Implicações da prática profissional no acolhimento institucional de crianças: perspectiva de cuidadoras / Implications of professional practice in children's institutional sheltering: caregivers' perspective / Implicaciones de la práctica profesional en el alojamiento institucional de niños: perspectiva de cuidadoras

Este estudo qualitativo teve como objetivo compreender, a partir da teoria de bioecológica de desenvolvimento, as implicações da prática profissional no processo de acolhimento de crianças em uma casa-abrigo, na perspectiva de cuidadoras. As participantes foram 10 profissionais de uma casa-abrigo localizada na região sul do Brasil. Utilizou-se a entrevista semiestruturada e a organização e análise dos dados sustentou-se na Grounded Theory, com auxílio do software Atlas.ti 8.4.14. Os resultados evidenciaram uma centralização das ações de acolhimento e atenção em torno dos cuidados físicos das crianças. As ações para promover suporte e cuidados emocionais dentro da casa-abrigo eram delegadas às profissionais da equipe técnica da instituição. Observou-se que as dificuldades encontradas pelas cuidadoras diziam respeito à falta de segurança e preparação para responder e acolher as demandas emocionais das crianças, as quais estão presentes em diversos momentos do processo de acolhimento. Percebeu-se que as práticas institucionais afetaram decisivamente tanto as ações de acolhimento das participantes e o suporte emocional oferecido às crianças na passagem pela casa-abrigo quanto as cuidadoras, no sentido de vivenciarem no trabalho sentimentos de insegurança. Os resultados tensionam ecologicamente a interação nos processos proximais presentes no desenvolvimento humano. Advoga-se pela reflexão sobre as implicações das práticas institucionais de uma casa-abrigo e o desenvolvimento infantil, visando o cuidado integral dos acolhidos.(AU)

Based on the developmental bioecological theory, this study analyzes the implications of professional practice in children's user embracement at a shelter from the caregivers' perspective. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 10 professionals from a shelter located in southern Brazil. Data organization and analysis was performed based on Grounded Theory using the Atlas.ti 8.4.14 software. Results showed that embracement and attention focus on the physical care of children. Support and emotional care activities were delegated to the institution's technical team. Caregivers faced difficulties regarding the lack of security and preparation to respond to and accept the children's emotional demands, which arise at different moments in the embracement process. The institutional practices decisively affected both user embracement actions and the emotional support offered to the children, as well as the caregivers, in the sense of experiencing feelings of insecurity. These findings ecologically tension the interaction in the proximal processes present in human development. Further reflections on the implications of institutional shelter-based practices for child development are needed to provide comprehensive care.(AU)

Este estudio cualitativo tuvo como objetivo comprender, desde la perspectiva de la teoría bioecológica del desarrollo, las implicaciones de la práctica profesional en el proceso de acogida de niños en una institución infantil desde la perspectiva de las cuidadoras. Las participantes fueron 10 profesionales de una institución de acogida infantil ubicada en la región Sur de Brasil. Se utilizó la entrevista semiestructurada, y para la organización y análisis de datos se aplicó Grounded Theory, con el uso del software Atlas.ti 8.4.14. Los resultados mostraron que las acciones de recepción y atención se centran en el cuidado físico de los niños. Las acciones de promoción de apoyo y cuidado emocional dentro del alojamiento se asignaron a los profesionales del equipo técnico de la institución. Se observó que las dificultades encontradas por las cuidadoras estaban relacionadas con la falta de seguridad y preparación para responder y aceptar las demandas emocionales de los niños, las cuales se encuentran presentes en diferentes momentos del proceso de acogida. Se notó que las prácticas institucionales afectaron decisivamente tanto las acciones de acogida de las participantes como el apoyo emocional que la institución brinda a los niños durante su paso, así como a las cuidadoras en el sentido de experimentar sentimientos de inseguridad en el trabajo. Estos resultados tensan ecológicamente la interacción en los procesos proximales presentes en el desarrollo humano. Se aboga por reflexionar sobre las implicaciones de las prácticas institucionales en los alojamientos institucionales y el desarrollo infantil, apuntando a la atención integral de los acogidos.(AU)

'He was a brilliant student but became mad like his grandfather': an exploratory investigation on the social perception and stigma against individuals living with mental health problems in Bangladesh.

