Friday 31 May 2019

UNIVERSITY OF HULL RESEARCHERS TACKLE TEEN HEALTH ISSUES IN NIGERIA

Health experts from the University of Hull are helping to tackle the health challenges faced by adolescents in Nigeria.
Funded by Research England’s Global Challenges Research Fund and in partnership with a Nigerian organisation that tackles public health challenges, FAYOHI, the team are sharing their expertise in Jigawa and Kano States to identify the health needs of adolescents and develop improvements to healthcare practice and policy in the region.
A recent visit to Kano in Northern Nigeria provided the University’s researchers with an opportunity to work with policy-makers, NGOs, health practitioners, academics, community organisations, and adolescents at a research event: ‘Promoting adolescent health in Nigeria’. Listen to Prof Lesley Smith speaking in Nigeria.
Addressing adolescent health issues – such as substance misuse, mental health, nutrition, personal/menstrual hygiene, violence and injury – is a priority in the region, which has some of the worst health problems compared with other regions in Nigeria.
“The situation there is critical,” said Professor Lesley Smith, who has more than 20 years’ experience in health research.
“In this region of Nigeria, one in 13 women dies during pregnancy or childbirth. Some of the reasons for this are that girls marry at a young age – the average is 15 years old – and consequently get pregnant soon after. There is a high unmet need for sexual and reproductive health education and family planning services.” 
By working with the Family and Youth Health Initiative, a public health non-governmental organisation operating in Jigawa State, Nigeria, the University’s research team aims to improve health knowledge and health behaviours of adolescents – addressing several important sustainable development goals. 
“With two million adolescents living on the streets in Kano out of a population of 17 million – there is also an urgent need to tackle the influencing factors of health such as lack of education and poverty which are driving young people on to the streets,” said Professor Smith.
The visit by Professor Smith and Research Fellow Franklin Onukwugha was welcomed by Dr Ahmed Sarki, the founder of FAYOHI and faculty member at Uganda’s Aga Khan University, and his team Barrister Maryam Ahmad Abubakar and Isah Musa Auyo.
Dr Sarki said: “We were delighted that Professor Smith and the research team from the University of Hull, which also involves Professor Monica Magadi, were able to share their knowledge with us so that we can make a difference to the lives of young people in Nigeria. Some of the issues we are facing are global problems – so it is extremely helpful for researchers from other areas – who are working towards providing solutions to some of the same health concerns for their adolescent population – to advise on practical recommendations and strategies.” 
FAYOHI, which was founded in 2012, focuses on tackling public health challenges in Jigawa State and Northern Nigeria. Specifically, FAYOHI concentrates on contributing towards achieving the SDGs 3 (ensuring healthy lives for all at all ages), and, 6 (clean water and sanitation). 
The University’s collaboration to address adolescent health in Nigeria is just one of the ways the University’s Maternal and Reproductive Health group is working with partners around the world to tackle global health issues involving HIV/AIDS, and adolescent sexual and reproductive health in Sub-Saharan Africa and India.

Tuesday 21 May 2019

Validation of the Hebrew Birth Satisfaction Scale – Revised (BSS-R) and its relationship to perceived traumatic labour

Colin Martin has co-authored: 

Vera Skvirsky, Orit Taubman–Ben-Ari,Caroline J. Hollins Martin & Colin R. Martin (2019) 
Validation of the Hebrew Birth Satisfaction Scale – Revised (BSS-R) and its relationship to perceived traumatic labour Journal of Reproductive and Infant Psychology doi 10.1080/02646838.2019.1600666

Women’s experiences of maternity care in England: preliminary development of a standard measure

Colin Martin has co-authored: 

Maggie Redshaw, Colin R. Martin, Emily Savage-McGlynn and Sian Harrison (2019) Women’s experiences of maternity care in England: preliminary development of a standard measure BMC Pregnancy and Childbith 19: 167

Implications for school nurses using simulator dolls to manage unplanned teen pregnancy

Julie Jomeen & Mark Hayter have co-authored:

Humaira Hussain, Julie Jomeen, Mark Hayter, Ritah Tweheyo (2019) Implications for school nurses using simulator dolls to manage unplanned teen pregnancy British Journal of School Nursing doi: 10.12968/bjsn.2019.14.4.177

Comparing questionnaires across cultures - Using Mokken scaling to compare the Italian and English versions of the MOLES index

Roger Watson and Judith Dyson have co-authored:

Aleo, G, Bagnasco, A, Watson, R, Dyson J et al. Comparing questionnaires across cultures: Using Mokken scaling to compare the Italian and English versions of the MOLES index. Nursing Open. 2019; 00: 1– 7. https://doi.org/10.1002/nop2.297

Sunday 19 May 2019

Nurses’ Day 2019

To celebrate Nurses’ Day 2019, the learning disability nursing team took the opportunity to celebrate the 100th anniversary of their profession by creating a display in the entrance of the Allam Medical Building from 10am-4pm Friday 10th May and Monday 13th May.
This was staffed by team members at key times, otherwise browsable with the facility to leave questions, comments and requests for resources. Those stopping by to mark the occasion were able to pick up some key facts and top tips on supporting improved health for people with learning disabilities. As many students were offsite preparing for assessment, we extended best wishes and signposting to resources via their Canvas Programme sites, for example:

Leading UK charity Mencap includes, for example Health

Mental Health Foundation (MHF) with Foundation for People with Learning Disabilities (FPLD) includes, for example Learning disability statistics: children

RED nightclub for adults with learning disabilities and their friends at the Students’ Union, volunteers welcome

Confidential Inquiry into Premature deaths Of people with Learning Disabilities (CIPOLD)

Learning Disabilities Mortality Review (LeDeR) Programme

Debbie Crickmore

Tuesday 7 May 2019

SPARC seminar: Experiences of carers of people with long term conditions

Caroline White writes:

A SPARC research event held on 2 May 2019 explored the experiences of carers (partners, family and friends) of people with long term conditions. The event introduced recent research conducted by staff within the Faculty of Health Sciences and HYMS, and facilitated a discussion of future research needs and knowledge gaps in this area. It was attended by University of Hull researchers, social care practitioners and carers.

Presentations focused on carers who support:
  • People living with rheumatoid arthritis (Paul Whybrow)
  • People with mental health needs in acute mental health settings (Jane Wray)
  • People with lung cancer (Paula Gawthorpe)
  • Relatives or friends living at a distance (Caroline White and Clare Whitfield)

A presentation on the potential role of technology in supporting carers to maintain contact with relatives living in care homes was also given (Sonam Zamir, University of Plymouth). A follow up seminar to further explore future research directions is planned.

Evolving trends in open access

Roger Watson has published:


Watson R (2019) Evolving trends in open access Compliance Elliance Journal 5, 91-98

Friday 3 May 2019