Religion and educational mobility in Africa.

The African people and leaders1,2 have long seen education as a driving force of development and liberation, a view shared by international institutions3,4, as schooling has large economic and non-economic returns, particularly in low-income settings5. In this study, we examine the educational progress across faiths throughout postcolonial Africa, home to some of the world's largest Christian and Muslim communities. We construct comprehensive religion-specific measures of intergenerational mobility in education using census data from 2,286 districts in 21 countries and document the following. First, Christians have better mobility outcomes than Traditionalists and Muslims. Second, differences in intergenerational mobility between Christians and Muslims persist among those residing in the same district, in households with comparable economic and family backgrounds. Third, although Muslims benefit as much as Christians when they move early in life to high-mobility regions, they are less likely to do so. Their low internal mobility accentuates the educational deficit, as Muslims reside on average in areas that are less urbanized and more remote with limited infrastructure. Fourth, the Christian-Muslim gap is most prominent in areas with large Muslim communities, where the latter also register the lowest emigration rates. As African governments and international organizations invest heavily in educational programmes, our findings highlight the need to understand better the private and social returns to schooling across faiths in religiously segregated communities and to carefully think about religious inequalities in the take-up of educational policies6.

"It's Taboo to Talk About It": Korean American Clergy Members' Views of Mental Health.

Korean Americans are more likely to seek guidance from church leaders than to use traditional mental health services. Through semistructured key informant interviews with 16 Christian clergy members serving later-generation Korean Americans, the authors explored clergy members' perceptions of the mental health needs of their congregants. Insights from the study suggested that communication and collaboration between mental health professionals and church leaders may be helpful in addressing the Korean American community's emotional and mental health needs.

Polygynous marriage union among Ghanaian Christian women: Socio-demographic predictors.

INTRODUCTION: Polygamy has declined in the last decade, but it is still prevalent in West African nations including Ghana even with the arrival of Christianity and colonists, which came to be recognized as a form of slavery that needed to be abolished. AIM: To analyze the determinants of polygyny among married Christian women in Ghana. METHODS: Ghana Maternal Health Survey data was used for this study to do an analytic cross-section study. Data analysis was done using SPSS version 20. The association between dependent and independent variables was explored using chi-square and logistic regression. Statistical significance was set at p < 0.05. RESULTS: The prevalence of Ghanaian Christian women's involvement in polygyny marriage union was 12.2%, the prevalence was higher (15.0%) among women of Anglican denomination, catholic denomination (13.9%), and the lowest (8.4%) prevalence recorded among those of Methodist denominations. The predictor factors identified include the age of the woman, history of education, type of place of residence, region, ethnicity, early sex initiation, and history of multiple unions. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of polygyny in this present study is high given the strict position the Christian religion has against polygyny. This study recommends that the pros and cons of polygyny are objectively looked at from a scientific point rather than a religious point of view.

'All in good faith?' An ethno-historical analysis of local faith actors' involvement in the delivery of mental health interventions in northern Uganda.

Faith actors have become increasingly significant in the field of global mental health, through their inclusion in the delivery of psychosocial support in humanitarian settings. This inclusion remains empirically underexplored. We explore historical and contemporary activities of local faith actors in responding to mental disquiet in northern Uganda. Given pre-existing roles, we question what it means when humanitarians draw on faith actors to deliver mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) in conflict-affected settings. We argue for a recognition of faith actors as agents operating within a therapeutic marketplace, which on occasion links suffering to social inequality and exclusion. We show, moreover, that the formal inclusion of Christian actors within MHPSS may not equate to the enforcement of rights-based values at the core of international ideas of protection.

Respecting Faith, Hope, and Miracles in African American Christian Patients at End-of-Life: Moving from Labeling Goals of Care as "Aggressive" to Providing Equitable Goal-Concordant Care.

