Intimacy Research Articles

SOCIAL AND HEALTH IMPLICATIONS OF THE USE OF TRADITIONAL APHRODISIACS (KAYAN MATA) AMONG MARRIED WOMEN IN NORTHERN NIGERIA

People over time, have considered the possibility to arouse sexual desires with drugs and food. However, how this is largely attended to, based on the uniqueness of the different groups and cultures. Prior to the use of modern vaccines, traditional aphrodisiacs such as herbal or animal extracts were purported to boost erotic pleasure, induce sexual desire and stimulate genitalia. In recent years, the use of aphrodisiacs has become popular with the increased prevalence of sexual problems worldwide. Aphrodisiacs refer to any substance (food or drug) that stimulates sexual desire and enhance sexual desire and performance. In Northern Nigeria, traditional aphrodisiacs known as Kayan mata, are sold by the roadside and in herbal chemists, most of which are not certified fit for human consumption. Dispensers do not have any information on their manufacturing dates, expiry dates, batch number nor chemical compositions as well as the prescribed dosage. The acceptance and use of Kayan mata among women in Northern Nigeria is associated with the desire to have influence over decision-making and control partners in intimate relationship. However, many issues have been presented in different quarters with respect to the use and demand for traditional aphrodisiacs. Nevertheless, little is known about the social and health implications of the use of these substances. This, therefore requires further interrogation to broaden the horizon of the public on the increasing phenomenon. Secondary sources of data were employed for this work. Also, Social Exchange Theory provided theoretical orientation to issues related to the thrust of the paper. A large number of married women use traditional aphrodisiac which are mainly sold by traditional healers. Therefore, there is need to set up more orthodox care facilities for sexual dysfunction and community health education on female sexual dysfunction. Furthermore, there is the need for quality assurance, safety and standardization of these substances for the benefit of the consumers.

The Perspectives of Arab American Young Adults in Chicagoland Area on Intimate Partner Violence: A Qualitative Study

The Perspectives of Arab American Young Adults in Chicagoland Area on Intimate Partner Violence: A Qualitative Study

Proportion, quality of life and factors associated with perinatal urinary incontinence among pregnant women attending at Muhimbili national hospital

BackgroundPerinatal urine incontinence (PUI) affects approximately 200 million women worldwide. It is hypothesized that it has a multifactorial etiology that includes hormonal changes, pregnancy, urethral angle changes, and childbirth-related forces. The prevalence of PUI ranges from 32 to 64%. These conditions affect quality of life, leading to significant physical and emotional distress, self-esteem, social interactions, postpartum depression and anxiety. Determining the factors associated with PUI and providing appropriate support and treatment options for women experiencing perinatal urinary incontinence can improve the well-being of those affected. The significance of this study is to help establish the foundation of Perinatal urinary incontinence awareness in our facility, and possibly knowing the burden and associated risk factors, care to be taken in the reassurance of the patient and, for a future urological approach and overall management.ObjectivesTo assess the proportion, quality of life and factors associated with perinatal urinary incontinence among pregnant women admitted to the Muhimbili national hospital.MethodologyThis prospective cross-sectional study involved 354 pregnant women in perinatal period. The statistical analysis of the data was done in the SPSS version 20, whereby descriptive statistics and categorical data were described by frequency tables, graphs, and percentages, and numerical variables by mean, median, and standard deviation. Bivariate logistic regression was used to obtain variables that were associated with PUI. Multivariate logistic regression for controlling for confounders. P value of < 0.5 was considered to be statistically significant. Quality of life (QoL) was assessed by ICIQ-UI SF tool.ResultsA total of 354 women were approached, all of whom participated in the study. The mean age of the participants was 30 years (range 30–34 years). The overall proportion of PUI among the participants was 59 [16.7%]. Of the total participants with PUI, 28 (49.1%) had Stress urine incontinence (SUI), 9 (15.8%) had Urge urine incontinence (UUI), Mixed urine incontinence (MUI), and 1 (1.8%). Overall, among the participants who had PUI, quality of life (QoL) was moderately affected in 31 (52.5%) participants, followed by 17 (28.8%) whose QoL was slightly affected, 10 (16.9%) whose QoL was poor, and only 1 (1.7%) whose quality of life was very poor. In the multivariable logistic regression model, Factors associated with PUI were statically significant, with P < 0.05. A significant association between UI and a normal BMI, pre-obesity [AOR 1.351 95% CI 1.161–1.765], grand multipara [AOR 1.092 95% CI 1.027–1.323], and a previous history of cesarean section [AOR. 5.126 95% CI 2.081–12.628].ConclusionsPerinatal urinary incontinence has a considerable impact on health complications across various aspects, despite not being a life-threatening condition. The effects of urinary incontinence extend to daily activities, sexual health, personal relationships, social engagement, and mental well-being.

