The purpose of this study was to identify factors that contribute to women delaying seeking treatment for obstetric fistula. A stratified random sampling technique was used to select 384 study participants. A cross sectional analytical research design was used; data was collected by structured, closed ended questionnaires. Bivariate and multivariate logistic regression models were applied. Results show a significant correlation between traditional treatment and delay in seeking treatment (P-Value = 0.012). The presence of parents has a significant correlation in reaching treatment centres (p-value = 0.013), those women who are speaking about their fistula have less chance of delay in seeking treatment (p-value = 0.008), having no income significantly associated with delay in seeking treatment (AOR = 0.28) and women living closer to the treatment centres have less chance of delay (p-value = 0.008). Therefore, there are a number of factors that significantly influence women from early seeking of treatment for their fistulae. / Health Studies / M.A. (Public Health)

This diploma thesis deals with the issue of childhood obesity - family socioeconomic status and its impact on the development of childhood obesity. The theoretical part of this diploma thesis deals with childhood obesity in general - definition, classification according to etiopathogenesis, epidemiology, diagnostics, health complications, prevention and treatment. Subsequently, this diploma thesis deals with the relationship between childhood obesity and socioeconomic status - impact of socioeconomic inequalities , impact of parents. The practical part of this diploma thesis is based on an anonymous questionnaire survey, which is focused on family socioeconomis status and its impact on nutritional status and nutritional habits of child. The survey was realized from October 2020 to February 2021. The questionnaire survey was distributed to five primary schools (located in Prague and Prague-East District) and was also published via a social network Facebook. The survey was targeted at trird grade students (116 students, 56 % boys, 44 % girls) and their parents (the respondents). The obtained data was evaluated using the program RůstCZ (child's BMI percentile) and the program R (statistical analysis). Relationships between pairs of categorical variables were evaluated by Fisher's exact test. The...

The thesis The potential of books as a source of cognitive cultural capital: the impact on educational attainment and socioeconomic status deals with the socio-cultural phenomenon of reading that is understand as a cognitive skill whether is closely linked to the child's basic needs and habits of operating and learning. The aim of this study is to explore the mechanism of cultural activities (such as a specific type of cultural capital) that is shaped by family and school and forms the individual abilities of human beings. From this perspective it is determinate prerequisite for success in life. The theoretical part describes the life stages of reading with a clearly defined reading's habits and built up the relationship between child and book. Afterwards this part of thesis outlines the concept of cognitive cultural capital and summarizes the importance of external determinants for emergence and development of interest in reading. The empirical part of study uses data from sociological research Distinction and Values 2008 (SOÚ AV ČR, v.v.i.) that presents the structure of reading climate (the availability of books and imitation of parents' reading habits, interaction with parents and fading in childhood). Secondly, children's cultural socialization that creates their cultural participation is...

The use of various forms of contraception in Ghana gained prominence after the government resorted to investing more in family planning programs when maternal mortality was declared an emergency in the country. In Ghana, the intention to use and actual usage of contraceptives is influenced by many factors, which may lead to non-usage or discontinuation. This quantitative study was conducted to determine risk and protective factors impacting on the intention and usage of contraceptives. Survey data from the Ghana 2014 Demographic and Health Survey (DHS) (n = 9396) was used. A sub-sample of 7661 women in their reproductive age were included in this study, who reported being sexually active within the last year. Logistic regression analyses were conducted to test the association between a broad range of risk and protective factors including religion, early sexual intercourse, frequency of sex, number of lifetime sexual partners with intention to use contraception. We controlled for income, educational attainment, and age. Overall (n = 3661; 47.8%) reported no intention of contraception use. Logistic regression analysis revealed that no formal education (OR = 1.49; 95% CI, 1.29–1.72; p < 0.001), and primary school as highest educational level (OR = 1.19; 95% CI, 1.04–1.25; p < 0.001), Islamic religion (OR = 0.73; 95% CI, 0.59–0.90; p < 0.001), not currently employed (OR = 1.50; 95% CI, 1.34–1.69; p < 0.001), husband opposing contraception use (OR = 2.19; 95% CI, 1.42–3.46; p < 0.001), and currently pregnant (OR = 1.30; 95% CI, 1.09–1.54; p < 0.001) were also positively associated with no intention of use. Engaging religious leaders for advocacy in the community was identified as an approach to address barriers and increase awareness on contraceptive use. Targeted family planning programs should intensify public education on safe sex behaviors.

Magister Artium (Development Studies) - MA(DVS) / South Africa is still under construction, with the aftermath of apartheid still lingering in the South African education system and in societal constructs amongst families of colour with low socioeconomic status backgrounds. For more than two decades since South Africa has been declared a democratically free society, education has been at the forefront as a means to socioeconomic liberation with movements such as #FEESMUSTFALL bringing to light the inequality that still lingers around access to higher education. Using human capital theory and socioeconomic mobility as a framework, the study aims to explore, describe and determine the perceived impact of university education on students from a low socioeconomic status using the case of the University of the Western Cape. / 2023

The purpose of this study was to gain insight into the factors of resilience that educators could replicate to increase the number of socio-economically disadvantaged students that successfully complete high school and continue to become successful adults. An examination of the factors that socio-economically disadvantaged individuals attribute to their success was conducted in this study. This study used interview data from 15 participants ranging in age from 21 to 80 years old. Nine themes emerged from the interview data that affects the resilience of socio-economically disadvantaged students. The 9 themes identified were 1) Definition of success is different for each individual, 2) Individual’s mindset, 3) Resilience and perseverance, 4) Evolving family structure and circumstances, 5) Limited family resources, 6) Increase in abusive/risky behaviors, 7) Caregiver’s educational support and high expectations, 8) Community support, and 9) School support. The themes presented are backed by the analysis of the data collected. Recommendations for educators and future research were made in hopes of replicating these factors to increase resilience in socio-economically disadvantaged students allowing them to become successful adults.

