Marriage is still considered a universal institution in many countries worldwide. Marriage provides benefits for wives, husbands, children, families, and communities. Why Marriage Matters (Wilcox et al., 2005), outlined the benefits of marriage, including improved physical and mental health, biological and social benefits for husbands, wives, children and families in America. In sub-Saharan Africa benefits emanating from marriage included increased survival rates for young children (Omariba & Boyle, 2007); reduced maternal morbidity and mortality rates for women due to reduced risks from self-inflicted abortions (Garenne, Tollman, Kahn, Collins, & Ngwenya, 2001); and improved economic management in homes due to exchanging gender-specific tasks within households (Gezon, 2002). Despite these benefits, approximately half the marriages in the United States end in divorce (Raley & Bumpass, 2003; Smith, 2007). Reduced marital satisfaction leads to dissolution of marriages in the U. S. Marital expectations were associated with marital satisfaction (Juvva & Bhatti, 2006). The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between marital expectations and marital satisfaction between African immigrant and United States born married couples. The independent variable was marital expectations, measured with the Marital Expectations Questionnaire (MEQ, Ngazimbi & Daire, 2008). The dependent variables were marital satisfaction, measured by the Relationship Assessment Scale (RAS, Hendrick, 1988), and the Relationship Pleasure Scale (RPS, PAIRS Foundation, 1993). The participants were recruited from nine sites in six states located in three geographical regions. The regions were the Midwest, the West and the Pacific Northwest. They were recruited through faith-based leaders. Participants consisted of 87 couples and 35 individuals who participated without their spouses. This was a mixed methods design. In the quantitative section, three instruments were used to collect data: the MEQ, the RAS, and the RPS. The first section of the MEQ contained four open-ended questions which were used to collect qualitative data. Significant differences were found in the relationships between marital expectations and marital satisfaction between African immigrants and non-immigrants. Qualitative differences and similarities were found between African immigrant and U. S. born married couples. Implications of the findings are discussed for research, counselor education and clinical practice.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 29.1 million people in the United States have diabetes. Among those 29.1 million people, 21 million have been diagnosed, but 8.1 million have not. Changing demographics in the United States and the prevalence of diabetes are projected to be burdens on the health care system through 2050. Guided by the social cognitive theory, the purpose of this qualitative case study was to understand the importance of culturally appropriate patient-provider communication to the self-management of Type 2 diabetes by patients who are African immigrants. Culturally based health care has unique challenges when delivering culturally appropriate diabetes care, so a focus on cultural knowledge, intercultural patient-provider communication skills, and cultural assessment were key to this case study. One pilot study was conducted to test the focus group questions with 3 diabetes providers (i.e., certified nurse diabetes educator [CDE], registered nutritionist, and dietitian) who help patients to self-manage their diabetes. The second pilot study was conducted with 5 African immigrant patients who had been diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes. The primary focus groups were conducted with 5 CDEs and 10 patients. The transcribed responses were analyzed and categorized to identify the 17 themes that emerged (9 from the CDEs and 8 from the patients). One implication for social change is that a patient-centered approach to patient-provider communication will mean better health outcomes. To ensure culturally appropriate patient-provider communication, a change in health care delivery is required to incorporate cultural constructs as part of diabetes care and education to accommodate various ethnic and racial groups.

No description available.

Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) / Talks about health literacy, beliefs about health of immigrants from the French speaking countries of West Africa in the USA. How they handle diabetes, navigate the health care system and how they get their information.

No description available.

