scholarly journals Transforming social norms to improve girl-child health and well-being: a realist evaluation of the Girls’ Holistic Development program in rural Senegal

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Anjalee Kohli ◽  
Bryan Shaw ◽  
Mathilde Guntzberger ◽  
Judi Aubel ◽  
Mamadou Coulibaly ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Reproductive Health ◽  
Social Norms ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Realist Evaluation ◽  
Intergenerational Communication ◽  
Community Members ◽  
Girl Child ◽  
Holistic Development ◽  
Development Approach

Abstract Background Early adolescence is a critical period where social norms, attitudes, and behaviors around gender equality form. Social norms influence adolescent choices and behaviors and are reinforced by caregivers and community members, affecting girls’ reproductive health and educational opportunities. Understanding how to shift these often-interconnected norms to delay child marriage, pregnancy and keep girls in school requires understanding of the structure and dynamics of family and community systems. The Senegalese and American non-governmental organization, the Grandmothers Project—Change through Culture, seeks to address these intertwined factors through innovative community change strategies that build on the specific structure and values of West African collectivist cultures. Methods The Girls’ Holistic Development approach in rural Vélingara, Senegal posits that by increasing recognition, knowledge and empowerment of elder community women and reinforcing intergenerational communication and decision-making, community members including girls will support and advocate on behalf of girls’ interests and desires. We assessed the Girls Holistic Development approach using Realist Evaluation with a mixed-method, quasi-experimental design with a comparison population. We examined differences in intergenerational communication, decision-making and descriptive and injunctive norms related to early marriage, pregnancy and schooling. Results After 18 months, intergenerational communication was more likely, grandmothers felt more valued in their communities, adolescent girls felt more supported with improved agency, and norms were shifting to support delayed marriage and pregnancy and keeping girls in school. Grandmothers in intervention villages were statistically significantly more likely to be perceived as influential decision-makers by both VYA girls and caregivers for marriage and schooling decisions compared to girls and caregivers in comparison villages. Conclusions This realist evaluation demonstrated shift in social norms, particularly for VYA girls, in intervention villages favoring delaying girls’ marriage, preventing early pregnancy and keeping girls in school along with increased support for and action by grandmothers to support girls and their well-being related to these same outcomes. These shifts represent greater community social cohesion on girl-child issues. This research helps explain the linkage between social norms and girls’ reproductive health and education outcomes and demonstrates that normative shifts can lead to behavior change via collective community action mechanisms.

scholarly journals “Why Do I Need to Sign it? Issues in Carrying Out Child Assent in School-Based Prevention Research Within a First Nation Community

2020 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 99-113 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lola Baydala ◽  
Sherry Letendre ◽  
Lia Ruttan ◽  
Stephanie Worrell ◽  
Fay Fletcher ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Well Being ◽  
First Nation ◽  
Cultural Norms ◽  
Community Members ◽  
Ethical Frameworks ◽  
Culturally Adapted ◽  
Community Continuity ◽  
Extrinsic Risk ◽  
Past Experiences

The practice of and procedures for obtaining child assent in research involving children are based in Western conceptions of individual decision-making rights, free from any form of coercion including that of parents. In the context of obtaining assent for children involved in research in an Alberta First Nation, the issue can become more complex given respect for ethical frameworks based in collective decision-making and the responsibility of Elders and families to protect children in interactions with Western institutions. This article explores the results of a focus group held to discuss our experience with child assent in research taking place with a community-initiated and culturally-adapted substance abuse prevention program being taught in the community school. In this case the process of being asked to sign written individual assent in the classroom was perceived as bearing extrinsic risk. Given collective cultural norms, the communities past experiences with the safety of signatures, and the proper roles of Elders and family, the children asked “Why do I have to sign it” when asked to sign their assent for participation in the project. A process that involved gathering child assent with children surrounded by family and community was recommended. Greater researcher and REB responsiveness to the issue of non-malfeasance is needed, in this case, by not asking researchers and community members to act in ways that violate culturally-based ethical norms and protocol all of which are important to community continuity, self-determination, and well-being.

