Professionals' perceptions of support resources for battered immigrant women: chronicle of an anticipated failure.

The aim of this study was to explore the experience of service providers in Spain regarding their daily professional encounters with battered immigrant women and their perception of this group's help-seeking process and the eventual abandonment of the same. Twenty-nine in-depth interviews and four focus group discussions were conducted with a total of 43 professionals involved in providing support to battered immigrant women. We interviewed social workers, psychologists, intercultural mediators, judges, lawyers, and public health professionals from Spain. Through qualitative content analysis, four categories emerged: (a) frustration with the victim's decision to abandon the help-seeking process, (b) ambivalent positions regarding differences between immigrant and Spanish women, (c) difficulties in the migratory process that may hinder the help-seeking process, and (d) criticisms regarding the inefficiency of existing resources. The four categories were cross-cut by an overarching theme: helping immigrant women not to abandon the help-seeking process as a chronicle of anticipated failure. The main reasons that emerged for abandoning the help-seeking process involved structural factors such as economic dependence, loss of social support after leaving their country of origin, and limited knowledge about available resources. The professionals perceived their encounters with battered immigrant women to be frustrating and unproductive because they felt that they had few resources to back them up. They felt that despite the existence of public policies targeting intimate partner violence (IPV) and immigration in Spain, the resources dedicated to tackling gender-based violence were insufficient to meet battered immigrant women's needs. Professionals should be trained both in the problem of IPV and in providing support to the immigrant population.

The parliamentary political agenda: a tool for policy analysis of diabetes priorities in Spain.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the political agenda on diabetes in Spain under democracy by considering the frequency and content of initiatives in the Spanish parliament. METHODS: A systematic search of parliamentary interventions (1979-2010) reported on the Spanish Congress of Deputies' web page was carried out using the key word "diabetes". A descriptive study of the frequency of interventions was performed, followed by a content analysis, according to the priorities of the World Health Organization (WHO), the International Diabetes Federation and the Spanish Diabetes Federation. Other study variables were the year of presentation, legislature, type of initiative and whether a political decision was taken (yes/no). RESULTS: There were 59 interventions: 22% were related to the first international initiatives and 44.1% took place in the last two legislatures in response to the WHO's program Diabetes Action Now. A total of 32.2% of the initiatives addressed educational and social programs, while 23.7% addressed access to resources and health services. Most initiatives (74.6%) consisted of parliamentary questions to the government, which only required a response. Of the 15 initiatives requiring a decision to be taken, only eight were approved. CONCLUSIONS: Spanish legislators aim to comply with international standards. Nevertheless, political decision-making has sometimes been slow. Importantly, most of the political responsibilities related to health have been transferred to the autonomous regions. The updated National Diabetes Strategy in Spain will need to strengthen public health policies according to established international priorities. Monitoring parliamentary interventions has proven to be a valid tool for evaluating patterns of political debate and decisions on diabetes.

The parliamentary political agenda: a tool for policy analysis of diabetes priorities in Spain

Objective: To analyze the political agenda on diabetes in Spain under democracy by considering the frequency and content of initiatives in the Spanish parliament. Methods: A systematic search of parliamentary interventions (1979-2010) reported on the Spanish Congress of Deputies' web page was carried out using the key word "diabetes". A descriptive study of the frequency of interventions was performed, followed by a content analysis, according to the priorities of the World Health Organization (WHO), the International Diabetes Federation and the Spanish Diabetes Federation. Other study variables were the year of presentation, legislature, type of initiative and whether a political decision was taken (yes/no). Results: There were 59 interventions: 22% were related to the first international initiatives and 44.1% took place in the last two legislatures in response to the WHO's program Diabetes Action Now. A total of 32.2% of the initiatives addressed educational and social programs, while 23.7% addressed access to resources and health services. Most initiatives (74.6%) consisted of parliamentary questions to the government, which only required a response. Of the 15 initiatives requiring a decision to be taken, only eight were approved. Conclusions: Spanish legislators aim to comply with international standards. Nevertheless, political decision-making has sometimes been slow. Importantly, most of the political responsibilities related to health have been transferred to the autonomous regions. The updated National Diabetes Strategy in Spain will need to strengthen public health policies according to established international priorities. Monitoring parliamentary interventions has proven to be a valid tool for evaluating patterns of political debate and decisions on diabetes (AU)

Objetivo: Analizar la agenda política sobre diabetes en el periodo democrático español, considerando lafrecuencia y el contenido de las iniciativas parlamentarias. Métodos: Búsqueda sistemática de las iniciativas parlamentarias (1979-2010) en la página web del Congreso de los Diputados, usando la palabra clave «diabetes». Estudio descriptivo de la frecuencia de lasiniciativas, y análisis de contenido, según las prioridades de la Organización Mundial de la Salud (OMS),la Federación Internacional de Diabetes y la Federación Española de Diabetes. Otras variables: año depresentación, legislatura, tipo de iniciativa y decisión política (sí/no). Resultados: Hubo 59 iniciativas, el 22% relacionadas con las primeras internacionales y un 44,1% las dosúltimas legislaturas como respuesta al programa Diabetes Action Now de la OMS. Un 32,2% estuvieronrelacionadas con programas sociales y educativos, y un 23,7% con recursos y acceso a los servicios desalud. La mayoría (74,6%) fueron preguntas de control al gobierno, que sólo requieren respuesta y noaprobación/desaprobación. De las 15 iniciativas que requerían decisión, ocho fueron aprobadas. Conclusiones: Los legisladores españoles han tenido en cuenta los estándares internacionales. Sinembargo, la toma de decisiones a veces ha sido lenta, aunque es importante tener en cuenta que lamayoría de las responsabilidades políticas relacionadas con la salud están transferidas a las comunidadesautónomas. Las estrategias nacionales sobre diabetes requieren fortalecer las políticas en salud públicaconsiderando las prioridades internacionales sobre el tema. Monitorizar las iniciativas parlamentarias esuna herramienta para evaluar el debate político y las decisiones tomadas sobre la diabetes (AU)