Education plays a particularly important role in explaining health outcomes in the Nordic countries. Our report aims to highlight knowledge gaps and describe the need for research to better understand the connections between education, health, and equality. The report School achievement and health development in the Nordic countries – Knowledge gaps and concerns about school-age children discusses a series of concerns regarding methodology, theoretical perspective, policy aspects, and ethical and political aspects. According to the report educational practice should be researched to uncover the mechanism behind gender-based and socio-economic inequalities in school achievement. This would include longitudinal studies over many years. The report states that school is a working environment for the children, teachers, and other school staff. Therefore, it would be important to close the knowledge gap on breaks, physical activity, and length of lessons in relation to school achievement and health development among school-age girls and boys.
School achievement has increasingly come into focus during the last decades. The overall aim of this report is to highlight the need for knowledge for promoting health and development among school-aged children in the Nordic countries. Learning in school and for life is a key element for future well-being and quality of life. The present analysis did not have the resources nor time to do a systematic review. Therefore, a more selective approach was taken based on previous reviews and partly working as a scoping review. The different sections of the report conclude with a list of knowledge gaps and concerns. The research methodology in the relevant disciplinary fields are diverse and is also affected by the paradigm war, that is, difference scientific approaches do not share basic assumptions, research procedures and analytical methods. Therefore, an introductory section deals with this challenge. What is needed in this field is scientific knowledge as well as practical knowledge and practical wisdom to guide the further development of the school system. The school systems in the Nordic countries are similar but also different. We can learn from each other both from successes and failures, which merits a brief overview of the Nordic school systems follows. The school for all has been a joint characteristic of the Nordic school system, but it has been challenges by the neo-liberal policies such as school choices and privatisation. School achievement is a major focus in this report. However, in order to do multi-country comparison, the development of the international large-scale assessments has been of crucial as a research infrastructure. The report gives some recent results from the 2018 PISA study. This study concerns mainly three different aspects of inequality in school achievements. (i) Gender differences in school achievement are a universal finding. (i) Gender differences in school achievement are a universal finding. Boys are falling behind girls. What do we know about this, what impact does it have and what can be done to make a school where each child can grow and reach their full potential? (ii) Socioeconomic differences in school achievement are among the findings in most countries, so also in the Nordic welfare states. This may seem paradoxical. (iii) Health development is also associated with school achievement. We have learnt from longitudinal studies the there is a reciprocal relationship between mental health and learning. The report describes a series of concern regarding methodology, theoretical perspective, policy aspects, ethical and political aspects. There is a need for scientific knowledge, practical knowledge, and practical wisdom to guide the further development of the Nordic school systems. This can be achieved by bridging different knowledge gaps through studies of different educational practice, interventions and measures; by using systematic reviews to summarize what already is known; by doing original comparative research; by using the potentials of the unique infrastructure and competence in registry-based research as well as the best available evaluative research designs and practice-based designs; and by increasing research collaboration between Nordic researchers in relevant fields such as educational science, cognitive neuroscience, developmental psychology (developmental science), sociology of education, child public health and policy science. Moreover, the research should be concerned with ethical and political issues of the selected approaches. Research to bridge knowledge gaps in five different regards is suggested: (1) Trends: How is the situation; (2) Consequences: How important; (3) Mechanisms: why; (4) Interventions: What can be done; and (5) Policy and implementation: What can be done on a national level? The following measures are suggested for supporting Nordic research in this field: (1) Collaboration grants for Nordic researchers that can pool data and resources for in-depth analysis of trends, mechanism, consequences, interventions, and policy/implementation. (2) Support to infrastructure for Nordic comparative research. (3) Research grants to researchers that plan, supported by systematic review of previous research, and conduct original research on issues like: · School for all in the Nordic countries – trends, challenges, and remedies in the neoliberal