scholarly journals Contesting Representations of Refugee‑Background Women (and Men) as ‘Needy’ and  ‘Problematic’ in Healthcare Literature in Aotearoa New Zealand: Advancing the Case for a  Capability‑Driven Model

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Kristine Mary Ford
Keyword(s):  
New Zealand ◽  
Health Outcomes ◽  
Good Health ◽  
Healthcare Services ◽  
Health Needs ◽  
Biomedical Model ◽  
Maternal Healthcare ◽  
Starting Position ◽  
Aotearoa New Zealand ◽  
Improve Health

<p>This research analyses how power operates discursively within the western biomedical model as it pertains to the representations and treatment of refugee‑background women (and men) in Aotearoa New Zealand. It carefully investigates the tendency of current biomedical discourse to typecast women (and men) with refugee backgrounds as having considerable health needs, which predicates the (over‑) representation of them as exclusively ‘problematic’ and ‘needy’ throughout refugee and healthcare related literature. It also considers other ways in which the western biomedical model may be inappropriate and inadequate for refugee‑background communities. This thesis takes its starting position from some of the concerns regarding health outcomes raised in a meeting with three representatives of various refugee‑background communities in Wellington in 2011, and by the recent ChangeMakers Refugee Forum (CRF) (2011) report, “barriers to achieving good health outcomes in refugee‑background communities”. In light of these concerns (and subsequent recommendations), this research aims to introduce alternative narratives in the effort to improve health outcomes, as well as constitute a more fair and just discourse. The mentation of the thesis is heavily inspired by postdevelopment theory and its potential for more enabling and effective ways of ‘doing’ development. I draw on this theoretical frame to explore how an asset‑based approach to maternal healthcare services in Aotearoa New Zealand for refugee‑background women may be a vehicle to help us negotiate the politics of representation and generate better health outcomes for refugee‑background communitiescomes for refugee‑background communities.</p>

scholarly journals Contesting Representations of Refugee‑Background Women (and Men) as ‘Needy’ and  ‘Problematic’ in Healthcare Literature in Aotearoa New Zealand: Advancing the Case for a  Capability‑Driven Model

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Kristine Mary Ford
Keyword(s):  
New Zealand ◽  
Health Outcomes ◽  
Good Health ◽  
Healthcare Services ◽  
Health Needs ◽  
Biomedical Model ◽  
Maternal Healthcare ◽  
Starting Position ◽  
Aotearoa New Zealand ◽  
Improve Health

<p>This research analyses how power operates discursively within the western biomedical model as it pertains to the representations and treatment of refugee‑background women (and men) in Aotearoa New Zealand. It carefully investigates the tendency of current biomedical discourse to typecast women (and men) with refugee backgrounds as having considerable health needs, which predicates the (over‑) representation of them as exclusively ‘problematic’ and ‘needy’ throughout refugee and healthcare related literature. It also considers other ways in which the western biomedical model may be inappropriate and inadequate for refugee‑background communities. This thesis takes its starting position from some of the concerns regarding health outcomes raised in a meeting with three representatives of various refugee‑background communities in Wellington in 2011, and by the recent ChangeMakers Refugee Forum (CRF) (2011) report, “barriers to achieving good health outcomes in refugee‑background communities”. In light of these concerns (and subsequent recommendations), this research aims to introduce alternative narratives in the effort to improve health outcomes, as well as constitute a more fair and just discourse. The mentation of the thesis is heavily inspired by postdevelopment theory and its potential for more enabling and effective ways of ‘doing’ development. I draw on this theoretical frame to explore how an asset‑based approach to maternal healthcare services in Aotearoa New Zealand for refugee‑background women may be a vehicle to help us negotiate the politics of representation and generate better health outcomes for refugee‑background communitiescomes for refugee‑background communities.</p>

scholarly journals Artificial intelligence (AI) and global health: how can AI contribute to health in resource-poor settings?

