Unstitching trauma in Ana Lena Rivera’s Las herederas de la Singer

Preventing violence against women: beyond 16 days

Background Methadone, as part of Medically Assisted Therapy (MAT) for treatment of opioid dependence and supporting HIV prevention and treatment, has been recently introduced in Kenya. Few low income settings have implemented methadone, so there is little evidence to guide ongoing scale-up across the region. We specifically consider the role of community level access barriers and support. Objectives To inform ongoing MAT implementation we implemented a qualitative study to understand access barriers and enablers at a community level. Methods We conducted 30 semi-structured interviews with people who use drugs accessing MAT, supplemented by interviews with 2 stakeholders, linked to participant observation in a community drop in center within one urban area in Kenya. We used thematic analysis. Results We developed five themes to express experiences of factors enabling and disabling MAT access and how community support can address these: 1) time, travel and economic hardship; 2) managing methadone and contingencies of life, 3) peer support among MAT clients as treatment ambassadors, 4) family relations, and 5)outreach project contributions. Crosscutting themes address managing socioeconomic constraints and gender inequities. Conclusions People who use drugs experience and manage socio-economic constraints and gender inequities in accessing MAT with the support of local communities. We discuss how these access barriers could be addressed through strengthening the participation of networks of people who use drugs in drug treatment and supporting community projects working with people who use drugs. We also explore potential for how socio-economic constraints could be managed within an integrated health and social care response.

The growing number of divorces and separations induces the frequency of single mothers facing challenges in the mainstream socio-economic realities in Bangladesh. Past studies focused on structural aspects, economic hardship, and psychological issues of single mothers, mainly in the urban context. Nevertheless, the challenges in rural settings vary from urban single motherhood, and this aspect remains understudied. This qualitative narrative aims to analyse the challenges of single mothers in rural settings in Bangladesh. Twenty-eight in-depth interviews and ten key informant interviews were conducted using semi-structured interview guidelines. Thematic analysis identified four major themes of the rural single mothers’ challenges, social, economic, cultural, and psychological, leading a single mother to become dependent on other family members or relatives. The underlying factor of the challenges was the deprivation of property, patriarchal social structure, and social stigma. Rural single mothers face more complex challenges than urban ones because of the lack of income opportunities, insecurity, and self-dependencies. Findings will contribute to recommending and formulating a policy for the single mother considering the local realities of the rural single mothers in Bangladesh.

This study aimed to explore the impact of climate change on the livelihoods of secondary school learners from child-headed families. Anchored in a qualitative approach, data were collected through document analysis and in-depth interviews. Purposive sampling ensured the inclusion of 15 learners from child-headed families and 5 class teachers to achieve data triangulation. Thematic analysis of the findings revealed that participants perceived climate change as the long-term alteration of global weather patterns caused by human activities and natural factors. Climate change exacerbated food insecurity among these learners due to increasing droughts and extreme weather events disrupting agriculture. Participants reported emotional and psychological stress linked to climate-related challenges but highlighted adaptive strategies such as sustainable agricultural practices, community support, and participation in resilience-building educational programmes. The findings concluded that climate change significantly disrupts livelihoods by intensifying food insecurity, water scarcity, and economic hardships, limiting educational opportunities and overall well-being for learners in child-headed households. To address these issues, the study recommends promoting food security programmes and providing educational opportunities focused on climate adaptation to enhance resilience among affected learners. This study underscores the urgent need for targeted interventions to mitigate the adverse impacts of climate change on vulnerable populations.

This paper investigates the effects that single parenting can bring to the emotional development of students at primary school as it is more commonly seen among single-parent families, taking into account what makes this particular type of parenting both specific to single-parent families and typical for single-parent children. With an increasing number of children today being raised by a single parent, there is also an increasing need to understand what this means for their emotions. This qualitative and quantitative study explores how parenting styles, economic hardships, and social support networks interlock. The empirical findings indicate that single-parent households may face different issues. First of all, the shortage of finances and less time for emotional investment is a great limitation. However, that might not outweigh the strengths based on parent-child relationships, good communications, and community support. The research suggests that children from single-parent homes can grow up with surprising resilience and emotional well-being when supported by stable relationships. The study also stresses forming relationships with teachers, friends, and other relatives that will help them develop positively emotionally. The study further proposes that teachers and the makers of educational policy should strive for developing programs that will be supportive to all single-parent families for optimum emotional development of children. This paper sets out in general to add to understanding of the interaction between single parenting and emotional development. It is hoped that this input could be helpful too in informing practice and policy at many levels to support children in all kinds of family circumstances.

