Made available in DSpace on 2014-10-09T12:47:04Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 / Made available in DSpace on 2014-10-09T14:09:04Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 07706.pdf: 6371760 bytes, checksum: 8cdbe2c0cf197928d6bfc5875913e7e6 (MD5) / Tese (Doutoramento) / IPEN/T / Instituto de Pesquisas Energeticas e Nucleares - IPEN/CNEN-SP

Made available in DSpace on 2014-10-09T12:53:23Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 / Made available in DSpace on 2014-10-09T14:09:34Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 / Devido à intensificação das alterações climáticas por causas antrópicas, ao reconhecimento da importância ambiental das Matas Ciliares e sua intensa degradação, este trabalho apresenta uma análise das possibilidades de obtenção de crédito de carbono para comunidade de baixa renda, como parte de um incentivo para a restauração destas áreas. Dois caminhos são demonstrados: i) via projetos de Mecanismo de Desenvolvimento Limpo (MDL), no âmbito do Protocolo de Quioto, que geram créditos chamados Reduções Certificadas de Emissões, e ii) via projetos do esquema voluntário, que geram Reduções de Emissões Voluntárias. Ambos encontram dificuldades na elaboração e implantação destes projetos, como por exemplo, a elegibilidade de uma área a ser restaurada, estudo de linha de base, monitoramento, riscos de não-permanência do carbono estocado, estrutura técnico-operacional, custos operacionais e transacionais, mercado regulado em consolidação, garantia do recebimento dos créditos. Apesar disto, este segundo mercado apresenta maior flexibilidade e aceitação dos projetos florestais. Os benefícios sócio-ambientais destes projetos são significativos e a valoração de seus serviços ambientais pode reverter-se em incentivos financeiros para a comunidade de baixa renda, desde que adequadamente remunerado. O crédito de carbono pode auxiliar na implantação destes projetos, contribuindo com a restauração local destas áreas e com o seqüestro de carbono da atmosfera, sendo esta uma questão global. / Dissertação (Mestrado) / IPEN/D / Instituto de Pesquisas Energéticas e Nucleares - IPEN-CNEN/SP

Magister Scientiae (Physiotherapy) - MSc(Physio) / A spinal cord injury (SCI) is an acquired injury, by which damage to the spinal cord causes complete or partial neurological impairment. The major causes of premature death after a spinal cord injury have been documented as septicaemia, urinary tract infections and respiratory disorders. However since the development of modern, comprehensive, medical care, persons with spinal cord injuries generally live longer and thus age with their disability. Several researchers have reported on physical activity and people with SCI and the benefits of it. The overall aim of this study is to explore and describe the experiences of community dwelling survivors of spinal cord injuries regarding their involvement in physical activity or exercise in their respective communities. This was a descriptive and exploratory study that utilised a qualitative approach. Participants for this study were mainly recruited from a registry kept by a not-for-profit organization rendering services and support to survivors of spinal cord injuries in the Cape Metropolitan area. Furthermore, the use of the photo-voice technique was deemed appropriate for this study as this would allow the participants to depict their experiences of physical activity/exercises in their respective communities by means of photographs. Five themes were generated from the thematic analysis: Knowledge of the benefits of physical activity or exercise; getting to and from facilities for physical activity or exercise; availability of facilities; influence of weather and future plans regarding involvement in physical activity. The findings of this study was that most of the participants were aware of the importance of physical activity and the majority was involved in some or other form of physical activity or exercise. A number of factors influenced the participants approach towards physical activity, mostly external barriers and facilitators, which was highlighted by emerging themes. Permission and ethics clearance was obtained from Senate Higher Degree and Research Committee of the University of the Quad-Para Association of South Africa. Participation in this study was voluntary and confidentiality and anonymity was assured. Participants were also assured of their right to participate, decline or withdraw at any time without any implications. In case of any complaint, the participant will be referred for appropriate intervention. An informed written consent was completed by every participant who agreed to take part in the study. All participants were treated with dignity and respect and feedback will be given to all relevant bodies.

