Social Disruption Research Articles

The Current Pattern of Pediatric Burn Injuries in an Australian Major Burns Center.

Burns are a common mechanism of pediatric injury worldwide and a notable cause of disability-adjusted life-years. Burns in children represent a unique challenge due to the differences from adults regarding physical characteristics, physiology, and psychology. This retrospective cohort study examined trends of pediatric burns in New South Wales (NSW), Australia, from 2010 to 2022. It specifically focused on the changes in burn etiology and patient characteristics, body area affected, TBSA, first aid, location, and management. It also compared a "Pre-COVID-19" and "Peri-COVID-19" era to analyze the impact of COVID-19 on the pattern of pediatric burns, as children are at higher risk of injury during times of social disruption. The study found that burns in children continue to be concentrated in the toddler and preschooler age group, and the main mechanisms of injury remain as scald and contact burns. In recent years, there has been a rising trend of friction burns, alongside a fall in flame burns and severe burns. Management of pediatric burns has also evolved, with predominant use of ambulatory care and low rates of admission and operative intervention. Trends in burn injury continue to evolve with time, and over the last decade in NSW, key changes in the pattern of pediatric burns have been observed, with evolving mechanisms of injury, reduced severity of burns, and a shift toward ambulatory care.

Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on Road and Bridge Projects under Road Division Pokhara

COVID-19 is a global pandemic that has caused social disruption and altered the global economic perspective. The construction sector plays an essential role in the worldwide economy, drawing upon a diverse array of resources within regional economies. Since the COVID-19 outburst in Nepal, it has been a really difficult task for the construction sector to initiate a project or to continue running at a normal pace. The objective of this research was to determine the impact of COVID-19 on the road and bridge project under the road division Pokhara. About 52 respondents comprised contractors and client/consulting agencies at different structure questionnaires compatible with the requirement of the study were recorded. As a result, the eight most important factors were ranked based on the severity of the effect and prioritization of multiple factors on the project due to the pandemic. Obtained responses from consultant and contractor representatives, it was found that the factors beyond the control of projects, transportation shutdown were ranked first followed by the shortage of labor under manpower factor and others. This paper observes the actual severity of the various factors regarding construction projects due to the corona virus and will also lead to better management in upcoming pandemics. The results of this study establish the groundwork for future researchers and practitioners by offering suggestions for how to prioritize and re-organize work plans, workplace management, and strategies for unforeseen circumstances.

In Solidarity: Development, Implementation, and Evaluation of a Family Engagement and Home Learning Program During the COVID-19 Pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic caused serious social disruptions and posed significant challenges to all families, especially immigrant families. Immigrant families who spoke languages other than English and who had young bilingual children faced numerous barriers as they struggled to navigate remote learning with their children without adequate language and technological support. The need to design action plans to mitigate the negative educational impact of the pandemic on immigrant families with young bilingual children was urgent. To address the immediate needs of immigrant families during the first year of the pandemic, this transformative mixed-methods study presents a family engagement and home learning program called the Home Connection. This program was collaboratively designed and implemented to support 20 immigrant families with 42 young bilingual children from the Metro and Greater Boston Areas. Focusing on the development, implementation, and evaluation of the Home Connection program, findings from this study demonstrate how the family participants actively engaged with and positively evaluated the program. These findings also suggest that family and community engagement play a crucial role in creating a more sustainable support system for immigrant families as well as equitable learning experiences for young bilingual children during and after the pandemic.

Evaluation of antibody-based preventive alternatives for respiratory syncytial virus: a novel multi-criteria decision analysis framework and assessment of nirsevimab in Spain

BackgroundRespiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a highly infectious disease that poses a significant clinical and medical burden, as well as social disruption and economic costs, recognized by the World Health Organization as a public health issue. After several failed attempts to find preventive candidates (compounds, products, including vaccines), new alternatives might be available, one being nirsevimab, the first and only option approved for RSV prevention in neonates and infants during their first RSV season. The objective of this study was to develop a novel multi-criteria decision analysis (MCDA) framework for RSV antibody-based preventive alternatives and to use it to assess the value of nirsevimab vs. placebo as a systematic immunization approach to prevent RSV in neonates and infants during their first RSV season in Spain.MethodsBased on a pre-established model called Vaccinex, an ad-hoc MCDA framework was created to reflect relevant attributes for the assessment of current and future antibody-based preventive measures for RSV. The estimated value of nirsevimab was obtained by means of an additive linear model combining weights and scores assigned by a multidisciplinary committee of 9 experts. A retest and three sensitivity analyses were conducted.ResultsNirsevimab was evaluated through a novel framework with 26 criteria by the committee as a measure that adds value (positive final estimated value: 0.56 ± 0.11) to the current RSV scenario in Spain, by providing a high efficacy for prevention of neonates and infants. In addition, its implementation might generate cost savings in hospitalizations and to the healthcare system and increase the level of public health awareness among the general population, while reducing health inequities.ConclusionsUnder a methodology with increasing use in the health field, nirsevimab has been evaluated as a measure which adds value for RSV prevention in neonates and infants during their first RSV season in Spain.

Analysis Of The Priority Handling Of Enveromental Drainage Construction Project At Dinas Pekerjaan Umum Dan Penataan Ruang Banjarbaru City

Flood is one of the main problems of big cities in Indonesia, including Banjarbaru City. This is often caused by the not supportive existing drainage capacity when compared to the increasing of crowded urban conditions and reduced green open space. Handling of drainage including rehabilitation is necessary so that drainage can function properly as expected. On the other hand the Banjarbaru City Government has a limited budget each year that can be disbursed for drainage handling. The purpose of this thesis is to analyze criteria and subcriteria that are important in determining the priority of drainage handling. The ANP (Analytic Network Process) method is analyzed using the criteria in the Minister of Public Works regulation number 12/PRT/M/2014 tentang Penyelenggaraan Sistem Drainase Perkotaan to determine priorities for handling environmental drainage with important criteria, namely aspects of inundation, economic loss, social disruption and government facilities, loss of disturbance. transportation, loss to residential areas, and loss of personal property rights. Based on these 6 criteria, priorities for handling environmental drainage in Banjarbaru City are determined. Furthermore, an analysis is carried out to evaluate the priority of the choices that occur. This study suggests to decision makers that ANP can be used to analyze drainage management priorities in Banjarbaru City. This research focuses on variables consisting of criteria or considerations which form the background for priorities in handling the environmental drainage system in Banjarbaru City. The primary data results obtained from the field survey were followed by analysis using the ANP method with data tabulation calculations and assisted by Super Decisions software to determine the priority scale for handling environmental drainage in Banjarbaru City. The treatment priority scale in the Super Decisions software, the data of which is based on field survey results and data tabulation calculations, found that there are several locations that have a large priority scale but treatment has not been carried out due to several factors that are not contained in Minister of Public Works Regulation 12/PRT/M/2014 concerning Implementation of Urban Drainage Systems.

Do first responders and populations perceive risks similarly? A comparative study of seven countries.

Risk perception illustrates the subjective evaluation of individuals concerning the characteristics, severity, and capacity to cope with potential hazards. Risk perception influences attitudes and actions individuals take to protect themselves from future threats. Risk perceptions might change among different stakeholder groups such as society and first responders. Identifying risk perceptions of stakeholders is essential to establish effective protective measures. This study investigated the commonalities and diversities in risk perception among first responders and the public, within and between seven European and beyond countries. A self-administered questionnaire was used to gather data from both first responders and civilians. They were asked to assess their risk perception level for five categories of risks (Extreme weather-related events, nature-related events, social disruptions, critical services dependencies, and pandemics). Using Univariate Analysis of Variance showed disparity concerning both the levels of risk perception between the public and first responders, as well as their relative ranking. For example, concerning extreme weather-related and nature-related events, risk perception levels of the first responders is higher than that of the population in six out of the seven studied countries. In contrast, the population's risk perception is higher compared to the first responders in six out of the seven countries, concerning critical infrastructure dependencies and pandemics. The relative gaps between the first responders versus the population, within each country, vary considerably. Norway for example presents significant differences between the two internal populations concerning all risks (except for extreme weather), while in Sweden, no significant gaps were identified, concerning all five risks.

