scholarly journals The Effects of Group Sand play on the Psychological Health and Resilience of Street Children and Adolescents in Uganda

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 235-268
Author(s):  
Alice Kolawole Olaniyi ◽  
Shallon Atuheire ◽  
Lesley Lally ◽  
Ruán Kane ◽  
Iryna Danilova ◽  
...  

The authors analysed the effects of group Sandplay therapy on adolescents' psychological health and resilience in a mixed-method research. They explored and categorized the themes these adolescents expressed during therapy. Fifteen children (n=15) were recruited for the study; (Boarding school children = 5; Day school children = 5; Street children = 5). The selection process was conducted in cooperation with an orphanage in Kabale, Uganda. The children who participated in the study underwent a forty-five-minute sand play therapy every week for nine weeks. The SDQ and RCADS were administered to the groups both pre- and post-intervention, with the data entered and analysed using SPSS. Group sandplay was found to significantly decrease the adolescents' internalizing problems such as anxiety and depression, while their resilience had also significantly improved. The narrative analysis, in turn, yielded seven themes: basic needs; community-love-celebration; giving help-leadership-empowerment; security-danger, recreation-self-development-self-nurturance, education, and seeking help-faith.

Author(s):  
Rajeev Sharma ◽  
Geeta Choudhury

The case presents the situation prevailing in Loreto Day School, Sealdah, when Sister Cyril took over as the principal of the school. It details the initiatives taken by her to turn around the school. With her active interest and concern for marginalised children, the school started admitting a greater number of non - fee paying children, bringing their number to half of the total enrolled children in the school. Several programmes like providing shelter to street children and integrating them into the education system, weekly visits by school children to nearby village schools, addressing the problem of hidden child labour, programmes for platform children and training for barefoot teachers were organised along with other teaching and learning activities in the school. Pedagogic changes like activity oriented science teaching, value education, work education, and an assessment programme which took into account the effort put in by children were also initiated. Views of a cross-section of parents, some of whom had high praise for the school while some others expressed concerns about its divergent activities are also included.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
J L Smith ◽  
R Banerjee ◽  
D R Linkin ◽  
E P Schwab ◽  
P Saberi ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is recommended to start within hours of needlestick injuries (NSIs) among healthcare workers (HCWs). Delays associated with awaiting the results of testing from the source patient (whose blood was involved in the NSI) can lead to psychological consequences for the exposed HCW as well as symptomatic toxicities from empiric PEP. Aims After developing a ‘stat’ (immediate) workflow that prioritized phlebotomy and resulting of source patient bloodwork for immediate handling and processing, we retrospectively investigated whether our new workflow had (i) decreased HIV order-result interval times for source patient HIV bloodwork and (ii) decreased the frequency of HIV PEP prescriptions being dispensed to exposed HCWs. Methods We retrospectively analysed NSI records to identify source patient HIV order-result intervals and PEP dispensing frequencies across a 6-year period (encompassing a 54-month pre-intervention period and 16-month post-intervention period). Results We identified 251 NSIs, which occurred at similar frequencies before versus after our intervention (means 3.54 NSIs and 3.75 NSIs per month, respectively). Median HIV order-result intervals decreased significantly (P < 0.05) from 195 to 156 min after our intervention, while the proportion of HCWs who received one or more doses of PEP decreased significantly (P < 0.001) from 50% (96/191) to 23% (14/60). Conclusion Using a ‘stat’ workflow to prioritize source patient testing after NSIs, we achieved a modest decrease in order-result intervals and a dramatic decrease in HIV PEP dispensing rates. This simple intervention may improve HCWs’ physical and psychological health during a traumatic time.


2014 ◽  
Vol 14 (65) ◽  
pp. 9257-9271
Author(s):  
FB Wandia ◽  
◽  
GK Ettyang ◽  
G Mbagaya ◽  
◽  
...  

Childhood overweight and obesity is a serious emerging problem in both developed and developing countries. The developed world is already grappling with a proportionately high burden of obesity in children, with the developing countries experiencing a double burden of under nutrition and over nutrition. Obesity posses a significant public health threat to children as it has a significant impact on both their physical and psychological health. Furthermore, childhood overweight and obesity has been associated with an increase in cardiovascular risk factors in adult life. The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of overweight and obesity among nursery school children aged 3-6 years in Eldoret Municipality and to identify the associated factors. Crosssectional study of 320 nursery school children aged 3-6 years was carried out in 20 nursery schools sampled from Eldoret Municipality. Simple random sampling proportionate to each of the schools population size was used to select the children. A child’s anthropometric data, which was converted to Weight – for- Height z-scores, was used to determine the prevalence of overweight and obesity. A structured questionnaire was used to collect data. Anthropometric data was analyzed using WHO anthro software for child standards in monitoring and growth. Data was analyzed using SPSS version 12.0 and Epi Info version 3.4.3. Chi-square test of association and logistic regression (binary) was used to determine the significant variables affecting the prevalence of overweight and obesity. All p values <0.05 were considered to be statistically significant. Results indicated that the prevalence of overweight was 13.4% and obesity 6.9%. Type of school, owning television, parent’s employment status and mode of transport to school were each independently significantly associated with overweight and obesity of the children. In conclusion, overweight and obesity exist in nursery school children in Eldoret Municipality, Kenya. Increase in physical activities should be ensured both at home and in the communities.


