Gender, participation and the right to health: health committees in Cape Town, South Africa

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dc.contributor.advisorStuttaford, Mariaen_ZA
dc.contributor.advisorMüller, Alexandraen_ZA
dc.contributor.authorAustin, Janet Sarahen_ZA
dc.date.accessioned2017-09-20T13:57:03Z
dc.date.available2017-09-20T13:57:03Z
dc.date.issued2017en_ZA
dc.description.abstractCommunity participation is now widely recognized as an integral part of health systems and the right to health. Health Committees are an example of participation, influenced by multiple social factors, yet little research has covered the impact of gendered power relations in health committees themselves. Committees are also deemed to be accountability structures, aiming to bolster the efforts of an overburdened health system and aid in responding to the need for often under-resourced services relating to women's and sexual orientation and gender identity (SOGI) minorities' health and sexual reproductive health rights. Current literature affirms the social mobilisation of communities via participation structures, with all committee members needing to be empowered in their roles to provide a greater reach and platform for marginalised groups as both committee and community members. A qualitative, exploratory study was undertaken to answer the question: What is the role of gendered power relations in Health Committees in the Western Cape? Multiple methods were used during March to December 2015 that included observation of Health Committee meetings, group discussions and indepth interviews. A Gender-based Analysis using African Feminist Theory was applied, with Connell's 1987 theory of gender and power as well as considerations of community participation as a function of citizenship. Findings showed that the perception of gender equality and gender relations amongst Health Committees remains largely misunderstood and unaddressed. The Draft Western Cape Health Boards and Facilities Bill of 2015 provided an unstable political backdrop during fieldwork. Democratic group processes did not nullify manipulation of gender roles, and a disconnection between leadership positions and influential agents could be seen. This was accompanied by no notable gender bias concerning health need foci and a non-discriminatory outlook towards committee participants or service recipients, however there was no action to engender such claims, such as special training or materials to support sexual and gender minorities. Adequate representation and reinforcing accountability of Health Committees remains a challenge. Gender mainstreaming in inclusive policy needs to be operationalised at facility level, and gendersensitivity training for Health Committees is a viable approach with which to address the continuing poor policy to implementation problem. The Western Cape Health Boards and Facilities Act of 2016 shows some promise towards recognising and broadening committee governance and diversity. Women and SOGI minorities must be supported in leadership roles to strengthen scaling up efforts and enable the Health Committees to function as truly accountable and participatory instruments for public health.en_ZA
dc.identifier.apacitationAustin, J. S. (2017). <i>Gender, participation and the right to health: health committees in Cape Town, South Africa</i>. (Thesis). University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Health Sciences ,Department of Public Health and Family Medicine. Retrieved from http://hdl.handle.net/11427/25263en_ZA
dc.identifier.chicagocitationAustin, Janet Sarah. <i>"Gender, participation and the right to health: health committees in Cape Town, South Africa."</i> Thesis., University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Health Sciences ,Department of Public Health and Family Medicine, 2017. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/25263en_ZA
dc.identifier.citationAustin, J. 2017. Gender, participation and the right to health: health committees in Cape Town, South Africa. University of Cape Town.en_ZA
dc.identifier.ris TY - Thesis / Dissertation AU - Austin, Janet Sarah AB - Community participation is now widely recognized as an integral part of health systems and the right to health. Health Committees are an example of participation, influenced by multiple social factors, yet little research has covered the impact of gendered power relations in health committees themselves. Committees are also deemed to be accountability structures, aiming to bolster the efforts of an overburdened health system and aid in responding to the need for often under-resourced services relating to women's and sexual orientation and gender identity (SOGI) minorities' health and sexual reproductive health rights. Current literature affirms the social mobilisation of communities via participation structures, with all committee members needing to be empowered in their roles to provide a greater reach and platform for marginalised groups as both committee and community members. A qualitative, exploratory study was undertaken to answer the question: What is the role of gendered power relations in Health Committees in the Western Cape? Multiple methods were used during March to December 2015 that included observation of Health Committee meetings, group discussions and indepth interviews. A Gender-based Analysis using African Feminist Theory was applied, with Connell's 1987 theory of gender and power as well as considerations of community participation as a function of citizenship. Findings showed that the perception of gender equality and gender relations amongst Health Committees remains largely misunderstood and unaddressed. The Draft Western Cape Health Boards and Facilities Bill of 2015 provided an unstable political backdrop during fieldwork. Democratic group processes did not nullify manipulation of gender roles, and a disconnection between leadership positions and influential agents could be seen. This was accompanied by no notable gender bias concerning health need foci and a non-discriminatory outlook towards committee participants or service recipients, however there was no action to engender such claims, such as special training or materials to support sexual and gender minorities. Adequate representation and reinforcing accountability of Health Committees remains a challenge. Gender mainstreaming in inclusive policy needs to be operationalised at facility level, and gendersensitivity training for Health Committees is a viable approach with which to address the continuing poor policy to implementation problem. The Western Cape Health Boards and Facilities Act of 2016 shows some promise towards recognising and broadening committee governance and diversity. Women and SOGI minorities must be supported in leadership roles to strengthen scaling up efforts and enable the Health Committees to function as truly accountable and participatory instruments for public health. DA - 2017 DB - OpenUCT DP - University of Cape Town LK - https://open.uct.ac.za PB - University of Cape Town PY - 2017 T1 - Gender, participation and the right to health: health committees in Cape Town, South Africa TI - Gender, participation and the right to health: health committees in Cape Town, South Africa UR - http://hdl.handle.net/11427/25263 ER - en_ZA
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/11427/25263
dc.identifier.vancouvercitationAustin JS. Gender, participation and the right to health: health committees in Cape Town, South Africa. [Thesis]. University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Health Sciences ,Department of Public Health and Family Medicine, 2017 [cited yyyy month dd]. Available from: http://hdl.handle.net/11427/25263en_ZA
dc.language.isoengen_ZA
dc.publisher.departmentDepartment of Public Health and Family Medicineen_ZA
dc.publisher.facultyFaculty of Health Sciencesen_ZA
dc.publisher.institutionUniversity of Cape Town
dc.subject.otherPublic Healthen_ZA
dc.titleGender, participation and the right to health: health committees in Cape Town, South Africaen_ZA
dc.typeMaster Thesis
dc.type.qualificationlevelMasters
dc.type.qualificationnameMPHen_ZA
uct.type.filetypeText
uct.type.filetypeImage
uct.type.publicationResearchen_ZA
uct.type.resourceThesisen_ZA
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