Empowerment Participation Research Articles

Social, economic, and political events affect gender equity in China, Nepal, and Nicaragua: a matched, interrupted time-series study

ABSTRACT Background: Progress in gender equity can improve health at the individual and country levels. Objectives: This study’s objective was to analyze recent trends in gender equity and identify historical and contextual factors that contributed to changes in gender equity in three countries: China, Nepal, and Nicaragua. Methods: To assess gender equity trends, we used the Gender Gap Index (GGI) from the World Economic Forum’s Global Gender Gap Report (2006–2017). The GGI incorporated data on economic participation, educational attainment, health, and political empowerment for almost 150 countries. We selected China, Nepal, and Nicaragua because of their major changes in GGI and diversity in geographical location and economic status. We reviewed major social, economic, and political events during 2006–2017, and identified key events in each country. We compared countries’ GGI with matched controls average using interrupted time-series analysis. Results: Nepal and Nicaragua both had dramatic increases in GGI (improvement in equity), Nepal (β = 0.029; 95% CI: 0.003, 0.056) and Nicaragua (β = 0.035; 95% CI: 0.005, 0.065). This was strongly influenced by political empowerment, which likely impacted access to education and employment opportunities. Despite major economic growth and new policies to address gender inequities (e.g. the One-Child Policy), China saw a significant decline in GGI between 2010 and 2017 (β = −0.014; 95% CI: −0.024, −0.004), largely resulting from decreased gender equity in educational attainment, economic participation, and health/survival sub-indices. Conclusions: Key social, economic, and political events helped explain trends in countries’ gender equity. Our study suggested that supportive social and political environments would play important roles in empowering women, which would advance human rights and promote health and well-being of individuals, households, communities, and countries.

‘Othering’ in peer education: a case study of the rebirth peer education program in China

Peer education has been extensively incorporated into various inclusion schemes, for purposes ranging from health promotion to participant empowerment. This paper examines the impact of peer education on reducing stigmatization in marginalized populations through an examination of the structure and activities of Rebirth Peer Education, a Chinese anti-drug peer education program. Based on the thematic analysis of organizational documents and interview data collected from RPE’s social workers, peer educators, and peer members, this study finds that peer education can actually work to exacerbate the stigmatization and marginalization of people who use drugs (PWUD) through the ‘othering’ processes encountered in these programs. ‘Othering’ is a process in which those who are considered different are labelled, dismissed and scapegoated. Consequently, this process also stigmatizes and marginalizes those who are defined as ‘others.’ In RPE, ‘othering’ takes place through the organizations’ recruitment and promotion processes, which are based on and further reinforce a perception of ‘clean,’ strong-willed, former PWUD and ‘unclean,’ weak, current PWUD. The glorification of peer educators further works to ‘other’ PWUD. The results suggest that peer education has the potential to further, rather than reduce, the stigmatization of PWUD.

Function of Social Cohesion Element in Participatory Empowerment towards Landless Peasants

Social cohesion is one of the essential elements in participatory empowerment of landless peasants. This study aims to examine the categorization function within elements of social cohesion in empowering landless peasants using a participatory manner. The research location was set intentionally in Baturaden District, Banyumas Regency and Purbalingga Wetan Subdistrict, Purbalingga Regency, Central Java Province, Indonesia. The research method is using an intrinsic case study approach. Based on the research result showed that the predominant function within elements of social cohesion at the individual level are enthusiasm, trust, quality and closeness of social relations, solidarity and social values, while some element of social cohesion at the community level has a function towards peasant participatory in the empowerment include motives, mentality, actions, behavior, awareness of self-identity and morality. Lastly, the quality of social relations and collaboration networks is a manifestation of social cohesion which has a dominant function at the institutional level. All elements of social cohesion function are reinforcing energy and driving the activeness of landless peasant in participatory empowerment.

GASTRONOMIA E MUDANÇAS SOCIAIS: RELATOS, VIVÊNCIAS E IMPACTOS NARRADOS POR ALUNOS DE UMA AÇÃO EXTENSIONISTA

This research sought to understand the contributions of gastronomy as a strategy that induces social and economic change, using as a case study the Outreach Program Social Gastronomy in Jardim da Gente, linked to the Federal University of Ceara, which offers free training courses for the communities of Grande Bom Jardim and the public in general. The research presents aspects of the outreach action, as well as a literature review on gastronomy and social gastronomy and the relationship with social impacts. This qualitative and exploratory research analyzed the social and personal impacts pointed out in interviews with former students in addition to participant observation. Therefore, it was observed that gastronomy was used as an instrument of social impact, resulting in transformation, strengthening and empowerment of participants.

