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Obtaining external funding has become increasingly difficult for Canadian researchers in the social sciences and humanities. Our literature review suggests that grant-writing groups and workshops make an important contribution to increasing both applications for external funding and success in funding competitions. This article describes an 8-month grant-writing group for 14 social scientists in a mid-sized Canadian university. The goal was to increase applications and successes in funding competitions. The group integrated several strategies perceived by Porter (2011b) to encourage more and better grant proposals: offering "homegrown" workshops that were ongoing rather than occasional, sharing successful proposals, coaching and editing, bringing together emerging researchers with established ones, and placing participants in reviewers' shoes. These strategies were combined in a series of monthly sessions that required participants to write each section of a grant proposal and share it with others for feedback. Participants perceived this approach to work well; it appeared to provide useful feedback and examples, and develop a sense of accountability and community. The number of applications submitted for funding increased 80% from the funding cycle just prior to the group (2013-2014) to the funding cycle during or immediately after the group (2015-2016). The rate of success in obtaining funds from internal and external grant submissions increased from 33% to 50% over this same time period. The greatest increase in submissions and success were experienced by emerging and alternative academic researchers. From their program evaluation, authors conclude that grant-writing groups are a useful way to build researcher confidence and commitment to submitting proposals to funding competitions and contribute to success, especially for researchers with limited experience in such competitions.

Academic entitlement, a term that defines students' expectations of academic success independent of performance, has been linked with a number of maladaptive behaviors. This study examined the potential relationship between academic entitlement and prospective workplace entitlement in a sample of Canadian students (N=1024) using an online survey. Multivariate analyses produced a significant (p<0.05) positive relationship between academic entitlement and prospective workplace entitlement. Graduate students had higher levels of prospective workplace entitlement than did undergraduates, and those pursuing degrees in Education and Law had significantly lower levels of prospective workplace entitlement than students in other areas of study. Results support a need to develop strategies to minimize entitlement beliefs prior to an individual's entry into the workforce.

Rates of intimate partner violence against women (IPVAW) are higher in urban slums than in other types of human settlements. Although the mitigation of both urban slums and IPVAW fall under the UN's Sustainable Development Goals, there is a paucity of work addressing the interconnection between the two. Using survey and interview data, this study examined how the environment in a Nairobi slum catalyzes IPVAW, elucidating how the slum environment, economic deprivation, cultural norms and women's economic role intersect to exacerbate IPVAW. Evidence indicates the desirability of addressing these connections in development initiatives to address both the slum‐environment and IPVAW. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The question addressed in this paper is whether the beneficial effects of Primary School Action for Better Health (PSABH), an HIV prevention programme delivered in Kenyan primary schools, continue once students move on to secondary schools. Questionnaires were completed in December 2005 and January 2006 by all form 1-3 students in 154 randomly selected secondary schools. Students who had attended primary schools with PSABH programming were compared to those who did not on knowledge, attitudes and behaviours using multivariate regression with controls for gender, school year, religion and financial resources. Students who attended PSABH primary schools were significantly more likely to have higher levels of knowledge and attitudes that were more supportive of sexual restraint, condom use and HIV testing. They were more likely to have used several safer sex practices and to have been tested for HIV. The effects were strongest in the first year of secondary school and decreased thereafter. PSABH continues to have a beneficial effect for students who continue to secondary school. (Contains 7 tables.)

School-based programmes to combat the spread of HIV have been demonstrated to be effective over the short-term (i.e. 6-24 months), but few studies have addressed the sustainability of such interventions. Primary School Action for Better Health (PSABH) is an intervention delivered in upper primary-school grades in Kenya using regular classroom subjects and co-curricular activities. This paper reports results of an evaluation to assess the sustainability of PSABH and its impacts three years after teachers were trained in its delivery. Twenty primary schools participated in a pre-post evaluation of PSABH in Kenya over three consecutive school years. Surveys were completed by teachers (n = 40), pupils (n = 3403), and Quality Assurance Officers (n = 15); focus groups were held with pupils, and in-depth interviews with teachers. Teachers continued to deliver programme components three years after they were trained. Gains demonstrated in pupil knowledge, attitudes and risk-reducing sexual behaviours after one-and-a-half years of programme implementation were replicated in the third year of the intervention with additional gains in attitudes related to condoms and girls' reported use of condoms. These results support the conclusion that PSABH and its impact on student knowledge, attitudes and behaviour is sustainable across at least three school years and three student cohorts. (Contains 1 note and 7 tables.)

