Go With the (Milk) Flow. Infant feeding practices and premature introduction of solids in rural Eastern Cape South Africa

This study uses an intersectional approach to examine and understand how different social and cultural norms impact women’s agency when choosing infant feeding practice. The study wishes to broaden the debate on how women can succeed with breastfeeding or the infant feeding practice of her choice and decrease harmful premature introduction of solids such as Nestum®. Data was collected via group and individual interviews in Ginyitsimbi, Eastern Cape, South Africa and focuses on understanding women’s lived experiences.Particular attention was given to how power relations and demographic hierarchies intersect on women’s choice of feeding practice and the premature introduction of solids as well as social and cultural viewings of motherhood. The theoretical framework was constructed by the work of Bourdieu as well as Kabeer and helped to analyze the findings. These suggest that women’s choice of infant feeding practice is affected by broader contextual factors that through normative expectations on motherhood and demographic hierarchies impact on women’s agency and decision-making power. The study stresses the importance of community support and information as it aspires to inform and improve attitudes and practices for infant feeding support. These are key elements for enabling the acceptance of breastfeeding and improving infant feeding knowledge

Lively and safe urban squares : a case study of Rådhustorget in Umeå

Till följd av dagens kraftigt växande städer och förtätning som stadsideal blir de offentliga ytorna extra viktiga för människors välmående. Social hållbarhet handlar om att utforma städer där människors mående sätts i fokus. En viktig del av den socialt hållbara staden är de offentliga platserna som ska vara till för alla och skapa möjligheter för möten. Torgen är ett av de viktigaste offentliga rummen då de oftast är placerade i stadens mest centrala delar och har historiskt sett alltid fungerat som en plats där stadens medborgare kan mötas. En grundförutsättning för att människor ska trivas och vilja använda ett torg är att det inbringar trygghet. Därav kan tomma torg resultera i en upplevelse av otrygghet. Syftet med den här uppsatsen är att få en större förståelse för hur livfulla och trygga torg kan uppnås för att bidra till att skapa socialt hållbara städer. För att besvara uppsatsens frågeställning har Rådhustorget undersökts genom platsanalyser som utgått från olika teoretiska ramverk. I analysen har Jan Gehls kriterier för Bekvämlighet och kategorisering av aktiviteter i det offentliga rummet använts för att bedöma vilka aspekter som bidrar till ett livfullt torg. För att bedöma tryggheten på Rådhustorget har Boverkets utgångspunkter analyserats. Det har även skett en dokumentgranskning av Rådhustorgets gestaltningsprogram och planer för kommunens arbete för social hållbarhet på offentliga platser. Det gav en ökad förståelse för arkitekternas utgångspunkter vid renoveringen av torget samt en övergripande uppfattning för kommunens visioner. Genom att notera torgets aspekter utifrån ramverken gavs en insikt i hur utformningen påverkade användningen och upplevelsen av trygghet på torget. Några aspekter som noterades bidra till ökad användning och trygghet på torget var bland annat att det var enkelt att få en överblick på torget och dess omgivning. Den huvudsakliga bristande kvaliteten på torget var att det fanns få faktorer som bjöd in till att stanna upp och utföra olika aktiviteter.As a result of today's rapidly growing cities and densification as an ideal in city planning, public places become extra important for people's well-being. Social sustainability is about designing cities where people's wellbeing is the top priority. An important part of a socially sustainable city is that the public places should be accessible for everybody while also creating opportunities for social encounters. The urban square is one of the most important public spaces since they usually are situated in the most central part of the city. Historically, the squares have always functioned as a meeting place for the citizens. A basic requirement for people to enjoy and use an urban square is that it brings a feeling of safety. Hence an empty square can lead to people experiencing a feeling of lack of safety. The intention of this essay is to get a broader understanding of how to achieve lively and safe urban squares to contribute to a socially sustainable city. In order to answer the essay's research question, Rådhustorget has been investigated through a case study based on various theoretical frameworks. The analysis is based on Jan Gehl's criteria for Comfort and categorization of activities in the public space and Boverkets criteria on the experience of safety in public environments. There has also been a document review of Rådhustorget's designprogram and planning for the township’s work for social sustainability in public places. This gave an increased understanding of the architects' main focus for the renovation as well as an overall understanding of the township’s goals. By analysing the square's different aspects based on the theoretical frameworks, a broader understanding was given about how the design influenced the usage and safety on Rådhustorget. Some aspects that were noted to contribute to increasing liveliness and safety in the square were, among other things, that it was easy to get an overview of the square and its surroundings. The main lack of quality of the square was that there were few factors that made people want to stay for a longer time and participate in different activities

