Examining the factors structures of brand loyalty of men’s deodorants among generation X and generation Y consumers in Cape Town

This study examines the structures and reliability of brand loyalty in men’s deodorant consumption, as suggested by Moolla’s (2010) framework. This is due to the fickle or disloyal nature of male Generation X and Generation Y deodorant consumers. Although, the subject of brand loyalty is popular, there is a lack of research in the investigation of Generation X and Generation Y consumers specifically in the men’s deodorant industry in Cape Town. This study attempted to close the gap by examining brand loyalty of Generation X and Generation Y consumers in Cape Town through the brand loyalty framework. Based on Chronbach Alphas, the study assessed the degree to which each factor of deodorant brand loyalty loads unto a construct or internal consistency. This study’s motivation is to attempt to assist management develop appropriate strategies, and to expand the body of knowledge for academics, due to limited information and to pave the way for researchers to explore various product categories specifically utilised by men as well as assist them with a tested brand loyalty framework. A positivist research paradigm provided the belief system in which data for the current study was gathered, analysed and used to provide solutions. A descriptive research design chosen for the study resulted in the application of a quantitative research methodology. With reference to Moolla’s research questionnaire, data for the current study was collected from men between the ages of 36 and 52 (Generation X) and Generation Y (men between the ages of 18 and 35). A total of 245 responses were received from Generation X and Generation Y men who are brand loyal to men’s deodorants and the data were collected by statistically analysing this sample. This research established that there were leading brands that consumers were brand loyal to and that there were dominant brand loyalty influences for both Generation X and Generation Y consumers in the men’s deodorant industry. In addition, it was revealed in the study that the suggested recommendations were that there needs to be further research in the men’s deodorant industry, a comparative study should be conducted, brand loyalty of other product categories should be investigated and marketers should focus on culture as a significant influence of brand loyalty. For future research, it was recommended that this study be continued on a larger scale in the men’s deodorant industry to endorse or rectify the results of this stud

Flexible statistical modelling in food insecurity risk assessment.

Doctor of Philosophy in Statistics. University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg 2015.Food insecurity has remained a persistent problem in Sub-Saharan Africa. Conflict and other protracted crisis have rendered a significant proportion of Africa’s populations to suffer the risk of food insecurity, as their resilience to livelihood shocks weakens. A significant and immense body of research in the past two decades has largely centred on describing the incidence of food insecurity and vulnerability. Limited research was done using statistical methods to determine the likelihood of food insecurity risk. The use of flexible statistical techniques for a sound and purposive monitoring, evaluation, planning and decision making in food security and resilience was limited. The study aimed to extend the use of statistics into the expanding field of food security and resilience, and also to provide new direction for future research involving applications of the methods explored, such as adjustments in statistical methods, sampling and data collection. The study specifically aims at helping food security analysts with tested and statistically robust tools for use in the analyses of the likelihood of food insecurity risk in settings with structural food insecurity issues. Moreover, it aimed to inform practice, policy and analysis in monitoring and evaluation of food insecurity risk in protracted crisis; thus helping in improving risk aversion measures. Utilising secondary data, the research examines relevant statistical techniques for determining predictors of food insecurity risk, namely; Principal Component Analysis; Multiple Correspondence Analysis; Classification and Regression Tree Analysis; Survey Logistic Regression, Generalized Linear Mixed Models for Ordered Categorical Data; and Joint Modelling. The study was conducted in the form of structured analysis of different datasets vi collected in the conflict-ridden South Sudan. Assets owned by households, as well as availability of livelihood endowments, was used as proxy for determining the level of resilience in particular demographic unit or geographical setting. The study highlighted the strengths and weaknesses of the techniques explored in the analysis as identifying or classifying potential predictors of food insecurity outcomes. Each technique is capable of generating a unique composite index for measuring the amount of resilience and predicting and classifying households according to food insecurity phase based on factor loadings. In general, the study determined that each method explored has peculiar strengths as well as limitations. However, a noteworthy implication observed is that asset-based statistical analysis, whether based on composite index that can be used as proxy for measuring the amount of resilience to food insecurity eventualities or on regression modelling approaches, does assure sufficient rigour in drawing conclusions about the wellbeing of households or populations under study and how they might withstand food insecurity and livelihood shocks. As food insecurity and malnutrition continue to attract substantial attention, such flexible analytical approaches exert potential usefulness in determining food insecurity risks, especially in protracted crisis settings

Statistical analysis of determinants of household food insecurity in post-conflict Southern Sudan.

