scholarly journals Breastfeeding Peer Counseling Experiences Among Low-Income Women in the US: A Qualitative Evaluation

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (Supplement_2) ◽  
pp. 806-806
Author(s):  
Elizabeth Rhodes ◽  
Mahrukh Zahid ◽  
Nafeesa Abuwala ◽  
Grace Damio ◽  
Helen LaPlant ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Low Income ◽  
Peer Counseling ◽  
World Health ◽  
Maternal And Newborn Health ◽  
Open Communication ◽  
High Quality ◽  
World Health Organization Quality ◽  
Peer Counselors ◽  
Positive Experiences ◽  
Breastfeeding Counseling

Abstract Objectives Positive experiences with breastfeeding counseling is a key, but often overlooked aspect of high-quality, person-centered, and equitable breastfeeding services. We explored the experiences of women enrolled in the Breastfeeding Heritage and Pride program (BHP), an evidence-based breastfeeding peer counseling program serving predominately low-income minority women in Connecticut and Massachusetts throughout pregnancy and up to one year postpartum. Methods In-depth interviews were conducted with a purposive sample of 28 women receiving counseling from BHP peer counselors, community health workers who have successfully breastfed and completed specialized training on lactation management. Women were asked to describe their experiences with BHP and to share examples of when good quality counseling was and/or was not provided. Each interview was conducted in the woman's preferred language (English or Spanish), audio-recorded, and transcribed verbatim. Data were analyzed using thematic analysis, and findings were organized according to the World Health Organization quality of care framework for maternal and newborn health, which describes three domains important for promoting positive experiences: effective communication; respect and dignity; and emotional support. Results Peer counselors were described as “friendly,” “warm,” and “genuine” in their interactions, which encouraged open communication. Peer counselors provided timely, credible breastfeeding information and used everyday words that facilitated understanding. Women appreciated that peer counselors respected their infant feeding decisions, including choices to supplement breast milk with infant formula or stop breastfeeding, and did not raise their voices, use rude language, or make judgmental comments that would constitute “mom shaming.” Women felt peer counselors gave them the “strength” to continue breastfeeding through consistent encouragement, especially when they lacked support from friends and family. Conclusions Positive experiences with BHP were valued by women and empowered them to meet their breastfeeding goals, suggesting that efforts to expand access to high-quality breastfeeding peer counseling should measure and promote positive breastfeeding counseling experiences. Funding Sources NIH/NHLBI; CDC; W.K. Kellogg Foundation.

scholarly journals Developing and evaluating non-invasive healthcare technologies for a group of female participants from a socioeconomically disadvantaged area

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Eman Awad ◽  
Rathi Ramji ◽  
Stefan Cirovic ◽  
Margareta Rämgård ◽  
Anders Kottorp ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Low Income ◽  
Subjective Health ◽  
World Health ◽  
Biomedical Data ◽  
Socioeconomically Disadvantaged ◽  
Disadvantaged Area ◽  
Swedish Population ◽  
World Health Organization Quality ◽  
Objective Health ◽  
Non Invasive

AbstractWhen compared to the general population, socioeconomically disadvantaged communities frequently experience compromised health. Monitoring the divide is challenging since standardized biomedical tests are linguistically and culturally inappropriate. The aim of this study was to develop and test a unique mobile biomedical testbed based on non-invasive analysis, as well as to explore the relationships between the objective health measures and subjective health outcomes, as evaluated with the World Health Organization Quality of Life survey. The testbed was evaluated in a socioeconomically disadvantaged neighborhood in Malmö, which has been listed as one of the twelve most vulnerable districts in Sweden. The study revealed that compared to conventional protocols the less intrusive biomedical approach was highly appreciated by the participants. Surprisingly, the collected biomedical data illustrated that the apparent health of the participants from the ethnically diverse low-income neighborhood was comparable to the general Swedish population. Statistically significant correlations between perceived health and biomedical data were disclosed, even though the dependences found were complex, and recognition of the manifest complexity needs to be included in further research. Our results validate the potential of non-invasive technologies in combination with advanced statistical analysis, especially when combined with linguistically and culturally appropriate healthcare methodologies, allowing participants to appreciate the significance of the different parameters to evaluate and monitor aspects of health.

scholarly journals Quality of Life and Depressive Symptomatology in Mothers of Individuals with Autism

