| 1. |
- Berntsson, Leeni, 1938, et al.
(författare)
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Health, economy and social capital in Nordic children aged 13-17 years and their families: changes between 1984, 1996 and 2011
- 2015
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Ingår i: International journal of healthcare. - : Sciedu Press. - 2377-7338 .- 2377-7346. ; 2:1, s. 51-61
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background: Three repeated cross-sectional surveys, using representative samples of children, aged 2-17 years, stratified for age and sex, were conducted in each of the five Nordic countries (Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden) in 1984, 1996 and 2011. The aim of the present study was to analyze how the health of Nordic 13-17 years old children developed over time, using results from the three surveys in relation to changes in economy and social capital. Methods: Data from 2,905 children in 1984, 2,922 in 1996 and 2,257 in 2011 were collected using mailed questionnaires. Indicators in three areas were used. The Health indicator was taken as absence of psychosomatic complaints. Economy was represented by social class, housing and disposable income. Social capital contained absence of bullying, the child’s organized group activities, parents playing with their children, and parents’ position of trust. Three composite indices one for each area were formed and called Health, Economy and Social Capital Index. Results: There were statistically significant increases of psychosomatic health complaints for children 13-17 years in all the Nordic countries, strongest among girls, at the same time as the economy and social capital of the families increased, particularly in the first period (1984-1996). Conclusions: In spite of the families’ growing economy and improved standard of living there is an increasingly harsh climate in society, with stress, dissatisfaction, bullying and mental health problems. It supports conclusions from other studies that only economic growth is not enough for the full wellbeing of the population. It also supports the importance of the social cohesion, affiliation and solidarity, advanced and reinforced by equitable distribution of the wealth. Social cohesion is important for schooling, on the values of self help, equity, to seek solutions for health among youths.
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| 2. |
- Crondahl, Kristine, 1973-
(författare)
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Towards Roma Empowerment and Social Inclusion Through Work-Integrated Learning
- 2015
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- The Roma people are the largest ethnic minority group in the EU and all over, they have been subject to prejudice, stigma, discrimination and oppression. Thus, Roma are the most economically and socially excluded and marginalized group in Europe. The Roma living in Sweden are no exception; many are on the margins of society and face problems of social exclusion, institutional discrimination, low education, unemployment, and poor objective health. The Roma have been treated as a helpless group in need of "expert" help and action from the authorities. They have usually not been permitted to actively participate in adjusting efforts to their needs and situation. An alternative approach to the Roma situation is to allow the Roma to take the leading role and to initiate processes and activities concerning the group.These were the foundations for the 3-year health promotion project based on participatory action research (PAR) initiated in West Sweden in 2009. Through work-integrated learning(WIL) and the principle of training the trainers, the purpose of the programme was to strengthen Roma empowerment and participation in society, enabling Roma-led integration.The overall aim of the PhD thesis was to analyse and elaborate a WIL model to be applied inempowerment and adult education for the Roma minority- and other vulnerable groups in similar situation. The thesis is based on five papers: Paper 1 aimed to examine how 14 Roma adolescents in West Sweden perceive the concepts of health, well-being and quality of life, and further, to investigate the degree to which theyconsider themselves able to cope with their own life situation within these areas. The data, comprising six interviews, was analysed through qualitative content analysis. The most common understanding of health and well-being was to feel good, secure, happy and having awide social network of family and friends. Health and well-being were considered in a collective perspective, thus controversy earlier studies, the respondents perceived their health and well-being to be good. Freedom, independency, education and employment were the most important elements of QoL. Social support was the most frequently used coping strategy.The Roma adolescents preferred the tight relationship within the Roma community and associated mostly with Roma, a phenomenon previously referred to as homophily. The processof homophily seemed to be a salutogenic factor and a general resistant resource of the Roma adolescents and hence health-enhancing. Homophily was suggested as a determinant factor of health.Paper 2 aimed to explore how Roma people in West Sweden understand health, well-being,and quality of life, and how they cope with their life-situation. The data, consisting of 27 interviews (n = 33), were analysed qualitatively using a phenomenological hermeneutic approach. The findings indicated that the respondents perceived health as a resource and an ability to self-manage. Crucial elements of the respondents' health perception were being employed, having an education, social support from family and friends, freedom and security,and involvement in society. The findings demonstrated that the respondents perceived their health and life situation as good, despite being marginalized and discriminated. A possible explanation to this is what