Index Of Autonomy Research Articles

Sociodemographic profile, index of functional autonomy and physical activity level of elderly women

To analyze the sociodemographic profile, functional autonomy index and level of physical activity of elderly women participating in an exercise program. 372 elderly women participating in the MASTERFITTS program and completed questionnaires regarding medical history and the adapted Baecke questionnaire to assess the level of physical activity in elderly. Tests from the GDLAM protocol were performed to evaluate functional autonomy. 51.61% were physically active ( = 2.68±0.49; ∆% = 1.09), and the majority achieved a good classification in the tests and overall functional autonomy index. A significant difference was found in the W10m test (p= 0.041; ∆% = -0.89), RSP (p= 0.024; ∆% = -1.90), and RVDP (p= 0.032; ∆% = -1.20) between the active and sedentary groups. An increase in the level of physical activity will also lead to a decrease in the completion times of the functional autonomy assessment tests, contributing to improved health.

Incidence of Muscular Strength, Anthropometry, and Asymmetry in the General Index of Autonomy in Older Chilean Women

Incidence of Muscular Strength, Anthropometry, and Asymmetry in the General Index of Autonomy in Older Chilean Women

Association of Reproductive Autonomy and Rates of State-Level Racialized Disparities in Preterm Birth and Low Birthweight.

Reproductive policies' impact on disparities in neonatal outcomes is understudied. Thus, we aimed to assess whether an index of reproductive autonomy is associated with black-white disparities in preterm birth (PTB) and low birthweight (LBW). We used publicly available state-level PTB and LBW data for all live-births among persons aged 15-44 from January 1, 2016, to December 31, 2018. The independent measure was an index of state laws characterizing each state's reproductive autonomy, ranging from 5 (most restrictive) to 43 (most enabling), used continuously and as quartiles. Linear regression was performed to evaluate the association between both the index score (continuous, primary analysis; quartiles, secondary analysis) and state-level aggregated black-white disparity rates in PTB and LBW per 100 live births. Among 10,297,437 black (n=1,829,051 [17.8%]) and white (n=8,468,386 [82.2%]) births, rates of PTB and LBW were 6.46 and 8.24 per 100, respectively. Regression models found that every 1-U increase in the index was associated with a -0.06 (confidence interval [CI]: -0.10 to -0.01) and -0.05 (CI: -0.08, to -0.01) per 100 lower black-white disparity in PTB and LBW rates (p<0.05, p<0.01), respectively. The most enabling quartiles were associated with -1.21 (CI: -2.38 to -0.05) and -1.62 (CI: -2.89 to -0.35) per 100 lower rates of the black-white disparity in LBW, compared with the most restrictive quartile (both p<0.05). Greater reproductive autonomy is associated with lower rates of state-level disparities in PTB and LBW. More research is needed to better understand the importance of state laws in shaping racialized disparities, reproductive autonomy, and birth outcomes.

Development of a Composite Risk Index of Reproductive Autonomy Using State Laws: Association With Maternal and Neonatal Outcomes.

We developed a composite index to quantify state legislation related to reproductive autonomy and examined its association with maternal and neonatal outcomes. We hypothesized that greater reproductive autonomy would be associated with lower rates of severe maternal morbidity (SMM), pregnancy-related mortality (PRM), preterm birth (PTB), and low birthweight. A Delphi panel was used to inform development of the index. Restrictive policies were assigned values of -1 and enabling policies +1. Publicly available data were used to conduct a cross-sectional study among all live births in the 50 U.S. states to people aged 15 to 44 between January 1, 2016, and December 31, 2018, to examine the association between the risk index and PRM, SMM, PTB, and low birthweight. We used linear regression with state scores and quartiles, adjusted for state-level proportions of White, Black, and Hispanic live births; percent living in rural areas; percent of population foreign born; Health Resources and Services Administration spending on maternal and child health; and the Opportunity Index, a composite measure of indicators of the economy, education, and community. From 2016 to 2018, there were 11,530,785 births, 2,846 pregnancy-related deaths, and 154,384 cases of SMM. The Delphi panel resulted in a summed state measure of 106 laws in 8 categories that could affect reproductive autonomy. In adjusted analyses, states in the most enabling (most reproductive autonomy) quartile had a 44.7 per 10,000 higher rate of SMM compared with the most restrictive quartile. However, the most enabling quartile was associated with a 9.87 per 100,000 lower rate of PRM and 0.67 per 100 lower rate of PTB compared with the most restrictive quartile (least reproductive autonomy). A composite policy index of reproductive autonomy was found to be associated with higher rates of SMM but lower rates of PRM and PTB. Further research is needed to understand how reproductive autonomy in the cumulative index may influence these and other maternal and birth outcomes.

