Academic literature on the topic 'Adolescent girls' transitions from institutional care'

The tribal people are more tradition bound and have poorer health indicators and limited access to healthcare services. However, with changing time and continuous effort of the government, they are now in a transitional phase between traditional and modern healthcare practices. This article attempts to explore context, reasons, and options behind the health-seeking behavior of the Tangsa (Hill Tribe) women of Margherita sub-division of Tinsukia district, Assam, along with their access to the public healthcare services. Using both simple random and purposive sampling method, primary data were collected in the field from the married women, adolescent girls, and mothers who have girl child of 0–9 years of age from two Tangsa villages, namely Kharangkong and Hassak. Data were collected using standard field methods, for example, observation, survey schedule, interview, semi-structured and open- ended questionnaires, case study, and participatory tools such as focused group discussion (FGD). The findings indicate that Tangsa women generally prefer traditional healing practices to cure many of the common diseases. But a portion of women ranging from 42 to 74 percent received the benefits from different government health schemes related to reproductive health. Institutional delivery is gradually increasing, but iron and folic acid (IFA) intake by pregnant women and adolescent girls is still very poor. The public health department should make more effort to increase the level of awareness and knowledge among the tribal women about the benefits that can be availed from various schemes and modern healthcare services.

Introduction: Adolescents are children aged 10-19 years. Nutrition influences the growth and development during infancy, childhood and adolescence. Adolescent girls are at higher risk of anemia and undernutrition. This research was aimed to find the prevalence of anemia among adolescent girls in a tertiary care hospital. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was done in the adolescent girls attending the pediatric outpatient department of a tertiary care centre from October 2020 to May 2021. After the ethical clearance from the institutional review committee, 380 adolescent girls were taken using a convenient sampling technique. Anthropometric measurements, social demography and blood for hemoglobin estimation were taken and documented in predesigned proforma. Data were analyzed with Statistical Package for the Social Sciences version 20. Point estimate at 95% Confidence Interval was done, and frequency and proportion were calculated. Results: Out of 380 adolescent girls, 230 (60.5%) at 95% Confidence Interval (55.56-65.41) were anemic with mean hemoglobin of 11.138±1.954 gm/dl. The mean age was 14.57±2.107 years. Conclusions: This study showed a higher prevalence of anemia than the national data. Proper education regarding personal and menstrual hygiene, weekly supplementation of iron in school, dietary habits and uplifting of economic status can prevent anemia in this population.

ABSTRACT IMPACT: This change will improve primary care physicians and pediatrics ability to identify, intervene and prevent obesity related renal damage in the vulnerable population of young adults OBJECTIVES/GOALS: Obesity related glomerulopathy has a reversible stage manifested as hyperfiltration. Early intervention depends on the ability to identify hyperfiltration. Hyperfiltration prevalence is underestimated using the currently recommended formula We investigated whether calculating BSA-adjusted GFR will more readily identify hyperfiltration. METHODS/STUDY POPULATION: We extracted data from a large urban, multi-institutional Electronic Health Records (EHR) clinical data research network to construct an EHR data base of 60,549 women and girls ages 12-21 years from the New York metropolitan area. EGFR was calculated in two ways, 1) according to age appropriate formula, and 2) according to age appropriate formula and adjusted to body surface area (BSA). BMI-for-age values were classified according to the World Health Organization schema and grouped according to the CDC definitions. BSA was calculated according to the Du-Bois formula. Hyperfiltration was defined by a threshold of 135ml/min. The Bland Altman method assessed the agreement between formulas across the different BMI groups. RESULTS/ANTICIPATED RESULTS: Serum creatinine values were similar across different BMI groups. Comparing eGFR values, hyperfiltration rates were similar across BMI groups, ranging between 4%-6.6%. BSA-adjusted GFR was different across BMI groups: hyperfiltration rates were 0.81% for the underweight group, 2.56% for the normal weight, 12.18% for the overweight and 39% in the obese group. This trend of hyperfiltration paralleled the the rise in urine creatinine across BMI groups. DISCUSSION/SIGNIFICANCE OF FINDINGS: BSA-adjusted GFR more sensitively detects hyperfiltration due to obesity than does eGFR. Calculating BSA-adjusted GFR will improve primary care and pediatric physicians’ ability to identify, intervene and prevent early ORG. Changes in body composition may account for the increasing discordance between BSA-adjusted and eGFR as BMI rises.