Exploring Women’s Education and Employment Opportunities in India, Syria, and the Philippines

The implementation of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals in 2015 marked a new chapter in global development and laid the foundations for addressing inequalities that hinder holistic progress. However, gender gaps pose a significant threat to achieving these goals. Project DREAM (Developing Resilience, Education, Aspiration, and Motivation) sought to explore women’s sense of aspiration, achievement, and lived experience in India, Syria, and the Philippines, as well as develop pilot interventions to address gender disparities. Semi-structured interviews with 69 young women from India, Syria, and the Philippines informed the development of three interventions, namely an aspiration and job skills workshop series in the Philippines, Motivational Interviewing training in Syria and the Philippines, and a social media presence and launch event worldwide. This paper presents the findings of this international project, identifying four key parallels underpinning women’s lived experience: poverty, incomplete education, tradition, and patriarchy. Pre-existing gender inequalities, aggravated by the widespread health, economic, and social disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, must be urgently addressed to ensure that no one is left behind on the road to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030.

Prevalence of food insecurity amid COVID-19 lockdowns and sociodemographic indicators of household vulnerability in Harar and Kersa, Ethiopia

BackgroundThe COVID-19 pandemic was associated with widespread social disruptions, as governments implemented lockdowns to quell disease spread. To advance knowledge of consequences for households in resource-limited countries, we examine food insecurity during the pandemic period.MethodsWe conducted a cross-sectional study and used logistic regression to examine factors associated with food insecurity. Data were collected between August and September of 2021 through a Health and Demographic Surveillance System (HDSS) using a survey instrument focused on knowledge regarding the spread of COVID-19; food availability; COVID-19 related shocks/coping; under-five child healthcare services; and healthcare services for pregnant women. The study is set in two communities in Eastern Ethiopia, one rural (Kersa) and one urban (Harar), and included a random sample of 880 households.ResultsRoughly 16% of households reported not having enough food to eat during the pandemic, an increase of 6% since before the pandemic. After adjusting for other variables, households were more likely to report food insecurity if they were living in an urban area, were a larger household, had a family member lose employment, reported an increase in food prices, or were food insecure before the pandemic. Households were less likely to report food insecurity if they were wealthier or had higher household income.ConclusionsAfter taking individual and household level sociodemographic characteristics into consideration, households in urban areas were at higher risk for food insecurity. These findings suggest a need for expanding food assistance programs to more urban areas to help mitigate the impact of lockdowns on more vulnerable households.

The Belt and Road Initiative's impact on tourism and heritage along the Silk Roads: A systematic literature review and future research agenda.

This is a systematic review of the literature on the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and its impact on tourism and heritage in participating countries along the Silk Roads. China launched the BRI in 2013 with the aim of promoting global trade and stimulating economic growth through the development of infrastructure and cultural cooperation. This review examines studies for the period from 2013 to 2023, focusing on key themes such as tourist flows, destination development, urban renewal, heritage preservation, and cultural route revival. The systematic review follows the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines, incorporating 56 relevant documents that cover both tourism and heritage domains. The findings highlight substantial potential for the development of new tourism products and destinations, improved urban renewal, and the preservation of cultural heritage, provided that integrated policies, public-private collaboration, and equitable community participation frameworks are implemented with attention to ecological limits. However, the review also identifies significant challenges, including financial imbalances, uneven access to benefits, social disruption, cultural commodification, and environmental degradation. Addressing these issues requires careful, context-specific planning. The study concludes with a proposal for a future research agenda that includes exploring underrepresented regions, developing sustainable tourism models, and fostering interdisciplinary research to ensure a balanced approach to economic development and heritage preservation. This review's findings provide valuable insight for policymakers, tourism officials, and cultural heritage managers, guiding the development of policies that balance economic growth with the preservation of cultural and natural heritage sites. This research contributes to the academic discourse by elucidating the complex interplay between the BRI and the Silk Roads' tourism and heritage, offering a pathway for sustainable and inclusive growth.

