Traditional Birth Attendants in Modern Ghana A Discussion of Maternal Health Care

Ghanaian women have been delivering their own babies for almost two thousand years now, using knowledge passed down from their elders and medicines prepared from herbs. It has only been in the past one hundred years that scientific medicines and institutions have been introduced to this country, yet more and more individuals are turning to these doctors and hospitals for care before, during and after pregnancies. The role of traditional birth attendants, (TBAs), has begun to be questioned as well as attacked for its more religious and holistic approach which is resulting in a growing schism between the TBAs and the formally trained doctors and nurses. However, these transitions that are occurring will never lead to the demise of the TBAs due to economic, cultural, social and psychological factors. TBAs, midwives and doctors are the three main sources of maternal health care in Ghana. Previously, women would select only one of the three, but today, they are using a combination of these health care providers. This has led to their inevitable dependence on one another, and the reality that with the failure of one, means the future of all

What She Wore: The Dialectics of Personal Style Blogging

This research examines personal style blogging to understand the strategies women interested in personal style employ online to participate in fashion culture. In 2009 and 2010 I interviewed thirty-five personal style bloggers during two separate one-month periods about their experiences as bloggers, fashion community-members, and consumers. Bourdieu's theories of taste and social spaces, as well as Swidler's theory of strategic interaction were used to analyze the data. I found that personal style bloggers engage three strategies to navigate the social field of fashion online: opposition, conditional involvement, and buy-in. Personal style bloggers self-consciously position themselves vis-a-vis the fashion industry to respond to the pressures of consumerism and self-commodification, and illustrate that the Internet facilitates production as well as consumption of women's fashion

The sensitivity of saccharomyces mutants to palmitoleic acid may provide a means to study the controls of membrane fluidity in eukaryotes

The mechanisms which control the fluidity of eukaryotic membranes are unknown. We have identified S. cerevisiae deletion strains whose growth is impaired by palmitoleic (PO; C16:1) but not oleic (C18:1) acid. PO-sensitivity is suppressed by oleate thus perhaps identifying a signaling pathway that controls the ratio of these fatty acids in membrane phospholipid. Growth of these mutants is also inhibited by a known fluidizer, benzyl alcohol, thus indicating that PO has a fluidizing effect. Removal of Pkc1, known to play a key role in cell wall integrity control, leads to acute PO-sensitivity. Removal of Bck1, Mkk1, Mkk2, Slt2, or Swi6 downstream components of the cell wall integrity pathway, cause modest POsensitivity. Suppression by 1M sorbitol of the PO-sensitivity of these four mutants implies that PO/oleate ratio influences the cell wall. Acute PO-sensitivity of the pkc1Δ strain, even in the presence of 1M sorbitol, suggests the cell wall to be more severely compromised by PO addition to this strain. Alternatively, the failure to control the PO/oleate ratio could have an additional effect on the pkc1 strain, perhaps by disabling a 2nd pathway downstream of Pkc1 thus allowing PO addition to cause excess membrane fluidity. We are attempting to distinguish these two models by a variety of genetic, biochemical, and physical methods. Most notably, the effect of PO on the fluidity of the plasma membrane is being examined by measuring the depolarization of laurdan fluorescence

Introducing STEM Education Through A 3D Printing Demonstration

This research project investigates the impact of a science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) 3D printing presentation on a selected population and evaluates the need for further research on 3D printing as an introduction to STEM education. Participants completed a pre-survey measuring knowledge and interest in STEM education and 3D printing. A PowerPoint presentation demonstrated the viability of STEM education and careers and showed the variety of careers that utilize 3D printing. After the presentation, a demonstration of 3D printed small objects showed a sample of what is possible with the A5 3D printer. Each participant received a 3D printed item as a “takeaway.” Finally, a post survey to reevaluate knowledge and interest in 3D printing and STEM education was conducted. After the presentations, researchers analyzed the data from the pre-surveys and post-surveys to examine the change in knowledge of STEM and 3D printing. The results showed students awareness of basic STEM knowledge and exposure to 3D printing. However, there was a deficit in knowledge of STEM careers and a lack of interest in technology found in the research

Improving the Lives of Transgender Older Adults: Recommendations for Policy and Practice

