The views of children in residential care on the COVID-19 lockdown: Implications for and their well-being and psychosocial intervention.

BACKGROUND: Recent international research has warned of the impact of the COVID-19 lockdown on vulnerable children. However, little is known regarding the in-care population. OBJECTIVE: To find out how children in residential care perceived the influence of the COVID-19 lockdown in their everyday life, relationships and subjective well-being. PARTICIPANTS AND SETTING: 856 children from 10 to 17 years old (Mage = 15.5, males = 71.2%, females = 28.8%) living in residential centres in Catalonia. METHODS: Cross-sectional study. Children responded to an on-line questionnaire administered between June and July 2020. Bivariate analysis and multiple linear regression were used comparing the answers by sex. RESULTS: Better relationships with caregivers (ß = 9.156, [4.089-14.22], r2 = 0.244, p < .01) and having a person of trust (ß = 4.588, [2.041-7.134], r2 = 0.244, p < .01) were found to be relevant for children's subjective well-being. For girls, improving their grades (ß = 14.86, [8.560-21.15], r2 = 0.234, p < .01) were relevant while boys' subjective well-being was significantly affected by an increase in use of social networks (ß = 8.917, [2.733-15.10], r2 = 0.234, p < .01). CONCLUSIONS: A gender perspective is needed to help girls in situations of vulnerability. We should continue to listen to children's opinions, giving them the opportunity to participate in improving the children's home and its immediate environment and ensuring they have access to stable adult role models.

The subjective well-being of children in kinship care / El bienestar subjetivo de los adolescentes acogidos en familia extensa

Background: Studying the subjective well-being (SWB) of children in out-of-home care is becoming important. However, there is a lack of results on the subjective well-being of children in kinship care. The aim of this study was to analyse and compare the subjective well-being of children at the age of 12 years old in kinship and residential care and in the general population, taking into account gender differences. Method: We administered the questionnaire used in the International Survey of Children’s Well-Being (ISCWeB) including two psychometric scales (OLS and PWI-SC). Results: The results showed differences in overall SWB scores (using PWI-SC as a SWB indicator) and in its components among the three groups: children in kinship care scores were more similar to those from the general population. The PWI-SC displayed good fit statistics with the pooled sample and good comparability with the Multi-group SEM with constrained loadings and intercepts, suggesting it was acceptable for comparing correlation, regressions and mean scores of the items. Gender appeared to have statistically significant effects on the OLS scale, showing lower scores for girls in residential care. Conclusions: Supporting kinship appropriately and taking into account gender issues are the challenges facing public policies for children in care

Antecedentes: estudiar el bienestar subjetivo (BS) de los niños del sistema de protección va adquiriendo relevancia. Hay poca información sobre el BS de los que están acogidos en familia extensa. El objetivo fue analizar y comparar el BS de los que viven en familia extensa con los de acogimiento residencial y la población general teniendo en cuenta el género. Método: se administró el cuestionario de la Encuesta internacional de bienestar infantil (ISCWeB) que incluye dos escalas psicométricas (OLS y PWI-SC). Resultados: existen diferencias en las puntuaciones de BS (usando PWI-SC) y en sus componentes entre los tres grupos: los que están acogidos en familia extensa fueron más similares a los de población general. El PWI-SC mostró buenos estadísticos de ajuste con la muestra agregada y buena comparabilidad en el Multi-grupo MEE con cargas y constantes restringidas, lo que permite comparar correlaciones, regresiones y puntuaciones medias de los ítems. El género tiene efectos estadísticamente significativos en la escala OLS, mostrando puntuaciones más bajas para las niñas en centros residenciales. Conclusiones: apoyar el acogimiento en familia extensa apropiadamente y tener en cuenta las cuestiones de género son desafíos a los que se enfrentan las políticas públicas de protección a la infancia

The subjective well-being of children in kinship care.

BACKGROUND: Studying the subjective well-being (SWB) of children in out-of-home care is becoming important. However, there is a lack of results on the subjective well-being of children in kinship care. The aim of this study was to analyse and compare the subjective well-being of children at the age of 12 years old in kinship and residential care and in the general population, taking into account gender differences. METHOD: We administered the questionnaire used in the International Survey of Children's Well-Being (ISCWeB) including two psychometric scales (OLS and PWI-SC). RESULTS: The results showed differences in overall SWB scores (using PWI-SC as a SWB indicator) and in its components among the three groups: children in kinship care scores were more similar to those from the general population. The PWI-SC displayed good fit statistics with the pooled sample and good comparability with the Multi-group SEM with constrained loadings and intercepts, suggesting it was acceptable for comparing correlation, regressions and mean scores of the items. Gender appeared to have statistically significant effects on the OLS scale, showing lower scores for girls in residential care. CONCLUSIONS: Supporting kinship appropriately and taking into account gender issues are the challenges facing public policies for children in care.

