Degree awarded: Ph.D. Social Work. The Catholic University of America

Presently, 3,280,000 youth in sub-Saharan Africa between the ages of 15-24 are living with HIV (UNAIDS, 2008a). Ghana, Malawi, and Uganda are three sub-Saharan African nations that have started examining the sexual practices of adolescents via population-based studies. These three nations are similar in that each falls into the last quartile on the Human Development Index (HDI) signifying the lowest levels of human development in the world. The study explores how knowledge and persuasion dimensions influence choices in condom use or sexual abstinence among adolescents from Ghana, Malawi, and Uganda. Further, the study examines whether differences exist in adoption of condoms between nations. In testing the three hypotheses of this study on adoption of condom use and sexual abstinence by adolescents, binary logistic regression and analysis of covariance were utilized. Scale development and instrument reliability were examined through Cronbach alphas and item deletion. The first binary logistic regression model demonstrated that when controlling for background variables, family planning, condom knowledge and efficacy, and media intervention on family planning and HIV prevention increased the likelihood of condom use. In the second binary logistic regression model, family planning, AIDS knowledge, and pressure from family to remain sexually abstinent were statistically significant in the odds on sexual abstinence when controlling for background variables. The testing of the third hypothesis showed that Uganda had a higher mean for condom utilization compared to Ghana and Malawi but only the mean difference between Uganda and Ghana was statistically significant. Implications for macro, mezzo, and micro-level social work practice are discussed. Additional attention was given to macro-level social work practice due to international social development modeling which is most appropriately practiced at the macro-level involving both social policy and community practice. There are four main areas of social policy that the findings from this study can influence: AIDS, family, education, and labor. Implications for community practice in addressing HIV prevention and intervention among adolescents involve community development and community organizing. Implications for social work groupwork were explored as much community organization involves mezzo-level social work practice through the use of small groups.

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Degree awarded: Ph.D. Social Work. The Catholic University of America

For people who are experiencing financial hardship, a cancer diagnosis can be devastating. For others, cancer may exacerbate financial stress, thereby influencing their livelihoods and their ability to maintain employment benefits (including health insurance), manage financial obligations, and participate meaningfully in cancer treatment. Financial quality of life is conceptualized here as the ability to manage all current obligations related to cancer care, within the context of sound health-care decision making. The purpose of this mixed methods study is to examine this concept in an availability sample of 90 cancer patients. In the quantitative portion, the variables that are hypothesized to affect financial quality of life include housing stability; one's sense of personal control within the larger context of health locus of control; demographic information; income/financial stress; health insurance adequacy; perceived barriers to care; social support; cancer diagnosis and acuity; and perceived ability to participate meaningfully in treatment. These variables fit within the adapted behavioral model for vulnerable populations by Gelberg, Andersen, and Leake (2000). The study is also underpinned philosophically by the difference and opportunity principles of John Rawls (1971, 1999). Bivariate correlations were examined, and multivariate analysis (ordinary least squares) was used to examine the impact of all the predictor variables on the criterion variable. The qualitative portion was an interview with seven participants from the quantitative portion. Content analysis was used to elicit the themes expressed. There were significant correlations between financial quality of life and age; housing stability; income below $10,000; health insurance adequacy; perceived barriers to care; social support; financial stress (distinct from financial quality of life); and selected aspects of treatment adherence. The multivariate regression analysis found that gender, housing stability, health insurance adequacy; fewer barriers to care; reduced financial stress; and the intentions and support/barriers aspects of treatment adherence are significant predictors of financial quality of life. Themes that emerged from the qualitative analysis (across incomes) revolved around the importance of social support; hope; creative frugality in living within one's means; dedication to treatment; and a strong sense of personal control. The research showed that this theoretical model is useful for future health-related research.

