Cesarean section delivery in India: an analysis of maternal factors and infant outcomes

Cesarean section (CS) delivery is increasing globally, in many countries exceeding the World Health Organization recommended upper limit of 15% of births in all regions. The CS rate is also increasing nationally in India, where the factors and outcomes associated with CS have not previously been explored. We sought to determine maternal factors and infant outcomes associated with mode of delivery in India from two data sources. First, we assessed the independent association of several maternal factors with mode of delivery in the Longitudinal Indian Family hEalth (LIFE) study cohort. Second, we assessed whether mode of delivery in the LIFE study was associated with diarrhea and respiratory infection in infants. Lastly, we assessed the maternal, socioeconomic, and healthcare factors, and infant outcomes associated with mode of delivery in the 2005-2006 India National Family Health Survey. Of the 1,164 singleton births in the LIFE study between 2010 and 2015, 46% were delivered by CS. Prior pregnancy complications, history of prior CS, pre-pregnancy body mass index, and labor and delivery complications contributed to the high CS rate. In regards to infant outcomes, after adjusting for pre-delivery maternal factors, mode of delivery was not associated with infants having diarrhea or respiratory infection at six months in the LIFE study. In the India national data, 12% of the 35,601 most recent singleton births in the 2005 and 2006 survey were delivered by CS. Factors associated with CS nationally were high wealth index, high level of maternal education, maternal receipt of >5 antenatal care visits, and delivery at a private care facility. After adjusting for these factors, mode of delivery was not associated with infant diarrhea and acute respiratory infection, but an association was found with neonatal death. Our studies yield public health significance in showing that a range of maternal factors are associated with mode of delivery in India, and that mode of delivery is not a determinant of some adverse infant health outcomes. Further research is needed on the effect of CS delivery on infant and maternal outcomes in India and other countries as the CS rates continue to increase

Mapping AI Arguments in Journalism Studies

This study investigates and suggests typologies for examining Artificial Intelligence (AI) within the domains of journalism and mass communication research. We aim to elucidate the seven distinct subfields of AI, which encompass machine learning, natural language processing (NLP), speech recognition, expert systems, planning, scheduling, optimization, robotics, and computer vision, through the provision of concrete examples and practical applications. The primary objective is to devise a structured framework that can help AI researchers in the field of journalism. By comprehending the operational principles of each subfield, scholars can enhance their ability to focus on a specific facet when analyzing a particular research topic

International principles and methods employed by National Human Rights Institutions (NHRIs) as a means of promoting and protecting human rights, a case study of the Malawi Human Rights Commission (MHRC)

This study generally focuses on the important role that National Human Rights Institutions (NHRIs) play in promoting and protecting human rights at the domestic level, hence the need for NHRIs to be effective and efficient in the discharge of their mandate. One way of improving the effectiveness and efficiency of a NHRIs is by ensuring that it adheres to international principles and methods of promoting and protecting human rights as well as by adopting best practices from other NHRIs. The study therefore traces the evolution of NHRIs and their recognition at the international level. It also analyses the different forms in which NHRIs exist and discusses the recommended international principles and standards that act as core minimum in terms of a NHRI's mandate, methods of operation, composition and other guarantees of independence. Due to the fact that states have a wide discretion to devise appropriate means of applying the core minimum principles, this study also presents several best practices from different NHRIs in their implementation of the international principles and standards. Particular attention has been directed at the Malawi Human Rights Commission (MHRC) by assessing whether the MHRC adheres to the international principles and standards in its operations, and to consider whether it could advance human rights better by improving its working methods

Financial cooperatives: regulatory and supervisory answers for South Africa and Malawi

