Social Science Databases Research Articles

84 Methods to screen caregivers for previous and current substance use in the paediatric office: A scoping review

Abstract Background Paediatric healthcare providers have been shown to miss opportunities to screen caregivers for substance use. Individuals who use or have used substances face general healthcare barriers and may disengage with the system to avoid stigma or discrimination. Poorly worded or administered substance use screening practices by paediatricians could lead to retraumatization or judgment of caregivers that may affect the ability to continue providing healthcare to the child. There is limited information in the literature regarding best approaches for screening caregivers for substance use in paediatrics. Objectives The unique objective of this review was to identify current methods for, approaches to, and acceptability of caregiver substance use screening in paediatric offices. Design/Methods Searches were performed in CINAHL, PsycInfo, MEDLINE, and Social Sciences Abstracts databases with results limited from 2000 to 2023. Keywords included “perinatal”, “postnatal” “paediatric OR paediatric”, “substance use” OR “substance abuse” OR substances OR “alcohol use” OR “alcohol abuse” OR “addiction”, AND “screening”. Studies must have been conducted in Canada, the USA, Australia, or Scandinavia. Literature that was published in a language other than English, described screening caregivers for substance use using biological samples, or that focused solely on screening pregnant caregivers for substance use was excluded. Individual approaches to and provider and patient perspectives on screening were identified. Three authors completed title, abstract, and full text screening in Covidence screening software. Qualitative thematic coding identified geographical setting, the specific paediatric clinical setting, substances for which each study screened, characteristics of the participants, method of screening, and feedback related to acceptability, outcomes, or methods of screening. Results Practitioners used standardized and informal substance use screening tools. This review found that paediatric practitioners reported gaps in guidance on how best to screen caregivers for substance use and a desire for more improvement. Lack of guidance made it uncomfortable to screen caregivers. Increased comfort with screening was noted when a social needs survey was used as guidance. Caregivers were generally highly comfortable being screened for substance use and felt it was an acceptable action for paediatricians to undertake. However, the input of families in caregiver substance use screening methods was otherwise lacking. Substance use questions were often paired with questions asking caregivers to rate acceptability while other studies simply used the openness of being approached or absence of objections as acceptance of being screened. None of the studies identified in this review included the ability for families to participate more fully in screening acceptability or design. Conclusion Family engagement in research regarding the ideal acceptability and design of screening methods is lacking while paediatric healthcare providers continue to be uncomfortable screening caregivers for substance use and wish for improved methods that facilitate trust with families. Further research into the design of trauma-informed caregiver substance use screening in paediatric settings may be needed.

Recent evidence on rates and factors influencing smoking behaviours after release from smoke-free prisons: a scoping review.

Smoke-free prison policies have been introduced in some countries, in part to address very high levels of tobacco use in people in prison. However, relapse rates post-release remain high. This papers aims to improve understanding of post-release smoking and/or vaping behaviour is necessary to inform support for a priority population. The authors searched health, social science and criminal justice databases for studies about smoking/vaping behaviours among people released from smoke-free prisons. Studies were included if they reported primary data and were published between January 2017 and March 2024 in English; the population was adults/young people (16 yr+) imprisoned or formerly imprisoned, in prisons with comprehensive smoke-free policies; and at least one of the following was reported: pre-release intention to smoke, vape or remain abstinent post-release; smoking/vaping behaviour post-release and factors influencing smoking/vaping behaviour; attempts to quit again following post-release smoking/vaping relapse. Nine studies met our criteria. The evidence base is small and mainly from the USA or Australia. Evidence continues to suggest that most people resume smoking after leaving a smoke-free prison. No new interventions have been successful in reducing relapse rates. No studies report on vaping post-release, although two studies report on perceived factors affecting smoking relapse post-release from prisons allowing vaping. Given very high rates of relapse, there remains a significant need to better understand what approaches are feasible and acceptable for reducing return to smoking post-release. This review updates the limited evidence on smoking behaviours after leaving a smoke-free prison.

Public perspectives on the benefits and harms of lung cancer screening: A systematic review and mixed-method integrative synthesis.

