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The purpose of this study was to examine community health services and HIV/AIDS awareness in rural communities in Abia State Nigeria in respect to the sociodemographic factors of level of community health services, level of education, and community leaders' influence. Two questions guided the research process: To what extent are sociodemographic factors associated with HIV/AIDS awareness, and what is the relationship between level of community health services and extent of HIV/AIDS, as perceived by residents of these communities. A mixed method paradigm was used. A sample of 131 participants, who were HIV/AIDS patients, were purposively drawn from a population of 107,488 individuals from 2 selected rural communities in Aba South, Abia State, Nigeria. The Kolmogorov-Smirnov for normality distribution at p=0.1 for all variables indicated that normality rule was not violated. Descriptive and inferential tests (Spearman's rank order correlation, analysis of variance[ANOVA], chi-square tests of independence, Fisher's exact tests, and independent sample t-tests) were carried out with SPSS V.2 software and the confident level set at 95% (α=0.05). Findings revealed no significant association between level of education, level of community health services, and influence of community leaders and extent of HIV/AIDS awareness, as perceived by residents of these communities (p>0.05). Results also indicated significant relationship between the level of community health services and the extent of risk of HIV/AIDS, as perceived by residents of these communities. A well-planned method of information dissemination on HIV/AIDS can also be used to educate rural residents in Nigeria.

Political engagement has an established body of research. However, one key area that has not been investigated in the field is the relationship between political engagement and type of community lived in. This study explores this relationship between type of community, past political engagement, perceptions of community leaders, attitude about political engagement, and socieodemographic characteristics. A conceptual model was developed based on existing literature. Utilizing a statewide survey conducted in 2009 that yielded 1,154 respondents with a response rate of 30.2% was used to explore these relationships. Using statistical procedures that test correlation were utilized to investigate the relationship between the key study variables. In addition, a regression model was created to be able to predict an individual’s political engagement. The result concluded that type of community does not significantly play a role in determining an individual’s political engagement. However other insights were revealed that showcase the complexity of political engagement and raise other questions about the role an individual’s attitude towards political engagement, and perception of community leaders affects their political engagement.

Magister Psychologiae - MPsych / Substance abuse is a global epidemic which is internationally recognised as an illness, characterised as being primary, chronic, progressive and terminal. Methamphetamine in South Africa is now drawing the interest of younger first time drug users from as young as thirteen years old, who are presenting at various rehabilitation centres in Cape Town. Many of the low socio-economic status areas are afflicted communities in Cape Town, which has been recognised by the Provincial government as an area troubled with societal concerns such as poverty, risky behaviour while using drugs or alcohol, violence and social disintegration. This qualitative study has its focus on the community leaders‟ perceptions of risk factors contributing to the spread of methamphetamine addiction in Manenberg and Lamberts Bay. The stigma attached to this area is often one that paints the portrait of a crime-ridden, desolate and poor community. The aim is to identify which risk factors community leaders believe are contributing to the increase of methamphetamine addiction in the area. Bronfenbrenner's social-ecological systems approach will act as a framework for this research study as well as utilising thematic analysis. It provides an understanding by which various systems within a community function and mutually co-operate. This allows one to expand on connotations ingrained in data collected from study participants.

The purpose of this qualitative research study was to determine where the need for a sports education program exists in the rural areas of Southeastern Tennessee. The problem was to define key elements needed to establish a curriculum and a leadership process for the adults involved in youth sports. Twenty-three youth sports directors were interviewed. The youth sports directors in this study perceived a child-centered program along with sportsmanship, character, responsibility, rebuilding participation, and the impact of a role model as the guiding principles for the mission of any youth sports program. Other emergent themes included curriculum topics such as rules and fundamental skills of each sport, safety and health issues, security, communication and teaching methods, conflict management, how to deal with adversity, and organization skills. The retention of top coaches and leaders in youth sports is important. The perceptions of the 23 sports directors in rural Southeastern Tennessee programs are vital in clarifying the sports educational needs for coaches and leaders. Sports education clinics and forums, as well as ongoing training, allow opportunities for directors, commissioners, coaches, and other community leaders to meet and discuss issues that are essential to providing the best experience for children while continuing to retain the best leaders and supporters of the programs. The implication from this study is that communities and higher education institutions should also consider the training and preparedness of future youth sports leaders to be successful beyond the x's and o's. Attention should be paid to the differences in communities that have a sports education program in place and those that do not and the support of community leaders for a youth sports program.

