ABSTRACT
Las cárceles han llamado la atención de la sociología al ser una institución dentro de la sociedad y, al mismo tiempo, comportarse como una sociedad en sí misma, con sus propios códigos y normas. Sykes la llamó "sociedad de los cautivos", por cuanto asume que los procesos de adaptación tenían que ver con aspectos endógenos de la propia prisión y no con características exógenas, como las trayectorias de las personas encarceladas o los barrios de los que provienen. Esta investigación, realizada en dos cárceles chilenas usando una metodología cualitativa, analizó cómo se conforman los roles entre internos, para explorar la vigencia de lo señalado por Sykes. Nuestros hallazgos sugieren que: (i) las relaciones entre internos se caracterizan por fuertes asimetrías de poder y (ii) los roles y funciones están marcados por lo que ocurre en los barrios de proveniencia, lo que sugiere que en el siglo XXI barrio y cárcel tienen fronteras porosas. Finalmente, discutimos las implicancias de esta porosidad para repensar los programas de reinserción.
Prisons have attracted the attention of sociology for being an institution within society and, at the same time, behaving as a society in its own right, with its own codes and norms. Sykes called it a "society of captives", as he assumes that the adaptation processes had to do with endogenous aspects of the prison itself and not with exogenous characteristics, such as the trajectories of the incarcerated persons or the neighbourhoods they come from. This research, carried out in two Chilean prisons using a qualitative methodology, analysed how roles are shaped among inmates, in order to explore the validity of Sykes' findings. Our findings suggest that: (a) relationships between inmates are characterised by strong power asymmetries and (b) roles and functions are shaped by what happens in the neighbourhoods of origin, suggesting that in the 21st century, neighbourhood and prison have porous boundaries. Finally, we discuss the implications of this porosity for rethinking reintegration programmes.
As prisões têm atraído a atenção da sociologia por serem uma instituição dentro da sociedade e, ao mesmo tempo, comportaremse como uma sociedade em si mesma, com códigos e normas próprios. Sykes a chamou "sociedade de cativos", pois supõe que os processos de adaptação têm a ver com aspectos endógenos da própria prisão e não com características exógenas, como as trajetórias das pessoas encarceradas ou os bairros de onde elas vêm. Nesta pesquisa, realizada em duas prisões chilenas, foi utilizada uma metodologia qualitativa e analisado como os papéis são moldados entre os detentos, a fim de explorar a validade das conclusões de Sykes. Nossos resultados sugerem que as relações entre os detentos sejam caracterizadas por fortes assimetrias de poder e que os papéis e as funções sejam moldados pelo que acontece nos bairros de origem, o que leva à hipótese de que, no século 21, o bairro e a prisão tenham sido fronteiras porosas. Por fim, discutimos as implicações dessa porosidade para repensar os programas de reintegração.
Subject(s)
Humans , Adult , Prisons , Interpersonal RelationsABSTRACT
BACKGROUND@#Bacterial contamination of drinking water is a major public health problem in rural areas of sub-Saharan Africa. Unimproved water sources are a major reservoir of Escherichia coli (E. coli) causing severe diarrhoea in humans. This study assessed E. coli counts in drinking water from different sources and their relationship with water source protection status and neighbourhood sanitation and hygiene practices in rural villages of Mohale Basin in Lesotho.@*METHODS@#Thirty drinking water sources were purposively sampled and their water analysed for E. coli counts. The types of water sources, their protection status and neighbourhood sanitation and hygiene practices in their proximity were also assessed. E. coli counts in water samples were compared to water source protection status, neighbourhood sanitation, hygiene practices, livestock faeces and latrine proximity to water sources.@*RESULTS@#E. coli counts were found in all water samples and ranged from less than 30 colony-forming units (cfu)/100 ml to 4800 cfu/100 ml in protected sources to 43,500,000 cfu/100 ml in unprotected sources. A significant association between E. coli counts in drinking water samples and lack of water source protection, high prevalence of open defecation (59%, n = 100), unhygienic practices, livestock faeces and latrine detections in proximity to water sources was found in the study (P < 0.05).@*CONCLUSION@#Water sources in studied villages were contaminated with faeces and posed a health risk to consumers of that water. Community-led sanitation and hygiene education and better water source protection are urgently needed.
Subject(s)
Humans , Drinking Water , Microbiology , Escherichia coli , Feces , Microbiology , Health Behavior , Hygiene , Lesotho , Rural Health , Sanitation , Methods , Water Microbiology , Water Quality , Water SupplyABSTRACT
The risk factors associated with mental health among adolescents are usually described by researchers at an individual level. Neighbourhood factors and health have opened a new insight into the field of epidemiology. The aim of this study was to assess the reliability and validity of a newly developed Neighbourhood Factors on Mental Health Questionnaire among Malaysian adolescents. A cross-sectional study was conducted in four secondary schools in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia using a newly developed questionnaire which comprised of two main domains and seven items. Exploratory factor analysis and Cronbach’s alpha were used to measure the instrument’s construct validity and reliability. A total of 106 adolescents participated in this research. The majority of adolescents were 13 years old (40.6%), female (55.7%), Malays (68.9%), have parents who only studied until secondary school (66.0%) and lived in flats (32.1%). Bartlett’s Test of Sphericity was significant (Chi-square = 258.361, p<0.001) and Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin (KMO) value was 0.820. The final model of the instrument contained two domains, the neighbourhood physical environment and neighbourhood social environment factors. Factor loadings for all items were satisfactory ranging from 0.591 to 0.870. The overall Cronbach’s alpha was 0.810. The Neigbourhood Factors on Mental Health Questionnaire was found to be a valid and reliable instrument. It can be used to assess neighbourhood physical and social factors that can influence mental health of adolescents in Malaysia.
