Aid Community Research Articles

Assessing Age-Friendly Community Initiatives: Developing a Novel Survey Tool for Assessment and Evaluation.

Age-Friendly Community Initiatives (AFCIs) have gained recognition as essential responses to the needs of aging populations. Despite their growing significance, there is a notable lack of effective measurement tools to assess the planning, implementation, and sustainability of AFCIs. The purpose of this study was to develop and validate a survey tool for evaluating AFCIs. A sequential exploratory mixed-method design was used in two phases. First, we identified key themes from interviews with AFCI leads to generate AFCI survey items and regional workshops. Then, we conducted a pilot of the survey and assessed its measurement properties. Thematic analysis of interviews with 68 key informants from 58 AFCIs revealed four main themes: AFCI priorities, enablers, challenges, and benefits. These themes, combined with feedback from AFCI stakeholders at the regional workshops and a AFCI conference, informed the development and refinement of a reliable and valid AFCI survey in 2019, supported by a high Cronbach's Alpha value (α = 0.881). Steps were identified to maintain and sustain the AFCI survey over time. The survey accommodates AFCIs' diverse demographics, governance structures, and priorities with a standardized and flexible approach for effective measurement. This research contributes to the academic understanding of AFCIs and aids community leaders and policymakers in planning, implementing, and evaluating AFCIs.

An analysis of humanitarian and health aid harmonisation over a decade (2011–2019) of the Syrian conflict

IntroductionAid harmonisation is a key component of donor efforts to make aid more effective by improving coordination and simplifying and sharing information to avoid duplication. This study evaluates the harmonisation...

UMSU FM'S Communication Strategy on the Talk Show Prevent HIV Ending Aids To Develop Existence In the Digital Era

ABSTRACT In the current digital era, how can Radio 91.6 UMSU FM's communication strategy in its talk show content ''Prevent HIV, End AIDS'' be optimized to expand its audience reach and maintain its relevance amidst increasingly fierce media competition? This research was conducted using a qualitative descriptive method. This research was conducted on Radio 91.6 Umsu FM, by looking for valid data and information about how Umsu radio is developing its existence in the current digital era with one of its programs, namely the Prevent HIV End AIDS Talkshow. This program was presented by the North Sumatra KPA for outreach via radio and also includes a program that educates the public so that they have awareness of handling HIV AIDS, therefore it has become a weekly broadcast on radio specifically for the community, teenagers, and HIV AIDS sufferers. Indeed, technological advances should be used as a means for the development of media so that it is not left behind by other competitors. The results of the effects on communication strategies include cognitive effects, affective effects, and conative effects that make information heard more and more. Keywords: Media Strategy, Existence, Radio 91.6 UMSU FM.

Safety Outcomes After Sacubitril/Valsartan Initiation in a Community Teaching Hospital: A Retrospective Observational Study.

Sacubitril/valsartan is one of the main foundational medications in heart failure (HF), and recent data show that it provides a mortality benefit in this patient population. Some of the main safety concerns associated with this drug class include hypotension, hyperkalemia, angioedema, and acute kidney injury (AKI). Other studies have focused on sacubitril/valsartan effects on blood glucose levels, which is a newer concept that has not been as researched. This study seeks to explore the safety of angiotensin receptor-neprilysininhibitors (ARNi) when initiated in acute hospitalized patients, where data on tolerability will assist in patient selection and monitoring. The results of this study will help distinguish the HF population at a community teaching hospital and aid clinician decision-making. This was a single-center, retrospective, observational review utilizing electronic health records. To be included in this study, patients had to be 18 years or older with an HF diagnosis and must have taken at least two doses of sacubitril/valsartan before discharge. Primary safety outcomes will include discontinuation of sacubitril/valsartan, incidence of angioedema, hyperkalemia, AKI, hypotension, and hypoglycemia. Secondary outcomes included hospital length of stay and 30-day readmission rate. Data were collected for a total of 227 patients. AKI was the most common primary safety adverse effect captured with 30 patients (14.02%), followed by hypotension in 20 patients (9.35%), and hyperkalemia in 19 patients (8.9%). Only one patient (0.44%) experienced both angioedema and hypotension, and it happened to be the same patient. Additionally, only one patient (0.47%) was found to be hypoglycemic. Sacubitril/valsartan was discontinued in 41 patients (18.1%), and 20 of those patients (8.8%) were restarted at a lower dose. Lastly, 63 patients (27.8%) were readmitted within 30 days of discharge. Patents that also had diabetes had worse safety outcomes and were associated with 30-day readmission. Conclusions: This study of patients admitted with HF and started on sacubitril/valsartan found similar rates of efficacy and safety outcomes to previously published reports. However, the rate of hypoglycemia associated with sacubitril/valsartan was low in only one patient, and it was strongly associated with previous antidiabetic medication use. This differs from previously published reports and analyses on the association of sacubitril/valsartan and hypoglycemia. More research is needed for the argument that sacubitril/valsartan has an effect on glycemic outcomes. Patients with diabetes were found to have worse safety outcomes and a higher 30-day readmission. Providers should consider monitoring these patients closely and making sure that patients are on guideline-directed medication therapy before discharge. Other common safety events associated with sacubitril/valsartan were also seen in this population.

