DEPARTMENT OF GUIDANCE AND COUNSELLING
Permanent URI for this communityhttps://repository.ui.edu.ng/handle/123456789/465
Browse
5 results
Search Results
Item Disparities in psychosocial cancer care: a report from the international federation of psycho-oncology societies(Wiley Online Library, 2016) Grassi, L.; Fujisawa, D.; Odyio, P.; Asuzu, C.; Ashley, L.; Bultz, B.; Travado, L.; Feilding, R.Background The aim of the study was to understand the characteristics of the International Federation of Psycho‐oncology Societies (FPOS) and possible disparities in providing psychosocial care in countries where psycho‐oncology societies exist. Method A survey was conducted among 29 leaders of 28 countries represented within the FPOS by using a questionnaire covering (i) characteristics of the society; (ii) characteristics of the national health care system; (iii) level of implementation of psycho‐oncology; and (iv) main problems of psycho‐oncology in the country. Results Twenty‐six (90%) FPOS returned the questionnaires. One‐third reported to have links with and support from their government, while almost all had links with other scientific societies. The FPOS varied in their composition of members' professions. Psychosocial care provision was covered by state‐funded health services in a minority of countries. Disparities between countries arose from different causes and were problematic in some parts of the world (eg, Africa and SE Asia). Elsewhere (eg, Southern Europe and Eastern Europe), austerity policies were reportedly responsible for resource shortages with negative consequences on psychosocial cancer care. Half of FPOS rated themselves to be integrated into mainstream provision of care, although lack of funding was the most common complain. Conclusions The development and implementation of psycho‐oncology is fragmented and undeveloped, particularly in some parts of the world. More effort is needed at national level by strong coalitions with oncology societies, better national research initiatives, cancer plans, and patient advocacy, as well as by stronger partnership with international organizations (eg, World Health Organization and Union for International Cancer Control).Item Improving outcomes in cancer diagnosis, prevention and control: barriers, facilitators and the need for health literacy in Ibadan Nigeria(Wiley Online Library, 2016) Adedimeji, A. A.; Lounsbury, D.; Popoola, O.; Asuzu, C.; Lawal, A.; Oladoyin, V.; Crifase, C.; Agalliu, I.; Shankar, V.; Adebiyi, A.Background: Cancers constitute a significant public health problem in Nigeria. Breast, cervix and prostate cancers are leading causes of cancer-related deaths. Changing diets, lifestyles, HIV/AIDS and macro-structural factors contribute to cancer morbidity and mortality. Poor health information linking cancer risk to individual behaviors, environmental pollutants and structural barriers undermine prevention/control efforts. Studies suggest increasing health literacy and empowering individuals to take preventive action will improve outcomes and mitigate impact on a weak health system. Methods: We obtained qualitative data from 80 men, women, and young adults in 11 focus groups to assess beliefs, risk-perceptions, preventive behaviors and perceptions of barriers and facilitators to cancer control in Ibadan, Nigeria and conducted thematic analysis. Results: Participants demonstrated awareness of cancers and mentioned several risk factors related to individual behaviors and the environment. Nonetheless, myths and misconceptions as well as micro, meso and macro level barriers impede prevention and control efforts. Conclusion: Developing and implementing comprehensive context-relevant health literacy interventions in community settings are urgently needed.Item Development and validation of sexual abstinence scale (SAS)(African Society for the Psychological Study of Social Issues, 2013) Asuzu, C.The Sexual Abstinence Scale (SAS) is designed to assess healthy sexual behaviour among adolescents as a way to reduce the incidence of HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases. This cross sectional study took place in two phases. The first phase comprised of 1030 adolescents randomly selected from senior classes in secondary schools in three out of five local government areas within Ibadan municipality. The second phase had 250 participants also randomly selected from senior secondary classes, items generated for the scale were obtained from an extensive literature review. The content validity of the instrument was confirmed through peer reviews of experts in the field of adolescent sexuality. The internal consistencies for the six sub-scales were .8430 for knowledge of sexual abstinence sub-scale, .8170 for perceived risk of sexual abstinence sub-scale, .6310 for attitude towards sexual abstinence sub-scale, .9380 for perceived benefits of sexual abstinence subscale, .7910 for sexual abstinence self-efficacy sub-scale, .8030 sexual abstinence education sub-scale and .8860 for the full scale. The relevance of this scale to stakeholders in adolescent’s reproductive health behaviour, counsellors, researchers as well as the limitations are discussed.Item The human family in the contemporary world cultures: Its problems and the way forward for the catholic church, her leaders and the Lay faithful(2015) Asuzu, C.The human family has been recognised in all cultures, religions and past civilizations as the basic unit of society, of the church or other faith communities and of the world at large. All such cultures have regarded the family as the most fundamental unit, beyond the individual human person, for all the duties of community leadership, including those in the political spheres of life: in terms of individual and community health, protection, and of fostering their growth and development. The most of successful new families (of procreation) start from proper marriages; which themselves are products of healthy courtships between properly nurtured children of previous families of birth, of (healthy; i.e., truly loving) life orientation and socialization - as the primary unit of human socialization; being the primary social support unit of society. However, since the onset of the Modernist Movement of the 19th century, through its transformation of the 1910s, to their maturation through the 1930s and 70s to this third millennium, with the articulation of the first (1933), second (1973) and third (2003) editions of their scriptures as the modern (religious, atheistic, imperialistic, ideological) Secular Humanism, these attributes of the human family have started to be undermined. This paper explores the nature of the human family as well as the marriages and family upbringing that lead to their success. It is also examines the functions and human ends of these three issues, their dynamics and virtues or charisms. It is also looks at the tenets of the Secular Humanist scriptures in relation with the human family, marriage, human love and societal organization. In that way, the author expects an understanding by all who will have the privilege of reading the article, of the reasons for the problems of these in the modern world. It also brings to the fore an understanding of what we should do as individuals, leaders and church in the proper response to these contemporary problems.Item A psycho-oncological approach to addressing cancer disparities in Nigeria(Universodad Iberoamericana Publa, Mexico, 2012) Lounsbury, D.; Asuzu, C.; Adedimeji, A.; John, I.; Chung, K.We describe the formation of a specialized, international research partnership between two university communities: the University College Hospital (UCH), University of Ibadan, Nigeria, and the Albert Einstein College of Medicine (Einstein) of Yeshiva University, Bronx, New York, USA. Our partnership is focused on cancer. It seeks to establish a platform for a wide variety of prevention and control activities, including cancer surveillance, community outreach and education, screening and diagnosis, treatment and post-treatment (survivorship), as well as palliation. Our approach is grounded by principles of psycho-oncology, an emerging sub-discipline of research and clinical intervention in cancer, and uses psycho-social and behavioral research as a means to build ‘collaborative capacity’ and to prioritize and manage resources for patients, families and health care professionals.