This study examines the role of mother's health and socioeconomic status on daughter's self-rated health using data spanning three decades from the National Longitudinal Surveys of Mature Women and Young Women (N = 1,848 matched mother-daughter pairs; 1,201 White and 647 African American). Using nested growth curve models, we investigated whether mother's self-rated health affected the daughter's self-rated health and whether socioeconomic status mediated this relationship. Mother's health significantly influenced daughters' self-rated health, but the findings were mediated by mother's socioeconomic status. African American daughters reported lower self-rated health and experienced more decline over time compared with White daughters, accounting for mother's and daughter's covariates. Our findings reveal maternal health and resources as a significant predictor of daughters' self-rated health and confirm the role of socioeconomic status and racial disparities over time.

Magister Artium (Psychology) - MA(Psych) / Adolescence is a critical developmental stage wherein adolescents face various challenges which potentially impact on the development of their future orientation, the setting of and working towards goals, and ultimately their life trajectories. Considering South Africa’s socio-political history which has resulted in limitations regarding educational and career possibilities of adolescents, there is a need to examine factors that influence adolescents’ aspirations. The current study thus aimed to ascertain the nature of the relation between adolescents’ subjective well-being and career aspirations. Within this process, the study further aimed to ascertain the extent to which this relation is mediated by social support. The current study forms part of a larger study that explored the relation between adolescents’ career aspirations and a range of personal and contextual factors, using a cross-sectional design. The sample comprised 1082 adolescents (males and females) in grades 8 to 11, purposively selected from eight schools in low-income communities in Cape Town, South Africa. Descriptive statistics were used to determine the levels of career aspirations, subjective well-being and social support among the participants. Mediation analysis using the bootstrap confidence interval approach, within a structural equation modelling data analysis framework was conducted to determine the extent to which social support mediates the relationship between subjective well-being and career aspirations. For the overall model using the pooled sample, the study found a non-significant relation between adolescents’ subjective well-being and career aspirations. Across gender, the results demonstrated a significant relation between subjective well-being and career aspirations for the male group, explaining 2.1% of the variance in aspirations. However, a non-significant relation was obtained for the female group. An important finding of the study is that social support did not mediate the relation between adolescents’ subjective well-being and career ii aspirations for the pooled sample, and across both gender groups. For females, a significant negative relation was found between social support and aspirations. Results also revealed a significant negative relation between age and aspirations for both males and females. Social support and financial resources are important factors to consider in relation to adolescents’ wellbeing and aspirations, especially given that the social support that females receive is informed by gender norms and cultural beliefs, which in turn hinders their aspirations. It is recommended that interventions are targeted at an institutional level, inclusive of challenging gender roles, providing information about educational and career opportunities for young people, and improving parenting skills in an effort to advance adolescents’ career aspirations.

Obesity continues to weaken our nation physiologically, psychologically and financially with an overall prevalence rate of 34.9% or 78.6 million Americans affected. Variance in obesity prevalence rates, in the state of Virginia, account for over a 15% difference from one health district to the next. The purpose of this research was to better explore the regional obesogenic factors that may exist among five health districts in the state of Virginia. The socio ecological theory provides the conceptual framework of the study to understand the variance in regional obesity rates, as a function of the contributing risk factors that a region exhibits. This study was a quantitative retrospective secondary analysis that investigated four obesogenic risk factors using the Center for Disease Control's 2013 Behavior Risk Factor Surveillance Survey. Binary logistic regression analyses were conducted for each of the four obesity factors in five regions in Virginia and the results emphasized that specific regional obesity prevention efforts in targeted areas are identifiable and specifically, attention to ethnicity, poverty, and exercise intensity are warranted in all Virginia's health districts. Understanding obesogenic factors can further empower public policy makers to identify obesity prevention and treatment strategies most aligned with the health district needs such as exercise or nutrition campaigns targeting ethnic communities. Creating a statewide profile of regional obesogenic factors using this research model can bring about effective community intervention strategies leading to impactful improvements in individual health, wellness, and quality of life which can be a force in the community's positive social change.

While epidemiological research has generated new knowledge about the treatment and prevention of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) through smoking secession, the socioeconomic status (SES) of people with the disease has been under investigated. Thus, the purpose of this study was to determine the predictability of association between SES and COPD. This study was based on the ecological theory, which states that health and disease may have multiple underlying factors. This study was a secondary analysis of archived data from the Inter-University Consortium for Political and Social Research (ICPSR). The dataset was collected for the National Survey of Midlife Development in the United States (MIDUS)" study. Variables were measured at the nominal, ordinal, and continuous levels. In this cross-sectional quantitative analysis, logistic regression was used to inform the research questions. The results showed that neither education, income, nor occupation was a predictor of COPD. The logistic regression reported the significance of the predictability of education, income, and occupation to be Ï? = 1.000, Ï? = .498, Ï? = .581, respectively, with odd ratios and confidence interval of 1.007 (.987, 1.028), 1.018 (.948, 1.094), 1.429 (.684, 2.988). Neither education, income, nor occupation yielded a significant statistic value for a Ï? Ë? .05 or a p Ë? .01. These non-significant results regarding the relationship between the SES of a person and COPD reaffirmed that cigarette smoking remains the known determinant of the disease. The social implications of these research findings are that more stringent laws and mandates need to be enacted to discourage easy access to the proven determining factor of COPD: cigarettes smoking.