Purpose The available research on specialized interventions for youth experiencing commercial sexual exploitation almost exclusively focuses on the impact and efficacy related to cisgender girls, despite the inclusion of youth who identify as transgender in these programs. This paper aims to present a case study on the experience of a transgender adolescent girl who experienced commercial sexual exploitation and provides a narrative of the multifarious challenges she faced while involved in institutional systems of care. Design/methodology/approach This paper conducted an in-depth case review of all records on “Jade,” a white adolescent transgender girl who experienced commercial sexual exploitation, from a specialty court program in the juvenile justice system between 2012 and 2016. Her experiences throughout childhood exemplify many of the unique challenges that transgender girls and young women with histories of exploitation or trafficking may encounter within service delivery and socioecological systems. This paper applied concepts adapted from the gender minority stress theoretical model to understand how minority gender identity can shape the experiences and outcomes of the youth impacted by commercial sexual exploitation. Findings Jade’s narrative underscores the interplay of gender-based sexual violence, heteronormative structural barriers, transphobia and their intersectional impact on her experience while receiving specialized care. The intersectional hardships she experienced likely contributed to adverse biopsychosocial outcomes, including high rates of medical and behavioral health diagnoses and expectations of further rejection. Originality/value This paper highlights the extraordinary challenges and barriers faced by an often under-recognized and overlooked subset of the youth impacted by commercial sexual exploitation, who may receive services that do not account for their unique needs related to gender expression and identity. This paper exemplifies how internalized stigma along with expectations of further rejection and victimization have implications for clinical and multidisciplinary intervention settings. Jade’s case underscores the need for improved access to supportive services for youth with minority gender identities, including peer community-building opportunities. Finally, this paper identifies a critical gap in US legislation and social policy. This gap contributes to the structural harms faced by transgender and gender-nonconforming youth receiving services during or following experiences of commercial sexual exploitation.

IntroductionIn sub-Saharan Africa, adolescent girls and young women (AGYW) face a range of sexual and reproductive health (SRH) challenges. Clinical, behavioural and structural interventions have each reduced these risks and improved health outcomes. However, combinations of these interventions have not been compared with each other or with no intervention at all. The ‘Girl Power’ study is designed to systematically make these comparisons.Methods and analysisFour comparable health facilities in Malawi and South Africa (n=8) were selected and assigned to one of the following models of care: (1)Standard of care: AGYW can receive family planning, HIV testing and counselling (HTC), and sexually transmitted infection (STI) syndromic management in three separate locations with three separate queues with the general population. No youth-friendly spaces, clinical modifications or trainings are offered, (2)Youth-Friendly Health Services (YFHS): AGYW are meant to receive integrated family planning, HTC and STI services in dedicated youth spaces with youth-friendly modifications and providers trained in YFHS, (3)YFHS+behavioural intervention (BI): In addition to YFHS, AGYW can attend 12 monthly theory-driven, facilitator-led, interactive sessions on health, finance and relationships, (4)YFHS+BI+conditional cash transfer (CCT): in addition to YFHS and BI, AGYW receive up to 12 CCTs conditional on monthly BI session attendance.At each clinic, 250 AGYW 15–24 years old (n=2000 total) will be consented, enrolled and followed for 1 year. Each participant will complete a behavioural survey at enrolment, 6 months and 12 months . All clinical, behavioural and CCT services will be captured. Outcomes of interest include uptake of each package element and reduction in HIV risk behaviours. A qualitative substudy will be conducted.Ethics/disseminationThis study has received ethical approval from the University of North Carolina Institutional Review Board, the University of Cape Town Human Research Ethics Committee and Malawi’s National Health Sciences Research Committee. Study plans, processes and findings will be disseminated to stakeholders, in peer-reviewed journals and at conferences.

