115 research outputs found
The interpersonal communication approach to HIV/AIDS prevention: strategies and challenges for faith-based organizations.
No full textThis study examines the interpersonal communication approach to HIV/AIDS prevention within Faith-Based Organizations (FBOs) in Jamaica. Applying concepts from the social influence and social learning theories, the study examines communication strategies, challenges and concerns that religious leaders face in their communication efforts. Data gathered qualitatively through focus groups and in-depth interviews indicate that FBOs are social and cultural entities with potential to influence knowledge,attitude and behaviour for HIV/AIDS prevention. However, issues related to content, context, culture,
the prevailing AIDS-related stigma alongside religious leaders’ personal characteristics hamper their communication initiatives. Capacity building of leaders as HIV/AIDS communicators and behaviour change facilitators and a collaborative effort between FBOs and health organizations would enhance their HIV/AIDS response
Emerg Infect Dis
No full textThe World Health Organization and collaborating agencies have set the goal of eliminating dog-mediated human rabies by 2030. Building on experience with rabies endemic countries, we constructed a user-friendly tool to help public health officials plan the resources needed to achieve this goal through mass vaccination of dogs
Comparative studies of the microbial composition and diversity of container-dwelling mosquitoes
No full textThe growing problem of mosquito resistance to chemical insecticides has reinforced the urgent need to develop alternative vector control strategies that exploits current advances in mosquito biology including mosquito-microbe interactions. The goal of this research was to develop a better understanding of mosquito microbiota and how their composition and diversity is influenced by host species, life stage, larval habitat type, and larval exposure to commonly used pesticides. Analysis of the microbial communities of larval stages of Aedes japonicus and Aedes triseriatus collected from tree hole and waste tire habitats revealed the bacterial richness to be highest in Aedes japonicus, intermediate in Aedes triseriatus, and in water samples from their larval environment. The microbial communities also clustered by mosquito species, habitat type (used tires vs. tree holes) and study sites. Experimental microcosms were also used to evaluate how exposure of mosquito larvae to sublethal concentrations of atrazine, permethrin, and malathion affects the composition and diversity of mosquito gut microbiota. Bacterial community composition differed according to sample type (larval stage vs. adult stage vs. water sample), but not by pesticide treatment. Bacterial OTU richness was highest in larval samples receiving malathion and permethrin treatments, intermediate in the water and larval samples from the atrazine treatment, and lowest in adult samples irrespective of the treatment. Finally, the microbiota associated with egg rafts and midguts of Cx. pipiens L. and Culex restuans were characterized to gain insights into their community composition and diversity. For each mosquito species, bacterial richness was significantly higher in mosquito egg rafts compared to the midguts. The bacterial community composition differed significantly between egg raft and midgut samples for Cx. restuans, but not for Cx. pipiens L. samples. Overall, these studies have shown that mosquitoes harbor variable microbial communities that are also influenced by the host species, life stage, and the larval habitat. These results provide a basis for future studies aiming to leverage the understanding of mosquito host- microbial symbiont relationships for mosquito vector management.Submission published under a 24 month embargo labeled 'U of I Access', the embargo will last until 2022-05-01The student, Elijah Juma, accepted the attached license on 2019-12-17 at 17:57.The student, Elijah Juma, submitted this Dissertation for approval on 2019-12-17 at 18:10.This Dissertation was approved for publication on 2019-12-18 at 16:06.DSpace SAF Submission Ingestion Package generated from Vireo submission #14834 on 2020-08-25 at 17:26:19Made available in DSpace on 2020-08-26T23:51:19Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 3
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Previous issue date: 2019-12-18Embargo set by: Seth Robbins for item 115687
Lift date: 2022-08-26T23:51:32Z
Reason: Author requested U of Illinois access only (OA after 2yrs) in Vireo ETD systemEmbargo set by: Seth Robbins for item 115687
Lift date: 2022-08-26T23:54:40Z
Reason: Author requested U of Illinois access only (OA after 2yrs) in Vireo ETD systemEmbargo set by: Seth Robbins for item 115687
Lift date: 2022-08-26T23:55:59Z
Reason: Author requested U of Illinois access only (OA after 2yrs) in Vireo ETD systemEmbargo set by: Seth Robbins for item 115687
Lift date: 2022-08-26T23:57:28Z
Reason: Author requested U of Illinois access only (OA after 2yrs) in Vireo ETD systemEmbargo set by: Seth Robbins for item 115687
Lift date: 2022-08-26T23:58:55Z
Reason: Author requested U of Illinois access only (OA after 2yrs) in Vireo ETD systemAuthor requested U of Illinois access only (OA after 2yrs) in Vireo ETD systemU of I Onl
Alcohol consumption and reproductive health risks in rural Central Kenya
No full textObjective:
The goal of the current study is to explore the perceived reproductive health risks associated with alcoholism from the perspective of rural communities in Kenya where abuse of illicit liquor especially among men has become an epidemic.
