Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

Proceedings And Presentations From The Free State Child Abuse Indaba, Population Council

Reproductive Health

The Free State Department of Health and its partners held a “first-of-its kind” Child Sexual Assault Indaba (conference) in South Africa to streamline relationships between services for effective prevention and management of child abuse. This report details the presentations delivered at the conference, which was a resounding success, with participation from a wide range of stakeholders. The recurring theme of all the presentations was the urgent need to unite and fight against child sexual assault. The most appropriate strategy was unanimous—information—and clarity in terms of the role of each stakeholder. The Free State Department of Health will coordinate the development …

Comprehensive Responses To Gender-Based Violence In Low-Resource Settings: Lessons Learned From Implementation, Jill Keesbury, Ian Askew

Reproductive Health

The Population Council undertook a program of technical assistance and research to strengthen the evidence base on sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) programming in sub-Saharan Africa. This project created an active network of implementers and researchers across sub-Saharan Africa, all of whom were charged with developing, implementing, and evaluating core elements of a comprehensive, multisectoral model for strengthening responses for survivors of SGBV, especially survivors of sexual violence. Based on the experiences of these partners, this document reviews the findings, lessons learned, and promising practices in the provision of comprehensive SGBV services in sub-Saharan Africa. The findings are intended to …

Mainstreaming Emergency Contraception Pills In Kenya, Jill Keesbury, Monica Wanjiru, Katherine Maina

Reproductive Health

To improve access to emergency contraception (ECP) and ensure that adequate information is provided to all users, the Kenyan Ministry of Public Health and Sanitation, the Population Council, and Population Services International-Kenya undertook a three-year effort to mainstream ECP in Kenya. This brief presents the results of this initiative and discusses strategies for further strengthening ECP provision. Kenya has emerged as a leader in ECP programming in the region and has demonstrated that it is possible to strengthen ECP services in both the public and private sectors while at the same time increasing public awareness, knowledge, and use of the …

Training Service Providers Increases Tb Screening In Postnatal Care, Population Council

Reproductive Health

This document summarizes a Population Council operations research project undertaken in collaboration with the Kenya Ministry of Health to develop and pilot-test an intervention to improve TB screening, case detection, treatment, and care among postnatal clients. The intervention demonstrated that it is feasible to use postnatal care services as a platform to increase TB screening and case detection. Training providers, giving them job-aids, and strengthening client flow within the facility also improved the overall quality of care that the clients received. The actual number of cases of TB detected was extremely low, however; thus the report recommends that the Ministry …

Life-Skills Education Leads To Improved Effect On Adolescents' Sexual Behavior, Population Council

Reproductive Health

The Kenya Adolescent Reproductive Health Project (KARHP) was a three-pronged program implemented in schools, communities, and health facilities, to provide information and services to adolescents in order to improve their reproductive health outcomes. This operations research summary from the Population Council sought to discover whether the activities started under the project and desired reproductive health outcomes had been sustained in the 10-year period since inception, and to identify challenges experienced in sustaining the model. Although the survey suggests that the efforts to sustain KARHP/ASRH activities may be having desirable behavioral outcomes among adolescents, there is a need to strengthen these …

Greenstar Social Marketing Private-Sector Activities In Paiman Project: Process Evaluation Of Greenstar Social Marketing Initiatives To Improve And Expand Maternal And Newborn Health Services And Coverage, Munir Afridi

Reproductive Health

The Population Council provided support for this process evaluation of Greenstar Social Marketing which established a healthcare private provider network (GoodLife clinics) primarily in the urban areas in 10 districts of the PAIMAN project in Pakistan. This network provides maternal and newborn health and reproductive health and family planning services and products. The information collected in this survey points to areas where Greenstar strategies are close to being fully met as well as to areas where the strategies are not being met. The detailed findings should allow Greenstar to focus on those areas most in need of attention: all groups—provider, …

Deaths Of Women Of Reproductive Age: In-Depth Analysis Of Data From The Pakistan Demographic And Health Survey 2006-07, Pakistan Initiative For Mothers And Newborns (Paiman)

Reproductive Health

The Population Council, a partner of the Pakistan Initiative for Mothers and Newborns project, was responsible for undertaking operations research and a program evaluation to revisit and conduct an in-depth analysis of 1,085 verbal autopsies. The analysis had the following objectives: to identify psycho-socio-cultural issues present in the lives of the women whose verbal autopsies were reviewed, to reassess category of maternal death, and to unpack the indirect maternal deaths. The review yielded important information as to the social determinants of women’s deaths in Pakistan. The major psychological and cultural factors identified with the deaths included poverty, neglect, ignorance, disenfranchisement, …

