The significance of reproductive health and rights cannot be overemphasised. Investment in the rights of rural women, specifically their reproductive health rights, is a fundamental determinant of their empowerment and social development. Access to reproductive health services enables rural women to make informed choices in their reproductive lives. This is of paramount significance because the exercise of choice in one domain opens possibilities for choices in others. International and regional human rights treaties recognise the significance of reproductive health rights for women's wellbeing and survival and require that State Parties provide access to reproductive health services. Zimbabwe has ratified the relevant human rights treaties and has domesticated many of their provisions through the Constitution and other laws. Zimbabwe has obligations to respect, protect, promote and fulfil the right to reproductive health. Despite these obligations, rural women face a plethora of challenges in accessing reproductive health services, and their right to reproductive health continues to be infringed. The infringement is in violation of Zimbabwe's international and domestic human rights obligations. The purpose of this study was to examine and establish the challenges confronting rural women when accessing reproductive health care services in Hwange Rural District Zimbabwe. Using a phenomenology qualitative research design, data were gathered through structured face-to-face interviews with 20 women of reproductive age and five health care providers. Data from the field were bolstered with reviews of extant literature. Collected field data were thematically analysed and presented. The research findings revealed that although most of Zimbabwe's legislative, policy and institutional frameworks have provisions that comply with international obligations, the frameworks also contain restrictive provisions which perpetuate the challenges women face in accessing reproductive health care services. Furthermore, the human-rights compliant legislative and policy frameworks are often not properly implemented, thus leading to a violation of the right to reproductive health in practice. The study's empirical research revealed that in Hwange Rural District, women's capabilities to exercise their reproductive rights are limited by factors such as physical barriers like distance to the nearest health facility, availability of services, quality of care given at health facilities, poverty, religion and patriarchal tradition. A major challenge unearthed by the study was that rural women in Hwange District are not aware of their reproductive health rights. This lack of knowledge is disempowering because women who do not know their rights are not knowledgeable enough to demand their rights or defend them when violated. To redress the challenges faced by rural women, the study found that women can use judicial and extra judicial mechanisms ─ including the courts, human rights institutions, nongovernmental organisations, and civil society organisations ─ for litigation, exertion of political pressure, awareness raising and grassroots mobilisation. Such strategies are essential for ensuring that women hold the State accountable for violations of their reproductive rights. The study concludes that there is need to raise awareness on the right to reproductive health and the enacted laws and policies so as to equip women with the necessary information that will allow them to exercise their rights. It recommends that intensive human rights education programmes for both the formal and informal sector should be prioritised. It recommends the provision of adequate resourcing of various state institutions responsible for women's rights issues. Further, there should be a situational analysis of challenges faced by rural women in Zimbabwe based on the intricate factors of location within rural areas, religion, gender, human rights knowledge, culture and tradition. After such situational analysis, there is need to enact laws and policies that respond directly to the unique challenges faced by rural women, without using a ‘one size fits all' approach.

Concern regarding the decline in the knowledge and use of indigenous green vegetables exists in many southern African regions including Swaziland. Reasons for this are, amongst others, attributed to a lack of inter-generational knowledge transfer, the influence of westernisation and changing food values and attitudes, as people nowadays regard indigenous green leafy vegetables as a low status food. It is imperative that knowledge of these foods be documented before it is lost to future generation. Indigenous green leafy vegetables have long been considered healthier options than the many recently introduced western-orientated foods, which are closely linked to chronic lifestyle diseases. The aim of this study was to determine, describe and compare the knowledge of indigenous green leafy vegetables among two generations of rural Swazi women from the Eluyengweni community, and how it manifests in their food practices. Studies on indigenous green leafy vegetables in Swaziland are limited. This study will fill the knowledge gap in this field. The human ecological perspective was adopted as theoretical perspective and an explorative mixed method approach was followed. Qualitative data was collected through focus group discussions with younger (25-45 years) and older (over 45 years) women. Face-to-face structured interviews provided quantitative data on the knowledge the women had of indigenous green leafy vegetables, including their procurement, preparation, preservation and consumption patterns. The convenience sample comprised 102 respondents. Observation