South Africa, being a multicultural society, is faced with unique and unusual circumstances that can influence the interaction between their work and personal lives. However, countries can vary noticeably in cultural norms, values and gender-role beliefs, which can lead to the different experience of work-life interaction. Because of these differences, South African workers could experience the interaction between work and home in different ways, and this interaction may manifest differently in various socio-demographic groups. This makes it difficult to develop strategies and intervention programmes that will help workers integrate their work and personal lives more effectively. The general objective of this study was to investigate the relationship between socio-demographic characteristics and four dimensions of work-home interaction and to establish which socio-demographic characteristics best predict work-home interaction amongst South African employees. A sample (n = 2040) was taken from four industries in South Africa (i.e. police service, the earthmoving equipment industry, mining and nursing). A socio-demographic questionnaire and the 'Survey Work-Home Interaction - Nijmegen' (SWING) were used. Descriptive statistics, Cronbach alpha coefficients, Pearson product-moment correlation and multiple regression analyses were used to analyse the data. The results indicated that robust predictors included occupation, gender and language for negative work-home interference (WHI), occupation, language and age for positive WHI, language and occupation for negative home-work interference (HWI) and language, occupation, age and education for positive HWI. Recommendations were made for organisations and for future research. / Thesis (M.A. (Industrial Psychology))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2008.

Lietuvoje asmenims, priklausomiems nuo opioidų, vis dažniau yra skiriamas gydymas stacionaruose ir farmakoterapija metadonu ar buprenorfinu. Tokiems pacientams visą parą skiriama slauga, todėl siekiant tobulinti slaugos paslaugų kokybę, svarbu žinoti, kaip slaugos veiksnius vertina patys pacientai, priklausomi nuo opioidų, ir slaugytojai, dirbantys priklausomybės ligų centruose, kokie slaugos veiksniai turi teigiamą arba neigiamą poveikį slaugos procesui ir pacientų lūkesčiams. Darbo tikslas. Išanalizuoti opioidinės priklausomybės pacientų lūkesčių tenkinimą slaugos procese. Tyrimo metodika. Atliktas empirinis kiekybinis tyrimas. Taikyti šie metodai: anoniminė anketinė apklausa pagal standartizuotus klausimynus (juos adaptuojant), statistinis duomenų apdorojimas ir medicininės literatūros analizė. Apklausa vykdyta dviejuose priklausomybės ligų centruose. Tyrime dalyvavo 266 pacientai (priklausomi nuo opioidų), kurie gydėsi priklausomybės ligų centruose, ir 71 slaugytojas iš šių gydymo įstaigų. Tyrimas atliktas vadovaujantis etikos principais. Tyrimo rezultatai. Nustatyta, kad labiausiai turintys įtakos pacientų lūkesčiams veiksniai yra šie: slaugytojų elgesys, jų sąžiningumas, geranoriškumas ir tolerantiškumas, aplinkos pritaikymas gydymui, informacijos apie gydymo ir slaugos svarbą ir vaistų vartojimą suteikimas, skiriamas dėmesys, bendravimas su pacientais ir jo šeimos nariais, pacientų ir jų asmeninių įpročių gerbimas. Tyrimo rezultatai parodė, kad pacientų lūkesčiams turi... [toliau žr. visą tekstą] / In Lithuania, persons who have opioid dependence are more often assigned to inpatient treatment and pharmacotherapy with methadone or buprenorphine. These patients are allocated with round the clock care service, therefore in order to improve the quality of care, it is important to find out how patients with opioid dependence and carers working in addiction recovery centres rate care aspects, what factors have a positive or negative impact on the process of care and on expectations of patients. Objective of the thesis. Analyze expectations in care process of patients with opioid dependence. Methods. Empirical quantitative research has been conducted. The following methods were applied: anonymous survey using standardized (adapted) questionnaires, processing of statistical data and analysis of medical literature. The survey was carried out in two Centres of Addictive Disorders. 266 patients (addicts on opioids), who were treated in Centres of Addictive Disorders, and 71 nurses from these medical institutions have participated in the research. The study was conducted in accordance with ethical principles. Findings. It was found that factors having most influence to expectations of patients are as follows: behaviour of nurses, their honesty, kindness and tolerance, adaptation of environment to treatment, providing information about importance of treatment and care, and usage of medicines, expressing attention, communication with patients and family members, respecting patients... [to full text]

