scholarly journals Landscapes of care and despair for rural youth – a qualitative study in the northern Swedish ‘periphery’

2020 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Frida Jonsson ◽  
Isabel Goicolea ◽  
Monica Christianson ◽  
Dean B. Carson ◽  
Maria Wiklund

Abstract Background This study emerges as a response to the lack of youth perspectives when it comes to discussions about access to and experiences of health and social services in rural areas. It subsequently contributes to the literature by positioning young people at the centre of this debate, and by taking a more holistic approach to the topic than is typically the case. Specifically, based on the idea that a good life in proper health for young people may be contingent on notions of care that are bounded up in multi-layered social and spatial environments, the aim of this study was to explore what characterises ‘landscapes of care’ for rural youth. Methods In this qualitative study, the participants included young people and professionals residing in five diverse areas across the northern Swedish ‘peripheral’ inland. Individual interviews (16 in total) and focus group discussions (26 in total) were conducted with 63 youth aged 14–27 years and with 44 professionals operating across sectors such as health centres, school health, integration units, youth clinics and youth clubs. Following an emergent design and using thematic analysis, we developed one main theme, ‘landscapes of care and despair’, comprising the two themes: ‘(dis)connectedness’ and ‘extended support or troubling gaps’. Results The findings illustrate how various health-promoting and potentially harmful aspects acting at structural, organisational and interpersonal levels contributed to dynamic landscapes characterised simultaneously by care and despair. In particular, our study shows how rural youths’ feelings of belongingness to people and places coupled with opportunities to participate in society and access practical and emotional support appear to facilitate their care within rural settings. However, although the results indicate that some in the diverse group of rural youth were cared for and about, a negative picture was painted in parallel. These aspects of despair included youths’ senses of exclusion and marginalisation, degrading attitudes towards them and their problems, as well as recurrent gaps in the provision and practices of care. Conclusions To gain a more comprehensive understanding about the health of rural youth, this study highlights the benefits investigating ‘care-ful’ and ‘uncaring’ aspects bounded up in dynamic and multi-layered landscapes.

2018 ◽  
Vol 19 (2) ◽  
pp. 79-83
Author(s):  
Prayas Gautam ◽  
Munawar Hussain Soomro ◽  
Suprich Sapkota ◽  
Koshish Raj Gautam ◽  
Aastha Kasaju

Background: Sexual behavior of young people is becoming one of the important social and major publichealth concerns in recent years. Despite the large population of young people, their needs receive limited programmatic and policy attention. Youth-friendly sexual and reproductive health services are lacking despite the existence of national guidelines that call for youth-friendly services. The aim of this study was to determine the barriers to utilization of sexual health services among young people of Badi community of Nepal.Materials & Methods: This qualitative study included the young people, 15-24 years of age among the Badi community in district Dang Nepal. We conducted 22 in-depth interviews by using the interview guideline among the young people. Written and verbal informed consent was taken from each research participants before data collection.Results: Fourteen of the participants were males and eight were females. Participants were divided into two age groups: 15-19 and 20-24 and there were eight and fourteen participants from each group respectively. Rural participants were not satisfied with the services provided to them. We observed that discrimination, beliefs of society and feeling of shame towards family norms, lack of information about existing services, poor gender friendly services,lack of privacy and confidentiality and poor availability of the services pose the barriers to utilization of the sexual health services.Conclusions: Communities should be provided with educational programs on sexual health through community based organization and the establishment of youth friendly service centers with easy access to communities in urban as well as in rural areas would encourage young people to use sexual health services more frequently.J MEDICINE JUL 2018; 19 (2) : 79-83


2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Magnhild Reiso ◽  
Berit Langli ◽  
Eva Sommerseth ◽  
Aud Johannessen

Abstract Background Performing obstetric ultrasound is part of midwifery practice in Norway. Knowledge of these midwives’ working situation can enhance understanding of what their work involves and the challenges they encounter in their practice. The aim of this study was to gain insight into how midwife sonographers perceive their work in obstetric ultrasound. Methods A qualitative study with individual interviews was conducted in 2018. Midwives (n = 13) with a postgraduate ultrasound qualification who performed obstetric ultrasound in private clinics and/or the public health sector were included. All four regional health authorities in Norway were represented. The data gathered were analysed using content analysis. Results The analysis resulted in three main themes. (1) Working as a midwife sonographer involves a holistic approach. By practising their competence, in both midwifery and sonography, they could answer questions and reassure pregnant women. The participants also had a feeling of great responsibility in their work. (2) Being part of a professional environment in obstetric ultrasound was important for professional interaction, belonging and learning. (3) Developing and maintaining competence as a midwife sonographer had a positive influence on midwives’ motivation and confidence, and allowed for more variety in their work. Conclusions Holistic care of the pregnant woman, her partner and the unborn baby was an important part of the participants’ work. They wanted to meet colleagues within their field, develop their expertise and have influence over their work situation. Organizational factors seemed to affect the participants’ overall ability to practise their skills and thus also their job satisfaction.


