Child Support Grants in South Africa: A Pathway to Women's Empowerment and Child Well-being?

2015 ◽  
Vol 44 (2) ◽  
pp. 377-397 ◽  
Author(s):  
LEILA PATEL ◽  
TRUDIE KNIJN ◽  
FRITS VAN WEL
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Decision Making ◽  
Child Support ◽  
Social Protection ◽  
Women's Empowerment ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Cash Transfers ◽  
Cash Transfer ◽  
Women’S Empowerment ◽  
Care Givers

AbstractDespite the growth of cash transfers to reduce poverty, promote child and family well-being and women's empowerment, the gender dynamics and impact of social protection remains poorly understood. We hypothesise that poor female care-givers receiving a cash transfer for their children are better able to contribute to the material and social well-being of their children than female care-givers who do not receive a cash transfer. This paper reports results of a household survey in one of the poorest wards in Johannesburg, South Africa. Structural equation modelling is used to analyse the data. We found that cash transfers increase women's individual income, which is in turn positively associated with increased financial independence, decision-making power over financial resources and decisions about children's well-being. Beneficiaries were more actively engaged in care activities with their children. There are two implications for the insertion of gender and care into social protection policies. First that it is not necessary to attach behavioural change conditions to social protection policies in order to stimulate female care-givers to be more engaged in developmental activities with their children. Second, there is no risk of promoting a maternalistic model of care or ‘maternalism’ in the South African context as the transfer contributes to both women's individual incomes and their financial decision-making power.

scholarly journals Feminization of African Agriculture and the Meaning of Decision-Making for Empowerment and Sustainability

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (16) ◽  
pp. 8993
Author(s):  
Ruth Haug ◽  
Dismas L. Mwaseba ◽  
Donald Njarui ◽  
Mokhele Moeletsi ◽  
Mufunanji Magalasi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Agricultural Research ◽  
Women's Empowerment ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Development Project ◽  
Women Farmers ◽  
Women’S Empowerment ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
African Countries ◽  
Feminization Of Agriculture

The purpose of this study was to assess women’s decision-making power in small-scale agriculture in six African countries in view of the feminization of agriculture and to discuss the meaning of decision-making in relation to women’s empowerment and sustainability. The data are drawn from a multisite and mixed-method agricultural research and development project in six sub-Saharan countries including two sites in each country. The five domains of empowerment outlined in the Women’s Empowerment in Agriculture Index are used to structure the analysis. The results indicate that in the selected sites in Malawi, Rwanda and South Africa, women farmers tend to dominate agricultural decision-making, while the result is more mixed in the Kenyan sites, and decision-making tends to be dominated by men in the sites in Tanzania and Ethiopia. Despite women participating in agricultural decision-making, the qualitative results show that women small-scale farmers were not perceived to be empowered in any of the country sites. It appears that the feminization of agriculture leads to women playing a more important role in decision-making but also to more responsibilities and heavier workloads without necessarily resulting in improvements in well-being outcomes that would enhance sustainability.

scholarly journals The Effect of “Women’s Empowerment” on Child Nutritional Status in Pakistan

2019 ◽  
Vol 16 (22) ◽  
pp. 4499 ◽  
Author(s):  
Awaisra Shafiq ◽  
Abid Hussain ◽  
Muhammad Asif ◽  
Jinsoo Hwang ◽  
Arif Jameel ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Nutritional Status ◽  
Employment Status ◽  
Negative Relationship ◽  
Wealth Index ◽  
Women's Empowerment ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Household Size ◽  
Women’S Empowerment ◽  
Child Malnutrition

Women’s empowerment in terms of both involvements in employment activities and with decision-making about household activities is the most evident factors that can affect the nutritional and health status of their children. This paper investigates the effect of women’s empowerment (WE) on children’s nutritional (CN) status in Pakistan. The Pakistan demographic health survey (PDHS 2012-13) cross-sectional data was used to analyze the impacts of WE on child malnutrition. The composite index of anthropometric failure (CIAF) was used as a dependent variable to measure the children’s nutritional status, and the wealth index household size. The number of children in a house and indicators of women empowerment, which included the mother’s education, employment status, and the household decision-making, were used as the independent variables. The method of binary logistic regression with marginal effects was used for the empirical analysis of the results. The results of the study showed the indicators of women’s empowerment, such as the education of the mother and employment status had a negative relationship with child malnutrition. Women’s decision-making about the visits to family, which is an indicator of WE, had an insignificant effect on CN. Similarly, socioeconomic status, which included the wealth index, also caused a reduction in child malnutrition. In addition, an increase in household size had a positive and significant relation to child malnutrition. Women are the primary caretakers of children in the household, and their intra-household dynamics affect the well-being of individuals. The empowerment of women acts as a means to enhance children’s nutritional status, which causes important developmental outcomes.

