Emergent gender myths: A social semiotic analysis of visual images in health communication for development

Background@#Visual images are used to communicate health effectively, yet visual gender representation in the context of health is not well established as most studies focused on effectiveness, awareness, adoption, or behavior change. @*Objectives@#This study explored emerging gender myths in visual images used to communicate reproductive health, maternal health, family and nutrition, breastfeeding, and childcare with the premise that visuals may shape notions of gender roles and identities. @*Methodology@#Selected images from flipcharts produced by development communication practitioners were analyzed using Kress and Van Leeuwen's social semiotics (2006). Interpretive visual analysis was used to analyze visual impacts (denotation) and cultural meanings (connotation) by Barthes' Order of Signification, and gender roles and identity naturalized by the images. @*Results@#Images for health communication used more women as subjects relative to the topics that are primarily women's concern. The subject's gaze were indirect offered as items of information, showing a relation of symbolic equality, and implying that health topics are part of the social discourse. Visual impacts and cultural meanings of images uncovered myths that embody the roles, and identities, and social expectations of men and women in health. Emerging gender myths have to do with anatomy, mainly as basis for the role, identity, and expectations, especially of women as main actors in health. @*Conclusion@#This study reveals that gender roles and identities portrayed in health are still universal and are not historically and culturally contingent.

Self perceived visual health among women aged 18-59 years in a rural area of Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh: a cross sectional study

Background: Visual health is both visual function and individual’s perception of vision. This study was conducted to estimate visual function and individual’s perception of vision and to understand the impact of sociodemographic factors and treatment seeking behaviour for eye morbidities among women in our society. The aim of the study was to obtain visual acuity scores and the perceived visual function score and analyse both objective and subjective visual health.Methods: A community based cross-sectional study was conducted among 182 women aged 18-59 years residing in rural practice area of School of Medical Sciences and Research, Sharda University, Greater Noida.Results: The most common problem in the study group was moderate visual impairment (23.1%), followed by severe visual impairment (8.2%) and blindness (1%). The common causes being uncorrected refractive errors followed by cataract. Visual impairment was maximum among 49-59 years (47.46%), illiterate (54.24%) and in lower socio-economic status (54.24%).Conclusions: An intersectoral approach involving the PRI, ASHA/ANM at all levels of the health system may be appropriate. Strategies involving the communities, schools, colleges, workplaces and shifting to preventive and curative approach instead of only curative approach may help to create more awareness about common avoidable causes of blindness namely refractive errors and cataract. Comprehensive eye care services from early screening to treatment need to be made accessible, affordable and available at all levels of health system irrespective of gender, literacy, age and socioeconomic status to improve visual health and thus quality of life.

Misión Milagro en Honduras: ¿mito o realidad? / Miracle mission in Honduras: ¿myth or reality?

La Misión Milagro, concebida como una campaña de solidaridad en el ámbito oftalmológico con todos los pueblos latinoamericanos y caribeños, surgió por iniciativa de Cuba apoyada por la República Bolivariana de Venezuela. Se analizaron sus logros y su importancia después de una década de su surgimiento y se destacó su influencia en la salud visual de los hondureños. Muchos han sido los beneficios que ha aportado este proyecto de alcance social: prevenir y tratar las principales causas de ceguera, así como facilitar la reincorporación social de los pacientes tratados, lo cual mostró una gran aceptación por los pueblos y un enriquecimiento no solo científico-intelectual, sino humanitario de la misión médica cubana(AU)

The Miracle Mission, created as a solidarity campaign in the ophthalmologic field for all the Caribbean and Latin American countries, has emerged at the Cuban initiative and the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela supported it. After a decade of its foundation, its achievements and importance are analyzed and its influence in the visual health of the Honduran people was also highlighted. Many benefits have been obtained from this project of social impact such as prevention and treatment of the main causes of blindness, as well as facilitating the social reincorporation of patients after treatment. This project has shown great acceptance by the people and the enrichment of the Cuban medical mission not only in the scientific-intellectual field but also in the humanitarian field(AU)

Standards on Research of Healthcare Eye Pad Based on Traditional Chinese Medicine Theories / 世界科学技术-中医药现代化

With the rapid development of information technologies and change of production method and life style,the visual health crisis has become a public health endangering the sustainable development of the economic society and national security,which shall be concerned and tackled by all levels of the society.Under the background of fully playing the role of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) in preventive treatment,coping with the visual health crisis and satisfying the social needs for vision care,healthcare eye pad manufacturers with fairly scale have been emerged in China.However,there are no technical standards for healthcare eye pad products that are applicable for the whole country to standardize the production behaviors of the enterprises and protect the interests of the consumers.This research proposed the design and description for two technical standards of general requirements and inspection methods,as well as the vision on standards to be concerned and prepared by the eye healthcare industry in the future on the basis of analyses made for the contents and key indicators of the self-declared standards of the healthcare eye pad manufacturers.