was done concurrently during both phases of data collection and photographs accompanied comprehensive field notes. It transpired that the availability of indigenous green leafy vegetables had declined in the community and those that were available were not easily accessible as they were located on the outskirts of the community. In spite of changes in the physical and natural environment, some indigenous green leafy vegetable species are still available in summer. It is clear that the older women, in comparison to their younger counterparts, had more knowledge of indigenous green leafy vegetables in terms of identifying them, where they are found and how they are used. Familiar and available indigenous green leafy vegetables such as imbuya (Amaranthus), chuchuza (Bidens pilosa) were preferred, and consumed fairly regularly. Although indigenous green leafy vegetables were still part of the food practices in this community, their consumption among the younger generation had declined. However, due to factors related to modernisation, economic influences and technological advancement the majority of both the younger and older participants seem to have become dependent on, and often include, western-orientated food in their food consumption patterns. Based on the results, recommendations are made to capture and preserve the knowledge of indigenous green leafy vegetables in this community and to revive interest in these vegetables and promote their consumption. / Daar is 'n besorgdheid oor die afname in kennis in die gebruik van inheemse groen blaargroentes in baie streke in Suider Afrika, insluitend Swaziland. Redes wat hiervoor aangevoer word, is onder andere, die gebrekkige oordrag van kennis van een geslag na die volgende, die invloed van verwestering asook 'n verandering in waardes en houdings aangesien mense inheemse groen blaargroentes deesdae as 'n lae status voedsel beskou. Daarom is dit noodsaaklik dat kennis oor hierdie voedsel gedokumenteer word voordat dit verlore gaan vir die nageslag. Inheemse groen blaargroentes word gesonder geag in vergelyking met Westers-georienteerde voedsel, wat op hul beurt nou geassosieer word met kroniese lewenstyl siektes. Die doel van hierdie studie was om die kennis van inheemse groen blaargroentes van twee geslagte landelike Swazi vroue van die Eluyengweni gemeenskap te bepaal, beskryf en te vergelyk asook hoe dit manifesteer in hul voedselpraktyke. Studies oor inheemse groen blaargroentes in Swaziland is beperk en hierdie studie dra by om die leemte in kennis in hierdie studieveld te vul. Die menslike ekologiese perspektief is a teoretiese perspektief gebruik en 'n verkennende gemengde metodologie is as navorsingsbenadering gevolg. Kwalitatiewe data is deur middle van fokusgroep gesprekke met beide die jonger (25-45 jaar) en ouer (ouer as 45 jaar) vroue ingesamel. Met behulp van gestruktureerde individuele onderhoude is kwantitatiewe data oor die kennis van inheemse groen blaargroentes ingesamel wat die verkryging, voorbereiding, preservering en verbruikspatrone van hierdie groentes ingesluit het. 'n Geriefssteekproef van 102 respondente het aan die studie deelgeneem. Waarnemings is gedurende beide fases van die data insameling uitgevoer en fotos en volledige veldnotas is ingesluit. Dit is duidelik dat die beskikbaarheid van inheemse groen blaargroentes in hierdie gemeenskap afgeneem het, en dit wat beskikbaar was, was nie maklik toeganklik nie, omdat dit aan die buitewyke van die gemeenskap gelëe was. Ten spyte van die verandering in die fisiese en natuurlike omgewing is sommige inheemse groen blaargroentes steeds beskikbaar gedurende die somer. Dit is duidelik dat die ouer vroue, in vergelyking met die die jonger vroue oor meer kennis van inheemse groen blaargroentes beskik het met betrekking tot die identifisering, waar hulle groei en hoe om hulle te gebruik. Bekende en beskikbare inheemse groen blaargroentes soos gewone misbredie (Amaranthus) en knapsakkerwel (Bidens pilosa) was voorkeur groente en is redelik gereeld gebruik. Alhoewel inheemse groen blaargroentes steeds deel vorm van die voedselpraktyke in hierdie gemeenskap, het die gebruik daarvan deur die jonger geslag afgeneem. As gevolg van faktore soos modernisering, die ekonomie en tegnologiese vooruitgang het die meerderheid van beide die jonger en ouer geslag afhanklik geword van westers-georienteerde voedsel en dit dikwels in hulle eetpatrone ingesluit. Die resultate van hierdie studie het bygedra dat aanbevelings oor die vaslegging en bewaring van die kennis oor inheemse groen blaargroentes in hierdie gemeenskap gemaak kon word, asook om 'n oplewing in die belangstelling in die gebruik daarvan te bevorder. / Dissertation (MConsumer Science)--University of Pretoria, 2017. / Consumer Science / MConsumer Science / Unrestricted

This research qualitatively investigates the activities that female Bangladeshi entrepreneurs perform to become successful in their ventures with the support of microfinancing. Microfinancing is a loan transfer of a small amount to a small business borrower who lacks access to commercial banking services and has significantly assisted entrepreneurs. Microfinancing has a positive socio-economic impact on those females who do not have access to traditional banking. In-depth research concerning factors affecting the entrepreneurial intention of females remains relatively scarce. This research examined entrepreneurial work characteristics that assist female entrepreneurs in becoming successful. Based on interviews with 34 female entrepreneurs from the five regions (Dhaka, Tangail, Manikganj, Gazipur, and Cumilla) of Bangladesh between the ages of 27 to 70, this study sought to identify the significant categories of start-up