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ChesterRep is the University of Chester's institutional repository and an online platform designed to collate, store, and aid discoverability of research carried out at the university to the wider research community
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The perspective of current and retired world class, elite and national athletes on the inclusion and eligibility of transgender athletes in elite sportThere has been limited empirical study allowing athletes to voice their opinions on transgender participation in elite sport. This study surveyed 175 national, elite and world class athletes eligible to compete in the female category regarding transgender inclusion and eligibility. The study compared current Olympic versus current Olympic Recognised sports, elite versus world class, and current versus retired Olympic sport athletes. Most athletes favoured biological sex categorisation (58%) and considered it unfair for trans women to compete in the female category, except for precision sports. This view was held most strongly by world class athletes regarding their own sport (77% unfair, 15% fair). For trans men inclusion in the male category, most athletes considered it fair, except for Olympic sport athletes regarding contact sports (49% unfair, 27% fair) and sports heavily reliant on physical capacity (53% unfair, 29% fair). Notwithstanding those views, athletes (81%) believed sporting bodies should improve inclusivity for transgender athletes. Opinion varied somewhat according to career stage, competitive level and sport type. Nevertheless, athletes in the present study favoured categorisation by biological sex and did not support trans women eligibility for the female category in sports reliant on performance-related biological factors that differ between sexes.
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Yellow Stickers: A mixed methods study exploring household food poverty experiences, in the UKBackground: As more and more British people struggle to make ends meet and turn to food banks to feed themselves, food poverty has become a serious and growing public health concern in the United Kingdom (UK). There is a clear need for effective policies and interventions to prevent and alleviate food poverty. Aim: This thesis aimed to explore household food poverty experiences in order to develop an understanding of the current nature and vulnerability of food poverty in the UK. The research findings inform policy and practice in improving food and nutrition security for those most vulnerable. Methods: A sequential exploratory mixed methods design was adopted for this thesis, where the qualitative phase of data collection and analysis informed the quantitative phase. The first qualitative phase of the study was conducted in Greater Manchester and comprised of two exploratory investigations, in which in-depth interviews were carried out. The first study explored food poverty experiences, and coping practices from forty-two food insecure householders visiting food banks, food pantries, and community centres. The second study explored the perspectives of twenty-six frontline service providers on the local nature and vulnerability of food poverty along with programme responses to alleviate food hardships. The interviews were examined using thematic analysis. The findings generated from these two studies informed the development of the quantitative follow-up study. This study examined the prevalence and risk factors of food insecurity among single mother households using secondary data from the Family Resources Survey (2019/20). Descriptive statistics and multi-logistic analyses were used to analyse the quantitative data. Key findings: The findings from study 1, revealed that food insecure householders often employ multiple coping practices such as resourceful shopping and budgeting practices, cutting back on food quality and intake, and seeking support from food banks, family or friends. Regardless, regular and extended disruptions in food access and eating were commonly reported because of limited money. In study 2, frontline service providers described cost-of-living gaps in working wages and welfare benefits, exacerbated by rising living costs were driving local food poverty issues. Single mother families and single men, were found to be disproportionately accessing food banks compared to other households. Although, food banks have grown substantially in response to rising need and they provide immediate relief from hunger for a few days, there was a deep sense of shame associated with accessing them. Moreover, food banks like other community food aid programmes have limited ability to reduce and prevent food poverty since they do not address the driving factors behind income poverty. In the third study, high levels of food insecurity were found among single mother households. Thirty percent of single mother households were classified as being food insecure, however, in households with three or more children this rose to 41 percent. Conclusions: The findings in this thesis highlight serious food security concerns for welfare recipients and low waged workers. It is a particular salient problem among single mothers and their children who experience high levels of food insecurity. Given the adverse health and social consequences of food poverty the government should prioritise and lead on this issue through policy initiatives and legislation that tackle income poverty alongside efforts that support and strengthen third sector responses in alleviating food poverty in the UK.
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Profile of Patients with Maxillofacial Space Infections and Associated Risk FactorsObjective: To evaluate the profile of patients operated for maxillofacial space infections and associated risk factors for the length of hospital stay. Materials and Methods: We conducted a retrospective study among patients operated for maxillofacial infections at our center from 2010 to 2020. Information collected from the records were age, sex, type and number of spaces involved, clinical signs and symptoms (pain, swelling, toothache, sore throat, otalgia, hoarseness, headache, cough, neck swelling, rancid breath, sialorrhea, gingival swelling, muffled voice, trismus, fever, dysphagia, odynophagia, malaise, lymphadenopathy, dyspnoea, pus discharge), treatment modality, total leukocyte count, evidence of bacterial growth, comorbidities, complications if any and length of hospital stay. Results: A total of 128 medical records were examined, out of which 59 were female. The mean age was 38.59 ± 19.7 and the length of hospital stay was 7.56 ± 3.8 days. The most commonly involved space was submandibular space (46.1%) and the common symptoms reported were swelling (99.2%), pain (86.7%), and trismus (68%). Four patients had complications like necrotizing fasciitis (1.6%), pneumonia (0.8%), and death in one patient (0.8%). Logistic regression showed that patients more than 36 years of age, male sex, evidence of bacterial growth, and diabetics had higher odds of increased hospital stay (>6 days). Multiple logistic regression analysis showed that age (P=0.015; OR: 2.98) and evidence of bacterial culture (P=0.001; OR:6.64) were potential predictors associated with increased hospital stay. Conclusion: Our study showed that the age of the patient and evidence of bacterial culture were potential predictors of prolonged hospital stay among patients operated for maxillofacial space infections.
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Escaping the enlightenment’s damaging legacy: Scenario planning as if-then conditional prospectionThe chapter sets out a new theory, underpinning philosophy, and practical approach to decision-making under uncertainty through use of the tool scenario planning. The new approach is based on an alternative to the presently mainstream understanding of rational decision-making based on Rational Choice Theory. The outlined alternative is a combination of frame-sensitive reasoning and if-then conditional prospection. The implications for scenario planning of this alternative understanding of rationality are explored in detail.
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Identification and support of autistic individuals within the UK Criminal Justice System: a practical approach based upon professional consensus with input from lived experienceBackground: Autism spectrum disorder (hereafter referred to as autism) is characterised by difficulties with (i) social communication, social interaction, and (ii) restricted and repetitive interests and behaviours. Estimates of autism prevalence within the criminal justice system (CJS) vary considerably, but there is evidence to suggest that the condition can be missed or misidentified within this population. Autism has implications for an individual’s journey through the CJS, from police questioning and engagement in court proceedings through to risk assessment, formulation, therapeutic approaches, engagement with support services, and long-term social and legal outcomes. Methods: This consensus based on professional opinion with input from lived experience aims to provide general principles for consideration by United Kingdom (UK) CJS personnel when working with autistic individuals, focusing on autistic offenders and those suspected of offences. Principles may be transferable to countries beyond the UK. Multidisciplinary professionals and two service users were approached for their input to address the effective identification and support strategies for autistic individuals within the CJS. Results: The authors provide a consensus statement including recommendations on the general principles of effective identification, and support strategies for autistic individuals across different levels of the CJS. Conclusion: Greater attention needs to be given to this population as they navigate the CJS.