Screening for lung cancer with low dose computed tomography aims to reduce lung cancer mortality, but there is a lack of knowledge about how target populations consider its potential benefits and harms. We conducted a systematic review of primary empirical studies published in any jurisdiction since 2002 using an integrative meta-synthesis technique. We searched six health and social science databases. Two reviewers independently screened titles, abstracts, and potentially eligible full-text studies. Quantitative assessments and open-ended perspectives on benefits and harms were extracted and convergently integrated at analysis using a narrative approach. Study quality was assessed. The review included 26 quantitative, 18 qualitative, and 5 mixed methods studies. Study quality was acceptable. Lung cancer screening was widely perceived to be personally beneficial for early detection and reassurance. Radiation exposure and screening accuracy were recognised as harms, but these were frequently considered to be justified by early detection of lung cancer. Stigma, anxiety, and fear related to screening procedures and results were pervasive among current smokers. People with low incomes reported not participating in screening because of potential out-of-pocket costs and geographic access. Populations targeted for lung cancer screening tended to consider screening as personally beneficial and rationalised physical, but not psychological, harms. Screening programmes should be clear about benefits, use non-stigmatising design, and consider equity as a guiding principle.

Influences on use of antibiotics without prescription by the public in low- and middle-income countries: a systematic review and synthesis of qualitative evidence.

Self-medication with antibiotics is common practice in many low- and middle-income countries (LMIC). This review synthesizes the qualitative evidence on influences on perceptions and practices in relation to self-medication by the public with antibiotics in LMIC. A systematic search was conducted of relevant medical, international and social science databases. Searching, screening, data extraction and quality appraisal followed standard methods. A meta-ethnographic approach was used for synthesis, starting with translation of studies and using a line-of-argument approach to develop the final themes. The search identified 78 eligible studies. Antibiotics were understood as a powerful, potentially dangerous but effective medicine for treating infections. This perception was strongly influenced by the common experience of being prescribed antibiotics for infections, both individually and collectively. This contributed to an understanding of antibiotics as a rational treatment for infection symptoms that was sanctioned by medical authorities. Accessing antibiotics from medical professionals was often difficult logistically and financially. In contrast, antibiotics were readily available over the counter from local outlets. People viewed treating infection symptoms with antibiotics as rational practice, although they were concerned about the risks to the individual and only took them when they believed they were needed. A new model to explain self-medication with antibiotics is presented. This uses the socio-ecological model to integrate influences that operate at individual, community and wider socioeconomic levels, drawing on theories of medical authority and the medicalization and commercialization of health. Interventions to reduce overuse of antibiotics in LMIC need to address both clinical practice and community self-medication practices together.

Contactless monitoring to prevent self-harm and suicide in custodial settings: Protocol for a global scoping review

IntroductionSelf-harm and suicide are major contributors to the global burden of disease and people in custodial settings are at a markedly increased risk of these adverse outcomes. Contactless monitoring technology...

Treatment-Resistant Mood Disorders.

The objective of the study was to explore the presentation of symptoms in patients suffering from treatment-resistant mood disorder (TRMD), and associated clinical features, including age, gender, and comorbid conditions, that lead towards the development of treatment-resistant mood disorder. Furthermore, the study analyses the available psychotherapeutic treatment modalities and evidence-based non-medical treatment approaches for TRMD. The current study utilized a systematic review approach where 37 articles were studied and three articles were theoretically sampled to authenticate and signify the findings. PRISMA guidelines were followed and the review was conducted by searching social sciences databases and electronic libraries including Google Scholar, Sage Journal, and Science Direct (1990-2020). The results suggested that psychotherapeutic interventions including cognitive behavior therapy, mindful-based cognitive therapy; and interpersonal and social rhythm therapeutic interventions are efficacious modalities for treatment when in augmentation with psychopharmacological treatment. Bipolar diathesis and comorbid conditions of anxiety and personality disorders are possible causal factors in developing the condition of treatment resistance in mood disorders. The prevalence rate of TRMD is more common in females and in late adulthood. The analysis also suggests that there are numerous risk factors contributing to making a mood disorder treatment-resistant over a period of time; the most observed conditions were physical and psychological comorbidity, inaccurate diagnosis, lack of proper medical treatment, illness severity, and late age diagnosis. In evidence-based non-medical treatment approaches aerobics demonstrated promising results in improving the condition of complex mood disorders. It was concluded that psychotherapeutic interventions in augmentation with pharmacological modalities enhance the efficacy of treatment.