FIRST AID EDUCATION DURING INJURY IN CHILDREN WITH RICE METHOD AT SEKOLAH INDONESIA SINGAPURA (SIS)

First Aid is an aid for emergency treatment of victims before help is provided by medical personnel. Injuries can occur anywhere, the location of injuries often occurs especially in the home and school environment. School-age children are a group that is vulnerable to injury, especially when entering celementary school. Injuries can become an emergency case and cause serious injuries and even death if not handled properly. To prevent injuries in children from getting worse, one of the methods that can be used to treat is the RICE (Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation) method, which can first rest the injured part, apply an ice pack to reduce swelling, bandage the injured skin and elevate the injured area above the height of the heart area. First Aid community service with the RICE method at Sekolah Indonesia Singapura (SIS) is a positive activity that aims to increase children's knowledge and ability to perform first aid when injured or when children know other people are injured. The method used is counseling about first aid for injuries using the RICE method, demonstrating and distributing leaflets. The results of the analysis of children's ability to understand first aid material when injured with the RICE method before and after education is 30 (with an average pre test score of 70 and post test 100). The increase in participants' knowledge proves that with this counseling participants become more aware of what is related to first aid during injuries that can be treated with the RICE method to prevent more severe injuries. Keywords; First Aid, Emergency, RICE, Children

Nilai Nilai Eksistensi Tradisi Sekaten Dalam Perspektif Hukum Adat Dan Hukum Islam

This research focuses on the values ​​of the existence of the sekaten tradition in the perspective of customary law and Islamic law, as stated in article 18B paragraph 2 which states that "The state recognizes and respects customary law community units and their traditional rights as long as they are still alive and in accordance with with the development of society and the principles of the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia." and also article 28 paragraph 3 which emphasizes that the cultural identity and rights of traditional communities must be respected along with developments over time. The method used in this research is Library Research, which means dissecting the value of the existence of the sekaten tradition and the formation of customary law and Islamic law. Customary law and Islamic law have become part of the positive legal system in Indonesia. In the formation of positive law in Indonesia, both customary law and Islamic law were recognized and integrated into the national legal framework. Islamic law encourages Muslims to create a just and harmonious society where individual interests do not outweigh social interests. These ideas are consistent with traditional beliefs that highlight the importance of community, solidarity, and mutual aid in society. However, it is important to realize that how Islamic law is interpreted and implemented varies across societies and countries.

Optimizing food pantry stocking through client preferences: a novel elicitation and classification process

PurposeThis study aims to understand client food preferences and how pantry offerings can be optimized by those preferences.Design/methodology/approachThis study develops and administers customized surveys to study three food pantries within the Second Harvest Food Bank of Northwestern North Carolina network. This study then categorizes food items by client preferences, identifies the key predictors of those preferences and obtains preference scores by fitting the data to a predictive model. The preference scores are subsequently used in an optimization model that suggests an ideal mix of food items to stock based upon client preferences and the item and weight limits imposed by the pantry.FindingsThis study found that food pantry clients prefer fresh and frozen foods over shelf-friendly options and that gender, age and religion were the primary predictors. The optimization model incorporates these preferences, yielding an optimal stocking strategy for the pantry.Research limitations/implicationsThis research is based on a specific food bank network, and therefore, the client preferences may not be generalizable to other food banks. However, the framework and corresponding optimization model is generalizable to other food aid supply chains.Practical implicationsThis study provides insights for food pantry managers to make informed decisions about stocking the pantry shelves based on the client’s preferences.Social implicationsAn emerging topic within the humanitarian food aid community is better matching of food availability with food that is desired in a way that minimizes food waste. This is achieved by providing more choice to food pantry users. This work shows how pantries can incorporate client preferences in inventory stocking decisions.Originality/valueThis study contributes to the literature on food pantry operations by providing a novel decision support system for pantry managers to aid in stocking their shelves according to client preferences.