2018 ◽  
Vol 3 (4) ◽  
pp. e000798 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brian Wahl ◽  
Aline Cossy-Gantner ◽  
Stefan Germann ◽  
Nina R Schwalbe
Keyword(s):  
Artificial Intelligence ◽  
Patient Safety ◽  
Global Health ◽  
Health Outcomes ◽  
Health System ◽  
Healthcare Services ◽  
Full Potential ◽  
High Profile ◽  
Resource Poor ◽  
Improve Health

The field of artificial intelligence (AI) has evolved considerably in the last 60 years. While there are now many AI applications that have been deployed in high-income country contexts, use in resource-poor settings remains relatively nascent. With a few notable exceptions, there are limited examples of AI being used in such settings. However, there are signs that this is changing. Several high-profile meetings have been convened in recent years to discuss the development and deployment of AI applications to reduce poverty and deliver a broad range of critical public services. We provide a general overview of AI and how it can be used to improve health outcomes in resource-poor settings. We also describe some of the current ethical debates around patient safety and privacy. Despite current challenges, AI holds tremendous promise for transforming the provision of healthcare services in resource-poor settings. Many health system hurdles in such settings could be overcome with the use of AI and other complementary emerging technologies. Further research and investments in the development of AI tools tailored to resource-poor settings will accelerate realising of the full potential of AI for improving global health.

Moe Kitenga: a qualitative study of perceptions of infant and child sleep practices among Māori whānau

2020 ◽  
Vol 16 (2) ◽  
pp. 153-160
Author(s):  
Molly George ◽  
Reremoana Theodore ◽  
Rosalina Richards ◽  
Barbara Galland ◽  
Rachael Taylor ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Weight Gain ◽  
New Zealand ◽  
Extended Family ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Infant Sleep ◽  
Aotearoa New Zealand ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Unhealthy Weight ◽  
Good Sleep ◽  
Improve Health

Insufficient sleep is a strong risk factor for unhealthy weight gain in children. Māori (the indigenous population of Aotearoa (New Zealand)) children have an increased risk of unhealthy weight gain compared to New Zealand European children. Interventions around sleep could provide an avenue for improving health and limiting excessive weight gain with other meaningful benefits for whānau (extended family) well-being. However, current messages promoting good sleep may not be realistic for many Māori whānau. Using qualitative methods, the Moe Kitenga project explored the diverse realities of sleep in 14 Māori whānau. We conclude that for infant sleep interventions to prevent obesity and improve health outcomes for Māori children, they must take into account the often pressing social circumstances of many Māori whānau that are a barrier to adopting infant sleep recommendations, otherwise sleep interventions could create yet another oppressive standard that whānau fail to live up to.

scholarly journals Improving Access and Utilization of Maternal Healthcare Services through Focused Antenatal Care in Rural Ghana: A Qualitative Study

2019 ◽  
Vol 2019 ◽  
pp. 1-11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Umar Haruna ◽  
Gordon Dandeebo ◽  
Sylvester Z. Galaa
Keyword(s):  
Maternal Health ◽  
Antenatal Care ◽  
Health Outcomes ◽  
Health Workers ◽  
Healthcare Delivery ◽  
Healthcare Services ◽  
Transportation Systems ◽  
Successful Implementation ◽  
Maternal Healthcare ◽  
Focused Antenatal Care

Improved access to and utilization of various maternal healthcare services have been seen as the panacea to poor maternal and child health outcomes characterizing many developing countries. Focused Antenatal Care (FANC) replaced the regular antenatal care model about a decade and a half ago. This study sought to document empirical outcomes of how the FANC approach translates access and utilization of maternal health services into positive maternal health outcomes. We utilized a descriptive qualitative design and analysis. We applied key informant interviewing to collect data from 206 respondents consisting of 140 women in their fertility age and 66 health workers across 14 communities in the study district. We found that FANC has been widely implemented across the district with most of the required services integrated into the existing healthcare delivery system. Overall, there has been successful implementation of FANC in the district, resulting in several benefits including the increased utilization of maternal healthcare services, acceptance of family planning, increased skilled delivery, and utilization of postnatal care (PNC) services. This notwithstanding, a number of issues need to be addressed to improve FANC services. These include provision of adequate infrastructure, essential supplies, communication and transportation systems, and manpower and adoption of positive sociocultural practices. No effort should be spared in providing these to sustain the successes and ensure sustainability of FANC.

