversity Across Africa In Educational Outcomes, Cynthia B. Lloyd, Paul C. Hewett

Poverty, Gender, and Youth

This working paper explores inequalities in education across sub-Saharan Africa, focusing mostly on primary school completion rates, with attention also given to literacy as a more proximate indicator of human capital acquisition. Using data from the Demographic and Health Surveys and UNICEF’s Multiple Indicator Cluster Surveys, we explore cross-country variations in primary school completion rates, gender and wealth gaps in education, and literacy rates in relation to one another and in relation to cross-country variations in national income per capita. While these data paint a picture of overall educational progress, particularly for girls, this general picture is juxtaposed against an …

The Adolescent Experience In-Depth: Using Data To Identify And Reach The Most Vulnerable Young People—India 2005/06, Population Council

Poverty, Gender, and Youth

“The Adolescent Experience In-Depth: Using Data to Identify and Reach the Most Vulnerable Young People: India 2005/06” is part of a series of Population Council guides that draw principally on data from the Demographic and Health Surveys to provide decisionmakers at all levels—from governments, nongovernmental organizations, and advocacy groups—with evidence on the situation of adolescent girls and boys and young women aged 10–24 years. The data are presented in graphs, tables, and maps (wherever possible), providing multiple formats to make the information accessible to a range of audiences. Section I is the Foreword. Section II offers brief technical notes specific …

The Adolescent Experience In-Depth: Using Data To Identify And Reach The Most Vulnerable Young People—Pakistan 2006/07, Population Council

Poverty, Gender, and Youth

“The Adolescent Experience In-Depth: Using Data to Identify and Reach the Most Vulnerable Young People: Pakistan 2006/07” is part of a series of Population Council guides that draw principally on data from the Demographic and Health Surveys to provide decisionmakers at all levels—from governments, nongovernmental organizations, and advocacy groups—with evidence on the situation of adolescent girls and boys and young women aged 10–24 years. The data are presented in graphs, tables, and maps (wherever possible), providing multiple formats to make the information accessible to a range of audiences. Section I is the Foreword. Section II offers brief technical notes specific …

The Adolescent Experience In-Depth: Using Data To Identify And Reach The Most Vulnerable Young People—Vietnam 2002, Population Council

Poverty, Gender, and Youth

“The Adolescent Experience In-Depth: Using Data to Identify and Reach the Most Vulnerable Young People: Vietnam 2002” is part of a series of Population Council guides that draw principally on data from the Demographic and Health Surveys to provide decisionmakers at all levels—from governments, nongovernmental organizations, and advocacy groups—with evidence on the situation of adolescent girls and boys and young women aged 10–24 years. The data are presented in graphs, tables, and maps (wherever possible), providing multiple formats to make the information accessible to a range of audiences. Section I is the Foreword. Section II offers brief technical notes specific …

The Adolescent Experience In-Depth: Using Data To Identify And Reach The Most Vulnerable Young People—Ukraine 2007, Population Council

Poverty, Gender, and Youth

“The Adolescent Experience In-Depth: Using Data to Identify and Reach the Most Vulnerable Young People: Ukraine 2007” is part of a series of Population Council guides that draw principally on data from the Demographic and Health Surveys to provide decisionmakers at all levels—from governments, nongovernmental organizations, and advocacy groups—with evidence on the situation of adolescent girls and boys and young women aged 10–24 years. The data are presented in graphs, tables, and maps (wherever possible), providing multiple formats to make the information accessible to a range of audiences. Section I is the Foreword. Section II offers brief technical notes specific …

Étude Approfondie Sur Les Adolescents : Exploiter Les Données Pour Identifier Et Atteindre Les Jeunes Les Plus Vulnérables—Bénin 2006, Population Council

