Dissertations / Theses on the topic 'Breast Examination South Australia'

Philosophiae Doctor - PhD
Cancer is a major public health concern in both developed and developing countries; it accounts for 13% of all deaths globally, of which 70% occur in middle- and low-income countries. In Nigeria, over 10 000 cancer deaths and 250 000 new cases of cancer are recorded yearly. Breast cancer is the second most common cancer worldwide, after lung cancer. It is the most common type of cancer diagnosed in women and the most common cause of death worldwide. Late detection and diagnosis of breast cancer leads to high mortality rate. In Nigeria certain cultural taboos are associated with breast cancer, which lead to poor information dissemination to women in rural communities. Breast self-examination (BSE) provides an inexpensive method for early detection of breast tumours. Knowledge and awareness about Breast Self-Examination are critical to promote consistent practices when the people concerned are empowered with the needed information to acquire the knowledge and skills which will inform practice of any health issue. In Nigeria it was reported that the number of women at risk of breast cancer increased progressively from 24.5 million in 1990 to about 40 million in 2010. This number is projected to rise to over 50 million by 2020, should the trend continue unabated. The current study explored the understandings of breast cancer and prevention, with particular emphasis on BSE practice among rural women, and developed an empowerment programme to promote uptake of this practice in a rural community in a south-western state of Nigeria. The study was framed in the Health Belief Model and Kieffer’s empowerment process. Participatory action research was used as study design and approach; and utilized both qualitative and qualitative methods. The sample for quantitative phase comprised 345 women aged 20 to 60 years, selected from 5 communities using a cross-sectional procedure. Data gathering instrument was a questionnaire. Summative statistics were calculated using the SPSS program. The sample for qualitative phase comprised of 95 women who were selected from the respondents to the quantitative phase. The data was collected through focus group discussion. The qualitative data was subjected to thematic analysis. Three themes that emerged for qualitative analysis which are: knowledge/awareness of BSE, practice and appeal for intervention, and misconception and fear. The survey results showed that a large proportion of the respondents (75.1% and 76.5%) had low levels of knowledge about BSE and did not practice BSE. Also, about 77% of the respondents expressed one form of barrier or another to BSE practice. However, despite these inadequacies, 87% of the respondents were ready and willing to improve their health if empowered with the right information and motivation. The empowerment program informed by the quantitative and qualitative phases and the stages of change with the full participation of the women. The program consisted of hands-on physical demonstrations, BSE pamphlets, and mnemonic songs were identified media of disseminating knowledge and practice of BSE. These media became the platforms for the empowerment programme developed for the women. A day was also set aside, just as is done for immunisation, for BSE practice and other women’s health issues to promote the prevention of breast cancer in the community. The “Physical demonstration” intervention resulted in an increase in the correct BSE practice from 23.5% at the beginning of the study, to 85.3% post the intervention. The “other intervention” resulted in 80% to 94.7% of participating women being able to practice correct physical step-by-step performance of BSE. The participatory approach contribute to a high levels of participation by women in Iddo local Government which led to the increase in the correct Breast Self–Examination as stated above.

Funded by the Primary Health Care Initiatives Program. Bibliography: p. 161-170. This thesis examines the public health of breastfeeding from a feminist perspective, based on a qualitative longitudinal study. From reviewing the history of infant feeding, a number of discourses of breastfeeding are identified and their continuing influence on contemporary thinking is discussed.

In the age of globalisation dominated by mass communication, the flow of information contributes to a big extent to the worldviews of its "global citizens". From this point of view the mass media can be seen as one of the most salient sources of cross-cultural communication. This study investigates mass communication across cultures, focusing on South East Asia (Malaysia and Singapore), Australia and Germany. The centre of attention is the Western media coverage of South East Asia and vice versa. In this context a content analysis of newspapers of the three regions has been conducted. In addition, working practices and conditions of Western foreign correspondents in South East Asia have been examined. Apart from the investigation of inter-cultural media coverage, another focus of attention will be the examination of two levels of communication: The business level, concentrating on issues like e.g. the Asian business etiquette; and the private level, looking into the transition to a different culture from the perspective of Australian and German expatriates. Apart from investigating mass communication across cultures and to provide a written analysis of the findings, a series of radio documentaries in English and in German has been produced. They cover the following issues: Foreign correspondents in South East Asia, the expatriate-lifestyle of Australians and Germans in South East Asia, business etiquette in Asia, student exchange Germany-Asia, image and prejudices East-West and Tourism.

