The purpose of this thesis is to show the short- and long-term responses and adaptations of workers and employers in the meatpacking industry to the new immigration enforcement strategy of the increased use of worksite immigration raids. Worksite raids have become part of the new immigration enforcement strategy of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency (I.C.E.). A review of the literature regarding the meatpacking industry, its history, relocation to and impacts on rural communities, and of immigration policy over the last 70 years is conducted. A case study of the Swift & Co. meatpacking plant in Hyrum, Utah that experienced a worksite immigration raid in 2006 and in-depth, semi-structured interviews were conducted with five current and former plant workers, one former member of plant management, and one local ecclesiastical leader. The analysis reveals that the raid had strong impacts on the company, plant management, and workers. The company was sold the year after the raid due to financial losses suffered following the raid. Employers struggled to replace over 150 workers that were taken in the raid and to regain the trust of the remaining workers at the plant. Some workers lost close friends and family members in the raid and experienced instability and fear following the raid. It was found that employers made only one significant change following the raid in their hiring practices. They conducted more in-depth background checks with better follow-up with past employers of new applicants if the information was available. Workers were found to have made few changes after the raid since those not taken in the raid were confirmed as authorized workers and did not need to make many changes. The raid and more in-depth background checks led to more native-born workers being hired following the raid. This research indicates that the use of worksite raids has strong social and economic impacts on workers, employers, and local communities. More research is needed to better understand how the meatpacking industry and its workers are adapting to the new enforcement strategy and how effective this strategy has been, and will be in the future.

No description available.

Master of Science / Department of Civil Engineering / Sunanda Dissanayake / Speed management has been a challenge, particularly in places where high-speed highways pass through. Due to high rate of fatalities and low budgets available, it is therefore necessary to identify low-cost effective approaches in reducing speeds. Optical Speed Bar (OSB) treatment is one such technique. This research makes an attempt to evaluate the effectiveness of OSBs in reducing approach speeds on two-lane, rural highways approaching small communities. Speed data were collected and analyzed “before” and “after” periods at five sites. Effectiveness of OSBs was evaluated using changes in mean and 85th percentile speeds under different categories by considering all vehicles, vehicle classification (two axles vs. more than two axles), day of the week (weekdays vs. weekends), and time of day (daytime vs. nighttime), as well as proportions exceeding posted speed limit, using t-test mean speeds, F-test for analysis of variance, and Z-test for proportions of vehicles exceeding posted speed limit between “before” and “after” datasets. Even though motorists were found to slow down on the approaches, in response to speed zones, speeding was noted. “Before” speed data indicated higher speeds than desired at the sites. The 85th percentile speeds were between 50 and 63 mph while the posted speed limits on the approaches were 45 mph at four sites, and the 85th percentile speed was about 42 mph at one site with an approach posted speed limit of 30 mph. The “before” degrees of noncompliance were up to 90 % of free-flowing vehicles at the sites. Speed data analysis showed significant reductions in speeds at ends of OSBs at four test sites. Mean and 85th percentile speeds and standard deviations were found reduced in the after periods. Percent reductions in mean speeds were between 1.2 and 8.2 %, with 85th percentile reductions between 3.2 and 8.9 %. At one site, no notable change in mean and 85th percentile speeds occurred at the end of OSBs, but significant increases in standard deviations were noted. Speed reductions were higher for two-axle vehicles, during the daytime and on weekdays with few exceptions. Results of the study showed, as other previous studies did, OSBs may have some minor effects on vehicle speeds. The study provides an indication that it may be possible to create safety improvements as result of using OSBs on the approach to a rural community. However, magnitude of speed reductions was generally small, though the reductions were statistically significant at the 95% confidence level. Because of the non-consistence of the magnitude of speed reductions at the test sites, no conclusion can be drawn as to how much OSB treatment reduced speeds. These results were based on “after” periods up to five months. Therefore, further study would be required to determine whether these safety improvements are sustained over an even longer time period. Even though minor speed reductions occurred, speeds observed at the sites were still higher than the posted speed limits, indicating OSBs were not effective enough in providing the desired speed limit compliance. Additional studies would be helpful to identify combinations of countermeasures, for instance OSBs and other techniques, effective in providing speed limit compliance.

