Examining Students’ Perceived Competence, Gender, and Ethnicity in a Digital STEM Learning Game

The present study explores how gender, ethnicity, and performance-based perceived competence impact students’ learning, performance, and enjoyment from playing a digital STEM learning game. We had 199 9th-11th grade students play a 2D digital STEM learning game across six science classes. Based on the results of demographic surveys, matched pretests and posttests, and satisfaction questionnaires, we found no interaction between gender and ethnicity for performance-based perceived competence, performance, and enjoyment. We found a significant difference between males and females in performance-based perceived competence and in-game performance both favoring males over females. Among ethnic groups, we found a significant difference with in-game performance favoring White and Hispanic students over Black/African American students. However, the differences in gender and in ethnicity were insignificant once we controlled for both perceived competence and pretest scores. This supports the idea that neither race nor gender truly influence one’s ability to perform in digital learning games.

Using Point-in-Time Homeless Counts to Monitor Mortality Trends Among People Experiencing Homelessness in Los Angeles County, California, 2015‒2019

Objectives. To report trends in mortality rates, mortality rate ratios (MRRs), and causes of death among people experiencing homelessness (PEH) in Los Angeles County, California, by using annual point-in-time homeless counts and to compare findings to published longitudinal cohort studies of homeless mortality. Methods. We enumerated homeless deaths and determined causes by using 2015–2019 medical examiner‒coroner data matched to death certificate data. We estimated midyear homeless population denominators by averaging consecutive January point-in-time homeless counts. We used annual demographic surveys of PEH to estimate age- and gender-adjusted MRRs. We identified comparison studies through a literature review. Results. Mortality rates increased from 2015 to 2019. Drug overdose was the leading cause of death. Mortality was higher among White than among Black and Latino PEH. Compared with the general population, MRRs ranged from 2.8 (95% confidence interval [CI] = 2.7, 3.0) for all causes to 35.1 (95% CI = 31.9, 38.4) for drug overdose. Crude mortality rates and all-cause MRRs from comparison cohort studies were similar to those in the current study. Conclusions. These methods can be adapted by other urban jurisdictions seeking to better understand and reduce mortality in their homeless populations. (Am J Public Health. 2021;111(12):2212–2222. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2021.306502 )

“It's been a good time to reflect on…who isn't worth keeping around”: COVID-19, adolescent relationship maintenance and implications for health education

PurposeThis paper adds to the growing body of research examining the impacts of COVID-19 physical distancing measures on the everyday lives of young people. It draws on theories of “digital intimacies” and “relationship maintenance” to argue that young people’s reflections on COVID-19, physical distancing and online relationships expose larger gaps in sex, relationships and health education pedagogies.Design/methodology/approachFive semi-structured online focus groups were conducted with Canadian adolescents aged 16–19 probing their experiences of dating and platonic relationships during COVID-19. Narrative thematic analysis methods were used to develop themes outlining how physical distancing measures have affected young people’s relationship norms, expectations and values.FindingsCOVID-19 physical distancing measures and school closures appeared to create the conditions for some young people to productively reflect on the labor involved in the maintenance of their relationships in relation to considerations of proximity, reciprocity and distance. This labor was particularly articulated by female participants, many of whom expressed that life disruptions caused by COVID-19 catalyzed learning about their own relationship needs, desires and boundaries.Research limitations/implicationsResults from this research are not widely generalizable, as each participant had a unique experience with COVID-19 physical distancing measures, schooling and in-person contact. Due to anonymity measures implemented, participant narratives cannot be confidently associated with demographic surveys that hampered the ability to offer an intersectional analysis of participant experience.Originality/valueDiscussions of relationship maintenance and digital intimacies elucidate the limitations of health education’s tendency to construct adolescent relationships as existing along binaries of “healthy” and “unhealthy.” Health education might benefit from more meaningful integration of these concepts.

State-Level Variation in Abortion Stigma and Women and Men’s Abortion Underreporting in the USA

Abortion is highly stigmatized in most settings and severely underreported in demographic surveys. In the USA, variation in the context of abortion between states may influence respondents’ exposure to abortion stigma and create geographic variation in their likelihood of disclosing abortion in surveys. We used restricted geographic data from the 2006–2010 and 2011–2015 National Survey of Family Growth (NSFG) to investigate the association between abortion reporting in the USA and state-level structural factors that may influence respondents’ experience of abortion stigma. At the aggregate level, we compared the weighted number of abortions women reported in the NSFG to abortion counts derived from abortion provider censuses and test for variation in underreporting by state-level structural measures. At the individual level, we tested if state-level structural factors were associated with less reporting of abortion in the face-to-face (FTF) survey mode than the more confidential audio computer-assisted self-interviewing mode (ACASI) of the NSFG. We found that at the aggregate level, there were no differences in reporting by the state-level measures. At the individual level, about 40% of women and men who reported an abortion in their ACASI did not fully report in the FTF interview; however, there were few differences by any state-level factors. This study documents that abortion stigma plagues the quality of reporting in the USA for both women and men, regardless of which state they live in. Survey improvements to reduce abortion underreporting are needed.

