1,720,961 research outputs found
Alcohol consumption and reproductive health risks in rural Central Kenya
Get PDFObjective:
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
Get PDFThe 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
The interpersonal communication approach to HIV/AIDS prevention: strategies and challenges for faith-based organizations.
Get PDFThis 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
Students’ expectations and motivation for service-learning in public relations
Get PDFThis study is based on a survey of public relations students and examines their attitudes, expectations, and motivations for participating in curriculum-infused service-learning projects. Results indicate that prior participation does not influence attitudes or expectations, but motivation to participate in the project was significantly associated with positive attitude and higher expectations. Students’ expectations, which include social and professional growth, and psychological and altruistic gratification through community contributions, indicate a need for discipline-focused service-learning programs and for a focus on civic engagement given the role of public relations in relationship building and in strategically addressing social issues that impact society
Going Beyond Counting First Authors in Author Co-citation Analysis
Get PDFThe present study examines one of the fundamental aspects of author co-citation analysis (ACA) - the way co-citation
counts are defined. Co-citation counting provides the data on which all subsequent statistical analyses and mappings
are based, and we compare ACA results based on two different types of co-citation counting - the traditional type that
only counts the first one among a cited work's authors on the one hand and a non-traditional type that takes into
account the first 5 authors of a cited work on the other hand. Results indicate that the picture produced through this non-traditional author co-citation counting contains more coherent author groups and is therefore considerably clearer. However, this picture represents fewer specialties in the research field being studied than that produced through the traditional first-author co-citation counting when the same number of top-ranked authors is selected and analyzed. Reasons for these effects are discussed
Variations on the Author
Get PDF“Variations on the Author” discusses two of Eduardo Coutinho’s recent films (Um Dia na Vida, from 2010, and Últimas Conversas, posthumously released in 2015) and their contribution to the general question of documentary authorship. The director’s filmography is characterized by a consistent yet self-effacing form of authorial self-inscription: Coutinho often features as an interviewer that rather than express opinions propels discourses; an interviewer that is good at listening. This mode of self-inscription characterizes him as an author who is not expressive but who is nonetheless markedly present on the screen. In Um Dia na Vida, however, Coutinho is completely absent form the image, while Últimas Conversas, on the contrary, includes a confessional prologue that moves the director from the margins to the center of his films. This article examines the ways in which these works stand out in the filmography of a director who offers new insights into the notion of cinematic authorship
Appropriate Similarity Measures for Author Cocitation Analysis
Get PDFWe provide a number of new insights into the methodological discussion about author cocitation analysis. We first argue that the use of the Pearson correlation for measuring the similarity between authors’ cocitation profiles is not very satisfactory. We then discuss what kind of similarity measures may be used as an alternative to the Pearson correlation. We consider three similarity measures in particular. One is the well-known cosine. The other two similarity measures have not been used before in the bibliometric literature. Finally, we show by means of an example that our findings have a high practical relevance.information science;Pearson correlation;cosine;similarity measure;author cocitation analysis
Violence against women and girls in the Caribbean: an intervention and lessons learned from Jamaica
No full textThis paper describes the interagency campaign implemented in 1998 that specifically addressed violence against women and girls, documenting the lessons learnt and key findings of the intervention as well as some implications. The terms ‘violence against women (and girls)’ and ‘gender-based violence’ are used synonymously in this paper as in many writings on gender issues. We define gender-based violence as violence based on one’s gender, which is characterized by imbalanced gender relations. Gender is a social construct ascribing feminine or masculine identity and roles to biologically determined female and male persons (Kesselman et al, 1999; Young in Mahammad and Shepherd, 1999). The power imbalance in gender relations is most evident where men and boys are attributed socially higher value than women and girls. Gender-based violence appears mostly as violence against women and girls perpetuated by men and boys, where the “aggressor is often motivated by gender considerations such as the need to reinforce male power and privilege” (Rico, 1997:8). The first section of the paper addresses the theoretical perspectives positing an explanation for the occurrence of gender-based violence. The next section describes the extent of the gender-based violence problem in the Jamaican context through an overview of some cases of violence against women and girls that received media attention. The main body of the paper focuses on the campaign, describing the methods used to gather information as well as the campaign process and challenges. It concludes with the lessons learned and key findings from which future interventions might benefit
- …
