This study examined technocracy in Haiti in the Cold War era. It showed how Haitian and non-Haitian technicians navigated United States imperialism, Soviet ideology, and postcolonial nationalism to implement bold utopian visions in a country oppressed by poverty and dynastic authoritarianism. Throughout the mid-to-late twentieth century, technicians lavished Haiti with plans to improve the countryside, the city, the workplace, and the home. This study analyzed those plans and investigated the motivations behind them. Based on new evidence discovered in the private correspondence between Haitian, American, and Western European specialists, it questioned the assumption that technocracy was captivated by high-modernist ideology and US hegemony. It exposed how many technicians were inspired by a utopian desire to create a just society—one based not only on technical knowledge but also on humanist principles, such as liberty and equality. Guided by the utopian impulse, technicians occasionally disobeyed policymakers who wished to promote modernization and the capitalist world-economy. In many cases, however, they also upset the Haitian people, who believed technocracy was too exclusive. This study concluded that technicians were empowered by expertise but unable to build the utopias they envisioned because they were constantly at odds with both policymakers at the top and the people whose lives they planned.

This thesis covers the development of pension schemes in the People's Republic of China from 1949 until now. The goal is to explain what is the structure of chinese pension schemes, why are the pension schemes divided between rural and urban areas and how are the migrant workers' pension schemes incorporated into the social security system. Furthermore the reforms and challenges of the current pension system are analysed as well as the linkage to the hukou reform and family planning reform.

En este trabajo, más allá del análisis y veredicto que se realizará de la sentencia del Tribunal Constitucional (en adelante, “TC”) N° 02005-2009-PA/TC, es fundamental para la autora destacar la importancia que tiene el reconocimiento de los derechos sexuales, reproductivos y, de forma más amplia, el derecho a la libertad personal y dignidad que tienen todas las personas y familias; los cuales les permiten desarrollar, a voluntad propia, su proyecto de vida, el cual implica, dentro de otras cosas, la planificación familiar de cada individuo. En la sentencia en cuestión, el TC decidió retirar los Anticonceptivos Orales de Emergencia (en adelante, “AOE”), más conocidos como la Píldora del Día Siguiente, del listado de métodos anticonceptivos que el Ministerio de Salud había establecido para la ejecución de su programa estatal de planificación familiar, el cual tiene como finalidad propiciar el bienestar sexual y desarrollo humano de las personas. A estimación de la autora, resulta crucial entender cómo esta decisión del TC afecta, no solo a las familias en su planificación familiar, sino también a las mujeres de sectores socioeconómicos bajos; puesto que, además de ir en contra de los derechos mencionados en el primer párrafo, esta sentencia “resuelve” la controversia de una forma discriminatoria, ya que deja la posibilidad abierta a que las personas puedan acceder a este método anticonceptivo en el sector privado; sin embargo, restringe esta posibilidad para aquellas mujeres que no tienen la posibilidad de acceder por sus propios medios a esta pastilla. / Trabajo de suficiencia profesional

Background: One in ten people in the U.S. are affected by a substance use disorder (SUD), roughly one third of whom are women. Rates of unintended pregnancy are higher in this population than in the general public. Little is understood about how women with SUD use prescription contraception and think about pregnancy. Methods: By analyzing Medicaid claims data and conducting qualitative interviews with women with SUD, this doctoral thesis seeks to: 1) compare any use of and consistent, continued coverage by prescription contraceptives between women with and without SUD; 2) determine the extent to which SUD is associated with pregnancy, abortion, and adverse feto-maternal outcomes in women who use prescription contraception; and 3) explore facilitators of and barriers to contraceptive utilization by women with SUD, using qualitative interviews. Results: Compared to women without SUD, women with SUD are less likely to use any prescription contraceptive, particularly long-acting reversible methods. Among women who do use long-acting methods, SUD is associated with less continued, consistent coverage by a prescription contraceptive. Among women who use contraception, SUD is also associated with increased odds of abortion. When interviewed, women with SUD report fatalistic attitudes towards pregnancy planning, and have difficulty conceptualizing how susceptibility to pregnancy may change over time. Women with SUD also report that pregnancy has substantial impact on their drug treatment prospects. Conclusions: This study is the first to examine contraceptive utilization by women with SUD who are enrolled in Medicaid or state-subsidized insurance. Our study may help to inform clinical practice and policy development to improve the reproductive health and wellbeing of women with SUD.

