scholarly journals Societal Age Stereotypes in the U.S. and U.K. from a Media Database of 1.1 Billion Words

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (16) ◽  
pp. 8822
Author(s):  
Reuben Ng
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Computational Linguistics ◽  
Public Awareness ◽  
World Health ◽  
Age Stereotypes ◽  
Global Campaign ◽  
The United Kingdom ◽  
The Us ◽  
The Media ◽  
Health Organization

Recently, 194 World Health Organization member states called on the international organization to develop a global campaign to combat ageism, citing its alarming ubiquity, insidious threat to health, and prevalence in the media. Existing media studies of age stereotypes have mostly been single-sourced. This study harnesses a 1.1-billion-word media database comprising the British National Corpus and Corpus of Contemporary American English—with genres including spoken/television, fiction, magazines, newspapers—to provide a comprehensive view of ageism in the United Kingdom and United States. The US and UK were chosen as they are home to the largest media conglomerates with tremendous power to shape public opinion. The most commonly used synonym of older adults was identified, and its most frequently used descriptors were analyzed for valence. Such computational linguistics techniques represent a new advance in studying aging narratives. The key finding is consistent, though no less alarming: Negative descriptions of older adults outnumber positive ones by six times. Negative descriptions tend to be physical, while positive ones tend to be behavioral. Magazines contain the highest levels of ageism, followed by the spoken genre, newspapers, and fiction. Findings underscore the need to increase public awareness of ageism and lay the groundwork to design targeted societal campaigns to tackle ageism—one of our generation’s most pernicious threats.

scholarly journals Aging Narratives over 210 years (1810-2019)

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Reuben Ng ◽  
Ting Yu Joanne Chow
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Computational Linguistics ◽  
American English ◽  
Historical Context ◽  
World Health ◽  
Global Campaign ◽  
Non Fiction ◽  
Social Ostracism ◽  
Societal Level ◽  
Health Organization

Abstract Objectives The World Health Organization launched a recent global campaign to combat ageism, citing its ubiquity and insidious threat to health. The historical context that promoted this pernicious threat is understudied, and such studies lay the critical foundation for designing societal-level campaigns to combat it. We analyzed the trend and content of aging narratives over 210 years across multiple genres—newspaper, magazines, fiction, non-fiction books; and modelled the predictors of the observed trend. Methods A 600-million-word-dataset was created from the Corpus-of-Historical-American-English and the Corpus-of-Contemporary-American-English to form the largest structured historical corpus with over 150,000 texts from multiple genres. Computational linguistics and statistical techniques were applied to study the trend, content, and predictors of aging narratives. Results Aging narratives have become more negative, in a linear fashion (p=.003), over 210 years. There are distinct shifts: From uplifting narratives of heroism and kinship in the 1800s to darker tones of illness, death, and burden in the 1900s across newspapers, magazines, and non-fiction books. Fiction defied this trend by portraying older adults positively through romantic courtship and war heroism. Significant predictors of ageism over 210 years are the medicalization of aging, loss of status, warmth, competence, and social ostracism. Discussion Though it is unrealistic to reverse the course of ageism, its declining trajectory can be ameliorated. Our unprecedented study lay the groundwork for a societal level campaign to tackle ageism. The need to act is more pressing given the Covid-19 pandemic where older adults are constantly portrayed as vulnerable.

scholarly journals Tobacco Control Gateway to Public Health

2018 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement 2) ◽  
pp. 175s-175s
Author(s):  
P. Suuna
Keyword(s):  
Tobacco Control ◽  
Local Community ◽  
Public Awareness ◽  
Relevant Information ◽  
World Health ◽  
African Countries ◽  
Or Groups ◽  
Program Policy ◽  
The Media ◽  
Health Organization

Background and context: There are several individuals or groups who have high public profiles and can reach out easily to different audiences. These were mobilized as champions and they helped spread the word on the TC Act hence pushing for its implementation. The main aim was to equip them with the relevant information and understanding of the TC Act. These are important because they make or influence decisions on what goes on in the respective media houses. It is important that they appreciate reasons for supporting the implementation of the TC Act. Aim: Engage media managers and TC champions to understand the TC law provisions and support efforts to publicize it. This will be through one-on-one meetings with editors, producers and talk show anchors as well as facilitating TC champion activities Strategy/Tactics: This was achieved through one on one meetings and media champions community excursions. Program/Policy process: UHCA has for the last three years has been at the forefront of engaging the media to advocate and create public awareness and support for the tobacco control agenda in Uganda and the TC Bill in particular. We have equipped and facilitated monthly interactive dialogues on TC, equipped and deployed media fellows and authored resources and tools for TC communication. We are part of the Tripartite Consortium that won the bid advertised by the World Health Organization to host the Centre for Tobacco Control in Africa (CTCA), which is championing efforts to put in place policies and laws as well as support implementation of existing legislation on tobacco control in five African countries. Outcomes: At least 20 editors, producers and media managers informed on the key provisions of the TC law through 10 one-on-one meetings At least two champions (groups or individuals) actively engaged in TC law awareness and promotion activities At least four talk-shows What was learned: Engaging the information gatekeepers (editors and producers) as well as influential persons in the public is one of the ways to make tobacco control popular among the local community.

