The objective of this study is to investigate the trends in relative contribution each selected factor makes to the chance of a child’s death over time in South Africa for children born 5 years preceding 1997 and 5 years preceding 2002. Attention was paid to the role played by socio-economic factors, biological and maternal factors, environmental factors, nutrient deficiency factors and health seeking behaviour factors. The study investigates whether the association of a specific factor to under-5 mortality persist over time. Data from the 1997 October Household Survey and the 2002 General Household Survey were used. Births that occurred in the five years preceding each survey were analysed in relation to the survival of the child and socio-economic factors, biological and maternal factors, environmental factors, nutrient deficiency factors and health seeking behaviour factors. Logistic regression was used to determine the relative contribution of each factor for the two periods under review. Under-5 mortality was significantly associated with eight factors during 1993-1997 period namely; mother’s education, mother’s place of residence, sex, birth order, birth interval, mother’s age at the time of delivery of the subject child, nutrient deficiency and place of delivery. However, during the 1998-2002 period only five factors were significantly associated with under-5 mortality. These were mother’s education, sex, birth interval, type of dwelling and place of delivery. This suggests changing patterns in factors associated with under-5 mortality between the two birth cohorts: 1993-1997 and the 1998-2002 birth cohorts. / Dissertation (MSocSci)--University of Pretoria, 2010. / Sociology / unrestricted

Cholera made an unforeseen appearance on the eastern coast of South Africa in the province of KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) in August 2000. Having started from the more urban centres of the coastal region of the province, cholera proceeded unabated to the interior of the province where no community was spared from the scourge. Despite prompt medical intervention, health education and media awareness campaigns, cholera continued to spread throughout KZN. By March 2004, the official statistics of cholera cases in KZN as per the Cholera Database records, stood at 158 895 cases (Dept-KZN Health, 2000). The death toll as reported in the Cholera Database was 575 persons that translated to a percentage case fatality rate of 0.36%; the lowest when compared to the previous epidemics recorded in South African (Kustner et al., 1981; Küstner and du Plessis, G. 1991). An interesting feature of the epidemic was that 99% of the cases recorded by the central and provincial Departments of Health during the height of the epidemic were all from KZN. The question then was, what factors played a role in the cholera epidemic of KZN? This study sought to understand the outbreak and the factors that possibly contributed to the spread of the 2000-2004 cholera epidemic in KZN. The drivers of disease associated with the communities affected by cholera were also explored by analysing the complex and dynamic interaction of their biological, socio economic, and environmental nature over time and space. The nature of the study was such that it called for a multi faceted design to involve not just understanding the societal aspect of the disease but its demographic, ecological and spatial characteristics as well. Thus GIS was used as a research tool to facilitate the comparison of the disease trends and risk factors on a spatial level in order to determine the possible role(s) played by the different environmental and socio-economic drivers. The objective of the study was to investigate the possible role of the natural environment i.e. temperature, rainfall and humidity as the primary factors that influence cholera outbreaks in KZN; on the basis of its uniqueness in climatic conditions as compared to other areas of the Republic of South Africa (RSA). The other socio-economical and demographic factors were considered as factors that enhance the spread of the disease. As such, the exploration of the Cholera Database by use of spreadsheet, statistical correlations and spatial mapping using GIS technology mutually investigated the relationships between the different variables that came up as important factors in the spread of cholera. Results indicated that 52% of the total cholera cases in KZN were reported from DC28 (Uthungulu), making it the focal point of the epidemic. In general, all the age groups were represented in the cholera database though the age groups 15-19 years and 0-4 years featured more prominently in the overall epidemic picture. On average the male to female case ratio was 1:1.5 respectively. The major cholera peak was experienced in 2001 and a minor peak in 2002. Both the peaks appeared during the summer months, which are also characterised by heavy rains. The issues that were statistically proven to be associated with the spread of the disease were related to issues highlighting the inefficiencies in the provision of water and sanitation, which go hand in hand with poverty. Thus poverty was indirectly reflected in the data as an issue that compounded the cholera epidemic. There was no statistical correlation between the incidence of cholera and the climatic variables of rainfall, humidity and temperature. Notwithstanding, there was an overall seasonality revealed by the data, as seen with the cases peaking and waning between the summers and the winters respectively. Furthermore, GIS mapping revealed a concurrence between the incidence of cholera and the climatic variables of rainfall, humidity and maximum temperature. At the spatial level, the characteristics of the epidemic as revealed by the GIS maps and spatial modelling highlighted possible relationships between the incidence of cholera and the various socio-economic and climatic variables (Chapter 6: 6.2.3; 6.2.3). The spatial disease picture displayed a link between climatic seasons and the incidence of cholera. Spatial modelling offered more insight that the statistically supported climatic and socio-economic aspects were indeed important factors in guiding cholera outbreak predictions in the future. The cholera model illustrated this as it selected for areas considered to be at high risk for cholera (Map 34). The results give an altogether holistic portrayal of the cholera epidemic from all perspectives and also supported to the hypothesis that cholera is a function of social and environmental factors. The results from this study further confirm the negative health effects of inadequacies in basic services delivery. The study made use of data resources to understand the relationships between the incidence of cholera and the different demographic, socio-economic and climatic variables implicated in the spread of cholera epidemics (Chapter 3: 3.3.3). It also emphasizes the importance of using reliable data as a management tool to model various scenarios in order to obtain information that could be used in the prediction and management of diseases like cholera at the community level in the future. / Thesis (PhD (Water Resource Management))--University of Pretoria, 2006. / Microbiology and Plant Pathology / unrestricted

