Agricultural development, in Africa is seen as a vital tool for combating poverty in many households. In this thesis, agricultural development is thus seen as one of the ways in which the Millennium Development Goals 1 & 3 can be achieved. Moreover, the researcher hopes to show the link between transport and the possibilities of socio-economic development in the agricultural sector if and when transportation is facilitated. Furthermore, the need for gender equality and women’s empowerment will be emphasized in agricultural activities, particularly labour. The study draws from two women-led projects namely, the Lahlapapadi Goat Project and Kwadikwaneng Nursery in the Capricorn District of Limpopo, South Africa. To achieve the objects of this enterprise, the following tasks are undertaken. Firstly, the role of transport in women-led projects is investigated and described, particularly as regards to its possible impact on women lives. Secondly, reasons as to why women despite playing a large role in agricultural production receive very limited recognition. And thirdly, an assessment as to whether women receive adequate support from both the agricultural and transport departments for their agricultural activities is conducted. The broader context of historical ideologies around which gender roles in society are shaped will also be examined with a particular emphasis on transportation so as to show the extent to which such ideologies pose a threat to the development of women-led agricultural projects. To realize the broader objective and its underlying tasks, the researcher adopted qualitative feminist methodologies. These employ in-depth interviews, focus group discussions in conjunction with visual techniques involving photography and videography. The study’s findings revealed that women are largely not recognized for their labour due to socio-cultural factors, such as patriarchy and subsequent gender stereotyping, that force women to continue in their traditional household roles. Furthermore, transport was found to be an important tool for the improvement of food security and economic status in the lives of women particularly when it complemented the agricultural activities of rural women. / Thesis (M.Soc.Sc.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2013.

Dissertation submitted in fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree of Master in Technology: Emergency Medical Care, Durban University of Technology, 2011. / Background Information regarding pre-hospital emergency medical services is limited and it is therefore challenging to determine if there is delay in emergency transport of patients. This study aimed to provide such information specifically regarding the emergency transportation of obstetric patients. Purpose The purpose of the study was to describe the transport of obstetric patients within the Ugu Health District of KwaZulu Natal, in terms of patient profiles, the response time intervals and factors that affected response times. Objectives The objectives of the study were to:  determine response time intervals from the initial call to delivery of the patient to a public sector hospital;  describe the types of obstetric cases being transported;  describe factors that affect response times and;  make recommendations on policies and procedures governing emergency obstetric patient transportation Methodology All obstetric patients transported by Emergency Medical Rescue Service (EMRS) within a 2 month time frame within the Ugu District made up the study population. The study was conducted through prospective quantitative data collection using hospital records, the EMRS information system (communications centre data base records) and the EMRS patient return forms. The data was triangulated which established reliability before descriptive analysis was conducted. vi Findings The EMRS predominantly transports obstetric patients in labour with a gravidity of 1. The mean response interval (from receipt of the call to arrival at the patient) of 1h41minutes was a result of delays in the pre-response interval (pre-response waiting time). The mean pre-response interval of 1h07 minutes was a result of delays caused by ambulance unavailability. Pearson‟s correlation showed a significant relationship between the pre-response interval and response interval i.e. delays in the pre-response interval caused delays in the response interval. The EMRS lacks Standard operating procedures governing emergency transport and this was one of the main factors that contributed to some of the causes of ambulance unavailability. The lack of standard operating procedures is therefore also partly responsible for a delayed response interval. 64.5% of the incidents achieved response time intervals of more than 1hour and has therefore failed to achieve the predetermined Department of Health target for 70% of ambulances reaching the site of the patient within 1 hour. Other factors that affect the response time intervals were the poor road conditions, shift change delays and re-routing of ambulances. Conclusion EMRS predominantly transports obstetric patients in labour, including high risk patient groups that are arguably beyond the scope of care of the Basic and Intermediate qualified Emergency Care Practitioners. Standard operating procedures for governing emergency transport are lacking and have contributed to a number of factors affecting response time intervals. Standard operating procedures therefore need to be developed taking into consideration the findings of this study as well as previous recommendations by the National Committee on Confidential Enquiries into Maternal Deaths (NCCEMD).

This dissertation examines unequal outcomes of urban transportation policies in the neoliberal era. It focuses on inequalities in the Portland, Oregon metro area between 1994 and 2011 as measured in three key areas: 1) access to public transit; 2) the journey-to-work; and 3) "household-serving" trips. Growing concern over the harmful impacts from an increasing dependence on cars has led planners in the U.S. to encourage a modal shift from private car to public transit, bicycling, and walking. The required policies to make this modal shift possible, however, might inadvertently be benefiting "choice" riders at the cost of transport disadvantaged groups. Other contributing factors to this unequal benefit appear to be the suburbanization of poverty, an ongoing gentrification of central areas, and market forces that make it difficult for low income groups to afford housing in transit-rich neighborhoods. The Oregon Household Activity and Travel surveys are used to answer the three major research questions in this dissertation: what has been the effect of neoliberalism on access to public transit?, how do gender, race/ethnicity, and income inequality affect the journey-to-work in Portland?, and how do household-serving trips vary by gender in Portland? Six hypothesis are tested in answering these questions. Those related to access to transit draw on Fred Block's theory of the capitalist state and the "urban growth machine" concept, both of which predict spatially unequal outcomes from neoliberal ideology. Hypotheses about the journey to work draw on a rich body of literature around social relations in the household and the job market, as well as residential location. The final question, about household-serving trips, draws on theories of gender socialization. Findings showed that: (i) individuals in the Portland metro area had less access overall to bus public transit in 2011 than in 1994; (ii) impoverished dependent riders have lost access to transit service over time, whereas choice dependent riders increased their access to public transit; (iii) low income groups have been "forced" into greater car-ownership, in part due to the lower access to public transit; (iv) women in Portland have shorter journey-to-work trips than men; (v) Blacks have longer journey-to-work trips than Whites and Latinos; (vi) low-income individuals have shorter journey-to-work trips than higher income individuals; and (vii) women with children make more household-serving trips than men in similar family structures.