The premise of this case study research is that nutritional requirements increase when women fall pregnant and that obtaining adequate nutrition is of particular importance for the maternal environment and fetal growth on both short-term and long-term outcomes, impacting everything from individual well-being to Gross Domestic Product of a nation. Nutrition is a complex and multi-faceted area of study. An important part of this study is the nature of intra-household allocation. This study explores the allocation of food and resources within a sample of rural households to identify whether the onset of pregnancy changes a woman’s ability to claim (receive) additional food and resources to meet her increased nutritional needs. Using case study methodology, I collected a combination of quantitative and qualitative data on individual and household level information of 32 pregnant women in the area of Inchanga, South Africa. Almost all pregnant women in this sample report that their absolute needs are met. I also find that a majority of respondents report a relative increase in food, money and/or resources during pregnancy. This indicates that for the greater part of households in this sample, women’s access to nutrition does change because they are pregnant. Where a pregnant woman’s nutritional needs were not met, important individual and household correlates include the pregnant woman’s relationship to the head of household, to other household members as well as to the father of the child, in addition to the woman’s individual access to and control over income. / Thesis (M.A.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 2009.

Research on social capital has shown that persons of low socioeconomic status will have access to fewer social resources. Less attention is paid to people in poverty who are actively increasing their levels of social capital and social support. Such capital and support may be significant to such individuals in a variety of ways. Using interviews with twenty low-income participants in an anti-poverty program, all of whom are connected to middle-class “allies” in intentional friendships, this study examines how participants feel they benefit from the program as well as challenges they face. Results indicate that both social support and social capital are received. A variety of challenges are also faced by low-income participants due to varying conceptions of independence based on social class as well as the nature of accountability within the relationships. / Department of Sociology

D.Litt et. Phil. / Poverty and violence are among the most provocative social problems in the present South African context. This study attempts to contribute to our understanding of the complexity of violence in the context of poverty on a microlevel and to explore urban Anthropology as a field of knowledge. The phenomena in question were elucidated conceptually with reference to the literature on poverty and violence. The multilevel manifestation of poverty supplied the context within which the nature, forms and manifestations of violence could be analyzed in its various contexts and in various social categories. To understand violence as a social phenomenon various theoretical perspectives have been discussed. Patriarchy, social learning, resource, exchange, sociobiological and social conflict theories, culture, norms and the ,context were explored as possible instruments of explanation. Both quantitative and qualitative methods of data collection were used. All the Standard 7 pupils (N=76) of the local school completed an open as well as a self-concept questionnaire, while 38% of the heads of households (N=235) completed questionnaires. Ethnographic data were collected by making use of participant observation, reports, diaries and essays, as well as interviews and case studies. Sixteen children and three adults in turn kept diaries and wrote reports during the research period of three and a half years. Research was undertaken in Davidsonville, a so-called Coloured township on the West Rand. The insufficient infrastructure, educational and employment opportunities, as well as social prOblems such as alcoholism and unemployment, were mainly products of structural violence and causes of everyday violence and poverty: Domestic and non-domestic violence in terms of their physical and psychic manifestations, were described, analyzed and contextualized ethnographically in the light of poverty and Coloured status in the South African context. Violence, as a process in the social relations of individuals and groups, manifests on various levels, viz. among men and women, adults and children, gangs and members of various "ethnic groups" as well as in various situations (the stokvel, school, public places, and the home). Violence is a universal human characteristic, but the context of poverty exposes man to the chronic experience of violence which causes psychological scars. Poverty is violence, and the fewer the resources available to an individual, the fiercer the competition and the more brutal the face of violence will be.