the respondents described as survival strategies. As a result of decenniums of oppression, the Roma have developed survival strategies helping them to cope with the situation and to survive. Paper 3 aimed to analyse whether there is connection between health literacy and empowerment. The paper is based on a literature search conducted in December 2013. Of the total 303 initial hits, no articles primarily addressing the issue were found; yet five articles were identified taking up on both health literacy and empowerment, hence reviewed in more detail. The five articles acknowledged a nexus between health literacy and empowerment, though the nexus itself was never discussed in specific. The paper suggests that for health literacy to be critical to empowerment, the focus has to be on social determinants of health and the involved individuals', groups and/or communities perceptions on health and health needs defined by themselves. Such a perspective will build on the genuine needs of the people in concern. The paper proposes functional- and interactive health literacy as another way to label capacity building for health and empowerment, and critical health literacy as a way to describe empowerment. Hence, health literacy might be regarded as a tool for empowerment. Health literacy is considered not to automatically lead to empowerment. Health literacy as such might be increased by health education. Crucial for empowerment is to achieve the critical level of health literacy including an ability to question the prevailing power relations and societal conditions and reflecting on these, a strengthened sense of power, self-esteem and self efficacyand an ability to utilize these resources to engage in social and political action for change.Paper 4 aimed to explore how participatory action research (PAR) and work integrated learning (WIL) might function as empowering tools in the Roma inclusion process and to propose a working model to use in empowerment of the Roma minority- and other vulnerable groups in similar situation. The data were collected and produced continuously during the project and consisted of interviews, self-evaluation reports and written essays by the seven Roma participants, participatory observations, research groups' workshop notes, 21 monthly project reports, the project plan, syllabus of the WIL training programme and notes from ajoint planning workshop. The data were considered as a whole and analysed in a triangulating fashion using hermeneutical understanding inspired by heuristic research. Through improved abilities to mobilise the local Roma community for social change, the participants' critical health literacy improved, allowing them to experience a greater control over their own lives and integration processes. The results indicate an increased empowerment of the local coordinators indicating that WIL may be a worthwhile approach in strengthening the individual empowerment of Roma people. Based on the findings, health literacy was suggested as a catalyst in the empowerment process, serving as a tool for analyzing and describing the process of empowerment.Paper 5 aimed to analyse the health promotion project from the Roma participants' perspective. The focus was on the participants' perceived individual empowerment and perceptions on their contribution to the common good and community empowerment. The data, consisting of interviews and self-evaluation reports of the Roma participants,participatory observations, newspaper articles with interviews of the participants and 21 monthly reports, were analysed through an approach that comes closest to hermeneutical phenomenology. The findings indicate that the WIL approach, the participating nature of the programme, and the trust and support from both the Roma and the non-Roma facilitators, were essential for the development of empowerment. Three main themes emerged portraying the participants' psychological empowerment: strengthened Roma identity, sense of power and sense of enculturated social inclusion. Sense of enculturated social inclusion demonstrated the participants "new" way of understanding social inclusion; turning social inclusion from something they feared to something they embraced. As the participants realized that social inclusion would not require them the let go of their Roma identity and culture, their Roma identity was strengthened, they became more hopeful, felt more in control and felt generally better. Despite of limited time and resources for local community directed activities, the participants perceived that improvements were achieved at the local level. In conclusions, the findings indicate that when based on the specific health needs of the people involved, basic/functional- and interactive health literacy together comprise the same idea as capacity building for health that might lead to empowerment. What found to be essential for the Roma local coordinators development of empowerment was the combination of the WIL approach, the participatory nature of the project, the trust and support from the non-Roma facilitators and Roma colleagues, and the perception of being respected as human beings and as equals. The local coordinators empowerment consisted of strengthened Roma identity, sense of power and sense of enculturated social inclusion. This indicates that the suggested WIL model/approach, comprising a participatory approach with health literacy as a tool may be a worthwhile strategy in empowering Roma people and enhancing their self-led social inclusion process. A possible road for Roma self-led integration, hence, might be through a process of enculturated social inclusion. This may also be the case for other vulnerable groups in similar situations. Further research and interventions are needed however, in order to elaborate and verify WILs' potential and sustainability in empowering other minority- and vulnerable groups
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| 3. |
- Daniels, Karen, et al.