Associations between caesarean births and breastfeeding in the Middle East: a scoping review

Background: There is a paucity of published studies on factors influencing feeding practices for infants and young children born via caesarean section. Aims: To assess whether the mode of childbirth affects early initiation and exclusive breastfeeding, and to identify factors that positively or negatively influence breastfeeding after caesarean births in selected countries in the Middle East. Methods: We conducted a scoping review of publicly available population-based surveys and peer-reviewed literature on the associations between birthing mode and breastfeeding published between 2000 and 2018. The search identified 33 demographic surveys and 16 studies containing information on the mode of childbirth and breastfeeding in selected countries in the Middle East listed in PubMed, Embase, and CINAHL databases. Searches were completed in March 2019. Results: Demographic surveys in 6 of 7 Middle Eastern countries demonstrated increased rates of births by caesarean section. All 3 countries with ≥ 3 datasets available demonstrated that early initiation of breastfeeding was less likely after caesarean section than after vaginal births. Eleven studies analysed differences in breastfeeding outcomes between caesarean section and vaginal births, and all of them identified significant differences between birthing modes. Five studies addressed factors influencing breastfeeding after caesarean births. Conclusion: Caesarean births are associated with a higher risk of delayed initiation of breastfeeding as well as early cessation of exclusive breastfeeding.

Lessons Learned in Abruptly Switching from In-Person to Remote Data Collection in Light of the COVID-19 Pandemic

In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, a research study that utilized in-person focus groups to collect qualitative data was abruptly shifted to videoconference focus groups to minimize risk to subjects. Protocol amendments consisted of using an online scheduling tool to arrange focus groups by Zoom, providing electronic versions of consent forms and demographic surveys, and highlighting security features of the videoconference software. Lessons were learned from making an abrupt switch from in-person to remote focus groups. Making this type of shift is not simply a matter of switching for researcher convenience but includes determining the appropriateness of an abrupt switch for the research population of interest, fully understanding videoconference software best practices, decreasing focus group sizes, and increasing the incentive for participation.

Woman's reproductive span

Objectives: The aim of this review is to map and explore published literature regarding (i) woman's reproductive span, (ii) the determinants of reproductive span, and (iii) the impact of reproductive span on population demographics and potential demand for assisted reproduction services.Methods: This scoping review will follow the Arksey and O’Malley framework and the Joanna Briggs Institute guidelines. We will search MEDLINE, CINAHL, Scopus, reports of demographic surveys and the global burden of disease reports. We will include published reports on woman's reproductive span. Two reviewers will complete all screening and data abstraction independently. Data will be extracted onto a data charting table to create a descriptive summary of the results.Discussion: This scoping review will provide a broad overview of the landscape of research in woman's reproductive span. The analysis will allow us to refine future research in this area.

Maternal Age at first and last birth

Objectives: The aim of this review is to map and explore published literature regarding (i) the contemporary trends of maternal age at first and last birth globally; (ii) the determinants of the of changes in age of first and last birth; (iii) the impact of changes of age at first and last birth on population demographics; and (iv) if the negative impact of changes in age at first and last birth can be mitigated by strategies to provide ART, prevent STIs and chronic diseases, or extend reproductive longevity.Methods: This scoping review will follow the Arksey and O’Malley framework and the Joanna Briggs Institute guidelines. We will search MEDLINE, CINAHL, Scopus, reports of demographic surveys and the global burden of disease reports. We will include published reports on maternal age at first and last birth. Two reviewers will complete all screening and data abstraction independently. Data will be extracted onto a data charting table to create a descriptive summary of the results.Discussion: This scoping review will provide a broad overview of current trends of maternal age at first and last birth. It will allow us to refine future research in this area.

The adjunctification of United Methodist part-time local pastors : a case study of part-time local pastors in the Mountain Sky Conference of the United Methodist Church

The issue this dissertation addresses is that the fastest growing population of clergy leaders in The United Methodist Church (UMC) are local pastors who are generally not seminary degreed, ordained, or guaranteed employment. And yet, the employment and effectiveness of these local pastors, primarily part-time, is not researched or understood in the context of leadership needs in the 21st century Church. To address this problem, the purpose of this qualitative case study is to understand the unique professional experiences and labor conditions of part-time local pastors (PTLP's) in isolated, rural, and declining communities within the Mountain Sky Conference (MSC) of The UMC. To gather data, artifact review, demographic surveys, and Zoom interviews were conducted with eight part-time local pastors from the Mountain Sky Conference. The data lead to the following themes: types and unique leadership of PTLP's, unique contextual labor conditions, and professional resources needed. These themes are useful for understanding that many of the professional and institutional benefit systems in which PTLP's operate are forged and framed for full-time, lifelong ordained clergy. They need to be adjusted for the unique types of PTLP's and their unique ministry settings.