BACKGROUND: Worldwide, mental health issues constitute a substantial threat to people's social, economic, and mental well-being and contribute significantly to many fatalities each year. In Bangladesh, people with mental health issues typically delay contacting health professionals because they prefer traditional or religious healers. Moreover, the situation is exacerbated by a lack of awareness, social stigma, and negative perception of sufferers of mental health issues on the part of families and the community. Therefore, this paper investigates the social perception and stigmatization of individuals living with mental health problems and their caregivers in Khulna, Bangladesh. METHODS: Data were collected from university students with concurring mental health issues as well as their closest caregivers, who had in-depth knowledge of the problem and a willingness to take care of the individuals with mental health issues. Following the criteria for data collection, eight individuals living with mental health problems and five caregivers were purposively selected for this research. A semi-structured in-depth interview guide was used for the confidential data collection process, which took place in November and December 2021, and each interview lasted 40-50 min on average. RESULTS: This study used thematic analysis to present the results; the findings showed that: individuals afflicted with mental health problems sought both medical and spiritual support to recover. Those with mental health issues who received positive family support recovered relatively faster than those who did not. However, negative social perception and stigmatization were the key impediments for individuals suffering from mental health problems and their families, as they found it difficult to discuss their issues with relatives and communities when attempting to access support or seek remedies. Moreover, the commonality of social stigmas, such as labeling mental health problems as equal to 'madness,' hindered disclosure to family members, peers, and the community. CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS: In Bangladesh, the majority of individuals living with mental health problems are stigmatized and do not receive emotional support. Hence, we suggest nationwide community-based awareness-building programs to promote more positive perceptions of the fight against mental health disorders. Furthermore, counseling and awareness-building programs for effective discouragement of non-scientific remedies such as spiritual healing, as well as diagnosis and medication at the primary stage of sickness, are recommended for early detection and better medical assistance.

Enhancement of sperm quality and fertility-related parameters in Hubbard grandparent rooster fed diets supplemented with soybean lecithin and vitamin E.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of dietary supplementation of different levels of soybean lecithin and vitamin E on semen quality parameters and some reproductive hormones in Hubbard grandparent roosters. The experiment was conducted in a 3 × 2 factorial arrangement with 3 levels of soybean lecithin (0, 1, and 2%) and 2 levels of vitamin E (0 and 300 mg/kg). Semen samples were collected on d 0, 20, 40 and 60 of the experiment and analyzed. Adding 1% soybean lecithin and vitamin E into the diet increased semen volume and sperm concentration, membrane integrity and viability (P < 0.05). Supplementing diets with 1 or 2% lecithin in addition to vitamin E significantly improved total motility and progressive motility (P < 0.05). Vitamin E significantly increased the amplitude of lateral head displacement (ALH) of sperm (P < 0.05). Although there was no effect on LH and FSH when diets were supplemented with vitamin E and 1 or 2% lecithin, testosterone concentration was increased (P < 0.05). Malondialdehyde (MDA) concentration was significantly lower in all 3 treatments containing vitamin E (P < 0.05). It can be concluded that supplementation of rooster diets with vitamin E and 1% lecithin can improve fertility related parameters in Hubbard grandparent roosters.

Introduction: A family systems approach to promote maternal, child and adolescent nutrition.

In all cultures, women and children are embedded in family systems that determine roles, relationships, patterns of communication and authority between family members. Especially in non-western societies, maternal and child nutrition practices are determined not only by the biological parents but also by other influential family members. Most maternal and child nutrition research and interventions do not consider the constellation of family roles and influence on women and children and continue to focus on the mother-child dyad and individual knowledge, attitudes and practices. There is growing agreement on the need to adopt an ecological framework to address public health issues, including those dealing with maternal and child nutrition. This special issue presents examples of research from a variety of settings that employed an ecological, family systems approach either to investigate maternal, child or adolescent nutrition issues or to design interventions that engaged various actors within family settings. These 11 articles contribute to a growing body of evidence supporting the relevance of a wider family systems perspective for nutrition research and interventions. Key themes across studies include the limitations of using a nuclear family model for research and intervention design, the need for formative research that comprehensively explores family systems, increasing recognition of the extensive involvement and support provided by grandmothers, and the importance of engaging men in culturally appropriate ways based on community dialogue and women's perspectives. Future maternal and child nutrition research and interventions can be strengthened by systems thinking that acknowledges that individuals are situated within family and community systems.

