Religion, Women’s Health Rights, and Sustainable Development in Zimbabwe: Volume 1

Praise for Religion, Women’s Health Rights, and Sustainable Development in Zimbabwe: Volume 1
Contents
Notes on Contributors
Chapter 1: Religion, Women’s Health Rights and Sustainable Development in Zimbabwe
	Introduction
	Religion, Women’s Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights and Sustainable Development in Zimbabwe
	A Double-Edged Sword? Religion, Culture and African/Zimbabwean Women’s Health Rights
	Indigenous Knowledge Systems and Women’s Maternal Health
	Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) and Other Barriers to Women’s SRHR
	Conclusion
	References
Part I: Indigenous Knowledge Systems and Women’s Maternal Health
	Chapter 2: A Postcolonial Reflection on Indigenous Knowledge Systems-Based Sexual and Reproductive Healthcare: A Case of the Ndau Women in Zimbabwe
		Introduction
		Postcolonial African Feminism as the Theoretical Framing for Understanding the Ndau Women of South-Eastern Zimbabwe
		Research Methodology
		Indigenous Knowledge Systems-Based Sexual and Reproductive Healthcare
		Rationale for Promoting IKS-Based Sexual Reproductive Health
		Ndau Women and IKS-Based Sexual Reproductive Health: A Special Focus on Maternal Healthcare
		Value Proposition of IKS-Based SRH
		Recommendations
		Conclusion
		Bibliography
			Personal Interviews
	Chapter 3: Exploring Ndau Women’s Ecological Wisdom on Managing Pregnancy and Childbirth
		Introduction
		Methodological Issues
		Theoretical Framework
		Pregnancy and Context of Childbirth in Rural Communities
		Challenges in Accessing Modern Healthcare Services for Ndau Rural Women
		Wisdom in the Context of Ndau Ecology
		The Ndau and Traditional Medical Practice
		Ndau Women’s Wisdom in Pregnancy Management Using Traditional Medicine
		A Snippet of the Preparation for Childbirth (kunasira njira) Process
		Conclusion
		References
	Chapter 4: The Interface of Human Rights and Ndau Women’s Maternal Healthcare Rites
		Introduction
		Background
		Theoretical Framework
		Methods for Data Collection
		Ndau Indigenous Beliefs on Maternal Health: Marriage and Childbearing
		Marriage
		Pregnancy and Childbearing
		Prenatal and Postnatal Rituals
			Precautionary and Purificatory Rituals
			Birth Canal Dilation Rituals
			Foetal Sex-Changing Ritual
			Postpartum Rituals
		Western Origin of Human Rights
		Third Generation of Human Rights: The African Charter on Human and People’s Rights and the Zimbabwe Declaration of Rights
		Points of Divergence Between the Human Rights Statutes and the Ndau Maternal Health Beliefs and Practices
		Points of Convergence Between Ndau Maternal Health Beliefs and Practices and Human Rights Statutes
		Conclusion
		References
	Chapter 5: Mhani Vekusveka: Foregrounding Shangaan Women’s Role in Nurturing Life with a Special Focus on Traditional Maternal Health Practices in Zaka District, Zimbabwe
		Introduction
		A Brief Literature Review on Gender Disparities Affecting the Shangaan Women in Zimbabwe
		Population, Study Setting, Sampling and Data Collection
		Socio-cultural Theoretical Framework
		Prenatal Stage
			Traditional Taboos Related to Pregnancy
			Traditional Medicines Used at Different Stages of Delivery
			Traditional Medications Used During Pregnancy
			Antenatal Perineal Massaging Or Birth Canal Massaging
			After Birth (the Postpartum Stage)
			Caring for the New Born
			Preferring a Home Delivery Compared to Delivering in a Bio-medical Setting
			Labour in the Warm Smoke-Filled Mother’s Kitchen
		Unaffordable Hospital Bills
		Appraising Shangaan Women’s Agency in Perpetuating Lives
		Complementarity Between Shangaan Men and Women
		Recommendations
		Conclusion
		References
			Internet Sources
Part II: Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) and Other Barriers to Women’s SRHR
	Chapter 6: Pouring Ashes on Our Faces? An African Womanist Perspective on Sexual and Gender-Based Violence in Zimbabwe
		Introduction
		The Background
		Demanding Accountability from Female Leaders
		Critiquing the Interface Between Politics, Religion and Violence Against Women
		The Colonial Laws, Masculinity and Violence
		Role of Human Rights Watchdogs: An Appraisal
		Analysis: Towards a Re-construction Paradigm
		Conclusion
		References
	Chapter 7: Sexual and Reproductive Health Challenges Encountered by Female Learners and Female Staff at an Institution of Higher Learning in Zimbabwe
		Introduction
		Method
		Results and Discussion
			Challenges Faced by Female Staff and Students
				Indecent Assault
				Revenge Pornography
				Demand for Sexual Favours in Exchange for Good Grades
				Forced Sexual Intercourse in Marriage
				Forced Pregnancy During the Course of the Academic Programme
				Denial of Access to Family Planning Services
				Restriction on Paid Maternity Leave
				Economic Hardships
				Sexual Orientation
		Conclusion and Recommendations
		References
	Chapter 8: Religio-cultural Standpoints Hindering Adolescent and Young Women’s Access to Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) in Zimbabwe
		Introduction
		Background and Motivation for the Study
		Methodology
		Theoretical Framework
		Brief Historical Background of the TSAC
		Brief Historical Background of the JMAC
		Religio-cultural Standpoints Hindering Adolescent and Young Women’s Access to SRHR in the African Apostolic Indigenous Churches (AAICs)
			Marriage and Preservation of Virginity
			Omniscience of the Holy Spirit
			Not Going to the Hospital
		Results and Findings of the Research
			Reproductive Health and Rights
			Stigmatisation of the Loss of Virginity
			Preserving Virginity: A Measure for Protecting AAIC Men from HIV Infection?
		Conclusion
		References
	Chapter 9: Omasihlalisane: A Feminist Pastoral Response to the Plight of Young Zimbabwean Women Migrants Entrapped in Survivalist Marriages in South Africa
		Introduction
		The Sustainable Livelihood Framework and Methodological Considerations
			Participants’ Profile
		Impact of Survivalist Marriages on Young Migrant Women’s Livelihoods
			Livelihoods Available to Young Women in Omasihlalisane Marriages
			Human Capital
			Social Capital
			Financial Capital
		Omasihlalisane Marriages and Access to Livelihood Assets
			A Contextual Pastoral Response to Survivalist Marriages and Sustainable Livelihoods
		Conclusion
		References
	Chapter 10: Religio-Cultural Norms Constraining Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights for Widows in Zimbabwe
		Introduction
		Widowhood in Africa
		Widowhood in Zimbabwe
		Research Methodology
			Research Journey
				Step One: Telling the Story
				Step Two: Externalising Conversations
				Step Three: Deconstructing Cultural Discourse
				Step Four: Reporting the Research
		Narrative Approach
		Martha’s Story
		Mary’s story
		Religio-Cultural Norms as Barriers Towards Widows’ Access to Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR)
		Pastoral Care and Therapy
		Seeds of Hope
		Conclusion
		References
Index