The Use of Nudge Strategies in Improving Physicians' Prescribing Behavior: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

Nudges have been proposed as a method of influencing prescribing decisions. The purpose of this article is to 1) investigate associations between nudges' characteristics and effectiveness, 2) assess the quality of the literature, 3) assess cost-effectiveness, and 4) create a synthesis with policy recommendations. We searched health and social science databases. We included studies that targeted prescribing decisions, included a nudge, and used prescribing behavior as the outcome. We recorded study characteristics, effect size of the primary outcomes, and information on cost-effectiveness. We performed a meta-analysis on the standardized mean difference of the studies' primary outcomes, tested for associations between effect size and key intervention characteristics, and created a funnel plot evaluating publication bias. We identified 21 studies containing 25 nudges. In total, 62 of 85 (73%) outcomes showed a statistically significant effect. The average effect size was -0.22 standardized mean difference. No studies included heterogeneity analyses. We found no associations between effects and selected study characteristics. Study quality varied and correlated with study design. A total of 7 of 21 (33%) studies included an evaluation of costs. These studies suggested that the interventions were cost-effective but considered only direct effects. We found evidence of publication bias. Heterogeneity and few studies limit the possibilities of statistical inference about effectiveness. Nudges may be effective at directing prescribing decisions, but effects are small and health effects and cost-effectiveness are unclear. Future nudge studies should contain a rationale for the chosen nudge, prioritize the use of high-quality study designs, and include evaluations of heterogeneity, cost-effectiveness, and health outcomes to inform decision makers. Moreover, preregistration of the protocol is warranted to limit publication bias. Nudging as a method to improve prescribing decisions has gained popularity during the past decade.We find that nudging can improve prescribing decisions, but effect sizes are mostly small, and the size of derived health outcomes is unclear.Most studies use feedback and error-stopping nudges to target excessive opioid or antibiotic prescribing, making heterogeneity analyses across nudge types difficult.Further research on the cost-effectiveness of nudges and generalizability is needed to guide decision makers considering nudging as a tool to guide prescribing decisions.

Older Adults in Administrative Quagmire: A Scoping Review of Policy and Program Coordination Across Six Marginalized Older Adult Populations.

Coordination of governmental action is crowded with policies and programs that are highly interdependent, sometimes operating in silos if not contradicting each other. These dilemmas, or administrative quagmires, are heightened for older adults in general, but they are particularly problematic for marginalized older adults because these groups often require public assistance and support. This scoping review studies the coordination of governmental action on aging published in social science journals, focusing on 6 groups of marginalized older adults: those with histories of immigration, individuals with severe mental health problems, those who have had experiences of homelessness, formerly incarcerated individuals, members of the LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender) community, and individuals living in a rural area. A 5-stage scoping review methodology was followed, and 53 articles (published between 2000 and 2022) from 5 social science databases were analyzed. The analysis revealed a limited number of contributions with coordination as a primary focus. Understandings of coordination varied but tended to examine structure, organization, and relationships between sectors. When coordination was the primary object of a study, it was often analyzed in 1 specific policy area or within a clinical setting along the lines of facilitating care coordination. This scoping review reveals a mutual neglect on the part of public administration and policy scholars toward marginalized older adults and a lack of public administration considerations on the part of scholars studying long-term care and social service programs for these marginalized older adults.

The association between cultural and linguistic maintenance and mental health in migrant adolescents: A scoping review.

Although previous reviews have examined the relationship between heritage cultural maintenance and mental health outcomes among migrants, none have focussed specifically on migrant adolescents (i.e. those aged 10-24 years). To examine (1) the focus, scope and nature of quantitative empirical research investigating heritage cultural maintenance - including linguistic maintenance - and mental health outcomes among migrant adolescents globally and (2) the association between cultural and linguistic maintenance and migrant adolescents' mental health outcomes. Following the Arksey and O'Malley methodological framework for scoping reviews, we searched 11 electronic health, medical, social science and language databases from database inception until the search date (6 June 2023), using English search terms. We extracted data from included empirical studies using a template with pre-defined data items, which we present in comprehensive overviews and narrative summaries. Thirty-four studies met our inclusion criteria. We identified considerable heterogeneity between studies regarding their research foci, methodologies, terminologies, outcomes and findings regarding the association between cultural maintenance and mental health outcomes. We specifically identified mixed findings regarding the latter, which cannot be transferred or generalised. The heterogenous nature of methodologies and outcome measures in the published literature, in addition to a scarcity of research from low- and middle-income countries, have hindered meaningful progress in this field. Efforts to address these issues, and to take adolescent context into consideration, will facilitate a more accurate understanding of how cultural maintenance relates to migrant adolescent mental health, and inform future interventions to improve mental health outcomes.

