A pesquisa aqui apresentada tem por objetivo analisar, junto a professores e professoras do Ensino Fundamental II (EF II) da rede pública do estado e da prefeitura de São Paulo, a presença de literaturas africanas e afro-brasileira em sala de aula. Esse propósito se articula com a Lei 10.639/2003, cuja premissa básica é o ensino de história e cultura africana e afro-brasileira em todos os níveis educacionais no Brasil. A noção impetrada pela referida Lei deve nortear as propostas educacionais desde o nível básico até o ensino superior, sendo incluída na formulação dos projetos pedagógicos das escolas e nas próprias aulas. Nesse sentido, inicia-se a pesquisa por uma abordagem teórico-pedagógica ligada ao impacto de tal Lei na educação. Segue-se a isso a consideração da situação do negro no Brasil, observada desde os desdobramentos que o regime escravocrata exerceu em terras brasileiras, até as consequências desse período histórico para as populações afro-brasileiras no pós-abolicionismo, culminando com o alargamento progressivo dos direitos conquistados pela população afrodescendente. Segue-se, então, um breve estudo da Lei citada, das obrigações dela decorrentes, bem como de políticas afirmativas. Apresentam-se, posteriormente, reflexões sobre a abordagem da leitura literária em ambiente escolar. Por fim, tem-se uma pesquisa de campo qualitativa, realizada através da aplicação de questionários direcionados a professores/as de língua portuguesa, e da realização de uma roda de conversa entre docentes, a fim de se constatar em que medida suas práticas de ensino contemplam o tema da Lei no âmbito literário. Após as ações práticas, realiza-se a apuração dos resultados obtidos, a partir da discussão da perspectiva da Lei 10.639/2003 e de como têm sido conduzidas suas implicações para a educação pública. O objetivo precípuo desse método de trabalho é observar de que maneira a educação para as relações étnico-raciais tem se consolidado no ensino paulista, e qual o atual estágio de sua efetivação em algumas escolas da rede pública de São Paulo. / The research presented here analyzes, with Fundamental Educations teachers of the public teaching of the city and São Paulo state, the presence of the african and afro-brazilian literatures in the classroom. This purpose is linked to the Law 10.639/2003, whose basic premise is the teaching of african and afro-brazilian history and culture at all educational levels in Brazil. The notion brought for the Law should guide the educational proposals since basic teaching to higher education, being included in the formulation of educational projects in schools and in their classes. In this sense, the search begins for a theoretical and pedagogical approach linked to education. After, there is the consideration about the black people\'s situation in Brazil, observed since the slave regime on brazilian soil, to the consequences of this historic period for the afro-brazilian populations in the post-abolitionism, culminating with the progressive expansion of rights gained by the afro-descendant population. It follows, then, to the study of the mentioned Law and its obligations, as well as of the affirmative action policies. Later, there\'s an approach about literary reading in the school environment. Finally, we make a qualitative field research, with the use of questionnaires aimed at portuguese teachers, concluding with a conversation among some teachers in order to be seen to what extent their pedagogical activities include the issue of Law. After the practic actions, there is the verification of the results obtained from the perspective of the Law 10.639/2003 and its implications for public education. The main objective of this method is to observe how education for ethnic-racial relationships is being consolidated in brazilian\'s teaching, and what the current status of their effectuation in some public schools of São Paulo.

