Prevalence and Predictors of elder abuse in Mafikeng Local Municipality in South Africa

Elder abuse is widespread in South Africa and is a serious public health problem.  This paper estimated the prevalence and identified the forms and predictors of elder abuse.  The paper used cross-sectional data on 506 elderly people from Mafikeng Local Municipality in South Africa, and used the chi-square statistic and the logistic regression model to analyse the data.  Overall 64.3% of men and 60.3% of women experienced elder abuse.  Physical abuse was more common among men while emotional, financial and sexual abuses were more common among women.  Having no working children, being currently single, living in elderly couple family, living in rural areas, having a poor self-perception of health and having a disability were significantly associated with elder abuse.  We conclude that the prevalence of elder abuse is high and common, which calls for strategies to prevent the vice

Fertility differentials between migrants and non–migrants in the North West Province

(M.Soc.Sc.) North West University, Mafikeng Campus, 2004The aim of this study was to examine the fertility differentials between migrants and non-migrants in the North West province of South Africa. Evaluation of fertility behavior of migrants at the destination area and the causes of fertility differentials of migrants and non-migrants was also undertaken. Data used in · this study were obtained from the 1996 Census and the 1998 South African Demographic and Health Survey. It was found that migrant behavior at the destination areas tends to be influenced by the new environment, which motivated them to, adapt to the norms and values that would affect their fertility. Although South Africa has a lower fertility rate than to the rest of Sub Saharan Africa, It appeared that fertility differentials have existed between migrants and non-migrants. Fertility was higher among migrants than non-migrants and the difference between the two population groups has declined between 1996 and 1998. However fertility differentials were vividly observed with respect to Education, income age and employment status among both migrants and non-migrants in 1996 and income and age at first intercourse among both migrants and non-migrants in 1998. The study concludes by recommending that further research be done particularly on the issue of ethnicity and its impact on fertility since there is no concrete evidence to suggest that there is any marked link between migrants and non-migrants. Also, this kind of research should be done in other provinces to establish the state of migrant and non-migrant fertility and any variations among different socio-economic and demographic groups of Household society. Furthermore, Education should be universalized as a powerful tool to regulate fertility as it has shown to affect fertility, particularly in areas where fertility is still relatively high among both migrants and non-migrants.Master

The impact of HIV testing on current use of modern family planning among women and men in Uganda

The paper examines the association between HIV testing and the current use of modern family planning method in Uganda. Cross-sectional data on 5,243 sexually active and non-ammenorrheic women and 1,569 sexually experienced men, obtained from the 2,011 Uganda Demographic and Health Survey data were used. The results show that although HIV testing was high (80.7% of women and 61.4% of men), use of modern family planning method was low (27.7% of women and 16% of men) and varies by HIV testing status. More women (30%) than men (19.1%) who have ever tested for HIV were using a modern method of family planning (p= .0001). The unadjusted results show that women and men who have ever tested for HIV were 1.88 (p= .0001) and 1.87 (p= .0001) times respectively significantly more likely to be currently using a modern family planning method. However, the adjusted effect of HIV testing on current use of modern family planning method reduced to 1.30 (p .001) times for women and 1.37 (p>0.05) times for men after controlling for the effects of other explanatory variables. We conclude that despite the high rates of HIV testing, current use of modern family planning method is low for both genders in this population. This suggests a high risk of sexual and MTCT of HIV. We recommend the integration of family planning in HIV testing to increase uptake of modern family planning

Predictors of knowledge of HIV/AIDS and uptake of HIV counselling and testing among undergraduate students at the North-West University, South Africa

The aim of this study was to determine predictors of HIV/AIDS knowledge and voluntary counselling and testing of undergraduate students in two campuses of the North-West University.The paper used cross-sectional data of 1,498 and 1,392 university students from Mafikeng and Potchefstroom Campuses. The major source of information on HIV/AIDS was through university programmes. At the Mafikeng Campus, 9 out of 10 undergraduate students had taken HIV test compared to 4 out of 10 at the Potchefstroom Campus. Age and level of education were found to be the main predictors of knowledge of HIV and uptake of voluntary counselling and testing, while race was a predictor of knowledge of HIV and uptake of VCT services among Potchefstroom undergraduate students. There is a need for males to take advantage of free VCT services in order to know their status. Also programmes should provide more detailed information related to HIV/AIDS prevention.Keywords: HIV/AIDS, HIV knowledge, HIV counselling,HIV testing, predictor

Rural-urban contraceptive use in Uganda: evidence from UDHS 2011

Knowledge of the different types of contraception is universal, yet their use is generally low in countries that are predominantly rural. The aim of this paper is to ascertain whether the place of residence is a major factor in determining the use of contraceptives in Uganda. Data from the 2011 Uganda Demographic and Health Survey was used to examine the role of the place of residence in the use of contraceptives among women in Uganda. Factors such as education, status of women, and the desire for children by husbands play a significant role in determining rural-urban differences in the use of contraceptives in Uganda. Place of residence is therefore, an important factor in determining use of contraceptive, especially among rural women. Improving the level of education of rural women, their socio-economic status and educating husbands of the need to use contraceptives is necessary in increasing uptake in the use of contraceptive