Preserving Harmony in Bali: An Environmental Philosophy Approach to Tackling Over-tourism

Bali, a beautiful island in the Indonesian archipelago, has been a centre of world tourism for the last few decades. However, the influx of tourists has contributed significantly to the island's economic development; the phenomenon of 'over-tourism' has taken hold and has been in the spotlight in recent years. Over-tourism is characterized by several negative impacts, including environmental degradation, social disruption, and economic instability. This paper attempts to delve deeper into addressing that issue by using ecological epistemology as a foundation for understanding the interconnectedness of the natural and social worlds. It can be used to understand how over-tourism affects the environment, the local community, and the tourism industry. In addition, cybernetic epistemology is a framework for understanding how systems can rethink and adapt to changes. It can be used to understand how the tourism industry can be managed more sustainably. Therefore, in this context, ecological epistemology and cybernetic epistemology can be used to understand and address the issue of over-tourism in Bali. Furthermore, they offer different perspectives and methods that can be used to complement each other. By using both approaches, we can develop more comprehensive and effective solutions to this complex problem, especially in identifying the relevance of Tri Hita Karana's local wisdom in dealing with over-tourism in Bali. Tri Hita Karana is a Balinese philosophy that emphasizes the harmony between humans, nature, and the gods. It could be argued that this local wisdom could be used to help address the challenges of over-tourism in Bali. Another point to consider through cybernetic epistemology is that we can also analyse the obligation of moral beings in protecting the environment, whether Tri Hita Karana is still relevant in over-tourism, how the epistemology of the environment becomes possible in Tri Hita Karana, and how moral action can be done to create harmonisation.

Permanent Distortions in Times of Pandemic and Social Disruption: A New Risk Society on the Horizon

Permanent Distortions in Times of Pandemic and Social Disruption: A New Risk Society on the Horizon

The Self-Care of Older Australians During Bushfires and COVID-19: A Qualitative Study.

This article sought to explore how older people maintained their health and managed chronic conditions during the 2019-2020 Black Summer bushfires, floods, and COVID-19 pandemic in Australia. This knowledge is important in the context of intersecting public health and environmental hazards. Qualitative, semi-structured interviews were undertaken with 19 community-dwelling older people living in South Eastern New South Wales, a region significantly impacted by the successive disasters. Three themes summarized participants' experiences. Participants described disruption to daily activities and social networks, delayed treatment and disruption to health services, and the exacerbation of health issues and emergence of new health challenges as challenges to managing health and self-care . Strategies for staying healthy were described as drawing on connections and relationships and maintaining a sense of normalcy. Finally, the compounding nature of disasters highlighted the impact of successive events. Understanding older people's experiences of self-care during disasters is critical for developing interventions that are better targeted to their needs. This study highlights the importance of social connectedness, habit, and routine in health and well-being. Results should inform policymaking and guide interventions in health care for older people.

COVID-19 prevention behaviors and dietary habits among undergraduate students: A health belief model approach.

Physical and social disruptions resulted from the COVID-19 pandemic, affecting young adults in higher education. The purpose of this survey research is to unveil COVID-19 related beliefs using the Health Belief Model, and COVID-19 prevention behaviors, including self-reported fruit and vegetable consumption among university students. A cross-sectional survey was administered to 304 male and female undergraduate students from diverse ethnic backgrounds and majors at a New Jersey state university using convenience sampling. Variables measured included frequency of COVID-19 prevention behaviors (e.g.: wearing indoor mask, handwashing), and consumption of fruit and vegetables (dark green and orange vegetables) over the previous week. Health Belief Model constructs were assessed namely perceived susceptibility to COVID-19, severity, benefits, barriers, and self-efficacy. Statistical distributions were computed for the entire sample and t-tests were investigated for subgroups of age and sex. The sample mean age was 21.7 (SD = 4.7) years with 222 females (73%) and 82 males (27%), and 46% identified as White, non-Hispanics. Participants consumed a mean of 0.95 cups of fruit, 0.81 cups of green vegetables, and 0.46 cups of orange vegetables. Female students practiced more COVID-19 prevention behaviors with a mean difference of 0.26 (p<0.001), perceived greater severity from the virus (Δ = 0.37, p = 0.002) and had stronger perceptions of benefits (Δ = 0.18, p = 0.041), barriers (Δ = 0.21, p = 0.046), and self-efficacy (Δ = 0.20, p = 0.020) than their male counterparts. Older students (aged 23 and above) adopted more COVID-19 prevention behaviors (Δ = -0.35, p = 0.001) and perceived less barriers (Δ = 0.24, p = 0.047) than their younger peers. Nutrition educators and health professionals need to emphasize the importance of adopting preventive health behaviors among university students as strategies to mitigate the severity of COVID-19. Addressing barriers younger male and female students may elevate their motivation and self-efficacy to enact health behaviors.

