Efficacy of family family-based care as compared to institutional care : a careful review

Family is the nucleus of the society and children are the nucleus of the family. Children are referred as supremely national asset of India. When children are in situation where family finds it difficult to protect their rights, Institutions intercede and protect as well as violate the rights of children. A significant portion of child population ranging from two to eight million in Africa, Asia, Latin America and in Eastern Europe are under institutional care . Children in institutional care are often termed as "No one's children", "Nobody's children" as they are given least attention by the institution as well as society. An attempt is made to understand the functioning of institution in protecting the rights of children who are in need of care and protection. The measures for revamping the institutional care and revolutionizing family care were highlighted

Metacognitions mediate HIV stigma & depression/anxiety in men who have sex with men living with HIV

The study examined whether the relationships between HIV stigma and depression and anxiety would be mediated by metacognitive beliefs and thought control strategies among men who have sex with men whom are living with HIV. Participants completed an online survey that measured 30-item Metacognitions Questionnaire, thought control strategies (Thought Control Questionnaire), and symptoms of depression (Patient Health Questionnaire-9) and anxiety (Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7). The relationships between internalised and anticipated HIV stigma with depressive symptoms were mediated by negative metacognitive beliefs and the use of worry and social thought control strategies. Negative Metacognitive beliefs mediated the association between internalised HIV stigma and anxiety symptoms

Role of Home Environment, Parental Care, Parents’ Personality and Their Relationship to Adolescent Mental Health

The study examined relationships among home environment, parents’ personality and mental health of adolescents with a focus on adjustment, anxiety, self-concept and self-confidence. A group of 370 adolescents were interviewed using a semi-structured questionnaire and three psychological tests; subjects were selected following a two-stage sampling technique. Participation of the adolescent students in the study was voluntary. Results indicate that parental care was associated with high self-confidence while parental pressure associated with high anxiety. Fathers’ “friendliness” associated with low emotional adjustment and high self-concept while mothers’ short-temper associated with high anxiety. Disturbed families contributed to adolescent anxiety, inability to share personal problems, parental interference in personal affairs and academic pressure. Parental traits were found to negatively influence mental health, e.g., anxiety, adjustment, self-concept and self-confidence. Findings suggest a need for expanding school guidance and counseling capacity to assist parents and adolescents with developmental tasks

Anxiety among high school students in India: Comparisons across gender, school type, social strata and perceptions of quality time with parents

The broad objective of the study was to better understand anxiety among adolescents in Kolkata city, India. Specifically, the study compared anxiety across gender, school type, socio-economic background and mothers’ employment status. The study also examined adolescents’ perceptions of quality time with their parents. A group of 460 adolescents (220 boys and 240 girls), aged 13-17 years were recruited to participate in the study via a multi-stage sampling technique. The data were collected using a self-report semi-structured questionnaire and a standardized psychological test, the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory. Results show that anxiety was prevalent in the sample with 20.1% of boys and 17.9% of girls found to be suffering from high anxiety. More boys were anxious than girls (p<0.01). Adolescents from Bengali medium schools were more anxious than adolescents from English medium schools (p<0.01). Adolescents belonging to the middle class (middle socio-economic group) suffered more anxiety than those from both high and low socio-economic groups (p<0.01). Adolescents with working mothers were found to be more anxious (p<0.01). Results also show that a substantial proportion of the adolescents perceived they did not receive quality time from fathers (32.1%) and mothers (21.3%). A large number of them also did not feel comfortable to share their personal issues with their parents (60.0% for fathers and 40.0% for mothers)

Discrimination experienced by HIV/AIDS infected persons and its associations with mental health in an Indian sample

Purpose The purpose of this study was to investigate the nature and prevalence of discrimination against people living with HIV/AIDS in West Bengal, India, and how discrimination is associated with depression, suicidal ideation and suicidal attempts. Method Semi-structured interviews and the Beck Depression Inventory were administered to 105 HIV infected persons recruited by incidental sampling, at an Integrated Counseling and Testing Center (ICTC) and through Networks of People Living with HIV/AIDS, in the West Bengal area. Results Findings showed that 40.8% of the sample has experienced discrimination at least in one social setting – such as family (29.1%), health centers (18.4%), community (17.5%) and workplace (6.8%). About two-fifths (40.8%) reported experiencing discrimination in multiple social settings. Demographic factors associated with discrimination were gender, age, occupation, education, and current residence. More than half of the sample was suffering from severe depression while 8.7% had attempted suicide. Discrimination in most areas was significantly associated with suicidal ideation and suicidal attempts. Conclusions Prevalence of discrimination associated with HIV/AIDS is high in our sample from West Bengal. While discrimination was not associated with depressive symptomatology, discrimination was associated with suicidal ideation and attempts. These findings suggest that there is an urgent need for interventions to reduce discrimination of HIV/AIDS in the West Bengal region

