Data gathered from Tyler, Texas, the University of North Texas, and the National Survey of Families and Households (NSFH) were used to compare children from commercial, home, church, and university based day care with children not attending day care. The research group, comprised of children attending day care (N=142), were located using non-probability sampling; those not in day care (the control group) came from the NSFH (N=1775). Data from the research group were weighted to match the control group. The independent and control variables included the child's age, length of time in day care, intellectual functioning; the parent's marital status and social class; the day care's staff to child ratio and the staff's training. All data, except that pertaining to the facility itself, were gathered from the children's parents using a self-report questionnaire. The remaining data were gathered through personal interview by the researcher. The dependent variable was an index of emotional and behavioral problems reported for the child. Overall, children who attended day care had only slightly more problems reported than those who did had not attended day care. When each center was examined separately, the children in home centers had the greatest number of problems, followed by the commercial centers and university center, with children from the church centers scoring the lowest. In contrast to earlier research, intellectual functioning was not enhanced by the day care experience. While the staff's training had a statistically significant relationship to the children's well-being, no relationship was found for the staff to child ratio. Further research on the impact of other characteristics of each type of day care is recommended.

This thesis argues for the consideration of child care accessibility and costs as one factor in the success and wellbeing of farmers in the United States. There is a long tradition in rural studies of recognizing that farms are not just economic enterprises but are family-based social enterprises as well, with household level issues and family roles that are both acknowledged and contested. However, child care is missing from virtually all scholarly and public discussions of agricultural workforce development - even more so than other social services and family supports. Additionally, the agricultural sector, considered as a portion of U.S. businesses and as a locus of U.S. family life, is missing from most discussions of child care services. Although child care has been shown to be crucial to workforce development, and the need for workforce development in the agricultural sector is vital in light of an aging farm population, the agricultural sector has remained largely absent from child care policy discussions. This two-article thesis seeks to inform scholarship and public policy in both of these areas. Using data from a national survey of 186 farm families at the Rural-Urban Interface, Article One examines child care challenges faced by farm families and the influence community networks have on these challenges. This article focuses specifically on two groupings of farmers: multi-generation (MG) and first generation (FG) farmers, as part of a larger effort to support beginning farmers; and men and women farmers, as challenges related to child care are of particular concern for the increasing numbers of women farmers, who may have multiple roles including primary child caregiver, wage-earner through off-farm employment, and farmer. Findings establish that child care is an issue that influences farm business decisions for farmers, that FG and women farmers are farming populations that are more likely to have challenges with child care, and that family networks are an influencing factor in child care problems for MG and FG farmers. Through analysis of interviews and focus groups with 43 farmers in the Northeastern United States, a geographic region chosen for its high concentration of female farmers, Article Two seeks to understand child care in farm families by examining patterns in farmers' experiences with child care and the ways child care affects both the farm family and the farm business. Findings reveal child care as an issue in the wellbeing of both farm family and farm business: child care has economic effects on the farm business, influencing decisions about labor, growth, and financial resources; child care also has social effects on the farm family, including shifts in gender roles, stress, and reduced quality of life. Recommendations include child care subsidies specifically for farm families and the creation of formal child care networks that could allow for collaboration and use of already-existing networks of agricultural organizations: Extension, food policy councils, and producer groups. Additionally, state level departments of family and youth services, local child care organizations, and community development corporations are urged to tailor their resources specifically to farm families.