scholarly journals COVID-19 and indigenous evaluation in Zambia: My responses to the COVID-19 pandemic

2020 ◽  
pp. 1-11
Author(s):  
John T Njovu
Keyword(s):  
Information Dissemination ◽  
Public Awareness ◽  
World Health ◽  
Who Guidelines ◽  
Eastern Province ◽  
Indigenous Ethnic Group ◽  
The World ◽  
The Media ◽  
The Government ◽  
Health Organization

"I started taking notice of the coronavirus outbreak when it started to quickly spread to other countries. On 13 January 2020 a first COVID-19 case outside China was confirmed in Thailand. When Europe got affected and numbers started exponentially rising in Italy and England, I became concerned. "When the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the outbreak a pandemic on 11 March and the media increased its coverage, the government started its public awareness and prevention programme. Some Zambians, including myself, volunteered to help the Ministry of Health in information dissemination. I helped translate the WHO guidelines into Nsenga. It is a language spoken mainly by an indigenous ethnic group, Nsenga, found in the Eastern province of Zambia."

scholarly journals Knowledge, awareness and practices of Pakistani professionals amid-COVID-19 outbreak

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Samea Khan ◽  
Usman Shah Gilani ◽  
Syed Muhammad Muslim Raza ◽  
Tanveer Hussain
Keyword(s):  
Public Awareness ◽  
World Health ◽  
Pakistani Population ◽  
Awareness Campaigns ◽  
The Us ◽  
The World ◽  
Spss Software ◽  
Health Organization ◽  
And Control ◽  
Populous Country

AbstractEnd of the year 2019 marks an unprecedented outbreak of a pandemic named COVID-19 caused by the SARS-CoV-2. It was first discovered in China and later spread to the whole world, currently inflicting almost 200 countries. After China, few other countries have emerged as potential epicenters of this disease including the US, Italy, Spain and Pakistan, as indicated by the World Health Organization (WHO). Since proper preventive and curative measures in the form of a vaccine or medication are currently unavailable throughout the world, the only remedy devised to stop the spread of this virus is self-isolation. Such a measure necessitates ample awareness and understanding among people to avoid actions that lead to the spread of this virus. Pakistan is the fifth-most populous country in the world (212.2 million) and has a record of contagious outbreaks in the past. Therefore, it is key to evaluate the general understanding regarding the cause, spread and control of this disease in Pakistani population and acquire data to anticipate the possible spread and persistence of this disease to design relevant preventive measures. We have attempted to collect such data from professionals who are susceptible to acquiring the infection due to an unavoidable exposure. Keeping in view the current lock down, we have relied on an internet based collection of data by filling a self-designed questionnaire that is responded to by 1132. Descriptive and Frequency Analysis were performed on the responses received using MS Excel and SPSS software. A total of 1132 individuals responded to the questionnaire among which include academic (45.8%), non-academic (20.8%), healthcare (7.8%), security (5.9%) and other (19.7%) professionals. The questionnaire addressed the level of basic information regarding the cause, spread, cure and prevention of this disease among professionals, in an attempt to provide directions for awareness campaigns at different levels in Pakistan and provide a model for similar outbreaks in the future.To our expectations, almost after a month of the coronavirus outbreak in Pakistan, above 50% to up to 90% of the recorded responses against every question showed ample understanding regarding the cause, spread and control of the disease which is an indicator of effective public awareness campaigns throughout the country largely based on media drive.

scholarly journals Evaluation of General Awareness Among Professionals Regarding COVID-19: A Survey Based Study from Pakistan

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tanveer Hussain ◽  
Samea Khan ◽  
Usman Shah Gilani ◽  
Syed Muhammad Muslim Raza
Keyword(s):  
Public Awareness ◽  
World Health ◽  
Pakistani Population ◽  
Awareness Campaigns ◽  
The Us ◽  
The World ◽  
Spss Software ◽  
Health Organization ◽  
And Control ◽  
Populous Country

