The role of religious beliefs and practices in the lives of African American family caregivers

Examines whether religious beliefs or practices have a positive or negative influence on the perceived level of stress and coping ability of African American family care providers. Through interviews with three African American females who are caregivers for spouses diagnosed with adult onset brain disorder it was revealed that all caregivers felt their spirituality and/or religious practices shaped how they approached providing care. Religious practices and spirituality affected how they felt about providing care for their spouses and how they dealt with difficult challenges

U.S. adolescent and adult women\u27s experiences accessing and using toilets in schools, workplaces, and public spaces: A multi-site focus group study to inform future research in bladder health

The World Health Organization recognizes access to clean and safe toilets as crucial for public health. This study explored U.S. adolescent and adult cisgender women\u27s lived experiences accessing toilets in schools, workplaces, and public spaces. As part of the Prevention of Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms (PLUS) Research Consortium, we conducted 44 focus groups with female participants (n = 360; ages 11-93). Focus groups were stratified by age (11-14, 15-17, 18-25, 26-44, 45-64, 65+) and conducted across 7 geographically diverse U.S. sites from July 2017-April 2018. Using a transdisciplinary approach, we conducted conventional qualitative coding informed by our PLUS conceptual framework and used content analysis processes to identify salient themes. Across settings, toilet access was restricted by gatekeepers (i.e., individuals who control access to toilets). In contrast, self-restricting toilet use (deciding not to use the toilet despite biologic need to urinate) was based on internalized norms to prioritize school and job responsibilities over urination. In public spaces, self-restricting use was largely in response to lack of cleanliness. Across the life course, participants perceived gender disparities in the ability to easily access public toilets. Further research is needed to determine if and how these factors impact bladder health across the life course

Adiposity Mediates the Association Between the Dietary Inflammatory Index and Markers of Type 2 Diabetes Risk in Middle-Aged Black South African Women

The dietary inflammatory index (DII®), a validated tool used to measure the inflammatory potential of the diet, has been associated with metabolic disorders in various settings, but not in African populations. The aim of this study was to investigate whether the DII is associated with markers of type 2 diabetes (T2D) risk, and if this association is mediated by adiposity and/or low-grade inflammation, in black South Africa women. Energy-adjusted-DII (E-DII) scores were calculated in 190 women (median age, 53 years) from the Birth-to-Twenty plus cohort using a validated food frequency questionnaire. Fasting glucose, insulin, HbA1c, and inflammatory cytokines were measured, and an oral glucose tolerance test performed. Basic anthropometry and dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry-derived body fat, including estimate of visceral adipose tissue (VAT) area, were measured. E-DII scores were associated with all markers of T2D risk, namely, fasting glucose and insulin, HbA1c, HOMA2-IR, two-hour glucose and Matsuda index (all p \u3c 0.05). After adjusting for age, measures of adiposity, but not inflammatory cytokines, mediated the association between E-DII and markers of T2D risk (p \u3c 0.05). Measures of central obesity had proportionally higher (range: 23.5–100%) mediation effects than total obesity (range: 10–60%). The E-DII is associated with T2D risk through obesity, in particular central obesity, among black middle-aged South African women

A novel research definition of bladder health in women and girls: Implications for research and public health promotion

BACKGROUND:Bladder health in women and girls is poorly understood, in part, due to absence of a definition for clinical or research purposes. This article describes the process used by a National Institutes of Health funded transdisciplinary research team (The Prevention of Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms [PLUS] Consortium) to develop a definition of bladder health. METHODS:The PLUS Consortium identified currently accepted lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) and outlined elements of storage and emptying functions of the bladder. Consistent with the World Health Organization's definition of health, PLUS concluded that absence of LUTS was insufficient and emphasizes the bladder's ability to adapt to short-term physical, psychosocial, and environmental challenges for the final definition. Definitions for subjective experiences and objective measures of bladder dysfunction and health were drafted. An additional bioregulatory function to protect against infection, neoplasia, chemical, or biologic threats was proposed. RESULTS:PLUS proposes that bladder health be defined as: "A complete state of physical, mental, and social well-being related to bladder function and not merely the absence of LUTS. Healthy bladder function permits daily activities, adapts to short-term physical or environmental stressors, and allows optimal well-being (e.g., travel, exercise, social, occupational, or other activities)." Definitions for each element of bladder function are reported with suggested subjective and objective measures. CONCLUSIONS:PLUS used a comprehensive transdisciplinary process to develop a bladder health definition. This will inform instrument development for evaluation of bladder health promotion and prevention of LUTS in research and public health initiatives

