MSc in Social Development and Health

Permanent URI for this collectionhttps://eresearch.qmu.ac.uk/handle/20.500.12289/7219

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Now showing 1 - 9 of 9

"People are finding it quite tough just now"- Community Food Initiatives in Edinburgh: Opportunities and Challenges for Improving Food Security among Their Service Users
(Queen Margaret University, 2016)
The aim of this study is to explore the potential role of urban Community Food Initiatives (CFIs), situated in deprived areas of Edinburgh, in enhancing their service users' Food Security (FS). This is done through applying a lens of the Six Food Security Pillars: availability, accessibility, adequacy, utilization, acceptability and agency, which capture the multidimensionality of the FS concept. The findings are based on the data collected from the seven semi-structured interviews with the experts of various Edinburgh CFIs. The findings highlight the many ways in which the CFIs activities relate to the six FS dimensions and hence contribute to the service users' FS. The CFIs filled in some of the gaps in the communities, enhancing the availability, accessibility and utilization and acceptability of fresh and nutritious produce. Conversely to Food Banks, the CFIs could also be seen as acceptable ways of obtaining food while building community cohesion, capacity and empowering their members. However, the sufficiency of the produce was questioned as was the agency and influence beyond the community level. In conclusion, the CFIs play a role in enhancing some aspects of individual and community level FS as conceptualised through the Six Food Security Pillars framework. However multi-level partnerships and political engagement are needed to tackle root causes of FIS. Additionally, FS needs to become a legitimate objective of CFIs. Furthermore, there is a necessity for sound social protection for vulnerable populations to prevent further rise of Food Banks and other forms of emergency food aid. Key words: Food security, food insecurity, community food initiatives, community gardens, community café, food cooperative, nutrition and cooking education, low-income, developed countries;
"Big Boys Should Cry!" : How Mental Health Practitioners Conceptualise the Effect Mental Health Stigma has on Men in New Delhi, India.
(Queen Margaret University, 2016)
Mental health stigma presents a double issue for those suffering from poor mental health. Not only are people with mental health disorders dealing with the symptoms of their disorder but they are burdened with self and public stigmatisation. It is the purpose of this research to analyse how mental health practitioners in New Delhi, India, conceptualise mental health stigma and the impact it has on men who suffer from anxiety and/or depression. This was achieved through the completion of 12 semi structured interviews with mental health practitioners mainly from Sanjivini which is an organisation that works closely with individuals who suffer from poor mental health in New Delhi. The findings from the interviews are partnered with theoretical viewpoints and existing research around hegemonic masculinity and mental health stigma. The findings indicate that mental health impacts both the family and individual due to a lack of understanding around mental health, which then results in denial due to fear of financial instability and social ostracization on a multitude of levels. The research concludes that men are not given permission to be vulnerable in society or do they give themselves permission, as vulnerability is considered to be a weakness. The stigma that occurs for men is that they must be strong and cannot voice their concerns, emotions and hardships. Men shouldn't live in fear of not living up to damaging stereotypes.
Possible implications of Inclusion and Exclusion of Migrants in the current
(2017)
WHAT IS THE IMPACT OF OIL AND GAS SECTOR ON THE HEALTHCARE SYSTEM ON A FRAGILE STATE? A CASE STUDY OF LIBYA
(2017)
Background: Fragile states with large reserves of natural resources have been found to suffer from the ‘resource curse’. This study uses the WHO health systems framework to explore the impact of oil and gas resources on countries on health systems using a case study of Libya. Method: A scoping review of existing literature was carried out to identify sources that would provide evidence to evaluate the study topic. A qualitative narrative review of the evidence was then conducted to meet the research objectives. Results: It was found that the resource curse theory postulated several effects of resource-abundance on nations. Fragile states were characterised by dysfunctional institutions, poor resource management, and dictatorship among other challenges. Consequently, an analysis of the health system via the WHO health systems framework components revealed a trickle-down effect of the resource curse. The assessment revealed failures in all components of the health systems and several solutions were identified. Conclusions: The results obtained revealed that the resource curse can have numerous implications for health systems of fragile states. Moreover, the study concluded that although the resource curse theory may have been useful for the health systems analysis, its concentration on economic concepts limited its applicability to healthcare systems.
“…culturally and religiously it is not acceptable”- Barriers to the reporting of Intimate Partner Violence to the police in Kampala, Uganda.
(2017)
Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a public health concern associated with many health consequences such as poor mental health, injuries, HIV and death. It affects women worldwide and the bigger burden of it lies in Sub- Saharan Africa. Despite this, and the fact that IPV has been researched for over 50 years, the vast majority of studies have been conducted in the global North, meaning that studies on the global south still remain limited and rarely accessible (Speizer 2010; Beydoun and Beydoun 2013; Palermo et al. 2013b; Ogland et al. 2014). It also remains widely underreported with the implication that many of the survivors continue to suffer in silence, largely at the mercy of their violent partners. This study therefore sought to contribute to the knowledge gap in IPV research and evidence base particularly in resource poor settings. This was achieved by examining and documenting the barriers to the reporting of IPV to the police in Kampala, Uganda. An intersectional perspective along the axes of gender, religion, structural approaches and cultural context was used to guide the data analysis. The reporting of IPV remains dramatically low in Kampala, despite a higher availability of services there compared to the other parts of the country. National government efforts to address this issue have still not realised any substantial impacts and the reporting of IPV to the police remains low. Informed by a constructionist worldview, the study employed a qualitative research methodology, with the use of semi structured interviews for data collection. A two-month period of fieldwork was carried out. Due to the sensitive nature of this research only key actors/ stake holder’s interviews were recruited. The data collected was then transcribed and entered into NVivo 10 software, were it was organised, coded and thematically analysed in order to draw conclusions. The figure below summarizes the findings of the study. 4 Figure 1: Summary of the barriers to the reporting of IPV to the police Figure 1 illustrates the overall intersectional interaction of the categorical barriers in the generation of the multiple layers of the barriers to the reporting of IPV to the police. Recommendations are listed at the end of dissertation.
