Leah East

Father absence and adolescent development: a review of the literature:

Rapid social change has seen increasing numbers of woman-headed singleparent families, meaning that more and more children are growing up without a father resident in the home. Father absence is a term that is not well defined and much of the literature does not discriminate between father absence due to death, parental relationship discord or other causes. This article presents a critical review of the extant literature on father absence, particularly as it relates to adolescent well-being and development. Findings from the literature point to the importance of father presence in childrens lives and suggest that father absence has ramifications for children and adolescents. The conclusions drawn from this literature review suggest that father absence and its effects on children and families is an area for further research, with the view of developing strategies to ameliorate the impact of father absence on children and adolescents.

Condom negotiation : experiences of sexually active young women

AIM This paper is a report of a study of sexually active young womens experiences of negotiating condom use both before and after diagnosis of a sexually transmitted infection. BACKGROUND The male condom is the most efficient method in preventing and reducing the transmission of sexually transmitted infections. However, condom use can be hindered by factors including societal norms and gender roles, which can create difficulties for women in initiating and negotiating condom use in heterosexual partnerships. METHODOLOGY A feminist narrative approach was used, and ten womens stories were collected via online interviews in 2007. FINDINGS None of the women initiated or negotiated use of the male condom for various reasons. Some relied on their male partners to initiate condom use, some were unable to practise safer sex due to the abuse and unequal gender dynamics that existed in their sexual relationships, and some thought that condom use was not necessary because of a belief that they were in safe and monogamous relationships. Even following diagnosis of a sexually transmitted infection, some women said that they were not empowered enough to initiate condom use with subsequent sexual partners, resulting in continued high-risk sexual behaviour. CONCLUSION Successful condom promotion relies on the recognition of the gender factors that impede young womens condom negotiation and use. Strategies that overcome gender dynamics and empower women to negotiate condom use have the ability to promote condom use among this group.

Disrupted sense of self: young women and sexually transmitted infections

AIM This article is an exploration of young womens experiences of having a sexually transmitted infection. BACKGROUND Sexually transmitted infections are prevalent worldwide and have serious physical and psychological sequelae. Although some aspects of having sexually transmitted infections have been identified in the literature, the stigmatised nature of these infections means that relatively little is known about the experiential aspects of these conditions. DESIGN This research used a qualitative feminist approach. METHODS Data were collected in 2007 via online interviews with ten women. Thematic analysis was guided by a feminist narrative technique. RESULTS Findings revealed the women had not believed themselves to be at risk of sexually transmitted infections because of perceptions they held about the sorts of women who contract these infections. Because these perceptions were incompatible with their self-perceived views, the women initially experienced a disruption in their sense of self. To facilitate the restoration of their previously held sense of self, these women engaged in wishful thinking and denial. CONCLUSION This study illuminates how perceptions of sexually transmitted infections influence the way young women perceive themselves in the context of these infections. Awareness of the detrimental impact contracting sexually transmitted infections can have on young women can help nurses to provide services that facilitate positive and effective coping strategies among this group. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE Nurses providing care to women with sexually transmitted infections should promote positive coping strategies that could help curb non-disclosure and denial among young women who contract these infections. Education focused on sexually transmitted infections should emphasis that all sexually active individuals are at risk of these infections, which could potentially minimise the shame felt by persons who contract these infections. Further, recognition of the gender issues that limit womens ability to practise safer sex should be incorporated into safer sex education and campaigns.

The benefits of computer-mediated communication in nursing research

Use of the Internet, and the opportunity to utilise computer-mediated communication (CMC) provides new alternatives for nurse researchers to collect data.The use of CMC for research purposes is advantageous for both researchers and participants.Through this mode of communication, recruitment of participants can be enhanced through reaching individuals who are geographically distant, and nurses have the opportunity to provide participants with true anonymity, which may be beneficial when exploring sensitive issues.This paper explores the existing literature and draws on healthcare studies that have used CMC as a data collection tool.

Disrupted relationships: Adult daughters and father absence

Abstract Changes in family structures have resulted in many children growing up in non-traditional families, where their father is not resident in the family home. Father absence that occurs as a result of the breakdown of the parental relationship is associated with life adversity and less than optimal outcomes for children and adolescents. However, little research exists that explores this phenomenon from the perspective of the father absent young person. This phenomenological study was conducted in 2005 and aimed to explore women’s perceptions about relationships with their fathers within the context of a father absent childhood. Nine women participated in this study. Findings revealed that growing up without their father present in the family home disrupted the relationship these daughters held with their fathers. Due to the perceived lack of interest these daughters felt from their fathers, they expressed feelings of hurt and diminished respect for their fathers. Furthermore, participants felt that their fathers were unable to provide them with the father–daughter relationship that they sought. The findings of this paper provide insights that can help nurses and other healthcare professionals to recognise the emotional impact that father absence can have on young women. Findings suggest a need for further research to gain greater insights into the experiences of family members who undergo disruption of relationships due to family breakdown.