Improving Maternal And Neonatal Health: Measuring The Impact Of The Paiman Project In Ten Districts In Pakistan—Comparing Baseline And End-Line Household Survey Findings (2005-2010), Arshad Mahmood

Reproductive Health

The Pakistan Initiative for Mothers and Newborns (PAIMAN) project was implemented by a consortium including the Population Council to assist the Government of Pakistan to improve the status of maternal and newborn health in 10 districts. PAIMAN strategized specific interventions designed to improve awareness and promote positive maternal and neonatal health behaviors; to increase access to maternal and child health services; to improve service quality in the public and private sectors to manage obstetric and neonatal complications; to increase the capacity of healthcare system managers and providers in maternal and neonatal health; and to improve management and integration of services …

Initial Assessment Of Community Midwives In Rural Pakistan, Abdul Wajid, Zubaida Rashid, Ali M. Mir

Reproductive Health

The goal of this Population Council study, funded by USAID through the Pakistan Initiative for Mothers and Newborns (PAIMAN) project, was to assess the potential of community midwifery services in rural Pakistan in order to provide necessary evidence for future decisions regarding the training, practice, and placement of community midwives (CMWs). The introduction of a new cadre of skilled birth attendants is significant, especially at a time when Pakistan is working toward achieving the Millennium Development Goals. The report makes the following recommendations: 1) opportunities for practical training should be followed meticulously; 2) selection criteria should be revised especially for …

Improving Maternal And Neonatal Health: Measuring The Impact Of The Paiman Project In Ten Districts In Pakistan—A Summary: Comparing Baseline And Endline Survey Findings (2005-2010), Pakistan Initiative For Mothers And Newborns (Paiman)

Reproductive Health

This is a summary of the Pakistan Initiative for Mothers and Newborns (PAIMAN) project’s endline report. The project interventions fell into two broad areas: 1) health systems upgradation and 2) behavior change communication/community mobilization. The thrust of PAIMAN efforts were aimed at reducing the health risk to mothers and newborns by increasing knowledge of danger signs, risks and birth preparedness and, most importantly, improving antenatal and delivery practices. The report concludes that PAIMAN has had a positive impact on overall maternal and neonatal health indicators; success has been recorded in almost all areas, albeit with varying degrees of coverage and …

Training Institutions For Community Midwives In Pakistan: An Initial Assessment, Zakir Hussain Shah, Momina Salim, Mumraiz Khan

Reproductive Health

This study focuses on the training of community midwives (CMWs) in Pakistan, to specifically look at the institutions providing CMW training to see what resources (both physical and human resources) they had available and how these resources were being utilized. This study served as an early evaluation of the trainings and upgrades by the PAIMAN project, to assess how their interventions fared, and provides documentation for future decisions regarding the management, training, and practice of CMWs in Pakistan. As Pakistan transitions from a country with a high level of home births to a country where most births take place in …

Assessing The Feasibility Of Home Administration Of Misoprostol In The Prevention Of Postpartum Hemorrhage In Rural Pakistan, Ali M. Mir, Abdul Wajid, Sadaf Gull

Reproductive Health

This report details an operations research project carried out by the Population Council as part of the Pakistan Initiative for Mothers and Newborns. The overall goal of the project was to test the feasibility of administering misoprostol for the prevention of postpartum hemorrhage (PPH) in a home setting through community‐based healthcare providers, including traditional birth attendants (TBAs), or family members, in two districts of Pakistan. Furthermore, it aimed to identify common side effects of misoprostol and determine the reduction in demand for referral due to PPH after oral ingestion of misoprostol. The results provide a useful addition to the literature …

Assessing The Potential Acceptability Of A New Cadre Of Community Midwives For Pregnancy And Delivery Related Care In Rural Pakistan: Findings From A Qualitative Study, Abdul Wajid, Ali M. Mir, Zubaida Rashid, Abida Aziz

Reproductive Health

The Population Council designed an operations research study to assess the potential acceptability of a new cadre of community midwives (CMWs) for pregnancy and delivery-related care in rural Pakistan. Specific objectives of the study were to determine the need for skilled birth attendants, identify any misconceptions in the community about CMWs, determine levels of acceptance in the community, and explore barriers to the placement of CMWs in the community. The report recommends sensitizing family members so they are more willing to grant permission for pregnant women to consult CMWs, developing flexible fee structures, giving clients greater accessibility, building a network …

