Culture and the social context of health inequalities

There has been a great deal of interest and debate recently concerning the linkages between inequality and health cross-nationally. Exposures to social and health inequalities likely vary as a consequence of different cultural contexts. It is important to guide research by a theoretical perspective that includes cultural and social contexts cross-nationally. If inequality affects health only under specific cultural conditions, this could explain why some of the literature that compares different societies finds no evidence of a relationship between inequality and health in certain countries. A theoretical framework is presented that combines sociological theory with constructs from cultural psychology in order to identify pathways that might lead from cultural dimensions to health inequalities. Three analyses are carried out. The first analysis explores whether there is a relationship between cultural dimensions at the societal level and self-rated health at the individual level. The findings suggest that different cultural norms at the societal level can produce both social and health inequalities, but the effects on health may differ depending on the socio-cultural context. The second analysis tests the hypothesis that health is affected by the density of social networks in a society, levels of societal trust, and inequality. The results suggest that commonly used measures of social cohesion and inequality may have both contextual and compositional effects on health in a large number of countries, and that societal measures of social cohesion and inequality interact with individual measures of social participation, trust, and income, moderating their effects on health. The third analysis explores whether value systems associated with vertical individualist societies may lead to health disparities because of their stigmatizing effects. I test the hypothesis that, within vertical individualist societies, subjective well-being will be affected by a social context where competition and the Protestant work ethic are valued, mediated by inequality. The hypothesis was not supported by the available cross-national data, most likely because of inadequate measures, missing data, and the small sample of vertical individualist countries. The overall findings demonstrate that cultural differences are important contextual factors that should not be overlooked when examining the causes of health inequalities. ^

The response of Texas public health agencies and workers to the emergency preparedness initiatives after 9/11

The purpose of this research was to better understand the impact of the terrorist attacks in 2001 on public health, particularly for Texas public health. This study employed mixed methods to examine changes to public health culture within Texas local public health agencies, important attitudes of public health workers toward responding to a disaster, and the funding policies that might ensure our investment in public health emergency preparedness is protected. ^ A qualitative analysis of interviews conducted with a large sample of public health officials in Texas found that all the constituent parts of a peculiar culture for public health preparedness existed that spanned the state's local health departments regardless of size, or funding level. The new preparedness culture in Texas had the hallmarks necessary for a robust public health preparedness and emergency response system. ^ The willingness of public health workers, necessary to make these kinds of changes and mount a disaster response was examined in one of Texas' most experienced disaster response teams—the public health workers for the City of Houston. A hypothesized latent variable model showed that willingness mediated all other factors in the model (self-efficacy, knowledge, barriers, and risk perception) for self-reported likelihood of reporting to work for a disaster. The RMSEA for the final model was 0.042 with a confidence interval of 0.036—0.049 and the chi-squared difference test was P=0.08, indicating a well-fitted model that suggests willingness is an important factor for consideration by preparedness planners and researchers alike. ^ Finally, with disasters on the rise and federal funding for preparedness dwindling, a review of states' policies for the distribution of these funds and their advantages and disadvantages were examined through a review of current literature and public documents, and a survey of state-level public health officials, emergency management professionals and researchers. Although the base plus per-capita method is the most common, it is not necessarily perceived to be the most effective. No clear "optimal" method emerged from the study, but recommendations for a strategic combination of three methods were made that has the potential to maximize the benefits of each method, while minimizing the weaknesses.^

The Darién Region, Connecting Road of the Americas, among the expressions of hydric wealth, land vocation and the extractive exploration on its violated forms