Psico-USF ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 20 (3) ◽  
pp. 505-515 ◽  
Author(s):  
Josieli Piovesan ◽  
Silvana Alba Scortegagna ◽  
Ana Carolina Bertoletti De Marchi
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Depressive Symptomatology ◽  
Depression Scale ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Therapeutic Interventions ◽  
World Health ◽  
World Health Organization Quality

Abstract This study aimed to investigate the Quality of Life (QOL) and the presence of the depressive symptoms in mothers of individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Participants included 40 women, between 28 and 72 years old, married, with medium-low income and education levels, and with children between 10 and 40 years old. The instruments used were a social demographic and health characterization questionnaire, the World Health Organization Quality of Life (WHOQOL-Bref) questionnaire, the Beck Depression Inventory and Beck Hopelessness Scale (BDI-II and BHS), and the Baptista Depression Scale Adult Version (EBADEP A). The quality of life and the presence of depressive symptoms in mothers did not show significant correlation with the child's age. However, there was high and negative correlation between the quality of life and high levels of depressive symptoms and moderate correlation between environment and income. It concludes the necessity of preventive and therapeutic interventions for these mothers.

scholarly journals Physical activity participation is associated with higher quality of life scores in men with alcohol use disorders: a study from Uganda

2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (3) ◽  
pp. 1407-1415
Author(s):  
Davy Vancampfort ◽  
Mats Hallgren ◽  
Byamah Brian Mutamba ◽  
Tine Van Damme ◽  
Michel Probst ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Physical Activity ◽  
Alcohol Use ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Alcohol Use Disorders ◽  
Life Assessment ◽  
World Health ◽  
Future Research ◽  
World Health Organization Quality

Background: There is a growing recognition of the importance of encouraging people with alcohol use disorders (AUD) to become more active as an achievable strategy to reduce the disability-associated burden. Objective: We investigated whether physical activity and sedentary behaviour in men with AUD contribute to their quality of life (QoL). Methods: Fifty male Ugandan inpatients with AUD (33.0±10.7 years) completed the World Health Organization Quality of Life Assessment brief version, Simple Physical Activity Questionnaire and the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test while waist circumference, body mass index and blood pressure were assessed. Linear multiple regression analysis explored the total variance in QoL explained by all predictor variables. Results: SIMPAQ walking and SIMPAQ exercise explained 46% of the variability in physical QoL, 45% of the variability in psychological QoL, and 40% of the variability in environmental QoL. The SIMPAQ walking score predicted 37% of the variability in social QoL. Conclusion: The current findings suggest that higher levels of walking and exercising are associated with a better QoL. Our study therefore provides a platform for future research to investigate the role of physical activity on QoL levels in people with AUD, also in low resourced settings in low-income countries such as Uganda. Keywords: Physical activity; exercise; alcohol; quality of life.

scholarly journals Newborn and Infant Hearing Screening Facing Globally Growing Numbers of People Suffering from Disabling Hearing Loss

2019 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Katrin Neumann ◽  
Shelly Chadha ◽  
George Tavartkiladze ◽  
Xingkuan Bu ◽  
Karl White
Keyword(s):  
Hearing Loss ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Data Transfer ◽  
Hearing Screening ◽  
World Health ◽  
Low Income Countries ◽  
National Committee ◽  
High Quality ◽  
Screening Programs ◽  
The World

Recent prevalence estimates indicate that in 2015 almost half a billion people—about 6.8% of the world’s population—had disabling hearing loss and that prevalence numbers will further increase. The World Health Organization (WHO) currently estimates that at least 34 million children under the age of 15 have disabling hearing loss. Based on a 2012 WHO report, approximately 7.5 million of these children were under the age of 5 years. This review article focuses on the importance of high-quality newborn and infant hearing screening (NIHS) programs as one strategy to ameliorate disabling hearing loss as a global health problem. Two WHO resolutions regarding the prevention of deafness and hearing loss have been adopted urging member states to implement screening programs for early identification of ear diseases and hearing loss in babies and young children. The effectiveness of these programs depends on factors such as governmental mandates and guidance; presence of a national committee with involvement of professionals, industries, and stakeholders; central oversight of hearing screening; clear definition of target parameters; presence of tracking systems with bi-directional data transfer from screening devices to screening centers; accessibility of pediatric audiological services and rehabilitation programs; using telemedicine where connectivity is available; and the opportunity for case discussions in professional excellence circles with boards of experts. There is a lack of such programs in middle- and low-income countries, but even in high-income countries there is potential for improvement. Facing the still growing burden of disabling hearing loss around the world, there is a need to invest in national, high-quality NIHS programs.

