scholarly journals ‘MSM’ as a ‘doing thing’

2019 ◽  
Vol 6 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert Lorway
Keyword(s):  
Global Health ◽  
Social Complexity ◽  
Ethnographic Research ◽  
Lgbt Rights ◽  
Materialist Interpretation

Drawing upon long-term ethnographic research in Namibia, I examine the label ‘MSM’ through a materialist interpretation of affect, viewing ‘MSM’ as a ‘doing thing’ that unsettles the boundaries between subjects and objects. From this analytic perspective, I reconsider the ‘MSM’ label as an inadequate signifier that overlooks, conceals, or erases social complexity. Instead, this perspective reveals what happens when the MSM label travels, thereby better accounting for the socialities it is instrumental in making up. Its very design and appearance – which portray bodies and behaviours in universalistic ways – allow this ‘doing thing’ to gain entry to diverse spaces where it comes to exist alongside some contentious postcolonial political formations, such as those surrounding LGBT rights. I argue that although the label is designed to be insulated from politics, as a ‘neutral’ behavioural category, when ‘MSM’ travels it is still highly relational, continually entangling itself in contexts, stirring up postcolonial anxieties, and reinforcing global inequalities, while also setting the stage for global health worlds coming into being.

Gaining access to the field in medical ethnography: Reflections on ethical, methodological, and structural challenges in the study of long-term care facilities

2021 ◽  
pp. 136345932098887
Author(s):  
Neta Roitenberg
Keyword(s):  
Long Term Care ◽  
Ethnographic Research ◽  
Term Care ◽  
Medical Institutions ◽  
Care Workers ◽  
Care Facilities ◽  
Key Issues ◽  
Access To The Field ◽  
Medical Ethnography

The article extends the discussion on the challenges in gaining access to the field in medical ethnographic research, focusing on long-term care (LTC) facilities. Medical institutions have been documented to be difficult sites to access. The reference, however, is to the recruitment of patients as informants. The challenges of recruiting practitioners as informants have not been investigated at all. The article presents the key issues that emerged in the process of gaining social access at the sites of two LTC facilities as part of a study on care workers’ identities. The main obstacles encountered during the fieldwork were organizational constraints and negotiating control over the process of recruiting the lower occupational tier of care workers with gatekeepers. The article presents the coping strategies implemented to overcome the ethical and methodological obstacles: continually reassessing the consent and cooperation of participants and developing a rapport with nurse’s aides during interviews.

scholarly journals The Implications of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Religious Exercise: Preliminary Remarks

Laws ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 44
Author(s):  
Adelaide Madera
Keyword(s):  
Global Health ◽  
Health And Safety ◽  
Fundamental Rights ◽  
Special Issue ◽  
Health Crisis ◽  
Personal Lives ◽  
Regulatory Frameworks ◽  
Starting Point ◽  
Legal Contexts

Since 2020, the spread of COVID-19 has had an overwhelming impact not only on our personal lives, but also on domestic regulatory frameworks. Influential academics have strongly underlined that, in times of deep crisis, such as the current global health crisis, the long-term workability of legal systems is put to a severe test. In this period, in fact, the protection of health has been given priority, as a precondition that is orientating many current legal choices. Such an unprecedented health emergency has also raised a serious challenge in terms of fundamental rights and liberties. Several basic rights that normally enjoy robust protection under constitutional, supranational, and international guarantees, have experienced a devastating “suspension” for the sake of public health and safety, thus giving rise to a vigorous debate concerning whether and to what extent the pandemic emergency justifies limitations on fundamental rights. The present paper introduces the Special Issue on “The crisis of the religious freedom during the age of COVID-19 pandemic”. Taking as a starting point the valuable contributions of the participants in the Special Issue, it explores analogous and distinctive implications of the COVID-19 pandemic in different legal contexts and underlines the relevance of cooperation between religious and public actors to face a global health crisis.

