Restrictive Laws Research Articles

Renewable energy source facilities as a factor in locational conflicts in rural areas

The main purpose of this study has been to determine the emergence of locational conflicts due to the development of renewable energy source (RES) installations. The study employed a diagnostic survey method. The respondents know what renewable energy sources are and support their development. However, the NIMBY syndrome, as well as the very modest participation of local communities in social consultations, have been detected. The fact that any conclusions reached in the course of consultations are not legally binding was emphasised. Thus, local communities seek other ways to block a contested development, which results in protests and, consequently, social conflicts. Conflicts most often arise between local residents and local authorities, and they are principally ignited by fears of an adverse impact of wind turbines on human health. The survey results can fill in the gap and expand our knowledge of RES, social participation and locational conflicts. They can also help to popularise the transition from conventional sources of energy. Legislative changes are necessary to enable people to have a real influence on the space in which they live. It is unwise to hinder the development of wind farms by excessively restrictive laws.

Inbreeding and Outbreeding Depression in Wild and Captive Insect Populations.

Major changes in genetic variation are generally considered deleterious to populations. The massive biodiversity of insects distinguishes them from other animal groups. Insect deviant effective population sizes, alternative modes of reproduction, advantageous inbreeding, endosymbionts, and other factors translate to highly specific inbreeding and outbreeding outcomes. We review the evidence for inbreeding and outbreeding depression and consequences across wild and captive insect populations, highlighting conservation, invasion, and commercial production entomology. We not only discern patterns but also explain why they are often inconsistent or absent. We discuss how insect inbreeding and outbreeding depression operates in complex, sometimes contradictory directions, such as inbreeding being detrimental to individuals but beneficial to populations. We conclude by giving recommendations to (a) more comprehensively account for important variables in insect inbreeding and outbreeding depression, (b) standardize the means of measuring genetic variation and phenotypic impacts for insect populations so as to more reliably predict when inbreeding or outbreeding depression applies, and (c) outline possible remediation options, both nongenetic and genetic, including revision of restrictive international trade laws.

Women's experiences and outcomes of abortion care in sub-Saharan countries: A mixed methods systematic review protocol.

Abortion care experiences encompass various aspects, including women's decision-making capability, physical and emotional experiences, service provision, and post-abortion experiences. The lack of woman-centred and respectful abortion services, influenced by stigma and restrictive abortion laws in certain contexts, poses a public health concern. These challenges may lead to variations in women's experiences and care outcomes, potentially resulting in adverse physical, psychological, and emotional outcomes for individuals seeking abortions. Therefore, this systematic review aims to synthesise the available evidence on women's abortion care experiences and outcomes in sub-Saharan Africa published from 2010 onwards. Eight databases including Medline, Embase, Scopus, CINAHL, Cochrane Library, Psych-Info, Web of Science, and Global Health will be searched using subject headings and specific keywords related to women's abortion care experiences, abortion care outcomes, and its measurement. Predetermined criteria will be used to select studies that meet the review's inclusion criteria. These include all original studies published in English languages that focussed on induced abortion care and assessed women's abortion care experiences and outcomes. After screening for title and abstract and full text, included studies will undergo data extraction, where information relevant to the methodological quality of each study will be collected. This review will integrate qualitative and quantitative data through a narrative synthesis approach. By synthesising abortion care experiences and outcomes across studies and analysing the commonalities and differences of the multifactorial challenges women face in health facilities, this study will improve the understanding of abortion care experiences and outcomes and inform evidence-based recommendations and future research directions. In addition, this systematic review will also discover and locate an existing measurement tool for abortion care experiences and outcomes for women while receiving the services in the facility.

Ex-Ante Regulation: An Evolving Need in Digital Markets

This study explores the global discourse surrounding ex-ante regulations, particularly their impact on digital markets. While proponents tout their benefits, concerns are raised about potential negative effects on incentives for major internet platforms and innovation. The paper delves into the challenges of striking a balance between fostering a competitive environment and avoiding overly restrictive laws that could stifle emerging companies in India’s digital marketplaces. It highlights changes in various countries, including the European Union, Germany, Australia, South Korea, the United States, the United Kingdom, and Canada. Emphasizing the importance of precise ex-ante laws, the study urges regulators to develop a strategic approach that simultaneously promotes innovation, competition, and consumer welfare, ensuring a robust digital market. The paper recommends that India proactively create a tailored framework that encourages healthy competition while advancing its goal of building a strong digital economy.

