scholarly journals Protective Factors using the Life Course Perspective in Maternal and Child Health

2020 ◽  
Vol 1 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Abraham Salinas-Miranda ◽  
Lindsey King ◽  
Hamisu Salihu ◽  
Roneé Wilson ◽  
Susan Nash ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Child Health ◽  
Life Course ◽  
Protective Factors ◽  
Maternal And Child Health ◽  
Community Support ◽  
Self Esteem ◽  
Life Course Perspective ◽  
Community Resources ◽  
The Life Course ◽  
And Child Health

The life course perspective, a valuable theoretical framework for investigating racial disparities in birth outcomes, examines the cumulative exposure of risk and protective factors throughout the life span. Although risk and protective exposures are equally vital to health, most studies have focused solely on the risk factor exposures faced by vulnerable populations. In clear contrast to the traditional public health approach which emphasizes a deficit model, strengths-based approaches can elucidate pathways on protective factors that foster resilience. Such positive perspectives represent a paradigm shift that views communities as valuable assets that have the capacity to fully engage themselves and their residents to achieve optimal health. Participatory action research methods are well-suited to apply a strengths-based approach to understand health disparities. Our study aimed to explore maternal and child health protective factors, from community residents’ perspective. We conducted 10 community-based participatory focus groups with community residents Tampa, Florida guided by the life course perspective. A total of 78 residents participated in ten focus groups. Perceived protective factors during pregnancy included self-esteem, spirituality, pregnancy support, good nutrition, prenatal care, and community resources. Protective factors for non-pregnant women were self-esteem, spirituality, social support, health literacy, community support and community resources, and societal factors. For children and adolescents, relevant protective factors were self-esteem, positive role models, nutrition and physical activity, and community support. The identified factors are community assets or strengths that mitigate or eliminate maternal and child health risks in families and communities residing in low-income neighborhoods, which must be considered in developing effective maternal and child health interventions.

scholarly journals Addressing inequities in child health and development: towards social justice

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. e000503 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nick Spencer ◽  
Shanti Raman ◽  
Bernadette O'Hare ◽  
Giorgio Tamburlini
Keyword(s):  
Child Health ◽  
Life Course ◽  
National Level ◽  
Health Inequities ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Health Determinants ◽  
Health And Development ◽  
The Life Course ◽  
The Impact ◽  
And Child Health

Inequities have a profound impact on the health and development of children globally. While inequities are greatest in the world’s poorest countries, even in rich nations poorer children have poorer health and developmental outcomes. From birth through childhood to adolescence, morbidity, mortality, growth and development are socially determined, resulting in the most disadvantaged having the highest risk of poor health outcomes. Inequities in childhood impact across the life course. We consider four categories of actions to promote equity: strengthening individuals, strengthening communities, improving living and working conditions, and promoting healthy macropolicies. Inequities can be reduced but action to reduce inequities requires political will. The International Society for Social Paediatrics and Child Health (ISSOP) calls on governments, policy makers, paediatricians and professionals working with children and their organisations to act to reduce child health inequity as a priority. ISSOP recommends the following: governments act to reduce child poverty; ensure rights of all children to healthcare, education and welfare are protected; basic health determinants such as adequate nutrition, clean water and sanitation are available to all children. Paediatric and child health organisations ensure that their members are informed of the impact of inequities on children’s well-being and across the life course; include child health inequities in curricula for professionals in training; publish policy statements relevant to their country on child health inequities; advocate for evidence-based pro-equity interventions using a child rights perspective; advocate for affordable, accessible and quality healthcare for all children; promote research to monitor inequity as well as results of interventions in their child populations. Paediatricians and child health professionals be aware of the impact of social determinants of health on children under their care; ensure their clinical services are accessible and acceptable to all children and families within the constraints of their country’s health services; engage in advocacy at community and national level.

scholarly journals Integrating the Built and Social Environment into Health Assessments for Maternal and Child Health: Creating a Planning-Friendly Index

2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (24) ◽  
pp. 9224 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xi Wang ◽  
Jennifer Whittaker ◽  
Katherine Kellom ◽  
Stephanie Garcia ◽  
Deanna Marshall ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Child Health ◽  
Maternal And Child Health ◽  
Local Governments ◽  
Full Range ◽  
Community Context ◽  
Socioeconomic Indicators ◽  
Needs Assessments ◽  
Public Health Officials ◽  
The Life Course ◽  
And Child Health