Class of 2012 Abstract / Specific Aims: The purpose of this study is to assess rural community members in Cochise County, Arizona, to determine if healthcare screenings and informational sessions are desired by the community members for chronic disease states, and from which healthcare providers the community members prefer to obtain these services. Identify which health professional rural members are most likely to seek for healthcare screening. Identify which health professional rural members are most likely to seek for healthcare informational sessions. Determine if rural community members are willing to pay for healthcare screening and informational sessions. Methods: This descriptive study obtained data through 350 questionnaires distributed during selected Cochise County community events in late 2011. Main Results: 341 surveys were completed. The majority of results favored physicians with 47.7% of the people stating they would very likely attend a health care screening conducted by a physician. 34.5% responded they would very likely attend an informational session conducted by a physician. Of the respondents willing to pay for health screenings, 63.9% would pay $30 or less. 70.9% stated they would not be willing to pay for an informational session. However, the majority of participants, 61.3%, indicated they would utilize pharmacists for OTC questions. Regarding questions about prescription medications, 43.4% would go to pharmacists, and similarly, 44% indicated they use physicians. Conclusions: As seen from the results, pharmacists are underutilized by rural community members; except for OTC questions. Respondents with higher levels of education were also more likely to prefer and attend events held by pharmacists.

EXPLORING THE PERCEPTION OF SELF-EFFICACY AMONG TEACHERS AND PRINCIPALS IN MEETING THE DEMANDS OF CONTEMPORARY SCHOOL REFORM INITIATIVES

Global water depletion and unsustainable food production systems represent two iconic crises of our time. These two crises have important themes in common, referring to basic human needs and the way we interact with landscapes in order to satisfy them. But they are also closely related to the way we produce and dispose wastes in our current societal organization. Insufficient, or inadequate, sanitation and waste management practices continue to undermine not only human well-being, but the entire planet’s ecological integrity, on which humans depend. An ecological design approach to manage human waste invites to learn how to participate more harmoniously within the planet’s recycling of matter, using renewable energy sources and mimicking nature’s low entropic states to maintain the life-support systems that we and our economies are part of. This thesis is an in-depth exploration of such an approach, and an attempt to integrate several elements from ecology, engineering, economics, and community development, around issues of water quality, sanitation and waste management in Latin America. As a whole, the thesis explores how can this transdisciplinary approach translate into coherent, feasible, and concrete action, providing appropriate solutions for sanitation, in ways that are effective and viable on a long term, for Latin American rural communities. Three different papers address different dimensions of the problem, focusing on domestic wastewater and human excreta, as a type of waste of major importance to ecological integrity, public health and economic development. Two of the papers are case studies, carried out at two different rural communities in South West Colombia; one of them focuses on technological and ecological aspects, and the other focuses on social and economic considerations, for a multifunctional-ecological waste management. In the first paper I present an overview of the sanitation problem in Latin America, and the opportunities and challenges of managing waste with an ecological and multifunctional perspective. More specifically, this papers attempts to provide a sound conceptual framework for managing wastewater (sewage) as a valuable resource, in a way that: 1) is affordable –or even profitable– by small communities in developing countries; 2) is safe to the environment and to public health; and 3) provides opportunities for recycling nutrients and organic matter (available in wastewaters), to restore and protect water and soil resources, while enhancing rural livelihoods in tropical agroecosystems. The second paper evaluates the performance and feasibility of an experimental, solar-energy-based, wetland mesocosm, as a complementary aerobic unit to enhance anaerobic wastewater treatment, in a rural locality of the Cauca Valley in Colombia. In the third paper I explore the integration between ecological design and community-based solutions to sanitation, and discuss opportunities and challenges of implementing ecological waste management in the particular bioregional and socioeconomic context of a proposed ecological-low-income co-housing project, in another rural community of Colombia. In doing this, several arguments are presented to support the idea that assuming the responsibility of managing its own waste can be a powerful and transformative experience for a community to fundamentally change its perspective and understanding of its place within the planet. Furthermore, managing waste can be an integrative force linking economic, social and environmental considerations, and favoring human-scale development, genuine progress, and self-reliance in a community. In its broadest level my research aims at reviewing and questioning the very notion of “waste” and the articulation between humans, nature, and technology within that context.

Suicide in rural areas has not received significant attention in the research literature to this point, although suicide rates are higher among adults and older adults in rural areas than in urban areas. The aims of the study were as follows: (1) establish the feasibility of assessing suicide ideation and history of suicidal behavior; (2) determine preliminary estimates of the prevalence of suicide ideation, and history of suicide attempts; and (3) examine the effectiveness and acceptability of safety and referral plans for individuals whose responses indicated elevated suicide risk, in rural communities with limited access to referral care. Participants were 96 adults aged 40 to 85 years old (M = 57.34, SD = 11.47) residing in West Texas. Our results indicate that 26% of participants endorsed a lifetime history of suicide ideation and/or suicide attempt(s) and 12.5% reported suicide ideation in the past year. In addition, 93.4% of participants reported that participation in our suicide-focused study was an excellent or good experience. Results suggest that individuals in rural communities are willing to talk about suicide, found the experience helpful, and were satisfied with the referral process.

