Indian Journal of Health Social Work
(UGC Care List Journal)
Menu
CURRENT ISSUE
Volume 6 | Issue 2 | July-December, 2024
Editorial
STRENGTHENING HEALTH SOCIAL WORK IN POST-PANDEMIC INDIA
Health social work in India stands at a pivotal
juncture. The COVID-19 pandemic and
subsequent societal shifts have both strained
and inspired our profession. We have
encountered increased mental health needs,
the burden of chronic diseases, and persistent
health inequities. Yet, the resilience and
innovation within the social work community
have been remarkable. This editorial outline
the pressing issues and promising
developments in Indian health social work,
setting the context for the articles in this
issue.
- 15 Dec 2024
- 9:45 am
Review Article
A SCOPING REVIEW OF THE EXPERIENCES OF WOMEN TO WOMEN BULLYING IN WORKSPACES
Bullying among women at the workplace is not
as uncommon and a rare occurrence as it may
seem, it is a worryingly common phenomenon
that demands our immediate attention. Its
adverse effects have ramifications for the
entire organization, making it a pressing
concern for all. Power dynamics at work are
not limited to one’s status or position within
an organization but it extends to the
positionality of an individual within the social
matrix of the workspace. This positionality is
a key factor in how bullying manifests in the
behavioural pattern of the individuals and
their subsequent interactions with their
colleagues at the workplace. At its core,
bullying is the use of intimidating tactics to
assert dominance, ranging from verbal
aggression and threats to physical abuse and
coercion. Workplace bullying is a
dehumanizing process that revolves around
power and control and this behaviour fosters
an extremely non-conducive environment
where employees feel unsafe, undermined,
and unable to flourish professionally.
- 15 Dec 2024
- 9:45 am
Understanding the Psycho-Social Challenges Faced by Deafblind Individuals: A Systematic Scoping Review
Deafblindness is a complex condition
characterized by the simultaneous impairment
of both hearing and vision (Kennedy & Smith,
2010). This dual sensory loss significantly
impacts communication, access to
information, and overall quality of life. It is
crucial to recognize that deafblindness is a
unique disability, distinct from the sum of its
individual components (Kennedy & Smith,
2010).
The National Association for the Deaf-Blind
(NADB) defines deafblindness as a
combination of hearing and visual
impairments so severe that it cannot be
accommodated by programs solely for deaf
or blind individuals (NADB, 2023). This
emphasizes the specialized needs of
individuals with deafblindness and the necessity for tailored educational and support
services.
Deafblindness can be categorized as
congenital or acquired. Congenital
deafblindness occurs at birth, often due to
genetic factors or prenatal infections
(Kennedy & Smith, 2010; World Federation
of Deafblind, 2018).
- 15 Dec 2024
- 9:45 am
ORIGINAL Articles
ADVANCING HEALTH EQUITY IN INDIA: THE INTERSECTION OF SOCIAL WORK AND POLICY PRACTICE
Health equity, a cornerstone of social justice
(Carter, 2023), is an essential attribute of
social justice and is still a dream for many in
India, showing sharp socio-economic
disparities. The struggle for health equity has
to be multi-pronged, where professional
practice and policy formulation must go hand
in hand (Heyman & MSW, 2018). The
following article highlights the critical
intersection of social work and policy practice
for advancing health equity in India. Deepseated social and economic inequities pose
formidable challenges for India in attaining
health equity. Socioeconomic variables of
income, education, and geography are the
dominant factors influencing health status.
Hence, the significant causes of disease and
early deaths descend upon the most
vulnerable population groups. The people of
India are spread out across a wide income
distribution curve, with a majority living below
the poverty line. Poverty is, therefore,
inextricably tied to poor health outcomes
since food, water, and waste management are strongly associated. Education plays a
fundamental role in health literacy and proper
self-care practices.
- 15 Dec 2024
- 9:45 am
MEDIATING ROLE OF ACCEPTANCE ON PARENTAL STRESS AND COPING AMONG PARENTS HAVING CHILDREN WITH AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDER
Parents having child with disability undergo
lot of stressors due to multiple challenges
while rearing the child like facing stigma from
the society, long term therapy procedures,
and difficulty in accessibility of services. While
the Parental stress among parents having
children with disability has been well
established, the stress among Parents having
children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)
has been more when compared to than those
of with typical children and other disability. It
has been reported that Parents of children
with ASD have more stress compared to those
with typical children and also than having
children with Down Syndrome (A. dwska & E.
Pisula., 2010, L. Abbeduto et al.., 2004).
Parents of children with Autism face many
challenges as Autism remains undiagnosed
late or until preschool years (Beauchesne &
Kelley, 2004) and due to the associated
symptoms such as impairment in social
communication skills and restricted or
repetitive behaviors (Gabriels, R. L.,2005). In
a very recent study done by Dijkstra-de Neijs,
L (2024), he has reported that Parents of
children with ASD have more psychological
distress and poor quality of life. Although
there is no proven cure for autism, the
treatment of Autism includes long term
multiple therapy procedures to improve the
overall functional status of the child by
promoting development of communication,
social, adaptive, behavioral, and academic
skills as well as lessening maladaptive and
repetitive behaviors.