Magister Public Health - MPH / Introduction: In recent years, cardiovascular disease (CVD) has emerged as a leading cause of death in developing countries. It is important to identify and target people who are at risk,given that a third of all deaths are expected to be due to CVD by 2020. Studies have shown socio-economic patterning in the prevalence of risk factors for CVD, including obesity,smoking and lipid profile. In developed countries, the association between socio-economic status (SES) and CVD risk factors is negative, with a higher prevalence of CVD risk factors among people of lower SES. However, findings from studies in developing countries on this including South Africa has been inconsistent. In addition, there is scant information on differences in socio-economic patterning of CVD risk factors between urban and rural areas in South Africa.Aim: To examine the association between SES indicators and CVD risk factors among an adult population cohort of Black South Africans living in a rural and urban community.Study design: Quantitative cross-sectional analytical study of baseline data of a populationbased cohort of 2000 Black South African men and women aged 30-70 years who are part of the Cape Town arm of the Prospective Urban and Rural Epidemiology (PURE) Study. The study cohort has been established in Mount Frere, Eastern Cape (rural) and Langa, Cape Town(urban) since 2009 and the current work is secondary analysis of the baseline study data.Data collection/synthesis: SES indicators including income, employment status, marital status and completed education were gleaned from the baseline data of the PURE Cape Town study for all study participants. Then CVD risk factors including obesity, hypertension, selfreported diabetes, consumption of tobacco and alcohol consumption were also determined for the same participants. Data analysis: Data was analysed using SPSS version 20 for Windows. Descriptive statistics including frequency counts, percentages, mean and standard deviations (where normal distribution) and median and interquartile range (where non-normal) were used to summarise data on SES and CVD risk factors. This was performed separately for rural and urban study participants. Analytical statistics was used to examine associations between SES indicators and CVD risk factors with risk factors as both dichotomous and multi-level categorical variables. Kendall’s τ rank correlation coefficient was obtained to assess the relationship between the three indicators of SES. Prevalence rates reported with 95% confidence intervals was determined for risk factors across categories of SES indicators. P-values for trends in CVD risk factors were obtained by treating the SES indicators as categorical variables in logistic regression analyses. Multiple logistic regression analysis to estimate independent effects of the different SES indicators on risk factors was performed. In all analyses, P-values < 0.05 were regarded as significant.Results: There was a significant difference in the socioeconomic and CVD risk factors profile of urban and rural participants. Except for hypertension and tobacco use with insignificant higher prevalence in the urban location, all CVD risk factors were significantly higher in urban than rural participants. Some CVD risk factors (hypertension and diabetes) were positively associated with high SES (income) and some others (tobacco use) were negatively associated with employment status. Highest income earners had the highest risk of hypertension (AOR= 2.4, 95% CI 1.5-3.9) and diabetes (AOR= 2.2, 95% CI 1.2-4.1) after adjusting for age, sex and other SES variables. Marital status however showed the most consistent association across all CVD risk factors; widowed participants had a high risk of hypertension (OR=2.1, 95% CI 1.2-3.7) and diabetes (OR=2.0, 95% CI 1.1-3.7), but had the lowest risk of tobacco (OR=0.3, 95% CI 0.14-0.66) and alcohol use (OR=0.3, 95% CI 0.15-0.72). The distribution of CVD risk factors by SES gradient showed inconsistent patterning and difference between the urban and rural participants.Conclusion: In this cohort of adult Black South Africans, high income earning and widowed marital status were associated with higher hypertension and diabetes prevalence, while unemployment was associated with higher tobacco use.Recommendations: CVD risk reduction interventions that recognise the differential susceptibility of individuals in different SES group need to be designed and implemented.Widows and widowers should be given focussed attention in health screening as they may have increased vulnerability to diseases especially CVDs. There is however need for more research to establish the pathway through which SES factors predispose or protect individuals from CVDs.

Magister Public Health - MPH / Introduction: In recent years, cardiovascular disease (CVD) has emerged as a leading cause of death in developing countries. It is important to identify and target people who are at risk,given that a third of all deaths are expected to be due to CVD by 2020. Studies have shown socio-economic patterning in the prevalence of risk factors for CVD, including obesity,smoking and lipid profile. In developed countries, the association between socio-economic status (SES) and CVD risk factors is negative, with a higher prevalence of CVD risk factors among people of lower SES. However, findings from studies in developing countries on this including South Africa has been inconsistent. In addition, there is scant information on differences in socio-economic patterning of CVD risk factors between urban and rural areas in South Africa.Aim: To examine the association between SES indicators and CVD risk factors among an adult population cohort of Black South Africans living in a rural and urban community.Study design: Quantitative cross-sectional analytical study of baseline data of a populationbased cohort of 2000 Black South African men and women aged 30-70 years who are part of the Cape Town arm of the Prospective Urban and Rural Epidemiology (PURE) Study. The study cohort has been established in Mount Frere, Eastern Cape (rural) and Langa, Cape Town(urban) since 2009 and the current work is secondary analysis of the baseline study data.Data collection/synthesis: SES indicators including income, employment status, marital status and