Journal of Biosocial Science最新文献

{"title":"Health system mistrust, ultra-orthodox Jews in the US, and vaccine hesitancy.","authors":"Zackary Berger","doi":"10.1017/S0021932025000124","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1017/S0021932025000124","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>A minority of ultra-Orthodox (Charedi) Jews choose not to be vaccinated, and their refusal has assumed significant importance from a variety of perspectives. Clinicians often encounter patients whose beliefs are different from their own. Vaccine hesitancy within the US Charedi Jewish community is a factor contributing to outbreaks of disease, reflecting a growing mistrust between communities and arms of the State played out on the terrain of bodies and societies. Clinicians need to be aware of and understand this broader context as a foundation of empathetic listening and epistemic humility that might lead to improved health for the Charedi community based on reinforced trust.</p>","PeriodicalId":47742,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Biosocial Science","volume":" ","pages":"1-6"},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2025-03-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143587647","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"社会学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Excavating LGBTQ+ lives in the birth cohort: an exploration of pen portraits and data storytelling.","authors":"Evangeline Tabor, J D Carpentieri","doi":"10.1017/S0021932025000069","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1017/S0021932025000069","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Birth cohort studies provide invaluable data on topics across the lifecourse, including health, education, socioeconomic conditions, and well-being. As a result, they are an important resource for biosocial researchers to answer numerous complex research questions. However, despite being positioned as representative of their national or regional context, cohort studies often fail to capture the experience of marginalised groups.One such group is sexual and gender minority (or LGBTQ+) people who, until very recently, have been largely invisible in birth cohorts. This is despite huge social and attitudinal changes in the last fifty years and clear evidence of the social, political, economic, and health and well-being disparities experienced compared to heterosexual cisgender people. However, due to small numbers, opportunities for quantitative analysis are limited and result in the neglect of LGBTQ+ data even when it is captured.This article presents a brief overview of how queer lives have (and have not) been captured by standard data collection and analysis techniques in the British birth cohort studies. Then, using a cohort born in 1970, the authors explore the possibilities of person-centred mixed-method pen portraits to improve understanding of this group's life trajectories.</p>","PeriodicalId":47742,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Biosocial Science","volume":" ","pages":"1-6"},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2025-03-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143587708","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"社会学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Navigating the biosocial: perspectives of early career researchers working with birth cohorts.","authors":"Catherine Borra, Evangeline Tabor, Faith Cole, Sarah Stock","doi":"10.1017/S0021932025000045","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1017/S0021932025000045","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>In recent years, there have been increasing calls for the development and growth of the biosocial as a paradigm through which to tackle complex problems. The use of birth cohorts, mixed methods frameworks, and interdisciplinary work are common in biosocial research. However, these practices are also theoretically and practically complex due to epistemic, methodological, and academic challenges - particularly for early career researchers (ECRs) who face time constraints, funding limitations, and disciplinary expectations.This paper draws on lessons from the experiences of ECRs in biosocial research by reflecting on theoretical heterogeneity, the necessity of translation and negotiation across disciplines and methodologies, and the practicalities of funding, collaboration, and dissemination. Throughout, the paper discusses strategies to overcome common challenges and provide suggestions for fellow ECRs and those interested in biosocial ECR training and development. The paper highlights the importance of strong networks with senior biosocial researchers and peers, the value of practical support, and the importance of formal and informal learning opportunities. The authors call for the enthusiasm for biosocial research to be matched with investment in the development and support for ECRs.</p>","PeriodicalId":47742,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Biosocial Science","volume":" ","pages":"1-8"},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2025-02-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143524557","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"社会学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Critical theory and cultural competency in medical QI projects: lessons from Pacific Islander communities.","authors":"Adam Martorana, Sankalp Katta, Hanna Huynh, Ezgi Ulger, Jeffrey Andrion","doi":"10.1017/S0021932025000100","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1017/S0021932025000100","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>This reflection explores the transformative power of critical theory through a quality improvement (QI) project creating culturally relevant dietary resources for Pacific Islander communities in Washington State, USA. Food injustice and lack of food sovereignty are