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Strategies Applied by Women in Coping With ad-hoc Demands for Unauthorized User Fees During Pregnancy and Childbirth. A Focus Group Study From Angola.

Odberg Pettersson, Karen LU ; Christensson, Kyllike ; De Freitas, Engracia Da Gloria Gomes and Johansson, Eva (2007) In Health Care for Women International 28(3). p.46-224
Abstract
Our aim in this study was to explore women's responses to reported ad-hoc demands for unauthorized user fees during pregnancy and childbirth in Luanda, Angola. Ten focus group discussions were conducted and data were analysed using grounded theory. Women were found to apply six strategies as they "endeavored to cope with demands for unauthorized user fees" (core category): (i) blowing the whistle, (ii) searching for comprehension, (iii) manipulating the system, (iv) bargaining, (v) extending the limits, and (vi) balancing. The system of unauthorized user fees appears to be a symptom of a deeper structural problem, which requires multifaceted and long-term interventions such as insti-tutional reforms and clear policies on accountability and... (More)
Our aim in this study was to explore women's responses to reported ad-hoc demands for unauthorized user fees during pregnancy and childbirth in Luanda, Angola. Ten focus group discussions were conducted and data were analysed using grounded theory. Women were found to apply six strategies as they "endeavored to cope with demands for unauthorized user fees" (core category): (i) blowing the whistle, (ii) searching for comprehension, (iii) manipulating the system, (iv) bargaining, (v) extending the limits, and (vi) balancing. The system of unauthorized user fees appears to be a symptom of a deeper structural problem, which requires multifaceted and long-term interventions such as insti-tutional reforms and clear policies on accountability and transparency. Better resource availability for the MHC sector is required in order to secure adequate salaries to maternal health care providers. The fact that unethical behavior is unveiled implies that interventions also need to target the national midwifery training. (Less)
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author
; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
in
Health Care for Women International
volume
28
issue
3
pages
46 - 224
publisher
Taylor & Francis
external identifiers
  • scopus:33847008641
  • pmid:17364983
ISSN
1096-4665
DOI
10.1080/07399330601179885
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
beb270af-e178-4780-a7d7-f12d22ab612d (old id 166484)
date added to LUP
2016-04-01 12:05:41
date last changed
2022-01-26 22:40:51
@article{beb270af-e178-4780-a7d7-f12d22ab612d,
  abstract     = {{Our aim in this study was to explore women's responses to reported ad-hoc demands for unauthorized user fees during pregnancy and childbirth in Luanda, Angola. Ten focus group discussions were conducted and data were analysed using grounded theory. Women were found to apply six strategies as they "endeavored to cope with demands for unauthorized user fees" (core category): (i) blowing the whistle, (ii) searching for comprehension, (iii) manipulating the system, (iv) bargaining, (v) extending the limits, and (vi) balancing. The system of unauthorized user fees appears to be a symptom of a deeper structural problem, which requires multifaceted and long-term interventions such as insti-tutional reforms and clear policies on accountability and transparency. Better resource availability for the MHC sector is required in order to secure adequate salaries to maternal health care providers. The fact that unethical behavior is unveiled implies that interventions also need to target the national midwifery training.}},
  author       = {{Odberg Pettersson, Karen and Christensson, Kyllike and De Freitas, Engracia Da Gloria Gomes and Johansson, Eva}},
  issn         = {{1096-4665}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{3}},
  pages        = {{46--224}},
  publisher    = {{Taylor & Francis}},
  series       = {{Health Care for Women International}},
  title        = {{Strategies Applied by Women in Coping With ad-hoc Demands for Unauthorized User Fees During Pregnancy and Childbirth. A Focus Group Study From Angola.}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/07399330601179885}},
  doi          = {{10.1080/07399330601179885}},
  volume       = {{28}},
  year         = {{2007}},
}