Health-related quality of life and associated factors in children with crohn’s disease at Vietnam National Children’s Hospital

Health-related quality of life (HRQoL) is increasingly recognized as one of the goals of holistic healthcare. Crohn's disease is the most common inflammatory bowel disease that necessitates long-term management and increases the risk of psychological distress and social disruption, leading to impaired HRQoL in comparison to healthy controls. We administered the PedsQLTM 4.0 scale to 40 children aged 2 to 17 years with Crohn’s disease and their parents to evaluate the HRQoL of patients and define the variables that impact these individuals. Our study indicated that children with Crohn's disease experienced a decrease in their HRQoL in school functioning. We found that factors related to decreased quality of life in these patients included gender (female), stunting, living in low-income families, higher disease activity index, and undergoing surgical intervention.

The War of Drugs; The Colombian Perspective 1954-2023

This article is dedicated to analyzing the evolution of illicit crops and their influence on crime over several decades in Colombia. Overall, drug trafficking has wide-ranging consequences that affect individuals, communities, and societies at large, including health issues, violence, corruption, economic impact, social disruption, and strained international relations. In this article we will analyze the historical root causes of drug production and drug trafficking in Colombia. A constant debate has been prevalent for who is to blame, consumers or producers? The blame for drug trafficking cannot be solely placed on either consumers or producers. Drug trafficking is a complex issue that involves multiple actors and factors. Producers, such as drug cartels and criminal organizations, are responsible for manufacturing and distributing illicit drugs. They exploit vulnerable communities, engage in violence, and profit from the illegal drug trade. Their actions contribute to the supply of drugs in the market. On the other hand, consumers play a significant role in fueling the demand for illicit drugs. The demand for drugs creates a lucrative market that incentivizes producers to continue trafficking. Without consumers, there would be no market for drugs, and the profitability of drug trafficking would diminish.

Intellectual Resurgence for Contemporary Muslim Societies Adopting Malek Bennabi Social Change Paradigm

This article describes the life and beliefs of Malek Bennabi, a figure who contributed and had a significant impact on Muslim society. Through his writings and ideas, Bennabi has left a legacy that inspires and motivates him to create a better future for the Muslim world. In addition, this research aims to provide a systematic literature review based on selected journals that specifically highlight Malek Bennabi's work with contemporary scholars to strengthen his intellectual legacy. The results of the systematic literature are: Bennabi's ideas about the challenges faced by Muslims, such as political or social marginalization and economic recession, can still be applied to current conditions, such as increasing corruption, Artificial Intelligence, the Internet of Things, mainly social media disruption of the principles of Muslim life. Moreover, while technology and progress often seem to come at the expense of traditional values, Bennabi's emphasis on the importance of creativity and the Islamic faith is particularly compelling. Finally, the findings of this study contribute to understanding the methodology, intellectual achievements, and their possible applications in post-modern society.