Made available in DSpace on 2016-04-25T20:22:25Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Rosangela Ferreira de Carvalho Borges.pdf: 1866105 bytes, checksum: e4e01a81b2d5dff42b8037da917714ef (MD5) Previous issue date: 2008-08-25 / Fundação Calouste Gulbenkian / As its main purpose this thesis presents, not only how the ethnic identity of the African black immigrants from the PALOP -Portuguese-speaking African Countries - and their descendents is built in the Portuguese Newspapers Público, Correio da Manhã e O Expresso, in 2003, 2004 and 2005, as well as the ethnic identity of the Brazilian black men in the magazine Raça Brasil during the same period. It also aims at realizing both the case of the black Brazilians in Brazil and the black African immigrants from the PALOP living in Portugal which are the recurring themes, the proximities, the distances and resemblances that can be found in the Portuguese newspapers discourse and in the magazine Raça Brasil, although both are inserted in historical, social, politics, economic and cultural distinct realities. Defining this proposal , the investigation takes into account the theoretical contributions of the Max Weber, Fredrik Barth, Stuart Hall and Michel Wieviorka, as a means to capture the specifications of what is defined as an ethnic proper identity. The methodological option is the qualitative-quantitative approach through the content and discourse analysis by the use of the computer tool Statistical Package for Social Sciences SPSS, including interviews made with leaderships connected to the black African immigrants from the PALOP in Portugal and the black Brazilians in Brazil, which made it possible to conjugate different factor involved in the investigated reality. It also searches not to privilege just the results per se, but to enlighten the reflection about the relationship between the media, the ethnic identity and the private actions bonds and the context in which they occur / Esta tese apresenta como principal proposta verificar como é construída não só a identidade étnica dos imigrantes negros africanos dos PALOP e seus descendentes nos jornais portugueses Público, Correio da Manhã e O Expresso, em 2003, 2004 e 2005, como também do negro brasileiro na revista Raça Brasil durante o mesmo período. Busca-se também perceber, tanto no caso dos negros brasileiros no Brasil como no dos imigrantes negros africanos dos PALOP em Portugal, embora ambos estejam inseridos em realidades históricas, sociais, políticas, econômicas e culturais diversas, quais as recorrências temáticas, as proximidades, as distâncias e as semelhanças encontradas nos discursos dos jornais portugueses e da revista Raça Brasil. Na definição desta proposta, a investigação conta sobretuto com as contribuições teóricas de Max Weber, Fredrik Barth, Stuart Hall e Michel Wieviorka, no sentido de captar especificidades do que se define como uma identidade propriamente étnica. A opção metodológica é a abordagem qualiquantitativa por meio da análise de conteúdo e de discurso através da ferramenta computadorizada Statistical Package for Social Sciences SPSS, juntamente com entrevistas com lideranças vinculadas aos imigrantes negros africanos dos PALOP em Portugal e aos negros brasileiros no Brasil, que possibilitam a conjugação de fatores diferenciados da realidade investigada. Procura-se também, não privilegiar apenas os resultados por si mesmos, mas evidenciar a reflexão da relação entre a mídia e a identidade étnica e os vínculos das ações particulares e o contexto em que estas se dão

Made available in DSpace on 2016-04-26T14:57:15Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Rosangela Ferreira de Carvalho Borges.pdf: 1866105 bytes, checksum: e4e01a81b2d5dff42b8037da917714ef (MD5) Previous issue date: 2008-08-25 / Fundação Calouste Gulbenkian / As its main purpose this thesis presents, not only how the ethnic identity of the African black immigrants from the PALOP -Portuguese-speaking African Countries - and their descendents is built in the Portuguese Newspapers Público, Correio da Manhã e O Expresso, in 2003, 2004 and 2005, as well as the ethnic identity of the Brazilian black men in the magazine Raça Brasil during the same period. It also aims at realizing both the case of the black Brazilians in Brazil and the black African immigrants from the PALOP living in Portugal which are the recurring themes, the proximities, the distances and resemblances that can be found in the Portuguese newspapers discourse and in the magazine Raça Brasil, although both are inserted in historical, social, politics, economic and cultural distinct realities. Defining this proposal , the investigation takes into account the theoretical contributions of the Max Weber, Fredrik Barth, Stuart Hall and Michel Wieviorka, as a means to capture the specifications of what is defined as an ethnic