Protection Of Self Research Articles

Uptake of COVID-19 vaccines and associated factors among adults in Uganda: a cross-sectional survey

ObjectiveCOVID-19 pandemic remains one of the most significant public health challenges ever faced globally. Vaccines are key to ending the pandemic as well as minimise its consequences. This study determined...

Knowledge, attitudes, practices and intention to get vaccinated against COVID-19: results from a cross-sectional survey in three peri-urban communities in South Africa.

South Africa has the largest number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Africa. Data to inform public health strategies to mitigate the spread of new variants and severity of disease is needed, including information on knowledge, attitudes and practices (KAP) regarding COVID-19, factors associated with intention to get vaccinated, and viewpoints on reliable sources of data. we investigated these topics as part of the COVID-19 healthcare utilization and seroprevalence (HUTS) cross-sectional survey in three communities in South Africa: Mitchell´s Plain (Western Cape Province), Pietermaritzburg (KwaZulu-Natal Province) and Klerksdorp (North West Province) during and after the second wave of COVID-19 prior to vaccine availability. primary caregivers from 5799 households participated in the study, 41.1% from Pietermaritzburg, 34.2% from Klerksdorp and 24.7% from Mitchells Plain. Two-thirds and 94.7% of respondents had correct knowledge on the cause and spread of COVID-19, respectively. Knowledge measures were significantly associated with age less than 65 years, the highest level of education and site (Mitchells Plain). Desired preventive behaviors were associated with higher socio-economic status. While 64.7% of people intended to get vaccinated, those over 64 years of age were more likely to intend to vaccinate (aOR: 1.25, 95% CI: 1.06-1.47). Vaccine intention related to protection of self (58.4%) and family (40.0%). The most trusted source of COVID-19 information was television (59.3%) followed by radio (20.0%). these data can be used to design targeted public health campaigns for the current COVID-19 and future epidemics, ensuring that socio-economic constraints and preference for trusted information are considered.

Self-Reported Experiences of Midwives Working in the UK across Three Phases during COVID-19: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Maternity services cannot be postponed due to the nature of this service, however, the pandemic resulted in wide-ranging and significant changes to working practices and services. This paper aims to describe UK midwives’ experiences of working during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study forms part of a larger multiple phase research project using a cross-sectional design based on an online survey. The online survey used validated psychometric tools to measure work-related quality of life, wellbeing, coping, and burnout as well as open-ended questions to further understand the experiences of staff working during the pandemic. This paper reports the qualitative data collected from the open-ended questions. The qualitative data were subjected to thematic analysis and the four main themes that emerged were ‘relentless stress/pressure’, ‘reconfiguration of services’, ‘protection of self and others’, and ‘workforce challenges’. The key conclusions were that midwives experienced a reduction in quality of working life and significant stress throughout the pandemic due to a range of factors including staffing shortages, restrictions placed on women’s partners, changes to services and management support, all of which compounded workforce pressures that existed prior to the pandemic. This research recommends consultation of front-line midwives in relation to possible changes in practice and workforce planning in preparation for crises such as a pandemic and to ensure equitable and supportive management with access to practical and psychological support.

Young peoples’ lived experiences of shifts between face-to-face and smartphone interactions: an interpretative phenomenological analysis

ABSTRACT Users of smartphones are finding new ways to shift between the online and the physical world, due to increases in the number of people who go online while ‘out and about’. This study focuses on youths’ lived experiences of using and managing their smartphones and how they navigate their shifts between face to face and digital interactions. Semi-structured interviews with seven smartphone users were analysed using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis. The overarching theme was how participants establish and experience presence through their shifts between face to face and digital interactions. Three themes were developed; constant availability vs be present with me; projection and protection of self; dystopian world: disconnection and separation. The study’s findings highlight that to be ‘present’ while physically with others is socially desirable. Participants depicted a dystopian world when others fail to manage their phone use. The study also highlights the complex identity work that participants engaged in as they navigate social norms around presence.

