Experiences of intimate-partner violence and contraception use among ever-married women in Jordan.

This study explored the relationship between intimate partner violence (IPV) and current contraception use among ever-married women in Jordan. Analysing a sample (n = 3434) from the 2007 Jordan demographic and health survey, women who reported ever experiencing severe physical violence from their husband were significantly less likely to use contraception than women who did not report severe physical violence (OR = 0.34). Conversely, women who reported ever experiencing sexual IPV were significantly more likely to use contraception (OR = 1.50). Emotional and less severe physical IPV were not significantly related to contraception use. Education, wealth, age, number of children, and fertility preferences were positively associated with contraception use, while residence in the Badia area and consanguineous marriages were negatively associated with contraception use. The findings have implications for the provision of IPV screening and contraception services in Jordan, as well as the specification of services for women most vulnerable to IPV.

Partonic calculation of the two-photon exchange contribution to elastic electron-proton scattering at large momentum transfer.

We estimate the two-photon exchange contribution to elastic electron-proton scattering at large momentum transfer through the scattering off a parton in the proton. We relate the two-photon exchange amplitude to the generalized parton distributions which appear in hard exclusive processes. We find that when taking the polarization transfer determinations of the form factors as input, adding in the 2-photon correction does reproduce the Rosenbluth cross sections.

Transition to home care after stroke: depression, physical health, and adaptive processes in support persons.

A longitudinal design was used to examine adaptation in primary support persons (PSP) of stroke survivors during the transition from hospitalization (T1) to home care (T2). The major purposes of the study were (a) to examine changes in depression, physical health, and contextual and coping factors from hospitalization of the stroke survivor through the first 6-10 weeks of home care; and (b) to identify predictors of depression. Data (N = 136) were collected on depression, physical health, background, survivor illness, and social environmental variables; appraisal of impact; social support resources; and coping skills. Reduction in mean PSP depression was significant at T2, but the change in physical health was not significant. Significant changes occurred in survivor function, family functioning, and three of six coping skills. Hierarchical multiple regression analyses were used to predict depression. T1 variables accounted for 29% of the variance in T1 PSP depression, with gender and appraisal of impact the strongest of seven predictors. T1 depression, T2 health, family functioning, and avoidance coping were the strongest of seven predictors, explaining 50% of the variance in T2 depression. Findings highlight the importance of maintaining caregiver health and preventing depression and identify variables to target for the reduction of PSP depression.

Clean and sterile intermittent catheterization methods in hospitalized patients with spinal cord injury.

The purpose of this study was to compare the incidence of urinary infection using clean intermittent catheterization with the incidence of infection using sterile intermittent catheterization in patients hospitalized with spinal cord injury who were not receiving prophylactic antibiotics. Forty-six patients were assigned randomly to a clean (n = 23) or sterile (n = 23) study group. Catheterizations were done at least every six hours. Infection was defined as bacteriuria greater than or equal to 100,000 organisms/mL or greater than or equal to 10,000 organisms per mL with fever of 100 degrees F or greater. Results of urinary dipslides were recorded daily. Twenty-eight subjects (60.9%) converted to greater than or equal to 100,000 organisms per mL. Method of catheterization was neither associated significantly with development of greater than or equal to 100,000 organisms per mL. (X2[1,46] = .36, p = .55) nor with symptomatic infections (X2[1,46] = .15, p = .70). Data support the use of clean intermittent catheterization under the conditions used in this study, including the use of a sterile catheter each day and careful monitoring of infection and technique. Before using this method with other diagnostic groups or in different clinical settings, further investigation is needed.

Psychosocial aspects of disability in children.

General psychosocial issues must be considered in facilitating the development of children with chronic illnesses and disabilities. A coping model and the developmental stages can be used as a framework to regard the impact of disabling conditions on children and the interventions that encourage psychosocial growth. Health professionals are encouraged to recognize the key role that they can play in promoting effective coping and growth for disabled children and members of their families and to incorporate psychosocial interventions into their practice.

HIPP: A comprehensive school-based substance abuse program with cooperative community involvement.

A school division of 20,000 students has implemented a kindergarten through Grade 12 prevention and intervention program to address the use of alcohol and other drugs among the youth of the Hampton community. Hampton Intervention and Prevention Program (HIPP) uses a 30-member Steering Committee, representative of the schools, parents, and community agencies, to monitor the comprehensive program and provide linkages among cooperating groups. Specific components include elementary, middle, and high school prevention programs, a Student Assistance Program, and a program for students suspended for use of substances at school.

Conceptual style and life satisfaction following spinal cord injury.

The major purpose of this study was to explore the relationship between conceptual style and life satisfaction following a physical loss. It was predicted that conceptual abstractness is positively associated with life satisfaction. Fifty-four men between the ages of 18 and 41 who were paraplegic or quadriplegic, because of a spinal cord injury that occurred at least 18 months prior to the interview, were asked to complete questionnaires designed to measure their conceptual styles and their satisfaction with various aspects of their lives. The data suggest that: the respondents were generally satisfied with life; dissatisfaction was frequently greatest in family and other intimate relationships; and physical trauma may trigger changes in conceptual style in the direction of greater complexity and abstractness. The predicted positive association between conceptual abstractness and life satisfaction was supported in several instances by the data.

Improved fixation of the femoral component after total hip replacement using a methacrylate intramedullary plug.

When the distal part of the medullary canal of the femur was plugged with a bolus of methylmethacrylate prior to the insertion of cement and femoral component, fixation of the prosthesis was improved in vitro. A special syringe was devised to introduce the plug at the desired level. When the plug was used, the penetration of the cement into the trabecular bone lining the canal was increased, and subsequent push-out tests showed that the force necessary to disrupt the methacrylate from the bone was significantly greater. Casts of the methacrylate from femora with and without plugged canals showed that the surfaces of the casts made with the canal plugged conformed much more completely with the irregularities of the bone and provided more intimate contact at the cement-bone interface.