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Objective To assess changes in the use of essential maternal and child health services in Konobo, Liberia, after implementation of an enhanced community health worker (CHW) programme. Methods The Liberian Ministry of Health partnered with Last Mile Health, a nongovernmental organization, to implement a pilot CHW programme with enhanced recruitment, training, supervision and compensation. To assess changes in maternal and child health-care use, we conducted repeated cross-sectional cluster surveys before (2012) and after (2015) programme Implementation. Findings Between 2012 and 2015, 54 CHWs, seven peer supervisors and three clinical supervisors were trained to serve a population of 12 127 people in 44 communities. The regression-adjusted percentage of children receiving care from formal care providers increased by 60.1 (95% confidence interval, CI: 51.6 to 68.7) percentage points for diarrhoea, by 30.6 (95% CI: 20.5 to 40.7) for fever and by 51.2 (95% CI: 37.9 to 64.5) for acute respiratory infection. Facility-based delivery increased by 28.2 points (95% CI: 20.3 to 36.1). Facility-based delivery and formal sector care for acute respiratory infection and diarrhoea Increased more in agricultural than gold-mining communities. Receipt of one-or-more antenatal care sessions at a health facility and postnatal care within 24 hours of delivery did not change significantly. Conclusion We identified significant increases in uptake of child and maternal health-care services from formal providers during the pilot CHW programme in remote rural Liberia. Clinic-based services, such as postnatal care, and services in specific settings, such as mining areas, require additional interventions to achieve optimal outcomes. Objectif Evaluer les changements dans le recours aux services essentiels de sante maternelle et infantile a Konobo, au Liberia, apres la mise en oeuvre d'un programme de perfectionnement des agents de sante communautaires. Methodes Le ministere de la Sante liberien s'est associe avec Last Mile Health, une organisation non gouvernementale, afin de mettre en oeuvre un programme pilote destine a ameliorer le recrutement, la formation, l'encadrement et la remuneration des agents de sante communautaires. Pour evaluer les changements au niveau des soins de sante maternelle et infantile, nous avons realise plusieurs sondages transversaux par grappes avant (2012) et apres (2015) la mise en oeuvre du programme. Resultats Entre 2012 et 2015, 54 agents de sante communautaires, sept collegues superviseurs et trois superviseurs cliniques ont ete formes pour prendre en charge une population de 12127 personnes dans 44 communautes. Le pourcentage corrige par regression d'enfants recevant des soins de la part de prestataires de soins officiels a augmente de 60,1 (intervalle de confiance (IC) de 95%: 51,6 a 68,7) points de pourcentage pour la diarrhee, de 30,6 (IC 95%: 20,5 a 40,7) pour la fievre et de 51,2 (IC 95%: 37,9 a 64,5) pour les infections aigues des voies respiratoires. Les accouchements en maternite ont augmente de 28,2 points (IC 95%: 20,3 a 36,1). Les accouchements en maternite et la prise en charge dans le secteur formel des infections aigues des voies respiratoires et des cas de diarrhee ont davantage augmente dans les communautes agricoles que dans celles vivant de l'extraction de l'or. Nous n'avons pas observe de changements significatifs dans le fait de beneficier d'une ou plusieurs seances de soins prenataux dans une structure de soins ou de soins post-partum dans les 24 heures suivant l'accouchement. Conclusion Nous avons observe une augmentation significative de la prestation de services de sante maternelle et infantile par des prestataires officiels lors du programme pilote destine aux agents de sante communautaires dans les regions rurales isolees du Liberia. Des interventions supplementaires sont necessaires pour obtenir des resultats optimaux vis-a-vis de la prestation de services cliniques, comme les soins post-partum, et de services dans des zones specifiques, comme les regions minieres. Objetivo Evaluar los cambios en el uso de servicios de salud materna e infantil basicos en Konobo, Liberia, tras la implementacion de un programa mejorado de trabajadores comunitarios de salud (CHW, por sus siglas en ingles). Metodos El Ministerio de Salud de Liberia se asocio con Last Mile Health, una organizacion no gubernamental, para implementar un programa piloto de CHW con una mejora en la contratacion, formacion, supervision y compensacion. Para evaluar los cambios en el uso de la atencion sanitaria materna e infantil, se realizaron repetidas encuestas transversales de conglomerados antes (2012) y despues (2015) de la implementacion del programa. Resultados Entre 2012 y 2015, 54 CHW, 7 supervisores homologos y 3 supervisores clinicos recibieron formacion para trabajar para una poblacion de 12 127 personas en 44 comunidades. El porcentaje ajustado a la regresion de ninos que recibieron atencion de profesionales sanitarios formales aumento un 60,1% (intervalo de confianza (IC) del 95%: 51,6 a 68,7) para la diarrea, un 30,6% (IC del 95%: 20,5 a 40,7) para la fiebre y un 51,2% (IC del 95%: 37,9 a 64,5) para la Infeccion respiratoria aguda. El suministro en centros aumento un 28,2% (IC del 95%: 20,3 a 36,1). El suministro en centros y la atencion del sector formal para la Infeccion respiratoria aguda y la diarrea aumentaron mas en comunidades agricolas que en las de minas de oro. La recepcion de una o mas sesiones de atencion prenatal en un centro sanitario y de atencion posparto a las 24 horas del parto no experimento cambios importantes. Conclusion Se identificaron aumentos significativos en la aceptacion de los servidos de atencion sanitaria materna e infantil de profesionales formales durante la version piloto del programa de CHW en la Liberia rural remota. Los servicios clinicos, como la atencion posparto y los servicios en lugares concretos, como zonas mineras, requieren intervenciones adicionales para lograr unos resultados optimos., Introduction Over 95% of global maternal and child deaths occur in 75 low-and middle-income countries and remote populations within these countries often bear the greatest burden. (1,2) Many countries are [...]