Process Evaluation Of Community Mobilization Activities, Zakir Hussain Shah

Reproductive Health

This report presents the findings of a process evaluation by the Population Council of community mobilization (CM) activities implemented under the PAIMAN project in Pakistan. PAIMAN developed a comprehensive communication, advocacy, and mobilization (CAM) strategy to increase knowledge and awareness of harmful practices among women and their family and to improve their health-seeking behaviors. The CAM roadmap acknowledges the importance of engaging communities in order to achieve behavior change and links clients with providers and services. The main objective of this evaluation was to assess the process of CM implementation and to identify its gaps in order to develop corrective …

The Pregnancy Cycle Approach To Safe Motherhood, Saumya Ramarao, Sarah Raifman

Reproductive Health

The Population Council's Reproductive Health program partnered with the Maternal Health Task Force (MHTF), the Partnership for Maternal, Newborn and Child Health (PMNCH), and the PAC Consortium, to address the UN Millenium Development Goal of improving maternal health, and reducing child mortality. Specifically this brief examines the pregnancy cycle approach whereby women’s needs from facilitating a desired pregnancy to successful parturition are addressed in a range of settings—home, community and health facility. This brief covers the different stages including abortion and postabortion care, antenatal care, delivery, and postpartum and beyond.

Improving Quality Of Health Care For Gender-Based Violence Victims At Health Facilities In Viet Nam, Mai Quoc Tung, Meiwita P. Budiharsana, Nguyen Thi Phuong Lan, Jane H. Patten

Reproductive Health

This report presents the results of the May 2009 baseline (pre-intervention) assessment among health care providers (HCPs), and the July 2010 pre- and post-Training of Trainers assessments among HCPs, in Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC) and Da Nang, regarding the issue of quality of care for victims of gender-based violence (GBV) at health facilities in Vietnam. The views of HCPs detailed in this report represent an important foundation for project development and implementation in the study locations. The pre- and post-Training of Trainers questionnaire aimed to assess the HCPs on the topics covered in the training course. The results showed …

Role Of Information And Communication Technologies (Icts) In Behavior Change Communication In Northern India, Population Council

Reproductive Health

This research brief examines the growth of new information and communication technologies (ICTs) and its uses in the health sector, as well as existing and emerging ICT applications that have the potential to rapidly accelerate the adoption of family health practices. It also looks at its use in behavior change communication strategies to deliver services for improving family health outcomes. The findings indicate that ICTs, particularly mobile phones are likely to have a wider reach among rural populations. It also recommends scaling up multiple interaction systems using ICTs.

The Role Of Traditional Leaders In Preventing And Addressing Sexual And Gender-Based Violence: Findings From Kwazulu-Natal, Northwest And Limpopo Provinces In South Africa, Mantshi Teffo-Menziwa, Saiqa Mullick, Prince Cedza Dlamini

Reproductive Health

The Population Council, in partnership with the Ubuntu Institute, embarked on a program to engage traditional Leaders in three South African provinces (North West, KwaZulu-Natal and Limpopo) to address sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) in rural communities. The overarching goals of the program were to strengthen linkages between the Population Council and traditional communities, generate and share strategic information on SGBV, strengthen prevention and response to child sexual assault, engage new partners to address prevention of and access to SGBV services, and expand access to comprehensive post-rape services by working with traditional leadership structures. Some of the key findings reflect …

Introducing And Pilot-Testing The National Guidelines On Integrating The Management Of Stis/Rtis Into Reproductive Health Settings In Kenya, Wilson Liambila, Saiqa Mullick, Ian Askew, Nathalie Broutet, Bartilol Kigen, Cosmas Mutunga, Daniel Sande, Nimrod Garama, Benjamin Tsofa, Christine Awuor, Ibrahim Mohammed

Reproductive Health

This report evaluated a project in ten Kenyan health facilities. It examined the feasibility, acceptability and effect of introducing reproductive tract infection and sexually transmitted infection (RTI/STI) guidelines on the quality of care provided, and the incremental costs of integrating these services into existing reproductive health (RH) services; it also disseminated the results and lessons learnt within Kenya. Overall, the results showed that integration of activities to screen for and manage STIs/RTIs into RH services is feasible, acceptable to clients and providers, and effective in improving the range and quality of services offered to clients.

Emergency Contraception: Idea To Program, Saumya Ramarao, John Townsend, Sarah Raifman

Reproductive Health

This report summarizes the role of the Population Council in generating evidence, providing technical leadership, and demonstrating at scale that emergency contraception (EC) can be easily integrated into national family planning programs and other reproductive health services. Since the 1990s, the Population Council, along with other partners, has contributed to the changes seen in the provision and availability of EC, now available in over 140 countries around the world. While much progress has been made in the campaign for access to EC, the Council is committed to improving existing methods of service delivery and to leading advocacy efforts and research …

Nebraska Biomechanics Core Facilty 2009 Annual Report, Issue 8, Nebraska Biomechanics Core Facility

Biomechanics Annual Report

April 2009 - March 2010

This issue features Announcements, Featured News, Projects, Collaborations, Visitors, Awards, Publications, and Support.

