Magister Philosophiae - MPhil / One of the population structures associated with demographic dividend is “demographic transition”, which is a shift from high fertility and mortality to low fertility and mortality. It is understood that low dependency ratio (shows that there are relatively more adults of working age who can support the young and the old of the populace) is one major factor in achieving a successful demographic dividend (DD) (Esther, 2013). DD refers to the fast-economic growth that is achieved by a country when there are dependency ratios. This definition means that the proportion of people of working age group (15-64) is higher, compared to those of ages lower than 15 and above 64 years (Statistics SA, 2017). / 2022

There have been few investigations employing the level of aspiration as a motivational independent variable. The problem of the present study was to investigate the effect of an expressed level of aspiration on a subsequent level of performance on a cancellation task and to relate this effect to socio-economic classifications.

Magister Artium - MA / There is a high prevalence of sexual risk behaviour among adolescent females in South Africa. As such several intervention programmes are being offered by government, non-profit organisations and the private sector. The aim of this qualitative study was to understand adolescent females’ experiences and perceptions regarding adolescent sexual risk behaviour after their involvement in a youth development programme, offered by the Department of Social Development, in a selected community in the Eastern Cape, South Arica. As such a combination of an exploratory and descriptive design was employed, using a feminist approach to contextualise the phenomenon under investigation. Fifteen females between 18 and 25 years who participated in the YOLO programme participated in the study. Individual semi-structured interviews were conducted, and thematic data analysis yielded five themes and several subthemes. The findings indicate that adolescents engage in risky sexual behaviours from a very early age. The beneficial impact of the YOLO programme, its contribution towards improved decision making, reduced sexual risk behaviours and awareness of the influence of peer pressure are key findings. Recommendations for policy, social work practice and further research are offered. These include the need for research that addresses sexual risk behaviours in pre-adolescence. Improved insight into how to target sexual risk behaviours during pre-adolescence are regarded as a significant preventative measure. Moreover, government and policy makers should conduct more rigorous evaluations of youth development programmes focused on reducing risky sexual behaviour. Ethical clearance was granted by the Humanities and Social Sciences Research Ethics Committee, at the University of the Western Cape, and the Department of Social Development in the Eastern Cape.

Submitted to the faculty of the Informatics Graduate Program in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree Master of Science in Bioinformatics in the School of Informatics Indiana University May 2006 / A plethora of genomic and proteomic information was uncovered by the U.S Human Genome Project (HGP) – mostly by means of bioinformatics tools and techniques. Despite the impact that bioinformatics and pharmacogenomics were projected to have in the drug discovery and development process, the challenges facing the pharmaceutical industry, such as the high cost and the slow pace of drug development, appear to persist. Socio-economic barriers exist that mitigate the full integration of bioinformatics and pharmacogenomics into the drug discovery and development process, hence limiting the desired and expected effects.

MPH / Department of Public Health / Background: Despite modest improvements in child health outcomes during the 20th century, infant and child mortality rates remain unacceptably high in South Africa. South Africa, like many other countries in sub-Saharan Africa, is challenged by high levels of under -five child mortality. Aim: The purpose of this study was to explore the determinants of under-five mortality in a selected village in Vhembe District, South Africa. Methodology: The study was conducted in Mhinga Village in Vhembe District, Limpopo province South Africa. A qualitative approach using a descriptive design was used for the study. A sample of 7 mothers who lost children under 5 years of age through death were selected from the target population by means of snowball sampling. Data was collected through a semi-structured interview. The data collected was analysed using the thematic analytical approach. Results: Four main themes emerged during data analysis namely, diseases and infections as causes of U5M in Mhinga, Maternal and perinatal health as determinants associated with U5M in Mhinga, Health care factors as determinants associated with U5M in Mhinga and cultural factors as determinants contributing to U5M in Mhinga, Conclusion and recommendation: The study recommends that a study be conducted on the factors that affect the utilisation of health and ANC services and strategies to promote the use of health and ANC services in Mhinga. The researcher further recommends that a study be conducted on strategies to reduce U5M in Mhinga. / NRF

Magister Scientiae Dentium - MSc(Dent) / General dentists in practice (both public and private) are often reluctant to perform interceptive orthodontic procedures on patients that present to their practices. As interceptive orthodontic treatment (IOT) can be of great benefit to some patients, it validates the need to assess the factors that influence the implementation of such treatment.

