This study evaluated the perceived impact of cigarette advertisement on smoking habit among students in selected Nigerian universities. It also investigated the influences of age and significant others on the students’ smoking habit as well as the relationship between cigarette advertisement and rate of smoking. Data were collected using structured questionnaires. The sample consisted of 566 smokers (503 males and 63 females) selected from among students of six universities in southwest Nigeria. Data obtained were subjected to both descriptive and inferential analyses using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS). Simple regression analysis, analysis of variance (ANOVA) and t- test were used to examine five hypotheses formulated for the study. The study showed a significant impact relationship between cigarette advertisement and motives for smoking ( =0.279; t =. 6.179; p< 0.001) and also between smokers’ perception of the health hazards associated with cigarette smoking and rate of smoking (t (514) = 4.469, p< 0.001). Smokers’ age and influence of significant others had substantial impact on their motive for smoking ( = 0.348; t = 5.99; p< 0.001; F(4,463) = 2.642; p<0.05). There was however, no significant relationship between cigarette advertisement and rate of smoking ( = 0.026; t= 0.581; p>0.562). The study concluded that cigarette advertisement had significant impact on cigarette smoking habit among students in Nigerian universities. The findings are discussed in the light of its implications for designing smoking intervention programmes targeted at youths.

This study evaluated the perceptions of Nigerian university students concerning the influence of cigarette advertisement on their smoking habit. It also assessed the influences of smokers’ age and significant others on their smoking habits. Data were collected using structured questionnaires and focus group discussion (FGD) technique from 566 smokers (503 males and 63 females) selected from among students of six universities in south- western Nigeria. Information obtained from the FGD was analysed qualitatively and presented in this study. Specifically, responses from the FGD was analysed based on the following: History of student’s smoking habit, perceived smoking benefits, health hazards of smoking, advertisement and smoking, roles of families, friends and peers in preventing or promoting smoking habit and attitudes of smokers towards anti-smoking regulations in the country. The study concluded that cigarette advertisement had substantial influence on smoking habit among students in the Nigerian universities. Implications of the findings for designing smoking intervention programmes targeted at the youth are discussed.

ABSTRACT This study evaluated the perceptions of Nigerian university students concerning the influence of cigarette advertisement on their smoking habit. It also assessed the influences of smokers’ age and significant others on their smoking habits. Data were collected using structured questionnaires and focus group discussion (FGD) technique from 566 smokers (503 males and 63 females) selected from among students of six universities in south- western Nigeria. Information obtained from the FGD was analysed qualitatively and presented in this study. Specifically, responses from the FGD was analysed based on the following: History of student’s smoking habit, perceived smoking benefits, health hazards of smoking, advertisement and smoking, roles of families, friends and peers in preventing or promoting smoking habit and attitudes of smokers towards anti-smoking regulations in the country. The study concluded that cigarette advertisement had substantial influence on smoking habit among students in the Nigerian universities. Implications of the findings for designing smoking intervention programmes targeted at the youth are discussed.

Magister Philosophiae - MPhil / According to a 2010 report by the United Nations, mortality rates among children under the age of five remain extremely high in most countries in sub-Saharan Africa in which Zimbabwe is one of them. Child mortality in Zimbabwe is found to be associated with the specific causes with differing factors. This thesis analyses main causes of child mortality in Zimbabwe with selected socioeconomic, bio-demographic, maternal fertility behaviour, sexual reproductive health and services delivery factors in the study area, and Zimbabwe’s progress towards reaching MDG 4&5, which is to improve maternal health and reduce child mortality. The study used secondary data from the Demographic and Health Survey Zimbabwe of 2010-11, which is a nationally representative sample of all deaths based on household interviews to assess the impact of socioeconomic factors, health care accessibility and HIV/AIDS on infant and child mortality. This is a theoretical and descriptive study which uses odds and hazard rates of analysis and also used bio-demographic variables to understand the problem by exploring the data to obtain the most plausible estimates of infant and child mortality in the past decades. The findings, to a great extent showed that, socioeconomic factors have a huge contribution to infant and child mortality rates in Zimbabwe. Preceding birth interval, family size, birth type, breastfeeding status, source of drinking water, mother education, mother income, area of residence, and father education have significant effect at univariate level, whereas, area of residence, mother education and father education were not significant at multivariate level. The finding from the study revealed that mother’s educational level is not a determinant factor of infant and child mortality in Zimbabwe unlike other studies. However, awareness about the influencing factors of infant and child mortality is vital in order to control them, so also is enlightenment on the need of birth control and family size and benefit of breastfeeding. Improvement on the socioeconomic status and empowerment of citizens most especially women will help to reduce infant and child mortality.