Includes bibliographical references (18 leaves).
2 v. : ill., maps ; 30 cm.
Examines the factors that predict attendence to mammography screening by comparing various groups of attenders and non-attenders.
Thesis (Ph.D.) -- University of Adelaide, Dept. of Public Health, 1999

Bibliography: leaves 250-267.
xx, 267, [90] leaves : ill., map ; 30 cm.
Title page, contents and abstract only. The complete thesis in print form is available from the University Library.
Aims to develop a model to improve breastfeeding in a low socio-economic area through the development of health promotion strategies to create a supportive environment for breastfeeding.
Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Adelaide, Dept. of Public Health, 2000?

Bibliography: leaves 250-267.
xx, 267, [90] leaves : ill., map ; 30 cm.
Aims to develop a model to improve breastfeeding in a low socio-economic area through the development of health promotion strategies to create a supportive environment for breastfeeding.
Thesis (Ph.D.) -- University of Adelaide, Dept. of Public Health, 2000?

This item is only available electronically.
A N-E striking elongate aeromagnetic anomaly is observed over the Talisker Mine area, on the southern Fleurieu Peninsula, which has character and amplitude similar to an anomaly observed at Delamere (several kilometres to the north) found to be caused by magnetic Brachina Formation. Geological and geophysical techniques have been used to determine if the rock type at Talisker is also magnetic Brachina Formation, why there is a gap between the two anomalies, and why the anomaly at Talisker ends near the south coast. Geological mapping, microscopy and petrologic studies have been used in conjunction with local ground magnetic surveys and modelling procedures, to reveal magnetic Brachina Formation as the cause of the anomaly at Talisker. Mapping has shown the anomaly to be the result of a sliver of magnetic Brachina Formation caught up within a local zone of intense deformation that extends for at least 1500m across strike, and which outcrops on the coast. The Brachina Formation is sheared out against Cambrian Backstairs Passage Formation to the south, forming the southern end to the anomaly. To the north, the Brachina Formation suffered deeper erosion during Permian times, and is covered by a greater thickness of non-magnetic cover which causes the apparent gap in the aeromagnetic anomaly.
Thesis (B.Sc.(Hons)) -- University of Adelaide, School of Physical Sciences, 1989

