Effects of the AIDS epidemic and the Community Home-Based Care programme on the health of older Batswana

Several recent studies have focussed on the needs and problems of different demographic groups pertaining to the HIV/AIDS epidemic in Botswana. However, none has paid particular attention to the impact of the epidemic on older persons, with specific reference to the Community Home-Based Care (CHBC) programme. This paper examines the experience of older Batswana of the AIDS epidemic, briefly describes the nature of the CHBC programme, and critically examines the social-psychological, economic and health implications of the programme for older persons, with specific reference to their role as primary caregivers to persons with AIDS and AIDS orphans. The dynamics of problems of the CHBC programme are analysed and solutions to the problems are suggested

Status inconsistency in relation to social participation and political activity in a Boston Negro community: an application of the status inconsistency concept to the study of a local community

Abstract: p. 216-219. Autobiography: p. 220-221. Thesis (Ph.D.)--Boston University. Bibliography: p. 208-215.The hypothesis from which this Study sprang was first proposed by Professor Gerhard E. Lenski (1952) of the University of Michigan in his quest of the true nature of American social classes. It maintains that the structure of human groups normally involves the coexistence of a number of parallel vertical ranks or levels which imperfectly fit together. Also, it maintains that individuals occupy a number of status levels in the major structures which when viewed from a non-vertical dimension assume a high or low degree of status cryetallization. Those individuals with a low degree of crystallization differ significantly in their social and political attitudes and behaviors from those with a high degree of status crystallization. Professor Lenski then conducted a survey of residents in the Greater Detroit, Michigan area, using a derived statistical formula as a tool to separate the residents into two groups in accordance with their degree of status crystallization. He then set a number of variables against these two groups with significant results. An attempt was made in the present Study to apply the status crystallization concept, called here the status inconsistency concept, in a Study of social participation and voting behavior in a local community in Boston: the Negro section of Roxbury, Boston. The research method is described in detail. The unit of study here was the Negro male head of household between the ages of 25 and 65 years. A random sample of 100 respondents was drawn but only 65 were interviewed. Using a different criterion from Lenski's, the residents in the local community were divided into three groups: Consistent Group, Somewhat Inconsistent Group, and the Highly Inconsistent Group. The first and third Groups are, respectively, the approximate counterparts of Lenski's high and low degrees of status crystallization. A somewhat extensive survey of the literature was undertaken in the fields of social stratification and voting behavior. And a list of significant findings were presented. This Study was designed to test the hypothesis: that status inconsistency is inversely related to membership in voluntary associations but directly associated with participation in voting, and preference for change in the social order. Our findings indicate that in the Northern local Negro community of Boston, the members of the Highly Inconsistent Group tend to maintain a fluid marginality between the "colored world within" and the "white world without". They manifest attitudes and behavior similar to those whom Lenski designated as possessing a low degree of status crystallization. The findings also indicate that the members of the Consistent Group in the Northern Local Negro community tend to manifest attitudes and behavior similar to those whom Lenski called the high status crystalizers. With respect to change in the distribution of power in the social order, the former prefer changes in those areas where social control is exercised over the prestige system. And the latter prefer changes in those institutions where their economic security is curtailed. Although members of the Highly Inconsistent Group tend to participate more in State elections, there is no significant difference in the way members of the three Groups vote. A majority of each Group seemed to prefer the Republican Party. However, more Highly Inconsistent Group members voted mixed tickets than did those of the Consistent Group. [TRUNCATED

Inflation and Economic Growth: a Review of The International Literature

This paper surveys the existing literature on the relationship between inflation and economic growth in developed and developing countries, highlighting the theoretical and empirical indications. The study finds that the impact of inflation on economic growth varies from country to country and over time. The study also finds that the results from these studies depend on country‑specific characteristics, the data set used, and the methodology employed. On balance, the study finds overwhelming support in favour of a negative relationship between inflation and growth, especially in developed economies. However, there is still much controversy about the specific threshold level of inflation that is appropriate for growth. Most previous studies on this subject just assume a unidirectional causal relationship between inflation and economic growth. To our knowledge, this may be the first review of its kind to survey, in detail, the existing research on the relationship between inflation and economic growth in developed and developing countries

The Impact of Personal Characteristics on Consumer’s Purchase of Innovative Durable Electronics Products in Kano Metropolis

