Indian Community Research Articles

Association of Achievement of the American Heart Association's Life's Essential 8 Goals With Incident Cardiovascular Diseases in the SHFS.

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in American Indian people. In 2022, the American Heart Association developed the Life's Essential 8 goals to promote cardiovascular health (CVH) for Americans, composed of diet, physical activity, nicotine exposure, sleep, body mass index, blood lipids, blood pressure, and blood glucose. We examined whether achievement of Life's Essential 8 goals was associated with incident CVD among SHFS (Strong Heart Family Study) participants. A total of 2139 SHFS participants without CVD at baseline were included in analyses. We created a composite CVH score based on achievement of Life's Essential 8 goals, excluding sleep. Scores of 0 to 49 represented low CVH, 50 to 69 represented moderate CVH, and 70 to 100 represented high CVH. Incident CVD was defined as incident myocardial infarction, coronary heart disease, congestive heart failure, or stroke. Cox proportional hazard models were used to examine the relationship of CVH and incident CVD. The incidence rate of CVD at the 20-year follow-up was 7.43 per 1000 person-years. Compared with participants with low CVH, participants with moderate and high CVH had a lower risk of incident CVD; the hazard ratios and 95% CIs for incident CVD for moderate and high CVH were 0.52 (95% CI, 0.40-0.68) and 0.25 (95% CI, 0.14-0.44), respectively, after adjustment for age, sex, education, and study site. Better CVH was associated with lower CVD risk which highlights the need for comprehensive public health interventions targeting CVH promotion to reduce CVD risk in American Indian communities.

Hospitalisation expenditure on tuberculosis among tribal populations in India: A repeated cross-sectional analysis of national sample survey data, 2004 to 2018

ObjectiveTribal population in India (8.6% of the total population) have a greater prevalence of tuberculosis compared to the national average. The article aims to study out-of-pocket expenditure (OOPE), hardship financing, and impoverishment effects of TB hospitalisation treatment among tribal populations in India. MethodsData of three rounds of National Sample Surveys (NSS) 60th (2004–05), 71st (2013–14) and 75th (2017–18) rounds were analyzed. Descriptive statistics, bivariate estimates and multivariate models were performed to calculate the OOPE, healthcare burden (HCB), catastrophic health expenditure (CHE), hardship financing and impoverishment effects using standard definitions at February 2023 price values. Propensity score matching (PSM) was used to examine the effect of health insurance coverage on catastrophic health expenditure, and impoverishment. ResultsOver two-thirds of the TB cases are seen in the economically productive age group (14–59 years). Substantial OOPE and its impact on HCB, CHE, and poverty impact observed among 15–35 age group across all three rounds. Illiterate patients and those availing private hospitals for TB treatment had higher OOPE, HCB, hardship financing, CHE, and poverty impact. 38.5% (2014) and 33.2% (2018) are covered with any kind of public healthcare coverage, PSM analysis shows households with health insurance have lower incidence of CHE and impoverishment effects due to TB hospitalisation expenditure. ConclusionsThe current study aids in comprehending the patterns in the financial burden of TB on tribal households during the previous 15 years and gives policy makers information for efficient resource allocation management for TB among Indian tribal communities.

A global study into Indian women's experiences of domestic violence and control: the role of patriarchal beliefs.

