The MI-PHOTOS Project: Understanding the Health and Wellbeing of Rural Historically Marginalized Mothers Through Photovoice

Despite the persistent health inequities faced by rural women in the United States, few researchers have partnered with women in rural communities to co-create sustainable change. To fill this gap, Mothers Improving Pregnancy and Postpartum Health Outcomes Through stOry Sharing (MI-PHOTOS) employed a community-based participatory research (CBPR) approach by partnering with mothers, community leaders, and community-based organizations in Robeson County, North Carolina, a rural, racially diverse county. The project’s aims were (a) to promote maternal health by listening to mothers’ stories of having and raising children in their community and (b) to develop a shared understanding of these mothers’ strengths and challenges. MI-PHOTOS utilized photovoice, an exploratory and qualitative CBPR methodology. Grounded theory guided data analysis. During photovoice discussions, conversation focused on maternal experiences and evoked strengths, facilitators, and barriers impacting maternal health. Themes focused on (a) MI-PHOTOS serving as a social support group for the community and family stressors that mothers faced and (b) the necessity of professional support programs. Three overarching findings emerged during this process: (a) MI-PHOTOS as an informal support group, (b) mental health stigmatization, and (c) the need to bridge home visiting programs with peer and confidential therapeutic services. Future work should incorporate mothers’ and communities’ strengths into program development by drawing on existing home visiting programs, identifying opportunities for peer-support, and creating referral networks for individual, confidential therapeutic services. Through continued community partnership, we can generate fuller understandings of mothers’ experiences of having and raising children and ultimately promote health equity among rural mothers.

Positive Psychology in Times of Pandemic—Time Perspective as a Moderator of the Relationship between Resilience and Meaning in Life

Resilience and meaning in life are significant indicators of psychological well-being and health, which are particularly important in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. Therefore, they have been explored by a growing number of scientists. There has been a research gap, however, that fails to show that time perspectives also have a significant impact on the perception and building of different life aspects. The current study investigated the associations between resilience, time perspectives and meaning in life and examined the moderating role of time perspective in the relationship between resilience and meaning in life. Methods: Participants of this cross-sectional study were 363 adults aged 18-70. Resilience Measurement Scale (SPP-25), the Zimbardo Time Perspective Inventory (ZTPI), and the Purpose in Life Questionnaire (PIL) were used. Results: The findings confirmed a positive relationship between resilience, meaning in life, and positive time perspectives (Present Hedonistic and Future) and a negative link with Past Negative and Present Fatalistic perspectives. The linear regression analyses showed that Past Negative and Past Positive perspectives significantly moderated the relationship between resilience and meaning in life. The moderating effect was also confirmed in the case of past time perspectives only. Conclusions: The findings indicate the relevance of positive resources, such as resilience and positive perception of the past, in keeping the meaning in life. Understanding the effect of psychological strengths in the context of the pandemic time can be a key to providing intervention and therapeutic services fostering mental health and well-being.

Therapeutics Effects and Health Benefits of the Caucasus Koumiss: A Review

Koumiss (koumyss, kumiss, kumys, kumyz, kimiz or coomy) has been popular in Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Mongolia, and the Turkic, Mongolian, and Caucasian peoples of Russia: Altay, Bashkortostan, Buryatia, Dagestan, Kabardino-Balkaria, Kalmykia, Karachaevo-Cherkessia, Tatarstan, Tyva, Chuvashia, and Saha (Yakutia). Many countries in numerous Central Asian countries provide Koumiss therapeutic services, which are primarily provided by small and medium-sized accommodation firms that are particularly active in rural areas of those countries. Koumiss is classified as a functional food due to its nutritional and medicinal properties. Many health benefits of koumiss include high probiotic content; antibacterial and antifungal characteristics; regulation of immunity; maintenance of a healthy gastric-intestinal system; regulation of cholesterol and sugar levels; regulation of blood pressure; and induction of some important vitamins. The objective of this review is to provide a comprehensive summary of the health benefits of koumiss.

Inpatient Mental Healthcare before and during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Prior studies have demonstrated disruption to outpatient mental health services after the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Inpatient mental health services have received less attention. The current study utilized an existing cohort of 33 Veterans Health Affairs (VHA) acute inpatient mental health units to examine disruptions to inpatient services. It further explored the association between patient demographic, clinical, and services variables on relapse rates. Inpatient admissions and therapeutic services (group and individual therapy and peer support) were lower amongst the COVID-19 sample than prior to the onset of COVID-19 while lengths of stay were longer. Relapse rates did not differ between cohorts. Patients with prior emergent services use as well as substance abuse or personality disorder diagnoses were at higher risk for relapse. Receiving group therapy while admitted was associated with lower risk of relapse. Inpatient mental health services saw substantial disruptions across the cohort. Inpatient mental health services, including group therapy, may be an important tool to prevent subsequent relapse.

