Ethnography

Ethnography is a methodology based on direct observation. Of course, when doing ethnography, it is also essential to listen to the conversations of the actors \u2018on stage\u2019, read the documents produced by the organization under study, and ask people questions. Yet what most distinguishes ethnography from other methodologies is a more active role assigned to the cognitive modes of observing, watching, seeing, looking at, gazing at and scrutinizing. Ethnography, like any other methodology, is not simply an instrument of data collection. It is born at particular moment in the history of society and embodies certain of its cultural features. This chapter, embracing a theory of method, focuses upon why (right now, notwithstanding more than one century of history) ethnography has come into fashion

A cumulative book review of:  Conis, E.Vaccine Nation: America's Changing Relationship with Immunization, Chicago: University of Chicago Press2015. 361 pp 18(pbk)18 (pbk) 18 (ebk) ISBN 978‐0‐22637839‐8 Reich, J.A.Calling the Shots: Why Parents Reject Vaccines, New York: New York University Press2016. 336 pp 75(cloth)75 (cloth) 20.00 (pbk) ISBN 978‐1‐47981279‐0 Holmberg, C., Blume, S. and Greenough, P.R. (eds) The Politics of Vaccination: A Global History, Manchester: Manchester University Press2017. 360 pp £96 (cloth) £96 (ebk) ISBN 978‐1‐5261‐1088‐6

In recent years, the issue of compulsory and mass vaccinations has acquired increasing relevance in the public health field. Inquiries have been conducted from medical, epidemiological and healthcare perspectives, as well as in social, historical and anthropological sciences; the latter have empirically studied the multifaceted movement rather simplistically referred to as \u2018anti-vax\u2019. Hence, they have brought to light a wide range of different attitudes, motivations and positions with regard to vaccinations. The three volumes discussed in this review are written by scholars in the social sciences and humanities and offer a non-medical view on the phenomenon of immunisation. They are very different yet at the same time complementary books in terms of the disciplines they represent: Elena Conis is a historian of medicine and public health (with a BA in biology); Jennifer Reich is a sociologist; and the third volume is edited by Christine Holmberg (a healthcare anthropologist), Stuart Blume (a science sociologist with a Ph.D. in chemistry) and Paul Greenough (a historian of medicine)

Perceptions and realities of flood hazards, flood mitigation and control in Nigeria

Flood is a catastrophic event that has a long history and occurs both in developed and developing countries. Flood is recurrent, its severity varies over a wide range, and it is largely unpredictable in terms of magnitude and occurrence. Vulnerability to flood has been linked to poverty and cultural affiliations in developing countries. Poverty affects people’s capacity to protect themselves and their assets, as well as their ability to live in areas having less exposure to risk factors such as low income, poor housing and public services. Lack of flood insurance coverage and cultural attachment to the flood zone can force the poor to behave in ways that expose them to greater risk. Often, after floodwaters have subsided, the emphasis has been placed on rebuilding structures and trying to restoreflood victims’ lives back to normal as quickly as possible without addressing the causes. Unfortunately, in the rush, these flood victims have often rebuilt their structures to their previous “at risk” conditions.The economic cost or human losses from flood are enormous. There is growing societal impatience with continually bailing out those who live at risk. The realization that flood can never be controlled since they are part of a dynamic process caused by natural phenomena is very important. This review reflects on present and future challenges and priorities. The tasks ahead are immense as these solutions must be implemented in the face of a multitude of problems, such as conflicts, lack of leadership, economiccorruption, discrimination, unstable governments, dictatorships,  pandemics, lack of infrastructure, low education and public health, poverty, and over one billion humans without the basic needs of life being met

Temporal and Spatial Temperature Trends and Their Implications on Health Conditions in Port Harcourt and Warri in Niger Delta

