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SUMMARY:Complications during pregnancy in Uganda: Researching socio-cultur
 al drivers using innovative methods (King's/Cambridge-Africa Seminar) - Dr
  Claudia Abreu Lopes\, Head of Research and Development\, Africa's Voices 
 Foundation
DTSTART:20160223T173000Z
DTEND:20160223T183000Z
UID:TALK64077@talks.cam.ac.uk
CONTACT:Dr Pauline Essah
DESCRIPTION:Every day\, nearly 830 women die from preventable causes relat
 ed to pregnancy and childbirth across the globe\, with more than half of t
 hese deaths occurring in Sub-Saharan Africa (WHO\, 2015). Socio-cultural f
 actors such as traditional beliefs about pregnancy\, play an important rol
 e alongside biological/genetic factors and provision of healthcare\, in ma
 ternal mortality rates. Beliefs\, attitudes and norms influence local prac
 tices\, and whether problematic symptoms are detected and appropriate time
 ly healthcare is sought. \n\nThis presentation discusses the method and ma
 in findings of a pilot undertaken in 2015 by researchers from the Universi
 ty of Cambridge and Makarere University in Uganda\, aimed at understanding
  the collective beliefs of women in the Central region of Uganda (urban an
 d semi-urban districts) related to complications during and just after pre
 gnancy. The research was funded by King's College\, Smuts Memorial Fund an
 d a Wellcome Trust (grant held by Prof Moffett at the Department of Pathol
 ogy).\n\nCollaborating with Africa’s Voices Foundation (a spin-out from 
 Cambridge's Centre of Governance and Human Rights)\, and local and nationa
 l radio stations\, we set up a series of interactive radio discussions fea
 turing testimonials of women who had experienced pre-eclampsia. The discus
 sions sparked the interest of diverse audiences who were invited to send t
 heir opinions via SMS to a toll-free number. The merits and limitations of
  combining mobile phones and old media (radio) to reach less accessible po
 pulations in the context of health research in Africa will also be discuss
 ed.\nThe textual analysis to the SMS revealed that men and women differ in
  the perception of causes of complications during pregnancy: men focus mor
 e on internal causes related to the biology or dispositional traits of wom
 en\; women tend to attribute problems to the low quality of health profess
 ionals and lack of support from their husbands. Understanding the norms an
 d beliefs held by different groups and communities is crucial to shape con
 text-specific health interventions focused on improving the quality of med
 ical and social support for Ugandan women during pregnancy.\n\nFor more in
 formation\, visit http://www.africasvoices.org.\n
LOCATION:Wine Room\, King's College\, Cambridge\, CB2 1TS
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