Youth ‘at-risk’ and ‘resilient’ to crime: Sharing the perspectives of young women who engage in crime in Aotearoa

The perspective of young people, and especially young women who engage in crime has been under-represented in risk and resilience research and policy interventions in New Zealand and in other developed nations. This limits understandings of why young people might engage in crime as well as the effectiveness of interventions that aim to reduce youth crime. In response, this thesis presents insights on youth crime, risk and resilience gained from interviews with eight young women who have engaged in crime between the ages of 15 and 20 years old and lived in Auckland, New Zealand. This thesis sought to examine participants’ understandings of their pathways into and out of crime, the terms ‘at-risk’ and ‘resilient’ as well as what these young women desire for their futures. An analysis of the interviews reveal how the experiences and perspectives of young women who engage in crime contextualises and extends the dominant, individually-focussed view of risk and resilience. This view tends to locate the cause of crime within the individual and their immediate context. Participants’ stories add nuance and deepen the understanding of how ‘risk’ and ‘protective’ factors influence young women to engage in crime. Their stories support the incorporation of an ecologically-focussed view of risk and resilience into mainstream literature and policy. Participants realise that external factors including social, structural and political factors shape their environments, constrain their personal agency and influence their involvement in crime. There is an obvious awareness of how the high-risk neighbourhoods normalise pathways that eventuate in crime and negatively influence thoughts and behaviours. Some participants discussed the importance of replacing their role of ‘offender’ with socially accepted roles including mother, romantic partner, employee or church-goer in their efforts to reduce their involvement in crime. While participants were aware of being associated with the term ‘at-risk’, none of the participants had heard of the term ‘resilient’. Participants’ understanding of these terms reflect notions of individual responsibility indicating that risk and resilience terminology may stigmatise and marginalise youth offenders. Participants revealed that they have socially desirable goals such as access to wealth and resources and having a family. Yet their circumstances (e.g. poverty and lack of formal education) limit their ability to achieve these goals through socially acceptable methods. Listening to young women and utilising theories of structuration and habitus, may encourage future researchers to balance their approach by refraining from an exclusive focus on risk and protective factors tied to the individual and including environmentally-located factors in risk and resilience literature. The key recommendation is to develop existing risk and resilience literature and advance policy by addressing structural issues such as poverty and unemployment alongside factors linked to the individual such as anti-social behaviour and family criminality

What do Australian & New Zealand caregivers know about children\u27s ibuprofen? The results of an online survey?

BACKGROUND: Children\u27s formulations containing ibuprofen are frequently used to treat pain and fever. These medications, available over-the-counter, have the potential to cause adverse events if usage/safety information is not adhered to. This study aimed to investigate caregivers\u27 knowledge about the safe use of a commonly purchased children\u27s formulation containing ibuprofen. METHODS: A convenience sample of caregivers in Australia and New Zealand, who had purchased Nurofen® for Children, completed an online survey assessing their knowledge of product information and dosage instructions available on/in the product packaging. RESULTS: In total, 219 caregivers (mainly female 95%, mean age ± SD; 35 ± 6.82 years) completed the online survey. Responses suggest limitations in their knowledge about the active ingredients, contraindications and side effect profile associated with the product. Most respondents had a good understanding about the correct dosage to give children based on their weight and/or age, but many lacked a good understanding about the correct interval between doses and the maximum number of daily doses. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that caregivers administering ibuprofen to children have gaps in their product knowledge. Strategies to help improve caregivers\u27 knowledge about the safe administration of these products should be prioritised in an attempt to reduce the likelihood of children experiencing ibuprofen related adverse events. Improving caregiver knowledge to address these gaps is an important issue for all health care providers

What do Australian & New Zealand caregivers know about children’s ibuprofen? The results of an online survey?