An overview of the underlying legal and psychological issues of surrogacy in Islam

Purpose of the study: This paper attempted to deal with the issue of Surrogacy from various angles by considering the very essence of Islamic law, i.e., of Shariah. Procreation has considered sacred in Islam; no doubt, it is one of the five fundamental objectives of Shariah (Islamic law), notwithstanding the protection of self, religion, honor, and property. In Muslim societies, religion strongly influences behavior, culture, practices, and policy-making; therefore, according to the Islamic viewpoint, just legitimate pregnancy would result from intermingling sperm and ovum of a legitimately wedded couple.
 Research methods: The methodology applied in the discussion is a critical analysis based on inductive and deductive approaches to the collected data. The data for this study has been collected from various secondary sources like Academic Research Papers, Research Journals, and other Electronic Sources.
 Main findings: the conclusion arrived at in the article is that Surrogacy is of various categories, some of which may be Islamically valid and some others invalid. In light of the discussion, it is also concluded that Surrogacy also leads to psychological confusion over the question of motherhood, which Islam considers the highest form of human love and compassion.
 Application of the study: This study would leave significant implications for legal and social dimensions. The only way to minimize the differences of opinions over any issue in Islamic jurisprudence is deliberation over the issue concerned from the angle of the objectives of Sharīᶜah (Maqāsid al-Sharīᶜah). The issue of Surrogacy as to its validity or invalidity from the Islamic perspective may be resolved in this way. Therefore, the study would doubtlessly help reduce social, physiological, and legal issues based on surrogate practice.
 Originality and novelty of the study: The least attention has been given to legal and psychological issues in the existing literature. The present study aims to deal with the legal, psychological, and even social issues caused by the practice of Surrogacy. Therefore, this is the first study that has investigated the practice of Surrogacy from multiple perspectives, particularly analyzing them in the framework of the objectives of Sharīᶜah.

Behind male Saudi nursing students\u2019 mental health facade: a husserlian phenomenological approach

BackgroundEvery person has a persona (or mask) which is the façade that every person shows to the world. Thus, males use façade to reveal or conceal their true feelings and emotions. Also, the male uses mental health façade to protect themselves from prejudice and judgment. Thus, the study aimed to explore the experiences of male Saudi nursing students of mental health.MethodHusserl’s descriptive phenomenology was used as a guiding lens to explore. Eleven participants were involved in the study by using the referral sampling technique. An unstructured interview was performed to gather information from the participants. The seven steps of the descriptive Colaizzi process were followed to investigate and examine the obtained data. The credibility, dependability, confirmability, transferability, and reflexivity criteria were observed to ensure the rigor of the study.ResultsThe findings have two major themes. The first theme is the unadulterated smile that describes optimism in the family and mutual guarantee. The second theme is the orchestrated smile, which describes avoiding diverting burdens, social responsibility, protection of self, and reputation.ConclusionsThe findings document that the mental health façade of male Saudi nursing students is associated with the expectation of family optimism, mutual guarantee, the expectation of society, and self-protection.

Psychological Predictors of Precautionary Behaviors in Response to COVID-19: A Structural Model.

The first lines of defense during an epidemic are behavioral interventions, including stay-at-home measures or precautionary health training, aimed at reducing contact and disease transmission. Examining the psychosocial variables that may lead to greater adoption of such precautionary behaviors is critical. The present study examines predictors of precautionary practices against coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in 709 Mexican participants from 24 states. The study was conducted via online questionnaire between the end of March and the beginning of April 2020, when the pandemic response was in its initial stages in Mexico. The instrument included demographic items, as well as scales assessing COVID-19-resembling symptoms, empathy, impulsivity, anhedonic depression, general health practices, alcohol consumption, and COVID-19-associated precautionary behaviors. Most participants reported adopting limited social distancing or other precautionary behaviors against COVID-19. The results of a structural equation model demonstrated that the presence of COVID-19 symptoms was related to impulsivity and general health behaviors. However, no direct association between precautionary behaviors and the presence of COVID-19 symptoms was found. In turn, precautionary behaviors were more prevalent among participants who reported higher empathy and general health behaviors and were inhibited indirectly by impulsivity via alcohol consumption. Furthermore, the model suggests that anhedonic depression symptoms have a negative indirect effect on precautionary behaviors via general health behaviors. Finally, impulsivity showed a negative direct effect on general health behavior. These results highlight the role that general physical health and mental health play on precautionary behavior and the critical importance of addressing issues such as depression, general health behaviors, and impulsivity in promoting safe actions and the protection of self and others.

