Breast Cancer:

Cancer is a major problem for elderly individuals. Overall, it is the second leading cause of death after heart disease and 50% of all documented cases occur in 12% of the population over the age 65. About 50,000 women in the United States age 65 and older are diagnosed annually with breast cancer, making it one of the most serious health oroblems for women in this age ~ O U D I. t is the second leading causk of cancer deaths after lung cancer in women. While breast cancer is not preventable, the survival rate is near 100% if detected earlv. However. late staEe of diamosis remains a concern in this age groip. ~ ~ ~ r o x & n ai0t%e lo~f women with breast cancer present with metastases as the first indication of a malignancy. Early detection and screening offer the only solution to this dreaded situation. Society must find ways to make these practices available to the elderly.     

Being Aware:

A grounded theory methodology was employed to discover the meaning of the relationship between health and social support among older women. Fifteen women aged 63 to 77 were interviewed during 52 hours in 23 interviews. Major findings included the definitions of health, social support, their core variables, and being aware, the Basic Social Process. Health meant being in harmony or balance, well-being, and managing stress. Social support was the outcome of caring, acceptance, and trust. Being aware was being conscious of everything in and around the person. Being aware changes over time and is enhanced through reflection.     

Married Widows:

No abstract available for this article.     

Extended Care-Giving:

For the most part, care-giving is a function expected, even demanded, by terminally ill spouses, their families, and friends. This paper includes a brief introduction to issues surrounding care-giving , a fictionalized story of a long term care-giver, and interviews with ten women and two men who served as care-givers. The care-givers read the story and responded to it in terms of their own experiences. Their stories are reported here to illuminate the care-giving role as seen by care-givers themselves.     

Hidden Death:

While there have been some positive changes in American attitudes toward the sexuality and reproductive life of young women, little attention is paid to preserving aging women's sexuality. The tragic effects of this neglect appear in the case of hysterectomy, which every year deprives hundreds of thousands of women of normal sexual response.     

Reducing Inventory:

Cherished personal possessions symbolize and represent our identity to ourselves and to others. Providing for the future of these objects is a concern that surfaces as we age. Indepth interviews and observations of nine women over the age of seventy revealed themes related to personal possessions and divestiture behaviors. Divestiture behaviors are focused toward planning for and distribution of personal possessions. These themes-and behaviors interact as demonstrated by a proposed model of divestiture.     

Being Old:

Part of a larger study to ascertain learning needs elderly women experienced over then lifetimes, this essay describes firsthand what it is like to grow old in America today. Selected excerpts from the life histories of seven women communicate this perspective.     

Ilocos region: BSPO paramedics: training in Abra pays off

The study entitled "the comprehensive Baragay Medical System in Arba: An Evaluation" analyzed the performance of trained paramedics and found that the effectiveness of barangay service point officers (BSPOs) as outreach workers depeded on: the knowledge and skills they acquired after traning, which helped them meet the medical needs of community residents; their acceptability to the community; and their positive attitude toward their job. The study indicated that adquate training for the job was crucial to the effective performance of outreach workers. The study compared the performance fo BSPO paramedics and BSPO nonparamedics in metting the health care and family planning needs of residents of the communities the served. BSPO paramedics fared much better as outreach workers in the tasks they were trained for -- rendering services in family planning and health care -- than BSPO nonparamedics wo were not given that kind of training. The study was conducted in the towns of Sallapadan, Pilar, and Danglas for BSPO paramedics and in Manabo, Villaviciosa, and La Paz for BSPO nonparamedics. Interviewed were a sample group of married adults in the areas, 15 BSPO paramedics, and 15 BSPO nonparamedics. The BSPO paramedics had undergone training in preventive medicine, environmental sanitation, and treatment of minor illnesses. The were taught advanced first aid techniques, over the cunter dispensing of medicines, and basic laboratory analysis. The nonparamedics were not trained in these functins. The residents preferred to approach BSPO paramedics for both family planning and medical servies, and more community members also derived the "highest degreee of satisfaction" from the paramedics' services. The BSPO paramedics also served more family planning clients and provided community residents more kinds of medical services. These included medical checkup, the distribution and sale of medicines, curing illnesses, and assisting in child delivery. In terms of job satisfaction, 13 out of every 15 BSPO paramedics interviewed indicated that they were "very satisfied" with their jobs, while only 6 of 15 nonparamedics gave the same rating. The survey findings suggest that the Arba Comprehensive Barangay Medical System can be a viable model for outreach workers in remote communities.     

Private Bag: Population Growth: Obstacle to Meeting Kyoto Target

Population and Environment -     

Chronic Musculoskeletal Pain:

Two diseases, osteoporosis and osteoarthritis, are responsible for a majority of the chronic musculoskeletal pain that older women experience. Osteoporosis is the metabolic bone disease most common in older women and is responsible for fractures, kyphosis, and chronic pain. Osteoarthritis, the most commonly diagnosed musculoskeletal problem in older women, causes degeneration of the weight-bearing joints in the body, resulting in limited function and chronic pain. In this paper, these and other common disorders are briefly described and typical coping strategies used by older women in pain are reviewed. In addition, potential multidisciplinary treatment regimens are discussed.