Voice and Accountability

The article assesses the importance of citizen engagement in engendering good governance in the health sector. However, citizens need an effective ‘voice' in order to be heard. Thus, the article argues for the need to utilise existing civic organizations like the rural women's associations as platforms of civic engagements. Using Akwa Ibom state as a study location, the article investigated the role of rural women's associations in citizen engagement in the primary health sector. Findings reveal that although rural women's associations are engaged in diverse socio-economic and political activities, they however do not engage in socially accountable activities. Nevertheless, findings further reveal that associations have the potentials of becoming platforms for social accountability if harnessed by development partners. The argument of the study is anchored on the participatory development approach which argues about the need for beneficiaries of development to become active participants in the development process.

Early Reading Movement at Home through Read Aloud Training for Mothers

The national literacy movement must be supported by all parties and implemented comprehensively, not only at school but also at home. Literacy education should be started early from home by parents, especially mothers, because reading activities together between parents and children have been proven to be able to develop children's literacy. Therefore, this Assisted Village Service activity, which focuses on Read Aloud training for mothers, is important to carry out. The Read Aloud training is to train mothers to read children's story books, to produce a deep understanding of the importance of introducing literacy to children from an early age in October 2018. This fostered village service involves several mothers who have toddlers and other women's associations such as people's associations. PAUD parents in the Sariwangi Village area, West Java. This activity trains mothers in selecting stories for children and reading stories to and/or with children. Through this activity, it is hoped that mothers can instill literacy skills from an early age in children

Model for strengthening women's empowerment through the implementation of family functions in Indonesian women's associations with disabilities

This research was motivated by the limited space given to the community of women living with disabilities in the Indonesian Association of Women with Disabilities during the COVID-19 Pandemic. Since the temporary suspension of all routine activities in the community, they’ve had to stay at home more. With all the limitations that they have, women living with disabilities need to be strengthened so that they can continue to carry out their functions in the family. Research activities involved the use of research and development methods which are carried out in two forms, namely through qualitative and experimental explorations. The research findings were a model for strengthening the empowerment of women with disabilities through the application of family functions such as; Women who previously did not understand and who cared less about the importance of implementing family functions are now more responsive. Among them were the implementations of health protocols recommended by the government in their activities, which they are now starting to implement at home. Women living with disabilities are increasingly concerned about maintaining health in their families to avoid the COVID-19 virus.

The Lived Experiences of Pregnancy and Motherhood in Bosnian Women During COVID-19

Introduction: Prenatal, perinatal and postnatal period result in series of psychological, physical, relational and emotional changes and adjustments while during the pandemic pregnant women and mothers of young children must also cope with the fear of themselves, their fetuses, or children being infected. Aim: The aim of study was to explore the lived experiences of pregnant women and mothers living in Bosnia and Herzegovina during the COVID-19 outbreak. Methods: Semi-structured in-depth interviews with 30 Bosnian women, 15 of whom were pregnant and 15 who are mothers that gave birth during the COVID-19 pandemic were conducted. Participants were recruited through two local women’s associations. The data was analyzed utilized inductively using an interpretative phenomenological analysis. Results: The study results indicate that both pregnant women and mothers alike described negative and positive feelings about pregnancy and motherhood during the COVID-19 pandemic such as fear and hope. The lived experiences of anxiety and adaptation through two core concepts: trapped in the fear of the unknown and adapting and embracing uncertainty. Discussion: The main themes that emerged from the interviews reveal grounded fear but also adaptability. Even though people have amazing abilities to adapt to adverse life conditions, as women in our study demonstrate, many aspects of the pandemic’s impacts on vulnerable populations are still unexplored. Tailor-made public health strategies such as an online counseling platform should be created to accommodate specific needs and issues of this population.

Women’s public societies in сontemporary Khakassia

This article is devoted to studying the сontemporary women’s unions history of formation as well as functioning in a single region of the Russian Federation — the Republic of Khakassia. At the same time, special attention is devoted to those whose activities in the sociopolitical and cultural life of the Republic, from our point of view, are currently most noticeable. The analysis of women’s public organizations activities in this region has shown that the women’s movement in Post-Soviet Khakassia over the past quarter of a century, despite all the difficulties of formation and development, can be characterized as a significant phenomenon in the life of the Republic. Today the vast majority of them, like before, have obvious social and humanitarian orientation. Despite the fact that almost all women’s societies currently operating in the territory of this region have their own political slogans, their main activity is still limited to helping the needy and socially vulnerable. However, the lack of efficiency and effectiveness of women’s associations is largely due to their lack of integrity and lack of unanimity of actions. In addition, the level of involvement of the Republic’s residents in women’s movements and their socio-professional composition leaves much to be desired. According to our research, the vast majority of women, mainly residents of rural areas, unfortunately, do not take any part in the social life of the region. The empirical base of the study is built upon official statistics obtained from the Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of National and Territorial Policy of the Republic of Khakassia, as well as materials stored in the archives of local women’s organizations. Besides, the results of our interviews with the leaders and most active participants of these associations have been particularly valuable.

