Constructing women's psychological health in anti-abortion rhetoric

This paper considers the ways in which anti-abortion activists construct women's psychological experience of abortion and explores the rhetorical significance of this discourse in advancing the anti-abortion project. In particular we examine how the psychological concept of 'denial' contained in the (proposed) diagnostic category of 'Post-Abortion Syndrome' allows anti-abortionists to 'psychologise' and therefore undermine alternative constructions of the experience of abortion. Further, we explore how this construction of women's experience allows particular constructions of the foetus (ie, 'unborn child') to be advanced (and naturalised) without reference to overtly political argumentation. The significance of this development of the abortion debate and its implications for the dynamics of political mobilisation are discussed.     

Policy analysis in a socioeconomic model of basic needs applied to four countries

This article summarizes the results of a socioeconomic model of basic needs that was applied to four countries—Brazil, Colombia, India, and Kenya. A modeling approach was thought necessary in order to make more precise the concept of basic needs. Although the work has not been entirely successful in doing that, from the policy experiment attempted, and given the limitations of the models used, we believe that an approach centered on the provision of basic needs will help the poorest satisfy their needs more quickly than is possible under alternative approaches.     

Food insufficiency and physical and mental health in a longitudinal survey of welfare recipients

Food insufficiency is a significant problem in the United States, and poor African American women with children are at especially high risk. An inadequate household food supply can potentially affect the well-being of household members, but it is difficult to distinguish the effects of food insufficiency from risk factors for poor health that are also common among the food insufficient, such as poverty. We examined food insufficiency and physical and mental health among African American and white women (n = 676) who were welfare recipients in 1997. Controlling for common risk factors, women who reported food insufficiency in both 1997 and 1998 were more likely to report fair or poor health at the later date. Food insufficiency in 1998 was significantly associated with meeting the diagnostic screening criteria for recent major depression. Food insufficiency at both times and in 1998 only was related to women's sense of mastery. These findings add to growing evidence that household food insufficiency is associated with poor physical and mental health.     

Many a slip between cup and lip. Process evaluation of a program to promote and support evidence-based public health practice

The main aims of this study are to document whether an intervention for promoting evidence-based public health practice had been delivered as intended and to explore the reasons for its lack of impact. Process data from the implementation of the program and data from interviews with 40 public health physicians are analyzed. Although they expressed satisfaction with the service, the doctors experienced the program as rather irrelevant for their daily work. They did not perceive that they dealt with many issues relevant for the use of research information, and if they did, referring to research would not make any difference to the way others perceived their advice. There is a need to develop more overlying strategies for integrating evidence into decision making than addressing the individual level.     

Human Resource Development in Sub-Saharan Africa

The need for skills development and training in Sub-Saharan Africa is increasing in an area where unstable economies and high unemployment create challenges on many levels. Sub-Saharan Africa is faced with great poverty, skills migration, and HIV/AIDS, which are depleting the region of skilled workers in their prime working years. The region is facing numerous challenges in the development of skills and the ability to make use of the available human resources. It can be argued that the Sub-Saharan African region needs to increase the skilled labour pool and to develop communities. Perhaps most importantly, there is an urgent need for the region to face the impact of globalization on its own terms. This involves the fusion of African philosophy and management styles with the traditional Western theories with human resource development (HRD) strategies and policies that will be suitable for the developing economies in the region.     

