Musculoskeletal pain,depression, and stress among Latino manual laborers in North Carolina

The jobs of Latino manual laborers place their mental and physical health at risk. This study evaluates the associations among musculoskeletal pain, mental health, and work organization in Latino manual laborers. Farmworkers and nonfarmworkers (n = 189) in North Carolina were interviewed for self-reported musculoskeletal pain, depressive symptoms, stress, work safety climate, and precarious job status. More nonfarmworkers than farmworkers had neck and shoulder pain, but they did not differ in other areas of musculoskeletal pain. Depressive symptoms had a significant association with neck and shoulder pain (p < .05). Precariousness had a significant association with back pain (p < .05). Farmworker participants had H-2A visas and were afforded some protection compared to nonfarmworker manual workers. Research is needed to improve policy that relieves pain and improves mental health for all Latino manual workers.     

Policy incongruence and public health professionals' dissonance: the case of immigrants and welfare policy

The steady increase in immigrants to the United States has fueled a critical analysis of the process of allocation of health and social benefits to these newcomers. The myriad of interests and values surrounding this issue precipitated the formulation and adoption of the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity (Welfare Reform) Act of 1996. This dramatic welfare reform impacts federal, state, and local agencies that are required to determine the eligibility of benefits and manage the attendant consequences to the public as well as members of this vulnerable group. Especially challenging are the decisions confronting public health professionals who struggle to reconcile the resulting policy, programmatic mandates, and compliance imperatives with prevailing public health principles and practice norms. This paper proposes a framework for understanding the incongruence between the provisions of the law as it pertains to legal and illegal immigrants and public health values. The impact of policy incongruence and professionals' dissonance on public health practice norms is explored with an explicit focus on public health outcomes and legal implications. The examination of tuberculosis as a health example reveals the policy conflicts and public health dilemmas. Finally, the paper elicits a range of options available to public professionals for responding to these legal mandates.     

流动人口孕妇社区管理研究

目的了解北京市流动人口孕产妇社区管理现状,建立适合流动人口特点的孕妇保健社区管理模式。方法在北京市朝阳区、海淀区、丰台区的城乡结合部5个社区,采用专题小组讨论的方法,了解现有社区孕产妇保健管理情况采用社区流动车,为686名流动人口孕妇提供免费卫生服务。结果研究地区妇幼保健人员数量不足,管理流动人口难度大,而社区计划生育部门网络健全。在社区相关部门的配合下,实施社区流动检查车服务形式,定期到社区为流动人口孕妇提供免费服务,受到群众的欢迎,取得良好效果。结论各级政府应为流动人口孕产妇保健给予政策上的支持和必要的资金、人力投入,建立社区流动人口管理协作机制,使流动车持续发展下去。     

Die Hitler in UNS (The Hitler in US): Evil and the Psychoanalytic Situation

In exploring egregious behavior on the part of psychoanalysts, this article attempts to redefine the traditionally ecclesiastical, moralistic notion of evil. Referencing the “Nazification” of the famed Berlin Institute, the vociferous “controversial discussions” at the British Psychoanalytic Society during the London Blitz, and more recent events involving psychologists condoning torture, the author considers evil as a universal potential in context, rather than a fixed social or psychiatric aberration. As such, the dynamic stance of participant observation is put forth as a safeguard against the analyst's loss of self-reflexivity.     

The relation between acculturation and alcohol consumption patterns among older Asian and Hispanic immigrants

This study examines the relation between acculturation and alcohol consumption patterns among older Asian and Hispanic immigrants in the state of California. Data were obtained from the 2009 California Health Interview Survey and included Asian (n?=?1264) and Hispanic (n?=?571) adults aged 60 and older who were born outside of the US. Outcome variables included presence of past year alcohol consumption, past year binge drinking, and number of binge drinking days. Acculturation was measured with items pertaining to English use and proficiency. Hierarchical multiple or logistic regression analyses were conducted separately for each racial/ethnic group and each dependent variable. Alcohol consumption was found in less than half of the sample for both Asians (43.2%) and Hispanics (39.2%). Binge drinking was found in 3.1% of Asians and 8.4% of Hispanics. Acculturation was significantly related to past year alcohol consumption for Hispanics, past year binge drinking for Asians, and binge drinking days for Asians, such that higher level of acculturation predicted a greater likelihood of alcohol consumption but decreased likelihood of binge drinking and fewer binge drinking days. The results indicate that acculturation may be related to alcohol consumption patterns for older immigrants. This suggests future needs to develop an in-depth understanding of the health behaviors of these immigrant elderly groups.