Access to Care and Outcomes With the Affordable Care Act for Persons With Criminal Legal Involvement

By expanding health insurance to millions of people in the US, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) may have important health, economic, and social welfare implications for people with criminal legal involvement-a population with disproportionately high morbidity and mortality rates. To scope the literature for studies assessing the association of any provision of the ACA with 5 types of outcomes, including insurance coverage rates, access to care, health outcomes, costs of care, and social welfare outcomes among people with criminal legal involvement. The literature search included results from PubMed, CINAHL Complete, APA Psycinfo, Embase, Social Science Database, and Web of Science and was conducted to include articles from January 1, 2014, through December 31, 2023. Only original empirical studies were included, but there were no restrictions on study design. Of the 3538 studies initially identified for potential inclusion, the final sample included 19 studies. These 19 studies differed substantially in their definition of criminal legal involvement and units of analysis. The studies also varied with respect to study design, but difference-in-differences methods were used in 10 of the included studies. With respect to outcomes, 100 unique outcomes were identified across the 19 studies, with at least 1 in all 5 outcome categories determined prior to the literature search. Health insurance coverage and access to care were the most frequently studied outcomes. Results for the other 3 outcome categories were mixed, potentially due to heterogeneous definitions of populations, interventions, and outcomes and to limitations in the availability of individual-level datasets that link incarceration data with health-related data. In this scoping review, the ACA was associated with an increase in insurance coverage and a decrease in recidivism rates among people with criminal legal involvement. Future research and data collection are needed to understand more fully health and nonhealth outcomes among people with criminal legal involvement related to the ACA and other health insurance policies-as well as the mechanisms underlying these relationships.

Spanish-Language Measures of Intimate Partner Violence: A Systematic Review of Psychometric Evidence and Translation Methodology.

Intimate partner violence (IPV) is prevalent worldwide, including in Latinx populations. Reported rates of IPV in Latinx populations vary widely, indicating that measurement errors may be impeding researchers' and clinicians' understanding of IPV in these populations. We conducted a systematic review across a range of social science databases to evaluate psychometric properties and translation methodologies of Spanish-language IPV measures. Records were included if they included Spanish measures assessing IPV victimization. We identified 91 records with a total of 70 measures and evaluated the measures' extant psychometric evidence using the COnsensus-based Standards for the selection of health Measurement Instruments. For the measures translated from English to Spanish, we evaluated the translation methodology based on best-practice recommendations for achieving translations that are psychometrically equivalent to their original versions. We found that validation information about measures was sparse and that few translations adhered to best-practice recommendations. Based on our a priori criteria we recommend the Plazaola-Castaño translation of the Index of Spouse Abuse. In closing, we discuss the validity evidence of translated measures independent of the original language version and best-practice recommendations in translating psychological measures.

CO-19 PDB 2.0: A Comprehensive COVID-19 Database with Global Auto-Alerts, Statistical Analysis, and Cancer Correlations.