Fundamentos de los estudios de costo de la enfermedad: valoración actual del costo del glaucoma / Basic principles of study of disease costs: current assessment of glaucoma cost

INTRODUCCION: los estudios del costo de la enfermedad consisten en una estimación cuantificada y valorada en unidades monetarias de un conjunto de efectos de una enfermedad, un grupo de enfermedades o de un factor de riesgo, sobre los recursos, y sobre otras variables que tienen un efecto presumible sobre el bienestar de los individuos y la sociedad. OBJETIVOS: explicar los fundamentos generales de los estudios de costo de la enfermedad, y describir el estado actual de un caso particular, del glaucoma. MÉTODOS: se aplicó el modelo Big 6 desarrollado por Mike Eisenberg y Bob Berkoeitz, como método sistemático de solución de problemas de información, apoyada en el pensamiento crítico, para realizar la búsqueda de bibliografía. RESULTADOS: los estudios del costo de la enfermedad se consideran un estudio parcial, o bien un tipo de ejercicio de preevaluación que puede servir de punto de partida de estudios de evaluación propiamente dichos. Los estudios sobre las implicaciones socioeconómicas del glaucoma, refieren que los costos de la atención al paciente aumentan a medida que empeora esta enfermedad, y que la efectividad en el tratamiento al paciente y el retraso en la progresión de la enfermedad, pueden reducir significativamente la carga económica del glaucoma. CONCLUSIONES: los estudios de costo de la enfermedad pueden demostrar que las enfermedades requieren una mayor asignación de recursos para la prevención y para el tratamiento, y ayudarán a influir en las decisiones sobre las prioridades de investigación y monitorear el impacto de iniciativas de políticas en la salud visual

INTRODUCTION: studies of disease costs are an quantified valuation and assessed in monetary units of a series of disease effects, a group of diseases or of a risk factor on the resources and on other variables with a likely effect on the subject and society wellbeing. OBJECTIVES: to explain the general the basic principles of studies of disease cost and to describe the current state of a particular case of the glaucoma. METHODS: Big 6 form was applied developed by Mike Eisenberg and Bob Berkoeitz, as a systemic method of information problems solution supported in the critical thought to carry out the search of reference. RESULTS: the disease cost studies are a partial study or a type of pre-evaluation exercise that may to be the starting point of evaluation studies as such. The studies on the socioeconomic implications of glaucoma showed that the costs of patient care increase according to the worsening of disease and that the activity in patient treatment and a retard in the disease progression may to reduce significantly the economic burden of glaucoma. CONCLUSIONS: the disease cost studies may to demonstrate that diseases require a major resources allocation to prevention and to treatment and will help to influence in the decisions on the research priorities and to monitoring the impact of initiative of politics in visual health

Prevalencia de ceguera en el Departamento de Santander - Colombia / Blindness prevalence in Santander, Colombia

Objetivo: Medir la prevalencia de ceguera y déficit visual severo en población mayor de 50 años en el Departamento de Santander; igualmente medir la prevalencia de catarata relacionada con ceguera y déficit visual; la cobertura y resultados de los servicios de cirugía de catarata y las principales barreras que tienen las personas para acceder a dicho servicio. Materiales y métodos: estudio de prevalencia de base poblacional con muestreo aleatorio sistemático por conglomerados, tamaño de la muestra de 4.082 individuos. Se siguió la metodología de evaluación rápida de servicios de cirugía de catarata de la Organización Mundial de la Salud - OMS. Resultados: la prevalencia de ceguera fue de 1,79%, el problema afecta prioritariamente a la población pobre y rural. Las principales causas de ceguera son la catarata (67.61%), alteraciones del segmento posterior (14.08%), otras opacidades cornéales (8.45%), glaucoma (2.82%) y errores refractivos, retinopatía diabética y complicaciones quirúrgicas (cada una con 1.41%). El 82,5% de las personas no se han operado por desconocimiento de la enfermedad o dificultades económicas. Discusión: la ceguera es un problema de salud pública de la región y su distribución es inequitativa, afectando prioritariamente a la población pobre ubicada en zonas rurales. Las principales causas de déficit visual son la catarata y los errores refractivos, causas totalmente corregibles de manera sencilla y económica. Se recomienda a las autoridades de salud, formular e implementar un plan de salud visual que incluya la movilización de actores del sistema de seguridad social en salud del Departamento. [Galvis V, Rey JJ, Rodríguez LA, Serrano C, Tello A. Prevalencia de ceguera en el Departamento de Santander - Colombia. MedUNAB 2009; 12:66-73].

