Cardiovascular diseases in European ethnic minorities: Beyond the traditional cardiovascular risk factors

This editorial is intended to be a reflection on cardiovascular disease(CVD)burden in European ethnic minorities.In some European countries,ethnic minority realities,due to their recent appearance,are still to be studied in depth.The experience of several European countries,where the migration processes started earlier,even more than a century ago,can help by being an example.Many studies have shown that major differences in CVD burden exist not only between countries,but also within the same country when considering different social strata and ethnic groups.The CV risk factors underlying heart disease have been well established.Important epidemiological studies have helped us understand that the underlying causes of heart disease as well as the behaviors that can help prevent them are the same.We are now well aware that CVD should be treated by considering a holistic approach.This is why the social determinants(SDs)of health that may worsen the disease burden or that,vice versa,may improve the treatment,and even more significantly,the prognosis of a patient’s illness should be taken into consideration.For ethnic minority patients,this holistic,hermeneutic approach is of importance.Several SDs of health that influence CVDs have been identified but their relevance for the health of ethnic minorities has not yet been clearly defined.In some European countries,most ethnic minorities are largely also religious minorities.Only a few studies have evaluated the role of religion,which is an important SD that affects the probability of having CV risk factors and diseases.Adolescents,particularly those belonging to the second generation,seem to be the weak link.If we believe that these young people are really citizens of their country of birth,then a way of recognizing their belonging to the community starts from a will to better understand their condition,in order to assist them while they grow physically and mentally.Thinking about safeguarding the health of this population should be more than a health task,rather a goal of social justice.

Diabetes in migrants and ethnic minorities in a changingWorld

On a worldwide scale, the total number of migrants exceeds 200 million and is not expected to reduce, fuelled by the economic crisis, terrorism and wars, generating increasing clinical and administrative problems to National Health Systems. Chronic non-communicable diseases(NCD), and specifically diabetes, are on the front-line, due to the high number of cases at risk, duration and cost of diseases, and availability of effective measures of prevention and treatment. We reviewed the documents of International Agencies on migration and performed a Pub Med search of existing literature, focusing on the differences in the prevalence of diabetes between migrants and native people, the prevalence of NCD in migrants vs rates in the countries of origin, diabetes convergence, risk of diabetes progression and standard of care in migrants. Even in universalistic healthcare systems, differences in socioeconomic status and barriers generated by the present culture of biomedicine make high-risk ethnic minorities under-treated and not protected against inequalities. Underutilization of drugs and primary care services in specific ethnic groups are far from being money-saving, and might produce higher hospitalization rates due to disease progression and complications. Efforts should be made to favor screening and treatment programs, to adapt education programs to specific cultures, and to develop community partnerships.

Current Status and Correlates of Modern Family Planning Utilization in Hard to Reach Ethnic Minorities: The Case of Gumuz, Northwest Ethiopia

Cognizant of multifaceted challenge of unwanted pregnancy, Ethiopia strives to increase utiliza-tion of modern family planning across the nation. Therefore, update on the current status of family planning utilization especially in hard to reach ethnic minorities is critical. The objective of this study was to assess level, and correlates of modern contraceptive utilization in a hard to reach ethnic minorities. A community based study was conducted in Dangur District, Beneshangul Gumuz Regional State July, 2013. A total of 530 married women were included in the study. Structured questionnaire was data collection tool. Data was analysed using SPSS version 20 for windows. Possible association and their strength were measured using odds ratio at 95% CI. Family planning utilization was 18.7% while nearly 27% of study participants had ever used family planning methods. The following variables were predictors of family planning utilization: number of alive children [AOR: 3.31, 95% CI (1.41 - 7.20)], good knowledge [AOR: 2.18, 95% CI (1.35 - 3.52)] and positive attitude [AOR: 1.58, 95% CI (1.03 - 2.50)]. The most outstanding finding of this study was that more than 80% of study participants still believe that many children means high income, and nearly 60% of them believe that family planning utilization decreases confidence among couples. This study witnessed how successful Ethiopia is in addressing reproductive health service inequalities in hard to reach communities. However, misconceptions surrounding family planning, and culture associated desire to have large family size should be addressed in a culture sensitive manner so that this success would further bear fruits.

Research on Traditional Herbal Medicine Culture of Guangxi Minorities

Guangxi Zluang Autoromous HRlegiom is a muli-ethnic area with l2.ethmic groups including Han Zuang,lao,Mliao,Dong,Mlaoma,Hti,,Jing,lYi,Siui,Celao,and Mlao.The traditional herbal melicime culure of Guangi ethnic minorties is an important comporent of the trxditional medlicine culture system of ethaie minorities in Guangi,andan exremely inportamt part of Chinas ethaic minoity medicine culture.Tle etihmic minorities of Gnamgi have acumulated rich experience in disease prevention andl treatment in the long process of prorluctiomn and life,and formed a unique minority medlical culture.

