Matching Items (6)
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- All Subjects: Social Work
- Creators: School of Social Work
Description
HIV/AIDS is the sixth leading cause of death worldwide and the leading cause of death among women of reproductive age living in low-income countries. Clinicians in industrialized nations monitor the efficacy of antiretroviral drugs and HIV disease progression with the HIV-1 viral load assay, which measures the copy number of HIV-1 RNA in blood. However, viral load assays are not widely available in sub-Saharan Africa and cost between 50-$139 USD per test on average where available. To address this problem, a mixed-methods approach was undertaken to design a novel and inexpensive viral load diagnostic for HIV-1 and to evaluate barriers to its adoption in a developing country. The assay was produced based on loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP). Blood samples from twenty-one individuals were spiked with varying concentrations of HIV-1 RNA to evaluate the sensitivity and specificity of LAMP. Under isothermal conditions, LAMP was performed with an initial reverse-transcription step (RT-LAMP) and primers designed for HIV-1 subtype C. Each reaction generated up to a few billion copies of target DNA within an hour. Presence of target was detected through naked-eye observation of a fluorescent indicator and verified by DNA gel electrophoresis and real-time fluorescence. The assay successfully detected the presence of HIV in samples with a broad range of HIV RNA concentration, from over 120,000 copies/reaction to 120 copies/reaction. In order to better understand barriers to adoption of LAMP in developing countries, a feasibility study was undertaken in Tanzania, a low-income country facing significant problems in healthcare. Medical professionals in Northern Tanzania were surveyed for feedback regarding perspectives of current HIV assays, patient treatment strategies, availability of treatment, treatment priorities, HIV transmission, and barriers to adoption of the HIV-1 LAMP assay. The majority of medical providers surveyed indicated that the proposed LAMP assay is too expensive for their patient populations. Significant gender differences were observed in response to some survey questions. Female medical providers were more likely to cite stigma as a source problem of the HIV epidemic than male medical providers while males were more likely to cite lack of education as a source problem than female medical providers.
ContributorsSalamone, Damien Thomas (Author) / Jacobs, Bertram L (Thesis advisor) / Marsiglia, Flavio (Committee member) / Stout, Valerie (Committee member) / Johnson, Crista (Committee member) / Arizona State University (Publisher)
Created2011
Description
Through my academic career at Arizona State University, I have learned the importance of implementing mindful habits into one’s personal and professional life. Being introduced to mindfulness has changed my life for the better. My hope for completing this thesis is to inspire other college students and future social workers to embrace the present moment, while being aware of internal thoughts and feelings as well as external stimuli. While implementing mindful habits can seem daunting and complex, one must understand that being mindful is an ongoing life-long journey. Ultimately, we owe it to ourselves and the individuals and communities we serve to engage in mindfulness, and truly be at peace with our inner-being key words: mindfulness, social work, burnout.
ContributorsPelkey-Landes, Corina (Author) / Athens, Elizabeth (Thesis director) / Valderrama, Jamie (Committee member) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor) / School of Social Work (Contributor)
Created2023-05
Description
My thesis project defines, investigates, and analyzes the nonprofit industrial complex (NPIC) and its effect on social change work. My final output is a public website (nonprofitblues.com) with a collection of both formal and informal writings about the NPIC. The document uploaded to the Barrett Repository is one of four written works which combine to total 46 pages.
I define the NPIC as nonprofits and their funding streams acting as a vested interest that guides the provision of aid, including who gets it, what kind of aid it is, and how, when, and where they receive it. Through research and interviews with six professionals in a variety of roles either within social change work or interacting with social change work, I conclude that the NPIC has created an individualized, careerist idea of social justice that undermines the formation and mobilization of mass movements. Additionally, it has created an expectation of professionalism, corporatization, bureaucracy, and elitism within these careerist ideas, which in turn limits the transformative power of social change work and funnels energy toward administration and upkeep instead of social change. Ultimately, the NPIC not only harms the communities nonprofits purport to serve, but also the employees who have to navigate a field wrought with influences pulling them in different directions.
