Academic literature on the topic 'Samoa. Ministry of Health'

Health and development are inextricably linked. Within the current development paradigm, Primary Health Care (PHC) has emerged as the dominant approach to address the health problems in Lesser Developed Countries (LDCs). An important element in the process of PHC is the dissemination of health information, enabling communities to improve their own health situations. Using Western Samoa as an example of a developing nation, this thesis investigates the diffusion of health information and its change over time. Analysis of communication processes revealed barriers which reduce the effectiveness of health information diffusion. HIV/AIDS and diabetes information used as two contemporary examples for investigation. Communication barriers have resulted in a separation between the senders and receivers of health information. The evolution of the Western medical paradigm is established as the cause of many of these barriers.

The aim of the thesis was to collect baseline data and to investigating suitable physical tests and a self-rapport questionnaire. Collected data was used to find a routine measurement when investigating foot health, function and mobility among clients suffering from diabetes in Samoa. Twenty-one participants suffering from diabetes were included in the study. Clients answered the Foot function index (FFI) questionnaire and performed physical tests, consisting of Bergs balance scale (BBS) and Time up and go (TUG). Results from the physical tests revealed a great balance disturbance and mobility limitations among the majority of the clients. General high weight and BMI was measured among both genders. Subjects with the highest BMI performed lowest time during TUG test. The statistic analyze revealed a strong correlation between the two physical tests, indicating that one of the tests could be applied as a routine measurement in the future, when evaluating function and mobility in Samoa. The compilation of self-report questionnaires indicated a general good foot health with a low amount of pain, disabilities and activity limitations.<br>Syftet med studien var att samla in grundata och att hitta ett lämpligt fysiskt test och ett självadministrativt formulär. Den insamlade grunddatan användes för att hitta ett rutinmässigt mätinstrument för undersökning av fothälsa, funktion och mobilitet hos klienter som lider av diabetes i landet Samoa. I undersökningen deltog 21 personer som lider av diabetes. Deltagarna fick besvara ett så kallat ”Foot Function Index formulär” (FFI) och utföra de två fysiska testerna ”Bergs Balance Scale” (BBS) och ”Time Up and Go” (TUG). Resultaten från de fysiska testerna påvisade såväl en stor balansrubbning som mobilitetsbegränsningar hos majoriteten av deltagarna. Ett generellt högt BMI-värde och stor vikt uppmättes hos båda könen. Personer med högst BMI-värde presterade kortast tid under TUG-testet. Den statistiska analysen påvisade en stark korrelation mellan de två fysiska testen, vilket indikerar att endast ett av testerna kan användas som mätinstrument i framtida undersökningar av funktion och mobilitet på Samoa. Sammanställningen av de självadministrativa formulären påvisade en generellt god fothälsa med begränsad smärta, oförmåga och aktivitetsbegränsning hos deltagarna i studien.

Near-field tsunamis are a type of natural hazard that provide at-risk individuals with short warning periods that can severely hinder effective response. The Protection Action Decision Model (PADM) is an established theoretical framework that has been used to describe human response to natural hazards. Variables from the PADM have been used to understand individual and household responses during hazards such as hurricanes and floods but seldom for tsunamis. This study surveyed 300 adult American Samoan survivors of the September 29, 2009, Mw 8.1 South Pacific earthquake and tsunami. The primary objectives were to use variables from the PADM to: a) determine the relative importance of determinants of threat perception, b) examine tsunami survivors’ ratings of 4 social stakeholder groups regarding tsunami knowledge, trustworthiness of source of information, and protection responsibility, and c) establish whether household characteristics such as distance to shoreline, household income, and family size were situational impediments to response. Study findings showed that ground motion from the earthquake was found to be the strongest predictor of threat perception. Respondents rated themselves higher than officials and media for the 3 stakeholder characteristics. Occupational status had the most apparent effect on stakeholder perceptions. Those who reported being employed were more likely to have higher mean ratings across the social stakeholder groups for most characteristics. Respondents living closer to the shoreline and having an income of ≥ $15,000 proved to be slightly more likely to evacuate. Overall, findings suggest that the people of American Samoa displayed a remarkable response to the earthquake by evacuating upon feeling the ground shaking. Thousands of people were in the inundation zone but only 34 died, even though the first wave arrived onshore in as little as 15 minutes. The adaptive response during this event is frequently attributed to the success of recent educational outreach conducted in the months and week just prior to the event but other factors may also be important. This research represents a novel study that examines various aspects of tsunami evacuation behavior for a near-field tsunami using the PADM with a population outside of the contiguous 50 states.