In this article, we demonstrate first how the term "aggressive care," used loosely by clinicians to denote care that can negatively impact quality of life in serious illness, is often used to inappropriately label the preferences of African American patients, and discounts, discredits, and dismisses the deeply held beliefs of African American Christians. This form of biased communication results in a higher proportion of African Americans than whites receiving care that is non-goal-concordant and contributes to the prevailing lack of trust the African American community has in our healthcare system. Second, we invite clinicians and health care centers to make the perspectives of socially marginalized groups (in this case, African American Christians) the central axis around which we find solutions to this problem. Based on this, we provide insight and understanding to clinicians caring for seriously ill African American Christian patients by sharing their beliefs, origins, and substantive importance to the African American Christian community. Third, we provide recommendations to clinicians and healthcare systems that will result in African Americans, regardless of religious affiliation, receiving equitable levels of goal-concordant care if implemented. KEY MESSAGE: Labeling care at end-of-life as "aggressive" discounts the deeply held beliefs of African American Christians. By focusing on the perspectives of this group clinicians will understand the importance of respecting their religious values. The focus on providing equitable goal-concordant care is the goal.

Saúde mental e abortamento voluntário na audiência pública da ADPF442/STF / Mental health and voluntary abortion in the public hearing of ADPF442/STF / Salud mental y aborto voluntario en la audiencia pública del ADPF442/STF

O estudo teve como objetivo identificar os argumentos da estratégia de persuasão dos discursos apresentados na audiência pública sobre a Arguição de Descumprimento de Preceito Fundamental-ADPF 442, realizada em 2018, cujo propósito era discutir sobre a interrupção voluntária da gravidez até a 12ª semana. Para tal, foi realizada uma pesquisa de abordagem qualitativa, analítico-descritiva e documental. O objeto de análise foi o registro da audiência, apresentado em vídeo, disponibilizado na plataforma digital YouTube, e em ata lavrada pelo STF, ambos de acesso público. A partir de uma análise do discurso, identificou-se os argumentos utilizados na estratégia de persuasão, que foram sistematizados em quatro categorias de argumentos para cada um dos dois grupos identificados: o grupo pró e o grupo contra a descriminalização do aborto. As três primeiras categorias, Saúde mental, Direito e Saúde pública, mesmo com diferenças na forma de apresentar o argumento, se repetem nos dois grupos. Todavia, a quarta categoria, Pressupostos, se diferenciou. No grupo pró descriminalização do aborto, apresentou-se como Pressupostos filosóficos e científicos, e no grupo contra, como Pressupostos morais. Por fim, a defesa da saúde mental das mulheres foi o principal argumento numa forma de humanizar o sofrimento vivido pelas que desejam abortar e não encontram o suporte do Estado para assegurar sua dignidade, cidadania e efetiva igualdade, garantidas constitucionalmente.(AU)

The study aimed to identify the arguments of the persuasion strategy of the speeches presented at the public hearing on the Action Against the Violation of Constitutional Fundamental Rights -ADPF 442, held in 2018, whose purpose was to discuss the voluntary interruption of pregnancy until the 12th week. To this end, a qualitative, analytical-descriptive, and documentary research was carried out. The object of analysis was the video recording of the hearing available on the YouTube platform, and in minutes drawn up by the STF, both of which are public. Based on a discourse analysis, the arguments used in the persuasion strategy were identified, which were systematized into four categories of arguments for each of the two identified groups: the group for and the group against the decriminalization of abortion. The first three categories, Mental Health, Law and Public Health, even with differences in the way of presenting the argument, are repeated in both groups. However, the fourth category, Assumptions, differed. In the group for the decriminalization of abortion, it was presented as Philosophical and Scientific Assumptions, whereas the group against, as Moral Assumptions. Finally, the defense of women's mental health was the main argument in a way of humanizing the suffering experienced by those who wish to have an abortion and do not find the support of the State to guarantee their dignity, citizenship, and effective equality, constitutionally guaranteed.(AU)