Prospectus, November 3, 1982

PURDUE VISIT SPURS STUGO; News Digest; Twenty enter pumpkin contest; Registration issue is re-addressed by Smith; Identity revealed; Group opposed to nuclear weapons; \u27DWB not the only aggressive team\u27; Editor says \u27thank you\u27 to honest student; Students see person responsible for drug tampering as threat; Band festival always a crowd-pleaser; Program to aid students; Students earn, learn; Nine Parkland cheerleaders chosen by judges; Movie-tv questions answered; Chautauqua series set for Parkland; Confusion cleared; Prairie women depicted in play; Jackets ordered; Classified; C-U Happenings; Manilow receives warm reception from C-U; Reeve gets new image; Ferguson tours for album; Violence fans can watch hockey, not NFL; Byron Clark wins Parkland 3-mile run; Nasty news from Slow Sam; Intramurals worth participation; Parkland sports schedule; AF to play at Parklandhttps://spark.parkland.edu/prospectus_1982/1005/thumbnail.jp

Inadequate Birth Spacing is Perceived as Riskier than All Family Planning Methods, Except Sterilization and Abortion, in a Qualitative Study among Urban Nigerians

Background Fertility is high in Nigeria and contraceptive use is low. Little is known about how urban Nigerians perceive the risk of contraceptive use in relation to pregnancy and birth. This study examines and compares the risk perception of family planning methods and pregnancy related scenarios among urban Nigerians. Methods A total of 26 focus group discussions with 243 participants were conducted in September and October 2010 in Ibadan and Kaduna. The groups were stratified by sex, age, family planning use, and city. Study participants were asked to identify the risk associated with six different family planning methods and four pregnancy related risks. The data were coded in ATLAS.ti 6 and analyzed using the thematic content analysis approach. Results The ten family planning and pregnancy related items ranked as follows from most to least risky: sterilization, abortion, getting pregnant soon after having a baby (no birth spacing), pill, IUD, injectable, having a birth under 18 years of age (teenage motherhood), condom use, having six children, and fertility awareness methods. Risk of family planning methods was often categorized in terms of side effects and complications. Positive perceptions of teenage motherhood and having many children influenced the low ranking of these items. Conclusion Inadequate birth spacing was rated as more risky than all contraceptive methods and pregnancy related events except for sterilization and abortion. Some of the participants’ risk perceptions of contraceptives and pregnancy related scenarios does not correspond to actual risk of methods and practices. Instead, the items’ perceived riskiness largely correspond with prevailing social norms. However, there was a high level of understanding of the risks of inadequate birth spacing. Trial registration Number: This study is not a randomized control trial so the study has not been registered as such

Connecting Online Graduate Students to the University Community

The purpose of this study was to understand how to facilitate a sense of belonging among online graduate students. Sense of community theory was the basis for examining students’ desires to be a part of a community and feel connected to the institution. Findings from a survey using the Sense of Community Index 2 (SCI-2) of online graduate students provided insight into the sense of community, the importance of belonging to a community, and activities that could strengthen their connection with the institution. Overall students showed a slightly stronger sense of belonging to their program than to the institution. Students were also asked how they prefer to connect to others in the community with mentoring and inperson social events being the most requested

Summary Report: National Evaluation of Learn and Serve America

In 1993, the Nalional and Community Service Trust Act (PL. 103-82) established the Learn and Serve America School and Community-Based Programs to support school and Community-Based efforts to involve school-aged youth in community service. The Learn and Serve program is administered by the Corporation for National Service and funded through grants to states and national organizations, and through them to individual school districts, schools, and community organizations. In 1994-95, the first year of the program, the Corporation awarded approximately $30 million in grants supporting over 2,000 local efforts involving over 750,000 school-aged youth

Prevention of Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms Research Consortium focus group Study of Habits, Attitudes, Realities, and Experiences of Bladder health

