Need For Self-determination Research Articles

A review of physical and socio-economic characteristics and intervention approaches of informal settlements

Informal settlements provide shelter to millions of poor urban dwellers in developing countries. Using a literature survey, this paper reviews physical and socio-economic characteristics and the factors attributed to proliferation of the informal settlements and intervention approaches. The main objective was to establish how such settlements could be improved and hence the quality of life of majority of the urban population. Physical and socio-economic conditions found in informal settlements are generally hazardous to health and tend to exacerbate the severe socio-economic conditions of the urban poor as well as environmental pollution and degradation of the local ecosystems. Proliferation of the informal settlements, particularly in most cities of developing countries is as a result of market and public policy failure for a significant segment of the urban poor population. The intervention approaches starting back in the 1950s include strengthening of public institutions and creation of policies and legislations to address the living environments of the urban poor, reforming building codes and standards, involvement of the private sector in housing provisions and programmes targeting both rural and urban development. Critical examination of these measures suggests the need for self-determination. In addition to these programmes, particularly informal settlement upgrading, this paper advocates the need for building technologies that are responsive to the urban poor and their environment. These are technologies that empowers the urban poor communities to make their own contribution to the process of improving their living conditions and hence the quality of life.

Canadian Neurosurgical Manpower: Need for Self-Determination

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Patient Satisfaction

African American women are less likely than other groups of women to use health care services despite an equal or greater need. In particular, they may rely more frequently on informal sources of health care advice, such as family members and/or social support networks. Very little is known about how African American women view the health care system because few studies have investigated the impact of race and gender on patient satisfaction. To address this gap, we analyzed transcripts of focus groups conducted with African American women about their attitudes toward health care, especially their expectations and experiences of the doctor-patient relationship. African American (AA) women in this study reported preferences for doctors who did not rush them through their appointments, who explained what was happening during the examination, who respected their need for self-determination, and who had a holistic focus on the patient. During this period of rapid change in the health care system, such information about how individuals of diverse backgrounds perceive the health care system is critical to ensure broad access and reduce disparities in utilization.

Social Work Practice with People with Disabilities in the Era of Disability Rights

ABSTRACT Social workers, especially those in health care and rehabilitation systems, must consider practice changes necessitated by recent legislation and the growing activism of disability rights groups. The authors review essential elements of the emerging sense of both oppression and empowerment that is occurring for many people with disabilities and groups; consider key aspects of ADA and other pertinent legislation that place new emphases on the self-determination of people with disabilities; and discuss what implications changing practice roles might have for social workers' relationships and patterns of interaction with other professionals in medical, health care and rehabilitation settings. The authors outline a beginning effort at designing a conceptual framework that promotes practice that: (1) maximizes clients' involvement in exploring an expanded range of options and choices; (2) prepares clients to be more effective in dealings with professionals, bureaucrats and agencies that often do not understand nor appreciate their need for self-determination; and (3) at the organizing level, mobilizes and helps to empower groups of people with disabilities to consider policy and program alternatives that can improve their situation. This framework may also be useful in work with people who have other long term care needs, chronic conditions, etc.

Reducing direct and structural violence: The human needs theory.

Human needs theory offers insights into a range of peacebuilding processes that are involved in the reduction of both direct and structural violence. Human needs theory helps explain why needs for security and identity are often prepotent in interstate wars and in destructive identity conflicts. Because these needs are built into the organism, 1 challenge for peace psychologists is to invent peaceful means for people to satisfy their security and identity needs. In contrast to direct violence, structural violence occurs when economic and political structures systematically deprive need satisfaction for certain segments of society. When economic deprivation occurs, the need for well-being is not satisfied, resulting in deficits in human growth and development. Politically, structural violence engenders the systematic deprivation of the need for self-determination. Six propositions on direct and structural violence are advanced, including the proposition that a just and sustainable peace will require, at a ...

Basics needs: Premises and promises

The objective of a basic needs approach is to provide opportunities for the full development of the individual. The essence of the case for the basic needs approach is that the gap between requirements and actual living levels can be filled sooner, and with fewer resources, than it can be by alternative routes. The approach encompasses the need for self-determination, self-reliance, political freedom, and cultural identity. Although it is sometimes argued that basic needs is an ideological concept that conceals a call for revolution, such an interpretation can be justified neither historically nor analytically. Developing countries are apprehensive lest a basic needs approach adopted by donors implies sacrificing features of the New International Economic Order (NIEO). The conflict can be avoided, however, by allowing the latter to move within its framework of institutions, processes, and rules to control unfair international competion and allowing the former to build upon developing countries' newly developed self-reliance. Research will have to concentrated in the areas of the technology of public services, development administration, and development politics. 4 references.