Thesis (M.Sc.Agric.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2009.Hunger and food insecurity has remained an endemic problem in Southern Sudan for the last three decades. Lack of a “gold standard” measure for determining causes of household food insecurity is well documented in the Food Security literature and the chase is still on for universally agreed standards. However, the Comprehensive African Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP)1 Framework for African Food Security (FAFS) has outlined four categorical measures for structured monitoring of household food insecurity, which are yet to be rolled out for implementation by country-level Food Security programmes. Analysis of a national household survey dataset has not been done using robust logistic regression techniques for statistically determining the factors influencing food insecurity in Southern Sudan. If such attempts are made, national food security programmes and the government statistical agency are not formally made aware of the results or do not own them. Hence, the agency has continued to lack institutional capacity to adapt the tools and techniques. This project attempts to explore the use of robust statistical techniques featuring the Ordinal Logistic Regression procedures of SPSS for analysing the Sudan Household Health Survey (2006) dataset and determine the strengths and magnitude of relationships of nineteen independent variables in predicting categories of food consumption scores. Food Security experts and international organisations, have regarded Food Consumption Scores as a proxy measure of Food Insecurity. Twelve factors were found to statistically determine food consumption. It is, therefore, ascertained that if this form of analysis were carried out immediately after the survey was completed it would have enabled prediction of the outcome of food insecurity in Southern Sudan for at least the following year. Nevertheless, the study found out that the same statistical modelling procedures could be adopted in similar national surveys. Indeed the study provides a basis for creating an institutional memory for statistical agencies to carry out similar analysis and thereby reducing data processing time without due reliance on outsourced international expertise

Establishing a robust technique for monitoring and early warning of food insecurity in post-conflict south Sudan using ordinal logistic regression

The lack of a “gold standard” to determine and predict household food insecurity is well documented. While a considerable volume of research continues to explore universally applicable measurement approaches, robust statistical techniques have not been applied in food security monitoring and early warning systems, especially in countries where food insecurity is chronic. This study explored the application of various Ordinal Logistic Regression techniques in the analysis of national data from Southern Sudan. Five Link Functions of the Ordinal Regression model were tested. Of these techniques, the Probit Model was found to be the most efficient for predicting food security using ordered categorical outcomes (Food Consumption Scores). The study presents the first rigorous analysis of national food security levels in postconflict Southern Sudan and shows the power of the model in identifying significant predictors of food insecurity, surveillance, monitoring and early warning.The FAO Southern Sudan Sub-Office and FAO Rome.http://www.tandfonline.com/loi/ragr2

Evidence-informed decision making for nutrition: African experiences and way forward

Although substantial amount of nutrition research is conducted in Africa, the research agenda is mainly donor-driven. There is a clear need for a revised research agenda in Africa which is both driven by and responding to local priorities. The present paper summarises proceedings of a symposium on how evidence can guide decision makers towards context-appropriate priorities and decisions in nutrition. The paper focuses on lessons learnt from case studies by the Evidence Informed Decision Making in Nutrition and Health Network implemented between 2015 and 2016 in Benin, Ghana and South Africa. Activities within these countries were organised around problem-oriented evidence-informed decision-making (EIDM), capacity strengthening and leadership and horizontal collaboration. Using a combination of desk-reviews, stakeholder influence-mapping, semi-structured interviews and convening platforms, these country-level studies demonstrated strong interest for partnership between researchers and decision makers, and use of research evidence for prioritisation and decision making in nutrition. Identified capacity gaps were addressed through training workshops on EIDM, systematic reviews, cost-benefit evaluations and evidence contextualisation. Investing in knowledge partnerships and development of capacity and leadership are key to drive appropriate use of evidence in nutrition policy and programming in Africa

An examination of ecohealth-related challenges to and opportunities for South Sudanese rural women’s agricultural productivity

Underlying social problems as well as rampant poverty worsen the effects of ecohealth-related constraints on agricultural productivity, especially of women heads of households. Women in South Sudan have very low literacy rates; the percentage of girls attending primary school ranges from 3.4% (Northern Bahr-el-Ghazal State) to 42.9% (Western Equatoria State) with women shouldering the burden of large households. The National Baseline Survey (2010) reports average household size of 6.78 people. Data analysis shows that malaria, diarrhea and typhoid fever are leading causes of morbidity, especially among women and children. Access to clean water is urgently needed

The African Union policy environment toward enabling action for nutrition in Africa

The current AU policy environment supports efforts by African countries to address malnutrition and can be a rallying point for different interventions at the continental, REC, and country levels. In addition, the accountability processes incorporated into the various declarations create opportunities for monitoring nutrition progress across the continent. The chapters in this report reflect on the current status of nutrition in Africa and offer insight into some of the different approaches being used to improve nutrition outcomes as part of agriculture interventions. The ATOR also always includes a chapter (Chapter 12) that reports current progress on CAADP indicators.PRIFPRI1; ReSAKSSDSGD; WCAO; ESAO; PHN