In order to understand parents' child care decision making for young children (under 6), this interpretive research interviewed 24 parents and 7 child care professionals from a mid-sized region in Virginia. Using a constructivist research design, the research question explored how parents make child care decisions. Working hypotheses focused the data collection on the role of experience in shaping parents' preferences, the relationship between family needs and child care decisions, and the interactions with family and child care services. The research product is a narrative case study. Child care decision making is conceptualized as an ongoing process bounded by the family context and the child care resources of the community. The four major conceptual categories describing the decision making process are: Multiple Pathways to Child Care Decisions, Selecting Child Care, Child Care Experiences, and Positions Regarding Changes in Child Care.Lessons learned were that families came to any child care decision with different circumstances, resources and preferences. Families' options appeared related to the resources they had: financial, support from others, and supportive workplaces. When selecting child care families experienced both external and internal challenges; accessing information was a common challenge. Another challenge to child care decision making voiced by parents were the trade-offs they felt compelled to make given the mismatches between their preferences and the child care resource context. Limitations to existing child care information, referral and assistance programs were noted and viewed as related to state policy limitations. Parents emphasized the importance of relationships with providers in selecting care and in maintaining quality child care. Parents were able to articulate what worked and didn't work with their child care choices: provider/child and provider/parent compatibility, connection to other families/children in care, work demands, transitions to child care, and a family's resources.Implications for policy and practice include increasing child care services, supporting caring partnerships among families and child care providers, enacting policies that support increasing options for families, and involving the business sector in creating child care resources that better correspond to families' needs. Further research into developing relational models of child care decision making, the role of values, the meaning of trade-offs, and the intersection of time with decision making are suggested.

This PhD by published work consists of: • 1 single authored monograph; • 1 single authored paper in a refereed journal; • 4 main authored articles in refereed journals; • 3 joint authored articles in refereed journals; • 1 joint authored paper in a non refereed journal; and • 3 joint authored published reports. It covers the period 2009-2014 This thesis and the papers submitted demonstrate my significant contribution to a body of knowledge that provides a rich and unique insight to the development of changes in legislation and protocols in child protection practice. Particular expertise is threefold: the impact on the practice of all professionals involved with vulnerable families and children; the impact on the assessment of risk and working with families and children; and the impact on the ‘timetable for the child’. The publications reflect an examination of pre-proceedings protocols over a 5-year period. Throughout, the work demonstrates a theoretical and practical commitment to fairness and justice for families. The rationale that underpins this thesis is the need to explore the impact of procedural changes to the lives of children and their families. The rhetoric of improving pre-proceedings work in an attempt to divert cases away from court, and to ensure decisions that are made for children are both rigorous and timely, is at odds from the reality of practice on the ground. The recent hegemonic concern with the timetable for the child (Holt and Kelly, 2014) reinforces a change agenda that was ushered in ahead of the Children and Families Act that became law on 22nd April 2014. The President of the Family Division, Sir James Munby, has stated that 26 weeks completion time when cases progress to court is ‘a deadline not a target’, reinforcing the message that only a ‘comparatively small number of exceptional cases’ will fall outside it (Munby, 2013:4). This leaves little time for the court to intervene when cases have not been properly progressed at the pre-proceedings stage. The evidence from detailed observations of practice at all levels within pre-proceedings protocols affords an opportunity to send a clear message to legislators, policy makers and practitioners. Front-loading and diverting more cases into pre-proceedings protocols is quite simply a strategic measure to reduce the financial burden away from the courts and to place this elsewhere. Local authorities have child protection systems that are properly designed to support children who are in need of protection, and where it has been decided by professionals from a range of agencies working with families that the risk cannot be managed without the need to seek the involvement of the court, there should be no further delay. My concern is that in many instances children are already left holding the risk for too long. The question must be raised as to why, when a range of professionals working with the child and their family make the decision that an application to court should be made, a system that purports to hold children and families at the heart builds in further delay.

M.Ed. (Didactics Mathematics) / Mathematical literacy is essential for functioning effectively in a technological society. Many occupations which may appeal to young people require mathematical ability as a prerequisite. By establishing factors which contribute to a pupil's difficulties within a subject, teachers are better able to assist these pupils ...

