Empowerment Of Girls Research Articles

Changes in Inequality in Use of Maternal Health Care Services: Evidence from Skilled Birth Attendance in Mauritania for the Period 2007-2015.

Skilled birth attendance is critical to reduce infant and maternal mortality. Health development plans and strategies, especially in developing countries, consider equity in access to maternal health care services as a priority. This study aimed to measure and analyze the inequality in the use of skilled birth attendance services in Mauritania. The study identifies the inequality determinants and explores its changes over the period 2007–2015. The concentration curve, concentration index, decomposition of the concentration index, and Oaxaca-type decomposition technique were performed to measure socioeconomically-based inequalities in skilled birth attendance services utilization, and to identify the contribution of different determinants to such inequality as well as the changes in inequality overtime using data from Mauritania Multiple Indicator Cluster Surveys (MICS) 2007 and 2015. The concentration index for skilled birth attendance services use dropped from 0.6324 (p < 0.001) in 2007 to 0.5852 (p < 0.001) in 2015. Prenatal care, household wealth level, and rural−urban residence contributed most to socioeconomic inequality. The concentration index decomposition and the Oaxaca-type decomposition revealed that changes in prenatal care and rural−urban residence contributed positively to lower inequality, but household economic status had an opposite contribution. Clearly, the pro-rich inequality in skilled birth attendance is high in Mauritania, despite a slight decrease during the study period. Policy actions on eliminating geographical and socioeconomic inequalities should target increased access to skilled birth attendance. Multisectoral policy action is needed to improve social determinants of health and to remove health system bottlenecks. This will include the socioeconomic empowerment of women and girls, while enhancing the availability and affordability of reproductive and maternal health commodities. This policy action can be achieved through improving the availability of obstetric service providers in rural areas; ensuring better distribution and quality of health infrastructure, particularly health posts and health centers; and, ensuring user fees removal for equitable, efficient, and sustainable financial protection in line with the universal health coverage objectives.

Girls’ Rights to Education in Chadereka Muzarabani District, Zimbabwe: A perspective on Sustainable Development Goal Number 5

Abstract The study unearthed embedded factors that hinder Muzarabani District from achieving gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls by 2030. Main research focus is how far has Zimbabwe’s rural areas such as the Chadereka community achieved gender equality and empowerment of women and girls with respect to the 2030 target. The research further explores reasons why there is a high number of girls of school-going age outside the school system. A human rights-based approach guided the study’s arguments. The research utilised a case study design while a thematic analysis was used for data analysis. A qualitative methodology was employed while key informant interviews, focus group discussions and observations were used to collect data with purposive sampling being adopted in the selection of respondents. A total of 20 participants were chosen and they included; three men (a villager, a chief and a village head); five girls; five women; two officials from the DA’s office who consisted of the DA and an official dealing with women, children and disability, and development; two officials from local NGOs, a school head and two female teachers. The study found that women in Chadereka were still in a perpetual state of domination by their male counterparts due to persistent gender stereotypes, school setting related challenges and climatic variances that impacted on the education and ultimate emancipation of the girl child.

"There Is Always an Excuse to Blame the Girl": Perspectives on Sexual Harassment at a Jordanian University.

Sexual harassment (SH), defined as unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature, presents a global public health issue and a barrier to empowerment for women and girls. To understand the perceived causes of SH in the Jordanian university context, we conducted focus groups (n = 6) and participatory data collection with students (n = 317) and interviews with staff and administrators (n = 5) at a public university. These data identified norms governing men's and women's behavior, institutional climate and policies, tribal conservatism and protection of perpetrators, and early socialization as underlying SH. Campus-based interventions should adopt approaches aimed at multiple levels of the social ecology.