Treated timber is a widely used construction material, as it is resistant to insect and fungal attack. The most commonly used timber treatment solution worldwide is copper chromium arsenate (CCA) pressure treated wood (APVMA 2005a). Environmental and health issues have been raised over CCA wood, with major particular concern raised on the possibilities of arsenic in the wood potentially leaching out. The Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA) have limited its usage to minimise human contact with CCA structures (APVMA 2005a). In South Australia, CCA applications increased dramatically with the expansion of the winery industry where CCA treated timber posts were widely used for vineyard trellises. Due to the mechanical method by which most grapes are harvested, roughly 2% of all posts are broken and require disposal annually (SAEPA 2008). The Environmental Protection Agency of South Australia (EPASA) have placed restrictions on CCA disposal from vineyards (SAEPA 2004) and waste CCA stock is either stockpiled or sent to specially lined landfills incurring an estimated cost penalty of over $AU 200 per tonne¹ . Clearly, improved CCA treatment technologies must be developed to reduce (or eliminate) the cost of CCA disposal and to the footprint of land filled waste. CCA timber disposal techniques currently being researched are focussed primarily on thermal and biological routes. Thermal techniques are problematic due to volatilization of the arsenic in the product, whilst biological removal techniques are very slow. Chemical remediation is an alternative and attractive disposal technique of interest using various acids to extract copper, chromium and arsenic. Nitric acid has been shown to be particularly effective (Honda, Kanjo et al. 1991), although research has been limited. Nitric acid is also used in one method of paper pulp production, and as such, there is the potential for a combined CCA extraction and paper pulp process. This has the attraction of turning a waste in a value added product. The kinetics of copper, chromium and arsenic dissolution in nitric acid has been examined in this thesis. A key finding of the work identifies the size of CCA wood particles as the dominant factor affecting the extraction rate, whilst temperature and acid concentration only provide a minor effect. The extraction rate for all elements from CCA wood using nitric acid generally follow 2nd order kinetics. Concurrently, a study examining wood chips of various ages taken from vineyards was performed using chip sizes typical required for paper production. It was found that despite significant variations in the concentration profile of CCA in posts, a general model based on the fraction of each element could be created for posts of all ages. Over an 8 hour period, 65-80% of chromium, 50-70% of copper and 75-90% of arsenic was extracted from all posts. Given the excellent extraction observed under relatively simple nitric acid extraction, further studies on the applicability of nitric pulping for CCA remediation are recommended. Minimizing chip size subject to fibre size constraints in paper production is key to improved removal and additional means for enhancing chip surface area are identified. Other stages present in paper pulping process may solublize additional CCA and these warrant further investigation. A basic economic estimation was undertaken, where it was found that creating paper pulp from CCA wood could be economically feasible, but will require further research to determine the expected costs and revenues involved. The nature of the CCA wood waste was investigated. The expectation was that CCA posts would contain relatively consistent concentration profiles for copper, chromium and arsenic. However, it was observed that the concentrations were quite varied. Further, several posts produced during the wine boom in South Australia were very poorly treated with very poor penetration of the preservatives into the posts. This could result in a reduced lifetime for the posts, and potentially higher arsenic leaching than expected. It is also recommended that the frequency of these poorly treated posts be determined, as three of the six posts examined from this period were potentially poorly treated, implying it may be significant and unexpected problem. In addition, a study should be initiated to determine if these poorly treated posts are leaching higher levels of arsenic, by both a study of the surrounding soil and a simulated rainfall leaching experiment. Based on the concern that more arsenic leached from pieces of CCA post left in deionised water than expected, an experiment on posts of various ages revealed that over a 100 day period, 1.5-3g of elemental arsenic could leach from a submerged CCA treated post. There is a serious concern that with CCA posts being landfilled, they will be exposed to water contact over the wet months, resulting in high arsenic leaching. It is theorised that this high arsenic leaching is due to insufficient chromium in the CCA solution. Previous studies have recommended higher chromium to arsenic ratios than are currently employed in Australia. Further studies on the extent to which this leaching can occur in landfill are recommended. ¹ Personal communication with John Blumson, Zero Waste South Australia, 22/7/08.
Thesis (Ph.D.) -- University of Adelaide, School of Chemical Engineering, 2011

The viability of rural Neighbourhood Houses may be under threat in South Australia as a result of national and state human service policies. Such policies have resulted in funding withdrawals, closures, the decline of many rural communities. In addition, other local inhibiting factors such as access, stigma, lack of paid staff, volunteers, facilitators and childcare affect Houses' ability to be viable organisations. This study seeks to answer the questions: are Neighbourhood Houses a viable proposition in rural SA; and, are they practicable and serving a useful purpose in contributing to community cohesiveness and wellbeing in rural communities? To examine the viability of Houses and ascertain whether they are contributing to individual and community wellbeing, their roles and functions are critically examined in the policy context and socio-economic environment.
thesis (MResearch)--University of South Australia, 2001.