MMed, Community Health, Faculty of Health Sciences,University of the Witwatersrand / Introduction: The complications associated with diabetes usually occur over a long period of time and are mainly influenced by poor glycaemic control. Diabetic complications impact on the individual, the healthcare delivery system, and also have high cost implications. A number of studies have shown the management of diabetes to be sub-optimal in primary health care settings. Barriers that impair a patients’ ability to achieve good glycaemic control can be looked at from a patient, health facility and health professional perspectives. Good glycaemic control will not only benefit the individual patient but will also have a positive financial impact on South Africa’s already overstretched healthcare budget. Methods: In this cross sectional analytical study set in three Community Health Centres (CHCs) in the Johannesburg Metropolitan Health District, 418 diabetic patients were selected. An HbA1c test was conducted for every patient and was used to classify patients into a well controlled glycaemic group (HbA1c < 7%) or a poorly controlled group (HbA1c ≥ 7%). Differences between the two groups in terms of their risk factors for poor glycaemic control were investigated. Patient related risk factors studied included, basic demographic, treatment related, clinical, behavioural and lifestyle characteristics. Healthcare professionals and facility managers were interviewed and patient records were reviewed to describe health system challenges to providing optimal care. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression models were used to determine patient related factors influencing glycaemic control. Results: Of 394 patients with a measurable outcome (HbA1c), only 62 (15.7%) had well controlled diabetes. The mean HbA1c was similar across the three CHCs studied (p=0.464). Good glycaemic control was significantly associated with unemployment, shorter duration since diabetes diagnosis, treatment with oral medication alone and normal LDL-cholesterol levels (p<0.05). On multivariate analysis significant predictors of good glycaemic control were found to be a shorter duration since diabetes diagnosis, treatment with oral medication alone, being male, and those who were unemployed. Numerous challenges to providing optimal diabetes care were reported by health professionals including high patient to staff ratios, lack of working equipment as well as a need to improve diabetes management skills. Record review revealed that only a limited number of patients (16%) had ever had HbA1c testing. Conclusions: The majority (84.2%) of patients attending the selected facilities for diabetes care had poor glycaemic control. Management of diabetes in these CHCs is suboptimal. Patients with a shorter duration of diabetes, those who were male, Black African, unemployed and treated with oral medication alone were more likely to have good glycaemic control. Although the study concludes that patient related factors are at the forefront in terms of factors influencing glycaemic control, improved strategies in all spheres can only improve diabetes management at the CHCs.

The objective of this research is to discover if significant relationships exist between age, gender, household income, locations where children/adolescents ate, whom they ate with, whether they considered the food as a meal or a snack, and their consumption of food by food group. Three hundred and twelve children (9-11 years old)/adolescents (13-15 years old) completed a 24-hour dietary intake recall, and a 2-day dietary record. The subject was asked to indicate the amount of food he/she consumed, where he/she consumed it, who was with him/her when he/she consumed the food, and whether he/she considered the food to be a meal or a snack. The information was coded and all the foods were grouped into 12 groups. Data were analyzed with the Statistical Analysis System (SAS). The results showed that children had higher intakes of breads and cereals, dairy products, fruits and fruit juices, snacks and desserts than adolescents. Girls consumed more snacks and desserts, and condiments than boys. Children/adolescents in families with higher household incomes consumed more snacks and desserts, but fewer meats than those with lower household incomes. Children and adolescents consumed more breads and cereals, dairy products, fruits and fruit juices, vegetables, fats, meats, and snacks and desserts when they ate at home than when they ate away from home. Children/adolescents ate more breads and cereals, dairy products, fruits and fruit juices, vegetables, fats, meats and condiments when they ate with various family members than when they ate alone, with only one family member or with non-family members. Children/adolescents consumed more breads and cereals, dairy products, fruits and fruit juices, burgers and sandwiches, snacks and desserts, condiments, but less fats when they ate with their friends as compared to eating with others. Children/adolescents who ate breakfast had higher intakes of breads and cereals, dairy products, fruits and fruit juices, vegetables, fats, meats, snacks and desserts, and condiments than those who did not eat breakfast. Children/adolescents who ate more fruit and fruit juices had consumed significantly more breads and cereals, dairy products, vegetables, snacks and desserts, but consumed fewer sweetened beverages than those who did not eat fruits and fruit juices.