Galle Toubaaco before the Programme

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ben Cislaghi
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Human Rights ◽  
Social Norms ◽  
Rural Community ◽  
Gender Relations ◽  
Decision Making Process ◽  
Community Members

Chapter 4 pictures the rural community of Galle Toubaaco before the Tostan programme. It looks at three aspects of community members’ life that are tracked throughout the HRE part of their participation in the Tostan program. This chapter examines in particular how community members constructed gender relations, made decisions or had access to the decision-making process, and fulfilled roles available to them. It also uncovers existing social norms before the programme began, showing that some human-rights-inconsistent norms and practices were in place and offering an analysis of the reasons for it.

scholarly journals Community Development and Older Men’s Programming: An International Case Study

2016 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. 50 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kerstin Roger ◽  
Mary Anne Nurmi ◽  
Nathan J Wilson ◽  
Corey S Mackenzie ◽  
John L Oliffe
Keyword(s):  
Community Development ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Community Resources ◽  
Community Members ◽  
Community Based ◽  
Men's Groups ◽  
Development Approach ◽  
Development Perspective ◽  
Photovoice Methodology

A growing body of research points to men’s groups as a benefit to communities because of their volunteerism and community-based programming. Spaces for older and retired men’s continued participation are provided including meaningful initiatives through these community resources. Little research, however, has explored groups for older men from a community development perspective. The purpose of this article is to describe a case study using Photovoice methodology with two men’s groups from Canada and two from Australia. We discuss men’s group participants’ perceptions of their groups’ contributions to the well-being of its members and the broader community, from a community development approach using photos as a key part of the study. Findings revealed older men’s volunteerism towards events and maintenance of community parks and museums, as well as mentorship activities, contributed to the well-being of a range of community members, while fostering a sense of accomplishment, friendship, and other benefits.

The Relationship Between Hearing Loss Self-Management and Hearing Aid Benefit and Satisfaction

2019 ◽  
Vol 28 (2) ◽  
pp. 274-284 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elizabeth Convery ◽  
Gitte Keidser ◽  
Louise Hickson ◽  
Carly Meyer
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Hearing Loss ◽  
Hearing Aids ◽  
Clinical Decision Making ◽  
Hearing Aid ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Self Management ◽  
Hearing Aid Benefit ◽  
The Relationship

Purpose Hearing loss self-management refers to the knowledge and skills people use to manage the effects of hearing loss on all aspects of their daily lives. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between self-reported hearing loss self-management and hearing aid benefit and satisfaction. Method Thirty-seven adults with hearing loss, all of whom were current users of bilateral hearing aids, participated in this observational study. The participants completed self-report inventories probing their hearing loss self-management and hearing aid benefit and satisfaction. Correlation analysis was used to investigate the relationship between individual domains of hearing loss self-management and hearing aid benefit and satisfaction. Results Participants who reported better self-management of the effects of their hearing loss on their emotional well-being and social participation were more likely to report less aided listening difficulty in noisy and reverberant environments and greater satisfaction with the effect of their hearing aids on their self-image. Participants who reported better self-management in the areas of adhering to treatment, participating in shared decision making, accessing services and resources, attending appointments, and monitoring for changes in their hearing and functional status were more likely to report greater satisfaction with the sound quality and performance of their hearing aids. Conclusion Study findings highlight the potential for using information about a patient's hearing loss self-management in different domains as part of clinical decision making and management planning.

Africa - Israel - Africa Return-migration experiences of African labour migrants

2013 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 57-70 ◽  
Author(s):  
Galia Sabar
Keyword(s):  
Qualitative Research ◽  
Social Norms ◽  
Return Migration ◽  
Personal Responsibility ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Material Goods ◽  
Economic Assets ◽  
Migration Experiences ◽  
Return Process

This paper analyses homecoming experiences of African labour migrants who lived in Israel and returned home. Using qualitative research methodologies, I discerned what factors - material and non-material - determine the relative success of the return process. Focusing on these factors’ effects, I offer a new understanding of labour migrants’ homecoming experiences: those who are “content,” “readjusting,” or “lost. Following Ulrich Beck's (2006) analysis of cosmopolitanism, I suggest that these categories portray significant new life spaces that are neither what they left nor what they came from, and are dynamic, fragile, and constantly changing. In some cases the influence of economic assets on the returned migrants’ homecoming experience was indeed crucial, in many other cases the challenges of reconnecting oneself with home, family, and existing social norms and customs was much more influential on their homecoming experience including on their sense of well-being. Furthermore, some of the non-material goods such as individualization, personal responsibility, and long-term planning proved useful, others such as trust, particularly in relation to family, were detrimental.

scholarly journals Thirty Years of Human Rights Study in the Web of Science Database (1990–2020)

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (4) ◽  
pp. 2131
Author(s):  
Priscilla Paola Severo ◽  
Leonardo B. Furstenau ◽  
Michele Kremer Sott ◽  
Danielli Cossul ◽  
Mariluza Sott Bender ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Decision Making ◽  
Human Rights ◽  
Network Analysis ◽  
Reproductive Health ◽  
Web Of Science ◽  
Health Issues ◽  
Human Beings ◽  
Field Of Study ◽  
The Web