Through the Looking Glass: Reflections of the Prodigal Daughter

This contribution examines the submerged prodigal daughter plot within the dominant ‘prodigal son’ drama of Gascoigne’s Glass of Government (1575). Jerry Aline Flieger has suggested that we might reimagine the prodigal daughter not as merely ‘going beyond the fold of restrictive paternal law, only to return’, but as ‘lush, exceptional, extravagant, and affirmative … to be prodigal in this sense is to alter the law, to enlarge its parameters and recast its meaning’. Instead of marginalizing and banishing the prodigal daughter, this article suggests that it may be worth passing through Gascoigne’s looking glass to imagine an alternative space for her to occupy.

Reasons for unsafe abortion in Iran after pronatalist policy changes: a qualitative study

BackgroundIn Iran, restrictive abortion laws have led to widespread unsafe abortions, posing significant health risks. The 2021 Family and Youth Protection Law further restricted access to reproductive health services in an effort to boost birth rates. The purpose of this qualitative study is to explore the reasons women sought abortions in an illegal context, based on their own experiences.MethodsThis exploratory qualitative study involved in-depth interviews with 46 women in Kermanshah, Iran, between April and August 2024. All participants had experienced incomplete abortions after undergoing unsafe procedures. Data were analyzed using conventional content analysis and thematic analysis with MAXQDA 10 software to identify key themes in the women's experiences. To ensure the study's rigor, we applied Guba and Lincoln’s criteria, including credibility, dependability, confirmability, and transferability.ResultsFive main themes emerged from the interviews: economic hardship, pursuit of a prosperous life, unstable marital relationships, health and fertility issues, and cultural factors. Economic challenges, such as unemployment and lack of basic necessities, were the most frequently cited reasons for seeking unsafe abortions. Health issues, including unplanned pregnancies and fear of fetal anomalies, also played a significant role, alongside cultural stigmas related to age, illegitimacy, and gender preferences.ConclusionThis study sheds light on the multifaceted factors driving unsafe abortions in Iran following pronatalist policy changes. A holistic approach is recommended to address the interconnected economic, social, and cultural challenges that contribute to this issue. By implementing such comprehensive strategies, policymakers and stakeholders can work to reduce the prevalence of unsafe abortion practices and foster improved health and well-being for women.

Cicero’s universal law: a timeless guide to reproductive justice

Abstract Marcus Tullius Cicero’s concept of “ius gentium,” or universal law, provides a timeless framework for understanding and defending fundamental human rights, particularly in the context of reproductive freedom. Cicero distinguished between “ius gentium” and “ius civile,” emphasizing that while civil law governs specific communities, universal law, rooted in natural reason, applies to all humanity. This philosophical foundation resonates with modern discussions on reproductive rights, where universal principles of justice and bodily autonomy are at stake. Enlightened by Immanuel Kant’s notion of innate freedom, Cicero’s philosophy challenges present day’s US states’ restrictive reproductive laws, which often contradict the universal principles of justice. Applying these concepts to contemporary issues, such as abortion rights, underscores the need to align civil laws with universal ethics, ensuring that individual freedoms are upheld against arbitrary state interventions. By advocating for policies that promote equitable access to reproductive healthcare, Cicero’s vision of universal law remains a powerful tool for advancing human dignity and autonomy in modern society.