The Study Protocol for the LINC (LUCAS in Cardiac Arrest) Study: a study comparing conventional adult out-of-hospital cardiopulmonary resuscitation with a concept with mechanical chest compressions and simultaneous defibrillation

BACKGROUND: The LUCAS™ device delivers mechanical chest compressions that have been shown in experimental studies to improve perfusion pressures to the brain and heart as well as augmenting cerebral blood flow and end tidal CO(2,) compared with results from standard manual cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). Two randomised pilot studies in out-of-hospital cardiac arrest patients have not shown improved outcome when compared with manual CPR. There remains evidence from small case series that the device can be potentially beneficial compared with manual chest compressions in specific situations. This multicentre study is designed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of mechanical chest compressions with the LUCAS™ device whilst allowing defibrillation during on-going CPR, and comparing the results with those of conventional resuscitation. METHODS/DESIGN: This article describes the design and protocol of the LINC-study which is a randomised controlled multicentre study of 2500 out-of-hospital cardiac arrest patients. The study has been registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (http://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT00609778?term=LINC&rank=1). RESULTS: Primary endpoint is four-hour survival after successful restoration of spontaneous circulation. The safety aspect is being evaluated by post mortem examinations in 300 patients that may reflect injuries from CPR. CONCLUSION: This large multicentre study will contribute to the evaluation of mechanical chest compression in CPR and specifically to the efficacy and safety of the LUCAS™ device when used in association with defibrillation during on-going CPR

Mechanical versus manual chest compressions in the treatment of in-hospital cardiac arrest patients in a non-shockable rhythm : a randomised controlled feasibility trial (COMPRESS-RCT)

Background Mechanical chest compression devices consistently deliver high-quality chest compressions. Small very low-quality studies suggest mechanical devices may be effective as an alternative to manual chest compressions in the treatment of adult in-hospital cardiac arrest patients. The aim of this feasibility trial is to assess the feasibility of conducting an effectiveness trial in this patient population. Methods COMPRESS-RCT is a multi-centre parallel group feasibility randomised controlled trial, designed to assess the feasibility of undertaking an effectiveness to compare the effect of mechanical chest compressions with manual chest compressions on 30-day survival following in-hospital cardiac arrest. Over approximately two years, 330 adult patients who sustain an in-hospital cardiac arrest and are in a non-shockable rhythm will be randomised in a 3:1 ratio to receive ongoing treatment with a mechanical chest compression device (LUCAS 2/3, Jolife AB/Stryker, Lund, Sweden) or continued manual chest compressions. It is intended that recruitment will occur on a 24/7 basis by the clinical cardiac arrest team. The primary study outcome is the proportion of eligible participants randomised in the study during site operational recruitment hours. Participants will be enrolled using a model of deferred consent, with consent for follow-up sought from patients or their consultee in those that survive the cardiac arrest event. The trial will have an embedded qualitative study, in which we will conduct semi-structured interviews with hospital staff to explore facilitators and barriers to study recruitment. Discussion The findings of COMPRESS-RCT will provide important information about the deliverability of an effectiveness trial to evaluate the effect on 30-day mortality of routine use of mechanical chest compression devices in adult in-hospital cardiac arrest patients

Improved postpartum care after a participatory facilitation intervention in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania: a mixed method evaluation

Background: In order to improve the health and survival of mothers/newborns, the quality and attendance rates of postpartum care (PPC) must be increased, particularly in low-resource settings. Objective: To describe outcomes of a collegial facilitation intervention to improve PPC in government-owned health institutions in a low-resource suburb in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Methods: A before-and-after evaluation of an intervention and comparison group was conducted using mixed methods (focus group discussions, questionnaires, observations, interviews, and field-notes) at health institutions. Maternal and child health aiders, enrolled nurse midwives, registered nurse midwives, and medical and clinical officers participated. A collegial facilitation intervention was conducted and healthcare providers were organized in teams to improve PPC at their workplaces. Facilitators defined areas of improvement with colleagues and met regularly with a supervisor for support. Results: The number of mothers visiting the institution for PPC increased in the intervention group. Some care actions were noted in more than 80% of the observations and mothers reported high satisfaction with care. In the comparison group, PPC continued to be next to non-existent. The healthcare providers’ knowledge increased in both groups but was higher in the intervention group. The t-test showed a significant difference in knowledge between the intervention and comparison groups and between before and after the intervention in both groups. The difference of differences for knowledge was 1.3. The providers perceived the intervention outcomes to include growing professional confidence/knowledge, improved PPC quality, and mothers’ positive response. The quality grading was based on the national guidelines and involved nine experts and showed that none of the providers reached the level of good quality of care. Conclusions: The participatory facilitation intervention contributed to improved quality of PPC, healthcare providers’ knowledge and professional confidence, awareness of PPC among mothers, and increased PPC attendance