Applying a leverage points framework to the United Nations climate negotiations: The (dis)empowerment of youth participants

Young people are both among the generations to be most affected by climate change and critical advocates for climate action. In the face of growing urgency surrounding the climate crisis, the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) has become an important institutional framework for political progress. We developed a community-based participatory action research project centered on youth involved in the COP climate negotiations. A “leverage points” approach guided our research; this paper is the first time the framework has been applied in an international negotiations context. Our findings point to the structural power, networks, and paradigms that youth might engage with for international climate justice work. We identify actionable leverage points through which youth organizers might increase their social power in the COP process to bring about climate action. Many of these leverage points are rooted in dynamics of power, which we expand upon and connect to broader literature. Moving forward, these findings can benefit and inform the strategies of youth as they participate in the COP process.

Investigating the Relationship between Iranian EFL Teachers' Empowerment and their Self-Efficacy as a Consequence for their Educational Improvement.

INTRODUCTION:Teacher empowerment is thought to improve student learning by fostering teaching quality. Therefore, the purpose of this study is investigating the relationship between empowerment and self-efficacy of Iranian English as Foreign Language teachers.MATERIALS AND METHODS:The present study is an experimental study; the population of the study includes all the English language teachers of the universities of Ilam, Iran. Among whom by random sampling, the sample which was consisted of 60 teachers were selected. Participants in this study answered the School Participant Empowerment Scale questionnaire (Short and Rinehart, 1992) as the instrument of the study. The Pearson product-moment correlation was computed to determine the relationship between teacher empowerment and teacher self-efficacy.RESULTS:The results showed that there was a positive correlation between teacher empowerment and their self-efficacy (r = 0.55, P < 0.01) and differences among teachers' self-efficacy is not significant according to age (r = −0.14, P = 0.23).CONCLUSIONS:Based on the results of the study, empowerment and self-efficacy have interactive relationships; i.e. self-efficacy in teachers leads to empowerment and empowerment in teachers leads to self-efficacy.

Ethical considerations when conducting research with people with nonverbal autism: A commentary on current processes and practices

People with severe (nonverbal) autism are significantly under researched. Physical, communication and social limitations have created misconceptions concerning their ability to engage in meaningful communication and to participate in collaborative research. Those who are nonverbal often communicate by use of a specialised device that requires the assistance of a personal facilitator. This process, while representing the preferred and frequently only method of communication for people with nonverbal autism, is subject to significant criticism by some scholars. Therefore, ethical and practical considerations concerning authenticity, capacity and consent require careful attention when conducting research with this population. These factors however, must be held within a methodological design that provides space for the inclusion, respect and empowerment of research participants to ensure their voices are authentically represented. This commentary provides a response to these considerations as they were addressed within a research study that used interview as a method of data collection for people with nonverbal autism.

Community empowerment model of coastal border based on ecotourism

Development in coastal areas is an essential priority for overcoming social and economic gaps and conflicts through empowerment programs. The purpose of this research is to create a model of ecotourism-based coastal community empowerment. This study uses the Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA) qualitative research method by collecting data through in-depth interviews, observation, documentation analysis, Focus Group Discussion (DKT) and Participatory Decision Making (PDM). Research locations in the border area of West Kalimantan are Sebubus Village and Temajuk Village, Paloh District, Sambas Regency. The informants of this study were 35 people consisting of empowerment activists, community leaders, village government, business groups, academics, and tourists. Research data were analysed using a SWOT analysis. The results showed 1) To develop the potential of mangrove forest ecotourism and processing of food from mangrove fruit, sea turtle breeding, and coastal inheritance, participatory empowerment programs are needed; 2) Youth activists become activists of empowering ecotourism with community leaders needing support and cooperation with village and regional governments, as well as the private sector; and 3) The need to improve road infrastructure, electricity and telecommunications signals, especially in Temajuk Village so as not to cause social and economic dependence and jealousy with the Malaysian border area.

Acceptability to patients of screening disposable transnasal endoscopy: qualitative interview analysis

ObjectivesScreening in selected high risk populations for Barrett’s oesophagus (BO) and oesophageal varices (OVs) has been proposed, but there are obstacles with conventional oesophagogastroduodenoscopy (C-OGD), including patient acceptability. Portable and...

