This thesis sets out to explore some important gaps in the sociological and feminist understanding of the provision of maternity care and of women's health needs. The research was concerned with an exploration of the implementation of proposals for the provision of user-centred maternity care which emerged from the critiques of current medicalised provision. It evaluates the effects of an attempt to provide user-centred maternity care within the Primary Health Care sector (PHC) from both the women's and workers' perspectives and experience. The central questions addressed within the research have been: Firstly, to assess the degree to which such models of service delivery provide a user centred approach. Secondly, to identify the form of the relationship between the women users and providers from the practices and to develop an understanding of the mechanisms of interaction between them. Thirdly, to explore the extent to which the provision of such care is appropriate to match women users' self identified needs. Finally, to assess the potential of female health workers to adopt a form of provider and user relationship where the balance of power is altered in the users' favour. The main body of the research consisted of a qualitative study conducted in two general practices. These were chosen as specific examples of innovative practices attempting to provide a genuinely user-centred maternity service. The fieldwork consisted of three methodological components: Firstly, unstructured interviews were conducted with women users and workers. A sample of 30 women who were pregnant for the first time were interviewed on three occasions during their pregnancy and in the immediate post-natal period. In addition, 10 second time mothers were also interviewed post-natally. In terms of the workers', in depth interviews were conducted with midwives, GPs and practice nurses within the PHC setting. Secondly, observations were undertaken on the interactions between the women and workers and between members of the PHC team during the course of the women's antenatal and post-natal care. Finally, a structured questionnaire was used with a sample of women from one of the practice's well woman clinic. The research findings indicate the existence of a user-centred frame of reference held by female health workers - especially the midwives - for the provision of health care to women, which was opposed to the medical model. It explores the translation into practice of this model of maternity care and identifies the way that it functioned to enable women to exercise greater control over their health care and experience of pregnancy. Within this model the traditional 'with woman' role of the midwife was found to be central. Considerable convergence was found between the models held by the main parties in the interaction - issues concerned with choice, control and the provision of information were all found to be central to the care provided and to women's and workers' models. However, constraints on the effective implementation of the model were found in terms of the influence of professionalism (particularly on the GPs) and the dominance of the hospital system. These resulted in limits to the women workers' ability to meet the needs of women users.

This study argues that ideological rather than material constraints are the major obstacles that limit full female participation in the Saudi Arabian labour force and hinder Saudi working women from combining their double roles as mothers and paid workers. As a developing country, Saudi Arabia is facing multiple problems. One of these challenges is the great shortage of human resources. In 1984/85, 59.8 per cent of the labour force in Saudi society was foreign. Female participation in waged employment is very low with only 5.1 per cent of women of working age participating in the labour force. This ethnography focuses especially on working mothers in Riyadh and is based principally on intensive interviews with fifty women holding posts in the full range of women's occupations in Saudi Arabia. After two general ethnographic chapters which outline Saudi women's lifestyle in the pre-oil and the modern periods, this thesis considers in detail women's activities in their paid employment and domestic roles. Special attention is given to Saudi ideologies which restrict women's participation in the labour force, in particular Saudi conceptions of male and female relations. One of the main arguments is that Islam in itself is not responsible for women's limited participation in the labour force, rather it is the interpretation of Islam which is heavily affected by socio-political factors in Saudi society. Many studies of working women in Western countries concentrate on the phenomenon of the "double day" that working women face when they undertake a paid job in addition to their domestic responsibilities. According to this view, material constraints constitute the major problem of working women. Authors arguing from this view point assume that the availability of domestic replacements would solve the major problems experienced by these working women. The present thesis argues that material constraints are not the main problem of working women in Riyadh. The influx of wealth has enabled many families to employ domestic help but, nevertheless, many working women still suffer from their conflicting double roles. According to Saudi cultural beliefs, nature determines the sexual division of labour. Women are assumed to be mothers and housewives, and men are assumed to be the breadwinners of their families. The concept of a woman's "career" does not exist in Saudi society. A women's career is her home and children. There are three types of cultural and attitudinal factors that challenge Saudi working women. Firstly, there is women's conception of themselves. Women always locate themselves within the dominant culture which is greatly affected by male representations. Secondly, people's attitudes towards women's work play an important role In helping or hindering women to combine their double roles. Finally, there is the issue of husbands' support for their working wives. Because Saudi Arabia is a male-dominated society, husbands play an especially significant role in their wives' lives. They can be a great source of support and help, or they can be a source of frustration.

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The amount and frequency of use of pesticides in vegetable farming have been shown to be high in the five farming areas in Al-Ain, UAE. The mean usage of all pesticides was high (6.81 g/m2) while the usage of organophosphorus pesticides (2.11 g/m2) was higher compared to the usage of all the other types of pesticides. A number of pesticides banned from use in the developed countries are still used in vegetable farming. The depletion of erythrocyte acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity among farmworkers was positively correlated with the length (p<0.01), frequency(p<0.05) and the use of pesticides (p<0.0001) and inversely correlated with the use of personal protective equipment (p<0.05) and personal hygiene practice (p<0.05). The morbidity profile among farmworkers was positively correlated with the use of pesticides on the farms (p<0.0001) and the non-use of personal protection (p<0.05). The mean concentrations of all pesticide residues (1.19±0.09 mg/kg) and the organophosphorus pesticide residues (1.23±0.22 mg/kg) in the locally grown vegetables exceeded the respective MRLs by 4 and 6 times respectively. The mean concentrations for all pesticides and for organophosphorus pesticide residues in twelve of the thirteen vegetable commodities also exceeded the corresponding MRLs. The mean dietary intakes of all pesticide residues, as a percentage of ADI, were 14% and 17% respectively for the ethnic and farming populations, while corresponding values for organophosphorus pesticides were 37% and 45% respectively. However, the dietary intakes of pesticide residues exceeded the ADI for mixtures for the ethnic (137%) and the farming populations (163%). A review of congenital malformations among ethnic and immigrant non-farming populations has suggested an interplay of genetic, dietary and environmental factors. Methods are proposed to reduce the environmental exposure and the dietary intake of pesticide residues and these include the establishment of a pesticide register, the training of the farmworkers in the proper use of pesticides, the use of protective measures, alternate methods of farming, the proper processing of vegetables prior to consumption and a comprehensive risk assessment of reproductive and genetic toxicity of organophosphorus pesticides.

The work of balancing the role of child welfare worker and mother is often a challenging one, particularly during times of high stress. In this study six women with young children employed in children welfare settings were interviewed about their experience of burnout. The interviews explored their understanding and personal experience of combining both motherhood with their employment as child welfare workers. The centrality of supportive supervision in modifying the experience of burnout is addressed. The unpredictability, responsibility and risk women face in front line child welfare produces extreme stress, which often becomes extremely difficult to manage, in particular when coupled with the task of raising young children.

Transracial adoption continues to be a widely debated and controversial subject matter. The purpose of this study was to complete an examination of what adoption social workers do to teach adoptive parents regarding their adoptees' differing cultural and ethnic background. A questionnaire was sent to all adoption social workers employed by Children's Aid Societies in Ontario; 90 responded. The questionnaire included questions regarding demographic information, opinions of transracial adoption and also explored the actual actions taken to teach adoptive parents about their adoptees' differing cultural and ethnic background. Findings were that the majority of adoption social workers in Ontario are Caucasian, and that they have a high level of agreement with the appropriateness of transracial adoptions. The total actions taken by social workers to educate adoptive parents were found to be quite low; a higher number of actions taken was associated with: (1) The social workers being older; (2) The fact that they adopted transracially themselves; (3) Longer experience in social work, and specifically in adoption; (4) More transracial adoptions facilitated.

The purpose of this study was to investigate factors which accounted for volunteer performance in the population of Taiwan’s veterans hospital setting. A great deal of volunteering research has already been done. Yet, the determinants of volunteer performance are understudied and insufficient field work has been done to empirically support the theoretical performance model. / In summary, results of the current study indicated that volunteer performance can be explained or predicted by volunteer ability (training), motivation, role perception and organizational resources (recognition and appreciation). / Thesis (DoctorateofBusinessAdministration))--University of South Australia, 2005.

This research examines the concept of quality as it relates to the social work practitioner working within the large statutory organisation. It explores the practitioners perceptions about what constitutes quality practice, and how they know whether they are providing a quality service to their client groups. / While practitioners have individual views as to what constitutes quality practice, there are clear indications that this quality can be determined through a number of means, largely those that based on personal assessment or institution, and those processes determined by external review or evaluation criteria. There is however, evidence to suggest that practitioners would like to see the implementation of other review processes that would provide them with further input as to the nature and quality of service they are providing as individual practitioners, and as a team of agency. However, factors such as insufficient time, and lack of opportunity and resources, often prevent this from happening to the satisfaction of the practitioner. / This investigation also examines social work practitioners views as to their respective agencys and departments views on quality practice and the review process, particularly as it relates to the social worker. Practitioners are of the belief that workplaces and departments with whom they are employed support the development and implementation of review processes in principle, but in reality, the supports and opportunities to undertake such endeavours are not available. / Thesis (MSoSc(SocialWorkSocPolicy)--University of South Australia, 2000.