scholarly journals Challenges and Responses to the Vulnerability of Families in a Preschool Context

2016 ◽  
Vol 6 (4) ◽  
pp. 29-49
Author(s):  
Nada Turnšek ◽  
Olga Poljšak Škraban ◽  
Špela Razpotnik ◽  
Jana Rapuš Pavel

Problems in vulnerable families are multilayered and include the intersection of physical, psychosocial and other forms of distress. The multidimensional nature of the problems of these families is closely linked to the fact that there are many institutions in the field of education, social welfare, health care and others, in which treatment and support are not satisfactory or adapted to their needs. The article presents the partial results of a large-scale qualitative research study, results that refer to the position of vulnerable families in the context of preschool education. The study examined how vulnerability is experienced by parents of preschool children, how the expert workers in the preschools involved in the study responded to the parents’ vulnerability, and how they cooperated with experts from other services outside the preschool. A qualitative research method was used in the study. Data was collected partly through semi-structured interviews with various expert workers employed in two preschools, as well as with the parents of children in the preschools; the interviews were conducted individually and in focus groups. Using thematic analysis (Braun & Clarke, 2006), we have identified four representative themes: amongst parents, the two recurring themes can be subsumed under the headings “from door to door” and “adaptation/flexibility”, and amongst experts, under the headings “powerlessness/incompetence/lack of information” and “power/innovation/sensitivity”. The study finds that the ability to effectively contend with vulnerability presumes a reconceptualisation of the attitude of institutional preschool education towards the family, including a change in the professional role of preschool teachers.

2008 ◽  
Vol 13 (4) ◽  
pp. 50-65 ◽  
Author(s):  
Karin Minnie ◽  
Hester Klopper ◽  
Christa Van der Walt

The objective of this study was to explore and describe the factors that influence the decision by pregnant women to be tested for HIV. This was achieved through a qualitative research study that was exploratory, descriptive and contextual in nature. A sample of 13 pregnant women participated. Data obtained from semi-structured interviews was analysed according to a protocol based on a combination of methods of analysis. The three main themes, namely factors that contribute to the decision by pregnant women to be tested for HIV, factors that contribute to the decision by pregnant women not to be tested for HIV and organisational factors that influence the decision by pregnant women to be tested for HIV, were divided into nine subthemes. Conclusions and recommendations to promote counselling to pregnant women being tested for HIV are provided. Opsomming Die doel van die studie was om die faktore wat die besluit van swanger vroue om vir MIV getoets te word, te verken en beskryf. Dit is gedoen deur middel van verkennende, beskrywende, kontekstuele kwalitatiewe navorsing. ’n Steekproef van 13 swanger vroue het deelgeneem. Inligting is verkry deur middel van semi-gestruktureerde onderhoude. Hierdie inligting is ontleed aan die hand van ’n protokol gebaseer op ’n kombinasie van ontledingsmetodes. Die drie hooftemas, naamlik faktore wat bydra tot swanger vroue se besluit om vir MIV getoets te word, faktore wat bydra tot swanger vroue se besluit om nie vir MIV getoets te word nie en organisatoriese faktore wat swanger vroue se besluit beïnvloed om vir MIV getoets te word, is in nege subtemas onderverdeel. Gevolgtrekkings en aanbevelings ter bevordering van berading van swanger vroue vir MIV-toetsing, word verskaf.


2020 ◽  
Vol 24 (3) ◽  
pp. 207-226 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kaisu Koivumäki ◽  
Clare Wilkinson

PurposeThis paper reports on research exploring the intersections between researchers and communication professionals' perspectives on the objectives, funders and organizational influences on their science communication practices.Design/methodology/approachExamining one context, the inter-organizational BCDC Energy Research project based at five different research organizations in Finland, this paper presents data from semi-structured interviews with 17 researchers and 15 communication professionals.FindingsThe results suggest that performance-based funding policies that drive the proliferation of large-scale research projects can create challenges. In particular, a challenge arises in generating a shared sense of identity and purpose amongst researchers and communication professionals. This may have unintended negative impacts on the quality and cohesiveness of the science communication which occurs.Research limitations/implicationsThe study was exploratory in nature and focuses on one organizational and institutional environment. Further research with a wider number of projects, as well as funders, would be conducive to a greater understanding of the issues involved.Practical implicationsOn a practical level, this research suggests that the creation of clearer communications awareness and guidance may be helpful in some large-scale projects, particularly involving broad numbers of organizations, individual researchers and funders.Originality/valueThis is one of the first studies examining the perspectives of both researchers and communication professionals working over one project, drawing together a range of different institutional and disciplinary perspectives. The results highlight the importance of the influences of funding on science communication aims, assumptions, cultures and structures. The article articulates the need for further research in this area.