Thesis (LLM.) -- University of Limpopo, 2018 / The aim of this study is to posit the theory that it will be more beneficial to, rather use a private company instead of a Communal Property Association (CPA) to promote and develop the property interests of previous disadvantaged rural communities. Maladministration, poor governance, misappropriation of funds and property together with diverging interests give rise to disputes and internal conflict. The research will include a literature study of relevant textbooks, case law, law journals, legislation and discussion documents. Constitutional development in property law opened the door for a different approach in the application of property rights and rights relating to property, which in return precedes to a better understanding of communal rights and the enforcement of traditional values in a democratic society. Despite these constitutional developments, the maladministration, poor governance and misappropriation of funds and property by Communal Property Association executive committees caused discontent amongst community members, necessitating the examining of the use of a private company to promote and develop the property interests of rural communities, as an alternative institution to enhance democracy and the protection of human rights in communal context. The development of, either proper legislation to ensure compliance with the principles of good governance, accountability and transparency or the use of an alternative institution, which is already required by law to comply with the said principles, to manage the affairs of a Communal Property Association, should resolve these problems. The study is primarily a critical analysis and comparative study on the relevant provisions of the Companies Act 71 of 2008 in relation to the provisions of the Communal Property Associations Act 28 of 1996 to establish whether the use of a private company can resolve the problems currently experienced by Communal Property Associations.

Thesis (MPH.) --University of Limpopo, 2010 / The Department of health, Limpopo province in recent years has developed eye care services in public hospitals. It is reckoned that people living in the rural areas would benefit significantly from the cheaper public eye care services. However, the level of utilization of the public eye care services by the rural communities in the province has not been investigated. It was therefore, considered of interest to evaluate whether or not the services are being utilized adequately or not. AIM OF THE STUDY The aim of this study was to investigate whether or not the public eye care services in the Capricorn district, Limpopo Province are adequately utilized by the rural population. METHODOLOGY A cross-sectional qualitative survey study design was used. A questionnaire with 42 questions on the utilization of eye care services was developed in English, translated to Northern Sotho (the local dialect) and back translated to ensure veracity. The questionnaire included questions on demography, knowledge of available eye care services, need for eye care services, utilization, attitude and perception of public eye care services. The questionnaire was field-tested in a pilot study conducted prior to the study and involves 20 participants, with final amendments made to ensure clarity of contents. The participants included males and females from 1000 households in selected 38 villages. The questionnaire was delivered to the head of each household for completion. Data analysis was done with computer software SPSS (Statistical Package for Social Sciences) version 15. Results are presented in narrative and tabular forms and as figures.

Increased risk for chronic disease is closely associated with individual nutrition, tobacco use, and physical inactivity. This thesis focuses on physical activity as a means of preventing select chronic diseases. A major barrier preventing engagement in physical activity is the built environment. Populations residing in rural environment are not afforded the abundance of opportunities for physical activity prevalent in most urban networks. Of the demographic living in rural environments, individuals with disability face additional barriers to physical activity than those without disability. This leads to a higher prevalence of chronic diseases associated with sedentary lifestyles among populations with disability. Few studies address the correlation between physical activity, chronic disease, and the built environment as they relate to individuals with disability. This thesis utilized independent samples t tests to evaluate variation among physical activity levels and the prevalence of chronic disease. In the first paper, four research objectives defined the parameters for comparison: (1) physical activity for individuals with disability in rural versus urban environments; (2) physical activity in rural environments for individuals with and without disability; (3) prevalence of chronic disease for individuals with disability in rural versus urban areas; and (4) prevalence of chronic disease in rural environments for individuals with and without disability. The four research objectives of the second paper are: (1) rural and urban physical activity comparison for the highest disability classification; (2) rural and urban physical activity comparison for individuals with disability using equipment; (3) rural and urban physical activity comparison for individuals with disability resulting from physical, mental, or emotional impairments; and (4) rural and urban physical activity comparison for individuals not reporting disability. The 2011 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) provided the data used to evaluate the correlation between these variables. The results of both studies indicate important statistical significance relating the rural built environment to lower levels of physical activity for individuals with disability. The varied statistical significance and small effect sizes, however, were contrary to the hypothesis and warrants further exploration of the complex relationship regarding the built environment, physical activity, and chronic disease.