Identification of the contextual factors influencing the successful implementation of in-service training policies for the health workforce in Iran

BackgroundIn-service training is critical for achieving organizational goals and developing the health workforce. Therefore, this study aimed to identify contextual factors that significantly impact the implementation of in-service training policies for the health workers.MethodsThis study employed an inductive qualitative approach, utilizing semi-structured interviews as the data collection method. The target group consisted of human resources managers and experts. Purposeful sampling was conducted using the snowball method. A total of 23 interviews were conducted, and data saturation was achieved. Framework analysis was performed using MAXQDA10 software to analyze the data. To enhance the credibility of the findings, interview transcripts, and the initially extracted codes were shared with participants for verification. Additionally, various methods were employed to ensure the accuracy and reliability of the data, including seeking input and additional comments from two colleagues and one expert familiar with qualitative research, as well as sending the interview transcripts and extracted codes to each participant for correction during the data collection phase.ResultsThe analysis of the data identified seven themes and 16 subthemes related to the implementation of in-service training for healthcare workers. These themes include social factors, personal characteristics, economic and political factors, crises and epidemics, organizational factors, and legal factors. Social factors, such as social crises and demographic characteristics, can affect the type of training provided. Personal characteristics, including motivation, age, job position, and gender, can influence the implementation of training. Political and economic factors, such as government policies and budget constraints, also play a role. Crises and epidemics present opportunities for relevant training. Organizational factors, such as top management commitment and organizational culture, determine the success of training. Legal factors, including restrictive laws and incentives, impact the implementation of training.ConclusionsThe implementation of policies cannot be considered in isolation from contextual factors. Therefore, decision-makers and policymakers should thoroughly identify and analyze the relevant contextual factors when formulating and implementing policies. This approach will enable them to make informed decisions based on the specific context.

Weak Institutions, Strong Movements: The Uneven Implementation of Abortion Policy in Latin America

Across Latin American countries, there is remarkable heterogeneity in abortion legislation, ranging from full prohibition to legal elective abortion.1 However, abortion policy does not seem to clearly map onto implementation on the ground. On the one hand, even in countries with very restrictive abortion laws, (clandestine) abortion rates are comparatively high, and legislation that criminalizes abortion is rarely enforced (Blofield 2006; Htun 2003). On the other hand, in countries that allow abortion under all or some circumstances, access to abortion is not guaranteed. In Argentina, for instance, different reports have stressed the difficulty in accessing abortion procedures both before and after legalization was enacted in early 2021.2

On Critical “Technopolitical Pedagogies”

This article explores the pedagogical and political dimensions of the specific content-form relations of the projects Public Library/Memory of the World and syllabus ⦚ Pirate Care. Public Library/Memory of the World (2012–ongoing) by Marcell Mars and Tomislav Medak serves as an online shadow library in response to the ongoing commodification of academic research and threats to public libraries. syllabus⦚ Pirate Care (2019), a project initiated by Valeria Graziano, Mars, and Medak, offers learning resources that address the crisis of care and its criminalisation under neoliberal policies. By employing “technopolitical pedagogies” and advocating the sharing of knowledge, these projects enable forms of practical and political orientation in a world of “insuppressible friction.” They use network technologies and open-source tools to provide access to information and support civil disobedience against restrictive intellectual property laws. The article argues that these projects represent critical pedagogical interventions, hacking the monodimensional tendencies of educational systems and library catalogues, and produce commoner positions.

What Counts as Global Health?

Safe abortion access is an essential aspect of reproductive justice and key to reducing global rates of maternal mortality, yet within the global heath enterprise, the rhetoric of sexual and reproductive health and rights has not yet been realised in practice. Access to safe legal abortion remains inequitable globally and within nations and deaths due to unsafe abortion take their highest toll in the Global South in jurisdictions with restrictive laws. Clandestine abortion access activist networks have been filling this gap offering life, dignity and futures to the people who seek their services. What should we make of clandestine activist networks around the world that help people access medication abortion? Such groups have been important players in women’s reproductive health in many jurisdictions for decades – but have typically, by necessity and design, flown under the radar. If visibility, accountability and humanitarian appeal are essential characteristic of global health work, how do we acknowledge and understand the work of clandestine abortion access activist networks? Does it count as global health? In this essay I offer the notion of ‘critique in action’ to further our understanding of such networks and also consider the idea of abortion access activist networks as an anti-regime of global health.