completed education were gleaned from the baseline data of the PURE Cape Town study for all study participants. Then CVD risk factors including obesity, hypertension, selfreported diabetes, consumption of tobacco and alcohol consumption were also determined for the same participants. Data analysis: Data was analysed using SPSS version 20 for Windows. Descriptive statistics including frequency counts, percentages, mean and standard deviations (where normal distribution) and median and interquartile range (where non-normal) were used to summarise data on SES and CVD risk factors. This was performed separately for rural and urban study participants. Analytical statistics was used to examine associations between SES indicators and CVD risk factors with risk factors as both dichotomous and multi-level categorical variables.Kendall’s τ rank correlation coefficient was obtained to assess the relationship between the three indicators of SES. Prevalence rates reported with 95% confidence intervals was determined for risk factors across categories of SES indicators. P-values for trends in CVD risk factors were obtained by treating the SES indicators as categorical variables in logistic regression analyses. Multiple logistic regression analysis to estimate independent effects of the different SES indicators on risk factors was performed. In all analyses, P-values< 0.05 were regarded as significant.Results: There was a significant difference in the socioeconomic and CVD risk factors profile of urban and rural participants. Except for hypertension and tobacco use with insignificant higher prevalence in the urban location, all CVD risk factors were significantly higher in urban than rural participants. Some CVD risk factors (hypertension and diabetes) were positively associated with high SES (income) and some others (tobacco use) were negatively associated with employment status. Highest income earners had the highest risk of hypertension (AOR= 2.4, 95% CI 1.5-3.9) and diabetes (AOR= 2.2, 95% CI 1.2-4.1) after adjusting for age, sex and other SES variables. Marital status however showed the most consistent association across all CVD risk factors; widowed participants had a high risk of hypertension (OR=2.1, 95% CI 1.2-3.7) and diabetes (OR=2.0, 95% CI 1.1-3.7), but had the lowest risk of tobacco (OR=0.3, 95% CI 0.14-0.66) and alcohol use (OR=0.3, 95% CI 0.15-0.72). The distribution of CVD risk factors by SES gradient showed inconsistent patterning and difference between the urban and rural participants.Conclusion: In this cohort of adult Black South Africans, high income earning and widowed marital status were associated with higher hypertension and diabetes prevalence, while unemployment was associated with higher tobacco use.Recommendations: CVD risk reduction interventions that recognise the differential susceptibility of individuals in different SES group need to be designed and implemented.Widows and widowers should be given focussed attention in health screening as they may have increased vulnerability to diseases especially CVDs. There is however need for more research to establish the pathway through which SES factors predispose or protect individuals from CVDs.

The impact of ethnic residential concentration on the process of integration of ethnic minorities into the mainstream society has been increasingly debated among both scholars and policy makers across Europe. This thesis seeks to contribute to this debate by addressing the effect of ethnic residential concentration on the political participation of Black Africans in Britain. The study pursues three main objectives: investigating the marginalising or mobilising impact of co-ethnic residential concentration on political participation; disentangling the processes underpinning this relationship by focusing on the effect of ethnic-based social networks, represented here by voluntary organisations, religious institutions and informal social networks; exploring the influence of the immigration-related heterogeneity that characterises the Black African community on the relationship between residential concentration, ethnic social networks and political participation. A mixed-method approach is adopted. The quantitative enquiry focuses on the Black African community as a whole and relies on secondary data drawn from the 2010 Ethnic Minority British Electoral Survey. The qualitative enquiry is based on primary data collected through face-to-face interviews and participant observation among Ghanaians and Somalis in London. The quantitative analysis shows that, among Black Africans, residential concentration has a mobilising effect on voter turnout but a marginalising effect on non-electoral participation. Ethnic social networks do not seem to mediate this relationship. Residential concentration is significantly, and positively, correlated to individual participation in ethnic places of worship and embeddedness in ethnic informal networks but not to involvement in ethnic organisations. In turn, the latter positively influences non-electoral engagement whereas ethnic places of worship and informal networks are not related to political engagement. The qualitative findings suggest that residential concentration is more relevant for the creation of and participation in ethnic organisations among Somalis than among Ghanaians. However, this relationship is likely to be influenced by other contextual factors such as institutional support, ethnic diversity and tribal homogeneity. Somali organisations also seem to play a more active political role than Ghanaian groups with regard to both electoral and non-electoral engagement. The two communities appear to be more similar when considering the relationship between ethnic religious institutions and informal connections with co-ethnics. These networks are not necessarily dependent on ethnic residential clustering and their effect on political engagement is primarily linked to informal political discussion. Overall, the results suggest that the relationship between residential concentration, ethnic social networks and political participation of Black Africans varies considerably between the two national groups researched, primarily due to their immigration-related characteristics, as well as across modes of political engagement (i.e. electoral, non-electoral) and local contexts.

