Social Networks as Levers of Mobility

This chapter reviews the literature on pathways through which social networks may influence social mobility in developing countries. We find that social networks support members in tangible ways—via access to opportunities for migration, credit, trading relationships, information on jobs, and new technologies—as well as in intangible ways, such as shaping their beliefs, hopes, and aspirations, through role models and peers. Nevertheless, networks can disadvantage non-members, typically the poor and marginalized. Recent evidence suggests a range of policy tools that could help mitigate disadvantages faced by excluded groups: temporary incentives to encourage experimentation into new regions, occupations, or technologies, and role models—real and virtual—to mitigate psychosocial challenges faced by marginalized groups. Targeting large fractions of marginalized groups simultaneously could increase the effectiveness of such policies by leveraging the influence of existing social networks.

COVID-19 induced psychosocial challenges in South African higher education: Experiences of staff and students at two rural universities

Although the global impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the education and mental health of the university environment is relatively unknown, it is expected to be very significant considering the high incidence of emotional reactions amongst university students and staff. While fears around COVID-19 exposure, anxieties, and the challenges of support normalize stress, anxiety, and depression as emotional reactions in the face of the pandemic, this psychosocial impact has negative consequences for the university community. Thus, in order to salvage the higher education institutions from the debilitating effects of the pandemic, there is a clear need to safeguard the welfare of students and staff. Hence, it becomes vital to examine the experience of members of the university community during the COVID-19 crisis in order to develop measures and implement interventions that will assist in navigating psychosocial challenges. To achieve this objective, the study employed a mixed-method research approach in which data was collected using web-based survey and online interviews. Concurrent triangulation sampling technique was employed to select a sample of fifteen (15) students, five (5) university managers, and five (5) lecturers – making twenty-five (25) respondents at each of the two universities, thus making a cumulative total of fifty (50) at two (2) rural universities in the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa. Thus, qualitative and quantitative data collected were analysed concurrently by first reporting the qualitative findings and then comparing them to the quantitative findings. Findings revealed that although the university environment traditionally provided opportunities for strengthening social ties which satisfy the universal need to belong to a community, the COVID-19 pandemic has altered rural university life, thus, significantly impacting on psychosocial wellbeing. The study recommends that rural institutions must facilitate psychosocial wellness programming with the assistance of wider stakeholders such as the government and the private sector who can assist in financing this initiative.

Psychosocial Challenges Facing Orphaned Children and Caregivers in Tanzanian Institutionalized Orphanage Centres

This study investigated psychosocial challenges facing orphaned children and caregivers as well as possible intervention strategies that could be adopted to mitigate these challenges in the institutionalised orphaned children centres in Ubungo Municipal, Dar es Salaam. The study used a qualitative research approach and a descriptive research design. A purposive sampling technique was employed to select six orphanage centres. The study had a sample of 67 participants including children receiving orphanage care at the institutionalised orphaned children centres, caregivers and directors of the centres who were selected through purposive sampling technique. Data were collected using in-depth interviews and a non-observation method and were sorted and coded based on themes and presented according to the research questions. Thematic analysis was used in qualitative data. Findings from the study revealed that orphaned children were supported with various services including food, clothes, accommodation, health services, spiritual and educational support, life skills, sports and games. It was found further that the orphans were faced with a lack of adequate health facilities including health insurance coverage, educational materials, sports gear and in some centres inadequate clean and safe water. Caregivers lack counselling knowledge and skills. Therefore, the study recommends community participation in providing care to orphaned children and equipping caregivers with relevant knowledge and skills to perform their duties competently

Transition of Adolescents with Inflammatory Bowel Disease—Are the Pediatric Teams up to the Task?

