Sociology Commons^™

Training Locally Elected Representatives To Act As Change Agents To Promote Egalitarian Gender Norms: Lessons Learned From The Do Kadam Barabari Ki Ore Programme—Policy Brief, K.G. Santhya, Shireen J. Jejeebhoy

Poverty, Gender, and Youth

This policy brief describes an intervention, the Do Kadam Barabari Ki Ore (Two Steps Towards Equality) project in Patna district, India that sought to train locally elected representatives to act as change agents to promote egalitarian gender norms among men and women in their communities, and the effects of exposure to the project among members of the Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs, local self-governance bodies) and men and women from the community. The project was undertaken by the Population Council, together with partners, the Centre for Catalysing Change and the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, and with support from …

Adolescent Girls And Young Women’S Perceptions Of Oral Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis Introduction In Tanzania: Findings From Implementation Science Research, Population Council

HIV and AIDS

The Population Council, in collaboration with the National AIDS Control Programme and CSK Research Solutions Ltd., conducted implementation science research in Tanzania to identify key considerations for introducing pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) antiretroviral medication to adolescent girls and young women (AGYW) at substantial risk of HIV infection. This brief presents results from qualitative in-depth interviews and focus group discussions with AGYWs. Based on the findings, the brief recommends including sensitization and education of communities, parents, and male partners of AGYWs in demand-creation activities; training providers to deliver adequate education about PrEP to avoid misperceptions about its intended use, side effects, and …

Are We Meeting The Hiv Service Needs Of People Living In Informal Settlements In Kwazulu-Natal, South Africa?, Project Soar

HIV and AIDS

This brief summarizes the characteristics and circumstances of approximately 1,500 men and women living in 18 informal settlements in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. The data come from a baseline survey conducted in mid-2017 as part of an evaluation of the PEPFAR/USAID-funded Asibonisane Community Responses program. Project SOAR/Population Council conducted the evaluation in partnership with the MatCH Research Unit at the University of Witwatersrand. The findings presented here highlight the need for HIV treatment services to be more responsive to residents living with HIV in informal settlements. Furthermore, continued efforts are needed to reduce HIV risk and intimate partner violence among young …

Assessing Hiv-Related Outcomes Among Key Populations Accessing Community-Based Test And Start Services In Nigeria, Project Soar

HIV and AIDS

This activity brief describes a research study Project SOAR is conducting to better understand how to use existing key population community platforms in Nigeria to expand access to HIV treatment, the cost of such care provided outside of clinical health facilities, and the extent to which false positive misclassification may occur in outreach settings. Given the global “treat all” emphasis and the need to effectively scale up test and start services and minimize misclassification rates, these findings will be important in expanding timely antiretroviral treatment coverage in vulnerable communities in Nigeria and elsewhere.

Assessment Of Comprehensive Hiv-Risk Reduction Programming For Adolescent Girls And Young Women: Implementation Science Research In Kenya, Population Council

HIV and AIDS

The Population Council is conducting implementation research to build needed evidence to inform decisionmaking around effective implementation of community-based, girl-centered interventions and to assess their effectiveness in reducing HIV vulnerability among adolescent girls and young women (AGYW)—a population in which AIDS is the leading cause of death in the region. Learnings from this study in Kenya and similar ones in Zambia and Malawi will be valuable for informing each country and the region how to implement AGYW programming that goes beyond the health sector to reduce AGYW’s vulnerability to HIV.

Assessment Of Comprehensive Hiv-Risk Reduction Programming For Adolescent Girls And Young Women: Implementation Science Research In Zambia, Population Council

HIV and AIDS

The Population Council is conducting implementation research to build needed evidence to inform decisionmaking around effective implementation of community-based, girl-centered interventions and to assess their effectiveness in reducing HIV vulnerability among adolescent girls and young women (AGYW)—a population in which AIDS is the leading cause of death in the region. Learnings from this study in Zambia and similar ones in Kenya and Malawi will be valuable for informing each country and the region how to implement AGYW programming that goes beyond the health sector to reduce AGYW's vulnerability to HIV.