scholarly journals Effect of BISP’S Unconditional Cash Transfer Program on Women Empowerment in Gilgit Baltistan

2021 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 131-144
Author(s):  
Fatima Ghazi ◽  
Muhammad Abo ul Hassan Rashid ◽  
Saif Ur Rehman Saif Abbasi ◽  
Hassan Raza
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Domestic Violence ◽  
Women's Empowerment ◽  
Cash Transfer ◽  
Women’S Empowerment ◽  
Transfer Program ◽  
Snowball Sampling ◽  
Household Decision ◽  
Household Decision Making ◽  
Unconditional Cash Transfer

Benazir Income Support Program (BISP) is a targeted unconditional cash transfer program initiated to provide financial support to poor and vulnerable women for smoothing and cushioning the negative effects of slow economic growth. The present study aims to find out the effect of unconditional cash transfer BISP on women’s empowerment. We analyze women’s empowerment through exploring the effect of unconditional cash transfer on household decision making, their independence, status of women in the community and their freedom from domestic violence. We interviewed 20 beneficiaries among which 10 respondents belonged to district Gilgit whereas the remaining 10 were the residents of district Nagar the data was analyzed using thematic analysis. Purposive sampling was used for data collection and respondents were traced through snowball sampling technique. The findings aver that BISP has improved the household decision making of women, increased women independence at limited level and decreased domestic violence, however, minimal effect was observed on women’s status in society.

scholarly journals The Effect of Women’s Empowerment in the Utilisation of Family Planning in Western Ethiopia: A Structural Equation Modelling Approach

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (12) ◽  
pp. 6550
Author(s):  
Muluken Dessalegn Muluneh ◽  
Lyn Francis ◽  
Mhiret Ayele ◽  
Sintayehu Abebe ◽  
Misrak Makonnen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Family Planning ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Contraceptive Use ◽  
Women's Empowerment ◽  
Women’S Empowerment ◽  
Household Decision ◽  
Planning Methods ◽  
Western Ethiopia ◽  
Family Planning Methods

This study examines the associations between women’s empowerment and family planning use in Jimma Zone, Western Ethiopia. A total of 746 randomly selected married women of reproductive age were interviewed. The data were employed by structural equation modelling (SEM) to investigate the complex and multidimensional pathways to show women’s empowerment domains in family planning utilisation. Results of the study revealed that 72% of married women had used family planning. Younger women, having access to information, having access to health facilities and being aware about family planning methods, living in a rural area, having an older partner and increased household decision-making power were associated with using family planning methods. Women’s empowerment is an important determinant of contraceptive use. Women’s empowerment dimensions included increased household decision-making power, socio-demographic variables and having access to information about family planning and accessible health facilities. These were found to be important determinants of contraceptive use. Future interventions should focus on integrating women’s empowerment into family planning programming, particularly in enhancing women’s autonomy in decision making. Further research is warranted on the socio-cultural context of women that influences women’s empowerment and family planning use to establish an in-depth understanding and equity of women in society.

scholarly journals Effects of COVID-19 on the economy and mental health of young people in South Africa: opportunities for strengthening social protection programmes by integrating mental health

2021 ◽  
Vol 51 (2) ◽  
pp. 199-204
Author(s):  
Alejandra Álvarez-Iglesias ◽  
Emily Garman ◽  
Crick Lund
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
South Africa ◽  
Young People ◽  
Child Support ◽  
Social Protection ◽  
Psychological Impact ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Physical And Mental Health ◽  
Protection Measures ◽  
Employment Education

The majority of COVID-19 cases in sub-Saharan Africa are found in South Africa, where one third of young people are not in employment, education or training. As the world continues to fight the COVID-19 virus spread, an increasing volume of studies are analysing and trying to predict the consequences of the pandemic on the economy and on physical and mental health. This article describes the economic and psychological impact of COVID-19 in South Africa’s youth specifically, the efforts made to tackle these issues, and the opportunities to integrate mental health into the country’s social protection measures, such as the Child Support Grant.

scholarly journals Women’s empowerment for abortion and family planning decision making among marginalized women in Nepal: a mixed method study

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Heera KC ◽  
Mangala Shrestha ◽  
Nirmala Pokharel ◽  
Surya Raj Niraula ◽  
Prajjwal Pyakurel ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Family Planning ◽  
Mixed Method ◽  
Women's Empowerment ◽  
Women’S Empowerment ◽  
Key Informants ◽  
Marginalized Communities ◽  
Modern Contraceptives ◽  
Marginalized Women ◽  
Planning Decision