Harnessing technological innovation and renewable energy and their impact on environmental pollution in G-20 countries

Climate change and environmental degradation are critical global challenges, and the G-20 nations play a pivotal role in addressing these issues due to their substantial contributions to global GDP and carbon emissions. Transitioning toward renewable energy sources is imperative for mitigating CO2 emissions and achieving sustainable development. This study investigates the impact of technological innovation, gross domestic product (GDP), renewable energy consumption, economic freedom, and financial advancement on renewable energy use and environmental pollution levels in G-20 countries from 1995 to 2022. Utilizing the PMG-ARDL dynamic panel method, the research analyzes both long-term and short-term relationships among the variables. The findings reveal that technological innovation significantly boosts renewable energy adoption, with a 1% increase in technological innovation leading to a 0.33% rise in renewable energy use in the long run and a 0.17% increase in the short run. Additionally, increased renewable energy consumption is strongly associated with reductions in CO2 emissions, highlighting its critical role in promoting environmental sustainability. The study emphasizes the importance of policies designed to enhance technological innovation to foster renewable energy usage and reduce environmental pollution. It recommends expanding and reforming the technological sector to align international and local resources with renewable energy initiatives, providing a workable framework for supporting the green growth of institutions and achieving a more sustainable future for G-20 nations. This research contributes to understanding the intricate dynamics of renewable energy transitions, offering actionable insights for policymakers and stakeholders in addressing global environmental challenges.

State laws on intimate partner violence witnessed by children in the United States.

Intimate partner violence (IPV) is common, and almost half of all IPV takes place in relationships with children in the home. We inventoried laws in the 50 states and the District of Columbia in the United States of America (USA) focused on addressing IPV committed in the presence of children, as these laws could help prevent or remediate this critical health and social issue. Using WestLaw, a web-based legal research service, we identified over 1,200 statutes and 500 regulations. We documented the laws' key attributes and heterogeneities and coded 557 laws from 31 states. We determined that the most commonly prescribed penalty was stricter sentencing, followed by mandates to pay for counseling for any child witnesses, separate additional criminal charges, mandated receipt of counseling or intervention services, and a period of supervised parenting. Future research could assess the possible impacts of these laws on children's short- and long-term wellbeing.

Social networks and help‐seeking among Korean immigrant intimate partner violence survivors

Social networks and help‐seeking among Korean immigrant intimate partner violence survivors

Price and Wage Inflation in Brazil: An Empirical Analysis from 1999 to 2022

ABSTRACT This paper discusses the trajectory of inflation in Brazil after the adoption of the Inflation Targeting Regime, aiming to identify its main determinants from a post-Keynesian approach that points out the relevance of distributional conflict for inflation dynamics. A descriptive analysis of inflation behavior in Brazil is carried out, in which four distinct phases are identified: 1999–2004, 2005–2010, 2011–2015 and 2016 to mid-2022. Changes in the Extended National Consumer Price Index (IPCA) during these phases are explained by three main reasons: (i) imported inflation and exchange rate; (ii) administered prices; and (iii) wage inflation. Thus, it is argued that inflation in Brazil was mostly generated by cost pressures. We estimate Phillips curves that incorporate cost and demand elements in order to identify which of them exerted the greatest influence on the inflation rate as measured by the IPCA. The estimation was performed with Vector Error Correction (VEC) models from March 2013 to January 2022. A complementary model was estimated to investigate the long-term relationship between imported inflation and demand pressures on price inflation.