No abstract available / Dissertation (MSC (Agricultural Extension))--University of Pretoria, 2007. / Agricultural Economics, Extension and Rural Development / unrestricted

The Twickenham Platinum Mine (TPM) Project is located in the north eastern limb of the Bushveld Complex, north west of Steelpoort in the Limpopo Province. The property hosts platinum group metals (PGM) mineralisation in the Merensky Reef (MR) and Upper Group 2 Chromitite (UG2). The two reefs are separated by 400 m of mafic and ultramafic rocks of the Rustenburg Layered Suite. The question that must be answered with this study relates to the economic viability of the MR compared to that of the UG2 at the TPM Project, as it stands in 2011. The assumption is that no mining has commenced on this project and that there is an equal opportunity to commence mining on one of the reefs. The study describes the ore body characteristic for each reef, focussing on the lithologies, structure, and resources available. The discounted cash flow (DCF) method was used to determine the economic value of each reef. The net present value (NPV) and internal rate of return (IRR) were calculated and used to compare the ore bodies. The input parameters to the DCF are the main limiting factors to this method, as the results are heavily dependent on the assumptions made. The input parameters used were based on actual published values and generally accepted and motivated assumptions. A sensitivity and risk analysis was completed to identify value ranges and potential risks to the projects. The outcome of the analysis has been compared to other projects as a benchmark to ensure the project assumptions were realistic. The world markets supply and demand for PGM is intricately related to exchange rates, metal prices, inflation, and investment risk. These have an influence on the strategic planning for a company as well as investment decisions through various project evaluation methods. South Africa has a long history of mining and metals extraction. Extensive mining legislation has been developed to ensure the country’s mineral wealth is protected and the health and safety of employees are high priority. Specific challenges related L! to mining on the Eastern Limb are discussed in order to justify the high risk assigned to the project for this evaluation. The DCF was calculated and the outcome indicated that neither the MR nor the UG2 is economically viable using these parameters in the 2011 economy. The MR evaluation produced a negative NPV (R -1,664,541,443.47) and an IRR of 9 %, which is well below the required discount rate of 12 %. The initial project capital will be repaid after 19 years of the 33 year life of mine. The sensitivity analysis showed that by reducing the initial capital by 30 %, the project produces a positive NPV. The other factor that produced a positive NPV was by reducing the operating cost by 50 %. This project will have to be re-evaluated after all parameters have been tested and some re-engineering has been done to optimise the extraction of the MR ore body. The UG2 evaluation produced a negative NPV (R -109,614,208.27) and an IRR of 12 %, equal to the required discount rate. The initial project capital will be repaid after 16 years of the 32 year life of mine. The sensitivity analysis showed encouraging results, as minor changes to the input parameters produced a positive NPV. The two parameters that were most significant were the recoveries and the capital requirements. By increasing the recovery percentage by 2 %, the project NPV becomes positive and a reduction of the initial capital by 10 %, also resulted in the NPV becoming positive. This indicates that with some refinement to the input parameters, the UG2 could be extracted as an economically viable project. The only concern is the sensitivity to changes in grade, which will have to be very well defined and controlled when mining commences. The risk assessment related closely to the challenges identified for a mining operation on the Eastern Limb, with the relationship with the local community and the build-up phase of the project emerging as the highest risks. The limited infrastructure development and high levels of poverty that exists in the area has a direct influence on the support structures and services available for the build-up phase of a mine. The build-up phase requires substantial development and services that will have to be sourced at high risk and cost from substantial distances, to ensure that steady state is reached. The socio-economic development of the local community is critical for the success of the mine. Upliftment of the local community in terms of education and training, job opportunities and health care will provide the foundation for a good relationship / Dissertation (MSc)--University of Pretoria, 2012. / Geology / Unrestricted