Poverty, Gender, and Youth

«Étude Approndie sur les adolescents—Exploiter les données pour identifier et atteindre les jeunes les plus vulnérables: Bénin 2006» fait partie d'une série de guides du Population Council, qui se basent essentiellement sur les données des Enquêtes démographiques et de santé, pour fournir aux décideurs à tous les niveaux—des gouvernements, des organisations non gouvernementales et des groupes de plaidoyer—des données sur la situation des adolescentes, des garçons et des jeunes femmes âgées de 10–24 ans. Les données sont présentées sous forme de graphiques, de tableaux et de cartes (dans la mesure du possible), soit de nombreux formats pour rendre l'information accessible …

Directory Of Programs For Rural Girls In Ethiopia, Elshaday Kifle, Mekuria Yilma, Emil Parker

Poverty, Gender, and Youth

Rural girls in Ethiopia face significant challenges on a host of issues including health, education, civic participation, and access to services. Beyond traditional female roles of wife and mother, the livelihood options open to girls and women are narrow. The goal of the Ethiopia “Brain Trust” project is to expand and improve programs for rural girls in Ethiopia. Under the Trust, a team of program practitioners convenes to explore best practices in reaching and supporting rural girls. Currently, 18 organizations are represented in the Trust. In addition, the Trust seeks to improve networking and information sharing among program practitioners working …

Broadening Girls' Horizons: Effects Of Life Skills Education Programme In Rural Uttar Pradesh, Rajib Acharya, Shveta Kalyanwala, Shireen J. Jejeebhoy, Vinita Nathani

Poverty, Gender, and Youth

This report is the result of a collaborative project undertaken by Prerana, a Delhi-based NGO, and the Population Council to implement a life-skills education program for unmarried adolescent girls in rural Uttar Pradesh and to evaluate its effectiveness. The intervention program aimed to empower unmarried adolescent girls aged 13–17 years and address their vulnerabilities by: building their agency, fostering egalitarian gender role attitudes, building awareness about sexual and reproductive health matters, developing vocational skills and future work aspirations, and influencing perceptions about marriage and the ability to negotiate marriage-related decisions (delaying marriage and first pregnancy).

Needs Assessment Of Marginalised, Socially Excluded Immigrant Populations In Johannesburg, South Africa, Population Council

Poverty, Gender, and Youth

The birth of democracy in South Africa and the subsequent economic boom have made the country a prospective haven for many Africans willing or forced to leave their countries. Johannesburg has maintained its reputation as a city where everything is possible and accessible. Berea, Hillbrow, and Yeoville have become destinations for both internal and international (cross-border) migrants as a consequence of their proximity to the city center. However, migrant populations face obstacles that limit access to basic services such as health care, housing, transportation, employment, credit, and security. Asylum-seekers, refugees, and the undocumented are particularly vulnerable and at risk of …

Transition To Marriage And Parenthood Among Youth In Jharkhand, International Institute For Population Sciences (Iips), Population Council

Poverty, Gender, and Youth

Delaying the transition to marriage and parenthood among young people has been a policy and program priority for a number of years in India. For example, several national-level policies formulated since 2000 have advocated special program attention to delay age at marriage and age at first birth. Despite these commitments, substantial proportions of girls continue to marry in adolescence. As recently as in 2005–06, more than two-fifths of women aged 20–24 were married by 18 years nationally. Likewise, over one-fifth of women aged 20–24 had given birth before age 18 and two-fifths before age 20. While the magnitude of early …

Romance And Sex Before Marriage Among Young Women And Men In Jharkhand, International Institute For Population Sciences (Iips), Population Council

Poverty, Gender, and Youth

Premarital partnerships among youth, including those that do not involve sexual relations, are widely discouraged in India. There is a widespread perception that youth do not find opportunities to mix and form romantic relationships and that premarital sex is negligible. These kinds of perceptions are often cited to argue against the provision of sex or family life education and sexual and reproductive health services to unmarried young people. While several small and unrepresentative studies have noted that sizable proportions of young people, particularly young men, are sexually active before marriage, the lack of rigorous and representative evidence on the levels …