scholarly journals Giving Voice to School Nursing as a Primary Health Care Specialty

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Gillian D Alcorn
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Primary Health Care ◽  
New Zealand ◽  
Health Outcomes ◽  
Nursing Practice ◽  
Health Needs ◽  
School Nursing ◽  
Student Health ◽  
Primary Health ◽  
Autobiographical Poetry

<p>The purpose of this thesis is to give voice to school nursing as a primary health care specialty, and to promote the development of school nursing in New Zealand. School nursing is an invisible practice specialty that is largely funded from within the education sector, to address the health needs of student clients. School nursing is a significant primary health care initiative that can positively influence student health outcomes. My school nursing practice experience and philosophy is presented prior to reflecting upon the history of school nursing, and the health concerns present within the student population. The work then moves to review and critique school nursing literature from New Zealand, Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United States. This thesis highlights the need for collaborative policy and practice development initiatives including a legislative requirement for school nurses, school nursing competencies and standards, school nurse to student ratios, postgraduate training, professional liaison, practice funding, and research. A discourse on the reflective topical autobiographical method introduces autobiographical poetry from school nursing practice and reflective inquiry, as the central research endeavour of this thesis. Autobiographical poetry is offered as a window to this specialty practice, and accompanying reflections allow access to a further layer of practice knowledge. Student health needs, the scope of nursing intewentions, and the essences of school nursing practice have been distilled from the poetry. Poetic representation and subsequent reflection has facilitated the development of a school nursing framework for use within the New Zealand context, entitled Health Mediation in School Nursing. School nursing is presented throughout this thesis as an important child and adolescent primary health care initiative, which has the potential to reduce health barriers to learning, improve student health outcomes, and build student success in the social, emotional, and educational domains.</p>

Waiora: Connecting People, Well-Being, and Environment Through Waka Ama in Aotearoa New Zealand

2020 ◽  
pp. 152483992097815
Author(s):  
Christina Severinsen ◽  
Angelique Reweti
Keyword(s):  
New Zealand ◽  
Physical Health ◽  
Natural Environment ◽  
Language Revitalization ◽  
Well Being ◽  
General Terms ◽  
Aotearoa New Zealand ◽  
Health And Well Being ◽  
Improve Health

Waka ama is unique as a sport because, as well as the physical benefits for paddlers, it also creates opportunities for participants to experience and connect with the natural environment. This research draws on interviews with waka ama paddlers in Aotearoa New Zealand to illustrate how the well-being of the environment connects to the spiritual, cultural, and physical health of people. Results highlight the multifaceted benefits of participating in waka ama. As well as the physical benefits for paddlers, waka ama also has a strong tikanga, which encourages language revitalization with the use of te reo Māori through karakia, waiata, and the general terms used associated with waka. It also creates opportunities for participants to experience and connect with the natural environment and improve their health. The knowledge gained from participants provide evidence of effective ways to improve health and well-being within communities with a particular focus on waiora, the spiritual connection between hauora and the environment.

scholarly journals Connecting Faith and Health: Improving Health Outcomes Through Congregant Networks

2020 ◽  
Vol 3 ◽  
Author(s):  
Meredith Campbell ◽  
Jacob Christenson ◽  
David Craig
Keyword(s):  
Health Outcomes ◽  
Learning Community ◽  
Lived Experience ◽  
Local Knowledge ◽  
Community Outreach ◽  
Good Health ◽  
Research Process ◽  
Shared Values ◽  
Health And Wellness ◽  
Improve Health