Barriers for exiting sex work: an exploration on female sex workers (FSW) in Puducherry, India

Abstract Exit is not an easy task for a sex worker. Academic investigations of the reasons and barriers to exit from the sex industry are lacking heavily. Sex work is a stigmatised profession, even though the workers find it difficult to exit the same. The current study attempted to understand the barriers faced by female sex workers in Puducherry, a union territory in the southeast part of India, to exit from sex work. The participants comprise 19 female sex workers (FSW) who work in Puducherry. The data were collected through in-depth interviews. All of the participants had thoughts about quitting. The barriers to exit were identified. The barriers were recognised at the individual, interpersonal (microsystem), and structural (macro system) levels within the framework of Bronfenbrenner’s Ecological Systems Theory, which are discussed in detail in the paper. The study also identified a lack of support systems for the targeted population

Prevalence of Violence against Children in Families in Tripura and Its Relationship with Socio-economic Factors

Background: Violence against children is a deep-rooted social problem in India. The problem is also related to economic as well as cultural beliefs and practices. The objective of this study was to ascertain the prevalence and nature of violence experienced by the children in families in Tripura, India and its relationship with socio-economic factors. Methods: A group of 320 children (160 males and 160 females) studying in Class VIII and IX and aged between 14-19 participated in the study after obtaining their informed consent from eight randomly selected English and Bengali medium schools in Agartala, Tripura (India). Data were collected by using a specially designed ‘Semi-structured Questionnaire’. Results: Findings revealed that about 20.9% (67/320), 21.9% (70/230) and 18.1% (58/230) of the children experienced psychological, physical and sexual violence respectively. Male children were more likely to be victims of psychological and physical violence while female children experienced more sexual violence (p=sign). Further analysis of data revealed some relationship between violence against children and nuclear family (p=sign), uncongenial and/or disturbed family environment (p=sign) and dominating, short-tempered and/or aggressive parent personality (p=sign), irrespective of the nature of the violence. Physical violence was found to be more prevalent in high income families (p=sign) while children from the lower income group of families experienced more psychological violence (p=sign). Sexual violence was found to be equally prevalent in all socio-economic groups. The study also clearly indicated that academic performance of violence-experienced children, irrespective of nature of violence and socio-economic groups was poor compared to academic performance of non-violence-experienced children (p=sign). Conclusions: About one-fifth of the children under study did experience violence in Tripura. Findings speak in favor of an intervention program for creating awareness among parents and teachers about the issue of violence against children, targeted at parents when they meet for periodic parent-teachers meetings in the educational institutions

Academic-related stress among private secondary school students in India

<b>Purpose</b>\ud \ud The purpose of this paper is to examine the prevalence of academic stress and exam anxiety among private secondary school students in India as well as the associations with socio-economic and study-related factors. \ud \ud <b>Design/methodology/approach</b> \ud \ud Participants were 400 adolescent students (52 percent male) from five private secondary schools in Kolkata who were studying in grades 10 and 12. Participants were selected using a multi-stage sampling technique and were assessed using a study-specific questionnaire. \ud \ud <b>Findings</b>\ud \ud Findings revealed that 35 and 37 percent reported high or very high levels of academic stress and exam anxiety respectively. All students reported high levels of academic stress, but those who had lower grades reported higher levels of stress than those with higher grades. Students who engaged in extra-curricula activities were more likely to report exam anxiety than those who did not engage in extra-curricula activities. \ud \ud <b>Practical implications</b>\ud \ud Private high school students in India report high levels of academic stress and exam anxiety. As such there is a need to develop effective interventions to help these students better manage their stress and anxiety. \ud \ud <b>Originality/value</b>\ud \ud This is the first study the authors are aware of that explores the academic stress levels of private secondary school students in India. The study identifies factors that may be associated with the experience of high levels of stress that need to be explored further in future research

Children’s rights in India : parents’ and teachers’ attitudes, knowledge and perceptions

Individuals’ attitudes influence their behaviour towards children, including whether children’s rights and welfare are promoted. The attitudes generally present in a society shape a culture of how children are perceived and treated. This study explored the attitudes and knowledge of 300\ud Indian parents and teachers regarding children’s rights, and their perceptions about whether selected rights were secured in reality. Findings revealed that most parents and teachers had positive attitudes about children’s rights, including rights to health and education, and freedom\ud from child marriage and inappropriate work. Yet, about one quarter of participants did not think children should have the rights to freedom of expression and association. Knowledge of laws promoting children’s rights was poor. Most parents and teachers perceived a denial of seven key rights in Indian children’s lived experience. Overall, fijindings suggest a need to heighten awareness of children’s rights and needs, which can improve attitudes towards the treatment of children. Effforts to heighten awareness and attitudes towards children’s rights are\ud needed across society and in key sectors to enhance children’s lived experience