After moving to the Jane Addams College of Social Work at the University of Illinois at Chicago, I have reflected ever more deeply on the innovative work of Jane Addams. [...]

High-frequency oscillatory ventilation may not be superior to traditional ventilation for treating chronic lung disease in premature babies, according to a study of 797 premature babies. High-frequency oscillatory ventilators produce lower pressure than traditional ventilators.

A study of Mexican immigrant mothers investigates their parental values and their attitudes towards childrearing. The study of 15 mothers, most of whom had a low educational attainment, shows that many elements of their schemas are found in other cultures and contrast with current professional models. Generally, children were seen as inactive learners whose ability to understand depended upon parental instruction and developed slowly over a number of years.

An in vitro study to evaluate expression of urokinase receptor (uPAR) by MS-1 cells and to determine how uPAR expression influences the growth of malignant mesothelioma shows that uPA acts as an autocrine mitogen for malignant mesothelioma cells. Stimulation of subconfluent MS-1 cells by recombinant uPA caused concentration-dependent incorporation of (3H)thymidine. This indicates that the malignant mesothelioma cells localize pericellular proteolysis and regulate tumor cell proliferation.

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The various centers of adoption at the international level, through planning and cooperation, can help in establishing foster care programs in Romania. These programs in Romania can be made successful with financial aid from international agencies, educating the Romanians about the importance of adoption, training to choose the families, supervising the finance allotted to determine the welfare of the children and adjusting the monthly allowance provided for care of the adopted in relation to the living standards of Romania.

The process, whereby a graduate school of social work made its program international, by using Healy's criteria is discussed. The development of the emphasis in International Social Work is described.

Inherited microorganisms that disturb the reproduction of their host have been characterized from a number of host taxa. To understand the general principles underlying the genetic and mechanistic basis of interactions, study of different agents in model host species is required. To this end, the nature and genetics of the maternally inherited sex-ratio trait of Drosophila bifasciata were investigated. Successful curing of affected lines with antibiotics demonstrated this trait was associated with the presence of a bacterium, and molecular systematic analysis demonstrated an association between the presence of the trait and infection with an A group Wolbachia. The penetrance and heritability of the trait did not vary with maternal age. Exposure to elevated temperatures did reduce trait penetrance but did not affect heritability. Examination of the effect of temperature on bacterial density in eggs revealed a decrease in bacterial density following exposure of the parent to elevated temperature, consistent with the hypothesis that male killing in D. bifasciata requires a threshold density of Wolbachia within eggs. The male offspring produced following exposure to elevated temperatures were infected with Wolbachia on emergence as adults. Crossing studies demonstrated a weak cytoplasmic incompatibility phenotype exhibited by Wolbachia in these males. The results are discussed with respect to the incidence of male killing within the clade Wolbachia, the general nature of Wolbachia-host interactions, and the prospects for using this association to investigate the mechanism of male killing.

This article discusses distance learning techniques used to operationalize the concept of 'globalization from below' in a social work methods course. In the E-Mail Partnership Project, one of the major [...]

This article reports on qualitative interviews with 25 women who were former residents of an emergency shelter. The interviews used a personal narrative approach to place the onset of homelessness within the context of the women's lives. They revealed that the onset of homelessness was different for working and nonworking women and that the women gained new perspectives on their problems from living in a shelter. They viewed homelessness as part of the process of solving worse problems.