Needs and Support Perceived by Women for Coping with the Experience of Intimate Partner Violence in Andalusia (Spain): A Qualitative Study

There is a need to improve psychological interventions in women experiencing intimate partner violence (IPV) and reduce its long-term sequelae. The objective of this qualitative study was to explore the needs of female IPV survivors, the support they receive, and their strategies for coping with this experience over the long term. During 2017, 53 female IPV survivors participated in the study, of whom 38 (71.7%) were recruited from women’s associations against gender violence from three Andalusia provinces (Southern Spain). In a semi-structured interview, the women responded to four open-ended questions about the effects of IPV on their life and how they coped with this situation. Four main themes were identified: (1) changes after the experience, (2) support during recovery, (3) perceived needs and obstacles, and (4) current situation. The survivors considered formal and informal social support to be critical to their recovery and emotional well-being. They also highlighted the need for continuity in support programs and for specialist interventions to address long-term psychological sequelae. These findings reinforce the need for psychological programs more tailored to the needs of these women.

Experiences of women in the COVID-19 context: A phenomenological study

The pandemic COVID-19 has undoubtedly affected every section of the population equally and women are no exception. It will be interesting and beneficial to study the experiences of women in the current COVID-19 situation in the Indian context taking into account the gender differences in role expectations allocation and fulfilment. With this background the current study is proposed. Exploratory research design (Hermeneutic phenomenological approach) will be used. Women residing in Bengaluru, Karnataka, India, will be the sample. The sample will be selected from Non-Governmental Organizations working for women in difficult circumstances and from Women’s Associations. The sample size is tentatively decided as 60 which will be reviewed after initial data collection. An interview guide prepared by the research team will be used for data collection. Telephonic interviews will be conducted. Data will be transcribed and analysed. The study has received clearance from institutional ethics committee [NIMHANS/25th IEC (BEH.SC.DIV.)/2020-21].

Między filarami opieki społecznej, pracy na polu kultury, upolitycznienia i feminizmu. Syjonistyczne „Koło Kobiet Żydowskich” we Lwowie (1908–1939)

Between the Pillars of Welfare, Cultural Work, Politicization, and Feminism: The Zionist “Circle of Jewish Women” in Lviv, 1908–1939 The Circle of Jewish Women (“Koło Kobiet Żydowskich”), founded in Lemberg/Lviv in 1908 and active until 1939, played a vital role in the organization of Zionist women in the city and other places in Eastern Galicia. It was founded, among others, by Róża Pomeranc Melcer, one of the pioneers of Zionist women’s associations in Galicia and the first and only Jewish woman parliamentarian in the Second Polish Republic. Nevertheless, the history of the Circle, as well as the work of its many active members—many of whom perished in the Holocaust—has been almost forgotten and is rarely explored. The author of the article argues that this organization not only represents social welfare, but it also embodies elements of social support, cultural work, politicization, and feminism. Therefore, the author emphasizes the role the Circle played in the process of organizing Zionist women in Lviv and Galicia before World War I and especially during the interwar period in the Second Polish Republic, and how it contributed to women’s emancipation. Thus, the history of one of the most important Zionist women’s organizations is reconstructed and its versatile work facets explored in more detail.

Katolicka, katolicko-narodowa i narodowa prasa dla kobiet w Polsce międzywojennej: cechy czasopiśmiennictwa światopoglądowego

The aim of the article was to reconstruct the means of communication in Interwar Poland’s worldview press for women. The origins and development of such periodicals was determined by the decisions made by the Catholic Church, which wanted to gain more influence on Polish women. Catholic, National Catholic and National press declared their affiliation with the Catholic faith, informed about the state of the Church, presented the doctrine and deepen the National identity and unity. These periodicals were created by the Catholic women’s associations, including those with political aspirations. To achieve their goals, they were using archetypes of Polish Mother and Polish women as Catholics.

Wzorzec aktywności kobiety na polu oświaty w Galicji w drugiej połowie XIX wieku na przykładzie Zofii Romanowiczówny

The article presents the profile of Zofia Romanowiczówna, Polish social activist, member of Lviv women’s associations, with particular emphasis on her professional activity. She was one of the distinguished figures, especially in the social and patriotic field. She was part of the developing women’s movements. The history of her family and her background are briefly presented. The article uses the materials authored by herself – a diary, as well as archives from foreign and domestic centers.