Is greater decisionmaking power of women associated with reduced gender discrimination in South Asia?

"Recent research has shown that improving women's decisionmaking power relative to men's within households leads to improvements in a variety of well-being outcomes for children. In South Asia, where the influence of women's power is particularly strong, these outcomes include children's nutritional status and the quality of feeding and health care practices. Focusing on nutritional status, this paper presents the results of a study investigating whether increases in women's power have a stronger positive influence on the nutritional status of their daughters than their sons. If so, then increasing women's power not only improves the well-being of children as a group, but also serves as a force to reduce long-standing discrimination that undermines female capabilities in many important areas of life as well as human and economic development in general. To investigate this issue, the study draws on Demographic and Health Survey data collected during the 1990s in four countries: Bangladesh, India, Nepal, and Pakistan. The main empirical technique employed is multivariate regression analysis with statistical tests for significant differences in effects for girl and boy children. A total of 30,334 women and 33,316 children under three years old are included in the analysis. The study concludes that, for the South Asia region as a whole, an increase in women's decisionmaking power relative to men's, if substantial, would be an effective force for reducing discrimination against girl children. However, this finding is not applicable in all countries and for all areas and age groups of children. Indeed the study finds evidence that in some areas, for instance the northern and western states of India as a group, increasing women's power would lead to a worsening of gender discrimination against girls. This is likely the result of deeply embedded son preference associated with highly patriarchal social systems. The lesson for policymakers and development practitioners is that while increasing women's power is likely to improve the well-being of children, in some geographical areas it will not necessarily diminish discrimination against girls, which violates human rights and undermines the region's economic development and the health of its population. In these areas, to overcome son preference, economic returns to girls will have to be increased and efforts to change customs regarding marriage and inheritance associated with patriarchal kinship systems, which favor males, will have to be made." Authors' AbstractGender discrimination ,Women Social conditions ,Children Nutrition ,Economic development ,

Feasibility of Implementing Community Partnerships to Provide Diabetes Prevention Services to Youth

Type 2 diabetes (T2D) in youth has increased as a result of the obesity epidemic. Diabetes prevention programming is needed for youth, at risk for T2D, and their families. However, there is a lack of diabetes prevention services for this population. There is evidence for the benefit of lifestyle modification for decreasing diabetes risk, however there are barriers for youth to access these services in a traditional clinical setting. Our Youth Diabetes Prevention Clinic (YDPC) created partnerships within the community to increase access to diabetes prevention services for at risk youth. YDPC personnel approached community organizations who had the expertise and capacity to partner in needed areas. These partnerships allowed for the development and facilitation of a community-based diabetes prevention group. Youth and their families participated in a 12 week diabetes prevention group. We measured attendance and participant satisfaction with the program. Families attended an average of 5.1 sessions from January to October 2016. Participant satisfaction was collected five times. Physical activity was rated as “awesome” or “good” by 88% of the respondents. The nutrition activities were rated as “awesome” or “good” by 97% of respondents. Physicians and families express a desire for diabetes prevention services, however barriers make it difficult for families to fully participate. Creating partnerships within the community allows for increased access to diabetes prevention services for high-risk, underserved families

One year of monitoring the Vela pulsar using a Phased Array Feed

We have observed the Vela pulsar for one year using a Phased Array Feed (PAF) receiver on the 12-metre antenna of the Parkes Test-Bed Facility. These observations have allowed us to investigate the stability of the PAF beam-weights over time, to demonstrate that pulsars can be timed over long periods using PAF technology and to detect and study the most recent glitch event that occurred on 12 December 2016. The beam-weights are shown to be stable to 1% on time scales on the order of three weeks. We discuss the implications of this for monitoring pulsars using PAFs on single dish telescopes.Comment: 6 pages, 4 figures, 2 tables. Accepted for publication in PAS

Educational Plans of Community College Students: An Expansion of Two College Choice Models.

The purpose of this study was to determine if the factors posited by previous researchers to affect predisposition to attend college in high school students also affect the predisposition to transfer in the two-year college student population, and to investigate whether or not an expansion of the Hossler and Gallagher (1987) three-phase model of college choice and the Hossler and Stage (1992) Model of High School Students\u27 Predisposition to College would yield great benefits. This analogy uses variables that have been advanced as effectual in the predisposition stage of the college choice process on the selected student population. The problem is that previous research has not examined the college choice process that students in two-year colleges undertake. Moreover, it ignores the duplicative nature of the college choice process for community college students. Specifically, this study investigates the simple bivariate relationship between predictors reported in the predisposition literature for high school students (socioeconomic status, parents education, etc.) and measures 2-year college students\u27 decisions to transfer or not transfer to a baccalaureate institution upon leaving the community college. For the nine included variables (SES, parents\u27 education, GPA, parents\u27 and significant others\u27 expectation and encouragement, students\u27 personal expectation, college involvement, gender, ethnicity and age), the simple bivariate relationship with a measure of community college student\u27s decision to transfer or not transfer to a baccalaureate institution upon departing from community college is measured. To test the explanatory power of the expanded Hossler and Stage model, hierarchial logistic regression procedures are employed. Model 9, which included all variables, was significant at the $\propto$ =.05 level. Of all the variables introduced in the hierarchical logistic regression analysis, EXPECT 2 (the personal educational expectations and aspirations students have for themselves) produced the most statistically significant relationship to predisposition to transfer (r =.2921). The results of this study have implications for state and federal officials who are responsible for developing student financial aid policies, administrators at community colleges and baccalaureate institutions, and for those responsible for enrollment management and recruiting functions at both two- and four-year institutions

Teens on IEPs: Making My “Transition” Services Work for Me [English and Spanish versions]

A Spanish translation of this publication is available for download under Additional Files below. An IEP is an individualized education plan written in public school for children ages 3 to 21 that by law, describes the special education services and goals for a student with an identified disability. Special ed services involve different techniques that help the student in a way that typical instruction cannot. Transition services are plans within the IEP that address specific needs in relation to life after high school. Originally published as: Transitions RTC Tip Sheet 4, 2011

Do I Tell My Boss?: Disclosing My Mental Health Condition at Work [English, Spanish and Vietnamese versions]

Spanish and Vietnamese translations of this publication are available for download under Additional Files below. This publication provides some guidance to young adults living with a mental health condition as to whether or not to disclose that information in the workplace

An Introduction to Local and Global Health Behaviors Using a Collaborative Online International Learning Exchange

Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL), uses technology to facilitate the engagement of students from different countries in collaborative coursework and sharing of cultural perspectives. The existing literature concerning COIL exchanges points to the need to further explore student satisfaction and engagement with such exchange projects, and whether course learning outcomes are being achieved. This practice paper describes a COIL exchange between students of health psychology at Mary Immaculate College, Ireland, and Sacred Heart University, in the United States. During this 10-week project students were required to engage in synchronous and asynchronous activities. Following the completion of the COIL project, students were given a questionnaire to assess their course satisfaction and whether learning outcomes were achieved. Findings indicate that students were satisfied with the exchange and learning outcomes were met. Overall, COIL may serve as another teaching approach to help students learn course specific material, understand multicultural viewpoints, and enhance their professional skill set

Vocational Rehabilitation (VR): A Young Adult’s Guide [English and Spanish versions]

A Spanish translation of this publication is available to download under Additional Files. Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) Agencies are located in every US state. VR helps people with physical or mental health disabilities achieve employment and live independently by offering vocational counseling and related individualized services. This tip sheet explains how young adults with serious mental health conditions can take advantage of the VR services in their state. Originally published as: Transitions RTC, The Word on Work, Tip Sheet 6, April 2012