Domestic violence (DV) is a serious and preventable human rights issue that disproportionately affects certain groups of people, including Indian women. Feminist theory suggests that patriarchal ideologies produce an entitlement in male perpetrators of DV; however, this has not been examined in the context of women from the Indian subcontinent. This study examined Indian women's experiences of abuse (physical, sexual, and psychological) and controlling behavior across 31 countries by examining the relationship between the patriarchal beliefs held by the women's partners and the women's experience of DV. This study uses an intersectional feminist framework to examine the variables. Data from an online questionnaire was collected from 825 Indian women aged between 18 and 77 years (M = 35.64, SD = 8.71) living in 31 countries across Asia (37.1%), Europe (18.3%), Oceania (23.8%), the Americas (16.1%) and Africa (3.2%) and analyzed using a hierarchical linear regression. A majority of participants (72.5%) had experienced at least one form of abuse during their relationship, and over a third (35.1%) had experienced controlling behavior. In support of the central hypotheses, after controlling for potential confounders, women whose partners showed greater endorsement of patriarchal beliefs were less likely to have access to freedom during their relationship (ß = -0.38, p < 0.001) and were more likely to have been abused by their partner or a member of his family (ß = 0.34, p < 0.001). The findings of this study highlight the need to engage with men in Indian communities through culturally-tailored intervention strategies designed to challenge the patriarchal ideologies that propagate, justify, and excuse DV.

Healthcare access, attitudes and behaviours among Navajo adults during the COVID-19 pandemic: a cross-sectional study

ObjectiveTo assess factors associated with positive COVID-19 tests, perspectives on health-related care delivery during pandemic and factors supporting resilience among members of the Navajo Nation.Methods and analysisFrom May through October...

Characteristics and outcomes of a hospitalized cohort with reduced mortality from COVID-19, White Mountain apache tribal lands, April 1 – July 31, 2020

BackgroundWidespread transmission of COVID-19 continues to threaten public health, particularly of rural, American Indian communities. Although COVID-19 risk factors for severe disease and clinical characteristics are well described in the general population, there has been little shared on hospitalized American Indian populations.MethodsIn this observational study, we performed chart extractions on all persons hospitalized with COVID-19 from April 1 through July 31, 2020 among an exclusively American Indian population living on or near Tribal lands in eastern Arizona. We provide descriptive statistics for the cohort stratified by presentation, comparing those who self-presented or were referred by an outreach program. Exploratory analyses were performed to identify risk factors for morbidity and mortality.ResultsDuring the observation period, 2262 persons were diagnosed with COVID-19 and 490 (22%) were hospitalized. Hospitalized persons had a median age of 54 years; 92% had at least one comorbidity, 72% had greater than one comorbidity, and 60% had a BMI of > 30. Most persons required supplemental oxygen (83%), but the majority (62%) only required nasal cannula and only 11% were intubated. The case fatality rates were 1.7% for the population, 7.1% among hospitalizations, and 9.3% among hospitalized patients 50 years and older. All rates that are significantly lower than those reported nationally during the same period.ConclusionsWe observed a cohort of American Indian patients hospitalized secondary to COVID-19 with greater number of comorbidities compared to the general population but with lower mortality rates. We posit that the primary driver of mortality reduction for this population and the hospitalized cohort was a community-based referral program that led to disproportionately lower fatality rates among the oldest persons.

Art and Craft of Music Therapy for Stroke Rehabilitation in a Remote North Indian Community

This case study describes how a music therapist (Stephen) and a music therapy intern (Sahitya) worked conjointly with a client and her granddaughter in a remote part of North India. The description provides a unique insight into conditions, culture, and lifestyle in this location, and how these two clinicians were able to merge broader arts-based and holistic approaches, on a journey towards client-centered and functional neurologic music therapy exercises to help the client regain more independence. The background to initial work undertaken by the music therapist, which lasted for one year and eleven months, is followed by a summary of five weekly conjoint sessions with the intern, including the evolution of exercises, rationale, and client responses, illustrated with embedded video excerpts. The communication, relationship, and trust-building with the client and her granddaughter, together with the intern joining the dynamic, paved the way for assimilating music therapy theoretical models that were new to them, and adapting neurologic music therapy approaches using an electronic keyboard that incorporated preferred facilitating music. This resulted in greater client engagement with higher levels of motivation and adherence and increased hand use in daily activities.

Knowledge, Attitudes, and Perceptions of Medical and Paramedical Students Toward Human Milk Banks and Breast Milk Donation.