Secercah Hati: Community Empowerment Program in Health and Economic Affairs through the Role of Posyandu and Posbindu

The poverty level of urban communities, indicated by the high rate of maternal and infant mortality, the presence of stunting problems, and the poor health of the elderly in the Cibereum Village, Cimahi City, have an impact on the lack of concern for individual health and environmental health. The Secercah Hati program is created with the purpose of overcoming such problems. This program is a community empowerment program to create a healthy, knowledgeable, and prosperous society by increasing the role of women. It is collaborating with the Cimahi City Government Program, based on the 2017-2022 Cimahi City Medium Term Development Plan (RPJMD). Furthermore, the Secercah Hati Program is also an implementation of a partnership which is not only between Jenderal Achmad Yani University and the Cimahi City Government but also with Pasundan University. The program attempts to solve the issues by improving the role of Posyandu and Posbindu. The method of activity begins with a situation analysis that is coordinated with Cimahi City Government, problem identification, gathering and analyzing needs, determining priority problems, providing solutions, implementing, and evaluating. This participatory empowerment activity was carried out by forming a women's community consisting of Posyandu and Posbindu managers. Empowerment was implemented through training, workshops, mentoring, and role play (theatrical), so that they could optimize their role in improving public health and the environment and supporting the family economy. They were taught the ability to produce culinary with strong branding and market products utilizing digital marketing. In addition, they learnt to manage capital to support business sustainability. The program has an impact on increasing the number of cadres and the level of community participation in Posyandu and Posbindu activities, increasing the number of women entrepreneurs and increasing community income. The success of this community empowerment program needs to be supported by the concept of exciting and measurable activities in order to get a positive response from the community. Mentoring activities would be conducted continuously until the community is accustomed to and able to run programs independently and this is one of the keys to success. Implementing activities that synergize the Regional Government, Universities, and the community have proven to make the community empowerment program more effective.

A systematic review of community nursing interventions focusing on improving outcomes for individuals exhibiting risk factors of cardiovascular disease.

To examine the role of community-based nursing interventions in improving outcomes for community-dwelling individuals exhibiting risk factors of cardiovascular disease (CVD). A systematic review and narrative synthesis. Seven electronic databases (MEDLINE, CINAHL, Global Health, LILACS, Africa-Wide Information, IMEMR, and WPRIM) were searched from inception to 16 March 2018. This review included outcomes from studies that were led by or delivered primarily by nurses for individuals exhibiting risk factors of CVD in community settings. At least two independent reviewers performed study selection, data extraction and risk of bias. 46 studies met the eligibility criteria. Community nursing interventions were found to be effective in improving clinical outcomes of symptom control, symptom awareness, symptom management, and social outcomes. Effective interventions were found to be facilitated by a community-centric approach, participant empowerment, reinforcement strategies, a targeted approach towards underserved populations, and home visits. These resulted in positive outcomes such as significant reductions in HbA1c for diabetic patients, attainment of blood pressure targets for hypertensive patients and greater improvement in self-reported dietary intake for patients with hyperlipidaemia. Community-based nurse-led interventions can result in positive outcomes for patients with risk factors of CVD. However, the success of such interventions needs to be facilitated by appropriate funding, thoughtful intervention design and training opportunities for nurses. Community-based nursing interventions are largely effective in improving clinical and social outcomes for community-dwelling individuals with risk factors of CVD.

The Empowerment as Community Learning Based on Ecotourism of Coastal Border at West Kalimantan

Development in coastal border areas is an important priority for addressing social and economic disparities and conflict through empowerment programs. The objective of the research is to analyze the empowerment as community learning based on ecotourism of coastal border. This research uses qualitative method in which Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA) and data collection is conducted through in-depth interview, observation, documentation analysis, Focus Group Discussion (FGD) and Participatory Decision Making (PDM). The research takes place in the border area of West Kalimantan namely Sebubus Village and Temajuk Village, Paloh Subdistrict, Sambas District. The informants are determined through purposive sampling consisting of empowerment activists, community leaders, village government, business groups, academics, and tourists. Data is analyzed using SWOT analysis. The results show (1) to develop ecotourism potential of mangrove forest and food processing from mangrove fruit, turtle breeding, and coastal tourism, a participatory and sustainable empowerment of community learning program is necessary. (2) Youth figures as community learning activists of ecotourism empowerment along with community leaders need support and cooperation from village and local government, as well as private parties. (3) Temajuk village in particular requires the improvement of road infrastructure, electrical lighting and telecommunication signals in order not to cause social and economic dependency and jealousy with Malaysian border areas.