<p>This study employs the Human Capital Theory (HCT), which postulates that the education of women is positively related to the likelihood of their labour force participation, in order to investigate quarterly dynamics in the labour force. This approach is an advancement of knowledge gained from previous studies such as Serumanga-Zake and Kotze (2004) and Ntuli (2004) who investigated the annual dynamics in FLFP. Investigating quarterly dynamics in FLFP is prudent as the market economy is very dynamic particularly at a point when the world economy is experiencing recession. Data for the study are extracted from the 2008 Quarterly Labour Force Survey conducted by Statistics South Africa. Logistic regression analysis modeling was employed with the dependent variable, FLFP, as a binary outcome. Other variables controlled in the analysis are gender, population group, age, marital status, education status, sector, main industry, main occupation and province. The results show that there is association between education status and FLFP status. Findings from this research are expected to contribute to the knowledge about trends in FLFP in South Africa and aid in planning of interventions aimed at improving the status of women as one of the critical steps in achieving the Millennium Development Goals.</p>

Research on smoking has to a great deal been conducted within a public health or a medical context, or focused on policy making. Fewer studies have taken their point of departure in a social sciences context, and still fewer have analysed why individuals start and cease to smoke, and how and why smoking patterns on an aggregate level change over time and vary between different population groups. The aim of this dissertation is to analyse changes in the Swedish tobacco consumption with special emphasis at elucidating the decrease in smoking during the past half-century from different angels. Thus, the first paper explore if and how changes in smoking patterns can be understood and explained with reference to Sweden’s development as a welfare state, and in relation to socio-demographic and socio-economic circumstances. The second paper focuses on the long-term pathways to smoking cessation, by discerning several distinct trajectories from smoker to non-smoker. The third paper analyses gender differences with regard to reasons to smoke, experiences of smoking, and central elements in the cessation process. Finally, in the fourth paper, the issue of to what extent smoking cessation can be described as a process of identity change is explored.   Smoking initiation and cessation vary by socio-demographic and socio-economic factors, and the rapid decrease in smoking has resulted in a rather vulnerable group of smokers in these aspects. The results also indicate that the cessation process is complex, with personal and structural factors interacting in the long-term process, leading to multiple pathways to a smoke-free life. Moreover, they point to gender differences in reasons to smoke and to quit, and in strategies to quit smoking. In addition, identity change seems to be important in remaining smoke-free. The stated inequality in gender and class points in the direction that structural changes and social policies might be of need to decrease smoking even further. / <p>At the time of the doctoral defense, the following papers were unpublished and had a status as follows: Paper 1: Submitted. Paper 3: Accepted. Paper 4: Manuscript.</p> / Women, Health and Substance use

South Africa, being a multicultural society, is faced with unique and unusual circumstances that can influence the interaction between their work and personal lives. However, countries can vary noticeably in cultural norms, values and gender-role beliefs, which can lead to the different experience of work-life interaction. Because of these differences, South African workers could experience the interaction between work and home in different ways, and this interaction may manifest differently in various socio-demographic groups. This makes it difficult to develop strategies and intervention programmes that will help workers integrate their work and personal lives more effectively. The general objective of this study was to investigate the relationship between socio-demographic characteristics and four dimensions of work-home interaction and to establish which socio-demographic characteristics best predict work-home interaction amongst South African employees. A sample (n = 2040) was taken from four industries in South Africa (i.e. police service, the earthmoving equipment industry, mining and nursing). A socio-demographic questionnaire and the 'Survey Work-Home Interaction - Nijmegen' (SWING) were used. Descriptive statistics, Cronbach alpha coefficients, Pearson product-moment correlation and multiple regression analyses were used to analyse the data. The results indicated that robust predictors included occupation, gender and language for negative work-home interference (WHI), occupation, language and age for positive WHI, language and occupation for negative home-work interference (HWI) and language, occupation, age and education for positive HWI. Recommendations were made for organisations and for future research. / Thesis (M.A. (Industrial Psychology))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2008.