Biological databases serve as critical basics for modern research, and amid the dynamic landscape of biology, the COVID-19 database has emerged as an indispensable resource. The global outbreak of Covid-19, commencing in December 2019, necessitates comprehensive databases to unravel the intricate connections between this novel virus and cancer. Despite existing databases, a crucial need persists for a centralized and accessible method to acquire precise information within the research community. The main aim of the work is to develop a database which has all the COVID-19-related data available in just one click with auto global notifications. This gap is addressed by the meticulously designed COVID-19 Pandemic Database (CO-19 PDB 2.0), positioned as a comprehensive resource for researchers navigating the complexities of COVID-19 and cancer. Between December 2019 and June 2024, the CO-19 PDB 2.0 systematically collected and organized 120 datasets into six distinct categories, each catering to specific functionalities. These categories encompass a chemical structure database, a digital image database, a visualization tool database, a genomic database, a social science database, and a literature database. Functionalities range from image analysis and gene sequence information to data visualization and updates on environmental events. CO-19 PDB 2.0 has the option to choose either the search page for the database or the autonotification page, providing a seamless retrieval of information. The dedicated page introduces six predefined charts, providing insights into crucial criteria such as the number of cases and deaths', country-wise distribution, 'new cases and recovery', and rates of death and recovery. The global impact of COVID-19 on cancer patients has led to extensive collaboration among research institutions, producing numerous articles and computational studies published in international journals. A key feature of this initiative is auto daily notifications for standardized information updates. Users can easily navigate based on different categories or use a direct search option. The study offers up-to-date COVID-19 datasets and global statistics on COVID-19 and cancer, highlighting the top 10 cancers diagnosed in the USA in 2022. Breast and prostate cancers are the most common, representing 30% and 26% of new cases, respectively. The initiative also ensures the removal or replacement of dead links, providing a valuable resource for researchers, healthcare professionals, and individuals. The database has been implemented in PHP, HTML, CSS and MySQL and is available freely at https://www.co-19pdb.habdsk.org/. Database URL: https://www.co-19pdb.habdsk.org/.

A gender-based review of workplace violence amongst the global health workforce-A scoping review of the literature.

Workplace violence (WPV) impacts all levels of the health workforce, including the individual provider, organization, and society. While there is a substantial body of literature on various aspects of WPV against the health workforce, gender-based WPV (GB-WPV) has received less attention. Violence in both the workplace and broader society is rooted in gendered socio-economic, cultural, and institutional factors. Developing a robust understanding of GB-WPV is crucial to explore the differing experiences, responses, and outcomes of GB-WPV with respect to gender. We conducted a scoping review and report on the prevalence and risk factors of GB-WPV in healthcare settings globally. The review followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR). We registered the scoping review protocol on the Open Science Framework on January 14, 2022, at https://osf.io/t4pfb/. A systematic search was conducted of empirical literature in five health and social science databases. Of 13667, 226 studies were included in the analysis. Across the studies, more women than men experienced non-physical violence, including verbal abuse, sexual harassment, and bullying. Men experienced more physical violence compared to women. Younger age, less experience, shifting duties, specific clinical settings, lower professional status, organizational hierarchy, and minority status were found to be sensitive to gender, reflecting women's structural disadvantages in the workplace. Given the high prevalence and impact of GB-WPV on women, we provided recommendations to address systemic issues in clinical practice, academia, policy, and research.

Multi-Family Housing Environment and Physical Activity: A Systematic Review of the Literature.

To identify environmental features of multi-family housing (MFH) and their surrounding neighborhoods that influence residents' physical activity (PA). Articles published between January 2000 and September 2023 were identified from major social science, medical, health, behavioral science, and urban studies databases. Studies were included if they (a) were empirical studies published in peer-reviewed journals and written in English; (b) focused on the MFH environment or the surrounding neighborhood; and (c) had at least one PA outcome. Data was extracted regarding the study objective, location, study sample, research design, results related to MFH and neighborhood environment, and limitations. Descriptive summary of study characteristics and analysis to identify emerging themes at three spatial scales (i.e., building, site, and neighborhood). Findings from 35 identified articles revealed factors influencing MFH residents' PA. On the building level, typology (apartment, townhouse) and tenure (public, market rent) showed contrasting correlations with PA in different age groups. On the site level, the presence of PA facilities and safe, walking-friendly environments promoted PA. On the neighborhood level, safety, quality of PA and pedestrian infrastructure, upkeep, air quality, aesthetics, neighborhood satisfaction, street connectivity, walkability, land use mix, density, and public transport promoted PA. Study findings highlight the importance of the MFH environments in promoting PA, especially in older adults and young children. With increasing housing demand, understanding diverse MFH typologies and the impact of interventions on multi-spatial scales can help promote healthy and activity-friendly communities.

