Safe Community Environment Research Articles

Prevalence of major depressive disorder and its determinants among young married women and unmarried girls: Findings from the second round of UDAYA survey.

Depression is a prevalent and debilitating mental illness affecting young women worldwide. This study aimed to identify psychosocial determinants of major depressive disorder (MDD) among young women in Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, India. Data from "Understanding the Lives of Adolescents and Young Adults" (UDAYA) study (2018-19) for young women aged 12-23 years, both married and unmarried was used for this paper. MDD was evaluated using the Patient Health Questionnaire PHQ-9 with a cut-off score of ≤10. The determinants of MDD were identified through multilevel binary logistic regression analysis. The prevalence of MDD was 13.6% (95% CL 12.2-15.2) and 5.1% (95% CL 4.2-6.1) for young married women and unmarried girls, respectively. Among the young married women, community-level variables like dowry-related humiliation (1.74, 95% CI 1.15-2.64), and sexual assaults (2.15, 95% CI 1.24-3.73) were significantly associated with MDD. For unmarried girls, reporting of family violence <10% of participants (0.45, 95% CI 0.24-0.85), family violence (≥10% of participants) % (0.35 95% CI 0.19-0.68) and interpartner violence (>25% of participants) (0.42; 95% CI 0.23-0.74) remain significant predictors of MDD. At individual level, for both the groups, age, participation in decision making (on education), social capital (currently attending school/educational course and number of friends), self-efficacy, telephonic harassment, and physical activity were associated with MDD. Wealth index, job seeking, participation in decision making (on health-seeking), parental interactions and physical abuse (for unmarried girls only) and education, reported last sexual intercourse, pressure from the in-laws' to conceive (for young married women only) were associated with MDD. For young married women, community level targeted interventions should focus on the social ecology to foster a sense of safe community environment. For unmarried girls, additionally, interventions should aim to optimize their family environment for effective mental health outcomes.

Effect of socio-community environment on the impacts of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 pandemic and well-being among older people in Hong Kong

Abstract Objectives: This study examined the effects of the socio-community environment on the impacts of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic among older people in Hong Kong. Methods: A random sample of 1200 60+ participants completed a telephone survey in 2020. Socio-community environment variables covering trust toward politicians, government officials, and medical professionals, and community safety factors covering confirmed cases in the building of the participant, perceived neighborhood safety, and perceived safety in Hong Kong were the independent variables. The dependent variables were impacts of COVID-19 related to social activities, finance and routines, interpersonal relationships, and the workplace. Hierarchical regression analysis was conducted with variables on trust and community safety entered as separate blocks while adjusting the effects of the participants’ demographics. Results: Older people in a community environment that was perceived as less safe reported more negative impacts of COVID. A higher level of trust toward the various types of authorities is also demonstrated to have different effects on the perceived negative impacts of COVID in different aspects of older people’s daily lives. Conclusion: Trustworthy government policies and measures, as well as building a safe community environment, are important directions for addressing concerns and the negative impacts of a pandemic in the future.

SAFETY OF WOMEN AND GIRLS AGAINST VIOLENCE AND SEXUAL HARASSMENT IN PUBLIC SPACES IN CHITUNGWIZA, HARARE, ZIMBABWE

Introduction: No one should be subjected to any form of violence publicly or privately. The level of Gender Based Violence (GBV) in Zimbabwe remains high and a barrier to women’s active participation in development. At least &gt;68% of women in the Sothern African Development Community have experienced some form of GBV during their life time. The research aimed at promoting full recognition, realization and protection of the rights of women and girls against all forms of gender-based violence and threats, by advocating for women friendly and safe community environments. Methods: Simple random sampling was used to administer the questionnaires to women and girls, boys and men in the community. Cluster sampling by age and gender was employed first and followed by a random selection within the clusters for focus group participants. Purposive sampling was also used. Focus group discussions, key informant interviews, structured interviews and observation were utilised. Results: Women and girls experienced physical, sexual, psychological and verbal abuse violence in public spaces. Public spaces included bus termini/ ranks, aboard public transport, at market places, shopping centres, beer halls, at stadiums, in the streets and along bushy pathways in and around the communities. Female respondents were harassed without recourse although acutely aware of procedures of reporting cases of violence to the police. Most women experienced police stations as being far away. Normally, authorities did nothing to the perpetrators of domestic violence. Conclusion: Ensuring women and girls safety in public spaces was recommended as government priority area. Streetlights erection, provision of running water in homes, more public toilets construction, establishment of viable reporting mechanisms for violence and sexual harassment were needed. Women wanted law enforcers and local service providers trained on gender sensitivity and taking reported cases seriously. Guarantying the exercise of right freedom of movement, permitting women to carry out their activities without fear is needed.