Relationship between Asymmetries and Functional Autonomy in Older Chilean Adults.

The objectives of this study were: (a) to determine asymmetries, both lower limb (LL) and upper limb (UL), in Chilean older adults, and (b) to relate asymmetries to FA in both LL and UL. Forty-one older adults voluntarily participated in this study (mean ± standard deviation [SD]: age 72.0 ± 8.0 years, LL asymmetries 13.78 ± 14.87%, UL asymmetries 10.70 ± 8.85%, FA 40.35 ± 16.26 points). The variables were: (1) asymmetries of LL and UL, assessed through a force platform and handgrip, respectively; (2) FA, assessed through the Latin American Group for Maturity (GDLAM) and the GDLAM index of autonomy (GI) protocol. The relationship between the variables was performed through Spearman's correlation. The analysis showed that 39% of the participants presented asymmetries above 15% in the LL. Likewise, this 39% of older adults presented a lower FA than their peers with asymmetries below 15% in the LL (≤15%: 35.64 ± 12.26 points vs. >15%: 47.69 ± 19.23 points, p = 0.003). The analysis showed a small correlation between LL and GI asymmetries (r = 0.27, p = 0.07) and a small but negative correlation between UL and GI (r = -0.21). The mean values of asymmetries of both LL and UL are within 'normal' parameters. However, several older adults were identified as being at risk. In parallel, older adults who presented a higher level of asymmetries in LL showed a lower level of FA.

The Autonomous Capacity of the Elderly Population in Spain for Shopping and Preparing Meals.

A loss of the ability to buy and prepare meals, especially in people aged 65 and over, leads to a deterioration in their optimal level of nutrition. The Index of Autonomy in Food Acquisition (IAFA) was used to identify contributing factors. This is a composite indicator for shopping and meal preparation that can be used to assess the degree of autonomous capacity observed in a specific group. Data from the European Health Survey in Spain (7167 respondents aged 65 and over) show that capacity decreased with age and that women were less affected than men, with very little difference found in levels of autonomous capacity by territory. However, in relation to different income levels, after standardizing for age and sex, no evidence was found for differences in the ability to access and prepare meals in groups that were separated by income level. This result shows the importance of standardizing when analysing food acquisition autonomy in groups of people aged 65 years and over.

Индекс локальной автономии как инструмент оценки состояния муниципальных институтов

The index of local autonomy, developed by European experts, is a relatively new tool for quantitative measurement of the state of local self-government as a social phenomenon. The introduction of a quantitative approach into qualitative analysis and a reasonable combination of both methods allow avoiding the negative consequences of the dominance of each method in social research, including the analysis of the evolution of local self-government. The index is an attempt to objectify the level and dynamics of the development of local autonomy as the most important characteristic of this institution. The calculation of the index is based on 11 indicators that take into account the legal, political and organizational aspects of the autonomy of local self-government. For the first time, the LAI index was calculated in 2014, and in 2021 LAI 2.0 was calculated for the first time for Russia (including by the author of the article). The article presents the meaning and methodology for calculating the index, which can be taken into account for the current reform of public authority. It should be aimed at improving the efficiency of local self-government, which is facilitated by the level of its autonomy.

Resistance Circuit Training or Walking Training: Which Program Improves Muscle Strength and Functional Autonomy More in Older Women?

