A cross-sectional study of community perceptions of stigmatization amongst women affected by UN-peacekeeper perpetrated sexual exploitation and abuse

Background Sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA) by UN peacekeepers perpetrated against local women and girls is a concern in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). While stigma associated with sexual and gender-based violence is well documented more broadly, little is known about stigma associated with peacekeeper-perpetrated SEA. Methods The aim of this study was to examine how the degree of exposure to SEA affects community perceptions of a woman or girl’s (1) social status (public stigma) and (2) institutional support in her community (structural stigma). Two poisson regression models with robust variance estimation were constructed utilizing community survey data of SEA experiences from eastern DRC (n = 2867) to quantify these associations. Relevant demographic variables were assessed for confounding and effect modification. Results The prevalence of public and structural stigma were 62.9 and 19.3% respectively across the sample. A positive relationship was demonstrated between level of exposure of SEA and diminished social status in which women and girls experiencing moderate levels of SEA were at the greatest risk of public stigmatization after adjusting for confounding (RR: 1.94; CI: 1.66–2.26). Similarly, a positive relationship between exposure to SEA and inadequate institutional support was shown for female narrators wherein women and girls experiencing a high degree of SEA were 6.53 times as likely to receive inadequate support (RR: 6.53; CI: 3.63, 11.73). This contrasted with male narrated stories for whom there was no significant association between the SEA exposure level and institutional support. Conclusions Women/girls with high exposure levels to UN peacekeeper-perpetrated SEA are at the highest risk of public and structural stigmatization, which should be more routinely considered when conceptualizing the consequences of SEA in peacekeeping contexts. The frequent occurrence of both public and structural stigma, coupled with the varying perceptions by sex, demonstrates the need for a multi-faceted approach for stigma reduction.

Implementing Dementia Friendly Initiatives in the Community: Perceptions of Stakeholders in the USA and China

To address the exclusion of persons living with dementia (PWD), Dementia Friendly Initiatives (DFI) are being launched to build a friendly and supportive environment for PWD in the U.S.A, mainland China, and Taiwan. This study aims to identify the impact of DFI, the challenges DFI encountered, and strategies used to address such challenges within the COVID-19 context in American and Chinese societies. Individual interviews via Zoom with 9 stakeholders from the U.S.A, 8 from mainland China and one from Taiwan were transcribed for analyses. DFI have shown effectiveness in raising the public’s dementia awareness and engaging PWD in the community. COVID-19 pandemic posed the challenges of serving isolated PWD due to resources and attention shifted to COVID-19 prevention. Person-centered and technology-based means were used to deliver services for PWD during the pandemic. DFI in American and Chinese societies experienced similar sustainability challenges but showed resilience during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Community Perceptions with TB Friendly Readiness during the Covid-19 Period: Lessons Learned from Depok, West Java, Indonesia

Tuberculosis (TB) friendly area will reduce society's stigmatization and increase adherence to treatment for TB patients. The encouragement of the surrounding environment can motivate patients to recover, and it can realize the goals of the SDGs and the Indonesian government to eliminate TB. The government's commitment is needed to build governance in developing TB-friendly areas. The study aimed to Know the community's perception of TB-friendly readiness during the COVID-19 period. The method employed was explanatory research with quantitative method; An online survey was conducted on 230 respondents from the general public from various provinces and 40 TB sufferers in the city of Depok to describe the frequency distribution of respondents' perceptions of knowledge, attitudes, behavior, prevention, and development of TB-friendly villages. The results revealed that Overall (100%) of the respondents had good knowledge about TB, but attitudes (50.9%) and behavior (41.3%) towards TB prevention were still poor. Observations showed that the occupancy of TB patients in densely populated areas still lacked ventilation and lighting. In conclusion, Depok City is not ready for human resources and organizational culture in developing TB-friendly sites. The synergy of communication, coordination, and community involvement is an essential pillar in developing TB-friendly villages. Improved communication, information, and education (IEC) for changes in people's positive attitudes and behavior towards TB prevention.

Perceptions communautaires du couple sécheresse/déboisement dans le sous-bassin versant de Koumagou à Boukoumbé (Nord-Ouest Bénin)

Au-delà des analyses climatologiques et statistiques, la présente communication s'intéresse aux connaissances communautaires relatives au couple sécheresse-déboisement qui sont les principaux moteurs de la dynamique environnementale dans le sous bassin versant de Koumagou au Nord-Ouest du Bénin. Sur la base des investigations auprès d'un échantillon de 180 personnes, les perceptions communautaires relatives aux manifestations, causes et conséquences des deux fléaux sans oublier les mesures d'adaptation, sont analysées. Des paramètres de la statistique descriptive ont été utilisés pour le traitement des données. La sécheresse est causée par le déboisement massif et la colère des dieux alors que l'agriculture et l'exploitation forestière sont perçues comme la cause du déboisement. Les ressources en eau, les ressources végétales et les sols sont les plus affectés selon les répondants avec des conséquences socioéconomiques. Les mesures d'adaptation concernent l'ajustement des pratiques culturales, le reboisement, la création des aires protégées communautaires, la mobilisation des eaux souterraines. Abstract. Beyond climatological and statistical analyzes, this communication focuses on community knowledge relating to the combination of drought and deforestation, which are the main drivers of environmental dynamics in the Koumagou sub-watershed in north-west Benin. Based on investigations of a sample of 180 people, community perceptions relating to the manifestations, causes and consequences of the two scourges, not to mention adaptation measures, are analyzed. Descriptive statistics parameters were used for data processing. Drought is caused by massive deforestation and the wrath of the gods while agriculture and forestry are seen as the cause of deforestation. Water resources, plant resources and soils are the most affected according to the respondents with socio-economic consequences. The adaptation measures concern the adjustment of cultural practices, reforestation, the creation of community protected areas, the mobilization of groundwater.

Changes in Australian community perceptions of non-communicable disease prevention: a greater role for government?

Background Monitoring trends in community opinion can identify critical opportunities to implement upstream health policies or interventions. Our study examines change and demographic modifiers of change in community perceptions of government intervention for prevention of lifestyle-related chronic disease across two time points in Australia. Methods Data were drawn from the 2016 (n = 2052) and 2018 (n = 2601) waves of a nationally representative cross-sectional telephone survey, ‘AUSPOPS’. Survey questions gauged perceptions of government intervention for health in general, peoples’/organizations’ role in maintaining health (e.g., parents, government) and support for specific health interventions (e.g., taxing soft drink). Bivariate and multivariate regression models tested for change between the two surveys, adjusted for demographic characteristics. Models with interactions between survey wave and demographic variables tested for differential change. One-tailed variance ratio tests examined whether opinions had become more polarized in 2018 compared with 2016. Results The large, significant increase observed in the perceived size of the role that government has in maintaining people’s health was uniform across demographic subpopulations. The role for employers and private health insurers was also perceived to be larger in 2018 compared with 2016, but the degree of change varied by gender, age and/or socioeconomic status. Support for some government interventions (e.g., taxing soft drinks) increased among specific demographic subgroups whilst exhibiting no overall change. Opinion was more polarized on general attitudes to government intervention for population health in 2018 compared to 2016, despite little change in central tendency. Conclusions Opportunities may exist to implement government health-promoting policies (e.g., taxing soft drinks), although advocacy may be needed to address the concerns of less supportive subpopulations. Attitudes on government intervention in general may be becoming more polarized; future research examining the association of such changes with exposure to different information sources could inform communication strategies for future health policy change.