Family planning in Malta

The crude birth rate has dropped dramatically in Malta¹ over the post-war period, from 36·0 per 1,000 population in 1948 to 17·1 in 1971. A drop of this magnitude is not uncommon² although it rarely occurs so fast.     

Women and War: Militarism, Bodies, and the Practice of Gender

Women around the world, in various geographic spaces, social and cultural contexts, as partners, wives, sisters, daughters, mothers, mourners, and victims experience war. Women's experience of war and their participation in it, either as actors or resistors, victims or perpetrators ( Moser and Clark 2001 ), cheerleaders or critics, are always influenced by the construction of gender operating in and around their lives. While constructions of masculinity and femininity are always circulating in and around militarism and war, women's bodies are sometimes primary considerations for military and state leaders; this creates a visibility/invisibility/hyper-visibility problem for women in wartime. In this essay, women's participation in war as soldiers, refugees, prisoners, jailers, activists, and suicide bombers and the accompanying shift in the practice of femininity and masculinity is explored.     

A compound Poisson model for word occurrences in DNA sequences

Summary. We present a compound Poisson model describing the occurrence process of a set of words in a random sequence of letters. The model takes into account the frequency of the words and their overlapping structure. The model is compared with a Markov chain model in terms of fit and parsimony. Special attention is given to the detection of poor or rich regions. Several applications of the model are presented and a combination of the Markov and compound Poisson models is proposed.     

Attribute networking: A technique for modeling social perceptions1

An original, network‐based technique is presented for modeling community members’ conceptions of local social space. Social categories derived from the model are used to investigate the social meaning of linguistic variation. The technique is first explained and then demonstrated using linguistic and ethnographic data from Worthington, Ohio, a Columbus suburb. Two linguistic variables are analyzed: (1)/l/ vocalization; and (2) the phonetic realization of the before vowel‐initial words. The results are discussed in the context of Columbus‐area urban sprawl and its perceived threat to Worthington's distinctiveness.     

Using the case study approach for improved programme evaluations

This paper discusses the case study approach to programme evaluation in the human services and its multiple benefits to the evaluator and to the various stakeholders in the programme being evaluated. Of particular importance is the use of a case study to examine programme processes which then inform the design of the outcome study of programme effects. Following a brief overview of the case study approach in research and its applications, the authors delineate its benefits and illustrate these using the evaluation of a model programme designed to reunify families separated by a child's placement in foster care. The results of the case study more clearly defined the programme's processes for both the researchers and the programme staff, and illuminated the desired outcomes which then were delineated in measurable terms. The result was a design for an outcome evaluation that was consistent with programme goals, processes, and intended benefits. The case study also facilitated communication and collaboration between the researchers and the programme's stakeholders, provided important information for agency decision‐makers, and contributed greatly to the potential for the success of the overall evaluation.     

Factors associated with the positive well-being of grandparents caring for their grandchildren

Prior research on grandparent caregivers has focused on stress, depression, and other negative outcomes. This paper describes research on factors that are associated with grandparents' positive well-being. In particular, it investigated the extent to which the perception of grandparental stress and grandparents' resources are associated with grandparents' well-being, after controlling for sociodemographic and health factors. A sample of 129 grandparents had individual interviews. Using a hierarchical block multiple regression analysis, the authors found that a low perception of stress related to caring for grandchildren and resources were responsible for a high level of wellbeing. The findings of this study suggest that social workers can best help grandparent caregivers by lowering their perception of stress and enhancing their informal supports and community resources. This can be incorporated into supportive, strengths-based individual or family counseling.     

Attitudes,Knowledge, and Behavior before and after an Undergraduate Health and Lifestyle Course

Abstract

“Marital and Family Therapy for Troubled Physicians and Their Families: A Bridge over Troubled Waters,” Ira D. Glick, et al. Because individual therapy for troubled physicians has been notoriously difficult and often ineffective, we report our experience using a treatment—marital therapy—newly applied to such problems in the medical community. The sample involved 13 male physicians and their spouses with emotional difficulties in themselves and/or their relationships. After marital treatment, there was substantial improvement in more than 92% (12/13) of the physicians, their spouses, and/or their marital relationships. (Journal of the American Medical Association 1984;251:1855–1858.)     

Supporting Traditional African Mediators Project (STAMP) for Family Violence

Supporting Traditional African Mediators Project (STAMP) is a program that has been working with African/Australian community leaders to prevent family violence. This program has been carefully developed through building long‐term relationships, transparency and openness with an emphasis on navigating the intersection of cultures in order to enhance understanding and collaboration around family violence prevention. The training program has successfully engaged both men and women and enhanced participation, cross cultural learning and positive outcomes by creating an open and safe environment. The paper highlights the knowledge gained by participants and project workers and explores the challenges experienced by people who emigrate from other countries when responding to family conflict in an Australian context. It introduces the formation of a support group Marula that has added value and support to Traditional African Mediators in their work to address family violence within their communities.