Facilitators and barriers to interprofessional learning, collaboration, and identity development during interprofessional internship in rehabilitation care: A qualitative study

ABSTRACT The growing complexity of care and healthcare workforce shortages in the Netherlands necessitates exploring interprofessional collaboration (IPC). However, the predominant single-professional education may result in a professional identity (PI) among healthcare students, which may not support successful IPC. Internships in student-run interprofessional learning wards (SR-IPLW) could foster interprofessional identity (IPI) development. There is a need for a better understanding of the intricacies involved in learning to work collaboratively, particularly when undergraduates are still shaping their professional identities. Our aim, therefore, was to identify facilitators and barriers for interprofessional education (IPE), IPC, and identity development among 21 healthcare students during a 20-week clinical placement on a SR-IPLW in rehabilitation medicine. An action-based prospective study using grounded theory analysis of nine focus groups across three semesters identified 17 theoretical codes. These codes are elaborated in a conceptual model highlighting facilitators and barriers for IPC and identity development, emphasizing the importance of fostering feelings of relatedness, competence, and autonomy. There are indications that professional and interprofessional identities changed during the internship. Implications for preceptors are delineated, showing the importance of personal relationships and elements of a positive learning climate.

Unravelling the Link Between Financialisation and Economic Growth: Evidence from Croatia

This study investigates the relationship between financialisation and economic growth in Croatia, focusing on the period from 1995 to 2021. Using time series econometric models, including the Augmented Dickey–Fuller test for stationarity, Johansen’s cointegration test for long-term relationships, and the Granger causality test within the Vector Error Correction Model (VECM) framework, the research reveals a sustained long-term equilibrium relationship between financialisation and economic growth in Croatia. However, the Granger causality test does not indicate a definitive causal direction between these variables. While the study is limited to the Croatian context and the specified period, its findings have significant implications for policymakers in Croatia and similar emerging markets. These results suggest that while financialisation can enhance economic growth through better resource allocation and increased investment, it may also pose risks such as financial instability. Such measures aim to mitigate the risks associated with financialisation while promoting sustainable economic growth. To address these challenges, we recommend the implementation of robust regulatory frameworks, financial literacy initiatives, and economic diversification strategies. Such measures aim to mitigate the risks associated with financialisation while promoting sustainable economic growth. The study fills an important research gap on financialisation in emerging markets, particularly in Croatia, providing empirical evidence on the long-term relationship between financialisation and economic growth and highlighting the need for context-specific policy interventions.

Heterosexual Partner Sexual Violence: Identifying Women Victims Through Questions on Sexual Coercion.

Intimate partner sexual violence is a serious problem and difficult to detect, often due to beliefs, myths and gender stereotypes. This study analyzes whether women identify this violence better through direct questions about sexual coercion, using the Semi-structured Interview for the Exploration of Intimate Partner Sexual Violence (EVS), which examines the characteristics and circumstances of these situations. A total of 110 women participated, divided into two groups: 80 who sought help at a center for victims of intimate partner violence and have therefore overcome common barriers to asking for help, and 30 who attended a counseling center during divorce proceedings, without having reported any form of violence. The results show that, among the women who sought help at a center for intimate partner violence and recognized having suffered sexual coercion in the EVS interview, half had already previously identified sexual violence, generally linked to physical assault, hitting furniture or shouting. The other half only identified sexual violence after being asked directly if they had been sexually coerced by their partner. In these cases, the types of coercion were threats or blackmail, without physical aggression. In the group of women in the process of divorce, one-third acknowledged having been also forced into sexual activities through subtle coercion, without physical violence. All women explicitly rejected forced sexual activities, but some participated passively or actively under duress, leading them to doubt whether these experiences were considered sexual violence. The study concludes that many women only acknowledge sexual violence when asked directly if they were forced by their partner, given that coercion without explicit aggression and participation under pressure make it difficult to identify it as violence. These findings underline the importance of asking specific questions to detect sexual violence, especially when coercion is not evident.