The Silent Pandemic: Increased Initimate Partner Violence in Nigeria

Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) has been identified as a global public health problem of human rights concern. It is a global issue with far reaching consequences for the physical, reproductive, and mental health of women, regardless of social, economic, religious or cultural group. Most of the times, IPV is usually perpetrated by a husband or an intimate male partner of a woman or girl and this is often due to the emotional attachment with or economic dependency of the women on the perpetrators of violence. The outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic and the lockdown measure, although effective in reducing the disease spread has led to unintended negative consequences. The social, economic and financial distress experienced during the COVID-19 lockdown period has increased the prevalence of Intimate Partner Violence. The financial difficulty associated with the lock-down period has been known to precipitate stress and frustration, and subsequent negative coping mechanisms such as substance abuse and depression; all of which are baseline triggers for intimate partner violence. This has been labelled the silent pandemic. This article examines the rise in incidences of Intimate Partner violence in Nigeria during the COVID-19 Pandemic and contends that Individual Risk Factors, Financial Dependence on the Abuser, Poor Implementation of the rights of women, Cultural Perception of Women, Poor Governance and Resource Management, Lack of Adequate Social Welfare Palliative Schemes, in addition to the complications arising from dealing with COVID-19 pandemic are major factors that have resulted in the surge of Intimate Partner Violence in Nigeria. This work underscores recommendations to curb Intimate Partner violence in Nigeria during and beyond the COVID-19 pandemic, and ensure better realization of the rights and welfare of women and girls such as Legal Framework Reform, Socio Economic Empowerment of Women and girls, Community Mobilization and Behaviour Change Communication, Awareness Creation, and establishment of Sexual Assault Referral and Counselling Centres.

Optimization of the Role of Social Worker Service Units in Legal Protection Effort against Children in Contact with the Law

Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) has been identified as a global public health problem of human rights concern. It is a global issue with far reaching consequences for the physical, reproductive, and mental health of women, regardless of social, economic, religious or cultural group. Most of the times, IPV is usually perpetrated by a husband or an intimate male partner of a woman or girl and this is often due to the emotional attachment with or economic dependency of the women on the perpetrators of violence. The outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic and the lockdown measure, although effective in reducing the disease spread has led to unintended negative consequences. The social, economic and financial distress experienced during the COVID-19 lockdown period has increased the prevalence of Intimate Partner Violence. The financial difficulty associated with the lock-down period has been known to precipitate stress and frustration, and subsequent negative coping mechanisms such as substance abuse and depression; all of which are baseline triggers for intimate partner violence. This has been labelled the silent pandemic. This article examines the rise in incidences of Intimate Partner violence in Nigeria during the COVID-19 Pandemic and contends that Individual Risk Factors, Financial Dependence on the Abuser, Poor Implementation of the rights of women, Cultural Perception of Women, Poor Governance and Resource Management, Lack of Adequate Social Welfare Palliative Schemes, in addition to the complications arising from dealing with COVID-19 pandemic are major factors that have resulted in the surge of Intimate Partner Violence in Nigeria. This work underscores recommendations to curb Intimate Partner violence in Nigeria during and beyond the COVID-19 pandemic, and ensure better realization of the rights and welfare of women and girls such as Legal Framework Reform, Socio Economic Empowerment of Women and girls, Community Mobilization and Behaviour Change Communication, Awareness Creation, and establishment of Sexual Assault Referral and Counselling Centres.

Measuring Agency, Voice, and Gender Attitudes among Adolescents in South Asia

Introduction: Voice, agency, and gender attitudes are concepts that are inextricably linked to empowerment, health, and long-term economic well-being for girls, women, families, and communities. The present study is aimed at developing and validating scales for voice, agency, and gender attitudes for adolescents in South Asia. Method: Qualitative and quantitative research was conducted to develop and validate scales for voice, agency, and gender attitudes among adolescent boys and girls in urban, semi-urban, and rural settings in South Asia. There were two rounds of data collection with the first including 460 adolescents and the second round approximately 2 weeks later with 484 adolescents.The formative qualitative phase also included four focus groups with 30 girls and 25 boys between the ages of 10 and 16 years in Delhi and Lucknow, India. Results: Thematic analysis led to the development of survey scale items in both English and Hindi and face validity testing was conducted with 10 adolescents aged 10-14 years in India. The data for validation of the scales were derived from self-reported surveys from adolescents 10-15 years old in public schools located in Delhi, India (urban), Uttar Pradesh, India (rural), and Gandaki Province, Nepal, (semi-urban). Six factors emerged from the analysis, and all six factors maintained dimensions of empowerment and are closely intertwined to voice, agency, and gender attitudes. Conclusions: The measures that emerged from the analysis provide the foundation to expand upon different dimensions of voice, agency, and gender attitudes that are salient to adolescent boys and girls in South Asia.