Grandmothers: Central scaffolding sources impacting maternal and infant feeding practices in Colombia.

A growing body of evidence highlights that maternal and child nutrition programmes need to extend beyond the mother-child dyad by adopting a family systems approach, particularly in the Global South. Guided by a sociocultural and community psychology understanding of health, the paper explores factors identifying grandmothers as central resources for nutrition programmes. The study was conducted in a Colombian urban periphery applying a qualitative longitudinal design (prenatal and postpartum). It is based on interviews with adolescent mothers and mothers in their 20s (n = 35 at T1; n = 21 at T2), grandmothers (n = 15 at T1; n = 12 at T2) and community/public stakeholders (n = 17). Many of the participants live in low-income households headed by grandmothers, who adjust feeding practices to the extent of their economic capacity. Findings reveal grandmothers play a central role in decision-making and in enabling a holistic support system for the dyad. This is defined as grandmothers' scaffolding; it covers nutrition advice, breastfeeding and infant feeding, cultural practices, caregiving and maternal mental health. The study helps build the evidence-base for the transferability of a family systems approach to Global South regions by using sociocultural and community psychology concepts to fortify the rationale for including grandmothers in maternal and child nutrition programmes. It argues for the need to continue raising the visibility of key actors like grandmothers and for nutrition programmes to align themselves more flexibly with the needs of families experiencing poverty.

Exploring the health of families with a child with autism.

LAY ABSTRACT: Families are important for the overall growth and development of a child. The health of a family is foundational to the everyday life in which a child and family can blossom. Families with a child with autism have a family life that has challenges for many reasons including that parents can be stressed from trying to figure out how to be a good parent for their child with autism. We wanted to know two things: (1) what is family health for families of a child with autism and (2) what affects families trying to be their healthiest. We wanted to know the answers to these questions from families themselves, including parents (not just moms), children, and children with autism, because they are the best experts. We talked to 16 families including 16 mothers, 8 fathers, and 32 children (18 with autism). Families shared that being a healthy family was a journey with ups and downs and that families were not always perfect. It helped when families knew about themselves as a family such as knowing what they liked and did not like to do, and knowing what the different people in the family needed. Families said that what helped and influenced their family's health was being together, keeping their days not too busy, stress, autism itself, having helpers like friends, grandparents, therapists, and having money to pay for services. We hope that knowing these answers will guide service providers of people with autism to think about healthy families from a holistic perspective.

Ugandan Jajjas: Antecedents and rewards of caring for grandchildren in the context of HIV.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: The findings presented in this manuscript address two key research questions: (a) What factors contribute to the initiation and maintenance of the caregiving role as performed by the grandparent-caregivers; and (b) What are the perceived benefits of caregiving as reported by grandparent-caregivers? BACKGROUND: Grandparents in sub-Saharan Africa have cared for their grandchildren for generations, yet little is known about this role in the context of the HIV epidemic. Although the impact of the epidemic is overwhelmingly negative, specifically in Uganda, knowledge of familial context and underlying motivations and rewards that incentivise grandparent-caregivers remains limited in the literature. METHODS: Using a constructivist grounded theory approach, we explored the experiences of 32 Ugandan grandparents of grandchildren affected by HIV. Data were collected using a semi-structured and open-ended interview guide, participant observation and fieldnotes. Data analysis included open, focused and axial coding. FINDINGS: The data revealed the influences of extended familial structures and of cultural and gender expectations on the decision-making processes and rewards of caregiving as perceived by the grandparent-caregivers. DISCUSSION AND RECOMMENDATION: These findings provide a broad foundation for policy, practice, research and education interventions needed to support grandparents so they can enjoy the benefits of raising their grandchildren. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: Our findings can guide education programs and clinical practice for nurses, nursing students, and other health providers on cultural considerations for holistic care provided for older adults-especially older caregivers.