The regulatory and supervisory framework of financial co-operatives in South Africa consists of the Cooperatives Act (No. 14 of 2005), the Co-operatives Bank Act (No. 40 of 2007), Banks Act Exemption (Notice 620 of 2014) and the Financial Sector Regulation Act (No. 9 of 2017). In Malawi, the regulatory and supervisory framework of financial co-operatives consists of the Financial Services Act (No. 26 of 2010) and the Financial Co-operatives Act (No. 8 of 2011). This thesis proposes that the regulatory and supervisory frameworks provided by these pieces of legislation in both South Africa and Malawi do not adequately regulate the sector and that this in turn, one of the main contributing factors to the slow growth of financial co-operatives in the respective countries. On the one hand, the frameworks over-regulate some aspects of the financial co-operatives sector. This overregulation has created a harsh regulatory environment for some financial co-operatives. On the other hand, some aspects of the financial co-operatives sector are underregulated. Under-regulation has resulted in regulatory arbitrage and oversight of the fact that financial co-operatives have economic objectives, ownership structures, risks, and challenges unique to them. Interestingly, although such gaps and overcompensations in the frameworks have hindered the growth of formal and semi-formal financial co-operatives, they have fostered the growth of informal financial cooperatives. Accordingly, in both countries, there is an overwhelmingly large sector of informal financial co-operatives. Informal financial co-operatives are not governed by formal pieces of legislation. Rather, they are governed by indigenous law, or as otherwise termed, the law of the people. This thesis postulates that the overregulation and under-regulation embedded in the current regulatory and supervisory frameworks have been birthed from a misunderstanding of what financial co-operatives are and how they ought to function; an infusion of unfavourable historical and political influences and practices into the current regulatory and supervisory frameworks; overdependence of external aid; and lastly, an underestimation of the competencies of the citizens in both countries. The aim of this thesis is not to suggest supplanting of the current formal frameworks in South Africa and Malawi, or an adoption of informal governance structures. Instead, this thesis aims to provide recommendations for legal reform within the current framework. It aims to propose how, if possible, or required, the relevant laws in South Africa and Malawi might be changed, reformed or developed within their existing frame of reference

Misinformation in countries with limited technological literacies: How individuals in sub-Sahara Africa engage with fake news

In an event where the problem of information access is almost terra incognita, the derivate challenge is whether too much information is bad. Most research suggests so, yet very few attempts have been made to examine the digital inequalities and literacies that shape how an individual is exposed, consumes, shares, and ends up believing in fake news. This study builds upon focus group data from six sub-Saharan countries to examine how people in sub-Saharan Africa engage with misinformation. This study focuses on variations in digital access and literacy, which indicate how individuals in Africa are exposed to, consume, spread, and believe in misinformation. The findings suggest that access is not an impediment to fake news exposure, consumption, or sharing. However, the presumed news-literate individuals did not seem to believe in misinformation, except in events that compromised their moral fiber. Because of eco-chambers, news-literate people were more susceptible to misinformation. The overall findings question the notion of news literacy and whether it is indeed a panacea for fighting misinformation

Communicating science beyond the MMJ

No Abstract

Incomplete company law reform : the treasury shares question in South Africa

One of the paradoxes in company law is the phenomenon of treasury shares. Their complex nature coupled with the risks attached to their use has rendered them problematic and unnecessary in modern company law. Refuting arguments stated against the use of treasury shares, this paper aims to build a case for the introduction of treasury shares into South African company law. In order to achieve this, the paper will firstly examine the nature and complexity of treasury shares. Thereafter, it will discuss their importance in modern company law by highlighting their commercial value. A study of their incorporation into a few jurisdictions will also be discussed in an attempt to propose a manner in which South Africa can introduce treasury shares into its law. It is a suggestion of this contribution that the recent company law reform was a missed opportunity to adopt treasury shares. The adoption of treasury shares would have been an indication of a complete breakup from traditional straitjacket concept of capital maintenance. However, as they were not adopted when the new Companies Act 71 of 2008 this paper will propose, in conclusion, that treasury shares ought to be adopted

Factors Influencing Rural Female Pupils Drop Out from Primary Schools, in Nkhata-Bay South District, Malawi

Factors Influencing Rural Female Pupils Drop Out from Primary Schools, in Nkhata-Bay South District, Malawi Grace C. Gondwe The problem of the study was to identify factors influencing rural female pupils drop out from primary schools, in Nkhata-Bay south district, Malawi. The research objectives sought to establish the school related factors and out of school factors influencing rural female drop out. To generate and refine the study ideas literature review was essential. The reviewed literature includes different studies focusing on female dropout. The study was based on two theories of motivation: Bernard Weiner’s attribution theory and Abraham Maslow’s theory on human motivation. The study adopted qualitative research design with some basic descriptive results in the form of frequency counts. The target population was rural female primary school dropouts and the study involved thirteen participants. Purposeful sampling and snowballing sampling were used to select the participants for the study. The instrument used to collect data was semi-structured interviews which was done through Skype technology. For refinement and validation, the interview protocol was piloted on five rural primary school dropouts from a different area with similar characteristics as the study area. The study data was analyzed by coding and grouping the emerging themes. The researcher translated all data into English from Chichewa, which was the language used during data collection. The study revealed the following school related factors that influenced dropping out; poor academic performance, grade repetition, overcrowded classroom and teacher’s absenteeism. Pupils’ own lack of interest in school, lack of financial support due to poverty, pregnancy, early marriage and taking care of sick relatives were out of school factors that the study established