Migrant Detention and the Inequities in Healthcare Access

Immigration removal centres (IRC) have been deployed by the government in an attempt to secure the nation’s borders. The normalisation of actions in the controlling of migration flows has been initiated by a perception placed on migrants as being a threat to the welfare and security of society and therefore “undeserving” as referred to by Foucault (2003). This research study aims to uncover and critique the political institutional structures that are placing undocumented migrants at health risk whilst going through the process of determining their residential and legal status. The findings of this research project indicate that equity ceases to exist at the point where border enforcement and the right to healthcare converge. There is a new penal system that is being constructed within immigration detention that has enabled the mechanisms of disempowerment of migrant detainees to be conceived. The analysis of this research project further reveals the perilous conditions of healthcare for migrants in UK’s IRCs and the characteristics of UK immigration policy in providing healthcare to detainees. This research study explores the nexus of neoliberalism and state power, whereby detainees, deprived of their liberty and rights, become sources of private profits. The withholding of healthcare, the weak implementation of rights and policies, the discretionary use of state power to overrule medical advice and health rights is evidenced in the construction of the “hostile environment”. Agamben’s concepts of the state of exception and the camp, Schmitt’s liberal legality and the social determinants of health (SDH) are used to explore how the hostile environment impacts on the accessing of healthcare for migrant detainees. Interviews with twelve former detainees and five service providers provide the empirical material at the heart of this research project. The practices relating to health and healthcare in immigration detention highlights how the camp paradigm extends beyond the walls of detention centres through expectations of other public services to do the work of border control. This strange combination of public and private sector responsibilities and interests, contradicts and causes tensions in doctors’ loyalties to the welfare of their patients and to the securitisation interest of the Home Office (HO), and other processes. Doctors are presented as advocates of patients, and of NGOs which use legal expertise regarding detainees’ rights to counter the detention system’s abusive obstruction of detainees’ access to health

Modeling the relationships between perceptions about technology and attitudes toward computers

Over the past few years, the relationship between attitudes and behavior has been of a major interest to educators. Previous studies have found varying degree of associations between attitudes, behavioral intention and perceptions and corroborate the fact that attitudes influence patterns of behavior. As computer technology is becoming pervasive in the society, researchers have attempted to explore the links between individual's perceived ease of use, perceived usefulness and their intention to use the computer technology. A study was conducted in two higher education institution in the United Arab Emirates to find out students' intention to use computer technology employing the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) by Reference [1] as a theoretical framework and Structural Equation Modeling as an analytical tool. The results revealed strong relationships between the students' attitudes toward computer and intention to use. This paper further reports the applicability of technology acceptance model and its robustness and generalizability in different research contexts

Global self-esteem and self-efficacy correlates: Relation of academic achievement and self-esteem among Emirati students

We investigated the relationships between global self-esteem, academic self-efficacy and academic performance among a sample of 255 college students in the United Arab Emirates. The widely used Rosenberg’s Self-Esteem Scale (RSES; Rosenberg, 1965) and an academic self-efficacy scale, modified from (Jinks and Morgan, 1999) were used to assess student’s self-esteem and their academic self-efficacy. Each student’s average grade for the mid-semester and final semester was used as the performance measure. Confirmatory factor analyses using Analysis of Moment Structures (AMOS) version 18 performed on the scores of the RSES revealed two factors (positive and negative self-esteem) as hypothesized. Correlated results indicated significant relationships between global self-esteem and academic self-efficacy. Also academic achievement was associated with having high academic self-efficacy

Foodborne illness among school children in Ga east, Accra

Background: A food borne illness was reported in Ga- East district of Greater Accra Region among school children in May, 2007 after eating food provided at school. The objective of the investigation was to determine the source, mode of contamination and the causative agent.Methods: A case-control study was conducted, cases were schoolchildren with abdominal symptoms and controls were children of the same sex and class without any symptom during the same period. The school children were selected by systematic sampling. Food handlers and the children were interviewed by a structured questionnaire. Food handlers were physically examined and their stools and blood examined. The kitchen for food preparation was inspected. Risks of food borne infection from the foods eaten were determined using attack rates .Results: The minimum, peak and maximum incubation periods were 2, 11 and 61 hours respectively. The source was rice and groundnut soup (with the highest attack rate difference). Stool and blood samples of food handlers were not infective. Storage facility for food items was poor. No food samples were available for organism isolation. A protocol to prevent such outbreaks was nonexistent.Conclusion: The short incubation period and symptoms presented suggest an infective origin. The storage of the meat may potentially have been the point of contamination. The study showed that the schoolchildren ate contaminated food although the investigation could not determine the causative agent. Protocols to prevent such outbreaks need to be developed for the schools.Keywords: Food borne, illness, contaminated food, school children, Accr

Predictors of Quality of Life Among Breast Cancer Patients

Over 3.1 million women living in the U.S. have been diagnosed with breast cancer. The purpose of the present study was to determine whether stage of cancer, psychological distress, cognitive fusion (fusion of one’s thoughts and emotions), mindfulness, and resilience were related to quality of life among breast cancer patients. Participants were 24 women, aged 41-71, diagnosed with stage 0-3 breast cancer, recruited to participate in a pilot intervention study. All data for this study were collected at the baseline assessment. A multiple linear regression analysis explained 79.1% of the total variance in quality of life, F(5, 14) = 15.400, p < .001, Adjusted R2 = .791. Higher resilience significantly predicted higher quality of life (b = 2.392, p = .002), whereas higher stage of cancer (b = -8.068, p = .030) and higher levels of psychological distress (b = -1.737, p < .001) significantly predicted lower quality of life. Contrary to the hypotheses, higher levels of mindfulness significantly predicted lower quality of life (b = -0.612, p = .022). Cognitive fusion did not significantly predict quality of life (p > .05). More research is needed to determine how various factors predict quality of life among breast cancer patients

