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MALNUTRITION IN GHANA: A SCOPING REVIEW
No full textMalnutrition (under nutrition and over nutrition) remains a public health challenge in Ghana. Therefore, this paper uses scoping reviews to analyze the factors that influence malnutrition in Ghana. The scoping review took into consideration all classes of people—men, women, and children—in all ten (10) regions of Ghana. Publications were taken from 2002 to 2022.
Databases used are Google Scholar, PubMed, and JSTOR. Zotero, a citation management software, was used to analyze all the publications necessary. After careful scrutiny using the inclusion and exclusion criteria, a total of twenty-one (21) publications were used. The result of this review showed that there are many factors that influence malnutrition in Ghana. These factors include social determinants like education, access to healthcare, income, and living conditions. It is observed that in Northern Ghana, there is a high prevalence of under nutrition, especially in children. In Greater Accra and urban settings, there is a high tendency for over nutrition in adults, men, and women. The health belief model was also used to shed more light on a personal level on how to deal with malnutrition in Ghana. In conclusion, the double burden of malnutrition in Ghana is a health issue that requires strategic actions that will be implemented by both individuals and the government
The COVID-19 restrictions, child services and the well-being of children in South Africa
Get PDFFrom Springer Nature via Jisc Publications RouterHistory: received 2024-04-29, accepted 2024-10-08, registration 2024-10-24, epub 2024-11-06, online 2024-11-06, collection 2024-12-01Acknowledgements: This work is based on the research supported wholly by the National Research Foundation of South Africa (Grant Numbers: 149083). Dr Di Kilpert for editing services.Publication status: PublishedFunder: National Research Foundation; doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/501100001321; Grant(s): 149083Taiwo Frances Gbadegesin - ORCID: 0000-0003-3211-0813 https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3211-0813Covid-19 posed little danger to children. Nevertheless, the South African government imposed lockdown measures that impeded children’s education, play and food. Schools were closed, feeding schemes were halted and organised sports were banned. In this study of South African children’s experience during the 2020–22 pandemic, we use the capabilities approach, particularly Nussbaum’s ten capabilities, to assess how the lockdown measures affected their development. The one-dimensional nature of the government response was evident in its focus on physical health and safeguarding adults and the health system, at the expense of children’s well-being. Children were masked and their voices were not heard. Despite being far less at risk of illness or death than adults, children and young people were disproportionately affected by government regulations. Children from low-income environments were particularly severely affected.pubpu
Evaluating Recreational Therapy Programs for Children in Conflict Settings: Best Practices and Adaptation Strategies
No full textRecreational therapy has been recognized as a very effective way to support the mental health of children who are the victims of armed conflict. However, there is a lack of robust and culturally sensitive evaluation procedures that can assess the effectiveness and quality of recreational therapy programs in fragile, conflict-affected settings. The purpose of this paper is to define the best practices in program implementation and find innovative approaches to evaluation by conducting a systematic literature review that was published over the last decade. Some key best practices identified are the provision of age-appropriate play, nature-based activities, skills-building, engaging family and community, culturally sensitive and individualized care, and a multidisciplinary team approach. Exposure to conflict was found to be detrimental to the mental health and development of children. The existing evaluation tools are often limited by their applicability in emergency settings. Combined with participatory and mixed methods approaches, there is a growing interest in a valid and contextualized assessment. The study gives recommendations that are supposed to assist in the development of programs based on evidence, their implementation, and evaluation, the purpose being to increase support for conflict-affected children
What is the Relationship between the Support Provided to Displaced Young Syrians (6-17years) in Armed Conflict and their Developmental Outcome - A Desk Study Review
No full textThe Syrian civil war, which erupted in 2011, has significantly impacted the mental health and development of millions of Syrian children and adolescents due to prolonged exposure to armed conflict. This dissertation investigates the correlation between the support structures available to displaced Syrian minors and their developmental trajectories.
Conducting an exhaustive literature review, this study assesses the range of support mechanisms offered to displaced Syrian youth aged 6-17 years and examines their influence on overall well-being and development. The literature search, covering the period from 2011 to 2023, utilized databases such as Medline, PsychInfo, ERIC, and UNICEF resources.
Key insights gleaned from 19 chosen studies underscore alarming rates of psychological trauma among conflict-affected Syrian youth, with prevalent conditions including PTSD, anxiety, and depression. Psychosocial interventions, support from peers, and the community emerge as crucial in alleviating these challenges and fostering resilience. Nevertheless, significant barriers impede access to services, particularly, unaccompanied minors and children with disabilities.