companies related to the development of entrepreneurship among the rural women borrowers through microfinancing (microcredit program). Specifically, this study examined obstacles faced by females of Bangladesh and explored how they overcame those barriers and became successful small business entrepreneurs. A grounded theory approach was used to categorize critical obstructions and facilitating factors, and role congruity theory helped inform the nature of the emerging categories. The top five types of businesses found in this study were room renting, retail store, vegetable business, tailoring business, and livestock farm. The following nine themes emerged from analysis as vital factors influencing the nature and outcome of the small business ventures: 1) the amount of microloan fund, 2) changes in business categories, 3) employees, 4) training and business issues, 5) advantages of microfinancing, 6) disadvantages of microfinancing, 7) sholo shiddhanto (16-decisions), 8) potential unique obstacles, and 9) perceived success.Most importantly, a wide range of advantages was documented. From a role congruity theory perspective, this suggests that microfinancing allows the women to operate their small businesses in a manner that will enable them to maintain high congruity or fit with their family roles and other lifestyle requirements. The findings of this study assisted with a further understanding of this new phenomenon of microfinance entrepreneurial work. This study also illustrates areas needing additional review and research by exploring and deciphering how perceptions and conventions interplay with the specific challenges the women entrepreneurs of Bangladesh face. Theoretical and practical implications for how stories about women entrepreneurs can benefit organizational decision making are also discussed.

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In the Ecuadorian society there is a pronounced difference in the distribution of work between men and women. In the Ecuadorian society the man is dominant and the woman is seen as a free form of strenuous and excessive labor, who often goes without pay. The woman herself minimizes her own contribution in the production process, thereby magnifying this culture distinction. The division of work related responsibilities, through gender distinctions, has given women more tasks to complete, in addition to those generally reserved for females (taking care of the children, the animals and various household chores). Women also tend to aide in agricultural production, which often generates an important household income. This additional income, through agricultural means, continues to go unnoticed, thereby ignoring the true economic participation of women in rural areas. Planned Objectives were: Determine the production activities that the rural women fulfill in the communities of Puculpala, Llulluchi and Guzo in the Chimborazo province and Determine if the women in rural areas from the before said communities, benefit from their agricultural production. The diagnosis was completed through, studies, observations, personal interviews, text investigation and data analysis. A preliminary visit was made, in order to conduct observations, in the three above noted communities. After establishing a workable relationship with the people, interviews and surveys were conducted according to the annexes one through thirteen. The major production activities of the women in the studied communities are agriculture related. The percentage of women who work in agriculture are 66.67% in Puculpalpa, 60% in Guzo and 66.67% in Llulluchi. In Puculpalpa the women perform handcrafts as well. The women cultivate potatoes and corn in all three areas. They perform minor work with livestock, such as the breeding and rearing of the dairy cow and marketing of its milk. The most widely performed agricultural practice among the women is the cultivation of the potato. They spend an average time of 30% in sowing preparation, 32.22% in soil preparation, 11.67% in seed preparation, 23.33% sowing and fertilizing, 36.67% cultivating, 25.56% insect and disease control, 24.45% weeding, 35.56% harvesting, and 15.55% in the transportation and the marketing of products. Due to the fact that most of the agricultural work is for personal consumption, women are rarely paid for activities they perform. The countrywomen play a fundamental role in the production process, by supplying the food for their household. Despite this, in most circumstances their products have a lower market value then that of their male counterparts. The countrywomen greatly contribute to the income of the family through participation in the raising of cattle. Their role in this process brings an occasional income of 25.26% in Puculpala, 33.33% in Guzo and 30% in Llulluchi. Occasionally they contribute a daily income of S/. 8,000-9,000. In all three communities temporary migration of the women to larger cities, such as Quito, Riobamba and Guayaquil, are prevalent. Women perform house chores for other families in these cities. They prepare the food, take care of the children, collect firewood, clean, sew and shop. Illiteracy is high in all three communities, reaching 40% in Pucupalpa, 13.33%, in Guzo and 6.67% in Llulluchi. They are unable to perform basic solicitations and credit transactions. This lack of knowledge renders the women, unable to properly administrate their finances. This often results in lower paying jobs when they migrate. In all three communities there exists a religious faith in which the women seek divine assistance in their work. In Puculpala 53.33%, Guzo 6.67% and Llulluchi 33.33% of the women pray for a successful harvest. This practice is also true of males.