Don’t be shame, be game! Responding to HIV and AIDS in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities

This article explores the under-examined history of how Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities responded to HIV and AIDS in the 1980s and 1990s. When HIV emerged as a public health threat in Australia, Indigenous healthcare workers and community leaders developed and delivered health promotion programs that were highly successful in preventing the spread of the virus among their communities. These programs drew on the political principles of self-determination and community control, fought for by the Black activism of the preceding decades. This article follows the story of one healthcare worker, Aunty Gracelyn Smallwood, who was instrumental in advocating for and implementing the grassroots Indigenous response to the virus. A proud Birrigubba, Kalkadoon and South Sea Islander woman and registered nurse, Aunty Gracelyn’s outspoken advocacy took her from her hometown of Townsville all the way to the highest offices of Australia’s AIDS response, where she helped shape and implement a world-leading approach to HIV and AIDS prevention.

Early Detection of Extreme Storm Tide Events Using Multimodal Data Processing

Sea-level rise is a well-known consequence of climate change. Several studies have estimated the social and economic impact of the increase in extreme flooding. An efficient way to mitigate its consequences is the development of a flood alert and prediction system, based on high-resolution numerical models and robust sensing networks. However, current models use various simplifying assumptions that compromise accuracy to ensure solvability within a reasonable timeframe, hindering more regular and cost-effective forecasts for various locations along the shoreline. To address these issues, this work proposes a hybrid model for multimodal data processing that combines physics-based numerical simulations, data obtained from a network of sensors, and satellite images to provide refined wave and sea-surface height forecasts, with real results obtained in a critical location within the Port of Santos (the largest port in Latin America). Our approach exhibits faster convergence than data-driven models while achieving more accurate predictions. Moreover, the model handles irregularly sampled time series and missing data without the need for complex preprocessing mechanisms or data imputation while keeping low computational costs through a combination of time encoding, recurrent and graph neural networks. Enabling raw sensor data to be easily combined with existing physics-based models opens up new possibilities for accurate extreme storm tide events forecast systems that enhance community safety and aid policymakers in their decision-making processes.

MENINGKATKAN RASA MENGUCAP SYUKUR MELALUI PEMBINAAN PEMAHAMAN BERKAT

Gratitude is acceptance of one's condition in any condition. This attitude is crucial for Christians to have as a form of respect for God's sovereignty. However, the importance of this attitude is often not found in Christians, especially when experiencing difficult times. One of the reasons is the belief that the blessings given by God are only material things in the form of wealth. This view then influences the gratitude of people who receive God's blessings. To anticipate the formation of this thought pattern, guidance is needed in understanding God's blessings as a whole. This coaching activity is intended to answer this problem. Using research results that have been published regarding God's blessing in Deuteronomy 28:1-14, the implementers carry out coaching using the lecture method. The coaching targets two mutual aid communities in Batam City, OMEFA and Family Batam. The participants were given coaching in four stages to provide a complete understanding of God's various blessings, which are very broad. This coaching is expected to make participants aware of God's blessings apart from material wealth.

Social participation experiences of older adults with an early-onset physical disability: a systematic review protocol.

