Primary Prevention of Child Abuse: Is It Really Possible?

Despite the growing interest in child abuse and its prevention, to date no systematic research has been conducted to determine the usefulness of instruments used to identify and predict abuse or neglect. The present study is a review and analysis of predictive instruments of abuse or neglect with the goal of identifying the predictive efficiency of the instruments. Analysis reveals a variety of problems with predictive efficiency, particularly as predicting individual risk of abuse or neglect relates to primary prevention. Implications of the findings and suggestions for practice are discussed

Genome-wide association and functional follow-up reveals new loci for kidney function

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is an important public health problem with a genetic component. We performed genome-wide association studies in up to 130,600 European ancestry participants overall, and stratified for key CKD risk factors. We uncovered 6 new loci in association with estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), the primary clinical measure of CKD, in or near MPPED2, DDX1, SLC47A1, CDK12, CASP9, and INO80. Morpholino knockdown of mpped2 and casp9 in zebrafish embryos revealed podocyte and tubular abnormalities with altered dextran clearance, suggesting a role for these genes in renal function. By providing new insights into genes that regulate renal function, these results could further our understanding of the pathogenesis of CKD

Utilizando a pesquisa para a justiça social: um exemplo de pesquisa construtivista com meninos de rua

Focalizando as exigências de rigor no processo e produto da pesquisa construtivista, o artigo enfatiza os elementos emancipatórios deste tipo de pesquisa alternativa. Exemplo de sua aplicação é apresentado através de um projeto de pesquisa com meninos da rua em Salvador, Bahia, que ilustra a potencialidade de justiça social através da "confiabilidade" e "autenticidade" no empreendimento da pesquisa construtivista

Person/environment construct: Positivist versus naturalist, dilemma or opportunity for health social work research and practice?

The purpose of this paper is to indicate that there is nothing fundamentally wrong with the social work purpose of simultaneous attention to persons in their contexts. In fact, the productive pull of both perspectives is what separates social work from other helping professions. Indeed, it is what separates health social work from other health professions. What has created difficulty, however, has been the predominant lens through which person and environment have been investigated, understood and manipulated. This paper compares two major models of knowledge building in an attempt to identify the consequences for research and practice in social work. Examples are provided from both research and practice that derive from these differing perspectives in an effort to clarify the choices social worker health professionals make when encountering a person-in situation.person/environment positivism naturalistic research naturalistic practice

PROMISES, PROMISES: CHILD ABUSE PREVENTION IN THE 1980s

The article reviews the history of the evolution of the definition of child abuse as a social problem, then analyzes the related legislative efforts to respond to the problem, giving special emphasis to child abuse prevention. Program outcomes of relevant primary prevention programs are discussed, as well as studies attempting to predict risk of child abuse. Specific conclusions related to the viability of primary prevention of violence to children are presented. Copyright 1989 by The Policy Studies Organization.

Evaluating social programs

xii, 354 p. : il.; 24 cm