Appetites: Food and Sex in Post-Socialist China

Appetites: Food and Sex in Post-Socialist China. Judith Farquhar. Durham, NC: Duke University Press, 2002. xii. 341 pp.     

Appetites: Food and Sex in Post-Socialist China

Appetites: Food and Sex in Post-Socialist China. Judith Farquhar. Durham, NC and London: Duke University Press, 2002. xii. 341pp.     

The Prehistory of Food: Appetites for Change.

The Prehistory of Food: Appetites for Change. Chris Gosden and Jon Hather. eds. New York: Routledge, 1999. 523 pp.     

Patriotic Appetites and Gnawing Hungers: Food and the Paradox of Nation-building in Uzbekistan

Nations reverberate with the conundrums of unity and difference. Studies of food provide an effective way to understand this paradox as food indexes both rituals of the nation as national cuisine yet links with myriad and variable performances as it is grown, cooked and eaten. National foods enhance ethnic nationality in newly independent, increasingly authoritarian Uzbekistan where the focus is on national cuisine in part because of deprivation, rather than abundance. National cuisine is vulnerable to differences within a nation, because in the shared and embodied practices surrounding food, people make emotion-based evaluations of the nation-state. Uzbek governmental policies result in poverty, limited food production, little global food, and repression of pure Islamic practices, regions, and minority ethnic groups.     

Appetites and aspirations: Consuming wildlife in Laos

Research on wildlife use is strongly associated with conservation and environmental debates. Yet, popular beliefs about wildlife consumption also offer many opportunities for discussing identity and social change. To demonstrate this, I examine ideas about eating common types of wildlife in Laos in light of the dialectical contrast between civilised settlements (muang) and the wild forest (pa). The exclusion of wildlife from the widely practised baci ritual and the popularity of wildlife consumption indicate the potency of these animals as social objects. In a contemporary context of widespread social and environmental change across Laos, the practice of eating wildlife is being constructed as an assertion of Lao identity that blends an idealised tradition with a status‐conscious modernity. Ambivalent desires for social transformation draw upon ambiguous symbols to find expression in beliefs as well as in popular social practice.     

Sex ratios and mental health: Evidence from China

While sex ratios (i.e., relative numbers of men and women) have been linked to various economic and social outcomes, how sex ratios affect mental health is underexplored. Using nationally representative data from the China Family Panel studies (CFPS) and Population Census, we evaluate the impact of sex ratios on mental health among Chinese men and explore potential mechanisms. Employing the instrumental variables (IV) approach where the One-Child Policy’s mandated fertility limits and implementation are used as exogenous variations in local sex ratios, we find that higher local sex ratios increase depressive symptoms and probability of depression among Chinese men. The impact is stronger for men with lower levels of education and living in rural areas. Analyses of potential mechanisms show that higher sex ratios increase the likelihood of marriage delay and unemployment for men, and prolong working hours for the employed men. The findings are of direct relevance to the health and population policy in China.     

中国餐厨垃圾处理的现状、问题和对策

餐厨垃圾具有高水分、高盐分、高有机质含量、组分时空差异明显、危害性与资源性并存的特点。目前国内外常用的餐厨垃圾处理技术如焚烧、卫生填埋、生态饲料、厌氧消化、好氧堆肥和蚯蚓堆肥等,通常存在着资源化利用效率低、经济效益不够理想的缺陷。总结相关文献及报道,中国在餐厨垃圾资源化处理上存在"行政瓶颈"和"技术瓶颈"两大方面的问题:"行政瓶颈"的解决之道在于完善管理及处理体系,各级政府部门切实重视、加大投入,强力推进垃圾分类投放;而对于"技术瓶颈",除综合运用多种现有处理技术外,开发新技术提高餐厨垃圾的资源化循环利用程度,是关键所在。     

罗非鱼性别决定及分化的研究进展

对罗非鱼的性别决定和分化的研究现状和研究成果进行综述,并探讨了在罗非鱼性别决定研究上的研究趋势。     

Changes in Fluid Intake suggesting Depressed Appetites in Rats with Central Catecholaminergic Lesions