- 15 Dec 2024
- 9:45 am
MATERNAL STATUS AS A MODERATOR OF THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE AND QUALITY OF LIFE AMONG MOTHERS
Raising children is an arduous responsibility.
Motherhood is often called the most
challenging and most rewarding job. Having
children gives mothers a sense of purpose and
significance and places many demanding
obligations on them throughout their adult
years (Nomaguchi & Milkie, 2020). The
experience of motherhood involves a wide
range of obstacles and moments of happiness,
which significantly impact both the mothers
and their families’ overall happiness. In
today’s society, the role of mothers has
expanded beyond traditional domestic
responsibilities, with a growing focus on their
emotional intelligence and how it affects their
overall well-being. However, in this complex
network of factors, the impact of being a
parent, whether as a single mother or a
partnered mother, has been identified as an
essential but not extensively studied variable.
In India, the occurrence of single-parent
families varies from 5% to 12%, as reported by Kramer (2019), Pandit (2019), and the U.S.
Census Bureau (2023). Single parents,
especially single mothers, belong to a socially
and economically disadvantaged category that
faces the possibility of experiencing a range
of physical and mental health issues.
- 15 Dec 2024
- 9:45 am
MOTIVATIONAL DETERMINANTS OF CAREGIVERS AND THE ROLE OF MULTIDISCIPLINARY TEAMS IN HEALTH CARE
Care is a fundamental aspect in human
relationships. Providing physical or emotional
support and care for people in need is the
vital role of helping professionals (Gibelman
& Margaret, 1999). Being sensitive, becoming
responsible, providing comfort & respect and
actively listening are some of the caring
behaviours (Tabers, 1993). Caregiving
professionals might have entered into a
helping profession with an idealistic goal to
serve others. The list of professions with
caring behaviours are endless.
Health care centres, especially Palliative care,
are intended to enhance the quality of life
among patients with life threatening diseases
and their immediate family members (World
Health Organization, 1997). Such centres
address psychosocial and spiritual distress
beyond the physical symptoms faced by
terminally ill patients (Saunders, 2001). The
caregivers play a foremost role in a patient’s
physical and mental wellbeing at such centres as they provide holistic care to the patients
(Choi S & Seo J, 2019). Their role is broader,
since they are involved in constant and close
proximity with the patients as well as family
members during the life- death transition
(Reigada C., Pais-Ribeiro, Novella, Gonclaves
2015).
- 15 Dec 2024
- 9:45 am
TRENDS IN INFANT FEEDING PRACTICES: UNDERSTANDING MATERNAL CHOICES
Infant feeding practices generally meet the
baby’s nutritional and immunological needs.
World Health Organization and UNICEF
recommend a global strategy, i.e., early
initiation of breastfeeding within one hour of
birth and exclusive breastfeeding for the first
six months. Supplementary foods that are safe
and nutritious are introduced at six months
of age, and breastfeeding is maintained until
the child is two years old or older.
Breastfeeding has a beneficial effect on the
health of women.
Breastfeeding helps lose pregnancy weight
faster (Kramer & Kakuma, 2012; Baker et al.,
2008; Sanusi & Falana, 2013). A study
revealed that breastfed women lose 4.4
kilograms in a year, compared to 2.4 kilograms for non-breastfeeding women
(P<0.5) (Dewey et al., 1993). This underlines
the effectiveness of breastfeeding, especially
if practiced exclusively in the first six months,
in reducing weight gain during pregnancy.
Breastfeeding promotes uterine contraction,
thereby reducing blood loss after delivery and
promoting uterine involution (NRDC, 2005).
Breastfeeding reduces the risk of type 2
diabetes and cardiovascular diseases
(Davis et al., 2012). It also lowers the risk of
breast, endometrial, and ovarian cancers
(Labbok, 2001; NRDC, 2005; Centre for
Community Child Health, 2006; Huo,
Adebamowo, 2008; Sule, 2011; Davis et al.,
2012).
- 15 Dec 2024
- 9:45 am
NAVIGATING DISRUPTIONS: INDIAN SOCIAL WORK STUDENTS’ FIELDWORK EXPERIENCES DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC
In December 2019, highly contagious virus
identified as COVID-19, emerged and rapidly
spread to multiple countries, catching the
world unprepared. The World Health
Organization (WHO) declared it a pandemic,
urging nations to take immediate action. To
curb the spread of the virus, governments
implemented restrictions on movement,
including widespread lockdowns. The
pandemic and subsequent lockdowns
significantly impacted social work education
both in India and globally (Mishra et al., 2022;
Saumya & Singh, 2022). It reshaped both the
teaching and practice of social work, as
schools and colleges closed, suspended inperson classes, disrupting students’ education globally and students transitioned to online
learning (Azman et al., 2020; Rahman, 2020),
presenting a major shift for everyone involved
in the field.
Fieldwork is a crucial aspect of social work
education, enabling students to acquire the
necessary skills and understanding to fulfill
their roles effectively. However, the COVID19 pandemic posed significant challenges,
leading to the suspension of fieldwork for
many students until the next academic term.
