<p>2019-06-03</p>

Background: Insecticide-treated bed nets (ITNs) are the main component in combating malaria in Tanzania, yet even though women report having access to a ITN, many do not utilize them. This study tries to measure known predictors of utilization and evaluate their impact on utilization among women who have access to a ITN.   Methods: All women, aged 14-49, whom had access to ITNs the night before the Tanzania DHS-MIS 2015-2016 were included. Socio-demographic predictors, exposure to media messages against malaria, knowledge and attitude towards using ITNs were tested against self-reported utilization in a logistic regression analysis.   Results: Utilization of ITNs was 76.6%  and 91.3% of participants knew that ITNs protect against malaria. The richest participants were the most likely to utilize their ITNs compared to the poorest (AOR1 2.46, 2.04-2.96 95% CI). Utilization increased with knowing ITNs protect against malaria (AOR1 1.33, 1.11-1.58 95% CI), being exposed to the ongoing behaviour communication change campaign (BCC) (AOR1 1.26, 1.09-1.47 95% CI), and living in one of the zones that recently had ITNs distributed. Risk factors were being among the youngest or the oldest adults, thinking that it is not important to sleep under ITNs and living in a zone that has not had a recent ITN distribution campaign.   Conclusion: Utilizing ITNs increases with knowledge and exposure to the BCC campaign. The poorest are the least likely to utilize their ITNs. More studies are needed as to why ITNs are not used even though women know the benefits of their use.

Background: Malaria in pregnancy is a preventable public health concern causing adverse maternal and fetal outcomes. Intermittent Preventive Treatment during pregnancy using Sulfadoxine-Pyrimethamine (IPTp-SP) is one of the main strategies used to prevent malaria. In 2013, Kenya adopted the World Health Organization (WHO) recommendations of using three or more doses of IPTp-SP. A Recent study done in Kenya reported low (25%) uptake. The aim of this study was to investigate determinants of use of IPTp-SP in Kenya. Methods: Data was drawn from the 2015 Kenya Malaria Indicator Survey. A total of 1839 women aged 15–49 years old, with pregnancies up to 3 years prior to the survey were analyzed. Bivariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis used to assess for independent predictors of IPTp-SP use. Results: Overall 57.3% of respondents used at least one dose (IPTp1) and 27.7% used three or more doses (IPTp3) which were both below roll back malaria targets (80%). Majority (94.4%) attended antenatal care. Number of visits at antenatal care, treated bed nets utilization and residing in Coastal, Nyanza and Western region increased the odds of IPTp1 and IPTp3. Low malaria knowledge, residing in Central and North eastern region lowered odds IPTp1 and IPTp3. Higher education decreased the odds of IPTp1 but not IPTp3. Conclusion: Due to the low IPTp-SP use, despite a high antenatal care attendance, there is need to ensure SP availability at antenatal care. Continuous educational training for all health care providers and increasing messages on malaria prevention via posters and media recommended.

No description available.

Syfte och frågeställningar Syftet med denna studie är att undersöka hur en grupp anställda vid Ericsson i Kista pendlar till arbetet, hur långt avståndet är till arbetet och hur lång tid det skulle ta att cykla. Insamlade data kommer sedan att jämföras med svaren från undersökningen år 1949. Ett sekundärt syfte är att undersöka skillnader i arbetspendling med avseende på kön. Frågeställningar som besvaras i studien är: Vilket färdmedel används för pendling till arbetet och hur förändras det valet beroende på årstid? Är det någon skillnad mellan män och kvinnor gällande val av färdmedel? Hur långt avstånd uppskattar de anställda att de har till arbetet och hur stämmer det överens med det uppmätta avståndet? Hur lång tid uppskattar de anställda att det skulle ta att cykla till arbetet och hur lång tid är den beräknade cykeltiden? Metod: Studien inleddes med att fördjupa kunskapen inom Ericssons historia. Efter att ha letat efter validerade enkäter beslöts att göra en egen enkät. En elektronisk enkät skickades ut till omkring 400 personer via HR-avdelningen på Ericsson varav 121 anställda (51 % kvinnor) valde att svara. I enkäten besvarades frågor om ålder, kön, vanligaste färdsättet till arbetet och skattat avstånd till arbetet. Svaren användes sedan i två olika formler för att beräkna cykeltiden; D = T x 16.14 km/h x 0,763 x (1,604 - 0,0129 x A) för kvinnor och D = T x 20.76 km/h x 0,719 x (1,676 – 0,0147 x A) för män där (D= km), (T=timmar) och (A=ålder). För att räkna ut det exakta cykelavståndet mellan bostad och arbetsplats användes Gmap-pedometer. Resultat: Från att 60 % tog cykeln till arbetet år 1949 till att 9 % gjorde det år 2019, och 1 % som använde sig av ett motordrivet fordon till 40 %. Det är även färre personer som promenerar till arbetet 2019 (1,65 %) jämfört med 1949 (19 %). Inga signifikanta skillnader noterades (p&gt;0,05) mellan kvinnor och män angående val av färdmedel. Medelavståndet till arbetet var 16,48 km och den beräknade cykeltiden var i medeltal 73 minuter. Slutsats: Studien visar att flera faktorer har förändrats mellan år 1949 och 2019. Avståndet till arbetet har blivit längre och fler människor väljer idag bilen som fortskaffningsmedel. Studien kan inte uttala sig om kausalitet. Intressant är att fördelningen mellan kvinnor och män i de olika kategorierna av färdmedel var mycket jämn.

