Understanding dropout stabilization and the factors affecting the return to primary school: a qualitative study.

This study aimed to understand dropout stabilization and the factors affecting the return to primary school using a qualitative approach. Data were collected from 47 semi-structured interviews with dropouts, their parents, children who returned to school, social facilitators, school teachers, local community religious leaders, and education activists. Following Graneheim and Lundman's method, thematic data analysis revealed two main categories: "dropout stabilization facilitators" and "dropout stabilization inhibitors", with 10 subcategories. Dropout stabilization facilitators included the 7 subcategories of perceiving academic decline, inhibitory effects of shame, barriers to re-enrollment, relief from educational pressures and norms, the transformed value system, family satisfaction, and the inefficiency of the formal care system. On the other hand, dropout stabilization inhibitors included the three subcategories of sensitivity to the informal care system, financial incentives, and intensive and flexible training. Some events after dropping out of school resulted in stabilized and definite dropouts. Children at primary schools do not have a clear understanding of the importance of achievements and the effects of education, perceiving dropout as an escape from educational norms and associated hardships. Transitioning into adult roles, such as marriage, motherhood, and assuming responsibilities for siblings, often leads individuals to prioritize other aspects of life over educational achievements. Barriers, such as age limits for being admitted to schools and lack of mechanisms for compensating tuition fees, lead to family dissatisfaction and further reinforce the decision to withdraw their children from school. Factors such as timely actions and follow-ups by schools, financial incentives, and brief interventions provided by the informal network are likely to prevent students from dropping out of school.

Scoping Review on Interventions, Actions, and Policies Affecting Return to School and Preventing School Dropout in Primary School.

Background: Dropout is one of the most important social problems in the world and especially in low- and middle-income countries. Efforts to prevent dropouts require giving due attention to different perspectives for applying them. The present study aims to identify the policies and interventions made in previous studies because reviewing evidence-based interventions and learning from their strengths and weaknesses is likely to play an effective role in preventing students from leaving school and returning them to school. Methods: This scoping review study conducted on all available studies and documents related to students' dropout. The study population includes articles searched in electronic sources that contain information related to the subject of dropout and out-of-school in primary schools. Appropriate keywords were extracted based on Mesh term and EMTREE and their synonyms and searched by a medical librarian. scientific sources and Gray literature published in Persian and English based on PRISMA standard criteria were reviewed. Results: A review of studies indicated that various interventions such as student interaction with school, educational interventions on students and teachers, family and local community cooperation, free nutrition, behavioral interventions, financial aid, and free education had positive effects on reducing dropout, absenteeism and encouraging students to return to schools. effect size was not reported for school dropout intervention. Conclusions: The findings have indicated that intervention with a combination of global and targeted strategies can affect dropout in developing countries. However, to confirm the effectiveness of this type of intervention, further research is required to be conducted in different countries and with different cultures.

Challenges in addiction-affected families: a systematic review of qualitative studies.

BACKGROUND: The relative paucity of research on Addiction-Affected Families' (AAF) issues and the lack of attention given to their difficulties and treatment in interventions and clinical practices indicate that the primary focus consistently revolves around individuals with addictive disorders, even when the treatment process involves their families. However, it is believed that family members endure significant pressures that result in extensive negative consequences on the personal, familial, and social aspects of their lives. Aiming for a better understanding of the challenges and issues that AAF's experience, this systematic review explored qualitative studies with a focus on the impact of addiction on different aspects of families. METHODS: We searched Research Gate, Scopus, Web of Science, ProQuest, Elsevier, and Google Scholar Databases. We included studies of qualitative design which have investigated the effects of addiction on families. Non-English language studies, medical views, and quantitative approaches were excluded. Participants in the selected studies included parents, children, couples, sisters/brothers, relatives, drug users and specialists. The data from the selected studies were extracted using a standard format for the systematic review of qualitative research (the National Institute of Health and Care Excellence [NICE] 2102a). RESULTS: A thematic analysis of the findings of the studies identified 5 main themes: 1) initial shock (family encounter, searching for why), 2) family in the fog (social isolation, stigma and label), 3) sequence of disorders (emotional decline, negative behavioral experiences, mental disturbance, physical degeneration, family burden), 4) internal family chaos (instability of relationships, shadow people, erosive confrontation with the drug-using member, a newly emerging member, collapsing system, financial collapse), and 5) self-protection (attracting information, support, and protective sources, coping and adjusting the effects, the emergence of spirituality). CONCLUSION: This systematic review of qualitative research highlights the various and complex issues which addiction-affected families go through in terms of financial, social, cultural, mental and physical health problems, as a result of which experts of the field are needed to investigate and take measures. The findings can inform policy and practice and the development of interventions aimed to lighten the burdens which addiction-affected families carry.