To evaluate the effects of two programs (resistance and walking training) on the functional autonomy and muscle strength (isometric and dynamic) of older women, 67 subjects were divided randomly into three groups: resistance training (RTG; Mean = 64.70 ± 6.74 years), walking (WG, Mean = 65.56 ± 7.82 years), and control (CG; Mean = 64.81 ± 4.34). The experimental groups underwent a 16-week intervention. Muscle strength (isometric and dynamic) and functional autonomy were assessed. The subjects participating in the RTG showed improvements in the comparison pre to post-test in the maximal forces of upper limb (MULS) (Δ% = 49.48%; p = 0.001) and lower limb (MLLS) (Δ% = 56.70%; p = 0.001), isometric biceps forces (BIS) (Δ% = 30.13%; p = 0.001) and quadriceps forces (QIS) (Δ% = 65.92%; p = 0.001), and in the general index (GI) of functional autonomy (Δ% = −18.32%; p = 0.002). The WG improved in all functional autonomy tests, except for the standing up from prone position test (SVDP). In strength tests, the WG obtained improvements only in the QIS (Δ% = 41.80%; p = 0.001) and MLLS (Δ% = 49.13%; p = 0.001) tests. The RTG obtained better results (p < 0.05) when compared to the WG and CG. The results allow us to infer that resistance exercise programs are more effective in increasing strength and functional autonomy, a fact that may mitigate the deleterious effects on health of aging.

Factors affecting adherence to non-pharmaceutical interventions for COVID-19 infections in the first year of the pandemic in the UK

ObjectiveNon-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs), including wearing face covering/masks, social distancing and working from home, have been introduced to control SARS-CoV-2 infections. We provide individual-level empirical evidence of whether adherence reduces infections.Setting...

A NEXUS BETWEEN HOUSEHOLD CHARACTERISTICS AND WOMEN’S EMPOWERMENT: A CASE STUDY OF PUNJAB, PAKISTAN

Purpose of the study: The empowerment of women is an important aim for them to be fully engaged in economic life and to achieve sustainable growth worldwide. One form of empowerment is to provide women with basic facilities.&#x0D; Methodology: The study also analyzed the impact on women's empowerment by primary data taken via multi-phase cluster sampling methods of household socio-economic and cultural characteristics in Punjab. Given the diversity of nature and context, the 6-dimensional empirical polychoric principles of empowering women generate a stringent cumulative index of women's autonomy.&#x0D; Main Findings: The empirical findings show that empowering women and their six-dimensional effects are positive for women's years and jobs, legal advertisements, health care institutions, social participation, safe, smooth surroundings, communication, politics and residential negative participation, unpaid housekeeping, and the fear of violence. The results show that women's empowerment is positive.&#x0D; Applications of this study: This study can be more effective in the manner that to offer women free advice about their rights through electronic media, the government should establish an integrated legal cell with the local government.&#x0D; Novelty/Originality of this study: This research contribution in the field of women empowerment that how women can deal with legal advisory, to get jobs, protection in health and institutions.

Prime ministerial autonomy and intra-executive conflict under semi-presidentialism

AbstractThis article answers why intra-executive conflict varies across semi-presidential democracies. The literature verifies that intra-executive competition tends to be higher when the president holds less power to dismiss the cabinet, coexists with a minority government, or the president’s party is not represented in the cabinet. This paper, therefore, integrates these factors to construct an index of prime ministerial autonomy, proposing that its relationship with the probability of intra-executive conflict is represented by an inverted U-shaped curve. That is, when the prime minister is subordinated to an elected president, or conversely, enjoys greater room to manoeuvre in the executive affairs of the government, the likelihood of conflict is low. In contrast, significant confrontation emerges when the president claims constitutional legitimacy to rein in the cabinet, and controls the executive to a certain degree. This study verifies hypotheses using data on seventeen semi-presidential democracies in Europe between 1990 and 2015.

Innovation in General Education Governance Towards the School Autonomy Model: International Experiences and Implication Lessons for Vietnam’s Education

Innovation in general education governance is one of the development trends not only in Vietnam but also in the world. This is also an important measure to change and improve the quality of education, especially expand autonomy of high schools and universities. The paper focuses on some main contents: overview of general education; the experiences of some countries in the implementation of the school administration model towards the school autonomy model so that give lessons for Vietnam’s education can be learned in the context of development conditions nowadays. The results in this work would be used to classify the schools into the various groups. The data also analysts on decision-making capability, on what we called an “index of school autonomy”, expressed the possible level of school-level decision-making.

Women's decision-making autonomy and its relationship with child feeding practices and postnatal growth.