Ethiopia has one of the largest populations in the world, an estimate of 114 million inhabitants. With more than 40% of the population below the age of 15 the country has to make further progress in meeting its family planning needs. The fertility rate has slowly declined, but the population continues to grow. Efforts to reduce gender disparities and empower women have fallen short in many parts of the world. Evidence suggesting a link between women’s empowerment, health outcomes and health care service utilization. A secondary analysis of the 2016 Ethiopian Demographic and Health Survey was conducted. The aim of this study was to determine the association between women’s empowerment, sociodemographic and reproductive factors and contraceptive use among married women and women living with partner aged 15-49 in Ethiopia. Logistic regression, bivariate, and descriptive analysis was conducted. Decision-making role in regard to husband’s money was a strong predictor for contraceptive use. Women who alone or jointly made decision were more likely to use contraceptives. The state of wealth of women was a significant determinant for contraceptive use. Those with lower education were more likely to use contraceptives compared to those with higher education. Women who did not intend to have more children were more likely to use contraceptives. This study showed that contraceptive use is associated with women’s economic decision-making age, and several sociodemographic and reproductive factors. Improving women’s empowerment, through decision making power can improve contraceptive use and therefore achieve better maternal health.

Le 1er juin 2016, la politique nationale de gratuité des soins de santé reproductive est entrée en vigueur au Burkina Faso. Elle vise à réduire la mortalité maternelle en améliorant l’accès aux soins de santé pendant la grossesse, l’accouchement, et en post-partum. Si cette politique a permis d’augmenter la fréquentation dans les centres de santé reproductive par les femmes, d’autres barrières pourraient encore limiter le recours à ces services. Il s’agit, d’une part, de la mauvaise qualité des relations entre les femmes et les soignant·e·s, et d’autre part, du faible pouvoir décisionnel des femmes en matière de santé reproductive et de planification familiale. Notre étude vise à décrire ces deux barrières potentielles dans le contexte de la gratuité des soins au Burkina Faso. Nous avons réalisé une étude qualitative descriptive en milieu rural. Des données ont été collectées à l’aide d’entrevues semi-dirigées et de groupes de discussion, auprès de femmes burkinabè en âge d’avoir des enfants, de leurs maris, et d’informatrices clés. Nos résultats montrent, d’une part, que les relations avec les soignant·e·s et la qualité des soins au centre de santé sont perçues comme satisfaisantes par les femmes. D’autre part, si la gratuité des soins semble efficace pour améliorer l’accès aux soins de santé reproductive et à la planification familiale, le poids des normes sociales semble toujours limiter le pouvoir décisionnel des femmes. Au regard de ces résultats, des pistes d’action seraient à envisager en complément de la gratuité pour améliorer le pouvoir décisionnel des femmes en matière de santé. / On June 1, 2016, the national user fee exemption policy has been introduced in Burkina Faso. It aims to reduce maternal mortality by improving access to healthcare during pregnancy, childbirth, and postpartum. This policy has increased the number of women attending reproductive health centres, however other barriers could still prevent women from seeking healthcare. These barriers are, first, the poor quality of relationships between women and healthcare providers, and second, women’s lack of decision-making power in matters of reproductive health and family planning. Our study aims to describe these two potential barriers in the context of free healthcare in Burkina Faso. We carried out a descriptive qualitative study in rural areas. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews and focus groups from Burkinabe women of childbearing age, their husbands, and key informants. Our results show, on one hand, that relationships with healthcare providers and quality of care at health centres are perceived as satisfactory by women. On the other hand, while the user fee exemption policy seems to be effective in improving access to reproductive care and family planning, social norms seem to limit women’s decision-making power. In view of these results, courses of action could be imagined to improve the decision making power of women regarding reproductive health and family planning.

