Evaluation of fostering network Scottish care mentoring projects

Looked after children and young people are some of the most vulnerable in our society. For Scotland’s Children highlighted the ‘continuing failure of many local authorities as ‘corporate parents’ to provide these young people with the care and education they are entitled to by law’ (Scottish Executive, 2001, p. 10). One of the major issues facing looked after young people is the process of transition from care to independence. It is a time when they have ‘a right to expect the sort of help that loving parents would provide for their children, help to reach their full potential, and the same chance to make mistakes secure in the knowledge that there is a safety net of support’ (Jamieson, 2002, p. 2). However, over a number of years, research has highlighted the poor outcomes for children leaving care. Longitudinal studies which have followed up children and young people in care as part of national cohort studies present the stark contrast in life outcomes between those who have experienced care and those who have not. Cheung and Heath (1994) compare these two groups at age 33. Only one fifth of those who had been in care had achieved O levels compared to one-third of those who had not; only half as many had achieved A levels. Only one in a hundred of those who had been in care achieved a university degree compared to one on ten of those who had not. Two fifths of those who had been in care had no formal qualifications compared to one in seven (Cheung and Heath, 1994). This lack of qualifications converted into lack of success in the job market with three times as many being unemployed (10.8 % compared to 3.6 %) and larger proportions having manual jobs as opposed to professional or non-manual jobs

Incidence of atmospheric pollen in the Pretoria Witwatersrand- Vereeniging region during 1987/1988

Atmospheric pollen and spores have been monitored continuously in the Pretoria-Witwatersrand-Vereeniging region (PWV) since 1987. Two Burkard 7-day recording traps were used in Johannesburg and Pretoria, and 11 gravity samplers were installed at various sites in the PWV. An analysis of the pollen component and pollen calendars average data for 1987 and 1988 are presented. Grass pollen was the most significant contributor in absolute and relative terms, comprising 52% of total pollen. The season peaked between October and March, but grass pollen was found throughout the year. Pollen of Northern Hemisphere trees was abundant, relative to that of indigenous trees. The flowering season for these exotics was very short and intense, possibly due to the short spring season. Seasonal taxa started flowering earlier in Pretoria than in Johannesburg. Herbaceous taxa were well . represented in the atmospheric sample. The major contributor was the daisy family. The greatest proportion of pollen, 58,8%, was non-seasonal. Species in this category flower consecutively throughout the year. Of the taxa, 28,4% were spring-flowering. The allergenicity of pollen encountered in the atmospheric sample is discussed

Exploring the acceptability of two self-sampling devices for human papillomavirus testing in the cervical screening context: a qualitative study of Muslim women in London

Objectives We explored Muslim women's attitudes to self-sampling for human papillomavirus (HPV) in the context of cervical cancer screening and their responses to two self-sampling devices.Setting A Muslim community centre in north-east London.Methods Following a talk given on the subject of cervical cancer and HPV at the community centre, 28 women were recruited to take part in three focus group discussions. The discussion covered cervical screening, self-sampling and HPV testing. Women were also asked for their responses to a swab self-sampling kit and a cervico-vaginal lavage device. Discussions were recorded and transcribed verbatim and the qualitative data were analysed using Framework Analysis.Results Participants were generally positive about cervical screening but acknowledged that some women in their community were reluctant to offend because of embarrassment, language difficulties, fear or because they were unmarried and did not want to communicate implicit messages about being sexually active. Self-sampling met a mixed response - women were concerned about not doing the test correctly, but thought that it might overcome barriers to screening for some women. HPV testing itself was thought to raise potentially difficult issues relating to trust and fidelity within marriages. Although most women said they would prefer to continue to have screening by a health professional, if they were to perform self-sampling, there was overwhelming preference for the swab over the lavage kit.Conclusions There was limited enthusiasm for self-sampling in this group of Muslim women who had mostly attended for cervical screening, but a clear preference for a swab rather than a cervico-vaginal lavage

Awareness of human papillomavirus among women attending a well woman clinic

Objectives: To assess the level and accuracy of public understanding of human papillomavirus (HPV) in the United Kingdom.Methods: Women attending a well woman clinic were asked to complete a questionnaire assessing HPV awareness and specific knowledge about the virus.Results: Questionnaires were completed by 1032 women, of whom 30% had heard of HPV. Older women, non-smokers, and those with a history of candida, genital warts, or an abnormal smear result were more likely to have heard of HPV. Even among those who had heard of HPV, knowledge was generally poor, and fewer than half were aware of the link with cervical cancer. There was also confusion about whether condoms or oral contraceptives could protect against HPV infection.Conclusions: In this relatively well educated sample, awareness and knowledge of HPV were poor. Public education is urgently needed so that women participating in cervical cancer screening are fully informed about the meaning of their results, especially if HPV testing is soon to be introduced

Testing positive for human papillomavirus in routine cervical screening: examination of psychosocial impact