Community Leaders’ Perception Regarding Practices And Outcomes Of Child Sponsorship Programs Implemented By International Non-Governmental Organizations Towards The Improvement Of Their Communities In Leon, Nicaragua.
(2018)
Child Sponsorship Programmes (CSPs) were created in the late 20’s as a response to the adversity and havoc resulted from I World War’s in central Europe; in this scenario, these programmes helped the orphans by offering improvements to their vulnerable life conditions such as: shelter, meals and clothing (Watson 2014). Nowadays, CSP type of work in developing countries has evolved worldwide by adjusting to the foreign culture and developing tailored programs to meet the needs of the communities they work at; for example- as described by Watson and Clarke (2014)- some INGO’s CSP work directly with children and other work in advocacy and assistance for disadvantages groups. Also, their number in developing countries (i.e.: Nicaragua) has increased as well. INGOs in Nicaragua flourished in the 80s, these worked in rural areas negatively affected by Sandinistas-Contras war and natural disasters (Hasse 2011); in order to develop communities of direct influence through education, INGOs use CSPs as tools to reach this goal. In this research, I explore the perception of community development from the perspective of Community Leaders (CLs) from rural areas in Leon, Nicaragua. It will highlight positive aspects perceived from the CLs regarding CSPs; such as support to the poorest families in education, medical attention and nutrition. On the other hand, this investigation will describe what CLs observed as challenges associated with the relationship between the INGOs and the community (unequitable distribution of aid, creation of tensions and divisions within communities and no coordination with CL); also, how CSP are implemented (creation of dependency and Non-continuity and unsustainability of CSP). More involvement of CL is suggested in order to improve the positive impact of CSP.
Cheap and disposable – The impact of low-skilled migrant workers’ living and working conditions to their health in Arabian Gulf and how legal regional framework(s) protects their health
(2018)
The Gulf States are one of the greatest labour-receiving countries and the majority of their foreign workforce are low-skilled migrant workers from Asia. Those migrant workers often risk their health while working in low-paid and hazardous industries in order to gain better incomes than they would in their home countries. The literature review revealed exploitative living and working conditions that led to high rates of occupational injuries and deaths and decreased health status during foreign employment. Female migrant workers suffer increased risks of physical and sexual abuse and violence and their freedom of movement was often limited. Many migrant workers resigned because of those reasons and returned home with ill-health conditions and permanent disabilities. Their access to health care in host countries was not always guaranteed and it was usually controlled by employers. The Kafala sponsorship system is applied in all six Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries and it gives the legal responsibility of migrant workers to employers and companies. It has been criticised for failing to protect migrant workers and for allowing employers to take advantage of migrants. Additionally, lack of effective legislation, political will, and monitoring has been acknowledged in the region and it allows the cycle of low-skilled migrant workers exploitation to continue. Keywords: migrant worker, domestic worker, low-skilled worker, migrant health, occupational health, labour migration, GCC countries, Arab states
Impact of UK Government Policy on Migrants Experiences Accessing Healthcare 2006-2019
(2019)
Access to healthcare for migrants is a critical issue in the UK. In recent years the UK government has sought to actively deter migration through the development of a ‘hostile enivronment’. As part of this, entitlement to free healthcare has been restricted for any individual who is not ‘ordinarily resident’ in the UK. This study aimed to establish how these policy changes have affected migrants experience of accessing healthcare in the UK. Through the development of a policy timeline in the period 20062019, and a review of qualitative studies on the topic within this period, it is clear that government policy has adversely affected migrants ability to access appropriate healthcare. As a direct result of changes to government policy, individuals who are elgibile for free healthcare have been denied treatment, and others have been too afraid to present to formal heatlhcare centres for fears of deportation. This study highlights that the government policy is short-sighted and morally wrong; it is not generating savings to the NHS and is putting public health at risk. A limitation of this study is that due to the time scale of policy changes, there is not yet a substantial body of work looking at the impact on migrant health. It is recommended that there is further research in this area so that government policy can be properly informed
The impact of loneliness and social isolation for the elderly in Scotland
(2020)
Loneliness and social isolation of the elderly have become major global social issues that demand urgent attention. Social isolation and loneliness are distinct but interrelated concepts that have been linked to a number of both mental and physical health problems among the elderly population and examples of health related issues include depression, stress, anxiety, high blood pressure and cognitive function decline. This study aims is to investigate and explore social isolation and loneliness amongst elderly people in Scotland and find out factors that contribute to this issue and the interventions that are being implemented to try and tackle this social problem. The study will conclude with recommendations that may be implemented to help to reduce social isolation and loneliness. A desk study/literature review was carried out to explore the issues that pertain to loneliness and social isolation. The Multifactorial Construct Frame developed by Holt-Lunstad (2018) was adopted for analysing the findings of the study. The framework uses there determinants which are functional, structural and quality and these three were used to analyse the findings. Using the Multifactorial Construct Framework, the determinants that contribute to elderly people becoming lonely and socially isolated were explored and analysed. Interventions were also discussed in line with the framework and recommendations were proposed based on the findings. A clear conclusion is that loneliness and social isolation will have to be treated as public health issues and will need interventions at community level as well as at local and national government policy level.