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.     

城区婴儿家庭教育现状的调查与审视——以四川省内江市为例

家庭教育对婴儿的发展至关重要。经调查发现：在对早期教育的认识方面,家长重视早期教育,尤其是家庭教育,但较为忽视婴儿自我意识和独立性的培养。教育行为方面,家长在认知、健康、社会和情绪情感方面教育得当,但艺术熏陶稍显缺乏,且存在物质条件提供缺乏科学性等问题。教育需求与期望方面,家长对早教机构和早教交流平台有较大需求;对子女的学历期望多持顺其自然的态度。基于以上现状,多渠道构建早期教育公益讲座,建设早期教育交流平台以及发挥社区教育的作用,是发展城区婴儿家庭教育的努力方向。     

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.

预期组合:将不确定性纳入预期理论的新方法

不确定性是经济预期与决策的基本特征之一。然而现代预期理论尤其是理性预期学派,将不确定性视为影响理性预期的干扰因素,想方设法对其进行简化与排除。预期理论的反不确定性倾向与现代风险投资的实践发生了背离。通过对理性预期学派孤岛模型的预期决策检验,指出理性预期学派过于简化预期中不确定性的问题,提出了预期组合这一将不确定性纳入预期理论的新方法,探索如何在不确定条件下分析诸多不确定因素之间的逻辑关系,形成更加合理的预期,进而更早把握进行科学决策的机遇。     

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。     

转型期中国的社会公正感探析——以社会期望与财富分配的互动关系为视角

20世纪90年代以来,中国社会的贫富分化日益严重,民众的社会不公正感逐渐增强。一方面,改革开放促进了民众教育水平的提高和公民文化与平等意识的萌发,增强了他们对现代化生活方式的憧憬,引发了普泛性的生存比较,所有这些都普遍提高了民众的社会期望。另一方面,转型期中国社会的贫富差距全方位扩大,财富分配极不合理,既有市场化改革自身引发的巨大收入差距,也普遍存在由双轨制、非正当致富等导致的贫富悬殊。这种期望与指望的差距造成了社会不公正感。用公式可表示为：社会不公正感=社会期望/财富分配。提高民众的社会公正感须从调整财富分配入手,应做到起点公正、过程公正和结果公正。