The principal aim o f this research study was to examine what immigrants and refugees from Africa experienced as helpful, unhelpful or what would have helped in their recovery from pre-migration trauma. The sample included thirteen self-referred participants residing in the Lower mainland, British Columbia, Canada. Participation in this study was based on the following four criteria. First, the participants were immigrants, refugees and international students from Su-Saharan Africa who arrived in Canada between 1991 and 2003. Second, the participants had experienced trauma in Africa, which they volunteered to share. Third, they confirmed not to be undergoing therapy or psychiatric treatment at the time of the interview. Fourth, participants were to be adults between 20 and 50 years of age. The Critical Incident interviews were utilized to screen the participants, collect and analyze data. Incidents were further organized by placing them on a timeline methodology. The timeline categorizes the low and high points of events that happen in a lifetime according to three main periods, namely; beginning, middle and end of the process of recovery from premigration trauma. Three hundred and twenty eight incidents were formed from 13 interviews including, 140 incidents helpful (42.68%) with the participation rate of 70.77%, 119 unhelpful (36.28%) with the participation rate of 64.10% and 69 would be helpful incidents (21.04), participation rate of 53.85%. Most of the incidents reported by the participants were based on refugee experiences. The findings suggest a mental health intervention that recognizes the social support, beliefs and security. Future research should aspects of culture in the appraisal and healing of trauma as well as tenets of programs based on the context of those served not expert opinion. Experiences of health caretaker, support personnel international students who migrated under the auspices of the host Government's sponsorships need to be examined in order to develop a theory that is grounded on the lived experience. / Education, Faculty of / Educational and Counselling Psychology, and Special Education (ECPS), Department of / Graduate

Cette thèse porte sur les conditions de passage clandestin des migrants africains à la frontière sud espagnole ainsi que sur leurs logiques d’insertion dans la province andalouse d’Almeria et au-delà, dans l’espace européen. Interrogeant le rapport de force entre migrants et État, cette thèse insiste sur les capacités des migrants à la mobilité et met en lumière l’ambivalence des institutions gouvernementales, en partie liée à la fonction économique des migrants clandestins. Les articulations entre les stratégies des migrants clandestins et les logiques des institutions et des acteurs locaux y sont analysées à partir de la description des interactions, des transactions et des conflits, entre les migrants nouveaux venus, ceux anciennement installés, les ONG, les patrons, les forces de police, etc. L’approche compréhensive de l’expérience des migrants avant et après le passage de la frontière a révélé l’importance des réseaux sociaux dans l’entrée en Europe et dans la recherche d’un logement, d’un emploi et de papiers ; tout en soulignant la fonction du milieu associatif espagnol pour les migrants les plus vulnérables. D’un côté, les institutions gouvernementales oscillent entre contrôle et tolérance ; de l’autre, les migrants évoluent entre contraintes et stratégies, régularités et irrégularités. Leur migration, construite par étape, constitue alors un véritable « jeu de l’oie ». Almeria représente ainsi une étape où chercher des papiers. Cette province spécialisée dans l’agriculture possède une économie souterraine « à découvert » : elle est connue de tous et bénéficie de la complicité des autorités. Almeria centralise ainsi les migrants africains en situation précaire récemment arrivés ou déjà présents en Europe. Cette thèse propose donc de qualifier les mobilités de ces migrants clandestins « d’errance maîtrisée », maîtrise qui se fait essentiellement à travers les relations sociales et la constitution de réseaux sociaux. L’attention portée aux modalités de construction du projet migratoire après le passage de la frontière a également permis de faire émerger la notion d’ « instance zéro ». Il s’agit d’un espace-temps « autre », d’une instance intermédiaire entre le passage de la frontière et l’insertion dans l’espace européen ; un temps plus ou moins long caractérisé par la répétition de situations élémentaires de survie qui autorisent l’exploitation maximale du migrant, lequel cherche alors les moyens d’éviter cette répétition ou d’en sortir. / This PhD thesis deals with the conditions of illegal border crossing of the African migrants in the south of Spain and with their logics of insertion in the Andalusian province of Almeria and beyond, in the European space. By questioning the power struggle between migrants and State, this thesis insists on the migrants’ capacity to move and it highlights the ambivalence of governmental institutions, partly linked with the economical function of undocumented