The concept of community leadership as a field of study has attracted the attention of researchers for many years across the globe. The role of municipality councils is of great importance as an aspect of democratic governance. Councils have a significant role to play as partners to the central government in providing community services. This research attempts to explore community leadership in a new democracy focusing on the relationship between community members, community leadership and government organisations compared to the same of established democracies. The specific focus of the research investigation is community leaders and community members in the Kingdom of Bahrain as a new democracy. This thesis is an investigation of the success factors and barriers that influence the performance of municipal councils' members as community leaders. It also investigates how community leaders have practiced their roles and duties and assesses their performance and characteristics in new democracy compared to those of established democracies as exemplified in the UK, Canada, Australia, and the Philippines. The research objectives are: (1) to identify success factors that influence community leadership performance in a new democracy as perceived by community leaders; (2) to identify barriers that hinder community leadership performance in a new democracy as perceived by community leaders; (3) to identify the roles and duties practiced by community leadership in new democracies as perceived by community leaders and community members; (4) to assess community leadership performance in new democracy as perceived by community members; and (5) to identify characteristics practiced by community leadership in a new democracy as perceived by community members. Three sequential pilot studies were undertaken to gain better feedback from respondents and to build a strong foundation for the main survey. Two sets of questionnaires were developed for this study; the first set of questionnaires dealt with community leaders in new democracies, where they evaluated the success factors, barriers and roles and duties practiced by community leadership in established democracies. The second set of questionnaires dealt with community members in a new democracy, where they evaluated their community leaders through roles and duties, performances and characteristics practiced by community leadership in established democracies. The findings showed that municipal councils‘ members agreed on the importance of success factors and barriers that influence communities in established democracies and they were very positive about their own perceptions of their roles and duties in municipality work. On the other hand community members were negative about their own perception of their municipal leaders‘ roles and duties, performance and characteristics. The results also revealed an absence of clear demarcations of roles between government agencies and councils, and disproportionate demarcation of the constituents. The respondents agreed that awareness programs could be an important undertaking to improve and enhance the effectiveness of council leaders. This study may contribute to the literature by filling the gap related to success factors and barriers that influence community leadership performance in new democracies, focusing on problems facing community leadership and the solutions to overcome these problems. Furthermore, the governments of new democracies can use the empirical evidence to create and adopt new laws, policies and regulations that will redound to community improvement services, leadership enhancement and goal achievement.

Made available in DSpace on 2016-04-29T13:30:45Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Moses Song.pdf: 519542 bytes, checksum: 6be0bc999673962e0dab639417f757cc (MD5) Previous issue date: 2010-10-18 / This work examines three community leaders who exercise the office of president of neighborhood association in three districts of the region of Ipiranga (SP, Brazil). Through the analysis of the speeches in individual interviews, this study aims to understand whether the type of work they perform favors strengthening and development of the local community. The goal is to bring an historic review of the popular movement of neighborhood, in the classic paradigm of social movement. From this, we will discuss the emergence and development of the theoretical framework of Community Social Psychology and their concepts of power and community empowerment, proposing a democratic leadership that promotes the participation of community members. We conclude that these leaders do not encourage community participation, because of internal contradictions in the dynamics of the associations which they manage and because they perform an intermediary role between the State interests and the community. Thus, this movement is characterized as non-politicized, clientelistic and paternalistic / Esta dissertação analisa três líderes comunitários que exercem o cargo de presidente de associação de bairros, de três bairros da região de Ipiranga, São Paulo, SP, que através das análises dos discursos das entrevistas individuais objetiva perceber se o tipo de trabalho desenvolvido por eles favorece o fortalecimento e desenvolvimento da comunidade local. Realizaremos uma revisão histórica do movimento popular de bairro, no paradigma clássico de movimento social, e a seguir discorreremos o surgimento e desenvolvimento do referencial teórico da Psicologia Social Comunitária (PSC). Os conceitos de poder e fortalecimento comunitário da PSC que propõe uma liderança democrática que promove a participação dos membros da comunidade. Concluímos que os líderes analisados, pelas contradições internas da dinâmica das associações que presidem, pelo exercício de um papel de intermediário dos interesses do Estado e a população não propiciam a participação da comunidade e se caracteriza como um movimento despolitizado, clientelístico e assistencialista