Examining the psychosocial impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic: an international cross-sectional study protocol.

INTRODUCTION: The COVID-19 pandemic exposed people to significant and prolonged stress. The psychosocial impacts of the pandemic have been well recognised and reported in high-income countries (HICs) but it is important to understand the unique challenges posed by COVID-19 in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) where limited international comparisons have been undertaken. This protocol was therefore devised to study the psychosocial impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic in seven LMICs using scales that had been designed for or translated for this purpose. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: This cross-sectional study uses an online survey to administer a novel COVID Psychosocial Impacts Scale (CPIS) alongside established measures of psychological distress, post-traumatic stress, well-being and post-traumatic growth in the appropriate language. Participants will include adults aged 18 years and above, recruited from Indonesia, Iraq, Iran, Malaysia, Pakistan, Somalia and Turkey, with a pragmatic target sample size of 500 in each country.Data will be analysed descriptively on sociodemographic and study variables. In addition, CPIS will be analysed psychometrically (for reliability and validity) to assess the suitability of use in a given context. Finally, within-subjects and between-subjects analyses will be carried out using multi-level mixed-effect models to examine associations between key sociodemographic and study variables. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: Ethical approval was granted by the Human Ethics Committee, University of Otago, New Zealand (Ref. No. 21/102). In addition, international collaborators obtained local authorisation or ethical approval in their respective host universities before data collection commenced.Participants will give informed consent before taking part. Data will be collected and stored securely on the University of Otago, New Zealand Qualtrics platform using an auto-generated non-identifiable letter-number string. Data will be available on reasonable request. Findings will be disseminated by publications in scientific journals and/or conference presentations. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: NCT05052333.

Complicated Grief: The Lived Experiences of Those Bereaved By COVID-19.

The morbidity and mortality rates of COVID-19 pandemic are increasing, and many families have lost their loved ones. This study explored the experiences of families living in Iran who lost a loved one to COVID-19. The researchers apply a descriptive phenomenological approach and draw on in-depth interviews with 18 family members who had lost at least one family member because of COVID-19. Data were analyzed using Colaizzi's method. After reviewing and comparing the consistency of the codes, crisis in crisis, circumstances of death and its consequences, and lack of preservation of patient dignity were extracted as main categories. Neglecting grieving families and related issues can lead to delays and difficulties in the process of recovery and intensification of their psychosocial pressures. Acquiring more knowledge about different impacts of COVID-19 will be helpful for providing timely and better rehabilitation.

Child sexual abuse in Iran: a systematic review of the prevalence, risk factors, consequences, interventions and laws.

BACKGROUND: Child sexual abuse is a widespread global problem and a violation of human rights. Although many studies have been conducted in this field in the world, the information and knowledge of child sexual abuse in Iran is still limited. This study aims to review the current knowledge in the area of child sexual abuse in Iran, and the related laws. METHODS: The research systematic review covers the scientific literature and gray literature in Persian and English in Iranian and international databases from the beginning to June 2021 as well as Iranian laws on child protection. RESULTS: Our study shows that in Iran knowledge on child sexual abuse is limited. The prevalence of child sexual abuse is estimated to be 1.5 to 32.5%; the risk factors for child sexual abuse encompass substance abuse, low literacy and education, parents living separately and divorce, poverty and poor socioeconomic status, and living in large families. The consequences of child sexual abuse are anxiety, depression, and social problems. Effective local interventions focused on parents and abused children have been conducted to raise awareness and prevent psychosocial harms as well as reduce aggression and physical and mental problems of children. Existing laws do not specifically address child sexual abuse. CONCLUSIONS: The findings showed that knowledge of child sexual abuse in Iran is limited, scattered and inconsistent and there is no suitable definition and tool for measuring child abuse in Iranian studies. National and effective interventions for the prevention of child sexual abuse have not been performed and the consequences of child sexual abuse have also not been well studied. Thus further studies are required to estimate the prevalence of child sexual abuse at the national level and to assess the factors related to child abuse, its consequences, prevention methods and development of existing laws and policies with a special focus on child sexual abuse.

