Political factors affecting parents’ perceptions on televised polio messages in Sindh, Pakistan: a critical investigation

Television messages are one of the essential means to disseminate polio messages in the prevention of infectious diseases. However, little is known about the hegemony of political actors specifically government in power over televised health content and its impact on people’s perceptions to adopt or reject a health attitude, particularly in developing countries. Theoretically, Bandura in his social cognitive theory (1997) has examined the change in mind-sets through observational learning, media and social surroundings. However, his research lacks to underline state dominancy over people’s health decisions with reference to political leadership. This study fills the gap by critically investigating political factors that obstruct Pakistani television channels to disseminate productive and informative polio messages, for boosting self-efficacy among lower middle class Jamshoro parents, thus encouraging them to vaccinate their children against polio in Sindh province of Pakistan. The methodological approach employs critical paradigm with qualitative investigation through in-depth interviews. Low level of awareness, less credibility of television channels and political hegemony over health messages contributed and enlarged self-efficacy to collective efficacy of political actors during findings of this research study as a new domain in social cognitive theory. In addition, this research sheds light by critically analysing the elements of corruption, unaccountability and lack of transparency involved in ineffective televised polio messages in developing nations as Pakistan, opening a space for policy makers and television officials for a positive health change in designing health awareness campaigns

Political Factors Affecting Parents’ Perceptions on Televised Polio Messages in Sindh, Pakistan : A Critical Investigation

Television messages are one of the essential means to disseminate polio messages in the prevention of infectious diseases. However, little is known about the hegemony of political actors specifically government in power over televised health content and its impact on people’s perceptions to adopt or reject a health attitude, particularly in developing countries. Theoretically, Bandura in his social cognitive theory (1997) has examined the change in mind-sets through observational learning, media and social surroundings. However, his research lacks to underline state dominancy over people’s health decisions with reference to political leadership. This study fills the gap by critically investigating political factors that obstruct Pakistani television channels to disseminate productive and informative polio messages, for boosting self-efficacy among lower middle class Jamshoro parents, thus encouraging them to vaccinate their children against polio in Sindh province of Pakistan. The methodological approach employs critical paradigm with qualitative investigation through in-depth interviews. Low level of awareness, less credibility of television channels and political hegemony over health messages contributed and enlarged self-efficacy to collective efficacy of political actors during findings of this research study as a new domain in social cognitive theory. In addition, this research sheds light by critically analysing the elements of corruption, unaccountability and lack of transparency involved in ineffective televised polio messages in developing nations as Pakistan, opening a space for policy makers and television officials for a positive health change in designing health awareness campaigns

Gender self-efficacy, perceptions and Mothers’ portrayal in televised polio messages in Sindh, Pakistan

Television exposure is considered a pillar of origination for awareness and attitude change in health messages. However, Pakistani televised polio messages, are not yet successful in mapping out the root causes of cultural restrictions imposed by patriarchal social structure on mothers’ contribution. Though mothers being the real caretakers of their children are oppressed from independent decision-making abilities for polio vaccination, particularly in Asian societies. Bandura (1999) discussed about gender roles and role of media in its social cognitive theory but did not identify the attitudes and perceptions of parents regarding health messages and its effects on parents’ health decision making process. Bandura (1999) also did not explore the role of television in empowering mothers for taking health decisions for children. Hence, this research fills the gap by critically analysing the narratives of parents that depict mothers as marginalised segment of the society and discourages them as equal contributors in polio elimination process. The methodological formulation applies critical investigation of lower middle-class parents with the help of qualitative research framework through in-depth interviews. Nonrepresentation of homely fathers’, mothers’ objectified and suppressed positions, patriarchal superiority, unequal distribution of health decision-making and low confidence of mothers were identified as potent constituents in extension of theoretical perspective for self efficacy and gender representation of Bandura’s social cognitive theory (1999). Thus, in this manner, this research unfolds ideas for policymakers to redesign polio awareness campaigns in country for impartial gender representation in televised messages by considering the importance of mothers’ empowerment in polio decision making process

Co-occurrence of sleeping difficulties with urbanization and food choice in female university students.