ContributorsWilson, Malia (Author) / Kotleba, Anne (Thesis director) / Points, Kari (Committee member) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor) / School of Social Work (Contributor) / School of Social Transformation (Contributor)
Created2023-12
Description
The Bedside Box of Play is a kit of play activities designed specifically for children experiencing hospitalization. 30 kits were delivered to the Child Life unit at a local hospital with materials provided in English and Spanish. It is a free resource informed by research to maximize the potential for healthy coping during a time that may be stressful or overwhelming. Activities were created intentionally to allow for creativity, direction of the activity by the child, and family engagement. My hope for the Bedside Box of play is that it provides children and families with an easy way to incorporate play into the hospital environment, while also promoting healthy child development and building coping skills to be used post-discharge. This creative project also outlines a potential framework for helping professionals to make play effective and accessible in a variety of settings.
ContributorsCywinski, Morgan (Author) / Krysik, Judy (Thesis director) / Kelly, Cara (Committee member) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor) / School of Social Work (Contributor)
Created2023-12
Description
The importance of social work lies in the ability of individuals, families, and communities to thrive. It is important to note that social work encompasses a wide range of professions. However, this creative project will examine its different dimensions, specifically within the field of criminal justice. The purpose of this thesis project is to promote social work as a profession and explore its growing impact on the criminal justice system. As part of this effort, it is also intended to dispel the myth that social workers work exclusively in child protection agencies. Viewers will be introduced to exciting opportunities for meaningful change at the emerging intersection of social work and criminal justice, which is becoming increasingly prevalent in American society. This project will also highlight how negative media (news and documentaries like Gabriel Fernandez on Netflix) about social workers employed in the DCS system do not accurately portray current circumstances. This will be accomplished through a short video/documentary-style project that interviews social workers and social service workers employed in the criminal justice field. An interview will consist of questions designed to dispel myths about social workers and promote the diversity of the profession. The purpose of this is to provide an ‘on-the-ground’ perspective of real opportunities in the community, including descriptions of various occupations and the mission of agencies that employ at the cross-section of social work and criminal justice. This is done to enhance the viewers' perception of the field and give them the opportunity to experience real-life situations.
ContributorsSosa, Jessica (Author) / England, Alison (Thesis director) / Roe-Sepowitz, Dominique (Committee member) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor) / School of Social Work (Contributor) / School of Criminology and Criminal Justice (Contributor)
Created2024-05
Description
Abstract The purpose of this study is to draw attention to problematic peer behaviors experienced among older adults in low income housing. Antagonistic behaviors including peer bullying are commonly associated with youth yet they also occur among older adults. This study shares findings from a recent study of negative social interactions among older adults in independent low-income housing. Using a sample size of 11 tenants, and semi-structured interviews, this author used thematic analysis to code and categorize themes. This author found that common themes included types of behaviors experienced, contributing factors, interventions and perceived barriers to interventions. Results indicated that tenants experienced a variety of antagonistic behaviors including verbal, physical and relational aggression. The most common behaviors reported were verbal threatening (36.4%) and being gossiped about (54.4%). The least common reported were physical behaviors (27.3%). Tenants reported the most common contributing factor for the aggressor's actions as having mental health or emotional issues (45.5%), whereas they reported physical disability as the most common contributing factor in those who were victimized (54.5%). Individuals reported responding to these behaviors most commonly through isolation, withdrawal, and avoidance. Findings suggest the need for interventions to minimize bullying and other antagonistic behaviors in low-income housing. Additionally, findings suggest the need to help those who are mistreated to find ways to address the bullying in more positive ways. Keywords: themes, behaviors, factors, interventions, barriers
ContributorsCasalean, Monica Ruth (Author) / Bonifas, Robin (Thesis director) / Mendoza, Natasha (Committee member) / School of Social and Behavioral Sciences (Contributor) / School of Social Work (Contributor) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor)
Created2018-05