21368 research outputs found
Sort by
Circumciser Type and the Type of Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting Prevalence for Girls Ages 0-14 years in Ethiopia
Get PDFDespite ongoing eradication efforts, female genital mutilation and cutting (FGM/C) remains a major public health and human rights concern in Ethiopia. This quantitative study was conducted to examine how circumciser type (traditional cutter, birth attendant, or health professional) influences FGM/C prevalence and severity among girls ages 0–14, considering the moderating effects of residence and mothers’ FGM status, while controlling for age and income. Guided by the social ecological model and using 2016 E Ethiopian Demographic Health Surveys data, analysis indicates a significant association between circumciser type and FGM/C type (χ² (2, N = 1,553) = 6.86, p = .032), which lost significance in the multivariate model (p = .179). The interaction between circumciser type and residence was significant (χ² = 9.18, p = .010), with rural girls cut by traditional circumcisers more likely to undergo severe FGM, and maternal FGM status further moderated this relationship (Wald χ² = 8.05, p = .018; OR = 6.70, 95% CI: 1.58–28.39). Traditional circumcisers remained the predominant actors, accounting for over 99% of reported cases. Policy recommendations include strengthening enforcement of anti-FGM laws, expanding culturally sensitive health education initiatives, and engaging community leaders to promote awareness and understanding. Implications for positive social change include informing national strategies aligned with United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, particularly Goal 5.3 (elimination of harmful practices), by identifying high-risk groups and supporting community-based advocacy that promotes gender equity, bodily autonomy, and the abandonment of FGM/C
A Caregiver’s Perspective of Caring for Children with Intellectual Disabilities
Get PDFCurrent estimates reported by the National Institute of Health suggest that between 1.4 and 2.2 million children in the United States have some form of intellectual disability. These children need caregivers, yet in the literature there is a lack of studies focusing on the experiences of caregivers raising children with intellectual disabilities. Further, there is a lack of public policies and programs for Washington, D.C. caregivers. The purpose of this general qualitative study was to explore the lived experiences of these caregivers in Washington, D.C. and to identify what policies, programs, and services are needed to support them. Guided by the social model of disability and critical disability theory, this study was conducted to answer two questions: (a) How do Washington, D.C. caregivers of a child with an intellectual disability describe the experience of providing adequate care under the current laws, policies, and programs available to them? and (b) What policies, programs, or services do these caregivers recommend to inform future policy change? Semi structured interviews were conducted with 10 caregivers residing in Washington, D.C. Thematic analysis was used to analyze the data using Braun and Clarke’s six-step process. Five major themes emerged: (a) the emotional weight of caregiving; (b) systems that fall short; (c) community and connection; (d) love, joy, and purpose; and (e) a call for policy change and inclusion. Positive social change may result from elevating caregiver voices in policy creation, particularly in under-resourced communities like Wards 7 and 8 in Washington, D.C., where future research is needed to address deeper disparities
A Phenomenological Exploration of LGBTQ+ High School Graduates’ Perspectives on LGBTQ+-related Legislation
Get PDFLesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and questioning (LGBTQ+) students’ social, emotional, and academic experiences and outcomes are not on par with their non-LGBTQ+ peers. Understanding how LGBTQ+ young adults experienced high school in a state with LGBTQ+-affirmative education legislation provides insight for counselors and educators to identify policies and practices that support positive outcomes for LGBTQ+ students. This qualitative phenomenological study explored how LGBTQ+-identifying high school graduates made meaning of their experiences in school as they related to LGBTQ+-affirmative education legislation. Interpretive phenomenological analysis (IPA) was used for the research methodology and data analysis process. Results included four themes: (a) Theme 1: Variability in School Experiences, (b) Theme 2: Lack of Recognition of LGBTQ+ Students’ Needs, (c) Theme 3: School Counselors Were Not a Factor, and (d) Theme 4: Desire for More Educational Opportunities. Eight subthemes were also identified: (a) Subtheme 1.1: Schoolwide Homophobia and Transphobia, (b) Subtheme 1.2: Individual Influence of Teachers, (c) Subtheme 1.3: Peer Support, (d) Theme 2.1: School Site, (e) Theme 2.2: School District, (f) Theme 2.3: Public Policy, (g) Theme 4.1: LGBTQ+ History and (h) Theme 4.2: Inclusive Sex Education. Recommendations include moving beyond compliance-based implementation of laws to proactive, relational, and culturally responsive practices. This study promotes positive social change by highlighting the challenges LGBTQ+ students face and offering a starting point for collective action aimed at fostering affirming schools where all students can thrive academically, socially, and emotionally
Psychological Experiences of Law Enforcement Officers Responding to Critical Incidents Alone and With a Partner