Reintegration of Ex-Offenders Convicted of Violent Crimes into the Community in the Iranian Context: A Qualitative Study.

Community reintegration of ex-offenders is a main issue for reducing recidivism. This article aims to explain the process of reintegration into the community based on the experiences of people who have been convicted of violent crimes in Iran. A qualitative study based on grounded theory was conducted in 2020 in Tehran/Iran. Data was collected through in-depth semi-structured interviews with 26 participants. An institutional review board approved the study. Results indicate that the "worry trap" is the main challenge that those convicted of violent crimes face upon reentry into society. If these individuals are provided with governmental and non-governmental services and support, they can move toward "restoring their lost social capital." The "redefinition of an independent identity" is a consequence of released individuals' struggle to restore their lost social capital. Further research exploring the causality of social capital and improved outcomes after release from prison and reentry to community is needed.

Psychosocial challenges and concerns of COVID-19: A qualitative study in Iran.

As the world struggles to cope with the COVID-19 pandemic, it is critical that the psychosocial aspects related to health are attended to in addition to biological aspects. To this end, the present study aimed to explore the challenges and concerns facing people affected by COVID-19. This qualitative study was conducted using the content analysis method. A total of 25 people affected by COVID-19 were selected purposefully and administered semi-structured interviews. The sampling continued until data saturation. Coding and analysis of data were performed simultaneously using the Granheim method. After reviewing codes, checking the consistency and comparing categories, 5 categories, and 15 subcategories were explored. The most important psychosocial challenges of COVID-19 included the lack of accurate and timely dissemination of information, the intensification of economic problems, psychological instability, weakness in social prevention, and the suspension of social rituals. Identifying the psychosocial challenges and problems of people who faced by pandemic diseases such as COVID-19, and developing appropriate and timely planning for managing them can lead to designing effective strategies for prevention, treatment, and recovery of affected communities.

The role of reflective consequences in developing recovery capital for the recovering substance abuser population of Tehran city.

The aim of this study is to explore the hidden dimensions of recovery capital as utilized among a sample of the recovery population of Tehran city. This qualitative study involved a sample of 27 available people, including different groups of recovering drug users and experts. In the semi-structured face-to-face interview, the focus was on the dimensions of recovery capital and contributing factors to recovery. The criteria proposed by Guba and Lincoln were applied for trustworthiness of the research data. After thematic analysis of the data, a total of 310 codes were identified. The theme extracted is the concept of reflective consequences of recovery capital, which has two main categories of passive (altruism, fear of losing existing possessions, fear of repeating past experiences) and persuasion (internal and external). The reflective consequences are the reproducers of recovery capital and can appear at all three individual, micro and mezo levels.

Group social work intervention enhances the sexual satisfaction of women with Multiple Sclerosis: a randomized controlled trial study.

Sexual problems are among the most common disorders that people with Multiple Sclerosis have to deal with, resulting in decreased sexual satisfaction and quality of life. The study is aimed to investigate the impact of group social work intervention on the sexual satisfaction of women with Multiple Sclerosis. The methodology was a randomized controlled trial and 58 participants recruited (30 for control group and 28 for intervention group). The intervention was based on group social work with an empowerment approach within eight sessions. The average age of the participants was 35.95 ± 6.41 most of whom had high school diploma (62.1%). The findings indicate that, in terms of sexual satisfaction (t = 5.47, Sig = 0.03, df = 56), primary disorders (t = 2.42, Sig = 0.019, df = 56), and tertiary disorders (t = 3.77, Sig = 0.002, df = 56), there is a significant difference between intervention and control groups.

