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Abstract Objective This study aimed to determine the prevalence and establish some risk factors associated with the acquisition of gastrointestinal parasitic infections in school children in Accra, Ghana. Results The overall prevalence of intestinal parasitic infection was 15%. Giardia lamblia (10%) and Schistosoma mansoni (1.7%) were the common parasites found. Out of the 15% students postive for intestinal parasites, 13.6% had single parasites and 1.3% had double parasitic infections. Children between the ages of 4–5 and 6–7 years (20% each) had the most parasitic infections. The prevalence of intestinal parasitic infection was not significantly related to gender (p = 0.1451), and source of drinking water (p = 0.8832). However, a statistically significant association between children infected with parasites and close proximity to domestic animals or pets was observed (p = 0.0284). Continuous education on personal hygiene, environmental sanitation and deworming of domestic animals or pets are required to reduce the prevalence of intestinal parasites in school children in Accra.

Objective: It is now well documented that satisfaction with mental health services is influenced by a variety of other factors (e.g., race, diagnosis, functioning level). Because of a generally brighter outlook, this study examined whether care satisfaction is also influenced by contentment in housing, social relations, or existence in general. Method: Data were collected from 264 individuals with schizophrenia who were discharged from psychiatric hospitals into community services (M = 37 years of age, SD = 9.41, 61% male). Results: Satisfaction with services was determined partially by satisfaction with housing and interpersonal relations even after accounting for the influence of age, gender, race, and level of functioning. The association was statistically significant in inpatient and outpatient care. Conclusion: Future satisfaction assessments in social work research and practice may need to account for contentment with other areas of life.

This study was an investigation of intergenerational relationships related to the individuation process as reported by Mexican (N = 2,388) and European American (N = 2,907) adolescents. The primary aim was to examine the construct within theories of adolescent development that emotional separation in parent-adolescent relationships is an inherent aspect of the developmental process that occurs across the two ethnic groups. The authors conducted confirmatory factor analyses on a subscale INFUS of an instrument developed to measure family process, the Personal Authority in the Family System Questionnaire (PAFS-Q) developed by Bray, Williamson, and Malone. In sum, findings indicate: (1) the need for better measurement testing; (2) the need to revisit the concept of autonomy from the family as a universal task during adolescent development; and (3) caution in the clinical use of concepts such as fusion and independence when delivering mental health services to Mexican adolescents and their families.

Objectives. We compared the influence of substance abuse with that of other comorbidities (e.g., anxiety, HIV) among people with mood disorder (N = 129524) to explore risk factors for psychiatric hospitalization and early readmission within 3 months of discharge. Methods. After linking Medicaid claims data in 5 states (California, Florida, New Jersey, New York, and Texas) to community-level information, we used logistic and Cox regression to examine hospitalization risk factors. Results. Twenty-four percent of beneficiaries with mood disorder were hospitalized. Of these, 24% were rehospitalized after discharge. Those with comorbid substance abuse accounted for 36% of all baseline hospitalizations and half of all readmissions. Conclusions. Results highlight the need for increased and sustained funding for the treatment of comorbid substance abuse and mood disorder, and for enhanced partnership between mental health and substance abuse professionals. doi:10.2105/AJPH.2007.133249)

Three months after inpatient discharge, quality of life was examined in 259 individuals with schizophrenia. As in findings by Lehman, Rachuba, and Postrado (1995), Black participants reported a higher quality than Whites after controlling for gender, degree of psychopathology, functioning level, substance abuse, and baseline life quality. Implications are discussed.

This longitudinal study of 246 individuals with schizophrenia examined family involvement and satisfaction with outpatient care after three months of psychiatric hospital discharge. Almost 10% of the individuals reported being dissatisfied with care. Controlling for demographic variables, individuals whose family members were not helped to cope with the mental illness had almost seven times the odds of being dissatisfied. Because care disapproval increases re-hospitalization risk (Druss, Rosenheek, & Stolar, 1999), suggestions are offered for how to facilitate kin coping. KEY WORDS: satisfaction; family; schizophrenia; community mental health.