Transnationalism and Housing and Health Risks of Rural Latino Immigrant Families

Presentation made at Latinos in the Heartland (10th : 2012 : Kansas City, Mo.) and published in the annual conference proceedings.In-depth interviews with rural low-income Mexican immigrant mothers explored "How, if at all, do the housing and health issues of rural Latino immigrant families vary based on level of transnationalism?" Transnationalism in this study refers to family relationships that transcend national boundaries and was based on language spoken at home, nature and frequency of contact with family and friends in the country of origin, and the extent and frequency of travel to the country of origin. We examined the notion that support networks among families can be portrayed as existing along a continuum. At one end of the continuum, families have frequent contact with relatives in their country of origin and experience a high degree of solidarity and interdependence with them; they are high in transnational activity. At the other end of the continuum, families who are not in regular contact with relatives in their country of origin and do not feel a strong sense of mutual obligation with them are characterized as low in transnational activity. Study participants were mothers age 18 or older, had at least one child age 12 or younger, and resided in a household with an annual income at or below 200% of the federal poverty line. Data were drawn from interviews with 78 Latino mothers in three project states (California n=33, Iowa n=28 and Oregon n=17). Families responded to questions in a semi-structured interview protocol, as well as survey questions: Adult and Child Health Survey (Richards, Pamulapati, Corson, & Merrill, 2000), Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D) (Radloff, 1977), and the U.S. Household Food Security Survey Module (Nord & Andrews, 1999). Responses were examined to understand the nature and extent of transnational experiences among families and how, if at all, housing and health risks differed by families' degree of transnationalism. Qualitative data were coded and entered into MAXqda2 (2005) and quantitative data were coded and entered into SPSS vs. 15.0. Transcripts were read multiple times to develop sub-codes related to health and housing risks and transnationalism. Researchers reviewed the data several times using the process of constant comparative analysis to identify emerging themes to inform the development of the transnational continuum and the health and housing risk scales. Findings revealed that most of the families in the study were categorized as low (45 of 78 cases) than high (23 of 78 cases) in transnational activities with 10 families classified "modestly" transnational. Low and high transnational families differed across characteristics and health concerns; however, both struggled to meet their housing and health needs. Both high and low transnational families strived for home ownership; families low in transnational activity were more likely to be homeowners. Housing risks were present among high and low transnational families; both groups indicated housing quality and affordability problems and little knowledge of programs that could improve their housing conditions. Health risk indicators were present in more than half of the families. There were significant associations with four items in the depression scale and transnationalism, and qualitative findings reveal loneliness and depression in families

On the Path to Home Ownership: Low-Income Owners and Renters in Rural Communities

The purpose of the current article was to examine the tenure status of rural, lowincome mothers to understand particularly what family, housing, and health characteristics are associated with tenure status in rural areas of the United States. 7he benefits as well as the risks of becoming a homeowner for low-income families are discussed. 7he study used data from the multi-state research project Rural Families Speak, an investigation conducted by 17 states to assess the circumstances of rural low-income families--403 mothers with at least one child 12 years of age or younger. Two logistical binomial regression analyses were conducted to identify significant predictors of housing tenure among rural, low-income families. In total, 13 variables were included in the regression analysis for the whole sample and 14 variables were used for a subsample of those mothers who reported having a partner. 7he results of the study indicated that determinants of tenure status for this sample were age, education level, partner status, ethnicity, total monthly income, housing costs, housing wage, and food security status. 7he research contributes to an understanding of variables that contribute to attaining homeownership and provides additional information to shape future research, policy, and social programs that benefit rural, low-income families who aspire to become or sustain homeownership

Friendships of children with disabilities in the home environment

Friendships are a valued aspect of life. Understanding the family and home aspects of friendships can help special educators to develop a broader understanding of issues supporting friendships for young children with disabilities. In this exploratory study, family interviews and home observations were used to examine friendships of children with disabilities (3 to 10 years old) at home. Results suggest many children with disabilities spend limited time with friends or peers in the home environment. In this sample, children with the greatest amount of contact with friends had disabilities that were mainly physical in nature, while children with behavior problems and cognitive limitations were among the children who experienced the fewest peer interactions. Children living in isolated areas and/or off busy roads had more limited contact with friends than children residing in neighborhoods. Living in close proximity of other children, however, did not guarantee frequent peer interactions or friendships. Characteristics of the home and neighborhood and parents\u27 roles in initiating and supervising friendships are examined. Implications for special educators are discussed for increasing opportunities for children with disabilities to interact with peers and develop friendships in their home and neighborhood

Understanding Self-Determination and Families of Young Children with Disabilities in Home Environments

This article is about emergent self-determination for young children with disabilities in their home environments. The purpose of this study was to better understand family and home characteristics and how they influence the ways in which families can support the development of self-determination for their children with disabilities. Thirty families of young children with disabilities were interviewed, and their homes were systematically observed. Using a grounded theory design, an emergent model was developed that examined family and home context and the influence of context on the strategies that families used to support self-determination. Future research and practice implications of this research for supporting families are discussed

Urokinase-type plasminogen activator and arthritis progression: contrasting roles in systemic and monoarticular arthritis models