AimThe study purpose is to explore adolescent and adult women’s experiences, perceptions, beliefs, knowledge and behaviours related to bladder health across the life course using a socioecological perspective. Lower urinary tract symptoms affect between 20-40% of young adult to middle-aged women, with symptoms increasing in incidence and severity with aging. There is limited evidence to address bladder health promotion and prevention of dysfunction. This first study of the Prevention of Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms (PLUS) Research Consortium is designed to address gaps in existing qualitative research in this area.DesignThis focus group study will be implemented across seven geographically diverse United States research centres using a semi-structured focus group guide informed by a conceptual framework based on the socioecological model.MethodsThe study was approved in July 2017. A total of 44 focus groups composed of 6-8 participants representing six different age categories (ranging from 11 to over 65 years) will be completed. We aim to recruit participants with diverse demographic and personal characteristics including race, ethnicity, education, socioeconomic status, urban/rural residence, physical/health conditions, and urinary symptom experience. Six of the focus groups will be conducted in Spanish and translated into English. Focus group transcripts will undergo content analysis and data interpretation to identify and classify themes and articulate emerging themes.DiscussionThis foundational qualitative study seeks to develop an evidence base to inform future research on bladder health promotion in adolescent and adult women.ImpactThis study has the potential to provide new insights and understanding into adolescent and adult women’s lived experience of bladder health, the experience of lower urinary symptoms and knowledge and beliefs across the life course.ç ®ç æ ¬ç  ç©¶ç ç ®ç æ ¯ä» ç¤¾ä¼ ç æ å­¦ç è§ åº¦,æ ¢è®¨é å° å¹´å æ å¹´å¥³æ §å ¨äººç è¿ ç¨ ä¸­ä¸ è è ±å ¥åº·ç ¸å ³ç ç» éª ã è§ å¿µã 信念ã ç ¥è¯ å è¡ ä¸ºã ä¸ å°¿è·¯ç ç ¶å½±å 20-40%ç 中é å¹´å¥³æ §,é ç å¹´é¾ ç å¢ é ¿,ç ç ¶ç å ç ç å 严é ç¨ åº¦é ½å ¨å¢ é ¿ã å ³äº ä¿ è¿ è è ±å ¥åº·å é¢ é ²å è ½é ç¢ ç è¯ æ ®æ é ã æ ¬æ¬¡é¢ é ²ä¸ å°¿è·¯ç ç ¶(PLUS)ç  ç©¶è ç ç ç  ç©¶æ ¯é¦ ä¸ªå ³äº æ­¤æ ¹é ¢ç ç  ç©¶,æ ¨å ¨è§£å ³ç °æ ç å® æ §ç  ç©¶å ¨è¿ æ ¹é ¢ç å·®è· ã è®¾è®¡è¯¥é¡¹ç ¦ç ¹å° ç» ç  ç©¶å° å ¨ä¸ ä¸ªä¸ å ä½ ç½®ç ç¾ å ½ç  ç©¶ä¸­å¿ è¿ è¡ ,ä»¥å ºäº ç¤¾ä¼ ç æ 模å æ¦ å¿µæ¡ æ ¶ç å ç» æ å ç ç ¦ç ¹å° ç» æ å 为æ 导ã æ ¹æ³ è¯¥ç  ç©¶äº 2017å¹´7æ è ·å¾ æ ¹å ã ç ±6-8å 代表6ä¸ªä¸ å å¹´é¾ ç±»å «(ä» 11å² å °65å² ä»¥ä¸ )ç å ä¸ è ç» æ å ±44ä¸ªç ¦ç ¹å° ç» ã æ 们计å æ å ä¸ å äººå £å ä¸ªäººç ¹å¾ ç å ä¸ è ,ä¾ å¦ ç§ æ ã ç§ æ æ¸ æº ã æ è ²ç» å ã ç¤¾ä¼ ç» æµ å °ä½ ã å ä¹¡å± æ° ã èº«ä½ /å ¥åº·ç ¶å µå æ³ å°¿ç³»ç» ç ç ¶ç» å ã å ­ä¸ªç ¦ç ¹å° ç» ç ç  ç©¶å° ä»¥è¥¿ç ­ç è¯­è¿ è¡ ,å¹¶ç¿»è¯ æ è ±è¯­ã ç ¦ç ¹å° ç» ç èª æ ¬å° è¢«ç ¨äº å 容å æ å æ °æ ®è§£é ,ä»¥ç¡®å® å å ç±»ä¸»é¢ ,并é æ æ °å ºç °ç ä¸»é¢ ã è®¨è®ºè¿ é¡¹å ºç¡ æ §ç å® æ §ç  ç©¶æ ¨å ¨ä¸ºæ é« æ ªæ ¥é å° å¹´å æ å¹´å¦ å¥³ç è è ±å ¥åº·ç ç  ç©¶æ ä¾ è¯ æ ®å ºç¡ ã å½±å è¿ é¡¹ç  ç©¶æ å ¯è ½æ ä¾ å ³äº é å° å¹´å æ å¹´å¦ å¥³ç è è ±å ¥åº·ç ç æ´»ç» éª ,ç» éª ç ä¸ å°¿è·¯ç ç ¶å ç ¥è¯ å ç æ³ ç 人ç è¿ ç¨ ä¸­æ °ç è§ è§£å ç 解ãPeer Reviewedhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/151981/1/jan14148_am.pdfhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/151981/2/jan14148.pd

The Prevention of Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms (PLUS) in girls and women: Developing a conceptual framework for a prevention research agenda

Peer Reviewedhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/146323/1/nau23787_am.pdfhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/146323/2/nau23787.pd