Assessment Of The Implementation Of The Treat-All Guidelines (Test And Start) In Namibia, Project Soar

HIV and AIDS

The Government of Namibia has adopted “treat-all” guidelines, commonly referred to as test and start (TnS), as a national policy effective April 2017. These guidelines recommend that anyone who has tested positive for HIV should begin antiretroviral therapy (ART) as soon as possible. This brief describes the proposed research of a study team led by the Population Council to generate evidence on how the national rollout of the TnS guidelines and decentralization of ART services affect client-level treatment outcomes, quality of ART services, and treatment costs in Namibia. The results of this study will inform the implementation and scale-up of …

Characteristics Associated With Hiv And Hsv-2 Among Adolescents In Malawi, Barbara Mensch, Erica Soler-Hampejsek

HIV and AIDS

The DREAMS (Determined, Resilient, Empowered AIDS-free, Mentored, and Safe) partnership aims to significantly reduce new HIV infections in adolescent girls and young women (AGYW) in Malawi and other sub-Saharan African countries. To better understand the epidemiological context for the DREAMS programming, Project SOAR analyzed previously collected quantitative cohort data from the Population Council’s Malawi Schooling and Adolescent Study to identify the factors associated with the prevalence and incidence of HIV and the herpes simplex virus, commonly referred to as genital herpes. SOAR’s analysis provides a deeper understanding of the epidemiological and gendered context of the HIV epidemic in Malawi. This …

Effective Engagement Of Male Partners Of Adolescent Girls And Young Women In Hiv Services: Implementation Science Research In Swaziland, Population Council

HIV and AIDS

The Population Council is conducting implementation research in Swaziland, in collaboration with local partner organizations, to learn more about men’s relationships with adolescent girls and young women (AGYW) and how HIV services can better engage them—two neglected areas of research. Similar studies are being conducted in South Africa, Uganda, and Malawi. Learnings from these studies will be valuable for informing ongoing programming in Swaziland and the region, as well as HIV prevention, care, and treatment efforts for AGYW and their male partners globally, particularly in this era of test and start.

Effective Engagement Of Male Partners Of Adolescent Girls And Young Women In South Africa, Population Council

HIV and AIDS

The Population Council is conducting implementation research in South Africa, in collaboration with local partner organizations, to learn more about men’s relationships with adolescent girls and young women (AGYW) and how HIV services can better engage them—two neglected areas of research. Similar studies are being conducted in Uganda, Swaziland, and Malawi. Learnings from these studies will be valuable for informing ongoing programming in South Africa and the region, as well as HIV prevention, care, and treatment efforts for AGYW and their male partners globally, particularly in this era of test and start.

Effective Engagement Of Male Partners Of Adolescent Girls And Young Women In Uganda, Population Council

HIV and AIDS

The Population Council is conducting implementation research in Uganda, in collaboration with local partner organizations, to learn more about men’s relationships with adolescent girls and young women (AGYW) and how HIV services can better engage them—two neglected areas of research. Similar studies are being conducted in South Africa, Swaziland, and Malawi. Learnings from these studies will be valuable for informing ongoing programming in Uganda and the region, as well as HIV prevention, care, and treatment efforts for AGYW and their male partners globally, particularly in this era of test and start.

Evaluation Of The “One Community” Program In Malawi, Project Soar

HIV and AIDS

“One Community” is the United States Agency for International Development’s flagship community-based response to Malawi’s HIV epidemic. The primary objective of One Community is to support the government’s efforts to reduce new infections and to mitigate the impact of HIV among orphans and vulnerable children, out-of-school adolescent girls and young women, and other at-risk populations in eight districts in the southern region of Malawi. Project SOAR is conducting a rigorous evaluation of One Community in five of the eight program districts. The results from this evaluation will be used to inform Malawi’s support strategies for at-risk populations, improve the United …

Introducing Oral Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis To Adolescent Girls And Young Women In Tanzania: Overview Of Findings From Implementation Science Research, Population Council

HIV and AIDS

The Population Council in collaboration with Tanzania’s National AIDS Control Program and CSK Research Solutions Limited conducted implementation science research in one urban district and one rural district in the country, to provide needed evidence for informing decisionmaking on whether and how to introduce oral pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) to adolescent girls and young women (AGYW) in Tanzania. The aims of the research were to: assess the acceptability of PrEP among AGYW, their male partners, their parents/guardians, healthcare providers, and policymakers; determine the feasibility of and opportunities for providing PrEP to AGYW; and identify key facilitators and barriers to PrEP introduction …

Improving Uptake Of Hiv Testing Services And Linkage To Care After Diagnosis In Kenya, Project Soar

HIV and AIDS

Project SOAR is conducting two complementary research activities in Kenya, to 1) understand the barriers to and facilitators of HIV testing among men seeking HIV testing services, and 2) to develop and pilot test an HIV post-test assessment tool to promote linkage to HIV care and treatment among newly diagnosed HIV-positive clients. This study will provide needed information to help Kenya and other countries that are scaling up test and start programs to develop effective strategies to increase uptake of HIV testing services among men and linkage to care and treatment among all newly diagnosed HIV-positive clients.