This study examines how the South African government's expenditure on social services impacts on the poverty levels in the country. To provide a background on poverty, different concepts and views on the subject are reviewed and then the nature and distribution of poverty in South Africa are discussed. In post-apartheid South Africa, the thrust of macroeconomic framework and corresponding policies implemented by the democratic government have been geared towards poverty alleviation, employment creation and national output expansion (economic growth). This study examines the trends in government expenditure on social services and uses econometric analyses to further investigate the effects of government spending on social services on the poverty levels in South Africa. Economic growth and employment opportunities will have to exist and complement fiscal redistribution to enable the poor lift themselves out of poverty in the long run. Improved targeting methods that correctly identify the poor could also ensure that social spending reaches the intended poor, thus narrowing the gap between macro policies and the poor, and preventing a waste of resources. Various poverty alleviation measures have been implemented, of which redistribution through the budgetary policy is an important one. As part of its package towards addressing the poverty problem, the post-apartheid government in South Africa has consistently been injecting considerable amounts of resources on inter alia, education, housing, welfare and health services. The initial results indicate that fiscal redistribution on its own is inadequate in combating poverty in South Africa. Models that incorporate economic growth and unemployment show that expenditure on social services do impact on poverty alleviation, in particular expenditure on housing, education and welfare. Further regression analyses show that poverty can be tackled through economic growth and employment creation. In short, there cannot be significant fiscal redistribution unless the South African economy registers high levels of economic growth and job creation. / Thesis (M.Comm.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2005.

Thesis submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree Master of Technology: Public Management in the Faculty of business at the Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2013 / The study, which deals with Assessing Contributions of Tourism Development to Poverty Alleviation Programmes in Langa, Western Cape Province, was conducted against the background that Langa Township has all that it takes to be considered as a well developed tourist destination. Despite the great potential of tourism economic clusters in Langa Township, which covers its rich historical contribution in the history making of new the South Africa, cultural tourism and township tourism, the township faces a challenge of unemployment whilst there are few community members that perceive tourism as an escape industry that would create job opportunities for them, and hence contribute to a better life. Conversely, this study locates the tourism industry as key in efforts to uplift the poor standard of living that the Langa township community faces. In South Africa, generally, the tourism industry is recognised as one of the key economic sectors that has great potential to contribute towards eradicating community-based poverty challenges. The central focus of the study involves the viability of tourism business segments in Langa Township, community participation, community understanding and awareness of the tourism industry in the area, as well as basic infrastructure to support tourism industry. The study employed both quantitative and qualitative methodology. The quantitative survey was administered by using Likert Scale questionnaires, which were distributed to community members who have stayed in Langa for more than five years. The quantitative survey was distributed to the Langa Local Economic Development Forum, tour operators based in Langa, and those who make use of Langa as a visiting destination, and community leaders. The main findings of the study revealed that there are few tour operators who conduct business based in Langa township, whilst those tourism establishments that exist are not widely marketed and properly planned to both lead and benefit from the potential of tourism economic segments in order to keep these operators highly viable and sustainable. Community understanding and awareness of the tourism industry in the area is at a fair level of understanding and awareness, but with little in-depth knowledge on how these communities can use it for the improvement of their living conditions. However, basic infrastructure to support the tourism industry in Langa is not at a high standard to attract tourist use. For example, the indoor sport centres, playing fields, and cultural yards are of a poor quality. This situation makes it difficult to currently position the tourism industry in Langa township, and drive it as a leading economic sector for poverty alleviation. Nonetheless, the study presents recommendation on how best to improve the current exploration on the tourism industry in Langa township for a positive impact on programmes towards poverty alleviation.

The purpose of this study is to conduct an assessment of the role of civil society organizations with regards to poverty alleviation. The study is conducted in Amathole District, Eastern Cape Province. The sample for the study is constituted by 3 civic society organizations (CSO), which are located in 3 local municipalities; namely, Amahlathi (Ikhwezi Women Support Center), Mbhashe (Nyhwara Home Base), and Mnquma (We Care Ministries) Local Municipalities. In terms of the data collection, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 14 officers from these civic society organizations. Concerning the research design, a combination of a qualitative and quantitative research approach was used. Concerning the findings of the study, the following points were noted: the different forms of interventions by civic society organizations, poverty eradication strategies, challenges that were experienced by civic society organizations, and the logical framework versus unexpected changes. It is probably safe to make mention that CSOs in the Eastern Cape portray a positive attitude and willingness to learn to manage the organizations better. The continuing support from the Department of Social Development will go a long way to assist the CSOs to become sustainable, in the context of management and efficient running of these organizations. The study thus concluded that specific benefactor-beneficiary dynamics are crucial for the success of any anti-poverty intervention. A greater need for the robust pro-poor social policy, availability of resources with which to translate it into action, and local entrepreneurial potential do not in themselves bring about success; they must operate in a certain way and be supported by certain principles and commitment for them to become powerful proper vehicle for alleviating poverty.