In recent times climate change; global warming or rising temperature have taken centre stage in international concerns and several fora and treaties have been observed with a view of stemming trend, in rising temperatures. This study evaluated 36 (thirty-six) years maximum and minimum annual temperature of Port Harcourt and Warri in Niger Delta (1971 – 2006) to determine trends and identified extreme fluctuation in temperature and their possible implications on health condition of the people. Data used for this study were historical data on temperature of Port Harcourt and Warri sourced from the Nigerian Meteorological Agency’s Archive, Lagos and data on health conditions sourced from the Braithwaite Memorial Specialist Hospital Port Harcourt and Warri Central Hospital Warri. Temperature data was analyzed for long term of thirty six (36) years and short term of 6 years series using Pearson’s Product Moment Correlation Coefficient (r). Other analysis tool used include standardized temperature anomaly index, mean temperature deviation, graphical model of mean annual temperature, five year moving averages etc. Frequencies of health cases were correlated with extreme temperature fluctuation values to determine relationship between temperature trends and health conditions in Port Harcourt and Warri. The result of data analysis showed a direct relationship between temperature of Port Harcourt and Warri (r = 0.79) for the series 1971 – 2006. Mean annual temperature has varied remarkably in Port Harcourt and Warri during the period. The study also established an inverse relationship between extreme temperature and health condition in Warri (r = - 0.55). Specifically inverse relationship was establish between temperature and malaria (r= - 0.04), typhoid (r = - 0.55), measles (r = - 0.01), hypertension (r = - 0.02), hepatitis (r = - 0.75), gastro enteritis (r = - 0.36) and pneumonia (r = - 0.13). Asthma (r = 0.28) and bronchitis (r = 0.02) directly relate with temperature. Observed trends in temperature of Port Harcourt and Warri is in conformity with rising trend of global temperature as revealed by trend models. However, high and low extreme temperature have some influences on human health condition in Port Harcourt and Warri. Keywords: Temporal, Spatial, Temperature Trends, Health condition, Port Harcourt, Warri

Health Impact of Gas Flares on Igwuruta / Umuechem Communities in Rivers State

This paper examined the relationship between human exposure to toxicological factors in the environment arising from gas flares and the development of various human health related conditions. The impact of environmental factors was investigated at four stations set up concentrically around Agbada II flow station, for a period of nine months (May, 2007 – January, 2008) and sampling was performed manually across the four stations on an hourly basis. The analytical program was done in line with WMO recommendations. Parameters investigated include particulates and gases. Mean particulate concentrations in rainy season across all sites ranged from 0.4 ± 0.4ìg/m3 in June to 25 ± 5.4ìg/m3 in May. Concentration levels of particulates were excessive in the months of December and January, exceeding allowable regulatory limits for TSP, PM10 and PM7 across all stations. Mean concentration levels of gases in both wet and dry seasons were within allowable regulatory limits. Analysis of medical records showed a greaterfrequency of disease types such as Asthma, Cough, breathing difficulty, eye/skin irritation in (Igwuruta/Umuechem), the study area with a long history of gas flaring compared to Ayama with no flaring history. These subset of diseases accounted for 22.4% and 5.9% (a 4 to 1 ratio) of all cases reported at the respective health centers. The high level of particulates in the dry season constitutes a greater short-term exposure risk to residents and workers with the particular risk of respiratory irritation, itching/eye irritation and cough being endemic in the area surrounding the flare

Melhor idade em movimento: Importância da fisioterapia preventiva na flexibilidade de idosas

Trabalho apresentado no 31º SEURS - Seminário de Extensão Universitária da Região Sul, realizado em Florianópolis, SC, no período de 04 a 07 de agosto de 2013 - Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina.O envelhecimento biológico é um fenômeno multifatorial que é acompanhado de uma redução da eficácia de diversos processos fisiológicos, dentre eles a flexibilidade. Uma das principais formas de evitar, minimizar e/ou reverter muitos dos declínios do envelhecimento é a atividade física. Objetivando a promoção do ganho e/ou manutenção da flexibilidade e amplitude de movimento, preservando a autonomia e a capacidade funcional das idosas, foi implantado o Projeto Melhor Idade em Movimento, que beneficia uma população de idosas de Cascavel – PR. A flexibilidade das idosas foi avaliada, por meio do teste de sentar-e-alcançar, e após teve início um programa de atividades com exercícios de alongamento e palestras preventivas. A média do nível de flexibilidade inicial encontrado nesta população foi de 21,9 cm, demonstrando que embora apresentem restrições elas estão com um bom nível de flexibilidade, comparadas a outros estudos com idosas sedentárias. Porém, estudos demonstram que idosas praticantes de atividades físicas alcançam níveis melhores de flexibilidade, além da atenuação das adaptações evidentes com o envelhecimento. Assim, dada a importância do exercício físico para esta população fica cada vez mais evidente a importância de projetos que estimulem essa prática