Optimizing Community Services For An Improved Continuum Of Hiv Care, Project Soar

HIV and AIDS

Project SOAR, together with Aurum Institute, is conducting research in Ekurhuleni District and Bojanala District in South Africa to improve the availability of effective care continuum services to meet the communities’ HIV treatment needs. The two districts have a combined population of 3.6 million inhabitants and approximately 350 public clinics and hospitals. Through improved information on community HIV care services and their relationship to care continuum outcomes, the study will provide valuable new knowledge about service gaps and approaches to planning and delivering services that best achieve HIV treatment goals.

Preventing Pediatric Tuberculosis: A Randomized Trial Of Symptom-Based Screening Of South African Children Exposed To Tuberculosis, Population Council

HIV and AIDS

In South Africa, a country with one of the highest levels of HIV prevalence, HIV-positive adults are the source case for a large proportion of pediatric tuberculosis (TB) cases. Unfortunately, TB index cases are not consistently asked about their child contacts, not all child contacts present to the clinic for TB screening, and it remains unknown what proportion of child contacts receive isoniazid preventive therapy (IPT)—a highly effective treatment for preventing TB in these children, long recommended by the World Health Organization. Project SOAR is assessing whether a symptom-based screening approach by TB nurses in community health clinics is more …

Men's Perceptions Of Prep Use By Their Adolescent And Young Adult Female Partners In Tanzania In Tanzania: Findings From Implementation Science Research, Population Council

HIV and AIDS

Prevailing gender norms about sexuality and relationship power dynamics have been shown to affect how women make decisions about the use of sexual and reproductive health products, including microbicides, condoms, and other contraceptives. It is therefore important to understand male partners’ views of oral pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) to inform how to effectively introduce PrEP among adolescent girls and young women (AGYW) in Tanzania to ensure they use it correctly and consistently. The Population Council, in collaboration with the National AIDS Control Programme and CSK Research Solutions Ltd., conducted implementation science research in Tanzania to identify key considerations for introducing PrEP …

Providers' Views On Prep For Adolescent Girls And Young Women In Tanzania: Findings From Implementation Science Research, Population Council

HIV and AIDS

In collaboration with the Tanzania National AIDS Control Programme and CSK Research Solutions Ltd., the Population Council conducted an implementation science research study to identify key considerations among healthcare providers for oral pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) introduction to adolescent girls and young women (AGYW) in an urban and a rural setting in Dar Es Salaam and Mbeya districts, respectively. This brief presents results from a survey and in-depth interviews conducted with healthcare providers in each setting, assessing their knowledge, attitudes, and perceptions about PrEP; willingness to prescribe PrEP to AGYW; and perceived barriers and facilitators to providing PrEP to AGYW. The …

Rates Of Hiv And Hsv-2 Among Young People In Machinga, Malawi, Barbara Mensch, Erica Soler-Hampejsek

HIV and AIDS

To better understand the epidemiological context for the DREAMS programming, Project SOAR analyzed previously collected quantitative cohort data from the Population Council’s Malawi Schooling and Adolescent Study (MSAS) to identify the prevalence and incidence of HIV and the herpes simplex virus, commonly referred to as genital herpes. SOAR’s analysis provides a deeper understanding of the changing epidemiological and gendered context of the HIV epidemic in Machinga. The youth cohort data from the MSAS provide accurate estimates of HIV prevalence over time and HIV incidence, thereby filling important data gaps.

Strengthening Capacity In Hiv Operations Research: Reflections On A Project Soar Workshop In Johannesburg, South Africa, Project Soar

HIV and AIDS

Capacity strengthening (CS) to support rigorous scientific research is a globally recognized need and central to Project SOAR. Over a four-day period, SOAR conducted a CS workshop to strengthen individual and institutional capacity in HIV operations research, with a particular emphasis on the research utilization process. This brief summarizes the CS activities conducted, insights from the workshop’s organization, and participants’ views of the workshop.

Everything Passes, Everything Changes: Unionization And Collective Bargaining In Higher Education, William A. Herbert, Jacob Apkarian

Publications and Research

This article begins with a brief history of unionization and collective bargaining in higher education. It then presents data concerning the recent growth in newly certified collective bargaining representatives at private and public-sector institutions of higher education, particularly among non-tenure track faculty. The data is analyzed in the context of legal decisions concerning employee status and unit composition under applicable federal and state laws. Lastly, the article presents data concerning strike activities on campuses between January 2013 and May 31, 2017.