Food cultures and aging: a qualitative study of grandparents' food perceptions and influence of food choice on younger generations.

OBJECTIVE: To explore food perceptions among grandparents and understand the influence of these perceptions on food choice for the younger generations in their family. DESIGN: Qualitative methodology, thematic analysis of the transcripts from fourteen focus groups. SETTING: Grandparents in the southern region of the United States. SUBJECTS: Participants were fifty-eight Black, Hispanic, and White grandparents, predominantly women (72%), ranging in age from 44-86 years (mean age = 65·4 (sd 9·97) years). RESULTS: Grandparents' perceptions related to personal food choice were related to health issues and the media. Grandparents' perceived influence on their children's and grandchildren's food choices was described through the themes of proximity and power (level of influence based on an interaction of geographic proximity to grandchildren and the power given to them by their children and grandchildren to make food decisions), healthy v. unhealthy spoiling, cultural food tradition, and reciprocal exchange of knowledge. CONCLUSION: Our results highlight areas for future research including nutrition interventions for older adults as well as factors that may be helpful to consider when engaging grandparents concerning food decisions for younger generations to promote health. Specifically, power should be assessed as part of a holistic approach to addressing dietary influence, the term 'healthy spoiling' can be used to reframe notions of traditional spoiling, and the role of cultural food tradition should be adapted differently by race.

First-aid knowledge regarding small area burns in children among 5814 caregivers: A questionnaire analysis.

BACKGROUND: To assess caregivers'knowledge of first aid for small-area thermal burns in children, and reduce burns-induced morbidity and damage in children. METHODS: The multi-stage cluster random sampling method was used to recruit school-age children from different kinds of schools. For each child, we selected only one caregiver as our study participant. First-aid knowledge regarding small area burns in children and choices of medical treatment were investigated in the manner of questionnaires. RESULTS: The effective response rate of questionnaire was 99.4% (5814/5850). Folk remedies and daily necessities were chosen by 17.8% (1,036/5814) and 48.9% (2841/5814), respectively. 39.8% (2,312/5814) of caregivers knew all standard burn first aid measures. Moreover, the proportion of knowing all five measures among caregivers with undergraduate education was significantly higher than the figures among those with other educational levels. CONCLUSIONS: Child caregivers had poor knowledge of first aid for small area burns in children. Only a few caregivers knew all five standard first aid measures for managing small area burns. Many non-scientific and inappropriate home remedies are still widely applied among Shanghai citizens. Our study results suggest relevant scientific evidence-informed measures should be more widely disseminated to the citizens.

Family influences on child nutritional outcomes in Nairobi's informal settlements.

BACKGROUND: Improving child nutritional status is an important step towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals 2 and 3 in developing countries. Most child nutrition interventions in these countries remain variably effective because the strategies often target the child's mother/caregiver and give limited attention to other household members. Quantitative studies have identified individual level factors, such as mother and child attributes, influencing child nutritional outcomes. METHODS: We used a qualitative approach to explore the influence of household members on child feeding, in particular, the roles of grandmothers and fathers, in two Nairobi informal settlements. Using in-depth interviews, we collected data from mothers of under-five children, grandmothers, and fathers from the same households. RESULTS: Our findings illustrate that poverty is a root cause of poor nutrition. We found that mothers are not the sole decision makers within the household regarding the feeding of their children, as grandmothers appear to play key roles. Even in urban informal settlements, three-generation households exist and must be taken into account. Fathers, however, are described as providers of food and are rarely involved in decision making around child feeding. Lastly, we illustrate that promotion of exclusive breastfeeding for 6 months, as recommended by the World Health Organization, is hard to achieve in this community. CONCLUSIONS: These findings call for a more holistic and inclusive approach for tackling suboptimal feeding in these communities by addressing poverty, targeting both mothers and grandmothers in child nutrition strategies, and promoting environments that support improved feeding practices such as home-based support for breastfeeding and other baby-friendly initiatives.