Commerce over care: exploring legal advice given in potential economic abuse cases

ABSTRACT This paper argues that solicitors are required to lawyer relationally when delivering independent legal advice (ILA) to (predominantly) women set to provide suretyship for their intimate partner’s debts. Case law tells us that women providing suretyship may be entering the transaction under the coercion of their partner. Coerced debt is a form of economic abuse, which in turn is a form of domestic abuse. ILA in this context therefore provides an important intervention to potentially assist victims of abuse before entering (potentially more) debt at the hands of their abuser. To make ILA purposeful, solicitors must prioritise relational values/dynamics such as consultation, care, judgement, and empowerment; the anti-thesis of market-exchange lawyering which is characterised by the values such as objectivity and detachment. Market-exchange lawyering is also associated with ethical apathy as lawyers prioritise their client’s means-ends above all else, therefore failing to consider the broader implications of those ends (in terms of their client’s best interests and/or the public interest). Drawing on interview data with 22 solicitors, it is demonstrated that most interviewees provide tick-box ILA prioritising completion. That is, most interviewees prioritised values of commerce over values of care when acting for women who may be experiencing economic abuse.

Risk Factors for South Korean Male Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) Victims Only, Offenders Only, and Victim-Offenders

Risk Factors for South Korean Male Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) Victims Only, Offenders Only, and Victim-Offenders

Supplemental Material for Sex/Gender Differences in the Associations Between Adverse Childhood Experiences and Intimate Partner Violence With Mental Disorders and Attempted Suicide: Variations by Race/Ethnicity

Supplemental Material for Sex/Gender Differences in the Associations Between Adverse Childhood Experiences and Intimate Partner Violence With Mental Disorders and Attempted Suicide: Variations by Race/Ethnicity

Is exposure to a climate-related disaster associated with recent experiences of intimate partner violence among women? A post hoc analysis of survey data from rural Samoa

BackgroundThere is growing evidence that climate-related disasters increase rates of intimate partner violence (IPV) against women. However, there are only limited understandings of the size and nature of such associations...

Intimate Partner Violence Against Women: Strengthen Social Support Network Mechanism as a Mitigation Approach

Intimate Partner Violence Against Women: Strengthen Social Support Network Mechanism as a Mitigation Approach

Partnership Preferences in Modern Migration Societies: Religious Homophily Among Young Muslims and Christians in Germany

Preferences for homogamous partnerships, not only in terms of having a partner with the same ethnicity, but one with the same religion, are an important factor in explaining low levels of interethnic partnerships in Western countries. However, previous research has rarely explicitly focused on the role of preferences for partnership formation patterns. Using data from a factorial survey experiment, which was implemented in the 9th wave of the “Children of Immigrants Longitudinal Survey in Four European Countries” among young adults in Germany (CILS4EU-DE), this study explores patterns of religious homophily in partnership preferences among young adults in Germany. It thereby specifically focuses on individuals belonging to two major religious groups: Christians and Muslims. It investigates the effects of religious denomination, religiosity, type of intimate partnership, and gender differences for religious homophily in partnership preferences. Both male and female respondents were found to prefer partners of the same religious denomination, with this effect being stronger among Muslims than Christians. Muslim respondents showed no or little disapproval of more strongly religious partners, whereas Christian respondents showed strong disapproval of more religious partners. Among Christian and male Muslim but not among female Muslim respondents, preferences for religious homophily were lower for casual partnerships than for marriage. Overall, the findings suggest that religious homophily and religion play an important part in shaping partnership choices among young Christian and Muslim adults in Germany.