The objective of this review is to assess and synthesize the available qualitative evidence on the experiences of social participation of older adults with an early-onset physical disability. Understanding the experiences of social participation among older adults with a physical disability acquired earlier in life can guide the development of interventions and policies. It will also help with fostering meaningful community participation and aid in improving the quality of their social participation. This review will consider primary studies that explore the experiences of social participation of older adults with an early-onset physical disability. The review will focus on qualitative data, including methods such as phenomenology, grounded theory, ethnography, action research, and feminist research. Studies in French or English will be considered for inclusion, and there will be no limitation on publication dates. A keyword search strategy will be carried out in MEDLINE (Ovid), PsycINFO (Ovid), CINAHL (EBSCOhost), Web of Science, and the Cochrane Library. ProQuest Dissertations and Theses (ProQuest) will be searched for unpublished articles. Two independent reviewers will perform the screening and inclusion process, assess the quality of the evidence, and complete data extraction. The JBI approach to critical appraisal, study selection, data extraction, and data synthesis (meta-aggregation) will be used. The ConQual approach will be used to establish confidence in the synthesized findings. PROSPERO CRD42022371027.

#AidToo, or when situation permits rape: sexual violence among humanitarian aid workers

This article explores the prevalent issue of sexual violence against and among humanitarian aid workers, with a focus on why the aid sector creates a particularly permissive environment for sexual violence. Although the issue is primarily an industry problem, with both perpetrators and survivors being members of the aid community, humanitarian organizations have been hesitant to address the issue. The article argues that legal ambiguities, barriers to accessing justice, and organizational mismanagement contribute to the permissive environment in the aid industry. Drawing on secondary survivor testimonies and legal frameworks, I highlight the need for more tangible prevention and follow-up mechanisms for survivors based on the legal duty of care of aid organizations. The analysis underscores the need for a comprehensive and proactive approach to addressing sexual violence within the aid sector, grounded in an understanding of power dynamics and organizational culture.

The potential risk components and prevention measures of the Ebola virus disease outbreak in Liberia: An in-depth interview with the health workers and stakeholders.

The Ebola virus, a highly infectious and deadly pathogen, has posed a significant public health threat in West Africa for several decades. Liberia is one of the most severely affected countries. Healthcare personnel, including nurses, are on the front lines of patient care, and their perspectives are invaluable in understanding the challenges that arise during outbreaks, especially in implementing prevention measures. This study aimed to explore the potential risk components and prevention measures of the Ebola virus disease (EVD). This study used an exploratory descriptive qualitative design. Five stakeholders, ten doctors and five nurses who had suffered from EVD during the outbreak in Liberia participated in semi-structured interviews to provide their experience and comprehensive perspectives on EVD. Data were collected from February 2022-August 2023. NVivo 12 plus was used for inductive thematic analysis. Six themes and several subthemes emerged: 1) transmission modes (body contact, body fluid, sexual intercourse, traditional burial), 2) funeral attendance (traditional practices and crowded gatherings), 3) community-led prevention (promoting good hygiene practices, increasing awareness, contact tracing, and surveillance), 4) Ebola virus vaccine (false sense of security, potential side effects, and limited data), 5) challenges in implementing prevention measures (inadequate health infrastructures, difficulty of tracing infected people, lack of resources, and cultural-social barriers), 6) Liberia's health systems (a weak, underfunded, fragile health infrastructure, lack of health facilities and shortage of health workers). Several potential risk components contributing to the EVD outbreak should be a public concern. Strengthening the current healthcare system supported by local community and international aid providers (multidisciplinary teams) is needed to anticipate behavioral problems and to improve the efficacy of the prevention measures appropriate to the conditions in Liberia. Accordingly, the nurses' compliance with the recommended prevention practices is necessary.

The Relationship of Knowledge and Socio Culture of Mothers to Exclusive Breast Feeding in Aid Community Health Center Lebaho Ulaq Village

The best food for a baby's growth is breast milk.. Problems in breastfeeding are socio-cultural factors and knowledge. Transverse Sectional Research. 30 mothers with The age range of the sample's children was from 6-24 months utilizing the method of total sampling. The independent variables are tingkat kesadaran sosiokultural. Variabel yang terikat adalah exclusive breastfeeding. It used knowledge and socio-cultural questionnaire. The Kolmogorov Smirnov test on the variable knowledge of exclusive breastfeeding obtained a ρvalue of 0.001 <0.05 (ρ<α). Meanwhile, the Fisher's Exact test on socio-cultural variables on exclusive breastfeeding obtained a ρvalue of 0.000 <0.05 (ρ<α). When mother's knowledge’s high, motivated to give exclusive breastfeeding. The mother's social culture and degree of knowledge regarding exclusive breastfeeding are related.

