O presente trabalho tem por objetivo descrever o valor percebido dos consumidores das camadas de baixa renda, moradores de bairros notadamente pobres de Porto Alegre, sobre o seu consumo de alimentos e produtos de limpeza, adquiridos preferencialmente em estabelecimentos comerciais (pequenos mercados) de bairros. Ao partir da premissa de que os consumidores das camadas de baixa renda pagam mais por seus alimentos e produtos de limpeza, se buscou investigar seus hábitos de consumo, procurando entender as motivações que norteiam seu consumo, aspectos cujo entendimento nos leva também a compreender o valor percebido que estes consumidores atribuem ao seu universo de consumo. Para tanto, o trabalho foi apoiado num referencial teórico essencialmente da área de marketing, transitando por aspectos essenciais da disciplina, como preço, comportamento de consumo, níveis de envolvimento e percepção de valor (noção de justiça X noção de injustiça). A opção pela abordagem qualitativa deve-se ao fato de que o objeto de estudo não demanda um resultado que possa ser expresso em números, mas a descrição e o melhor entendimento de um fenômeno social. Recentemente, Deighton; MacInnis; McGill & Shiv (2010) destacaram as pesquisas conceituais como ricas em ideias, na maior parte das vezes inovadoras, interessantes, fundamentadas teoricamente e capazes de estimular outras pesquisas, além de proporcionarem novas maneiras de se pensar o comportamento do consumidor. A utilização de uma etapa de observação ao trabalho proporcionou uma vivência fundamental do universo de estudo e sedimentou o terreno para a elaboração e execução das entrevistas em profundidade, instrumento este que propiciou uma riqueza significativa de informações na sua coleta. Por fim, a análise de conteúdo, apoiada nos trabalhos de Bardin (1979) e Minayo (2012), trouxe à tona resultados que demonstram um valor percebido de seu consumo altamente positivo pelas camadas de baixa renda da população, afastando a ideia de injustiça pelos preços mais altos que pagam e colocando os estabelecimentos comerciais (pequenos mercados) de bairros de baixa renda no centro de um processo de sociabilização das comunidades, aonde as pessoas encontram confiança, ética e, em especial, um universo de consumo com o qual tem afinidade cultural, colocando o valor percebido em um patamar muito distante dos modelos tradicionais de preço, qualidade e conveniência. / This monograph aims to describe the perceived value of low-income consumers, residents of poor neighborhoods in Porto Alegre, on their consumption of food and cleaning products, preferably acquired in neighborhood’s shops (small markets). Based on the premise that consumers of low income populations pay more for their food and cleaning products, seek to investigate their consumption habits, trying to understand the motivations that guide their consumption, aspects whose understanding leads us also to understand the perceived value these consumers attach to their universe of consumption. Therefore, the work was supported by a theoretical framework mainly in the area of marketing, moving through the essential aspects of the discipline, such as price, to consumer behavior, levels of involvement and perceived value (notion of justice X notion of injustice). The choice of a qualitative approach is due to the fact that the object of study does not require a result that can be expressed in numbers, but an understanding, as it is a description of a social phenomenon at its best. Recently, Deighton; MacInnis; Shiv & McGill (2010) highlighted the research conceptual as rich in ideas, in most cases innovative, interesting, theoretically grounded and able to stimulate further research, in addition to providing new ways of thinking about the behavior of consumer. Using an observation phase the work experience provided a fundamental study of the universe and cemented the ground for the development and implementation of in-depth interviews, this instrument that provided a significant wealth of information in its collection. Finally, content analysis, supported by the work of Bardin (1979) and Minayo (2012), brought up results that demonstrate a perceived value of their consumption highly positive by layers of low-income population, pushing the idea of injustice by higher prices they pay and putting commercial establishments (small markets) of low-income neighborhoods in the center of a process of socialization of communities, where people are trusted, ethical and, in particular, a universe with which the consumer has an cultural affinity, placing the perceived value at a level far away from the traditional models of price, quality and convenience.

