Event and Actors Representation in Selected Nigerian Daily Newspapers

The 2011 Nigerian presidential election newspaper reports were not just to inform the public about the outcomes of the election. The representations in the newspaper reports were ideological and, by implication, judgmental. The main actors (presidential aspirants), were also represented differently. In this paper, we interrogate some linguistic tools that were used in the ideological presentation of the election and the main social actors. In other words, the paper examines whether the main social actors are included or excluded, genericised or specified; and the level of voice projection accorded to them. The study is anchored on Critical Discourse Analysis framework and it operationalises some aspects of van Leeuwen (2008) socio-semantic model and Hallidayan transitivity system in examining social actor differential representations and process types in the newspaper reports. These linguistic tools (exclusion, inclusion, individualization, assimilation, collectivization, functionalisation, appraisement and voice projection) are very pertinent because they serve as the very foundation on which further context analysis of the discourse could be based. The study observes that social actors representations and voice projection in the data do not only polarize the reportage but also lace it with bias. It also shows that the incumbent president was given more positive representation and voice projection than other aspirants

'The girl with her period is the one to hang her head' Reflections on menstrual management among schoolgirls in rural Kenya

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The onset of menstruation is a landmark event in the life of a young woman. Yet the complications and challenges that can accompany such an event have been understudied, specifically in resource-poor settings. As interventions aim to improve female attendance in schools, it is important to explore how menstruation is perceived and navigated by girls in the school setting. This research conveys rural Kenyan schoolgirls' perceptions and practices related to menstruation</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Data were collected at six rural schools in the Nyanza Province of Western Kenya. Using focus group discussions, in-depth interviews, and field notes from observations, researchers collected information from 48 primary schoolgirls and nine teachers. Systematic analysis began with a reading of transcripts and debriefing notes, followed by manual coding of the narratives.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Focus group discussions became opportunities for girls to share thoughts on menstruation, instruct one another on management practices and advise one another on coping mechanisms. Girls expressed fear, shame, distraction and confusion as feelings associated with menstruation. These feelings are largely linked to a sense of embarrassment, concerns about being stigmatized by fellow students and, as teachers explained, a perception that the onset of menstruation signals the advent of a girl's sexual status. Among the many methods for managing their periods, girls most frequently said they folded, bunched up or sewed cloth, including cloth from shirts or dresses, scraps of old cloth, or strips of an old blanket. Cloth was reported to frequently leak and cause chafing, which made school attendance difficult particularly as the day progressed. Attitudes and practices of girls toward menstruation have been arranged into personal, environmental and behavioural factors.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Further research on menstrual management options that are practical, sustainable and culturally acceptable must be conducted to inform future programs and policies that aim to empower young girls as they transition into womanhood. Stakeholders working within this and similar contexts must consider systematic mechanisms to explain to young girls what menstruation is and how to manage it. Providing sanitary supplies or guiding girls on how to create supplies serve as critical components for future interventions.</p

Event and Actors Representation in Selected Nigerian Daily Newspapers

The 2011 Nigerian presidential election newspaper reports were not just to inform the public about the outcomes of the election. The representations in the newspaper reports were ideological and, by implication, judgmental. The main actors (presidential aspirants), were also represented differently. In this paper, we interrogate some linguistic tools that were used in the ideological presentation of the election and the main social actors. In other words, the paper examines whether the main social actors are included or excluded, genericised or specified; and the level of voice projection accorded to them. The study is anchored on Critical Discourse Analysis framework and it operationalises some aspects of van Leeuwen (2008) socio-semantic model and Hallidayan transitivity system in examining social actor differential representations and process types in the newspaper reports. These linguistic tools (exclusion, inclusion, individualization, assimilation, collectivization, functionalisation, appraisement and voice projection) are very pertinent because they serve as the very foundation on which further context analysis of the discourse could be based. The study observes that social actors representations and voice projection in the data do not only polarize the reportage but also lace it with bias. It also shows that the incumbent president was given more positive representation and voice projection than other aspirants

Development and Application of Novel Caregiver Hygiene Behavior Measures Relating to Food Preparation, Handwashing, and Play Environments in Rural Kenya

Exposure to fecal pathogens results in both acute and chronic sequalae in young children. Diarrhea causes nearly 20% of all under-five mortality, while even sub-clinical enteric infections may lead to growth shortfalls. Stunting affects nearly 165 million children globally and results in lifelong and intergenerational effects for the world&rsquo;s poorest populations. Caregiver hygiene behaviors, such as those surrounding handwashing and food preparation, play a critical role in exposure to fecal pathogens; standard metrics to assess these behaviors are warranted to provide a means of quantifying the impact these behaviors have on enteric infections and to evaluate the success or failure of interventions and programs. This paper documents the development of three novel caregiver hygiene behavior measures: hygienic food preparation and storage, handwashing at key times, and provision of a safe play environment for children under two years. We developed these measures using formative qualitative work, survey creation and deployment theoretically underpinned by the COM-B model of behavior change, and exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis. The final measure for hygienic food preparation and storage includes 10 items across two factors; the final measure for handwashing at key times includes 15 items across three factors; and the final measure for safe play environment contains 13 items across three factors. Future researchers may employ these measures to assess caregiver behaviors in other populations, identify specific behavioral dimensions that should be the focus of interventions, and evaluate interventions and programs