Brief Analysis of Religious Sacrificial Activities in Agricultural Production of Ethnic Minorities in China

China is vast in territory and there are 55 ethnic minorities. Due to the geographical location,the experience in the development process and the stage of cultural development,ethnic minorities show great differences with Han people in many aspects,so that in the process of obtaining food,they manifest different cultural characteristics,especially the religious sacrifices and taboos present in the agricultural production process show more uniqueness and retain more primitive features.

Suggestions and Reflections on Inheritance Strategy of Traditional Residence Construction Technique of Ethnic Minorities in Western Hubei

The traditional residence of ethnic minorities in western Hubei has a long history,and their construction skills reflect the wisdom and culture of the nation.Due to the limitation of geographical environment,the development of modern cities and towns,and the influence of foreign culture,the inheritance of traditional construction skills is facing a great crisis.This paper analyzes the research status of traditional residence of ethnic minorities and summarizes the necessity of inheriting the traditional residence construction technique.Moreover,strategies and suggestions about inheritance are put forward from four aspects:the national policy guidance and local implementation,building characteristic area of traditional residence,establishing and improving the theoretical framework of building skills,and building digital platform.The ways and methods of integrating traditional construction skills and culture into the training process of colleges and universities are explored.

A Socio-demographic Profile of the Calabrian Linguistic Minorities

In Italy it is possible to identify 11 linguistic groups of ancient settlement,divided as follows:border minorities,who speak a language of a neighboring state;minorities that occupy some internal areas as a consequence of emigrations and diasporas;the so-called residual groups of formerly majority populations.Three of these minority groups are present in Calabria:the Albanian minority,the Greek minority,and the Occitan minority.The Albanian community(Arbëreshë)is one of the most numerous.It is present in various areas of the South,but the most important colonies are found in Calabria.During the course of time these populations have undergone a strong assimilation process with the consequence that in many municipalities the spread of the Albanian language has been increasingly reduced or has completely disappeared.From 1951 onwards the Albanian-speaking communities of Calabria have shown the first signs of demographic malaise.The resident population gradually decreases and in many municipalities,especially the inland ones,there is a strong depopulation that still continues nowadays.In the Byzantine period the whole of Calabria was Hellenophone.Only the southern part of Calabria remained Hellenophone in the Norman age.Over time,the Grecanic area has been increasingly reduced and today it survives only in a limited area of the province of Reggio Calabria.Among the most remote causes of the decrease in Greek civilization we recall the abolition of the Greek rite in religious ceremonies,while after the Unity(Unita’d’Italia),an important role played the fight against the Greek language by the Italian school.Today this area has 11,211 residents and the speakers should be just 2,724.The Occitan-Waldensians are the smallest linguistic minority of Calabria.They came to Calabria,from Piedmont,towards the end of the 14th century to escape religious persecution.Today the Occitan-Waldensian colonies survive only in Guardia Piemontese,San Sisto dei Valdesi,and San Vincenzo la Costa,but the language is present only in Guardia Piemontese.The population of Guardia Piemontese,like that of many other Calabrian areas,experienced an intense migratory exodus after the Unification of Italy as well as a strong demographic malaise.Of these three Calabrian minority populations,which are characterized by a valuable cultural heritage,we will analyze the socio-demographic traits with the objective to grasp those potentialities(e.g.,cultural,touristic)in order to mitigate the phenomenon of depopulation which in these areas is more pronounced than in the remaining“Calabrese”territory.

Equality and Self-government For Ethnic Minorities

The Chinese Government has always been keen to promote human rights in the interest of the country's 55 ethnic minority groups, regarding this as vital to promote the country's human rights cause as a whole. Following is an interview with Li Dek Su, an ethnic Korean who serves as minister in charge of the State Ethnic Affairs Commission. We hope that the interview will help give a better idea of the country's policies toward ethnic minorities and the achievements made under such policies.

Including Minorities Within Organizations.A Research on Cultural Diversity in Italian Public Administration

The organizations operating in the public sphere can adopt various relational strategies to adapt to transformations linked to the presence of minorities and cultural diversities among its members.The emergence of the concept of diversity in the 1990s and the associated shifting of equal opportunities pose specific challenges in relation to minority employees.The aim of this study is to carry out a primary mapping of the diversity inclusion policies in Italian public administrations,as an emblematic example of the public sector in the Mediterranean area,and to analyse the factors that may favour the inclusion of minorities within organizations.Our approach integrates both quantitative and qualitative analysis.The research was organized in two phases:the first one was a monitoring of those public administrations sensitive to diversity policies;the second one was an analysis of 38 semi-structured interviews with privileged witnesses,including an analysis of the data and information from current activities of their organizations.An important element of originality of this contribution is that it investigates the perspectives and perceptions of the inhabitant of the Italian public administrations.Finally,this study offers concrete recommendations for the implementation of gender equality and diversity&inclusion in Italy,particularly in terms of training policies.

