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Biomedical subjects

G A Bechtel

Publications and source records attributed to G A Bechtel.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2000

Infant death rates and animal-shed delivery in remote rural areas of Nepal.

This article outlines a community-based retrospective study in a remote area of Nepal and describes local birth practices and their impact on infant mortality. Data collection was carried out in two steps, a household survey from September to October 1996 and a qualitative research phase. Data collected include socio-economic background, reproductive history, birth practices and child survival. Among 3007 live-born children, 660 (22%) died before their first birthday. In keeping with local customs, approximately half of the children were delivered in an animal shed and the other half in the home. Children born in an animal shed were at significantly higher risk of dying than were those born in the home even after adjusting for socio-economic status and biological variables. The association was stronger in the neonatal period (OR = 2.8, 95% CI 1.9-4.1) than during the post-neonatal period (OR= 1.3, 95% CI 1.02-1.6). The preparation of the delivery place was inadequate and thereby facilitated infection of both the newborn and the mother. Traditional norms and animal-shed delivery practices are common in the Jumla community. The reasons addressed for giving birth in the animal shed included (1) Household Deity's anger if delivery takes place in the home and (2) easy to clean the shed following the birth.

Animal Husbandry↗
PubMed2000

The changing role of grandparenthood.

For many grandparents in America, caring for grandchildren has become a full-time responsibility that has led to multiple stresses. Raising grandchildren may cause financial stress, cramped living quarters, role restriction, and social isolation among this group. However, advantages to this role among grandparents can include greater life satisfaction and a positive influence on the other generations within the family. Nurses and other health providers can play an essential role in assisting grandparents caring for grandchildren by strategically building family strengths and cohesiveness.

Adaptation, Psychological↗
PubMed2000

Triangulation research among culturally diverse populations.

There exists an ongoing challenge in the health sciences to develop research methods that effectively describe patterns of health beliefs and actions in different cultures. While the dominant framework for research has traditionally been the quantitative paradigm, qualitative methods place more emphasis on holistic descriptions of the human phenomena and thus may be more appropriate for transcultural research. Triangulation offers an alternative for investigators studying transcultural health by integrating the inherent strengths of both quantitative and qualitative data while minimizing their limitations. This article discusses six approaches for employing triangulation research in transcultural health.

Cultural Diversity↗
PubMed1999

Problem-based learning in a competency-based world.

This article addresses the needed shift in nursing education from an information-driven approach in teaching to a process that promotes higher level thinking and clinical judgement. Strengths and weaknesses of problem-based learning and competency-based education in nursing are presented. Whereas the former focuses on critical thinking and clinical judgement, the latter's emphasis is on clinical competency. The appropriateness of the philosophies in both academic and practice settings is discussed.

Clinical Competence↗
PubMed1999

AIDS in southern Thailand: stories of krengjai and social connections.

HIV-disease in southern Thailand has reached epidemic proportions. The declining Thai economy, coupled with social discrimination among people with the disease, has adversely affected individual, family and community krengjai. Among Thai's, krengjai is used to describe social order, avoid personal conflict, and maintain harmony in relationships. Using the framework of story, this narrative study explores the experiences of five individuals with HIV-disease and their tenuous relationship with krengjai.

Adaptation, Psychological↗
PubMed1999

Health and quality of life within Colonias settlements along the United States and Mexico border.

The Colonies settlements along the United States-Mexican border are reflective of third-world communities. Although most of the residents are U.S. citizens, they lack the basic educational and work opportunities found in most parts of the country. Because of the limited infrastructure, diseases controlled in most parts of the world are epidemic within these communities. Using the Giger and Davidhizar Transcultural Assessment Model, public health nurses can be instrumental in coordinating services in partnership with community members to enhance health and social service programs.

Emigration and Immigration↗
PubMed1999

Traditional birth attendants' advice toward breast-feeding, immunization and oral rehydration among mothers in rural Bangladesh.