Healthcare experiences of women who have been diagnosed with a sexually transmitted infection

AIM This paper reports the healthcare experiences of women who have been diagnosed with a sexually transmitted infection. BACKGROUND The incidence of sexually transmitted infections is increasing throughout the globe on an annual basis. To effectively curb this trend and reduce the spread of these infections, effective education and treatment is essential. DESIGN This study used a feminist approach. METHODS Ten women participated in this study. Interviews were conducted online and transcripts were thematically analysed. RESULTS Findings from this study revealed that the women generally characterised their healthcare experiences as negative. Some women perceived being negatively judged by healthcare professionals and felt they were not provided with sufficient information or support when diagnosed with a sexually transmitted infection. CONCLUSION This paper reveals how healthcare professionals have the ability to exacerbate the adversity felt by women diagnosed with a sexually transmitted infection and how providing appropriate therapeutic care can assist young women who have been diagnosed with these types of infections. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE Nurses and other healthcare professionals can better serve patients by providing emotional and therapeutic support and information about the possible effects and long-term sequelae of sexually transmitted infections. Further, by providing sufficient information and support, the negative effects of having a sexually transmitted infection can be reduced and womens ability to cope with a sexually transmitted infection can be enhanced.

Identifying common values among seven health professions: An interprofessional analysis

ABSTRACT This article reviews the competency frameworks of seven Australian health professions to explore relationships among health professions of similar status as reflected in their competency frameworks and to identify common themes and values across the professions. Frameworks were compared using a constructivist grounded theory approach to identify key themes, against which individual competencies for each profession were mapped and compared. The themes were examined for underlying values and a higher order theoretical framework was developed. In contrast to classical theories of professionalism that foreground differentiation of professions, our study suggests that the professions embrace a common structure and understanding, based on shared underpinning values. We propose a model of two core values that encompass all identified themes: the rights of the client and the capacity of a particular profession to serve the healthcare needs of clients. Interprofessional practice represents the intersection of the rights of the client to receive the best available healthcare and the recognition of the individual contribution of each profession. Recognising that all health professions adhere to a common value base, and exploring professional similarities and differences from that value base, challenges a paradigm that distinguishes professions solely on scope of practice.

Editorial: sexuality and sexual health: Nurses' crucial role.

In a recent editorial in this journal, Hayter, Jackson, Carter, and Nyamathi (2012) proposed three developmental phases of addressing sexuality in nursing care. These authors went on to highlight the need to raise questions, and to generate and draw upon evidence in ways that can contribute to enhanced care and improved outcomes in this challenging area of health care practice (Hayter et al., 2012). There is no area in which this is more necessary than in the area of sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Considerable efforts to reduce the prevalence of STIs have been made at the primary care level, and this has resulted in multiple public health campaigns to raise awareness of risks associated with sexual behaviour, and ways in which risks can be reduced (World Health Organisation [WHO], 2007). Yet despite the effort that has gone into addressing the prevalence of STIs, rates continue to be very concerning, and this is so particularly among younger people (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2012). Although STIs can potentially affect all sexually active individuals regardless of gender, socioeconomic status and ethnic/cultural background, there is quite persuasive evidence that some groups can be at greater risk. Statistics show that women are more susceptible and often have a higher incidence than men of particular infections including genital herpes, chlamydia, gonorrhoea and HIV (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention National Center for HIV/AIDS Viral Hepatitis STD and TB Prevention Division of STD Prevention, 2011; Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS [UNAIDS], 2012; Looker, Garnett, & Schmid, 2008) with the prevalence and incidence of STIs continuing to escalate (WHO, 2012). Five years ago it was estimated EDITORIAL Sexuality and sexual health: Nurses’ crucial role

Violated and vulnerable: Women's experiences of contracting a sexually transmitted infection from a male partner

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES To explore womens stories of contracting a sexually transmitted infection from a male partner and elucidate the gendered constructs and violence experienced that made the women vulnerable to these infections. BACKGROUND Violence against women can result in both physical and psychological consequences and expose women to multiple health risks including sexual health adversity. DESIGN Feminist storytelling approach. METHODS Qualitative interviews were conducted with 10 women. All data underwent thematic analysis. FINDINGS Findings from this study revealed the women were vulnerable to contracting sexually transmitted infection/s from their male sexual partners as a result of unequal gender and abusive relationship dynamics. Subsequently, contracting a sexual infection within this context potentially increased their vulnerability in both current and future relationships, through their loss of self-confidence and perceived ability to have a trusting loving heterosexual relationship as women with sexually transmitted infection/s. CONCLUSION Women in relationships in which they are subordinate to their male partner are at heightened risk of sexual health adversity, including contracting a sexually transmitted infection. Contracting a sexually transmitted infection within the context of an abusive relationship can further increase womens vulnerability to dominant male partners, thus further exposure to sexual risk and adversity. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE Nurses working in clinical settings are well placed to conduct opportunistic screening of womens sexual health, including assessment of sexually transmitted infections and the nature of the encounter in which they were contracted. Thorough assessment can potentially identify relationship and personal factors that can increase a womans risk to both sexual adversity and forms of abuse. Also, if women do divulge that they have suffered abuse, nurses are positioned to provide support and guidance in implementing strategies to minimise risk as well as referring them to specialised services.

Adaptation and validation of a survey instrument measuring perceived preparedness of nursing graduates

BACKGROUND In Australia, a significant percentage of bachelor of nursing students are employed in the aged care sector, or in aged care settings, as assistants in nursing (AINs) or personal care assistants. However the value of aged care in nursing education is often overlooked. AIM To outline the adaptation and validation of a survey, originally developed for medical graduates, for use with nursing graduates. DISCUSSION Adaptation of the instrument was undertaken as part of a doctoral study that aimed to explore whether employment as an undergraduate assistant in nursing (AIN) in aged care prepares new graduates for clinical work. CONCLUSION Outlining each step of the modification process can help nurse researchers who want to adapt existing instruments to meet their research objectives. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE Undergraduate AIN employment has the potential to supplement clinical learning without the restrictions inherent in the student role. Furthermore, it has the potential to enhance recruitment and retention in the aged care sector.