Alberta Academic Review
Not a member yet
34936 research outputs found
Sort by
‘Womb for Rent’: Socio-Cultural Implications of Reproductive Tourism in India
Full text linkBackground
Commercial surrogacy in India has become an increasingly controversial human rights and global health issue. Indian women living in dire poverty are the most vulnerable group in this transnational phenomenon. Reproductive tourism can be defined as the process whereby affluent people predominately from Global North countries (i.e., Canada) seek assisted reproduction in the Global South (in this case, India), to accomplish fertility and kinship formation goals while remaining oblivious to the inevitable social issues associated with this international trade.
Objective
This paper investigates how the media and academic anthropological research present current understandings of biotechnology, family, and kinship regarding commercial surrogacy. I argue that reproductive tourism is a multifaceted social issue with significant socio-cultural implications for kinship in India and the Global North, by being rooted in a gendered division of labour, culturally-specific belief systems, technological advancement, race and class stratification, capitalist structures, and globalization.
Methods
Although reproductive tourism is indeed interdisciplinary in nature, this project explicitly took an anthropological and global health approach to understanding its impacts on kinship in local and global communities. With regards to researcher positionality, I played an outsider role in understanding Indian women and the cultural context in India. I critically and reflexively analyzed diverse media sources that offered insights on reproductive tourism in India within the domains outlined in my thesis statement. These media sources were found online, and included mainstream media outlets, news articles, articles by journalists and social activists, websites for organizations of interest, corporate sources, blogs, videos, documentaries, and images. I used scholarly articles in anthropology as ethnographic evidence to support, challenge, or extend claims reported by the media. Academic sources included peer-reviewed publications, books, open access materials, grey literature, academic websites, and legal documents. I qualitatively compared and contrasted the presented narratives to conduct a secondary analysis of scholarly literature and media reports, and constructed valid arguments about the current state of reproductive tourism in India.
Results
The commodification of reproductive labour has had vast impacts on the cultural meanings of kinship in India and Global North countries. Reproductive tourism in India is evidence that culture influences biological, reproductive, and technological processes and how they are perceived in contemporary times. Technology and globalization were found to be propellers of commercial surrogacy that transcend international borders. Expectations related to family formation and gender within Western contexts, and Western forms of kinship contribute to the commercial surrogacy industry. Reproductive tourism perpetuates hierarchies along the lines of race and class, and Indian women face exploitation and serious health risks despite being paid for their reproductive labour.
Conclusion
Transnational surrogacy must be perceived by governments as a public matter rather than a private one, in order to adequately derive holistic solutions to halt the exploitation of vulnerable Indian women while balancing the desire of infertile individuals to utilize surrogacy as a means of kinship formation.
Update
This research paper was written in March 2018. As of December 2018, commercial surrogacy is illegal in India. The Surrogacy (Regulation) Act, 2018 is an attempt by the Indian government to control the industry and associated issues such as the exploitation of poor women and unprecedented health consequences. This law and policy shift by the Indian government affirms the importance of this research
Structural Genocide and Institutionalized Racism in Canada: The Department of Indian Affairs and Framing of Indigenous Peoples: The Department of Indian Affairs and Framing of Indigenous Peoples
No full textoai:jrnl_aar:article/10This review problematizes the health and socio-economic disparity between Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities, which I argue is due to the role of the Canadian government. Specifically, I analyse the continuous process of Indigenous administrative subjugation under Canadian rule to uncover the intrinsic racial predilections of Canadian government policy toward First Nations peoples in Canada’s Prairie West provinces through the application of diagnostic frame analysis as a multidisciplinary research method to analyse how people understand situations and activities. My research results reveal the racialized marginalization of First Nation peoples through the administrative regimes in Canada as a continuous contemporary process established in the late nineteenth and twentieth century. In exposing the structural discrimination of First Nations peoples, my research introduces the reader to the concept of political master narratives, or ‘imaginaries’. These imaginaries foster the health and socio-economic disparities between Indigenous and non-Indigenous groups in Canadian society. The critical analysis of these historically structural government instituted imaginaries and the indirect, exponentially higher chances of tuberculosis and related diseases and deaths among Indigenous peoples’ challenge conclusions of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) on cultural genocide. This study proposes structural genocide as a more accurate and inclusive term for the continuous institutional marginalization of not only Indigenous peoples as seen in this case study of the Department of Indian Affairs (DIA) but for all Indigenous peoples in Canada
The impact of the availability of antiretroviral therapy on personal and community fear of HIV/AIDS, and HIV prevention practices in Rwimi, Uganda: A mixed-method study
