title: Paediatric Traumatic Brain Injury in New Zealand: Caregiver Knowledge and Media Representations

authors: Willix-Payne, Dawn Joanne

subjects: Traumatic Brain Injury

abstract: Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a major cause of death and disability in the paediatric population. Even mild TBI may lead to on-going cognitive, behavioural and physical problems. Children are reliant on their caregivers to seek treatment for them, which depends on caregiver knowledge of TBI. The aims of this study were: (a) to investigate the knowledge of New Zealand caregivers about TBI; and (b) to examine the potential contribution of New Zealand newspapers to public knowledge about TBI.
Caregivers (205) of primary and intermediate schoolchildren completed a pen-and-paper or online survey containing questions examining their knowledge of TBI terminology, symptoms and facts about concussion/mTBI.  A high proportion (61%) of caregivers did not think that a concussion was the same thing as a brain injury. Loss of consciousness (LOC) was the most endorsed symptom of TBI, and 31% of caregivers did not know that a TBI could occur without LOC. Behavioural symptoms of TBI were less well known than physical and cognitive symptoms, and caregivers varied widely in their knowledge of facts about mild TBI/concussion.  These results suggest more education is needed. Demographic and predictor variables explained little of the variance in knowledge, suggesting that a general approach to education would be more useful than an approach targeted to specific demographic groups.  
To evaluate the contribution of the popular press to TBI knowledge, the presence of information about TBI terminology, symptoms and concussion facts in newspaper articles published between January and June in 2009 and 2014 was investigated via quantitative content analysis. The context in which the information was presented was investigated both quantitatively and by qualitative thematic analysis.  The use of different terminology for TBI was strongly associated with the section of the newspaper.  Articles rarely used ‘brain injury’: ‘head injury’ and ‘concussion’ were the main terms used. ‘Head injury’ was strongly associated with the News section of the newspaper, whereas ‘concussion’ was mainly used in the Sports section.  There was very little information on symptoms and concussion facts in newspaper articles.  Loss of consciousness was the most commonly mentioned symptom, which is of concern given that a TBI can occur without loss of consciousness.  Most of the limited information that was present about concussion was correct. There was more information about concussion in 2014 than in 2009, but there was no increase in symptom information with time. Qualitative analysis revealed that information was present in a context which was supportive of good management of TBI in the sporting context, and which was unsupportive of returning to play too soon after injury.  As newspapers represent an important ‘pre-exposure’ source of information about TBI, researchers should work with journalists to improve the level and accuracy of coverage of TBI information in newspapers. 
In conclusion, further education of caregivers of primary and intermediate school children is needed to ensure they can recognise and appropriately manage TBI in their children.  Improving the information present in New Zealand newspapers, which is lacking, would be one way to improve this knowledge.

text: Paediatric Traumatic Brain Injury in New Zealand: Caregiver Knowledge and Media Representations Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a major cause of death and disability in the paediatric population. Even mild TBI may lead to on-going cognitive, behavioural and physical problems. Children are reliant on their caregivers to seek treatment for them, which depends on caregiver knowledge of TBI. The aims of this study were: (a) to investigate the knowledge of New Zealand caregivers about TBI; and (b) to examine the potential contribution of New Zealand newspapers to public knowledge about TBI.
Caregivers (205) of primary and intermediate schoolchildren completed a pen-and-paper or online survey containing questions examining their knowledge of TBI terminology, symptoms and facts about concussion/mTBI.  A high proportion (61%) of caregivers did not think that a concussion was the same thing as a brain injury. Loss of consciousness (LOC) was the most endorsed symptom of TBI, and 31% of caregivers did not know that a TBI could occur without LOC. Behavioural symptoms of TBI were less well known than physical and cognitive symptoms, and caregivers varied widely in their knowledge of facts about mild TBI/concussion.  These results suggest more education is needed. Demographic and predictor variables explained little of the variance in knowledge, suggesting that a general approach to education would be more useful than an approach targeted to specific demographic groups.  
To evaluate the contribution of the popular press to TBI knowledge, the presence of information about TBI terminology, symptoms and concussion facts in newspaper articles published between January and June in 2009 and 2014 was investigated via quantitative content analysis. The context in which the information was presented was investigated both quantitatively and by qualitative thematic analysis.  The use of different terminology for TBI was strongly associated with the section of the newspaper.  Articles rarely used ‘brain injury’: ‘head injury’ and ‘concussion’ were the main terms used. ‘Head injury’ was strongly associated with the News section of the newspaper, whereas ‘concussion’ was mainly used in the Sports section.  There was very little information on symptoms and concussion facts in newspaper articles.  Loss of consciousness was the most commonly mentioned symptom, which is of concern given that a TBI can occur without loss of consciousness.  Most of the limited information that was present about concussion was correct. There was more information about concussion in 2014 than in 2009, but there was no increase in symptom information with time. Qualitative analysis revealed that information was present in a context which was supportive of good management of TBI in the sporting context, and which was unsupportive of returning to play too soon after injury.  As newspapers represent an important ‘pre-exposure’ source of information about TBI, researchers should work with journalists to improve the level and accuracy of coverage of TBI information in newspapers. 
In conclusion, further education of caregivers of primary and intermediate school children is needed to ensure they can recognise and appropriately manage TBI in their children.  Improving the information present in New Zealand newspapers, which is lacking, would be one way to improve this knowledge.

year: 2015

title: The international law gaze: protection of labour rights in free trade agreements: mission impossible?

authors: Alvarez-Jimenez, Alberto

abstract: The inclusion of the protection of labour rights in free trade agreements (FTA) and the use of inter-State dispute settlement have been regarded as a paramount expression of the regard of the international trade regime for workers’ rights. The inclusion also responds to a concern: low enforcement of labour legislation in some countries means lower costs for their exporters, which makes them more competitive in international markets. These are the reasons behind the inclusion of provisions aimed at improving such enforcement in FTAs. New Zealand is or will be a party to some of them, such as the New Zealand – Korea Free Trade Agreement and the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP). This is why the panel report adjudicating the first international dispute in this realm, between the United States and Guatemala, under the Dominican Republic – Central America – United States Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA-DR) is of interest to us. (Final Report of the Panel, “In the Matter of Guatemala – Issues Related to the Obligation Under Article 16.2.1(a) of the Dominican Republic – Central America – United States Free Trade Agreement”, 14 June 2017. (U.S v Guatemala).