Do Infant Feeding Practices Differ Between Grandmothers and Mothers in Rural China? Evidence From Rural Shaanxi Province.

The overall goal of this study is to examine whether infant feeding practices differ between mothers and grandmothers in rural China. We randomly sampled 1383 caregivers of infants aged 18 to 30 months living in 351 villages across 174 townships in nationally designated poverty counties in rural areas. Results show that a high fraction of caregivers of 18- to 30-month-old children living in low-income areas of rural China do not regularly engage in positive infant feeding practices. Only 30% of children in our sample achieved adequate dietary diversity. Only 49% of children in our sample were fed meat in the day prior to survey administration. Few caregivers reported giving any vitamin supplements (such as calcium or iron supplements) to their children. We find that 33% of the children were cared for by grandmothers rather than mothers, and that grandmothers feed a less diversified diet to children than do mothers. Most (84%) caregivers rely solely on their own experiences, friends, and family members in shaping their feeding behaviors. Overall infant feeding practices are poor in rural China. Grandmothers engage in poorer feeding practices than do mothers. Grandmothers have improved their feeding practices compared to when their own children were young. Our results suggest shortcomings in the quality of infant feeding practices, at least in part due to an absence of reliable information sources.

Avosidade nos desenhos animados ocidentais: estilos de avós com netos adolescentes / Grandparenthood in western cartoons: grandparent styles with teen grandchildren

O presente artigo objetivou analisar os tipos de relações entre avós idosos e netos adolescentes exibidos em desenhos animados de longa metragem da filmografia ocidental. Foi realizada a busca dos desenhos nos sites de companhias cinematográficas, lançados no período de 1950 a 2015, que mostrassem essa relação de avosidade. Os filmes foram selecionados através da leitura das sinopses, visualização dos respectivos trailers e, posteriormente, dos filmes escolhidos. Os avós mostrados nos filmes foram analisados através de adaptação da escala de Responsividade e Exigência. Os estilos de avós encontrados foram classificados em quatro tipos: autoritativo, autoritário, indulgente ou negligente. Preencheram os critérios de inclusão 17 desenhos animados. Observou-se predomínio de desenhos animados mostrando estilos de avós indulgentes, seguidos de autoritativo. Não foram encontradas relações autoritárias. (AU)

The present article aimed to analyze the types of relationships between older grandparents and teen grandchildren exhibited in feature film cartoons of the western filmography. The cartoons were searched on film companies' sites, in the period from 1950 to 2015, looking for those who showed grandparenthood relations. The films were selected through the reading of the synopsis, visualization of the respective trailers and, later, of the selected films. The grandparenthoods shown in the films were analyzed by adaptation of the scale of Responsiveness and Requirement, being classified into four types: authoritative, authoritarian, indulgent or negligent. There were 17 cartoons that met the criteria for inclusion. What can be observed is a predominance of cartoons showing indulgent grandparenthood relations, followed by authoritative. No authoritarian relationships were found. (AU)

Biofeedback in Grandmothers Raising Grandchildren: Evaluating Intervention Parameters.

This study examined the six critical parameters for evaluating interventions, including necessity, acceptability, feasibility, safety, fidelity, and effectiveness, of a heart rate variability (HRV) biofeedback training intervention in a sample of 20 grandmothers who were the primary caregivers of their grandchildren. After the grandmothers completed the HRV biofeedback training, they answered open-ended questions to provide data on the six parameters during face-to-face interviews. The findings of the study provided evidence for the necessity, acceptability, feasibility, safety, fidelity, and effectiveness of the HRV biofeedback intervention for reducing the stress experienced by grandmothers in raising their grandchildren.

"She Learned it from her Mother and Grandmother": Women's Experiences with Delivery and Post-partum Practices in Peri-urban Yangon, Myanmar.