(författare)
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Preschool children´s healthy lifestyles: South African parents´and preschool staff perceptions.
- 2016
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Ingår i: Health Education Journal. - : SAGE Publications. - 0017-8969 .- 1748-8176. ; 75:8, s. 897-910
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Abstract Background: The worldwide growth of non-communicable diseases requires important lifestyle adaptations. The earlier a healthy lifestyle is adopted, the better. Enabling a healthy lifestyle for children during the preschool years ideally involves the cooperation of parents and teachers. Health promotion with parents and teachers is most effective if it takes into consideration their views and opinions, as well as context. Objective: The aim of this study was to explore perceptions of health and healthy lifestyle from the perspective of preschool children’s parents, and the staff caring for children attending preschools in three diverse settings. Design: Qualitative in-depth study. Setting: Preschools in Western Cape Province, South Africa. Method: Data were collected through six focus group discussions and analysed using qualitative content analysis. Results: Parents and staff shared a holistic view of health, agreeing that children and their health were primarily the responsibility of the parents. Informants described their own health and that of children as affected by a variety of interconnected factors, including environmental, economic, social and individual influences. Conclusion: When tailoring a health-promoting education programme, it is important to consider the pre-existing knowledge the participants have and the context in which intervention will take place. There is also a need to structurally address social determinants of health that may be beyond the control of the individuals. Keywords Healthy lifestyles, preschool children, preschool parents, preschool staff, South Africa.
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| 4. |
- Eklund Karlsson, Leena, 1956-, et al.
(författare)
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Work-integrated learning and health literacy as catalysts for Roma empowerment and social inclusion: A participatory action research
- 2019
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Ingår i: Action Research. - : SAGE Publications. - 1476-7503 .- 1741-2617. ; 17:4, s. 549-572
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Roma people all over the world have often been subject to prejudice, stigma, discrimination and oppression. Many Roma have little or no education, which in combination with other factors often leads to unemployment and marginalization. Based on a case study in Sweden, this paper proposes an approach that can be used in participatory projects aiming at improving the living situation of marginalized people. In such an approach, the Roma themselves would be the leaders in all activities concerning the group. The first aim of this paper is to describe how health literacy and work-integrated learning functioned as empowering tools for a Roma-led inclusion process within a participatory action research framework. The second aim is to discuss and reflect on the use of participatory action research in community work with Roma based on the experiences of the participatory action research participants. The findings indicate that work-integrated learning may be a worthwhile approach for increasing the individual empowerment and self-led social inclusion of vulnerable people. However, the obstacles of structural discriminatory nature hindered the project to reach its full potential in its intended emancipatory goals.
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| 5. |
- Forinder, Ulla, et al.
(författare)
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Health care professionals´perceptions of health promotion with preschool children.
- 2016
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Ingår i: International Journal of Healthcare. - : SciEdu. - 2377-7338 .- 2377-7346. ; 2:1, s. 128-138
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- ABSTRACT Background: The growing burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) all over the world calls for a change in peoples’ lifestyles. One way to prevent NCDs is to work with health promotion. The burden of communicable diseases (CDs), however, is still high and resources are limited. Studies suggest that promotion of health should start early in life and in cooperation between preschool teachers and parents. Also health care workers should be included in such work. The aim of the present study was to explore health care professionals’ experiences and their reflections on health promotion in relation to children’s health in two different Western Cape settings, South Africa. Methods: Data was collected in two focus group discussions (FGDs) with twelve health care professionals from health clinics situated in two different settings; one upper-middle income urban suburb and one peri-urban township. Data was analysed with latent content analysis. Results: The findings are presented in four categories and twelve subcategories. The focus group (FG) participants had a holistic view on health and they talked about children’s health from a health promotion perspective where they saw children’s health as affected by an interplay between family, societal and structural factors. Further they saw several possibilities and expressed ideas about how to work from a health promotion perspective. They had a positive attitude to working intersectorally and interdisciplinary and believed that they could contribute to such a work. However, the cooperation with doctors and social service must be improved in order to succeed. Conclusions: The organizers of the health care sector should see to that health professionals have the possibility to work according to health promotion principles. Also the health care workers themselves must engage more actively in the work by considering the attitudes of the staff, the parents and grandparents and develop cultural awareness and sensibility. Key Words: Child health, Determinants of health, Focus group discussions, Health promotion, Health care professionals, Intersectoral work, Interdisciplinary work.