Abstract Background Children’s formulations containing ibuprofen are frequently used to treat pain and fever. These medications, available over-the-counter, have the potential to cause adverse events if usage/safety information is not adhered to. This study aimed to investigate caregivers’ knowledge about the safe use of a commonly purchased children’s formulation containing ibuprofen. Methods A convenience sample of caregivers in Australia and New Zealand, who had purchased Nurofen® for Children, completed an online survey assessing their knowledge of product information and dosage instructions available on/in the product packaging. Results In total, 219 caregivers (mainly female 95%, mean age ± SD; 35 ± 6.82 years) completed the online survey. Responses suggest limitations in their knowledge about the active ingredients, contraindications and side effect profile associated with the product. Most respondents had a good understanding about the correct dosage to give children based on their weight and/or age, but many lacked a good understanding about the correct interval between doses and the maximum number of daily doses. Conclusions These findings suggest that caregivers administering ibuprofen to children have gaps in their product knowledge. Strategies to help improve caregivers’ knowledge about the safe administration of these products should be prioritised in an attempt to reduce the likelihood of children experiencing ibuprofen related adverse events. Improving caregiver knowledge to address these gaps is an important issue for all health care providers

Health literacy amongst health professional university students: a study using the Health Literacy Questionnaire

Background: This study aimed to assess and compare health literacy levels in a range of university-based health students. Methods: A survey containing the Health Literacy Questionnaire (HLQ) was administered to students enrolled in university-based medical, allied health or nursing degree programs. The HLQ scores and scale scores were compared across student groups. Results: In total, 374 students (24% response rate) with a median age of 25 years (range: 17-61 years), returned completed surveys. Three students who did not identify their degree programs were excluded from the final analysis which included 371 respondents; 242 graduate-entry medical students (65%), 67 allied health students (18%) and 62 nursing students (17%). Overall, the medical students had the highest score for seven of the nine HLQ scales; while the nursing students had the lowest score for all of the nine HLQ scales. Conclusion: These results show that health literacy profiles are different across student groups. In order to provide excellent patient-centred care, and to successfully look after their own health, a high level of health literacy is required by future health professionals. Health literacy training modules, tailored according to the different needs of the student groups, should therefore be included in university-based health professional degree programs

Health and wellbeing of Māori secondary school students in New Zealand: Trends between 2001, 2007 and 2012

Abstract Objective: To describe the health status over time of Māori secondary school students in New Zealand compared to European students. Methods: Anonymous representative health surveys of New Zealand secondary school students were conducted in 2001, 2007 and 2012 (total n=27,306 including 5,747 Māori). Results: Compared to 2001, Māori students in 2012 experienced improved health, family and school connections. However, considerable inequity persists with Māori students reporting poorer health, greater exposure to violence and socioeconomic adversity compared to European students. When controlling for socioeconomic deprivation, inequity was substantially reduced, although worse Māori health outcomes remained for general health, mental health, contraceptive use, healthy weight, substance use, access to healthcare and exposure to violence. There was some evidence of convergence between Māori and European students on some indicators. Conclusions: There have been significant improvements for Māori youth in areas of health where there has been investment. Priority areas identified require adequate resourcing alongside addressing systematic discrimination and poverty. Implications for public health: Socioeconomic contexts, discrimination, healthcare access and identified priority health areas must be addressed to improve equity for Māori youth. Building on these gains and hastening action on indicators that have not improved, or have worsened, is required

Exploring Health Literacy Profiles of Texas University Students

Objectives: We used the 9-domain Health Literacy Questionnaire (HLQ) to investigate university students' health literacy. Methods: Overall, 221 students at a university in southern Texas completed an online version of the HLQ. Socio-demographic data were collected. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics. Results: Descriptive analyses of the HLQ showed that women reported higher means for Appraisal of health information and Understanding health information well enough to know what to do than men. There was a small difference in the scores of persons 15-24 years old and 25 years or older regarding Appraisal of health information. Furthermore, parents' education was associated with some elements of students' self-reported health literacy. That is, the more educated the parents, the higher the levels of health literacy reported by respondents with respect to Social support for my health. The above average socioeconomic group demonstrated the highest scores in all of the significant health literacy domains. Conclusions: This study has revealed some small to medium effect size differences across 9 domains of health literacy. Tertiary education providers could use HLQ as an early intervention tool to improve knowledge, skills, resources, and services that are necessary to create student health and health literate environments