The Contemporary Porn Debate - Perceptions of Sexual Health of Porn Actors, The 2013 HIV crisis, and Recognizing the Complexities of the Porn Industry

Between August 2012 and January 2013, four adult film performers based in California tested positive for HIV which triggered a moratorium on production, and led the state of California to mandate condom usage in the industry under the Safer Sex in the Adult Industry Act – otherwise referred to as Measure B. The goal of this research is to explore how the discourse surrounding health in the adult film industry, specifically sexual health in relation to the adult film performers during this event, is reflective of contemporary anti-pornography sentiments. These sentiments and biases ultimately lead to regulations of the industry that were not reflective of the adult film performers’ perceptions/concerns in regards to their own occupational safety and health. Therefore these contemporary debates surrounding mandating condom usage in the porn industry demonstrate a disconnect between the opinions expressed in media and in academia versus those expressed by the industry and in its own actors’ testimonies. This discourse also in turn eschews the real complexities of the pornography industry, excluding certain narratives including those of queer porn actors. Listening to these narratives and making an effort to understand these complexities surrounding the industry are important and necessary steps to properly work towards supporting the work, health, and empowerment of adult film actors

Stress levels and their risk/protective factors among MSc Public Health students

There is increasing evidence that university students are particularly susceptible to feelings of stress. Given that many post-graduate healthcare students work with patients, the negative outcomes associated with feelings of stress may also impact upon the patient population. This study investigated the prevalence and risk/ protective factors of self-perceived stress among 43 international public health post-graduate students. Results revealed that almost all participants scored in either the moderate or high stress level category, with South-Asian students scoring particularly high stress scores. Headache frequency, sleep duration and feeling the need for a holiday were the explanatory variables most strongly associated with stress. The results support and add to previous literature which suggests that international students are particularly susceptible to feelings of stress. Suggestions on the management and prevention of stress are proposed, while ideas for future research to build upon this study's findings are considered

The prevalence and under-reporting of needle-stick injuries among dental healthcare workers in Pakistan: a systematic review

Needlestick injuries (NSIs) are a major occupational health problem among dental healthcare workers (HCWs) in Pakistan, which places them at a significant risk of acquiring blood-borne infections. However, not all NSIs are reported, leading to an underestimation of the actual prevalence. The harmful impacts of NSIs on the healthcare delivery necessitate an urgent need to measure its actual prevalence. Objectives. The aim of this study was to review literature to estimate the prevalence and reporting rates of NSIs among dental-HCWs in Pakistan. Methods. 713 potentially relevant citations were identified by electronic databases and hand searching of articles. Nine primary studies were subsequently identified to be included in the review. Results. The results of the included studies indicate that the prevalence of NSIs among Pakistani dental-HCWs was between 30% and 73%. The rate of reporting of NSIs was between 15% and 76%, and the most common reason was found to be the lack of awareness regarding the reporting system, or of the need to report NSIs. Conclusion. It is evident from the review of the included studies that there is a significantly high prevalence and a low rate of reporting of NSIs among dental-HCWs in Pakistan, suggesting the need to setup an occupational health department in dental settings, for preventing, managing, recording, and monitoring NSIs

Environmental consequences of economic growth and foreign direct investment: evidence from panel data analysis

This paper is aimed at investigating non-linear relationship between foreign direct investment and environmental degradation using panel data of 110 developed and developing economies. The results indicated that environmental Kuznets curve exists and foreign direct investment increases environmental degradation.Economic Growth, FDI, Environment

Exploring factors contributing to low uptake of the NHS Breast Cancer Screening Programme among Black African women in the UK

Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women in the United Kingdom (UK) accounting for about 15% of cancer deaths. The National Breast Cancer Screening Programme in the UK was introduced in 1988 to assist with early detection and better management of breast cancer. Black and Minority Ethnic (BME) women however have a low uptake of the National Breast Screening programme when compared to their White counterparts. Within the BME group, Black African women have the lowest uptake of screening services and are more likely to have an advanced stage of the disease at diagnosis, leading to poorer survival rates than White women. This study aimed to explore the factors that lead to low uptake of the National Breast Cancer Screening Programme  among Black African women living in Luton and present action points to local breast cancer services. Using a qualitative research design, six focus groups were conducted with a total of twenty-five Black African women residing in Luton between May and June in 2013. Data was analysed thematically using the framework approach. Four main themes emerged across the focus group discussions: knowledge and beliefs about breast cancer and risk factors, prevention of breast cancer and awareness of the NHS breast screening service, delays in attending the NHS breast screening service and suggestions for improving information on breast cancer and the NHS breast cancer screening service. The findings from this study suggest the need for more targeted information on breast cancer and screening services for Black African women. This could help improve the uptake of the NHS breast screening service, promote early help-seeking behaviour and improve breast cancer outcomes for this ethnic group.