In Educational Experience of Hidden Homeless Teenagers: Living Doubled-Up, Ronald Hallett examines how the educational experiences of a subgroup of homeless adolescents are affected by their living situations. Hallett focuses on a specific subgroup of homeless adolescents who are ‘‘sharing the housing of other persons due to loss of housing, economic hardship, or a similar reason.’’ 42 U.S.C. § 11434(a) (also known as the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act). Hallett defines these adolescents as ‘‘living doubled-up.’’ While these adolescents and their families do not identify themselves as homeless, Congress has recognized that these individuals walk a fine line between homeless and housed. As Hallet (2012, p. 4) notes, adolescents ‘‘living doubled-up’’ represent 60 % of homeless youth. Hallett chose to study this group because it is the least studied group of homeless adolescents, this sort of living situation is often a precursor to other forms of residential instability and part of a cycle of homelessness, and this type of living situation is in a gray area between housed and homeless, which goes against the American Dream. An important distinction is made between a residence, i.e., an apartment or house, and a household, a family unit such as a mother and her children. Therefore, a doubled-up residence is made up of several households. Hallett reveals the tensions present between households sharing a residence and how this tension affects the educational experiences of four adolescents. In Chapter 1, Hallett discusses the federal law surrounding homeless students, explains the purpose of the study, and outlines the format for the rest of the book. The McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act frames how schools identify and serve homeless students and defines a homeless person as ‘‘an individual lacking a fixed, regular and adequate night-time residence.’’ Under this Act, individuals who live doubled-up with other households in order to avoid homelessness or an economic crisis are defined as homeless. Individuals who fall within this broad definition of homelessness have many different experiences and do not constitute one homogenous group. The purpose of this study is to learn about how adolescents living doubled-up and defined as homeless experience the educational system. The four adolescents who are the focus of this study are given voices through this book so that readers can understand that there are many differences within the category of households living doubled-up. Hallett focuses on the risk and protective factors present in the lives of these adolescents and how those factors impact the adolescents’ educational progress. Educational resilience, the focus of this book, is explained in Chapter 2: Resilience and Homeless Youth. Hallett explains that Resiliency Theory focuses on the study of protective factors that allow at-risk youth to obtain normal educational, psychological and social outcomes in spite of the risks these youth face. Risk factors are behaviors, conditions, or characteristics that have a negative impact on individuals, such as high mobility rates, residential instability, low-performing schools, low-income neighborhoods, and high levels of neighborhood violence and illegal activity. Instead of trying to determine the negative outcomes for at-risk youth, researchers using Resiliency Theory focus on the protective factors that help these youth overcome adversity. Protective factors can be a family or social network to fall back on, community support, or other factors that positively influence youth. A youth is labeled as resilient if he or she successfully adapts after facing adversity. Educational resilience, the focus of E. N. Johnson (&) Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, USA e-mail: eboen@indiana.edu

Migration is a complex and multifaceted process that significantly impacts the emotional and social well-being of individuals. This paper explores the dynamics of migration, focusing on navigating the challenges and seizing the opportunities it presents. Migrants often face significant pre-migration stressors, including exposure to armed conflict and economic hardships, leading to trauma and long-term psychological issues. The migration journey itself is fraught with dangers, including violence, exploitation, and separation from family, further exacerbating emotional distress. Post-migration barriers, such as difficulties in accessing healthcare, poor living conditions, and discrimination, contribute to ongoing stress and anxiety among migrants. Despite these challenges, migration also offers substantial opportunities for both migrants and host societies. Migrants contribute to economic growth through their labor and entrepreneurial activities, enrich host societies with cultural diversity, and foster social integration through community support and engagement. Case studies from Europe and the Middle East illustrate the varied experiences of migrants and the responses of host countries. This study emphasizes the need for inclusive policies and accessible mental health services to address the unique emotional and social needs of migrants, fostering their successful integration and overall well-being. By recognizing and valuing the contributions of migrants, societies can create more inclusive and resilient communities that benefit everyone.

Aim: Deaf individuals are often misperceived as isolated or cognitively impaired, overlooking that deafness is an invisible sensory condition. Such misconceptions perpetuate stigma, misinformation, and barriers to inclusion. This study examined the lived experiences of Deaf individuals in the Bicol Region, highlighting their challenges and coping strategies in navigating a predominantly hearing society. Methodology: This qualitative phenomenological study employed Colaizzi's Analysis Method, using in-depth interviews with 11 Deaf adults (aged 27–48) facilitated by Sign Language Interpreters (SLIs). The participants were selected through purposive sampling. Results: Findings revealed that Deaf participants faced significant challenges due to communication barriers, affecting family relationships, education, employment, healthcare, and social interactions. They experienced isolation and exclusion due to limited family sign language proficiency, inaccessible education, workplace discrimination, and inadequate healthcare access. Despite these challenges, resilience emerged through self-advocacy, alternative communication strategies, community support, and technology, particularly messaging apps and video calls. Conclusion: Communication barriers limit opportunities for Deaf individuals, resulting in exclusion and economic hardship. Achieving true inclusivity requires systemic reforms, such as accessible education, workplace accommodations, and improved healthcare services. Fostering awareness, implementing inclusive policies, and promoting accessible communication tools are essential to genuine empowerment, equality, and diversity across all sectors. Keywords: Communication Barriers, Coping Mechanisms, Deaf, Inclusion, Life Struggles, Resilience, Systemic Reforms