examined as manifestations of modern-day colonialism perpetuated by capitalist-driven social structures. The methodology employed critical reflection, defined as the process of examining assumptions and power relations that shape practice, central to critical theory. Iterative group discussions aimed to understand the impact of individual and collective assumptions, power dynamics, and oppression on the project's conceptualization, implementation, and evaluation.Specific recommendations are integrated into the discussion to aid those replicating similar protocols, emphasizing actionable steps such as engaging with the community at all project stages. The research team, composed of osteopathic medical students and a critical theory expert, engaged in reflexivity to understand how social locations and lived experiences influenced perceptions. Despite the goal of fostering cultural inclusivity, limitations in engaging the Pacific Islander community throughout the project lifecycle highlighted the need for cultural humility and participatory action methodology.This study underscores the importance of understanding the history and socio-political context of marginalized communities to avoid perpetuating colonial practices and trauma. It emphasizes the necessity for medical schools to incorporate sociological theories into curricula to promote compassionate, culturally appropriate care and research. By critically examining positionality and engaging in transformative learning, the group advocates for systemic changes towards a more equitable global healthcare system.Through critical reflection, the group has come to understand how lived experiences have shaped perceptions of oppression, which are entrenched within and perpetuated by social institutions. Actionable items from these reflections are presented to help future practitioners and educators apply cultural humility, community empowerment, and critical theory in QI projects.</p>","PeriodicalId":47742,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Biosocial Science","volume":" ","pages":"1-6"},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2025-02-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143517033","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"社会学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Cultural persistence in health-seeking behaviour: a mixed-method study of traditional healing practices among Garo tribal women in Meghalaya, India.","authors":"Piyasa Mal, Nandita Saikia","doi":"10.1017/S0021932025000094","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1017/S0021932025000094","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The Garo tribe, one of a major indigenous communities of Meghalaya, India, relies heavily on their traditional health practices. This research investigates the healthcare-seeking behaviour of Garo women, their health concerns, their indigenous medical knowledge, and their reasons for preferring traditional over modern medicines. Conducted in East Garo Hills, Meghalaya, quantitative data (N = 96) were randomly collected from Garo women aged 15-49 through interviews to understand their health-seeking behaviour. Following a preliminary analysis, qualitative data (N = 12) were gathered through in-depth interviews to identify common illnesses, dimensions of traditional medicines, and reasons for dependency on them. Thematic analysis was performed using Atlas Ti. The result shows that almost 84% of Garo women (N = 86) seek treatment from <i>Ojha</i> (traditional healer) for <i>achik</i> (traditional) medicine, with only 6% using modern health facilities and 10% relying on herbal home remedies. Garo women rely on their age-old traditional remedies for health issues, irrespective of their educational or economic status. From the qualitative findings, this study explores the Garo tribe's unique traditional medicine, known as '<i>achik</i> medicine', prepared through local herbs and plants, and is disseminated by traditional healers, or '<i>ojhas'</i>, whose knowledge is generational. Moreover, every Garo household possesses medicinal plants, and all are knowledgeable about their use. Major health issues faced by Garo women are menstrual disorders, post-delivery weakness, fever with severe headache and jaundice. Reasons for using <i>achik</i> medicines are more effectiveness than modern medicines, cultural identity, preference for natural remedies, efficiency of <i>Ojhas</i>, availability, accessibility, and affordability of <i>Ojhas</i>. Meanwhile, the reasons for using limited use of modern healthcare facilities are poor quality of service and remote location. This study underscores the importance of preserving indigenous knowledge systems and respecting cultural heritage while ensuring the well-being of marginalised communities. Additionally, it highlights the need to improve modern healthcare quality and public transportation in the region.</p>","PeriodicalId":47742,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Biosocial Science","volume":" ","pages":"1-20"},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2025-02-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143517035","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"社会学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Identifying the reasons why men marry teenage girls: a qualitative study from the perspective of men in western Iran.","authors":"Javad Yoosefi Lebni, Ahmad Ahmadi, Seyed Fahim Irandoost, Mandana Saki","doi":"10.1017/S0021932025000033","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1017/S0021932025000033","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Marriage with teenage girls is an important health and social challenge, which is caused by various factors. Considering that no research has been done to show the reasons for men's desire to marry teenage girls, this research was conducted with the aim of identifying the reasons why men