Made available in DSpace on 2014-12-17T14:10:27Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 DiegoBSL_DISSERT.pdf: 829804 bytes, checksum: e8513b1969770df1630ff406301f2cb9 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2012-04-09 / This study assessed the level of knowledge, attitude and practice of Pap smear and human papillomavirus (HPV), in addition to analyzing the prevalence of genital HPV infection, Herpes Simplex Type 2 (HSV-2) and Chlamydia trachomatis in teenagers. The study consisted of two approaches, one based only on interviews conducted with adolescents enrolled in public schools or in public health facilities in the city of Natal. The other approach involved only a group of 132 adolescents enrolled among those admitted to two health units in Natal-RN. This second group of participants two specimens were collected for laboratory analysis: one was directed to prepare the blade for the Pap test, and other processed for DNA extraction for molecular analysis, focusing on the detection of HPV, HSV-2 and C . trachomatis. The presence of DNA of the three pathogens was investigated by the technique of polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The presence of each of the three pathogens was analyzed in terms of socio-demographic characteristics, as well as sexual and reproductive activity to identify risk factors for infection and development of lesions of the uterine cervix. The results show that the adolescents in this study had levels of knowledge and attitude very low, both in relation to cytology to HPV as though they have made a reasonable percentage of adequate practice exam and prevention of HPV infection. The overall prevalence of HPV infection was 54.5% and 48.2% in adolescents with normal cytology and 86.4% in those with abnormal cytology. We observed a higher proportion of cases of infection in the age group of 18 to 21. The prevalence of HPV infection was slightly higher among pregnant teenagers. The overall prevalence of HSV-2 infection was 13.6% and 11.8% in women with normal cytology and 22.7% in those with abnormal cytology. A higher proportion of cases of infection was found in the age group from 14 to 17, with a slightly higher prevalence among pregnant women. The C. trachomatis was found with an overall prevalence of 19.7% and 21.8% in adolescents with normal cytology and 9.1% in those with abnormal cytology. The prevailing rate was highest in the age group 18 to 21 years and in nonpregnant / O presente estudo avaliou o grau de conhecimento, atitude e pr?tica do exame de Papanicolaou e do v?rus do papiloma humano (HPV), al?m de analisar a preval?ncia da infec??o genital por HPV, Herpes Simples tipo 2 (HSV-2) e Chlamydia trachomatis em adolescentes. O estudo constou de duas abordagens, uma baseada apenas em entrevistadas realizadas com adolescentes recrutadas em escolas p?blicas ou em unidades de sa?de p?blica da cidade do Natal. A outra abordagem envolveu apenas um grupo de 132 adolescentes arroladas entre aquelas atendidas em duas unidades de sa?de de Natal-RN. Das participantes deste segundo grupo foram coletados dois esp?cimes para an?lise laboratorial: um foi destinado ? prepara??o de l?mina para o exame citol?gico de Papanicolaou, e outro processado para extra??o de DNA para an?lise molecular, visando ? detec??o de HPV, HSV-2 e da C. trachomatis. A presen?a do DNA dos tr?s pat?genos foi pesquisada por meio da t?cnica da rea??o em cadeia da polimerase (PCR). A presen?a de cada um dos tr?s pat?genos foi analisada em fun??o das caracter?sticas s?cio-demogr?ficas, bem com da atividade sexual e reprodutiva visando identificar fatores de risco para a infec??o e o desenvolvimento de les?es da c?rvice uterina. Os resultados mostram que as adolescentes deste estudo apresentaram graus de conhecimento e de atitude muito baixos, tanto em rela??o ao exame citol?gico quanto ao HPV, embora tenham apresentado um percentual razo?vel de pr?tica adequada do exame e da preven??o da infec??o pelo HPV. A preval?ncia global da infec??o pelo HPV foi de 54,5%, sendo 48,2% nas adolescentes com citologia normal e 86,4% naquelas com citologia alterada. Foi observada uma maior propor??o de casos da infec??o na faixa et?ria dos 18 aos 21. A preval?ncia da infec??o pelo HPV foi ligeiramente maior entre as adolescentes gr?vidas. A preval?ncia global da infec??o pelo HSV-2 foi de 13,6%, sendo 11,8% nas mulheres com citologia normal e 22,7% naquelas com citologia alterada. Uma maior propor??o de casos da infec??o foi encontrada na faixa et?ria dos 14 aos 17, sendo a preval?ncia ligeiramente maior entre as gr?vidas. A C. trachomatis foi encontrada com uma preval?ncia global de 19,7%, sendo 21,8% nas adolescentes com citologia normal e 9,1% naquelas com citologia alterada. A taxa de prevalecia foi maior na faixa et?ria dos 18 aos 21 anos e nas n?o gr?vidas