Hypertension, or high blood pressure, is a major risk factor for heart disease and stroke. Elevated blood pressure is often a silent process affecting multiple organ systems. Risk for heart disease is associated with poorly treated or unrecognized hypertension that is more common among women than men. Non-adherence to prescribed treatment regimens has been identified as a major reason for inadequate hypertension management. This exploratory descriptive qualitative study using narrative inquiry investigated adherence practices among Caucasian women with diagnoses of hypertension from a rural area of Florida. The purpose of this study was to gain an understanding from women who had been diagnosed with hypertension about the challenges of living with and managing this chronic condition in their daily lives. Participants included Caucasian women (n = 11) recruited from a Federally Qualified Rural Health Center in Florida. Semi-structured interviews were used to collect data. Content analysis procedures were used to analyze the interviews. Emergent themes included: work stress affecting health and leading to high blood pressure; silent ―sneaky, gradual‖ onset of mild to moderate symptoms leading to high blood pressure; and strong influence of family members with high blood pressure and related complications that instilled fear in participants to adhere to their prescribed treatment plan in some, or in others to non-adherence. Social support from friends and coworkers was a repeated theme supporting adherence. Minor themes associated with non-adherence included fear of potential side effects of medications, challenges of daily living caring for family, fatigue from high blood pressure and medications affecting daily work, poor food choices due to finances and availability of high sodium and fatty foods at work and home, stress and time demands affecting iv ability to exercise to control high blood pressure, and focus on family forgetting self-needs. Limitations of the study included a small convenience sample with findings that may not be applicable to a population of hypertensive women from different rural settings. Future nursing studies in similar populations may contribute to improved adherence practices, leading to reduced complications from poorly controlled hypertension.

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No description available.

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Many American farmers have faced financial stress in the early 1980s unprecedented since the Depression. Simultaneously, farm wives have joined the off-farm labor market at rates exceeding urban women. Since prior research has found different correlates of family functioning and of external employment for rural and urban families, this descriptive study of Virginia farm wives (N = 128) investigated the impact of farm wives' external employment on the functioning of the farm and the farm family. While the sample did not represent the total Virginia farm population, it did appear to represent the financially stressed farm population. A comparison of employed farm wives (E = 57) and non-employed wives (N = 71) was analyzed to determine differences. Dependent variables affecting farm functioning included the farm's debt-to-asset ratio indicating the financial _ stress level, the wife's mental strain due to economic pressures, and lifestyle satisfaction. Dependent variables affecting family functioning were the wife's marital adjustment, psychological well being, and overall life satisfaction. The results indicated that the wife's external employment had a significantly negative impact on farm functioning. Wives working off the farm were more likely to come from farms with greater financial stress and were less satisfied with the equity factor of their lifestyle satisfaction. While mental strain was not significantly higher, more than one-third of employed wives experienced high mental strain. A significantly negative impact on family functioning was not found although employed farm wives reported lower marital adjustment and overall life satisfaction with proportionately fewer employed farm wives than nonemployed wives reporting positive psychological well-being. / Master of Science