Inside stories: Maternal representations of first time mothers from pre-pregnancy to early pregnancy

BackgroundAccording to the psychoanalytical literature, it is during pregnancy that maternal representations of the mother–infant relationship become activated. Midwives who are engaged with the mother and the baby have not drawn upon this concept in their practice. In order for this to happen, it is important to understand better the nature of maternal representations and when they are activated from empirical studies.QuestionThe research question is: what are the maternal representations of a group of first time mothers from pre-pregnancy, early pregnancy and to the first ultrasound.MethodA narrative approach was used to gain insight into the maternal representations of first time pregnant womens’ account of their representations. The analysis method was based on thematic approach.ParticipantsFifteen women aged between 23 and 38 years.SettingA midwives clinic attached to a tertiary hospital in Melbourne, Australia.FindingsFirst-time pregnant women's maternal representations were activated when a woman begins to plan her pregnancy (‘the time is right’), again at the onset of physical changes to her body as a result of conception (‘my body is changing’), and at the first early ultrasound at around twelve weeks (‘it’ is a real baby).ConclusionMaternal representations are important for the midwife and pregnant women because this concept provides another understanding in relation to the psychological dimension of pregnancy.     

Transnational political practices and the receiving state: Turks and Kurds in Germany and the Netherlands

This article examines how the social and political contexts in receiving countries affect the transnational political practices of migrants and refugees, such as their mobilization around political events in their homeland. The case study explores the political participation of Turks and Kurds in Germany and the Netherlands in its full complexity, that is in both the immigration country and in homeland politics. The findings suggest that transnational political practices should not be reduced to a function of the political opportunity structures of particular receiving countries for two main reasons: (a) more inclusive political structures, which provide for more participation and co‐operation on immigrant political issues, may at the same time, and for that very reason, serve to exclude dialogue on homeland politics; (b) homeland political movements may draw on a different range of resources than their immigrant political counterparts, including those outside the local political institutional context.     

Process and Results of an Immunization Requirement at the University of Rochester

Abstract

“A Double-Blind Study of Oral Acyclovir for Suppression of Recurrences of Genital Herpes Simplex Virus Infection,” JOHN M. DOUGLAS, et al. Patients with frequently recurring genital herpes were enrolled in a double-blind placebo-controlled trial comparing 200-mg acyclovir capsules, given five or two times daily, with placebo. Of 47 placebo recipients, 44 (94 per cent) had recurrences during the 120-day treatment period, compared with 13 (29 per cent) of 45 patients treated with acyclovir five times daily and 18 of 51 (35 per cent) treated with acyclovir twice daily (P < 0.001 for each regimen compared with placebo). The median time to the first clincial recurrence was 18 days in placebo recipients, compared with over 120 days in both acyclovir-treated groups (P < 0.001 for both groups compared with placebo). The mean monthly recurrence rate during the medication period was 0.86 in placebo recipients, compared with 0.13 in patients treated with acyclovir five times daily and 0.14 in patients treated with acyclovir twice daily (P < 0.001 for both groups compared with placebo). While receiving therapy, 86 of 96 acyclovir-treated patients had over a 50 per cent reduction in their pretreatment recurrence rate. Breakthrough recurrences in acyclovir recipients were of shorter duration and associated with a lower frequency of viral shedding than recurrences in placebo recipients. After medication was discontinued, the subsequent recurrence rate returned to pretreatment frequencies. Daily oral acyclovir was well tolerated. We conclude that oral acyclovir given for four months markedly reduces but does not completely prevent recurrences of genital herpes and does not influence the long-term natural history of the disease. (New England Journal of Medicine 1984 July;310:1551–6.)     

The Impact of Abuse History and Trauma Symptoms on Successful Completion of a Prostitution-exiting Program

This study examines the trauma symptoms and life experiences of 49 women in a residential prostitution-exiting program and identifies differences among women who complete 90 days of the program and women who drop out of the program prior to completing 90 days. The majority of the women reported childhood abuse, adult abusive relationships, and victimization. Women who completed 90 days of treatment were found to be older than the non-completers. Non-completers were more likely to report clinically significant trauma symptoms including dissociation, poor coping behaviors, sex-related issues, and dysfunctional sexual behavior than completers. These findings suggest the importance of incorporating trauma-focused intervention early in the services provided in the exiting programs as well as the need to address the traumatic symptoms related to childhood and adult trauma histories. Findings also indicate the importance of clinically addressing trauma-related sexual issues, concerns, and behavior.