Critical interventions for demand generation in Zambia, Nepal, and Senegal with regards to the 5C psychological antecedents of vaccination

Introduction: Childhood vaccination is an effective intervention for lowering the burden of infectious disease. Vaccine coverage has increased globally, but vaccine hesitancy and refusal threatens these gains. The 5C psychological antecedents of vaccination (“5C”) provides a validated measure of “vaccine hesitancy or confidence” to assess individual thoughts and behaviors behind vaccination. We investigated population-level factors that contributed to high and sustained vaccination coverage in Zambia, Nepal, and Senegal, and alignment with the 5Cs. Methods: Data was collected in the larger Exemplars in Vaccine Delivery study, from focus group discussions (FDGs) and key informant interviews (KIIs) at the national, regional, district, health facility, and community levels of health systems in Zambia, Nepal, and Senegal. We assessed the demand environment, as relayed by participants, and identified interventions reported as successful for demand generation, then retroactively aligned the interventions with the 5C constructs. Results: Demand was positively correlated with high confidence and collective responsibility. Psychological constraints sometimes impacted demand. Physical constraints created barriers in some communities, particularly difficult to access (i.e., mountainous). Occasionally, physical constraints did not affect vaccination behavior - parents believed the benefits of vaccination worth pursuing. Factors negatively correlated with demand and intent, complacency and calculation, had limited impact. Critical interventions were: targeted and tailored health education activities (media partnerships, school outreach); community engagement; community ownership; and community involvement (community health workers, leaders, religious figures). Conclusion: We found similar interventions used to generate demand, with strategies aligned with the 5C constructs. Categorizing interventions by drivers of demand may help strategic planning and the division of resources; decision makers may choose to implement our suggested interventions. Assessing the 5Cs allows decision-makers to operationalize demand generation into concrete interventions and policies, and determine the individual impact of these constructs on the population and focus efforts on interventions tailored to a specific need

Drivers of early childhood vaccination success in Nepal, Senegal, and Zambia: a multiple case study analysis using the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research

Abstract Introduction The fundamental components of a vaccine delivery system are well-documented, but robust evidence is needed on how the related processes and implementation strategies — including the facilitators and barriers — contribute to improvements in childhood vaccination coverage. The purpose of this study was to identify critical facilitators and barriers to the implementation of common interventions across three countries that have dramatically increased coverage of early childhood vaccination over the past 20 years, and to qualify common or divergent themes in their success. Methods We conducted 278 key informant interviews and focus group discussions with public health leaders at the regional, district, and local levels and community members in Nepal, Senegal, and Zambia to identify intervention activities and the facilitators and barriers to implementation. We used thematic analysis grounded in the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR) constructs of inner and outer settings to identify immunization program key facilitators and barriers. Results We found that the common facilitators to program implementation across the countries were the CFIR inner setting constructs of (1) networks and communications, (2) goals and feedback, (3) relative priority, and (4) readiness for implementation and outer setting constructs of (5) cosmopolitanism and (6) external policies and mandates. The common barriers were incentives and rewards, available resources, access to knowledge and information, and patients’ needs and resources. Critical to the success of these national immunization programs were prioritization and codification of health as a human right, clear chain of command and shared ownership of immunization, communication of program goals and feedback, offering of incentives at multiple levels, training of staff central to vaccination education, the provision of resources to support the program, key partnerships and guidance on implementation and adoption of vaccination policies. Conclusion Adequate organizational commitment, resources, communication, training, and partnerships were the most critical facilitators for these countries to improve childhood vaccination

Additional file 2 of Determinants of food preparation and hygiene practices among caregivers of children under two in Western Kenya: a formative research study

Additional file 2

Additional file 1 of Determinants of food preparation and hygiene practices among caregivers of children under two in Western Kenya: a formative research study

Additional file 1

Critical success factors for high routine immunization performance: A case study of Senegal

Background: The essential components of a vaccine delivery system are well-documented, but robust evidence is lacking on how policies and implementation strategies are operationalized to drive catalytic improvements in coverage. To address this gap, we identified success factors that supported improvements in routine immunization coverage in Senegal, especially from 2000 to 2019. Methods: We identified Senegal as an exemplar in the delivery of childhood vaccines through analysis of DTP1 and DTP3 coverage data. Through interviews and focus group discussions at the national, regional, district, health facility, and community-level, we investigated factors that contributed to high and sustained vaccination coverage. We conducted a thematic analysis through application of implementation science frameworks to determine critical success factors. We triangulated these findings with quantitative analyses using publicly available data. Results: The following success factors emerged: 1) Strong political will and prioritization of resources for immunization programming supported urgent allocation of funding and supplies; 2) Collaboration between the Ministry of Health and Social Action and external partners fostered innovation, capacity building, and efficiency; 3) Improved surveillance, monitoring, and evaluation allowed for timely and evidence-based decision making; 4) Community ownership of vaccine service delivery supported tailored programming and response to local needs; and 5) Community health workers spearheaded vaccine promotion and demand generation for vaccines. Conclusion: The vaccination program in Senegal was supported by evidence-based decision making at the national-level, alignment of priorities between governmental entities and external partners, and strong community engagement initiatives that fostered local ownership of vaccine delivery and uptake. High routine immunization coverage was likely driven by prioritization of immunization programming, improved surveillance systems, a mature and reliable community health worker program, and tailored strategies for addressing geographical, social, and cultural barriers