Thesis (MEng) -- Stellenbosch University, 2014. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The lack of adequate housing becomes an increasing concern as the human population increases, which is not only restricted to Africa, but worldwide. With the world becoming more environmentally aware, the aim towards more sustainable development has become more essential. This results in alternative building technologies (ABT’s) being investigated to address the backlog in housing. This study investigates plastic materials as structural elements in low-income housing to address the housing backlog in a structurally stable, cost efficient and environmentally sustainable manner. The viable plastic materials that were identified are FFC (foam-fibre composite) and WPC (wood-plastic composite) as structural elements and EPS (expanded polystyrene) as a core infill panel. Material parameters were obtained experimentally which were used in a numerical analysis to validate the structural stability of a modular WPC housing unit. The experimental work includes a direct compression, direct tension, compressive creep and a four-point bending test for the WPC. With the sandwich panels a push-though shear and four-point bending test were done. The compressive strength of the EPS as well as a relative bond strength of the selected adhesives was also tested. Furthermore, a comparative study was conducted on the fire performance (fire rating), cost efficiency as well as the environmental sustainability of three housing units constructed of FFC, WPC and block and mortar, respectively. In terms of structural stability, a modular plastic housing unit was devised and validated by both experimental work and plastic material investigations which showed that WPC can be used for load-bearing walling (with EPS as core infill panel), roofing and flooring systems. From the comparative study, it was found that the fire rating of the block and mortar housing unit met the requirements of 20 and 30 minutes for the internal and external walls, respectively, prescribed by SANS 10400-T (2011). The fire rating of the block and mortar housing unit was met in terms of integrity, insulation and stability. The two modular plastic housing units, however, only met the fire rating in terms of integrity and insulation, but failed to meet the requirements in terms of stability. The approach used to determine the fire behaviour of a housing unit is not as accurate as the physical fire test, since assumptions are made in terms of the fire properties. However, the approach gives an indication of the fire performance of a housing unit. FFC and WPC are laminated with PVC (polyvinyl chloride) which emits hydrochloride acid (HCl), when burning. Hydrochloride acid is a toxic gas. Thus, according to one of the minimum norms, stipulated by the NHBRC Home Building Manual and Agrément, an adequate housing unit should not emit harmful gasses. Although these regulations are not mandatory, in terms of this, WPC and FFC are not viable building materials for an adequate housing unit, especially when human behaviour and smoke control are considered. However, this aspect can be improved by adding additives to control, and in some cases prevent, smoke production. The comparative study also indicated that the cost efficiency of the FFC housing unit is comparable to that of the block and mortar design. The modular WPC housing unit has a cost which is substantially greater than that of the FFC as well as the block and mortar housing units. The modular plastic housing units, FFC as well as WPC, typically utilise unskilled labour to construct a housing unit, which can lead to the socioeconomic conditions of a community being improved by means of job creation. Due to the relative ease of construction of a modular plastic housing unit as well as a construction period of approximately three days, the demand for housing can be reached at a more rapid pace than by using conventional methods. In terms of the environmental sustainability, the plastic materials showed less negative environmental impacts as well as improved energy efficiency compared to the block and mortar unit. / AFRIKKANSE OPSOMMING: Die tekort aan voldoende behuising raak ʼn kommerwekkende probleem in die huidige samelewing soos die wêreld populasie aan hou toeneem, waar hierdie probleem nie net tot Afrika beperk is nie. Soos die wêreld meer omgewingsbewus raak, word daar gestrewe na meer volhoubare ontwikkeling in die boubedryf wat aanleiding gee tot die ontwikkeling van alternatiewe bou tegnologieë (ABT’e) om die behuisingsagterstand op te los. Plastiese materiale word ondersoek vir hul gebruik as strukturele elemente in lae-inkomste behuising om die behuisingsagterstand in ʼn struktureel stabiele-, koste effektiewe- en omgewingsvolhoubare manier op te los. Geskikte plastiese materiale is geïdentifiseer as SVS (skuim-vesel samestelling) en HPS (hout-plastiek samestelling) vir gebruik as strukturele elemente en uitgesette polistireen is gebruik as ʼn invul paneel. Materiële eienskappe was eksperimenteel bepaal, wat in ʼn numeriese analise gebruik was om die strukturele stabiliteit van ʼn modulêre HPS behuisingseenheid te verifieer. Die eksperimentele werk sluit ʼn direkte druk, direkte trek, druk kruip en ʼn vier-punt buig toets in, wat uitgevoer is met HPS. Vir die saamgestelde paneel was daar ʼn druk-deur skuif en ʼn vier-punt buig toets gedoen. ʼn Druk toets met die uitgesette polistireen en ʼn relatiewe verband sterkte vir die geselekteerde gomme was ook getoets. Verder, is ʼn vergelykende studie gedoen op die vuur uitvoering (vuurbestand waardering), koste effektiwiteit en die omgewingsvolhoubaarheid van ʼn SVS-, HPS- en blok-en-mortel behuisingseenheid. ’n Ontwerp is bepaal en geverifieer deur beide eksperimentele werk en analitiese ondersoeke, wat gewys het dat HPS gebruik kan word as ʼn lasdraende muurpaneel (met uitgesette polistireen invul), so wel as ʼn dak- en vloer sisteem. Daar is gevind, vanaf die vergelykende studie, dat die vuur uitvoering van die blok-en-mortel behuisingseenheid voldoen aan die vereiste van 20 en 30 minute onderskeidelik vir die interne en eksterne mure, soos voorgeskryf deur die SANS 10400-T (2011). Die vuur waardering van die blok-en-mortel behuisingseenheid het in terme van integriteit, insolasie en stabiliteit voldoen. Die twee modulêre plastiek behuisingseenhede het erger aan die vuur waardering slegs in trems van integriteit en insolasie voldoen. Hul het misluk in die voldoening in terme van stabiliteit. Die benadering wat gebruik was om die vuur gedrag van ʼn behuisingseenheid te bepaal, is nie so akkuraat soos ʼn fisiese vuur toets nie. Dit is omdat vir die benadering aannames in terme van die vuur eienskappe gemaak is. Die benadering gee egter ʼn indikasie van die vuur uitvoering van ʼn behuisingseenheid. SVS en HPS is gelamineer met PVC (poliviniel chloried) wat hidrochloried suur (HCl) afgee wanneer dit brand. Hidrochloried suur is ʼn giftige gas. Volgens een van die minimum norms, gestipuleer deur die NHBRC Home Building Manual en Agrément, moet ʼn voldoende behuisingseenheid nie giftige gasse afgee nie. Al is die regulasies nie verpligtend nie, in terme hiervan, is SVS en HPS nie ʼn uitvoerbare boumateriaal vir ʼn voldoende behuisingseenheid nie, veral wanneer menslike gedrag en rook beheer aangespreek word nie. Nietemin, die aspek kan verbeter word deur die byvoeging van bymiddels om die rook produsering te verminder en in sommige omstandighede te voorkom. Die vergelykende studie het ook gewys, dat die koste effektiwiteit van die SVS-behuisingseenheid vergelykbaar is met die van ʼn blok-en-mortel behuisingseenheid. Die HPS-behuisingseenheid se koste is aansienlik hoër as die van SVS-en die blok-en-mortel behuisingseenheid. Die modulêre plastiese, SVS en HPS, behuisingseenheid maak tipies gebruik van ongeskoolde werkers om die behuisingseenhuid op te rug, wat tot ʼn verbetering in die sosio-ekonomiese toestande in ʼn gemeenskap kan lei, deur dat dit werk skep. Aangesien die modulêre plastiese behuisingseenheid met relatiewe gemak en in ongeveer drie dae opgerig kan word, kan die aanvraag tot behuising vinniger bereik word, as wanner die konvensionele boumetodes gebruik word. In terme van omgewingsvolhoubaarheid, het die plastiese materiale minder negatiewe omgewingsimpakte en is meer energie-doeltreffend in vergelyking met die blok-en-mortel onwerp.