El estudio tuvo como objetivo identificar los argumentos de la estrategia de persuasión de los discursos presentados en la audiencia pública sobre el Argumento por Incumplimiento de un Percepto Fundamental -ADPF 442, realizada en 2018, con el objetivo de discutir la interrupción voluntaria del embarazo hasta la 12.ª semana. Para ello, se llevó a cabo una investigación cualitativa, analítico-descriptiva y documental. El objeto de análisis fue la grabación de la audiencia, que está disponible en la plataforma digital YouTube, y actas levantadas por el Supremo Tribunal Federal -STF, ambas de acceso público. A partir de un análisis del discurso se identificaron los argumentos utilizados en la estrategia de persuasión, los cuales se sistematizaron en cuatro categorías de argumentos para cada uno de los dos grupos identificados: el grupo pro y el grupo en contra de la despenalización del aborto. Las tres primeras categorías ("salud mental", "derecho" y "salud pública") aún con diferencias en la forma de presentar el argumento se repiten en ambos grupos. Pero difiere la cuarta categoría "supuestos". En el grupo a favor de la despenalización del aborto se presentó como "supuestos filosóficos y científicos", y en el grupo en contra, como "supuestos morales". Finalmente, la defensa de la salud mental de las mujeres fue el principal argumento en un intento por humanizar el sufrimiento que viven aquellas que desean abortar y no encuentran el apoyo del Estado para garantizar su dignidad, ciudadanía e igualdad efectiva, preconizadas por la Constitución.(AU)

Um capítulo esquecido na história da psicologia? sexualidades desviantes, psicopatologia e normalidade / A forgotten chapter in the history of psychology? deviant sexualities, psychopathology, and normality / ¿Un capítulo olvidado en la historia de la psicología? sexualidades desviadas, psicopatología y normalidad

Este artigo tem como objetivo produzir uma análise histórica sobre as intersecções entre Psicologia e sexualidade desviantes da norma no Brasil, de fins do século XIX a meados da década de 1980. Esta temporalidade foi escolhida por abarcar o surgimento das pesquisas científicas sobre sexualidade e desvios sexuais, a consolidação dos estudos psicológicos sobre a temática e o processo mais recente de despatologização da homossexualidade. Em termos teóricos e metodológicos, foram adotados os pressupostos da História Social da Psicologia e da historiografia das homossexualidades no Brasil. Desse modo, buscou-se compreender como as ideias, concepções e práticas psicológicas foram mudando ao longo do tempo, em conexão com as transformações socioculturais e políticas que ocorreram durante o século XX. Para isto, foram utilizadas fontes primárias e secundárias de pesquisa com vistas à produção de interpretações sobre as conexões entre as ideias, os atores e os eventos narrados. Argumenta-se, ao longo do artigo, que as ideias e práticas psicológicas estão intrinsecamente conectadas aos contextos socioculturais e políticos de seu tempo, sendo os movimentos dinâmicos e os conflitos presentes nesses contextos fatores determinantes para a sua constituição.(AU)

This article aims to produce a historical analysis of the intersections between Psychology and sexualities that deviate from the norm in Brazil, from the late 19th century to the mid-1980s. This period was chosen because it encompasses the emergence of scientific research on sexuality and sexual deviations, the consolidation of psychological studies on the subject and the most recent process of de-pathologization of homosexuality. Theoretically and methodologically, the assumptions of the Social History of Psychology and the historiography of homosexualities in Brazil were adopted. Therefore, we sought to understand how psychological ideas, conceptions and practices have changed over time, in connection with the sociocultural and political transformations that occurred throughout the 20th century. For this, primary and secondary sources of research were used to produce interpretations about the connections between the ideas, the actors and the narrated events. It is argued, throughout the article, that the psychological ideas and practices are intrinsically connected to the sociocultural and political contexts of their time, being the dynamic movements and conflicts present in these contexts determining factors for their constitution.(AU)