The study explores how differences in rural community contexts relate to early adolescent alcohol use. Data were gathered from 1,424 adolescents in the sixth through eighth grades in 22 rural Northern Plains communities, as well as 790 adults, parents, teachers, and community leaders. Multilevel modeling analyses revealed that community supportiveness, as perceived by adolescents, but not adults, was associated with less lifetime and past month alcohol use, and for past month use, this relationship was stronger than perceived peer drinking or parental closeness. Perceived peer drinking and parental closeness were not associated with past month use. Adolescents experiencing family economic strain did not report greater lifetime or past month use, but living in a disadvantaged community was associated with greater past month use. Relatively affluent adolescents reported greater past month use when living in a poor community than did poorer adolescents, highlighting relationship complexity between economic disadvantage and alcohol use.

This study explores the lived experiences, societal perceptions, and legal challenges faced by solo parents in the Philippines, particularly solo mothers and persons with disabilities. Drawing on Bronfenbrenner’s Ecological Systems Theory, feminist theory, and attachment theory, the research employs a qualitative document analysis to examine coping mechanisms and evaluate the implementation of Republic Act No. 11861. Findings highlight emotional trauma, economic hardship, and social stigma as primary stressors, while resilience emerges through community support, faith-based practices, and extended family networks. Despite policy advancements, legal gaps and inconsistent implementation persist. The study recommends broadening legal definitions, improving inter-agency coordination, and adopting trauma-informed, inclusive services to ensure equitable support for all solo parents in the country.

In Chinese society, traditional postnatal practices and family support protect the health and well-being of women after childbirth. The absence of support for these practices for Chinese migrants in Western societies can have negative implications for their health. Recent studies reveal that postnatal stress is a growing concern among Chinese migrant women in Brisbane, Australia. There is a need to investigate the experiences of these women in order to understand factors affecting their postnatal health and to identify gaps in, and ways to improve, existing services and support identified needs. This paper examines postnatal experience and health needs of Chinese migrant women in Brisbane from three different places of origin: Taiwan, Hong Kong and the People's Republic of China (PRC). Previous studies on reproductive health beliefs and practices of Chinese women have found that a relationship exists between postnatal maternal health and postnatal cultural practices, appropriate family and community support and social circumstances, particularly pressures relating to employment. This study further tests and confirms these findings by comparing the experience of the three Chinese groups who have different migration circumstances, socio-economic and employment status, and support networks. The study reveals that among the three groups, PRC migrants are more likely to have encountered downward social mobility, economic hardship, social isolation, employment and language problems. While all three groups believe in the necessity of traditional postnatal practices, the PRC group has less support and is also more likely to have experienced postnatal health problems than the other two groups. This paper concludes with two sets of recommendations: one for community organisations with a focus on empowerment and cooperation; and one for service providers concerning improvement of multi-sectoral partnership, cross-cultural communication and the development of a postnatal care service model.

BackgroundSex work in Ghana is deeply intertwined with economic hardship, criminalization, and social stigma, which subjects female sex workers (FSWs) to significant vulnerabilities. In Ghana, many FSWs, particularly immigrants, face compounded challenges, including physical and sexual abuse, police harassment, and discrimination, which are exacerbated by their migrant status. This study aims to address the gap in understanding the specific lived experiences of transnational FSWs in Ghana, with a focus on the intersection of gender, migration, and economic vulnerability.MethodsThis study utilized a qualitative phenomenological approach to explore the lived experiences of transnational FSWs in Ghana’s two largest cities, Accra and Kumasi. Participants were purposively selected through snowball sampling technique until thematic saturation was achieved, interviewing fourteen FSWs. In-depth interviews were conducted in English. Data collection took place in November and December 2024, with basic demographic data gathered at the beginning of each interview, and thematic analysis was employed to analyze the anonymized transcripts.ResultsEconomic necessity was the primary driver behind migration and entry into sex work for FSWs, with many revealing that promises of legitimate employment often led to coerced involvement into the trade. Participants also reported high levels of violence, including physical assault, theft, and sexual coercion from clients, often in isolated locations. They also experienced harassment and exploitation by law enforcement, which compounded their vulnerability. Additionally, discrimination based on nationality also exacerbated their vulnerability, as foreign FSWs were often treated more harshly than their Ghanaian counterparts by clients, police, and the public.ConclusionThis study’s findings highlight the urgent need for comprehensive policy reforms that address the root causes of migrant sex work, including better economic opportunities for women and the decriminalization or regulation of sex work to protect sex workers from the risks associated with its illegal status, such as police harassment, exploitation, and lack of legal protections.