Obstetric Violence in Their Own Words: How Women in Mexico and South Africa Expect, Experience, and Respond to Violence

2021 ◽  
pp. 107780122110373
Author(s):  
Vania Smith-Oka ◽  
Sarah E. Rubin ◽  
Lydia Z. Dixon
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Ethnographic Research ◽  
Powerful Method ◽  
Obstetric Violence ◽  
The World ◽  
Core Feature ◽  
Temporal Model ◽  
Women's Stories ◽  
Structural Inequalities

This article, based on ethnographic research in Mexico and South Africa, presents two central arguments about obstetric violence: (a) structural inequalities across diverse global sites are primarily linked to gender and lead to similar patterns of obstetric violence, and (b) ethnography is a powerful method to give voice to women's stories. Connecting these two arguments is a temporal model to understand how women across the world come to expect, experience, and respond to obstetric violence—that is, before, during, and after the encounter. This temporal approach is a core feature of ethnography, which requires long-term immersion and attention to context.

scholarly journals What Makes Health Systems Resilient? A Qualitative Analysis of The Perspectives of Swiss NGOs

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pauline Yongeun Grimm ◽  
Kaspar Wyss
Keyword(s):  
Global Health ◽  
Health System ◽  
Human Resource Development ◽  
Health Systems ◽  
Knowledge Exchange ◽  
Innovative Solutions ◽  
System Resilience ◽  
State Actors

Abstract Background: Resilience has become relevant than ever before with the advent of increasing and intensifying shocks on the health system and its amplified effects due to globalization. Using the example of non-state actors based in Switzerland, the aim of this study is to explore how and to what extent NGOs with an interest in global health have dealt with unexpected shocks on the health systems of their partner countries and to reflect on the practical implications of resilience for the multiple actors involved. Consequently, this paper analyses the key attributes of resilience that targeted investments may influence, and the different roles key stakeholders may assume to build resilience. Methods: This is a descriptive and exploratory qualitative study analysing the perspectives on health system resilience of Swiss-based NGOs through 20 in-depth interviews. Analysis proceeded using a data-driven thematic analysis closely following the framework method. An analytical framework was developed and applied systematically resulting in a complete framework matrix. The results are categorised into the expected role of the governments, the role of the NGOs, and practical future steps for building health system resilience. Results: The following four key ‘foundations of resilience’ were found to be dominant for unleashing greater resilience attributes regardless of the nature of shocks: ‘realigned relationships,’ ‘foresight,’ ‘motivation,’ and ‘emergency preparedness.’ The attribute to ‘integrate’ was shown to be one of the most crucial characteristics of resilience expected of the national governments from the NGOs, which points to the heightened role of governance. Meanwhile, as a key stakeholder group that is becoming inevitably more powerful in international development cooperation and global health governance, non-state actors namely the NGOs saw themselves in a unique position to facilitate knowledge exchange and to support long-term adaptations of innovative solutions that are increasing in demand. The strongest determinant of resilience in the health system was the degree of investments made for building long-term infrastructures and human resource development which are well-functioning prior to any potential crisis. Conclusions: Health system resilience is a collective endeavour and a result of many stakeholders’ consistent and targeted investments. These investments open up new opportunities to seek innovative solutions and to keep diverse actors in global health accountable. Strong governance, a bi-directional knowledge exchange, and the focus on leveraging science for impact can draw greater potential of resilience in the health systems. Governments and the NGOs have unique points of contribution in this journey towards resilience and may support governments to prioritise investing in the key ‘foundations of resilience’ in order to activate greater attributes of resilience.