Get PDFThe role of law enforcement officers is to restore peace and safety when chaos occurs, which can be life-threatening and stressful as officers respond to the critical incidents unfolding. For this study, a qualitative approach and phenomenological framework were utilized to gain insight into the first-hand psychological experiences of officers responding to critical incidents. Police officers work in demanding environments that can lead to mental health conditions such as depression and post-traumatic stress disorder. Peer support and communication among coworkers have emerged as a potentially important factor, as officers would share traumatic events with other officers. Therefore, my research focused on the psychological experiences of law enforcement officers responding to critical incidents alone and with a partner, which the research questions directly addressed. Nine participants were interviewed for this research study, who shared their experiences responding to critical incidents. Participants in this study described critical incidents as involving injury and mental components, the violence and psychological impacts on the participants, being conscious of the possible situations and gathering information, the importance of safety and communication, and participants reported a preference in responding to incidents with a partner. This study is important for making a positive impact as it expands on the knowledge of law enforcement officers’ interactions with the community during critical incidents that can inform policies and procedures for police departments, focusing on the safety of officers and the communities they serve
Fire Service Leadership Cost-Effective Strategies to Reduce Sudden Cardiac Death
Get PDFAbstract A high incidence of on-duty firefighter sudden cardiac death (SCD) results in increased costs and decreased organizational performance. Fire department leaders are concerned about the financial burden of SCDs as they put strain on departmental budgets and subsequently limit operational readiness. Grounded in transformational leadership theory, the purpose of this qualitative pragmatic inquiry project was to explore how fire department leaders used cost-effective strategies to reduce SCD episodes among on-duty firefighters. Participants comprised six fire department leaders located on the East Coast of the United States who had successfully implemented strategies to minimize firefighter SCD. Data were collected using semistructured interviews and a review of publicly available fire department information. Through thematic analysis, three key themes were identified: (a) firefighter health and wellness, (b) implementing and sustaining firefighter programs, and (c) sustainable program management. A key recommendation for fire department leaders is to promote holistic injury reduction strategies by emphasizing preventive measures to identify risk factors and implementing comprehensive health and wellness programs to support sustainable program management. The implications for positive social change include the potential to reduce on-duty firefighter SCD fatalities to foster effective financial policies that support proactive measures to mitigate the impact of personnel loss on the community
Overseas Military Transition and Post-Military Job Retention
Get PDFAdjustment from military life to the corporate or civilian world can be challenging for some individuals who have served in the armed forces. The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study was to explore the lived experiences of U.S. military veterans transitioning from overseas service to civilian employment and to identify the factors contributing to long-term job retention. The military transition theory and turnover contagion theory grounded this study. The participants consisted of 20 male veterans representing the U.S. Army, Navy, Air Force, and Army National Guard in Dayton, Ohio. Data were collected using semistructured interviews and public documents. Two themes emerged from the interpretative phenomenological analysis: (a) transition experiences and (b) job retention factors. Subthemes included military skills transfer, adjustment to civilian culture, mental health and emotional impact, support systems and resources, and expectations and career fit. Additional subthemes were work ethic and discipline, job satisfaction and work conditions, support systems for retention, tenacity and motivation, and organizational understanding. Findings indicated that veterans’ transitions are multidimensional, shaped by the interaction of personal resilience, institutional resources, and social support. Veterans who secured purpose-driven roles and experienced organizational inclusion demonstrated higher retention and well-being. The implications for positive social change include the potential for employers, policymakers, and service organization leaders to develop holistic transition programs that integrate mental health, mentorship, and career alignment to assist veterans in sustainable employment practices
Postdischarge Pediatric Mortality in Nigeria for Children Under 5 Years of Age
Get PDFChild mortality has remained a public health issue that is prevalent among families living in Nigeria and low- and middle-income countries. Factors associated with post-discharge pediatric mortality among children under 5 have not been explored. The study involved examining associations between timely individual follow-up visits, availability of healthcare facilities for follow-up care, and likelihood of post-discharge mortality among children under 5 while adjusting for household income, geographical location, mothers’ age, and mothers’ education. The theoretical framework was the social ecological model. Data were generated from the 2018 Demographic and Health Survey. A sample size of N=21,671 was used to determine associations between independent, dependent, and covariant variables. Findings from this study indicate children with timely follow-up visit were 45% less likely to die posthospital discharge (AOR = 0.550, 95% CI: 0.467–0.646, p \u3c .001) and those from richer homes (AOR = 0.687, 95% CI: 0.581–0.813, p = .001) or better educated mothers had 24-31% lower odds, showing a significant effect. Availability of healthcare facilities and urban or rural residence did not have a significant effect. Findings from this study have the potential for positive social change via public health interventions which target follow-up care for children from low-income households whose families often lack education, resources, or support systems that are necessary to ensure continued care after discharge in Nigeria