Abstract Background Women’s empowerment is multidimensional. Women’s education, employment, income, reproductive healthcare decision making, household level decision making and social status are vital for women’s empowerment. Nepal is committed to achieving women empowerment and gender equality, which directly affects the reproductive health issues. This can be achieved by addressing the issues of the poor and marginalized communities. In this context, we aimed to find the association of women’s empowerment with abortion and family planning decision making among marginalized women in Nepal. Methods A cross sectional study was conducted at selected municipalities of Morang district of Nepal from February 2017 to March 2018. A mixed method approach was used, where 316 married marginalized women of reproductive age (15–49 years) and 15 key informant interviews from representative healthcare providers and local leaders were taken. From key informants, data were analysed using the thematic framework method. Findings obtained from two separate analyses were drawn together and meta inferences were made. Results Women’s empowerment was above average, at 50.6%. Current use of modern contraceptives were more among below average empowerment groups (p 0.041, OR 0.593 C.I. 0.36–0.98). We could not find any statistically significant differences among levels of women’s empowerment, including those women with abortion knowledge (p 0.549); family planning knowledge (p 0.495) and women’s decision for future use of modern contraceptives (p 0.977). Most key informants reported that unsafe abortion was practiced. Conclusions Women’s empowerment has no direct role for family planning and abortion decision making at marginalized communities of Morang district of Nepal. However, different governmental and non-governmental organizations influence woman for seeking health care services and family planning in rural community of Nepal irrespective of empowerment status.

scholarly journals Assessing the impact of a combined nutrition counselling and cash transfer intervention on women’s empowerment in rural Bangladesh: a randomised control trial protocol

BMJ Open ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (6) ◽  
pp. e044263
Author(s):  
Elizabeth K Kirkwood ◽  
Michael John Dibley ◽  
John Frederick Hoddinott ◽  
Tanvir Huda ◽  
Tracey Lea Laba ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Quantitative Data ◽  
Women's Empowerment ◽  
Cash Transfer ◽  
Women’S Empowerment ◽  
Randomised Control Trial ◽  
Call Centre ◽  
Rural Bangladesh ◽  
Nutrition Counselling ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Unconditional Cash Transfer

IntroductionThere is growing interest in assessing the impact of health interventions, particularly when women are the focus of the intervention, on women’s empowerment. Globally, research has shown that interventions targeting nutrition, health and economic development can affect women’s empowerment. Evidence suggests that women’s empowerment is also an underlying determinant of nutrition outcomes. Depending on the focus of the intervention, different domains of women’s empowerment will be influenced, for example, an increase in nutritional knowledge, or greater control over income and access to resources.ObjectiveThis study evaluates the impact of the Shonjibon Cash and Counselling (SCC) Trial that combines nutrition counselling and an unconditional cash transfer, delivered on a mobile platform, on women’s empowerment in rural Bangladesh.Methods and analysisWe will use a mixed-methods approach, combining statistical analysis of quantitative data from 2840 women in a cluster randomised controlled trial examining the impact of nutrition behaviour change communications (BCCs) and cash transfers on child undernutrition. Pregnant participants will be given a smartphone with a customised app, delivering nutrition BCC messages, and will receive nutrition counselling via a call centre and an unconditional cash transfer. This study is a component of the SCC Trial and will measure women’s empowerment using a composite indicator based on the Project-Level Women’s Empowerment in Agriculture Index, with quantitative data collection at baseline and endline. Thematic analysis of qualitative data, collected through longitudinal interviews with women, husbands and mothers-in-law, will elicit a local understanding of women’s empowerment and the linkages between the intervention and women’s empowerment outcomes. This paper describes the study protocol to evaluate women’s empowerment in a nutrition-specific and sensitive intervention using internationally validated, innovative tools and will help fill the evidence gap on pathways of impact, highlighting areas to target for future programming.Ethics and disseminationEthical approval has been obtained from the International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research (Ref. PR 17106) and The University of Sydney (Ref: 2019/840). Findings from this study will be shared in Bangladesh with dissemination sessions in-country and internationally at conferences, and will be published in peer-reviewed journals.

scholarly journals HESR innovation in analysis that supports decision making and action

2020 ◽  
Vol 30 (Supplement_5) ◽  
Author(s):  
B Barr
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Health Equity ◽  
Social Protection ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Status Report ◽  
Policy Performance ◽  
European Health ◽  
The Individual ◽  
Health And Well Being ◽  
Inform Decision Making

Abstract The European Health Equity Status Report makes innovative use of microdata, at the level of the individual, to decompose the relative contributions of five essential underlying conditions to inequities in health and well-being. These essential conditions comprise: (1) Health services (2) Income security and social protection (3) Living conditions (4) Social and human capital (5) Employment and working conditions. Combining microdata across over twenty sources, the work of HESRi has also produced disaggregated indicators in health, well-being, and each of the five essential conditions. In conjunction with indicators of policy performance and investment, the HESRi Health Equity Dataset of over 100 indicators is the first of its kind, as a resource for monitoring and analysing inequities across the essential conditions and policies to inform decision making and action to reduce gaps in health and well-being.

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