When Does Customer Participation Matter? An Empirical Investigation of the Role of Customer Empowerment in the Customer Participation–Performance Link

Research on customer participation (CP) has focused on its benefits for customers. However, recent research suggests that CP is beneficial to both customers and firms. The literature is also sparse on the economic (e.g., profitability) and customer (e.g., customer retention) impact of CP. This research introduces the concept of customer empowerment and develops and tests a model of customer empowerment as a parallel mediator, along with customer satisfaction, to explain the linkage between CP and bank branch performance. Furthermore, the authors draw on a broader set of moderators beyond customer characteristics to examine when CP affects empowerment and satisfaction. Using triadic matched data from a multiwave design and a three-level model in which customers are nested within employees, who are, in turn, nested within bank branches, the authors show that customer empowerment and satisfaction fully mediate the effect of CP on branch performance. The findings also show that CP results in greater customer empowerment and satisfaction when there is fit between participation and the context in which it is used. The authors discuss implications for advancing CP research and suggest actionable steps for reaping the economic and customer benefits of CP.

Small Private Online Course in Teaching Oncology-Feedback After 1Year: What Lessons?

In response to the complexity of medical care in oncology, 2years ago, we designed a new teaching method (SPOC, Small Private Online Course) to improve cancer treatment and its management by emphasizing the community-hospital interface. The educational objective of this study was to evaluate after 1year if the interest for this teaching remained constant over the long term to meet both educational and financial requirements. We designed a questionnaire including 18 questions grouped in 3 main parts describing the profile of the participants, his/her own experience, and the current utilization of the SPOC. Of 1574 participants of the 2 first sessions, 182 (11.5%) completed the questionnaire after 1year. The majority of respondents were between the ages of 31 and 60 and belonged to a paramedical group (47.81%). After 1year, 84.6% participants were satisfied or very satisfied with the content of the SPOC, 83.6% would recommended it, and 67% would be interested in using an updated SPOC again. Only 4.9% kept some contacts with other participants and 4.9% with teachers. 31.3% considered that the SPOC had a medium impact on their professional activity, 33.5% a lot, and 2.7% completely whereas 24.7% considered that it had little impact. The evaluation at 1year showed that this digital learning method had a global positive impact on the professional practice of the participants. This study highlighted the empowerment of participants after this kind of teaching, but the network between participants was not enhanced.

The impact of living with home enteral feeding: perspectives of people who have had a diagnosis of head and neck cancer.

The number of people with head and neck cancer who are home enterally fed continues to grow each year. Insertion of a feeding tube is common place in these patients and is considered to have a detrimental effect on quality of life. The present study aimed to investigate the daily impact of home enteral feeding (HEF) from the perspective of people who have had a diagnosis of head and neck cancer. The methodology aligned with interpretative phenomenology analysis. People who were home enterally fed, with head and neck cancer, and aged ≥18years were recruited. Data were collected using semi-structured interviews and analysis focused on what the daily impact of HEF meant for participants. Data saturation was achieved after interviewing 15 participants. Five cluster themes were identified. 'Deviation from the norm' encompassed change and loss of normality. 'Regaining control leading to empowerment' encompassed participant empowerment through development of new skills and adjusting the feeding regime. 'Creating a new normal' involved making adjustments to facilitate inclusion and participation. 'External modifiers of the HEF experience' and 'internal modifiers of the HEF experience' encompassed the identification of external and internal HEF factors that influenced HEF adaptation. HEF was found to influence peoples' daily lives substantially and required extensive adjustments for individuals to find a new normal. A greater level of interpretation was provided beyond the current evidence-base for this group. Policymakers and clinicians should recognise the wider impact of HEF and ensure that this awareness is embedded in clinical practice.

Peran Lembaga Amil Zakat Ulil Albab Dalam Pemberdayaan Peserta Penerima Beasiswa Bagi Kaum Duafa Di Kota Medan

This study aims to determine the role of LAZ UA in the empowerment of scholarship recipients for the duafa in Medan. Qualitative descriptive research type. Place of Taqwa Mosque Jl. Mongonsidi Gg A Medan and office Jl. Brigjed Katamso No 11 Medan. Techniques of collecting interview data, observation and documentation. Data analysis: reduction, display, verification. LAZ UA allocates some of its funds for scholarships. The obstacles of donor commitments are jammed in the middle of the road, and from the participants are not committed to the rules. The result is independence, provision of life-skills and fundamental changes in participants' attitudes. Keywords : poverty , LAZ Ulil Albab, empowerment of scholarship participants.