Thesis Submitted for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) In the Department of Development Studies, Faculty of Arts at the University of Zululand, 2019. / This study critically explores, in comparative terms, the socio-economic dimension (drivers and effects) of Niger Delta Militancy and Boko Haram insurgency, within the ongoing debate on the nexus between security and development. Using the mix of Root Cause and Rational Choice theories (2RCs), the study through qualitative methods, demonstrates the relative implication of socio-economic causes and effects of both insurgencies, based on evidence from interviews, available video documentaries and literatures. Acknowledging the weak, however irrefutable, connection between security and development, the study underscores that the social and economic dimension of both insurgencies must be factored into a long-term recovery plan, despite the seeming religious façade of Boko Haram. The study demonstrates that while poverty, for instance, is necessary but insufficient in explaining conflict, its persistence amidst affluence and economic growth suggest that it significantly determines the hopelessness, angst and lack of trust in the system that often nudges some citizens to seek alternative means of redress. Such means may be ethnonationalism or religion as suggestive of the Niger Delta militancy or Boko Haram insurgency respectively. In addition, both insecurities have been hijacked by certain individuals for self-benefiting ends. This hijack is somewhat driven by personal rational calculus and oiled by the pan-Nigeria “socio-economic neediness” among the masses. In this regard, while the masterminds manipulate this ‘socio-economic neediness’, the lower ranks (of these insurgencies) derive immediate economic or political benefits from participation through criminality. Meanwhile, the study found that socio-economic causes are more easily identifiable in the Niger Delta insurgencies as compared to Boko Haram’s, especially from the standpoint of legitimate grievances. For the Boko Haram insurgency, the socio-economic underdevelopment in the northern region are ideologically manipulated to mobilise wide support for the insurgency through monetary inducement, leveraging on the vulnerability of the populace. This is especially compounded by the lower level of education among it ranks of foot soldiers and general level of human underdevelopment across the region. The implication of Nigeria’s mono-cultural economy for the country’s development trajectory and the current instabilities are explored to illuminate what, why, and how the resultant socio-economic underdevelopment could be related to both insurgencies. Accordingly, the popular criticism of the socio-economic dimension that often allude to the relatively higher level of vii poverty in other parts of the north compared to Borno is critically revisited. This is done by demonstrating that Boko Haram is hardly a Borno or North-east phenomenon exclusively. Indeed, the historical and ideological resonance of Islamic extremism of Boko Haram, across the entire northern region, strongly reinforces this view. The study further demonstrates how the protracted insurgencies, among other agitations in the country continue to inhibit Nigeria’s overall development, creating an endless circle of conflict. Hence, in contributing to the attainment of a durable and sustainable resolution, this study advocates that adequate and improved redress of the socio-economic dimension, among the other notable undeniable dimensions must take place. In this regard, the study critically engages the mix of defence, diplomacy and development (the 3D) as used in other conflict regions in the world, to decipher possible ways forward. Minding context dependence of such policy frameworks and the difficulty with transferability however, the study ultimately seeks only to draw adaptable lessons, especially its accents on inter-agency cooperation (human and material resource) in comparable insurgencies. Herein lies the security-development nexus in Nigeria, given the deepening human insecurity and underdevelopment spawned by both insurgencies

Thesis submitted in accordance with the requirements for the award of the Degree of the Master of Arts in Social Work At the University of Zululand, Department of Social Work Faculty of Arts, 2011. / The major objective of this study was to assess the impact of socio-economic status of the people at uMhlathuze municipality on participation in developmental programmes. A qualitative and quantitative mixed method was applied to investigate perception and attitude on participation of people in development programmes. To guide and direct this study four research questions were formulated and transformed into research hypotheses. The multi-stage random sampling technique was used to sample sixty respondents from eight communities in the research area who completed all the questionnaires items were actually used in the analyses. The hypotheses formulated were tested using the Statistical Programme for Social Science, version 18.0 (SPSS), the Pearson Chi-square test and minimum likelihood expected count ratio analysis were used. Results revealed that income level have significant impact on participation of people in developmental program in the study area; also that alternative income in terms of incentives or stipends provided by the facilitators improves participation in development programmes. Employment statuses have not contributed towards participation in development programmes and that time constraints were a major factor. Prior occupational status and prior satisfaction of previous programmes enhances participation. Small family sizes have impacted significantly to participation. Educational attainments have impacted significantly towards participation. The study found out that, programmes such as the SMMES on skill acquisition, Craft, Tourism and Housing development, have not contributed to alleviate poverty in that people are not aware or well informed of such programs. The study recommended that information dissemination, political tolerance, formation of pressure groups, regular meeting attendance, and provision of supportive policies were factors that would encourage and enhance participation in developmental programmes. Further studies should be geared towards policies that should enhance workers and business peoples’ participation in development programmes.

No description available.

There is an abundance of literature that focuses on the standardized test score difference between minority and non-minority students. Within this literature, socio-economic factors, parental influences, and school-level resources have been used to explain the difference in test scores. The purpose of this study is to identify the variables that are thought to significantly influence test score achievement. The data come from the Florida Department of Education and the US Census. Linear regression analyses results are used to examine the relationship between the independent and the dependent variables. The results showed that overall economic factors are more closely related to FCAT scores than race. More specifically, the percent of students receiving free lunch was negatively correlated with FCAT scores.