Background: Infant deaths from Bhavnagar rural areas were studied by using a verbal autopsy tool.Methods: Community visit based retrospective study of Bhavnagar rural by WHO verbal autopsy questionnaire.Results: Of the 92 deaths analyzed, 59 % (early), 12% (late), and 29% were during the post neonatal period. Male deaths were 55 (60%). The most common immediate causes were infection (39%), birth asphyxia (23%), and hyaline membrane disease (15%). Underlying causes were: maternal illness with feeding problem (45%), prematurity (26%), meconium aspiration syndrome (9%), and congenital/genetic anomalies (10%). Infant and neonatal deaths were seen more with illiteracy of mother, age of mother (25-29 years), third parity, anemia, and vaginal discharge; and non-breastfed, low birth weight and preterm. Birth asphyxia and hyaline membrane disease were during early, and meningitis and pneumonia were after the neonatal period. Verbal autopsy was accurate in 18/23 (78%) of the facility-based deaths where the cause of death was available. Ethics approval was obtained.Conclusions: Reproductive health education to adolescent girls and mothers, regarding the treatment of fever, vaginal discharge; and breastfeeding counselling with vitamin B12 should be used as more infant deaths are associated with anemia of mother. Health workers should be skilled in neonatal resuscitation, prematurity management, and referral, after stabilization, identification of congenital anomaly, antenatal screening by USG, and neonatal metabolic screen. Recent 2018 data obtained from Bhavnagar District Health Authority shows that over a period of eight years, institutional deliveries have increased and home deliveries, early neonatal deaths, HMD, and septicemia have decreased. Perinatal care should be check-list based, monitored, and mentored.

IntroductionIndividuals with Rett syndrome (RTT) experience impaired gross motor skills, limiting their capacity to engage in physical activities and participation in activities. There is limited evidence of the effectiveness of supported physical activity interventions. This study aims to evaluate the effects of a telehealth-delivered physical activity programme on physical activity, sedentary behaviour and quality of life in RTT.Methods and analysisThis is a multicentre study, conducted in Australia, Denmark and Israel. It is a randomised waitlist-controlled trial comparing an intervention to support physical activity with usual care. Participants are children and adults with RTT, recruited from the Australian Rett Syndrome Database, the Danish Center for Rett Syndrome and the Rett Syndrome Association of Israel. The intervention duration is 12 weeks, including fortnightly telephone contact to plan, monitor and develop individual activity programmes. Outcomes are measured at baseline, at 13 weeks and then at 25 weeks. The primary outcomes are sedentary behaviour assessed with an activPAL accelerometer and the number of daily steps measured with a StepWatch Activity Monitor. Secondary outcomes include sleep, behaviour and quality of life. Caregiver experiences will be assessed immediately after the intervention using a satisfaction questionnaire. Group differences for each outcome will be evaluated with analysis of covariance, adjusting for baseline values on an intention-to-treat basis.Ethics and disseminationEthics approval has been obtained in Western Australia from the Child and Adolescent Health Services (RGS3371), in Denmark from the Capital Region Ethics Committee (H-19040514) and in Israel from the Ariel University Institutional Review Board (AU-HEA-ML-20190331). Manuscripts on the development of the intervention from pilot work and the results of the intervention will be submitted to peer-reviewed journals. Results will be presented at conferences and consumer forums. We will develop an online resource documenting the physical activity programme and available supporting evidence.Trial registration numberNCT04167059; Pre-results.