Master of Public Health - MPH / A matched case-control study was carried out to identify the factors associated with the nutritional status of children in Livingstone district, Zambia. A trained field researcher collected data on demographic, feeding practices and socio-economic factors in matched groups of underweight children and normal weight children from the mothers/caregivers of the children. Interviews, using a structured pre-tested questionnaire, were used to obtain the data. All children aged from six to fifty-nine months admitted at Livingstone General Hospital during the months of October to December, 2003 with a weight for age below –2SD from the median of the reference population formed the underweight children (cases). The total was 47 children. The cases were then matched according to sex and age to 47 normal weight children attending the under five clinic at Livingstone General Hospital during the same months, with a weight for age above –2SD from the median of the reference population (controls). The final sample was 94 children. Weights were recorded using the same scale in the outpatient’s department prior to admission and during the under five clinic session. Interviews then took place in a separate room after the clinic nurse had attended them. A separate visit was then made to the homes of the children on a different day. Odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals were used to measure strengths of associations. Results revealed that the basic causes of underweight were the poor economic state of the country, unfavorable policies and insufficient government support in the areas of health, education, agriculture, housing and employment. Underlying causes were inadequate access to food, inadequate care of children, poor access to health services and unhealthy living environments, while immediate causes were poor food intake and disease. Low educational and literacy levels of the mothers/caregivers, unemployment and lack of sufficient finances to access basic necessities such as food, housing and health contributed to underweight. / South Africa

Magister Scientiae - Msc (Statistics) / Contraception is said to be one of the vital determinants of fertility (Bongaarts, 1978). African nations, especially those in sub-Saharan Africa have a history of high fertility levels and low contraceptive use. However, contraceptive methods have been used one way or another throughout human history, although, due to improvements, these methods have evolved over the years. In Namibia, there tend to be a huge gap between women's knowledge of methods of contraception and usage thereof. For instance as per NDHS survey of 2000, 97 percent of married women knew of a contraceptive method, while 38 percent utilised them. This study aims at investigating knowledge and usage of contraceptives among women in union of reproductive age in an independent Namibia, 10 years after independence between 1992 and 2000. Socio-economic and demographic factors affecting contraceptive usage are examined in this study to determine their significance. / South Africa

Background: Biomonitoring of pesticides is an objective measure of short-term pesticide exposure as it measures possible exposure in the human body. Current evidence on the relationship between demographic, socio-economic and pesticide exposure risk factors and urinary levels of organophosphate (OP) pesticide metabolites among children is generally incomplete and conflicting in some cases. There is therefore a need for further research. Objectives: This study investigated the relationship between socio-economic, demographic and reported pesticide exposure related activities and characteristics in relation to urinary levels of three dialkyl phosphate (DAP) metabolites (diethyl phosphate (DEP), dimethyl phosphate (DMP) and dimethyl triphosphate (DMTP)) among boys living in the rural areas of the Western Cape, South Africa. Methods: This was an analysis of data collected during a cross- sectional study of 183 boys from three agricultural intense areas in the Western Cape of South Africa between April 2007 and March 2008. Measurements included a questionnaire on demographic, socio-economic and pesticide exposure risk factors and analysis of spot urine samples for DAP metabolites. Results: Most of the boys (70%) lived on farms with a median age of 12 years (range: 5.0 - 19.5 years). The median concentrations of DAP, DEP, DMP and DMTP were 68.3 ng/ml (IQR= 27.9; 129.5), 5.5 ng/ml, 32.6 ng/ml and 16.7 ng/ml, respectively. The sum of the three DAP levels wasinversely associated with age. Children older than 14 years had less DAP levels (β = -68.1; 95% CI: -136.8,0.6) than children 9 years and younger. DAP levels also varied significantly with residential area, with the levels highest in Grabouw (apple farming), followed by Hex River Valley (grape farming) (β= -52.1; 95% CI: -97.9, -6.3) then Piketberg (wheat farming) (β= -54.2; 95% CI:-98.8, -9.7). Other weaker and non-significant associations with increased DAP levels were found with increased household income, member of household work with pesticides, living on a farm, drinking water from an open water source and eating crops from the vineyard and or garden. Conclusion: The study found younger age and living in and around an apple and grape farms, to be associated with increased urinary DAP concentrations among the school children provide evidence that younger age and residential area can be associated with increased urinary DAP concentrations among boys. Additionally, there are other household and behavioural characteristics that are associated with elevated urinary DAP levels. Further studies with larger sample sizes and longitudinal designs to improve the statistical power and the associations found are recommended. The study provided more insight to incomplete and inconclusive evidence of previous studies.

