Unsafe abortion claims the lives of thousands of women every year. Globally, it is the women in Sub-Saharan Africa who face the highest risk of death and injury from abortion-related complications (Ahman & Shah 2011, p.123). Current global and national efforts to reduce incidences of unsafe abortion are ineffective in the rural Ghanaian community where this research was undertaken. This anthropological examination of key aspects of contemporary local social practice and the norms and customs which underpin it, demonstrates the necessity for many local women to utilise a dangerous plant to facilitate potentially fatal self-induced abortions as their primary means of resisting culturally-defined fertility patterns. This thesis is broadly structured around anthropologists’ Scheper-Hughes’ and Lock’s (1987, p.6) concept of three intersectional bodily perspectives: the phenomenological individual body-self, the social body and the body as an artefact of political control. The reader is offered insight from each of these perspectives into the social practice of unsafe abortion in the lives of rural Ghanaian women. I argue that unsafe abortion can be seen as a kind of social struggle against the local economic mode of production. The thesis provides an analysis of the position of many women within local relations of production from a neo-Marxist perspective which has been modified by concepts of class and exploitation particular to pre-industrialist societies. The modifications are taken from the theoretical positions of French anthropologists Terray (1975), Meillassoux (1972) and P.P Rey (1975). In addition, following the work of critical medical anthropologist Scheper-Hughes (1993), the thesis demonstrates the ways in which medical discourses and policy output about family planning and reproductive health which are produced and reproduced at the level of the national body politic, obscure more deeply embedded powerful ideologies and social praxis about female sexuality and reproduction which is produced and reproduced at the level of the social body within the context of popular interpretations of tradition and customary law. Ultimately, I argue that current Programmes of Action aimed at reducing incidences of unsafe abortion fail to address patterns of gender violence and patriarchal control by medicalising some village women’s social suffering.

Dissertation (Ph.D.)--Auburn University, 2006. / Abstract. Vita. Includes bibliographic references.

Thesis--Auburn University, 2009. / Abstract. Vita. Includes bibliographical references (p. 78-85).

The study was motivated by studies which have revealed that teenage pregnancy, maternal mortality and unsafe abortion are high in Lesotho. The purpose of the study was to examine whether or not lack of access to emergency contraception as one of the essential forms of contraception could be the reason for the aforementioned health challenges facing adolescent girls in Lesotho. The study was a desktop review with content analysis of documents applicable to the health of adolescents and those relating to access to family planning services for adolescent girls. The woman question was used as a tool for ascertaining whether the health rights of adolescent girls are fulfilled by Lesotho. The legal framework relevant to access to emergency contraception was also scrutinised to ascertain whether they are compliant with human rights treaties ratified by Lesotho. The study is also a comparative analysis of Lesotho's policy frame with South Africa. From the analysis of the literature review, the study uncovered how religious, cultural practices and some areas of the laws relevant to access to emergency contraception for adolescents were not responsive to the female adolescent question, thereby perpetuating infringement of various human rights belonging to adolescent girls. The study also revealed that lack of political will and poor coordination and monitoring of policies, budgetary deficiencies and shortages in human resources are some of the factors inhibiting adolescent's realisation of their full access to family planning services. The study made recommendations which the Government of Lesotho could use to change the current state of access of adolescent girls to emergency contraception. / tm2017 / Centre for Human Rights / LLM / Unrestricted

The disproportionate representation of African American adolescents engaging in sexual risk behaviors (SRB) compared to their other racial counterparts is stark. This SRB disparity can be eliminated by addressing ethnic group-specific populations, such as Nigerian American adolescents (NAAs), and requiring an intentional effort and sensitivity regarding the methodology. Protection Motivation Theory and selected Roach's Cs guided this study in a virtual setting, and the uniqueness of NAAs surfaced. Twenty-five male and female participants were recruited through Nigerian American Foundation. Each participant met the inclusion criteria of self-identification as Nigerian American, male, and female adolescents aged 13 –17 years old, being able to read and provide written assent in English, South Florida residence, Nigerian parentage, or Nigerian birth living in the US within five years. An exploratory, descriptive design employed a mixed-methods study to identify SRB knowledge and attitudes among NAAs. Quantitatively, SRB knowledge and attitudes were assessed using the West Virginia Youth Risk Behavior Inventory, acculturation measure for Afro-Caribbean youths was adapted for the NAAs, and a sociodemographic questionnaire. For the qualitative component, a developed guide was used in focus group discussions. / Includes bibliography. / Dissertation (Ph.D.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2021. / FAU Electronic Theses and Dissertations Collection

sami.alcedo@gmail.com / Background Millions of travellers around the world have gathered together into online communities. The objective is to analyse the factors associated with risky sexual behaviour among travellers. Methods Cross-sectional study was conducted within an online community of travellers using an online survey; we included travellers who had engaged in sexual activity while on their last trip. Risky sexual behaviour was defined as inconsistent condom use (<100%), and the factors associated were evaluated using the prevalence ratio (PR). Results Of the 468 participants, 245 had sex during their last trip. 59.7% did not consistently use condoms, and one out of every four participants reported never using condoms. Having a travel destination of Latin America or the Caribbean was significantly associated with inconsistent condom use. This association was maintained (PR 1.37, CI 95% 1.06–1.77) after adjusting for gender, age, migration, the presence of travel partners, and the use of drugs and alcohol prior to sexual activity. Conclusion An association was observed between travel destination (specifically Latin America or the Caribbean) and risky sexual behaviour. For this reason, tourists should be educated in STI transmission and regional STI and HIV incidences both before and during their travels; public health systems ought to work together with travel agencies, international airports, etc., in order to distribute this information and ensure a responsible travel experience. / Revisión por pares

