Exploring Experiences of Pregnant Adolescents and Their Utilization of Reproductive Health Services in Ho West District, Ghana: A Salutogenic Approach

Adolescent pregnancy (AP) is a significant public health problem across Africa. In the Volta Region of Ghana, 32% of adolescents were exposed to unintended pregnancies in 2011 due to lack of knowledge and use of available methods of contraceptives. In addition to the health consequences, adolescent pregnancy also contributes to the perpetuation of poverty cycle among populations. Although several studies have investigated problems associated with adolescent pregnancy, its risk factors and prevention, few have examined the experiences that pregnant adolescents and adolescent mothers go through in their communities. From a salutogenic theoretical perspective, this study explored adolescent lived experiences with a focus on stressors and resources inherent. Issues surrounding their utilization of reproductive health services were also explored. Objectives: The objectives of the study were to identify, through exploration, stress and resource experiences of pregnant adolescents and adolescent mothers. Methods: Qualitative methodology with phenomenological design was used and the salutogenic model formed the theoretical framework. Data collection techniques included in-depth interviews and focus group discussions. Interviews were conducted with 6 key informants (two Queen Mothers, two Health personnel, two teachers, and an NGO official) and 11 adolescent girls (6 pregnant and 5 mothers). Data were transcribed, coded and analysed using Attride- Stirling's thematic network analysis. Findings: Five stressors emerged: a) severe economic/financial constraints before/after pregnancy, b) educational/schooling difficulties, c) Psychological, social and emotional stresses d) Cultural and Religious constraint e) Misinformation about and stigmatization of ARHS. Resources that emerged included a) support from parents, educated family, benevolent persons, female teachers, and churches b) Personal strength and courage (Hardiness) c) Availability of reproductive health services (RHS) d) The community midwife e) Traditional Birth Attendants (TBAs) f) Existence of government policies (NHIS, GES directives, NGOs). Conclusions: Pregnant adolescents and adolescent mothers experience multiple stressful life events with few resources to deal with such stressors. These stressors limit their access to and utilization of adolescent reproductive health services. Stakeholder action to provide more support to adolescents and education for their families and communities are recommended. However, the pregnant adolescents and adolescent mothers in the Ho west district in the Volta Region of Ghana are able to thrive amidst all these stressors due to the strong sense of coherence hardiness on the part of the girls and the availability of a community midwife.Master of Philosophy in Health PromotionHEPRO350MPHEPR

Sorption of hydrophobic compounds by sediments, soils and suspended solids--I. Theory and background

This is the first of a two-part series describing the adsorption of hydrophobic pollutants by sediments, soils, and suspended solids. Many pollutants, including a large number of hazardous compounds, are hydrophobic and their environmental behavior varies markedly between sorbed and dissolved states. It is thus necessary to account for sorption reactions in analysis and prediction of the environmental transport and fate of such pollutants. In this first part the energetics of sorption reactions are discussed and models for description of equilibrium relationships are summarized. Factors which affect the sorption of pollutants in natural environmental systems are then considered and evaluated.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/25452/1/0000902.pd