Research Doctorate - Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
This thesis examines historical, political, regulatory and economic aspects of gambling policy in New South Wales (NSW), with specific emphasis on the evolution of electronic gaming machine (EGM) gambling as a key element of the State’s fiscal policy. This includes analysis of major regulatory initiatives, including a review of contemporary parliamentary and press material surpassing any identified comparable research on gambling and EGM policy in NSW. It was established that although policy has generally been made on isolated, ad hoc bases, precedents and contexts for subsequent legislation have resulted. It is demonstrated that although these events are prima facie unrelated, they collectively form part of an expansionary progression, largely impelled by governments’ pursuits of taxation revenue. In order to investigate outcomes of this progression, empirical research on EGM gambling over the three terms of the Carr Labor Governments (1995 to 2005) was also undertaken. Access to the restricted, comprehensive NSW EGM gambling database for this period permitted a comparatively more detailed and definitive analysis of EGM gambling than has previously been possible. The empirical research adopts two alternative measures of EGM distribution. These are a conventional ‘EGM density’ measure (the ratio of population to EGMs) and the introduction of a concentration measure, the Herfindahl-Hirschman Index (Herfindahl Index). This results in a novel comparative approach to assessing EGM distribution. In addition, regulatory practice and previous studies in the field have customarily relied on the use of one measure of socioeconomic status (SES), ordinarily being the Australian Bureau of Statistics’ Socioeconomic Indexes for Areas (SEIFA), to assess impacts. This study extends its comparative approach by also adopting a second SEIFA index. The application of Repeated Measures Analysis of Variance (RM ANOVA) testing to the data resulted in identification of statistically significant distributional differences among groups of LGAs on the basis of SES.The findings have implications for policy development, regulatory practice and further research on how these differences affect tax impacts. The thesis establishes that assessment of EGM policy and impacts is to some extent contingent on the measures used in the assessment process. This is particularly relevant to the measure of SES adopted, in which distinct differences were detected, based on the SES characteristics employed. Regarding the distributional findings, EGM gambling measures based on the Herfindahl Index approach were also found to behave differently to orthodox metrics. The importance of these methodologies lies in their applicability to the practical regulation of gambling. The thesis is a contribution to the further understanding of how public policy formulation and implementation in a policy field that is central to government fiscal planning has evolved. The findings indicate that alternative policy determinations may have resulted had different, and perhaps more comprehensive, approaches been employed. These are methodological initiatives that may be prospectively applied in the future development of gambling research and policy.

The institutionalisation of neo-liberalist discourse has significantly changed the way in which the relationship between government and community organisations is described and regulated in Australia. These changes are most clearly articulated in government policy discourse as a move away from ‘funding’ community service organisations, to ‘purchasing’ the delivery of services. Under previous funding models, responsiveness to community need was emphasised. Local knowledge was valued and community organisations were largely viewed as best positioned to assess local needs and to design services to the meet those needs. In contrast, new highly regulated funding models have created a change in discourse that positions the community organisation as a seller of services to the government. In the ‘quasi-market’ the government is usually the only (or main) purchaser of services. As the sole purchaser, the government is now (potentially) responsible for specifying the nature of services that they are prepared to purchase. These changes in positioning have been accompanied by significant devolution of previous government provision of human services to the non-profit sector, and are supplemented by considerable changes in regulation practices. The principal questions asked in this research are: How have the changes in discourse and practice at the government level influenced existing discourse and practices in community organisations? How have changes in discourse and practices within and among community organisations affected their capability to operate in a way that is consistent with the values inherent in community discourse? This research approaches the research questions from a Social Constructionist epistemology informed by the work of Michel Foucault and also neo-institutional theorists. This research implements Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA) as the methodological framework to draw out and analyse tensions that arise from a contest of the discourses of ‘community’ and ‘managerialism’. This research critically examines emergent structures and practices of community organisations in New South Wales (NSW) through the critical analysis of relevant texts and data from four focus groups and nineteen interviews of management committee members and coordinators from community organisations throughout NSW Australia, with a focus on Greater Western Sydney. The way in which these changes at the government level have been translated in discourse and practice at the organisational level, has resulted in a number of tensions within and among community organisations. The major tensions that emerged, and are discussed and analysed in this research, were: Increased managerialism and the impact on ‘traditional’ beliefs – or the ‘institutional myths’ – of community discourse and practice. Increased reliance by governments on community organisations and the effects of this on organisational capacity: A shift of emphasis in accountabilities coupled with increased ‘professionalisation’ and the impact on ‘community representation’. Need or desire for alliances among community organisations and the impact of this on diversity and individual responsiveness. With these tensions came significant frustration and hardship as traditional strategies became more difficult to action in the quasi-market. Much of this tension was due to the use of one discourse to interpret another. What is required in community organisations is an increase in ‘critical consciousness’ to develop a ‘cultural literacy’. This study identified a number of strategies that were assisting community organisations to re-define their position in the new discursive context.
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)