LLM / Department of Criminal and Procedural Law

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))

Girls in rural areas face a number of challenges in their pursuit of basic education, empowerment and gender equality. This thesis explores the extent to which gender equality and empowerment of women have been achieved in education in ward 33 of Mt Darwin. At the centre is what Zimbabwean government and civil society organisations such as Campaign for female education (Camfed) have done to implement strategies addressing challenges affecting implementation and achievement of MDG 3. A multi-method research strategy, including focus group discussions, questionnaires administration and interviews, was used in the data collection process. The findings of the study show reciprocal linkage between education, empowerment and gender equality. Ward 33 requires integration in approach from assisting agencies and the general populace if Millennium Development Goal 3 is to be achieved. Results showed the multiple barriers girls face in the process of accessing education within the homes, along the way to school and within the school system itself. Camfed and government’s interventions have been pointed out to contributing to the achievement of MDG 3 in the ward. Women’s quest for equality is evident. Specific actions recommended after this research include the need for MOESAC to strategically post qualified teachers in rural areas, sensitization and empowerment programmes targeting men, civil society organisations and government ministries working with women to intensify advocacy, capacity building and leadership trainings for women. Overall recommendation is that there is need to implement MDG 3 beyond 2015 if rural women are to be integrated into the MDG 3 empowerment and gender equality agenda. / Development Studies / M. Admin. (Development Studies)

Community participation has been hailed as the panacea for most community programmes. Community participation at high levels empowers communities, increases self-reliance, selfawareness and confidence in self-examination of problems and seeking solutions for them Behavioural changes are promoted and utilisation and support of services is facilitated, which is of great importance in antenatal care and generally in this present day of HIV/AIDS. The purpose of this study was to determine the extent to which women were participating in the provision of antenatal care. Secondly, the study sought the pregnant women's perceptions and expectations regarding their participation in the provision of antenatal care and to find out at what level if any, the women wanted to be involved in the provision of antenatal care. The theoretical model guiding this study was Rifkin' s model for evaluating community participation. A guided interview was conducted with 30 conveniently selected pregnant mothers residing in the area of the Chinamhora clinic. The results indicated limited participation in the five process indicators of community participation. However, all the women regarded community participation as being important. The majority of the women wished to be involved at high levels of participation. The results of this study should be valuable to health care professionais in formulating strategies and modifying existing programmes to enhance community participation, with the decentralisation of health services in Zimbabwe. / Health Studies / M.A. (Advanced Nursing Sciences)

Girls in rural areas face a number of challenges in their pursuit of basic education, empowerment and gender equality. This thesis explores the extent to which gender equality and empowerment of women have been achieved in education in ward 33 of Mt Darwin. At the centre is what Zimbabwean government and civil society organisations such as Campaign for female education (Camfed) have done to implement strategies addressing challenges affecting implementation and achievement of MDG 3. A multi-method research strategy, including focus group discussions, questionnaires administration and interviews, was used in the data collection process. The findings of the study show reciprocal linkage between education, empowerment and gender equality. Ward 33 requires integration in approach from assisting agencies and the general populace if Millennium Development Goal 3 is to be achieved. Results showed the multiple barriers girls face in the process of accessing education within the homes, along the way to school and within the school system itself. Camfed and government’s interventions have been pointed out to contributing to the achievement of MDG 3 in the ward. Women’s quest for equality is evident. Specific actions recommended after this research include the need for MOESAC to strategically post qualified teachers in rural areas, sensitization and empowerment programmes targeting men, civil society organisations and government ministries working with women to intensify advocacy, capacity building and leadership trainings for women. Overall recommendation is that there is need to implement MDG 3 beyond 2015 if rural women are to be integrated into the MDG 3 empowerment and gender equality agenda. / Development Studies / M. Admin. (Development Studies)

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))

Community participation has been hailed as the panacea for most community programmes. Community participation at high levels empowers communities, increases self-reliance, selfawareness and confidence in self-examination of problems and seeking solutions for them Behavioural changes are promoted and utilisation and support of services is facilitated, which is of great importance in antenatal care and generally in this present day of HIV/AIDS. The purpose of this study was to determine the extent to which women were participating in the provision of antenatal care. Secondly, the study sought the pregnant women's perceptions and expectations regarding their participation in the provision of antenatal care and to find out at what level if any, the women wanted to be involved in the provision of antenatal care. The theoretical model guiding this study was Rifkin' s model for evaluating community participation. A guided interview was conducted with 30 conveniently selected pregnant mothers residing in the area of the Chinamhora clinic. The results indicated limited participation in the five process indicators of community participation. However, all the women regarded community participation as being important. The majority of the women wished to be involved at high levels of participation. The results of this study should be valuable to health care professionais in formulating strategies and modifying existing programmes to enhance community participation, with the decentralisation of health services in Zimbabwe. / Health Studies / M.A. (Advanced Nursing Sciences)

This thesis examined husband immobility and the international migration of married women from Zimbabwe. Data was collected from husbands and wives in married couple households where the wife had migrated alone. Face-to-face semi structured interviews were conducted with migrant women’s husbands in Zimbabwe while migrant women were interviewed in countries of destination telephonically. Empirical results showed that migrant women and their husbands were middle aged. Preferred countries of destination were in the region and the United Kingdom. Having a wife’s own social contacts in the preferred destination encouraged migration by reducing financial and emotional costs. Husbands' immobility facilitated wifely migration. Many wives exercised agency in migration decision making with more wives than husbands having initiated the discussion on migration. There were also cases of joint and wife sole decision making. With a few exceptions decision making was consensual. The women migrated as a survival strategy. In several households remittances were the primary source of income. Husbands were the main recipients of remittances. Some wives gave instructions on how the remittances should be used. Overall, remittances were used for paying fees, buying assets and for household upkeep. Some of the women had not visited their families since their migration. The physical separation of spouses had caused emotional distress in some marital relationships. The majority of respondents cited loss of consortium as a major problem. / Sociology / D. Phil.

This thesis examined husband immobility and the international migration of married women from Zimbabwe. Data was collected from husbands and wives in married couple households where the wife had migrated alone. Face-to-face semi structured interviews were conducted with migrant women’s husbands in Zimbabwe while migrant women were interviewed in countries of destination telephonically. Empirical results showed that migrant women and their husbands were middle aged. Preferred countries of destination were in the region and the United Kingdom. Having a wife’s own social contacts in the preferred destination encouraged migration by reducing financial and emotional costs. Husbands' immobility facilitated wifely migration. Many wives exercised agency in migration decision making with more wives than husbands having initiated the discussion on migration. There were also cases of joint and wife sole decision making. With a few exceptions decision making was consensual. The women migrated as a survival strategy. In several households remittances were the primary source of income. Husbands were the main recipients of remittances. Some wives gave instructions on how the remittances should be used. Overall, remittances were used for paying fees, buying assets and for household upkeep. Some of the women had not visited their families since their migration. The physical separation of spouses had caused emotional distress in some marital relationships. The majority of respondents cited loss of consortium as a major problem. / Sociology / D. Phil.