Influence of Social Capital on the Life Quality of Patients with Chronic Diseases-A Study Based on EQ-5D-5L Scale

To explore the influence of social capital on the quality of life of patients with chronic non-communicable diseases. A multi-phase stratified cluster sampling method was adopted to select the survey respondents. Professionally trained surveyors made home visits in order to conduct face-to-face questionnaire surveys in person. European Quality of Life Five Dimension Five Level Scale (EQ-5D-5L) and a self-developed social capital scale were used to investigate the quality of life and social capital of the respondents. Factor analysis and Cronbach's α coefficient test were done to verify the reliability and validity of the self-developed social capital scale. The χ 2 test and robust Tobit regression model were used to analyze the impact of social capital on the quality of life of patients with chronic non-communicable diseases. The self-developed social capital scale showed excellent performance. The Cronbach's α coefficient was 0.728, the KMO value was 0.716, and the result of Bartlett's test of sphericity was statistically significant ( P<0.001), indicating that the data were well suited for factor analysis. The four common factors cumulatively explained 68.27% of the total variation. The health utility value of the survey respondents was 0.869±0.181. Those who could walk around, shower and dress themselves, and perform usual activities without any problem accounted for 75.70%, 80.10%, and 74.1% of the respondents, respectively. Those who had pain or discomfort and anxiety or depression, with no self-perceived problem were 43.40% and 58.90%, respectively. In the EQ-5D-5L scale, the self-rated health influencing factors of the physical health dimension were community safety and interpersonal network relationships. The influencing factors of social function health was community safety and mental health was affected by community safety, community trust and interpersonal network relationships. When community safety improved by one level, the health utility value of patients with chronic non-communicable diseases increased by 0.046, and when interpersonal network relationships improved by an additional level, their health utility value increased by 0.037. The main problem of the quality of life of patients with chronic non-communicable diseases was found in the mental health dimension. In the process of treating chronic non-communicable diseases, attention should also be given to psychological counseling. Community safety and interpersonal network relationships are the protective factors for self-rated health status. Providing a safe community environment and expanding interpersonal networks help improve the health of patients.

L’alfabeto con meno parabaleni. Una proposta per un’educazione alla letto-scrittura in italiano L2 con giovani e adulti scarsamente o non alfabetizzati nella L1 e scarsamente o non scolarizzati.

The systems for hospitality and social inclusion of migrants in Italy offer a privileged point of view for debating about language education policies. The challenge of literacy education and second language learning for young people and adults who are illiterate or scarcely literate and uneducated or scarcely educated requires thinking accurately about the impact one’s actions have in the pre-A1 level classes. The specific needs of asylum seekers and refugees may lead teachers to adopt means and attitudes of community-building, which could be useful even in a broader educational environment, and may be a chance to re-evaluate the political potential of literacy. We propose a path for literacy education where the aims are driven by the students’ needs of self-determination and involvement in our society: it is necessary to acquire oral competence in Italian as a second language, to develop the semiotic system of writing, to acquire phonological awareness, to master the use of pencil and paper, to understand what is written all around you. The proposal, rooted in acquisitional linguistics research, is intended to create a safe community environment, fruitful for interaction and learning. The development of this model is possible when the teacher and the students work and play together, and the class becomes a societal structure in which everybody takes part. Literacy classes can therefore become a training ground for democratic participation in society.

Untangling the Complexities of Substance Use Initiation and Recovery: Client Reflections on Opioid Use Prevention and Recovery From a Social-Ecological Perspective.