Enhancing primary care is key to the Canadian health care reform. Considered as an indicator of primary care access and quality, hospitalisations for ambulatory care sensitive (ACS) conditions are commonly reported by Canadian organisations as sentinel events signaling problems with the delivery of primary care. However, the literature calls for further research to identify what lies behind ACS hospitalisation rates in regions with a predominantly urban population benefiting from universal access to health care. A theoretical model was built and, using an ecological design, multiple regressions were implemented to identify which neighbourhood characteristics explained the socio-economic gradient in ACS hospitalisation rates observed in Ottawa. Among these neighbourhoods, healthy behaviour and - to a certain extent - health status were significantly associated with ACS hospitalisation rates. Evidence of an association with primary care accessibility was also signaled for the more rural neighbourhoods. Smoking prevention and cessation campaigns may be the most relevant health care strategies to push forward by policy makers hoping to prevent ACS hospitalisations in Ottawa. From a health care equity perspective, targeting these campaigns to neighbourhoods of low socio-economic status may contribute to closing the gap in ACS hospitalisations described in this current study. Reducing the socio-economic inequalities of neighbourhoods would also contribute to health equity.

This research paper addressed the following question: Do select case studies conform to Dr. Freda Adler's theory regarding socio-economic influences on female criminal behavior or dispute her theory? My research involved three female criminals: Karla Faye Tucker, Andrea Yates, and Susan Smith. I addressed Adler's theory in detail, other theories, the makeup of the female criminal and various female crimes. This study provided evidence that all three case studies conform to Adler's theory. nIn accordance with Adler's theory, each of these three females committed crimes of accessibility. None of the three individuals sought to commit a premeditated act or to murder unknown victims. They were motivated by emotions arising at a point in time when access/opportunity presented itself.