The study assessed the Impact of Personal Characteristics on Consumer’s Purchase of Innovative Durable Electronics Products in Kano Metropolis. The objectives of the study is to ascertain the extent to which personal characteristics of gender, age, income and education affect consumer’s purchase of innovative durable electronic goods. The study population was the entire consumers that purchases electronic products from the 8 local governments areas selected for the study. The researcher used sample size of 500 respondents and data were obtained using questionnaires. Data presentation and discussions were supported with chart and tables to make the whole work easy to read and understand by all and sundry. The study showed that out of the four consumer’s personal characteristics of age, sex, income and education examined, only age is found to have significant impact on consumer’s purchase preference for innovative durable electronic goods of TV, refrigerator, DVD players, and satellite receivers. This is basically supported by previous researches, and especially Roger’s innovation diffusion theory, which forms the theoretical basis of this study. The researchers recommend that marketers should take cognisance of age in new product diffusion. Importantly, opinion leaders, being younger should be targeted tv advertorials to make innovations more sellable. Invariably, customized advertising can equally evolve. In addition, as Hausman (2015) reiterates, such could be given some stipends to encourage them perform the opinion leadership more effectively. Keywords: Personal Characteristics, Consumer, Consumer Purchasing Power, Innovation, Durable Electronics Product

The Efficacy of Applied Behavior Analysis on the Quality of Critical Life Skills in Autistic Youth

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a developmental disorder characterized by difficulties in social interaction, social communication, restricted and repetitive patterns of behavior, and interest or activities. As of 2013, ASD is no longer an individual entity but rather an umbrella term encompassing other distinctive developmental disorders. Signs and symptoms of ASD can appear anywhere from birth to three years of life. Various behavioral modalities exist for the treatment of ASD, which is considered to be the gold standard of care. One of the newest behavioral modalities is applied behavior analysis (ABA) therapy. The general purpose of ABA therapy is the application of techniques aimed at modifying behavior of social importance. In this context, it aims at establishing the link between particular behaviors and the environment, as opposed to solely modifying behavior. This is typically achieved through offering rewards for positive behavior and developing socially conventional substitutions for atypical behavior. The general consensus regarding the efficacy of ABA therapy in autistic youth is positive, particularly from the American Academy of Pediatrics. However, critics of the modality exist within the autistic community, with the majority of disparagement being rooted in an alleged link between ABA therapy and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) as well as depression. Despite these denunciations, the overwhelming majority of behavioral researchers have found that ABA therapy is not only a legitimate form of behavioral therapy for autistic youth, but that those who receive early and intensive behavioral treatment have been shown to make extensive and prolonged gains in language, academic performance & adaptive ability

An Examination of the Impact of Sources of Information on Consumer Preference for New Durable Electronic Goods in Kano Metropolis

The study was designed to assess the impact of sources of information on consumer preference for new durable electronic goods in Kano Metropolis. Specific objectives of the study cover the sources of information used by consumers in their purchase decision of innovative durable electronic goods and the extent to which sources of information used by consumers affect their purchase decision of innovative durable electronic goods. The study population was the entire consumers that purchases electronic products from the 8 local governments areas selected for the study. The researcher used sample size of 500 respondents and data were obtained using questionnaires. Data presentation and discussions were supported with chart and tables to make the whole work easy to read and understand by all and sundry. The study revealed that the diffusion of new durable electronic goods is greatly enhanced by TV advertorials, suggestions by friends/relations and price discounts. Other sources of information used by consumers in the purchase of durable electronic products in the descending order are advertisements on radio, advertisements in magazines, trade shows, advertisements on billboards, suggestions by salesmen and handbills, so the researcher recommended that Proper Research and Development (R & D) efforts through an organization’s Marketing Intelligence/Marketing Information Systems (MIS/MKIS) can help unearth people’s tastes and preferences and hence shape new products and services. This will enhance better segmentation with regards to relevant consumer personal/socio-economic variables. Product diffusion and hence frequency of purchase is often enhanced by consumer’s level of awareness, perceived product quality and reliable warranty among others. Keywords: Sources of Information, Consumer Preference, New Durable Electronic Goods and Kano Metropoli

What Clinical and Laboratory Parameters Distinguish Between Acute and Chronic Renal Failure?