Background:In Canada, the rate of opioid use, opioid use disorder (OUD), and associated mortality and morbidity are higher among Indigenous Peoples than the general population. Indigenous Peoples on medications for opioid use disorders (MOUD) often face distinct barriers that hinder their clinical progress, leading to treatment attrition.Methods:We used a social-ecological model to inquire into clients’ experiences with a history of treatment failure for OUD. We used exploratory qualitative research to engage 22 clients with a history of OUD treatment dropouts and who are currently on MOUD. In-depth, semi-structured interviews lasting an average of 30 minutes were conducted on-site.Results:We identified 4 themes from the study: (a) risk for substance use; (b) factors sustaining substance use; (c) factors leading to treatment, and (d) treatment failure and re-enrollment.Conclusion:Using a socio-ecological model helps to understand factors that influence an individual’s risk for OUD, decision to pursue treatment, and treatment outcomes. Furthermore, social ecological model also creates possibilities to develop supportive, multilevel interventions to prevent OUD risks and support for clients on MOUD. Such interventions include mitigating adverse childhood experiences, supporting families, and creating safe community environments.

Governance power of actors in building safe community environment

Background: The government power of actors and their influence on changing policies could result in changes in health outcomes as well as health indicators. Health and wellness are more influenced by the places in which people live, learn, work, and play. Building a safe community environment depends on the governance power of actors. Purpose: The aim of this study is to have an overview of the key actors of the safe communities and compare the governance power of them across a sample of designated safe communities. Methods: The present study is a combination of a qualitative study with a document review method and a comparative review study. Initially, upstream documents, reports on stakeholders’ participation in the creation of safe communities were reviewed. The data were analyzed through content analysis. Then through a comparative study, the organizational structures, key actors, and government power of them were compared in a sample of designated safe communities. Results: Collaborative and participatory involvement is an essential factor for the creation of safe communities, which has been emphasized by the upstream and international documents. More convergence of the policies and programs across the spectrum of actors (governmental/non-governmental) is needed. The governance power of actors will be flourished by creating a systematic and structured network that will lead to the creation of safe communities. Conclusion: All actors must participate in the creation of a safe community and use their governance power for this purpose. But the evidence indicates that the most important actors, people, is being ignored. It is imperative that authorities have adequate planning to engage in systematic and continuous community participation by advocating for establishing the not for profit organizations and charities to build and maintain networks for safe communities.

Are perceived neighbourhood built environments associated with social capital? Evidence from the 2012 Seoul survey in South Korea

ABSTRACTThis study examined the association between the perceived neighbourhood built environment and social capital in Seoul, South Korea, using the Seoul 2012 survey data collected by the Seoul city government. The survey polled 49,758 Seoul citizens from 20,000 households about their demographic and socioeconomic status, living environment, housing, and social environment. Multilevel regression models were used to analyze the relationships between the perceived neighbourhood built environment factors and three elements of social capital: trust, network, and participation. First, the analyses showed that statistically significant relationships existed between the perceived neighbourhood built environment and social capital. Second, social trust and social network showed significant positive relationships with most of the perceived neighbourhood built environment variables. This finding indicates that a walkable and safe community environment was a strong indicator of a high level of social trust and social network. In contrast, volunteer participation showed a different association with walkability and safety from crime. Finally, housing characteristics such as housing type showed statistically significant associations with the perceived built environmental variables. In particular, residents dwelling in high-density apartments showed a lower level of social trust and higher levels of social network and social participation than those in single-family housing.

Cancer Prevention During Early Adulthood: Highlights From a Meeting of Experts

Using a life course approach, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Division of Cancer Prevention and Control and the National Association of Chronic Disease Directors co-hosted a 2-day meeting with 15 multidisciplinary experts to consider evidence linking factors in early adulthood to subsequent cancer risk and strategies for putting that evidence into practice to reduce cancer incidence. This paper provides an overview of key themes from those meeting discussions, drawing attention to the influence that early adulthood can have on lifetime cancer risk and potential strategies for intervention during this phase of life. A number of social, behavioral, and environmental factors during early adulthood influence cancer risk, including dietary patterns, physical inactivity, medical conditions (e.g., obesity, diabetes, viral infections), circadian rhythm disruption, chronic stress, and targeted marketing of cancer-causing products (e.g., tobacco, alcohol). Suggestions for translating research into practice are framed in the context of the four strategic directions of the National Prevention Strategy: building healthy and safe community environments; expanding quality preventive services in clinical and community settings; empowering people to make healthy choices; and eliminating health disparities. Promising strategies for prevention among young adults include collaborating with a variety of community sectors as well as mobilizing young adults to serve as advocates for change. Young adults are a heterogeneous demographic group, and targeted efforts are needed to address the unique needs of population subgroups that are often underserved and under-represented in research studies.