Environmental and community context earliest in the life course have a profound effect on life-long health outcomes. Yet, standard needs assessments for maternal and child health (MCH) programs often overlook the full range of influences affecting health in-utero and early childhood. To address this, we developed a methodology for assessing community risk in MCH based on six domains integrating 66 indicators across community, environment, socioeconomic indicators, and MCH outcomes. We pilot this methodology in Pennsylvania, and share examples of how local governments, planners, and public health officials across the geographic spectrum can integrate this data into community planning for improved maternal and child health.

scholarly journals Initiation, Desistence, and Recovery: A Qualitative Examination of Self-Injury from a Life-Course Perspective

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas Wojciechowski
Keyword(s):  
Life Course ◽  
Protective Factors ◽  
Risk And Protective Factors ◽  
Life Course Perspective ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Social Control Theory ◽  
Self Injury ◽  
Criminological Perspective ◽  
The Life Course ◽  
The Impact

Self-injury is typically defined as the intentional harm caused to one’s own body. This phenomenon has historically been studied mainly from a psychological perspective and has focused less on social forces related to engagement in this behavior. While research on self-injury has examined etiology extensively, there has yet to be an examination of how changes in exposure to risk and protective factors may lead to changes in self-injury habits. This research uses qualitative interview data from 16 former and current self-injurers to examine self-injury from a life-course criminological perspective (Cullen, Agnew, & Wilcox, 2014). These data allowed for identification of concepts associated with social learning theory, general strain theory, social control theory, and social support theory as important risk and protective factors associated with self-injury. Further, this identification allowed for an examination of how the application and withdrawal of these risk and protective factors led to changes in self-injury habits. Future research should seek to generalize these results and further clarify the impact of risk and protective factors across the life-course.

scholarly journals Resolution of Resilience: Empirical Findings on the Challenges Faced and the Mitigation Strategies Adopted by Community Health Workers (CHWs) to Provide Maternal and Child Health (MCH) Services during the COVID-19 Pandemic in the Context of Odisha, India

Healthcare ◽  
2022 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 88
Author(s):  
Bijaya Kumar Mishra ◽  
Srikanta Kanungo ◽  
Kripalini Patel ◽  
Swagatika Swain ◽  
Subhralaxmi Dwivedy ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Child Health ◽  
Health Services ◽  
Community Health ◽  
Community Health Workers ◽  
Maternal And Child Health ◽  
Health Workers ◽  
Community Support ◽  
Mitigation Strategies ◽  
Child Health Services ◽  
And Child Health

Community health workers (CHW) faced increased challenges in delivering maternal and child health services during the current COVID-19 pandemic. In addition to routine services, they were also engaged in pandemic management. In view of a dearth of evidence, the current study explores the challenges faced by CHWs while rendering maternal and child health services. A qualitative study through in-depth interviews (IDI) and focus group discussions (FGD) in six districts of Odisha was conducted from February to April 2021. Data were analyzed using MAXQDA software. Personal-level challenges, like lack of family support, stress, and fear of contracting COVID-19; facility-level challenges, like transportation problems and inadequate personal protective measures; and community-level challenges, like stigma, resistance, and lack of community support were major hindrances in provisioning routine MCH services. Prevailing myths and misconceptions concerning COVID-19 were factors behind stigma and resistance. Sharing experiences with family, practicing yoga and pranayam, engaging ambulance bikes, financial assistance to mothers, counseling people, and involving community leaders were some effective strategies to address these challenges. Development and implementation of appropriate strategy guidelines for addressing the challenges of frontline warriors will improve their work performance and achieve uninterrupted MCH services during pandemics or similar health emergencies.

Improving Maternal and Child Health Care: A Blueprint for Community Action in Pittsburgh Region: Summary

2005 ◽  
Author(s):  
Harold Alan Pincus ◽  
Stephen B. Thomas ◽  
Donna J. Keyser ◽  
Nicholas Castle ◽  
Jacob W. Dembosky ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Child Health ◽  
Maternal And Child Health ◽  
Community Action ◽  
Child Health Care ◽  
And Child Health
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