The construction of homelessness as a social problem: Linking contributing factors, mediating factors and interventive strategies

There are many interacting factors that influence our response to social problems and needs in our communities. The purpose of this thesis is to contribute to the discursive literature about the nature of homelessness and to understand how it is that individuals develop their own personal theories about contributing factors and interventive strategies. The thesis uses grounded theory methods to explain the attitudes of the members of five focus groups that were comprised of homeless individuals, service providers, and community members. Focus group participants provided their ideas about both the contributing factors that lead to homelessness and possible interventive strategies to reduce homelessness. Some of the common etiological factors that the focus groups identified are: level of poverty; education/change in the labour market force; family breakdown; choice; and, individual psychopathology. Analysis of the proposed interventive strategies revealed three central themes that focus group participants believed would reduce homelessness. They are: housing; public education; and, a commentary on the “bandaid” of basic needs that are currently provided. What is also apparent, however, is that there are many dimensions that contribute to one’s understanding of the nature of homelessness. Participants in the focus groups provided a glimpse of their personal theories about homelessness and related social policy issues. These have been labelled “mediating factors” and have been delineated into four sub-categories of personal, experiential, professional and societal mediating factors. They provide a link between what an individual thinks contributes to homelessness, and what they think should be done about it. The thesis describes a model of: Contributing Factors x Mediating Factors = Interventive Strategies. This model can be understood through the use of a framework of social welfare policy. Concepts of social welfare interact with one another; as such, there is no one definitive approach to social welfare policy. Residual and institutional theories of social welfare exist as independent constructs but both play a role in influencing the development of social policy. If one conceives of residual and institutional approaches to social welfare as providing the macro-theoretical base in which to ground policy, the notions of deserving (institutional) and undeserving (residual) interact at the individual level, defining personal theories about the nature of social problems. The paper understands both the macro (institutional/residual) and micro (deserving/undeserving) approaches to social welfare as encompassing the model that describes how individuals conceive of homelessness. Contributing factors, mediating factors and interventive strategies are not discrete entities; rather, they interact with one another. This study offers a way of discerning how it is that individuals construct their own theories about homelessness and other social problems. Understanding that there are lenses through which responses to homelessness and social problems are mediated can facilitate how it is that interventions are developed

Anatomy Lesson Paintings: A Survey of Progression in the Medical and Anatomical Fields

This study has emerged through a combination of art and science, visually and contextually analyzing anatomy lesson paintings as commemorations of physicians, artists, and medical and anatomical advancements. This study focuses on the works of five major artists through the Dutch Baroque and American Realist periods: Michiel Janszoon van Mierevelt, Rembrandt Harmenszoon van Rijn, Thomas Cowperthwait Eakins, Albert Sands Southworth, and Josiah Johnson Hawes. Chapter One begins with Andreas Vesalius, laying the groundwork for the depictions and spread of information for medical advances in the seventeenth and nineteenth centuries. Chapters Two and Three respectively consider depictions of Baroque and then Realist advances in the medical field. The anatomy lessons examined are considered in relation to medical knowledge at the times of their completions, the varying ways that artists handled the subject matter, and the shift from dissections for anatomical knowledge to surgeries meant to improve the lives of living patients

Histological Chorioamnionitis Is Increased at Extremes of Gestation in Stillbirth: A Population-Based Study

Objective. To determine the incidence of histological chorioamnionitis and a fetal response in stillbirths in New South Wales (NSW), and to examine any relationship of fetal response to spontaneous onset of labour and to unexplained antepartum death. Study Design. Population-based cohort study. Setting. New South Wales Australia. Population. All births between 2002 and 2004 with stillbirths reviewed and classified by the state perinatal mortality review committee. Methods. Record linkage of the Midwives Data Collection and the Perinatal Death Database including placental histopathology and standardised cause of death classification. Results. 952 stillbirths were included. The incidence of histopathological chorioamnionitis was 22.6%, with a bimodal distribution. A fetal inflammatory response was present in 10.1% and significantly correlated with spontaneous onset of labour. The absence of a fetal inflammatory response was strongly associated with unexplained antepartum death. Conclusions. The increased incidence of histological chorioamnionitis at extremes of gestation is confirmed in the largest dataset to date using population data. This has important implications for late gestation stillbirth as the percentage of unexplained stillbirths increases near term

Audit of a clinical guideline for neonatal hypoglycaemia screening

NHRMC Early Career Fellowship #511481RMT was supported by NHRMC Grant #63300

Histological chorioamnionitis is increased at extremes of gestation in stillbirth: a population-based study

Objective. To determine the incidence of histological chorioamnionitis and a fetal response in stillbirths in New South Wales (NSW), and to examine any relationship of fetal response to spontaneous onset of labour and to unexplained antepartum death. Study Design. Population-based cohort study. Setting. New South Wales Australia. Population. All births between 2002 and 2004 with stillbirths reviewed and classified by the state perinatal mortality review committee. Methods. Record linkage of the Midwives Data Collection and the Perinatal Death Database including placental histopathology and standardised cause of death classification. Results. 952 stillbirths were included. The incidence of histopathological chorioamnionitis was 22.6%, with a bimodal distribution. A fetal inflammatory response was present in 10.1% and significantly correlated with spontaneous onset of labour. The absence of a fetal inflammatory response was strongly associated with unexplained antepartum death. Conclusions. The increased incidence of histological chorioamnionitis at extremes of gestation is confirmed in the largest dataset to date using population data. This has important implications for late gestation stillbirth as the percentage of unexplained stillbirths increases near term

Exploration of short food supply chain practices, challenges, and opportunities: A case study of local farm markets in Dorset county, England.

Purpose: The research investigates the practices, challenges, and opportunities within Short Food Supply Chains (SFSCs) and Alternative Food Networks (AFNs) through a case study of local farm markets in Dorset County, England. Research Approach: Utilizing a qualitative approach, the study conducted semi-structured interviews, focus group discussions, and observations across seven local farm markets to gather in-depth insights from 22 participants, including farmers, vendors, and market administrators. Findings: The findings reveal the historical evolution and current practices of local farm markets, highlighting the motivations for participation, including economic incentives, social interaction, and community engagement. Key challenges identified are inconsistent participation, logistical difficulties, competition from supermarkets, and limited online presence. The study emphasizes the need for enhanced marketing strategies, infrastructure improvements, and robust online platforms to capitalize on existing opportunities. Originality: This research offers a unique examination of SFSCs within the specific context of Dorset County, integrating multiple theoretical perspectives to provide a comprehensive understanding of local food systems. Practical Impact: The insights gained will inform strategies for improving the sustainability and resilience of local food systems. The proposed development of a hybrid food hub model aims to integrate local farm markets, community-supported agriculture (CSA), online marketplaces, and community kitchens/fridges to enhance food distribution and community engagement