Women's Experiences of Sexual Agency Under Constrained Choice: A Systematic Review

In Western societies, women are encouraged to present themselves in sexualized ways and are expected to experience this as a form of sexual agency. However, research on women's sexual agency is new and still developing, leading to inconsistent definitions and understandings. In addition, women's experiences of and resistance to violations of their sexual boundaries are frequently overlooked. The current systematic review answers research questions on how sexual agency has been conceptualized, how it has been studied in relation to sexual violence, and how women's social positionality influences sexual agency. A systematic strategy was used to search 10 health and social science databases and analyze 95 full-text articles. A feminist social constructionist framework guided this mixed-methods synthesis and provided a framework for addressing the research questions. The findings contribute to a deeper understanding of how society and researchers understand women's sexual agency and how intersectionality is largely ignored. Findings also identify an urgent need for future research to consider the relations between violence against women and women's perceptions of (or lack of) sexual agency. Future policymakers, researchers, and educators should move away from a one-size-fits-all approach in their work and instead, consider the diverse impact of societal expectations on women. By doing so, we can develop policies and programming that are specifically tailored to address the unique needs and challenges faced by women in society.

Factors that affect the health of immigrants: Qualitative meta synthesis.

Migration has challenged society. Most people who move do so for economic reasons, but others move for more tragic reasons. The proportion of female migrants was slightly higher than that of male migrants, partly due to the longer life expectancy of women and the higher demand for female migrants in care-related Jobs. The process may affect migrants' health, particularly in countries where healthcare is associated with high economic costs or insurance availability. A global systematic review of qualitative studies with meta-synthesis was conducted. The results can be used to support health policy and clinical practice. To describe how migrants perceive and experience the process of migrating and how it affects their health. Databases consulted were Medline, PsychInfo, Cuiden, Cinahl, WOS, Scopus, Social Science Database, and Epistemonikos. Thirty-four articles were selected for final meta-synthesis. All qualitative primary studies were included that describe the experiences or perceptions of migrants and refugees over 18 years that talk about their migration process and the impact on their health; written in English or Spanish between 2016 and 2021. Articles referring to second generations and those dealing with pathologies that pre-date the migration process were excluded. The COREQ and JBI templates were used as quality criteria. Studies mostly used a phenomenological methodology and in-depth interviews, both individual and group, were used for data collection and narrative synthesis. Uncertainty emerges as a main category. Three other interrelated themes have a direct impact on migrants' health: Language, Social Networks and Work. There are several conditions in each of these that have a positive or negative impact on health. The gender condition appears in both work and social networks, positively and negatively. Health would be improved by having a stable job, which would facilitate access to health resources. Social networks and language are facilitators of access to a better job, but not the only condition. From a gender perspective, social networks can become a source of health problems, especially for women. The process of migration places women in a position of vulnerability due to the difficulties of reconciling family and work life. Job insecurity, workload, loss of family life or social isolation increase hopelessness and anxiety, leading to health problems. As an academic review study, no patient contribution was required, and this study serves as a theoretical framework for more in-depth research that will work with migrant populations. As a public contribution, this work provides evidence of the need to improve access to health for some populations, in line with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) set for 2030.

An International Scoping Review of Empirical Research in Relation to the Recruitment and Assessment of LGBTQ+ Communities in the Adoption Process

Objectives. The goal of this review is to identify the experiences of the adoption assessment process for LGBTQ + adoptive parents. The intention is to highlight the scope of current literature, identify any research gaps, and from these, make recommendations for policy, practice, and research. Design. A scoping review. Methods. Social Policy and Practice, Medline, PsychINFO, ASSIA, British Education Index, International Bibliography of the Social Sciences, Scopus, Social Services Abstracts, and Google Scholar databases were searched. Articles were screened at the title and abstract level and at full text by two reviewers. The PAGER framework for scoping reviews was utilised. Results. A total of 413 articles were screened at the title and abstract level, of which 74 were also assessed at full text for eligibility. The 16 studies identified for inclusion originated from 6 different countries, with the most prevalent being the United States (10). Conclusions. Adoption processes are heterocentric which creates difficulty for LGBTQ + people in navigating them effectively. Examples of inclusive practice are evident in the literature. Process change and inclusion need to occur at organizational and policy levels rather than being the sole responsibility of social care practitioners. Future research is needed with underrepresented groups within the LGBTQ + community.