Increasing healthcare workers’ uptake of seasonal influenza vaccination in a tertiary-care pediatric hospital in Greece with a low-cost, tailor-made, multifaceted strategy

BackgroundHealthcare workers’ (HCW) seasonal influenza vaccination (SIV) is critical to prevent nosocomial influenza. However, HCW vaccination rates remain unacceptably low in many European institutions. A two-year three-step initiative was implemented at a tertiary-care pediatric hospital with 750 beds in Athens, Greece with the aim of increasing SIV among HCW. MethodsΑ cross-sectional anonymous survey of HCWs was conducted during the 2015–16 influenza season with the aim to evaluate attitudes, knowledge, and specific barriers and facilitators for SIV. Stratified analysis was used to identify factors associated with no prior history of influenza vaccination. Multifaceted interventions were implemented in the 2016–2017 season. These included 1) education around influenza disease and SIV, and 2) communication of availability and opportunity (time and place) of SIV. Interventions were designed to target HCWs with the lowest SIV rates in the previous three years. ResultsWe achieved a 67% response rate, with 363 respondents (106 doctors, 145 nurses, 101 other hospital staff; 11 did not provide their profession). Most (64%) had not been vaccinated in the previous three years; only 14% received the vaccine annually. Non-vaccination rates were significantly higher among nurses (76%) and cleaning and food-service workers (73%) compared to doctors (40%) (P < 0.001). Protection of self, family, patients and colleagues were the most common motivations. Concerns about the safety and effectiveness of the vaccine, the belief that one does not belong to a high-risk group were the most common barriers. The interventions led to an increase in SIV uptake by the HCWs in the hospital, from 19% to 31%. ConclusionsIn a country with very low reported rates of vaccination among HCWs, a simple, low-cost, tailor-made intervention strategy can lead to an increase in SIV uptake. Stratifying data according to vaccination history may reveal a diversity of targets for improvement that might otherwise be missed.

EMASCULATING HUMOR FROM ALGERIA'S DARK DECADE, 1991–2002

AbstractThis paper explores shifting notions of Algerian masculinities during the Dark Decade (approximately 1991–2002) as articulated through humor. Both in the period leading up to and during conflict, Algerian cartoonists and joke tellers played with socially accepted norms concerning male behavior. In the armed struggle, however, comedy reflected how the terrifying and random violence that characterized the conflict may have disturbed local gender relations and definitions. The conflict prevented men from practicing masculinity in preestablished ways, most notably through the protection of self, family, and community. The present article contributes to the broader literature on gender during the armed struggle as well as in the Middle East and North Africa more widely, to argue that humor, a critically under-considered aspect of the cultural lives of Algerians and men across the region, provided civilians with space to navigate changes in gender issues brought about by the harrowing circumstances of the Dark Decade.

Survey of influenza vaccine knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs among pregnant women in the 2016–17 season

ObjectivesInfluenza vaccination coverage among pregnant women in the United States is suboptimal. We surveyed women who were pregnant during the 2016–17 influenza season to assess knowledge and attitudes regarding influenza vaccination. MethodsWe identified and sampled pregnant women to include approximately equal numbers of vaccinated and unvaccinated women from strata defined by vaccination status and trimester from four integrated health systems in the Vaccine Safety Datalink (VSD). Potential participants were contacted via mail and telephone to complete a standardized survey. Characteristics and responses of women vaccinated and unvaccinated during pregnancy were compared. ResultsThe survey was completed by 510 (48%) of 1062 contacted women; 500 were included in the analysis. Vaccine receipt while pregnant was associated with primigravida status (p = 0.02), college degree (p = 0.01), employment in health care (p < 0.01), and history of routine annual influenza vaccination (p < 0.01). Among 330 vaccinated women, the primary reasons for vaccination included protection of self and baby from influenza (n = 233, 71%), and medical professional recommendation (n = 46, 14%). Multiple reasons were given for nonvaccination, but concern about ‘negative effects’ was cited most often (n = 44, 29%). Vaccinated women were significantly more likely to believe that influenza vaccines are safe and effective, and to recognize the potential for harm from influenza infection. Nearly all women reported receiving at least one influenza vaccination recommendation from a healthcare provider. ConclusionsVaccinated pregnant women were more likely to receive routine annual influenza vaccine compared to those not vaccinated. Recommendations by obstetric providers should be supplemented with efforts to encourage women of childbearing age to receive annual vaccination.