Introduction: In developing countries, a large number of patients presenting acutely in renal failure are indeed cases of advanced chronic renal failure. In this study, we compared clinical and laboratory parameters between patients with acute renal failure (ARF) and chronic renal failure (CRF), to identify discriminatory features. Patients and methods: The Renal Unit of Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospitals Complex is a major referral center for renal disease in Nigeria. 20 patients with ARF and 22 patients with CRF (who had not had dialysis intervention) were recruited for the study at presentation. They had full evaluation including demography, history of duration of symptoms, blood pressure, volume of urine, and laboratory parameters: serum creatinine, urea, potassium, and packed cell volume (PCV). These parameters were compared using Mann Whitney U test for nonparametric data to determine statistical significance. Results: There were no significant differences between the two groups regarding their (i) ages (ii) serum creatinine and (iii) PCV. In contrast, statistically significant differences were obtained for (i) the mean duration of symptoms, which was longer in CRF patients, (ii) the mean 24 hour urine volume, which was larger in CRF patients, (iii) the mean systolic and diastolic blood pressures, both being significantly higher in CRF patients, (iv) and the mean serum urea level, which was higher in ARF patients. Conclusion: It is concluded that the duration of symptoms, quantity of urine, blood pressure, and serum urea levels are distinguishing parameters between ARF and CRF, while serum creatinine and PCV are not. Key words: Acute Renal Failure, Chronic Renal Failure, Laboratory Parameter

Awareness and Utilization of Birth Control Measures as a Means of Increasing Production Output Among Rural Women in Fishing Communities of Lagos State, Nigeria

In spite of women huge labour investment, rural women often get low agricultural production, less accruing returns, limited roles in decision making on the farms and lack of access to productive resources as a result of their multiple roles in the home. Nevertheless, to enhance the level of production of these women, their reproductive health needs to be taken seriously and one way to do that is through promotion of birth control practices that help to minimize manday losses during pregnancy period and burden of raising many children. Hence this study was carried out to look at Awareness and Utilization of Birth Control Measures (BCM) as a Means of increasing production output among Rural Women in Fishing Communities of Lagos State, Nigeria. Simple random sampling technique was used to select three hundred and thirty-one respondents in the coastal areas.  Data were collected with interview guide and analysed using descriptive statistics, Pearson Product Moment Correlation (PPMC) and linear regression analysis. Results of the study showed that the mean age of respondents was 40.1 years; 88.8% were married; 79.5% had formal education; 78.5% realized more than ₦31,000/month; 59.8% practiced nuclear family; and 63.4% had less than 4 children in their households. Also, 83.4% and 91.5% of the respondents were aware of traditional and modern methods of birth control measures respectively. But, 49.8% always used Combined Oral Contraceptives and 44.4% always used injectable contraceptives of modern birth control measures. Health Care Providers (85.5%), radio (66.5%) and television (81.3%) were the predominant sources of information on BCM in the coastal areas. Most of respondents strongly agreed that the use of BCM allows women’ notable participation in more fish processing activities thereby contributing significantly to women’ earning power (82.2%), and it reduces poverty by contributing to economy of the family, community and national level (75.5%). Similarly, production output was high after use of BCM (more than 10kg/day) than before use of BCM (less than 4kg/day). However, sexual displeasure from contraceptive use (92.4%), fear of side effect (83.7%), and fear of infidelity among women (25.1%) have been identified as most serious constraints to the use of BCM. Results of correlation revealed a significant relationship between socio-economic characteristics of the respondents and use of BCM in the study area at p < 0.05 level of significance. Linear regression indicated that utilization of BCM has significant influence on the production output of the respondents (t = 2.05, p = 0.04) at p < 0.05 level of significance. The study concluded that use of BCM increase production output in the coastal areas. It is hereby recommended that Health Care Providers should keep on emphasizing the advantages of birth control measures to the fish processors to encourage them to adopt and use it. Keywords: Awareness, Utilization, Birth Control Measures (BCM), production output, Rural Wome

Sexual harassment and victimization of students: a case study of a higher education institution in South Africa

Introduction: Sexual harassment has been identified as a major public health problem that is hidden in most institutions/orga- nizations.Objective: This study assessed sexual harassment and victimization of students in a higher institution in South Africa.Methods: A quantitative, cross-sectional descriptive design was used in this study. The target population was registered stu- dents of the higher education institution and the sample size was 342. Questionnaire was used for data collection and data were analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) Version 23.0 program. The basic principles of ethics were duly observed and the ethical clearance certificate was obtained prior to data collection.Results: The findings revealed that 27 (17.3%) of the male and 47 (25.5%) of the female respondents (P = 0.047) had personally experienced unwanted touching. Two (1.3%) male and 5 (2.7%) female students admitted that they have been raped. Seventeen (10.8%) of the males and 19 (10.2%) of the females had been coerced to comply with a sexual relationship on campus.Conclusion:  This study shows that both male and female students on campus are experiencing different forms of sexual ha- rassment.Keywords: Students, sexual harassment, higher education institution