era · Mechanisms behind the socioeconomic, gender and health inequalities in school achievement · Controlled studies of measures taken for improving socioeconomic, gender and health equality in school achievement · Studies aiming at improving the working environment in schools including children, parents and school staff in research and development · Studies of physical and mental health, and school achievement: educational trajectory for children in the Nordic countries · Health promotion in schools in the Nordic Countries: studies of educational practice, programmes and whole-school-approach research school. (4) a research school in this field could be a measure that facilitate the training of next generation of researchers in the Nordic countries. This could be an important link between senior Nordic researcher that jointly manage the research school. ; Positive Mental Health among School-aged Children in the Nordic Countries
Aims: This study examines the compliance with the law against selling beer to under-aged persons in Sweden. It also analyses determinants of compliance and the importance of checking IDs. The paper also aims to reveal the strategies used by youths when purchasing beer. Methods & Data: The study is the result of a close collaboration between the Swedish Youth Temperance Movement (UNF) and researchers at Örebro University. UNF has been responsible for the purchase attempts, and the research team for the analyses. The data consists of 681 purchase attempts in seven cities in Sweden during 2003-2004. Results: Almost half of the purchase attempts made by under-aged persons (14-17 years old) resulted in successfully buying beer. The study reveals that the genders of the check-out clerk and the buyer are significant with regard to both selling/buying beer and asking for ID. The proportion of sales was significantly higher among girls than boys, both in total and when they were asked for ID first. Conclusions: The study shows that under-aged teenagers succeed in purchasing beer in Sweden despite the present legislation. Some succeed because of the tricks they use, and some because of the check-out clerk's negligence. The procedure used in the present study – letting under-aged persons attempt to purchase beer – resembles the situation for ordinary teenagers trying to buy beer under normal circumstances. ; Syfte: Denna studie undersöker följsamheten hos lagen som förbjuder försäljning av folköl till minderåriga personer. Den analyserar följsamhetens bestämningsfaktorer och vikten av att kontrollera legitimationer. Artikeln syftar också till att undersöka ungdomars strategier vid inköp av folköl. Metoder och data: Studien är resultatet av ett nära samarbete mellan Ungdomens nykterhetsförbund (UNF) och forskare vid Örebro universitet. UNF har ansvarat för provköpen och forskarteamet för analyserna. Data består av 681 provköp i sju svenska städer 2003-2004. Resultat: Nära hälften av alla provköp gjorda av minderåriga personer (14-17 år gamla) resulterade i att de fick köpa folköl. Studien visar att könen hos personalen i kassan och köparna har signifikant betydelse för såväl försäljning/köp och kontroll av legitimation. En signifikant högre andel av flickorna fick köpa folköl än bland pojkarna, både totalt och när de blev tillfrågade om legitimation. Sammanfattning: Studien visar att minderåriga tonåringar lyckas köpa folköl i Sverige trots den svenska lagstiftningen. Några lyckas på grund av de trick de använder sig av och några som följd av kassapersonalens nonchalans. Proceduren som använts i denna studie - att låta minderåriga genomföra provköp - är snarlik en typisk situation när ungdomar försöker köpa öl.
Unemployment and Downsizing -- Opening Address -- A Social Scientist for and in the Real World: An Introduction to the Address by Professor Marie Jahoda -- Unemployment and Mental Health: Hazards and Challenges of Psychology in the Community -- Unemployment and Health Care Utilization -- Unemployment and Social Networks among Young Persons in Sweden -- On Empowerment and Health Effects of Temporary Alternative Empolyment -- Empowerment, Learning and Social Action during Unemployment -- Repeated Downsizing: Attitudes and Well-being for Surviving Personnel in a Swedish Retail Company -- Flexibilization and Stress -- Work Life and Organizational Changes and How They are Perceived by the Employees -- Enclosure in Human Services: The Panopticon of Dentistry -- The Impact of Organizational Changes on the Psychological Contract and Attitudes Towards Work in Four Health Care Organizations -- Alternative Work Arrangements -- Telework in Perspective — New Challenges to Occupational Health and Safety -- The Relationship between Precarious Employment and Patterns of Occupational Violence -- New Working Time Arrangements, Health and Well-being -- Determinants of the Attitude to Work and Subjective Health -- Emotional Exhaustion Depersonalization and Health in Two Swedish Human Service Organizations -- Opportunities and Constraints in the Labour Market -- The Polarization of the Labour Market and the Exclusion of Vulnerable Groups -- The Quality of Work: The Work-Family Interface -- From School to Work in the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s for Early School Leavers -- Work Values and Early Work Socialization among Nurses and Engineers -- Occupational Hazards in the Informal Sector — A Global Perspective.