This dissertation examines low-income fathers’ involvement with their young children using the Fragile Families and Child Wellbeing (FFCW) data. Chapter 3 entitled, “He Said, She Said: Comparing Father and Mother Reports of Father Involvement,” compares mother and father reports of fathers’ frequency of involvement in various activities and in measures of emotional involvement. This chapter finds that fathers report spending 17.6 percent more time engaged in 11 activities with their young children than mothers report the father spending. How parental disagreement is measured yields starkly different results given the underlying distribution of these data. Chapter 4 entitled, “Estimating the Impact of Child Support and Welfare Policies on Fathers’ Involvement,” is a longitudinal analysis combining three waves of the FFCW data with annual, state-level policy data on child support enforcement and welfare policies. This chapter examines the impact of policies on fathers’ involvement over time. Fathers’ involvement is operationalized as accessibility, responsibility, and engagement. Using parents that are unmarried at the time of the focal child’s birth, this chapter finds that public policies do influence fathers’ involvement after controlling for individual social and demographic characteristics. Policies may be operating in conflicting ways to both increase and decrease fathers’ involvement. For example, fathers’ daily engagement is positively affected by stronger paternity establishment policies but is negatively affected by stronger child support enforcement collection rates and the welfare family cap policy. Chapter 5 entitled, “Two Dads Are Better Than One: Biological and Social Father Involvement,” examines whether biological and social fathers are substitutes or complements in a child’s life and how biological fathers and social fathers impact the mother’s frequency of involvement. This chapter finds that resident social fathers contribute as much time to the focal child as resident biological fathers. Factors that increase the overall parental frequency of involvement include having: a resident biological or social father, native-born parents, a biological father who had a very involved father, and a positive relationship between the biological parents. Factors that decrease overall parental frequency of involvement include: the father’s new partner, the father’s incarceration, a mother’s other children, and the child’s increasing age. / text