Abstract End of the year 2019 marks an unprecedented outbreak of a pandemic named COVID-19 caused by the SARS-CoV-2. It was initiated in China and later spread to the whole world, currently inflicting almost 200 countries. After China, few other countries have emerged as potential epicenters of this disease including the US, Italy, Spain and Pakistan, as indicated by the World Health Organization (WHO). Since proper preventive and curative measures in the form of a vaccine or medication are currently unavailable throughout the world, the only remedy devised to stop the spread of this virus is self-isolation. Such a measure necessitates ample awareness and understanding among people to avoid actions that lead to the spread of this virus. Pakistan is the fifth-most populous country in the world (212.2 million) and has a record of contagious outbreaks in the past. Therefore, it is key to evaluate the general understanding regarding the cause, spread and control of this disease in Pakistani population and acquire data to anticipate the possible spread and persistence of this disease to design relevant preventive measures. We have attempted to collect such data from professionals who are susceptible to acquiring the infection due to an unavoidable exposure. Keeping in view the current lock down, we have relied on an internet based collection of data by filling a self-designed questionnaire that is responded to by 1132. Descriptive and Frequency Analysis were performed on the responses received using MS Excel and SPSS software. To our expectations, almost after a month of the coronavirus outbreak in Pakistan, above 50% to up to 90% of the recorded responses against every question showed ample understanding regarding the cause, spread and control of the disease which is an indicator of effective public awareness campaigns throughout the country largely based on media drive.All authors contributed equally to this work.

Myths about COVID-19

2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (SPL1) ◽  
pp. 907-912
Author(s):  
Deepika Masurkar ◽  
Priyanka Jaiswal
Keyword(s):  
World Health ◽  
Indian Society ◽  
Common People ◽  
The World ◽  
New Type ◽  
The Media ◽  
Personal Level ◽  
Novel Virus ◽  
The Common ◽  
Health Organization

Recently at the end of 2019, a new disease was found in Wuhan, China. This disease was diagnosed to be caused by a new type of coronavirus and affected almost the whole world. Chinese researchers named this novel virus as 2019-nCov or Wuhan-coronavirus. However, to avoid misunderstanding the World Health Organization noises it as COVID-19 virus when interacting with the media COVID-19 is new globally as well as in India. This has disturbed peoples mind. There are various rumours about the coronavirus in Indian society which causes panic in peoples mind. It is the need of society to know myths and facts about coronavirus to reduce the panic and take the proper precautionary actions for our safety against the coronavirus. Thus this article aims to bust myths and present the facts to the common people. We need to verify myths spreading through social media and keep our self-ready with facts so that we can protect our self in a better way. People must prevent COVID 19 at a personal level. Appropriate action in individual communities and countries can benefit the entire world.

scholarly journals Disability, Frailty and Depression in the community-dwelling older adults with Osteosarcopenia

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ki-Soo Park ◽  
Gyeong-Ye Lee ◽  
Young-Mi Seo ◽  
Sung-Hyo Seo ◽  
Jun-Il Yoo
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Short Form ◽  
Geriatric Depression Scale ◽  
Depression Scale ◽  
Community Dwelling ◽  
Normal Group ◽  
World Health ◽  
Common Disease ◽  
Using Data ◽  
Health Organization

Abstract Background The purpose of this study was to investigate the prevalence of osteosarcopenia in the over 60-year-old community and to evaluate whether osteosarcopenia is associated with disability, frailty and depression. Methods This study was performed using the baseline data of Namgaram-2, among the 1010 surveyed subjects, 885 study subjects who were 60 years or older and had all necessary tests performed were selected. The Kaigo-Yobo checklist (frailty), World Health Organization Disability Assessment Schedule (WHODAS) and Geriatric Depression Scale-Short Form-Korean (GDSSF-K) were used. The Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia (AWGS 2019) were applied in this study. Osteopenia was measured using data from dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) and osteopenia was diagnosed when the T-score was less than − 1.0. The study subjects were divided into four groups: the normal group, in which both sarcopenia and osteopenia were undiagnosed, osteopenia only, sarcopenia only and the osteosarcopenia group, which was diagnosed with both sarcopenia and osteopenia. Results Of the 885 subjects over 60 years old evaluated, the normal group comprised 34.0%, the only osteopenia group 33.7%, the only sarcopenia group 13.1%, and the osteosarcopenia group 19.2%. WHODAS (17.5, 95% CI: 14.8-20.1), Kaigo-Yobo (3.0, 95% CI: 2.6-3.4), and GDSSF mean score (4.6, 95% CI: 3.9-5.4) were statistically significantly higher in the osteosarcopenia group compared the other groups. Partial eta squared (ηp2) of WHODAS (0.199) and Kaigo-Yobo (0.148) values ​​according to Osteosarcopenia were large, and GDSSF (0.096) was medium Conclusions Osteosarcopenia is a relatively common disease group in the older adults community that may cause deterioration of health outcomes. Therefore, when evaluating osteopenia or sarcopenia in the older adults, management of those in both disease groups should occur together.

