Background: Although major depression is one of the leading causes of premature death and disability in India, there is little infrastructure to provide mental health services in the rural North Indian state of Uttarakhand. The worldwide burden of depression is 50% higher in women than men, however Indian women experience the double burden of gender disadvantage and poverty which restricts their autonomy and access to social support, and increases their risk for common mental disorders (CMDs). In this low resource setting, community mental health (CMH) models of care may offer the best approach to supporting women with CMDs. Objective: This study partnered with a local NGO in Uttarakhand to examine the factors influencing women’s participation in psychosocial support groups (PSSGs), and the groups’ impact on the women and their communities. PSSGs had been set up in the communities for a minimum of 6 months. Methodology: Focused ethnographic research was conducted over three months in 2016, involving ten focus group discussions (FGDs) with seven unique PSSGs, representing a total of 43 women. FGDs were conducted with PSSGs that had been active a minimum of 6 months. They included both persons with psychosocial disability and their caregivers, primarily divided into separate PSSGs. FGDs were conducted across three different sites, with predominantly Muslim and Hindu populations. Additionally, eight key informant interviews were conducted with community health workers and mental health professionals. Data was translated and transcribed from Hindi to English. Results: The principal barrier to PSSG participation was gender inequality, more specifically, women not being granted permission to leave the home to participate. In terms of impact, the women explained how learning and talking about their own depression and anxiety increased their knowledge and improved their mental health. PSSGs created safe social spaces for women to talk, which increased women’s confidence to speak freely in their community. As a result of the PSSGs, women felt that they had reimagined their roles as community members, shifting from the role of receiver of help to provider. Communities were impacted by the PSSGs as women shared their mental health (MH) knowledge widely, and referred and accompanied community members to MH services. Discussion: These findings are significant because women in PSSGs were able to work together to improve their MH in the context of high gender inequality and mental health stigma. Greater ability to speak out and act collectively may empower women to contribute to household and community decisions, and participate economically, advancing their health and social interests. This research demonstrates how PSSGs can benefit not only the women involved but their community and its mental health. It highlights the importance of understanding models for CMH services that build on local resources and can serve as a model for other underserved communities. / Thesis / Master of Science (MSc)

This research explores gender inequality in education, with a focus to examine the implications of gender disparities in schools on girls’ health and education. The study sought to investigate whether school management practices is a possible factor impacting the health behaviours of female students in senior secondary schools in Lagos, Nigeria. The study employed mixed methods design and gathered primary data in two consecutive phases, in line with sequential explanatory design. Data in Phase one was gathered through the use of questionnaire while phase 2 gathered primary data using semi-structured interviews to complement survey data. The sample frame included 2 public secondary schools, 42 students, 9 teachers, 1 vice principal and 2 principals. Quantitative data were analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS), while qualitative data were analyzed with help of ATLAS.ti. The findings of the study revealed school related barriers that influence high absenteeism and dropout among girls. Further findings also show the schools lack appropriate school management policies that promote healthful behaviours and encourage positive learning environment for girls. The researcher recommends leadership and school management training for school principals and their deputies, improving quality of health instruction in the curriculum, developing strict policy against school-related gender-based violence and adopting health-promoting policies.