BACKGROUND: Every year in Myanmar more than one million women give birth. Although births in hospitals and those attended by skilled birth attendants have increased considerably, the majority of women continue to give birth at home. Our needs assessment explored women's reproductive health in peri-urban Yangon, a rapidly growing area characterized by poor infrastructure, slum settlements and a mobile, migrant population. In this article, we focus specifically on the perceptions and experiences of adult women, key informants, and health care providers regarding delivery and post-partum care. METHODS: Our study team conducted a systematic literature review, 18 key informant interviews, 27 facility surveys, a survey with 147 adult women, and seven focus group discussions with women and health care providers over the summer of 2014. We analyzed these data for content and themes using deductive and inductive techniques and used descriptive statistics to analyze the survey results. RESULTS: Women in peri-urban Yangon are increasingly choosing to give birth in hospitals; however public hospitals are often inaccessible due to financial constraints and lack of transportation. Further, sociocultural and financial considerations continue to make deliveries with a traditional birth attendant an appealing option for some women and potentially harmful traditional post-partum practices remain common. CONCLUSIONS: Peri-urban populations face competing influences that guide decision-making surrounding delivery. Efforts to address the barriers to accessing hospital-based maternity services and trained providers appear warranted. The development of culturally-relevant resources that seek to raise awareness of the potential risks of traditional post-partum practices may also be of use.

Os avós de crianças doentes: nova perspectiva para pesquisas com famílias no Brasil / The grandparents of sick children: a new perspective for research with families in Brazil / Los abuelos de ninos enfermos: una nueva perspectiva para la investigación con familias en Brasil

Diante do fenômeno do envelhecimento global, aumentaram-se as chances de três ou mais gerações coexistirem na família. Com isso, os vínculos entre avós e netos também têm se tornado mais fortes e duradouros. A literatura nacional já registra a influência do relacionamento e presença da terceira geração na família em contextos cotidianos, mas apenas dois estudos são encontrados na situação de doença do neto. Buscou-se neste trabalho tecer considerações sobre o tema, respaldadas em publicações recentes, abordando o impacto e a experiência da doença do neto para os avós e o seu papel quando um neto está doente. A partir disso, traçaram-se caminhos e perspectivas para novas pesquisas brasileiras que tenham o foco na figura dos avós na situação de doença do neto. Acredita-se ser importante o avanço nessa área, de forma a promover o cuidado integral à criança e família baseado em sólida fundamentação científica.

Due to the global aging phenomenon, the possibilities of three or more generations coexisting in the family has signficantly increased. Thus, the bonds between grandparents and grandchildren have also become stronger. Brazilian literature already indicates the influence of the relationship and the presence of the third generation in the family in daily contexts, but only two studies actually address the situation of the grandchild's disease. The aim of this study was to formulate a few considerations on the matter, grounded in recent literature that addresses the impact and experience of the grandchild's disease on grandparents and their role when their grandchild is sick. From this, we design paths and perspectives for new Brazilian studiesfocusing on the grandparents when one of their grandchildren is sick. We believe it is important to advance in this area in order to promote the comprehensive care of children and family based on scientific evidence.

Las probabilidades de que tres o más generaciones convivan en familia han aumentado ante el fenómeno del envejecimiento global. Con ello, los lazos entre abuelos y nietos también se han vuelto más fuertes y duraderos. La literatura brasilena ya senala la influencia de la relación y la presencia de la tercera generación en la familia en contextos cotidianos, pero sólo se han encontrado dos estudios que enfocan una situación de enfermedad de un nieto. En este trabajo se busca establecer consideraciones sobre el tema, respaldadas en publicaciones recientes, que traten del impacto y la experiencia de la enfermedad del nieto para los abuelos y de su rol cuando un nieto está enfermo. A partir de ello, se han trazado caminos y perspectivas para nuevos estudios brasilenos que se centren en la figura de los abuelos cuando uno de los nietos está enfermo. Creemos que los avances en esta área son importantes con miras a promover la atención integral del nino y de la familia sobre bases científicas sólidas.

How intra-familial decision-making affects women's access to, and use of maternal healthcare services in Ghana: a qualitative study.

