This paper analyses the importance of the services rendered by traditional birth attendants (TBAs) to pregnant women in Zimbabwe. It argues that, though an integral part of the health system, the ambivalence in terms of policy on the part of the government leaves them in a predicament. Sociocultural values as well as tradition imbue TBAs power and authority to manage pregnancies and assist in child deliveries. On the other hand, government policies expounded through the Ministry of Health (MoH) programs and policies appear to be relegating them to the fringes of healthcare provision. However, in a country with a failing health system characterized by mass exodus of qualified personnel, availability of drugs, and understaffing of healthcare centres, among others, TBAs remain the lifeline for many women in the country. Instead of sidelining them in healthcare interventions, I argue that their integration, however, problematic and often noted to be with disastrous consequences for traditional medicine, presents the sole viable solution towards achieving MDGs 4 and 5. The government and MoH should capitalize on the availability of and standing working relations of TBAs with the grassroots for better/positive maternal health outcomes. In a country reeling with high maternal deaths, TBAs' status and position in society make them the best intervention tools.
The paper focuses on the situational analysis of traditional birth attendants (TBAs) and skilled birth attendants (SBAs) in Zimbabwe. Against a background of a frail health care system, characterised by a shortage in skilled professionals, increased cost of medical care, and geographic and economic inaccessibility of health care centres among others, TBAs have remained a life-line for especially many rural women in maternal health care provision. Moreover, TBAs have also found their way into the urban areas of Zimbabwe. The shift in international policy and health funding toward skilled birth attendants (i.e., an accredited health professional) has materialized into concerted government efforts to increase numbers of both midwifery training institutions and midwives themselves. The call for SBAs, though a worthy ideal, is out of touch with the lived realities of pregnant women in low resource settings such as Zimbabwe. The study is concerned with situational analysis of TBAs and SBAs in maternal health care service provision in Zimbabwe analysing and evaluating policy considerations.
Motivated by the thinness of gender-disaggregated literature on women and disability, the author discusses the position and condition of such women in Zimbabwe. Literature shows that women with disabilities experience double discrimination as women and as disabled persons. The author argues that women are marginalised from access to resources they need for their upkeep, personal security, and further human advancement. Furthermore, disability feeds on the already existing inequalities in society to produce heightened exclusion for them. Women face physical, attitudinal, and environmental barriers; live in poverty; and lack opportunities for gaining an education, finding employment, forming meaningful social ties, and participating meaningfully in their families and communities. This chapter makes calls for committed efforts towards a transition to an inclusive society, one that includes persons with disabilities in every facet of life.
This paper explores the implications of Home Based Care on women"s workload in the context of high HIV and AIDS prevalence rates in Zimbabwe as the country has experienced serious health worker migration since 2000. Health worker migration in Zimbabwe as a result of the weak performance of the economy over the years has inadvertently increased women"s workload as more and more people adopt Home Based Care for their terminally ill family members suffering from HIV and AIDS. Home-based care has been one of the most effective community care strategies in Zimbabwe for people living with HIV and AIDS. To explore this state of affairs the paper adopted the theory of reflexive modernity which argues that the progressive freeing of the agency from structure has the effect of releasing people from the inherent constrains of the socio-structural tradition of modernity. The conclusion is that in the Zimbabwean context were women are viewed as the "natural" care givers reflexive modernity may fail to apply as increased health worker migration is increasing women"s workload as more women are involved in Home Based Care in the context of high HIV and AIDS prevalence rates.
The Zimbabwean government has for a while been reeling under pressure from inadequate resources for waste management mainly due to the expansion of its cities. The study explored household waste management in Hatcliffe Extension, a high-density suburb in Harare, and sought to identify dominant household solid waste management disposal systems by women. The study aim was to explore women’s experiences of solid waste management in the face of poor service delivery in refuse collection. Qualitative research methodology was employed to collect data in the study from conveniently sampled participants. In-depth interviews and observations were the instruments utilised for data collection. The study draws from the Rational Choice Theory to understand human behaviour in relation to people’s choices on suitable and sustainable practices in solid waste management and the environment. The study reveals lack of education and knowledge and poor refuse collection by responsible authorities as driving the disposal of diverse waste materials such as paper, diapers and plastic packages, which have heightened solid waste generation in the area. Dominant household solid waste management disposal systems in Hartcliffe Extension include illegal dumping, open burning, and burying of the waste materials. Overall, Hartcliffe Extension residents practise improper solid waste disposal systems due to lack of collection services from the Harare city council, which is the authority responsible for solid waste management. The study also established various ways in which poorly managed solid waste poses a threat to the environment. The study recommends the education of residents on eco-friendly waste disposal measures that do not pose a threat either to both human beings or the environment.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
hi@scite.ai
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614
Henderson, NV 89052, USA
Copyright © 2024 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.