M.Ed. (Educational Management) / Please refer to full text to view abstract

Thesis submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Development Theory and Policy, School of Economics and Business Science, University of the Witwatersrand, June 2017 / South Africa has uniquely high rates of parental absence from children’s lives. Apartheid-era restrictions on population movement and residential arrangements contributed to family fragmentation, particularly when adults – mainly men – migrated to work in cities and on the mines. Despite the removal of legal impediments to permanent urban settlement and family coresidence for Africans, patterns of internal and oscillating labour migration have endured, dual or stretched households continue to link urban and rural nodes, and children have remained less urbanised than adults. Importantly for children, migration rates among prime-age women have increased, alongside falling marriage rates, declining remittances and persistently high unemployment. Households, and women especially, may have to make difficult choices about how to manage the competing demands of child care and income generation. It is the mobility patterns and household configurations arising from these strategies that are the focus of this research. The thesis uses a mixed-method approach to explore children’s geographic mobility and care arrangements. Using micro data spanning two decades, it traces children’s co-residence arrangements with parents and describes changes in household form from the perspective of children. It maps recent patterns of child migration within South Africa using four waves of a national panel study and compares these with patterns of maternal migration to reveal various dynamics of migration in mother–child dyads: co-migration, sequential migration, independent migration, and immobility. The child-focused analysis augments the existing migration literature, which has tended to focus on adult labour migration and ignore children or regard them as appendages of migrants. A single, detailed case study spanning three generations of mothers adds texture to the analysis by demonstrating the complexity of household strategies and plans for child care in the context of female labour migration. This in turn helps to reflect on the value of micro data for describing and analysing household form and migration patterns, particularly among children. / XL2018

Bakgrund Barnsjuksköterskans främsta uppgifter är att ge trygg och säker vård till barn och ungdomar. Användandet av EMLA® kan bidra till att minska smärtsamma procedurer som barn behöver gå igenom när de vårdas på sjukhus. Användandet av EMLA® styrs av sjuksköterskans kunskap och attityd om krämen. Syftet var att undersöka kunskaper och attityder om EMLA® på barn hos sjuksköterskor. Samt att utforska om det fanns en skillnad på kunskaper och attityder om EMLA® på barn mellan två svenska barnkliniker.   Metod Ett bekvämlighetsurval gjordes och enkäter som mätte kunskaper och attityder till EMLA® skickades ut till samtliga sjuksköterskor anställda på två barnkliniker i Stockholm och Uppsala. Data analyserades kvantitativt med hjälp av SPSS. Resultat Mer än hälften av sjuksköterskorna ökade appliceringstiden av EMLA® om patienten hade mörk hudkostym. Endast en tredjedel av sjuksköterskorna var medvetna om vilka biverkningar EMLA® har och mer än hälften visste inte från vilken ålder EMLA® får användas. Varken kunskap eller attityd korrelerade med sjuksköterskornas ålder eller arbetslivserfarenhet. Det fanns ingen skillnad i kunskap eller attityd beroende på om sjuksköterskan hade specialistutbildning eller inte.   Slutsats: Smärtan som uppstår i samband med procedurer kan ha en inverkan på barns kognitiva utveckling samt skapa rädsla och ge ökad smärtkänslighet. Genom att använda EMLA® kan smärtan vid dessa procedurer reduceras. Användandet av EMLA® är beroende av sjuksköterskans kunskap och attityd om krämen. Felaktiga antaganden finns om krämen och de flesta håller med om att EMLA® är en bra smärtlindring vid smärtsamma procedurer. / Background A paediatric nurse’s primary task is to provide safe and secure care to children. The use of EMLA® can help reduce painful procedures for children. However, nurses’ use of EMLA® is dependent on knowledge about and attitudes to it. Aim The aim was to investigate knowledge and attitudes about EMLA® on children among nurses and to explore whether there was a difference in knowledge and attitudes about EMLA® on children between two Swedish children's clinics.   Method A convenience sample was made and questionnaires which measured knowledge and attitudes about EMLA® were sent out to all nurses employed at two children's clinics in Stockholm and Uppsala. Quantitative methods were used to analyse data with SPSS. Results More than half of the nurses increased the application time of EMLA® if the patient had dark skin costume. Only a third were aware of the side effects of EMLA® and more than half did not know from what age EMLA® may be used. Neither knowledge nor attitude correlated with nurses' age or work experience. There was no difference in knowledge or attitude depending on specialist training.   Conclusion The pain that arises in connection with procedures can have an impact on children's cognitive development and create fear and increase pain sensitivity. By using EMLA® the pain can be reduced. The use of EMLA® is dependent on the nurse's knowledge and attitude. Incorrect assumptions exist about the cream and most agree that EMLA® is a good pain relief in procedures.