Empowering local partners for inclusive and sustainable agricultural development — experiences from the Tropical Legumes Project in Africa

The importance of strong local partnerships and alliances for the sustainability and long-term success of agricultural development efforts cannot be overemphasized. This is supported by its inclusion as a standalone goal (goal 17) in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), but also by increasing calls to make local partnerships and alliances integral components of development projects and programmes. Strong local partnerships are critical not only for identifying development needs, setting priorities, and driving the implementation of validated development interventions but also for scaling and sustaining impacts of such interventions

Farming Practices of Vegetables: a Comparative Study in Four Regions of East Java and Bali Provinces

Agronomic and ecological aspects play important roles in vegetable production, because the aspects will be used for determining suitable interventions. This study aims to provide current farmers\u27 practices of vegetable production, particularly for agronomic and ecological aspects of chilli and tomato in four regions of East Java and Bali. This study uses of analytical tool of descriptive approach by comparing and contrasting each production practices across regions. Data were compiled from a field survey of 360 farmers during 2013-2014. Results of analysis were presented in graphical and tabular forms. Farmers mostly selected hybrid varieties of vegetables because of economic reasons, such as high yield, good appearance and high number of fruits. Anthracnose and late blight were perceived as the most important disease in chilli and tomato respectively. Farmers controlled pests and diseases using pesticides. In general, farmers perceived that irrigation was one of limiting factors of vegetable farming. Poor drainage was one of the crucial issues in Bali. Farmers mostly sold vegetable once harvested. Post-harvest handling was still traditional, where farmers still less pay attention on post-harvest, even though they observed the economic advantage of post-harvest. Based on the existing practices, a special extension on vegetable production needs to be formulated appropriately, based on the specific characteristics of each region

Attributable Indicators For Measuring The Level Of Greenness Of Cities In Developing Countries: Lessons From Ghana

Purpose: The advances in green city growth is widely discussed in extant literature. The benefits of green cities to urban development in recent discussions of sustainability and sustainable development is well-documented and cannot be overemphasized. Although a growing study on green building development in developing countries has been advanced in literature, a paucity of studies explores green cities in developing countries. Moreover, evidence of studies focused on green cities development in Ghana is lacking. From the identified knowledge gap, the aim of this study is to establish the indicators/attributes for measuring the level of greenness of cities in developing countries. Design/Methodology/Approach: A comprehensive literature review was conducted to identify the indicators/attributes for measuring the level of greenness of cities in developing countries. This study adopted the pragmatism as its undergirding research philosophy and the deductive research approach. In terms of methodological choice, quantitative research strategy was used to collect data from experts in sustainable urban development. The primary data retrieved from the study were analysed using Descriptive Statistics, Relative Importance Index, and One-sample t-test. The reliability and validity of the study were measured with the Cronbach’s Alpha test. Findings: The study established 8 indicators for measuring green city development: air quality, water, sanitation, land use, health and safety, transportation, energy as well as building and construction. It was discovered that the development of green cities should enhance air quality, improve water production and supply, improve management in sanitation, promote mixed and integrative land use, maintain the health and safety of city dwellers, reduce the demand for transportation and formalise public transport, adopt renewable and efficient energy technologies and promote sustainable construction and green buildings. These indicators are key to policy making and implementation of green cities development. Research Limitations/Implications: The study was focused in Ghana but not from other developing countries, however, the findings of this study do not limit the generalisability since the findings of the study can be used as a lesson to other developing countries. Practical and theoretical implications: Theoretically, this study adopted quantitative indicators that is reproducible in another geographical context. This study contributively adds to the discourse on sustainability especially in Ghana and as a source of reference to motivate others to conduct further research in related areas. The outcomes of this study will help the local government, policy makers, city stakeholders and industry expertise gain insights in the overall indicators that underpin green city development. Originality/value: This paper attempts to posit in literature the foremost appraisal of green city indicators adaptive in Ghana which could motivate other developing countries to develop their own green cities

THE PREVALENCE OF BRUCELLOSIS IN CATTLE AND THEIR HANDLERS IN NORTH TONGU DISTRICT OF VOLTA REGION, GHANA

Background: Brucellosis is a zoonotic pathogen responsible for great economic losses in most sub-Saharan nations. Although Ghana has successfully implemented the “One Health” initiative for the control of some emerging infectious zoonotic diseases with pandemic potential like Avian Influenza, there is very limited data available on brucellosis especially human brucellosis prevalence. He objective of his study is to determine the seroprevalence of human and bovine brucellosis as well as the predisposing factors at the community level in the North Tongu District of Ghana. Materials and Methods: Rose Bengal Plate test (RBPT) was used to analyze blood samples from 178 cattle farmers, and 315 cattle. The positive samples were further confirmed with cELISA. Predisposing factors were determined by questionnaires administered to cattle farmers. All sample sites were geo-referenced. Results: Human and bovine brucellosis seroprevalence using RBPT were 10.1% and 22.9% respectively. Eighty six percent (62/72) of bovine cases were confirmed with ELISA. Delivery assistants were more likely to be infected (p=0.043) with odds ratio of 2.7. Out of the human cases (18), males constituted 88.9%. Ages 11-20 years recorded 77.7% seropositivity whilst cattle drovers represented 44.5% (8/18) of positives. Significant risk factors in cattle were herd size (p=0.037), history of retained placenta (0.000) and abortion (0.005). Conclusion: Bovine and human brucellosis is prevalent in North Tongu district, Ghana. Close contact with parturient cows was a major predisposing factor for human infection. Early referral of positive persons to the Hospital for confirmation and treatment is required to comply with the “One Health” initiative on brucellosis and other zoonoses