Background and Hypothesis: People living in areas of high social vulnerability face health disparities in part due to disconnection. Health institutions recognize the importance of treating whole persons but are disconnected from local knowledge of community health assets and social and cultural barriers. People in health-challenged neighborhoods may experience disconnection and distrust in seeking the many resources and services needed for good health. Congregations are longstanding anchor institutions in marginalized communities. They build trusted relationships among members through shared values and care for wellness. Sometimes they extend these connections through on-the-ground service to neighboring communities. We hypothesize that a network of congregations can build trusted connections and share local knowledge and cultural competence to improve health outcomes and holistic wellness in vulnerable neighborhoods.    Methods: Community-engaged participatory research requires reciprocity in mapping assets, identifying priorities, narrating shared values, designing projects and messaging results. We developed mixed-methods tools to ensure community expertise drives an iterative research process. Methods include: an initial health and wellness survey, follow-up wellness interviews to collect stories and assets, an online learning community for 14 congregations with monthly focus groups, and visual maps of health data and wellness assets.    Results: While the study is ongoing, preliminary survey data demonstrates that congregations have local knowledge of issues affecting health and wellness among their congregants and the surrounding neighborhood. Their preexisting support for health and wellness through community outreach programs indicates building on their current network could expand their reach and improve health and wellness in vulnerable neighborhoods.    Conclusion and Potential Impact: Successful community engaged research prioritizes iterative methods that allow community participants to use their voice and tell their stories.   Congregations' practice of shared values and knowledge of lived experience can forge connections for greater resilience and health supports in socially vulnerable communities.  

scholarly journals National trends in sexual health indicators among gay and bisexual men disaggregated by ethnicity: repeated cross-sectional behavioural surveillance in New Zealand

BMJ Open ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (11) ◽  
pp. e039896
Author(s):  
Nathan J Lachowsky ◽  
Peter J W Saxton ◽  
Nigel Patrick Dickson ◽  
Anthony J Hughes ◽  
Alastair J S Summerlee ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
New Zealand ◽  
Sexual Health ◽  
Health Outcomes ◽  
Hiv Testing ◽  
Anal Intercourse ◽  
Recent Past ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Aotearoa New Zealand ◽  
Behavioural Surveillance ◽  
Condomless Anal Intercourse

ObjectivesTo assess trends in sexual health outcomes among men who have sex with men (MSM) disaggregated by ethnicity.DesignRepeated cross-sectional.SettingBehavioural surveillance data from 2006, 2008, 2011 and 2014 were collected in-person and online across Aotearoa New Zealand.ParticipantsEligible participants were self-identified men aged 16 years or older who reported sex with another man in the past 5 years. We classified 10 525 participants’ ethnicities: Asian (n=1003, 9.8%), Māori (Indigenous people of Aotearoa New Zealand, n=1058, 10.3%), Pacific (n=424, 4.1%) and European (n=7867, 76.8%).Outcome measuresThe sexual health outcomes examined were >20 recent (past 6 months) male sexual partners, past-year sexually transmitted infection (STI) testing, past-year STI diagnosis, lifetime and past-year HIV testing, lifetime HIV-positive diagnosis and any recent (past 6 months) condomless anal intercourse with casual or regular partners.ResultsWhen disaggregated, Indigenous and ethnic minority groups reported sexual health trends that diverged from the European MSM and each other. For example, Asian MSM increased lifetime HIV testing (adjusted OR, AOR=1.31 per survey cycle, 95% CI 1.17 to 1.47) and recent HIV testing (AOR=1.14, 95% CI 1.02 to 1.28) with no changes among Māori MSM or Pacific MSM. Condomless anal intercourse with casual partners increased among Māori MSM (AOR=1.13, 95% CI 1.01 to 1.28) with no changes for Asian or Pacific MSM. Condomless anal intercourse with regular partners decreased among Pacific MSM (AOR=0.83, 95% CI 0.69 to 0.99) with no changes for Asian or Māori MSM.ConclusionsPopulation-level trends were driven by European MSM, masking important differences for Indigenous and ethnic minority sub-groups. Surveillance data disaggregated by ethnicity highlight inequities in sexual health service access and prevention uptake. Future research should collect, analyse and report disaggregated data by ethnicity to advance health equity.

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