scholarly journals Medical waste: the dark side of healthcare

2020 ◽  
Vol 27 (suppl 1) ◽  
pp. 231-251
Author(s):  
Iris Borowy
Keyword(s):  
Low Income ◽  
Medical Waste ◽  
World Health ◽  
Low Income Countries ◽  
Dark Side ◽  
High Quality ◽  
Quality Healthcare ◽  
Healthcare Waste ◽  
The World ◽  
Health Organization

Abstract Hospitals and other health facilities generate an ever-increasing amount of waste, approximately 15% of which may be infectious, toxic, or radioactive. The World Health Organization has been addressing the issue since the 1980s. After initially focusing on high-income countries, it then focused on low-income countries, with unsafe disposal methods in landfills and inadequate incinerators as major concerns. Gradually, the understanding of the issue has undergone several shifts, including from a focus on the component of medical waste considered “hazardous” to all forms of waste, and from accepting medical waste as a necessary downside of high-quality healthcare to seeing the avoidance of healthcare waste as a component of high quality healthcare.

Alexithyme Patientenmerkmale und Lebensqualität – Eine Querschnittsstudie an 79 ambulanten Patienten mit Angststörungen

2013 ◽  
Vol 61 (1) ◽  
pp. 17-26 ◽  
Author(s):  
Katrin Leenen ◽  
Michael Rufer ◽  
Hanspeter Moergeli ◽  
Hans-Jörgen Grabe ◽  
Josef Jenewein ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
World Health ◽  
Life Questionnaire ◽  
World Health Organization Quality ◽  
Fand Sich ◽  
Quality Of Life Questionnaire ◽  
Organization Quality ◽  
Health Organization ◽  
Tas 20

Aus Untersuchungen in der Normalbevölkerung ist bekannt, dass Menschen mit erhöhten Alexithymiewerten eine verminderte Lebensqualität (LQ) aufweisen. Für Patienten mit psychischen Störungen wurde dieser Zusammenhang jedoch kaum untersucht. Ziel dieser Studie war es, den möglichen Zusammenhang zwischen alexithymen Patientenmerkmalen und der LQ bei Patienten mit Angststörungen zu überprüfen. Bei 79 ambulanten Patienten mit Angststörungen wurden alexithyme Charakteristika mit der Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20), die LQ mit der Kurzversion des World Health Organization Quality of Life Questionnaire 100 (WHOQOL-BREF) erfasst. Darüber hinaus fand eine Erhebung der psychischen Symptombelastung (SCL-90-R) und depressiven Symptomatik (MADRS) statt. Mittels hierarchischer Regressionsanalysen wurde der Zusammenhang zwischen der alexithymen Charakteristika und den unterschiedlichen LQ-Domänen berechnet. Die Patienten zeigten eine im Vergleich zur Normalbevölkerung deutlich verminderte LQ. Als Hauptergebnis fand sich, auch nach Kontrolle von Depression, Ängstlichkeit und Geschlecht, ein signifikanter Zusammenhang zwischen den beiden TAS-20 Subskalen Schwierigkeiten, Gefühle zu identifizieren und zu beschreiben und vor allem der psychischen LQ. Unsere Ergebnisse sprechen dafür, bei der Diagnostik und Therapieplanung von Patienten mit Angststörungen alexithyme Merkmale einzubeziehen. Im Falle von ausgeprägten alexithymen Merkmalen sollten psychotherapeutische Interventionen zur Verbesserung der Schwierigkeiten Gefühle wahrzunehmen und zu kommunizieren in Betracht gezogen werden.