2020 ◽  
pp. 135910452096450 ◽  
Author(s):  
Iona Lewis-Smith ◽  
Laura Pass ◽  
Shirley Reynolds

An important component of some psychological therapies is the use of clients’ values to motivate behaviour change. Values are understood to be developed during childhood and adolescence but there has been limited exploration of how young people experience values and their function across contexts. This study aimed to explore adolescents’ understanding of the concept of ‘values’ and to elicit their experiences of values. Semi-structured, individual interviews were conducted with 11 adolescents aged 12–17 years. Thematic analysis was used to identify themes. Young people were readily able to discuss the meaning of ‘values’ and their own personal values. Three main themes were identified: (1) what values are (in general, and specific to themselves), (2) where values come from (relationships, education, growing up), and (3) why values are important (prioritising/decision making, reflecting on values is helpful). The adolescents in this study demonstrated an in-depth understanding of the meaning, origins and functions of values. The results suggest young people may welcome and benefit from opportunities to discuss their values, including in therapy.


2002 ◽  
Vol 8 (3_suppl) ◽  
pp. 29-33 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sarah Haythornthwaite

summary Rural Links is a videoconference training initiative developed for those who work with at-risk young people in remote and rural regions of Western Australia. The training programme was run twice (in parallel) for two groups of participants: 17 workers from the Great Southern and South West regions of Western Australia and 15 workers from the Wheatbelt, Pilbara and Kimberley regions of Western Australia. The programme consisted of seven 2 h sessions presented over 12 weeks. Objectives of the training programme centred on increasing participants’ knowledge and confidence in relation to the training topics. The initiative also aimed to enhance consultation between rural youth networks and a metropolitan-based youth mental health service (YouthLink). Analyses indicated that there were improvements in workers’ knowledge and confidence in relation to training topics following participation in the programme. Comparisons of the improvements made by these rural participants, who accessed training via videoconferencing, and metropolitan participants, who accessed training face to face, revealed few significant differences. Rural participants reported high levels of satisfaction, decreased feelings of professional isolation and an increased likelihood of accessing YouthLink for consultative support as a result of completing the Rural Links training programme.


2022 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
pp. 546
Author(s):  
Paulina Rodríguez-Díaz ◽  
Rocío Almuna ◽  
Carla Marchant ◽  
Sally Heinz ◽  
Roxana Lebuy ◽  
...  

Rural livelihoods are under threat, not only from climate change and soil erosion but also because young people in rural areas are increasingly moving to urbanized areas, seeking employment and education opportunities. In the Valparaiso region of Chile, megadrought, soil degradation, and industrialization are driving young people to leave agricultural and livestock activities. In this study, our main objective was to identify the factors influencing young people living in two rural agricultural communities (Valle Hermoso and La Vega). We conducted 90 online surveys of young people aged 13–24 to evaluate their interest in living in the countryside (ILC). We assessed the effect of community satisfaction, connectedness to nature, and social valuation of rural livelihoods on the ILC. The results show that young people were more likely to stay living in the countryside when they felt satisfied and safe in their community, felt a connection with nature, and were surrounded by people who enjoyed the countryside. These results highlight the relevance of promoting place attachment and the feeling of belonging within the rural community. Chilean rural management and local policies need to focus on rural youth and highlight the opportunities that the countryside provides for them.


2018 ◽  
Vol 20 (91) ◽  
pp. 57-61
Author(s):  
O. Ya. Hrumak ◽  
M. V. Vovk ◽  
O. V. Kindrat

The article examines the situation on the rural youth labor market and proposes the main directions of overcoming unemployment in rural areas. In particular, it has been established that the financial and economic crisis that has been observed in recent years and military actions in the east of the country have substantially exacerbated this problem. The problem of youth unemployment is the main among economic and social problems of the 21st century, as one of the most important factors in the economic and social development of any country is the socio-cultural and professional development of the youth. In the work the authors use general scientific methods and techniques: formal logic, statistical analysis – to study the state of employment and unemployment in Ukraine; abstract – in the substantiation of theoretical positions and the formulation of conclusions, etc. Particular attention is paid to statistical components, their analysis, also the main reasons of reduction of number of young people employed in agricultural enterprises and the tendencies of self-employment in rural areas are highlighted. The authors assess the impact of current government policy affecting rural youth employment, and make suggestions for its future development. It is proved that the use of advanced innovative technologies, investment and financing of agrarian development programs, entrepreneurial initiatives in agribusiness and vocational education will all make youth in agriculture the driving force that can bring this industry out of a prolonged crisis. It is summed up that the main directions of promoting employment of rural youth are the improvement of the quality of educational services (in particular, state support through budgeting of training in agricultural specialties), information on career opportunities, support of the development of family-owned agribusiness and creative projects, the development of green tourism and the adequate state social protection of young people. Youth is a social capital that requires priority investment, so this subject needs further research.


