research methods

ASSINGMENT

Task:

Consider the relationship between epistemology, theory and empirical research in relation to an article given?

Format:

A short review and evaluation essay of 1500 words based on a published research report or journal article.

Assessment criteria:

Evidence of close reading and the ability to identify and evaluate the assumptions being made by a researcher in carrying out a piece of social research.

Document Preview:

Downloaded from http://heapol.oxfordjournals.org/ at University of Wales Bangor on October 17, 2012 q The Author 2005. Published by Oxford University Press in association with The London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. All rights reserved. doi:10.1093/heapol/czi022 Availability, distribution and use of emergency obstetric care in northern Tanzania 1 2 3 ØYSTEIN EVJEN OLSEN, SIDNEY NDEKI AND OLE FRITHJOF NORHEIM 1 2 Centre for International Health, University of Bergen, Norway, Centre for Educational Development and 3 Health, Arusha (CEDHA), Tanzania and Section for Medical Ethics and Philosophy of Science, Department of Public Health and Primary Care, University of Bergen, Norway Theobjectiveofthisstudyistodeterminetheavailability,distributionandqualityoffacilitiesproviding delivery services, as well as their use by pregnant women. The study is a survey of all facilities providing delivery services (n¼129) in six districts in northern Tanzania.TheframeworkprovidedbytheUNICEF/UNFPA/WHO(UN)Guidelinesisapplied.Anattempt ismadetoanswerthe?rst threequestionsinthisauditoutline:arethereenough emergencyobstetric care (EmOC) facilities? Are they well distributed? And are enough women using them? The results show that there is a very low availability of basic emergency obstetric care (BEmOC) units (1.6/500000), and a relatively high availability of comprehensive emergency obstetric care (CEmOC) units(4.6/500000),bothwithlargeurban/ruralvariation.ThepercentageofexpecteddeliveriesinEmOC facilitiesis36%,comparedwiththeUNGuidelinesminimumacceptedthresholdof15%.Nevertheless, the distribution shows a much higher utilization in urban districts compared with rural, indicating that mothers have to travel long distances to receive adequate services when in need of them. The paper also discusses the provisional context of the services in terms of level offacilities providing them and their public/private mix. Most facility deliveries are conducted at CEmOC facilities..