Validity of a scale of neighbourhood informal social control relevant to pre-schoolers’ physical activity: A cross-sectional study

Childhood physical activity (PA) is important for health across the lifespan. Time pre-schoolers spend outdoors, which has been associated with more PA, is likely influenced by parents’ perception of neighbourhood informal social control relevant to pre-schoolers' PA, defined as the willingness of neighbours to intervene to ensure social order and a safe community environment for young children's active play. To advance measurement of this construct, we assessed factorial and construct validities of the PA-related neighbourhood informal social control scale for parents of pre-schoolers (PANISC-PP). In 2013–2014, Hong Kong primary caregivers (n=394) of 3–5 year-old children completed a socio-demographic questionnaire, the preliminary version of the PANISC-PP, and self-report measures of theoretical neighbourhood correlates of PA-related neighbourhood informal social control (perceived signs of physical and social disorder, community cohesion, perceived stranger danger, risk of unintentional injury and traffic safety). The fit of the data to an a priori measurement model of the PANISC-PP was examined using confirmatory factor analyses. As the a priori model showed inadequate fit to the data, the factor structure was re-specified based on theoretical considerations. The final measurement models of the PANISC-PP showed acceptable fit to the data and consisted of three correlated latent factors: “General informal supervision”, “Civic engagement for the creation of a better neighbourhood environment” and “Educating and assisting neighbourhood children”. The internal reliability of the subscales was good (Cronbach's α values 0.82–0.89). Generalised additive mixed models indicated that all subscales were positively associated with community cohesion and scores on the subscale “Educating and assisting neighbourhood children” were related in the expected direction to all indicators of traffic and personal safety, supporting construct validity of the PANISC-PP. This study suggests that the PANISC-PP is a reliable and valid instrument for assessing parents’ perceived neighbourhood informal social control related to pre-schoolers' PA.

The National Prevention Strategy and Breast Cancer Screening: Scientific Evidence for Public Health Action

Mammography screening rates in the United States have remained fairly stable over the past decade, and screening rates remain low for some groups. We examined insights from recent public health research on breast cancer screening to identify promising new approaches to improve screening rates and address persistent health disparities in mammography use. We considered this research in the context of the four strategic directions of the National Prevention Strategy: elimination of health disparities, empowered people, healthy and safe community environments, and clinical and community preventive services. This research points to the value of direct outreach and case management services, interventions to support more patient-centered models of care, and more organized, population-based approaches to identify women who are eligible to be screened, encourage participation, and monitor results.

A Role for Government: An Observation on Federal Healthcare Efforts in Prevention

A Role for Government: An Observation on Federal Healthcare Efforts in Prevention

Red tape and housing costs: how regulation affects new residential development

Homeownership--a core American Dream--remains elusive to millions of families priced out of the unstable housing market. This book explores the delicate balance between regulations designed to promote the production of sound, affordable housing in safe community environments and the red tape in which housing developers become entangled. Based on case studies of communities in New Jersey and North Carolina, and building on extensive research on the housing development regulatory process, the authors examine the incidence of regulation and quantify the actual itemized costs of excessive regulation. How are the costs of excessive regulation distributed between developers and home buyers? How can state and local jurisdictions reform deeply entrenched regulatory systems to ease the delivery of affordable housing from developer to purchaser? Red Tape and Housing Costs examines the incidence of regulation. The distribution of these costs is critical to housing affordability. At the same time, developers shift to building housing for consumers to whom they can pass on the increasing costs of regulation. Michael I. Luger and Kenneth Temkin provide policymakers and housing advocates with hard facts and reasoned explanations about the link between excessive regulations and spiraling housing costs. The authors argue that their analysis will allow policymakers to launch efforts to create responsible housing development regulatory systems.