Este estudo avaliou a prevalência de colonização e infecção bucal por Candida, bem como a de cárie não-tratada em crianças com aids atendidas no ambulatório de Infectologia, Instituto da Criança do HC-FMUSP. Foram examinados 117 pacientes em idade de 3-15 anos (média 9,4 anos) para o estudo da prevalência de Candida, e 125 na mesma faixa de idade para a avaliação da necessidade de tratamento de restauração dentária. Condições clínicas gerais, medicação em uso e dados laboratoriais foram obtidos do prontuário médico referente a cada paciente. O exame bucal seguiu as normas da OMS (1996); questionário sócio-demográfico foi respondido pelos cuidadores. A prevalência de cárie foi avaliada em relação às condições socioeconômicas, comportamentais e clínicas dos pacientes. Para o estudo de associação entre as variáveis foi utilizada a análise de regressão de Poisson com ajuste por idade. Os resultados indicaram 62% de prevalência de colonização bucal por Candida (54%-72%, intervalo de confiança 95%). A manifestação clínica da candidose bucal foi baixa entre os pacientes avaliados (7%), considerando que a maioria das crianças apresentava baixa contagem CD4, alta carga viral e colonização por Candida. Foi identificada associação entre cultura positiva com uso freqüente de antibióticos (razão de prevalência RP = 1,44), sulfa (RP = 1,23), alteração de mucosa bucal (RP = 1,55) e prevalência de cárie nãotratada (RP = 1,93); associação negativa ocorreu quando em uso de medicamentos anti-retrovirais (RP = 0,65). Candida albicans foi a espécie mais isolada (80%); espécies não-albicans corresponderam a 18%. Nenhum caso de colonização por C. dubliniensis foi identificado através de testes fenotípicos. A freqüência de cárie nãotratada em ao menos um dente decíduo ou permanente foi de 58% dentre os pacientes, porcentagem mais elevada que a verificada entre crianças sem aids de mesma idade no Estado de São Paulo. Cuidador familiar com ensino secundário completo representou fator de redução da prevalência de cárie, (RP = 0,51), enquanto aglomeração domiciliar (RP = 1,53) e freqüência diária de ingestão de açúcar (RP = 1,44) associaram com prevalência mais elevada. Carga viral maior que 100.000 cóp/ml (RP = 1,41) e manifestação de sintomas severos da aids (RP = 1,39) também associaram com pior condição dentária. O presente estudo mostra baixa prevalência de lesão bucal, indicativo de que as terapias anti-retrovirais para a doença aids produz resultados clínicos bem satisfatórios, e que crianças com aids têm maior necessidade de tratamento dentário do que crianças HIV negativas. A elevada prevalência de colonização por Candida e de cárie não-tratada em crianças com aids reforça a necessidade e importância da integração do dentista na equipe multiprofissional que atende a esses pacientes. / This study assessed the prevalence of oral colonization and infection caused by Candida, as well of untreated caries in pediatric patients with aids attended at the Clinic for Infection Diseases, Child Institute, Clinic Hospital of the University of São Paulo, Brazil. The prevalence of colonization and infection by Candida was evaluated among hundred seventeen, 3 to 15-years-old (mean age of 9.4 years) children, and the requirement for dental treatment among 125 children of the same age group. General clinical condition, medications in use and laboratories findings were obtained from the medical chart of each patient. Dental examination followed WHO guidelines for oral health surveys; data on demographic conditions were extracted from questionnaires filled in by familial caregivers. Prevalence of untreated caries were evaluated in relation to socioeconomic, behavioral and clinical conditions. Poisson regression analysis adjusted by age assessed covariates for the prevalence of untreated dental caries and Candida colonization. Results indicated 62% of prevalence of oral colonization by Candida (54%-72%, confidence interval 95%). Clinical manifestation of oral candidosis was low (7%) despite