Made available in DSpace on 2012-06-01T16:44:01Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Callahan_cua_0043A_10348display.pdf: 988628 bytes, checksum: e57b21bc8e996f8e6b76d2fc225b8465 (MD5)

Degree awarded: Ph.D. Social Work. The Catholic University of America

For people who are experiencing financial hardship, a cancer diagnosis can be devastating. For others, cancer may exacerbate financial stress, thereby influencing their livelihoods and their ability to maintain employment benefits (including health insurance), manage financial obligations, and participate meaningfully in cancer treatment. Financial quality of life is conceptualized here as the ability to manage all current obligations related to cancer care, within the context of sound health-care decision making. The purpose of this mixed methods study is to examine this concept in an availability sample of 90 cancer patients. In the quantitative portion, the variables that are hypothesized to affect financial quality of life include housing stability; one's sense of personal control within the larger context of health locus of control; demographic information; income/financial stress; health insurance adequacy; perceived barriers to care; social support; cancer diagnosis and acuity; and perceived ability to participate meaningfully in treatment. These variables fit within the adapted behavioral model for vulnerable populations by Gelberg, Andersen, and Leake (2000). The study is also underpinned philosophically by the difference and opportunity principles of John Rawls (1971, 1999). Bivariate correlations were examined, and multivariate analysis (ordinary least squares) was used to examine the impact of all the predictor variables on the criterion variable. The qualitative portion was an interview with seven participants from the quantitative portion. Content analysis was used to elicit the themes expressed. There were significant correlations between financial quality of life and age; housing stability; income below $10,000; health insurance adequacy; perceived barriers to care; social support; financial stress (distinct from financial quality of life); and selected aspects of treatment adherence. The multivariate regression analysis found that gender, housing stability, health insurance adequacy; fewer barriers to care; reduced financial stress; and the intentions and support/barriers aspects of treatment adherence are significant predictors of financial quality of life. Themes that emerged from the qualitative analysis (across incomes) revolved around the importance of social support; hope; creative frugality in living within one's means; dedication to treatment; and a strong sense of personal control. The research showed that this theoretical model is useful for future health-related research.

Made available in DSpace on 2012-06-01T16:44:01Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Callahan_cua_0043A_10348display.pdf: 988628 bytes, checksum: e57b21bc8e996f8e6b76d2fc225b8465 (MD5)

Degree awarded: Ph.D. Religious Education/Catechetics. The Catholic University of America

This dissertation examines the development of the National Catechetical Directory for the Philippines (1985) and the Catechism for Filipino Catholics (1997) as an entry point into the complex issues involved in inculturating catechesis. The study's immediate aims are to investigate what prepared the ground for the creation of the Philippine catechism and directory; to analyze the theological issues encountered throughout the texts' development; and to describe the vision and principles governing both documents. The larger, overall purpose is to draw out implications for understanding catechesis and its inculturation today.Post-Vatican II catechetical renewal in the Philippines began to take shape in the 1950s and `60s as a result of the Second Vatican Council's call for aggiornamento, theinflux of new ideas from the worldwide catechetical movement, and various developments in the local ecclesial scene. One tangible result of this renewal is the shift from the long established trend of importing catechetical texts from abroad, to the creation of more local, inculturated materials. The development of both the National Catechetical Directory for the Philippines and the Catechism for Filipino Catholics offers a glimpse into the process of inculturating catechesis and brings to light its challenges. In analyzing the texts' drafts and dossiers, this study uncovers differing theological tendencies and inherent tensions within both inculturation and catechesis as the major sources of conflict in the approval process. In describing and articulating the documents' vision and principles, this study finds the notion of integration to be the leitmotif and central theme. The dissertation concludes by summarizing the foregoing research and highlighting the following lessons drawn from this history: first, faith can be distinguished from its expression, and plurality in expressions is not necessarily tantamount to relativism. Second, communicating faith's objective (fides quae) and subjective (fides qua) dimensions require a delicate balancing act in which fundamental theology plays a necessary role.

