The aim of this study was to identify factors affecting facility-based delivery with the purpose of developing a framework for the promotion of facility-based delivery among women living in rural Ethiopia. Explanatory mixed methods design, comprising of four phases-the descriptive (quantitative), explorative (qualitative), meta-inference and development phases was employed. The quantitative phase was conducted first using a structured questionnaire to identify the variables influencing facility-based delivery care seeking behaviour. A sample of 389 responses were used for data analysis using Structural Equation Modeling. The quantitative phase conducted next to explain the determinants that contributed to influencing facility-based delivery care seeking behaviour. Sixteen participants who were involved the first phase were involved in the follow-up second phase. As illustrated by the results of the study, the majority of women in the study areas continued to deliver at home, putting themselves at risk of dying from pregnancy related causes. As highlighted by the key findings from the quantitative and qualitative data of this study, the most influential factors in predicting and explaining delivery care seeking behaviour are response efficacy, attitude, subjective norm, and perceived behavioural control which are shaped by mothers’ confidence in the outcome, quality of care, interpersonal relations with family members, willingness to conform, access to services, and their decision making power. The way these findings emphasized the factors attitude, subjective norm and perceived behavioural control were consistent with the Theory of Planned Behaviour, while the significance of response efficacy was in line with Protection Motivation Theory. The study developed a framework to help promote facility-based delivery among mothers living in rural Ethiopia. / Health Studies / D. Litt. et Phil. (Health Studies)

In 2011, African Americans in Tarrant County, Texas experienced an infant mortality rate of 14.3 per 1,000 live births. The leading cause of infant mortality in Tarrant County is prematurity and maternal nutritional status. Both maternal under-nutrition and over-nutrition are known risk factors for premature birth. Improving maternal nutrition, by reducing rates of gestational diabetes and preeclampsia, and by increasing consumption of essential prenatal vitamins and nutrients, is a road to decreasing preterm birth in African Americans. This qualitative study, based on both anthropology and public health theory, of the nutrition behavior of a group of African American expectant mothers and the experience of their health care providers and co-facilitators had a goal to provide a foundation for future development of nutrition behavior research and education for this specific population. The main finding of this study was the substantial gap of lived experience and education between the patients and their providers and co-facilitators, which hinders delivery of care and the patients’ acquiescence to nutrition recommendations. The discrepancies between the authoritative knowledge of the providers and the bodily knowledge of expectant mothers were responsible for the ineffectiveness of nutrition recommendations.

Antiretroviral therapy is an important public health strategy to reduce the risk of HIV vertical transmission. Implementation of such therapy depends on the identification of HIV-infected pregnant women. This study investigated how the biographical characteristics of the pregnant women (16-45 years) influenced their health decision-making in Bulawayo clinics. The study was guided by the theories of health behaviour. The study assumed that the respondents’ demographic characteristics will influence their attitudes towards PMTCT programme. Using a structured questionnaire, forty pregnant women who visited the Bulawayo clinics to have prenatal checkups were interviewed. The majority of respondents came from a poor, high-density township. Most of the respondents were married, but about a third were not married at the time data collection and 5% were separated. The survey items were demographic characteristics, knowledge of PMTCT, HIV risk perceptions and service utilisation. The levels of literacy among the respondents were high; more than 80% had completed primary education. Overall the respondents’ demographic characteristics influenced their attitudes towards PMTCT. Majority of the women knew that a mother with HIV can pass the virus to her child, during pregnancy, delivery and breastfeeding. The pregnant women’s health-seeking behaviour and their attitudes toward reproductive health services are influenced by their demographic situation. / Health Studies / (M.A. (Social Behavior Studies in HIV/AIDS))

Diabetes and related complications are one of the leading causes of death for Mexican American women. Although dietary behavior is a critical component of diabetes management, research is lacking in relation to the interplay of food habits, culture, and diabetes among this population. The specific aims of this ethnographic study were to: (1) explore the relationships between culture, food habits, and type 2 diabetes as experienced by low income Mexican American women; (2) examine the role of food in the cultural identity of low-income Mexican American women; (3) examine how trying to adhere to the ADA dietary guidelines for people with diabetes impacts the relationship between food and culture of low income Mexican American women with type 2 diabetes. This sample consisted of 16 Mexican American women between the ages of 39 to 60 years. Twelve of the sixteen had experienced diabetes for at least 10 years, and were considered experts in the management of their illness. The remaining four had experienced diabetes for a shorter period of time and were considered novices. Individual interviews were conducted with each informant. All interviews were audiotaped with the exception of one. The interviews, observations, and field notes were analyzed for data. The analysis of data rendered 6 themes: (1) “la dieta,” (2) the location and fluidity of food (3) confidence-defiance self-management connection, (4) negotiating sociocultural and biomedical expectations, (5) eating for diabetes is a family affair, and (6) strategies for self-care. In addition, preliminary comparisons were conducted between experienced and more novice individuals with diabetes. / text