ABSTRACT
Background: A major health consequence of rapid population growth in urban areas is the increased pressure on existing overstretched water and sanitation services. This study of an expanding periurban neighbourhood of Yangon Region, Myanmar, aimed to ascertain the prevalence of acute diarrhoea in children under 5 years; to identify household sources of drinking-water; to describe purification and storage practices; and to assess drinking-water contamination at point-of-use. Methods: A survey of the prevalence of acute diarrhoea in children under 5 years was done in 211 households in February 2013; demographic data were also collected, along with data and details of sources of drinking water, water purification, storage practices and waste disposal. During March–August, a subset of 112 households was revisited to collect drinking water samples. The samples were analysed by the multiple tube fermentation method to count thermotolerant (faecal) coliforms and there was a qualitative determination of the presence of Escherichia coli. Results: Acute diarrhoea in children under 5 years was reported in 4.74% (10/211, 95% CI: 3.0–9.0) of households within the past two weeks. More than half of the households used insanitary pit latrines and 36% disposed of their waste into nearby streams and ponds. Improved sources of drinking water were used, mainly the unchlorinated ward reservoir, a chlorinated tube well or purified bottled water. Nearly a quarter of households never used any method for drinking-water purification. Ninety-four per cent (105/112) of water samples were contaminated with thermotolerant (faecal) coliforms, ranging from 2.2 colony-forming units (CFU)/100 mL (21.4%) to more than 1000 CFU/100 mL (60.7%). Of faecal (thermotolerant)-coliform-positive water samples, 70% (47/68) grew E. coli. Conclusion: The prevalence of acute diarrhoea reported for children under 5 years was high and a high level of drinking-water contamination was detected, though it was unclear whether this was due to contamination at source or at point-of-use. Maintenance of drinking-water quality in study households is complex. Further research is crucial to prove the cost effectiveness in quality improvement of drinking water at point-of-use in resource-limited settings. In addition, empowerment of householders to use measures of treating water by boiling, filtration or chlorination, and safe storage with proper handling is essential.
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En este artículo se describe el proceso de elaboración del ECAVE, un cuestionario cuyo objetivo es evaluar la calidad del vecindario para las familias y sus integrantes, a partir de la información aportada por equipos de profesionales de los Servicios Sociales (psicólogos, trabajadores sociales y educadores sociales) que trabajen en la zona a evaluar. Asimismo, en el artículo se presentan los análisis preliminares sobre las propiedades psicométricas de este instrumento de evaluación. Los resultados obtenidos ofrecen evidencias de la fiabilidad y validez de la prueba, así como de su potencialidad para examinar, de manera sistemática, algunas de las principales características de los vecindarios que pueden incidir en el funcionamiento de las familias que en ellos residen y en el desarrollo psicológico de sus miembros. En el anexo final del artículo se ofrece el ECAVE, así como una entrevista semiestructurada para ser utilizada con los equipos de profesionales de los Servicios Sociales y que permite recoger la información necesaria para completar el cuestionario.
In this article the design of a scale to assess quality of neighbourhood (with information given by teams of psychologists, social workers and social educators from Social Services) for families and individuals is presented. Preliminary analyses about psychometric properties are discussed. Results obtained indicate some evidences for the reliability and the validity of the scale, and its potential for examining, in a systematic way, some relevant dimensions of neighbourhoods for family functioning and individual psychological adjustment. Both the questionnaire and a semi-structured interview (for collecting the data with the teams of practitioners from Social Services) are included at the end of the article.
ABSTRACT
Introduction: A cross-sectional study was conducted to determine the familial and socio-environmental predictors of overweight and obesity among 1430, 9- 12 year-old primary school children and their parents in Selangor and Kuala Lumpur. Methodology: Body weight and height were measured and body mass index was calculated. Modified Child Feeding (CFQ) and Determinants of Adolescent Social Well-being and Health (DASH) questionnaires were used to measure familial and socio-environmental factors. Results: A total of 17.9% of the children were overweight while 16.0% were obese. Positive relationships were found between child’s BMI and parent’s BMI (r = 0.129, p < 0.01), concern about child’s weight (r = 0.125, p < 0.01) and restriction (r = 0.057, p < 0.05) to unhealthy foods. However, negative relationships were found between child’s BMI with pressure to eat (r = -0.135, p < 0.01) and neighbourhood safety perception (r = -0.053, p < 0.05). The logistic regression analysis showed that being male (Exp (β) = 0.538; 95% CI = 0.421-0.687), higher parent’s BMI (Exp (β) = 1.055; 95% CI = 1.028-1.082), higher concern about child’s weight (Exp (β) = 1.082; 95% CI = 1.030- 1.127), low pressure to eat (Exp (β) = 0.857; 95% CI = 0.801-0.916) and low perception of neighbourhood safety (Exp (β) = 0.951; 95% CI = 0.913-0.990) were significantly associated with increased risk of overweight. Conclusion: Parents should be the main target for education to modify children’s weight status. Further research should be carried out to understand the mechanism of influence of parents and the socio-environment on child’s health.