2019 ◽  
pp. 154-170
Author(s):  
Fauzia Mubarik ◽  
Javeria Shabbir

This qualitative research study aims to investigate the role played by the established special economic zones under the program of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor to improve and upgrade the energy sector in Pakistan. The key role of China under the Joined Cooperation Committee formed in 2013 has paved ways for Pakistan to bring profound stability in the energy crisis being faced by Pakistan which is also evident from its most recent investment of 33.45 billion Rupees under the CPEC mega energy project respectively. The availability of approximately 10,000 megawatts electricity to the National Grid of Pakistan in the year 2018 is near to its accomplishment phase. However, this accomplishment poses itself many challenges that may halter the smooth reviving of the energy and power crisis. The challenge of bridging the gap between the purchase prices of the electricity distribution companies (DISCOS) and the sales revenue generated as well as the inclusion of more hydropower projects because of them being less expensive than the wind power projects respectively.


2021 ◽  
Vol 31 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eliana Mendes de Souza Teixeira Roque ◽  
Diene Monique Carlos ◽  
Geraldo Romanelli ◽  
Cintia Aparecida da Silva ◽  
José Eurípedes Martins ◽  
...  

Abstract The aim was to know and analyze the meanings of intrafamily sexual violence experienced and the Court support for adolescents who underwent the questioning. A qualitative research study through semi-structured interviews and free observation with nine adolescents aged between 13 and 17 years old, in a specific Court of Childhood and Youth. Data was analyzed using the technique of content analysis, with “Distance and negative”, and “Secondary victimization” pointed out. First, by signifying the intrafamily sexual violence suffered, the adolescent presents memory lapses about what happened, and it shows a wide spectrum of detrimental effects of intrafamily sexual violence. Secondly, it shows that the intervention of the Judiciary Branch has caused secondary victimization, gaps in care, and reproduction of power relationships. It was concluded on the importance to articulate a children and adolescents rights guaranteeing system, considering the new social frameworks, as well as the issue of human development.


Author(s):  
Susan S. Reutter

Corrections is a multi-layered business containing all aspects of life for the employees, clients/inmates, and the general public. Therefore, the findings of the study are transferable to many types of administrators. The chapter uses a case study approach and qualitative research methods. The study findings focuses on corrections administrative leadership mindset, philosophical approaches, and practice policies.. The conceptual and theoretical approaches included effective corrections administrators are promoting the growth of social capital (e.g., social skills and relationships), human capital (employable skills), and cultural capital (e.g., community and public safety). Four state prison wardens/administrators participated in this study. Data was collected via Creswell's in-depth portrait of cases: three-part series of semi-structured interviews. Four themes emerged during data analysis. This chapter focuses on the fourth theme and the conceptual framework.


Author(s):  
Sylvain K. Cibangu ◽  
Mark Hepworth ◽  
Donna Champion

In recent years, the rise of information and communication technologies (ICTs) contrasted with the dire living conditions of the world's poorest has been the subject of debate among industry and academia. However, despite the amount of writings produced on mobile phones, Western bias is surprisingly unbridledly prevailing alongside the fêted dissemination of mobile phones. Expansive literature tends to present the rapid adoption of mobile phones among rural individuals, with little to no indication of how local values and voices are respected or promoted. We undertook semi-structured interviews with 16 rural chiefs to inquire into ways in which mobile phones enabled socio-economic development in the rural Congo. Rather than using quantitative, large-scale, or top-down data, we sought to give voice to chiefs themselves about the role of mobile phones. We found that Western bias dominates the literature and deployment of mobile phones more than usually acknowledged. We suggested some paths forward, while bringing the African communal Utu or Ubuntu culture to the center stage.


2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (11) ◽  
pp. 4516 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ilona Liliána Birtalan ◽  
Attila Bartha ◽  
Ágnes Neulinger ◽  
György Bárdos ◽  
Attila Oláh ◽  
...  

