Contested attachments: rethinking adoptive kinship in the era of open adoption

Since its legal inception in 1926, adoption work has been centrally concerned with the matter of the adopted child's ‘first’ or prior life, whilst also focussed on achieving a new and secure substitute family for that child. Adoptive kinship has been formed through this dual and contradictory concern, a concern that has produced diverse policies and practices over the last 90 years. Drawing on Foucault's concept of technologies of the subject, this paper is an exploration of adoptive kinship within the new context of open adoption, a set of practices that more actively promotes the involvements of the adopted child's former family. These practices both promote a radical reworking of adoptive kinship, as well as confirming its more orthodox moorings. Drawing on an adoption archive study, the paper concludes with an analysis of letterbox contact to explore how far this form of open practice transforms adoptive kinship in the contemporary era.     

Women’s experiences of decision-making and attitudes in relation to induction of labour: A survey study

BackgroundRates of induction of labour have been increasing globally to up to one in three pregnancies in many high-income countries. Although guidelines around induction, and strength of the underlying evidence, vary considerably by indication, shared decision-making is increasingly recognised as key. The aim of this study was to identify women’s mode of birth preferences and experiences of shared decision-making for induction of labour.MethodAn antenatal survey of women booked for an induction at eight Sydney hospitals was conducted. A bespoke questionnaire was created assessing women’s demographics, indication for induction, pregnancy model of care, initial birth preferences, and their experience of the decision-making process.ResultsOf 189 survey respondents (58% nulliparous), major reported reasons for induction included prolonged pregnancy (38%), diabetes (25%), and suspected fetal growth restriction (8%). Most respondents (72%) had hoped to labour spontaneously. Major findings included 19% of women not feeling like they had a choice about induction of labour, 26% not feeling adequately informed (or uncertain if informed), 17% not being given alternatives, and 30% not receiving any written information on induction of labour. Qualitative responses highlight a desire of women to be more actively involved in decision-making.ConclusionA substantial minority of women did not feel adequately informed or prepared, and indicated they were not given alternatives to induction. Suggested improvements include for face-to-face discussions to be supplemented with written information, and for shared decision-making interventions, such as the introduction of decision aids and training, to be implemented and evaluated.     

Using complexity theory in kinship practice

This reflective discussion draws on data from a collaborative enquiry into kinship or family and friends practice. It introduces perspectives from complexity and chaos theory as a way of re‐examining the challenges of kinship practice. The discussion highlights the enduring challenges for practitioners, not least, managing anxiety and uncertainty, sustaining continuity and containment, becoming experienced and taking account of the complex developmental needs of the children and their families. The discussion particularly raises questions about appropriate settings for practitioners to undertake such a demanding area of child and family social work.     

小说《陆犯焉识》与电影《归来》之比较

张艺谋的最新力作《归来》改编自严歌苓的长篇小说《陆犯焉识》,由于小说和电影是两种不同的艺术形式,从小说文本到电影文本,二者在主题、情节、人物形象的塑造、人物命运等方面均存在差异,在这些差异的背后,传达出了作家和导演不同的艺术诉求。文章通过比较《陆犯焉识》与《归来》,来深入挖掘小说文本与电影文本之间存在的差异以及电影对小说改编的得失。     

Customer Behavior in an Online Ordering Application: A Decision Scoring Model*

This research presents the development of behavioral scoring models to predict future customer purchases in an online ordering application. Internet retailing lowers many barriers for customers switching between retailers for repeat purchases; thus, retaining existing customers is a key challenge for achieving profitability. Survey data were collected from 1,089 online customers of two companies. The subjective survey data were then used to predict purchases over the ensuing 12 months based on data from the company databases. The analysis illustrates the general applicability of predictive models of future customer purchases while also demonstrating the need to develop specific models tailored for an individual company's operating and marketing environment. The models provide insight on how companies can target marketing dollars more effectively and allocate investment across multiple operational areas for maximum return. The research answers a call for rigorous research in the area of predictive marketing, an area in which many companies are excelling but where there is a scarcity of detailed knowledge regarding application of such models.     

First-time mothers’ birth beliefs,preferences, and actual birth: A longitudinal observational study

Problem

Birth preferences, such as mode and place of birth and other birth options, have important individual and societal implications, yet few studies have investigated the mechanism which predicts a wide range of childbirth options simultaneously.

包头市人口再生产与人口转变研究

1949年到2009年期间,包头市出生人数经历了出生人数增长阶段、出生人数持续阶段、出生人数减少阶段和出生人数回落回升阶段;出生率经历了第一高峰阶段、第一低谷阶段、第二高峰阶段、第二低谷阶段和第三高峰阶段;死亡人数经历了死亡人数增长阶段、死亡人数减少阶段、死亡人数持平阶段、死亡人数抬升阶段和死亡人数回落回升阶段;死亡率经历了下降阶段、徘徊阶段和起伏阶段;人口再生产类型的转变过程确定为传统型阶段→过渡类型阶段→现代型阶段;60多年的人口再生产类型转变的梳理,为包头市今后人口与计划生育工作提供了继续稳定低生育水平、解决低生育水平下的人口问题启示。     

中国出生人口性别比问题探析

出生人口性别比问题,已经不仅仅是个简单的人口比例问题。出生人口性别比失衡问题将会引起一系列的社会问题。20世纪80年代以来,我国出生人口性别比失衡问题越来越凸显出来,不仅在时间上,而且是区域上也表现得很明显。本文将对我国出生人口性别比失衡这一现象进行描述,阐述这一问题的原因,并对解决这一问题提出相关的对策,这对我国出生人口性别比的研究具有重要的理论和现实意义。