Life Histories, Reproductive Histories

Rural South African Women's Narratives of Fertility, Reproductive Health and Illness

Datos Bibliográficos

ID4603529
AutoresAnna Harrison (0000-0002-1673-8486), Abigail Harrison (0000-0003-1938-5513), Elizabeth Montgomery Abigail Harrison (autor de correspondencia), Elizabeth Montgomery (0000-0002-5477-4445)
Año2001
Volumen27
Número2
Páginas311-328
Fecha de publicación2001-06-01
Peer ReviewedSí
Open AccessNo
TipoARTICLE
RevistaJournal of Southern African Studies (JOURNAL)
Identificadores de la revistaISSN: 0305-7070 • E-ISSN: 1465-3893
EditorialInforma UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1080/03057070120049994
OpenAlexW2097619477
IdiomaEN
Citas recibidas19
Referencias citadas19

Reproductive health has become a priority public health concern in recent years, although less attention has been paid to women's own reproductive health priorities. Qualitative research in this area is important in elucidating an understanding of women's roles in both social and biological reproduction, and in gaining access to women's perceptions of their own reproductive health. In this study, we examined rural Zulu women's perspectives on reproductive health and fertility as part of their life histories, and assessed knowledge of reproductive health and related practices. Findings indicate that, in spite of recent declines in fertility in South Africa, child bearing remains the principal form of self-expression among older Zulu women, with fertility a necessary step toward achieving social status as a woman. This status, however, does not confer autonomy or power on women, but rather serves as a means of meeting social expectations

Autonomy · Fertility · Political science · Population · Public health · Reproductive health · Sociology · Zulu · Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health · Demography · Gender Studies · Global Maternal and Child Health · Medicine