migrants. The analysis of connections between the strategies of undocumented migrants and the logics of institutions and local actors are based on the description of the interactions, transactions and existing conflicts between the migrants recently arrived, those who are already installed, the NGOs, the managers, the police forces, etc. The ethnographic study of the migrants’ experience before and after crossing the border reveals the importance of social networks to reach Europe and to look for housing, employment and papers. At the same time, it points out the function of Spanish associations for the most vulnerable migrants. On one hand, the governmental institutions fluctuate between control and tolerance; one the other hand, the migrants glide between constraints and strategies, regularity and irregularity. Their migration, built on several stages, constitutes then a real “snakes and ladders”. Almeria represents a stage where it is possible to look for papers. This province, specialized in agriculture, has an informal “uncovered” economy: everybody knows it including the authorities. Almeria centralizes the African migrants who are in a precarious situation, whatever the time of their arrival in Europe. This thesis proposes to qualify the mobility of those undocumented migrants as “a mastered roving”, mastering that is essentially done through social relations and the constitution of social networks. The attention turned to the construction’s terms of the migratory project after the border crossing also allows generating the notion of “zero square”. This means a special space-time, intermediate between the border crossing and the insertion in the European space; a time more or less lengthy, characterized by the repetition of basic survival situations that authorize the maximal exploitation of the migrant, who, therefore is looking for the means to avoid this repetition or to get out of it.

Submitted by Jakeline Ortega (jakortega@unoeste.br) on 2017-07-07T17:54:27Z No. of bitstreams: 2 license_rdf: 0 bytes, checksum: d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e (MD5) Alice Rosa de Sena Ferrari.pdf: 2212433 bytes, checksum: 3991db33d7cab0ba5c6e7c63b6c42e45 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-07-07T17:54:27Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 2 license_rdf: 0 bytes, checksum: d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e (MD5) Alice Rosa de Sena Ferrari.pdf: 2212433 bytes, checksum: 3991db33d7cab0ba5c6e7c63b6c42e45 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2016-12-09 / This dissertation has as its main purpose the study of Africa and Africans as addressed in notions and concepts presented in the Guide of Textbooks and History collections for the 4th year of Elementary School, which were approved by the National Textbook Program (known as PNLD) 2016. It is inserted in the current discussions about how the Directives of the Law no.10,639/03 are expressed in textbooks analyzed in the PNLD. The overall goal, therefore, is to understand how are presented both Africa and Africans in the notions and contents published in textbooks aimed for the teaching of History. As specific objectives, it was defined: a) to identify "how" the approach of the African History is proposed in the PNLD's textbooks - History - 2016 and what is its conformity with the guidelines contained in the Directives of the Law no.10,639 / 03; b) to verify how Africa and Africans are represented in the contents (written texts and images) and historical notions existing in textbooks and their respective reports, as pointed out in the PNLD Guide - History 2016; c) to verify the convergences between the records selected for analysis in the textbooks and the studies about Africa and Africans, existing in thematic studies and, d) to recognize the elements that operate in the production of textbooks and which result in a given elaboration form. The research is identified by a qualitative nature, (GAMBOA, 2003), with a bibliographic and documentary base, being theoretically based on cultural and sociological studies that allow to investigate the relations of power implied in the practices of differentiation and identification of subjects through the curriculum, school organization and educational policies. The organization and sequence of the analysis procedures of the various textual and imagery registers under study, are guided by the floating reading in search of thematic and conceptual elements, such as proposed by Minayo (2004). As major results, we highlight that, although the continuities regarding the teaching of history traditionally taught are maintained, are observed attempts of change in order to adjust to Law no. 10,623/03 and to PNLD criteria. The criticisms we raise do not have the purpose of discarding the textbook, instead, the idea is to make notes so that this material, considered by us as one of the main resources for teaching and learning of History in educational institutions, to be problematized and questioned. / Esta dissertação tem como objeto o estudo da África e dos africanos conforme apresentados nas noções e conteúdos veiculados no Guia de Livros Didáticos e em coleções de História para o 4º ano do Ensino Fundamental, as quais foram aprovadas pelo PNLD 2016. Insere-se nas discussões atuais sobre os modos como as Diretrizes da Lei nº10. 