Made available in DSpace on 2011-02-24T20:48:41Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Panganiban_cua_0043A_10048display.pdf: 2821762 bytes, checksum: 946b3a52a69fa4b1da6fd7ebd8747e42 (MD5)

Degree awarded: Ph.D. Social Work. The Catholic University of America

Presently, 3,280,000 youth in sub-Saharan Africa between the ages of 15-24 are living with HIV (UNAIDS, 2008a). Ghana, Malawi, and Uganda are three sub-Saharan African nations that have started examining the sexual practices of adolescents via population-based studies. These three nations are similar in that each falls into the last quartile on the Human Development Index (HDI) signifying the lowest levels of human development in the world. The study explores how knowledge and persuasion dimensions influence choices in condom use or sexual abstinence among adolescents from Ghana, Malawi, and Uganda. Further, the study examines whether differences exist in adoption of condoms between nations. In testing the three hypotheses of this study on adoption of condom use and sexual abstinence by adolescents, binary logistic regression and analysis of covariance were utilized. Scale development and instrument reliability were examined through Cronbach alphas and item deletion. The first binary logistic regression model demonstrated that when controlling for background variables, family planning, condom knowledge and efficacy, and media intervention on family planning and HIV prevention increased the likelihood of condom use. In the second binary logistic regression model, family planning, AIDS knowledge, and pressure from family to remain sexually abstinent were statistically significant in the odds on sexual abstinence when controlling for background variables. The testing of the third hypothesis showed that Uganda had a higher mean for condom utilization compared to Ghana and Malawi but only the mean difference between Uganda and Ghana was statistically significant. Implications for macro, mezzo, and micro-level social work practice are discussed. Additional attention was given to macro-level social work practice due to international social development modeling which is most appropriately practiced at the macro-level involving both social policy and community practice. There are four main areas of social policy that the findings from this study can influence: AIDS, family, education, and labor. Implications for community practice in addressing HIV prevention and intervention among adolescents involve community development and community organizing. Implications for social work groupwork were explored as much community organization involves mezzo-level social work practice through the use of small groups.

Made available in DSpace on 2012-09-11T17:08:22Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Minnick_cua_0043A_10089display.pdf: 783742 bytes, checksum: ae7f74f0074256886a3f90efa9a73a58 (MD5)

Degree awarded: Ph.D. Religious Education/Catechetics. The Catholic University of America

This dissertation examines the development of the National Catechetical Directory for the Philippines (1985) and the Catechism for Filipino Catholics (1997) as an entry point into the complex issues involved in inculturating catechesis. The study's immediate aims are to investigate what prepared the ground for the creation of the Philippine catechism and directory; to analyze the theological issues encountered throughout the texts' development; and to describe the vision and principles governing both documents. The larger, overall purpose is to draw out implications for understanding catechesis and its inculturation today.Post-Vatican II catechetical renewal in the Philippines began to take shape in the 1950s and `60s as a result of the Second Vatican Council's call for aggiornamento, theinflux of new ideas from the worldwide catechetical movement, and various developments in the local ecclesial scene. One tangible result of this renewal is the shift from the long established trend of importing catechetical texts from abroad, to the creation of more local, inculturated materials. The development of both the National Catechetical Directory for the Philippines and the Catechism for Filipino Catholics offers a glimpse into the process of inculturating catechesis and brings to light its challenges. In analyzing the texts' drafts and dossiers, this study uncovers differing theological tendencies and inherent tensions within both inculturation and catechesis as the major sources of conflict in the approval process. In describing and articulating the documents' vision and principles, this study finds the notion of integration to be the leitmotif and central theme. The dissertation concludes by summarizing the foregoing research and highlighting the following lessons drawn from this history: first, faith can be distinguished from its expression, and plurality in expressions is not necessarily tantamount to relativism. Second, communicating faith's objective (fides quae) and subjective (fides qua) dimensions require a delicate balancing act in which fundamental theology plays a necessary role.

Made available in DSpace on 2011-02-24T20:48:41Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Panganiban_cua_0043A_10048display.pdf: 2821762 bytes, checksum: 946b3a52a69fa4b1da6fd7ebd8747e42 (MD5)