Methods:
Data for the study were gathered qualitatively through focus groups among community members and in-depth interviews with opinion leaders and key informants who were selected through a snowball method. All recorded data were analyzed through constructivist and interpretive techniques, which started with a line-by-line examination of transcripts for identification of emerging themes.
Results:
Rural communities are aware of the lethal nature of the illicit liquor and the severe reproductive health problems associated with it among male consumers. Alcoholism also affects women’s sexual and reproductive needs and is attributed to risky sexual behaviors in alcohol-discordant relationships, which puts them at a higher risk of HIV infection.
Conclusions:
Results indicate a need to address alcoholism in rural Kenya as a public health problem focusing on education and understanding of the long-term health consequences. Addressing the impact on male reproductive health is crucial because it impacts the wider community. Given the complex relationship between alcohol abuse and HIV/AIDS, it is also important for prevention interventions to target married women and non-alcohol consumers. Furthermore, engaging communities will ensure development of culture- and gender-specific interventions. Such engagement requires facilitation of health practitioners for development of meaningful community-based initiatives
Communication for HIV/AIDS Prevention in Kenya: Social-Cultural Considerations
No full textThe acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) epidemic is spreading fast in Africa in spite of the
various efforts and resources put in place to prevent it. In Kenya, reproductive health programs have
used the mass media and other communication interventions to inform and educate the public about
the disease and to promote behavior change and healthy sexual practices. This effort has led to a
discrepancy between awareness and behavioral change among people of reproductive age. In this
article I examine the discrepancy in Kenya from a communications perspective addressing social
cultural and related factors contributing to the lack of change in behavior and sexual practices. I draw
on the theoretical framework of Grunig’s model of excellence in communication, the importance of
understanding and relationship building between programs and their stakeholders. Data were gathered
qualitatively using focus groups and in-depth interviews among men and women in rural Kenya. Key
findings indicate that although awareness of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) including human
immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/AIDS is high in Kenya, a majority of the population, particularly
those in the rural communities, lack understanding of the communicated messages. They also lack the
knowledge of other ways of transmitting HIV particularly among those not sexually involved. Cultural
beliefs, values, norms, and myths have played a role in the rapidly increasing epidemic in the rural
communities and yet HIV/AIDS communication programs have not addressed these factors
adequately. I conclude that successful behavior change communication must include strategies that
focus on increasing understanding of the communicated messages and understanding of the audience
through application of appropriate methodologies. Building a relationship with the audience or
stakeholders through dialogues and two-way symmetrical communication contributes toward this
understanding and the maintenance of the newly adopted behaviors and practices
HIV/AIDS Stigma and Religiosity among African American Women
No full textAfrican American women are disproportionately affected by HIV/AIDS compared to other
ethnicities, accounting for two-thirds (67%) of all women diagnosed with HIV. Despite their
increased risk of HIV infection, few studies have been conducted to understand culture-specific
factors leading to their vulnerability. Given the central role of religious organizations in African
American communities, this study explored whether and to what extent religiosity plays a role in
stigma toward HIV/AIDS. A survey of 205 African American women in two Midwestern cities
measured the following key variables: 1) religious stigma of HIV/AIDS, 2) religiosity, 3) personal
relevance of HIV/AIDS, 4) knowledge of HIV/AIDS, 5) perceived influence of religion on views
of people with HIV/AIDS, and 6) demographics. Results of hierarchical regression showed that
after controlling for key factors, religiosity was a significant factor predicting the level of religious