of low CD4, and both high viral load and Candida colonization detected among most children. Positive result for Candida colonization associates with frequent use of antibiotics (prevalence ratio PR = 1.44), sulfa drugs (PR = 1.23), alteration on the oral mucosa (PR = 1.55), and untreated dental caries (PR = 1.93); negative association occurred with the use of antiretroviral therapies (PR = 0.65). Candida albicans was the most frequent species (80%); non-albicans species 18%. Phenotipic testes did not allowed to detect any colonization by C. dubliniensis. Prevalence of untreated dental caries either on one deciduous or one permanent tooth affected 58% of the patients, a rate higher than that registered among the same group age, non-HIV-children in the state of São Paulo, Brazil. Being attended by high school graduated caregivers represented a reduction factor of prevalence of caries (PR = 0.51), while household crowding (PR = 1.53) and daily sugar intake (PR = 1.44) was associated with a higher prevalence of caries. Viral load higher than 100,000 copies/ml (PR = 1.41) and severe symptom of aids manifestations (PR = 1.39) also associated with poorer dental status. The present study revealed low prevalence of oral lesions, an indicative that antiretroviral therapies results satisfactory for aids treatment and HIV+/aids-children, and that aids-affected children have higher prevalence of untreated caries than in non-affected children in the same group age. The high prevalence of both Candida colonization and untreated caries in HIV+/aids-children reinforces the importance of a health-care professional to the interdisciplinary team that assists those patients.

La consultation est présente dans plusieurs domaines, tels que la psychologie, les ressources humaines, la gestion, l’éducation, l’informatique, et la comptabilité (Bordeleau, 1998; Lescarbeau, Payette et St-Arnaud, 2003; Stern et Tutoy, 2003). Plusieurs entreprises font régulièrement appel à des consultants pour les aider à résoudre un problème, à optimiser un processus ou à former leurs employés. Les individus font également appel aux consultants pour les aider à clarifier leurs objectifs ou à établir un plan d’action pour les atteindre. Ces consultants jouent parfois un rôle de conseiller, d’expert, d’accompagnateur, de coach, de psychothérapeute. Ils aident leurs clients en analysant leurs besoins, en faisant preuve d’écoute, en les aidant à trouver des solutions, à développer un plan d’action ou à acquérir de nouvelles compétences. Toutefois, les mandats de consultation n’ont pas tous le succès escompté et plusieurs facteurs semblent nécessaires pour réussir. L’introduction de la thèse présente la recherche effectuée sur les caractéristiques personnelles des consultants efficaces, car c’est un aspect que le consultant peut développer par l’entremise de l’expérience, de la formation, de la supervision ou du coaching. De plus, étant donné le petit nombre de recherches trouvées sur le sujet, il semblait pertinent et avant-gardiste de s’y attarder davantage. Les résultats sont présentés dans deux articles, l’un présentant les résultats de la recherche documentaire et l’autre présentant les résultats de la recherche exploratoire effectuée. D’abord, le premier article partage les résultats de la recension documentaire sur la consultation, sur l’efficacité de la consultation et les caractéristiques personnelles des consultants qui y sont liées. Six catégories de caractéristiques des consultants liées à l’efficacité en consultation ont émergé des analyses : les caractéristiques sociodémographiques, les habiletés interpersonnelles et intellectuelles, les traits de personnalité, les comportements et les connaissances. Il est à noter que la documentation expose surtout des descriptions basées sur les expériences des auteurs, quelques études de cas et peu de recherches empiriques ou exploratoires. Le second article présente les résultats d’une recherche exploratoire sur les caractéristiques personnelles des consultants liées à leur perception d’efficacité en consultation. Cette étude a été effectuée pour pallier au manque de recherches trouvées sur le sujet. Elle visait à répondre à deux questions : 1. Quelles sont les caractéristiques de personnalité et sociodémographiques des consultants en lien avec a) l’efficacité globale en consultation et b) chacun des critères de cette efficacité? 