137 research outputs found
Determinants of fertility in Rwanda in the context of a fertility transition: a secondary analysis of the 2010 Demographic and Health Survey
Maternal predictors of neonatal outcomes after emergency cesarean section: a retrospective study in three rural district hospitals in Rwanda
Comprehensive and integrated district health systems strengthening: the Rwanda Population Health Implementation and Training (PHIT) Partnership
Fertility and HIV following universal access to ART in Rwanda: a cross-sectional analysis of Demographic and Health Survey data
Statistics versus livelihoods: questioning Rwanda’s pathway out of poverty
Recent statistics indicate that poverty in Rwanda decreased impressively between 2006 and 2014. This seems to confirm Rwanda’s developmental progress. This article however argues for a more cautious interpretation of household survey data. The authors contrast macro-level statistical analysis with in-depth field research on livelihood conditions. Macro-economic numbers provide interesting information, however differentiated evidence is required to understand how poverty ‘works’ in everyday life. On the basis of the Rwandan case study, the authors conclude that because of the high political stakes of data collection and analysis, and given that relations of power influence the production of knowledge on poverty, cross-checking is crucial
The ‘doing’ and ‘undoing’ of male household decision-making and economic authority in Rwanda and its implications for gender transformative programming
This paper explores two key norms that can underpin intimate partner violence (IPV) in Rwanda: men’s role as economic provider and decision-making authority in the household. It describes the political, legal and socio-economic factors affecting these norms and how they create opportunities and barriers to ‘undoing’ restrictive gender norms. The findings are drawn from an evaluation of Inadshyikirwa, an IPV prevention programme operating in Rwanda. Across 3 intervention sectors, 24 focus groups were conducted with unmarried and married men and women residing in intervention communities. 30 interviews with couples and 9 interviews with opinion leaders were conducted before they completed programme trainings designed to shift gender norms underlying IPV. The data indicates a strong awareness of and accountability to Rwandan laws and policies supporting women’s economic empowerment and decision-making, yet also persisting traditional notions of men as household heads and primary breadwinners. Transgression of these norms could be accommodated in some circumstances, especially those involving economic necessity. The data also identified an increasing recognition of the value of a more equitable partnership model. This paper highlights the importance of carefully assessing cracks in the existing gender order that can be exploited to support gender equality and non-violence
Dominant atmospheric circulation patterns associated with abnormal rainfall events over Rwanda, East Africa
The study investigated the dominant atmospheric circulation patterns associated with abnormal rainfall over Rwanda during the March–May (MAM) rainfall season in 1981–2010. The data sets used in this study include: rainfall, wind, sea surface temperature (SST), and humidity. Correlation and composite analysis and Percent of Normal Index (PNI) were deployed in this study. In the wet years (1987, 1988, and 1998), the country was dominated by moisture convergence, which is in line with wind anomalies that exhibits strong westerly winds from the Atlantic Ocean and southeasterly winds originated from the Indian Ocean. These winds carry moist air mass passing over Congo to the study area, leading to wet events. On the other hand, easterly winds were noted over the study area during the dry years (1984, 2000, 2007, and 2008). The observed wet years coincided with the El Niño events, while the dry years are noted during the La Niña episodes. The dry years exhibited a wide spread of moisture divergence anomaly at the low level and were characterized by the sinking motion as opposed to the wet years with the rising motion. The anomalies of velocity potential/divergence further showed that the wet (dry) years were characterized by convergence (divergence) at the low level. The results also show that there exists a low positive correlation between mean MAM rainfall and SST over the Indian Ocean, which shows minimum influence of the Ocean. On the other hand, it was noted that rainfall amounts is significantly correlated at 95% confidence level with the elevation (altitude) of a given station. This study improves the understanding of the occurrence of wet and dry events in Rwanda, which is helpful in future monitoring of these events
Impact of maternal ART on mother-to-child transmission (MTCT) of HIV at six weeks postpartum in Rwanda
BACKGROUND: In 2010, Rwanda adopted ART for prevention of mother to child transmission of HIV from pregnant
women living with HIV during pregnancy and breasfeeding period. This study examines rates of mother-to-childtransmission
of HIV at 6–10 weeks postpartum and risk factors for mother-to-child transmission of HIV (MTCT)
among HIV infected women on ART during pregnancy and breastfeeding.
METHODS: A cross-sectional survey study was conducted between July 2011–June 2012 among HIV-exposed infants
aged 6–10 weeks and their mothers/caregivers. Stratified multi-stage, probability proportional to size and systematic
sampling to select a national representative sample of clients. Consenting mothers/caregivers were interviewed on
demographic and program interventions. Dry blood spots from HIV-exposed infants were collected for HIV testing
using DNA PCR technique. Results are weighted for sample realization. Univariable analysis of socio-demographic
and programmatic determinants of early mother-to-child transmission of HIV was conducted. Variables were
retained for final multivariable models if they were either at least of marginal significance (p-value < 0.10) or played
a confounding role (the variable had a noticeable impact > 10% change on the effect estimate).
RESULTS: The study sample was 1639 infants with HIV test results. Twenty-six infants were diagnosed HIV-positive
translating to a weighted MTCT estimate of 1.58% (95% CI 1.05–2.37%). Coverage of most elimination of MTCT
(EMTCT) program interventions, was above 80, and 90.4% of mother-infant pairs received antiretroviral treatment or
prophylaxis. Maternal ART and infant antiretroviral prophylaxis (OR 0.01; 95%CI 0.001–0.17) and maternal age older
than 25 years were significantly protective (OR 0.33; 95%CI 0.14–0.78). No disclosure of HIV status, not testing for
syphilis during pregnancy and preterm birth were significant risk factors for MTCT. Factors suggesting higher sociodemographic
status (flush toilet, mother self-employed) were borderline risk factors for MTCT.
CONCLUSION: ART for all women during pregnancy and breastfeeding was associated with the estimated low MTCT
rate of 1.58%. Mothers who did not receive a full package of anti-retroviral therapy according to the Rwanda EMTCT
protocol, and young and single mothers were at higher risk of MTCT and should be targeted for support in
preventing HIV infection
Rates and predictors of mental stress in Rwanda: investigating the impact of gender, persecution, readiness to reconcile and religiosity via a structural equation model
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