Glittre ADL test in eutrophic, overweight and obese elderly

2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
pp. 49
Author(s):  
Augusto Baumhardt Guidoti ◽  
Ângelo Pereira Cattani ◽  
Cintia Laura De Araujo ◽  
Fernanda Beatriz Costa Delacoste ◽  
Guilherme Scotta Hentschke ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Functional Capacity ◽  
Elderly Women ◽  
Handgrip Strength ◽  
Exercise Intolerance ◽  
World Health ◽  
Chronic Obstructive ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
World Health Organization Quality

The Glittre ADL-test (TGlittre) has been designed and validated to measure functional capacity during daily living activities in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) but is now used in several other situations. The aim of this study was to evaluate the applicability of TGlittre in a sample of overweight and obese eutrophic elderly. This was an experimental and cross-sectional study, which included 21 elderly women, allocated by BMI, in eutrophic (n = 8), overweight (n = 6) and obese (n = 7) groups. They were assessed for functional capacity (TGlittre and 6MWT), quality of life (QOL) with the questionnaire World Health Organization Quality of Life for Older People (WHOQOL-OLD) and handgrip strength (HGS). TGlittre correlated with age (p = 0.0040) and with 6MWT (p = 0.0086), but no statistical difference was found in TGlittre's performance time and the distance covered in 6MWT between groups. TGlittre did not correlate with HGS (p = 0.1493) and WHOQOL-Old (p = 0.0905). The data obtained in the present study corroborate that TGlittre is used as a functional measurement variable in the elderly population.Keywords: aged, obesity, exercise intolerance.­­­

scholarly journals Quality of life in patients with narcolepsy: a WHOQOL-bref study

2008 ◽  
Vol 66 (2a) ◽  
pp. 163-167 ◽  
Author(s):  
Heloísa Rovere ◽  
Sueli Rossini ◽  
Rubens Reimão
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Patient Group ◽  
World Health ◽  
Control Group ◽  
World Health Organization Quality ◽  
Severe Impairment ◽  
Perception Of Quality ◽  
Social Domains ◽  
Health Organization

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the perception of Quality of Life (QL) in Brazilian patients with narcolepsy. METHOD: 40 adult patients aged between 20 and 72 years (mean=41.55; SD=14.50); (28 F; 12M), with the diagnosis of chronic narcolepsy were followed up at the outpatient clinic (Patient Group). The Control Group was composed of 40 adults. The instrument utilized was the World Health Organization Quality of Life (WHOQOL-BREF). RESULTS: The two groups were homogeneous and no difference was found with regards to age, sex, and demographic characteristics. The perception of QL in physical, psychological and social domains showed lower scores in those patients with narcolepsy than in the control group (p<0.05). Concerning physical domain, all the aspects evaluated were significantly impaired, in patient group, including sleep satisfaction (p<0.001); energy for daily activities (p=0.039); capacity to perform activities (p=0.001); and capacity to work (p=0.001). CONCLUSION: The perception of QL showed severe impairment in patients with narcolepsy for physical, psychological and social domains.

Comparisons of physical activity and sedentary behavior between owners and non-owners of commercial wearable devices

2021 ◽  
Vol 141 (2) ◽  
pp. 89-96
Author(s):  
Hsin-Yen Yen ◽  
Hao-Yun Huang
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Sleep Quality ◽  
Sedentary Behavior ◽  
Sedentary Time ◽  
Short Form ◽  
Wearable Devices ◽  
Wearable Device ◽  
World Health ◽  
World Health Organization Quality ◽  
Quality Of Life Scale

Aims: Wearable devices are a new strategy for promoting physical activity in a free-living condition that utilizes self-monitoring, self-awareness, and self-determination. The main purpose of this study was to explore health benefits of commercial wearable devices by comparing physical activity, sedentary time, sleep quality, and other health outcomes between individuals who used and those that did not use commercial wearable devices. Methods: The research design was a cross-sectional study using an Internet survey in Taiwan. Self-administered questionnaires included the International Physical Activity Questionnaire–Short Form, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, Health-Promoting Lifestyle Profile, and World Health Organization Quality-of-Life Scale. Results: In total, 781 participants were recruited, including 50% who were users of wearable devices and 50% non-users in the most recent 3 months. Primary outcomes revealed that wearable device users had significantly higher self-reported walking, moderate physical activity, and total physical activity, and significantly lower sedentary time than non-users. Wearable device users had significantly better sleep quality than non-users. Conclusion: Wearable devices inspire users’ motivation, engagement, and interest in physical activity through habit formation. Wearable devices are recommended to increase physical activity and decrease sedentary behavior for promoting good health.

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