marry teenage girls in western Iran. This qualitative research was conducted with the conventional content analysis approach among 37 men in western Iran who married to girls under the age of 18. Targeted, theoretical, and snowball sampling methods were used to reach the participants. To collect data, semi-structured interviews were used both in-person (20 people) and online (17 people). Data analysis was done with Graneheim and Lundman approach and checking the accuracy and strength of the results with Guba and Lincoln criteria. One core category, 9 subcategories, and 88 initial codes were obtained from the data analysis. The core category, foresight along with desired upbringing, included the subcategories of getting sure of purity, to bring up the girl, seeking sexual pleasure, dominating the wife, low expectations, appropriate fertility, encouragement of social organizations and families, following models, and cultural beliefs. The reasons for men marrying teenage girls are rooted in personality traits, family encouragement, and the cultural and social context of the society. Marriage with teenage girls can be prevented by intervening at different levels and taking measures such as training and raising men's awareness about the consequences of marrying teenage girls, changing men's cultural and gender beliefs, raising the awareness of parents and social organizations about the adverse effects of child marriage, and establishing appropriate laws.</p>","PeriodicalId":47742,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Biosocial Science","volume":" ","pages":"1-16"},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2025-02-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143517063","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"社会学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Covert contraceptive use among women with a previous unintended pregnancy in Nigeria: A multilevel investigation of individual- and contextual-level factors.","authors":"Otobo I Ujah, Jason L Salemi, Rachel B Rapkin, William Sappenfield, Ellen M Daley, Russell S Kirby","doi":"10.1017/S0021932025000082","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1017/S0021932025000082","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Covert contraceptive use is a strategy to avoid unintended pregnancy. However, evidence regarding the multilevel factors linking past experiences of unintended pregnancy with covert contraceptive use is limited. The objective of this study was to identify the compositional and contextual factors associated with covert contraceptive use among women with a prior unintended pregnancy. Framed by the socio-ecological model, a cross-sectional study was conducted using data from Round 5 of the Performance Monitoring and Accountability 2020 project in Nigeria. Non-pregnant women aged 15-49 years who reported a previous mistimed or unwanted pregnancy were included (N = 1631). Multilevel logistic regression models with random intercepts were specified to investigate the relationship between covert contraceptive use and compositional and contextual factors. Approximately 4.54% (95% CI = 3.28-6.25) of women reported covert contraceptive use. At the individual level, having less than secondary education (aOR = 5.88, 95% CI = 1.20-28.72) and being single (aOR = 11.29, 95% CI = 2.93-43.56) were associated with higher odds of covert contraceptive use. There was no significant association between covert contraceptive use and the type of unintended pregnancy (mistimed: aOR = 3.13, 95% CI = 0.88-11.13). At the community level, living in a community with average poverty levels (aOR = 6.18, 95% CI = 1.18-32.55) and high exposure to family planning mass media (aOR = 6.84, 95% CI = 1.62-29.11) were associated with higher odds of covert contraceptive use. Measures of variation showed significant variation in covert contraceptive use across communities. Further research is warranted to better understand the underlying mechanisms in these observed associations and variations in covert contraceptive use among women following the experience of an unintended pregnancy. Additionally, there is a need to design family planning strategies that integrate community-level structures.</p>","PeriodicalId":47742,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Biosocial Science","volume":" ","pages":"1-18"},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2025-02-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143494244","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"社会学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Flushed with success: how participation in social schemes influences toilet adoption in rural India.","authors":"Malvika Tyagi, Deepak Kumar, Malik Altaf Hussain, Md Tajuddin Khan","doi":"10.1017/S0021932025000057","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1017/S0021932025000057","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Despite significant public health investments, rural India's sanitation challenges persist, raising questions about effective intervention strategies. This study investigates the influence of participation in social schemes on household sanitation behaviours, specifically toilet adoption and soap usage. Using panel data from the India Human Development Survey (2004-05 and 2011-12), a Linear Probability Model with Propensity Score Matching is employed to address potential selection bias. Results indicate that scheme participation increases toilet adoption by 45.5% and soap usage by 13.8%, with effects varying by socio-economic status, demographic characteristics, and local infrastructure. Particularly strong impacts are observed among historically disadvantaged communities, suggesting that social schemes can effectively reduce sanitation inequities. The spillover effect on soap usage indicates these interventions may catalyse broader hygiene behaviour changes. The findings highlight the value of social schemes in improving rural sanitation practices and offer insights for future programme design.