Este artículo tiene como objetivo realizar un análisis histórico de las intersecciones entre la Psicología y las sexualidades desviadas de la norma en Brasil desde finales del siglo XIX hasta mediados de la década de 1980. Esta temporalidad fue elegida por abarcar el surgimiento de las investigaciones científicas sobre sexualidad y desvíos sexuales, la consolidación de los estudios psicológicos sobre el tema y el más reciente proceso de despatologización de la homosexualidad. En el marco teórico y metodológico, se adoptaron los presupuestos de la Historia Social de la Psicología y de la historiografía de las homosexualidades en Brasil. De esta manera, se pretende comprender cómo las ideas, concepciones y prácticas psicológicas han cambiado a lo largo del tiempo, en conexión con las transformaciones socioculturales y políticas ocurridas durante el siglo XX. Para ello, se utilizaron las fuentes de investigación primarias y secundarias con miras a generar interpretaciones sobre las conexiones entre las ideas, los actores y los eventos narrados. Se argumenta, a lo largo de este artículo, que las ideas y las prácticas psicológicas están intrínsecamente conectadas a los contextos socioculturales y políticos de su tiempo, y los movimientos dinámicos y los conflictos presentes en estos contextos fueron los factores determinantes para su constitución.(AU)

Mulheres em situação de rua: implicações psicossociais de estigmas e preconceitos / Homeless women: psychosocial implications of stigmas and prejudices / Mujeres en situación de calle: implicaciones psicosociales de estigmas y prejuicios

É cada vez maior o número de pessoas vivendo nas ruas, contudo, ainda são reduzidos os estudos e as políticas públicas voltados ao público feminino, razão pela qual este artigo focalizou o cotidiano das ruas objetivando analisar as implicações psicossociais dos estigmas e preconceitos na vida das mulheres em situação de rua. Ser mulher nesse cenário evoca relações de poder inseridas no conceito de gênero, considerado enquanto construção social e calcado em relações patriarcais. Estar nas ruas é estar exposta e ser alvo de ações discriminatórias que passam pela invisibilidade perante as políticas públicas, por processos de exclusão e por ações violentas perpetradas na rede de relações tecidas a partir da rua. Realizamos uma pesquisa qualitativa, na qual utilizamos entrevistas em profundidade com sete mulheres em situação de rua na cidade de Maracanaú (CE). O material coletado foi submetido à Análise de Conteúdo, que contou com apoio do software Atlas Ti 5.2 para identificar processos opressivos presentes nos estigmas e nos preconceitos, que atuam por meio de desqualificação e descrédito dessas mulheres e conduzem a sentimentos de humilhação e vergonha capazes de incidir sobre seus modos de vida e sobre as relações estabelecidas em seu cotidiano.(AU)

The number of people living on the streets is increasing, yet studies and public policies aimed at the female public are still scarce, which is why this article turned to the daily life of the streets to analyze the psychosocial implications of stigmas and prejudices in homeless women's lives. Being a woman in this scenario evokes power relations inserted in the concept of gender, considered as a social construction and based on patriarchal relations. To be on the streets is to be exposed and to be the target of discriminatory actions that include invisibility in the face of public policies, processes of exclusion, and violent actions perpetrated in the network of relationships woven from the streets. We conducted qualitative research, in which we use in-depth interviews, with seven homeless women in the city of Maracanaú (Ceará, Brazil). We submitted the collected material to Content Analysis, which used the Atlas ti 5.2 software to identify oppressive processes present in the stigmas and prejudices, which act by disqualifying and discrediting these women and lead to feelings of humiliation and shame capable of affecting their ways of life and the relationships established in their daily lives.(AU)