Greg Shaw, Charlie Schlenker

Interviews for WGLT

Charlie Schlenker of WGLT interviews Professor of Political Science Greg Shaw about his book, The Healthcare Debate. (requires RealPlayer)

Sascha Vitzhum, Jim Browne

Interviews for WGLT

Jim Browne interviews Assistant Professor Sascha Vitzhum about virtual worlds, economics and marketing. (requires RealPlayer)

Iraq Mine Action Strategy (2010-2012), Gichd

Global CWD Repository

The first draft of a mine action strategy in Iraq was formulated in 2004 in line with the urgent requirement to structure and organize mine action in Iraq in order to support national development priorities in line with the National Development Strategy (NDS).

At the time of the development of this strategy it was not clear what the role of each of the involved Ministries, civil society organizations and the United Nations support program for mine action, which made it incapable of achieving it goals in a manner consistent with that stage.

And thus the current mine action strategy was …

Evaluation Of The Humanitarian Mine Action Activities Of Norwegian People's Aid, Gichd

Global CWD Repository

This report presents the findings, conclusions and recommendations of an evaluation of the Norwegian support to Norwegian People's Aid's mine action programmes commissioned by Norad's Evaluation Department and undertaken by COWI A/S. The evaluation provides information on the results of Norwegian People's Aid's humanitarian mine activities, and provides recommendations that can be used in future identification, design, and implementation of humanitarian mine activities.

Portfolio Of Mine Action Projects 2010, Unmas

Global CWD Repository

Since the anti-personnel mine-ban treaty was adopted in September 1997, mine action has helped an ever-increasing number of civilians reclaim their lives and restore their livelihoods. The treaty has helped mobilize the international community’s response to landmines and their impact on people. It is a testament to what can be achieved when we collectively take on a grave humanitarian and development challenge.

The United Nations pledges to assist mine-affected countries in meeting their obligations under the anti-personnel mine-ban treaty and other international norms related to mine action. The United Nations continues to clear areas known or believed to be contaminated …

Training Transfer And Transfer Motivation : The Influence Of Individual, Environmental, Situational, Traning Design And Affective Reaction Factors., Muhammad Awais Bhatti

Student Works (2010-2019)

Human resource development professionals have been investing several resources to provide necessary skills, knowledge and abilities to their employees in order to get competitive advantage in the global market and to achieve organizational goals. To provide these necessary skills, knowledge and abilities, organizations have been investing millions of dollars in formal training programs. The main objective of these training programs is to align the employee‟s expertise with organizational goals. The organizations can only achieve their desired objectives when employees transfer the learned skills at workplace. But unfortunately, employees transfer a small percentage of learned skills at workplace. To effectively manage …

Weather And Climate Information For Tourism, Christopher J. Lemieux, D.J. Scott

Geography and Environmental Studies Faculty Publications

The tourism sector is one of the largest and fastest growing global industries and is a significant contributor to national and local economies around the world. The interface between climate and tourism is multifaceted and complex, as climate represents both a vital resource to be exploited and an important limiting factor that poses risks to be managed by the tourism industry and tourists alike. All tourism destinations and operators are climate-sensitive to a degree and climate is a key influence on travel planning and the travel experience. This chapter provides a synopsis of the capacities and needs for climate services …

The Effects Of Planning On The Narrative Writings Of Malaysian Tertiary Level Students., Sim Biow Yee

Student Works (2010-2019)

Based on Kellogg’s model of writing, this study investigated the effects of planning on fluency, complexity and accuracy in the narrative writings of average proficiency undergraduates. 30 Malaysian students undertook the task of writing a narrative with the aid of a set of pictures and writing prompt, under three different conditions. No planning (NP) participants were instructed to write without planning time but with limited writing time. Pre-task planning (PTP) participants were given limited planning and writing time. Within-task planning (WTP) participants had unlimited writing time but no planning time. Results indicated that pre-task planning was beneficial in increasing fluency …

When Governments Break The Law: The Rule Of Law And The Prosecution Of The Bush Administration., David P. Forsythe

Department of Political Science: Faculty Publications

This edited collection by Austin Sarat and Nasser Hussain starts by noting that during the George W. Bush administration, there were charges of violation of law regarding domestic surveillance, the invasion of Iraq, and the policy toward enemy prisoners. It then examines the question of why prosecutions and/or a truth commission have not occurred on any of these subjects, given that the United States is supposedly committed to the rule of law in which protection of human rights is supposed to loom large. The editors themselves do not take a clear position on these matters but say rather that they …