Court support workers speak out: Upholding children's rights in the criminal justice system

The prevalence of sexual offences against children in South Africa continues to be among the highest in the world. The quality and accuracy of a child's testimony is often pivotal to whether cases are prosecuted, and whether justice is done. Child witness programmes assist child victims of sexual abuse to prepare to give consistent, coherent and accurate testimony, and also attempt to ensure that the rights of the child are upheld as enshrined in the various laws, legislative frameworks, directives and instructions that have been introduced since 1994. We draw on information from two studies that sought the perspectives of court support workers to explore whether a child rights-based approach is followed in the criminal justice system (CJS) for child victims of sexual abuse. Findings suggest varying degrees of protection, assistance and support for child victims of sexual abuse during participation in the CJS. The findings revealed that the rights of children to equality, dignity and not to be treated or punished in a cruel, inhuman or degrading way were undermined in many instances. Finally, recommendations are given on ways to mitigate the harsh effects that adversarial court systems have on children's rights.DHE

Association of Systemic Medication Use with Glaucoma and Intraocular Pressure:The European Eye Epidemiology Consortium

Purpose: To investigate the association of commonly used systemic medications with glaucoma and intraocular pressure (IOP) in the European population. Design: Meta-analysis of 11 population-based cohort studies of the European Eye Epidemiology Consortium. Participants: The glaucoma analyses included 143 240 participants and the IOP analyses included 47 177 participants. Methods: We examined associations of 4 categories of systemic medications—antihypertensive medications (β-blockers, diuretics, calcium channel blockers [CCBs], α-agonists, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, and angiotensin II receptor blockers), lipid-lowering medications, antidepressants, and antidiabetic medications—with glaucoma prevalence and IOP. Glaucoma ascertainment and IOP measurement method were according to individual study protocols. Results of multivariable regression analyses of each study were pooled using random effects meta-analyses. Associations with antidiabetic medications were examined in participants with diabetes only. Main Outcome Measures: Glaucoma prevalence and IOP. Results: In the meta-analyses of our maximally adjusted multivariable models, use of CCBs was associated with a higher prevalence of glaucoma (odds ratio [OR], 1.23; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.08 to 1.39). This association was stronger for monotherapy of CCBs with direct cardiac effects (OR, 1.96; 95% CI, 1.23 to 3.12). No other antihypertensive medications, lipid-lowering medications, antidepressants, or antidiabetic medications were associated with glaucoma. Use of systemic β-blockers was associated with a lower IOP (β coefficient, −0.33 mmHg; 95% CI, −0.57 to −0.08 mmHg). Monotherapy of both selective systemic β-blockers (β coefficient, −0.45 mmHg; 95% CI −0.74 to −0.16 mmHg) and nonselective systemic β-blockers (β coefficient, −0.54 mmHg; 95% CI, −0.94 to −0.15 mmHg) was associated with lower IOP. A suggestive association was found between use of high-ceiling diuretics and lower IOP (β coefficient, −0.30 mmHg; 95% CI, −0.47 to −0.14 mmHg) but not when used as monotherapy. No other antihypertensive medications, lipid-lowering medications, antidepressants, or antidiabetic medications were associated with IOP. Conclusions: We identified a potentially harmful association between use of CCBs and glaucoma prevalence. Additionally, we observed and quantified the association of lower IOP with systemic β-blocker use. Both findings potentially are important, given that patients with glaucoma frequently use systemic antihypertensive medications. Determining causality of the CCB association should be a research priority. Financial Disclosure(s): Proprietary or commercial disclosure may be found in the Footnotes and Disclosures at the end of this article.</p

Association of systemic medication use with glaucoma and intraocular pressure: the E3 Consortium

PURPOSE: To investigate the association of commonly used systemic medications with glaucoma and intraocular pressure (IOP) in the European population. DESIGN: Meta-analysis of eleven population-based cohort studies of the European Eye Epidemiology (E3) consortium. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 143240 participants were included in the glaucoma analyses and 47177 participants in the IOP analyses. METHODS: We examined associations of four categories of systemic medications (antihypertensive medications: beta-blockers, diuretics, calcium channel blockers [CCBs], alpha-agonists, angiotensin-converting-enzyme inhibitors, angiotensin II receptor blockers; lipid-lowering medications; antidepressants; antidiabetic medications) with glaucoma prevalence and IOP. Glaucoma ascertainment and IOP measurement method were according to individual study protocols. Multivariable regression analyses were carried out in each study and results were pooled using random effects meta-analyses. Associations with antidiabetic medications were examined in diabetic participants only. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Glaucoma prevalence and IOP. RESULTS: In the meta-analyses of our maximally-adjusted multivariable models, use of CCBs was associated with a higher prevalence of glaucoma (odds ratio [OR] with corresponding 95% confidence interval [95% CI]: 1.23 [1.08 to 1.39]). This association was stronger for monotherapy of CCBs with direct cardiac effects (OR [95% CI]: 1.96 [1.23 to 3.12]). The use of other antihypertensive medications, lipid-lowering medications, antidepressants or antidiabetic medications were not clearly associated with glaucoma. Use of systemic beta-blockers was associated with a lower IOP (Beta [95% CI]: -0.33 [-0.57 to -0.08] mmHg). Monotherapy of both selective (Beta [95% CI]: -0.45 [-0.74 to -0.16] mmHg) and non-selective (Beta [95% CI]: -0.54 [-0.94 to -0.15] mmHg) systemic beta-blockers was associated with lower IOP. There was a suggestive association between use of high-ceiling diuretics and lower IOP (Beta [95% CI]: -0.30 [-0.47; -0.14] mmHg), but not when used as monotherapy. Use of other antihypertensive medications, lipid-lowering medications, antidepressants, or antidiabetic medications were not associated with IOP. CONCLUSIONS: We identified a potentially harmful association between use of CCBs and glaucoma prevalence. Additionally, we observed and quantified the association of lower IOP with systemic beta-blocker use. Both findings are potentially important given that glaucoma patients frequently use systemic antihypertensive medications. Determining whether the CCB association is causal should be a research priority