Providing comprehensive psychosocial support across different levels of the socio-ecological system is crucial for promoting recovery and development. Yet, existing literature highlights deficiencies, particularly in policy frameworks concerning legal protections, asylum, and disability rights. There is an urgent call for inclusive, evidence-driven services designed specifically for displaced children, alongside initiatives aimed at dismantling obstacles that worsen the effects of trauma. Fostering community integration and strengthening programs and policies centred around youth can play a significant role in protecting the welfare of Syrian children during this crisis. This evaluation offers essential perspectives to guide humanitarian interventions
How to further standardize Antenatal care in Sri Lanka to provide sustainable maternal care in the future?
No full textThis research aims to assess the complexities and prospects for improving Antenatal care (ANC) services in Sri Lanka, particularly concerning urban-rural inequality, non-communicable disease (NCDs) influence, and the effectiveness of technology and culture in delivering standard ANC services. The study outlines several shortcomings in the provision of ANC services, especially in rural settings characterized by few healthcare facilities, resource constraints, and insufficient numbers of skilled specialists to tackle inequalities in maternal health. The research also points to ways by which these inequalities hinder the improvement of maternal and neonatal health, particularly in rural areas. Pregnant women live with new and rising NCDs including diabetes and hypertension which work to exacerbate the challenges posed to ANC services by illustrating the insufficiency of existing guidelines and provision of resources. This has contributed to disparities in the quality of care received and also the vulnerability of such patients in high-risk pregnancies resulting in the need for clear management plans/ guidelines and improved continuing education of health providers. This research utilizes a desk review method as the research technique, an approach that involves the gathering of data from various sources such as the literature, policies, and information procured from established organizations. The study aims to establish the potential of using technology, with a specific focus on telemedicine and mobile health (mHealth) in overcoming the existing gaps in the provision of ANC services. These technologies are likely to enhance clients’ ability and the quality of care particularly in the rural regions because of potential consultation, follow-ups, and enhanced interaction between the client and the service providers. However, the effectiveness of those technological solutions directly depends on how the problem of the digital divide and the low technical literacy of the rural population will be solved. Another determinant of the adequacy of ANC services is the cultural beliefs of the women. Concerning cultural practices, combined with the involvement of traditional birth attendants (TBA) is seen to enhance the acceptability and utilization of the ANC services. The study is a call for a change in healthcare practices, to better reflect the cultural values of clients and give cultural education to improve maternal healthcare. Therefore, the government must allocate more funds, enhance the guidelines for the management of NCDs, and incorporate technology of cultural relevance into the offer of enhanced ANC services across the country
Social Protection Mechanisms to Address Gender Based Violence (GBV) in South Asia: A systematized literature review
No full textGender Based Violence (GBV) is a global public health problem, with 1 in 3 women having been subjected to it in their lifetimes. Despite growing evidence of the potential of Social Protection (SP) mechanisms to address GBV, efforts to understand the relationship remain insufficient, especially in low-income settings. A Systematized literature review was conducted to explore the benefits and challenges of using SP mechanisms to address GBV in South Asia, with the aim of reflecting on key takeaways for Sri Lanka. Four electronic databases were searched for literature investigating SP programmes aimed at addressing GBV in South Asia. Of the initial 4825 records identified, a total of eleven were selected as they met the inclusion criteria. Data was extracted and analysed using thematic narrative review, drawing on intersectionality theory. Three types of SP programmes were identified; (1) Microfinance, (2) Cash Transfers and (3) Employment Guarantee Schemes. Benefits mainly included a potential reduction in GBV, dowry related violence and household economic stress; and an increase in women’s agency, mobility, financial inclusion, empowerment, decision making, and bargaining power. Potential challenges comprised of increased violence risk due to male roles being threatened in the household, unchanged women’s status at home and in society, added stress of loan repayment, harassment by loan collectors, and increased workplace and street harassment. Women from lower castes, rural locations, low education background and with less media exposure were found be at more risk. Overall, findings indicate that assumptions that SP programmes aimed at increasing economic empowerment of women will reduce GBV must be approached with greater nuance
Bridging the divides: a case study of collective action across Scottish university business schools to support small business
Get PDFClaire Seaman - ORCID: 0000-0003-4818-5051