Pilot Study of Animal Assisted Therapy Provided in a Student Run Pro Bono Clinic

Background: Animal assisted therapy (AAT) is therapeutic intervention designed to help patients engage in meaningful life activities.1 Therapy dogs are used in healthcare settings to engage patients in motion, self-care, mental health, motivation, social responses, pain management, and fine motor skills.2 While there is research on the benefits of AAT with children and adults in inpatient settings, there is a lack of information on the benefits and satisfaction of AAT in student-run free clinics (SRFC).
 Methods: Occupational therapy (OT) students, volunteer clinicians, trained therapy dog teams, and patients receiving OT services at the Community Aid, Relief, Education & Support (CARES) SRFC participated in a pilot AAT program. All participants completed a specially designed survey via REDcap immediately following AAT sessions. Surveys focused on the patient’s pain and stress levels, benefits of AAT, and patient satisfaction.
 Results: Ten patients participated in the AAT pilot program alongside thirty-seven students and 4 therapy dog teams. 100% of patients responded therapy dogs helped them reach their goals, 93.8% of handlers and clinicians agreed the dog was a valuable addition to therapy sessions, and 100% of OT students agreed AAT is an important tool for therapists to use in clinical settings. 67.6% of patients reported a decrease in stress and 41.2% of patients who were experiencing pain reported a decrease in symptoms. Students, handlers, and clinicians reported benefits with AAT including range of motion (79.7%), fine motor skills (68.1%), and motivation (68.1%).
 Conclusion: AAT was successfully integrated into CARES SRFC based on feedback and data collected from participants. AAT had a visible impact on patients, students, handlers, and clinicians. Future research on the use of AAT in a SRFC should include a larger sample size and consider how to better define the specific impact of AAT on populations and conditions commonly seen in a SRFC.

Undoing Aid: UK Aid Cuts, Development Relationships and Resourcing Futures in Malawi

ABSTRACTThe decision of the United Kingdom government to reduce its Official Development Assistance by £ 4.6 billion in 2020 was framed by its proponents as a nationalist response to a domestic financial crisis. This Conservative‐led austerity measure triggered the early closure of hundreds of aid projects globally. Concerned British politicians equated the cuts to moral failures as humanitarian and civil society actors claimed the lost funding would devastate the world's most vulnerable populations. In the vast space between British funders and the so‐called ‘beneficiaries’ of aid is a diverse cadre of mid‐level actors ‘doing’ and, in this case, ‘un‐doing’ development programming. This article examines their experiences in prematurely closing British‐funded projects in one postcolonial context, Malawi. Drawing upon semi‐structured interviews, the article explores the emotional, material and relational consequences of austerity. It builds on Didier Fassin's theorization of moral economies to argue that the timing and approach of this funding withdrawal violated the accepted moral economies of aid, breaching obligations between Malawian mid‐level aid workers and community members (including family) as well as among institutions. It concludes by considering how this particular rupture to the relational infrastructure of aid has prompted demands for recalibrated resourcing futures in Malawi.

The Trans Middle Ages: Incorporating Transgender and Intersex Studies into the History of Medieval Sexuality

Abstract This article reviews recent work on trans and intersex history in the European Middle Ages, locating it within the established historiography on medieval gender and sexuality. It begins by surveying the three overarching themes in prior historical research on medieval gender and sexuality: identity, community and repression. Then, it introduces the context of the transgender turn in medieval studies, beginning in the late 2010s, by charting the origin of this sub-field and its rapid growth since 2020. It then outlines three key theoretical concepts underpinning its methodology: 1) gender is socially constructed and historically contingent; 2) likewise, biological sex is socially constructed and historically contingent; 3) all societies include people who transition away from their assigned gender, and, while these identities are no less contingent, they nevertheless constitute a valid subject for long histories of transness. Lastly, it argues that medieval trans and intersex studies contributes new perspectives and methodological approaches to each of the overarching research themes: 1) the lives and experiences of queer historical subjects such as Eleanor Rykener and Joseph of Schönau can be productively read through a trans lens, and trans historians’ focus on questions of agency and subjectivity provides a model for exploring queerness in the medieval archive; 2) trans historians’ arguments around community and mutual aid within trans case-studies revive the otherwise neglected historiographical topic of medieval queer networks; 3) trans historians demonstrate that medieval discourses around sexuality, gender and race are mutually constitutive, and significantly shape subsequent early modern European interactions with Black and indigenous societies.