Gender-based vulnerability and adaptive capacity in the disaster-prone coastal areas from an intersectionality perspective

Households in the coastal areas are more vulnerable to various environmental, social, and economic disruptions in terms of an intersectionality point of view. As a first step in mitigating potential effects on families, knowing how susceptible they are and, ideally, fortifying themselves against existing and potential disruptions is essential. Vulnerability and adaptive capacity could not be uniformly distributed between households owing to gender-based socio-economic disparities and inequities. This research, thereby, examined the vulnerability and adaptive capacity variation between households headed by males and females in the two coastal areas of an emerging economy like Bangladesh. This study utilized the Evaluation-based on the Distance from Average Solution(EDAS)method and Boosted Regression Trees (BRT) technique to conduct the analysis. The EDAS method has been used to analyze the adaptive capacity index. Using BRT, an innovative approach in the area, we showed that male and female-headed households are different in terms of their capability to adapt. The findings from this study suggest that the households led by females are more vulnerable than those headed by males in the study region across a variety of dimensions (social, health, economic, housing, and land ownership) from an intersectionality perspective. The study findings can provide a new outlook for the decision-makers in the coastal region on the vulnerability and adaptive capacity differences among the residents and thus lead to more efficient disaster management practices.

CLIMATE CHANGE POLICIES AND OLDER ADULTS: AN ANALYSIS OF STATES’ CLIMATE ADAPTATION PLANS

Abstract As climate change drives more frequent and intense weather events, older adults face disproportionate impacts, including having the highest mortality rates from storms, wildfires, flooding, and heat waves. State governments are critical in deploying local resources to help address climate change impacts. This policy study analyzes states’ climate adaptation plans to assess the methods through which they address the impact of climate change on older adults. This study uses content analysis to analyze available climate change adaptation plans for all U.S. states for strategies designed to increase resilience of older adults to impacts of climate change. Nineteen states have climate adaptation plans, of which 18 describe older adults as a population group with specific health impacts and risks factors. Four categories of adaptation strategies for older adults include communications, transportation, housing and emergency services. State plans vary in terms of the risk factors and adaptation strategies included. To varying degrees, states’ climate change adaptation planning address health, social and economic risks specific to older adults, as well as strategies for mitigating those risks. As global warming continues, collaborations between public and private sectors and across regions will be needed to prevent negative outcomes such as forced relocation and other social and economic disruptions as well as disparate morbidity and mortality.

Continuity planning for public health crises: Designing workplace redundancies for organizational resilience.

Continuity planning prepares organizations to maintain essential functions despite disruptions to critical infrastructure that occur during crises. Continuity planning is especially important for Public-Safety Answering Points (PSAPs), which must prepare to answer 911 calls and dispatch first responders in all-hazard environments, including public health crises such as the COVID-19 pandemic. However, continuity planning typically focuses on disruptions to cyber-physical infrastructure rather than social infrastructure disruptions that occur when outbreaks of communicable disease limit the ability of essential personnel to perform an organization's essential functions. Reporting findings from interviews with US officials, this study examines how PSAPs decentralized essential personnel by designing redundant workplaces during the COVID-19 pandemic. Realizing existing continuity plans prepared PSAPs to relocate and recentralize essential personnel in a single, shared workplace, officials developed new plans to protect and decentralize telecommunicators across multiple, separate workplaces. To do so, PSAPs achieved passive, standby, and active workplace redundancies that recommend continuity planning objectives and requirements for organizations preparing for future public health crises.

THE INTERSECTION OF SOCIAL DETERMINANTS OF HEALTH AND FAMILY CARE OF PEOPLE LIVING WITH DEMENTIA

Abstract In this presentation, we will synthesize current research to illustrate the intersection of social determinants of health (SDOHs) and Alzheimer’s disease and related dementia (ADRD) caregiving, and outline how public health can support ADRD family caregivers in the U.S. There is an abundance of research that demonstrates family caregivers of relatives living with ADRD experience adverse health outcomes. In addition, family care for persons with ADRD overlaps with SDOHs. Public health actions such as improved surveillance and identification of ADRD caregivers; building and enhancing community partnerships; advancing dementia-capable health care and related payment incentives; and reducing the stigma of dementia and ADRD caregiving can enhance support and services for families. By engaging in these actions, public health practitioners could more effectively address the myriad of challenges facing ADRD caregivers most at risk for emotional, social, financial, psychological, and health disruption.