THIRD AGE UNIVERSITIES IN ITALY

Sveučilišta za treću životnu dob predstavljaju važan segment u razvoju društva koje postaje sve starije i starije. Ekspanzija sveučilišta za treću životu dob započinje osnivanjem prvog sveučilišta 1973. godine u Francuskoj, dok je prvo sveučilište za treću dob u Italiji osnovano 1975. godine u Torinu. Talijanska iskustva ukazuju da su za razvoj sveučilišta potrebna tri važna motiva: društveni, kulturni i istraživački. Sveučilišta za treću dob u Italiji pripadaju jednoj od tri nacionalne organizacije sveučilišta: FEDERUNI, UNITRE, AUPTEL koja svaka ima svoj statut kroz koji se promiču glavne vrijednosti organizacije. Njihov rad zasniva se na planu i programu aktivnosti koji je veoma raznolik i bogat kako bi se mogli zadovoljiti interesi i potrebe korisnika, a realizira se kroz različite tečajeve u kojima treba biti integriran projekt sadržaja i projekt procesa te njihova integracija. Struktura polaznika veoma je heterogena prema postojećoj kulturi, godinama kao i prema društveno ekonomskom statusu. Aktivnosti sveučilišta za treću životnu dob imaju za cilj povećati kvalitetu života starijih osoba, osmisliti njihovo slobodno vrijeme, pomoći im da uspostave nove izvanobiteljske društvene kontakte odnosno imaju za cilj zadovoljavanje kulturnih i zabavnih potreba osoba treće životne dobi.Third age universities are an important segment in the development of society which is getting older and older. The expansion of third age universities started with the founding of the first university in France in 1973, while the first third age university in Italy was founded in 1975 in Turin. The Italian experiences indicate that for the development of the universities there are three important motives required; the social, cultural and researching. The third generation universities in Italy belong to one of the three national university organizations: FEDERUNI, UNITRE and AUPTEL, each of which has its own statute promoting the principal values of the organization. Their work is based on the plan and programme of the activities which is very diverse and rich in order to meet the users’ interests and needs, and is realized through various courses which ought to integrate the content project and the process project as well as their integration. The structure of the attendants is very heterogeneous as for the prevailing culture, age and social and economic status. The objective of the activities of the third age universities is to increase the quality of life of elderly people, give meaning to their free time and help them make new social contacts outside of their family, in other words, their objective is to meet the cultural and entertainment needs of the third age population