Teaching asylum and immigration law in a hostile environment: online education’s role in navigating social work challenges

ABSTRACT The impact of COVID-19 restrictions and the shift to online teaching has contributed to a growing interest in distance learning across social work education. The authors of this paper are from the Open University, which has over 50 years of experience in distance learning and over the past 30 years e-learning through blended and fully online methods. The paper shares insights from teaching a social work law module to nearly 400 students across the UK. This paper addresses the challenges of integrating social work values and human rights into teaching asylum and immigration law amidst a UK legal discourse that often creates a ‘hostile environment’ for people with precarious immigration status. It explores teaching from a social justice perspective in the context of restrictive domestic laws. Highlighting the co-production of learning materials with civil society groups through videos and podcasts, the paper emphasizes the importance of including practitioner and migrant, asylum seeker or refugee voices to enrich content. Insights into the practicalities of incorporating these elements into e-learning, along with reflections on the challenges and opportunities, are discussed.

Impact of State Abortion Policies on Family Medicine Practice and Training After Dobbs v Jackson Women's Health Organization.

The Dobbs v Jackson Women's Health Organization (Dobbs) Supreme Court decision revoked the constitutional right to abortion. Now, restrictive state abortion laws may contribute to the shortage and strain already felt in primary care practice, especially related to the provision of reproductive health care. The purpose of this study is to evaluate perceived impacts of state abortion legislation on family medicine clinicians' practice and medical education regarding reproductive health care. Ten questions were added to the 2022 Council of Academic Family Medicine Educational Research Alliance general membership survey to evaluate impact on relevant themes in reproductive health care and training after the Dobbs decision. Responses were categorized by severity of restriction of state abortion policies. Of 1,196 respondents, 49.7% reported employment in states with very restrictive or restrictive abortion policies. The 991 respondents with clinical responsibilities reported significant (P <.05) changes in their counseling practices, clinical decision making, worry of legal risks, and trust in patients' self-reported reproductive medical history, compared with peers in protective states. Perceived patient trust toward clinicians remained unchanged. Almost one-half of clinical respondents reported an absence of reproductive health care guidance or recommendations. Restrictive abortion policies significantly (P <.05) reduced the desirability and confidence in resident training programs. Reported changes to clinical activities and training, coming early after the Dobbs decision, affect our current and future workforce and therefore, our patients. Future studies are needed to document continued impact of state restrictions and inform policy to support family medicine clinicians in reproductive health practice and education.

Abortion in South-Africa: Does a liberal legislation really impact safe access and use?

The World Health Organization (WHO) considers comprehensive abortion care as part of their essential healthcare service package, which includes the provision of information, abortion management, and post-abortion care. The WHO estimated that globally, 45% of all induced abortions were unsafe, and it noted that nearly half of all the abortions occurred under the least safe circumstances in Africa. Abortion has been legal in South Africa since the implementation of the Choice of Termination of Pregnancy (CTOP) Act (No. 92 of 1996), which was a significant departure from the country's previously restrictive abortion laws. While the CTOP Act (1996) has made provision for access to safe abortion services and pre- and post-abortion counselling, this has not been effectively implemented into effective service delivery. It's estimated that between 52% and 58% of abortions take place in informal medical settings, and that only 7% of the public health facilities in South Africa were performing abortion services in 2017. The WHO noted that the lack of access to safe, affordable, timely, and respectful abortion care, and the stigma associated with abortion pose risks to women's physical and mental well-being throughout the life-course. The aim of this paper was to explore how women in South Africa experience and cope with induced abortion. Additionally, this research looks at how religion, culture and stigma, impact abortion and mental health post-abortion of South African's women. This study utilises data from the latest South African Demographic and Health Surveys (SADHS), in 2016, which includes data from 8514 women aged 15-49 years. This study highlights the need for more data and research related to challenges and experiences of South African women around mental health and the nature of abortion within the country. In this interview conducted by Professor Jean-Pierre Bouchard, population analysts Robynn Ashely Hera and Siposethu Nojoko together with demographer Professor Nancy Stiegler from the University of the Western Cape discuss safe and unsafe abortion incidence and access and the psychological effects thereof.

Unsafe termination of pregnancy where abortion is illegal: A Botswana context-specific study.