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| 6. |
- Forland, G., et al.
(författare)
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Sense of Coherence: Learning to live with chronic illness through health education
- 2018
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Ingår i: Health Education Journal. - : SAGE Publications. - 0017-8969 .- 1748-8176. ; 77:1, s. 96-108
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Objective: This study examines people's experiences of how to live with a chronic disease, their learning needs and their reasons for participating in a health education programme. The aim of the study was to examine if and how a Sense of Coherence (SOC) might guide an understanding of learning processes in health education. Methods: This study has a qualitative study design with data collected through five group interviews. Interviews were analysed using qualitative content analysis to identify principal categories of response. Directed content analysis was then used to reference the categories emerging in the first step to the study's theoretical framework. Results: Three main categories were found: (1) the ability to cope with daily life, (2) assets for a better life both in the present and for the future, and (3) the need for knowledge. A synthesis of empirical findings with reference to the first stage of analysis, the three main aspects of learning, and the three dimensions of a SOC revealed that a SOC may be useful in guiding an understanding of learning processes in health education as a life-oriented mastering resource. Conclusion: SOC offers a useful framework for informing health education. Research is needed to deepen an understanding of how salutogenic theory can strengthen the development of health education programmes and understanding of participants' learning.
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| 7. |
- Fosse, Elisabeth, et al.
(författare)
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The Nordic Health Promotion Research Network (NHPRN) - developing theory and research in a Nordicperspective
- 2016
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Konferensbidrag (refereegranskat)abstract
- BackgroundSince the Ottawa Charter (1986) the Nordic countries have been in the forefront in developing health promotion (HP) theory, research, policy and practice. An informal network of Nordic researchers organized five Nordic HP research conferences since 1996. In 2007, the NHPRN was established in cooperation with the Nordic School of Public Health, and three more conferences have been established.AimsThe aims of the NHPRN is to develop: the theoretical understanding of HP; Nordic research cooperation; cooperation within education on a master and PhD level; and to organize the Nordic Health Promotion ResearchConferencesOrganizationThe network members constitute a balanced representation of the Nordic countries: It is interdisciplinary with junior and senior researchers. It organizes biannual meetings at WHO’s premises in Copenhagen. The network is organized in working groups engaged in topics central for HP research and practice. Current working groups are Healthy aging; Health literacy; Equity in health; Empowerment; and Workplace health promotion. Working groups are not static and may change depending on the interests for the network members.Mode of workingIn the biannual meetings, lectures on state-of-the art issues are given by leading researchers and policy makers. Participants engage in theoretical discussions in plenum and working groups. The working groups perform research. Collaboration finds place at the meetings and through e-mail correspondence and web meetings. The working groups take part in the planning of conferences and organize workshops in line with their research interests.ProductionThe network has published the book Health literacy: teori och praktik i hälsofrämjande arbete (Ringsberg KC Olander E, Tillgren P. 2015), two supplements in Scandinavian Journal of Public Health (2010 and 2014) and several scientific articles. The network has organized three scientific conferences with a Nordic perspective: 2009;The role of health promotion in the transition of the Nordic welfare states (Gothenburg, Sweden); 2013: Promoting health in everyday settings (Vestfold, Norway); 2016: 20 years of health promotion research in the Nordic countries (Jyväskylä, Finland). A fourth conference is planned for 2019 with the topic Sustainable health promotion (Roskilde, Denmark).FutureThe network is open for PhD students and HP researchers working in the Nordic countries. The NHPRN is a working network and all participants must therefore commit to the work of the network and participate in its meetings. Researchers interested in participating in the network may obtain further information by contacting the network chairman Sami Kokko (sami.p.kokko@jyu.fi) or 1.1.2017 onwards Anne Liveng (aliveng@ruc.dk); seeing the website http://nhprn.wordpress.com; and/or reading Ringsberg KC., The Nordic Health Promotion Research Network, Scand J Publ Health 2015;43(Suppl 16):51-56.