Full text linkThe impact of the widespread availability of antiretroviral therapy (ART) on the human immunodeficiency virus and acquired immune deficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS) related attitudes, behaviours and practices of the general population in Sub-Saharan Africa is understudied. We assessed the impact of ART availability on the fear of HIV/ AIDS (measured at both community and personal levels) and HIV prevention practices in Rwimi, Uganda using a cross-sectional survey. The fear of HIV/AIDS was described as a perceived threat to either self and/or community regarding the risk of contracting the disease, whereby the higher the perception of the threat, the greater the fear. We assessed associations between the outcomes of the dependent variables on both the community and personal fear of HIV/AIDS, and the independent variables of HIV/AIDS-related knowledge and demographics. Qualitative data was also generated from focus group discussions (FGD) on the context of the fear of HIV/AIDS and HIV pre- vention practices. The majority of participants (89.4%; males - 86.8%; females - 90.8%) felt that ART availability has reduced the fear of HIV/AIDS in the community. In contrast, fewer participants (22.4%; males - 24.4%; females – 21.2%) mentioned that their personal fear of HIV/AIDS has been reduced with the availability of ART. From the qualitative study, factors identified as influencing the fear of HIV/AIDS included stigma, fear of infection, and the inconvenience of being on ART. Although fear of HIV/AIDS persists, the fear is reduced because of the availability of life-prolonging ART. HIV prevention practices are influenced by socio-cultural norms (gender roles, relationship dynamics, power and trust), which, we argue, should be considered when de-signing sustainable HIV/AIDS prevention programs
Medication safety through information technology: a focus on medication prescribing and administration
No full textThe delivery of hospital care is changing: the aging population results in more patients being admitted to hospitals, but are discharged sooner. As a result, hospitals invest in information technology to assure safe and effective treatment and facilitate rapid patient turnover. In this thesis we describe the consequences of clinical decision support systems (CDSS) and bar-code technology on the most error prone steps of hospital medication use: medication prescribing and administering. We focus in our research on quality (e.g. quality of antimicrobial dosing, medication administration errors and automated dispensing cabinet refill errors) and efficiency aspects (e.g. cost of excess antimicrobial dosing, return on investment of CDSS assisted drug-drug interaction checking and workflow optimization). We describe and research the shortcomings of our current information systems and the barriers to adoption of effective clinical decision support. As an example of our work, we used a CDSS to augment conventional drug-drug interaction checking. Adding a CDSS decreased the number of alerts by 55%, resulting in a decreased time investment by the pharmacist. We also investigated bar-coded medication administration (BCMA) technology to improve the safety and quality of medication distribution and administration. BCMA implementation decreased medication administration errors on general medicine floors, but not on the Intensive Care Unit. To summarize, increased availability of electronic data in hospitals opens many doors for technologies aimed at increasing medication safety in those areas that are most critical; medication prescribing and administering. This thesis can help in selecting and configuring these technologies and measuring its effects
Laparoscopic versus open total mesorectal excision for rectal cancer
No full textBackgroundColorectal cancer including rectal cancer is the third most common cause of cancer deaths in the western world. For colon carcinoma, laparoscopic surgery is proven to result in faster postoperative recovery, fewer complications and better cosmetic results with equal oncologic results. These short-term benefits are expected to be similar for laparoscopic rectal cancer surgery. However, the oncological safety of laparoscopic surgery for rectal cancer remained controversial due to the lack of definitive long-term results. Thus, the expected short-term benefits can only be of interest when oncological results are at least equal.ObjectivesTo evaluate the differences in short-and long-term results after elective laparoscopic total mesorectal excision (LTME) for the resection of rectal cancer compared with open total mesorectal excision (OTME).Search methodsWe searched the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL, The Cochrane Library 2013, Issue 2), MEDLINE (January 1990 to February 2013), EMBASE (January 1990 to February 2013), ClinicalTrials.gov (February 2013) and Current Controlled Trials (February 2013). We handsearched the reference lists of the included articles for missed studies.Selection criteriaOnly randomised controlled trials (RCTs) comparing LTME and OTME, reporting at least one of our outcome measures, was considered for inclusion.Data collection and analysisTwo authors independently assessed study quality according to the CONSORT statement, and resolved disagreements by discussion. We rated the quality of the evidence using GRADE methods.Main resultsWe identified 45 references out of 953 search results, of which 14 studies met the inclusion criteria involving 3528 rectal cancer patients. We did not consider the risk of bias of the included studies to have impacted on the quality of the evidence. Data were analysed according to an intention-to-treat principle with a mean conversion rate of 14.5% (range 0% to 35%) in the laparoscopic group.There was moderate quality evidence that laparoscopic and open TME had similar effects on five-year disease-free survival (OR 1.02; 95% CI 0.76 to1.38, 4 studies, N = 943). The estimated effects of laparoscopic and open TME on local recurrence and overall survival were similar, although confidence intervals were wide, both with