At the top of the hierarchy, construction project managers emphasise that safety is a key priority; and at its bottom, front-­line workers do not turn up to work to get hurt. Yet, somewhere within the organisation it goes wrong, as accidents still occur. Research has suggested that unsafe acts contribute to over 80% of accidents, and hence reducing or eliminating unsafe acts should take a significant step forward to improving construction safety. While it has been recognised that the vast majority of accidents are still caused by unsafe behaviour, research has shown that organisational and cultural factors considerably affect unsafe work behaviour. This study aims to provide insights on unsafe acts that were committed by construction mangers and operatives; as well as providing insights on the effects a multinational workforce has on unsafe behaviours. Hence, the content within this thesis has purely focused on ‘unsafety’ rather than safe practices, and there were many good safety practices on the QC (Queensferry Crossing). It is the premise that by concentrating on ‘unsafety’, theoretical and practical insights can be gathered for safety improvements in the construction industry. This investigation explores this problem on a large multinational construction project in the UK, the QC. The contractors of the QC, Dragados of Spain, Hochtief of Germany, Morrison of the UK and American Bridge, represent Forth Crossing Bridge Constructors (FCBC). Adopting an interpretive paradigm, this study used a qualitative approach through ethnographic methods. A moderate participant observer approach was implemented; where the researcher adopted a role as a member of the H&S department and frequented the research setting between one and three times a week for almost three years. The contribution of this research is the in-­depth ethnographic insights into the complexity of unsafe acts. The insights revealed that: there was a blame culture, creating an environment that was very difficult to learn from; that some cost-­saving strategies appeared to increase safety risks; some H&S rules were viewed as excessive and inflexible by construction workers, and therefore their were times when workers used their own judgement about when to follow the rules; there were communication barriers with migrant workers, and the one in six translator policy used in an attempt to overcome this was far from ideal; and that the different ways of working that foreign subcontractors had meant they were difficult to manage, monitor and adjust. The findings revealed that there were two main underlying themes that were influential in the undertaking of unsafe acts: firstly, the perceived compensation culture and secondly, tight financial budgets. The fear of compensation claims appeared to prompt the H&S rules that were viewed as excessive, and took away ‘common sense’ from some procedures. The operatives desired more of a common sense approach, and felt at times they needed to break the rules in order to complete the job. The fear of claims also appeared to lead to the unconscious adoption of a ‘Person approach’ perspective, which concentrates on individual error and blame, and as far as possible uncouples organisational responsibility from an individual’s unsafe acts. This approach is inextricably linked to a blame culture, where accidents were under-­reported, misreported and reported late. The second theme was tight financial budgets. Previous research has explained that the competitive tendering process in the industry can discourage contractors from factoring into bids the cost of performing the work safely. In this research study, there appeared to be additional risks taken for schedule or cost reasons. Directors and senior managers acknowledged there was significant pressure for production, construction site managers believed the budget they were working with was too tight, and construction operatives explained that a phrase used on site was ‘just get it done’. To cope with production pressure construction site managers used undercover and informal reward schemes, referred to as ‘Vegas Time’ in this study. These schemes strongly incentivise production, potentially at the cost of safety. Ethnographic insights also revealed the areas where cost saving strategies appeared to increase safety risks, such as temporary designs, labour shortages, machinery and equipment. One of the most obvious cost-­saving strategies was to employ a cheap multinational workforce. However this led to many challenges with communication and different work practices, which was also perceived as an additional safety risk. The theoretical implications of this research work is that to avoid additional safety risks from occurring due to cost-­saving strategies, occupational health and safety considerations should be planned and priced for in more detail during the tender stage. Also, the eradication or reduction of the perceived compensation culture would increase the likelihood of adopting the System perspective to unsafe acts, rather than a Person approach, which is inextricably linked to a blame culture.

This study aimed to explore perceptions and experiences concerning sexuality, contraceptives, unwanted pregnancy and unsafe abortion among young people in Kisumu, Kenya. The design of the study was inductive with a qualitative approach using personal in-depth interviews. Eight participants (four female and four male) were asked to describe their perceptions and experience concerning sexuality, contraceptives, unwanted pregnancies and unsafe abortion. The result showed that culture and norms, misconceptions and gender based power in sexuality are factors that impact Sexual Reproductive Health among young people in Kisumu today. Unwanted pregnancy was described as a shame, a burden and a destroyed life which lead to many unsafely induced abortions. The findings indicate that youth interventions are important, such as engaging young men in unwanted pregnancy and thus unsafe abortions and to empower young women.

Thesis (MA)--University of Stellenbosch, 2008. / Bibliography. Also available via the Internet.

Thesis (M.A.)--Duquesne University, 2009. / Title from document title page. Abstract included in electronic submission form. Includes bibliographical references (p. 56-62) and index.