This project dissertation, entitled “Collaborative Campus Ministry and Its Impact on Women’s Health,” provides a foundation from which to develop a collaborative campus ministry that approaches issues relating to women’s health on a historically Black campus. The dissertation includes the results of a collaboration between the Campus Ministry Office, Health Service Center, and Counseling at Morris Brown College, along with local congregations and community agencies and organizations. This project dissertation presents the development and findings of Sisters Aligned and Living Together (SALT): A Women’s Health Conference. Project SALT provided basic information for the development and operation of a weilness program Health Education Resource Service(HERS) designed to address health concerns and challenges of many young African American women at Morris Brown College and other college campuses as well as in local congregations.

Risk and risk perception are important concepts for strategic planning and management of an organisation. Risk management (RM) refers to systematic collection and analysis of data to determine the potentially adverse effects of an organisation’s strategic objectives (risk), and the development of mitigation strategies to counteract organisational uncertainties. Such uncertainties are increasing with the rapid development and expansion of the higher education sector (HE). Globalisation, increased competition for funding, advances in information and communication technology, increased social expectations, and many additional challenges have made the educational and research process more complex. This research aims to: 1) assess the level of staff awareness/participation on risk management among the 14 Ministry of Health Educational Institutions (MOHEIs); 2) identify, evaluate MOHEIs’ risks as perceived by MOHEIs staff, and 3) develop a risk management plan with recommendations, to improve the management of risk in MOHEIs. The RM endeavour is part of the new public management (NPM) reform of HE and it adds value to HEIs and their stakeholders. Both aim to: 1) improve the competitive advantage through a better understanding of risk in the operational environment, and 2) improve efficiency and effective use of resources. Diversifying funding sources, privatisation of some services (thereby sharing/transferring risk to other partners) and decentralisation of some authority to the lower organisation level will empower staff to identify risks at local level and assist in developing mitigation strategies that meet their departments’ or units’ needs. The literature review reveals many risk management standards/frameworks, which use similar processes, that include six main steps (1) Defining Context, (2) Event Identification, (3) Risk Assessment, (4) Risk response, (5) Risk Communication and, (5) Evaluation and Monitoring. In the present work I have adapted the first three of these steps through a mixed action research approach. Three data gathering methods were employed to collect qualitative and quantitative data: 1) content analysis of local, national and international published documents, 2) focus group discussions with eight senior managers and academic staff from various institutions and disciplines, and 3) two-round Delphi survey with participation of 158 MOHEIs staff. The research revealed 20 risks, of which seven risks have been rated as MOHEIs top priority risks. These include: (1) breakdown of equipment/applications; (2) inadequate infrastructure; (3) breach of IT or data security; (4) low student satisfaction; (5) insufficient funding: (6) slow procurement processes; and, (7) rising cost of employment. A risk management plan was thus developed to mitigate these seven risks through 21 treatment strategies, 69 operational activities, and 46 key risk indicators. This research highlights the need to develop a risk management framework or standard that caters for all MOHEIs levels and take into consideration the social and cultural values of the stakeholders. Until a risk management framework is established, the results of this research recommend quality assurance section to take the lead in implementing the proposed risk management plan.

This thesis investigates the colonial organisation of leprosy care in Samoa from 1890 to 1922. It begins with the examination of the nineteenth century “Three Power” governments of Germany, United States of America and Great Britain over Samoa, and moves on to a study of German rule beginning in 1900 and New Zealand administration from 1914. It analyses colonial politics alongside the medical changes and exchanges of ideas about race, health and disease which dominated the direction of leprosy care in Samoa. During these thirty two years of European influence and control over Samoan affairs, the leprosy sufferer became confined and restricted, to some extent a result of international pressure for the segregation of leprosy sufferers, and a consequence of a public and medical push for isolation and confinement. Beginning in the German period, leprosy care involved medical and missionary alliances, evidence of a shift in the perception of leprosy as a shared responsibility, rather than exclusively a state one. This thesis examines the isolation policies carried out through the network of authorities involved in the organisation of leprosy care. It analyses the medical understanding of leprosy and the leprosy sufferer and traces the impact of these ideas on the leprosy policies implemented in Samoa, particularly the development and establishment of the first leprosy station in the village of Falefa which was later moved to the island of Nu’utele. The iii story of leprosy care in Samoa occurred at a time of decreasing Samoan authority, an indication of not only a disempowered leprosy sufferer but also of a largely disempowered Samoan people.