South Africa is currently experiencing ever-increasing rural-urban migration with many citizens from the former homeland areas migrating to cities to seek employment. Despite long-term residence in urban areas, many township dwellers do not consider these places to be home. Research into circular migration patterns reveal the lifelong relationships that migrants (amagoduka) have with their family home (ekhayeni). This study aimed to explore this relationship, looking in particular at the meanings imbued in the locality of home. In addition, the role of natural landscapes and social components in constructing meanings and attachments to ekhayeni for Xhosa-speaking migrants in Cape Town townships, who have family linkages to rural villages in the Transkei, was also explored. The study found that the landscape of home remains central to migrants’ cultural identity, belonging and well-being. Childhood experiences in nature, and cultural and recreational activities that continue to take rural inhabitants into these landscapes, remain key to this relationship. The rural area, as a geographical entity embodied with social and cultural/spiritual components continued to supply and satisfy many human needs for migrants, which were seen as crucial for psychological, mental and spiritual well-being.

The thesis is concerned with the rural-urban interface. It questions and argues against the validity of what used to be called the rural-urban divide, and presents the rural-urban interface as a single social field. The research makes use of Daggafontein informal settlement in Gauteng, providing a general socio-economic overview of this settlement by discussing the ways in which people in this settlement make a living. Most of the people come from rural areas and the patterns of their association within the settlement reveal that they associate themselves with people from their own rural homes of origin. Movement between Daggafontein and rural areas show some level of commitment to home areas. Perceptions of the urban-rural interface by people of Daggafontein informal settlement show that these two areas are not necessarily separate from each other, but are part of the same continuum as socio-economic relations continue to straddle the rural and the urban. As people, perceptions and values move in both directions along the rural-urban interface, the classification of the informal settlement becomes highly ambiguous, because it contains both rural and urban elements.

This study analyses the wolf (canis lupus) and human relations in Swedish landscapes. By addressing the change of ideas influencing land use and nature management during the time when the wolf was considered functionally extinct, two parallel realities appear that is shown to be something that the participants in this study relates and recognizes as their reality. These realities in turn can be understood against the background of environmental philosophy and the anthropocentric and eco-centric view of nature and the instrumental and intrinsic value that the nature may carry. Life story interview is used as a method to grasp these details in an individual’s perception of the wolf and nature. Since the wolf is considered to be as a division between rural and urban people, the study also analyses how people sharing the space with the wolf is referring to these dichotomies and how they identify with their surroundings. With contradictory, data a new way of conceptualize this is suggested: that urbanity and rurality is something that could be seen as performativity, something that you do rather than something that you are (Butler 2007). One might express identification with rural space but have an urban performativity i.e. working, living part-time, influenced by ideas represented in urban lifestyles. While the rural performativity is mirrored by living, working and sharing the ideas of how that landscape is used.

Rural-urban migration appears to be an ongoing process in South Africa. This is attributed to various reasons. In itself, the process contributes towards an ongoing demand for services such as housing, water, sanitation and transportation systems. Rural – urban migration plays a key role in urbanization. The living conditions in rural areas appear to be the main contributing factors towards rural-urban migration. This indicates that the challenges facing rural communities include the creation of conducive environments within those communities. Hence, the issue of rural-urban migration should be addressed from the spatial and socio – economic perspectives. In an attempt to address human settlements needs, South Africa has a policy framework which supports the right to housing as it has been accorded to South African citizens by their Constitution. The objective is to ensure that there is adequate housing for South Africans. This study investigated and analysed the relationship between rural-urban migration and housing delivery in Clermont Township in the Province of KwaZulu-Natal. The participants included the residents of Clermont Township and the representatives of the eThekwini Municipality. Among others, the study found that rural-urban migration is an ongoing process which affects housing delivery in urban areas. As a result it continues to make the objective of ensuring that there is adequate housing for South Africans unattainable. Hence, attention should be paid to the effects of rural-urban migration in housing delivery.

Notre recherche a pour objet le processus de légalisation des écoles créées par des travailleurs paysans en ville pour scolariser leurs enfants. Contrairement aux chercheurs qui essayent jusqu’à présent de donner une explication factuelle du phénomène, nous avons souhaité en faire un laboratoire pour éclairer la question suivante : comment des initiatives privées émergent pour devenir des projets porteurs de bien commun et comment le bien commun évolue pour devenir un bien public et réformer la gouvernance de la Cité ? Plus brièvement, nous souhaitons clarifier le rôle de la personne dans les changements sociaux. Cette recherche s’est attachée à montrer ce qui se passe effectivement en Chine, notamment le rôle dynamique des initiatives privées dans les évolutions politiques et institutionnelles du pays, à travers l’exemple des directeurs d’écoles d’enfants migrants. Sur le plan théorique, la recherche a été conduite à mettre à l’épreuve une théorie socioanthropologique de la personne, dépassant l’habituelle dichotomie entre l’individuel et le collectif, et à vérifier comment celle-ci, avec ses capacités instituante et éthique, participe à l’émergence et à la construction du bien publicet à l’évolution de la Cité / This study focuses on the legalization process of schools created by migrant workers of rural origin in order to educate their children. Unlike researchers who have tried so far to give a factual explanation of the phenomenon, we aim to take this case as a laboratory to shed a light on the following question: how do private initiatives emerge to become projects embodying a common good and how does the common good evolve into a public good and reform the governance of the City? Morebriefly, we want to clarify the role of the person in social change. Our research seeks to demonstrate what is actually happening in China, in particular the dynamic role of private initiatives in the political and institutional evolutions of this country, taking as example directors of schools for migrant children. On the theoretical side, the study was conducted to test a socioanthropological theory of the person, beyond the usual dichotomy between the individual and the collectivity, and see how the person, with his or her instituant and ethical capacities, participate in the emergence and construction of the public good and the evolution of the City