El número de personas que viven en las calles está aumentando cada vez más, pero aún se observan pocos estudios sobre el tema y escasas políticas públicas dirigidas al público femenino, por lo que este artículo ha recurrido a la vida cotidiana de las calles para analizar las implicaciones psicosociales de los estigmas y prejuicios en la vida de las mujeres en la calle. Ser mujer en este escenario evoca las relaciones de poder bajo el concepto de género, considerado como una construcción social y que se basa en las relaciones patriarcales. Estar en las calles es estar expuesta y ser objeto de acciones discriminatorias que pasan por la invisibilidad ante las políticas públicas, por procesos de exclusión y las acciones violentas perpetradas en la red de relaciones tejidas desde la calle. Se realizó una investigación cualitativa, en la cual se aplicaron entrevistas a profundidad con siete mujeres en situación de calle en la ciudad de Maracanaú (Ceará, Brasil). Se aplicó el análisis de contenido en el material, utilizando el software Atlas ti 5.2 para identificar los procesos opresivos presentes en estigmas y prejuicios, que actúan por medio de la descalificación y el descrédito de estas mujeres produciendo sentimientos de humillación y vergüenza capaces de incidir en sus formas de vida y las relaciones establecidas en su cotidiano.(AU)

Fasting, food and farming: Value chains and food taboos in Ethiopia.

The impact of food taboos-often because of religion-is understudied. In Ethiopia, religious fasting by Orthodox Christians is assumed to be an important impediment for the sustainable development of a competitive dairy sector and desired higher milk consumption, especially by children. However, evidence is limited. Relying on unique data, we shed light on three major issues. First, we observe that the average annual number of fasting days that Orthodox adults are effectively adhering to is 140, less than commonly cited averages. Using this as an estimate for extrapolation, fasting is estimated to reduce annual dairy consumption by approximately 12 percent nationally. Second, farms adapt to declining milk demand during fasting by increased processing of milk into storable products-fasting contributes to larger price swings for these products. We further note continued sales of milk by non-remote farmers and reduced production-by adjusting lactation times for dairy animals-for remote farmers. Third, fasting is mostly associated with increased milk consumption by the children of dairy farmers, seemingly because of excess milk availability during fasting periods. Our results suggest that fasting habits are not a major explanation for the observed poor performance of Ethiopia's dairy sector nor low milk consumption by children. To reduce the impact of fasting on the dairy sector in Ethiopia further, investment is called for in improved milk processing, storage, and infrastructure facilities.

The Effect of Religious Dietary Cultures on Food Nitrogen and Phosphorus Footprints: A Case Study of India.

The excessive consumption of nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P), two vital nutrients for living organisms, is associated with negative environmental and health impacts. While food production contributes to a large amount of N and P loss to the environment, very little N and P is consumed as food. Food habits are affected by multiple regulations, including the dietary restrictions and dictates of various religions. In this study, religion-sensitive N-Calculator and P-Calculator approaches were used to determine the impact of religious dietary culture on the food N and P footprints of India in the major religious communities. Using 2013 data, the food N footprint of Hindus, Muslims, Christians, and Buddhists was 10.70, 11.45, 11.47, and 7.39 kg-N capita-1 year-1 (10.82 kg-N capita-1 year-1 was the national average), and the food P footprint was 1.46, 1.58, 1.04. and 1.58 kg-P capita-1 year-1 (1.48 kg-P capita-1 year-1 was the national average). The findings highlight the impact of individual choice on the N and P food footprints, and the importance of encouraging the followers of religion to follow a diet consistent with the food culture of that religion. The results of this study are a clear indication of the requirement for religion-sensitive analyses in the collecting of data pertinent to a particular country for use in making government policies designed to improve the recycling of food waste and the treatment of wastewater.

Beyond faith: Biomolecular evidence for changing urban economies in multi-faith medieval Portugal.