Working with the Taliban: from the first to the second Emirate

ABSTRACT Nearly two years after the Taliban seized power in Kabul, in August 2021, the international aid community continued to search for workable approaches to deal with the new situation. Afghanistan’s deepening economic and humanitarian crisis called for major assistance, but the relationship between major donors and the Taliban de facto authorities had settled into a deeply adversarial mode. It resembled in many respects the relationship between the international aid community and the Taliban during the first Emirate (1996–2001). The story of that limited and difficult interaction – mostly consisting of humanitarian aid in a process that swung between confrontation and creative, though modest, compromises – is worth recalling for the insights it holds for the present. This article examines the patterns of that interaction, the results on the ground and the implications for the Western relationship with the present Taliban Emirate.

Can group‐based strategies increase community resilience? Longitudinal predictors of sustained participation in Covid‐19 mutual aid and community support groups

AbstractMutual aid groups have been a critical part of the coronavirus disease‐2019 (Covid‐19) response and continue to address the needs of people in their communities. To understand how mutual aid and similar community support groups can be sustained over time, we test the idea that using group‐based strategies initiates psychological trajectories that shape future participation. We conducted a preregistered longitudinal survey among Covid‐19 mutual aid and community support volunteers in the United Kingdom (nWave 1 = 600, May 2021; nWave 2 = 299, July–August 2021) who were registered panelists of an independent research organization. Assessments included measures of group‐based strategies, collective participation predictors, participation experience, and sustained participation. Volunteers engaged in a wide range of support activities including shopping, emotional support provision, and deliveries. Two group‐based strategies—group alliances and group horizontality—longitudinally predicted sustained participation. In addition, sense of community responsibility and burnout were longitudinal predictors of sustained participation. Importantly, predictors of sustained participation diverged for volunteers with different levels of volunteering experience. Our findings highlight group‐based strategies as a potential resource for organizers seeking to sustain participation. Use can be tailored depending on the profiles of individual Covid‐19 mutual aid volunteers. These findings have significance beyond Covid‐19 as they are relevant to sustaining community resilience more generally.

The First Day of Peace by Todd Shuster

Reviewed by: The First Day of Peace by Todd Shuster Meg Cornell Shuster, Todd The First Day of Peace; written by Todd Shuster and Maya Soetoro-Ng; illus. by Tatiana Gardel. Candlewick, 2023 [32p] Trade ed. ISBN 9781536207590 $18.99 Reviewed from digital galleys Ad 4-7 yrs Two societies, one in the valleys and one in the mountains, are peaceful, diverse farming cultures that live sustainably off nearby water sources. However, climate disaster comes to the valley people, with drought drying up their lake; likewise, up in the mountains, the rivers recede. Each group turns to the other for relief from scarcity but then hoards their own resources; while the adults bicker, a long-distance friendship between a valley child and a mountain child begins. As the water returns to both areas, the two friends sew dolls of one another, grow up, and eventually [End Page 337] pass these dolls down to their own children as a reminder to future generations to hold close the people of the other society. When a litany of further climate disasters befalls the valley people, and the daughter of the mountain child encourages her community with an outstretched palm; “love catches on” and aid is provided to the valley people. While it is clear from the afterword the theme of bigotry is intended to be prominent, it is executed far less precisely than the subjects of climate change, resource scarcity, and community aid. The dreamlike atmosphere of focal characters in watercolor sometimes detracts from the dramatic tension of the story, flattening the action. Nevertheless, the natural tableaus suit the tale’s pacifistic mood, and the daughter of the mountain child’s benevolent gesture makes for a particularly striking scene, with swirling green foliage gently urging the reader’s eye to take a leap of faith from her hand over a verdant cliff. Pair at storytime with Yolen’s more energetic I Am the Storm (BCCB 11/20) to empower young readers through any stormy weather. Copyright © 2023 The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois