The purpose of this thesis is two-fold: it attempts to develop a feminist theory of health and health care of women and moves beyond the political economy theory of health and health care grounded in Marxist principles. Secondly, it attempts to apply these feminist theoretical principles, incorporating the methodology of historical materialism, to a specific historical situation - that of African women in Natal/Zululand in the nineteenth century. The thesis is divided into three parts. The first provides an overview of the political economy of health and the Marxist theory on which it is based. The second section deals specifically with feminist theoretical concerns: particularly the need to incorporate the concept of gender and the sexual division of labour into analysis of the position of women in society. In addition, it focusses on women's particular health needs and attempts to incorporate these into a feminist theory of health and health care. The third part examines the health and health care of African women in pre-colonial Natal/Zululand by focussing on their role in procreation and production, and changing health patterns and health care under colonial rule. / Thesis (M.A.)-University of Natal, Durban, 1990.

In Quebec, between 1914 and 1939, women were portrayed as keepers of the hearth, roles established since the mid-19th century, and further reinforced in the early 20th century when the Western World was threatened with drops in population, high infant mortality and the general ill-health of society. French Canadian physicians were one of the self-proclaimed leaders and experts who maintained they possessed all the knowledge to cure society's ills. Their attention fell principally on the elimination of infant mortality on the one hand, and the promotion of multiple births on the other. To succeed, physicians maintained that while they held the knowledge, women and mothers were ultimately responsible for applying it. Training for motherhood began as early as childhood and would continue until maturity. Medical prescriptions for francophone mothers relied heavily on religion and patriotism to convince them that quality motherhood was necessary if the French Canadian "race" were to survive in an increasing changing landscape.

African Americans have more disease, disability, and early death than whites. The leading causes of death for African American women are heart disease, cancer, stroke, diabetes, and kidney disease. Several reasons for these differences, including racism, poverty, cultural differences, lack of knowledge about the importance of screening or testing to prevent health problems, inability to get to the doctor, or lack of trust in the medical system. Healthy eating habits are less evident among lower class neighborhoods because of the lack of availability and education about healthy foods. Although African Americans have a healthy acceptance of a wider range of body sizes, their tolerance may lead to more obesity and serious nutrition-related health problems. This study analyzed the risk of nutrition related deficits in African American women living in low income housing. The majority of respondents had been diagnosed with nutrition related medical conditions. Significant relationships were found between medical conditions and income. The behavioral changes within low-income families might be most difficult because of many barriers, but by further educating this population, they can learn to live with these disadvantages and create healthier diets for themselves and family.

The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of oral contraceptives (OC) on bone health in active women during early adulthood. Thirty-eight women between the ages of 18 and 35 years participated in this study. Participants were placed into two groups: 1) those who had taken OCs (Ortho Tri-Cyclen for a minimum of two years (n=22) and 2) those who had never taken OCs (n=16). The two groups were matched based on age, nutritional habits, percent body fat, and activity level. Participants completed a health history questionnaire, food frequency questionnaire, and received a full body scan via dual energy x-ray absorptiometry (DEXA). An independent t-test revealed no significant difference (p < 0.05) between the bone mineral density of the women taking OCs (1.188 g/cm2 ± 0.09) and those women who never consumed OCs (1.207 g/cm2 ± 0.09). The effect of taking OCs in a young healthy population of women appears to have no osteogenic influence on bone health. / School of Physical Education

Numerous cross-sectional studies have reported an inverse relationship between VO2,,,ax and age. However, few longitudinal investigations have compared the rate of decline in VO2,,.x between women who did or did not report exercise habits consistent with the 1990 ACSM position stand for quantity and quality of exercise. The purpose of this study was to determine if changes in exercise habits and body composition affected age-related changes in VO2.x. Subjects were 91 women (age 40.9 ± 8.8 years at baseline) tested twice between 1973 and 1996 (range of 3.1 - 21.9 years, mean interval of 9.3 ± 4.2 years). The subjects were divided into four physical activity groups based on their reported exercise habits at baseline and follow-up as: non-exercise - exercise (NE-EX; n = 21), NE-NE (n=36), EX-EX (n=19), and EX-NE (n=15). Baseline VOz,,,ax (ml-kg-1-min-1) was significantly higher for the EX vs. NE ( 38.4 ± 8.4 vs.28.8 ± 5.7; f42.2; P<.0001). ANOVA revealed significant differences between the physical activity change groups and mean percent changes in VO2. (% A ml•kg'.min'-yr') (F =10.887; P<.0001) which are listed in the following:NE-NENE-EXEX-EXEX-NE-1.081.58*-1.25-2.21* NE-EX vs. EX-NE; NE-EX vs. EX-EX; and NE-EX vs. NE-NE (P<0.05)There were differences between the following groups: NE-EX vs. EX-NE; NE-EX vs. EX-EX; and NE-EX vs. NE-NE for percent change in VO2max (nl•kg'-min 1•yr 1) with the EX-NE group having the largest decline in VO2max during the follow-up period.Using a multiple regression model after adjusting for the exercise habit groups, the exercise group scheme accounted for 27.3 percent of the variance in percent change in VO2max at step 1 of the analysis (f = 1.09; P < 0.001). Change in percent body fat and change in maximal ventilation accounted for an additional 7.2 percent and 6.5 percent of the variance at steps 2 and 3, respectively. The change in maximal heart rate accounted for an additional 2.5 percent of the variance at step 4, although the statistical significance of the contribution was low (P = 0.057). Increases in body fat and decreases in pulmonary ventilation were found associated with declines in aerobic power while a decline in maximal heart rate between the tests was associated with a decline in percent change in aerobic power.In conclusion, these data demonstrate that: 1) adoption or maintenance of a regular exercise program is associated with less decline in VO2,,. during long-term follow-up compared to women who did not exercisers, and 2) changes in exercise habits, body composition, maximal ventilation, and maximal heart rate accounted for nearly half (43 %) percent of the percent decline per year. / School of Physical Education

The present study explored whether African American women's level of dietary fat intake could be predicted by the variables of food preferences and preparation methods, support for healthy eating from family and friends, attitudes toward health, and acculturation. The present study also explored whether African American women's level of dietary fat intake could be predicted by the variables of food preferences and preparation methods, support for healthy eating from family and friends, and attitudes toward health, as moderated by acculturation.Information was obtained from five hundred and nintey nine African American females between the ages of eighteen and forty four. The women were recruited from a Midwestern univeristy, an undergraduate and graduate chapter of an African American sorority, two African American professional organizations, and through the snowball method. Particpants completed a Demographic Questionnaire, The Eating Behavior Patterns Questionnaire, The African American Acculturation Scale Short Form, The Health Attitudes Scale, The Social Support Scale, and The Eating Patterns Subscale on the Eating Habits Questionnaire. The data was collected via hardcopy and InQsit, an online survey program.Numerous preliminary tests were run to screen the data for outliers, linearity, and multicollinearity. Then, two forced entry multiple regressions were performed. In the first analysis, the overall model was a significant predictor of dietary fat intake. African American women's preferred foods, positive and negative support from friends, overallconcern for health, and intentions to adopt positive health practices are significant predictors of their level of dietary fat intake. In fact, these variables acccounted for almost half of the amount of variance in dietary fat intake. The second model was not significant and acculturation was not a significant predictor or moderator of dietary fat intake. Although acculturation was proven to be influential to dietary behaviors in African Americans in previous literature, the findings were not confirmed in this study.Multiple possibilies may explain the lack of significant findings between level of acculturation and dietary fat intake. The women in the current study were of a higher educational and income status than women in previous studies indicating significant findings. This difference in education and income, among other factors, may account for the difference in significant findings. The information gained in this study can be used to develop pschoeducational and treatment programs aimed at helping African American women prevent or treat health problems associated with poor eating habits. Several research implications are also noted. / Department of Counseling Psychology and Guidance Services

Graduation date: 2000

The way gender relations influence access to care and treatment particularly access to antiretroviral medicines is a challenge to HIV/AIDS programmes and to the individuals and families with HIV. Gender norms that push women and men to adhere to dominant ideals of femininity and masculinity may restrict women's access to economic resources, health care and fuel the spread of HIV. The aim of this study was to determine the role of gender relations in influencing decision-making for access to antiretroviral medicines between partners and in the family.

This investigation aimed to determine factors that influence women's utilisation of maternal health services, with specific focus on the quality of care and services available to disadvantaged communities in South Africa. It used the women's perspectives to assess the quality of maternal healthcare services in peri-urban commercial farming and rural areas with the purpose of understanding why women utilise maternal services the way they do.

Thesis (M. Ed.)--University of Adelaide, Dept. of Education, 1993? / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 331-343).