Childhood stunting remains a global public health concern. Little has been documented on the effect of women's decision-making autonomy on child growth in settings where decision-making at the household and community levels is largely dominated by men. To assess the relationship between maternal autonomy and child growth, we analysed data from a cross-sectional study of 422 mothers and their youngest child aged 6-24 months in the Bawku West District of Ghana. The dimensions of women's autonomy measured were decision-making power, freedom of mobility and financial autonomy. We then compared how each dimension was associated with the likelihood of stunting and wasting. The important predictors of child growth and dietary intake as measured by the mean length-for-age Z-score (LAZ) and minimum acceptable (MAD) diet, respectively, were determined using multivariable regression models. The overall composite index of women autonomy (CIWA) showed that 52⋅8 % of women were of high autonomy and half of them had higher autonomy regarding their own and their children's health. After adjusting (multiple regression analysis) for potential confounders, the mean LAZ of children born to women of high autonomy was significantly higher than LAZ of children born to women of low autonomy (β = 0⋅132; 95 % CI 0⋅19, 0⋅95; P = 0⋅004). Similarly, high women's autonomy was a significant independent predictor of meeting MAD (AOR = 1⋅59; CI 1⋅09, 2⋅34). Of all, the dimensions of women's autonomy measured in this study, health care autonomy better predicted child growth and dietary intake. Based on the findings, nutrition policies and interventions that enhance women's decision-making autonomy could have a positive impact on child growth outcomes.

The Level of Fiscal Autonomy: Evidence from Croatia, Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina

Abstract The role of local government units and the level of fiscal autonomy are the main drivers of local development activities in countries. The aim of this paper is to measure the level of fiscal autonomy of large cities that have been identified as conductors of local development activities in three Southeastern European (SEE) countries, namely Croatia, Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina, as well as to compare the level of fiscal autonomy between large cities and other remaining local units in the respective countries. The results of the research measured by the index of fiscal autonomy and compared with the index of fiscal autonomy of all remaining local government units in each of these countries indicate limited fiscal autonomy. Th is research provides new scientific evidence and fills the gap regarding the level of fiscal autonomy of large cities to improve and increase their budget capacity.

Verifying the Motivations of Russian University Students Learning Japanese: A Study of the Correlation between the Index of Autonomy and the Task-Value Evaluation Scale

Verifying the Motivations of Russian University Students Learning Japanese: A Study of the Correlation between the Index of Autonomy and the Task-Value Evaluation Scale

Creating an index of local autonomy – theoretical, conceptual, and empirical issues

ABSTRACT Any attempt to create an overall measurement of local autonomy is confronted with difficult questions: Is local autonomy a one-dimensional concept? If it is multidimensional, what dimensions should be taken into account? Are legal, functional, financial, organizational, and vertical aspect of autonomy of equal importance, or must they be weighted? How can they be aggregated: can they simply be summed or are more complicated methods needed? On the basis of an international research project covering some 39 countries over 25 years, we will discuss the choices that have to be made and show what implications they have on results. The various solutions will be tested with respect to their internal consistency and their relations to other measurements of decentralization. An index always reduces complexity and tells only a part of the story, but it can be very useful for rankings, comparisons and further analyses.

Sexual autonomy and contraceptive use among women in Nigeria: findings from the Demographic and Health Survey data.

ContextThe persistent low contraceptive use and high fertility in Nigeria despite improvements in educational achievements calls for an examination of the role of factors, which may moderate the use of modern contraception. This article explores the influence of sexual autonomy on the use of modern contraceptive methods among women and its relative importance compared with other, more traditional, indicators of women’s autonomy such as education and occupation.Data and methodsData from two Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS), 2008 and 2013, were used in this study. An index of sexual autonomy was constructed by combining related DHS variables, and its association with current use of modern contraception was examined at each time point as well as over time using multivariate regression analysis.ResultsThe observed prevalence for use of modern contraception was 2.8 and 2.6 times higher among women who had high sexual autonomy in 2008 and 2013, respectively. The corresponding figures for women with secondary or higher education were 8.2 and 11.8 times higher, respectively, compared with women with no education. But after controlling for wealth index, religion, place of residence, autonomy and experience of intimate partner violence (IPV), the likelihood of use of modern contraception was lowered to about 2.5 (from 8.2) and 2.8 (from 11.8) times during 2008 and 2013, respectively, among women with secondary or higher education. The likelihood of use of modern contraception lowered only to 1.6 (from 2.8) and 1.8 (from 2.6) times among women with high sexual autonomy after controlling for other covariates, respectively, during the same period.ConclusionSexual autonomy seems to play an important role in women’s use of modern contraceptive methods independent of education and a number of other factors related to women’s status. Sexual autonomy needs to be simultaneously promoted alongside increasing educational opportunities to enhance women’s ability to use modern contraception.