THE catecholaminergic neurones of the mammalian brain are generally believed to be important in the control of voluntary behaviour and affect. The evidence for this comes from work with pharmacological agents which enhance or block the post-synaptic effects of noradrenergic or dopaminergic neurones^1–3. This has led to speculations implicating central catecholaminergic dysfunction in affective disorders such as depression^1,4,5 and in other disorders such as Parkinson's disease⁶ and schizophrenia^7,8. But research on the behavioural effects in animals of pharmacological interference with the normal functions of central catecholamines has been hindered by the fact that the sudden withdrawal of either noradrenaline or dopamine leads to behavioural sedation and inactivity^9–14, which precludes any fine analysis of behavioural deficits.     

Rapid Syphilis Testing Uptake for Female Sex Workers at Sex Venues in Southern China: Implications for Expanding Syphilis Screening

Background

Accessibility of syphilis testing services is critical in syphilis control programs for female sex workers (FSWs), but few FSWs attend public STI clinics or other testing sites. Introduction of free rapid syphilis testing (RST) into outreach programs for FSWs will help improve test uptake.

Methods

Commercial sex venues were identified in two cities in South China. In cooperation with health advocacy organizations, health outreach teams from local public health or medical facilities approached all types of sex venues in study areas to offer free RST. Acceptability and uptake of RST among FSWs were evaluated.

Results

A total of 2812 FSWs were offered RST and 2670 (95.0%) accepted syphilis testing. 182 (6.8%) FSWs had a positive RST result among whom 136 (74.7%) were willing to attend an STD clinic for confirmatory testing and treatment. More than half (89, 66.4%) of those with syphilis were not willing to notify their sex partners. Multivariate logistic analysis showed that syphilis test uptake was associated with residing in Jiangmen (AOR, 1.78; 95% CI, 1.15–2.77), older age (AOR, 2.11, 95% CI, 1.17–3.79 for age of 31 years or above), and not working at a service venue (AOR, 1.60; 95% CI, 1.10–2.34).

Conclusions

RST at sex venues is well accepted by FSWs when it is integrated into ongoing outreach services. Such programs provide excellent opportunities for expanding syphilis screening efforts among specific subgroups of FSW who are difficult to reach through clinic-based programs.     

Why People Don't Die 'Naturally' any More: Changing Relations Between 'The Individual' and 'The State' in Post-Socialist Bulgaria

This article explores the theme of death as a means of illuminating the changing relationship between 'the individual' and 'the state' in the context of post-socialist Bulgaria. Previous research carried out on rituals and socialist society indicates a close connection between state ideology and the socially constructed 'natural' order – an order partly reproduced through engagement in state-sponsored life-cycle rituals, such as funerals. By focusing on the way in which funerals are presently carried out, and more specifically on the way in which villagers talk about death, I suggest that new discourse reveals important changes: a reordering of the relationship between 'the individual' and the socially constructed 'natural' order. The state is no longer such a strong mediating force in this relationship. Post-socialist reform, therefore, involves more than 'just' political and economic change; it represents a more general breakdown in the total set of relations that constituted the socialist world.     

Risk Behaviours among Female Sex Workers in China: A Systematic Review and Data Synthesis

Background

Commercial sex is one of the major modes of HIV transmission in China. Understanding HIV risk behaviours in female sex workers (FSW) is of great importance for prevention. This study aims to assess the magnitude and temporal changes of risk behaviours in Chinese FSW.

Method

Five electronic databases were searched to identify peer-reviewed English and Chinese language articles published between January 2000 and December 2012 that reported risk behaviours among FSW in China, including condom use, HIV testing, and drug use. Linear regression and Spearman''s rank correlation were used to examine temporal trends in these risk factors. The study followed PRISMA guidelines for meta-analyses and was registered in the PROSPERO database for systematic reviews.