Objective: to measure the prevalence of blindness and severe visual deficit in population greater of 50 years in the Department of Santander, Colombia; also to measure the cataract prevalence related to blindness and visual deficit, the cover and results of the cataract's surgery services, and the main barriers that people have to access to this service. Materials and methods: cross-sectional study with population base and systematic conglomerates random sampling; sample size of 4.082 individuals. The methodology followed was the WHO Fast Evaluation of Cataract's Surgery Services survey. Results: the prevalence of blindness was of 1,79%; this problem affects primarily poor and rural population. The main causes of blindness are the cataract (67.61%) back segment alteration (14.08%), another corneal opacities (8.45%), glaucoma (2.82%) y refractive errors, diabetic retinopathy and surgical complications (each with 1.41%). 82,5% of the people have not been operated by ignorance of their disease or economic difficulties. Discussion: blindness is a public health problem in Santander, and its distribution is inequitable, affecting primarily poor population located in rural zones. The main causes of visual deficit are cataract and refracting errors, totally correctable causes by simple and economic way. It is recommended to the health authorities, to formulate and to implement a plan of visual health that includes mobilization all social security system actors in health in Santander. [Galvis V, Rey JJ, Rodríguez LA, Serrano C, Tello A. Blindness prevalence in Santander, Colombia. MedUNAB 2009; 12:66-73].

Salud visual y sociedad: basamento para los cambios en la formación del especialista en Oftalmología / Visual health and society: changes developed in the ophthalmology specialist training

La “Misión Milagro” ha generado amplias exigencias de la calidad para la formación de especialistas para la consecución de servicios de excelencia, destinados a la población que requiere acciones encaminadas a la Salud Visual. Por tanto, junto al enorme impacto social que ésta produce, ha revolucionado también la docencia en pre y postgrado de la especialidad de Oftalmología. El objetivo de este trabajo es argumentar el enfoque de la Salud Visual como sustento teórico para los cambios en la formación del especialista en oftalmología. El desarrollo futuro de la Oftalmología como servicio de excelencia no solo trata de ubicar los equipos de la más alta técnica y el entrenamiento de personal especializado en el uso de las mismas, se debe llamar la atención especialmente al enfoque preventivo, a la correlación adecuada entre tecnologías de diagnóstico y quirúrgicas y las de carácter social. Es en la comunidad donde se realiza el diagnóstico primario de las enfermedades visuales, pero también los procesos de rehabilitación y seguimiento de los pacientes. Es necesario el enfoque social de la Salud Visual en la comunidad; considerando la salud como un proceso social, dinámico, multifactorial y en desarrollo constante, generando potencialidades del organismo social en el objetivo fundamental de alcanzar la calidad de vida esperada.

This work was presented in I SAW it Day of Consulting Professors of the Superior Institute of Medical Sciences of the Havana. Authorize Enrique Goatherd, December 14 2006. The "Mission Miracle" it has generated wide demands of the quality for the formation of specialists for the attainment of excellence services, dedicated to the population that requires actions guided to the Visual Health. Therefore, next to the enormous social impact that this takes place, it has also revolutionized the docencia in pre and graduate degree of the specialty of Ophthalmology. The objective of this work is to argue the focus of the Visual Health as theoretical sustenance for the changes in the specialist's formation in ophthalmology. The future development of the Ophthalmology like non alone excellence service tries to locate the teams of the highest technique and personnel's training specialized in the use of the same ones, he/she should get himself especially the attention to the preventive focus, to the appropriate correlation among technologies of diagnostic and surgical and those of social character. It is in the community where he/she is carried out the primary diagnosis of the visual illnesses, but also the rehabilitation processes and the patients' pursuit (Dispensarización). it is necessary the social focus of the Visual Health in the community; considering the health like a social, dynamic process, multifactorial and in constant development, generating potentialities of the social organism in the fundamental objective of reaching the quality of prospective life.

