This thesis examines the use of mediating entities in overcoming barriers found in many university-community partnerships, which arise out of unequal power, a lack of mutual understanding, and divergent agendas of the partners. In order to develop a theory or model of the functions and structure of these mediating entities, this thesis analyzes the Urban Routes program of International Project for Nonprofit Leadership. This study identifies four main functions of mediating entities: integration, interpretation, equalization, and sustaining. This case study reveals the importance of structuring these mediating entities in a way that allows for the most effective utilization of the personal relationships these structures rely upon.

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Host factors can have important consequences for HIV risk and disease progression. Two separate projects relevant to Aboriginal populations in Manitoba were undertaken. The Solvent Use Project investigated solvent use in Winnipeg through an interdisciplinary multi-phase approach that integrated community based research and basic science. From interviews with solvent users and key informants we learned that solvent users experience many health and social disparities. We demonstrated that there is support within the community to work with solvent users and study solvent use further. The HLA-B*35 Project aimed to identify the diversity of HLA-B*35 allele subtypes, in HIV+ patients that presented to care between 2007 and 2010 in Manitoba. We observed 11 distinct HLA-B*35 allele subtypes. Case studies reflected the overrepresentation of Aboriginal people infected with HIV in Manitoba, and the pressing issues of either late presentation to care or rapid disease progression within patients who are HLA B*35.

Breastfeeding provides both short- and long-term health benefits for infants and mothers, yet African American mothers are less likely to breastfeed than mothers of other racial backgrounds. Despite the optimal positioning of healthcare providers to encourage breastfeeding, African American mothers are more susceptible to inadequate breastfeeding support from providers than White mothers. Focusing only on mothers who breastfed, this study analyzes African American mothers' experiences with healthcare providers related to breastfeeding. Data consist of in-depth interviews with 22 primarily middle- and working-class African American mothers who breastfed. The interviews focused on decisions to breastfeed and support or assistance from healthcare providers. Data were analyzed thematically using initial and focused coding. During prepartum, 27% of the mothers' providers asked about breastfeeding decisions without further discussion, which resulted in some mothers seeking out their own research. This finding reveals the prepartum period as a critical point where more breastfeeding education can be implemented. During immediate postpartum, 59% of mothers received formula from the hospital, which resulted in either anger or indifference. Angry mothers stressed this as an obstacle to their breastfeeding goals. In addition to the other breastfeeding barriers African American mothers face, they faced the additional barrier of the provision of formula in this study. Also, in the postpartum period, of the fifteen mothers in contact with healthcare providers regarding breastfeeding, twelve mothers sought breastfeeding assistance from professional lactation consultants rather than regular providers. These findings point to the significance of lactation consultants in breastfeeding support. Future interventions could focus on the implementation of lactation consultants to the standard healthcare team. Questions remain regarding the extent to which these experiences reflect racial bias in healthcare settings. Regardless, our findings point to a need for greater breastfeeding support for African American women in maternity care settings, especially during the postpartum period.

Migration histories of a sample of the population in a small urban place--Creel, Chihuahua, Mexico were analyzed and compared to the results from studies of several large urban places in Latin America to see if patterns of migration and factors associated with the migratory process are similar or different. Seven basic hypotheses obtained from prior theoretical works and empirical studies were investigated. The examination of migration to Creel and of Creel migrant characteristics revealed both similarities to and differences from previous examinations of larger urban areas in Latin America. Generalizations concerning reasons for migration, return migration, the northern push tendency, chain migration, duration of residence, and educational selectivity were confirmed in the Creel study. However, little support was found for the stage migration model, employment and age selectivity, and fertility characteristics. Furthermore, hypotheses that were consistent with those from large urban places, such as those concerning the reasons for migration and return migration differed in their magnitude. This research demonstrated that the migration process in a small urban place in Latin America is not consistent in all aspects with those occurring in large urban places. Future research is needed in studying the small urban place, and perhaps every stage of the stage migration model via migration and life histories. Work is also needed in reevaluating the stage migration model. When more extensive analyses are undertaken, then and only then, can adequate comparisons be made which hopefully will lend to the emergence of a more adequate middle range theory. Migration and life histories certainly seem to show theoretical and methodological promise in advancing the study of internal migration in Latin America Hopefully other studies of this nature will follow in order to further our understanding of this complex phenomenon.