639/03 estão expressas em livros didáticos analisados no Programa Nacional do Livro Didático-PNLD. O objetivo geral, portanto, é compreender como a África e os africanos são apresentados nas noções e conteúdos veiculados nos livros didáticos para o ensino de História. Como objetivos específicos, foram definidos: a) identificar “como” a abordagem da História da África é proposta nos livros didáticos do PNLD – História- 2016 e qual é a sua conformidade com as orientações constantes das diretrizes da Lei nº. 10.639/03; b) verificar como a África e os africanos estão representados nos conteúdos (textos escritos e imagens) e noções históricas presentes nos livros didáticos e seus respectivos pareceres, conforme apontados no Guia do PNLD –História 2016; c) verificar as convergências entre os registros selecionados para análise nos livros didáticos e os estudos sobre a África e os africanos presentes em estudos no tema e d) reconhecer os elementos que operam na produção dos livros didáticos e que resultam em uma dada forma de sua elaboração. A pesquisa identifica-se por uma natureza qualitativa segundo Gamboa (2003), com base bibliográfica e documental, fundamentando-se teoricamente em estudos culturais e sociológicos que proporcionam investigar as relações de poder implicadas nas práticas de diferenciação e identificação dos sujeitos, através do currículo, da organização da escola e das políticas educacionais. A organização e sequência dos procedimentos de análise dos diversos registros textuais e imagéticos em estudo, pauta-se pela leitura flutuante em busca de elementos temáticos e conceituais, tais como propostos por Minayo (2004). Como principais resultados ressaltamos que, embora se mantenham continuidades no tratamento do ensino da história tradicionalmente ensinada, observam-se tentativas de mudanças para adequação à Lei nº 10.623/03 e aos critérios do PNLD. As críticas que levantamos não tem o objetivo de descartar o livro didático, ao contrário, a ideia é fazer apontamentos para que esse material, considerado por nós como um dos principais recursos para o ensino-aprendizagem de História nas instituições escolares, seja problematizado e questionado.

No description available.

Motivation: C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) and other risk factors such as cortisol and obesity in the diagnosis of cardiovascular dysfunction (CVD) in African and Caucasian women has become increasingly imperative when one considers the escalation of hypertension among these groups. Recent studies have explored some aspects of these risk factors and the roles that they play within hypertension and possible future risk for cardiovascular disease. Hs-CRP has been associated with the increased prevalence of hypertension and obesity. Cortisol per se has also been linked with the development of both hypertension and the hypothalamic-pituitary adrenal cortex (HPA) response. Nevertheless, the exact mechanism remains rather uncertain due to conflicting outcomes of research within different ethnic groups. Several recent investigations have, however, linked hypocortisolism with both urbanisation and a subsequent increased likelihood of hypertension within African women as they have presented increased vascular blood pressure responses. Conversely, Caucasian women have displayed an increased central cardiac reactivity. The lack of data regarding the relationship between the above-mentioned parameters within both African and Caucasian women serves as the motivation for conducting this study. Objective: To investigate hs-CRP, cortisol and hypertension as contributors to the increased likelihood of cardiovascular dysfunction in both African and Caucasian women within South Africa. hs-CRP use this through whole document please Methodology: The manuscript presented in Chapter 2 has been compiled using data obtained from the POWIRS (Profiles of Obese Women with Insulin Resistance Syndrome) study. Apparently healthy African (N=102) and Caucasian (N=115) women, matched for age and body mass index, were recruited from the North-West Province of South Africa for participation within this study. Subjects were divided into normotensive (NT) and hypertensive (HT) groups according to the mean resting cardiovascular values that were taken using a Finometer device. High-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) and cortisol blood serum values were determined by immunochemistry and ELISA analyses. Significant differences within each ethnic group and between each of the groups (NT and HT) were determined by analysis of covariance (ANCOVA), for anthropometric, cardiovascular, hs-CRP and cortisol variables, while adjusting for cardiovascular covariates (age, smoking and alcohol consumption). Partial correlations analyses were used to examine the relationship between hs-CRP, cortisol, anthropometric and cardiovascular parameters adjusting for