Afrikaans: Die doel van dié studie is om die verbale en nie-verbale kommunikasie gedrag, wat moeders vanuit lae sosio-ekonomiese omstandighede teenoor hul nege maande oue babas gebruik, te beskryf. Ten einde aan die doel te beantwoord, is 'n literatuurstudie en empiriese studie onderneem. Die literatuurstudie verskaf 'n oorsig van moeder-kind kommunikasie interaksie as basis van taalverwerwing. Die verwantskap tussen die aard van interaksie en die sosiaal¬interaktiewe konteks waarin moeders met 'n lae opvoedingspeil en inkomste hulle plaaslik bevind, is beklemtoon. Hierdie verwantskap voorsien 'n raamwerk waarbinne die waargenome interaksie patrone toepaslik geïnterpreteer kan word. Daar is ook verwys na die problematiek wat die Kleurlinggemeenskap as minderheidsgroep in Suid-Afrika tipeer, ter ondersteuning van die belang van konteks sensitiewe interpretering van data. Die navorsingsmetodiek het, met behulp van drie gevallestudies van moeders met hul pre-verbale kinders, kwalitatiewe beskrywende data jeens moeder-kind kommunikasie interaksie verskaf. 'n Data-insamelingsprotokol is op grond van die literatuur en bestaande evaluasie materiaaI saamgesteI, om agtergrondsinligting van die proefpersone in te win asook insig aangaande moeders se kommunikasie gedrag te ontwikkel. Hierdie inligting is bekom deur middel van onderhoude en video-waamemings van spelinteraksies en versorgingsaktiwiteite, wat op die data-insamelingsprotokoI vasgelê is. Die resultate van hierdie studie het onvoldoende interaksionele vaardighede by proefpersoon moeders aangedui. ' n Gebrek aan responsiewe gedrag op hul babas se vokale gedrag en ongemakseine soweI as beperkte verbale stimulasie, blyk daartoe aanleiding te gee dat voorlopers van taalvaardighede nie genoegsaam by die pre-verbale kinders gefasiliteer word nie. Daar is verder bevind dat moeders se persepsies aangaande vroeë verbale stimulasie, spel en gesamentlike boeklees betreklik eng voorkom, wat waarskynlik verband hou met beperkte kennis weens lae opvoedingspeiI en gebrekkige blootsteIIing aan spraak-taalterapeutiese oudiologiese dienste in hulle gemeenskap. Gevolglik is die bewusmaking en lewering van vroeë kommunikasie intervensie dienste in Eersterus en soortgelyke lae sosio-ekonomiese gemeenskappe noodsaaklik. Die bekendstelling van Kommunikasiepatologie en motivering vir vroeë kommunikasieintervensie behoort ook professionele persone vanuit mediese en opvoedkundige beroepe sowel as beleidsbepalers op distriks en nasionale vlak, in te sluit. Die implikasies voortspruitend was van teoretiese en kliniese aard. Die kliniese implikasies het aanpassings in die struktuur van diensverskaffing, asook inhoud van familiegebaseerde tuisprogramme tydens vroeë kommunikasie intervensie in die gemeenskap, voorgestel. Die verkreë inligting word as waardevol vir vroeë intervensie terapeute betrokke by families van lae sosio-ekonomiese omstandighede, beskou, aangesien spraak-taalterapeutiese en oudiologiese dienslewering, deur die gebruik van sodanige konteks toepaslike data, bevoordeel kan word. Hierbenewens is voorstelIe vir verdere navorsing, om databasisse rondom moeder-kind kommunikasie interaksie in lae sosio-ekonomiese gemeenskappe uit te brei en kommunikasie agterstande te voorkom of te verminder, aan die hand gedoen. English: The aim of this study is to describe the verbal and non-verbal communicative behaviour of mothers with low socioeconomic status towards their nine month-old babies. In order to achieve this aim a literature review, as well as an empirical study, was undertaken. The literature review provides an overview through which mother-infant communication interaction can be viewed as the key element in language acquisition. The relationship between the nature of the interaction and the specific socio-interactive context within which mothers with low levels of income and education find themselves is emphasised. This relationship provides a framework for the appropriate interpretation of observed patterns of interaction. To support contextually sensitive interpretation of data reference is also made to the problems typical to a minority group in South Africa, such as the colored community. Qualitative descriptive data regarding mother-infant communication interaction was obtained through research methodology, by means of three case studies of mothers with their pre-verbal children. In order to collect background information on participants and to develop insight into their communicative behaviour, a data collection protocol was compiled based on a literature review and on existing evaluation material. The information was obtained through interviews and video recordings of play and caregiving interaction based in this data collection protocol. The results of this study indicate that mothers demonstrate insufficient interaction skills. Limited Response to their infants' vocal and discomfort cues as well as limited verbal stimulation of infants appears to contribute to the fact that language skill precursors are not facilitated sufficiently appropriately in these pre-verbal children. Furthermore, it is apparent that mothers' perceptions with regard to early verbal stimulation, play and joint book-reading are fairly limited. These findings may be as a result of insufficient knowledge due to low levels of education as well as limited exposure to speech-language therapy and audiological services in their community. Thus, the development of public awareness and the provision of early communication intervention services in Eersterus and similar low socioeconomic communities are essential. The introduction of Communication Pathology and motivation for early communication intervention has to include medical and educational professionals as well as policy makers on a district and national level. The resulting implications are theoretical and clinical in nature. The clinical implications recommend that adaptations be made to the structure of service delivery, especially regarding the content of family-centred home programmes in this community. The data obtained may be viewed as valuable by early intervention therapists working in families with low socioeconomic status, since a database which is contextually appropriate may benefit speech-language therapy and audiological services. Future research topics are proposed in order to further develop databases on mother-infant communication interaction in low socio-economic communities communities and in order to prevent or reduce communication deficits. / Dissertation (MA (Communication Pathology))--University of Pretoria, 2006. / Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology / unrestricted

