Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Washington, 2002. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (p. 262-278).

Male circumcision is one of the most common paediatric surgeries. Most research has concentrated on assessing medical risks versus benefits, yet the majority of infant circumcisions are performed for social reasons. A few studies have surveyed reasons for circumcising/not circumcising. However, they have not revealed the decision-making process. Drawing upon embodiment theories, this study explored expectant parents’ decision-making about circumcision. Interviews were conducted with six individuals. Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis was utilized to identify themes. Findings revealed eight major themes, including ‘gender jurisdiction’ (whether fathers should have more decision-making power than mothers). Another centred on deciding whose body was the focus – the baby’s or the father’s. All participants perceived bias, both pro- and anti-circumcision, in the information they received from health professionals. They expressed a strong need for objective information and support. The findings may be helpful to obstetricians, paediatricians, and midwives – as well as individuals and families facing this decision.

Submitted to the department of psychology in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree of Master’s in Clinical Psychology in the faculty of Arts at the University of Zululand, 2018. / This study focused on exploring the different meanings that young South African Sesotho speaking males have about male circumcision. The believe is that due to the differences in the experiences, this should instigate for different constructs about the phenomenon. Trying to narrow the study, two groups of young Sesotho speaking males where established to work with comparatively; these are males which are medically circumcised and those that are traditionally circumcised. This study aimed at understanding the different social constructs which young circumcised Sesotho speaking males have to the phenomenon. The researcher followed a qualitative research method trying to unravel the topic. The researcher used snowball sampling to source his participant. The researcher gathered his data via personal interviews with participants and later analyzed it using IPA. It appeared that the meaning towards this phenomenon is really socially constructed rather than being universal. It varies according to ones beliefs, which are dictated by an individuals’ cultural, religious, and ethnic background. For some it is still highly considered a rite of passage to manhood. However, a controversial debate which forms part of the meaning of the phenomenon for others is that it plays a significant role of reducing chances of contracting HIV and other STI’s. Another interesting issue related to this phenomenon is the subject of the psychological and physical risks and benefits linked to the procedure. The findings of this study suggested that, even though medical circumcision may be highly recommended, it still leaves a room for doubt whether it is really safer than traditional circumcision. The study discovered that medically circumcised males suffered from both physical and psychological complications. With the repelling forces between the two dimensions of the phenomenon (medical and traditional), considering the health and safety of these young males, the question at hand is that how will our nation strike a balance between the two and yet posses their different meanings attached to the phenomenon.

Agency theory would predict that, given the presence of large or powerful shareholders in a company, agency costs would be reduced. Excessive executive compensation can be regarded as being an externality problem that stems from the agency problem. Agency theory would also then predict that executives in companies with large shareholders would receive less compensation and a larger proportion of long-term incentive-based compensation than companies with smaller shareholders. The validity of these two hypotheses has been tested using a unique cross-sectional, time series dataset and two statistical techniques. The first set of tests involve the construction of multiple regression models in order to provide evidence as to whether Chief Executive Officer (CEO) compensation is affected by institutional shareholders. The second method, using statistical tests of differences between means, involves separating the sample into two sub-samples, namely management- and owner-controlled firms, to ascertain whether these two groups remunerate their CEOs differently to each other, thus testing the hypotheses in an alternative manner to the regression models. This report examines whether the presence of institutional shareholders affects the level and mix of CEO compensation for 50 companies listed on the JSE Securities Exchange over the five-year period 2002-2006. Original findings on the value of share options awarded to CEOs are presented, along with the trends in the level and mix of CEO compensation. Further research findings also include trends in the level of institutional ownership of listed companies over this period. The results of both the regression models and tests for differences of means provide statistical evidence in support of the assertion that the presence of institutional shareholders do not have an effect on either the level or mix of CEO compensation. Suggested reasons for this result range from shareholder apathy, to not considering executive remuneration to be a significant enough issue for institutional shareholders, and finally to the suggestion that institutional shareholders perceive the level and mix of compensation paid to South African CEOs to be a fair reflection of their value to their company.

More than "100 million girls and women worldwide have undergone female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C) and more than three million girls are at risk for cutting each year on the African continent alone" (Population Reference Bureau 2009). The practice is recognized internationally as a violation of the human rights of girls and women, and constitutes an extreme form of discrimination against women. Research has shown that reasons given for continuing the practice of FGC vary widely across cultural and social contexts. Little research has been conducted towards understanding and predicting attitudes toward FGC, which in turn can help inform program policy in the hopes of better understanding the socio-cultural complexities inherent in the practice of FGC. This study suggests that with increased levels of education support for FGC decreases. Additionally, access to media was shown to have a significant impact on support for the practice. This study found that men and women experience and are influenced by media in different ways. Media based abandonment programs must acknowledge the gender gap in media access and direct their programs towards the most appropriate outlet for the target group. This study‟s most significant finding is that the strongest predictor of a woman‟s attitude towards FGC is whether she herself has undergone the procedure. Women who have undergone FGC will likely support the continuation of the practice. Encouraging these women to forgo the practice and let their daughters experience their bodies differently from their mothers is the greatest challenge abandonment programs face.

Thesis (MPA.) -- University of Limpopo, 2018 / The study was about the knowledge and attitudes of offenders towards the performance of medical male circumcision in prisons. The aim of the study was to determine and asses the knowledge and attitudes of offenders towards the performance of medical male circumcision in prisons. A quantitative study was conducted by using researcher-administered questionnaires at Leeuwkop Management area, maximum centre. A simple random sampling of two hundred and twenty-three male respondents was selected from all races and only two hundred and three managed to complete the questionnaires correctly. Data was analysed using Statistical package for the social sciences software program. Data was presented using descriptive and inferential statistics. More than half of the respondents were medically circumcised and less than half of the medically circumcised respondents had performed it in prisons. Most respondents were between the ages of 25-35 years and majority of them have shown fair knowledge and negative attitude towards the performance of medical male circumcision in prisons. It was recommended that thorough health education on the benefits of medical male circumcision should be stressed to offenders. For medical male circumcision programme to succeed, offenders should have adequate knowledge on male circumcision and its benefits.

Thesis (M.A.)--Carleton University, 2002. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 89-95). Also available in electronic format on the Internet.

The present work is an exegetical and theological study of the antitheses in Galatians 5.2-6. Chapter 1 justifies the present work by pointing out the fact that both the six "antitheses" in 5.2-6 and the passage itself have not been given sufficient recognition in the history of interpretation of Galatians. First, Paul contrasts circumcision and Christ in terms of "benefit" in 5.2-3; the salvific benefit of Christ is contrasted with the uselessness of circumcision (ch. 2). The salvific benefit of Christ is Paul's ultimate theological basis for his opposition to the agitators' theological rationale for circumcision, in particular the salvific efficacy and benefit of circumcision. Second, the law is contrasted to Christ in terms of the sphere of justification (5.4b vs. 5.4a), not as two antithetical means of justification (ch 3). With God’s eschatological transfer from the law to Christ as the sphere of justification Paul redefines the boundary of God's people and replaces it from the law to Christ. Third, Paul contrasts the law with grace as two mutually exclusive foundations of justification (5.4b vs. 5.4c - ch. 4). Paul rejects the law as the soteriological basis of justification because God's saving grace brought the salvific effects (e.g. righteousness, the Abrahamic blessing, sonship, election) to the Gentiles without Torah-observance. Fourth, Paul sets the law in antithesis with the Spirit as two antithetical bases of justification (5.4b vs. 5.5 - ch. 5). For Paul the Spirit is the means of righteousness, the medium of the blessing of Abraham, and the agent and basis of sonship. Fifth, the law and Christ's faithfulness is contrasted as two antithetical means of justification (5.4b vs. 5.5 - ch. 6). The πίστις references in 5.5 and 5.6 refer to the faithfulness of Christ, not to the Christian's act of faith in Christ. Paul's antithesis between єργα νόμου and Xριοτού should be understood as shorthand for the incompatibility between ethnocentnc covenantalism and the gospel of Christ's faithfulness in terms of two mutually exclusive soteriological belief-systems. Sixth, Paul sets πєριτομτνάκροβνατία in antithesis with πίστις δι’ άγάπης ένεργουμένη (i.e. Christ's faithfulness working through his love) as two antithetical bases of justification (5.6 - ch. 7). The antithesis between "circumcision vs. uncircumcision" and Christ's faithfulness working through his love should be interpreted as a microcosm of the two incompatible belief-systems between the agitators' ethnocentric covenantalism and Paul's gospel of the cross. Chapter 8 consists of the summary and implications for Pauline interpretation. The antitheses function as a summary of Paul's argument to the Galatians, the answer to the pivotal issues at stake in Galatians, the solution of the crisis in Galatia, the rationale for Paul’s opposition to the agitators' gospel, and interpretive clues for understanding Paul’s theology in Galatians. In conclusion, Gal 5.2-6, where the six antitheses appear, is the truth- claim of Paul's gospel, the summary and climax of Paul's argument to the Galatians, and a hermeneutical key to Paul's letter to the Galatians.

HIV is a predominantly sexually transmitted infection that has infected over 60 million people and been responsible for 60 million deaths. To date, non-antiretroviral microbicides have failed to prevent HIV acquisition, or even increased it. This is likely because HIV preferentially infects activated immune cells (CD4+ T cells), taking advantage of the body’s attempts to defend itself. Therefore, relative immunoquiescence, as opposed to immune activation, may be protective. I hypothesized that men who are biologically more susceptible to HIV would have increased foreskin CD4 T cell activation, while the opposite would be true of men who are relatively resistant. The foreskin has recently been identified as a major site of HIV acquisition, but little previous research has been performed on this tissue. I therefore developed novel techniques to isolate viable, immunologically functional T cells from foreskin tissue. I then worked with the Rakai Health Sciences Program in Uganda to identify men undergoing elective circumcision who are HIV-Exposed but have remained SeroNegative (HESN, relatively resistant to HIV), and men with Herpes Simple Virus-2 infection (HSV-2+, relatively susceptible to HIV). I collected sub-preputial swabs and foreskin tissue from these men, and characterized numerous immune parameters in their samples. I found that HSV-2+ men had an increased relative abundance of CD4 T cells co-expressing the HIV receptor CCR5. In contrast, I found that HESN men had a decreased relative abundance of activated T cells (CD4/8 T cells producing TNFα) and Th17 cells (a pro-inflammatory T cell subset known to be particularly susceptible to HIV). Additionally, foreskin secretions from HESN men were more likely to have antibodies (IgA) able to neutralize HIV, and had more innate anti-viral peptides. I therefore propose HIV resistance may be driven by decreased T cell activation in genital tissue, in combination with increased secretion of anti-HIV immune proteins.

Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) has been a tough topic to discuss in both local and global spheres. In the past twenty years however, a space has been created for it in the public consciousness. The object of this study is to trace the shifts that have occurred in how FGM has been talked about and make the ongoing dialogue visible. This is achieved by examining feminist debates, human rights discourse and the media as not only primary definers of the issue but also as sites of discourse production. / In moving from the local to global agenda, more actors have become involved in the debates and as such have further complexified an already complex practice. Each site offers a unique perspective and representation on the FGM controversy and has contributed to how the West has made meaning of the practice.