Colombia has oceanic waters, catchment areas, like lakes, cienagas and swamps, water flows, like rivers, gorges and streams, small rivers and groundwater. The oceanic waters are the Caribbean Sea-1600 km and the Pacific Ocean-1300 km that comprise the north and west continental territory, respectively. Actually the Region of Darién, geographically bounded by the Carribean Sea to the north is becoming to be focused by studies due to use conflicts and disputes about water and a forest reserve on its territories. Considering its location, strategic at northwestern Colombia, frontier region with Central America, several dynamics are imposed. One of them is the implantation of a road system entitled Connecting Road of the Americas. This fact means the construction of an infra-structure that will cross a special zone formed by swamps and jungle known as The Darién Gap. Evidences of such interests are revealed by projects like the constructions of Turbo's Port in the Atlantic Ocean, Department of Antioquia and Tribugá's Port in the Pacific Ocean, Department of Choco, the mountain road and the coastal conection Colombia-Venezuela attending to the main intentions of the central region of the department (Metropolitan Area of Aburrá Valley-AMVA). Human settlements form a productive system, based on small and medium familiar agriculture's production, corresponding to the western portion and piedmont of Abibe's mountain at its antioquian portion, alluvial plan that forms the rivers on this area, the littoral zone that delimits the Carribean Sea, the Darién and Baudó Mountains and the gulf that receives, among other waters, the ones from Atrato and León, as well as the exodus process constitutes a forced exit resulting from actions of several armed groups. It can be identified intense historical, cultural, political and environmental relations, specially the last one associated with strategic ecosystems that are fundamental for the hydric regulation of the region, as well as food safety of the local inhabitants. Results from two researches (UPB, 2007 y 2010) reveals this quick transformation in the spatial re-configuration, demographical and economical indicators and the exacerbated fight for resources, damaging the extractive vocation in the Region. Path to commerce of illegalities (drugs, guns) and to implementation of the agroindustrial project for biofuel production, cooperation program that involves Venezuela, Brazil and Colombia. Appropriation modes allow the existence of strategies since global interests revealing a development logic that privileges the conception of an artificialized nature. Since the smallest portion of rural areas, specific modes of resources exploration are linked to imposed interests of transnational corporations. Disparate consequences are going deeper evidenced by social, technical and nature transformations, envisioning risks for the habitability's condition

Mitología y magia óptica: sobre la relación entre retraro, espejo y escritura en la poesía de Góngora

Cuando en el contexto de la magia artificialis barroca se apela a modelos míticos para describir y explicar los fenómenos ópticos, esta referencia al mito se integra esencialmente al horizonte histórico-cultural de la emergencia de complejos dispositivos de imágenes ópticas, artísticas, técnicas y científicas. Esto se manifiesta principalmente en la continuidad de tradiciones más antiguas pertenecientes a la magia de la imagen, en las que la idea de la 'vivificación' o 'animación' de imágenes se vincula en múltiples casos con las figuras míticas de los demiurgos-artistas de Prometeo y Pigmalión.

Mitología y magia óptica: sobre la relación entre retraro, espejo y escritura en la poesía de Góngora

Cuando en el contexto de la magia artificialis barroca se apela a modelos míticos para describir y explicar los fenómenos ópticos, esta referencia al mito se integra esencialmente al horizonte histórico-cultural de la emergencia de complejos dispositivos de imágenes ópticas, artísticas, técnicas y científicas. Esto se manifiesta principalmente en la continuidad de tradiciones más antiguas pertenecientes a la magia de la imagen, en las que la idea de la 'vivificación' o 'animación' de imágenes se vincula en múltiples casos con las figuras míticas de los demiurgos-artistas de Prometeo y Pigmalión.

The Darién Region, Connecting Road of the Americas, among the expressions of hydric wealth, land vocation and the extractive exploration on its violated forms

Colombia has oceanic waters, catchment areas, like lakes, cienagas and swamps, water flows, like rivers, gorges and streams, small rivers and groundwater. The oceanic waters are the Caribbean Sea-1600 km and the Pacific Ocean-1300 km that comprise the north and west continental territory, respectively. Actually the Region of Darién, geographically bounded by the Carribean Sea to the north is becoming to be focused by studies due to use conflicts and disputes about water and a forest reserve on its territories. Considering its location, strategic at northwestern Colombia, frontier region with Central America, several dynamics are imposed. One of them is the implantation of a road system entitled Connecting Road of the Americas. This fact means the construction of an infra-structure that will cross a special zone formed by swamps and jungle known as The Darién Gap. Evidences of such interests are revealed by projects like the constructions of Turbo's Port in the Atlantic Ocean, Department of Antioquia and Tribugá's Port in the Pacific Ocean, Department of Choco, the mountain road and the coastal conection Colombia-Venezuela attending to the main intentions of the central region of the department (Metropolitan Area of Aburrá Valley-AMVA). Human settlements form a productive system, based on small and medium familiar agriculture's production, corresponding to the western portion and piedmont of Abibe's mountain at its antioquian portion, alluvial plan that forms the rivers on this area, the littoral zone that delimits the Carribean Sea, the Darién and Baudó Mountains and the gulf that receives, among other waters, the ones from Atrato and León, as well as the exodus process constitutes a forced exit resulting from actions of several armed groups. It can be identified intense historical, cultural, political and environmental relations, specially the last one associated with strategic ecosystems that are fundamental for the hydric regulation of the region, as well as food safety of the local inhabitants. Results from two researches (UPB, 2007 y 2010) reveals this quick transformation in the spatial re-configuration, demographical and economical indicators and the exacerbated fight for resources, damaging the extractive vocation in the Region. Path to commerce of illegalities (drugs, guns) and to implementation of the agroindustrial project for biofuel production, cooperation program that involves Venezuela, Brazil and Colombia. Appropriation modes allow the existence of strategies since global interests revealing a development logic that privileges the conception of an artificialized nature. Since the smallest portion of rural areas, specific modes of resources exploration are linked to imposed interests of transnational corporations. Disparate consequences are going deeper evidenced by social, technical and nature transformations, envisioning risks for the habitability's condition