proper identity. The methodological option is the qualitative-quantitative approach through the content and discourse analysis by the use of the computer tool Statistical Package for Social Sciences SPSS, including interviews made with leaderships connected to the black African immigrants from the PALOP in Portugal and the black Brazilians in Brazil, which made it possible to conjugate different factor involved in the investigated reality. It also searches not to privilege just the results per se, but to enlighten the reflection about the relationship between the media, the ethnic identity and the private actions bonds and the context in which they occur / Esta tese apresenta como principal proposta verificar como é construída não só a identidade étnica dos imigrantes negros africanos dos PALOP e seus descendentes nos jornais portugueses Público, Correio da Manhã e O Expresso, em 2003, 2004 e 2005, como também do negro brasileiro na revista Raça Brasil durante o mesmo período. Busca-se também perceber, tanto no caso dos negros brasileiros no Brasil como no dos imigrantes negros africanos dos PALOP em Portugal, embora ambos estejam inseridos em realidades históricas, sociais, políticas, econômicas e culturais diversas, quais as recorrências temáticas, as proximidades, as distâncias e as semelhanças encontradas nos discursos dos jornais portugueses e da revista Raça Brasil. Na definição desta proposta, a investigação conta sobretuto com as contribuições teóricas de Max Weber, Fredrik Barth, Stuart Hall e Michel Wieviorka, no sentido de captar especificidades do que se define como uma identidade propriamente étnica. A opção metodológica é a abordagem qualiquantitativa por meio da análise de conteúdo e de discurso através da ferramenta computadorizada Statistical Package for Social Sciences SPSS, juntamente com entrevistas com lideranças vinculadas aos imigrantes negros africanos dos PALOP em Portugal e aos negros brasileiros no Brasil, que possibilitam a conjugação de fatores diferenciados da realidade investigada. Procura-se também, não privilegiar apenas os resultados por si mesmos, mas evidenciar a reflexão da relação entre a mídia e a identidade étnica e os vínculos das ações particulares e o contexto em que estas se dão

AFRIKAANS: In hierdie studie word daar na die narratiewe van Suid-Afrikaans gebore immigrante, wat hulself in Brisbane, Australië, gevestig het, geluister. Die plaaslike konteks word in die gereformeerde gemeente van Mansfield gevind en die ontwikkeling van diensbare leierskap word beskryf as deel van die kultuur van die gemeente wat fokus op die nood van immigrante. Die navorsing vind plaas vanuit ‘n epistemologie wat uit ‘n narratiewe benadering vloei. Die post-fundamentele teologiese posisionering inkorporeer die sosiale konstruksionisme, met die doel om ‘n dieper verstaan van die narratiewe navorsing te bewerkstellig. Die praxis word as die beginpunt van navorsing in hierdie post-fundamentele prakties-teologiese studie gesien. Die gevolg is dat eerstehandse kennis opgedoen en geïnterpreteer word deurdat die verhale van mede-navorsers aangehoor en beskryf word. Die plaaslike geloofsgemeenskap in Mansfield bied in-kontekstuele ervaringe wat deur die mede-navorsers vertel word en wat deur die tradisies van interpretasie beïnvloed word. Hierdie ervaringe word deur die aanstelling van respondente vanuit verskillende vakgebiede verder geïnterpreteer en betekenis word aan die verhale gegee in ‘n inter-dissiplinêre gesprek. Die inter-dissiplinêre gesprek word vanuit die teorie van transversale rasionaliteit gestimuleer en ‘n relevante literatuurstudie komplementeer die navorsingsproses en word in die studie geïntegreer. Aan die einde van die navorsingsproses word alternatiewe interpretasies en voorstelle gemaak wat dui op die konteks groter as net die plaaslike. Die navorsingsproses word dus ontwikkel vanuit ‘n post-fundamentele teologiese posionering met die doel om die narratiewe van immigrante aan die orde te stel. Hierdie narratiewe word geïnterpreteer en ‘n dieper verstaan word ontwikkel deurdat sekere diskoerse geïdentifiseer word deur ‘n proses van dekonstruksie. Kritiese vrae word gevra en die spesifieke temas vanuit die verhale word bespreek met die doel om die werklikheid van immigrasie te beskryf soos wat die mede-navorsers dit beleef. Die taalkwessie en hoe taal aangewend word om betekenis aan verhale te gee word bespreek. Die eie interpretasies van mede-navorsers word in opvolggesprekke getoets en die verhale word hierdeur toegelaat om te ontwikkel. Die geloofstaal en die taal van die twyfel van immigrante word aangehoor ten einde hulle belewenisse van die teenwoordigheid van God in hulle lewens tydens immigrasie te verstaan. Die ontwikkeling van Diensbare Leierskap word as ‘n natuurlike uitvloeisel van die immigrasieproses bespreek. Die immigrante beleef die diensbaarheid van