Background and objectives Human milk benefits for both mothers and babies are widely acknowledged. Human milk banks (HMBs) are essential in providing newborns who would not otherwise have access to pasteurized and stored human milk. The objective of this research was to investigate the understanding, opinions, and outlooks of medical and paramedical students regarding breast milk donation and the concept of an HMB. Material and methods A total of 398 professional female students specializing in physiotherapy, nursing, and medicine were given an online self-administered questionnaire as part of a descriptive cross-sectional study. Data on the characteristics, HMB knowledge, awareness levels, and attitudes toward HMB and breast milk donation were to be gathered through the questionnaire. Every student's answer to the survey was kept private and confidential. Result According to the survey, 188 students (47.24%) belong to the medical college, 126 students (31.66%) belong to the physiotherapy college, and the remaining 84 students (21.11%) are from the nursing college. A total of 294 students (74.12%) had heard about human milk banking before and received information from health professionals (195 students, 48.99%), the news (67 students, 16.83%), and family and friends (61 students, 15.33%). However, only 224 students (56.28%) are willing to feed their babies with HMB milk in the future. On the other hand, 216 students (54.27%) are ready to donate breast milk to HMB. The majority of students have a favorable opinion of breast milk donation. A staggering 394 students (98.99%) think that donating human milk can save babies. Furthermore, 379 students (95.23%) think that all the nutrients needed for a baby's healthy development are found in human milk. Merely 350 students (87.93%) think that breastfeeding does not result in malnourishment for either the mother or the baby. When there is an excess of milk, the majority of students (378 or 94.97%) think that there is nothing wrong with donating it. Moreover, 312 (80.41%) students are happy to donate milk in the future. A total of 373 students (93.71%) are overjoyed that a sick baby will survive because of their donated milk. Only 100 students (25.12%) will give milk, though, and only to the infants of their friends and relatives, never to complete strangers. Conclusion A dearth of knowledge pertaining to human milk banking is rampant among medical and paramedical female students, yet the gravity of the circumstances remains concealed. Consequently, it is imperative to extensively educate all Indian communities about the concept of human milk banking to gain widespread acceptance. This research sheds light on the issue and promotes scientific knowledge of HMB, as many students are unaware of it.

Honoring our teachings: children's storybooks as indigenous public health practice.

American Indian and Alaska Native (AIAN) communities continue to flourish and innovate in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic. Storytelling is an important tradition for AIAN communities that can function as an intervention modality. To support the needs of AIAN children and caregivers, we (a collaborative workgroup of Indigenous health researchers) developed a culturally grounded storybook that provides pandemic-related public health guidance and mental health coping strategies woven with Inter-Tribal values and teachings. A collaborative workgroup, representing diverse tribal affiliations, met via four virtual meetings in early 2021 to discuss evolving COVID-19 pandemic public health guidance, community experiences and responses to emerging challenges, and how to ground the story in shared AIAN cultural strengths. We developed and distributed a brief survey for caregivers to evaluate the resulting book. The workgroup iteratively reviewed versions of the storyline until reaching a consensus on the final text. An AI artist from the workgroup created illustrations to accompany the text. The resulting book, titled Our Smallest Warriors, Our Strongest Medicine: Honoring Our Teachings during COVID-19 contains 46 pages of text and full-color illustrations. An online toolkit including coloring pages, traditional language activities, and caregiver resources accompanies the book. We printed and distributed 50,024 physical copies of the book and a free online version remains available. An online survey completed by N = 34 caregivers who read the book with their child(ren) showed strong satisfaction with the book and interest in future books. The development of this storybook provides insights for creative dissemination of future public health initiatives, especially those geared toward AIAN communities. The positive reception and widespread interest in the storybook illustrate how braiding AIAN cultural teachings with public health guidance can be an effective way to disseminate health information. This storybook highlights the importance of storytelling as an immersive learning experience through which caregivers and children connect to family, community, culture, and public health guidance. Culturally grounded public health interventions can be effective and powerful in uplifting AIAN cultural values and promoting health and well-being for present and future generations.