This study investigated the influencing factors to retirement home decisions in Taiwan. The effect of socio-demographic variables, health conditions, and needs to characteristics were examined. The objective of study was people whose age over 50 in Taiwan. The questionnaires were collected by mail and there were 755 valid samples. The findings from this study include the followings. First, using hierarchical logistic regression, the major predictors to decision to retirement home are: 1.insurance condition; 2.independence and autonomy; 3.comfort and convenience. Second, medical facilities and services are not major predictors to retirement home decision in Taiwan. This is quite different from the findings in America and European countries. The possible reason is that there are abundant medical resources and the medical accessibility is high in Taiwan.

The purpose of the research was to investigate the difference in attributions of offenders and magistrates about the factors that led to offending behaviour. Difference in beliefs between offenders and magistrates, about seriousness of some common offences and factors believed to be motives for offending, justification of offending and neutralisation of responsibility for offending were also investigated. The effect that differences in attributions between offenders and magistrates and how these influence the way in which offenders are dealt with in the criminal justice system was investigated. The attitude of criminal justice system professionals, and magistrates towards offenders was also investigated to find out if they affect court sentencing decisions, and the treatment and punishment imposed in an attempt to reduce offending. My research has shown, that offenders and magistrates hold significantly different attributions about the factors that influence people to offend, and about offence seriousness. Offenders and magistrates also hold significantly different beliefs about motives for offending, justification of offending and neutralisation of responsibility for offending. The UK Government Crime Reduction Policy since 1997, has been strongly related to the ‘What Works’ approach. This has influenced sentencing policy and the treatment of offenders. A major strand of the policy has been the introduction and implementation of the What Works’ approach and the use of Cognitive Behavioural Accredited Programmes within the Probation Service and Prison Service to change the behaviour of offenders and reduce recividism (Harper and Chitty 2005). Based on my research findings recommendations are made in the final chapter of the thesis for modifications to the present approach, and the treatment of offenders.

Extending the retirement age is becoming an inevitable trend given the extension of the population’s life expectancy, the need to reduce the financial burden of pensions, the increase in the utilization rate of human capital, the impetus to alleviate labor market shortages, and other social problems. Increasing numbers of countries are beginning to impose extended retirement policies. For instance, the United States, South Korea, Canada and the Nordic countries, among others, have all taken measures to delay retirement. However, the general social recognition is not high. The age of the elderly, education level and individual lifestyle have a significant impact on policies of delayed retirement age. A situation of severe aging puts the future pension system at risk, based on the interests of the country, delayed retirement can help to maximize human capital and relieve a country’s financial pressure. From an individual perspective, extending the retirement age may reduce provisions for elderly people. This study, based on the previous literature review, conducted a survey of people in Halmstad to analyze local citizens’ perception of delayed retirement and the influencing factors behind this. The results indicate that willingness for delayed retirement among the people studied is not very high, with reasons varying across different types of respondents.

<p>Date: June 4, 2008</p><p>Level: Master Thesis EFO705, 10 points (15 credits)</p><p>Authors: Wannapa Chaletanone (05-11-1982, Thailand)</p><p>Wanee Cheancharadpong (03-09-1983, Thailand)</p><p>Title: Internationalization of IKEA in the Japanese and Chinese markets</p><p>Supervisor: Leif Linnskog</p><p>Problems: Why did IKEA internationalize into Japanese and Chinese markets? And what factors did influence IKEA’s success in Chinese market but failure in the Japanese market of the first round?</p><p>Purpose: The aim of thesis is to understand the internationalization of IKEA in Asia by comparing between Japanese and Chinese markets.</p><p>Method: This master thesis based on qualitative approach in order to investigate the internationalization of IKEA in Asian markets as a case study since it is beneficial in understanding the observation and explanation of behavior in the certain cases.</p><p>Conclusion: IKEA is considered as retailer internationalization who expands into Japanese market as a result of deregulation and asset-based advantage while internationalize into Chinese market because of supporting environments such as political, social and economic conditions as well as transaction advantage. To success and failure, psychic distance and learning, strategic decision making process, degree of adaptation of retail offer, entry strategy, characteristics of organization and management characteristics are the influencing factors on internationalization of IKEA in the Japanese and Chinese markets.</p>