Latinas’ Reasons for and Patterns of Sexual Assault Disclosure

This phenomenological qualitative study describes Latinas’ reasons for and patterns of sexual assault disclosure. Thirteen Latina research participants’ voices contribute to the literature on sexual assault disclosure through their reasons for disclosing, not disclosing, or for delaying their disclosure in addition to who they chose to disclose this information to. The reasons for disclosing include external support, protection of self and others, and situational disclosures, which occurred without intention or given permission. Reasons for not disclosing or delaying sexual assault disclosure include themes of fear of facing consequences, negative reactions from others or retaliation by a family member. Furthermore, the mother-daughter relationship proved to be a critical ingredient in the decision to disclose or to delay disclosure. Although the literature review identified some research in the area of sexual assault with Latinas, research to date has been scant concerning the Latina mother-daughter relationship with regards to the dynamics that exist between mother and daughter(s) concerning taboo and/or sensitive topics not addressed in the home such as sex. The results of this study point to the need for further research on how well Latinas feel their mothers have prepared them to protect and advocate for themselves concerning sexual assaults.

Особенности организации социальной защиты самозанятых граждан

Особенности организации социальной защиты самозанятых граждан

Breaking Through the Ambivalence: Journalistic Responses to Information Security Technologies

Over the last several years, numerous journalists and news organizations have reported incidents in which their communications have been hacked, intercepted, or retrieved. In 2014, Google security experts found that 21 of the world’s 25 most popular media outlets were targets of state-sponsored hacking attempts, and many journalists have watched helplessly as hackers took control of their social media accounts, targeting confidential information in their internal servers. When journalists’ digital accounts are vulnerable to hacks or surveillance, news organizations, journalists, and their sources are at risk, and journalists’ ability to carry out their newsmaking function is reduced. Yet, some journalists do not believe that hacking and surveillance are significant threats, and they are not adopting information security measures to protect their data, themselves, or their sources. This research study includes 19 interviews with journalists, developers, and digital security trainers to shed light on journalists’ perceptions of information security technologies, including motivations to adopt and barriers to adoption. The findings show that motivations to adopt information security technologies hinge on the idea of protection: protection of self, story, and the journalist’s role—more so than the protection of the source, contrary to contemporary discourse about why journalists need to adopt such technologies.

Attitudes and beliefs of healthcare workers about influenza vaccination.

Annual influenza vaccination is recommended for all healthcare workers (HCWs) to help reduce the risk of contracting the virus and transmitting it to vulnerable people, especially older adults in residential care facilities. Vaccination uptake among HCWs remains low. To investigate HCWs' attitudes towards, and beliefs about, seasonal influenza vaccination in a residential care facility for older adults in the Republic of Ireland. Data were collected using a self-administered questionnaire. A total of 95 questionnaires were distributed, and 35 (37%) HCWs completed and returned them. During the 2016-17 flu season, 20 (57%) respondents were vaccinated. Primary predictors of vaccination acceptance were the belief that being healthy should not mitigate against requiring the vaccine ( r =0.7, P =0.01), protection of self and family ( r =0.67, P =0.01), protection of patients ( r =0.592, P =0.01) and agreement with mandatory vaccination ( r =0.351, P =0.039). Reasons for vaccination avoidance were misconceptions about the need for vaccination among healthy HCWs (67%), efficacy of the vaccine (60%), lack of trust in the vaccine (47%) and a belief that the vaccine may cause flu (47%). Addressing HCWs' beliefs relating to the personal benefits of vaccination while simultaneously correcting misconceptions may help to increase uptake among those working in residential care settings for older adults.