IntroductionAdolescent girls and young women (AGYW) in sub-Saharan Africa are at high risk of HIV acquisition. Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) demonstration projects observe that AGYW uptake and adherence to PrEP during risk periods is suboptimal. Judgemental interactions with healthcare workers (HCW) and inadequate counselling can be barriers to PrEP use among AGYW. Improving HCW competency and communication to support PrEP delivery to AGYW requires new strategies.Methods and analysisPrEP Implementation for Young Women and Adolescents Program-standardised patient (PrIYA-SP) is a cluster randomised trial of a standardised patient actor (SP) training intervention designed to improve HCW adherence to PrEP guidelines and communication skills. We purposively selected 24 clinics offering PrEP services under fully programmatic conditions in Kisumu County, Kenya. At baseline, unannounced SP ‘mystery shoppers’ present to clinics portraying AGYW in common PrEP scenarios for a cross-sectional assessment of PrEP delivery. Twelve facilities will be randomised to receive a 2-day training intervention, consisting of lectures, role-playing with SPs and group debriefing. Unannounced SPs will repeat the assessment in all 24 sites following the intervention. The primary outcome is quality of PrEP counselling, including adherence to national guidelines and communication skills, scored on a checklist by SPs blinded to intervention assignment. An intention-to-treat (ITT) analysis will evaluate whether the intervention resulted in higher scores within intervention compared with control facilities, adjusted for baseline SP scores and accounting for clustering by facility. We hypothesise that the intervention will improve quality of PrEP counselling compared with standard of care. Results from this study will inform guidelines for PrEP delivery to AGYW in low-resource settings and offer a potentially scalable strategy to improve service delivery for this high-risk group.Ethics and disseminationThe protocol was approved by institutional review boards at Kenyatta National Hospital and University of Washington. An external advisory committee monitors social harms. Results will be disseminated through peer-reviewed journals and presentations.Trial registration numberNCT03875950

Transition to adulthood is a complex phenomenon, yielding varying outcomes for young people in different environments. Hence, adolescent girls transitioning from institutional care are a heterogeneous group with varying transition experiences and livelihood outcomes. Studies suggest that adolescents leaving care have less desirable outcomes compared to their counterparts in familial care (Vaughn, Shook & McMillen, 2008). Therefore, adolescents in the institutional context need specialised transition programmes as they traverse to adulthood and independent living (Storm, Porter & Macaulay, 2010:307). Unfortunately, institutions fail to provide well-structured and gender-sensitive transition programmes that promote the achievement of sustainable livelihoods during and after leaving care (Powell, 2006:143). As a consequence, adolescents are vulnerable to negative social and economic outcomes beyond institutional care. iii. The goal of the study was to evaluate the effects of transition programmes on the livelihood outcomes of adolescent girls post institutional care in Highfield, Harare. This study, which is participatory action research, evaluated the transitions and livelihood outcomes of adolescent girls transitioning from two institutions in Highfield, Harare. To conceptualise the transition phenomena, sustainable livelihoods and feminist theoretical frameworks were applied. Mixed methods approaches were used and qualitative as well as quantitative data were collected, analysed and interpreted concurrently. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with thirty-two adolescent girls, two superintendents and a district social services officer. Focus group discussions were held with participants from Institutions A and B and observations made on their counterparts discharged from the same institutions. A gender assessment questionnaire was administered to superintendents to establish whether the programmes being provided were gender-sensitive. Findings from the study showed that adolescent girls in the two institutions have access to more assets (55.55%) compared to those outside with 49.2%. Hence, adolescent girls leaving institutional care lose 6.35% assets, making them poorer than their counterparts in care. Adolescent girls in the institutional context face increased gender-based constraints resulting in limited access to livelihood opportunities. Findings also indicate that adolescent girls living in resource-constrained institutions and households have more complex and harder transitions compared to those in well-resourced institutions and households. The study concluded that the transition programmes being provided are not adequately preparing adolescent girls for life beyond care and they are also not gender-sensitive. Thus, they have a negative impact on the transitions and livelihood outcomes of adolescent girls. Furthermore, stakeholders in the transition process lack financial and human resources to develop and implement gender-responsive transition policies and programmes, thereby affecting adolescent girls’ access to different kinds of livelihood assets. iv. To facilitate successful transitions, this study recommends the development of gender-sensitive transition policies, transformation of the case management system and more investments in participatory policy development, planning, implementing, monitoring and evaluation of transition programmes. Key words Adolescent girls Assets Case management system Evaluation Feminist approaches Institutional care Livelihood outcomes Poverty Sustainable Livelihoods Approach Transition programmes
Thesis (DPhil)--University of Pretoria, 2015.
tm2015
Social Work and Criminology
Unrestricted