Household Characteristics, Cost of Illness and Coping Mechanism of Families of Hospitalized Acute Encephalitis Syndrome Children: A Mix Method Study

Background: AES is responsible for causing high social and economic burden to the affected families. The study was conducted to know the household characteristics, cost of illness and coping strategy adopted by the family members of AES children admitted to a tertiary care facility in Assam, India. Methods: It was a sequential exploratory mixed method study, with a cross-sectional survey among AES chil-dren and their guardians, followed by In Depth interview. Results: Out of 51 cases 55% were male. The median age was 11 years. 53% of the families belonged to lower socioeconomic class. 96% of families reported to reside in rural areas. Commonly reported household assets were mobile phone 94%, bicycle 86%, television 31% and motorcycle 29%. Three major themes were emerged to contribute towards economic burden. The first major theme is “Direct cost” due to patient trans-portation cost (mean Rs 1161.00) and hospital costs: mostly due to medicinal cost (mean Rs1955.00), investi-gational cost (mean Rs 2920.00) and food cost (mean Rs 8375.00). The second theme “Indirect cost” is due to work days loss: 100% care providers had missed work days during hospital stay of their children and 84% had missed work days during post hospital care. The third theme is “Inherent cost spotted through coping mechanisms” which mostly 94% included borrowing money from the market and 31.4% selling household assets. Conclusion: Cost of illness is a huge burden to the AES afflicted families which demands reforms in health care financing and reimbursement in current context.

Evaluation of the college-based HIV/AIDS education policy in Beijing, China: a mixed method approach

BACKGROUND@#From 2010 to 2015, there was a twofold growth of new HIV/AIDS infection in Beijing among young students aged 15-24. HIV/AIDS education was found effective in promoting positive behavior change related to HIV/AIDS prevention. However, little evidence was found on the evaluation of HIV/AIDS education policy. This study aimed to evaluate the college-based HIV/AIDS education policy in Beijing.@*METHODS@#By using a mixed method approach, the current study reviewed college-based HIV/AIDS education policy at national level and in Beijing from 1985 to 2016 and conducted policy content analysis to evaluate the policy ability to structure implementation. Cross-sectional surveys in 2006 and 2016 were used to evaluate college's implementation of relevant policies. T test, χ test, and logistic regression were used to analyze college students' perception of HIV/AIDS education provided in their colleges and their knowledge of HIV/AIDS and their risk factors.@*RESULTS@#Fourteen pieces of national policy and four pieces of Beijing's policy were identified. Policy's ability to structure implementation was at moderate level. The percentage of students in Beijing who ever perceived HIV/ADIS education at colleges decreased from 71.14 to 39.80%, and the percentage of students with comprehensive knowledge of HIV/AIDS dropped from 50.00% in 2006 to 40.42% in 2016.@*CONCLUSIONS@#HIV/AIDS education in college had drawn considerable attentions from the Chinese government, while the policy implementation needs further strengthening.

O método marxiano de investigação e o enfoque misto na pesquisa social: uma relação necessária / The marxist method of research and the joint approach in social research: a necessary relationship

O presente artigo tem a finalidade de problematizar a relação necessária entre o método marxiano de investigação e o enfoque misto ou quanti-qualitativo na pesquisa social. Abordamos inicialmente as principais características do método de pesquisa utilizado por Marx e explicitado no conjunto de sua obra, bem como sistematizações de autores marxistas que o analisam e dão visibilidade ao movimento de desvendamento do real por ele realizado, destacando a articulação entre qualidade e quantidade. Posteriormente, apresentamos as características do enfoque misto, buscando dar visibilidade a suas aproximações, com ênfase nos diferentes desenhos possibilitados por este modo de investigação e na técnica de triangulação, que o caracteriza.

This article has the purpose of analyze the relationship required between the Marxist of research and the joint approach. We discuss initially the main features of the search method used by Marx and expressed in his work, as well as Marxist authors that analyze and give visibility to the movement of real ownership held by him, highlighted the linkage between quality and quantity. Subsequently, we present the characteristics of the mixed approach, seeking to give visibility to their approximations, with emphasis on different designs made possible by this mode of research and the technique of triangulation, that characterizes him.