2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 830-830
Author(s):  
Stuart MacDonald ◽  
Debra Sheets ◽  
Andre Smith

Abstract Arts-based interventions for person’s with dementia and their caregivers represent an inexpensive, non-invasive, and non-pharmacological intervention with the potential to improve psychological function as well as reduce healthcare costs. The paper presents an overview of Voices in Motion (ViM), and the impact of this social-cognitive intervention on changes in psychological function for those with dementia and their caregivers (current n=26 dyads). Choir rehearsals were held on a weekly basis, and included a social discussion component. A range of outcomes (neuropsychological and physiological function, neural activation) were assessed using an intensive repeated measures design that facilitates both between- and within-person analyses, including nuanced evaluation of whether psychological function improves post intervention relative to an individual’s personal average, yielding a conservative within-person test of the benefits of intervention. Discussion focuses on the promise of such interventions for mitigating dementia symptoms and facilitating the psychological health of caregivers.


2020 ◽  
pp. 003022282097627
Author(s):  
Christina Thatcher

This article examines how writing can increase the self-awareness of a socially isolated and often stigmatized population: those bereaved by addiction. Writing about a traumatic event has been shown to increase self-awareness which can improve health and regulate negative behaviors. Using narrative analysis on the writing of individuals bereaved by addiction, this study found that participants were able to increase their self-awareness through writing to the dead, the living and themselves. Participants’ writing also demonstrated their attempts to make sense and make meaning out of their loss which are both strong predictors of positive health outcomes. All participants in this study demonstrated increased self-awareness as well as sense-making and/or meaning-making which can lead to improvements in behavior regulation, psychological health and physical heath. This suggests that writing may be a uniquely beneficial therapeutic intervention for those experiencing disenfranchised grief as a result of bereavement by addiction.


Author(s):  
C. Copperstone ◽  
G. McNeill ◽  
L. Aucott ◽  
D.M. Jackson

AbstractBackgroundExcessive sugar consumption remains implicated as one of the key dietary factors that has been linked to overweight and obesity in children. Schools have been identified as an important setting for health promotion interventions in children and can be successful in bringing about dietary behavioral change when well designed.ObjectiveThe main aim of the study was to conduct a pilot intervention study and assess the possible effects of educational and environmental methodological components on sugar intake and water consumption in Maltese school children.Subjects and methodsFace-to-face educational sessions for children and parents were supported by written materials and provision of free drinking water for children for a 12 week period in the school setting. Two main dietary outcomes were measured: non-milk extrinsic sugars(NMES) intake (measured as g/day) and water consumption (measured as servings/day), measured in the pre- and post-intervention periods. The dietary outcomes were measured at school using the novel online dietary assessment tool, REALITYMALTA™.Results55 children, aged 10-11 years, were recruited, and 48 provided diet data at baseline and end. A reduction in mean energy intakes was noted from 7733 kJ/day (SD 2046) to 6809 (SD 2224) kJ/day (p = 0.03), with water servings intake increased and NMES intake decreased but results not statistically significant. Parent attendance at the educational sessions was low.ConclusionsA larger scale study, including multi-level analysis is recommended. Modifying the content of the intervention and finding ways to increase parent engagement should be considered in future.


Author(s):  
R.A. Spychka ◽  
C.M. Sellar ◽  
J.C. Easaw ◽  
A.D. Murtha ◽  
S.N. Culos-Reed ◽  
...  

Purpose: Exercise has been shown to be beneficial for the physical and psychological health of cancer survivors, however, little research has been conducted on the effects of exercise in the brain tumour population. Survivors with brain tumours present with unique challenges in terms of mobility and function that may compromise their ability to safety take part in community-based exercise. Methods: Three survivors with primary brain tumours will be profiled in this case series presentation. Participants were screened using a cancer specific intake questionnaire and the Physical Activity Readiness Questionnaire, and triaged to supervised clinic-based or community-based exercise. All participants completed the 12-week intervention for the Alberta Cancer Exercise (ACE) study. Measurements were taken at baseline, and post-intervention including measures of body composition, aerobic fitness, musculoskeletal fitness, balance and flexibility. Self-reported measures included questionnaires to assess impact on physical functioning, symptoms and quality of life, and to evaluate satisfaction with programming. Results: One participant was referred to supervised clinic-based exercise programming due to a high risk of falls, and two participants were deemed safe and approved for community-based supported exercise programming at a preferred location closer to their home. Preliminary results suggest high program satisfaction, maintenance and/or benefit of physical fitness, balance, and symptom control. Conclusions: Further efforts are needed to better tailor programming to the needs of the survivor and consideration given to the advantages of the supervised clinic-based environment when compared to the survivor preference for a “closer to home” community-based setting.


2020 ◽  
Vol 26 (3) ◽  
pp. 642-663 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lorraine Cale ◽  
Jo Harris ◽  
Oliver Hooper

There are growing concerns over young people’s mental health, the academic pressures they face, and the association between school-related stress and health. Given this, alongside the known benefits of physical activity for psychological health, the need for school-based interventions with a physical activity focus seems justified. This paper reports on findings from the evaluation of a pilot of ‘Get to the Start Line’, an innovative school-based programme designed to address adolescents’ school-related stress and anxiety. The research adopted a mixed-methods approach and a pre- and post- design. Six schools from the East Midlands, UK, and selected year 11 pupils (aged 15–16) identified as experiencing examination-related stress and anxiety, participated in the programme. The programme was coordinated by a school champion (a staff member), delivered by an athlete mentor, and comprised six workshops. Data were collected from school champions and athlete mentors via an online survey following each workshop, and via semi-structured focus groups and interviews with pupils and school champions, respectively, pre-, mid- and post-intervention. Schools also provided relevant pupil data. The findings revealed the programme to be positively received by most pupils and to result in positive outcomes such as reported reductions in examination-related stress and anxiety for some, and fewer pupil well-being referrals. However, various challenges and limitations of the programme were identified, and recommendations were made for its future development. Therefore, whilst some of the findings were encouraging, further research into the implementation and impact of this and other such programmes is needed.


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