Submitted by Maria Medeiros (maria.dilva1@ufcg.edu.br) on 2018-08-03T13:15:05Z No. of bitstreams: 1 ISABELLE COSTA PEREIRA - DISSERTAÇÃO (PPGCS) 2013.pdf: 1248866 bytes, checksum: 1bdb7e92aa09b0c59a6a0f2387119ce1 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-03T13:15:05Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 ISABELLE COSTA PEREIRA - DISSERTAÇÃO (PPGCS) 2013.pdf: 1248866 bytes, checksum: 1bdb7e92aa09b0c59a6a0f2387119ce1 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2013 / Esta pesquisa tem por objetivo entender como se caracteriza a relação de líderes comunitários com políticos em bairros periféricos da cidade de Campina Grande-PB. Trata-se de lançar um olhar particular sobre líderes representantes de entidades associativas que vivenciam o apoio a grupos políticos ora tornando personagens principais de atividades de Campanha Eleitoral dentro do bairro, ora demonstrando seu apoio no cotidiano de suas entidades representativas. Intentamos, assim, compreender de que forma é construída e possibilitada essa rede de acessos e se essa relação provoca reconfigurações em modos de se fazer política na atualidade. A pesquisa de campo foi realizada nos bairros Ferraz e Belo Monte, na Cidade de Campina Grande-PB, utilizando-se de metodologias qualitativas, como a etnografia através de entrevistas e pesquisa participante, entendendo que só através dos métodos etnográficos seriamos capazes de interpretar os "bastidores da política". / This research aims to understand how the relationship between community leaders in the suburbs of Campina Grande - PB and politicians is characterized. We intend to have a glance over representative leaders of associative organizations who experience both supporting political groups becoming the main characters of Election Campaign activities within the neighborhood and demonstrating their support in their everyday representative organizations. We intent, thus to understand how the access network is built and enabled as well as if this relationship causes reconfigurations in ways of politics nowadays. The research was carried out in the neighborhoods of Ferraz and Belo Monte, Campina Grande - PB, by using qualitative methodologies, such as ethnography through interviews and participant research, we could conclude that only through these methods we would be able to interpret the "politics backstage”.

