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    "Plaster Solutions" - Providing support for children residing in emergency housing in Hamilton, New Zealand
    (Elsevier B.V., 2024-07-23) Williams B; Murray L; Erueti B
    Since the COVID-19 pandemic, motels have become increasingly used as sites for emergency accommodation in Aotearoa New Zealand. Consequently, children now reside in motel rooms intended for seven day emergency stays for much longer periods of time. Ten key-informant interviews were conducted with service providers supporting children residing in motels in the Waikato region. Thematic analysis generated five themes relating to child wellbeing: 1.) Living conditions, 2.) Physical and psychological safety, 3.) Inappropriateness of existing service models, 4.) Disjointed collaboration between service providers, and 5.) Imagining emergency motels as a “site to build strengths”. The findings suggest the motel environment restricted children’s access to nutrition, safe physical activity and health care. In addition, proximity to adult residents could increase exposure to adverse experiences. Participants suggested creative ways to collaborate and use motel facilities to build family strengths. However ultimately, long stays in emergency housing motels create an environment where systemic barriers to child health, development and education are likely to be entrenched rather than alleviated. Initiatives that significantly reduce the time children spend in motels, and appropriate support for children in these contexts are urgently required to prevent widening health inequities for the “motel generation”.
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    Parental utilisation of child medical care : a grounded theory approach : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Psychology at Massey University
    (Massey University, 2002) Martin, Melanie F.
    Within New Zealand, child medical care use is a prevalent source of concern with current medical care utilisation rates considered inadequate to achieve optimal child health. Although previous research into child medical care use has made a valuable contribution to understanding in this area, such research is plagued by various limitations that indicate the need for further research adopting a different approach. This study draws on a social constructionist perspective and grounded theory methods to investigate parents' talk surrounding child medical care use. The study investigates how parents construct their seeking treatment and prevention of childhood illness and disease from a medical practitioner or nurse looking at, in particular, seeking medical treatment for childhood illness, the use of Well Child checks, and childhood immunization. Individual semi-structured interviews were conducted to explore how parents construct the complex process of child medical care use. The findings indicate that child medical care use, in the form of treatment-seeking and the utilisation of Well Child services, is constructed as two distinct but similar processes. Generally, the findings demonstrate that such child medical care use comprises parents constantly negotiating various issues and concerns characterised by tension, conflict, and dilemma. These issues and concerns consist of doing the 'right' thing, the risk of medicines and immunisations, practical barriers to seeking care, competing demands and priorities, and social expectations and social pressure. These issues and concerns arise - and are resolved - within the wider context of parents trying to be 'good parents', trying to preserve child health (not just treat illness), the immediate environment surrounding treatment-seeking, parents trying to fulfil social roles - and individual and socially shared understandings of, for example, medicines. More broadly, child medical care use is conceptualised as a socially based decision-making process that takes place within a social context in which child health, illness, and disease are medicalised, and within which parents are trying to do the right thing for the child. The findings from this study contribute to knowledge and understanding in this area in a number of ways. These are discussed, along with the implications of these findings, and recommendations for future research are made.
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    He whakaturanga mo te hauora tamariki : a picture of child health : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Maori Studies at Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand
    (Massey University, 2008) Waldon, John Allan
    This research investigated the use of a self administrated health assessment questionnaire by children, and the significance of the translation from the source instrument (in English) into te reo Maori. The translation of a child health questionnaire was undertaken to produce a health survey tool that could be completed by a child over the age of 8 years in English or in te reo Maori. The questionnaire was pre-tested then used in a survey to determine both reliability and validity. The parents and caregivers of the children surveyed were also interviewed. The parent’s responses were compared with those of their children. The research undertaken has provided a new opportunity for children to take a central role in research into their own health. Children contributed as key experts, focus group participants and translators of the child questionnaire, alongside adults in some cases. Children provided a new perspective of their health and well-being by translating the questionnaire. This child-centred process added depth to the research of questionnaire validation and testing. The questionnaire was shown to perform adequately as a survey tool. New research is required in order to theorise beyond the questionnaire’s original two-factor conceptual model and to develop clinical and public health applications using a child-centred research process. The translation provided by the children demonstrated they are informed participants, who have an interest in their own health, are reliable and understand their health in a different manner to adults. This thesis argues that the direct and full involvement of participants in research that is designed to investigate their health is critical if new knowledge is to emerge. It also concludes the self administered questionnaire can be useful tools to understand the health of Maori speaking children.
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    What underpins success in a health promoting school in Northeastern Thailand? : a thesis presented in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Nursing at Massey University
    (Massey University, 2008) Chamusri, Somsaowanuch
    A Health Promoting School (HPS) approach is now widely accepted internationally, with a focus on children’s health, the school curriculum, and whole school environment. In Thailand, the health and well-being of children is a fundamental value. HPS programmes have been implemented in schools as a strategy to focus on young people’s health. A number of barriers to successful HPS have been identified. While there is international evidence to show the steps and the key factors in creating successful HPS, little is known about successful HPS in the Thai context, in particular, in Northeastern Thailand which has been classified the poorest region. Ethnographic methods were used to examine what understanding of the meaning of HPS is necessary for a successful school, and how all those involved acted from the adoption of the HPS programmes by the local school until it achieved HPS status. A rural school which was successful in a HPS programme was selected, in Mahasarakham province, Northeastern Thailand. The data were obtained through participant observation, ethnographic interviews, and ethnographic records, and data analysis took place simultaneously with data collection. In this study, Lofland’s strategy for the analysis of the structure of human interaction was used. A variety of techniques for improving and documenting the credibility of the study such as prolonged engagement, persistent observation, and triangulation were used. This research revealed that the informants’ views reflected diverse understandings of the meaning of HPS. Those views were based on their experiences of HPS which differed according to the degree of participation, different levels of knowledge about HPS, and in the roles they played in the implementation of HPS in the school. Thai culture and school ethos influenced the success of HPS. Community participation was also crucial in supporting the school’s achievement. Key factors that underpinned success are identified. Implications of the findings for the HPS programme, health professionals, the school and community are discussed.