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| 8. |
- Førland, Georg, et al.
(författare)
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Searching and dealing, confirmation and feeling : Participants’ approaches to learning in a Health Education setting
- 2017
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Ingår i: Health Education Journal. - : SAGE Publications. - 0017-8969 .- 1748-8176. ; 76:3, s. 326-336
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Objective: Health care is far from reaching the goal of people being part of their own care, and research is lacking on how to understand their perspective. This study explores people's intentions with the act of learning before attending a health education programme at a Learning and Mastery Centre (LMC) in Norway. The aim of this study was to understand participants' learning strategies for learning about their own health care in a health education setting.Methods: Data were collected through five group interviews and analysed using qualitative content analysis.Results: Findings revealed that participants' intentions of how and what to learn were influenced by their life experiences and interactions with the health care system. Three main categories of experience emerged: (1) sharing experiences, (2) second opinion and (3) capturing the news, brought together under the comprehensive theme: searching and dealing, confirmation and feeling, which reflects the underlying meaning of the categories.Conclusion: Results encourage us to see learning as an active construction process underpinned by health literacy, including both people's competencies and the health care system. If LMCs and similar health education initiatives are to make an important contribution to improving people's health literacy, significant attention should be given in the planning and implementation of initiatives
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| 9. |
- Ringsberg, Karin C., 1945, et al.
(författare)
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Concerns and future challenges of health literacy in the Nordic countries – From the point of view of health promotion practitioners and researchers
- 2018
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Ingår i: Scandinavian Journal of Public Health. - : SAGE Publications. - 1403-4948 .- 1651-1905. ; 46:20_suppl, s. 107-117
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background: Health literacy is an essential social determinant for promoting and maintaining the health of a population. Aim: From a health promotion perspective, explore health literacy issues, concerns and future challenges among Nordic practitioners and researchers. Methods: Data were collected in a workshop at the 8th Nordic Health Promotion Conference, and in a literature review, with articles from five databases. The search included title and abstract with the search terms health literacy* and health literacy as a MeSH term and all the Nordic countries. Qualitative and quantitative analysis were used. Results: Twenty-five persons participated in the workshop. The discussions were summarized in six themes: concept of health literacy in national language; risk of victim blaming; measuring health literacy; content in school curricula on health literacy; new technologies for information and communication; communication and collaboration between different actors in support of health. Forty-three articles on health literacy were identified, mainly conducted within three fields: development, test and adaptation of instruments for measuring health literacy; measurement of health literacy among patients, or other defined target groups and on populations; and developing and evaluating methods/tools for the training of personnel groups or different target groups. Conclusions: There is a need for further studies providing a more in-depth understanding of the health literacy concept, knowledge on how to measure health literacy, ethical aspects, application in intersectoral collaboration as well as the adaptation to new technologies for information and communication in education supporting health literacy. As health literacy is an essential social health determinant, a concern and a future challenge must be, to make the health literacy concept familiar and visible in health promotion policies, research and practice such as health education. © 2018, © Author(s) 2018.
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| 10. |
- Ringsberg, Karin C., 1945
(författare)
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The Nordic Health Promotion Research Network (NHPRN)
- 2015
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Ingår i: Scandinavian Journal of Public Health. - : SAGE Publications. - 1403-4948 .- 1651-1905. ; 43, s. 51-56
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The Nordic Health Promotion Research Network (NHPRN) was established in 2007 at the Nordic School of Public Health (NHV). This article aims to describe the foundation of the NHPRN, the development and the present status of the work of NHPRN. The NHPRN consists of about 50 senior and junior researchers from all Nordic countries. It is a working network that aims to develop the theoretical understanding of health promotion, to create research cooperation in health promotion from a Nordic perspective and to extend the scope of health promotion through education. Network members meet biannually to discuss and further develop research within the field and are also responsible for the Nordic conference on Health Promotion, organized every 3 years. The NHV hosted the network between 2007 and 2014; and the World Health Organisation (WHO) will assume this role in 2015.
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