scholarly journals Water and sanitation are not gender-neutral: human rights in rural Brazilian communities

Water Policy ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
pp. 102-120
Author(s):  
Bárbarah Brenda Silva ◽  
Bárbara Sales ◽  
Ana Carolina Lanza ◽  
Léo Heller ◽  
Sonaly Rezende

Abstract The Human Rights to Water and Sanitation (HRWS), adopted as UN Resolutions since 2010, contemplates key elements that seek to ensure equal and non-discriminatory access to water and sanitation, including the elimination of gender inequalities. Working in populations with socio-environmental vulnerabilities, this study aims to assess gender division of labor in households of two rural communities in the North and Northeast Brazilian macroregions and identify why greater impacts occur on the lives of women when compared to men, resulting in human rights concerns. A qualitative analysis was carried out through semi-structured interviews and direct observation. The study showed that in the two rural Brazilian communities there is a clear labor division for water and sanitation access from a gender perspective. Men undertake more specialized work, sometimes requiring greater physical effort. As for women, they are assigned functions related to the domestic environment, including activities concerning water and sanitation. When facilities are inadequate, there is a disproportionate impact on women's health and quality of life, showing that the non-compliance with the human rights to water and sanitation often results in more harmful consequences for them.

Water ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (4) ◽  
pp. 931 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vitor Carvalho Queiroz ◽  
Rodrigo Coelho de Carvalho ◽  
Léo Heller

In the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, Targets 6.1 and 6.2 show, in their formulation, some alignment with the normative content of the human rights to water and sanitation (HRWS). However, the principle of equality and non-discrimination, which applies to all human rights, was not clearly incorporated into the indicators adopted to assess and monitor these targets. This paper contributes to bridging this gap by proposing two methodological strategies to address inequalities in analyses of access to water and sanitation services. The first consists in adjusting the indicators of access to these services according to inequality. The second proposes an assessment of intersecting forms of inequality. An application of these methods in Latin America and the Caribbean highlights significant regional heterogeneity and elevated inequality in access to services in the countries of this region. The methods demonstrate their potential in contributing to assessment and monitoring of the SDGs, but outdated or lacking data are obstacles to more in-depth analyses.


2016 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 1233686
Author(s):  
Md Jahangir Alam ◽  
Wendy Bryant ◽  
Udo Schumacher

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (24) ◽  
pp. 11772
Author(s):  
Matthew Mamera ◽  
Johan J. van Tol ◽  
Makhosazana P. Aghoghovwia ◽  
Alfredo B. J. C. Nhantumbo ◽  
Lydia M. Chabala ◽  
...  

Faecal sludge management (FSM) in most developing countries is still insufficient. Sanitation challenges within the sub-Saharan region have led to recurring epidemics of water- and sanitation-related diseases. The use of pit latrines has been recognised as an option for on-site sanitation purposes. However, there is also concern that pit latrine leachates may cause harm to human and ecological health. Integrated approaches for improved access to water and sanitation through proper faecal sludge management are needed to address these issues. Biochar a carbon-rich adsorbent produced from any organic biomass when integrated with soil can potentially reduce contamination. The incorporation of biochar in FSM studies has numerous benefits in the control of prospective contaminants (i.e., heavy metals and inorganic and organic pollutants). This review paper evaluated the potential use of biochar in FSM. It was shown from the reviewed articles that biochar is a viable option for faecal sludge management because of its ability to bind contaminants. Challenges and possible sustainable ways to incorporate biochar in pit latrine sludge management were also illustrated. Biochar use as a low-cost adsorbent in wastewater contaminant mitigation can improve the quality of water resources. Biochar-amended sludge can also be repurposed as a useful economical by-product.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Danielle Lobena Couch ◽  
Belinda O’Sullivan ◽  
Deborah Russell ◽  
Matthew McGrail ◽  
Glen Wallace ◽  
...  

Abstract Background: In Australia registrar training to become a general practitioner (GP) involves three to four years of supervised learning with at least 50% of GP registrars training wholly in rural areas. In particular rural over regional GP placements are important for developing future GPs with broader skills because the rural scope of practice is wider. Having enough GP supervisors in smaller rural communities is essential such training. We aimed to explore what makes rural GPs’ based outside of major regional centres, participate in supervising or not, their experiences of supervising, and impact of their practice context. Methods: Semi-structured interviews were undertaken with 25 GPs based in rural Tasmania (outside of major regions - Hobart and Launceston), in towns of <25,000 population, to explore the GPs’ professional backgrounds, their experiences of supervising GP registrars, their practice context and their decisions about supervising GP registrars or not. Thematic analysis was undertaken; key ideas, concepts and experiences were identified and then reviewed and further refined to core themes. Results: Supervising was perceived to positively impact on quality of clinical care, reduce busy-ness and improve patient access to primary care. It was energising for GPs working in rural contexts. Rural GPs noted business factors impacted the decision to participate in supervision and the experience of participating: including uncertainty and discontinuity of registrar supply (rotational training systems), registrar competence and generating income. Conclusions: Supervising is strongly positive for rural GPs and related to job satisfaction but increasing supervision capacity in rural areas may depend on better policies to assure continuity of rural registrars as well as policies and systems that enable viable supervision models tailored to the context.