The Darién Region, Connecting Road of the Americas, among the expressions of hydric wealth, land vocation and the extractive exploration on its violated forms

Colombia has oceanic waters, catchment areas, like lakes, cienagas and swamps, water flows, like rivers, gorges and streams, small rivers and groundwater. The oceanic waters are the Caribbean Sea-1600 km and the Pacific Ocean-1300 km that comprise the north and west continental territory, respectively. Actually the Region of Darién, geographically bounded by the Carribean Sea to the north is becoming to be focused by studies due to use conflicts and disputes about water and a forest reserve on its territories. Considering its location, strategic at northwestern Colombia, frontier region with Central America, several dynamics are imposed. One of them is the implantation of a road system entitled Connecting Road of the Americas. This fact means the construction of an infra-structure that will cross a special zone formed by swamps and jungle known as The Darién Gap. Evidences of such interests are revealed by projects like the constructions of Turbo's Port in the Atlantic Ocean, Department of Antioquia and Tribugá's Port in the Pacific Ocean, Department of Choco, the mountain road and the coastal conection Colombia-Venezuela attending to the main intentions of the central region of the department (Metropolitan Area of Aburrá Valley-AMVA). Human settlements form a productive system, based on small and medium familiar agriculture's production, corresponding to the western portion and piedmont of Abibe's mountain at its antioquian portion, alluvial plan that forms the rivers on this area, the littoral zone that delimits the Carribean Sea, the Darién and Baudó Mountains and the gulf that receives, among other waters, the ones from Atrato and León, as well as the exodus process constitutes a forced exit resulting from actions of several armed groups. It can be identified intense historical, cultural, political and environmental relations, specially the last one associated with strategic ecosystems that are fundamental for the hydric regulation of the region, as well as food safety of the local inhabitants. Results from two researches (UPB, 2007 y 2010) reveals this quick transformation in the spatial re-configuration, demographical and economical indicators and the exacerbated fight for resources, damaging the extractive vocation in the Region. Path to commerce of illegalities (drugs, guns) and to implementation of the agroindustrial project for biofuel production, cooperation program that involves Venezuela, Brazil and Colombia. Appropriation modes allow the existence of strategies since global interests revealing a development logic that privileges the conception of an artificialized nature. Since the smallest portion of rural areas, specific modes of resources exploration are linked to imposed interests of transnational corporations. Disparate consequences are going deeper evidenced by social, technical and nature transformations, envisioning risks for the habitability's condition

Mitología y magia óptica: sobre la relación entre retraro, espejo y escritura en la poesía de Góngora

Cuando en el contexto de la magia artificialis barroca se apela a modelos míticos para describir y explicar los fenómenos ópticos, esta referencia al mito se integra esencialmente al horizonte histórico-cultural de la emergencia de complejos dispositivos de imágenes ópticas, artísticas, técnicas y científicas. Esto se manifiesta principalmente en la continuidad de tradiciones más antiguas pertenecientes a la magia de la imagen, en las que la idea de la 'vivificación' o 'animación' de imágenes se vincula en múltiples casos con las figuras míticas de los demiurgos-artistas de Prometeo y Pigmalión.