stigma (β=-.18, p <.05). Those with high religiosity displayed significantly higher stigma, associating
HIV/AIDS with a curse or punishment from God. Verbatim responses to an open-ended question
also revealed seemingly ingrained prejudice against HIV/AIDS from a religious perspective. The
findings point to the important role of faith-based organizations (FBOs) in addressing HIV/AIDS
issues within African American communities
Financial Resource Mobilization and Counties Sustainable Development in Kenya: A Case Study of Tharaka Nithi County Government
No full textCounty governments in Kenya are tasked with fourteen constitutional responsibilities, necessitating robust financial resource mobilization beyond national allocations. Despite possessing the potential to generate local revenue, most counties, including Tharaka Nithi, have underperformed due to financial inefficiencies. This study investigated how financial resource mobilization affects sustainable development in Tharaka Nithi County. The objectives included exploring how Own Source Revenue (OSR) can enhance sustainable development, identifying obstacles in financial mobilization and proposing strategic, time-bound solutions. The study was guided by public goods and sustainable development theories. The study employed a mixed-methods approach, utilizing questionnaires and interviews from 100 participants including county officials, national government officers, and citizens. Stratified random and purposive sampling ensured representative and expert input. Diagnostic tests like normality, multicollinearity, and heteroscedasticity confirmed data reliability. Instrument consistency was assessed through Cronbach’s Alpha and test-retest methods, while validity was established through expert reviews and pilot testing. Analysis using Excel and SPSS revealed that financial resource mobilization significantly influences sustainable development. The study found that taxes and levies (β=0.479, p=0.000), grant transfers (β=0.158, p=0.024), public-private partnerships (β=0.277, p=0.003), and income from county enterprises (β=0.147, p=0.034) positively impacted development. These resources support infrastructure, reduce inequality, and promote sustainable practices. Public-private partnerships were especially noted for enhancing infrastructure and service delivery. However, major challenges included bloated public payrolls, ethnic politics, illicit outflows, debt dependency, and corruption. The study recommends enhancing OSR by formalizing the informal sector, streamlining taxation processes and strengthening legal and institutional frameworks to build economic resilience and support long-term development.
Keywords: Financial Resource Mobilization, Sustainable Development, Own Source Revenue, Public-Private Partnerships, County Governance, Revenue Generatio
Cultural competency, child protection intake workers, and northern British Columbia experiences.
No full textCultural and ethnic diversity as a principle feature in Canadian child protection services necessitates drastic continuous reviews of existing organization policies and frameworks. A case in point is the need to address the persistent disproportional representation of ethnic minority children in the British Columbia's provincial child welfare system. As the initial contact with families in the province, child protection intake social workers' cultural competency largely determines the effectiveness of the services provided to families. This qualitative study used content analysis to analyze interviews with six child protection social workers employed by the Ministry of Children and Family Development (MCFD). A thematic framework was developed that can be used to inform MCFD regarding the need for improvement of cultural competency among its workers. --P. i.The original print copy of this thesis may be available here: http://wizard.unbc.ca/record=b173649
Pan Afr Med J
No full textThe recent Zika outbreak in the Americas, Ebola epidemic in West Africa and the increased frequency and impact of emerging and re-emerging infections of animal origin have increased the calls for greater preparedness in early detection and responses to public health events. One-Health approaches that emphasize collaborations between human health, animal health and environmental health sectors for the prevention, early detection and response to disease outbreaks have been hailed as a key strategy. Here we highlight three main efforts that have progressed the implementation of One Health in Kenya
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