2021 ◽  
Vol 30 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sonia Rejane de Senna Frantz ◽  
Mara Ambrosina de Oliveira Vargas

ABSTRACT Objective: to characterize the work process of nurses in hemotherapy in terms of prescribed procedures, antecedent norms and real work. Method: a qualitative study, carried out from February to December 2017, in a blood center in the North of the country, involving a sample of twenty-two nurses. Methodological triangulation with data collected through semi-structured interviews, institutional documents and protocols, participant observation and notes in a field diary were used. For data treatment and analysis, the resources of the Atlas.ti 8.2.1 software (Qualitative Research and Solutions) and the fundamentals of Historical Dialectical Materialism and Ergology were used. Results: the results showed that nurses work in different activities, recreating work according to the needs of the service. The assistance, educational and managerial work permeates the activities developed and is carried out in accordance with the legislation, seeking to guarantee the donor's health, the quality of the products and transfusion safety. Conclusion: the work situations of these professionals indicate that its uses are present in their daily lives, promoting dynamism between the previous norms and the renormalizations.


Mousaion ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 36 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Badamasi Babangida Mohammed ◽  
Francis Garaba

This paper investigates the challenges faced by the rural dwellers in seeking and using information from public libraries in the North West zone of Nigeria. A quantitative research method was employed in the study. The population of this study consisted of 5 directors of state library boards and 10 574 registered library users as rural dwellers which comprised both literate and illiterate users. All five directors were chosen to form part of the sample size of the study. Similarly, a sample of 370 was drawn from the registered library users of the libraries under study. Semi-structured interviews were used for the directors. Two sets of questionnaires were used to collect data for the study. These included the English version and the Hausa version for the literate and illiterate library users respectively. The qualitative data were analysed using thematic and content analysis techniques. The quantitative data were also analysed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) computer software and descriptive statistics. Among the major challenges faced by the rural dwellers in seeking information from public libraries were the centralisation of the library services at the local government headquarters, the absence of library services in the rural communities, inadequate information resources, the absence of community information resource centres in rural communities, and the high illiteracy level among the rural dwellers. The study recommends adequate funding of public libraries to provide relevant and adequate information sources and effective services in various formats and languages among others.


2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 879-879
Author(s):  
Juanita Bacsu ◽  
Shanthi Johnson ◽  
Megan O’Connell ◽  
Marc Viger

Abstract Age is the greatest risk factor for dementia, and the number of rural older adults is rising. Although dementia-related stigma is widely documented, few studies focus on ways to reduce stigma, especially within rural communities. This late breaker presentation aims to: 1) explore the contributing factors of dementia-related stigma in rural communities; and 2) identify interventions to reduce stigma of dementia in rural communities. Drawing on a community-based participatory approach, data were collected through semi-structured interviews with 18 older adults, and a focus group with 7 community leaders in rural Saskatchewan, Canada. Thematic analysis was used to identify key themes and patterns within the data. Contributing factors of dementia-related stigma ranged from fear to lack of dementia knowledge. Several anti-stigma interventions were identified including: forming support groups; hosting educational workshops; inviting guest speakers with dementia; talking openly about dementia; learning more about dementia; asking questions; sharing your lived-experiences; being inclusive; developing inter-generational programs; and avoiding assumptions and hurtful jokes. As the rural population ages, there is a growing need for interventions, programs, and policies to address stigma of dementia. Engaging in rural partnerships and collaborative research is essential to developing community-informed strategies to reduce dementia-related stigma and improve the quality of life for people with dementia.


Cancers ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (7) ◽  
pp. 1600
Author(s):  
Kate M. Gunn ◽  
Ian Olver ◽  
Xiomara Skrabal Ross ◽  
Nathan Harrison ◽  
Patricia M. Livingston ◽  
...  

The transition from urban centres back to rural and remote communities can be challenging for rural cancer survivors after treatment. This study aimed to (a) provide deeper understanding of the experiences of rural survivors who have completed active cancer treatment and returned to their rural communities, and (b) determine strategies to re-orient existing services or develop new interventions to more appropriately meet rural survivors’ service preferences and needs. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 22 adults (64% female) who lived outside of a metropolitan area and had completed active cancer treatment (n = 13), were the carer for a rural/remote cancer survivor (n = 6), or were both a survivor and carer (n = 3). Thematic analysis was conducted to identify dominant themes in the qualitative data. A range of physical, psychological and practical challenges that impact quality of life among rural survivors post-treatment were found. These challenges appeared to be compounded by a lack of trust in local rural healthcare services and a lack of clear post-treatment pathways to quality of life-enhancing support services. Acceptable strategies to overcome barriers included nurse-led, telephone-based, or face-to-face interventions, initiated and continued by the same service provider, and that included support to manage emotional challenges associated with post-treatment survivorship. The findings will inform the design of interventions to better meet rural cancer survivors’ post-treatment support needs.


2020 ◽  
Vol 28 (4) ◽  
pp. 778-804
Author(s):  
Koldo Casla

Abstract Bullying among peers prevents children from enjoying their human rights in schools without the threat of aggression, harassment and discrimination. However, the States’ duty to protect children from bullying remains loudly unexplored both in academia and in human rights practice. This article begins to fill a gap by articulating the States’ duty to protect children from physical, psychological or relational aggression caused by other children in an educational setting beyond a punitive or individualistic perspective. This is the first study to operationalise the States’ duty to protect children from bullying by examining the reliability of reporting mechanisms, the accuracy and disaggregation of data, and the quality of training for education professionals and future teachers in a country, in this case, Spain. The analysis relies on rigorous empirical research with focus groups and semi-structured interviews with 139 people in three Spanish regions, including parents, children, academics, bullying survivors and education professionals.


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