Whistleblowing in Indian Higher Education Sector: A Qualitative Study

The study is aimed to develop a better understanding of how teachers in higher education perceive whistleblowing and identify various factors acting as motivators and demotivators and impacting their whistleblowing intentions. In-depth interviews were conducted employing interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) with 25 teachers across the four higher education institutions (HEIs). The findings suggest that teachers perceive whistleblowing as an instrument or mechanism which could help to curb wrongdoings and corrupt practices at their workplace and holds a view that it should be encouraged throughout the organisation to keep a check on the malpractices that appear in academic institutions. The five categories identified are the inner voice and personal morality, ethical responsibility towards own work and society, the gravity of the wrongdoing, protection of self and organisation image, and optimism about organisational change which act as great motivators for the teachers in HEIs to blow the whistle against any wrongdoing.

DASAR KEWENANGAN PEMERINTAH DAERAH KABUPATEN BADUNG DALAM MEMBERIKAN STANDAR PELAYANAN BAGI PEREMPUAN DAN ANAK KORBAN KEKERASAN

Base on Article 28 G paragraph (1) The Constitution of the Republic of Indonesia to declare,that every person has the right to protection of self, family, material, dignity, and propertyunder his control, and has the right to feel secure and protection from threats to do ornot to do that is a human right. In addition, under Article 20 of act Child Protection toregulate that the State, government, society, family, and the parents are obliged responsiblefor the implementation of child protection. In article 5 of act on the Elimination of DomesticViolence to declare that every person is prohibited from domestic violence against people inthe scope of the household by means of: physical violence; psychological violence; sexualviolence; or neglect of household.Based on the reality that exsistence of women and children are the group who are becomingvictims of violence. Many factors contribute to the violence against women and children,among which is a factor of a patriarchal culture that is still views women is lower than inmen. Another thing is also very influence violence as a false perception of violence whichconsiders that violence as a matter of course, and the rights of the offender.The purpose of research is to determine the authority of local government in providingprotection for women and children victims of violence. So, want to know the forms andmechanisms of a given service standards Badung regency administration especially to womenand children victims of violence. Specific targets to be achieved is to provide information tothe public that is legally local governments have the authority to provide service standardsand to determine also whether local governments already have a minimum service standardsand other forms of care is given to women and children victims of violence , given the manywomen and children victims of violence have not got a good service or minimum service asa form of protection for women and children victims of violence. The method is normativeresearch.Base on discussion can be presented , the first, that authority Badung Government in providingservice standards for women and children victims of violence. That service standards hasbeen regulated in act Number. 15 of 2013, that is the title of act the Protection of Womenand Children Victims of Violence. Second, that the standard services forms of BadungGovernment have five (5) types of shapes minimum service standards.

The Need to Further Imbibe the Culture of Insurance in Africa

Insurance has been with man for ages: there are different accounts regarding the exact origin of insurance but there is universal agreement that the earliest insurance schemes were in maritime trade, properties and, later, life assurance. In Africa, the history of insurance is even more distorted but one fact which remains unchallenged is that South Africa took the lead. Generally speaking, insurance is alien to the African culture: it is imported from European and other developed countries that colonized Africa, and perhaps that development explains the apathetic attitude of an average person of African extraction. Were the thriving insurance businesses not legally mandatory, the most common being motor insurance, there is doubt that people would ever bother to insure. Be that as it may, this paper argues that life is concomitant with dangers, and such events are far beyond human control. While some of the dangers are natural, others are man-made: either way, for the protection of self, family and properties, it is incumbent on the average man to insure in order to cushion the effects of mishaps, which are incidental to life. This paper adopts the Boy Scout Motto: “Be prepared,” which stated otherwise means that it is more strategic to plan for vicissitudes of life by taking out insurance policies, than to run helter-skelter when calamities strike. Fortunes acquired through the years could perish in one day as a result of many factors; insurance is the veritable means by which such unanticipated consequences of life could be mitigated. The object of this paper is to sensitize Africans regarding the advantages of insurance and it is of the view that it behooves African governments to enact relevant laws and regulations which prompt the citizens to take out policies of insurance because of the benefits derivable thereof, not only for the people, but also for the economic growth of African countries, given the multiplier effect generated as a result of insurance.