moderate quality evidence (local recurrence: OR 0.89; 95% CI 0.57 to1.39 and overall survival rate: OR 1.15; 95% CI 0.87 to1.52). There was moderate to high quality evidence that the number of resected lymph nodes and surgical margins were similar between the two groups.For the short-term results, length of hospital stay was reduced by two days (95% CI -3.22 to -1.10), moderate quality evidence), and the time to first defecation was shorter in the LTME group (-0.86 days; 95% CI -1.17 to -0.54). There was moderate quality evidence that 30 days morbidity were similar in both groups (OR 0.94; 95% CI 0.8 to 1.1). There were fewer wound infections (OR 0.68; 95% CI 0.50 to 0.93) and fewer bleeding complications (OR 0.30; 95% CI 0.10 to 0.93) in the LTME group.There was no clear evidence of any differences in quality of life after LTME or OTME regarding functional recovery, bladder and sexual function. The costs were higher for LTME with differences up to GBP 2000 for direct costs only.Authors' conclusionsWe have found moderate quality evidence that laparoscopic total mesorectal excision (TME) has similar effects to open TME on long term survival outcomes for the treatment of rectal cancer. The quality of the evidence was downgraded due to imprecision and further research could impact on our confidence in this result. There is moderate quality evidence that it leads to better short-termpost-surgical outcomes in terms of recovery for non-locally advanced rectal cancer. Currently results are consistent in showing a similar disease-free survival and overall survival, and for recurrences after at least three years and up to 10 years, although due to imprecision we cannot rule out superiority of either approach. We await long-term data from a number of ongoing and recently completed studies to contribute to a more robust analysis of long-term disease free, overall survival and local recurrence.</p
Surrender and subjectivity:Merleau-Ponty and Patočka on intersubjectivity
No full textIn Jan Patočka’s phenomenology of intersubjectivity one can find clear influences of Merleau-Ponty. By both philosophers intersubjectivity is seen as a form of reversibility that has a primacy above personal subjectivity. But Patočka adds to this idea of reversibility the notion of surrender or dedication. In this article it is demonstrated how Patočka’s conception on surrender is developed in his idea of the three movements of human existence. Moreover, the understanding of intersubjectivity through surrender is presented as an important step towards an answer to several points of critique on Merleau-Ponty’s views on intersubjectivity, that were brought to the fore by Claude Lefort. Finally, in this article several aspects of surrender are distinguished in order to give more insight in the functioning and effects of the third movement of human lif
Thinking about agreement : the empirical plausibility of moral contract theory
No full textIedere morele theorie maakt aannames over menselijke vermogens. Voor morele contracttheorie betreft dit onder andere aannames over onze sociaal-cognitieve vermogens. Peter Timmerman onderzocht of deze aannames plausibel zijn in het licht van empirische bevindingen.Contracttheorieën stellen dat actoren in overeenstemming moeten handelen met principes waar we allemaal redelijkerwijs mee in zouden kunnen stemmen. Ze nemen daarmee aan dat we kunnen uitvinden wat deze principes zijn. Timmerman stelt dat dit vereist dat mensen morele oordelen kunnen vormen door zich in anderen te verplaatsen.Op basis van een uitgebreide discussie van empirische bevindingen met betrekking tot ons vermogen daartoe wordt betoogd dat actoren inderdaad kunnen uitvinden welke principes het object van overeenstemming zouden zijn. Dit vereist overigens wel dat ze veel meer aandacht hebben voor de standpunten van anderen dan wij normaliter neigen te hebben.Contracttheoretici nemen verder aan dat actoren gemotiveerd kunnen raken om te handelen volgens principes die het object van overeenstemming zouden zijn. Sommigen hebben gesteld dat we zo gemotiveerd kunnen raken omdat het in ons belang is om volgens morele principes te handelen. Timmerman stelt dat dit vereist dat actoren kunnen herkennen of anderen betrouwbaar zijn of niet. Het betoogt dat empirische studies laten zien dat mensen verrassend goed zijn in het detecteren van elkaars betrouwbaarheid en dat het daarom voor de meeste van ons inderdaad in ons belang is om moreel te zijn. Timmerman concludeert dat, anders dan critici hadden verwacht, empirische bevindingen de plausibiliteit van morele contracttheorie ondersteunen.Moral theories inevitably make assumptions about human abilities. In the case of moral contract theories these include assumptions about our social cognitive abilities. This thesis concerns the question of whether these assumptions are plausible in the light of empirical findings. Contract theorists hold that agents should act according to principles that we could all reasonably agree to. They thereby assume agents can learn what these principles are. This requires that agents can form moral judgments by adopting alternative perspectives than their own. On the basis of a thorough discussion of findings on our ability for perspective-taking, it is concluded that agents can learn to act according to principles that would be the object of agreement. This does however require them to be much more attentive to the standpoints of others than we tend to be. Contract theorists in addition assume that agents can be moved to comply with principles that would be the object of agreement. Some have argued they can be so moved because it is in their own interest to be disposed to comply with moral principles. I argue that this requires that agents can recognise whether others are trustworthy or not. Empirical studies show that people are surprisingly good at detecting the trustworthiness of others and that it is therefore for most of us indeed in our interest to be moral. It is concluded that, contrary to the expectation of critics, empirical findings enhance the plausibility of moral contract theory. <br/