https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4818-5051Item is restricted in this repository for 36 months from the date of publication.AM replace with VoR 2024-07-31.Support for small business is widely acknowledged as a complex issue of interrelated economic resilience and sustainability. Despite an established literature on the mechanisms through which university business schools support business, few studies have focused on relations between business schools in matters of such national importance. Our qualitative case study contributes to this limited stock of empirical knowledge by following a consortium of 16 university business schools and associated public bodies in Scotland, as they develop a national business support programme. A Networks of Practice (NofP) lens allows us to identify three processual components crucial in developing relations between entrepreneurial universities: acknowledging drivers, establishing relationships, and building a vision-based reference. These three components reveal tensions and challenges as a network of common interest forms. Fresh theoretical insights are offered on the nature of the entrepreneurial university and role of vision to bridge a fragmented higher education environment.This study was funded and supported by the Scottish Funding Council. No specific grant number is applicable.pubpu
Politicizing Children’s Play: A Community Photovoice Process to Transform a School Playground
No full textFrom Crossref journal articles via Jisc Publications RouterHistory: epub 2024-05-31, issued 2024-05-31, ppub 2024-07-01Publication status: PublishedItem is not available in this repository.Silvia Veiga-Seijo - ORCID: 0000-0001-9309-2941
https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9309-2941Importance: Contextual elements at school playgrounds compromise the right to play. An occupation-based social transformation project to foster occupational justice in play at a school playground was conducted. Objective: To better understand barriers to and facilitators of children’s participation in occupations at the school playground to co-create actions that enable play. Design: A participatory methodology—Photovoice—was used. The research consisted of four phases: involving the community in the research design, community-led data generation and analysis, discussion of findings to increase the community’s awareness, and a community agenda for changing the playground. Setting: Public primary school playground in northwest Spain. Participants: All children (n = 450, ages 3–12 yr), families (n = 12), and teachers (n = 15) participated. A thematic analysis of visual, textual, and oral material was conducted, including member checking. Results: The study revealed several barriers to play, including the short recess duration, poor floor (surface) conditions, jail-like atmosphere, and violence. However, participants identified an ad hoc lending games system and playground murals advocating for children’s rights as facilitators. These findings have direct implications for improving the play environment. Conclusions and Relevance: Conflicting priorities between children’s and adults’ desires and needs for the playground were unveiled, displaying the relevance of invisible contexts (i.e., social or institutional contexts) in shaping play opportunities. A critical occupational stance combined with a participatory and playful methodology generated space to unveil these conflicting priorities, reconcile agendas, raise awareness, and propose collective actions to transform the playground. Plain-Language Summary: Playing is fundamental to children’s development and inclusion. This study focused on making school playgrounds better places for kids to play. Researchers found that things such as short playtimes, bad playground conditions, and violence made it tough for kids to enjoy playing, but they also discovered some good things, such as a system for borrowing games and colorful murals promoting children’ rights. These findings show that changing the playground’s physical and social environment can make a big difference for kids. By listening to kids and working together, adults and children can create playgrounds where all kids can play meaningfully and safely. Occupational therapists can promote such processes.pubpu
Learn or Perish
No full textTaiwo Frances Gbadegesin - ORCID: 0000-0003-3211-0813 https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3211-0813Item is not available in this repository.Like most countries, Nigeria implemented a lock-down policy restricting all movements except for essential services and functions in order to contain the COVID-19 virus. COVID-19 pandemic is one of such crises that seem to have brought unprecedented emergencies in the education sector. Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, the country’s education sector has been considered fragile and fraught with inequality in access to schooling and learning experiences. Access to digital tools and equipment, particularly portable ones like smartphones, tablets or laptops, and the Internet, which served as an alternative learning platform during the lockdown, were relatively low before the pandemic.https://publication.aercafricalibrary.org/handle/123456789/3661pubpu
Approaches, enablers and barriers to govern the private sector in health in low- and middle-income countries: a scoping review
Get PDFSupplementary datasets for eResearch item: https://eresearch.qmu.ac.uk/handle/20.500.12289/14033
Goodman, C., Witter, S., Hellowell, M., Allen, L., Srinivasan, S., Nixon, S., Burney, A., Bhattacharjee, D., Cocozza, A., Appleford, G., Thabet, A. and Clarke, D. (2024) ‘Approaches, enablers and barriers to govern the private sector in health in low- and middle-income countries: a scoping review’, BMJ Global Health, 8(Suppl 5), p. e015771. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjgh-2024-015771
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