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Research problem: The research revolved around the problem: What extrinsic barriers play a role in the promotion of the female educator and to what extent are these barriers experienced? Research objectives: Arising from the problem, the aim of the research firstly was to determine from the literature what the nature of extrinsic promotion barriers were within and outside the school. Secondly, to establish empirically the extent to which extrinsic barriers influenced the career promotion of female educators in secondary schools. Thirdly, to determine what the relation was between biographic variables and different extrinsic promotion barriers. Research Design: * Literature study - In the literature overview in Chapters 2 and 3 the different extrinsic promotion barriers to female educators were investigated. It transpired that the following aspects/factors in the literature occur as extrinsic promotion barriers, namely networks, mentorships, appointment procedures, organisation climate and the female educator’s career profile. These identified aspects/factors formed the basis for the compilation of a structured questionnaire. * Empirical investigation - A quantitative research approach in the post-positivistic paradigm was followed in this research. The data collection instrument was a structured questionnaire consisting of five constructs divided into 50 questions/items. The questionnaire was distributed to female educators on post level 2 and higher (n=365) of which a feedback response of (n=305; 83.6%) was obtained. This questionnaire was used to determine to what extent extrinsic barriers influence the career promotion of the female educator and to establish the relation between certain biographical variables and the different extrinsic promotion barriers. Cronbach Alpha coefficients, means, standard deviations (SD), rankings and frequencies, percentages of the responses to the questionnaire, hierarchic linear models and practical significance (d-values) were calculated. During the discussion of the results, descriptive statistics were used. Main findings: It was evident from the research that the respondents did not experience to a medium and to a large extent any aspect regarding networks, mentorship, appointment procedures, organizational culture and the educators’ career profile as extrinsic promotion barriers. Recommendations: Finally, recommendations were firstly made to the Department of Basic Education, secondly to the female educator and thirdly for further studies focussing on extrinsic promotion barriers to the female educator. Recommendations to the Department of Basic Education: * The DoBE has to provide and distribute policy documents about gender equility to members of the SGB and especialy female teachers. * The DoBE need to train the persons involved in the appointment process (SGB members and educating staff) to understand the policy documents and juridical framework of the appointment process and to apply it correctly. Such training could be considered as a prerequisite to be elected to the SGB. Recommendation to the female educator: * Female educators who hold promotion posts, and those that aspire for promotion posts, must be afforded the opportunity to indicate what they wish to be trained in. Recommendations for further research: * That research of a qualitative nature by means of interviews and focus group discussions should be undertaken on extrinsic promotion barriers found in this study and possible other extrinsic promotion barriers. Such research could be expanded by doing a mixed-methods investigation in two or three provinces. * It became evident from this research that the majority of female educators are heads of department (post level 2) and the minority of female educators fill posts on higher post levels (3 and 4). Research needs to be done on what extrinsic promotion barriers are obstructing female educators from being promoted to principal posts and vice-principal posts. / MEd (Education Management), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2014

Parental death has the potential to deteriorate various outcomes of children in the developing world. One of such outcomes is education: when a parent dies, resources are reduced, psychological distress increased, so is the necessity to replace the parent in some of their duties. Literature commonly distinguishes impacts of maternal and paternal death on education of children. Nevertheless, no papers focus directly on the interaction between gender of the deceased parent and of the orphaned child. This thesis tests empirically the hypothesis that maternal death is more important for girls and paternal death for boys. The reasoning is that mothers typically spend more time caring about little children and about household generally, so after maternal death it is necessary to find a substitute for this role and it is more likely to find one among the daughters than among the sons. Subsequently, the daughter is at a higher risk of dropping out of school due to higher responsibilities at home. Fathers, on the contrary, are primarily income-earners, so after paternal death it becomes more likely that one of the sons replaces the deceased father on labour market than one of the daughters. The son then becomes more likely to stop attending school than any of the daughters. Using cross-sectional data from...

Corruption is widely considered to have adverse effects on economic development through its negative impact on the volume and quality of public investment and the efficiency of government services. Conversely, many of these macro variables are determinants of corruption. However, there are few studies of this two-way interaction at the macro level. This thesis aims to extend the current literature on corruption and development by explicit investigation of two diverse channels through which corruption and economic development interact, namely women's share in politics and pollution. For each variable, the thesis presents a theoretical model in which corruption and economic development are determined endogenously in a dynamic general equilibrium framework. We have four main results. First, female bureaucrats commit fewer corrupt acts than male bureaucrats because they have lower incentives to be corrupt. Second, corruption affects pollution directly by reducing pollution abatement resources and indirectly through its impact on development. As pollution and development appear to have an inverse U-shaped relationship, the total effect of corruption on pollution depends on the economy's level of income. Third, we confirm a simultaneous relationship between corruption and development. Fourth, for sufficiently low income levels, corruption and poverty may be permanent features of the economy. In addition to the two theoretical models, the thesis also presents an empirical investigation of the causal effect of women's share in parliament on corruption using panel data and gender quotas as instruments for women's share in parliament. Our results overturn the consensus since we find no causal effect of women's share in parliament on corruption, except in a particular case of Africa with reserved seats quotas.