Midwifery continuity of care in the Nordic countries : A scoping review protocol

Objective: To provide a protocol for a scoping review aimed to map, identify, analyze and describe studies on women and their infants receiving Midwifery Continuity of Care in the Nordic countries. AbstractIntroduction: Midwifery Continuity of Care (MCoC) throughout pregnancy, birth, and the postnatal period has been associated with improved outcomes and higher satisfaction of care among women. In the Nordic countries standard care during pregnancy, birth and postpartum is organized within primary care (private or regional), hospital care and fragmented with few different care options. The evidence regarding MCoC in the Nordic countries is scarce, in particular regarding targeted care for vulnerable women within a structured continuity of care model. Inclusion criteria: Original studies published in peer-reviewed academic journals with any study design from Nordic countries including Midwifery Continuity of Care will be included. Methods: Literature searches of electronic bibliographic databases will be conducted by an information specialist in CINAHL, PubMed, Embase.com, CENTRAL via Cochrane Library Online and PsycInfo. The results will be summarized in a findings table. An analysis will identify, describe, and categorize recurring patterns to provide a structured overview of key concepts

“ABSOLUT, JAG KAN DEFINITIVT HJÄLPA TILL MED DET!”. En experimentell studie om ChatGPT:s inverkan på akademisk skrivprocess och akademisk integritet

Studien undersöker användningen av ChatGPT, en generativ AI, inom akademiskt skrivande och dess påverkan på skrivprocesser och akademisk integritet. Syftet är att analysera hur studenter interagerar med ChatGPT i sina skrivuppgifter samt att identifiera fördelar och risker med denna teknologi. Studien baseras på kvalitativ datainsamling genom experiment där studenter använder ChatGPT för att skriva en essä, samt påföljande analys av deras interaktioner med verktyget. Det teoretiska ramverket utgörs av kognitiv processteori för skrivande samt aktuell forskning om generativ AI i utbildning. Resultaten visar att ChatGPT används av studenter främst för informationssökning, inspiration och textbearbetning. Verktyget underlättar skrivprocessen genom att effektivisera insamling och sammanställning av information samt genom att ge omedelbar feedback på textens innehåll och struktur. Detta bidrar till en snabbare och mer effektiv skrivprocess, men medför även risker för felaktig information och minskad självständig analysförmåga hos studenterna. Vidare framkommer att ChatGPT kan leda till en ökad risk för plagiat och en försvagning av kritiskt tänkande, då studenter tenderar att förlita sig på verktygets genererade text snarare än att utveckla egna resonemang. Studien betonar vikten av kritisk granskning av AI-genererad text och behovet av att integrera AI-verktyg på ett ansvarsfullt sätt i akademiskt skrivande för att upprätthålla akademisk integritet. För att säkerställa en etisk användning av ChatGPT föreslås riktlinjer och utbildning för både studenter och lärare, med fokus på att främja ett balanserat och reflekterande användande av teknologin. Studien ger viktiga insikter för flera akademiska discipliner. Inom informatik utforskas hur dessa teknologier kan integreras inom utbildning effektivt. Kognitionsvetenskapen berikas med kunskap om hur AI-verktyg påverkar kognitiva skrivprocesser. För akademiskt skrivande belyser studien både möjligheter och utmaningar som AI introducerar i skrivprocesser, med fokus på akademisk integritet

Listening to the voices of women suffering perinatal psychological distress

This article suggests that transactional analysis can be an effective treatment approach for women suffering from mental health conditions and the emotional and life disturbances that may occur during the perinatal period. It offers a brief introduction to perinatal psychological distress followed by a description of the use of transactional analysis psychotherapy for this condition. The article outlines a new model for a research project that aims to ascertain women’s views on the helpfulness of the treatment and to gain a better understanding of the stigma often associated with perinatal mental health issues. The author argues for the necessity of qualitative research to assess the efficacy of transactional-analysis-based treatment and to increase our knowledge about the change process in transactional analysis psychotherapy with this client population as well as to inform future transactional analysis treatment protocols