Our aim was to describe the challenges of the transition process of adolescents with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), as seen from a pediatric-care perspective, to clarify the key obstacles and propose how to move forward. Semi-structured individual interviews of pediatric gastroenterologists and nurses were analyzed and interpreted according to the principles of social science. It is a challenge for the pediatric team to continuously match, support, and gently guide the ever-changing adolescent patient. All adolescent patients should be offered guidance regardless of their starting point, and specific individual needs should be taken into consideration. Adolescents burdened by psychosocial challenges require extra support. Early and continued interdisciplinary effort is essential. Collaboration with the parents must be continuously adapted to prepare them for their new roles and responsibilities. The shift from the pediatric family-focused approach to the individualistic approach of the Adult Gastroenterology Department signifies a fundamental change. Equipping adolescents with disease-management skills remains a comprehensive task. The following crucial questions remain: Who is capable of performing the transition? Who can dedicate the necessary resources for performing the transition? A transition center led by both pediatricians and adult gastroenterologists in an interdisciplinary setting that includes transition-trained persons may be the solution.

COVID-19 Vaccine and Psychosocial Challenges

It has been a year and half since the World Health Organization declared the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. As of July 23, 2021, more than 193 million people worldwide have been confirmed to contract the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), with more than 4.15 million deaths. In Korea, about 185,000 people have been confirmed and 2,066 have died of COVID-19. Korea is in the middle of the fourth wave of trends, and the metropolitan area is in the top stage of social distancing. Since the SARS-CoV-2 vaccination began in the UK in December 2020, the number of people who complete vaccination is only 13.3% around the world, and many low-income countries have less than 5%. In Korea, the first vaccination rate was 32.27%, but only 13% completed the vaccination until July 23. As expected, there has been a lot of confusion, controversy, and even fake news and rumors over the past five months since the vaccination against COVID-19 began in Korea on February 26, 2021. People’s views on vaccination are bound to vary depending on their experience, perspective, and even political stance. In this article, we wanted to introduce the arguments and conflicts that could arise during vaccinations and suggest what we should think about so that many people can get vaccinated without hesitation.

Psychosocial challenges and individual strategies for coping with mental stress among pregnant and postpartum adolescents in Nairobi informal settlements: a qualitative investigation

Background This study was part of a project funded under the Grand Challenges Explorations initiative to engage adolescent girls living in the main slums of Nairobi. This involved an innovative co-creation initiative through jointly designing and testing the feasibility of a toolkit of information, skill, and confidence-building, and coping mechanisms that can effectively shield them and their peers against the risks of mental stress during pregnancy and early motherhood. Methods Qualitative interviews and discussions from visual methodologies including Photovoice, digital storytelling, and public service announcements were conducted with 30 pregnant and adolescent mothers aged 14–19 years in four informal settlements either pregnant or having a child less than 2 years. The aims included; to generate an inventory of mental stressors during pregnancy and early motherhood; understand how mental stress affects the ability to seek care for themselves and their child, and understand individual coping strategies. Results The psychosocial challenges identified in order of importance included: chased from home by the parents; economic hardship; neglect and abandonment by the person responsible for the pregnancy; stigmatization by family, friends, and the community; feelings of shattered dreams; and daily stress related to living in poor and unhygienic conditions. During the pregnancy and early motherhood, the participants experienced feelings of embarrassment, shame, hopelessness, and to the extreme, suicidal thoughts clouded their minds. Main coping strategies included social isolation for some, socializing with other pregnant and adolescent mothers, and negative behaviors like the uptake of illicit drugs and alcohol and risky sexual relationships. Conclusion The unpreparedness for early motherhood infused with inadequate psychosocial support led to increased mental stress and risk of depression. The interconnection between the triggers to mental stress showed the need to focus on a multifaceted approach to address the wellbeing of pregnant and adolescent mothers.

Psychosocial challenges of single parenthood students: In the case of Hosanna Primary School, Ethiopia

Parents provide emotional, physical and economic aid to their members of families. The aim of study was to examine the psychosocial challenges of single parenthood students in vision primary school. The target population of the study was 87 boys and 82 girls totally 169 students were selected as sample participants by using purposive sampling techniques. The five-point Likert questionnaires were used, descriptive statistics like frequency, table and percentage to examine the effect of psychosocial challenges of single parenthood students. The result revealed that students from single parenthood face psychosocial problems due to the absence of one parent by death or divorce that create more problems for these students. Also, students from single parent face psychological problems like low self-esteem, loneliness and high depression, negative attitudes about themselves and hopelessness about their future life. Finally, the study suggested that the concerned bodies should play a great role in teaching and counseling therapy. Keywords: Psychosocial, challenges, single parenthood, students, Ethiopia.