One approach in HIV prevention programming targeting youth is to use peer leaders in what is referred to as peer education programming. This paper critically reviews and synthesizes the results and lessons learned from 24 evaluated peer-led programs with an HIV/AIDS risk reduction component that target youth in the communities where they live and are delivered in low- and middle-income countries. Interventions were identified through a comprehensive search of the peer reviewed AIDS-related literature as well as publication lists of major organizations in the UN family that address HIV and AIDS. Our synthesis of study results finds that these programs have demonstrated success in effecting positive change in knowledge and condom use and have demonstrated some success in changing community attitudes and norms. Effects on other sexual behaviors and STI rates were equivocal. We include an overview of characteristics of successful programs, a review of program limitations, and recommendations for the development and implementation of successful community-based peer-led programs in low-income countries. (Contains 5 tables.)

The effectiveness of a multidimensional Canadian sex education programme was evaluated using 240 Grade Nine students. The intervention was offered by representatives from various community groups and involved instructional classes on anatomy/physiology of the reproductive system and sexually transmitted infections, a video and group discussion on healthy relationships, a form of "peer education" and discussion on teen pregnancy and HIV/AIDS, as well as a parent workshop and newsletter on teen sexuality. Respondents in the intervention and control groups completed a self-administered questionnaire at baseline and one month after the programme. Compared with the control group, students in the intervention group showed positive changes in the areas of knowledge, sex-role attitudes, sexual interaction values, and the perception that birth control is important. These results suggest that a collaborative effort of outside professionals from various community organisations and involvement of "peer educators" to provide sexual health education in Grade Nine high school classes may be a useful strategy. (Contains 9 tables and 3 notes.)

In this study a matched intervention-control site design in 14 urban health centers with random selection of 160 participants (80 in each of intervention and control) was used to evaluate a sex education program in Iran. Qualitative methods were used in a needs assessment that also set the content and method of delivery of the program. The intervention consisted of training health providers to deliver a short educational program to female clients. Evaluation questionnaires were completed before and six weeks after the intervention. Analysis of the data showed no significant difference in demographic characteristics of the study and control groups. The program demonstrated a statistically significant impact on knowledge and attitudes. There was also a statistically significant change in intentions and behavior. This study showed that even in societies where people's religious and cultural background and strict rules and laws might seem to make sexual education an impossible task, choosing the location and target population based on cultural norms, and the educational content based on the target group's needs and cultural and religious background, can pave the road to success. (Contains 4 tables and 1 note.)

This study examined the impact of a primary-school HIV education initiative on the knowledge, self-efficacy and sexual and condom use activities of upper primary-school pupils in Kenya. A quasi-experimental mixed qualitative-quantitative pre- and 18-month post-design using 40 intervention and 40 matched control schools demonstrated significant program impact on targeted objectives of (1) adequate program delivery and, for standard 6 and 7 pupils (ages 11-16 years), (2) increased HIV-related knowledge; (3) increased communication with parents and teachers about HIV and sexuality; (4) increased assistance to fellow pupils to avoid sexual activity; (5) increased self-efficacy related to abstinence and condom use; (6) decreased exposure to HIV through delayed first intercourse, decreased sexual activity and increased condom. Results support the conclusions that the existing infrastructure is adequate for national roll-out of the program; that the program has its most beneficial effect on sexually inexperienced youth and should therefore be implemented with the youngest age groups possible; and that gains are gender specific, with boys reporting increased condom use while girls are more likely to decrease or delay sexual activity. Based on these results, the program began national roll-out to all primary schools in 2005. By June 2006, the program was operating in 11,000 of the country's nearly 19,000 schools. (Contains 6 tables.)

This paper examined the everyday challenges, stressors and coping strategies of orphans affected by HIV/AIDS in Nyanza, Kenya. A thematic analysis of six focus group discussions with orphans was guided by Stress and Coping Theoretical Framework. The orphans reported intense stress at the time of their parents' death with their immediate concern being who would care for them. Most orphans were separated from their siblings, and this separation only compounded the Stressors and difficulties encountered by orphans. Orphans reported having problems with schooling and being treated differently as compared with the children of their caregivers. Orphans adopted various emotion-focused and problem-focused coping strategies, which were reinforced by financial and social support provided by their caregivers and community-based organizations. (Contains 1 table.)

Assesses the current sexual health status of Canadian youth in relation to sexually transmitted diseases, pregnancy rates, and sexual practices, discussing the social and historical context of adolescence and adolescent sexuality in Canada. The paper draws insights from international comparisons of adolescent sexual health indicators and discusses priorities for adolescent sexual health research and promotion. (SM)

Whether Canadian young adults are adjusting their sexual behaviors as advocated in safer-sex guidelines of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) prevention campaigns was studied among 1,334 college students in 1981, 1983, 1985, and 1988. Knowledge about AIDS appeared accurate but was not being translated into effective risk reduction. (SLD)