Submitted by Socorro Pontes (socorrop@ufersa.edu.br) on 2017-07-28T12:40:13Z No. of bitstreams: 1 EuricoBCN_DISSERT.pdf: 496690 bytes, checksum: 9efd6a0fd01d3387af78fdd547095be2 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-07-28T12:40:13Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 EuricoBCN_DISSERT.pdf: 496690 bytes, checksum: 9efd6a0fd01d3387af78fdd547095be2 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2017-03-23 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / In Mossoró, economic development generated many socio-environmental problems simultaneously. We are interested in knowing how this situation is faced by social and political segments in the municipality. The general objective of the research was to identify as Public Power, community leaders, and social representation of the environment related to the possibility of eradicating the environmental problems of the municipality. The specific objectives were to identify what kind of conception about environmental problems exist among residents of the municipality, to verify how the functions of environmental agencies in the municipality are performed, to verify how the interaction between environmental agencies of different spheres of power in the municipality is, Identify whether community leaders are experiencing difficulty in carrying out their functions, identify how community leaders interact with public authorities to address local environmental issues, check how community leaders articulate with residents to address environmental issues, and Community leaders are articulated to address local environmental issues. The research has a descriptive and explanatory approach, and the method used was qualitative. The procedures for data collection were interviews, questionnaires, and documentary analysis. Participants were collaborators representing SEMURB, the Environmental Education Secretariat, the Environmental Inspection Secretariat (SEMURB appendices), and IDEMA, both located in the city center. Also interviewed were leaders of the Community Council of Alto do São Manoel 01, Airport 02, and Belo Horizonte, Hipólito 01, São João da Várzea, and Barrinha; And the FIACMM, the representative of CUC, and FECEB, as well as 100 residents of the municipality. With the latter the questionnaires were applied. Interviews were conducted with Council leaders and representatives of IDEMA and SEMURB. The documentary analysis was done in consultation with sites of IDEMA, city hall, ANOREG, IBGE, and documents obtained. It has been shown that the IDEMA website is rich in information while the SEMURB website is not good enough. The social representation of environmental problems for many people in the municipality may be tied to the mechanical assimilation of information on the subject. The survey also revealed that public environmental management in Mossoró go through difficulties due to resource scarcity, but professionals do what they can. In relation to the community movement in Mossoró, the result of the research demonstrated that it is weakened on the one hand, because some Council leaders have become conniving with the Public Power beacons to weaken the movement in exchange for personal advantages. As a result, the population gives little support to the community movement for disbelief in the movement itself and in politics / Em Mossoró o desenvolvimento econômico gerou muitos problemas socioambientais simultaneamente. Nos interessamos em saber como essa situação é enfrentada por segmentos sociais e políticos no município. O objetivo geral da pesquisa foi identificar como Poder Público, líderes comunitários, e representação social do meio ambiente se relacionam com a possibilidade de erradicação dos problemas ambientais do município. Os objetivos específicos foram: identificar que tipo de concepção sobre os problemas ambientais existe entre moradores do município, constatar de que maneira são desempenhadas as funções de órgãos ambientais no município, verificar como é a interação entre órgãos ambientais de diferentes esferas de poder no município, identificar se os órgãos pesquisados experimentam alguma dificuldade para conseguir desempenhar suas funções, identificar como os líderes comunitários interagem com o poder público para tratar dos problemas ambientais locais, verificar como os líderes comunitários se articulam com os moradores para tratar dos problemas ambientais, e constatar como líderes comunitários se articulam entre si para tratar dos problemas ambientais locais. A pesquisa tem enfoque descritivo e explicativo, e o método utilizado foi o qualitativo. Os procedimentos de coleta de dados foram entrevistas, questionários, e análise documental. Os participantes foram colaboradores representantes da SEMURB, da Secretaria de Educação Ambiental, da Secretaria de Fiscalização Ambiental (apêndices da SEMURB), e do IDEMA, ambos situados no centro da cidade. Também foram entrevistados líderes do Conselho Comunitário do Alto do São Manoel 01, do Aeroporto 02, e Belo Horizonte, Hipólito 01, São João da Várzea, e Barrinha; e ainda, o dirigente da FIACMM, o representante da CUC, e da FECEB, além de 100 moradores do município. Com estes últimos foram aplicados os questionários. As entrevistas foram feitas com os líderes de Conselho e representantes do IDEMA e SEMURB. A análise documental foi feita em consulta de sites do IDEMA, da prefeitura, da ANOREG, do IBGE, e de documentos obtidos. Ficou demonstrado que o site do IDEMA é rico em informações enquanto o da SEMURB deixa a desejar. A representação social dos problemas ambientais para muitas pessoas no município pode estar atrelada à assimilação mecânica de informações sobre o assunto. A pesquisa revelou ainda que a gestão pública ambiental em Mossoró passar dificuldades por escassez de recursos, mas os profissionais fazem o que podem. Em relação ao movimento comunitário em Mossoró, o resultado da pesquisa demonstrou que ele se encontra enfraquecido por um lado, porque alguns líderes de Conselho se tornaram coniventes com as balizas do Poder Público para enfraquecer o movimento em troca de vantagens pessoais. Em consequência, a população dá pouco apoio ao movimento comunitário por descrença no próprio movimento e na política / 2017-07-28

This Q methodology study focused on the perspectives of diverse community leaders concerning how their perceptions of leadership behaviors and practices were used to influence K-12 public education. The leaders’ perspectives were identified, described, analyzed, and compared with others who shared similar views through the use of Q methodology. Through purposeful and snowball sampling, a diverse group of community leader participants first responded to an open-ended questionnaire, inviting them to provide the leadership behaviors and practices they use to influence K-12 public education. This process of concourse development resulted in a total of 263 statements. These statements were then systematically reduced to 42 statements to be used in the Q sample, or research instrument. The Q sample represented the broad perspectives of the opinion domain and specifically addressed the content of the research question: How do community leaders perceive that their leadership behaviors and practices are used to influence K-12 public education? In the second stage of this Q methodology study, 45 community leader participants sorted these 42 statements to best reflect how they believed they most influenced public education. Following each sort, participants provided a rationale for their ± 4 statements which were used to further inform the data interpretation. These 45 Q sorts were then correlated to one another, and these intercorrelations were factor analyzed. Four factors were then rotated and extracted for this study. These four factors were analyzed abductively through examining the holistic placement of statements within their respective factor arrays, the descriptive comments provided following the Q sorts, and the demographic characteristics of the participants who comprised each factor. As a result of this analysis, the four factors were named: (a) Voice the Story and the Needs of My Underserved Community, (b) Provide Resources, Advocacy, and Grassroots Mobility, (c) Learn About Educational Issues to Lobby and to Serve, and (d) Build Supportive and Personal Relationships with Key School Stakeholders to Stay Informed.