Using the cultural studies approach to understand health decision-making among a teen public

This cultural study explored how teen girls make decisions about the Gardasil vaccine based on the media campaign. The data suggest that teen girl publics face complicated, conflicting decisions to make about health, particularly because the media intervene in how they identify themselves. It is argued that while power differentials between publics and organizations limits deeper segmentation of publics, the cultural studies approach can help campaign designers better understand how publics make decisions.     

Socioeconomic status, sexual behavior, and differential AIDS mortality: evidence from Côte d’Ivoire

Lack of knowledge about differential AIDS mortality seriously hampers the study of the economic impact of AIDS in developing countries. We derive HIV infection risk differentials by age, education, and other microeconomic characteristics using the Ivorian Demographic and Health Survey. Our model is based on econometrically estimated equations using commonly available variables, therefore it can be used whenever such a survey is available but there is no representative information about HIV infection by socioeconomic group. For instance, we found that educated people have a higher risk of HIV infection, because they are more likely to have several sexual partners. However, this effect is partly offset by a higher probability of condom use relative to less educated people. The identification of the socioeconomic characteristics of low and high risk groups seems indispensable to set up adequate AIDS prevention and therapy policies in developing countries.

STUDENT DISTRESS IN A WEB-BASED DISTANCE EDUCATION COURSE

Many advocates of computer-mediated distance education emphasize its positive aspects and understate the kinds of communicative and technical capabilities and work required by students and faculty. There are few systematic analytical studies of students who have experienced new technologies in higher education. This article presents a qualitative case study of a small graduate-level web-based distance education course at a major US university.This paper examines students' distressing experiences due to communication breakdowns and technical difficulties. This topic is glossed over in much of the distance education literature written for administrators, instructors and prospective students. The intent is that this study will enhance understanding of the instructional design issues, instructor and student preparation, and communication practices that are needed to improve web-based distance education courses.     

生殖健康面对面咨询效果的模糊综合评价研究

评价生殖健康面对面咨询效果是一个由多个分指标组成的综合指标体系。本文在对咨询效果评价指标体系分析的基础上 ,应用模糊综合评价的理论建立了咨询效果的二级综合评价模型 ,并分析了一个事例。     

美育与体育关系论

基于个体发展是身心协调发展的观点,美育与体育在历史渊源和现实功能等方面都有着深刻的内在联系。体育既有促进个体健美的功能,又具有独特的审美价值,因此在体育过程中内在包含着美育因素。把美育的观念和方法引入体育,可以使体育过程更符合全面开发个体潜能的素质教育要求,更富于个体的创造活力。     

A comparison of the Woman-centred care: strategic directions for Australian maternity services (2019) national strategy with other international maternity plans

BackgroundIn 2019 the Australian government released a guiding document for maternity care: Woman-centred care strategic directions for Australian maternity services (WCC Strategy), with mixed responses from providers and consumers. The aims of this paper were to: examine reasons behind reported dissatisfaction, and compare the WCC Strategy against similar international strategies/plans. The four guiding values in the WCC strategy: safety, respect, choice, and access were used to facilitate comparisons and provide recommendations to governments/health services enacting the plan.MethodsMaternity plans published in English from comparable high-income countries were reviewed.FindingsEight maternity strategies/plans from 2011 to 2021 were included. There is an admirable focus in the WCC Strategy on respectful care, postnatal care, and culturally appropriate maternity models. Significant gaps in support for continuity of midwifery care and place of birth options were notable, despite robust evidence supporting both. In addition, clarity around women’s right to make decisions about their care was lacking or contradictory in the majority of the strategies/plans. Addressing hierarchical, structure-based obstacles to regulation, policy, planning, service delivery models and funding mechanisms may be necessary to overcome concerns and barriers to implementation. We observed that countries where midwifery is more strongly embedded and autonomous, have guidelines recommending greater contributions from midwives.ConclusionMaternity strategy/plans should be based on the best available evidence, with consistent and complementary recommendations. Within this framework, priority should be given to women’s preferences and choices, rather than the interests of organisations and individuals.     

Psychological Distress and Help-Seeking by Residents of a Neighborhood Naturally Occurring Retirement Community (NNORC)

This article presents findings from an annual program survey of residents of a horizontal neighborhood naturally occurring retirement community (NNORC). The study explored the relationship between several factors (age, co-residents, number of chronic illnesses, self-reported health, loneliness, sense of mastery, locus of control, pain, and psychological distress) and their ability to predict general health, level of psychological distress, and the quantity and type of help-seeking behaviors. Although residents generally reported moderate to high levels of chronic disease, pain, loneliness, and concerns about life issues, 25% of them sought no help from any of the listed resources, and 65% sought help from only one of seven resources. The most common source of help for most (70%) was a primary care physician (PCP), and comparatively few respondents sought help from other sources. Older adults, especially those with chronic illness, generally consider their PCP to be the first, and perhaps only, source to consult. However, research indicates that the most effective health promotional programs for older adults are social and educational group activities, rather than individual health-focused interventions. Possible means of redirecting residents toward NNORC services include more vigorous outreach and creating collaborative partnerships between local PCPs serving older populations and the NNORC.     

Care of Older Adults in Iceland: Policy Objectives and Reality

ABSTRACT

We examine the implementation of the Icelandic government's policy on formal care of older adults in Iceland. The policy as expressed in legislation and other policy documents is to ensure access of older adults to the appropriate level of health and social care services. How does the actual level of formal care compare with the policy objectives? Does there exist an implementation deficit, and if so, why? We address the question by analyzing Icelandic and international statistical databases. The findings reveal a gap between the aims of the current policy and its delivery. As elsewhere in the Nordic region, the policy allows for the emphasis to be on home-care services in which the individual's needs are assessed comprehensively. Administrative problems and insufficient resources to better understand and explain the problem are identified. Current steps to address the problem include the necessity of a comprehensive evaluation of the level and quality of elder-care services in Iceland, which would help compensate for the shortcomings of the existing public statistical databases. In future research, it is necessary to analyze how services can be coordinated while increasing responsiveness to the voices of older adults and their relatives on the care of older people.