Metamorphosing traditional pedagogy: examining the transcendent influence of Alexa in catalyzing educational paradigm shifts within rural Indian communities

PurposeAlexa’s integration in rural primary schools has improved the pedagogy and has created an engaging and objective learning environment. This study investigates the integration, with a specific focus on exploring its various aspects. The impact of Alexa’s on students' English vocabulary, comprehension and public speaking are examined. This study aims to provide insights the teachers and highlight the potential of artificial intelligence (AI) in rural education.Design/methodology/approachThis content analysis study explores the use of Alexa in primary education in rural areas of India. The study focuses on the types of the questions asked by the students and examines the pedagogical implications of these interactions. By analyzing the use of Alexa in rural educational settings, this study aims to contribute to our understanding of how voice assistants are utilized as educational tools in underprivileged areas.FindingsAlexa significantly improved students' English vocabulary, comprehension and public speaking confidence. Alexa increased school enrollment and retention. Virtual voice assistants like Alexa may improve pedagogy and help India’s rural education. This study shows AI improves rural education.Research limitations/implicationsThe study only covers rural India. Self-reported data and observations may bias the study. The small sample size may underrepresent rural educational institutions in India.Originality/valueAlexa is used to study rural India’s primary education. Voice assistants in rural education are understudied. The study examines Alexa’s classroom use, student questions, and policy and teacher education implications. AI’s education transformation potential addresses UNESCO’s teacher shortage. This novel study examines how AI can improve rural education outcomes and access.

The Impact of Socio-Economic Status on Domestic Violence against Women in Eastern India

Background: In the era of women’s empowerment, domestic violence against women really becomes an issue having significant impacts on the well-being of Indian communities. The linkage between domestic violence and income of the family has an important significance in family planning. The present study investigated the relationship between the socio-economic status of the family and domestic violence in West Bengal, India.&#x0D; Methods: The study also finds the patten of domestic violence change during the period of 2005-06 to 2020-21. A cross-sectional survey consisted of 160 women from both rural and urban area based on non-probability purposive sampling. was used to collect data from (How many respondents) and (how many) completed the survey instrument. Data were analysed for the survey using and for the qualitative interviews using…For reliability and validity …&#x0D; Results: Results of the logit model show a statistically significant negative association between the family’s income and both domestic physical and psychological violence experienced. The intensity of physical domestic violence increases by 3.028 when the income decreases by one thousand rupees. Similarly, the intensity of psychological violence increases by 1.386 when the income decreases by one thousand rupees. Results also indicated that the pattern of domestic violence change during the period of 2005-06 to 2020-21.&#x0D; Conclusion: These findings bear important implications for how to reduce the violence against women through promoting income-generating activities and socio-economic status in the study area. Policies that enhance family income and reduce income inequality would help in reducing the intensity of violence against women.

Rokeya’s Dream Vision: An Indian Lady Philosophy and Conversion to Feminism

This essay examines Begum Rokeya’s pivotal work Sultana’s Dream (1905) in the context of medieval dream vision by foregrounding its matches with the dream vision genre. With Sultana’s Dream, Rokeya takes women in the Indian community to a realm of freedom away from purdah and the zenana via mainly treating the concerns of gender and education. Rokeya endeavours to raise female consciousness in her story written in a dream format featuring Sister Sara as the guide to forging a self-sufficient female identity equal to men. I read Sister Sara as a wise woman, an exemplar of Boethius’ Lady Philosophy, appearing in medieval dream visions to bring people to the truth, the conversion to Christianity in the medieval setting as in The Dream of the Rood. The essay concludes that, apart from her community, Rokeya’s call in Sultana’s Dream stretches out from medieval to contemporary society within the milieuof a dream vision to a feminist utopia respectively.

