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(IDRC - IDRIS DATA BASE) [Project value: Quoted in Canadian dollars not deflated]
Working Mothers and Their Children: Health Risks and Needs
Health risks of working mothers, and their children is an area relevant
to maternal child care programs in Mexico. This project focuses on
the health needs and risks of working mothers, and their children.
Researchers will explore the specific perinatal health risks to mothers
and infants of certain types and conditions of maternal employment,
as well as the effects on child health of inadequate child care arrangements.
Specific objectives are to contribute to knowledge regarding the conditions
of women's work; make recommendations as to how to prevent specific
risks to the health of women and children; make use of existing knowledge
on this matter for policy purposes; involve women's and worker's
organizations; disseminate the results of research projects and
recommendations derived from them; train local investigators; and
strengthen networking activities among individuals and institutions
working in this area. Post-Project
Summary:
The project took the form of nine research grants involving 21 researchers
from seven Mexican research institutions selected through open contest
by an advisory committee of 12 senior researchers from eight different
Mexican institutions and representing eight different disciplines. The
advisory committee members also acted as consultants during three workshops
held in the course of the project. The nine research studies covered
the following: a review of the literature on the relationships between
maternal work and child health; female work and child health in three
regions of Mexico; effects of maternal workforce participation and child
care strategies on infant morbidity; child care and child health in
the case of street vendors; accidental and intentional injuries in children
of working mothers; relationship between maternal health and family
health; case study of maternal work and child health in banana production
in Tapachula, Chiapas; and working mothers, absentee fathers,
and child welfare in Mexico - a policy perspective. The project resulted
in the creation of an informal research network. The results of the
studies were disseminated through articles in the bulletin of the Mexican
Demographic Society; the Interdisciplinary Group on Women, Work, and
Poverty; and various conferences dealing with women workers. Training
Information: The 21 researchers benefited from advice given by the advisory
committee in relation to specific research problems such as research
design, data collection techniques, and data analysis procedures.
Infant Mortality Data for Policy Monitoring in the Brazilian Northeast
An accurate infant mortality (death) rate is one of the most valuable
development indicators. A low-cost method of obtaining reliable
estimates of mortality rates has been devised; it is known as the "previous
child method". This method obtains infant mortality estimates by asking
women attending a maternity hospital about the survival status of their
previous child. This project will introduce this new method to clinics
and maternity hospitals in three parts of the Brazilian northeast to
monitor infant mortality and related health programs. Researchers will
evaluate infant mortality estimates obtained with the new method in
conjunction with indirect estimates from the census, the 1984 national
household survey, and the official statistics of the Civil Registry;
test the possibility of obtaining additional information using the method;
identify obstacles to the adoption of this method; and sensitize professionals
to the importance of improving information systems for the monitoring
of infant mortality. The methodology includes a prospective survey,
a training course for the health personnel, and evaluation and dissemination
seminars and workshops. http://www.idrc.ca/lacro/foro/results/hijoferreira-e.htm
Adolescent Sexuality Education
Adolescent sexuality education has become a priority in Third World
and developed countries. However few projects have attempted to
systematically determine and evaluate how best to communicate with adolescents
about such a sensitive subject. This project will investigate
the knowledge, attitudes and practices of adolescents regarding sexuality,
and design, implement and evaluate an educational program based on these
needs. In addition, parents and teachers will be involved in the
educational intervention. The project will take place in Usme,
a semi rural community near Bogota, Colombia. Participatory educational
methodologies will be utilized and evaluated throughout the project.
CRESALC (Comite Regional de Education Sexual para Latinoamerica y el
Caribe), an organization with extensive experience in sexuality education,
will carry out this 36 month project. |