Соціально-економічний вплив пандемії COVID-19 у контексті державної політики реалізації Глобальної цілі сталого розвитку № 5 “Гендерна рівність”

Досліджено соціально-економічний вплив пандемії COVID-19 у контекстідержавної політики щодо досягнення реалізації Глобальної цілі сталого розвитку № 5 “Забезпечення гендерної рівності, розширення прав і можливостей усіх жінок та дівчат” в Україні. Проведено опитування у Дніпропетровській області України, на яке виносились три блоки запитань: про потреби жінок; про вплив пандемії на їх економічний та соціальний добробут; про їх здатність впоратись із ситуацією та стати “агентами змін”. Узагальнено п’ять основних cоціально-економічних факторів впливу пандемії COVID-19 на громади й на громадян. Доведено, що під час пандемії COVID-19 жінки більше піддаються випадкам фізичного та економічного насильства. Виявлено, що для виходу з кризової ситуації респондентки готові знаходити рішення, базуючись на власних можливостях, вдаючись до самонавчання, оволодіння новими навиками, долучення до громадянської і політичної діяльності тощо.

A plant-biotechnology approach for producing highly potent anti-HIV antibodies for antiretroviral therapy consideration

Despite a reduction in global HIV prevalence the development of a pipeline of new therapeutics or pre-exposure prophylaxis to control the HIV/AIDS epidemic are of high priority. Antibody-based therapies offer several advantages and have been shown to prevent HIV-infection. Plant-based production is efficient for several biologics, including antibodies. We provide a short review on the work by Singh et al., 2020 who demonstrated the transient production of potent CAP256-VRC26 broadly neutralizing antibodies. These antibodies have engineered posttranslational modifications, namely N-glycosylation in the fragment crystallizable region and O-sulfation of tyrosine residues in the complementary-determining region H3 loop. The glycoengineered Nicotiana benthamiana mutant (ΔXTFT) was used, with glycosylating structures lacking β1,2-xylose and/or α1,3-fucose residues, which is critical for enhanced effector activity. The CAP256-VRC26 antibody lineage targets the first and second variable region of the HIV-1 gp120 envelope glycoprotein. The high potency of this lineage is mediated by a protruding O-sulfated tyrosine in the CDR H3 loop. Nicotiana benthamiana lacks human tyrosyl protein sulfotransferase 1, the enzyme responsible for tyrosine O-sulfation. The transient coexpression of the CAP256-VRC26 antibodies with tyrosyl protein sulfotransferase 1 in planta had restored the efficacy of these antibodies through the incorporation of the O-sulfation modification. This approach demonstrates the strategic incorporation of posttranslational modifications in production systems, which may have not been previously considered. These plant-produced CAP256-VRC26 antibodies have therapeutic as well as topical and systemic pre-exposure prophylaxis potential in enabling the empowerment of young girls and women given that gender inequalities remain a major driver of the epidemic.