Transgender and gender non-conforming adults face a myriad of challenges as they age. While very limited, the existing research on transgender people paints a picture of many people aging in isolation and without a network of knowledgeable or welcoming providers in the aging, health and social services arenas. Further, transgender elders often experience extreme disparities in access to health care and low rates of health insurance coverage due in large part to systemic discrimination from providers and insurance companies, as well as economic instability resulting from discrimination in employment and housing, among other areas. An overarching challenge for policymakersand practitioners isthe dearth in research examining the challenges facing this population--and the types of policies and programmatic interventions that would improve their lives. While the need for better data and more research on lesbian, gay and bisexual communities has gained support over the last few years, gender identity remains largely absent from the scope of social research and analysis. Moreover, few studies have addressed the specific challenges facing transgender elders. Research focused on transgender people of color is even more limited, despite some studies suggesting that they experience high levels of violence and discrimination

Farmers Markets, Local Food Systems and the Social Economy: A Thematic Literature Review

The first section outlines some of the many definitions given to the FM. Key themes will be identified. Following this, a brief discussion of the market concept, the history of selling in public spaces as well as a brief look at FM in other places around the world will help situate FM as a part of history and current times as well as touch on their existence as a global phenomena. Section two seeks to outline the investment in Farmers Markets; more specifically, public and private contributions to the things farmers markets need most: access to land and buildings, infrastructure, administration. Furthermore, this section seeks to explore what role the farmers/vendors themselves have in this investment and whether or not it is a grassroots or top down approach to the procurement of the necessary operating resources. In addition, some insight into which group is driving this investment, producers or consumers, will be presented. Section three examines key themes emerging from the literature around FM. These themes help situate the benefits and challenges of the FM structure in relation to producers, consumers, communities, municipalities, food safety and small business. Section four offers a brief look at the third sector, the social economy and explores the emergence of FM within the context of a social economic development initiative. The chapter continues on to define community food systems and offers a look at the role of FM working with strong CFS. The chapter concludes with some suggestions for future research to explore the role of FM in driving CFS. Section five examines the FM in specific settings; in British Colombia and Alberta. The origins, structures, functions and other related features are explored. Section six offers reflections on what has not been written about in the current literature; such things as the ambiguity of employing social capital as means to map and measure the social benefits of FM, debates about FM as features of agro tourism, the urban phenomena of direct marketing as well as the limited accessibility of local agricultural products.Alternative food systems, often drawing heavily on local and ‘embedded’ markets, have emerged as a response to the dissipating connection between food systems and ecological systems brought about by the globalization trend. These alternatives seek to re-establish direct links between producers and consumers and to re-establish some control over a food system that has become distant and anonymous. This literature review examines the role of farmers markets in these alternative food systems as discussed in the literature. It is one component of a wider research initiative on farmers markets conducted by the BC-Alberta Social Economy Research Alliance (BALTA).BC-Alberta Social Economy Research Alliance (BALTA) ; Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC) ; University of Alberta ; Simon Fraser Universit

After Initial Accreditation - The PHAB Annual Report

Background: Cobb & Douglas Public Health (CDPH) was the first health district in Georgia to achieve accreditation by the Public Health Accreditation Board (PHAB) (accredited on May 12, 2015). Since then, two additional health districts, DeKalb (3-5) and Gwinnett, Newton, and Rockdale County Health Departments (3-4), have achieved accreditation. Efforts are underway among health districts statewide to become accredited, yet, little is known about life after accreditation. This presentation will highlight CDPH’s approach to submitting the PHAB Annual Report, which is required of health departments in order to maintain their accreditation status. Methods: CDPH will provide an overview of the PHAB Annual Report process and requirements. We will also share the process we used to construct a one-year timeline to prepare for the submission of the Annual Report and organize the Accreditation Team. CDPH will also provide a preview of the electronic submission process using ePHAB. Finally, CDPH will share tips, including lessons learned while preparing and submitting the Annual Report during July-August 2016. We will also discuss our experiences since submission and feedback received from PHAB’s Evaluation and Quality Improvement Committee. Results: CDPH will share knowledge and experiences related to the submission and feedback received of its first PHAB Annual Report, which was submitted August 2016. Conclusions: Health departments devote a tremendous amount of time, money, and energy to become accredited; however, the journey continues through the submission of PHAB Annual Progress Reports and reaccreditation planning. Keywords: Accreditation, PHAB, PHAB Annual Repor