Spiritual Disorientation: A Study of Place in Linda Hogan’s &amp;lt;i&amp;gt;Solar Storms&amp;lt;/i&amp;gt; from the Perspective of Human Geography

Linda Hogan is a Chickasaw writer grown up in the Native American Renaissance, who feels much obliged to figure out an effective way of guiding the colonized native people out of ecocide and ethnocide wrought by the Euro-American colonization. As an author wholly drenched in the indigenous cosmology, Hogan bestows great concern on the issue of place in the literary creation, which is a pivotal cosmological element in the native epistemological system and thus can be taken as a means for her to decolonize her people. This paper is to investigate the issue of colonization and decolonization through the lens of place in the register of human geography by exploring the spiritual disorientation attributed to land loss represented in her novel &amp;lt;i&amp;gt;Solar Storms &amp;lt;/i&amp;gt;(1995). Based on detailed textual analysis, it is unfolded that the spiritual disorientation in the Indian community has been overtly embodied in two aspects: native men’s alcoholism and their conceding to white masculinity, and child abuse conducted by women for their suffering from intergenerational trauma, which truly represents the mental or psychological crisis of indigenous peoples triggered by and attendant to the land loss. In conclusion, the decolonizing process in Hogan’s fiction necessitates reviewing the horrible outcome of the native people’s land loss history so as to enhance their recognition of the communal place, stimulate their sense of community and develop new sites and strategies of resistance.

Report on new tree-ring-radiocarbon dates from Snaketown, Gila River Indian Community

Ceramic chronologies are crucial for archaeological dating, but in many areas very few tree-ring dates are available for the high-precision refinement of ceramic phases. This paper takes a step toward the objective evaluation of Hohokam ceramic chronologies with high-precision tree-ring-radiocarbon dates. Tree-ring sequences from pit structures spanning ca. 500 years at the site of Snaketown (Hohokam Pima National Monument), an important ball-court center in the Pre-Classic Hohokam interaction sphere, were dated with wiggle-match calibration. We compare the new absolute dates to probability distributions generated from ceramic assemblages and other information. The results indicate that Middle Gila phase designations based on pottery wares and house types overlap with the wiggle-matched dates, with good agreement observed in earlier phases. However, the highest density 50-year intervals of ceramic dates generated from floor assemblages thought to date to Middle Sacaton phases do not agree with the new independent dates. Our discussion explores explanations for instances of low agreement and points out the potential contributions of scaled-up wiggle-matching studies in the Hohokam region.

Trends in Fatal Opioid-Related Overdose in American Indian and Alaska Native Communities, 1999–2021

IntroductionOpioid-related overdose (OOD) mortality rates have increased sharply in the U.S. over the past two decades, and inequities across racial and ethnic groups have been documented. OOD trends among American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) require further quantification and assessment. MethodsObservational, U.S. population-based registry data on OOD mortality between 1999-2021 were extracted in 2023 using ICD-10 codes from the CDC WONDER multiple cause of death file by race, Hispanic ethnicity, sex, and age. Segmented time series analyses were conducted to estimate OOD mortality growth rates among AI/AN population between 1999-2021. Analyses were performed in 2023. ResultsTwo distinct time segments revealed significantly different OOD mortality growth rates within the overall AI/AN population, from 0.36 per 100,000 (95% CI: 0.32, 0.41) between 1999 and 2019, to 6.5 (5.7, 7.31) between 2019-2021, with the most pronounced increase among those of 24 to 44 years old. Similar patterns were observed within the AI/AN population with Hispanic ethnicity, but the estimated growth rates were generally steeper across most age groups compared to the overall AI/AN population. Patterns of OOD mortality growth rates were similar between AI/AN females and males between 2019-2021. ConclusionsSharp increases in OOD mortality rates among AI/AN communities are evident by age and Hispanic ethnicity, highlighting the need for culturally-sensitive fatal OOD prevention, opioid use disorder treatment, and harm reduction efforts. Future research should aim to understand the underlying factors contributing to these high mortality rates and employ interventions that leverage the strengths of AI/AN culture, including the strong sense of community.