Antiretroviral therapy is an important public health strategy to reduce the risk of HIV vertical transmission. Implementation of such therapy depends on the identification of HIV-infected pregnant women. This study investigated how the biographical characteristics of the pregnant women (16-45 years) influenced their health decision-making in Bulawayo clinics. The study was guided by the theories of health behaviour. The study assumed that the respondents’ demographic characteristics will influence their attitudes towards PMTCT programme. Using a structured questionnaire, forty pregnant women who visited the Bulawayo clinics to have prenatal checkups were interviewed. The majority of respondents came from a poor, high-density township. Most of the respondents were married, but about a third were not married at the time data collection and 5% were separated. The survey items were demographic characteristics, knowledge of PMTCT, HIV risk perceptions and service utilisation. The levels of literacy among the respondents were high; more than 80% had completed primary education. Overall the respondents’ demographic characteristics influenced their attitudes towards PMTCT. Majority of the women knew that a mother with HIV can pass the virus to her child, during pregnancy, delivery and breastfeeding. The pregnant women’s health-seeking behaviour and their attitudes toward reproductive health services are influenced by their demographic situation. / Health Studies / (M.A. (Social Behavior Studies in HIV/AIDS))

Diseases of Women, Book I, is part of the Hippocratic Corpus of approximately seventy treatises, although different authors contributed to the writings, as is evident by slight changes in text. It is the first of three works by Hippocrates on gynaecological problems. Fifth century BC doctors did not dissect either humans or animals, so their theories were based purely on observation and experience. Book I deals with women who have problems with menstruation, either the lack of it or an excess, infertility and, when conception does take place, the threat of miscarriage and dealing with the stillborn child. Various remedies are given, including herbal infusions, vapour baths and mixtures that the modern day patient would shudder at, e.g. animal dung and headless, wingless beetles. One remedy, hypericum, or St John's Wort, used for depression, has become popular today as an alternative medicine. / Old Testament and Ancient Near Eastern Studies / M.A. (with specialisation in Ancient Languages and Cultures)

The purpose of this study was to analyse and describe the factors that influence the choice of site of delivery by pregnant women in Mukono district. By employing quantitative, non experimental research methods, 431 women were interviewed by using structured questionnaires. These women had either delivered at; home, TBA, private or public clinic and 72% had been delivered by skilled attendants. Choice of delivery site was influenced by the attitudes of health workers which were rather poor in public sites, proximity of site, attendance of antenatal clinic at a site, availability of supplies and drugs, plus level of care including emergency obstetric care. / Health Studies / M. A. (Public Health)

Breast cancer poses a serious public health concern. This case-control study describes the relationship of night-shift working on the development of breast cancer in 57 women diagnosed with breast cancer compared to 49 women with other types of cancer in the Vaal Triangle area (selected through non-probability purposive sampling from CANSA). The study revealed that women who work night-shift developed breast cancer 1.24 times more often than women who do not work nightshift (OR=1.24 [95% CI 0.52 to 2.89]). The odds ratio was further increased in women who worked rotating-shift (OR=1.44 [95% CI 0.58 to 3.59]). Night-shift work exposure was not statistically related to the development of breast cancer. It is recommended that the relationship between night-shift exposure and breast cancer risk be further explored through cross-sectional and cohort studies, and other breast cancer pathways. / Health Studies / M.A. (Public Health)