A gravidez na adolescência é uma importante temática em saúde pública por relacionar-se à saúde sexual e reprodutiva das adolescentes, exigindo que a jovem mãe adquira responsabilidade e habilidades para o cuidado materno e o autocuidado. Apresenta-se como um momento difícil, pois requer reestruturação pessoal e social, sendo o apoio familiar fundamental para a superação das adversidades, permitindo que a mãe adolescente possa ser a protagonista de sua história. O presente estudo tem como objetivo analisar o apoio social no contexto da família, considerando o perfil estrutural e funcional da família de puérperas adolescentes frente à maternidade, especificamente no cuidado materno e no autocuidado no puerpério. Utiliza-se a abordagem quantitativa para análise da rede social, segundo o Modelo de Escolta Social. Para compreender o significado das vivências da maternidade pelas adolescentes e o apoio social recebido para o cuidado materno e autocuidado, utiliza-se a abordagem qualitativa. Foram realizadas entrevistas com puérperas adolescentes, analisadas por meio da técnica de análise e interpretação de sentidos, sobre a perspectiva teórica do apoio social. A maioria das adolescentes era primípara, cursara até o nível fundamental, não exercia atividade laboral e residia com o parceiro. A gestação foi indesejada, com a realização do pré-natal tardio. O parto cesariano foi predominante. Na Análise da Escolta Social, a rede de apoio social das adolescentes é constituída por pessoas próximas com predomínio de mulheres. Na análise das entrevistas, depreendem-se três categorias temáticas centrais: o significado da gravidez e da maternidade para a adolescente, a gravidez precoce no contexto da família e o apoio social, e o cuidado com o bebê e a prática do autocuidado no pós-parto. A gravidez precoce demarca um rompimento com os sonhos e planos pessoais e requer adaptação à nova situação, enquanto para outras se apresenta como um sonho realizado. A vivência da maternidade é percebida como oportunidade para o amadurecimento. Na família, a gravidez é um elemento surpresa, na qual, diante da sexualidade das filhas e a aceitação, a família presta ajuda de forma processual e gradativa. O apoio social é através de pessoas que contribuem financeiramente, com experiências, ajudando nas atividades domésticas, no cuidado materno e no autocuidado. A família possibilitou à mãe adolescente ser a protagonista do cuidado materno. Identifica-se a ausência do profissional de saúde como parte da rede de apoio social, tanto como referência de cuidado à saúde quanto como mediador deste cuidado a ser ofertado pela família. Considera-se que as políticas de saúde devem ser intensificadas na prevenção e promoção da saúde dos adolescentes, atuando na conscientização sobre a maternidade e paternidade. Importante desenvolver pesquisas de intervenção para subsidiar estratégias de atuação dos profissionais de saúde para uma apreensão ampliada das necessidades das adolescentes frente à maternidade precoce / Teenage pregnancy is an important theme in the field of public health, it refers to sexual and reproductive teenager health, claiming from the young mother to be prepared with responsibility and skills to handle all situations, including maternal health care and her own care. It presents as a crisis which demands personal and social restructuration, familiar support is of primary importance helping to overcome adversities, so the teenager mother may be the protagonist of her own history. This study has as goal to analyze social support in the familiar context, considering the structural and functional profile of the puerperal teenager´s family facing motherhood, specifying maternal health care and postpartum care. We utilized quantitative approach to analyze the social network according to the Social Escort model. To understand the meaning of the motherhood experiences lived by the teenagers and the social support received to maternal care and theirs own care, we utilized qualitative approach. Postpartum teenagers were interviewed; technical analysis and interpretation of senses on the theoretical perspective of social support were used to analyze them. Most of them were primiparous teenagers; they just had studied until the elementary school, they did not have a labor activity and used to live with their partners. As well, the gestation was not desired, the prenatal monitoring had a late follow-up. The C-section was the prevalent one. In the analysis of social escort, the support of teenager is made by relatives and friends, most of these are women. Analyzing the interviews we had three categories of main themes: meaning of pregnancy and motherhood to the teenage, early motherhood in the familiar context and the social support, baby care and postpartum care. Early pregnancy demands a rupture with dreams and personal plans, it demands an adjustment to the new situation, while to others it represents a dream that was brought in. The experience of motherhood is noticed as an opportunity to have an adult condition. To the family motherhood is a surprise, having to face the sexuality of the daughters and the acceptance, their family helps on a procedural and gradual way. Social support is made by donation from known people, experiences, helping with the house activities, mother and baby care. The family helped the teenager mother to be the protagonist of the maternal care. We noticed the default from public health professional assistance as part of social support network, as well as reference of health care and support to the family. We consider that the policy of public health must be intensified to prevent and to promote teenage health, acting to create awareness about motherhood and fatherhood. It´s important to build up intervention researches to subsidize strategies to help health professionals, so they will be more prepared to handle all situations facing the needs of teenagers\' early motherhood