</p>","PeriodicalId":47742,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Biosocial Science","volume":" ","pages":"1-15"},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2025-02-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143460226","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"社会学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Menarche and pubertal progression: a cross-sectional analysis of timing and influencing factors in North-Eastern Ghana.","authors":"Gabriel Ajediwe Alatiah, Fusta Azupogo, Ambrose Atosona, Frederick Vuvor, Matilda Steiner-Asiedu, Inge D Brouwer","doi":"10.1017/S0021932025000021","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1017/S0021932025000021","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Menarche and pubertal onset vary across populations but understanding age-at-menarche (AAM) and pubertal growth tempo is limited in low-income settings. Identifying factors influencing pubertal development is vital for creating targeted health and education programmes supporting adolescent girls' well-being. Baseline data (<i>n</i> = 1045) from the Ten2Twenty-Ghana study were analysed to examine menarche attainment, pubertal development, AAM, and the associated factors among girls aged 10-17 years in the Mion district, Ghana. The data collection methods included anthropometry, body composition, haemoglobin status, a qualitative 24-hour dietary recall, a food frequency questionnaire, and a pubertal development score (PDS). Binary logistic and linear regression analyses were used to model odds ratios for menarche attainment and regression coefficients for AAM and PDS. About 19.9% of the girls had experienced menarche, with a mean AAM of 13.4 ± 1.5 years. Among post-menarche girls (n = 205/1045), 12.2% and 15.1% experienced early (AAM < 12 years) and late menarche (AAM < 15 years), respectively. The mean PDS was 1.8 ± 0.7 out of 4. Among the adolescent girls, 36.2% were prepubertal, 17.0% early -pubertal, 18.6% mid-pubertal, 27.9% late pubertal, and less than 1% were in the post-pubertal stage. An increase in fat mass (FM), fat-free mass (FFM), height-for-age-z-score (HAZ), and body mass index-for-age-z-score (BAZ) was observed with puberty progression, but a steep decline in HAZ was noticed for girls in late puberty, increasing again post-puberty. Being older (adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 2.06, 95% C.I.: 1.83, 2.31), stunted (AOR= 0.20, 95% C.I.: 0.10, 0.40), thin (AOR = 0.30, 95% C.I.: 0.11, 0.80), and overweight/obese (AOR = 7.29, 95% C.I.: 2.60, 20.43) were the significant predictors of menarche attainment. Being older (β = 0.39, <i>P</i> < 0.0001), stunted (β= -0.92, <i>P</i> = 0.01), thin (β = 1.25, <i>P</i> = 0.01), and having a literate mother (β = -0.72, <i>P</i> = 0.03) were significantly associated with AMM. A higher HAZ, FM, FFM, age, and Konkomba ethnicity were positively associated with higher PDS. This study highlights the complexity of factors influencing menarche and pubertal development. These insights are essential for developing targeted health and educational programmes that address nutritional and socio-demographic disparities to promote adolescent girls' well-being and healthy pubertal development.</p>","PeriodicalId":47742,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Biosocial Science","volume":" ","pages":"1-21"},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2025-02-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143383757","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"社会学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Navigating the currents: understanding awareness, attitudes, and menstrual hygiene management challenges in Bangladesh's Haor Region.","authors":"Abdul Basit, Omme Same Antu, Mahfuzul Mithun, Mohammad Shafiqul Islam","doi":"10.1017/S0021932024000415","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1017/S0021932024000415","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Menstrual hygiene management (MHM) is an important but often neglected aspect of women's health worldwide, especially in developing and disaster-prone countries, such as Bangladesh. This qualitative study aimed to investigate awareness, attitudes, and practices related to MHM among girls in the Haor region, particularly during floods. The study adopts a phenomenological approach, and data were collected using purposive sampling from 33 women aged 15 years and above who resided in the Haor region. Thematic analysis was employed to identify the patterns, themes, and subthemes within the qualitative data. The study reveals a significant lack of widespread knowledge about menstruation among girls in the Haor area, which is associated with unfavourable family and social attitudes, and stigma or taboos. Natural hazards, cultural barriers, access to the market, economic incapacity, and inadequate infrastructure make it very difficult to manage menstruation, which is especially aggravated during floods due to displacement and shelter on the roadside, primary schools, and other people's houses. This research emphasises the need for tailored MHM programmes from the government to address the unique challenges faced by women in Haor regions. Provision of sanitary napkins and essential medicines, maintaining stock in shelters, and equipping community clinics with MHM-related healthcare services are essential. Finally, NGOs should prioritise MH within their scope of work.</p>","PeriodicalId":47742,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Biosocial Science","volume":" ","pages":"1-18"},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2025-02-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143123838","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"社会学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}