According to WHO, diarrhea disease is the second leading cause of death worldwide for children under five. Around 525 000 children under five are killed every year by diarrhea. Most deaths from diarrhea occur among children less than 2 years of age living in South Asia and sub-Saharan Africa. With a comprehensive strategy that ensures all children in need receive critical prevention and treatment measures it is possible to save the lives of millions of children at risk of death from diarrhea. The aim of this study was to identify what kind of treatment has been given to under-five children with symptoms of diarrhea and what kind of care the respondent sought in Zambia, a low-income country. Method: A cross-sectional study with secondary data from Zambia Demographic and Health Survey (ZDHS). The first-born child under five with diarrhea the last two weeks was selected in this study, to analyze what kind of treatment was given when showing symptoms of diarrhea. Out of the first-born children (n=7048) we found that 1 289 children had diarrhea during the last two weeks before the survey. Result: Of children having diarrhea 80% received some kind of treatment. Thirty eight percent of the children with diarrhea symptoms was given zinc and 67% was given pre-packaged Oral Rehydration Solution (ORS). The first place to seek treatment for the child’s diarrhea was at the Government Health Center (66%)followed by 18% that sought treatment at the Government Health Post. Conclusion: This study showed that the treatment and care seeking behavior for caregivers to under-5 children with diarrhea is of public health concern. Less than half of the children receives zinc as a treatment and 67% receives prepacked ORS. There is a need for education and awareness on the efficacy of ORS and especially zinc in preventing diarrhoea mortality and contribute to the UN Sustainable Development Goals target 3.2. / <p>Betyg i Ladok 210314.</p>

Background:  Previous research have found that different factors have associations with the level of function. Only few studies investigate the population of older adults with movement disabilities.  Objective: The objective was to investigate how childhood socioeconomic status, education, gender, rural/urban living, and cohort affects functioning in late adulthood for people with movement disabilities. Six hypotheses were tested.  Method: The sample was selected from the Swedish Adoption/Twin Study of Aging, and consisted of n=69 older adults with self-reported movement disability, mean age 78 years. They have all participated in motor function testing, which is an objective measure of function. Mann-Whitney U test, Kruskal-Wallis H test and binary logistic regressions were performed.  Result: No significant difference were found between low/high childhood socioeconomic status, low/high education, men/women, rural/urban, and early/late cohort. Associations were found between age, urban living, later cohort and poorer functional level.  Conclusion: The results indicate that the older adults from Sweden aging with a movement disability might have equal opportunity to develop and maintain functional ability. The participants all have a movement disability and it is possible that the disability is the main factor determining the functional level.

of diploma thesis Title: Strangers at home - In Search of Indigenous Identity at the Suburbs of a Glocal Mexican City Student: Marie Heřmanová Tutor: Mgr. Radovan Haluzík The presented thesis is based on a fieldwork realized during five months in the city of San Cristobal de Las Casas, Chiapas in south of Mexico and deals with different strategies through which are young Tzotziles and Tzeltales living in the new suburbs of the old colonial city constructing their identity. Main axes of the thesis are first the relationship of these young people to the native communities of their parents and second to the rich and turistic city centre. As a main ethnographic method I use participant observation and also the material culture studies ( the tesis focus mostly on identification through visage and consequently on the consitution of identity through styles and modes of dressing).

The modern global agrifood system has had significant negative impacts on consumers and producers. This has precipitated the rise of local food systems that are purported to improve the health and livelihoods of consumers and producers. High expectations have led to significant public and private resources dedicated to the development of local food systems. Despite this, there has been little systematic research exploring the social and institutional conditions that facilitate or frustrate local food system development. Using a comparative case study approach, this study explored the ways local structural conditions, collective action, food system policies, and the political context affect the development of local food systems. Findings suggested truly robust local food system development requires either collective action or public policies and are more likely to exist and be successful depending on the political climate and the balance of power between land use interests in the community.

Telehealth in rural and underserved areas are increasing rapidly due to centralization and cutbacks in healthcare. Since many telehealth studies has a patient-centered focus or organizational perspectives, we find a gap in research regarding practitioners' view in the unique contexts of rural areas. The question we seek to answer is how rural care providers experience telehealth solutions and what factors influence the adoption of its use. A mixed method case study with an interpretative approach is employed, examining a sample of rural cottage hospitals and their healthcare personnel in Northern Sweden. Data is collected through interviews, observations, and an online survey. Our thematic analysis reveals crucial connections between urban and rural settings causing sociocultural barriers. Education and tailored telehealth solutions considering the uniqueness of rural areas are thus recommended. Flaws in routines and interface design also contribute to the lack of interaction, thus the importance of user-centeredness with consideration of the urban-rural-divide and digital literacy disparities is highlighted. By offering insights into the practitioners' perceived experiences and the challenges they face, this study contributes to a more comprehensive understanding of telehealth implementation and utilization in rural areas and provides insights for improving user experience and adoption.