Young women working in SMEs are increasingly being affected by HIV and AIDS, and SMEs are expected to respond to HIV and AIDS through workplace policies and programmes. This requires commitment from SMEs to help young women who face various gendered vulnerabilities to HIV and AIDs. The study, whose purpose was to investigate young women workers’ experiences of the HIV and AIDS response of small and medium enterprises in a semi urban area in KwaZulu-Natal, used a qualitative approach and collected data from three SMEs in Pietermaritzburg during the period of the study. Findings of the study indicate that the majority of respondents from all three SMEs agree on experiencing limited or no HIV and AIDS policies and programmes in SMEs. With reference to incomplete or limited responses, two SMEs provide financial assistance for funerals. However, some aspects such as education and awareness, monitoring, management commitment, provision of medical aid, facilitation of peer education, appointment of an HIV officer and more were not evident. Thus recommendations were made on how SMEs should respond, and future research ideas were outlined. / Health Studies / M. A. (Social Behaviour Studies in HIV/AIDS)

Thesis (M Sport Sc)--Stellenbosch University, 2007. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Global aging is occurring at an unprecedented rate. South Africa has the highest proportion of older adults in Southern Africa, with nearly 7% of the population over the age of 60 years in 1997. However, although people are living longer, statistics show that they are not necessarily living healthier. The majority of women who outlive men have to deal with more chronic diseases as well as a poorer functional status than the latter. The purpose of the present study was to implement a movement competence programme suited to the needs of South African older adult women; requiring inexpensive apparatus and that can be performed in any environment. A time-series design was used which included follow up testing 9 months after the cessation of the movement competence programme. The intervention group consisted out of 21 (76.14±5.44 years) older adult women, who were randomly selected from a retirement village. The movement competence programme was broad based in nature and was performed in two one hourly sessions a week for 12 weeks. After pre-tests of functional capacity, selfperception and resilience, the older adult women were tested using the Physical Self-Perception Profile (Fox & Corbin, 1989) and the Resilience Scale (Connor & Davidson, 2003) respectively. Significant improvements (p<0.05) were observed in the Berg Balance Scale, 8-Foot Up-and-Go and the Physical Self-Perception’s results of the older adult women. No significant (p>0.05) difference was noted in the Barthel Index and Resilience Scale after the 12-week movement competence programme. Follow up testing indicated a significant improvement in the resilience of the older adult women who continued to exercise, compared to those that chose a sedentary lifestyle after the movement competence programme. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Globale veroudering vind teen ’n ongekende tempo plaas. Suid-Afrika beskik oor die hoogste verhouding ouer volwassenes in Suidelike Afrika met amper 7% van die populasie in 1997 ouer as 60 jaar. Hoewel mense egter langer lewe toon statistiek dat hulle nie noodwendig gesonder lewe nie. Die meerderheid dames wat langer lewe as mans het te kampe met meer chroniese siektes asook ’n swakker funksionele status as dié van laasgenoemde. Die doel van die huidige studie was om ’n bewegingsbevoegdheidsprogram te implementeer wat aan die behoeftes van ouer Suid-Afrikaanse volwasse dames voldoen, waar goedkoop toerusting benodig word en in enige omgewing uitgevoer kan word. ’n “time-series” ontwerp was gebruik wat opvolgtoetse ingesluit het nege maande ná die beëindiging van die bewegingsbevoegdheidsprogram. Die intervensiegroep het bestaan uit 21 (76.14±5.44 jaar) ouer volwasse dames wat lukraak geselekteer is by ’n aftree-oord. Die bewegingsbevoegdheidsprogram was breed in fokus en was uitgevoer in twee eenuurlikse sessies per week vir 12 weke. Ná voortoetse oor funksionele kapasiteit, selfpersepsie en veerkrag, is die ouer volwasse dames getoets deur respektiewelik gebruik te maak van die Fisieke Selfpersepsie Profiel (Fox & Corbin, 1989) en die Veerkragskaal (Connor & Davidson, 2003). Beduidende verbeterings (p<0.05) van die ouer volwasse dames is waargeneem in die Berg Balansskaal, “8-Foot Up-and-Go” en die resultate op die Fisieke Selfpersepsie. Geen beduidende (p>0.05) verskil is waargeneem in die Barthel Indeks en Veerkragskaal ná die 12 weke aanbieding van die bewegingsbevoegdheidsprogram nie. Opvolgtoetse het ’n beduidende verbetering aangedui in die veerkrag van die ouer volwasse dames wat aangehou het met oefening in teenstelling met dié wat gekies het om ’n sedentêre leefstyl te volg nadat die bewegingsbevoegdheidsprogram voltooi is.