Prevalence of Age-Related Macular Degeneration in Europe: The Past and the Future

Purpose Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a frequent, complex disorder in elderly of European ancestry. Risk profiles and treatment options have changed considerably over the years, which may have affected disease prevalence and outcome. We determined the prevalence of early and late AMD in Europe from 1990 to 2013 using the European Eye Epidemiology (E3) consortium, and made projections for the future. Design Meta-analysis of prevalence data. Participants A total of 42 080 individuals 40 years of age and older participating in 14 population-based cohorts from 10 countries in Europe. Methods AMD was diagnosed based on fundus photographs using the Rotterdam Classification. Prevalence of early and late AMD was calculated using random-effects meta-analysis stratified for age, birth cohort, gender, geographic region, and time period of the study. Best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) was compared between late AMD subtypes; geographic atrophy (GA) and choroidal neovascularization (CNV). Main Outcome Measures Prevalence of early and late AMD, BCVA, and number of AMD cases. Results Prevalence of early AMD increased from 3.5% (95% confidence interval [CI] 2.1%–5.0%) in those aged 55–59 years to 17.6% (95%

Who helps women cope? : women's agency in households, families and communities

Includes bibliographical references.Women’s experiences of poverty in post-apartheid South Africa are made real in their struggles to access resources and assets to survive. They survive sudden shocks and entrenched poverty by constructing and drawing on social support networks that provide access to adequate housing, secure tenure and sufficient income to sustain households. The social support networks of households, families and communities are investigated in the adjacent but diverse townships of Manenberg and Guguletu - resettlement areas for those who were forcibly removed from the city centre of Cape Town. Theoretical perspectives on: the South African context of support; reciprocity; social networks; and the morality inherent in networks, fail to provide information of the complexities and nuances in the lives of the women. Women are required to negotiate gender roles and position in every relationship in order to be eligible for support. Discourses on how the South African city shaped reciprocity and gender identity within households and families provide insight into the context in which support is negotiated. Drawing on these sets of literature an analysis of life histories (constructed from a semi-structured, open ended questionnaire) is conducted of &#64257;fteen women from each township that document their struggles, frustrations, joys and aspirations. The evidence from the case studies suggests that women's experiences of poverty are actualised in their marginalisation from adequate housing, secure tenure and sustainable livelihoods. Moreover, the mechanisms they employ to bridge these challenges, their support networks, further entrenches gender inequalities and the inferior position of women in society. A detailed analysis of their relationships reveals that in order to access support women sublimate their challenges of traditional gender identities in order conform to normative behaviour and access resources and assets required for survival. A comparison of the con&#64257;guration, utilisation and value of strategic relationships within women's households, families and communities demonstrates their agency. The women interact with their context, making strategic decisions and choices that influence not only the social fabric of their communities but also their own identity

Association of systemic medication use with glaucoma and intraocular pressure: the E3 Consortium

PURPOSE: To investigate the association of commonly used systemic medications with glaucoma and intraocular pressure (IOP) in the European population. DESIGN: Meta-analysis of eleven population-based cohort studies of the European Eye Epidemiology (E3) consortium. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 143240 participants were included in the glaucoma analyses and 47177 participants in the IOP analyses. METHODS: We examined associations of four categories of systemic medications (antihypertensive medications: beta-blockers, diuretics, calcium channel blockers [CCBs], alpha-agonists, angiotensin-converting-enzyme inhibitors, angiotensin II receptor blockers; lipid-lowering medications; antidepressants; antidiabetic medications) with glaucoma prevalence and IOP. Glaucoma ascertainment and IOP measurement method were according to individual study protocols. Multivariable regression analyses were carried out in each study and results were pooled using random effects meta-analyses. Associations with antidiabetic medications were examined in diabetic participants only. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Glaucoma prevalence and IOP. RESULTS: In the meta-analyses of our maximally-adjusted multivariable models, use of CCBs was associated with a higher prevalence of glaucoma (odds ratio [OR] with corresponding 95% confidence interval [95% CI]: 1.23 [1.08 to 1.39]). This association was stronger for monotherapy of CCBs with direct cardiac effects (OR [95% CI]: 1.96 [1.23 to 3.12]). The use of other antihypertensive medications, lipid-lowering medications, antidepressants or antidiabetic medications were not clearly associated with glaucoma. Use of systemic beta-blockers was associated with a lower IOP (Beta [95% CI]: -0.33 [-0.57 to -0.08] mmHg). Monotherapy of both selective (Beta [95% CI]: -0.45 [-0.74 to -0.16] mmHg) and non-selective (Beta [95% CI]: -0.54 [-0.94 to -0.15] mmHg) systemic beta-blockers was associated with lower IOP. There was a suggestive association between use of high-ceiling diuretics and lower IOP (Beta [95% CI]: -0.30 [-0.47; -0.14] mmHg), but not when used as monotherapy. Use of other antihypertensive medications, lipid-lowering medications, antidepressants, or antidiabetic medications were not associated with IOP. CONCLUSIONS: We identified a potentially harmful association between use of CCBs and glaucoma prevalence. Additionally, we observed and quantified the association of lower IOP with systemic beta-blocker use. Both findings are potentially important given that glaucoma patients frequently use systemic antihypertensive medications. Determining whether the CCB association is causal should be a research priority