HYPERON PRODUCTION AT 200 AND 900 GEV CM ENERGY

Nuclear Physics

AN ACCELERATOR SEARCH AT 900 GEV CM ENERGY FOR THE CENTAURO PHENOMENON

Physics Letters

Electrical analysis of interface recombination of thin-film CIGS solar cells

In this master thesis, electrical characterization of thin film CuInxGa(1−x)Se2 solar cells produced by Midsummer AB were performed with the aim of determining the dominant recombination path of these cells. Current-Voltage (IV), Quantum Effinciency (QE), temperature dependent IV (IVT) and Drive-Level Capacitance Profiling (DLCP) was used with the objective to investigate the dominant recombination path as well as provide some insight of the solar cells in order to create a baseline model using the modelling software SCAPS (Solar cell CAPacitance Simulator). The IV produced mostly consistent results with slight variation, most likely due to non uniformity of equipment. The QE showed consistent results between all cells indicating a stable process for the sample preparation. Using IVT measurements were taken from a temperature of 115K −300K in order to obtain the activation energy for the dominant recombination path. By comparing it with the band gap energy from the QE measurement, it was found that the dominant recombination path is in either the space charge region or in the bulk of the CIGS and not at the hetero interface. DLCP measurement were made at both low temperature and at room temperature and revealed that the cells had a similar doping as other comparable cells at 7×1016cm−3 . The initial baseline model created in SCAPS show a good agreement with the measured IV and currently indicates a spike in the band alignment, supporting the results for the IVT measurement

Electrical analysis of interface recombination of thin-film CIGS solar cells

In this master thesis, electrical characterization of thin film CuInxGa(1−x)Se2 solar cells produced by Midsummer AB were performed with the aim of determining the dominant recombination path of these cells. Current-Voltage (IV), Quantum Effinciency (QE), temperature dependent IV (IVT) and Drive-Level Capacitance Profiling (DLCP) was used with the objective to investigate the dominant recombination path as well as provide some insight of the solar cells in order to create a baseline model using the modelling software SCAPS (Solar cell CAPacitance Simulator). The IV produced mostly consistent results with slight variation, most likely due to non uniformity of equipment. The QE showed consistent results between all cells indicating a stable process for the sample preparation. Using IVT measurements were taken from a temperature of 115K −300K in order to obtain the activation energy for the dominant recombination path. By comparing it with the band gap energy from the QE measurement, it was found that the dominant recombination path is in either the space charge region or in the bulk of the CIGS and not at the hetero interface. DLCP measurement were made at both low temperature and at room temperature and revealed that the cells had a similar doping as other comparable cells at 7×1016cm−3 . The initial baseline model created in SCAPS show a good agreement with the measured IV and currently indicates a spike in the band alignment, supporting the results for the IVT measurement

Skapelsens kön (och genus) - en närläsning av Jeanette Wintersons roman Skapelsens kön genom Judith Butler

Abstract This composition is an analysis of the British writer Jeanette Winterson's novel Sexing the Cherry. My interpretation originates from the tradition of feminist literary criticism and my purpose is to read the novel against the queer theorist Judith Butler to reach an understanding of the characters queer selves. Judith Butler's theory of performative gender and her notion of sex as something derived from cultural manifestations might help me to understand the characters in the novel. For they are ambiguous in their gender identity, and the novel in it self is set forth to expand all boundaries. Keyword: Sexing the cherry, Jeanette Winterson, queer, queer-theory, queer writing, Judith Butler, feminist theory. Sammanfattning Den här uppsatsen är en undersökning av Jeanette Wintersons roman Skapelsens kön. Genom att läsa romanen mot queerteoretikern Judith Butler hoppas jag kunna bilda en förståelse för romankaraktärernas queera identiter. Butlers teori om genus som performativt görande och hennes resonemang kring könet som härlett från kulturella manifestationer kan hjälpa mig med detta. Romanen i sig vill frigöra sig ifrån alla gränser och den här uppsatsen vill visa hur kön och genus är inkluderade i det projektet. Nyckelord: Skapelsens kön, Jeanette Winterson, queer, queerteori, Judith Butler, feministisk teori

Soil Chemistry 1983-86 at the Rain Project Catchments

The aim of the rain project is to explain the effects of changed acid deposition on soils and waters. This report presents results from chemical and physical analyses of soil samples collected yearly 1984-1986 at the rain project catchments at Sogndal and Risdalsheia. Estimates of historical weathering rates based on total elemental analysis of soil and bedrock are 295 and 12 meq/m"/yr at Sogndal and Risdalsheia, respectively. Of the key chemical parameters measured only absorbed sulfate shows statistic- ally significant changes over the past 3 years that can be linked to the changed acid deposition. The pools of exchangeable base cations are too large to be significantly affected over only 3 years