Zugriffsoptionen:
Die folgenden Links führen aus den jeweiligen lokalen Bibliotheken zum Volltext:
Think tanks are non-governmental institutions – intellectually, organizationally and financially autonomous of government, political parties and organized interests – that are set up with the aim of influencing policy. The Swedish think tank Tobaksfakta, as a nonprofit organization, was formed by Health Professionals against Tobacco in October 2010, and has a number of member organizations. It is a national independent player focusing on measures to reduce tobacco use. The goal is that Tobaksfakta contributes continuously to reducing tobacco use toward a society free of tobacco. A quality evaluation has been conducted by an external panel in five phases: (1) Planning and selection of approach, (2) Collection of data on Tobaksfakta, (3) Self-evaluations, (4) External assessment by a panel of independent experts, and (5) Measures and follow-up. As background to the evaluation, there is a short review of what a think tank is. Then, the scene for tobacco prevention in Sweden is set by giving data on tobacco consumption, an overall Swedish map of tobacco prevention, and a presentation of some controversial issues. The WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control sets the global agenda and also the framework for the activities of Tobaksfakta. A SWOT analysis provides an overall assessment of Tobaksfakta. Its strengths include competence, having an effective organization and member organizations, and being a strong provider of information and opinion leaders. Weaknesses include limited economic and human resources, low involvement in activities by member organizations, too broad a focus, and a limited impact on decision-making. Threats include poor economic resources, the perception that tobacco is no longer an issue, and weakness in national tobacco prevention efforts. Among the opportunities available is a new three-year business plan, strengthening of communicative work, networking and extended cooperation, the Tobacco End Game, and new efforts at national and international levels. The evaluation considered organizational structure and resources, goal structure and work processes (monitoring, investigations, knowledge materials, website, press activities, twitter and social media, dissemination of knowledge, and European and international tobacco prevention work). The panel assessed the information and communication work of Tobaksfakta as of high quality, relevant, and timely. The Tobacco Industry Project has functioned as an important vehicle for the overall efforts made by Tobaksfakta The project has performed impressive work in relation to relatively limited economic resources. Although time has run out for the project, the need for its activities will continue for so long as the activities pursued by the tobacco industry continue. Therefore, it is recommended that Tobaksfakta continues to act as a watchdog on the tobacco industry. The Tobacco End Game is a challenging and future-oriented project that has a great potential. Tobaksfakta wants a Swedish government that, after the 2014 elections, reaches a decision on a plan to phase out smoking by 2025. The idea is that such a decision shall be achieved by advocacy at all levels of society. Further development of the Tobacco End Game is recommended as a key developmental effort. Overall assessments and recommendations are: Tobaksfakta is a classic think tank but needs independent financing. It shall continue with intellectual argument not covert lobbying. Tobaksfakta is one of the key actors on the landscape of tobacco prevention. Focusing on structural issues gives added value. The think tank is an efficient and professional organization. Tobaksfakta has an international role to play.
Objectives: Social Autopsy (SA) is an innovative strategy where a trained facilitator leads community groups through a structured, standardised analysis of the physical, environmental, cultural and social factors contributing to a serious, non-fatal health event or death. The discussion stimulated by the formal process of SA determines the causes and suggests preventative measures that are appropriate and achievable in the community. Here we explored individual experiences of SA, including acceptance and participant learning, and its effect on rural communities in Bangladesh. The present study had explored the experiences gained while undertaking SA of maternal and neonatal deaths and stillbirths in rural Bangladesh. Design: Qualitative assessment of documents, observations, focus group discussions, group discussions and in-depth interviews by content and thematic analyses. Results: Each community's maternal and neonatal death was a unique, sad story. SA undertaken by government field-level health workers were well accepted by rural communities. SA had the capability to explore the social reasons behind the medical cause of the death without apportioning blame to any individual or group. SA was a useful instrument to raise awareness and encourage community responses to errors within the society that contributed to the death. People participating in SA showed commitment to future preventative measures and devised their own solutions for the future prevention of maternal and neonatal deaths. Conclusions: SA highlights societal errors and promotes discussion around maternal or newborn death. SA is an effective means to deliver important preventative messages and to sensitise the community to death issues. Importantly, the community itself is enabled to devise future strategies to avert future maternal and neonatal deaths in Bangladesh. ; Funding Agencies: UNICEF, Bangladesh via Canadian CIDA (DFATD) Department for International Development (DFID) European Commission (EC)
Introduction: Maternal and neonatal death review (MNDR) introduced in Bangladesh and initially piloted in a district during 2010. MNDR is able to capture each of the maternal, neonatal deaths and stillbirths from the community and government facilities (hospitals). This study aimed to estimate the cost required to implement MNDR in a district of Bangladesh during 2010-2012. Materials and methods: MNDR was implemented in Thakurgaon district in 2010 and later gradually extended until 2015. MNDR implementation framework, guidelines, tools and manual were developed at the national level with national level stakeholders including government health and family planning staff at different cadre for piloting at Thakurgaon. Programme implementation costs were calculated by year of costing and costing as per component of MNDR in 2013. The purchasing power parity conversion rate was 1 $INT = 24.46 BDT, as of 31st Dec 2012. Results: Overall programme implementation costs required to run MNDR were 109,02,754 BDT (445,738 $INT $INT) in the first year (2010). In the following years cost reduced to 8,208,995 BDT (335,609 $INT, during 2011) and 6,622,166 BDT (270,735 $INT, during 2012). The average cost per activity required was 3070 BDT in 2010, 1887 BDT and 2207 BDT required in 2011 and 2012 respectively. Each death notification cost 4.09 $INT, verbal autopsy cost 8.18 $INT, and social autopsy cost 16.35 $INT. Facility death notification cost 2.04 $INT and facility death review meetings cost 20.44 $INT. One death saved by MNDR costs 53,654 BDT (2193 $INT).Conclusions: Programmatic implementation cost of conducting MPDR give an idea on how much cost will be required to run a death review system for a low income country settings using government health system.