Black Female Voices: Self-Presentation Strategies in Doctoral Programs at Predominately White Institutions

Drawing on a larger study, this qualitative investigation uses Black feminist thought as the interpretive lens to investigate perceptions and experiences of African American female doctoral students at predominately White institutions (PWIs). Semistructured interviews were used to gain an understanding of their experiences and how these experiences influence academic persistence and overall well-being. A total of 15 participants were interviewed, and responses were analyzed for emerging themes. From the interview data, 5 themes emerged: (a) academic mask, (b) private self, (c) other selves, (d) protection of self, and (e) disadvantages of the academic mask. A summary of the findings and implications is presented.

Midwives׳ experiences of workplace resilience

Backgroundmany UK midwives experience workplace adversity resulting from a national shortage of midwives, rise in birth rate and increased numbers of women entering pregnancy with complex care needs. Research evidence suggests that workplace pressures, and the emotional demands of the job, may increase midwives׳ experience of stress and contribute to low morale, sickness and attrition. Much less is known about midwives who demonstrate resilience in the face of adversity. Resilience has been investigated in studies of other health and social care workers, but there is a gap in knowledge regarding midwives׳ experiences. Objectiveto explore clinical midwives׳ understanding and experience of professional resilience and to identify the personal, professional and contextual factors considered to contribute to or act as barriers to resilience. Designan exploratory qualitative descriptive study. In Stage One, a closed online professional discussion group was conducted over a one month period. Midwives discussed workplace adversity and their resilient responses to this. In Stage Two, the data were discussed with an Expert Panel with representatives from midwifery workforce and resilience research, in order to enhance data interpretation and refine the concept modelling. Settingthe online discussion group was hosted by the Royal College of Midwives, UK online professional networking hub: ‘Communities’. Participants11 practising midwives with 15 or more years of ‘hands on clinical experience’, and who self-identified as being resilient, took part in the online discussion group. Findingsthematic analysis of the data identified four themes: challenges to resilience, managing and coping, self-awareness and building resilience. The participants identified ‘critical moments’ in their careers when midwives were especially vulnerable to workplace adversity. Resilience was seen as a learned process which was facilitated by a range of coping strategies, including accessing support and developing self-awareness and protection of self. The participants identified the importance of a strong sense of professional identity for building resilience. Key conclusionsthis study provides important new insights into resilience within UK midwifery, of relevance to the wider profession. Some findings echo those of other resilience studies; however, there are new insights such as the importance of professional identity which may be relevant to other health care workers. Through understanding more about resilience, it may be possible to facilitate positive adaptation by midwives and ameliorate the effects of workplace adversity. Implications for practiceThis study indicates that resilience is a complex phenomenon, which warrants serious consideration from clinical midwives, managers, educators and researchers.

Widowhood in old age: Viewed in a family context

Researchers and clinicians have traditionally explored widowhood as an intrapersonal process. We expand the paradigm of bereavement research to explore the widow's perceptions of her experience within a family context. In a study of family bereavement, 24 widows each participated in 2 separate qualitative interviews, followed by standard qualitative analyses of the transcribed narratives. Three inter-related central topics emerged. (1) Widows stress the importance of their independence vis a vis their family as central to their sense of identity. (2) Widows perceive that they and their adult children avoid expressing their feelings of sadness and loss with each other. (3) Widows believe that their children are unable to understand the meaning of the widows' loss because of differences in generations and life situations. Two inter-woven underlying themes emerged: protection of self and of other, and boundaries between widow and children. Just as protection is rooted in a dynamic of separation between widow and child, boundaries are rooted in their deep bond. When researchers and clinicians recognize the dynamics of these two themes they can potentially increase understanding of widowhood within the context of the family.