Com a intenção de contribuir para os estudos na temática da liderança sob a perspectiva das relações que se estabelecem em organizações sociais, essa pesquisa trata de transformações psíquicas e sociais a partir da lógica do cotidiano e das histórias cruzadas de pessoas que lidam diariamente com as consequências das desigualdades sociais em suas vidas. Tendo como primeiro plano as histórias e perspectivas de cinco mulheres de dois empreendimentos solidários da cidade de São Paulo, o Ângela de Cara Limpa e a União Popular de Mulheres do Campo Limpo e Adjacências, o processo foi sendo elaborado ao longo das interações que se estabeleceram entre nós. A pesquisa foi realizada a partir de entrevistas e observação participante e a perspectiva adotada na análise foi a das singularidades de cada história e de cada empreendimento. Essas histórias, ainda que únicas, permitem observar situações e sentimentos, bem como transformações e possibilidades de futuro, marcados por diversas contradições. As reflexões tratam de quatro principais tópicos de análise: identidade, Economia Solidária, reconhecimento e liderança. A identidade é observada como um processo permanente de formação e transformação, a partir de condições materiais e históricas dadas. Nessas condições, desigualdade social e desigualdade de gênero são marcadores presentes, influenciando constantemente nas percepções individuais, coletivas e nas tomadas de decisão em relação a suas vidas. A Economia Solidária surge como uma alternativa à falta de emprego, renda e qualidade de vida. Embora a busca primeira a essas organizações seja pela renda, é a solidariedade que se mostra mais presente nas histórias. A solidariedade também é um dos muitos aspectos que favorece a luta pelo reconhecimento no processo de busca de pertencimento na sociedade. A reinvindicação de direitos e sentir-se entre iguais, são alguns dos fatores que aparecem na luta por reconhecimento dessas mulheres. Por fim, as lideranças mostram-se não como a única fonte de inspiração e manutenção dessas iniciativas sociais, mas são fundamentais, deixando suas marcas e inspirações, e sendo marcadas e inspiradas por outros, num processo de construção constante. Mais do que buscar direções únicas, essa pesquisa traz possibilidades e perspectivas para a atuação com comunidades e mulheres. As conclusões e recomendações para o campo apontam a perspectiva das relações e do compromisso na busca pela redução das desigualdades sociais / Seeking to contribute to studies on the leadership theme from the perspective of the relationships established in social organizations, this research deals with psychic and social transformations based on the logic of daily life and the cross stories of people who deal everyday with the consequences of social inequalities in their lives. The interactions established among us made the process exclusive. The stories and perspectives are about five women from two solidarity economy enterprises in the city of São Paulo: Angela de Cara Limpa and União Popular de Mulheres do Campo Limpo e Adjacências. The research took place from interviews and participant observations. The analysis adopted the perspective of the singularities of each story and each organization. These stories, although unique, allow us to observe situations and feelings, as well as transformations and possibilities of the future, marked by several contradictions. The reflections deal with four main topics of analysis: identity, solidarity economy, recognition and leadership. Identity observed as a permanent process of formation and transformation, given material and historical conditions. Under these conditions, social inequality and gender inequality are present markers, constantly influencing individual, collective perceptions and life decision-makings. Solidarity economy emerges as an alternative to lack of employment, income or quality of life. Although the first search in these organizations is for income, solidarity is the main present aspect in the stories. Solidarity is also one of many aspects that favors the struggle for recognition in the process of seeking belonging in society. The claim of rights and feel equal, are some of the factors that appear in the struggle for recognition of these women. Finally, the leaderships are not the only source of inspiration and maintenance of these social initiatives. They are fundamental in leaving their marks and inspirations, and being marked and inspired by others, in a constant construction process. More than seeking unique directions, this research offers possibilities and perspectives of working with communities and women. The conclusions and recommendations point to the perspective of relationships and commitment in the search for the reduction of social inequalities