Women’s Status among Households in Southern Ethiopia: Survey of Autonomy and Power

Abstract This study examined two key dimensions of women’s status (autonomy and intimate partners violence) in Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples Region (SNNPR) of Ethiopia based on regional data collected from five randomly selected zones and one city administration; namely, Sidama, Hadya, Gamo Gofa, South Omo, Bench Maji and Hawassa City Administration. The analysis revealed that while joint decision is fairly high, women’s independent decision making on key household domains is generally low. Significant proportions of women in the region are exposed to violence by their partners ranging from insult to heavy physical injury. The fact that nearly half of the women experienced insult and close to a quarter of them faced beating is indicative of the low status of women in society. The regression analysis indicated that seven variables determine the occurrence of violent acts against women in the study area, namely household size, education, access to radio, value of children index, wealth index and level of women autonomy. On the other hand, decision making autonomy is affected by wealth status, household size, access to radio and sex preference index. Finally, the study highlighted the importance of addressing the limited technical and operational capacities to implement gender policy and legal frameworks effectively and efficiently.

Resistance training program on functional independence of a elderly man with frontotemporal dementia: a case report

To investigate the effects of a resistance training program on muscular strength, functional autonomy and body composition of an elderly man with frontotemporal dementia, was the objective of this study. A male volunteer with 80 years of age and 75.7 kg of body weight was participant of this study. The cerebral atrophy of temporal lobes was diagnosed by a Computer Tomography Scan. To evaluation of muscle strength the 10RM test (repetition maximum), for functional autonomy the protocol of the Latin American Development to Maturity Group – (GDLAM) and body composition determined by Dual Energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) were used. The training period of four months consisted of eight exercises with intensity of 65% to 90% of 10RM, with three sessions weekly of the 60 min/session. The student t test was used. Statistical improvement was observed for % fat (Δ% = -2.93%, p = 0.041), for exercises of leg press 45 ° (Δ% = 48%, p = 0.001), horizontal leg press (Δ% = 18%, p = 0.01) and knee extension (Δ% = 12%, p = 0.04). In addition, the put on and remove a t-shirt test (Δ% = -7.19%, p = 0.018) and the GDLAM Index (Δ% = -8.53%, p = 0.014) of functional autonomy. It is concluded that the resistance training program was effective for the case study, as improved functional autonomy, the muscle strength of the legs, and the fat percentage of the volunteer.

Estudo comparativo da autonomia de ação de idosas residentes em áreas rurais e urbanas. DOI: 10.5007/1980-0037.2012v14n1p11

Functional autonomy plays an important role in the quality of life of older adults. However, the effects of the context of rural and urban living on autonomy in this population are little known. The present study compared the autonomy of older women living in urban areas of Greater Vitoria, state of Espirito Santo (UG, n=30, age=65.5±0.72 years) versus that of older women living in the rural area of Alfredo Chaves, Espirito Santo (RG, n=31; age=65.1±0.74 years), using the Senior System for Evaluation of Autonomy of Action (SysSen). The SysSen consists of a questionnaire (QSAP) and a field test (TSMP). The QSAP provides an Index of Expressed Autonomy (IAE) and the TSMP, an Index of Potential Autonomy (IAP). The ratio of IAP to IAE defines the Index of Autonomy of Action (IAP/IAE=ISAC). An ISAC≥1.0 categorizes the subject as autonomous. The results revealed that: a) IAP was higher in the UG, but requirements in terms of IAE physical activities were greater; b) the Total Index (ITOT) for upper body strength was higher than the aerobic capacity (PA) in the RG; c) the four parts of the QSAP provided similar contributions toward the overall IAE. The conclusion was that both groups showed similar levels of deficit of autonomy according to ISAC, due to insufficient physical fitness in relation to IAE.