Objective To examine the psychosocial impact of testing positive for high risk human papillomavirus (HPV) among women attending primary cervical screening.Design Cross sectional survey.Measures were taken at baseline and one week after the receipt of HPV and cytology screening results.Setting Well women's clinic in London, UK.Population or Sample Four hundred and twenty-eight women aged 20-64 years.Methods Postal questionnaire survey.Main outcome measures Psychosocial and psychosexual outcomes were anxiety, distress and feelings about current, past and future sexual relationships.Results Women with normal cytology who tested positive for HPV (HPVdivided by) were significantly more anxious and distressed than women who were negative (HPV-) using both a state anxiety measure [F(1,267)=29, P<0.0001] and a screening specific measure of psychological distress [F(1,267)=69, P<0.0001]. Women with an abnormal or unsatisfactory smear result, who tested HPV,. were significantly more distressed than HPV- women with the same smear result [F(1,267)=8.8, P=0.002], but there was no significant difference in state anxiety. Irrespective of cytology result, HPV women reported feeling significantly worse about their sexual relationships. Approximately one-third of women who tested positive reported feeling worse about past and future sexual relationships compared with less than 2% of HPV- women.Conclusion The findings suggest that testing positive for HPV may have an adverse psychosocial impact, with increased anxiety., distress and concern about sexual relationships. Psychosocial outcomes of HPV testing need further investigation and must be considered alongside clinical and economic decisions to include HPV testing in routine cervical screening

Attitudes to self-sampling for HPV among Indian, Pakistani, African-Caribbean and white British women in Manchester, UK

Objective: To examine attitudes to self-sampling for human papillomavirus (HPV) testing among women from contrasting ethnic groups.Setting: Manchester, UK.Methods: Two hundred women of Indian, Pakistani, African-Caribbean and white British origin were recruited from social and community groups to participate in a questionnaire survey. The questionnaire included items on attitudes to self-sampling and intention to use the test.Results: Willingness to try to use the test was high, and women did not foresee religious or cultural barriers to self-sampling; however, a large proportion of women were concerned about doing the test properly. This concern was greatest in the Indian and African-Caribbean groups.Conclusions: Although women's willingness to try self-sampling for HPV is encouraging, worries about carrying out the procedure correctly must be addressed if women are to feel confident about the results of self-sampling methods and reassured by a negative result

The palynology of tertiary sediments from a palaeochannel in Namaqualand, South Africa.

Main articleA site in amaqualand, Western Cape Province, has yielded a diverse and well-preserved pa lynoflora. The site consists of a quarry, exposing a palaeochannel containing fluviatile sands, silts and clays with accompanying peat horizons. This paper presents a qualitative account of the pollen and pore assemblages extracted from the peats. Ang iosperms were dominant both in terms of the number of individuals and the recognised types. Identification were made where possible with reference to published illustrations and descriptions. There was a total of 69 palynomorph types, including spores, gymnosperm and angiosperm pollen.Non

Acceptability of unsupervised HPV self-sampling using written instructions

Objectives The study measured the acceptability of self-sampling for human papillomavirus (HPV) testing in the context of cervical cancer screening. Women carried out self-sampling unsupervised, using a written instruction sheet.Setting Participants were women attending either a family planning clinic or a primary care trust for routine cervical screening.Methods Women (n=902) carried out self-sampling for HPV testing and then a clinician did a routine cervical smear and HPV test. Immediately after having the two tests, participants completed a measure of acceptability for both tests, and answered questions about ease of using the instruction sheet and willingness to use self-sampling in the future.Results The majority of women found self-sampling more acceptable than the clinician-administered test, but there was a lack of confidence that the test had been done correctly. Significant demographic differences in attitudes were found, with married women having more favourable attitudes towards self-sampling than single women, and Asian women having more negative attitudes than women in other ethnic groups. Intention to use self-sampling in the future was very high across all demographic groups.Conclusion Self-sampling for HPV testing was highly acceptable in this large and demographically diverse sample, and women were able to carry out the test alone, using simple written instructions. Consistent with previous studies, women were concerned about doing the test properly and this issue will need to be addressed if self-sampling is introduced. More work is needed to see whether the demographic differences we found are robust and to identify reasons for lower acceptability among single women and those from Asian background

Year-round housedust mite levels on the highveld

Objective. To determine the levels of the allergen DerPl, attnbutable to the house-dust mite (HDM) Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus.Design. A four-season study conducted during 1994/95, sampling mattresses and carpets in the main bedrooms of suburban homes.Setting. Thirty randomly selected homes in the Edenvale area, occupied by both black and white families living under similar socio-economic conditions in comparable environments.Results, All homes tested positive for the allergen, and in 20% HDM levels exceeded levels recognised as 'safe' in terms of respiratory allergy, i.e. 2 ug/g of dust. Once mites were established in a home, they remained for months thereafter. The considerable seasonal variation recorded in HDM levels could not readily be explained.Conclusion. The HDM is extremely sensitive to minimal variations in microclimate. Its year-round presence is of concern on the Highveld. Infestation levels below 2 JIg/g of dust, until recently considered the critical point for sensitisation, may be significant triggers of symptoms