Background Teenage pregnancy is a public and global health concern that remains a substantial challenge in Low-income countries, particularly the densely populated countries, including Rwanda. The factors that contribute to teenage pregnancies are broad, with the most common are socioeconomic factors. The study aims to investigate the association of socioeconomic, demographic factors of teenagepregnancy in Rwanda. Methods This study uses a cross-sectional study of Demographic and Health Survey data from the national Representative of Rwanda Demographic and Health Survey done between 2014 and 2015. Our study Analysis used a weighted data sample of adolescents aged 19-24 years. Bivariate descriptive and logistic regression was used to examine the associated factors of Teenage Pregnancy. Results Descriptive bivariate analysis exhibit place of residence, wealth index and education attainment variables are statistically significant. Multivariate analysis found positive association with teenage pregnancy after adding all variables to control potential confounders in bivariate logistic regression. For example, education attainment (no education and primary); Religion (Protestant and Adventist); wealth index (poor and middle) teenager’s women and girls who lived in the eastern region were associated with pregnancy among women who were Below 20 years old. Conclusion There is a substantial increase in teenage pregnancy in Rwanda. The study results demonstrate that potential factors (economic status and education attainment) are more likely to correlate to teenage pregnancy in Rwanda. Socioeconomic and demographics factors should be strongly considered when designing policies to address teenage pregnancy in Rwanda. / <p>Thesis presentation of Socio-economic factors associated with teenage pregnancy in Rwanda: A secondary analysisof Rwanda Demographic and Health Survey data from 2014-2015 by Kalisa Francois</p>

In this study the impact of socio economic factors in raising a child with mental disability was discussed and explored. There is limited research done on this topic in the world and in South Africa. Studies show that there is a direct link between poverty and mental disability. There are multiple factors that have an influence on a family that have a child that suffers from mental disability. These factors include stress and unresolved emotions regarding the child that suffers from mental disability, financial burdens, dealing with the child’s problematic behaviour and the social stigma associated with disabilities. It was found that there is little support available for families that have to deal with all these factors. Different aspects of mental disability have been discussed in this study in order to create a better understanding of mentally disability and to provide all the necessary information surrounding mental disability. Aspects that were discussed are: a) What is mental disability, b) Levels of mental disability, c) The link between poverty and mental disability, d) Socio-economic and psychosocial factors that have an impact on the family, e) Causes of mental disability, f) Role of the social worker, and g) Services provided to families. These aspects have been discussed through literature and in the empirical study. Findings from this study show that families that have a child with mental disability also have to contend with a lot of socio-economic factors that play a role in the family. Having a child with a mental disability in the house has an influence on all members of the family. Children with a mental disability have serious emotional and behavioural problems. Parents of mentally challenged children commonly experience different emotions. Raising a child with a mental disability may be more expensive than raising a typical child. It was thus concluded that there is a need to explore the impact of socio-economic factors in raising a child with a mental disability. / Dissertation (MSW)--University of Pretoria, 2014. / tm2015 / Social Work and Criminology / MSW / Unrestricted

