This thesis deals with the subject of proving negatives, i. e. proving non-existence of an object, a status or a process. The author of the thesis provides the reader with the definition of a negative and with a list of negatives mentioned in the case law of Czech public authorities. Also, the author analyses selected case law of Czech courts and describes proving negatives in specific cases. The thesis is divided into six chapters. The first chapter provides the definition of a negative. In this chapter the author points out potential problems linked to the identification of a negative, especially to the difference between a fact, a negative statement and a legal assessment. The second one addresses the possibility of a negative becoming the subject of proving as a practical way of finding of facts. The chapter also brings a brief analysis of proving a negative abroad, specifically in Slovakia, the Great Britain and the United States of America. The third, the fourth and the fifth chapter deal with the subject of proving negatives in civil proceedings, administrative proceedings and criminal proceedings respectively. In each of these chapters the author summarises the principles of proving related to corresponding type of proceedings and demonstrates proving negatives on specific cases (regarding...

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Background: Low- and middle-income countries like South Africa carry the greatest suicide burden, with local general population suicide attempt rates of 2.9–22.7%, in comparison to 0.7–9% in international literature. Non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) commonly co-occurs with suicidal behaviours and estimates range from 5.5% internationally to 19.4% in South Africa. As a subgroup of the general population, university students are at higher risk both of suicidal behaviours and NSSI (S/NSSI). Risk factors for S/NSSI include parenting style; however, very little is known about the relationship between parenting styles and S/NSSI in university students in the South African context. Objectives: In this dissertation we set out to perform a literature review relating to explanatory models and risk factors associated with S/NSSI and then proceeded to collect novel data from students at the University of Cape Town. This research study aimed to describe the rates of S/NSSI behaviours and to explore the relationship between the Baumrind parenting style typography and S/NSSI in university students. The study hypothesised that authoritative parenting would negatively correlate with S/NSSI. No a priori hypotheses were made about the other parenting styles investigated. Methods: In chapter 1, we performed a literature review of peer-reviewed publications on Pubmed, Psychinfo via EBSCOHost and MEDLINE via EBSCOHost identified through search terms that were relevant to the focus of the study. In chapter 2 novel data were collected. Students from all faculties at the University of Cape Town were invited to complete an anonymous, online electronic survey. Data collection included a socio-demographic questionnaire, Parenting Styles and Dimensions Questionnaire and Self-Harming Behaviours Questionnaire. Descriptive statistics quantified parenting styles, suicidal behaviours and NSSI. Spearman's correlation coefficients examined the association between parenting style and S/NSSI. Results: Literature review provided a topline review of explanatory models and risk factors associated with S/NSSI and identified relevant literature about parenting styles using the Baumrind typology. In the electronic survey of university students, the rate of suicidal attempts was 6.3% and of NSSI was 22.7%. Suicide threats, suicidal thoughts, and thoughts of dying were reported by 5.9%, 35.7% and 50.7% respectively. No significant differences were seen between male and female students. We observed no significant association between authoritative parenting and suicidal behaviours, but authoritative mothers and fathers were significantly associated with a history of NSSI. Both permissive mothers and fathers were associated with suicide attempts, threats, and thoughts, whereas only permissive mothers were associated with NSSI. Conclusion: This study replicated previously reported high rates of S/NSSI in South African university students in comparison to general population and international data. Contrary to our hypothesis, authoritative parenting style was positively correlated with NSSI, but not with suicidal behaviours. Further studies are warranted to examine parenting style, and permissive parenting, in particular, in relation to S/NSSI

Existing research finds that increases in administrative burden reduce client access, political efficacy, and equity. However, extant literature has yet to investigate how administrative burden policies are interpreted by street-level bureaucrats (SLB), whose values and beliefs structure uses of discretion and client experiences of programs. In this article, we utilize quantitative and qualitative data to examine SLB policy preferences regarding administrative burden in Oklahoma's Promise—a means-tested college access program. Our findings demonstrate that SLB in our sample interpret administrative burden policies through the lens of political ideology. Conservative SLB express significantly more support for administrative burden policies, arguing that these policies prevent fraud and demonstrate client deservingness. In contrast, predominantly liberal SLB justify opposition to administrative burden by arguing that the requirements undermine social equity. Together, our findings reveal that SLB political ideology shapes interpretations of administrative burden and perceptions of client deservingness in Oklahoma's Promise.

Anxiety associated with the COVID-19 pandemic and home confinement has been associated with adverse health behaviors, such as unhealthy eating, smoking, and drinking. However, most studies have been limited by regional sampling, which precludes the examination of behavioral consequences associated with the pandemic at a global level. Further, few studies operationalized pandemic-related stressors to enable the investigation of the impact of different types of stressors on health outcomes. This study examined the association between perceived risk of COVID-19 infection and economic burden of COVID-19 with health-promoting and health-damaging behaviors using data from the PsyCorona Study: an international, longitudinal online study of psychological and behavioral correlates of COVID-19. Analyses utilized data from 7,402 participants from 86 countries across three waves of assessment between May 16 and June 13, 2020. Participants completed self-report measures of COVID-19 infection risk, COVID-19-related economic burden, physical exercise, diet quality, cigarette smoking, sleep quality, and binge drinking. Multilevel structural equation modeling analyses showed that across three time points, perceived economic burden was associated with reduced diet quality and sleep quality, as well as increased smoking. Diet quality and sleep quality were lowest among respondents who perceived high COVID-19 infection risk combined with high economic burden. Neither binge drinking nor exercise were associated with perceived COVID-19 infection risk, economic burden, or their interaction. Findings point to the value of developing interventions to address COVID-related stressors, which have an impact on health behaviors that, in turn, may influence vulnerability to COVID-19 and other health outcomes. / New York University Abu Dhabi

Informal caregiver burden and burnout can cause worsened outcomes of care for both the recipient of care and the caregiver’s overall health. Experiencing increased levels of distress by the caregiver may be the deciding factor for the elder remaining in the home or being placed in a long-term facility for care. Thus, healthcare professionals must be diligent in assessment for presence of a caregiver on admission, as well as identifying needs and providing education of resources within the community upon discharge. The purpose of this project is to implement admission screening for caregiver presence during the inpatient stay, with the goal of early communication to the interdisciplinary team. The project aims are as follows: a) to integrate the “Preparing for Caring” screening tool into the electronic health record, b) for nursing to provide education to the caregiver and assist with identification of needs during the inpatient stay, c) for nursing and the interdisciplinary team to collaborate with the caregiver during the inpatient stay to prepare for discharge, d) to provide education of resources available within the community upon discharge, and e) to include discussion of caregiver presence during the daily interdisciplinary team meeting. Program outcome measures will include use of aggregate data reports to determine the percentage of compliance for screening conduction, case review of identified caregivers, discharge education, and provision of a resource list upon discharge. Specified outcomes are being measured weekly during the implementation phase. As a result of the above, it will be determined if identification and subsequent intervention for informal family caregivers reduces readmission rate to an inpatient facility and the caregiver’s overall sense of burden in providing care upon discharge. Expected outcomes will be reduction in 30-day readmission to the inpatient geropsychiatry unit due to caregiver distress.

