Commodifying the Female Body: Outsourcing Surrogacy in a Global Market

Commodification of the human body and its services is frequently contested. However, certain forms of bodily commodification are treated differently than others and raise fundamental questions about ethics, class, race and gender, to name a few. What commonly goes unacknowledged, however, is that human bodies are already commodified on a daily basis in a myriad of ways. Not only do medical professionals routinely commodify the bodies of their patients, but many others, such as models, athletes, news casters and dancers also rely on their bodies, and the way their bodies look and function, to earn an income. What differentiates certain forms of bodily commodification, specifically of the female body, from other accepted forms? This paper explores commodification of the female body through the burgeoning trend of international surrogacy as well as the symbolic importance of non-market rhetoric when referencing accepted forms of commodification of the body. I am specifically studying the ways in which international surrogacy is portrayed and perceived in the media and the broader implications this has on western culture’s acceptance of and promotion of surrogacy in the context of outsourcing gestational services to female bodies in developing countries

Sociodemographic Factors Influencing Island Food Consumption in the Pacific Islander Health Study

This dissertation explores the relationships between island food consumption, sociodemographic variables, and cardiovascular risk using data from the Pacific Islander Health Study (PIHS). Chapter 1 explores the associations between self-reported level of island food consumption and key covariates. Island food consumption was modeled using Poisson regression and adjusted for demographic, socioeconomic, and cultural characteristics. Increased Pacific Island cultural affinity was the strongest predictor of increased island food consumption while being formerly married was associated with decreased island consumption. These results speak to cultural norms and lifestyle choices that influence dietary choice. Chapter 2 examines how the associations between Pacific Island cultural affinity and island food consumption is moderated by demographic covariates. Following exploratory factor analysis, two separate factors emerged. The scale was split into two subscales measuring cultural activity participation and culturally relevant media consumption. No significant interactions were found between the activity subscale and any of the covariates, but significant interactions were found between the media subscale and ethnicity and birth country. Differences in media consumption – and therefore food advertising or food portrayal – by birth country may drive the moderation seen in these interactions. Chapter 3 assesses the association between island food consumption and cardiovascular risk using linear regression. A 9-point cardiovascular risk score was constructed. After adjustment for four blocks of covariates island food consumption was not significantly associated with cardiovascular risk. In bivariate analyses, island food consumption was significantly associated with higher fruit and vegetable consumption, but not fast food or sugar sweetened beverage consumption. These findings suggest that the type of island foods consumed by PIHS participants may include high levels of fruits and vegetables that are part of a heart-healthy diet. This dissertation is a first step in understanding dietary patterns of Pacific Islander Americans and has generated several hypotheses that could be used to inform future work. Showing how island food consumption in this small, but growing population will one day inform both policy makers and targeted dietary interventions

For the Health of a People: The Recruitment and Retention of Native Hawaiian Medical Students at the University of Hawai`i's John A. Burns School of Medicine

Thesis (M.A.)--University of Hawaii at Manoa, 2007Pacific Islands StudiesConsidering that Native Hawaiians make up approximately 20 percent of Hawai'i's population, but Native Hawaiians make up only 5 percent of Hawai'i's physicians, it is obvious that there is a deficiency within Hawai'i's medical education system. This paper explores the issue of culturally competent physician workforce development and the current recruitment and retention techniques used by the John A. Burns School of Medicine. In order to discover the true nature and identity of these barriers, twelve Native Hawaiian doctors, medical students, and pre-medical students were interviewed. The narratives of the doctors and students interviewed will be the major method of information presentation. After an analysis of the interview data, solutions such as a formal mentoring program for pre-medical students within the current infrastructure of the medical school to foster the academic, cultural, and professional development of Native Hawaiian medical and pre-medical students will be suggested

Handbook on insect enemies of flowers and shrubs /

no.62

Cardiometabolic health disparities in Native Hawaiians and other Pacific Islanders

Elimination of health disparities in the United States is a national health priority. Cardiovascular disease, di-abetes, and obesity are key features of what is now referred to as the ‘‘cardiometabolic syndrome,’ ’ which dispro-portionately affects racial/ethnic minority populations, including Native Hawaiians and other Pacific Islanders (NHOPI). Few studies have adequately characterized the cardiometabolic syndrome in high-risk populations such as NHOPI. The authors systematically assessed the existing literature on cardiometabolic disorders among NHOPI to understand the best approaches to eliminating cardiometabolic health disparities in this population. Articles were identified from database searches performed in PubMed and MEDLINE from January 1998 to December 2008; 43 studies were included in the review. There is growing confirmatory evidence that NHOPI are one of the highest-risk populations for cardiometabolic diseases in the United States. Most studies found increased prevalences of di-abetes, obesity, and cardiovascular risk factors among NHOPI. The few experimental intervention studies found positive results. Methodological issues included small sample sizes, sample bias, inappropriate racial/ethnic aggregation of NHOPI with Asians, and a limited number of intervention studies. Significant gaps remain in the understanding of cardiometabolic health disparities among NHOPI in the United States. More experimental in-tervention studies are needed to examine promising approaches to reversing the rising tide of cardiometabolic health disparities in NHOPI. cardiovascular diseases; diabetes mellitus; healthcare disparities; health status disparities; metabolic syndrome X; minority groups; minority health; obesit

Cardiometabolic health disparities in native Hawaiians and other Pacific Islanders.

Elimination of health disparities in the United States is a national health priority. Cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and obesity are key features of what is now referred to as the "cardiometabolic syndrome," which disproportionately affects racial/ethnic minority populations, including Native Hawaiians and other Pacific Islanders (NHOPI). Few studies have adequately characterized the cardiometabolic syndrome in high-risk populations such as NHOPI. The authors systematically assessed the existing literature on cardiometabolic disorders among NHOPI to understand the best approaches to eliminating cardiometabolic health disparities in this population. Articles were identified from database searches performed in PubMed and MEDLINE from January 1998 to December 2008; 43 studies were included in the review. There is growing confirmatory evidence that NHOPI are one of the highest-risk populations for cardiometabolic diseases in the United States. Most studies found increased prevalences of diabetes, obesity, and cardiovascular risk factors among NHOPI. The few experimental intervention studies found positive results. Methodological issues included small sample sizes, sample bias, inappropriate racial/ethnic aggregation of NHOPI with Asians, and a limited number of intervention studies. Significant gaps remain in the understanding of cardiometabolic health disparities among NHOPI in the United States. More experimental intervention studies are needed to examine promising approaches to reversing the rising tide of cardiometabolic health disparities in NHOPI