Surveillance methods and interventions implemented in American Indian and Alaska Native communities to increase child restraint device and seat belt use in motor vehicles: a systematic review

BackgroundAmerican Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) children are disproportionately affected by injuries and deaths related to motor vehicle crashes. We aimed to synthesise published evidence on surveillance methods and interventions implemented in...

RELIGIOUS PRACTICES AMONG MALAYSIAS DIVERSE SOCIETY

Religious practices in Malaysian society are an important aspect of their daily lives. Malaysia is a multicultural and multireligious country, with Islam being the predominant religion, while Buddhism, Christianity, and Hinduism are also recognized. In the religious practices in Malaysia, there are several key features that influence how Malaysian people carry out their religious beliefs.Firstly, Islam is the primary religion in Malaysia, with the majority of the population being Muslims. Islamic practices include performing the five daily prayers, fasting during the month of Ramadan, and adherence to Sharia law.Secondly, there are Buddhist religious practices among the Chinese and Thai communities in Malaysia. They follow Buddhist teachings by attending temples, engaging in meditation, and practicing values such as kindness and simplicity.Thirdly, the Indian community in Malaysia practices Hinduism. They worship various Hindu gods and goddesses through religious ceremonies, such as worship and offerings at Hindu temples. Festivals like Deepavali are also part of their religious practices.Fourthly, Christianity is also present in Malaysian society, especially among the indigenous population and the Chinese minority.They attend churches and perform religious rituals based on Christian teachings, including reading the Bible and celebrating Christmas.Fifthly, there are also minority religions such as Sikhism and traditional religions among the indigenous Orang Asli communities. They practice unique religious rituals based on their beliefs.Religious practices in Malaysia often closely intertwine with local culture and artistic heritage. Additionally, Malaysia celebrates various religious festivals with enthusiasm, reflecting the diversity and tolerance in Malaysian society.This study attempts to examine the overview of religious practices in the diverse society of Malaysia. The research uses qualitative methods involving data collection, data analysis usinghistorical research methodology, and document analysis. The study findings indicate that religious practices in Malaysian society reflect the religious and cultural diversity of the country. Despite differences in religious practices and beliefs, Malaysia has successfully achieved a unique religious harmony where various religious communities coexist peacefully and respect each other. This is a significant feature that enriches Malaysias cultural heritage.

Indian immigrants' constructions of mental health and mental illness in the perinatal period: A qualitative study.

The aim of this study is to explore how immigrant women and men from India construct mental health and mental illness in the perinatal period. Qualitative interpretive design. Data were collected by conducting in-depth interviews with 19 participants. Photo elicitation, free listing and pile sorting were used during the interviews. Purposive sampling was used, and data were collected in 2018 and 2019. Data were analysed using thematic analysis. One major theme and three subthemes were identified. 'We do not talk about it' was the major theme and the subthemes: (1) 'living peacefully and feeling happy' described the views on mental health; (2) 'that's the elephant in the room still' captures how participants felt when talking about mental illness; and (3) 'why don't we talk about it' offers reasons why the Indian community does not talk about mental health and illness. The findings of this study have highlighted the importance of understanding the impact of immigration and being culturally sensitive when assessing mental health in the perinatal period. The findings of this study identify some of the reasons for non-disclosure of mental health issues by immigrants. Incorporating these findings during psychosocial assessment by health professionals in the perinatal period will help translate the cultural aspects into more effective communication. Patient and public contribution to the study was provided by the Community Stakeholders Group; these were members of the immigrant community from India who had expertise in mental health. They contributed to the study design and the key terms and phrases for the free list used in interviews.