Introduction: Maternal and neonatal death review (MNDR) introduced in Bangladesh and initially piloted in a district during 2010. MNDR is able to capture each of the maternal, neonatal deaths and stillbirths from the community and government facilities (hospitals). This study aimed to estimate the cost required to implement MNDR in a district of Bangladesh during 2010-2012. Materials and Methods: MNDR was implemented in Thakurgaon district in 2010 and later gradually extended until 2015. MNDR implementation framework, guidelines, tools and manual were developed at the national level with national level stakeholders including government health and family planning staff at different cadre for piloting at Thakurgaon. Programme implementation costs were calculated by year of costing and costing as per component of MNDR in 2013. The purchasing power parity conversion rate was 1 $INT = 24.46 BDT, as of 31st Dec 2012. Results: Overall programme implementation costs required to run MNDR were 109,02,754 BDT (445,738 $INT $INT) in the first year (2010). In the following years cost reduced to 8,208,995 BDT (335,609 $INT, during 2011) and 6,622,166 BDT (270,735 $INT, during 2012). The average cost per activity required was 3070 BDT in 2010, 1887 BDT and 2207 BDT required in 2011 and 2012 respectively. Each death notification cost 4.09 $INT, verbal autopsy cost 8.18 $INT, and social autopsy cost 16.35 $INT. Facility death notification cost 2.04 $INT and facility death review meetings cost 20.44 $INT. One death saved by MNDR costs 53,654 BDT (2193 $INT). Conclusions: Programmatic implementation cost of conducting MPDR give an idea on how much cost will be required to run a death review system for a low income country settings using government health system. ; Funding Agencies: UNICEF, Bangladesh via Canadian CIDA (DFATD) Department for International Development (DFID) European Commission (EC)
Introduction: Verbal autopsy in maternal and neonatal deaths is commonly used in developing countries to understand the medical and social causes of death in the community. Bangladesh first undertook a community verbal autopsy program in 2010. This was implemented under the maternal and neonatal death review (MNDR) system. Objectives: To know the process of implementation of community verbal autopsy, its acceptability and effect in maternal and neonatal health, Bangladesh. Methods: A qualitative study was performed In two districts of Bangladesh in 2011. A review of documents, observations, focus group discussions (FGDs) and in-depth interviews (IDIs) were conducted with health care providers from different systems. Data were analysed using a thematic approach Results: Community verbal autopsy was developed in Bangladesh using existing available tools and guidelines. First line field supervisors from health and family planning departments conducted verbal autopsies at the deceased's home. It has been adopted within the government health system and is able to identify medical and social causes, including delays within the community that are the major contributing factors of maternal and neonatal deaths. Verbal autopsy findings are shared at the Upazila level (sub-district) and these influence the development and implementation of local action plans. Recall bias and hard to reach areas are still challenges to be overcome in the conduction of verbal autopsies. Conclusions: The use of community verbal autopsy to identify medical and social causes of maternal and neonatal deaths is possible in an encouraging country context. The Government health system can comfortably conduct autopsies within the community. The findings of autopsy can be an effective tool and can be used by the local health and family planning managers to take the initiative at local level to improve health status of the mother and newborn.