HIV negative mothers' perceptions of the HIV positive mother

Perceptions of HIV and AIDS are inextricably linked to stigma and discrimination and perceptions of HIV positive mothers are particularly complex. In order to obtain a perspective on social perceptions of HIV positive mothers this study interviewed eight HIV negative, workingclass mothers. By focusing on HIV negative mothers, who shared the social category of motherhood (thereby providing an insider perspective), HIV was fore-grounded and social perceptions of HIV was explored from an outsider perspective. A vignette was used to facilitate a semi-structured interview which explored issues around general perceptions of the HIV positive individual (with a particular focus on issues around stigma and blame); perceptions of HIV positive motherhood and perceptions of the impact of maternal HIV on the child. Interview data was analysed using a qualitative thematic analysis. Results highlighted that motherhood from the perspective of the mother was perceived differently to motherhood from the perspective of the child. From the perspective of the mother, respondents identified with the HIV positive mother as a black, working-class mother and viewed her as ‘normal’ and ‘ordinary.’ Identifying infected mothers as part of the group of black, working-class women, respondents drew on their similarity of being powerless in heterosexual relationships. Thus respondents viewed HIV positive mothers as blameless victims when they became infected as their perception was that promiscuity was not a part of motherhood. When motherhood was considered from the perspective of the child, respondents viewed the HIV positive mother as a soon-to-be absent mother who continued to infect her child. The infected mother was perceived to have a relatively short lifespan and as such was perceived to fail in her duty as mother when she was not available to ensure that her child developed normally. Respondents perceived that the absent and unavailable infected mother produced children who are socially, morally and developmentally disadvantaged when they are teased and ostracized by society, fail to grow and develop normally and eventually turn into criminals

“I Bet You Don’t Get What We Get”: An Intersectional Analysis of Technology-Facilitated Violence Experienced by Racialized Women Anti- Violence Online Activists in Canada

Despite growing attention to violence that women face in online settings, a relatively small proportion of academic work centres on the experiences and perspectives of racialized women in Canada. Informed by an intersectional framework, I draw on semi-structured interviews with nine women across Canada, all of whom are involved in anti-violence online activism, about their experiences of technology-facilitated violence (TFV). Their experiences revealed less prominent narratives, including instances of TFV beyond instances of intimate partner violence (IPV) and beyond sources of anonymous trolling by supposed white men, such as violence perpetrated by peers, white women, and racialized men. In this article, I also include reflections by the interviewees on violence they unexpectedly perpetrated through their online content. These perspectives demonstrate how varied and complex experiences of TFV are beyond instances of IPV and sexual violence. I conclude that when we leave out intersectionality as an approach that centres marginalized groups and broadens our understanding of violence, we are missing out on these more complex experiences of TFV that women face. Thus, I suggest that, to best tackle TFV, policy recommendations and legal remedies need to consider TFV through an intersectional lens

Diversity and ecological role of true crabs (crustacea, brachyura) in the St Lucia Estuary, iSimangaliso Wetland Park, in response to global change

This work has explored novel concepts of crab vulnerability, recovery and resilience under unprecedented climatic changes in South Africa’s first UNESCO World Heritage Site. By showing how large salinity shifts and prolonged interruption of the marine connection can drastically affect brachyuran diversity and community structure in St. Lucia Lake, the potential cascading effects on ecosystem functioning were estimated. Only 15 crab species were recorded within the system during this study, compared to the 26 species that were known to occur prior to the recent environmental shift (i.e. 58% decline). The impact of this biodiversity collapse has negatively affected the associated mangrove ecosystem in particular, with the entire community of fiddler crabs persisting only in a small area near the estuary mouth. Gut fluorescence measurements have shown that, due to a lack of tidal Influence, their grazing impact on microphytobenthic biomass may become unsustainable. However, although adults are able to survive in this environment, the larvae require a marine connection; and they are thus unable to tolerate the wide fluctuations in salinity currently prevailing in the system. The study concludes that brachyurans are key factors to consider during conservation planning, as they are crucial to maintaining ecosystem function in the face of environmental change. This research is of global relevance, as many similar estuarine and coastal lakes around the world are currently experiencing similar state shifts. All six chapters included in the thesis have already been published in the peer-reviewed literature; and the project results have also earned Nasreen the NRF award of Next-Generation Researcher of the Year for 2015

Advance directives: A policy required in the Asian countries

Advancements in health care have resulted in elaborate treatments all over the world and contributed to problems at times for the terminally ill who need palliative care. Futile treatments have demonstrated to defuse the symptoms of the disease without curing. In such scenarios physicians only prolong life of patients, keeping them away from dying peacefully and depriving them from quality of life. In this context, families exhaust their financial and material resources for the treatment of their loved ones without any substantial results. Health care systems are passionate about prolonging life and are ignoring the component of caring by disregarding the patient\u27s rights. There are no existing policies about Advance Directives (ADs) in Pakistan and many other Asian countries, which result in ethical dilemmas among nurses and physicians. Thus, the decisions to limit the treatments such as ADs are needed in this age of modern medical technology. In this paper the author walks the audience through a scenario where she felt a dire necessity for a policy of ADs in an Asian country like Pakistan. This position paper reveals the ethical dilemma that is encountered, the position taken, supported by the ethical principles, the arguments, counter arguments and the justification for having the policy of ADs. Lastly, the final position has been stated and recommendations to implement the policy have been elaborated