Process evaluation of the Yéego! Program to increase healthy eating and gardening among American Indian elementary school children

BackgroundAmerican Indian children are at increased risk for obesity and diabetes. School-based health promotion interventions are one approach to promoting healthy behaviors to reduce this risk, yet few studies have described their implementation and fidelity. We conducted a qualitative process evaluation of the Yéego! Healthy Eating and Gardening Program, a school-based intervention to promote healthy eating among Navajo elementary school children. The intervention included a yearlong integrated curriculum, as well as the construction and maintenance of a school-based garden.MethodsOur process evaluation included fidelity checklists completed by program staff and qualitative interviews with program staff and classroom teachers after the intervention was implemented. We used content analysis to identify themes.ResultsWe identified several themes related to evidence of delivery adherence, program satisfaction, and lessons learned about delivery. Intervention staff followed similar procedures to prepare for and deliver lessons, but timing, teaching styles, and school-level factors also impacted overall implementation fidelity. Teachers and students had positive perceptions of the program, especially lessons that were highly visual, experiential, and connected to Navajo culture and the surrounding community. Teachers and program staff identified ways to enhance the usability of the curriculum by narrowing the scope, relating content to student experiences, and aligning content with school curriculum standards.ConclusionsThe program was implemented with moderately high fidelity across contexts. We identified areas where modifications could improve engagement, acceptability, efficacy, and sustainability of the program. Our results have implications for the evaluation and dissemination of school-based health interventions to promote healthy eating among children, especially in American Indian communities.

THE CONCEPT OF “COMING OUT” OR SELF-DISCLOSURE OF LGBTQ IN WESTERN COUNTRIES, AND ITS IMPACT ON THE INDIAN COMMUNITY

Coming out is the process of accepting one's sexual orientation or gender identity and sharing it openly with other people. It's like a ritual for Westerners to come out after reaching puberty. When someone is ready to come out, their family, friends, and peer group support them. In some states, it is also considered a celebration. The mindset and attitude of people towards LGBTQIA are Different based on Education, Culture, attitudes of people, etc. It is a phenomenon that is necessitated by the prevalence of societal heteronormativity with the recent legal decriminalization of consensual same-sex sexual relationships in India, there is renewed interest in and emergent necessity to expand upon the existing academic discourse on the lives, rights, health, and well-being of same-sex attracted individuals in India. This article focus on the importance of coming out or self-disclosure of gender orientation of LGBTQIA in India. India is the most populated nation in the world but the acceptance of the LGBTQIA community is still a hard topic from the mindset of parents and society. The Western culture is very much impacted on the Indian community so the coming out of LGBTQIA can be more complicated for teens who depend on parents or other adults for care and well-being in India. In this paper, The author tries to indicate the impact of Western culture on gender disclosure in India.

Office gossip related to gays and lesbians: An ‘otherness’ perspective

Cross-cultural encounters with diverse individuals, such as gays and lesbians, has resulted in these persons often encountering a sense of otherness. Within the workplace context, there exists a preferable cultural identity of heteronormativity, where heterosexual individuals dominate and represent the ‘we,’ while those who are ‘different,’ including gays and lesbians, represent the ‘cultural other.’ The study that informs this article investigated how Black African gay and lesbian people, as the ‘cultural other,’ experience otherness through workplace gossip, and why gossipers engage in such behavior. Using a qualitative research approach comprising semi-structured face-to-face interviews with 18 Black African gay and lesbian persons, in various South African organizations, thematic analysis was the basis for data analysis. Findings suggest that Black African lesbian women at lower organizational levels experience greater marginalization in the form of gossip compared to Black African gay men. Furthermore, the perception among gay and lesbian participants is that gossip related to the sexual orientation of the other is more rooted in the Black African than the White, Coloured and Indian South African communities. It was also found that intersecting identities (socio-economic class; educational qualifications; geographic location) result in marginalized, lower educated employees from Black African townships gossiping to a greater extent about gay and lesbian people, than those with higher qualifications and socioeconomic profiles residing in suburbs. Organizational cultures where people were rooted in religious beliefs produced more intense office gossip than workplace cultures where managers and peers embraced diversity. We recommend that in embracing cross-cultural management practices, training of employees regarding cross-cultural adjustment and understanding the other, will bring positive outcomes in the workplace environment.