As políticas públicas de atenção à criança no Brasil têm se aprimorado com vistas à qualidade do cuidado integral. Este estudo objetivou avaliar a presença e extensão dos atributos da Atenção Primária à Saúde (APS) e o grau de afiliação do usuário na Estratégia Saúde da Família (ESF), a partir da ótica dos cuidadores com a assistência prestada a crianças menores de um ano de idade. Trata-se de uma pesquisa quantitativa, transversal com dados coletados mediante uso do Instrumento de Avaliação da Atenção Primária (PCATool - infantil). Foram entrevistados 271 cuidadores cujas crianças pertenciam às áreas de abrangência das 13 equipes de saúde da família da zona urbana de Vitória da Conquista - BA. Os escores foram atribuídos para 10 dimensões da APS. Os resultados revelaram escores elevados para apenas quatro dimensões: grau de afiliação, acesso de primeiro contato (utilização), longitudinalidade e coordenação (sistema de informação). As outras dimensões apresentaram baixos valores de escore, tais como: o acesso de primeiro contato (acessibilidade), a coordenação (integração de cuidados), a integralidade (serviços disponíveis e prestados), a orientação familiar e a orientação comunitária. Ao avaliar as dimensões em conjunto encontramos os escores essencial e geral com baixos valores. Concluímos que a ESF, apesar de ser um cenário preferencial para as ações de promoção e prevenção à saúde e se constituir como porta de entrada para os serviços, não tem alcançado uma assistência à criança com ênfase no cuidado integral. / Public policies on childcare in Brazil have been enhanced to promote quality on comprehensive care. This study aimed to evaluate the presence and extent of the attributes of the Primary Health Care (PHC) and the degree of user affiliation in Family Health Strategy (FHS) from the perspective of caregivers with the care provided to children under one year of age. This is a quantitative, cross-sectional study which data were collected using Primary Care Assessment Tool (PCATool). We interviewed 271 caregivers whose children belong to the areas of 13 family health teams in the urban area of Vitoria da Conquista - BA. The scores were assigned to 10 dimensions of APS. The results revealed high scores for only four dimensions: degree of affiliation, first contact access (use of service), longitudinality and coordination (information system). Other dimensions had low score values such as: first contact access (accessibility), coordination (integrated care), comprehensiveness (services available and services provided), and family and community orientation. By assessing the dimensions together we found low values for the essential and general scores. We conclude that despite FHS has being a preferred scenario for the actions of health promotion and disease prevention and gateway to health services FHS has not been attained the child care with emphasis on comprehensive care