Racial and Gender Differences in Pressure Ulcer Development Among Nursing Home Residents in the Southeastern United States

Objective: To determine whether there is a difference in the incidence of pressure ulcers (PU) between African American (AA) and White nursing home (NH) residents in the Southeastern United States. Methods: Data from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Minimum Data Set were examined for 113,869 residents who were free of PU at NH admission during 1999–2002. Facility and neighborhood characteristics were abstracted from the Online Survey Certification and Reporting database and the 2000 U.S. Census respectively. Results: The incidence of PU in NH among AAs and Whites was 4.7% (95% CI: 4.4–5.0) and 3.4 % (95% CI: 3.3–3.5) respectively. The association between race and PU development varied between males and females. Differences were noted between AA and White males who were dependent in mobility and between AA and White females who were bedfast and resided in facilities with less than 200 beds. Unlike for females, facility and neighborhood characteristics were not significant confounders in risk for PU incidence among males. Conclusion: PU occurred more frequently in AAs than in Whites. Results suggest that racial differences are marked among males and females with specific characteristics. Interventions for reducing this disparity should target these at-risk groups.     

Emotional Strain in Caregiving Among African American Grandmothers Raising Their Grandchildren

African Americans are disproportionately represented in the number of grandparents raising their grandchildren. Using Role Strain Theory and Socioemotional Selectivity Theory, this study examines how older grandmothers fare relative to their younger counterparts. Eighty-five custodial African American grandmothers, aged 33–88 years old, completed demographic questionnaires and scales of Role Demand, Emotional Strain, Caregiving Strain Index, and Level of Care. Results showed older grandmothers experienced less emotional and caregiving strain relative to younger grandmothers. Furthermore, married grandmothers experienced less caregiving strain, and their age did not insulate them from the strain associated with the level of care. Implications are discussed.     

Using Photovoice to Identify Service Needs of Older African American Methadone Clients

ABSTRACT

This article presents findings from a photovoice project designed to identify service needs of older-adult African American methadone clients, as well as their current barriers to and supports for abstinence. The project involved 10 participants (aged 53 to 63 years old) recruited from a methadone maintenance program in a large Northeastern U.S. city. Thematic analysis techniques were used to analyze participants’ narratives of their pictures. Transportation emerged as a significant challenge to accessing services, and caregiving was a motivation for remaining abstinent. Future research should use similar participatory methods and engage a broader group of aging people struggling with substance abuse.     

Deconstructing borders: Mobility strategies of South Sudanese refugees in northern Uganda

Taking the current presence of South Sudanese refugees in northern Uganda as a case-study, this paper explores how different forms of mobility enable them to better cope with the harsh conditions caused by their displacement. Based on extensive field research, the results of this article show how for South Sudanese refugees, crossing borders can be empowering, although these complex strategies do not fit within the mutually exclusive ‘durable solutions’ proposed by the international refugee regime. Looking through a transnational lens, it is illustrated how different forms of movement enable the refugees to hold on to certain aspects of ‘normal life’, such as being employed, enacting customs and visiting loved ones, blurring the distinction between voluntary and forced migration. This results in a deepening of transnational networks as the generally large South Sudanese families find their members dispersed across Ugandan and South Sudanese town centres, villages, refugee settlements and third countries in Africa and elsewhere.     

An examination of factors in adapting a technical and vocational education and training programme within South Africa

Countries look to borrow those educational systems that have been successful at meeting particular needs in other parts of the world. However, whether looking to Europe, Asia or the United States, technical and vocational education and training (TVET) programmes are not easily replicated in a new context. Even with well-intentioned government policy and support, they become more or less successful when aligned with the needs of industry, how TVET is viewed and utilized, and cultural and societal impacts of how youth transition to work and career. This paper presents an aspect that is often missing from the literature onthis subject: anexamination of the factors influencing how the TVET implementation plays outwithin a particular industry and country. This paper considers a case involving the process of borrowing a manufacturing skill development programme from theUnited States for implementation in South Africa.     

South Korean women leaders’ struggles for a work and family balance

The purpose of this study was to explore the lived experience of women in leadership in Korea and to identify challenges and opportunities that they face in the process of balancing work and family life and developing leadership as women in the uniquely challenging Korean workplace where they face organizational and cultural constraints. Critical to this investigation was the understanding of concepts frequently represented in the previous literature about women in leadership: work–family life balance, women’s leadership development, and the cultural context. In-depth interviews were conducted with 18 women leaders selected through a purposeful and snowball sampling method. A thematic analysis of the interview data generated six themes including: (a) commitment to work, (b) struggles for a balance, (c) defining success, (d) gender identity, (e) being a role model, and (f) need for support. Based on the findings, we provide implications for research and practice.     

南海问题与中国的应对策略

目前6国7方在南海形成激烈角逐局面;中国对南沙群岛拥有主权有充分的历史依据,其中南海九段线成为现代史上中国对南海拥有主权的标志性证据;"九段线"是岛屿归属线,还是南海疆域线,我国政府对此未作出明确界定,而是提出"历史性权利"应对;中国与东盟争端国就争端问题都提出了各自的主张;中国应从政治、外交、经济、法律、军事等方面采取综合性的策略来应对南海争端。     

楚辞、汉赋与北南文化交流

中华民族有着悠久的历史、灿烂的文化,中华文化有着多种源头、多层蕴涵,栖息于中华大地上的各民族先民,在各自具有独特规律的进程中,又在相互交流、吸收中,共同建构了中华民族博大精深的古老文化,共同创造了五彩缤纷的古典文学。特别引人注目的是,黄河流域中原文明领先发展,一旦与周边少数民族富于活力的文化发生碰撞、结合,往往会产生巨大的能量,推动中国文学出现崭新的景观。文章仅以黄河流域华夏文化与南方民族文化交流现象突出的楚辞、汉赋为例来谈一谈。     

明代南直隶各县举人地理分布的考察

明代南直隶大致包括今天的江苏省、安徽省和上海市,其举人人数在有明一代各大政区中人数最多。通过辑录和考订相关文献,获得明代南直隶举人的籍贯信息。对举人籍贯按县和散州进行统计后发现,明代南直隶举人分布集中,主要分布于华亭、武进、常熟、长洲等县,这也是南直隶各府的府治和一些在地理、文化方面较为重要的县,在举人分布上具有较强优势。因明代南直隶是首都、陪都的所在,这种钩沉、考核一定程度上能从一个侧面看出明代科举分布的一些真实情形。     

中韩建交以来朝鲜族跨界迁移与发展研究述评

随着中韩建交和两国经济文化交流的快速发展,朝鲜族社会开始形成大规模地赴韩打工热潮。许多朝鲜族在寻求更好的生活机会而跨界移动的过程中获得了预期利益,但也由此引发一些负面的社会问题,成为影响朝鲜族社会变迁的主要因素。与此同时,朝鲜族跨界移动群体也被卷入了流入地——韩国社会的排斥与隔离的图景中,他们在工作、居住、社会交往和婚姻情感方面处于严重地被边缘化境地。