OBJECTIVES: During the Middle Ages, Portugal witnessed unprecedented socioeconomic and religious changes under transitioning religious political rule. The implications of changing ruling powers for urban food systems and individual diets in medieval Portugal is poorly understood. This study aimed to elucidate the dietary impact of the Islamic and Christian conquests. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Radiocarbon dating, peptide mass fingerprinting (ZooMS) and stable isotope analysis (δ13 C, δ15 N) of animal (n = 59) and human skeletal remains (n = 205) from Muslim and Christian burials were used to characterize the diet of a large historical sample from Portugal. A Bayesian stable isotope mixing model (BSIMM) was used to estimate the contribution of marine protein to human diet. RESULTS: Early medieval (8-12th century), preconquest urban Muslim populations had mean (±1SD) values of -18.8 ± 0.4 ‰ for δ13 C 10.4 ± 1 ‰ for δ15 N, indicating a predominantly terrestrial diet, while late medieval (12-14th century) postconquest Muslim and Christian populations showed a greater reliance on marine resources with mean (±1SD) values of -17.9 ± 1.3‰ for δ13 C and 11.1 ± 1.1‰ for δ15 N. BSIMM estimation supported a significant increase in the contribution of marine resources to human diet. DISCUSSION: The results provide the first biomolecular evidence for a dietary revolution that is not evidenced in contemporaneous historical accounts. We find that society transitioned from a largely agro-pastoral economy under Islamic rule to one characterized by a new focus on marine resources under later Christian rule. This economic change led to the naissance of the marine economy that went on to characterize the early-modern period in Portugal and its global expansion.

Religious assessment in Italian older adults: psychometric properties of the Francis Scale of Attitude toward Christianity and the Behavioral Religiosity Scale.

OBJECTIVES: Studies have shown that religiosity (R) and spirituality (S) can positively impact older adults' life. Nevertheless, no validated tools for measuring these constructs in the older Italian population are currently available. This study investigates the psychometric properties of two of the most common measures of R and S in the literature: the Francis Scale of Attitude toward Christianity short form (FSACsf) and the Behavioral Religiosity Scale (BRS). METHOD: 313 older Italians completed the questionnaires anonymously. The functioning of the items and the response scales, the factor structure, age invariance and internal consistency of both scales were investigated. RESULTS: Each scale defines a substantively unidimensional variable. Moreover, items seem, on the whole, to be well formulated. The values of the Rasch-Andrich thresholds suggest that the response scale of the FSACsf was adequate for measuring spirituality. However, this was not the case for BRS, where the response categories needed to be collapsed to measure behavioral religiosity properly. Age invariance was confirmed for each scale. Cronbach's α, composite reliability and person separation reliability revealed both scales to be internally consistent. DISCUSSION: The results suggest that the scales have solid psychometric properties, and can therefore be considered valid, reliable tools for investigating religiosity and spirituality in older people.

The Public Health Significance of Religious Imposition: The Experience of Oromo People in Ethiopia.

Knowledge and power are intertwined. To validate their illegitimate colonial occupation, the colonizers have imposed their knowledge-as expressed in such things as religion-upon the colonized people. Religions are instrumental in setting values, moralities and influencing the types of sciences, laws and arts developed. They govern human behavior, inform researchers on the questions they ask and foster certain types of knowledge. Religion also guides policymakers where and on what they need to focus. In this paper using a logic model I investigate (a) the theoretical reasons for imposing religion; (b) whether imposing religion widens people choices in life and produces a healthy body and community or limits people's choices and impacts the development of public health in Oromia. Religious impositions are driven by epistemic racism; they twist the paradigm of the thinking of a society. This constitutes a kind of epistemic violence. Epistemic violence discredits the experience and interests of the Oromo people. It denounces Oromo accumulated wisdom, its institutions, and it constitutes the textbook definition of disempowerment. In many ways, it hinders development of critical thinking and limits people's choices in life. Christianity and Islamic religions have been forcefully and methodically imposed upon the Oromo people. Religious impositions are the seeds that colonizers plant to make the colonized people intellectually dependent on the imposers. The imposition is meant to occupy the mental universe of the people. It twists how people perceive their past and present. Occupying and controlling the mind disguises the exploitation of the human and natural world. The imposition of those religions is responsible for many social problems such as an unjust social hierarchy, intolerance and environmental degradation. To promote health, prevent diseases and reduce health disparities, we need to promote the empowerment of people, validate their knowledge and experiences and widen their choices in life. In the efforts we make in preventing diseases and promoting health, we need to take into account the issue of religious imposition as one of the social forces. We cannot transform the world unless we understand what makes it work.