Systematic reviews of the effect of foster care on mental-health outcomes have consistently indicated a zero-sum game, which makes it unclear whether the intervention is suitable for children in need of out-of-home placements. This thesis took on a meta-analytical approach to examine sources of heterogeneity between studies evaluating the effect of foster care on adaptive functioning, cognitive functioning, externalizing behavior, internalizing behavior, and total problems behavior. The bulk of studies came from two recently published systematic reviews. The searches were replicated to cover studies published until March 31, 2018. From 2943 studies assessed for eligibility, 240 were selected for the analysis covering 25 085 children. A choice of study-related covariates was abstracted, and potential sources of heterogeneity were hypothesized and tested by means of meta-regression. The findings indicated that both the choice of study design and measurement instrument were significantly associated with the variation in effect sizes. These associations were even stronger in child protection-oriented welfare regimes while insignificant in family service-oriented regimes, which instead showed significant associations for outcome type and publication year. The results imply a need to standardize effect studies of foster care, and to further research on sources of heterogeneity in different child welfare regimes.

Background: Zambia has one of the highest rates of intimate partner violence (IPV) in the world. While the focus has been put on the prevalence and the consequences of physical, sexual and psychological violence, economic abuse has been a neglected area in research. Studies have shown that accepting attitudes toward IPV are the most prominent predictor of the occurrence of IPV while men’s attitudes toward IPV have not gained equal attention in research as women.  Aim: To explore women’s and men’s attitudes towards economic abuse in Livingstone, Zambia.  Methods: This study used a qualitative case study method consisting of semi-structured interviews with 17 women and men in four villages in Livingstone town. Transcripts were analyzed through a thematic analysis using the software NVivo 12 as an aid in facilitating the coding process.  Results: The husband not providing for the family was not acceptable by the respondents. As a result of this, men expressed constant feelings of societal pressure of being a good provider. Mixed and contradicting attitudes concerning preventing the wife from working or taking money without consent were shown. Preventing the wife from working or taking money were often justified as long as the husband could provide.  Conclusion: This study concludes that people’s overall attitudes towards economic abuse are strongly affected by traditional gender roles, where societal norms and expectations put on men should be questioned. Therefore, reducing the prevalence of economic abuse requires interventions targeting irresistible stereotypical norms concerning expectations on masculinities and femininities.

<p>2019-08-25</p>

Aim: To explore the causes of minority stress in trans individuals in Sweden, and how these individuals cope with such minority stress. Background: Trans individuals have markedly poor mental health compared to the general population. Meyer’s Minority Stress Model has been shown to apply to trans individuals. However, causes of minority stress and methods of coping for trans individuals have not been investigated in Sweden. Previously, social support has been highlighted as a key coping mechanism of minority stress. This thesis explores the causes of minority stress on trans individuals and how they cope with this stress. Methods: A qualitative study utilising semi-structured interviews with 18 trans individuals from across Sweden. A deductive approach was applied in analysis of the data, in order to explore the causes of minority stress, as detailed by the Minority Stress Model. Results: The main causes of minority stress were found to be the medical investigation, discrimination and internalised stigma. The trans community was a source of social support, facilitating coping with minority stress. Other facilitative coping mechanisms used by participants were the support of family. Discrimination and internalised stigma led to avoidant coping mechanisms, such as avoidance of social environments. Conclusion: This study reinforces previous findings that discrimination and internalised stigma cause minority stress for trans individuals. The structure of the medical investigation in Sweden should be reviewed, to reduce the stress it causes. The visibility of the trans community should be improved to increase the use of the community as a source of social support and facilitative coping.

<p>2019-06-04</p>