Unsafe pregnancy termination contributes to morbidity and mortality among women globally. Despite Botswana's restrictive abortion laws, women continue to use unsafe abortion methods. This study aimed to explore factors that contributes to unsafe termination of pregnancies in Ngami sub-district, Botswana. A qualitative descriptive and exploratory research approach, using a phenomenological design, was applied. Semi-structured in-depth interviews were conducted with women admitted to the gynecological ward from June to August 2021. Data saturation was reached with the 12th participant. Data was analyzed thematically. The study revealed two major themes: factors contributing to unsafe abortions, and interventions to reduce unsafe abortions. The study underscores the global issue of unsafe abortion that leads to high morbidity and mortality, and long-term complications. An overall recommendation is for Botswana to reconsider its abortion law and aim to prevent unsafe abortions and reduce healthcare cost.

“When you provide abortion services, you are looked upon as a bad guy”: experiences of abortion stigma by health providers in Nigeria

ABSTRACT Background Abortion stigma as reported globally has been inadequately documented empirically in Nigeria, Africa’s most populous country with a restrictive abortion law and a high rate of unsafe abortions. Objective The objectives of this study were to investigate the ways in which abortion stigma is experienced by Nigerian health professionals and how such experiences influence health professionals’ practice of safe abortion and post-abortion care. Methods The study utilized qualitative research consisting of in-depth interviews with 10 abortion providers. We elicited information with an open-ended interview guide that investigated the understanding of participants’ experiences of abortion stigma in Nigeria. The data were analysed qualitatively and thematically using Atlas.ti. Results The themes centred on perceptions and experiences of stigma among the providers interviewed. Participants’ experiences of abortion stigma included the following: being treated differently to other health professionals; experiencing disapproval and disrespect; name-calling and societal judgement; tagging and profiling of clinics by anti-abortionists; and social isolation. Participants attributed stigma to cultural and religious beliefs, the restrictive national abortion law, and pointed to hypocrisy. Some reported effects of stigma on providers included a feeling of insecurity, social exclusion, secrecy, and insincerity in clinical practice, discouragement, and guilt feelings. Despite the negative impacts, many respondents reported a sense of satisfaction stemming from their views that they were saving lives. Conclusion Systematic efforts to address these adverse factors could reduce the level of stigma experienced by providers, with a potential follow-through effect of improving women’s access to safe abortion care in Nigeria.

Unsafe abortion and its complications: A silent and unprecedented catastrophe happening in our society

The term abortion often connotes criminal induced abortion in the context of our local setting. The socio-cultural and religious perceptions associated with having an abortion make the practice almost a taboo such that the procedure is often performed clandestinely with unimaginable and sometimes fatal consequences. The restrictive abortion laws in Nigeria, unmet needs for contraceptives, widening poverty and illiteracy, paved the way for unskilled personnel and quacks to dominate abortion services making the practice quite unsafe. In this editorial, we x-ray some reported abortion cases and how these challenges impact the health and reproductive careers of young women in Nigeria.

Online Forum Conversations on Abortion in Poland: Navigating Medical, Emotional, and Legal Challenges

Abstract Background Abortion is a common medical procedure worldwide, but access is restricted in Poland, forcing many women to seek abortions without medical supervision. This can lead to health risks and reflects broader challenges regarding reproductive rights and healthcare. Methods We conducted a qualitative and quantitative analysis of online forums discussing abortion to understand the challenges faced by women in Poland. Data was gathered from popular abortion forums identified through Google searches, with a pilot study refining the research focus. Results A total of 13,397 responses from 370 threads across 4 forums were analyzed. The most prevalent theme was the ‘Abortion Process Progression,’ indicating a strong need for information and support. Discussions on ‘Emotional and Psychological Aspects’ and ‘Medical and Pharmacological Aspects’ highlighted the need for holistic care. This suggests that legal restrictions and fear of repercussions hinder women’s access to professional assistance, exacerbating health disparities and inequalities. Conclusions This study offers a general look at the abortion experiences of Polish women, revealing challenges that often go unnoticed by policymakers and healthcare professionals. By analyzing online forums, it uncovers nuanced issues such as the lack of access to medical supervision, information gaps, and emotional support, highlighting discrepancies between policy and needs. The findings call for decriminalizing abortion, launching educational campaigns to combat misinformation, and strengthening support systems, aligning Poland’s reproductive health services with European Union standards, ensuring women’s access to safe and supportive healthcare. Key messages • This study shows how Poland’s restrictive abortion laws push women to online forums, revealing medical, emotional, and logistical challenges, emphasizing the need for care and accurate information. • The research highlights the need for decriminalizing abortion, addressing misinformation, and support Poland’s reproductive health services with EU standards, ensuring safer care for women.

THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN FDI AND ECONOMIC GROWTH IN INDIA. A TIME SERIES APPROACH

Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) has gained importance after the second world war. In broader sense Foreign Direct Investment incorporates the establishment of up to date and advanced facilities, mergers and acquisitions, investing the profits earned from other overseas business activities, providing loans to other companies etc. In narrow sense the Foreign Direct Investment means investment in the country other than the investors own country. FDI can be better understood by studying the real reason that why the companies have shown interest in investing abroad rather than exporting and outsourcing their products to domestic firms. In due course of time many theories and approaches were developed to explain FDI. Although several researchers have tried to explain the phenomenon of FDI, we cannot say there is a generally accepted theory, every new evidence added some new elements and criticism to the previous ones. FDI in India is playing a noticeable role in the growth and development of the country. India is one of the important countries of the world which is able to receive substantial amount of FDI. The present study has made an effort to see the relationship between the FDI and Economic growth in India. GDP has proxies for economic growth. First the Johansen cointegration test result shows the long run relationship between variables and the Granger causality test result exhibits that there is unidirectional Granger causality between FDI and GDP. Next the Multiple Regression model result presents that the estimated coefficients on FDI &amp; exports have a positive relationship with GDP. Therefore, it is statistically revealed that FDI and Exports are instrumental in influencing the level of economic growth in India. India is having certain drawbacks like Weak infrastructure, Complicated tax structure, Restrictive labor laws, Bureaucracy and Corruption. Unless and until these challenges are met with, India will never compete with China regarding FDI inflows. KEYWORDS: Foreign Direct Investment, Gross Domestic Product, Economic Growth.

Translating restrictive law into practice: An ethnographic exploration of the systemic processing of legally restricted health care access for asylum seekers in Germany

BackgroundAccess to health services for asylum seekers is legally restricted in Germany. The law is subject to interpretation, therefore the chance of receiving care is not equally distributed among asylum seekers. What services are provided to whom is ultimately decided by health professionals and government employees. The respective prioritization processes and criteria are not transparent. We sought to understand how legal restrictions are translated into daily practices and how this affects the health system. We aimed to outline the complex process of cost coverage for health services for asylum seekers and provide insights into common decision-making criteria.MethodsWe conducted an ethnographic exploration of routines in two outpatient clinics in two federal states over the course of three months, doing participant and non-participant observation. Additionally, we interviewed 21 professionals of health care and government organizations, and documented 110 applications for cost coverage of medical services and their outcome. In addition to qualitative data analysis and documentation, we apply a system-theoretical perspective to our findings.ResultsTo perform legal restrictions a cross-sectoral prioritization process of medical services has been implemented, involving health care and government institutions. This changes professional practices, responsibilities and (power) relations. Involved actors find themselves at the intersection of several, oftentimes conflicting priorities, since “doing it right” might be seen differently from a legal, medical, economic, or political perspective. The system-theoretical analysis reveals that while actors have to bring different rationales into workable arrangements this part of the medical system transforms, giving rise to a sub-system that incorporates migration political rationales.ConclusionsHealth care restrictions for asylum seekers are implemented through an organizational linking of care provision and government administration, resulting in a bureaucratization of practice. Power structures at this intersection of health and migration policy, that are uncommon in other parts of the health system are thereby normalized. Outpatient clinics provide low-threshold access to health services, but paradoxically they may unintentionally stabilize health inequities, if prioritization criteria and power dynamics are not made transparent. Health professionals should openly reflect on conflicting rationales. Training, research and professional associations need to empower them to stay true to professional ethical principles and international conventions.