Culturally Congruent Care From the Perspectives of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.

Introduction: Judaism, Christianity, and Islam are three world religions that occupy much of the world stage in health care, journalism, and media. Nurses frequently provide care for representatives of these groups. Culturally competent nurses recognize that there are differences and similarities within and between these religions. Methodology: This article incorporates findings from a scholarly review of the literature and transcultural nursing/health care principles and is guided by Leininger's Culture Care Diversity and Universality Theory. It discusses the roots from which these religions emerged, and the similarities and differences in religious beliefs and practices as pertained to health care. Conclusion: Nurses and other health care professionals may use knowledge presented in this article to conduct individualized cultural assessments and provide culturally congruent health care to Jewish, Christian, and Muslim populations. Leininger's three culture care modes of decisions and actions offer a creative approach to providing meaningful and helpful culturally sensitive care.

Size Matters: Addressing Social Determinants of Health Through Black Churches.

Congregational size has been most consistently linked with offering health-related programs. However, few studies have examined the unique contribution of congregational size when considering other factors and across a range of health topics including those identified as social determinants of health. The current study sought to fill this gap. Eighty-eight faith leaders from 63 Christian churches in Baltimore, Maryland, provided information about themselves, their congregations, and the programs offered in their congregations. Over half of the sample were Baptist, and 60% were women. Logistic regression analyses were conducted to examine the extent to which congregational size was associated with the likelihood of having health programs. Results showed that faith leaders from larger congregations are significantly more likely to report having more programs overall and programs that specifically target health/health care and education, even after accounting for faith leader characteristics and denomination. However, both large and small churches had an equal likelihood of offering programs related to economic stability and social/community contexts. Our findings extend previous research and suggest important next steps for researchers and practitioners to consider on how best to involve congregations in health promotion and well-being among urban communities of color.

When Healthcare Isn't Enough: A Christian Response to Social Determinants of Health.

Education, employment, housing, neighborhood safety, and traumatic life experiences influence people's health, and poor health as a result of inequities in these areas cannot be remedied by medical care alone. Although social determinants of health threaten the attainment of a healthy life for people across North America, nurses are positioned to be leaders in a movement toward health equity. Nurses can follow the example of Jesus in loving their neighbors as themselves by addressing the social needs of patients, championing health system change, educating their communities, and advocating for Health in All Policies.

The Future of Nursing: Creating A Culture of Equity.

As development of the Future of Nursing 2020-30 Report by the National Academy of Medicine is underway, the nursing profession is positioned to continue positively impacting health and health equity in the United States. Progress to date engenders hope that nurses will continue to take a significant role in reducing health disparities. The work to create a culture of health aligns with the Christian imperative to "love your neighbor as yourself."

Denominational and Gender Differences in Hypertension Among African American Christian Young Adults.

Hypertension, a major cardiovascular disease risk factor, is disproportionately prevalent among African American young adults. Religion and spirituality (R/S) have been studied for their potential effect on blood pressure (BP) outcomes. Despite their disproportionate hypertension risk and high levels of R/S engagement, limited research explores BP differences among religious African Americans. This study investigates whether denominational affiliation predicts within-group differences in odds of having hypertension among African American Christian young adults. Data from Wave IV of the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health (Add Health) were used to examine hypertension differences between 1932 African American young adults based on self-reported religious denomination. Gender-separated logistic regressions included religious service attendance and coping measures, as well as personal characteristics and health behaviors to adjust for potential effects on BP. The odds of having hypertension were higher for Pentecostal women compared to Baptist and Catholic women. Hypertension odds for women who reported attending services more than once weekly were lower than those who never attended church. For women, frequent use of religious coping predicted higher odds of having hypertension than seldom or never using religious coping. R/S variables did not predict significant differences among men. The health benefits of R/S do not appear to be consistent within African American Christian young adults. Religion may be viewed as a source of BP risk and resilience, especially among African American young women.