Background: There is a growing amount of research interest to understand the role of food in well-being. The demand for community supported agriculture (CSA), bringing people spatially, economically, and socially closer to food, is continuously expanding. CSAs play an important role in both sustainable agriculture practices and influencing consumers’ food-related practices, but yet have received little attention in well-being research. Methods: This study explores food-related well-being among CSA members by using an exploratory, qualitative research design and a thematic analysis of semi-structured interviews. Results: The findings stress the relevance of psychological, social, and spiritual aspects of food-related well-being beyond the nutritional characteristics of food in CSA. Conclusion: The role of sustainable agriculture in contributing to food-related well-being becomes particularly evident based on consumers’ experiences. These results are important in convincing people that their food-related experiences belong to their perceived well-being as well as stimulating people to elevate their multidimensional expectations in relation to food.


2007 ◽  
Vol 15 (2) ◽  
pp. 230-238 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ana Márcia Spanó Nakano ◽  
Márcia Cristina Guerreiro dos Reis ◽  
Maria José Bistafa Pereira ◽  
Flávia Azevedo Gomes

This study aimed to identify agents or institutions taken as reference by women when breastfeeding. A qualitative study was carried out on 20 primiparous who were assisted, for reasons not related to breastfeeding, in the five health services selected by this study. Data were collected by semi-structured interviews carried out in the participants' households and were analyzed by content analysis in the thematic mode. We identified that health professionals play a standardize role of breastfeeding based on scientific knowledge. In the daily breastfeeding routine, the family is the first reference for women, transmitting beliefs, habits and behaviors. We believe in the valorization of the family context by the health professional, in which actions and interactions in the breastfeeding issue are developed in order to constitute the foundations for a new care model in breastfeeding. This model should, therefore, consider the practice diversity, adapting actions to the multiple roles of being mother/fortress/wife/worker in the social context.


BMJ Open ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 7 (8) ◽  
pp. e017544 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christel McMullan ◽  
Thomas D Pinkney ◽  
Laura L Jones ◽  
Laura Magill ◽  
Dmitri Nepogodiev ◽  
...  

ObjectiveTo provide a framework that is able to categorise whether patients are able to adapt to and lead a ‘normal’ life with ulcerative colitis (UC) and to detail the factors that influence this.DesignQualitative research study using in-depth semi-structured interviews.SettingFour clinical sites in the West and East Midlands regions of England.Participants28 adult patients diagnosed with UC for years between 1 and 22.ResultsMedication was rarely sufficient for patients to adapt to UC and live as ‘normal’ a life as possible. Virtually all patients tested and adopted non-medical adaptation methods to improve physical and psychological well-being, to help them carry on working and to prevent embarrassment. In addition, some patients benefited from outside support providing them with practical, emotional and/or financial help. In conjunction with adaptation strategies and the time to adapt, this meant that some patients with severe clinical disease were able to maintain a sense of normality in life. Patients reported that clinicians were not always receptive to discussion of the broader context of life with UC.ConclusionsPatients’ experience of UC and their ability to adapt in order to maintain a sense of normality in life is a complex interplay of symptoms, adaptation strategies and outside support. Over time patients test out a variety of non-medical adaptation strategies. Awareness of this may help clinicians and researchers to understand patients’ views on the role of medical and other therapies. Further research around the utility of this framework in clinical practice and research is now required.Trial registration numberISRCTN56523019, results.


2016 ◽  
Vol 8 (3) ◽  
pp. 219-232 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mark A. Casteel

Abstract In 2014, following a Central Region pilot assessment, the National Weather Service implemented large-scale use of an experimental product of enhanced severe weather warnings known as impact-based warnings (IBWs). The overarching goal of these IBWs is to improve the threat warning process and motivate appropriate responses by using event tags and additional text that provides more specificity about the magnitude of the storm and its potential consequences. These IBWs are designed to be used by individuals in the field to make more effective decisions. Although qualitative research has shown overall satisfaction with IBWs (Harrison et al. 2014; Losego et al. 2013), little published experimental research has been conducted on these new enhanced warnings. The research reported here therefore empirically investigates the effectiveness of the new IBW experimental product. In three experiments, participants adopted the role of a plant manager and read both IBWs and non-IBWs. At three different decision points, participants made decisions about shutting down the plant and having employees shelter in place. The results of all three experiments show that the IBWs produced higher likelihoods of closing the plant and sheltering in place, but only after the additional IBW text (providing information about the hazard, source, and impact) was presented. Interestingly, participant background knowledge of tornadoes and severe weather had little impact on their shelter in place decisions. The results support the conclusion that the additional enhanced text in IBWs promotes a higher stated likelihood of sheltering in place, at least as measured by behavioral intentions.


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