Philosophiae Doctor - PhD / Growth rates of three commercial eucheumoids: brown Eucheuma denticulatum and green and brown Kappaphycus alvarezii were studied at three sites (Gazi Bay, Kibuyuni and Mkwiro) in southern Kenya. The study was conducted using the fixed off-bottom rope technique over a 15 month period from August 2001 to October 2002, in 4 plots (5 m x 1.5 m) set up at each site. The brown E. denticulatum had the highest mean growth rate over the entire period of 4.7% day-I compared to the green and brown K. alvarezii which were 4.3% day l and 4.2% dayl, respectively. Mean relative growth rates were highest at Gazi (5.6% dayl), and lowest in Kibuyuni (3.2% day-I) with intermediate values of 4.8% dail at Mkwiro. Increased water motion was observed to increase thallus nitrogen and hence the growth of eucheumoids. The 'ice-ice' syndrome affected both brown E. denticulatum and brown K. alvarezii but not green K. alvarezii. Mean growth was higher during the southeast monsoon (4.7% day+) than during the northeast monsoon (4.0% dayl).The carrageenan characteristics of the three morphotypes were measured for 12 months. The highest carrageenan yield was obtained for green K. alvarezii (59.1% dry wt), whereas the average carrageenan yield for brown K. alvarezii was 56.5% dry wt and 56.6% dry wt for brown E. denticulatum. The plants at Gazi (58.0% dry wt) had a slightly, though significantly, higher carrageenan yield than both those at Kibuyuni (57.1 % dry wt) and Mkwiro (57.3% dry wt). However, from a commercial point of view the differences in carrageenan yields were not meaningful. Highest gel strengths were obtained in carrageenans from green K. alvarezii (1042.1 g cm") and brown K. alvarezii (1053.7 g ern"), whereas low values of 100.8 g ern" were obtained for brown E. denticulatum. The brown E. denticulatum had carrageenan with higher viscosity (81.7 mPa.s) and sulphate content (29.1% dry wt) than both green and brown K. alvarezii. The gel viscosities of all the morphotypes were higher during the southeast monsoon (67.3 mPa.s) than during the northeast monsoon (46.3 mPa.s) and were positively correlated with gel strengths.A survey was conducted among households in the three villages, from April to September 2001 to assess their socio-economic characteristics. There were 182 household heads interviewed; about 20% were women. Fishing was the main source of livelihood for about 48% of the household members. In 2001, the average monthly income for the surveyed households was Kshs. 9904 (1 US$=75 Kshs.), with about 67% having less than Kshs. 10 000. The average prevalence of poverty among the households surveyed was 45.1% with 38.8%,54.8% and 46.7% of households in Gazi, Kibuyuni and Mkwiro villages, respectively, living below the poverty line of Kshs. 1239 per month per adult person. An economic feasibility study for growing brown E. denticulatum and brown K. alvarezii in pilot farms of 0.1 ha was conducted at Gazi and Kibuyuni. A higher yield of 793 kg dry wt was obtained for plants grown at Gazi than those at Kibuyuni (793 kg dry wt). The net income derived from E. denticulatum was estimated at Kshs. 7549 annually in a 0.1 ha seaweed farm. A higher annual income of Kshs. 49 126 was generated from K. alvarezii. The rate of return on investment in farming E. denticulatum ranged from 15 to 63%, while 122 to 380% for K. alvarezii. The pay back period was shorter for the latter (0.3 to 0.7 years) than the former (1.2 to 2.7 years).A cross-sectoral policy analysis regarding legislation and policy relevant to the introduction and development of eucheumoid cultivation in Kenya, with particular reference to Kenyan legislation was conducted. The analysis showed that there is no system of promoting or regulating mariculture, though there are fragmented regulations that are scattered among the policies, Acts and regulations of various institutions. Such regulations were not designed specifically for mariculture and as a result they do not fully address the needs of mariculture. The establishment of a national mariculture development programme in Kenya is proposed as a means to develop and manage the farming of marine resources, including seaweeds.

Department of Defense (DoD) implemented Human Social Cultural and Behavior (HSCB) program to meet the need to develop capability to understand, predict and shape human behavior among different cultures by developing a knowledge base, building models, and creating training capacity. This capability will allow decision makers to subordinate kinetic operations and promote non-kinetic operations to govern economic programs better in order to initiate efforts and development to address the grievances among the displeased by adverse events. These non-kinetic operations include rebuilding indigenous institutions’ bottom-up economic activity and constructing necessary infrastructure since the success in non-kinetic operations depends on understanding and using social and cultural landscape. This study aims to support decision makers by building a computational model to understand economic factors and their effect on adverse events. In this dissertation, the analysis demonstrates that the use of cellular automata has several significant contributions to support decision makers allocating development funds to stabilize regions with higher adverse event risks, and to better understand the complex socio-economic interactions with adverse events. Thus, this analysis was performed on a set of spatial data representing factors from social and economic data. In studying behavior using cellular automata, cells in the same neighborhood synchronously interact with each other to determine their next states, and small changes in iteration may yield to complex formations of adverse event risk after several iterations of time. The modeling methodology of cellular automata for social and economic analysis in this research was designed in two major implementation levels as follows: macro and micro-level. In the macro-level, the modeling framework integrates iv population, social, and economic sub-systems. The macro-level allows the model to use regionalized representations, while the micro-level analyses help to understand why the events have occurred. Macro-level subsystems support cellular automata rules to generate accurate predictions. Prediction capability of cellular automata is used to model the micro-level interactions between individual actors, which are represented by adverse events. The results of this dissertation demonstrate that cellular automata model is capable of evaluating socio-economic influences that result in changes in adverse events and identify location, time and impact of these events. Secondly, this research indicates that the socioeconomic influences have different levels of impact on adverse events, defined by the number of people killed, wounded or hijacked. Thirdly, this research shows that the socio-economic, influences and adverse events that occurred in a given district have impacts on adverse events that occur in neighboring districts. The cellular automata modeling approach can be used to enhance the capability to understand and use human, social and behavioral factors by generating what-if scenarios to determine the impact of different infrastructure development projects to predict adverse events. Lastly, adverse events that could occur in upcoming years can be predicted to allow decision makers to deter these events or plan accordingly if these events do occur.