Using data from preservice teachers enrolled in a diversity course in a predominantly White teacher education program, researchers uncovered that diversity education was indeed a catalyst for preservice teachers to increase knowledge of diversity and their understanding of the process of critically reflecting on their teaching and learning practices. The findings revealed that the teachers not only taught with cultural relevance in mind but also adopted a philosophy of education that incorporates social reconstructionism and transformative learning, viewing themselves as social justice advocates for children and families.

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The study determined the prevalence of MetS in patients with schizophrenia at the Psychiatric Unit of the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH), Kumasi, Ghana. This comparative cross-sectional study recruited 348 schizophrenic patients comprising 236 antipsychotic-treated and 112 newly diagnosed treatment-naïve patients. The MetS prevalence was assessed based on World Health Organization (WHO), International Diabetes Federation (IDF), and the National Cholesterol Education Programme, Adult Treatment Panel III (NCEP ATP III) criteria. The overall prevalence of MetS was 14.1%, 20.4%, and 23.6% using NCEP ATP III, WHO, and IDF criteria, respectively, compared to 7.8%, 3.9%, and 2.2% reported in the general Ghanaian population. The prevalence was significantly higher among treated psychiatric patients compared to treatment-naïve group based on NCEP ATP III (17.8% versus 6.2%; p = 0.0001), WHO (26.2% versus 8.0%; p < 0.0001), and IDF (30.3% versus 10.0%; p < 0.0001). MetS was prevalent among patients on atypical antipsychotics compared to typical antipsychotics irrespective of the criteria used (i.e., 17.1% versus 11.1% for NCEP ATP III; 29.5% versus 25.9% for WHO; and 44.3% versus 18.5% for IDF). Using logistic regression model, obesity, raised fasting blood sugar, raised total cholesterol, and decreased high density lipoprotein were observed to be significant predictors of MetS (p<0.05).The study found high prevalence of MetS in Ghanaians with schizophrenia and higher prevalence rate of MetS associated with monotherapy. Regular monitoring of cardiometabolic parameters should be an important therapeutic objective in the management of these patients.

The need for better intercultural relations among majority and minority students on university campuses persists largely because of the inability of both groups to understand one another culturally. The surge of hate crimes in 2008-2009, at universities such as Columbia University, University of Maryland, and the University of North Carolina-Charlotte, reawakened attention to the latent existing majority-minority campus tension. In addition, the impetus for increase in the number of diverse students at universities fails to take into account the need for adequate dialogue on diverse cultures necessary for enhanced civil co-existence (at the very least) of majority and minority students on university campuses. Consequently, a six-month study was conducted on a university campus, involving majority and minority students in structured dialogue discussing cultural theory in relation to their life experiences. The qualitative study sought to determine whether increased knowledge of a cultural theory through structured dialogue among diverse students affected college students’ perceptions of intercultural interactions. This chapter reports about the findings and implications for colleges and universities.