INTRODUCTION: Urokinase-type plasminogen activator (u-PA) has been implicated in tissue destruction/remodeling. The absence of u-PA results in resistance of mice to systemic immune complex-driven arthritis models; monoarticular arthritis models involving an intra-articular (i.a.) antigen injection, on the other hand, develop more severe arthritis in its absence. The aims of the current study are to investigate further these contrasting roles that u-PA can play in the pathogenesis of inflammatory arthritis and to determine whether u-PA is required for the cartilage and bone destruction associated with disease progression. METHODS: To determine how the different pathogenic mechanisms leading to arthritis development in the different models may explain the contrasting requirement for u-PA, the systemic, polyarticular, immune complex-driven K/BxN arthritis model was modified to include an i.a. injection of saline as a local trauma in u-PA-/- mice. This modified model and the antigen-induced arthritis (AIA) model were also used in u-PA-/- mice to determine the requirement for u-PA in joint destruction. Disease severity was determined by clinical and histologic scoring. Fibrin(ogen) staining and the matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-generated neoepitope DIPEN staining were performed by immunohistochemistry. Gene expression of inflammatory and destructive mediators was measured in joint tissue by quantitative PCR. RESULTS: In our modified arthritis model, u-PA-/- mice went from being resistant to arthritis development following K/BxN serum transfer to being susceptible following the addition of an i.a. injection of saline. u-PA-/- mice also developed more sustained AIA compared with C57BL/6 mice, including reduced proteoglycan levels and increased bone erosions, fibrin(ogen) deposition and DIPEN expression. Synovial gene expression of the proinflammatory mediators (TNF and IL-1β), aggrecanases (ADAMTS-4 and -5) and MMPs (MMP3 and MMP13) were all sustained over time following AIA induction in u-PA-/- mice compared with C57BL/6 mice. CONCLUSIONS: We propose that u-PA has a protective role in arthritis models with 'wound healing-like' processes following local trauma, possibly through u-PA/plasmin-mediated fibrinolysis, but a deleterious role in systemic models that are critically dependent on immune complex formation and complement activation. Given that cartilage proteoglycan loss and bone erosions were present and sustained in u-PA-/- mice with monoarticular arthritis, it is unlikely that u-PA/plasmin-mediated proteolysis is contributing directly to this tissue destruction/remodeling

Financial well‐being of Malaysian college students

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to examine the relationships between personal and family backgrounds, academic ability, childhood consumer experience, financial socialization, financial literacy, and perceived financial well‐being of college students. Design/methodology/approach: Data were collected using a multi‐stage sampling technique from 11 public and private universities across Malaysia and the sample consists of 2,219 college students. Structural equation modelling was utilized to test the hypotheses. Findings: Childhood consumer experiences such as savings habits contribute to students’ financial well‐being (money saved, current financial situation, and financial management skills). Financial socialization agents, for example, through parents and religion sources could increase college students’ financial well‐being. Financial literacy was related to financial well‐being. There were important differences between the Malay and Chinese ethnic groups in Malaysia. Research limitations/implications: Overall, implications and recommendations for future research, teaching, and public policy are also provided for parents, college administrators, counselors and educators. Originality/value: This research provides meaningful information about how various factors (childhood experience, financial socialization, and financial literacy) predict students’ financial well‐being

Housing Needs in Rural Communities

This study explored housing in small rural communities in an attempt to understand the available housing stock, perceptions of the need for housing, and perceived barriers to housing development. Data were collected through computer-assisted telephone interviews with key community informants. Interviews included forced-choice as well as open-ended questions. Housing issues are described through the words of community leaders with the goal of understanding communities\u27 needs and constraints. Lower cost housing for both renters and owners and housing options for elderly individuals continue to be areas of need in rural communities

Field validation of clinical and laboratory diagnosis of wildebeest associated malignant catarrhal fever in cattle

Abstract Background Wildebeest associated malignant catarrhal fever (WA-MCF) is a fatal disease of cattle. Outbreaks are seasonal and associated with close interaction between cattle and calving wildebeest. In Kenya, WA-MCF has a dramatic effect on cattle-keepers who lose up to 10% of their cattle herds per year. The objective of this study was to report the impact of WA-MCF on a commercial ranch and assess the performance of clinical diagnosis compared to laboratory diagnosis as a disease management tool. A retrospective study of WA-MCF in cattle was conducted from 2014 to 2016 at Kapiti Plains Ranch Ltd., Kenya. During this period, 325 animals showed clinical signs of WA-MCF and of these, 123 were opportunistically sampled. In addition, 51 clinically healthy animals were sampled. Nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and indirect enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) were used to confirm clinically diagnosed cases of WA-MCF. A latent class model (LCM) was used to evaluate the diagnostic parameters of clinical diagnosis and the tests in the absence of a gold standard. Results By PCR, 94% (95% C.I. 89–97%) of clinically affected animals were positive to WA-MCF while 63% (95% C.I. 54–71%) were positive by indirect ELISA. The LCM demonstrated the indirect ELISA had poor sensitivity 63.3% (95% PCI 54.4–71.7%) and specificity 62.6% (95% PCI 39.2–84.9%) while the nested PCR performed better with sensitivity 96.1% (95% PCI 90.7–99.7%) and specificity 92.9% (95% PCI 76.1–99.8%). The sensitivity and specificity of clinical diagnosis were 99.1% (95% PCI 96.8–100.0%) and 71.5% (95% PCI 48.0–97.2%) respectively. Conclusions Clinical diagnosis was demonstrated to be an effective method to identify affected animals although animals may be incorrectly classified resulting in financial loss. The study revealed indirect ELISA as a poor test and nested PCR to be a more appropriate confirmatory test for diagnosing acute WA-MCF. However, the logistics of PCR make it unsuitable for field diagnosis of WA-MCF. The future of WA-MCF diagnosis should be aimed at development of penside techniques, which will allow for fast detection in the field