By Paul Andrew Bourne
Connell, Patricia, McKevitt, Christopher, and Nicola Low. 2001. “Sexually transmitted infections among Black young people in south-east London: results of a rapid ethnographic assessment.” Culture, Health and Sexuality 3: 311-27. Academic Search Premier, EBSCOHost (accessed February 9, 2007)
Social marketing continues to be used by health professionals as a technique for addressing unacceptable sexual behaviour, of certain groups. The monograph cites that prior to this survey, epidemiological studies have shown that heterosexual youth of Black Caribbean and African extraction, in south-east London, had a ten-point higher rate of contracting sexually transmitted diseases than other ethnicities. Hence, a group scholar, in an attempt to implement a social behaviour change programme, used ethnographic methods and action science to study the cultural behaviour of these people. This exemplar research, finds that there is a negative attitude of this group toward condom usage; and there are issues surrounding how they address social and emotional relationships; and that their socio-economic status and perception of the state being anti-Blacks have contributed to their rate of infection of sexually transmitted viruses. Thus, the study will be able to redress this imbalance in the infection rate of this sub-group.
Wint, Eleanor. (September). 2000. “Factors Encouraging the Growth of Sustainable Communities: A Jamaican Case Study.” Journal of Sociology and Social Welfare 27: 119-32. Academic Search Premier, EBSCOHost (accessed February 11, 2007)
The issue of inner-city renewal and the empowerment of garrison residents to fend for themselves have become a thrust for governments in developing states. Eleanor Wint used a case study to analyse the factors which are likely to encourage growth of sustainable communities. The place that is used as an exemplar for such an analysis is Jones Town, Kingston, Jamaica. This study failed to provide a thematic approach to the issues underlying the phenomenon of inner-city revitalization. The scholar did not provide the readers with a descriptive account of matters which arose, definitions of key terminologies, did not provide information that were personal and focused on issues, nor the questions which were asked and the answers, which resulted from the participatory action resource that ensued between the participants and the researcher team. Thus, this was more a critique of literature and a contextual interpretation of the matter than an appropriate use of the ‘case studies’.
Ali, M., and Muynck, A. de. (June) 2005. “Illness incidence and health seeking behaviour among street children in Rawalpindi and Islamabad, Pakistan – qualitative study.” Child Care, Health and Development 31: 525-32. Academic Search Premier, EBSCOHost (accessed February 9, 2007)
This study used a convenience based sample of 40 school-age (8-14 years) participants from the twin cities of Rawlpindi and Islamabad, Pakistan. In an attempt to describe the socio-cultural health-seeking behaviour of a group of street children, Ali and Muynck (2005) carried out a two-month cross-sectional study of the mobile street children. The findings were categorized into four areas: (1) perception of health and ailment; (2) decision on health care; (3) determinants in choice of health care provider; and (4) perspective on hindrances to health care. The study showed that their poverty and educational attainment influenced their perception of health and illnesses; impacted on their decision of health of care; determined choice of biomedical health provider or “spiritual healer” and their inability to bore the cost of health-care. A chief issue among the finding was their perception of the health practitioners’ views on them, which was guided by their financial inadequacies, non-supportive networks, and their parents’ low socio-economic status. This was a ground breaking study, and so forms a platform upon which an understanding of the experiences of mobile street children can be garnered.
Low, Wah-Yun., NG, Chirk-Jenn., Choo, Wan-Yuen., and Hui-Meng Tan. (September) 2006. “How do men perceive erectile dysfunction and its treatment: A qualitative study on opinions of men?” The Aging Male 9: 175-80. Academic Search Premier, EBSCOHost (accessed February 9, 2007)
Culture plays a pivotal role in the understanding of health-related issues. Thus, a group of academia in seeking to grapple with men’s perception on Erectile dysfunction (ED) carried out a study with 17 Malaysian men, using phenomenology. The findings revealed that the psychosocial milieu influences ones perception to act, remedy and inform behaviour. Despite the non-generalizability of the work, the issues identified provided a thematic perspective of men’s perception on ED, and identified some of the reasons why studied men are complacent to visit health practitioners.
White, Ruth C., and Robert Carr. 2005. “Homosexuality and HIV/AIDS stigma in Jamaica.” Culture, Health and Sexuality 7: 347-59. Academic Search Premier, EBSCOHost (accessed February 10, 2007)
During June and July of 2003, an ethnographic study was carried out in Jamaica to probe the culture of the people in respect to “Homosexuality and HIV/AIDS stigma in [the island]”. Convenience and purposive sampling were drawn from 33 males and females, which included some sex couples, HIV positive people, and health and social service providers. The participants’ responses were analyzed in a thematic apparatus with a comparative method from the tapes and notes taken. The examination revealed a perception between HIV/AIDs-related stigma and homophobia. Despite the feminization of HIV/AIDs, the interviewees argued that the virus was still seen as a ‘gay’ disease. There was a clear case of anti-gay opinion expressed across the society and a stance of intolerance for homosexuals and lesbians. The linkage between homosexuality and AIDS has fallen. But, there still exists dialectic in the society. As it showed a clear case of acceptance for the heterosexual infected men and not for the heterosexual infected female. Hence, this explains the low HIV testing, treatment and refusal of HIV positive people to inform their partners of their HIV status. Thus, this study provides that bedrock upon which a social marketing campaign could be launched against discrimination and the stigma of homophobia and HIV/AIDS, and for the retraining of health professional on the execution of patient-care.
Secker, J., and Harding, C. 2002. “African and African Caribbean users’ perceptions of inpatient services.” Journal of Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing 9: 161-67. Academic Search Premier, EBSCOHost (accessed February 9, 2007)
In London, Africans and Black Caribbean nationals who are patients of a mental health facility, Resource Centre, expressed differences in treatment in inpatient-care between themselves and the whites. This phenomenological study arose from previous epidemiological data, which showed a substantial difference in incidence of schizophrenia among African and Black Caribbean people and Caucasians. The study constituted of 26 in-depth interviews with 26 patients, who were purposefully selected for the project. The responses were transcribed verbatim from a taped recorder, within a thematic approach. The findings revealed that the participants were dissatisfied with the quality of inpatient care offered by the facility. They felt a sense of powerlessness, hopelessness and no redress for their concerns by the system. Coupled with that, there was a sense of embedded racism against the Blacks, and so the institution did not take their complaints and/or suggestions into account. This research can not be generalized as non-probability sampling technique was used to select the participants, but it forms a basis upon which we may begin to investigate a possible phenomenon. Interestingly, it does not necessarily speak to the wider experiences of the Blacks in United Kingdom, or a certain state of social interaction at the institution but provide information that the facility may not have a therapeutic environment.
Paul Andrew Bourne, MSc (Demography); BSc., Dip Edu.
Email: paulbourne1@yahoo.com
Tel. No.: (876) 8414931