cardiovascular covariates. Logistic regression analyses was used within each ethnic group to determine the relationship between anthropometric, cardiovascular, hs-CRP and cortisol as independent variables and hypertension as dependent variable. This study was approved by the Ethics Committee of the North-West University and all subjects gave informed consent in writing. For a more detailed description of the subjects, study design and analytical procedures please refer to the Materials and Methods section within Chapter 2 of this dissertation. Results and Conclusion: Both ethnic groups presented higher hs-CRP and lower cortisol levels compared to normal values. Lower waist circumference (WC) and cortisol as well as higher blood pressure (BP) and vascular values were evident in Africans compared to Caucasians. Both HT ethnic groups were older and more visceral obese compared to their NT counterparts. HT Caucasians indicated higher central adrenergic responses whilst HT Africans showed vascular adrenergicresponses. Only NT Africans had lower cortisol values than NT Caucasians but the Africans (NT and HT) responded with higher diastolic blood pressure responses compared to their Caucasian counterparts. Moreover, hs-CRP within African women significantly correlated with all BP and obesity variables whilst hs-CRP only associated with stroke volume (SV) and compliance (Cw) within HT Caucasian women. Cortisol in both ethnic groups was strongly associated with vascular BP responses. Only BP contributed to the higher prevalence of HT in both ethnic groups. In conclusion, these results suggest the possible diverse roles of HPA axis dysregulation associated with higher inflammatory responses. This happens in conjunction with cardiac and vascular responses within more obese Caucasian and especially African women, respectively. / MSc (Physiology), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2009

Cultural intelligence (referred to as CQ) has gained increasing attention from research. This is because of the modern-day relevance to globalisation, international management and work diversification. Demographical shifts towards a more diverse South African population contribute to various challenges for successful cross-cultural interactions for young Afrikaans-speaking South Africans. Selective perception, social categorisation, stereotyping, attribution and diversity among South Africa‟s different cultures (race, gender, language, vocabulary, content, accent and appearances) are barriers that must be overcome. The study was a quantitative study. A cross-sectional survey was used to collect the data and to achieve the research objectives. Convenience and quota sampling methods were used to include a sample of young South Africans from a higher education institution (N=252). The participants were young South African students, white, Afrikaans speaking and between the ages of 18 and 22. Questionnaires were distributed, and the participants completed the questionnaire during class and were given 2 hours to complete the questionnaires. The statistical analysis was carried out with the IBM SPSS statistics and the Mplus 7.11 programme. Product-moment correlation coefficients were used to specify the relationships between the variables and multiple regressions to determine which dimensions of personality and identity predicted CQ. The general objective of this research is to determine the relationship between Identity, Personality and Cultural Intelligence among young South Africans. The Erickson Psychosocial Stage Inventory (EPSI) and the Multi-Ethnic Identity Measure (MEIM) was used to measure personal, ethnic and religious identity. The SAPI-questionnaire was used to measure the constructs, conscientiousness, extraversion, openness, soft-heartedness, relationship-harmony, intellect, integrity and facilitating. Furthermore, the Four Factor Model of Cultural Intelligence Scale was applied to measure the dimensions of CQ, namely, meta-cognitive CQ, cognitive CQ, motivational CQ and behavioural CQ. This study indicated a positive relationship between cognitive CQ and the other three components of CQ. Conscientiousness, emotional stability, extroversion, facilitating, intellect and openness related positively to meta-cognitive CQ. Facilitating, intellect and openness were found to be positively related with motivational CQ. Furthermore, conscientiousness, emotional stability, extroversion, intellect, relationship harmony and soft-heartedness related positively with behavioural CQ. Religious identity has a negative effect on cognitive CQ. Furthermore, intellect, facilitating and ethnic identity predicted meta-cognitive CQ. Soft-heartedness, facilitating, extroversion and religious identity had a positive effect on motivational CQ, influencing young Afrikaans speaking South Africans interest and drive in adapting to cultural differences. Furthermore, soft-heartedness and conscientiousness had a positive effect on behavioural CQ. Recommendations were made for future research and for practise. / MCom (Industrial Psychology), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2014