Parents' Decision (parent + decision)

Distribution by Scientific Domains


Selected Abstracts


Satellite babies in transnational families: A study of parents' decision to separate from their infants,

INFANT MENTAL HEALTH JOURNAL, Issue 3 2009
Yvonne Bohr
This study examines a practice which is characteristic of an era of intensifying globalization: As part of a transnational lifestyle, an increasing number of immigrants to North America send infants thousands of miles back to their country of origin to be raised by members of their extended families,a culturally sanctioned tradition. After several years of separation, the children return to the biological parents to attend school in the adopted country, a custom which, according to Western mental health models, could have significant sequelae for attachment relationships and other facets of development. This practice is particularly prevalent among immigrants from the People's Republic of China, but a modified version of it can be found in other groups as well. The work described here is the first phase of a longitudinal project that explores the advantages and potential repercussions, for both infants and parents, of a transnational lifestyle. The current study reviews the decision-making process of a group of Chinese Canadian immigrant parents who are considering a separation from their infants. Preliminary findings show that the expected concerns about disrupting attachment relationships are embedded in more salient considerations of economic need and cultural perspective. These exploratory data exemplify an emergent field of culture-focused research and practice in infant mental health, and support the call for innovative models to situate infant developmental pathways in global and transcultural contexts. [source]


Factors influencing parental decision to consult for children with upper respiratory tract infection

JOURNAL OF PAEDIATRICS AND CHILD HEALTH, Issue 4 2008
Chirk-Jenn Ng
Aim: This study aimed to determine which factors could influence (i) parents' decision to seek medical consultatin and (ii) their preference for either public or private medical service in children with upper respiratory tract infection. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted at the Gombak district, which is an urban area in Malaysia. We randomly selected parents of kindergarten children aged 4,5 years to participate in this questionnaire survey. The main outcome measures were predictors of early medical consultation and type of service utilisation (public versus private). Results: We achieved a response rate of 84.5% (n = 1033/1223). 64.1% sought early medical consultation and 70.9% preferred to consult a private doctor. Early consultation was predicated by the parent gender being male (OR 1.50; 95% CI 1.09, 2.05), non-Chinese (OR 1.75%; 95% CI 1.10, 2.79), and those who preferred child specialists (OR 2.02; 95% CI 1.27, 3.23). Lower income group (OR 4.28; 95% CI 2.30, 7.95) and not having a regular doctor (OR 4.99%; 95% CI 3.19, 7.80) were predictors of using the public health services. Conclusions: Parent's gender, ethnicity and income influenced their decision to seek early medical consultation for their children's respiratory illness while income and having a regular doctor could predict their choice of healthcare services. [source]


Does Circumcision Make a Difference to the Sexual Experience of Gay Men?

THE JOURNAL OF SEXUAL MEDICINE, Issue 11 2008
Findings from the Health in Men (HIM) Cohort
ABSTRACT Introduction., The relevance of circumcision in preventing male-to-male sexual transmission of HIV is poorly understood, in particular because any potential beneficial effect could be diminished by the impact of circumcision on sexual behavior. Aim., We examined the impact of circumcision on sexual experience. Methods., Univariate and multivariate logistic regressions were performed on data from 1,426 HIV-negative homosexually active men. Main Outcome Measures., We compared the sexual behaviors and preferences of circumcised with uncircumcised men, and men who were circumcised at infancy with those who were circumcised after infancy. Results., Overall, 66% of men (N = 939) in the cohort were circumcised. After adjusting for age and ethnicity, we found no differences between circumcised and uncircumcised men in any insertive or receptive anal intercourse, difficulty using condoms, or sexual difficulties (e.g., loss of libido). Among the circumcised men, we compared those circumcised at infancy (N = 854) with those circumcised after infancy (N = 81). The majority cited phimosis (i.e., an inability to fully retract the foreskin) and parents' decision as the main reasons for circumcision after infancy. After adjusting for age and ethnicity, the men circumcised after infancy were more likely to practice any receptive anal sex (88% vs. 75%, P < 0.05) and to experience erection difficulties (52% vs. 47%, P < 0.05), but less likely to practice any insertive anal sex (79% vs. 87%, P < 0.05) and to experience premature ejaculation (15% vs. 23%, P < 0.05) than those circumcised at infancy. Conclusions., Our data suggest that overall circumcision status does not affect the HIV-negative gay men's anal sexual behaviors, experience of condom use, or likelihood of sexual difficulties. However, there is some suggestion of differences in sexual practices and preferences among circumcised gay men depending on the age at circumcision. In particular, gay men circumcised later are more likely to engage in and prefer receptive anal intercourse. Mao L, Templeton DJ, Crawford J, Imrie J, Prestage GP, Grulich AE, Donovan B, Kaldor JM, and Kippax SC. Does circumcision make a difference to the sexual experience of gay men? Findings from the health in men (HIM) cohort. J Sex Med 2008;5:2557,2561. [source]


Parental safety concerns , a barrier to sport and physical activity in children?

AUSTRALIAN AND NEW ZEALAND JOURNAL OF PUBLIC HEALTH, Issue 5 2004
Soufiane Boufous
Objective: To examine the extent to which parents and carers perceive injury and safety risks as serious enough to prevent or discourage their children, aged 5,12 years, from participating in sports/physical activity and to identify factors that influence these perceptions. Methods: An analysis of the 2001 New South Wales Child Health Survey. Results: More than one-quarter of parents/carers of active children aged 5,12 years reported discouraging or preventing children from playing a particular sport (34.7% for boys and 16.6% for girls) because of injury and safety concerns. In boys, the most frequently discouraged sport was rugby league (23.2%), followed by rugby union (7.5%) and Australian rules football (2.8%). Among girls, the most frequently discouraged activities were rollerblading (2.7%), rugby league (2.3%) and soccer (2.1%). Multivariate analysis shows that factors independently associated with parents' decision to prevent/discourage their child from engaging in sport/physical activity include their child's age and gender, language spoken at home, presence of disability, and the respondent's relation to the child. Conclusions and implications:Efforts need to be made to modify some sports/ activities, such as football codes, in order to minimise injury and to ensure that children continue enjoying their favourite activity well into adulthood. Guidelines designed to promote physical activity among children and young adolescents need to take into account parental concerns regarding the associated risk of injury. [source]


Flaws in the assessment of the best interests of the newborn

ACTA PAEDIATRICA, Issue 4 2009
Carlo V Bellieni
Abstract We examined the literature on ethical decisions regarding neonates, to assess whether personal beliefs and prejudices influence end-of-life decisions taken by caregivers. Studies show that religion and familiarity with disability influence caregivers' decisions, whereas the influx of already being a parent, age, sex and professional experience is controverse. Caregivers' attitudes towards end-of-life decisions are also affected by personal concerns about litigation, prejudices and their view of disability. The concept of ,poor quality of life' is widely used as a reference in end-of-life decisions, but this can be interpreted differently, leaving room for a wide range of personal viewpoints. In most cases, parents' opinions are considered important and are sometimes the main determinant in decision making. However, it is unclear whether parents' decisions are based on their own wishes or on the best interests of the newborn. Conclusion: In neonatal end-of-life decisions, patients may not receive cures based only on their best interests. [source]