New Understanding of Dental Public Health: A Review

Oral disorders are a most important public health issue in most of the developing countries, and their prevalence is on the rise. To enhance the population's oral wellbeing by providing preventive and therapeutic services is the main aim of dental public health (DPH). However, due to low requirement of capability and ability among DPH personnel, its accomplishment in India is being probed [1]. For many people, dental care has grown expensive, and a huge number of patients around the world are delaying or ignoring important dental procedures. in addition, the ageing of the worldwide populace, as well as the resulting growth in common and dental concern needs, raises worries about the long-term viability of healthcare organization. These changes underscore the critical requirement for a new dental care representation that is both sustainable and efficient [2]. In this regard, the favorable approach for transforming the scene of oral healthcare is the adoption of scientific advancements in dentistry, commonly known as "digital dentistry" by many. In addition, the World Health Organization (WHO) campaigns revolutionize on a regular basis, encouraging the creation and spread of community wellbeing practices that are holded up by both documentation and conveyance technology (e-Health) and mobile phones (m-Health) [3]. We can see how scientific developments could facilitate to accomplish these aims by offering constructive apparatus if we focus on the concept of Dental Public Health (DPH) as “the knowledge and art of arresting and scheming dental disorders and understanding dental wellbeing through efficient group hard work” [4].

Ser e estar criança em um grupo terapêutico a partir do movimento vital expressivo (MVE): um relato de experiência/Being a child in a therapeutic group as of the vital expressive movement (vem): an experience report

Contextualização: Atualmente, há uma demanda significativa de encaminhamentos médicos aos serviços terapêuticos quanto às hipóteses diagnósticas de crianças com Transtorno do Déficit de Atenção com Hiperatividade (TDAH). Contudo, identificam-se outros vislumbres de compreensão e cuidado à infância. Processo de intervenção: Assim, este artigo busca descrever e analisar a prática da terapia ocupacional em um grupo de Movimento Vital Expressivo, com crianças, em um dispositivo de cuidado no interior de São Paulo. Síntese das considerações: A partir da descrição dos encontros realizados, à luz do Sistema Rio Aberto e do arcabouço teórico da Terapia Ocupacional, considera-se que práticas de cuidado que respeitam as formas de ser e fazer das crianças corroboram na construção de possibilidades de produção de vida.Palavras-chave: Terpia Ocupacional. Saúde Mental. Criança aAbstract Contextualization: Currently, there is a significant demand for medical referrals to therapeutic services regarding the diagnostic hypotheses of children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). However, other glimpses of understanding and care for children are identified. Intervention/Follow-up process: Thus, this article seeks to describe and analyze the practice of occupational therapy in a group of Vital Expressive Movement with children in a care device in the interior of São Paulo. Synthesis of Consideration: Based on the description of the meetings held in the light of the Río Abierto System and the theoretical framework of occupational therapy, it is considered that experiences like this corroborate the construction of practices that respect the ways of being and doing of children..Keywords: Occupational Therapy. Mental Health. Child ResumenContextualización: Actualmente, existe una importante demanda de derivaciones médicas a servicios terapéuticos en relación con las hipótesis diagnósticas de los niños con trastorno por déficit de atención e hiperactividad (TDAH). Sin embargo, se identifican otros destellos de comprensión y cuidado de los niños. Intervención / Proceso de seguimiento: Así, este artículo busca describir y analizar la práctica de la terapia ocupacional en un grupo de Movimiento Expresivo Vital con niños en un dispositivo de cuidado en el interior de São Paulo. Síntese de consideraciones: A partir de la descripción de los encuentros realizados a la luz del Sistema Río Abierto y el marco teórico de la terapia ocupacional, se considera que experiencias como esta corroboran la construcción de prácticas que respetan las formas de ser y hacer de los niños.Palabras clave: Terapia Ocupacional. Salud Mental. Niño

Remote Learning Experience for Children With Developmental Disabilities During COVID-19 Pandemic in an Ethnically Diverse Community

Owing to the COVID-19 pandemic, K-12 education in New York City quickly transitioned to remote learning. We performed a structured interview with 50 consecutive families of children with developmental disabilities about their experience with remote learning 2 months after COVID-19 lockdown. We observed that setting up the remote learning system was challenging for families who were born outside of the United States, spoke limited English, or had a lower level of education. Though some special education supports were in place, remote learning for children with developmental disabilities led to gaps in their therapeutic services. Children with more severe developmental disabilities joined less than 2 hours of remote learning per day and had a decrease in their therapeutic services. Most children (80%) relied on their parents for education. Additionally, for low-income communities, with families who spoke languages other than English, remote learning revealed a new barrier to access: technology.

International Telepractice: Encouraging Equity, Partnership, and Sustainability

Purpose The following commentary outlines the principles of international telepractice with regard to speech-language pathology and audiology services. Additionally, this commentary provides critical caveats and concerns surrounding international telepractice as well as a summary of principles to follow as telepractice programs encourage access to care and bidirectional, sustainable, and ethical practice development. Conclusions Telepractice among communication disorders professionals has grown exponentially in recent years. With the rise in telepractice opportunities, easier access to digital practice platforms, and increased Internet access through mobile devices, telepractice is a popular therapeutic modality in the communication disorders field. Telepractice applications have extended beyond therapeutic services alone and into clinical education among speech-language pathologists (SLPs) and audiologists (AUDs). Telepractice has also extended beyond national borders called international telepractice. This practice has the potential to improve access to critical rehabilitative and therapeutic services, build capacity in allied rehabilitation systems, and encourage global bidirectional partnership among SLPs and AUDs. However, this practice should not proceed without caution, and the ethical implications should be carefully and critically considered.