Experiences of Intimate-Partner Violence and Violence from a Family Member During COVID-19 Among LGBTQ Adults in Australia

Abstract Purpose The COVID-19 pandemic has presented unique challenges and concerns regarding the potential exacerbation of violence against lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans and gender diverse and queer people from intimate partners and family members. The impacts of the pandemic may have been disproportionately felt by LGBTQ communities who already experienced high rates of intimate-partner violence and violence from family members entering the pandemic. Method Data from 3,135 LGBTQ adults who completed an online survey of their experiences in Australia during the pandemic were analysed. Logistic regressions analyses were used to explore sociodemographic characteristics associated with rates of violence from an intimate partner or family member during the pandemic as well as the impact of government-ordered lockdowns on experience of these types of violence by comparing the states that experienced more extensive lockdowns (Victoria and New South Wales) to the rest of Australia. Results The study revealed high rates of violence from an intimate partner (16.9%) or family member (29.1%) during the pandemic, with many indicating that this violence was new or worsening during the pandemic. Experiences of IPV and violence from a family member were found to vary across gender, sexual orientation, multicultural background and residential location. However, no evidence suggested that lockdowns specifically had impacted the prevalence of IPV or violence from a family member within the LGBTQ community with rates not differing across states. Conclusions The risks of violence from an intimate partner or family member among LGBTQ individuals were high during the pandemic in Australia, regardless of lockdown measures. The findings underscore the importance of efforts to understand the systemic factors influencing IPV and violence from a family member within the LGBTQ community and address the enduring impacts of the pandemic.

Price Interaction Between Crude Oil, Selected Grains, and Oilseeds in South Africa

The dynamic interaction between crude oil prices and the prices of grains and oilseed is critical yet a complex issue in agriculture given the potential impact of the energy sector price fluctuations on production costs, transportation, and processing. This study explores the interactions between prices of crude oil, key grains, and oilseeds (maize, soybean, and wheat) in South Africa from 2018 to 2022. Utilising monthly data, this study employs the Auto-Regressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) model to assess the short-term and long-term relationships, and the Granger causality test to determine the causality directions. Results revealed a mixed long-term cointegration wherein crude oil prices and the prices of maize as well as soybean have a relationship, but no evidence of such a relationship exists for wheat prices. Additionally, no short-term effects were observed, suggesting that immediate fluctuations in crude oil prices do not influence the prices of maize, soybean, and wheat. Instead, short-term prices movements of the grains and oilseeds may be driven by other factors that could be of interest to policymakers. Furthermore, the Granger causality findings show no causality direction between prices of crude oil and the selected grain and oilseed. These findings challenge the presumed direct connection between energy and agricultural prices, thus offering policymakers a perspective to redirect their focus to formulate short-term price policy strategies that decrease dependability on crude oil to promote sustainability in the agricultural sector without disrupting the progress towards achieving Sustainable Development Goal 2 of ending hunger.

Compulsive sexual behaviours and relational consequences: A phenomenological study on intimate female partner impacts

Compulsive sexual behaviours and relational consequences: A phenomenological study on intimate female partner impacts

Breaking Up Rationally

Abstract The end of a long-term romantic relationship ranks among the most stressful and momentous events in life. Thus, the decision of whether to break up with someone whom one has been with for many years should generally be made very carefully. Unfortunately, decision theory is often thought to be unable to provide rational guidance in such high-stake life choices due to the outcomes’ presumed transformative character. The present paper shows how agents can rationally decide whether to leave their romantic partner even if the decision is transformative. It does so by using a novel five-level account of transformative decision-making, which can also be used for other key life choices, and which is the first to integrate in a systematic way several approaches for making (certain types of) transformative decisions that have been proposed in recent years.