Acceso y uso de los servicios sanitarios por parte de los pacientes inmigrantes: la voz de los profesionales / The access to health services and their use by immigrant patients: the voice of the professionals

Objetivo: Conocer, desde el punto de vista de los profesionales de la salud, cómo acceden y utilizan los servicios sanitarios los distintos colectivos de inmigrantes. Diseño: Estudio cualitativo, descriptivo y fenomenológico realizado en Barcelona entre septiembre y diciembre de 2007. Emplazamiento: El estudio se situó en las 6 áreas básicas de salud de Barcelona que tienen un mayor porcentaje de población inmigrante y en 3 hospitales públicos. Participantes y/o contexto: 73 profesionales de atención primaria y hospitalaria. Se realizó un muestreo teórico de informantes que definieron 4 perfiles profesionales: cargos directivos o coordinadores, médicos, personal de enfermería y mediadores culturales. Método: Se realizaron 7 grupos de discusión y 12 entrevistas semiestructuradas a los profesionales. Las entrevistas y grupos se analizaron mediante el análisis narrativo del contenido. Resultados: Según los profesionales, los pacientes inmigrantes no encuentran barreras que les dificulten el acceso a los servicios sanitarios. Es unánime la percepción de que el servicio de urgencias es su principal puerta de acceso y que la mayoría de pacientes inmigrantes hacen una menor continuidad asistencial. Por último, los profesionales detectan diferencias en el acceso y uso de los servicios sanitarios según el origen y según el grado de integración social del colectivo en destino. Conclusiones: Los profesionales atribuyen el mayor uso de urgencias, el acceso tardío a los servicios sanitarios y la poca continuidad asistencial a una serie de factores relacionados con la precariedad económica y a aspectos relacionados con la inclusión social. Son necesarias estrategias de inclusión social para disminuir las desigualdades(AU)

Objective: To find out, from the health professionals’ point of view, how different immigrant groups access and use the health services. Design: Qualitative, descriptive and phenomenological study carried out in Barcelona between September and December of 2007. Setting: The study was carried out in the 6 Basic Health Areas of Barcelona, where there is a higher percentage of immigrant population, and in 3 public hospitals. Participants: A total of 73 hospital and primary health care professionals. Theoretical sampling was carried out on respondents who defined 4 professional profiles: directors or coordinators, physicians, nurses, and cultural mediators. Methods: There were 7 debate groups and 12 partly-structured interviews. Both the interviews and groups were analysed by a narrative analysis of the content. Results: The outcomes indicate that, according to the professionals, the immigrant patients do not find barriers that can make their access to health services more difficult. The perception that the emergency service is their main access gate for them is unanimous, as well as that most of the immigrant patients have less continuity of care. Finally, professionals detect differences in the access and use of health services depending on their origin and the level of social integration of the immigrant group. Conclusions: Professionals attribute a higher use of emergencies, late access to the health services, and less continuity of care, to a series of factors related to economic precariousness and to aspects related to the social inclusion. There is the room for social inclusion policies to reduce these inequalities(AU)

[The access to health services and their use by immigrant patients: the voice of the professionals]. / Acceso y uso de los servicios sanitarios por parte de los pacientes inmigrantes: la voz de los profesionales.

OBJECTIVE: To find out, from the health professionals' point of view, how different immigrant groups access and use the health services. DESIGN: Qualitative, descriptive and phenomenological study carried out in Barcelona between September and December of 2007. SETTING: The study was carried out in the 6 Basic Health Areas of Barcelona, where there is a higher percentage of immigrant population, and in 3 public hospitals. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 73 hospital and primary health care professionals. Theoretical sampling was carried out on respondents who defined 4 professional profiles: directors or coordinators, physicians, nurses, and cultural mediators. METHODS: There were 7 debate groups and 12 partly-structured interviews. Both the interviews and groups were analysed by a narrative analysis of the content. RESULTS: The outcomes indicate that, according to the professionals, the immigrant patients do not find barriers that can make their access to health services more difficult. The perception that the emergency service is their main access gate for them is unanimous, as well as that most of the immigrant patients have less continuity of care. Finally, professionals detect differences in the access and use of health services depending on their origin and the level of social integration of the immigrant group. CONCLUSIONS: Professionals attribute a higher use of emergencies, late access to the health services, and less continuity of care, to a series of factors related to economic precariousness and to aspects related to the social inclusion. There is the room for social inclusion policies to reduce these inequalities.