Study Strengths. Our key findings about the importance of both pre- and during-confinement social support on receiving postrelease support through relationships extends the existing literature in several ways. First, we provide one of the first estimates of the unique influence of during-confinement support net of preconfinement support by utilizing three temporally distinct waves of data (see also Xxxxxxx-Xxxxx and XxXxxxxx 2017). We also assess the robust- ness of this finding to alternate model specifications, with results generally supporting the argument that prison visits are not merely an extension of preconfinement support (e.g., Xxxxx and Xxxxx 2008; Xxxx and Xxxxx 2013). We focus on specific types of instrumental (live with) and expressive (discuss important matters) support received from four potential support provider groups: parents, partners, other family, and friends. Prior research has typically conceptualized support as a broad entity, instead of as trans- actions between persons (Xxxxxxxxx 2001; Vaux 1988). In our examinations of general support (using scales similar to the extant literature), visits were not related to postrelease support. However, when we examine visits and specific support actions through relationships, many significant links emerge. Lastly, by studying individuals in both remand centers and peni- tentiaries in the Netherlands, we show how social support operates around shorter periods of confinement in a system considered “model” for U.S. practitioners who want to promote resocialization and reentry (Subrama- nian and Shames 2013). With average stays under a year, individuals in our sample still experienced significant reductions in support. Incarceration need not be long (Comfort 2016; Xxxxxx 2016; Xxxxxxxx and Xxxxxx 1989) or particularly punitive to negatively impact social support. When encouraging loved ones to participate in reentry (e.g., Xxxxxxx and Xxxxxx 2004), practitioners should enhance access to visitation as an effective conduit for maintaining expressive support and build other opportunities for brokering access to instrumental support through existing networks— even when individuals are confined for just a few months. Study Limitations Despite its contributions, this study—as any—also has limitations. The primary limitation is the potential for endogeneity. Despite the inclusion of lagged DVs and multiple theoretically germane controls, the observed relationship between during- and postconfinement support may be spuri...
Study Strengths. The main strength of this study is that it is the first of its kind. There is no previous systematic review of emergency sanitation data. The goal is that this study will highlight the need for better collection, analysis and use of emergency sanitation data, which may lead to better research studies and assessments. An additional strength is the study’s methodology and inclusion criteria. All assessments with key sanitation data uploaded to the Global WASH Cluster website were included, regardless of language (assessments were uploaded in English, French, and Spanish), or the date of when the assessment was uploaded (here uploads occurred over a five-year period, from June 2011 to October 2016).
Study Strengths. To our knowledge, this is the first qualitative study looking specifically and systematically at quality of life among women with trichiasis, in addition to the decision-making process for trichiasis surgery. Using qualitative methods to answer questions that are, by nature, qualitative questions elicits greater information than would a standardized questionnaire. This study was also able to provide additional insight into reasons why trichiasis patients do not present for surgery. The rich description of living life with trichiasis and how surgery improves these women’s lives serves as a call to action to Ministries of Health to prioritize trachoma control programs; to implementing organizations to continue to support this important work; and to donor agencies to fund the implementation of the SAFE strategy to eliminate blinding trachoma in endemic countries. Many organizations use standardized measures such as DALYs to set priorities for the funding of disease programs. However, these measures vastly underestimate the burden of trachoma, as they do not capture the disability resulting from trichiasis in the absence of visual impairment or blindness. DALYs are also unable to capture the stigma or family burden caused by this disease. In addition, these measures do not take into account the emotional or financial burden on families and communities or acknowledge the fact that not addressing diseases that primarily affect the poorest of the poor can actually lead to greater inequities in terms of health status and poverty (Xxxxx & Xxxxxx, 2009). This study was able to capture detail about living with trichiasis not previously described, address several aspects of the experience of trichiasis that had not previously mentioned, and identify barriers to accessing surgery not previously reported in the literature. In addition, it adds to the understanding of patients’ perceptions of epilation or women’s role in decision-making for trichiasis surgery. We were unable to locate any literature on men taking on household tasks traditionally performed by women. These aspects provide a more nuanced view of the disease and its effects on patients and families. In addition, we use the relatively uncommon methodology of interviewing women pairs. While we used this method primarily to provide moral support for the women being interviewed, we discovered some added benefits. First, the friends often comprehended the meaning of the questions before the patients and were able...