A typology was developed to demonstrate the relationship between the diverse theoretical explanations prevalent in riotous behavior research and the mode of data collection utilized for studying these theoretical explanations. The two principal variables identified are conceptual areas and methodological techniques. Conceptual areas consist of five categories and these are defined as structure: underlying social. economic and political preconditions which lead to riotous behavior; belief-motives: underlying predispositions of individuals or groups which lead to riotous behavior; setting: immediate determinants (assemblage process. ecological arrangements and socio-demographic factors) which lead to riotous behavior; action-behavior: actual behavior patterns and general characteristics found in riotous behavior; and aftermath-consequences: an optional category used to define and understand the previous four categories by investigating the situation following riotous behavior. The methodological techniques of data collection are defined as documentary (historical and census materials) and nondocumentary (interviews, questionnaires, participant observation, informants and laboratory experimentation) materials. A content analysis of ten major sociological journals (Social Problems. Journal of Social Issues, American Sociological Review. Social Forces, Sociological Inquiry, American Journal of Sociology, Sociological Quarterly, Urban Affairs Quarterly, Sociometry and the Journal of Intergroup Relations) and twelve related journals and magazines (Science and Society, Trans-Action, Annals, American Behavioral Scientist, Journal of Applied Behavioral Science, Scientific American. Human Relations, Journal of Criminal Law: Criminology and Police Science, Commentary, Social Science Quarterly, Phylon, Public Opinion Quarterly) from 1940 through September, 1973 yielded eighty-seven articles which were considered to be a universe of content. The findings indicate that certain methodologies discriminate between certain conceptual areas and certain conceptual areas discriminate between certain methodological techniques. The most often used methods are historical documents, census materials and interviews in that order whereas the most researched conceptual areas are setting and belief-motives. There is a tendency to use interviews and questionnaires more often when only one conceptual area (usually belief-motives) is being researched. Participant observation and informants do not appear to be as limited as the other methods regarding their use to investigate diverse conceptual schemes; however, they are restricted as methodological techniques. The distance (in time) of the researcher from the event and the number of events studied affect the relationship between the two variables. Research conducted within a year following the riotous event relies more on nondocumentary data than does research conducted over a year following the event. Moreover, researchers tend to utilize nondocumentary data to a fuller degree than documentary despite the practical and logical limits of these methods and the far greater utilization of documentary data. There is evidence the segmentation of research and emphasis on psychological explanations may be changing as the more complex theoretical frameworks are being used and different explanations are being integrated in order to study the whole of riotous behavior. Riotous behavior research has emphasized the individual framework for far too long. Sociological inquiry into riotous behavior should stress group interactions, group processes, group activity and social forces for a fruitful analysis of riotous behavior.

According to the National Psoriasis Foundation (1976), psoriasis is a little known and poorly understood skin disease afflicting an estimated eight million victims in the United States. About fifteen thousand new cases of psoriasis are diagnosed each year. It affects men and women in equal numbers at any age, most often between the ages of fifteen and thirty-five.