die leiers in die gemeente van Mansfield positief. Hierdie studie vertel die verhale van immigrante wat deur die diensbaarheid van ander, self ook die kultuur van diensbaarheid aanneem en deelneem aan omgee-aksies om ander immigrante te bedien. Die literatuur oor diensbare leierskap wys self-leierskap, leierskap in spanverband, leierskapontwikkeling en strategiese leierskap uit as kritiese areas in die ontwikkeling van diensbare leierskap. Die gevolgtrekking op hierdie studie is dat diensbare leierskap as ‘n integrale deel van gelowige immigrasie verstaan word en dat dit intensioneel deel vorm van die leierskapkultuur in ‘n immigrant-vriendelike gemeente. Die voorstel wat hieruit voortvloei is dat verskillende gemeentes en kerkverbande kan baat by die aanwending van diensbare leierskap binne die konteks van immigrasie. ENGLISH: In this study narratives of immigration are listened to and described from the local context of the Christian Reformed Church, Mansfield in Brisbane, Australia. The development of servant leadership is described as part of the culture of the congregation. The congregation focuses on the needs of immigrants as an immigrant-friendly church. The research approach in this study flows from an epistemology based on a narrative theory. The post foundational approach incorporates social constructionism as part of the process in exploring a deeper meaning of the stories told by immigrants. Within this framework of post foundational practical theology, the praxis is the starting point of research. This consists of local knowledge, described and interpreted by the co-researchers and informed by traditions of interpretation. The experiences of co-researchers are interpreted on a second level with the appointment of four interdisciplinary respondents. The respondents take part in an interdisciplinary conversation and they each contribute from their field of experience. This is done by using transversal rationality and the in-context experiences are thickened through interdisciplinary investigation. Furthermore, a study of relevant literature is introduced and added to the conversation. At the end of the research process some suggestions and alternative interpretations that point beyond the local context, are made. The research process is therefore developed from a post foundational theological positioning with the aim of describing immigration narratives and interpreting these narratives in order to facilitate a deeper knowledge and insight into the immigration process. Different discourses will be explored by asking critical questions and using a process of deconstruction. The in-context experiences of co-researchers are the primary narrative and their interpretations of experiences will be studied. The language of co-researchers and how they use language will be discussed. Their own interpretations will be used as discussion points in follow up conversations and their narratives will therefore be allowed into a process of growth. Their language, pointing to their experience of the presence of God as well as their language of doubt in the process of immigration will be listened to. Servant leadership will be discussed as an integral part of immigration for believers. The stories of the co-researchers reveal servant leadership in many different forms as part of the culture of the congregation in Mansfield. The narratives show the co-researchers becoming part of the ministry of servant leaders in the congregation. Co-researchers experience the influence of the servant leadership of others in their lives and tell stories of how their needs as immigrants are met by the servant leaders in the congregation. The literature on servant leadership points to self leadership, team leadership, leadership development and strategic leadership as relevant themes to be explored. The conclusion of this study shows servant leadership as an integral part of immigration and that an intentional focus on a culture of servanthood will benefit an immigration friendly congregation. The proposal following from this study is to engage other congregations and churches in a conversation on the effect of servant leadership within the context of immigration. / Thesis (PhD)--University of Pretoria, 2010. / Practical Theology / unrestricted