Investigation of Relationship between Family Social Support and the Level of Stigma Perceived by PLWHA in Iran.

This study is aimed to investigate the relationship between family social support and the level of stigma perceived by people living with HIV (PLWHA). The methodology is cross-sectional and the sample population includes 163 individuals (54% males, 46% females) who were randomly selected from the counseling centers for behavioral disorders of Medical Sciences of Tehran University. The average age of the sample was 37.48 ± 10.29 years old and the main cause of HIV infection was the sexual intercourse with spouse/non-spouse. The results of this study indicate that there is a significant and inverse relationship between general social stigma with the duration of HIV infection (r = -0.31, P < .05). There is also a positive and significant relationship between the general family social support and its subscales (information support, seeking support, instrumental support) with the duration of the infectious disease (r = +0.20, P < .05), which means that with increasing duration of the disease, the level of family social support increases. The general social stigma score with the general family social support showed a significant correlation (inverse) (r = -0.43, P < .05). It seems that the design and implementation of appropriate psychosocial interventions to increase family social support and reduce social stigma associated with HIV/AIDS are important in Iranian society and societies that are family-oriented and the family institution continues its protective and supportive functions.

Social Workers in Pediatric Oncology: A Qualitative Study in Iranian Context.

Background: As professionals, social workers have a special position in relation to considering the needs of children with cancer and their families. Hence, it is important to recognize the experiences and challenges of social workers to improve care of their clients. Method: This study was a qualitative content analysis that aimed to determine a comprehensive understanding of pediatric oncology social workers' experiences in Iran. In total, 19 social workers participated in the study. A purposeful sampling method was applied until reaching data saturation. Data were collected using semi-structured interviews and field observations. Then, the gathered data were analyzed through face content analysis. The study lasted from 2015 to 2017. Finding: Concepts extracted from social workers' experiences consisted of the nature of oncology work, lack of professional competence, low organizational support and professional inferiority that were related to main concept of "exhausting and stressful service". The results indicated that social workers' involvement in stressful and emotionally demanding situations and facing with professional and organizational challenges caused personal exhaustion. Conclusion: In addition to explaining the social workers' experiences and related factors, the results emphasize the importance of taking care of service providers to prevent them becoming stressed and exhausted. It is also important to protect patients from the consequences of stressed and exhausted care providers so further research is recommended to develop specific intervention.

Conceptual model of acid attacks based on survivor's experiences: Lessons from a qualitative exploration.

INTRODUCTION: Acid attack, a worldwide phenomenon, has been increasing in recent years. In addition to severe injuries to the face and body, such violence leads to psychological and social problems that affect the survivors' quality of life. The present study provides a more in-depth understanding of this phenomenon and explores the nature and dimensions of acid attacks based on survivors' experiences. METHOD: A grounded theory study using semi-structured, recorded interviews and applying purposeful theoretical sampling was conducted with 12 acid attack survivors in Iran. Data were analysed using constant comparison in open, axial and selective coding stages. RESULTS: A conceptual model was developed to explain the relationships among the main categories extracted through the grounded theory study. Physical and psychological wounds emerged as a core category. Traditional context and extreme beauty value in society acted as the context of the physical and psychological wounds experienced. Living with a drug abuser with behavioural disorders and lack of problem-solving skills in interpersonal conflict were found to be causal conditions. Action strategies to deal with this experience were found to be composed of individual, interpersonal and structural levels. Education, percentage and place of burning acted as intervening conditions that influenced survivors' strategies. Finally, adverse consequences of social deprivation and feeling helpless and hindered were found to have an important impact. CONCLUSIONS: Acid attack lead to physical and psychological wounds in survivors. This is a multi-dimensional phenomenon involving illness, disability, and victimization, and requires a wide range of strategies at different levels. The conceptual model derived through this study can serve as a good basis for intervention programs.