AbstractIntroduction: - An estimated number of 40 to 80 new-born babies are being abandoned by their mother in Kampala –Uganda annually. These children are usually dumped into dust bins, on streets, on hospital facilities, in bushes or in pit latrines. Aim:-The aim of this study was to investigate the goals of the organizations/institutions working with child abandonment in Kampala, to find out whom they collaborated with, to examine how the staff working with the organization/institution perceive the women who abandon and issue behind. Furthermore their personal incentives to continue to work with the problem, Method: A qualitative approach was used in this study and face to face semi-structured interview were conducted, since this was the best way to explore feelings, thoughts and attitudes of the respondents who gave answers to complicated questions. Research Questions: What are the main goals of the organizations/institutions and with whom do they collaborate with? What are their major hinders and needs? Do they see any progress? What are their perceptions of the mothers who abandon their new-born babies as well as the issues behind this cruel action? When did the staff became aware of this problem and what are the incentives driving them to continue do this work? Results: The results of the study were consistent with the research namely; the role of the organizations was reported being rescuing of the abandoned babies. First they are taken to the hospital during the first critical hours, thereafter are taken. to children court to get a permission to keep them in the children’s home; or find adoptive parent for these children who can give them love, care and education. Tracing mothers or family members was on the agenda, and in some case eventual re-unification was possible. The hinder which were met by the organization while doing their work were financial resources, misinformation about the organizations in the community, poor flow of information, lack of facilities to accommodate abandoned children, and poor collaboration with the government. Conclusion: The organizations/institutions are doing a good work, but procedures which are used at the moment are unfortunately not enough to reduce the problem. Therefore acute and new even radical approaches are needed to be put into consideration.

The paper analyzes the most current family changes in modern Turkish society, occurring during the last 35 years. The author identifies the trends of Turkish family development, revealing changes of family structure, socio-gender relations between its members and traditional family values. The paper provides the analysis of developments of marriage and divorce, socio-gender roles and responsibilities, family planning and gender issues in childrearing and education. / Работа посвящена анализу наиболее актуальных изменений, происходящих в современной турецкой семье в последние 35 лет. Автор выявляет тенденции развития турецкой семьи, раскрывая изменения в структуре турецкой семьи, в социогендерном положении ее членов и семейных традициях и ценностях. В работе представлен анализ изменений, произошедших в заключении брака и бракоразводном процессе, в распределении гендерных ролей и обязанностей в семье, в планировании семьи и гендерных аспектах воспитания и образования детей.

The study aimed at assessing the factors influencing the low involvement of men in prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) of HIV programmes in the Mambwe district, Zambia. The factors studied were grouped as knowledge and awareness, socio-cultural, programmatic and demographic characteristics. A quantitative, exploratory study was used and 127 men were interviewed. The major findings were: Knowledge of PMTCT was the strongest factor which was positively associated with the level of men's involvement in PMTCT. Socio-cultural and programmatic factors were found to negatively influence men's involvement (although weakly); and among the demographic characteristics, age and level of education were positively associated with an increase in the level of involvement, while the duration of the relationship with the female partner was negatively associated with the level of men involvement. / Health Studies / M.A. (Public Health)

Background: The South Africa’s reproductive health policy put more emphasis on dual methods in preventing unwanted pregnancies, sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) transmission. Regardless of such policies, the uptake of voluntary counselling and testing (VCT) services remains a personal choice. Aim: The purpose of the study was to determine the accessibility, acceptance and utilisation of VCT services by women on hormonal contraceptives. Methods: About 134 women obtaining hormonal contraceptives were interviewed in a cross-sectional study. Descriptive and logistic regression analysis was applied to analyse the study data. Results: Respondents displayed positive attitudes towards Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) testing. Unavailability and poor access to in-house VCT services was found to be a barrier for use of these services. Conclusion: There’s a need for provider initiated counselling and testing (PICT) strengthening and integration of VCT services into family planning. / Health Studies / M (Public Health) / 362.104256