Reading this dissertation means joining me on an 8-year journey that began with my desire to understand the lives and decisions of African immigrants in relation to retention and transmission of our native languages and cultures. The Akan say that <i>ntontom pe n'ase fi ako, na nframa ebo no</i>. Wherefore, like the mosquito propelled by the wind blowing me towards my desired direction, I sat under the shade of the heritage tree as I pondered how to get there. The journey became a quest to find an approach or methodology that will not just talk about African languages and cultural retention and transmission, but also center histories, worldviews, and philosophies while actively encouraging these values. Thus, approaching storytelling from the African oral tradition, I arrived at the development of the African Oral Traditional Storytelling (AOTS) Framework as an ethical and culturally centered approach to studying with African peoples. Because I wanted to go far and not fast, two heads (African families in the Midwest) collaborated with me by sharing through our African oral traditions and storytelling, our lived experiences of how we (as parents) navigate usage, retention and transmission of our living native languages and cultures while in the U.S. Emergent in this approach to storying, was the AOTS Framework. Now, what was needed was a description of the framework retrospective of the shared stories; what does it look like? What did/will she do, and how will she birth a transformative and relevant approach to satisfy that hunger for African histories, worldviews, indigenous knowledges and philosophies in research? The AOTS Framework, through African oral traditional storytelling, brings to the fore the relevant and essential role that African philosophies, worldviews, languages, and cultures play in understanding African peoples' experiences. Our stories reveal how our African worldviews and languages (embedded with our indigenous knowledge) inform how we navigate decision on 1) building a community of like-minded people from the continent, same country and ethnic group; 2) decolonizing our minds about the value of African languages, cultures, and worldviews: building a sense of pride in our indigenous ways and teaching them to our children as a resistance to neocolonialism and global erasure; 3) cultural, linguistic, and identity reconceptualization, revitalization, redefinition, and resistance; 4) conscious effort to use native language in the home; and 5) racialized experiences that influence decisions about heritage language retention and transmission. With that, we stand on the shoulders of postcolonial and decolonial theory, as we move through postcolonial indigenous methodologies in resisting imperialism and coloniality in education, research and language in relation to African peoples. Additionally, the AOTS Framework is the arable land that is not selective in growing varied linguistic, cultural, and philosophical perspectives of African peoples in research albeit challenges in relation to transitioning oral techniques into writing. As a framework, our desire and interests in learning with African peoples is not a question-and-answer approach. Instead, it is a collaborative, communal approach where the privileged gatherer shares in co-creating stories, meanings, and understandings with African peoples.<br>

Blaming those who are different from us because of skin colour, nationality and language when things do not go right during the process of reconstruction is common among those who are faced with such a task. This assertion is confirmed by our examination and evaluation of xenophobia in post-apartheid South Africa and post-exilic Israel. In South Africa socio-economic and political reasons are cited for the rejection of African immigrants by some South Africans. The Jews in the post exilic period understood their religious, social and economic problems to be caused by others. What is more disturbing is that the Jews understood their xenophobia to be demanded or legitimised by God. These reasons for them necessitated hatred, isolation, stigmatisation and sometimes negative actions against foreigners. When we compare xenophobia in both post-apartheid South Africa and post-exilic Israel in this study, we find that factors such as identity, notion of superiority, negative perception of those who are different and use of power, play a major role in the exacerbation of xenophobia. In evaluating both situations, using the African principle of Ubuntu and Christian moral values, we are able to demonstrate that xenophobia as found in both situations is morally wrong since it is inhuman, selfish, racist/ethnocentric, discriminatory and often violent. Ubuntu and Christian values and principles such as human dignity, human rights, reciprocity, love, compassion, forgiveness, hospitality and community were sacrificed by South Africans and Jews in their dealings with foreigners in their respective situations. It is argued here that among other things in the case of South Africa, the reduction of inflammatory statements by government representatives and the media, education of the unemployed, the youth and workers; and the meeting of spiritual, material, humanitarian and moral needs by the Church, will help sensitise South Africans to the plight of African immigrants and migrants and will further deepen the ubuntu and Christian values. / Religious Studies and Arabic / D.Th.(Theological Ethics)