Generally, tax systems are perceived to be complex. This study takes a qualitative empirical approach to examine individual taxpayers’ perceptions of tax complexity. This was achieved by obtaining individual taxpayers perceptions on the complexity of the tax system. The study also investigates whether taxpayers perceive that their tax burden is influenced by the complexity of the tax system and also analyses suggestions by respondents on how the South African tax system can be simplified. The findings are that not all taxpayers perceive that the tax system is complex. These respondents mainly acknowledge the various means available, such as e-filing, to counter the effects of tax complexity. They also point out that taxpayers should be responsible for educating themselves on how the tax system works. However, there are more people who believe that the tax system is complex. The complexity is mainly attributed to the challenges taxpayers face in attempting to comply with tax legislation. These challenges include difficulties in keeping up to date with constant changes to legislation, the fear of filing an inaccurate tax return and the general lack of adequate knowledge to confidently handle one’s tax affairs. An interesting theme emerged on how respondents make the presumption that the tax system might be complex for other taxpayers due to a lack of education or knowledge of the tax system. The study concludes that perceptions of tax complexity seem to be influenced by complexities in tax legislation, user needs as well as user abilities. Recommendations are made for further studies to assess taxpayers’ tax literacy levels. These studies may also investigate taxpayers’ awareness of their rights and obligations under tax laws / Dissertation (MCom)--University of Pretoria, 2014 / gm2015 / Taxation / MCom / Unrestricted

Introduction: Trauma is one of the leading causes of premature death and disability in South Africa. There is a paucity of data describing the prehospital trauma burden in sub-Saharan Africa. The aim of this study was to describe the epidemiology and common trauma emergencies managed by the Western Cape Government emergency medical service (WCG EMS) in South Africa. Methods: The WCG EMS call centre registry was retrospectively analysed for all trauma patients managed between 01 July 2017 to 30 June 2018. A descriptive analysis of the data was performed using standard procedures for all variables. To date, this was the first analysis of this dataset or any prehospital trauma burden managed in the Western Cape of South Africa. Results: The WCG EMS managed 492 303 cases during the study period. Of these cases, 168 980 (34.3%) or 25.9 per 1000 population were trauma related. However, only 91 196 met the inclusion criteria for the study. The majority of patients (66.4%) were males and between the socio-economically active ages of 21-40 years old (54.0%). Assaults were the most common cause of trauma emergencies, accounting for 50.2% of the EMS case load managed. The patient acuity was categorised as being urgent for 47.5% of the cases, and 74.9% of the prehospital trauma burden was transported to a secondary level health care facility for definitive care. Conclusion: This is the first report of the prehospital trauma burden managed in the Western Cape of South Africa. The Western Cape suffers a unique trauma burden that differs from what is described by the WHO or any other LMIC. It also provides the foundation for further research towards understanding the emergency care needs in South Africa and to support Afrocentric health care solutions to decrease this public health crisis.

Advances in surgical technique and medical management have led to fundamental changes in surgical care allowing for a paradigm shift from inpatient to outpatient surgery. Enhanced recovery pathways have moved surgical recovery from inpatient to outpatient settings requiring informal caregiver support. The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of caregiver burden in this patient population and to explore whether caregiver burden contributes to preventable use of emergency room services. The conceptual framework supporting this retrospective cross-sectional study was Andersen's behavioral model of health services utilization. Data collected from 28 urologic patient/caregiver pairs were analyzed using descriptive statistics and linear and logistic regression. Findings indicated measurable caregiver burden in 2 of the 5 Caregiver Reaction Assessment (CRA) subscales: impact on schedule and impact on health. Findings also indicated a measurable protective effect of high socioeconomic status of caregivers and the CRA subscale of impact on finances, and a possible protective effect of caregiver self-esteem as measured by the CRA subscale and emergency room utilization within the first 30 days after enhanced recovery surgery. Social change implications include improving the surgical experience of patients and caregivers and enhancing the use of health care resources.

Magister Artium (Social Work) - MA(SW) / Mental illness has been identified as one of the major contributors to the global burden of disease in the world. The four leading causes of mental health disorders are depression, alcohol abuse, schizophrenia, and bipolar disorder. Recent studies indicate that schizophrenia is among the major mental disorders affecting more than 21 to 29 million people in the world. Family members living and caring for a relative diagnosed with schizophrenia may experience burdensome challenges in such a way that can easily generate secondary stress in various life domains such as work and family relationships, loss of quality of life as well as high social and economic costs.