ABSTRACT Research suggests that it is important to establish regular physical activity and healthy eating patterns during the early years (0-5 years). Engaging in healthy behaviours during this stage of life supports growth and development and lays the foundation for a lifetime of health and wellbeing. Despite these benefits, research indicates that children in Canada are not meeting the daily recommended physical activity guidelines for early years. Moreover, their diets are lacking in fruits and vegetables and are high in processed foods. As many early years children spend a large part of their day in childcare centres, educators can have a large influence on their physical activity and healthy eating behaviours. In the Canadian Prairie Provinces many childcare centres are located in rural communities. Previous research suggests that rural educators are influenced by unique factors associated with geographic local (e.g., access to resources to promote physical activity and year round access to variety of healthy foods) when attempting to provide healthy opportunities for children. In order to address the specific factors identified by rural educators and support healthier behaviours among rural early year’s children, a multilevel physical activity and healthy eating intervention (Healthy Start) was developed using McLeroy’s ecological model and a population health approach. Healthy Start was pilot tested in three rural childcare centres. Purpose: The primary purpose of this dissertation study was to evaluate Healthy Start, a multilevel community-based physical activity and healthy eating intervention, in rural childcare centres throughout Saskatchewan. In order to achieve this primary purpose, the specific dissertation objectives were addressed as follows. Paper 1: a) Determine if over the course of the intervention, Healthy Start contributed to increases in physical activity levels and improvements in motor skill development among early years children aged 3 to 5 years; b) Determine if Healthy Start supported educators in providing children with more opportunities for physical activity; c) Describe educators’ experiences and perceptions of Healthy Start and its influence on physical activity within the childcare centre environment. Paper 2: a) Assess to what extent, Healthy Start contributed to healthier eating behaviours among early years children aged 3 to 5 years over the course of the intervention; b) Determine if Healthy Start supported childcare staff (educators and cooks) in providing children with more opportunities for healthy eating; c) Describe educators ‘experiences and perceptions of Healthy Start and its influence on healthy eating within the childcare centre environment. Paper 3: To pilot a pulse crop intervention study in one of the intervention childcare centres in order to: a) Increase knowledge and awareness about the nutritional value and health benefits of pulse crops among childcare staff (educators and cooks); b) Support childcare staff in providing children with more opportunities for pulse crop consumption; c) Expand the variety of healthy foods consumed by early years children by incorporating locally grown pulse crops into the childcare centre meals. Methods: A population health controlled intervention study using a wait-list control design (48 weeks delayed-intervention) was used to evaluate the impact of the intervention. Mixed methods were employed to determine the intervention’s influence on children and educator behaviours and on the childcare centre environment. Results: Overall, increases in children’s physical activity levels and improvements in healthy eating behaviours were observed in the intervention group. Moreover, educators felt the intervention was effective in supporting them to increase physical activity and healthy eating opportunities provided to rural early years children. Lastly, improvements to childcare centre environments were made to promote healthy behaviours among the children. Conclusion: Collectively, the pilot study provided insight into the complexities and feasibility of promoting physical activity and healthy eating among early years children in childcare centres, particularly in rural communities. This was an innovative intervention which addressed critical factors at multiple levels contributing to the development of healthy behaviours among rural early years children. The lessons learned in this dissertation study can be used to improve the Healthy Start intervention so its implementation can be effectively expanded to childcare centres within and outside of Saskatchewan. Additionally, the findings can contribute to the limited body of literature on implementing and evaluating interventions aimed at increasing both physical activity and healthy eating in Canadian childcare centres. In turn, supporting the healthy development of early years children in the province and beyond.

A qualitative exploratory study informed by a community-based research model was conducted, involving the non-governmental organization Karnataka Health Promotion Trust, and community-based organization Chaitanya Mahila Sangha led by women in sex work, in India at each stage of the study. In-depth interviews were conducted by community research investigators among a purposive sample of 21 female sex workers and male intimate partners in Bagalkot district, Karnataka, India to explore how they describe their experience and understandings of intimate partner violence (IPV). The results show the social significance of intimate relationships as well as the interplay of multi-leveled issues underlying the vulnerability to intimate partner violence among sex-workers. The findings support the need for structural interventions working not only on the individual and relationship levels to address relevant triggers of violence, but also the community and societal levels, with the integral involvement of community partners, to more effectively address vulnerability to IPV.

Obesity is one of the largest health problems our nation currently faces. There are many contributing factors to the development of obesity, including genetics, lifestyle, diet, social and economic status, and lack of education or resources. In the rural East Tennessee community of Johnson County, lack of exercise has been identified as a major contributor to obesity. In addition, community members have expressed concern of a lack of knowledge of public places to exercise, such as walking paths and hiking trails. Previous research has shown that access to educational materials, such as informational brochures and maps, can increase knowledge of exercise locations. Our hypothesis, based on the Theory of Planned Behavior, is that creating and placing brochures in various locations throughout the community will normalize and encourage the use of these locations to increase exercise and ultimately improve the health of the community. An initial survey was sent to community members via email to determine what content should be included in the brochure. In conjunction with the Johnson County Health Council, a list of all walking paths and trails in the county was compiled. Each location was then visited to take note of the amenities available, the difficulty and the length of each path, and the hours available to the public. This information was then formatted into easy-to-read bullet points and grouped by geographic region in the county and a cartoon map developed. The completed brochure was then evaluated for effectiveness at increasing awareness of local paths and trails. Participants at a local doctor’s office were asked to complete a four question pre-survey assessing their current knowledge of walking paths and trails. The brochure was then given to the participants and sufficient time allowed to look through it. Participants completed an eight question post-survey which assessed any change in knowledge which occurred as a result of the brochure. The study was reviewed and approved by the ETSU Institutional Review Board. Preliminary results (n=6) show that the brochure is effective at increasing awareness and participants are more likely to visit one of the listed trails in the next month as a result. Further data collection is currently underway. By using a community based participatory approach, the specific needs of the community could be addressed. One drawback of this study is that it does not assess actual changes in trail usage or physical activity. However, it is hoped that the creation of this brochure and its use in the Johnson County community will lead to a more active community and will inspire future health initiatives.