Nursing Demand in Rural Honduras: Connections to Culture

Mentor: Mahjabeen Raza, New York University

Because the majority of Hondurans live in poverty, healthcare providers have to care for a greater number of diseases. In addition, Honduras has a low nurse-to-population ratio, which leads to an overstretched workforce. This, along with inadequate medical funding and low wages, prompts a significant portion of nurses to emigrate, continuing the cycle of healthcare shortages across Honduras. The lack of accessible nursing schools also discourages those who want to pursue the nursing profession. Interviews with nursing students living in rural Honduras affirmed previous studies, but also revealed that Hondurans living in rural areas prefer traditional medicine rather than allopathic medicine due to inadequate healthcare treatments in those areas.

Accepted into the Journal of Student Research (JSR) - High School Edition.

Dementia Caregivers’ Perceptions of Types of Long-term Care

Maxine Weisgrau, Barnard College, Columbia University

This research investigates the financial and emotional effects of dementia on female caregivers aged 20-60 in the United States and how their caregiving experiences have influenced their perceptions of available long-term care options. The study also examines how these perceptions change over time due to emotional and financial considerations. The study reveals the factors caregivers consider when choosing between types of long-term care, such as institutional vs. non-institutional, and why. This paper also highlights how the familial relationship—specifically, the daughter-parent relationship—between caregivers and parents with dementia affects their decision-making and how this relationship evolves. Finally, potential solutions to address the challenges identified by the research are provided.

Accepted into the Journal of Student Research (JSR) - High School Edition

Water Safety and Health in South Korea Compared to Honduras:
Are Policies Feasible in The Honduran Context?

Honduras faces a significant challenge in securing clean and accessible water for its population. However, Honduras’ water challenges are not dissimilar to those faced by South Korea. Given their similarities, I examine South Korea’s extensive water management history and policy planning in the context of Honduras’ situation. I focus specifically on the ways in which socio-cultural attitudes can cause resistance to global development efforts, no matter how beneficial they may be in practice and purpose. I find that some short- and long-term solutions that South Korea has implemented are potentially untenable for the Honduran context. Specifically, the strict regulations South Korea has employed have become iron-clad over the span of decades. As Honduras navigates the complex task of providing clean water to its citizens, it can draw inspiration from South Korea’s trajectory and adapt its lessons to create a narrative of hope, progress, and a healthier future for its people.

Accepted into the Journal of Student Research (JSR) - High School Edition and invited to present research at the Center for Sustainable Development, Columbia University