Vijayan K. Pillai

Old Age Support in China: The Role of the State and the Family

This study investigates the relationship between some support factors and the well-being of the elderly in China. The analytical models identify and compare the effects of each type of factor on the sense of well-being of elderly Chinese across rural and urban settings. Pension, health care, size of family, and living arrangements are the factors found to be significantly related to the perception of happiness among aged people in general. The strength of the effects of children and living arrangements varies depending on places of residency. The findings indicate the continuous role of the family support, and the increasingly important role of state support in promoting a sense of well-being among elderly Chinese.

A Meta-Analysis of Parent-Involved Treatment for Child Sexual Abuse

Sexual abuse in children not only occurs with alarming frequency, it also potentially leads to deleterious consequences for victims. Previous narrative reviews have touted the benefits of including the nonoffending caregiver in child sexual treatment. Objective: A meta-analysis is conducted to determine the effects of parent-involved treatment in four major child symptom areas: internalizing, externalizing, sexualized behaviors, and posttraumatic stress. Method: Only comparison/control group studies are included. Participant, treatment, and methodological characteristics of studies are coded, as well as information to calculate effect sizes. An overall effect size is calculated, though the small number of studies precluded moderator analysis. Results: Seven studies are located that met the inclusion criteria. At posttest, treatment had small effects in the four outcome domains over alternative interventions and was reduced still further at follow-up. Conclusion: Parent-involved treatment confers some advantage over comparison conditions (typically child-only treatment).

Attitudes toward community policing: A casual analysis

Abstract This article presents a model of police officers attitude toward community policing. A theory of community policing is proposed. This theory identifies several dimensions which influence community policing attitudes. We apply Analysis of Covariance Structures (Lisrel) in estimating the causal model of the several dimensions explaining attitudes toward community policing. We also assess the overall goodness of fit of the proposed model. Lisrel findings show ‘commitment’ and ‘support’ to negatively affect strain. Likewise, these exogenous variables significantly influence frustration. The results also show strain to negatively affect police attitudes.

The Validation of the Checklist of Controlling Behaviors (CCB) Assessing Coercive Control in Abusive Relationships

The current study addresses the validation of the Checklist of Controlling Behaviors (CCB), an 84-item domestic violence assessment instrument that can be used to address multiple levels of violence and coercive control in violent relationships. Derived from clinical observation and current theories, the CCB makes use of intimate partner violence survivor reports to identify the intensity and frequency of relationship violence. The instrument is divided into 10 subscales including (1) physical abuse, (2) sexual abuse, (3) male privilege, (4) isolation, (5) minimizing and denying, (6) blaming, (7) intimidation, (8) threats, (9) emotional abuse, and (10) economic abuse. To assess validity and reliability of the CCB, 2,135 female volunteers taking refuge at a domestic violence shelter were administered the instrument. Results of principal component analysis of the individual subscales revealed 10 factors having goodness-of-fit values above the desired normative level of .90

Challenges of Primary Education in Developing Countries : Insights from Kenya

Contents: Introduction Research on wastage in Kenya Primary school wastage among special groups A design for investigating wastage Extent and perceived causes of wastage Identified solutions for each component of wastage Profiles of selected initiatives to reduce wastage Impact of selected initiatives on wastage Wastage in developing countries: insights from Kenya References Index.

AIDS Prevention in Zambia: Implications for Social Services

Abstract The incidence of AIDS continues to be higher in the African continent than elsewhere in the world. In Zambia, given the current pace of infection, projections suggest that approximately two million Zambians are likely to die toward the end of this decade. In this paper, we argue that current AIDS educational programs can be substantially reinforced by incorporating the services of family planning agencies in Zambia. Data used for the study come from the Zambia Demographic Health Survey (ZDHS), 1996. We suggest that the social work profession has crucial responsibility for designing AIDS prevention programs. A number of roles that social workers can play based on the values and philosophy of the profession is outlined. Limitations of the study are also discussed.

Do incentives matter? – Evaluation of a family planning program in India

Indian Family Planning programs in the past haveintroduced a number of approaches such as providingmonetary benefits, and motivational programs toimprove contraceptive use among rural illiteratewomen. Under the Ammanpettai family welfare program,the Melatur PHC administered three program typesinvolving a combination of monetary and motivationalapproaches to improve contraceptive use in threetreatment areas. The program was introduced duringJanuary 1989 and was simultaneously discontinued aftera period of two years. The present evaluation wasconducted in 1994. Data from a random sample of 933non-sterilized women at the time of social surveyusing a questionnaire approach is used in this study. The implementation of incentive programs in asocio-economically homogenous population has resultedin an increase in the likelihood of current ofcontraceptive use. The results of this study suggestthat motivational programs are more likely to improvelong term use of temporary family planning methodsthan cash incentive programs. One implication of ourfinding is that motivational programs should provide peer based family planning education and training incommunity work to contact persons who make door todoor visits to promote family planning programs.

Measurement of women's reproductive health and reproductive rights: An analysis of developing countries

This study attempts to develop measurement scales for womensreproductive health and reproductive rights by using data from125 developing countries. Data were obtained from varioussources, such as the United Nations and the World Bank. Existing studies on womens reproductive rights suggest atwo-factor model. Womens reproductive health is viewed as beingunidimensional. These proposed attributes are evaluated usingconfirmatory factor analysis. Results indicate the presence oftwo sub-dimensions related to womens reproductive rights. Aone-dimension model of womens reproductive health is empiricallysupported. Validity and reliability of the scales are assessed.Limitations of the measurement scales are discussed.

Men and family planning in Zambia

This paper examines the sociodemographic factors which influence familiarity with methods of family planning among 85 males holding low paying jobs in the University of Zambia, Lusaka. The results showed that wifes education had a significant and positive effect on husbands familiarity with family planning methods. In the longer term, female education is likely to emerge as an important factor in the onset of fertility decline in Zambia.

Caregiver Burden in South Asian Families

Abstract Systems theory has been extensively used by social work practitioners to conceptualize an array of social and psychological problems at the level of clinical practice. Systems theory is complex and this complexity is believed to be advantageous for investigating the roots of social and familial problems. This paper presents results from a study of caregiver burden among a sample of 118 Indian/Pakistani caregivers in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metropolitan area. Systems theory is used to predict the correlates of caregiver burden. In this study the authors found that elder behavior problems, elder health problems, extended support network, and identification with filial piety norms explained caregiver burden among South Asian families. The practice implications of the findings are also presented.