A systematic review of children’s construction of the self: implications for children’s subjective well-being

This research aimed to systematically review academic literature focused on how children construct and assign meaning to the ‘self.’ An article search and appraisal yielded 38 articles that met the inclusion criteria. Within these articles, six central thematic categories emerged as the key influences on children’s constructions of the self. These include multidimensionality, discursive practices, socio-environmental conditions, oppression & marginalisation, culture, and social support. The study highlights the multidimensional and fluid nature of the self and emphasises the self-concept to be mutually influenced and supported by an individual’s immediate social networks, socio-environmental resources, and internal processes. A child’s ability to meaningfully construct a sense of self was associated with higher levels of coping and resilience and improved well-being. The review provides considerations for increased interventions aimed at improving child well-being which must take into account the unique ways in which children construct and assign meaning to the self. Such interventions should be inclusive of the individual and contextual issues influencing a child’s self-constructions, including coping skills, structural challenges and proximal economic and social resources.IS

A qualitative study of referring agents’ perceptions of access barriers to inpatient substance abuse treatment centres in the Western Cape

Background: Despite empirical support for the individual and public health benefits of treating substance use disorders (SUDs) , access to these services is impeded by several barriers. Although many studies on access barriers have been put forward in the literature, few have explored the barriers to accessing state-funded inpatient substance abuse treatment or the views of referral agents. Methods: A qualitative study was conducted to explore referring agents’ perceptions of the barriers to accessing state-funded inpatient substance abuse treatment centres in the Western Cape Province of South Africa. Six individual in-depth interviews were conducted and analysed using theoretical thematic analysis. Results: The key barriers to emerge from the analysis pertained to referring agents’ perceptions of the following: service users, the substance abuse referral and treatment system and community dynamics. Conclusions: Recommendations are made for interventions to address the identified barriers.Web of Scienc

Regional prospecting for iron ores in Bahariya Oasis-El Faiyum area, Egypt, using LANDSAT satellite images, part 1

There are no author-identified significant results in this report

Alcohol consumption amongst young adults living in a low socioeconomic status community in Cape Town

Our aim was to ascertain the extent of risky alcohol consumption amongst young adults living in a low socioeconomic status community in Cape Town, South Africa. We used a cross-sectional survey design and the street intercept method to administer the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT). A key finding in this study was that 54.30% of male and 47.90% of the female participants were alcohol dependent, according to the classification criteria set out in the AUDIT. Our finding necessitates further investigations into alcohol consumption amongst young adults in South Africa. In addition, researchers should endeavor not only to identify, but also to understand, the dynamics of risk and resilience factors so that this information could be used to develop intervention initiatives that could mediate young adults’ initial consumption of alcohol.Web of Scienc

Longer-term Baerveldt to Trabectome glaucoma surgery comparison using propensity score matching

Purpose: To apply propensity score matching to compare Baerveldt glaucoma drainage implant (BGI) to Trabectome-mediated ab interno trabeculectomy (AIT). Recent data suggests that AIT can produce results similar to BGI which is traditionally reserved for more severe glaucoma. Methods: BGI and AIT patients with at least 1 year of follow-up were included. The primary outcome measures were intraocular pressure (IOP), number of glaucoma medications, and a Glaucoma Index (GI) score. GI reflected glaucoma severity based on visual field, the number of preoperative medications, and preoperative IOP. Score matching used a genetic algorithm consisting of age, gender, type of glaucoma, concurrent phacoemulsification, baseline number of medications, and baseline IOP. Patients with neovascular glaucoma, with prior glaucoma surgery, or without a close match were excluded. Results: Of 353 patients, 30 AIT patients were matched to 29 BGI patients. Baseline characteristics including, IOP, the number of glaucoma medications, type of glaucoma, the degree of VF loss and GI were not significantly different between AIT and BGI. BGI had a preoperative IOP of 21.6 ± 6.3 mmHg compared to 21.5 ± 7.4 for AIT on 2.8 ± 1.1 medications and 2.5 ± 2.3 respectively. At 30 months, the mean IOP was 15.0 ± 3.9 mmHg for AIT versus 15.0 ± 5.7 mmHg for BGI (p > 0.05), while the number of drops was 1.5 ± 1.3 for AIT (change: p = 0.001) versus 2.4 ± 1.2 for BGI (change: p = 0.17; AIT vs BGI: 0.007). Success, defined as IOP  0.05) and 50% versus 52% at 2.5 years. Conclusions: A propensity score matched comparison of AIT and BGI demonstrated a similar IOP reduction through 1 year. AIT required fewer medications

Trabectome Surgery Combined with Baerveldt Glaucoma Implantation Negates Tube Fenestration

Purpose: To evaluate the efficacy and survival rates of the same session ab interno trabeculectomy with trabectome and Baerveldt glaucoma implant (BT) compared to Baerveldt implant alone (B). Method: A total of 175 eyes undergoing primary glaucoma surgery were enrolled in this retrospective comparative case series, including 60 eyes which underwent BT and 115 eyes which received B alone. Participants were identified using the procedural terminology codes, and their medical records were reviewed. The primary outcome measure was surgical success defined as 5 mmHg > IOP ≤ 21 mmHg and IOP reduction ≥ 20% from baseline, no reoperation for glaucoma, and no loss of light perception vision. Secondary outcome measures were intraocular pressure, the number of glaucoma medications, and best corrected visual acuity (BCVA). Results: The cumulative probability of success at 1 year was 61% in BT, and 50% in B. IOP decreased significantly from 23.6±8.9 mmHg at baseline to 13.7±3.9 mmHg at the final follow up in BT (P= 0.001). The corresponding numbers for B were 23.3±7.5 and 14.2±4.5, respectively (P= 0.001). There was no significant difference in IOP at the final follow-up (P=0.56). The number of medications at baseline was comparable in both groups (2.1±1.1 in BT versus 2.4±1 in B, p=0.07). However, BT needed statistically significant fewer drops in all postoperative time intervals and used 0.9±0.9 (BT) and 1.6±1.2 eyedrops (B) at the final follow-up visit (P= 0.004). No dangerous hypertony or hypertension occurred in BT. Conclusion: Similar rates of success and IOP reduction were observed in BT and B. Eyes who underwent trabectome surgery needed significantly fewer glaucoma medications during 1-year follow-up period while tubes did not require fenestration resulting in fewer postoperative hypotony or hypertension