Is the inclusion of trade & labour provisions (T&LP) a positive development for workers? Yes. Is it enough for them? U.S v Guatemala illustrates that it is not. The text of the CAFTA-DR T&LP and similar provisions in other FTAs might make it difficult to find a violation whose remedy is a better enforcement of the legislation by the exporting country. Is this surprising? Certainly not. There is a political and economic power imbalance between exporters and labour unions in many parts of the world that favours the former in trade negotiations. The text of T&LPs reflect this asymmetry. There is also the issue of sovereignty: how much States enforce their legislation is a matter for them to decide. T&LPs limit this freedom of action, but the limitation is not significant as U.S V Guatemala illustrates. Guatemala prevailed in the dispute at the end: no violation of CAFTA-DR was proven. (at [594]).

text: The international law gaze: protection of labour rights in free trade agreements: mission impossible? The inclusion of the protection of labour rights in free trade agreements (FTA) and the use of inter-State dispute settlement have been regarded as a paramount expression of the regard of the international trade regime for workers’ rights. The inclusion also responds to a concern: low enforcement of labour legislation in some countries means lower costs for their exporters, which makes them more competitive in international markets. These are the reasons behind the inclusion of provisions aimed at improving such enforcement in FTAs. New Zealand is or will be a party to some of them, such as the New Zealand – Korea Free Trade Agreement and the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP). This is why the panel report adjudicating the first international dispute in this realm, between the United States and Guatemala, under the Dominican Republic – Central America – United States Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA-DR) is of interest to us. (Final Report of the Panel, “In the Matter of Guatemala – Issues Related to the Obligation Under Article 16.2.1(a) of the Dominican Republic – Central America – United States Free Trade Agreement”, 14 June 2017. (U.S v Guatemala).

Is the inclusion of trade & labour provisions (T&LP) a positive development for workers? Yes. Is it enough for them? U.S v Guatemala illustrates that it is not. The text of the CAFTA-DR T&LP and similar provisions in other FTAs might make it difficult to find a violation whose remedy is a better enforcement of the legislation by the exporting country. Is this surprising? Certainly not. There is a political and economic power imbalance between exporters and labour unions in many parts of the world that favours the former in trade negotiations. The text of T&LPs reflect this asymmetry. There is also the issue of sovereignty: how much States enforce their legislation is a matter for them to decide. T&LPs limit this freedom of action, but the limitation is not significant as U.S V Guatemala illustrates. Guatemala prevailed in the dispute at the end: no violation of CAFTA-DR was proven. (at [594]).

year: 2018

title: The Māori female - her body, spirituality, sacredness and mana : a space within spaces

authors: August, Wikitoria

subjects: Body image in women

abstract: This thesis is an exploration of bodily rituals, practices and cultural spaces of the female Māori body. Critical social theories and Kaupapa Māori research paradigms are combined to disrupt and challenge hegemonic Western knowledges. Qualitative methods - interviews, focus groups and autobiographical experience - are used to understand bodily practices that pertain to being Māori and female. There are three points to my discussion. I argue first, that the embodied relationship between Māori women and urupā and food gathering spaces rests on notions of Papatūānuku and female reproduction. During menstruation or pregnancy most women are restricted from urupā. Many participants, however, view this tikanga positively and describe it as making them feel special. Second, I examine the ways in which Māori female bodies are colonised and positioned between Western patriarchal and traditional ways of being. Due to various reasons surrounding colonisation, there are gaps in younger generations' Māori knowledge and this has led to tensions about which space to occupy. Finally, I discuss mana and conclude by asserting that the Māori female body has not lost individual mana, despite the efforts of colonisation to take mana away from Māori women. Throughout this research I offer cultural perspectives in order to prompt new ways of thinking about the Māori female body. 

The views expressed in this thesis are not the views of all Māori. Practices, tikanga and knowledges vary between different iwi, hapū and rohe.

text: The Māori female - her body, spirituality, sacredness and mana : a space within spaces This thesis is an exploration of bodily rituals, practices and cultural spaces of the female Māori body. Critical social theories and Kaupapa Māori research paradigms are combined to disrupt and challenge hegemonic Western knowledges. Qualitative methods - interviews, focus groups and autobiographical experience - are used to understand bodily practices that pertain to being Māori and female. There are three points to my discussion. I argue first, that the embodied relationship between Māori women and urupā and food gathering spaces rests on notions of Papatūānuku and female reproduction. During menstruation or pregnancy most women are restricted from urupā. Many participants, however, view this tikanga positively and describe it as making them feel special. Second, I examine the ways in which Māori female bodies are colonised and positioned between Western patriarchal and traditional ways of being. Due to various reasons surrounding colonisation, there are gaps in younger generations' Māori knowledge and this has led to tensions about which space to occupy. Finally, I discuss mana and conclude by asserting that the Māori female body has not lost individual mana, despite the efforts of colonisation to take mana away from Māori women. Throughout this research I offer cultural perspectives in order to prompt new ways of thinking about the Māori female body. 

The views expressed in this thesis are not the views of all Māori. Practices, tikanga and knowledges vary between different iwi, hapū and rohe.

year: 2004