scholarly journals Functional difficulties and toileting among older adults in Ghana: evidence from the World Health Organization Study on global AGEing and adult health (SAGE) Ghana Wave 1

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-23
Author(s):  
Kofi Awuviry-Newton ◽  
Kylie Wales ◽  
Meredith Tavener ◽  
Paul Kowal ◽  
Julie Byles
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Marital Status ◽  
Conceptual Framework ◽  
World Health ◽  
Adult Health ◽  
Care Needs ◽  
Functional Difficulties ◽  
The World ◽  
Health Organization ◽  
Global Ageing

Abstract Ghana's older population is projected to increase in coming decades and as a result will see increasing care needs. Understanding the functional difficulties older adults experience, and the associated factors, will help identify relevant intervention to assist older adults in meeting their care needs. This study aimed to analyse the prevalence of functional difficulties among older adults in Ghana, and examine how the World Health Organization International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (WHO-ICF) conceptual framework can relate to toileting difficulty to understand the factors that increase older adults’ care needs. Data were for 5,096 adults aged ⩾50 years from the WHO Study on global AGEing and adult health (SAGE) Ghana Wave 1. Difficulties were assessed using self-reported difficulty on 22 functional items, including toileting. Multivariate logistic regression tested associations between toileting and other factors as related to the WHO-ICF conceptual framework. Older adults reported climbing one flight of stairs without resting as a common functional difficulty. Difficulty eating was the item least identified. Toileting difficulty was ranked second among five total activities of daily living difficulties. Age, marital status, self-reported health, memory, bodily pain, short- and far-distance vision, obesity, stroke, chronic lung disease, trust at individual and neighbourhood level, toilet facility type, socialising with co-workers, and public and religious meeting attendance were statistically significantly associated with toileting difficulty in the final parsimonious model. Post-hoc analysis testing interaction revealed that interaction existed between female sex and never married marital status (p = 0.04), and obesity and widowed marital status (p = 0.01), with toileting as the outcome. A significant level of functional difficulty existed among Ghanaian older adults in this sample. Toileting difficulty was associated with factors across different components in the WHO-ICF, emphasising functional, social and environmental factors related to this fundamental human activity.

scholarly journals How Loud and Clear Rung the Alarm Bell: The Communication Efforts of WHO on the Beginning of COVID-19 Outbreak

2021 ◽  
pp. 002073142110249
Author(s):  
Huriye Toker
Keyword(s):  
Risk Communication ◽  
International Development ◽  
International Health ◽  
Well Being ◽  
World Health ◽  
The Public ◽  
News Releases ◽  
The Media ◽  
Credible Information ◽  
Health Organization

As seen clearly from the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, health is an important foreign policy and diplomatic issue connected with security, economic well-being, and international development. According to risk communication researchers, effective, transparent, and timely information sharing is the most important tool after vaccines for responding to pandemics. This study aims to start a scholarly discussion on the risk communication efforts of the World Health Organization (WHO) during the COVID-19 outbreak. We analyzed WHO’s communication efforts during the first 3 months of the COVID-19 pandemic. As the leading international health organization, WHO was responsible for providing rapid, up-to-date, and credible information for the public and the media. The selected research items were 42 news releases and statements provided by WHO between December 31, 2019, and March 30, 2020. These were subjected to qualitative and quantitative content analyses using the NVivo 12 qualitative analysis software program for coding. The data were coded under 6 variables (date of publication, topics, frequency, wording of the COVID-19 outbreak, sourcing, and themes of the releases). While 54.7% of WHO's communications were devoted to the COVID-19 outbreak, more than half were not issued until March. That is, instead of early risk communication and clear warnings about the outbreak, WHO acted overcautiously, preferring messages related to solidarity and cooperation during the most devastating pandemic of the 21st century.

scholarly journals World Health Report on Vision: Aging Implications for Global Vision and Eye Health

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 807-808
Author(s):  
Bonnielin Swenor ◽  
Varshini Varadaraj ◽  
Moon Jeong Lee ◽  
Heather Whitson ◽  
Pradeep Ramulu
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Visual Impairment ◽  
Vision Loss ◽  
World Health ◽  
World Health Report ◽  
Global Public Health ◽  
Eye Care ◽  
Health Report ◽  
Public Health Challenges ◽  
Health Organization

Abstract In 2019, the World Health Organization World Report on Vision estimated that that 2.2 billion people have a vision impairment, of which almost half could have been prevented or is yet to be addressed. As the global population ages and the prevalence of visual impairment increases, inequities in eye care and the downstream health and aging consequences of vision loss will become magnified. This session will: (1) provide key information regarding the burden of eye disease and visual impairment among older adults worldwide; (2) outline a framework created to conceptualize the aging and long-term health implications of vision loss, and (3) discuss the global public health challenges to eye care and to maximizing health for older adults with visual impairments.

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