OS09.7.A Quality of life outcomes in patients with incidental and operated meningiomas: the QUALMS study

2021 ◽  
Vol 23 (Supplement_2) ◽  
pp. ii12-ii13
Author(s):  
S M Keshwara ◽  
A I Islim ◽  
C P Millward ◽  
C S Gillespie ◽  
G E Richardson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Global Health ◽  
Cognitive Functioning ◽  
Emotional Health ◽  
Health Score ◽  
Sf 36 ◽  
Eortc Qlq

Abstract BACKGROUND Long-term Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQoL) is an important measure of patient wellbeing. There is a paucity of studies evaluating HRQoL in meningioma patients. MATERIAL AND METHODS Cross-sectional study of adult patients with an incidental or symptomatic intracranial meningioma. Patients with less than 5 years of follow-up, a history of craniospinal radiation or neurofibromatosis type 2 were excluded. HRQoL was evaluated with SF-36, EORTC QLQ-C30 and EORTC QLQ-BN20 questionnaires. Outcome determinants were evaluated using a multi-variable linear regression analysis, adjusted for patient, tumour and treatment characteristics, and duration of follow-up. RESULTS 699 patients were invited to participate and 246 responded: 118 (48%) had an incidental meningioma. Mean age at diagnosis was 56.8 years (SD=13) and 81% were female. Median time from diagnosis to completion of questionnaire was 8.5 years (IQR 6.8–11.5). During follow-up, 158 patients (64.2%) had at least one operation for their meningioma and 47 patients (19.1%) had radiotherapy. Of those operated, 126 (79.7%) had WHO grade 1 and 24 (15.2%) had grade 2 meningiomas. Compared to normative population values, meningioma patients reported a worse SF-36 general health score (mean 61.9 vs 56.5, P=0.003) but a similar QLQ-C30 global health score (mean 62.3 vs 65.8, P=0.039), worse SF-36 and QLQ-C30 physical functioning scores (mean 74.1 vs 64.6, P<0.001 and mean 81.8 vs 76.5, P=0.007) and similar SF-36 and QLQ-C30 emotional health scores (mean 72.2 vs 70.9, P=0.367 and mean 71.0 vs 71.9, P=0.960). QLQ-C30 cognitive functioning was worse (mean 80.5 vs 71.4, P<0.001). Compared to the meningioma literature, QLQ-BN20 seizure burden was similar (mean 2.0 vs 1.6, P=0.760). A worse performance status at diagnosis was associated with an inferior QLQ-C30 global health score (β-coefficient=-4.9 [95% CI -9.1-(-)0.6] P=0.024). Number of surgeries was significantly associated with a worse QLQ-C30 cognitive functioning score (β-coefficient=-7.0 [95% CI -13.2-(-)0.9], P=0.025). Anti-epileptic drug use was associated with a significantly worse QLQ-C30 emotional health score (β-coefficient=-10.9 [95% CI -21.7-(-)0.01], P=0.050). CONCLUSION Meningioma patients have long-term HRQoL impairments affecting their physical and cognitive functions. An understanding that multiple surgeries affects cognitive function, and the need for anti-epileptic drugs equate to poorer emotional health, could help target appropriate therapies and support in the future.

"To Be a Little More Realistic": The Ethical Labour of Suspension among Nightclub Hostesses in Southeast China

2021 ◽  
Vol 94 (2) ◽  
pp. 307-328
Author(s):  
Jiazhi Fengjiang
Keyword(s):  
Social Interactions ◽  
Life Goals ◽  
Ethnographic Research ◽  
Ethical Judgement ◽  
Women Migrants ◽  
Ethical Conflict ◽  
Southeast China ◽  
Conscious Effort ◽  
Ethical Conflicts