Dissertation (LLM)--University of Pretoria, 2014. / gm2015 / Centre for Human Rights / LLM / Unrestricted

Suicide is social tragedy that devastates families and is very costly for society. Even though suicide have been a known social problem for over a century society have yet to solve it. The purpose of this essay is to examine whether the socio-economic theory can explain the variance of suicide rate in Sweden. From previous studies and socioeconomic theories, the variables unemployment, divorce rate, fertility was picked because of their ability to explain the variance of suicides rates. Population density was also picked because of its close relation with social isolation. A two-way fixed- effect model controlling for region and time was employed on a panel of 21 counties over the years 2005-2017. The results of the regression were that all independent variables, but population density were insignificant. The study concludes that the panel employed are not enough to determine whether the socio-economic factors can explain the variance of suicide rates in Sweden. / Självmord är en social tragedi som ödelägger familjer och är en stor kostnad för samhället. Även om självmord har varit ett känt problem i århundraden så är det fortfarande ett olöst problem. Syftet med den här uppsatsen är att undersöka om socioekonomisk teori kan användas för att förklara variansen av självmord i Sverige. Från tidigare studier och socioekonomiska teorier utrönandes tre variabler som anses kunna förklara variansen av självmord. De tre variablerna var arbetslöshet, skilsmässor och fertilitet. Befolkningstäthet lades till i regressionen, eftersom den ansågs vara i relaterad till sociologiska teorier. En tvåvägs fasteffekt regression som kontrollerar för län- och tid effekter applicerades på en panel bestående av 21 län under åren 2005–2017. Resultatet av regression visade att alla variabler förutom befolkningstäthet var icke signifikanta. Studien konkluderar att panelen som analyserats inte är tillräckligt för bedöma om socioekonomiska teorier kan förklara variansen av självmord.

The increasing cultural diversity in the United States has brought not only richness, but also complex challenges, to various segments of American society, particularly with regard to public schools. As the student population continues to diversify while teacher population remains predominately White, female, and middle class, teacher awareness in the classroom might be an integral piece to assist students marginalized by stereotypes in feeling more empowered in the school community. Through qualitative data collection and analysis, and framed by Basil Bernstein’s language code theory, this study explored teachers’ perceptions of how classroom interactions, in light of differences in communication, might impact students of different socio-economic backgrounds from the teacher. The findings of this study indicated that the participants expressed a desire to connect with all of their students, regardless of their background. They also discussed challenges that made relationships difficult, such as feelings of disconnect from their Title I students and their families based on differences in home life and background. This dissonance was often difficult for the participants to reconcile due to pressures and difficulties in their teaching situations, such as the large number of students and the scheduling of classes, curricular pressures, and other district expectations such as after-school ensembles. Implications for practicing music teachers and teacher education include ways to understand students’ communities and rethinking ways of approaching relevant terminology in education.