Cases of Domestic Violence against women tended to increase to 299,911 cases throughout 2020 during the covid-19 pandemic happened. There was an increase about 69% from 1,413 cases in 2019 to 2,389 cases in 2020. Covid-19 has had a significant impact on social, economic and various other dimensions, and also has an impact on household stability. Economic hardship during the pandemic increased women's vulnerability to violence.. When household income is reduced, the tension in the household is high. Women will become targets for perpetrators of violence who often use financial difficulties as an excuse for violence. The qualitative research with a phenomenological approach to women to explore risk factors for domestic violence on women during the covid-19 pandemic. Data collection methods used in-depth interview and focus group discussions. The study with a total of 20 participants was selected by purposive sampling with sampling variations. The data analysis used thematic analysis. The results of the study found that the types of domestic violence which was experienced during the pandemic did not differ much from before the pandemic, namely; physical, verbal, psychological, economic and sexual violence. The risk factors for domestic violence are affair, economic factors, communication problems with couple, couple/husband's character/temper, social media, sexual desire and the phenomenon of women who preferred prosperous and married men. This study also found that religiosity was a factor to prevent domestic violence. Conclusion: the risk factors for domestic violence did not stand alone, but could be caused by several factors at the same time.

Men's violence against women (VAW) is multifaceted and complex. Besides physical, psychological, and sexual violence, women subjected to VAW often suffer from economic hardship and financial abuse. Financial abuse involves different tactics used to exercise power and gain control over partners. Experiences of financial abuse make it difficult for women to leave an abusive partner and become self-sufficient. From an intersectional perspective, applying the concept of the continuum of violence, the aim of this article is to develop a more comprehensive understanding of how women subjected to men's violence in intimate relationships experience the complexity of financial abuse in their lives, in the context of VAW. Based on 19 in-depth interviews with women surviving domestic violence, the study describes how intertwined women's experiences of financial abuse are with other forms of abuse, influencing each other, simultaneously experienced as a distinct form of abuse with severe and longstanding consequences. Women in the study describe how men's abuse affects them financially, causing poverty and affecting their ability to have a reasonable economic standard. Financial abuse also causes women ill health, and damages their self-esteem and ability to work, associate, and engage in social life. The interviewed women describe how experiences of financial abuse continue across time, from their past into their present situation and molding beliefs about the future. According to the interviews, financial abuse in private life sometimes continues into the public sphere, reproduced by social workers mimicking patterns of ex-partners' abuse. Bringing out a more comprehensive understanding of the dynamic continuum of financial abuse, our results deepen knowledge about the complexity of VAW in women's lives, and thereby are important in processes of making victims of violence survivors of violence.

One way to define domestic violence is when one adult in a relationship abuses their position to manipulate the other. It involves using violence and other abusive methods to instill dominance and terror in a relationship. Physical assault, psychological abuse, social abuse, financial abuse, or sexual assault are all examples of this violence. The frequency of the violence can be intermittent, sporadic, or ongoing. "Domestic violence is more than just a disagreement. It is a pattern of one individual exerting coercive control over another. Abusers control their victims and force their will by using economic hardship, threats, mental abuse, and physical and sexual violence. Both men and women commit and are the victims of domestic abuse. Unfortunately, especially in our nation, women are the most frequent victims. According to reports, even in the United States, intimate partner violence accounts for 85% of all violent crimes suffered by women, compared to 3% of violent crimes experienced by men (Caur & Garg, 2008). What behavioral and psychological changes occur in women who experience domestic violence is the research's main problem. The study's primary goal is to examine the psychosocial effects of domestic abuse on women. Lihiniyawa West Grama Niladhari Domain of Valallavita Divisional Secretariat in Western Province of Sri Lanka has been selected as the study area for this research on domestic violence. In 71 households, or 20% of the total 355 families, 71 women over the age of 18 were used in this study. For this, the simple random sample was employed. Informal interviews and the questionnaire method were utilized in the study to collect data, and SPSS software was used to analyze the data. The research found that women in rural areas of Sri Lanka are more likely to suffer from domestic violence, including various forms of domestic abuse and violence. It includes various forms such as physical, verbal, emotional, sexual, psychological etc. As a solution to this problem, suggestions such as increasing the legal literacy of women, implementing fair punishments and implementing attitude development programs for men and women, young and child communities have been presented in this research paper.