Health and education of children with albinism in Zimbabwe.
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Albinism is a relatively common genetic condition in Zimbabwe, a tropical country in southern Africa. Those affected have little pigment in their hair, skin or eyes, in sharp contrast to the normal dark pigmentation. This article describes the responses to a self-report questionnaire covering health, social and educational aspects completed by 138 schoolchildren with albinism living in rural areas of Zimbabwe. They reported persistent skin and a myriad of eye problems. Relationships between siblings appeared good, although problems of antagonism, avoidance and fear were encountered among strangers. Knowledge about albinism was patchy; pupils were keen to be better informed. This research highlights the need for widespread dissemination of accurate information about the genetics and health management of albinism to counter the many myths and misconceptions surrounding this condition. A management programme to promote the health and education of these children in southern Africa is proposed. In conclusion, this study indicated that pupils with albinism could participate in mainstream education, with appropriate intervention to help them manage the problems associated with their low vision and sensitive skins. (+info)
The gin epidemic: much ado about what?
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While there is no doubt that the era of the 'gin epidemic' was associated with poverty and social unrest, the surge in gin drinking was localized to London and was a concomitant, not the cause, of these problems. The two main underlying social problems were widespread overcrowding and poverty. The former was related to an unprecedented migration of people from the country to London. The latter stemmed from an economic ideology called 'poverty theory', whose basic premise was that, by keeping the 'inferior order' in poverty, English goods would be competitive and would remain that way since workers would be completely dependent on their employers. Widespread overcrowding and poverty led to societal unrest which manifested itself in increased drunkenness when cheap gin became available after Parliament did away with former distilling monopolies that had kept prices high. Reformers ignored the social causes of this unrest and, instead, focused on gin drinking by the poor which they feared was endangering England's wealth and security by enfeebling its labour force, and reducing its manpower by decreasing its population. Part of this hostility was also related to gin itself. While drunkenness was often spoken of affectionately when it was induced by beer, England's national drink, gin was considered a foreign drink, and therefore less acceptable. These concerns were voiced less often after the passage of the Tippling Act of 1751, which resulted in an increase in gin prices and decreased consumption. However, the second half of the century was also a period in which England's military victory over the French gave it new wealth and power, which dispelled upper-class fears about an enfeebled and dissolute working class. It was also an era when new public health measures, such as mass inoculation against smallpox, and a decrease in the marrying age, led to a population increase that dispelled reformist fears about manpower shortages. The conclusion is that, while the lower cost of gin sparked the 'gin epidemic', the social unrest associated with this unprecedented surge in gin consumption was exacerbated, rather than caused, by the increase in drinking. (+info)
Adolescents' self-reported problems as predictors of psychopathology in adulthood: 10-year follow-up study.
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BACKGROUND: Knowledge of the course of psychopathology from adolescence into adulthood is needed to answer questions concerning origins and prognosis of psychopathology across a wide age range. AIMS: To investigate the 10-year course and predictive value of self-reported problems in adolescence in relation to psychopathology in adulthood. METHOD: Subjects from the general population, aged 11-19 years, were assessed with the Youth Self-Report (YSR) at initial assessment, and with the Young Adult Self-Report (YASR), the Composite International Diagnostic Interview (CIDI) and three sections of the Diagnostic Interview Schedule (DIS) 10 years later. RESULTS: Of the subjects with deviant YSR total problem scores, 23% (males) and 22% (females) had deviant YASR total problem scores at follow-up. Subjects with initial deviant YSR total problem, internalising and externalising scores had higher prevalences of DSM-IV diagnoses at follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: Adolescent problems tended to persist into adulthood to a moderate degree. High rates of problems during adolescence are risk factors for psychiatric disorders in adulthood. (+info)
Values in preventive medicine: the hidden agenda.
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We know how lifestyle affects health, yet concern for preventing illness by promoting healthy lifestyles remains marginal in medical practice. Effective preventive strategies can raise daunting moral and political problems about the extent to which individual freedoms may be infringed, particularly on paternalistic grounds. Evaluative questions also arise about more specific matters, such as identifying risk and causal factors, determining what level of risk is acceptable, and deciding how compelling the evidence must be to take preventive action. (+info)
The human right to adequate housing: a tool for promoting and protecting individual and community health.
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The human right to adequate housing is enshrined in international law. The right to adequate housing can be traced to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which was unanimously adopted by the world community in 1948. Since that time, the right to adequate housing has been reaffirmed on numerous occasions and further defined and elaborated. A key component of this right is habitability of housing, which should comply with health and safety standards. Therefore, the right to adequate housing provides an additional tool for advocates and others interested in promoting healthful housing and living conditions and thereby protecting individual and community health. (+info)
Social problems in oncology.
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A study was undertaken to describe, evaluate and categorise the social problems experienced by cancer patients. Ninety-six adult cancer patients at all stages of disease participated in either a telephone focus group discussion, a face to face focus group or an individual interview which were tape recorded and transcribed. Six experts analysed the transcripts. A total of 32 social problems were identified categorized under eight headings plus four single items. The categories were: problems with (1) managing in the home, (2) health and welfare services, (3) finances, (4) employment, (5) legal matters, (6) relationships, (7) sexuality and body image and (8) recreation. Problems with relationships and communication were the most frequently reported with financial, employment, body image and domestic problems also being widely endorsed. Female groups, younger patient groups and groups where the aim of treatment was palliative reported more social problems than other groups. Social problems are common and important to cancer patients. The social problems identified in this study will contribute to an item pool generated for developing a Social Problems Inventory that may be included in patient centred assessment as part of routine oncology practice. (+info)
A population health framework for inner-city mental health.
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Dealing with mental health problems in the inner city presents a major challenge to planners and service providers. Traditional mental health service-oriented interventions often prove ineffective due to the complexity of individuals' needs. This article argues that a population health framework can be used to identify critical risk and protective factors and facilitate more effective, upstream, population-based interventions for mental health problems in the inner city. A community report card is seen as a useful measure of key indicators at any point in time and of changes over time at the community or neighborhood level. A number of issues with regard to report card development are identified and discussed, as is the process of creating a report card, including key domains and the organization of findings. (+info)