A Randomized Trial Examining The Effects Of Conjoint Behavioral Consultation In Rural Schools: Student Outcomes And The Mediating Role Of The Teacher–Parent Relationship, Susan M. Sheridan, Amanda Witte, Shannon R. Holmes, Michael J. Coutts, Amy L. Dent, Gina Kunz, Chaorong Wu

Nebraska Center for Research on Children, Youth, Families, and Schools: Faculty Publications

The results of a large-scale randomized controlled trial of Conjoint Behavioral Consultation (CBC) on student outcomes and teacher–parent relationships in rural schools are presented. CBC is an indirect service delivery model that addresses concerns shared by teachers and parents about students. In the present study, the intervention was aimed at promoting positive school-related social-behavioral skills and strengthening teacher–parent relationships in rural schools. Participants were 267 students in grades K-3, their parents, and 152 teachers in 45 Midwest rural schools. Results revealed that, on average, improvement among students whose parents and teachers experienced CBC significantly outpaced that of control students in …

Elementary Preservice Teachers’ Attitudes And Pedagogical Strategies Toward Hypothetical Shy, Exuberant, And Average Children, Qizhen Deng, Guy Trainin, Kathleen Moritz Rudasill, Irina Kalutskaya, Stephanie Wessels, Julia C. Torquati, Robert J. Coplan

Nebraska Center for Research on Children, Youth, Families, and Schools: Faculty Publications

Children’s learning and development are directly and indirectly influenced by teachers’ beliefs and pedagogical strategies toward child behaviors. This cross-sectional study explored elementary preservice teachers’ attitudes and pedagogical strategies for working with hypothetical children demonstrating temperament-based shy, exuberant, and average behaviors in the classroom. A secondary goal was to compare attitudes and pedagogical strategies at the beginning and end of teacher training program. A total of 354 participants responded to three vignettes describing children frequently displaying these behaviors. Results indicated preservice teachers were more likely to use social-learning strategies with shy children and high-powered strategies with exuberant children. Participants were …

Equity & Inclusion Matters - Issue 2, Janurary 2017, Otterbein Office Of Social Justice & Activism

Equity and Inclusion Newsletter

In This Issue:

• Otterbein Launches New Equity & Inclusion Website
• African American Alumni Network Renews Commitment to Otterbein Students, Alumni
• Otterbein Well Represented at Women's March
• New Race and Ethnic Studies Minor Aims to Increase Campus Conversations

Helping Students Develop Affirmative Evidence Of Cross-Cultural Competency, Neil Hamilton, Jeff Maleska

The Scholar: St. Mary's Law Review on Race and Social Justice

Abstract forthcoming.

Review Of Altered States: Buddhism And Psychedelic Spirituality In America By Douglas Osto, Ronald S. Green

Philosophy and Religious Studies

No abstract provided.

Growing Portland: Not Whether, But How, Richard Barringer Phd, Joseph Mcdonnell Phd

Faculty Publications

In the 400 years since European settlement, Portland has survived the ravages of war, invasion, pestilence, conflagration, and economic depression and recession. Once a renowned manufacturing, trade, and shipping center, it now enjoys what might be called a post-industrial renaissance as a vibrant center for the arts, education, entertainment, and banking, legal, and medical services; and is frequently cited as one of America’s best small cities. As a result, Portland is growing today and is positioned for more growth.

The question, then, is not whether Portland will grow, but how well it will grow; or, how best to manage the …

A Content Analysis On Two Different Immigrants’ Stories In California From Two Novels: A Step From Heaven: A Korean Girl And Esperanza Rising: A Mexican Farm Worker, Claudia Guerrero Barrera

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

This study intends to compare and analyze two stories of young immigrants coming to California from Korea and Mexico. The themes through thematic analysis on migration motives, ethnic customs, family interactions, and assimilation process are identified and analyzed. The two novels also pointed out the importance of using young adult narratives as a means that libraries, schools, and cultural centers could use to promote cultural understandings.

A Comparison Of Physical Nursing Home Environment For Older Adults And Their Families, Phatt Thaitrong

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

Globally, aging populations and increases in chronic diseases mean that more people will need long-term care in the next decade. Providing appropriate care to meet the needs of older adults and their families is a key consideration. This move to create a home-like environment in nursing homes has become extensive this past decade. Having an appropriate atmosphere where residents feel like they belong can help elderly people to age healthfully. This systematic literature analysis will address older adult residents' and their families' needs for nursing home physical environments and identify key elements of the physical nursing home environment for older …

Would Adorno Download Music? Piracy, The Recording Industry And Reproduction Reconsidered, David Arditi

Sociology & Anthropology Faculty Publications - Archive

No abstract provided.