Minorities in China

I visited China last October at an invitation from the Chinese Association for International Understanding. During that visit I had the priviledge of visiting the minority village of Yi in ChuXiong Yi Autonomous Prefecture in Yunnan Province. After visiting the said village and staying overnight observing their habits culture etc,

Make All Ethnic Minorities Prosper, No Ethnic Minority Be Left Behind

Of the 55 ethnic minorities, 22 each has a population of less than 100,000. These minority people are relatively backwardin economic and social development and poverty haunts them. In 2005, the State Council launched a 5-year program to support the development of these small ethnic minorities and the State Development and Reform Commission and the State Commission for Ethnic Affairs have compiled a development program for these minority people. According to the programs, the State will commit 200 million yuan each year, totaling one billion yuan in five years, to the construction of infrastructure facilities in the areas inhabited by these minority people.

Reinstating Traditional Horsemanship of Ethnic Minorities in Southern China by Excavation,Sorting,and Comparative Research

In August 1991,the book Chinese Nation’s Traditional Sports History was published,and it was hailed as the“masterpiece of Chinese folk sports”by academic circles.In this masterpiece,the traditional horsemanship of 23 ethnic minorities and that of 10 southern ethnic minorities represented by the Miao,Yi,Bai,Shui,Hani,Naxi,and other ethnic groups has been included.For the first time,this masterpiece integrates the traditional horsemanship of the ethnic minorities in Southern China in one volume.The disadvantage is that most of the included traditional horsemanship of ethnic minorities only made a brief introduction to the time,place,and form of its development.However,under the global trend of the transition from traditional society to modern society and post-modern society,the traditional horsemanship of ethnic minorities in Southern China is facing an increasingly serious crisis of inheritance and disconnection,resulting in a gradual extinction of related traditional cultural heritage.The characteristics are gradually lost because of it.Therefore,it is essential to return to the historical and cultural field of traditional horsemanship,conduct rescue excavation,sort out the traditional horsemanship of ethnic minorities in Southern China,rescue the records of traditional horsemanship that is disappearing or undergoing drastic changes,as well as carry out comparative studies on this basis.This is not only an important way to inherit the traditional culture of ethnic minorities,but also means to protect the diversity of ethnic cultures and promote the development of exotic villages.

Family Planning among Ethnic Minorities:a Review

It is known to all that China, the world＇s most populous country with 1.3 billion people, has been practicing a stringent family planning policy as part of an endeavor to ensure a sustainable development. Does this policy of allowing most couples to have only one child apply to China＇s 55 ethnic minority groups？ To put it another way, what is exactly the government policy toward family planning among ethnic minorities,

Regional Autonomy of China's Ethnic Minorities

The aggregate population of ethnic minorities has never accounted for more than 9 percent of China’s total, currently approaching 1.3 billion. Yet their development and prosperity have always been high on the agenda of the leaders of the People’s Republic. One of the first things Chinese leaders did after New China was founded in 1949 was to conduct large-scale studies to identify the country’s ethnic groups and name them properly, based on scientific

Develop China's Great West——A major move to improve human rights of minorities

The Great Western China Development Drive launched by China’s Central Authorities at the turn of the century is not only a strategic move to narrow the development gap between the eastern and western parts of the country an harmonious development of the national economy but also a major move for narrowing the development gap among different ethnic groups and further improving human rights of the people, especially minorities.

White Paper:China’s Policies toward Ethnic Minorities Well Fit National Conditions and Win Support from All Nationalities

The State Council Information Office published on September 27, 2009, a white paper entitled China＇ s Policies toward Minorities and Common Prosperity and Development of All Nationalities. The white paper says that the policies well fit the national conditions and are correct. They are instrumental to promoting harmonious coexistence of all nationalities that work with one heart and one mind and in mutual cooperation; they have helped open up a good national situation characterized by economic development, political stability,

Progress in Helping Ethnic Minorities

The issue of human rights should be a point of meeting and collaborating among different civilizations rather than a spot for wrangles and tussles. This is the impression people gathered from the Second Beijing Forum on Human Rights,held on Nov. 2-3, 2009. Officials and experts from 26 countries attended the forum in the--nation＇s capital.