This article explores the "ethical labour" of suspension––the conscious effort of deferring one's ethical judgement and reflections in order to avoid irreconcilable ethical conflicts between one's present activities and long-term goals. While people engage in ethical judgement and reflections in everyday social interactions, it is the laborious aspect of regulating one's ethical dispositions that I highlight in the concept of "ethical labour." Although it cannot be directly commodified, ethical labour is a form of labour as it consumes energy and is integral to the performance of other forms of labour, particularly intimate and emotional ones. This formulation of ethical labour draws on my long-term ethnographic research with a group of young women migrants working as hostesses in high-end nightclubs in southeast China. Many of them perform socially stigmatized work with the goal of contributing to their family and saving money for a dignified life in the future. Ethical labour is essential to their hostess work because it enables them to juggle multiple affective relationships and defer the fundamental ethical conflict. They express ethical labour through the phrase "to be a little more realistic," making sure that they obtain what they want at a particular moment. But ethical labour does not simply mean pushing ethical questions aside. It is sustained by conscious effort and is overshadowed by fears of ageing and failure to achieve long-term life goals. Prolonged ethical labour often fails to resolve ethical conflict and may intensify one's stress. My analysis of these women migrants' situation contributes to the sex-as-work debate regarding women's agency in work and their subjection to exploitation.

Youth Negotiate Deportation

2019 ◽  
pp. 135-146
Author(s):  
Lauren Heidbrink
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Young People ◽  
The United States ◽  
Children And Youth ◽  
Ethnographic Research ◽  
Institutional Practices ◽  
Unaccompanied Children ◽  
Forced Return ◽  
The U.S

This chapter chronicles how young people experience deportation from the United States to Guatemala. It examines the policies and institutional practices that govern the removal of unaccompanied children and trace the ways in which young people and their families understand and navigate these policies and practices. Through multi-sited ethnographic research in the United States and Guatemala, the chapter reveals the various impacts of the forced “repatriation” of children, exacerbating the very conditions that spurred their migration and causing new interrelated uncertainties and related risks as “deportees.” As they are physically expelled from the United States, deported young people move out of U.S. legal systems. The effects of a forced “return” to their nations of origin produce new challenges such as feelings of isolation and vulnerability as well as danger, such that, in many ways, they continue to be in and moving through regimes of illegality. Demonstrating the long-term and geographically distant effects of the U.S. government’s deportation of children and youth, the chapter outlines the confining character of being out of a system, especially if once in it.

Bank-SME Relationships

2013 ◽  
pp. 191-213
Author(s):  
Myria Ioannou ◽  
Simona Mihai-Yiannaki
Keyword(s):  
Negative Impact ◽  
Relationship Management ◽  
Ethnographic Research ◽  
Communication Mode ◽  
Technological Environment ◽  
New Developments ◽  
Research Platform ◽  
Long Term Performance ◽  
Term Performance

The chapter synthesizes extant interdisciplinary literature, by putting together a combination of relationship management theories as well as banking, economics, and finance theories, and blends this with findings from an ethnographic research platform to discuss the critical variables in the development of Bank-SME relationships. In addition, the chapter considers the effect of the recent economic crisis on the Bank-SME relationship. It can be seen that few banks looked inside their relationship with their SME customers as a means of redressing the crisis’ effect and this has detrimental effects on their long-term performance. As a consequence, the chapter proposes recommendations so as to reduce the crisis negative impact. Moreover, it highlights that the new developments in the technological environment, i.e. social media, can be used to strengthen the Bank-SME relationship’s success and is especially pertinent in such times of financial duress as it can enhance the communication mode of the dyad.

Ethnography

2019 ◽  
pp. 201-220
Author(s):  
Eileen Anderson-Fye ◽  
Vanessa M. Hildebrand
Keyword(s):  
Qualitative Research ◽  
Research Methods ◽  
Research Method ◽  
Related Topic ◽  
Ethnographic Research ◽  
Research Projects ◽  
Health Humanities ◽  
Qualitative Research Method ◽  
Health Related

Ethnography is a powerful qualitative research method used to understand research informants’ perspectives on a health-related topic. Developed and pioneered by anthropologists, this method has become an important tool across disciplines and industries. This chapter explains the utility of the method for use in the health humanities and offers step-by-step instructions to teach the reader to conduct ethnographic research. Concrete examples from long-term research projects demonstrate not only how this method is used to answer “why” and “how” questions, but also how this type of research pairs with other research methods. Many tools are offered to the reader to assist in the development of ethnographic research skills including resources, references, and an exercise to teach the method.

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