The current study examined the psychometric properties of the Physical Activity and Nutrition Self-Efficacy (PANSE) scale. If proven a valid and reliable measure of self-efficacy for weight-loss behaviors, the PANSE scale may be useful in future research involving activity and nutrition for weight loss. This is particularly important given today’s high prevalence of overweight and obesity, which may be curtailed with increased levels of activity and/or improved food-related behaviors. Initial reliability and validity testing was performed using a sample of 71 women low-income in central Texas. The average age of the participants was 24.5 ± 4.75 years; 35.2% were African American, 32.4% were Hispanic, and 32.4% were White. The women completed the 11-item PANSE questionnaire at baseline and at a 7-week follow-up data collection. Test-retest results provided reliability evidence, and there was sufficient evidence of internal consistency (Cronbach alpha = 0.89). Construct validity was established with significant correlations in expected directions with the Self Care Inventory, Perceived Stress Scale, and Decisional Balance Inventory. The predictive validity of the PANSE scale for weight-loss at 7-week follow-up and program drop out was not established. Exploratory factor analyses revealed a 2-factor model for the 11 items. Initial examination provided evidence for the reliability and construct validity of the PANSE scale. Future testing of the scale should to be conducted with other populations to assess the generalizability of the PANSE scale outside of the population studied in the current report. / text

Annually, over 25 million people in the United States receive the federal Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC). Nearly 5 million of those people are lifted out of poverty by the wage supplement the credit provides. A wide body of literature supplies evidence for the positive labor force participation effects of the EITC. However, little is known about the effects of the additional labor supply on the wages of low-income workers. This report employs state-level panel data to estimate the influence of EITC visibility and benefit levels on the wages of occupation groups with high shares of EITC eligible workers. Using OLS regression, I find that a 10 percent increase in the share of the population claiming the EITC corresponds with a 0.3 to 2.2 percent decrease in the median wages of high-EITC eligible sectors, relative to overall median wages. Further, a 10 percent increase in the maximum benefit level of the EITC corresponds with a 0.1 to 0.8 percent decrease in median wages in occupation groups with large shares of EITC eligible workers, relative to overall median wages. These findings provide useful information to policymakers regarding the unintended consequences of the EITC. Policy recommendations include increasing the credit value for childless adults, regularly adjusting the minimum wage for inflation, and financially penalizing employers who engage in unsavory wage behavior. / text

This report explores the extent, trends, and consequences of academic undermatch, defined as students enrolling at an institution of relatively less selectivity than what their academic qualifications grant them access to, including non-enrollment. Using a sample of two cohorts of Central Texas high school graduates, this report finds that undermatch occurs among all students, but that it was more extensive for low-income students and among students with average qualification levels. Low-income students were found to undermatch at 65.1 percent and non low-income students at 53.9 percent of those who enroll. Between 2008 and 2009, undermatch increased among all students; among the highest qualified low-income students it increased by 10 percentage points. The majority of undermatched students were found to be enrolled at two-year over four-year institutions. A negative relationship between qualification level and annual earnings was found in the earnings of students who did not enroll. This report provides a set of recommendations to address undermatch and college access among low-income students in Central Texas. / text

Problem: There is a lack of knowledge about women who are screened for breast cancer, have an abnormal finding on mammogram, and then do not return in a timely manner for diagnostics and treatment. Lack of follow- up likely constitutes delayed treatment and poorer outcomes. Delays may result in later entry into the health system with advanced disease, more extensive and expensive care, burdening resources. Late stage breast cancer likely results in poorer health outcomes or early death.Purpose and Aims: The purpose of this research is to describe contextual characteristics at the health delivery level as well as individual characteristics of women with abnormal mammography, and their association with use of follow- up health services. Particularly, this research examines the differences between women who are early and late responders after an abnormal mammogram.Population: The participants were a convenience sample of 380 women who participated in mobile breast cancer screening. A subset of women with inconclusive or abnormal mammogram findings was the focus of analysis.Methods: This research utilized a descriptive design with quantitative data collection through participant survey at mobile mammogram screening events in multiple urban and rural Arizona sites. Participants requiring further health care were followed by chart review. Analysis of correlations with the outcome variable: time to first follow- up appointment for recommended health care in women with abnormal mammograms was conducted.Findings: Data indicated the time to the first follow- up appointment ranged from 1- 110 days with follow- up for 77.4% of participants within 60 days, 6.5% within 60-90 days, and 16.1% without follow- up after 90 days. Significant relationships between contextual and individual characteristics and follow- up were found. Categories included organizational health system characteristics of geographic location, clinical breast exam and shared case management; individual characteristics of beliefs including value of health care; finance including out of pocket costs and perceptions of financial assistance; perceived needs including breast symptoms; and satisfaction with the last health visit and mammograms in general.Implications: Recognition of barriers to follow- up after breast cancer screening is important for development of interventions to improve outcomes and has implications for screening and treatment management programs, community health centers and private practice. Health disparity related to screening without adequate options for access to health care is ethically untenable. Nurses are well positioned to reduce barriers to health care.