The study of human rights (HR) is vital in order to enhance the development of human beings, but this field of study still needs to be better depicted and understood because violations of its core principles still frequently occur worldwide. In this study, our goal was to perform a bibliometric performance and network analysis (BPNA) to investigate the strategic themes, thematic evolution structure, and trends of HR found in the Web of Science (WoS) database from 1990 to June 2020. To do this, we included 25,542 articles in the SciMAT software for bibliometric analysis. The strategic diagram produced shows 23 themes, 12 of which are motor themes, the most important of which are discussed in this article. The thematic evolution structure presented the 21 most relevant themes of the 2011–2020 period. Our findings show that HR research is directly related to health issues, such as mental health, HIV, and reproductive health. We believe that the presented results and HR panorama presented have the potential to be used as a basis on which researchers in future works may enhance their decision making related to this field of study.

scholarly journals The role of self-care interventions on men’s health-seeking behaviours to advance their sexual and reproductive health and rights

2021 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Manjulaa Narasimhan ◽  
Carmen H. Logie ◽  
Kevin Moody ◽  
Jonathan Hopkins ◽  
Oswaldo Montoya ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Reproductive Health ◽  
Social Norms ◽  
Sexual And Reproductive Health ◽  
Self Care ◽  
Men’S Health ◽  
Men's Health ◽  
Health Seeking ◽  
Digital Platforms ◽  
Care Practices

Abstract Background Self-care interventions are influencing people’s access to, expectation and understanding of healthcare beyond formal health delivery systems. In doing so, self-care interventions could potentially improve health-seeking behaviours. While many men proactively engage in maintaining and promoting their health, the focus on men’s health comes from the recognition, at least partially, that male socialization and social norms can induce men and boys to have a lower engagement in institutionalized public health entities and systems around their sexual and reproductive health and rights, that could impact negatively on themselves, their partners and children. Main text A research agenda could consider the ways that public health messaging and information on self care practices for sexual and reproductive health and rights could be tailored to reflect men’s lived realities and experiences. Three examples of evidence-based self-care interventions related to sexual and reproductive health and rights that men can, and many do, engage in are briefly discussed: condom use, HIV self-testing and use of telemedicine and digital platforms for sexual health. We apply four core elements that contribute to health, including men’s health (people-centred approaches, quality health systems, a safe and supportive enabling environment, and behaviour-change communication) to each intervention where further research can inform normative guidance. Conclusion Engaging men and boys and facilitating their participation in self care can be an important policy intervention to advance global sexual and reproductive health and rights goals. The longstanding model of men neglecting or even sabotaging their wellbeing needs to be replaced by healthier lifestyles, which requires understanding how factors related to social support, social norms, power, academic performance or employability conditions, among others, influence men’s engagement with health services and with their own self care practices.

A moral analysis of intelligent decision-support systems in diagnostics through the lens of Luciano Floridi’s information ethics

Human Affairs ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 31 (2) ◽  
pp. 149-164
Author(s):  
Dmytro Mykhailov
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Decision Support ◽  
Medical Diagnosis ◽  
Moral Agency ◽  
Moral Agent ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Medical Diagnostics ◽  
Intelligent Decision ◽  
Luciano Floridi ◽  
Intelligent Decision Support

Abstract Contemporary medical diagnostics has a dynamic moral landscape, which includes a variety of agents, factors, and components. A significant part of this landscape is composed of information technologies that play a vital role in doctors’ decision-making. This paper focuses on the so-called Intelligent Decision-Support System that is widely implemented in the domain of contemporary medical diagnosis. The purpose of this article is twofold. First, I will show that the IDSS may be considered a moral agent in the practice of medicine today. To develop this idea I will introduce the approach to artificial agency provided by Luciano Floridi. Simultaneously, I will situate this approach in the context of contemporary discussions regarding the nature of artificial agency. It is argued here that the IDSS possesses a specific sort of agency, includes several agent features (e.g. autonomy, interactivity, adaptability), and hence, performs an autonomous behavior, which may have a substantial moral impact on the patient’s well-being. It follows that, through the technology of artificial neural networks combined with ‘deep learning’ mechanisms, the IDSS tool achieves a specific sort of independence (autonomy) and may possess a certain type of moral agency. Second, I will provide a conceptual framework for the ethical evaluation of the moral impact that the IDSS may have on the doctor’s decision-making and, consequently, on the patient’s wellbeing. This framework is the Object-Oriented Model of Moral Action developed by Luciano Floridi. Although this model appears in many contemporary discussions in the field of information and computer ethics, it has not yet been applied to the medical domain. This paper addresses this gap and seeks to reveal the hidden potentialities of the OOP model for the field of medical diagnosis.

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