"The purpose of this study is to describe the differential perception of poverty and upper income areas in Dallas. Groups of students with contrasting socioeconomic backgrounds were included in the study. Their perceptions were analyzed as a function of their socieconomic backgrounds...A map of the city using postal zone divisions and some census tract divisions was constructed. Definitions of poverty and upper income areas were established on the basis of U.S. Census data and statistics from the State Welfare Department in Dallas. Students from a North Dallas prepatory school and a poverty area high school were asked to mark maps to show locations of areas of poverty and wealth...The study concludes that prep school students show both local and cosmopolitan orientations to the city of Dallas, while poverty area students are most aware of their own neighborhood."-- leaf [1].

Thesis (MA)--Stellenbosch University, 2002. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Botswana is one of the signatories of the Copenhagen Declaration, which was promulgated in Denmark in 1995. The Declaration, among others, called for signatories to eradicate poverty through decisive national actions and international cooperation as an ethical, social, political and economic imperative of humankind. This study, which takes the form of a policy systems analysis, seeks to establish the implementation path followed by the Government of Botswana in its endeavour to bring into effect its commitment to poverty alleviation, using the Copenhagen Declaration as a benchmark. The main methodology that informs this study is a comparative literature review of existing documentary sources, which include research reports and policy documents. This data is supplemented by interviews with some top officials involved in the planning, formulation and monitoring of poverty alleviation programmes. In addition, the author's experience of working as an Assistant District Officer in the Central District greatly supplements collected data. After presenting the background to the study and the research methodology that was followed, the study discusses the Copenhagen Declaration. It then explains the poverty situation at a global level. The picture is then narrowed to sub- Saharan Africa after which a more specific picture of the poverty situation in Botswana is explored. The findings of this study indicate that poverty alleviation policies and programmes implemented by the Government of Botswana are in line with the requirements of the Copenhagen Declaration. The most notable limiting factor affecting proper implementation of the commitments is lack of monitoring and evaluation, hence the study recommends that the Government put in place proper monitoring and evaluation mechanisms among others. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Botswana is een van die ondertekenaars van die Kopenhaagse Verklaring wat in 1995 in Denemarke uitgevaardig is. Die Verklaring het, onder andere, 'n beroep aan ondertekenaars gerig om die uitwissing van armoede deur middel van indringende nasionale aksies en internasionale samewerking as eties, sosiaal, polities en ekonomies gebiedend vir die mensdom aan te spreek. Hierdie studie, wat in die vorm van 'n analise van beleidsstelsels aangepak is, poog om vas te stel watter implementeringsweg deur die Regering van Botswana gevolg is om uiting te gee aan die verbintenis tot die verligting van armoede, met die Kopenhaagse Verklaring as maatstaf. Die vernaamste metode wat gevolg is om aan die studie gestalte te gee, is 'n vergelykende letterkundige oorsig van bestaande dokumentêre bronne, wat navorsingverslae en beleidsdokumente ingesluit het. Hierdie inligting is aangevul met behulp van onderhoude met sommige hoogstaande amptenare wat betrokke is by die beplanning, formulering en monitering van programme om armoede te verlig. Hierbenewens is die versamelde inligting tot 'n groot mate aangevul uit die ondervinding wat die skywer deur haar werk as 'n Assistent Distriks Offisier in die Sentraal distrikte opgedoen het. Die agtergrond tot die studie en die navorsingsmetodologie wat gevolg is, word eers aangebied en gevolg deur 'n bespreking van die Kopenhaagse Verklaring. Daarna word die stand van armoede op globale vlak verduidelik. Vervolgens word die blik vernou tot die gebied in Afrika suid van die Sahara en uiteindelik is daar 'n meer spesifieke ondersoek om 'n spesifieke indruk van die stand van armoede in Botswana te verkry. Die bevindinge van die studie toon dat beleidsbesluite en programme vir die verligting van armoede wat deur die Regering in Botswana geïmplementeer is, by die vereistes van die Kopenhaagse Verklaring aansluit. Die mees opvallende beperkende faktor wat die behoorlike implementering van die verbintenis tot die verklaring affekteer, is 'n gebrek aan monitering en evaluering en die studie stel dus voor dat die Regering behoorlike meganismes vir monitering en evaluering opstel.