Results

A total of 583 articles (44 English, 539 Chinese) investigating 594,583 Chinese FSW were included in this review. At last sex, condom use was highest with commercial partners (clients), increasing from 53.7% in 2000 to 84.9% in 2011. During this same time period, condom use increased with regular partners from 15.2% to 40.4% and with unspecified partners from 38.6% to 82.5%. Increasing trends were also found in the proportion of sampled FSW who reported testing for HIV in the past 12 months (from 3.2% in 2000 to 48.0% in 2011), while drug use behaviours decreased significantly from 10.9% to 2.6%.

Conclusion

During the first decade of 2000, Chinese FSWs’ self-reported risk behaviours have decreased significantly while HIV testing has increased. Further outreach and intervention efforts are needed to encourage condom use with regular partners, continue promotion of HIV testing, and provide resources for the most vulnerable FSW, particularly low tier FSW, who may have limited access to sexual health and prevention programs.     

Burden of HIV and Syphilis: A Comparative Evaluation between Male Sex Workers and Non-Sex-Worker Men Who Have Sex with Men in Urban China

BackgroundThe increasing burden of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) including HIV and syphilis among male sex workers (MSWs) is a major global concern. The aim of our study was to evaluate the difference between MSWs and non-commercial MSMs in China.MethodsDuring 2008-09, in a cross-sectional study, 2618 adult MSM were recruited through respondent-driven and snowball sampling from seven cities of China. Information regarding socio-demographics, risk behaviors, HIV-related knowledge and STI-related symptoms were collected and participants were tested for HIV and syphilis.ResultsAmong 2618 participating MSM, 9.97% sold sex to males. HIV prevalence was 7.45% (6.13% among MSWs and 7.59% among non-MSW MSM) and syphilis prevalence was 14.32% (10.73% for MSWs and 14.72% for non-MSW MSM). Compared to non-MSW MSM, MSWs were more likely to be younger (adjusted odds ratio: aOR = 0.91, 95% confidence interval: 95%CI=0.88-0.93), never married (aOR = 4.38, 95% CI = 2.38-6.80), less educated, heterosexual (aOR = 13.04, 95% CI = 6.08-27.95), less knowledgeable regarding HIV (aOR = 0.70, 95% CI=0.51-0.96), experiencing symptoms of STI (aOR = 2.16, 95% CI = 1.47-3.19), engaging in condomless vaginal intercourse (aOR = 2.16, 95% CI = 1.47-3.19) and less likely to engage in condomless anal intercourse (aOR = 0.62, 95% CI = 0.46-0.85).ConclusionsHigh HIV and syphilis prevalence warranted urgent intervention targeting MSWs as a separate sentinel group for efficient surveillance owing to their different distribution from non-MSW MSM. Although male sex workers and non-commercial homosexuals have similar rates of HIV and syphilis, MSWs have different characteristics which should be considered in designing intervention programs targeting them.     

Partner Violence and Psychosocial Distress among Female Sex Workers in China

Background

Despite recognized vulnerability of female sex workers (FSW), most data on this population are focused on their HIV and STI prevalence; studies on their experience of partner violence and psychosocial distress are limited, especially FSW in China.

Methods and Findings

A cross-sectional survey was administered among 1,022 FSW recruited from 9 different types of commercial sex venues in Southwest China. Partner violence scales were adapted from WHO''s Women''s Health and Domestic Violence scale and psychosocial distress was measured by five indicators, including alcohol intoxication, drug use, suicidal behavior, depression, and loneliness. Random effects modeling was used to control for cluster effects. Findings: About 58% of FSW ever experienced violence from their stable partners, and 45% suffered it from their clients. Partner violence was strongly associated with each of the five measures of psychosocial distress, even after controlling for potential confounders.

Conclusion

This study is one of the first to examine the association between partner violence and psychosocial distress among FSW in China. The high prevalence of violence experience and distress in this population suggests urgency for intervention. The public health programs targeting FSW should go beyond the focus on HIV/STI prevention and care for the fundamental health and human rights of millions of FSW in China.