Planning model for Peruvian university system

This paper arises from observing the effect that the education policy has had on the European Higher Education Area that promotes the primary objective of this research: the preparation of a planning model that contributes, based on the European experience, the basic elements for the quality of higher education in Peru. To appraise the timeliness and usefulness of the aforementioned model, the scope of the Spanish model is selected and specifically adapted to the Peruvian model, which can be considered a testing laboratory due to their historical, cultural and social similarities and in which the model offers a response to the society's need for quality education.

Na contramão do marketing político: as eleições municipais de Taubaté-SP, em 2004

Este estudo trata da investigação das estratégias de propaganda política utilizadas nos programas de TV de Roberto Peixoto e de Antônio Mário Mattos Ortiz, que concorreram às eleições para prefeito do município de Taubaté-SP, no ano de 2004. O objetivo central da pesquisa é entender a interferência dos modelos globais da propaganda política de TV no contexto local, em uma época em que se tornou comum a contratação de agências de publicidade de renome para a realização de campanhas eleitorais em cidades do interior. Utilizou-se, como metodologia, pesquisas histórica, documental e bibliográfica, além de análise de conteúdo dos programas de TV de ambos os candidatos e entrevistas semi-estruturadas com políticos e profissionais da área de marketing político. Dentre as principais contribuições, verificou-se que a vitória nas urnas no contexto local deve-se mais ao carisma de determinados líderes políticos, bem como aos aspectos históricos, culturais e sociológicos da localidade em questão do que à mágica anunciada pelo mercado publicitário quanto às estratégias globais da propaganda política na televisão.

Acampamento e assentamento rural como contexto de cuidado e educação compartilhados de crianças

Esta pesquisa se insere no campo da Psicologia Cultural do Desenvolvimento Humano e tem como objetivo investigar o compartilhamento da educação e do cuidado de crianças pequenas (1 a 5 anos) em um assentamento e um acampamento rural. Consideramos como compartilhamento da educação a participação de um grupo de pessoas, adultos ou crianças, nos momentos cotidianos da criança. A hipótese inicial da investigação estava relacionada a uma aparente coletivização da educação no acampamento e uma individualização no assentamento, determinados, sobretudo, pelas práticas culturais de cada contexto. Participaram da investigação 10 crianças (5 moradoras de um acampamento rural e 5 de um assentamento rural). A metodologia consistiu em observação participante com a imersão da pesquisadora por uma média de 6 dias no cotidiano familiar e comunitário de cada criança, com anotação em diário de campo das atividades, parceiros e cenários de compartilhamento do cuidado e da educação da criança. Os resultados apontam para: um intenso compartilhamento no grupo de vizinhança no acampamento e no grupo de família extensa no assentamento; a importância do cuidado e educação exercido entre as crianças, especialmente em situações de brincadeira; o histórico de migração como condição relacionada à maior busca pelo compartilhamento; a mulher como principal cuidadora, aspecto intimamente relacionado ao trabalho doméstico e na agricultura.O trabalho propicia reflexões acerca da diversidade dos modos de vida das crianças nestes contextos, sendo que há potencialidades educacionais ali construídas, fruto de uma riqueza cultural latente. Aponta ainda para considerações acerca das políticas públicas e garantia de direitos às crianças.

A integralidade do cuidado na Estratégia Saúde da Família - um aporte para uma anamnese ampliada

A Estratégia Saúde da Família (ESF) nem sempre contempla a integralidade, apesar deste ser um princípio estruturante do Sistema Único de Saúde (SUS), nas definições da Organização Mundial de Saúde (OMS) e da legislação brasileira que ampliam o conceito de saúde, atribuindo ao processo saúde/doença as influências das determinações sociais. As profissões da saúde ainda funcionam com abordagem reducionista. Infelizmente, conceitos, definições e legislação não são suficientes para conscientizar e tão pouco transformar as práticas de saúde. Esse trabalho propõe a elaboração de um questionário anamnetico ampliado focada em pacientes poliqueixosos, baseada na teoria de Fernando González Rey o que significa trabalhar com o enfoque histórico-cultural e subjetividade, portanto mais humanizado, a fim de experimentar outros modos de intervir no processo saúde/doença e romper sua abordagem fragmentada positivista visando contribuir para uma melhora na relação profissional/usuário na ESF. Para testar a efetividade do questionário, foi realizado um piloto que indicou ser importante para se alcançar os objetivos esperados, a necessidade da capacitação da equipe e a alteração nos processos de trabalho encontrados atualmente na ESF.