A Thesis submitted to The University of Arizona College of Medicine - Phoenix in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Medicine. / Background and Significance: Both HIV and unintended pregnancies have been associated with adverse maternal, perinatal, and infant outcomes. Malawi is a country with both high HIV prevalence and rates of unintended pregnancy, where 13% of women aged 15‐49 years have HIV, and 41% of pregnancies are unintended. Research Question: The objectives of this study were to describe the most recent pregnancy intentions and family planning preferences of HIV‐infected and HIV‐uninfected postpartum Malawian women, and to assess whether HIV status is associated with fertility desire and knowledge of intrauterine contraception (IUC) and the subdermal contraceptive implant. Methods: We conducted a cross‐sectional analysis of the baseline characteristics of Malawian women enrolled in a prospective cohort study assessing postpartum contraceptive uptake and continuation. Women at a government hospital completed a baseline survey assessing reproductive history, family planning preferences, and knowledge of IUC and the implant. We used Pearson’s chi‐square tests to compare these parameters between HIV‐infected and HIV‐uninfected women. Modified Poisson regression was performed to assess the association between HIV status and fertility desire and knowledge about IUC and the implant. Results: Of 634 postpartum women surveyed, HIV‐infected women were more likely to report their most recent pregnancy was unintended (49% versus 37%, p=0.004). Nearly all women (97%) did not want a child in the next two years but HIV‐infected women were more likely to desire no more children (adjusted PR: 1.59; 95% CI: 1.33, 1.89). HIV‐ infected women were also less likely to know that IUC (adjusted PR 0.72; 95% CI: 0.61, 0.84) and the implant (adjusted PR 0.83; 95% CI: 0.75, 0.92) are safe during breastfeeding. Conclusion: Postpartum women strongly desire family spacing and many HIV‐infected postpartum women desire no more children, suggesting an important role for these long‐acting methods. Education about the efficacy and safety of IUC and the implant particularly during breastfeeding may facilitate postpartum use.

Bochum, Univ., Diss., 2001. / Computerdatei im Fernzugriff.

Bochum, Univ., Diss., 2001. / Computerdatei im Fernzugriff.

Bochum, Universiẗat, Diss., 2001.

Texte remanié de: M. Phil. Th.--University of London, 1971. / Bibliogr. p. 230 à 241. Index.

This thesis is concerned with the way householders use their woodland and tree resources in the face of physical and socio-economic resource constraints. Its rationale is the belief that the identification of the characteristics that control the supply and demand dynamics of small holders' woodland and tree use will contribute to the understanding of how forestry interventions can more positively influence the way they manage their environment. The study takes the form of a case-study of a smallholder farming community in North Kasungu District, Central Malawi. It uses a range of research methodologies in an attempt to broaden the scope of analysis and accommodate a multi-disciplinary approach to the dynamics of household miombo utilisation. The research methods used are a participatory woodland inventory, a questionnaire survey, participatory household and household tree resource survey and a 25-month programme of monitoring household woodland and tree utilisation. The analysis is based on statistical interpretation of cross-tabulated data and supported by correlation and multivariate analysis techniques. Whilst perceptions of environmental change and utilisation constraints reflected the availability of the woody resource, the availability of household resources - particularly labour - influenced household collection and tree-planting strategies. The findings of the research indicate that socio-economic, as opposed to physical, supply constraints influence the patterns of woodland utilisation between and within household types. Resource availability and seasonality exacerbate the household differentiation, reducing the capacity of the poorer, smaller and female-headed households to adapt. The 25-month monitoring of firewood and woodland food utilisation revealed the extent of the intra-household division of labour, which was largely manifested along the lines of either age class or gender. Modelling the results of firewood collection indicated that whilst the wife remained the main collector, the relative labour supply elasticity of the household members to collection related to the marginal valuation of their labour. This was shown to be influenced by season, gender, social differentiation and employment opportunity.

Zugl.: Malawi, Univ., Diss., 2008

Hannover, University, Diss., 2008.

Report (Ed.D.)--Teachers College. / Typescript; issued also on microfilm. Sponsor: Robert Bone. Dissertation Committee: Michael Mbabuike. Bibliography: leaves 202-219.

Thesis--Hamburg. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (p. 400-407).