Thesis (MPhil)--Stellenbosch University, 2000. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Within the academic fraternity poverty has traditionally been treated and analysed as a sociological concept. When poverty reaches critical proportions, its consequences may, however, spill directly into the political sphere. The author contends that poverty has become one of the major determinants of political debate in South Africa. The NP government (which changed its name to NNP in 1998), which ruled South Africa from 1948-1994 instituted apartheid, a policy, which gave priority to the interests of whites to the detriment of blacks, coloureds and Indians. This resulted in an unequal distribution of resources, and consequently also unequal social development of South Africa's different population groups. As a result poverty is concentrated in the non-whites groups, with blacks as a group being the worst affected. The aim of this assignment is to investigate the difference in attitudes between supporters of the ANC and NP towards poverty and the poor in South Africa. In this assignment the author proposes that ANC supporters have a better understanding of the nature of poverty and more experience of poverty than NP supporters. She bases her contention on the fact that the overwhelming majority of the ANC's supporters come from the previously disadvantaged groups. The finding of this study is that political party support is one of the major determinants of perceptions that South Africans hold towards the poor. ANC supporters seem optimistic about the future prospects of the poor, while NP supporters seem to be more pessimistic. It must, however, be noted that in many instances there seem to be a general trend that population groups in both parties have the same response pattern (e.g. blacks will show the highest percentage in a response to a question, followed by coloureds, Indians and then whites or vice versa). / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hoewel akademici armoede hoofsaaklik as sosiologiese konsep beskou, kan ekstreme en wydverspreide gevalle van hierdie kondisie direkte implikasies vir die dag tot dag politiek van 'n staat inhou. Die skrywer voer aan dat dit toenemed die geval binne die Suid-Afrikaanse politieke konteks is. Inderdaad het dit een van dié vernaamste dryfvere van openbare beleid geword. Apartheid was die breinkind van die NP (sedert 1998 die NNP) wat Suid-Afrika van 1948 tot 1994 regeer het. Die toepassing van dié stelsel het bygedra tot die sistematiese ontneming van die mees basiese regte van swart, bruin and Indiër Suid- Afrikaners tot voordeel van hul wit landgenote. 'n Byproduk van hierdie beleid, was die oneweredige verspreiding van hulpbronne wat oor 'n tydperk van byna vier dekades bygedra het tot 'n grootskaalse ekonomiese ontmagtiging van die bogenoemde groepe. Gevolglik is armoede vandag nog gekonsentreer binne die bruin, Indiër, maar veral, die swart bevolkingsgroepe. Die sentrale oogmerk van hierdie opdrag is om vas te stelof daar wesenlike opinieverskille tussen ANC en NP ondersteuners oor die kwessie van armoede bestaan. Die skrywer voer aan dat dit wel die geval is. Sy substansieër haar stelling deur te verwys na die feit dat ten tye van die relevante meningsopname die ANC se ondersteunerskorps hoofsaaklike uit swart Suid-Afrikaners bestaan het, terwyl dié van die NP hoofsaaklik uit wit, bruin en Indiër ondersteuners bestaan het. Haar bevindings bevestig dat party affiliase een van die primerê determinante van Suid-Afrikaners se houding teenoor armoede is. ANC ondersteuners blyk meer optimisties te wees oor die vooruitsigte van die armes as NP ondersteuners. Dit moet egter genoem word dat In vergelyking tussen die responspatrone van spesifieke bevolkingsgroepe 'n soortgelyke tendens binne die twee partye uitlig. In die meeste gevalle sal die persentasies vir of teen 'n stelling in dieselfe volgorde (swart, bruin, Indiër en wit) of omgekeer voorkom.

Thesis (D. Phil.)--University of Stellenbosch, 1936. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: no abstract available / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: geen opsomming beskikbaar nie