Introduction: Sleep is a basic and essential need of human beings, large number of sleep related problems are demonstrated in all age groups with different pro-moting factor( s), these may be biological, social, economical or environmental. Literature is scanty to identify co factors of sleep disturbances in apparently healthy females.Objective: To analyze association of sleep disorders in females with rural/ urban settings of living and certain dietary habits.Methodology: A cross sectional /survey-based study was performed in University of Sindh Jamshoro. The sample size (n) was 520.The data comprised of females aged between 18 -26 years. Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) was employed to assess sleep quality among the participants along with self-structured question-naire which was used for other variables such as consumption of junk food and its frequency of intake and breakfast intake.Results: Out of 520 participants, 310 (60%) were living in urban areas shows com-paratively higher frequency of poor sleep (n=262,50.5%; p=0.01-odd ratio=2.18) than those who were living in rural setups. Poor sleep was also observed in junk food eaters (n=304, 58%) however no association was observed in pattern of breakfast with sleep.Conclusion: The study concluded the prevalence of poor sleep was found more in urban female dwellers.Keywords: sleep, rural, urban, junk food, breakfast, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI)

Colonisation of Lifeworld: Voices of Kacha Farmers and Perspective of National Disaster Management Agency of Pakistan on Flood Hazard Management Endeavours

Floods hazards are one of the worsening challenges humanity is facing on earth, causing widespread death and destruction. Pakistan is also vulnerable to flood catastrophes and most of the flood victims in Pakistan are Kacha (floodplain) farmers. Hence, flood is severely endangering their lives and livelihood, marginalising Kacha farmers. Despite the continuous flood perils, it is astonishing to note that no visible strategic flood hazard management endeavour is observed for Kacha farmers until today. This thesis argues that Kacha farmers are entwined of National Disaster Management Agency’s (NDMA) of Pakistan biasness towards them, therefore, the present exercise of flood hazard management is plagued with prejudice and devoid of Kacha farmers’ empowerment. The study intends to examine Kacha farmers’ voices (bottom) and NDMA’s (top) perspective of difference and convergence nodes on flood hazard management exercise. The most literatures on flood hazard management research suggest that past inquiries were conducted from the narrow perspective isolating to a single cycle event. Whereas, flood victims are either examined at individual cycle of preparedness and mitigation or response and recovery cycle. Rather, flood hazard victims have to endure the complete flood hazard management cycle which encompasses from preparedness to recovery cycle. Theory of Communicative Action (TCA) also noted that a phenomenon of flood hazard cannot be developed suddenly nor it is an isolated flood hazard management cycle, rather, it is inter-connected cycle, which should be view as a complete cycle. Moreover, TCA called that marginalisation of flood victims is due to lifeworld’s (i.e., Kacha farmers) colonisation by system (i.e., NDMA) and powerful forces (i.e., Wadero). The thesis deploys a framework to investigate above narrated facts by exposing colonisation of lifeworld at the hand of the system and powerful forces by observing flood hazard management phenomenon as a sphere of complete cycle under the umbrella of TCA. The methodological approach of present research employs a critical inquiry of qualitative realm through in-depth interviews and field observation sample size of n=38 (31 Kacha farmers and 7 NDMA officials). Findings reveal that current antagonistic flood hazard management practices are disenfranchising flood victims instead of empowering them in flood hazard management cycle. Resultantly, this present investigation noted that the engagement exercise for amicable resolution is to re-engage on the adverse legality issue of Kacha area occupancy. The current inquiry exposed malicious corrupt nexus of powerful forces and NDMA’s field officials that greatly exploited the resources allocated for hazard stricken Kacha farmers. Accordingly, unequal distribution and corruption of flood hazard management resources for destitute Kacha farmers, diminishes the empowerment objective of marginalised Kacha farmers for their well-being. Therefore, the study proposes that local knowledge must be utilised to overcome exploitation of powerful actors by engaging flood victims and applying benign approach towards them. Above suggestions, may not eliminate flood hazard completely but may produce saliency to the safety, well-being and empower the marginalised flood victims. Likewise, NDMA should seize the opportunity of middle ground with flood victims for the development of collaborative flood hazard management exercise. Keywords: Flood, flood hazard management, Kacha farmers, NDMA, marginalisation, colonisation of lifeworld, syste