Traditional birth attendants (TBAs) are regarded as essential child health care providers in Bangladesh. A community-based cross-sectional study was completed using questionnaires and interviews to compare trained and untrained TBAs' advice on (1) breast-feeding, (2) immunizations and (3) oral rehydration therapy as an extended part of their maternity care training. Twenty-eight trained TBAs (TTBAs) and 27 corresponding untrained TBAs (UTBAs) in the Dhaka district were interviewed to investigate the effect of their advice on the three outcome variables of maternal health care. Additionally, 276 questionnaires were distributed to the mothers cared for by these TBAs to determine their knowledge of infant-care practices. In-depth interviews with 25 mothers provided additional insight. While TTBAs may have more knowledge and be more willing to disseminate health care information to mothers with new infants than UTBAs, the mother's health practices were independent of the advice provided by the two groups of TBAs. Additionally, the mother's health practices equaled or exceeded expected norms.

Bangladesh↗
PubMed1999

Chronic sorrow: the experience of parents with children who are developmentally disabled.

1. Adaptation mechanisms differ between mothers and fathers of developmentally disabled children. 2. Mothers' emotions radiate into chronic sorrow while fathers' reactions move toward resignation. 3. Patterns of grief and sadness reemerge and are most often precipitated by a health care crisis in women and comparison with social norms in fathers.

Adaptation, Psychological↗
PubMed1999

Future realities in nursing: partnerships, practice, and economics.

Health care reform, innovations in technology, and the need to make health care cost-effective have affected all aspects of health care practice and education. Critical thinking skills, interpersonal and communication skills, leadership and motivation skills, computer literacy, and cultural sensitivity are all capabilities nursing graduates must now possess if they are to practice effectively in the complex and competitive contexts that today define the health care marketplace. Partnerships with community agencies are essential if faculty are to prepare a new generation of nurses who will be proficient in the skills that 21st-century nursing practice will demand. Although academic institutions have made some changes to meet marketplace demands, nursing educators, practitioners, and researchers must thoroughly reconceptualize their philosophies and retool their curricula in response to these changes.

Clinical Competence↗
PubMed1999

Avoiding publication delays: author and editor responsibilities.

Authors, editors, readers, and the profession benefit by having manuscripts published in a timely manner. Yet there are many problems that can occur that cause delays as a manuscript moves from acceptance to printing. These experienced authors identify publication steps where delays are common and suggest ways for authors and editors to prevent extensive delays during the publication path of an article.

Guidelines as Topic↗
PubMed1999

The role of nursing administrators in empowering scholarly productivity among clinicians.

The authors discuss strategies nursing administrators can use to promote scholarly productivity among their nursing staff. By incorporating mentoring, promoting collegial teams, involving nurses in the development of goals for scholarly activity, promoting professionalism, and modifying assignments to ensure time for research and writing, nurse executives can significantly enhance scholarly productivity in their professional nursing staff.

Efficiency, Organizational↗
PubMed1999

Integrating cultural diversity in patient education.

Diversity among clients in the American health care system is increasing as the population of the United States changes in composition. Health providers, educators, and supervisors are in unique positions to enhance patient education among members of diverse cultures by incorporating cultural research and health beliefs into patient and staff education. Using a culturally defined framework, health providers can more holistically assess the client and subsequently plan culturally appropriate care.

Attitude to Health↗
PubMed1998

Parasitic infections among migrant farm families.

The prevalence of parasitic infestation is an indicator of the health, social, and economic conditions within a community. A retrospective study of 422 migrant farmworkers and their families found a prevalence of parasitic infestation of 11.4%. The most significant predictors of infestation were mother's years of schooling (a low level of education was associated with infestation) and the prevalence of other parasitic infections within the family. No significant differences were found between infected and noninfected individuals in country of origin, time residing in the United States, father's years of schooling, sex, or age.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

Patterns of mental health care among Mexican Americans.

1. Extending cultural care beyond language enhances the use of mental health services and fosters a mutually agreed-on plan of care. 2. Understanding cultural characteristics facilitates an understanding of behavior, family and social dynamics, and adaptation patterns to stress that can empower clients to work toward their goals and validate the impact of emotions and behaviors on others. 3. Culturally appropriate mental health care reflects a synthesis among communication, space, social organization, time, environmental control, and biological variables.

Communication Barriers↗