2. Quelle est la puissance prévisionnelle des caractéristiques de personnalité et sociodémographiques à l’endroit de a) l’efficacité globale en consultation et de b) chacun des critères de cette efficacité? Au total, 135 consultants provenant de quatre cabinets et deux associations de professionnels, de quatre pays différents, ont participé à la recherche. Il a été possible de mesurer deux catégories de caractéristiques des consultants efficaces identifiées dans le premier article : les traits de personnalité (Hogan et Hogan, 2007) et les caractéristiques sociodémographiques, par l’entremise de questionnaires auto-rapportés. De plus, les consultants ont évalué les critères d’efficacité utilisés et atteints dans leurs consultations (Roy, 2008). Ainsi, en analysant les résultats, il est important de considérer qu’ils reflètent la perception de ce que les consultants estiment important pour leur efficacité. L’article présente ces résultats de manière détaillée suite aux analyses corrélationnelles et de régression qui ont été effectuées. La sensibilité interpersonnelle, le fait d’apprécier les interactions sociales et d’être proactif socialement, la sociabilité, l’intérêt à avoir une diversité d’expériences et de contacts, l’ambition, le leadership, la vitesse de passage à l’action, le fait d’être préoccupé par l’opinion des autres et la confiance en autrui s’avèrent liés à la perception d’efficacité globale en consultation, ainsi qu’à plusieurs des critères relatifs à la satisfaction du consultant et à la conduite de son intervention. Pour terminer, la discussion de ce second article, de même que la conclusion de la thèse, font des liens entre ces résultats et la documentation, présentent les apports et limites de la recherche, ainsi que des pistes de recherche futures. / Consultation is an important part of the professional practice in several fields such as psychology, human resources, management, education, informatics and accounting (Bordeleau, 1998; Lescarbeau, Payette et St-Arnaud, 2003; Stern et Tutoy, 2003). Several businesses regularly hire consultants to help them resolve problems, improve a process or train their employees. Individuals also contact consultants to help them clarify their objectives and make an action plan. These consultants can play an expert, partner, coach or psychotherapeutic role. They help their clients by analysing their needs, listening to them, finding solutions, making an action plan or acquiring new skills. Yet the degree of success of the mandates may vary and several factors may affect success. The introduction focus is on the personal characteristics of the effective consultants, because the consultants may improve it by training, coaching, supervision and experience. Moreover, this research is useful and original since only a small amount of studies were found on this topic. The results are presented in two articles, one more theoretical and the other presenting the exploratory research results. The first article presents the literature results on consultation, effectiveness and the personal characteristics of consultants that are related to it. Six categories of consultant characteristics emerged from the analysis: interpersonal and intellectual skills, behaviours, knowledge, socio-demographic and personality characteristics. The literature is based on authors’ descriptions, case studies and a small amount of empirical and exploratory studies. The second article presents exploratory research results on personal characteristics of the consultants related to consultants’ perception of effectiveness. This study was conducted to address the lack of research found on the subject. It was designed to answer two questions: 1) What personality and socio-demographic consultant characteristics are related to a) consultation global effectiveness b) each effectiveness criteria? 