BACKGROUND: There is some evidence to suggest that within the household, family and community settings, women in sub-Saharan Africa often have limited autonomy and control over their reproductive health decisions. However, there are few studies that examine how intra-familial decision-making power may affect women's ability to access and use maternal health services. The purpose of this paper is to examine how intra-familial decision-making affects women's ability to access and use maternal health services. METHODS: We conducted 12 focus group discussions and 81 individual interviews with a total of 185 expectant and lactating mothers in six communities in Ghana. In addition, 20 key informant interviews were completed with healthcare providers. Attride-Stirling's thematic network analysis framework was used to analyse the data. RESULTS: Findings suggest that decision-making regarding access to and use of skilled maternal healthcare services is strongly influenced by the values and opinions of husbands, mothers-in-law, traditional birth attendants and other family and community members, more than those of individual childbearing women. In 49.2%, 16.2%, and 12.4% of cases in which women said they were unable to access maternal health services during their last pregnancy, husbands, mothers-in-law, and husband plus mothers-in-law, respectively, made the decision. Women themselves were the final decision-makers in only 2.7% of the cases. The findings highlight how the goal of improving access to maternal healthcare services can be undermined by women's lack of decision-making autonomy through complex processes of gender inequality, economic marginalisation, communal decision-making and social power. CONCLUSION: Interventions to improve women's use of maternity services should move beyond individual women to target different stakeholders at multiple levels, including husbands and mothers-in-law.

Support for and From Aging Mothers Whose Adult Daughters are Seriously Mentally Ill.

This article discusses, from the grandmother's perspective, the ways in which support is exchanged in families coping with serious mental illness. A strengths perspective was utilized to identify ways in which family members help each other. Employing a qualitative approach, this study focuses on interviews obtained from a sample of 22 aging mothers, aged 52-90, who are in contact with their daughters who have a mental illness. Grandmothers provided several kinds of support to their mentally ill adult daughters and to their grandchildren, who also supported the aging mother in numerous ways. As social workers seek to assist individuals with mental illness, it is important to assess the existing strengths of their intergenerational family context.

Grandmothers as gatekeepers? The role of grandmothers in influencing health-seeking for mothers and newborns in rural northern Ghana.

Previous research suggests that care-seeking in rural northern Ghana is often governed by a woman's husband or compound head. This study was designed to explore the role grandmothers (typically a woman's mother-in-law) play in influencing maternal and newborn healthcare decisions. In-depth interviews were conducted with 35 mothers of newborns, 8 traditional birth attendants and local healers, 16 community leaders and 13 healthcare practitioners. An additional 18 focus groups were conducted with stakeholders such as household heads, compound leaders and grandmothers. In this region, grandmothers play many roles. They may act as primary support providers to pregnant mothers, care for newborns following delivery, preserve cultural traditions and serve as repositories of knowledge on local medicine. Grandmothers may also serve as gatekeepers for health-seeking behaviour, especially with regard to their daughters and daughters-in-law. This research also sheds light on the potential gap between health education campaigns that target mothers as autonomous decision-makers, and the reality of a more collectivist community structure in which mothers rarely make such decisions without the support of other community members.

Combinação do toque e atividades lúdicas aumenta o bem-estar e fortalece o vínculo entre avós e netos / Combination of touch and playful activities enhances well-being and strengthens the bond between grandparents and grandchildren

A pesquisa científica objetivou verificar se a combinação da massagem e atividades lúdicas (gestual) entre avós e netos promove o aumento do bem-estar e o fortalecimento do vínculo, do diálogo e da relação entre eles. A pesquisa foi dividida em duas etapas e apoiada por consultores de diversas áreas do conhecimento (antroposofia, psicanálise, psicologia positiva, linguística e estatística). Através da análise dos resultados, foi comprovado que o gestual é um mobilizador para o aumento do bem-estar subjetivo dos netos e, para os avós, favoreceu o resgate da infância e um despertar para missão de vida. Proporcionou a ampliação de consciência relacionada ao vínculo entre os mesmos, já que os participantes passaram a expressar mais sentimentos alocêntricos do que autocêntricos, isto é, voltados mais para os outros do que para si mesmos. Esse é o primeiro estudo científico a mostrar que a combinação da massagem e atividades lúdicas tem potencial para reduzir a distância geracional entre avós e netos.