Дослідження наукового інтересу Китаю до України: аналіз вмісту бази даних CSSCI (2023)

As China-Ukraine relations gradually develop, China’s attention to Ukraine is increasing not only in the mainstream media, but also in the academic community. This article explores the multidimensional construct of perceptions and evaluations in the context of China’s scientific interest in Ukraine, examining how these dynamics play out at different levels in society in both countries. Using “Ukraine” as a key term, we retrieved from the China Social Sciences Citation Index (CSSCI) (the most influential social science database in China) 114 relevant research articles published up to July 15, 2023. This research aims to identify the current state, prospects and trends of Chinese academic research in Ukraine in various disciplines. Content analysis and word frequency analysis using the ROST Wordparser text analyzer were used. Analysis of CSSCI research results shows that the Ukrainian issue has become a subject of wide interest in the Chinese academic community. This comprehensive study enables us to understand the focus of China’s scientific interest in Ukraine, interdisciplinary interaction. By delving into the scientific contributions surrounding the Ukrainian issue, this study contributes to the improvement of mutual understanding between China and Ukraine, as well as scientific exchanges and the promotion of bilateral cooperation in various fields.

Social context of intimate partner violence and system response during COVID-19 in Africa: A scoping review

Intimate partner violence (IPV) stands as a global social and public health crisis deeply rooted in extensive social and cultural contexts. The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic has disproportionately affected social interactions. This scoping review aims to synthesize evidence on the social contexts of IPV and system responses to COVID-19 in Africa. Adhering to the Arksey and O’Malley (2005) approach, refined by the Joanna Briggs Institute (2020), this review encompassed relevant literature from bibliographic databases, institutional websites, and electronic libraries from January 2020 to December 2021. The search was executed in three phases across databases, including Social Science Database and Sociological Abstract (through EBSCO), Africa Journal Archive, ProQuest (Coronavirus Research Library; Middle East and Africa Collection; Psychology, Sociology, and Social Science Database), and Google Scholar, also extended to the World Bank e-Library, the BBC portal, and pertinent websites. Briggs’s (2020) recommendations guided the screening, focusing exclusively on English language articles. Convergent synthesis of extracted information utilized thematic analysis and, when applicable, descriptive statistics. Of the 14 articles meeting inclusion criteria, results revealed varied incidences of IPV during the COVID-19 pandemic, encompassing emotional, economic, and violence among minors. Women’s experiences of daily IPV realities during the outbreak and lockdown hinged on contextual factors and relationship dynamics. Emotional and economic violence was predominant, with limited IPV cases among minors. State and non-state responses were inadequate, reactionary, and insufficiently transformative for the complex emergency posed by COVID-19 on livelihoods and intimate relationships. Pre-existing IPV instances lacked sensitivity in the preparedness and measures for gender inequalities within intimate relationships. While IPV was reported, both state and non-state actors exhibited notably deficient responsiveness.

Predictors of care leavers’ health outcomes: A scoping review

BackgroundThe care leaver population has been noted to have worse health outcomes than those who have not experienced state care. In order to address these differential health outcomes, it is essential that the causal factors underlying this inequality are understood. AimThis systematic review has three primary research aims: (1) to identify the key predictors of care leavers’ health; (2) to understand how determinants of health are conceptualised within the literature; and (3) to understand what methods and data sources are used to understand the health outcomes of care leavers. MethodsThrough systematic searches of academic databases (APA PsycInfo-OVID, Applied Social Science Index and Abstracts (ASSIA), Social Services Abstracts, and ProQuest Social Science Journals- Social Science Database) for peer reviewed articles, we screened 21,545 (final n = 107) studies through three levels of review. We conducted the review following the PRISMA-ScR checklist and guidelines. Eligibility criteria were: written in English; an empirical study; published in a peer-reviewed journal; included health as an independent or dependent variable; and focused upon health outcomes for care leavers, including those who had aged out and those who had experienced care during their childhood but had reached the age of majority. FindingsThe included studies suggest a range of key predictors of care leavers' health across micro, meso and macro levels, although there is a lack of consensus for some factors. Health is most commonly framed as an outcome, with care status being the primary predictor of care leavers' health. The predominant focus of studies is on the micro-level, with macro predictors of health relatively neglected and a lack of comparative studies. Almost half of the studies used secondary data, with the majority being from the USA and relying on a limited number of datasets. ConclusionGiven these findings, this review outlines a number of implications for policy and practice as well as recommendations for future research into predictors of care leavers’ health, as well as the development of robust datasets that would help facilitate this.