Search Results (5)

Background: Peer bullying is a global problem affecting youth around the world that can impact youth development including school engagement. The relationship between child maltreatment and school bullying victimization and perpetration is well known. However, few studies have explored the extent of bullying among vulnerable groups of adolescents. Youth in orphanage care may be at higher risk of both maltreatment and bullying because of the circumstances and stigma that brought them into care. This study aimed to examine peer bullying victimization among adolescents residing in orphanage care compared to a national sample of adolescents in South Korea, and to investigate the mediating effect of bullying victimization on the relationship between child maltreatment and school engagement. This comparison allowed for an examination of how caregiving contexts may differentially influence the impact of maltreatment and bullying on school engagement. Methods: Data from the national Korean Welfare Panel Study (KoWePS) 7th wave (n = 521) and a study of 153 South Korean adolescents in orphanage care were merged into one dataset (n = 675). Analysis included descriptive and bivariate statistics, two simple mediation analyses, and multiple regression analysis to verify mediation effects using PROCESS Macro. Results: Adolescents in orphanage care reported significantly higher bullying victimization and lower school engagement than the national sample. Negative correlations were identified between child maltreatment, bullying victimization, and school engagement among adolescents in orphanage care. Importantly, bullying victimization significantly mediated the relationship between child maltreatment and school engagement within this group. Conclusions: These findings highlight the complex relationship between maltreatment and bullying victimization, emphasizing the need for comprehensive interventions addressing both maltreatment and peer bullying to enhance school engagement among vulnerable youth. Full article

Background: Rheumatic heart disease (RHD) is a major cause of cardiovascular disease in developing nations, leading to more than 230,000 deaths annually. Most patients seek medical care only when long-term structural and hemodynamic complications have already occurred. Echocardiographic screenings ensure the early detection of asymptomatic subjects who could benefit from prophylaxis, monitoring and intervention, when appropriate. The aim of this study is to assess the feasibility of a screening program and the prevalence of RHD in a Ugandan orphanage. Methods: We performed an RHD-focused echocardiogram on all the children (5–14 years old) living in a north Ugandan orphanage. Exams were performed with a portable machine (GE Vivid-I). All the time intervals were recorded (minutes). Results: A total of 163 asymptomatic children were screened over 8 days (medium age 9.1; 46% male; 17% affected by severe motor impairment). The feasibility rate was 99.4%. An average of 20.4 exams were performed per day, with an average of 15.5 images collected per subject. Pathological mitral regurgitation (MR) was found in 5.5% of subjects, while at least two morphological features of RHD were found in 4.3%, leading to 1 “definite RHD” (0.6%) case and 13 “borderline RHD” cases (8.1%). Six congenital heart defects were also noted (3.7%): four atrial septal defects, one coronary artery fistula and one Patent Ductus Arteriosus. Conclusions: We demonstrated the feasibility of an echocardiographic screening for RHD in an orphanage in Uganda. A few factors, such as good clinical and hygienic care, the availability of antibiotics and closeness to a big hospital, may account for the low prevalence of the disease in our population. Full article

In 2011, Indonesia commenced an orphanage deinstitutionalization strategy known as the paradigm change in child protection. The strategy responded to human rights protocols emphasizing institutional care of children as a last resort. Orphanage based social workers were trained by the Ministry of Social Affairs (MOSA) to implement the paradigm change, increase parenting capacity and strengthen local supports to enable children’s reunification with their families. The paradigm change intended to reduce children coming into institutional care; however, we found a persistent growth of non-orphaned children being recruited to orphanages since 2011 and more orphanages being built to accommodate them. Islamic philanthropic activities were identified as supporting and contributing growth to the orphanage trade. Despite the paradigm change, social workers were financially incentivization to recruit children to orphanages. There were no similar incentives to deinstitutionalize them. This paper uses selective quotes from the larger study, of social workers interviewed, to assist with theorizing the high potential of Islamic philanthropy in supporting Indonesia’s growing orphan trade. We propose that philanthropy, including where there are good faith and good intentions, may be contributing to some not so good outcomes, including trafficking and modern-day slavery. Full article

Background: To evaluate changes in smoke free rules in the foster care system after the implementation of the Romanian national clean air law. Methods: A repeated cross-sectional, self-administered questionnaire among foster care employees (n = 599) was conducted in 58 foster care homes during 2014 (n = 295) and 51 homes during 2016 (n = 304). We estimated the absolute difference in the proportion of employees who stated that smoke free rules existed before and after national clean air legislation. Results: There was an absolute increase in 4 of 5 smoke free measures after the law: bans on non-cigarette tobacco products (n = 169 to 206, +10.6%), non-smoking on premises for adults (n = 142 to 202, +18.3%), and for children (n = 201 to 239, +10.3%), and no smoking in cars to transport children (n = 194 to 227, +9%). There was a significant increase in the perception of outdoor bans that prohibit employees from smoking on foster care home premises (AOR 2.24, 95% CI 1.14–4.38). The increase in the perception of indoor smoking bans did not change. Conclusion: The national law may have had a spillover influence by strengthening smoke free rules in unregulated spaces. Nonetheless, foster care home rules could be further enhanced, particularly in cars that transport children. Full article

The Friends’ Ambulance Unit (FAU) was created shortly after the outbreak of the First World War. It was an attempt to provide young Friends (Quakers) with the opportunity to serve their country without sacrificing their religious principles. However, it was considered by some members to be in direct opposition to the Society’s fundamental religious tenets, and thus remained a cause of internal conflict throughout the war. Nevertheless, the civilian relief work that was carried out by the FAU early in the war, in the region of Flanders, aligned the unit’s activities much more closely with the religious principles of the Society. The FAU assisted thousands of civilians trapped in the besieged and battered town of Ypres, working intensively in the containment and treatment of the typhoid epidemic that swept the region, locating sufferers, providing them with medical care, and inoculating people against the disease. It helped in the purification of the town’s contaminated drinking water, and distributed milk for infants and food and clothing to the sick and needy. It helped found hospitals and orphanages, made provision for schooling, and organised gainful employment for refugees. Full article