2019 ◽  
Vol 25 (3-4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mona Franséhn ◽  
Helena Johansson ◽  
Therése Wissö

High expectations of contact persons? A study of parental practices and the contact person intervention for young people in social servicesA contact person for teenagers, an intervention offered by the social services, is discussed in this article on the basis of a qualitative study accomplished in 2010–2014. It is based on focus groups, documents and interviews with teenagers, parents, contact persons and social workers. Research dealing with the contact person intervention takes partly contradictory views. In qualitative studies the contact person system has been described as a positive intervention of all categories involved. During the last few years it has been questioned, especially in a comprehensive quantitative study, indicating that the intervention even seemed to increase the risk of being placed in out-of-home care in the future. In this article we present a deepened picture of the teenagers in the study with a focus on their backgrounds and life situations. The background factors we have discovered, often invisible in a register study, point to the very complex situations the social services have to handle. Another part deals with how the intervention can be understood in relation to parenting and specifically which dimensions of parenting the social services judge as inadequate. In the analysis of the contact persons’ assignments it is obvious that the social services plan the intervention based on the parents inabilities to guide and support their teenagers. The contact person is often supposed to act as a ”compensating” parent.


2021 ◽  
pp. 088626052110435
Author(s):  
Traci L. Wike ◽  
Leah M. Bouchard ◽  
Aaron Kemmerer ◽  
Mauricio P. Yabar

LGBTQ+ youth experience higher rates of interpersonal violence, such as peer-based bullying and identity-based harassment, than their counterparts. Experiences of victimization can occur across different social contexts including family, school, peers, and community. LGBTQ+ youth in rural communities may be at increased risk for identity-based victimization due in part to geographic isolation and an often conservative value system that may create a hostile environment to LGBTQ+ individuals. However, few studies have examined the experiences of rural LGBTQ+ youth from their perspectives, and how the rural context may affect their experiences with victimization and social support. This qualitative study explores the victimization experiences of rural LGBTQ+ youth, the supports available to them, and ways they show resilience. We conducted qualitative interviews with a sample of 11 young people ages 12-21, recruited in partnership with a local LGBTQ+ agency across a rural five county region in the Southeastern United States. Four themes emerged related to how rural youth navigate bullying, harassment, and victimization across different social contexts and the support that is available to them: (1) conflicting family messages, (2) navigating personal safety at school, (3) connecting through technology, and (4) confronting negative religious sentiment. A fifth theme captures the strengths of young people in the mid of victimization: (5) demonstrating individual and collective resilience. Although rural LGBTQ+ youth experience victimization in similar ways to urban and suburban youth, rural youth may have less access to social supports that buffer effects of victimization. This study highlights the strengths in rural LGBTQ+ young people as well as their commitment to supporting one another and seeing change in their communities. Findings illustrate a need for greater support for LGBTQ+ youth in rural areas while leveraging existing strength of the youth and their community for sustainable support and resources.


2018 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 207-224
Author(s):  
Renata Walczak ◽  
Anikó Kálmán

AbstractThis article presents a qualitative study of lifelong learning (LLL) requirements of university employees from the Warsaw University of Technology (WUT) and the Budapest University of Technology and Economics (BME). The main aim of the study was to gain understanding of young people expectations and attitudes towards LLL. Aims of the study included: identification of employees’ requirements in terms of LLL; identification of education activities and employee perception of university activities. Data for the study were gathered in individual interviews. The same, standardized openended questions were used in both institutions to allow comparison of the results. Interview questions concerned the willingness of participation in LLL, education forms, areas of education and perception of the university. The participants of the interviews were 24 young people from the WUT and BME. Research shows that there are no significant differences between Polish and Hungarian representatives who are eager to learn and have many interests and positive features; however, they have high requirements and expectations. This research will allow to prepare informative and effective LLL universities’ strategies.


Author(s):  
Nogan V. Badmaeva ◽  

Migration of rural youth is a topical problem in Kalmykia. The purpose of the article is to analyze the reasons for the migration of rural youth, to identify the factors influencing the return of young people to the countryside, their desire to stay and work there. The main research methods are quantitative survey and in-depth interview. The analysis of the study results showed that more than half of the respondents want to leave their village or settlement. The main push factors for migration from rural areas are low wages, lack of jobs, underdeveloped infrastructure, lack of good quality medical care, etc. In most cases, educational migration is irrevocable. For some of the respondents, ‘educational migration’ begins earlier, because there are no senior grades at schools in their settlement or village, or they want to get a high-quality secondary education and to have the possibility to prepare for entering a university or specialized secondary school. The main factor influencing the return of young people to the countryside is the availability of jobs with decent wages, the possibility to have their own housing, as well as the developed of social sphere and sphere of leisure. The obtained results can be used in regional programs for the development of rural areas. Analysis of measures aimed at attracting youth to rural areas in other regions showed it is necessaryly to develop programs aimed at establishing interaction with school graduates and elaborating financial mechanisms to support students. It is also critical to resolve the issue of guaranteed financing of sectoral programs to attract young people to rural areas.


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