Implementation of Social Assistance for Persons with Intellectual Disabilities

Distance Service Program (DSP) is a community based rehabilitation program for persons with intellectual disabilities. This program has been running 11 years and is considered able to improve the wellbeing of persons with intellectual disabilityies and their families. In 2017, DSP implemented in West Bandung regency by rehabilitating 30 persons with intellectual disability. At the end of the program, beneficiaries receive cash aid to be managed as productive economic business capital. This article discusses the process by which the beneficiary families together with community cadres in managing the social assistance. The research method used is qualitative with descriptive research type. 13 selected informants represent program managers, program implementers, and program beneficiaries. The results of the field findings indicate that the beneficiary families of DSP 2017 have used the cash aid in accordance with the plan. Most of them are able to manage productive economic business and supplement family income by involving beneficiaries. The findings also reveal participatory economic empowerment by maximizing the potential of intellectual disabilities. However, there are also some types of endangered businesses consumed, dead fowls exposed to the virus, and businesses that take a long time to earn income for the family.

Ideation contests: Crowd management and valorization to avoid negative feelings of participants

This study seeks to understand the managerial consequences of involving users in the innovation process and focuses on how to avoid contestants' negative feelings by dealing with increasingly more informed participants in crowdsourcing contests. Using a qualitative approach confronting participants' and managers' perspectives, the findings reveal a gap between how companies intend to manage their relationships with participants, what they actually do, and how this affects participants' feelings. Three sources of negative feelings emerge from the data and must be dealt with: (1) information regarding the future use of contributions and overpromising, (2) sharing intellectual property rights, and (3) prise allocation and selection criteria. As the increasing empowerment of participants requires rethinking the participant–brand relationship in online crowdsourcing, the results provide guidelines for effective relationship building in creative contests by identifying three types of needed recognition from the consumers' side, which refer to three hierarchical levels of participant valorization from the managers' side: basic, contribution and social recognition.

A spatio-temporal cluster analysis of technical efficiency in the production of outpatient maternal health services and its structural correlates in México.

To analyze the formation of spatial clusters of technical efficiency (TE) in the production of outpatient maternal health services in México for the period 2008 to 2015. We performed a longitudinal analysis of administrative and structural data related to the 243 Mexican health jurisdictions. We use window data envelopment analysis and spatial and econometric techniques. Structural correlates of each TE cluster obtained were identified estimating a pooled multinomial logit model. We observed an increase in the overall TE, accompanied by a reduction in its standard deviation. Furthermore, we identified positive TE spatial dependence both globally and locally. Multiple regression analysis showed that the maximum-performance TE cluster was composed of health jurisdictions located in the North of México and characterized by social marginalization, a reduced indigenous population, and a low demand for maternal health services. The identification of TE clusters can provide elements to induce decision makers to innovative in ways of allocating resources and manage their utilization. In México as other low- and middle-income countries, it is key to develop targeting strategies to implement specific health services innovations putting to the population to be served at the front of the strategy. This implies testing new modalities to strengthen primary health services, the empowerment of community participation, the training and allocation of health personnel that could respond adequately to population's demand, and the active involvement of competent state and local authorities in the assessment of the results of these innovations.

Sociocultural and Economic Conditions as Causes of the Weakened Social Cohesion in Landless Peasants

Conversion of agricultural land to non-agriculture is one of the main reasons that causes peasants to lose productive jobs and create poverty. However, the flow of land conversion turned out to be difficult to control, so the number of peasants continued to decrease over time. The location of this study was set intentionally in the villages of Purbalingga Wetan Subdistrict, Purbalingga Regency and Baturaden, Banyumas Regency, Central Java Province, Indonesia. The research method is an intrinsic case study. The results of the study show that the weakening of social cohesion in peasant begins with the process of fragmentation. Social cohesion weakens at the level of individuals, communities and institutions. The sociocultural conditions that underlie the weakening of landless peasants' social cohesion are weak motivation, waning work values and norms, self perception as individuals who are a little strong, depleted collectivity, stretching social interaction, weak trust, micro motivated cooperation network, sense of belonging , self-exploitation and risk aversion. The underlying economic conditions include economic urgency, commercial labor relations, wage systems, subsistence economic morals, global market penetration and rising costs of living needs. Weak social cohesion facilitates peasant participation in various participatory empowerment programs. Therefore, strengthening social cohesion in community peasants is urgent and important in order to build solidarity and generate ownership empowerment programs.