Drivers of Marriage and Health Outcomes Among Adolescent Girls and Young Women: Evidence From Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia

PurposePrevious studies have examined the relationship between age at marriage and health outcomes, but few have explored how marriage drivers are associated with health outcomes. In this study, we examine the relationship between two marriage drivers, premarital pregnancy and agency, and several health outcomes (use of maternal health care services, child health outcomes, and change in depressive symptoms) among married adolescent girls and young women (AGYW) in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia. MethodsWe use three panel data sets collected by the Population Council: the Adolescent Girls Empowerment Program from Zambia (N = 660), the Malawi Schooling and Adolescent Study from Malawi (N = 1,041), and Understanding the Lives of Adolescents and Young Adults from India (N = 894 in Bihar, N = 599 in Uttar Pradesh). Our analytical models use logistic and multinomial logistic regression. ResultsWe find mixed evidence of the association between marriage drivers and health outcomes. Results show that having agency in marital partner choice in India is associated with both an increase and decrease in reported depressive symptoms. In addition, pregnancy before marriage is associated with fewer antenatal visits and hospital-based births in Malawi than pregnancy after marriage. However, we find no evidence that it is associated with worse child health outcomes than pregnancy after marriage in Malawi and Zambia. ConclusionsOverall, our study suggests that the relationship between marriage drivers and AGYW's health outcomes after marriage is not consistent across contexts. We highlight the importance of interpreting marriage drivers within prevailing norms to understand their impact on married AGYW's health.

Making sense of girls empowerment in Sierra Leone: a conversation

This Testify article features a conversation about the emancipatory potentials and pitfalls of girls empowerment as practiced, experienced, and judged by Sierra Leonean activists. We – two scholars and four activists – discussed views on and experiences of girls empowerment approaches that have been interpreted in critical scholarly literature as a form of neoliberal responsibilization. Also within this critical literature, there is often the notion that these approaches may yet create openings for emancipatory agency and counter-conduct. However, it remains unclear whether this happens and to what extent. Our conversation centres activists’ views on the academic critique of girls empowerment and raises a number of questions, including: Why do many feminist activists in Sierra Leone embrace girls empowerment approaches? What do they see in them? How do they interpret and practice them? Where do they see potentials and pitfalls? And what is the role of donors?

Towards Achieving Sustainable Development in Nigeria: The Girl-Child Education Factor

It is the dream and aspirations of every nation to achieve development. Hence, the policies and laws of any nation whether developed or developing is geared towards achieving development in every sector. To promote socio-economic development globally, the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals were signed (SDGs). The SDGs are the seventeen goals set and signed by the 193 UN member nations in 2015 and agreed to be achieved by 2030. They represent a shared commitment by all member countries of which Nigeria is one to promote and ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and life-long learning opportunities for all, good health and well being for all, gender equality and empowerment of women and girls among other time-bound goals through partnership. Before the SDGs were the eight Millennium Development Goals which were signed in 2000 by 189 heads of state to eradicate inter alia hunger and poverty, diseases, gender inequalities etc. Four years after the 2015 target of the MDGs and four years into the SDGs 2030 target, there is still gender disparity in access to quality education between the boy-child and the girl-child in favour of the former in many countries including Nigeria. This paper therefore examines and tries to find answers to the following questions: (a) how do respondents perceive girl-child education? (b) What factors pose the greatest challenge to gender parity in access to quality education and training in Nigeria? The paper concludes with cogent recommendations.

Barriers towards Sustainable Development Goal (Sdg 5) On Achieving Gender Equality and Empowerment of Women and Girls in Nyanga Rural District of Manicaland Province, Zimbabwe

Gender equality and human rights are vital components of sustainable development. Recognising this, like many countries across the globe, Zimbabwe adopted and is in the process of implementing the Agenda 2030 for sustainable development. As such, the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) influence the country’s national priorities and developmental trajectories. 2030 is earmarked for the completion of the SDGs and their evaluation. That being the case, it is important to note that in Zimbabwe the realisation of (SDG,5) on achieving gender equality and empowerment of women and girls is still far from being a lived reality owing to several setbacks. This paper delineated the factors impeding the successful realisation of SDGs aimed at promoting gender equality and empowerment of women/girls in Zimbabwe. The paper adopted a qualitative research approach guided by the descriptive design. 15 participants were selected through purposive and convenient sampling and data were collected using focus group discussions and key informant interviews. Data were analysed through the Thematic Content Analysis. This study established that barriers towards the attainment of gender equality in Nyanga rural district are embedded in cultural, religious, and political factors. Other factors such as poverty and lack of policy implementation also serve as barriers towards the realisation of gender equality and empowerment of women.