Exploring Effective Strategies for Optimizing Financial Investments in Healthcare Technology
Get PDFIneffective optimization of the billions of dollars spent annually on healthcare technology threatens the sustainability of healthcare systems and exacerbates inequities in patient access. Healthcare technology leaders who lack effective investment optimization strategies risk reducing the operational effectiveness of their healthcare system. The purpose of this qualitative, pragmatic inquiry was to explore the effective strategies that healthcare technology leaders use to optimize financial investments in healthcare technology to improve the patient care experience and equitable access to healthcare services. The participants were nine healthcare technology leaders who used optimal financial investment strategies. Data were collected through semistructured interviews and a review of secondary industry documents. Through thematic analysis, four themes were identified: (a) employing strategic governance of investments; (b) developing value realization and evidence-driven learning cycles; (c) centering the design and workflow integration around people; and (d) creating digital equity and inclusive access strategies. A key recommendation is for healthcare technology leaders to shift from a purely financial return-on-investment model to a broader stakeholder-centered, governance structured, value-on-investment framework. The implications for positive social change include the potential for healthcare technology leaders to bridge the digital divide for underserved populations, support workforce sustainability, and foster equitable access to high-quality care for the broader community
Strategies to Reduce the Physician Documentation Burden in Adult Primary Care
Get PDFPrimary care physicians face high rates of burnout, with electronic health record (EHR) documentation identified ass a significant contributing factor. EHR systems consume substantial physician time, diverting attention from meaningful patient interactions toward administrative tasks and increasing documentation burden. The purpose of this study is to identify and evaluate best practices for minimizing the documentation burden on primary care providers. The review question centered on how best practices can be implemented by healthcare administrators to reduce the physician documentation burden in primary care. This integrative review used the sociotechnical systems theory framework to identify and evaluate effective strategies to alleviate physician documentation burden in primary care setting. The review examined 25 empirical and non-empirical articles published from years 2020 - 2025 and assessed their relevance and quality using the John Hopkins evidence-based practice model. Through thematic analysis, five main themes emerged with 10 supporting subthemes. The five main themes are structured leadership to improve culture, optimizing team structure and functioning, leveraging advanced technology, improving EHR usability, and training and development. A few subthemes included supporting technological infrastructure, simplifying workflow design, and providing continuous training. Three recommendations emerged from the review: (a) implement advanced technology integration, (b) develop a multidisciplinary team to ensure patient-centered care and documentation support, and (c) cultivate leadership support. When healthcare organizations can foster a more sustainable work environment that ultimately enhances healthcare delivery and contributes to broader societal health improvements, positive social change will emerge
Self-Stigma of Seeking Help, Psychological Safety, and Employee Assistance Program Use in Nurses
Get PDFEmployee assistance programs (EAPs) remain underutilized across various U.S. work sectors, including nursing. There are several barriers that impede nurses from using EAP services, including self-stigma of seeking help (SSOSH) and psychological safety (PS). The purposes of this study, which used the health promotion model as its theoretical framework, were to determine (a) if there was a difference in the level of SSOSH in nurses who have used EAPs and those who have not used EAPs, (b) if there was a difference in the level of PS in nurses who have used EAPs and nurses who have not used EAPs, and (c) if PS moderated the levels of SSOSH among nurses who have used EAPs and those who have not. A quantitative comparative research design was used. Data were gathered from 137 LPNs/licensed vocational nurses, RNs, and advanced practice nurses who worked in U.S. organizations that offered EAP services, and analyzed using an independent t test and a moderation analysis. This study found that the level of SSOSH and of PS were higher in nurses who used EAPs compared to nurses who did not. Finally, PS did not moderate the levels of SSOSH among nurses who used EAPs and nurses who did not. The implications for positive social change include providing knowledge that stakeholders can potentially use to further support nurses and to prevent barriers, such as SSOSH and PS, from impeding nurses’ utilization of supportive services. The study also expands knowledge about nurses and barriers to supportive services, including EAPs. Further research should be conducted to expand the knowledge of SSOSH, PS, and EAP use in the nursing discipline