La calidad en salud, un compromiso de todos / Health quality, and obligation for everybody

La atención en salud y la calidad en los servicios de salud se han convertido en parte de un proceso de mejoramiento dentro del Sistema de Seguridad Social en Salud en Colombia. Es por eso que la normatividad vigente se hace cada día más puntual a ese respecto por considerarse de suma importancia el proceso de la consecución y la permanencia de la salud con calidad en el contexto de nuestro país, en el cual debe tomar parte cada uno de los entes prestadores de salud, sus profesionales y la población, para que se de cómo consecuencia un resultado satisfactorio en la solución verdadera de problemas de salud en el país.Las normas actuales pretenden dar importancia a un aspecto primordial que es el mejoramiento de los servicios de salud. En este proceso los entes prestadores y los profesionales tienen un compromiso con cada una de las partes del proceso que obliga la ley y con los usuarios como fin último de la atención. Se pretende resaltar un aspecto primordial que es el mejoramiento de los servicios de salud, y así entonces, los entes prestadores y los profesionales tienen un compromiso con cada una de las partes del proceso al que obliga la ley y con los usuarios como fin último de la atención.La ley 100 de 1993 ha traído consigo una serie de reflexiones que nos han involucrado en el mejoramiento de la calidad de vida de los usuarios; siendo el acceso a los servicios de salud uno de los más importantes aspectos por el cual se debe propender y para esto el proceso de consecución de la calidad se hace indispensable.

Health attention and quality in health service have become part of an improvement process in the SocialSecurity System in Colombia. That is whyregulations in force are each time more specificregarding this topic. The process to find and keephealth quality in our context is highly important.Every agent providing health, professionals andpopulation must participate, therefore, asconsequence, a satisfactory result in the real solutionof health problems in the country might appear.Current regulations intend to give importance to abasic aspect: health service improvement. In thisprocess every agent providing health andprofessionals have a commitment with every partin the process and with users as a final end ofattention. Law 100 of 1993 brought a series ofreflections which have involved us in users’ lifequality improvement. The access to health serviceis the most important aspect to tend towards andtherefore the process to obtain quality isindispensable.

Predicting and Understanding School-Age Children's Visual Health Behavior / 아동간호학회지

PURPOSE: The purpose of the study was to investigate the status of visual health behavior of school-age children and to identify the predicting variables of the school-age children's visual health behavior. METHOD: The subject was 764 children in grades 4 to 6, enrolled in 2 elementary schools located in urban area. The data were analyzed using t-test, ANOVA, correlation analysis, and stepwise multiple regression. RESULT: The findings were as follows: 1. The mean of the score of the visual health behavior of school-age children was 41.59(SD=7.22) and there was a significant difference according to grade. 2. There were significant correlations between visual health behavior and self-efficacy for visual health behavior (r=.51, p=.000), motivation for visual health(r=.45, p=.000), perceived benefits(r= .34, p=.000), self-concept(r=.32, p=.000), knowledge of visual health(r=.30, p=.000), health perception for vision(r=.16, p=.000), health locus of control(r=.11, p=.002), and perceived barriers(r=.-.12, p=.000). 3. Self-efficacy for visual health behaviors, knowledge of visual health, motivation for visual health, self-concept, health perception for vision, and perceived benefits were identified as predictor variables of the visual health behavior of the school-age children from the stepwise multiple regression analysis. The total percent of variance accounted by these 6 variables were 36.9%. CONCLUSION: From the result, it is suggested that the development of comprehensive visual health education program including the component of self-efficacy, health motivation and self-concept to promote the visual health of school-age children.

Salud visual en poblacion menor de 15 anos: programa de atencion primaria en salud, Antioquia, Colombia / Study of visual health applying a methodology of primary health care in Antioquia, Colombia

En desarrollo de una campana de salud visual se revisaron 336.354 ninos entre 5 y 14 anos de edad en el Departamento de Antioquia, durante los periodos escolares comprendidos entre octubre de 1986 y abril de 1988. Se motivo a la comunidad sobre los cuidados de la vision y sobre la importancia de identiificar a temprana edad y atender en forma oportuna los problemas oftalmologicos. Con el fin de lograr una cobertura total de la poblacion objeto se capacitaron 583 funcionarios del Gobierno Departamental y voluntarios de la comunidad, quienes a su vez se conviertieron en multplicadores de esa capacitacion en sus lugares de trabajo. Ademas se solucioaron los problemas de refraccion dotando de anteojos a los ninos que los necesitaran

A prevalence survey of ocular diseases in the school population aged 5 to 14 years, in Antioquia, Colombia, was carried out. Methodologies of Primary Health Care were employed; the target population was first examined by previously trained school teachers. Suspicious cases were referred to optometrists and, If necessary, to ophthalmologists. A total of 336.354 children were studied; in the primary screening 52.153 were found to have refraction problems; of them 12.233 were confirmed by optometrists and 7.556 required and received eye-glasses for correction