2) What is the predictive power of personality and socio-demographic characteristics in relation to a) consultation global effectiveness b) each effectiveness criteria? In total, 135 consultants from four firms and two professional associations participated in the study. It was possible to measure two categories of the consultant characteristics identified in the first article: personality (Hogan et Hogan, 2007) and socio-demographic characteristics, through two self-reported questionnaires. Moreover, the consultants evaluated the effectiveness criteria used and achieved in their consultation (Roy, 2008). Thus, analysing the results, it is important to say that they reflect consultants’ perception of what they consider important for their effectiveness. The article presents these results in detail following correlational and regression analyses that were performed. Personality traits such as interpersonal sensitivity, love for social interactions, being socially proactive, sociability, interest in a variety of experiences and contacts, ambition, leadership, being action oriented, being concerned about the opinion of others, and trust in others seem to be related to the perception of the overall effectiveness as well as to several consultation criteria related to the satisfaction of the consultant and the conduct of its intervention. Finally, the discussion of this second article, as well as the thesis conclusion, make links between these results and the literature results, present the contributions and limits of the research, as well as future research directions.

Magister Scientiae - MSc / This study employs the Human Capital Theory (HCT), which postulates that the education of women is positively related to the likelihood of their labour force participation, in order to investigate quarterly dynamics in the labour force. This approach is an advancement of knowledge gained from previous studies such as Serumanga-Zake and Kotze (2004) and Ntuli (2004) who investigated the annual dynamics in FLFP. Investigating quarterly dynamics in FLFP is prudent as the market economy is very dynamic particularly at a point when the world economy is experiencing recession. Data for the study are extracted from the 2008 Quarterly Labour Force Survey conducted by Statistics South Africa. Logistic regression analysis modeling was employed with the dependent variable, FLFP, as a binary outcome. Other variables controlled in the analysis are gender, population group, age, marital status, education status, sector, main industry, main occupation and province. The results show that there is association between education status and FLFP status. Findings from this research are expected to contribute to the knowledge about trends in FLFP in South Africa and aid in planning of interventions aimed at improving the status of women as one of the critical steps in achieving the Millennium Development Goals. / South Africa

Masters of Science / South Africa’s female labour supply increased substantially over almost the past two decades. Female labour force participation is an imperative indication of the extent to which females participate in the economic activities of any country. Female Labour Force Participation (FLFP) rates have gained interest among researchers and development specialists worldwide due to their significant contribution in measuring progress related to gender disparities across various economic settings. Amsden (1980) further posits that there has been an increase in women contribution to modern sector activities. Despite the advances in female educational attainment and the expansion of the market economy, FLFP rates are still low in comparison with the rates of their male counterparts. This study employs the Human Capital Theory (HCT), which postulates that the education of women is positively related to the likelihood of their labour force participation, in order to investigate quarterly dynamics in the labour force. This approach is an advancement of knowledge gained from previous studies such as Serumanga-Zake and Kotze (2004) and Ntuli (2004) who investigated the annual dynamics in FLFP. Investigating quarterly dynamics in FLFP is prudent as the market economy is very dynamic particularly at a point when the world economy is experiencing recession. Data for the study are extracted from the 2008 Quarterly Labour Force Survey conducted by Statistics South Africa. Logistic regression analysis modeling was employed with the dependent variable, FLFP, as a binary outcome. Other variables controlled in the analysis are gender, population group, age, marital status, education status, sector, main industry, main occupation and province. The results show that there is association between education status and FLFP status. Findings from this research are expected to contribute to the knowledge about trends in FLFP in South Africa and aid in planning of interventions aimed at improving the status of women as one of the critical steps in achieving the Millennium Development Goals.