- 15 Dec 2024
- 9:45 am
Brief COmmunication
MENTAL HEALTH AND SOCIAL WELLBEING OF OLDER ADULTS: PERSPECTIVES FROM COVID-19 PANDEMIC
As the world population grows, a major part
of it grows old as well. The growing elderly
population brings forth the issue of geriatric
mental health, which has become a major
public health concern around the world. A
report by the World Health Organization
(WHO) in 2004 stated that the prevalence of
depression in persons aged 60 years was 0.5
million in developed countries alone. Further,
it also reported 4.8 million such cases in the
developing countries. Interestingly, increased
life expectancy in India has resulted in an
increase in the older adult population between
2001 and 2011, which is anticipated to reach
324 million by 2050 (United Nations
Department of Economic and Social Affairs,
Population Division, 2020).
- 15 Dec 2024
- 9:45 am
Case reports
FAMILY CASEWORK WITH A PERSON HAVING RECURRENT DEPRESSIVE DISORDER WITH DISSOCIATIVE FUGUE AND MARITAL CONFLICT
Depression is considered as a common mental
health condition and 350 million people in the
globe suffer from depression, according to
the World Health Organization, and it accounts
for a higher burden according to years lost to
disability(YLD) (Smith, 2014). Depression is
a mood disorder with the symptoms of low
mood, loss of interest in all activity, decrease or increase in appetite almost all day, fatigue
or loss of energy, and feeling of worthlessness
that lasts for more than two weeks (American
Psychiatric Association, 2013). Recurrent
depressive disorder is a condition where at
least two depressive episodes should occur
with several-month gaps without any mood
disturbances (WHO, 2019). Major depressive
disorder is a mental illness that may have high
comorbidities (Hardeveld et al., 2009).
Dissociative fugue, formerly called
psychogenic fugue, is a group of psychiatric
conditions called dissociative disorders.
Dissociative fugue is the disruption of the
integration of consciousness, memory,
perception, identity, or emotion of the person
(Igwe, 2013).
- 15 Dec 2024
- 9:45 am
Exploring the Psychosocial Dynamics of Parental Pressure, Academic Stress, and Depression: A Case Study Analysis
Adolescence is a critical developmental stage
characterized by extensive changes and
heightened vulnerability to psychological
disorders such as anxiety and
depression(Sawyer, Azzopardi,
Wickremarathne, Patton, 2018 & McCanceKatz, 2018). This vulnerability is exacerbated
by academic pressures and high-stress family
environments, which contribute significantly
to the risk of mental health issues, including
suicidal ideation. Parenting styles marked by
inconsistency, harsh discipline, and emotional
detachment further complicate adolescents’
emotional and social development, negatively
affecting their academic performance and
social relationships. Despite the availability of
treatments like cognitive-behavioural therapy
(CBT) (Hofmannet, 2012). and mindfulness based cognitive therapy (MBCT) (Goldberg et
al.,2018 & Strauss et al.,2014) which have
been proven effective in managing symptoms
of depression and anxiety, there is a notable
deficiency in interventions specifically tailored
to address the unique challenges faced by
adolescents dealing with academic and
familial stress The intervention intends to
reduce stress and enhance overall
psychological well-being by addressing the
specific psychosocial factors that impact this
age group.
- 15 Dec 2024
- 9:45 am
IMPORTANCE OF CAUSATION IN TRAUMATIC OSTEOARTHRITIS OF KNEE: AN EVIDENCE BASED CASE REPORT
Osteoarthritis (OA) is a prevalent
degenerative joint disorder characterized by
cartilage degradation, subchondral bone
remodeling, and synovial inflammation. It
primarily affects weight-bearing joints,
causing pain, stiffness, joint effusion, and
functional impairment. Aging, genetic
predisposition, biomechanical stress,
metabolic dysregulation, and inflammatory
mediators contribute to OA development
(Felson & Zhang, 1998; Felson et al.,
2008).The pathogenesis of OA involves
abnormal chondrocyte metabolism,
imbalanced extracellular matrix turnover,
oxidative stress, and inflammation, with
cytokines such as IL-1â and TNF-á playing key
roles (Felson et al., 2000; Abramson & Attur,
2009). Recent research highlights the
influence of epigenetics, mitochondrial
dysfunction, and dysregulated autophagy in
OA progression (Bijlsma et al., 2011).
Management options are mainly palliative,
including lifestyle modifications, physical
therapy, analgesics, NSAIDs, corticosteroid
injections, and viscosupplementation
(Hochberg et al., 2012). However, challenges persist due to delayed diagnosis, limited
treatment efficacy, and the lack of diseasemodifying therapies.
- 15 Dec 2024
- 9:45 am
INSTRUCTION FOR AUTHORS
The “Indian Journal of Health Social Work” is a biannual E-journal which will be published in the month
of January and July in every year. The Indian Journal
of Health Social Work is an official publication of All
India Association of Medical Social Work Professionals
(AIAMSWP). The journal accepts original research
work, review articles, case reports, commentary,
forum, & brief communication related to social work
practice in health care.
- 15 Dec 2024
- 9:45 am
ISSN: 2582-1393 (online)
UGC Care List Journal