A Thesis submitted to The University of Arizona College of Medicine - Phoenix in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Medicine. / Short‐term surgical missions (STSMs) provide an opportunity for the global health care community to address the surgical needs of developing communities worldwide. Conditions that require a one‐time intervention, such as cleft lip and palate, clearly demonstrate the positive impact these short‐term missions can have on the individual patient. However, the long‐term impact on the local health care system, economy, and community is less clear. Many in the global health care community believe that STSMs should seek to have a long‐term impact by establishing sustainable health care programs. Information regarding the impact of STSMs is scarce, however, due to limited regulation, research, and data from short‐term missions. This study investigates how short‐term international missions impact health care sustainability in low‐income and developing communities. This study uses a systematic review to investigate the impact of STSMs on health care sustainability. Additional outcomes included education and skills‐transfer, cost‐effectiveness, and cultural awareness. 15 articles were included in the study. The following outcomes were found: sustainability in 9 studies, education and skills‐transfer in 5, cost‐effectiveness in 4, and cultural awareness in 3. STSMs can successfully establish sustainable programs abroad. Factors that contribute to this success include education and training of host providers, cost‐effective services, and cultural awareness. Understanding the complex dynamic between STSMs and developing communities is key to developing effective and sustainable programs that offer long‐term benefits to those communities.

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of family of origin experiences and religiosity on parenting styles among low income black parents. Traditional research methods were explored. Non-probability sampling was utilized to collect data from forty respondents who were all parents of children attending a head start program. Self-reports of own parenting styles, family of origin parenting styles, and level of religiosity were used to measure study variables. Results indicated that family of origin experiences effect one's current parenting styles. Respondents who reported family of origin experiences of authoritarian parenting styles were also found to be authoritarian in their own styles; the same was true for the second category of permissive/authoritative parenting styles. Results for religiosity indicated that one's level of religiosity, either low or high, did not significantly effect one's current parenting style.

There is increasing acknowledgement of and concern over the growing social stratification in our society. This bifurcation is demonstrated in the widening gap between the wealthy and impoverished. A college degree is an especially critical asset in helping to break multi-generational cycles of poverty. Unfortunately, low-income and first-generation college students face daunting obstacles on their paths to college graduation. First-generation status and low-income status are each negative predictors of college success. This is a study focused on the success, as defined by persistence to graduation, of first-generation students from low-income backgrounds. It introduces faculty, college administrators, and policy makers to students from this background at a rural New England public college who were close to completing their college degrees. The research questions were (a) to what factors the students attributed their success, (b) what oncampus programs or services were helpful in leading to that success, and (c) how could factors identified as leading to success among these students be leveraged to assist the success of other students in this population? Criterion sampling was used to determine an eligible cohort. The three criteria identified were (a) first-generation status, (b) low-income background, and (c) likelihood of graduation, based on accumulated credits. Through qualitative interviewing I learned from these students to what they attributed their success. This research approach enabled me to gain in-depth information on the personal backgrounds of the individual students interviewed. The participants’ narratives – their life stories – drove the study. Extended quotes from respondents were compiled. Narrative analysis was used to code the data. Major themes that emerged included (a) the critical significance of faculty, (b) the value of support services, (c) the importance of flexibility in course requirements and delivery methods as well as program requirements, (d) the high value placed on positive reinforcement and feedback as a positive motivator, and (e) the ways in which the challenging aspects of their backgrounds, misunderstood as deficits (e.g., unvalued social and cultural capital), helped them to develop strengths instrumental to their success. The resulting recommendations focus on areas where the data indicated that institutional interventions could increase the likelihood of college retention and success. These include (a) better utilizing pre-arrival materials and programs as anticipatory socialization opportunities, (b) maximizing first-year celebratory socialization initiatives, (c) providing targeted support based on student background traits, (d) instituting faculty training and development focused on how their role and teaching styles affect student success, (e) reviewing strategies for informing students of services, and (f) leveraging the desire of students to assist their peers who have not yet realized their level of success. The hope is that the resulting knowledge gained will inform future practice as well as assist higher education faculty and staff to work toward the success of this student population.