Recognition of Rights and Empowerment of Malawi Primary School Girls

Recognition of Rights and Empowerment of Malawi Primary School Girls

Immunization status of children in Nepal and associated factors, 2016

BackgroundNepal has made substantial improvements in childhood immunization uptake. However, vaccination levels are still below the country-specific Sustainable Development Goal target of 94.8% coverage by 2025 for children aged 12–23 months who received all immunizations recommended in the national immunization schedule by their first birthday. A better understanding of the predictors of full immunization can inform successful programmatic interventions to improve coverage while also guiding resource allocation to ensure all children are fully vaccinated. This study estimates childhood immunization coverage in Nepal and characterizes the association between immunization status and various sociodemographic predictors. MethodsData from the 2016 Nepal Demographic and Health Survey were used to examine the immunization status of children aged 12–23 months. Immunization status was categorized as fully immunized (receiving all recommended doses), under-immunized (receiving at least one, but not all, recommended doses), and un-immunized (not receiving any doses of any vaccine). Associations between full and under-immunization and potential sociodemographic predictors were assessed using logistic regression. ResultsAmong 976 children, 78.2% were fully immunized, 21% were under-immunized, and 0.8% were un-immunized. Retention of an immunization card was significantly associated with full immunization status. Mothers who had completed a formal education above secondary school and mothers who were working at time of interview had increased odds of full immunization. Birthing in an institutional setting was also associated with higher odds of full immunization. ConclusionsOverall, immunization coverage in Nepal is relatively high, although it varies by dose and sociodemographic factors. Almost 25% of Nepalese children were not fully immunized, leaving them at increased risk for vaccine-preventable disease related morbidity and mortality. Nepal must continue focused efforts to reach every child and minimize the equity gap; programs may focus on advocating for the use of immunization cards, education and empowerment for girls, and delivery in institutional settings.

Agency and Empowerment for Adolescent Girls: An Intentional Approach to Policy and Programming

As national governments roll out COVID response plans, an opportunity arises to re-cast adolescent girls’ programs to centrally anchor them on girls’ voices, leadership, ambitions, and assets in development policies and programs. Drawing together the evidence on what we know works for adolescent girls, as well as the growing literature on positive strengths-based programming which are gradually and increasingly being applied, this commentary calls for a girl-intentional approach to policy and programming. A girl-intentional approach is described through 3 case studies, which illustrate the additionality of new or improved adolescent knowledge, skills, and competencies; improved opportunities for adolescent engagement, voice, and agency; improved community safety and support; stronger, healthier relationships; and stronger and healthier norms, attitudes, values, and goals. The case studies describe program hooks that facilitate operationalization, point to measurable outcomes, and identify opportunities for scale, including the re-opening of schools. Overall, inter-sectoral solutions that address the myriad of issues affecting an adolescent girl’s life and tackle pervasive gender inequities require greater emphasis by development actors and national governments.

Economic support, education and sexual decision making among female adolescents in Zambia: a qualitative study