La globalizzazione della survey : storia, limiti e opportunit\ue0

E\u2019 luogo comune pensare che l\u2019intervista standardizzata e la survey siano nate contemporaneamente o almeno che il loro matrimonio sia indissolubile. Ci\uf2 non sembra corrispondere a verit\ue0. L\u2019intervista standardizzata ha incontrato la survey solo negli anni \u201820, quando quest\u2019ultima era gi\ue0 grande, forte di un\u2019esperienza di quasi cent\u2019anni. Di conseguenza l\u2019idea di standardizzare l\u2019intervista con questionario nasce solo molto tardi. Infatti soltanto negli anni \u201830 esse si vincolarono definitivamente, quando la survey trad\uec le sue origini per diventare il metodo che oggi conosciamo. Per cui survey, intervista con questionario (survey interview) e intervista standardizzata non sono sinonimi. La survey \ue8 un metodo e s\u2019identifica con l\u2019intero processo di ricerca (dal disegno della ricerca all\u2019analisi dei dati); l\u2019intervista con questionario \ue8 la tecnica attraverso cui la survey raccoglie i suoi dati. Infine l\u2019intervista standardizzata \ue8 una modalit\ue0 particolare, che \ue8 diventata dominante nell\u2019ultimo secolo, di raccogliere i dati. Sfortunatamente nel corso degli anni la pratica di ricerca e la letteratura hanno imploso questi tre differenti termini (e concetti) facendoli diventare tutt\u2019uno. Lo scopo di questo saggio \ue8 di mantenere questa distinzione e affermare che la survey pu\uf2 vivere benissimo senza l\u2019intervista standardizzata, come le era gi\ue0 accaduto tra il 1820 e 1920. Anzi l\u2019abbandono dell\u2019intervista standardizzata da parte della survey, aprirebbe quest\u2019ultima a una nuova vita, pi\uf9 in sintonia con i tempi correnti. Abstract inglese It is common to consider that the standardized interview and survey were born together, or at the very least that their union is indissoluble. It is not true. Standardized interview met the survey in the 1920s only, when the last was already mature, with almost a hundred years of experience behind it. So the idea of standardizing the survey came along quite late. It was only in the 1930s that the two were definitively linked, when the survey betrayed its roots to become the methodology that we know today. Survey, survey interview and standardized interview are not synonyms. The survey is a methodology and may be identified with the entire process of research (from design to data analysis); the survey interview is the method by which the survey gathers its data. Finally, the standardized interview, which has become dominant in the last century, is a particular instrument for collecting survey data. Unfortunately, most research practice and survey literature has collapsed these three different terms and concepts into one and the same thing. The central aim of this essay is to maintain the distinction and to affirm that the survey can stand quite well on its own without the standardized interview, just as it did between the 1820s and the 1920s. Indeed, abandoning the standardized interview would breathe new life into the survey, putting it more in tune with the present

Wytwarzanie ślepoty i jej organizacyjne konstruowanie w szkole podstawowej

Niniejszy artykuł jest oparty na studium przypadku przeprowadzonym we włoskiej szkole podstawowej, w której obserwowano interakcje pomiędzy niewidomą dziewczynką (o imieniu Jasmine, w wieku lat 8) a jej kolegami i koleżankami z klasy. Początkowym celem badań było zrozumienie i opis problemów, z którymi spotyka się niewidoma uczennica, działająca w społecznym, organizacyjnym i fizycznym otoczeniu, które nie było zaprojektowane dla osób niepełnosprawnych. Jednak w trakcie badań wyłoniły się inne kwestie. Głównym odkryciem było to, że bycie niewidomym wydaje się być społecznie i organizacyjnie skonstruowane zanim stanie się biologiczną czy fizyczną ułomnością. Ten właśnie organizacyjny proces, poprzez który „bycie niewidomym” jest powoli i rutynowo konstruowane został dogłębnie i szeroko opisany

Wytwarzanie \u15blepoty i jej organizacyjne konstruowanie w szkole podstawowej

Niniejszy artyku\u142 jest oparty na studium przypadku przeprowadzonym we w\u142oskiej szkole podstawowej, w kt\uf3rej obserwowano interakcje pomi\u119dzy niewidom\u105 dziewczynk\u105 (o imieniu Jasmine, w wieku lat 8) a jej kolegami i kole\u17cankami z klasy. Pocz\u105tkowym celem bada\u144 by\u142o zrozumienie i opis problem\uf3w, z kt\uf3rymi spotyka si\u119 niewidoma uczennica, dzia\u142aj\u105ca w spo\u142ecznym, organizacyjnym i fizycznym otoczeniu, kt\uf3re nie by\u142o zaprojektowane dla os\uf3b niepe\u142nosprawnych. Jednak w trakcie bada\u144 wy\u142oni\u142y si\u119 inne kwestie. G\u142\uf3wnym odkryciem by\u142o to, \u17ce bycie niewidomym wydaje si\u119 by\u107 spo\u142ecznie i organizacyjnie skonstruowane zanim stanie si\u119 biologiczn\u105 czy fizyczn\u105 u\u142omno\u15bci\u105. Ten w\u142a\u15bnie organizacyjny proces, poprzez kt\uf3ry \u201ebycie niewidomym\u201d jest powoli i rutynowo konstruowane zosta\u142 dog\u142\u119bnie i szeroko opisany