BackgroundThe importance of educating female adolescents has been recognized as critical to the development of any country. However, in low income countries like Zambia they often drop out of school due to poverty, early pregnancy and early marriages. Some studies indicate that economic support such as Social Cash Transfers (SCTs) can mitigate the effects of poverty on female adolescents by improving their school participation and helping postpone pregnancy and marriage. This study aimed to explore the role of economic support in influencing education and sexual decision making among female adolescents in a randomised controlled trial in Zambia.MethodsThe study adopted a qualitative approach. It utilized purposive and convenient sampling. Data were collected from 6 schools using 18 in-depth interviews (IDIs) and 4 focus group discussions (FGDs) comprising 48 school-going female adolescents in grade 8 aged 14 to 17. All participants received economic support in form of SCTs and payment of school fees as part of the Research Initiative to Support the Empowerment of Girls (RISE), a Cluster Randomised Controlled Trial. Data were analyzed using thematic analysis.ResultsFindings suggested several benefits of the economic support for the female adolescents such as economic independence and empowerment; increased assertiveness and autonomy; reduced desire for sexual relationships with boys in exchange for cash and gifts; increased motivation for school; enhanced parental and community support for female adolescents’ education and; reduced school dropouts. However, they also experienced jealousy from those who did not benefit from the economic support.ConclusionEconomic support played a significant role in influencing both educational and sexual decision making among female adolescents.Trial registrationISRCTN Registry: ISRCTN12727868, (4 March 2016).

Effects of E-Learning on Girls' Presence and Empowerment to Access Education

Interaction is a pivotal pedagogical concept enjoying wide-scale attention from contemporary e-learning theorists. This study investigated the effects of e-learning environments on Saudi girls' social presence and empowerment to access education. Using the community of inquiry questionnaire, the authors measured the participants' social presence in e-learning environments and conducted a discussion for their opinions regarding such environments' capacity to promote women's access to education. The study evaluates the data of 35 participants and considers descriptive statistics. The results revealed that the female student participants from Princess Nourah Bint Abdulrahman University-affiliated secondary school enjoy high levels of interaction in delivered e-learning environments. Furthermore, there was consensus on such environments' capacity to promote women's empowerment to access education and be open to the surrounding world because of their unlimited potential to overcome time and place limits as well as their benefits in tandem with women's needs and circumstances.

COVID-19 and Women

Abstract. Modern slavery is a significant global human rights crisis that disproportionately affects women and girls, and research indicates that the COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated existing vulnerabilities to exploitation. Early evidence suggests that the pandemic has disproportionately affected women and girls, including an increase in lack of access to family planning and adequate sexual and reproductive care and an increase in maternal mortality rates. Additionally, the pandemic has instigated a reduction in economic opportunities and access to education for women and girls and increased violence against women. For this study, regression analysis was used to examine country-level data from 197 UN member countries. Predictor variables included indicators reflecting key areas addressed by UN Sustainable Development Goal 5 (SDG-5): gender inequality, educational and economic opportunities for females, women's leadership, gendered violence, and women's health. SDG-5 calls for gender equality and empowerment of women and girls. The criterion variable was the estimated prevalence of modern slavery across UN countries. Regression analysis revealed significant results across all models. Literacy rates and expected years of schooling for females, femicide, lifetime prevalence of violence, and several indicators of women's health were found to be strongly and significantly related to increased estimated prevalence of modern slavery. Furthermore, we propose that the pandemic has increased vulnerability to exploitation for women and girls by regressing progress across all areas addressed by SDG-5.

Global Women During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Global Women During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Female Economic Participation and Economic Growth: An Empirical Evaluation of the Nexus for sub-Saharan African Region

More recently, there has been increasing recognition of gender perspective to achieve economic growth and sustainable development. Although the nexus between gender equality and economic growth has enjoyed sizeable consideration in the literature, empirical evaluation of the economic growth effect of female economic participation is few. Hence, this study seeks to examine the relationship between female economic participation and the economic growth process of the sub-Saharan African region. In particular, the study tests whether there is an economic growth premium due to female participation in economic activities using data for a sample of 35 sub-Saharan African economies. Employing the Prais-Winsten regression, the findings suggest the existence of a significant positive effect of female economic participation on economic growth in the region. Specifically, a per cent increase in female employment rate and female labour force participation leads to a 0.028 per cent and 0.021 per cent increase in economic growth. Also, the share of working population, domestic credit to the private sector and urbanization rate are positively correlated with economic growth during the study period. The findings imply that female economic empowerment is important for achieving economic growth in the region; hence empowerment of women and girls should be made focal in national and regional development plans as stipulated in goal 5 of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) plan.