Spatial Differentials in Childhood Mortality in South Africa: Evidence from the 2001 Census

This study examines spatial differentials in childhood mortality in South Africa using data from the 2001 population census. Of the complex routes of geographical area hierarchy maintained by South Africa, one route links provinces to Magisterial Districts (MDs). There are in all 354 MDs and nine provinces. Our analyses are conducted mainly at the level of MDs. The results show that provincial level indicators mask huge disparities in child health experienced by certain segments of the population. Children born in MDs such as Tabankulu, Lusikisiki, Bizana, Flagstaff, Libode and in the Eastern Cape Province in general are the most threatened early in life. Under prevailing mortality conditions, more than 10% of the children born in these districts are unlikely to celebrate their fifth anniversary. Most of the high mortality MDs form clusters that sometimes cut across provincial boundary. As it is to be expected, most of these high risk districts are among the poorest in the country as measured by average monthly expenditure. However, the worse-off districts, health-wise, are not necessarily the poorest and similarly, the best child health achievers are not necessarily the most economically well-off. On the basis of these findings, implementing policies targeting such high risk districts would seem a more rational way to help close the within country disparities in child mortality and thereby speed up progress toward the MDGs targe

Fate and behaviour of WO3 nanoparticles in wastewater treatment plant

M.Sc. (Chemistry)Abstract: With the widespread use of nanoparticles, a concern has been raised to understand their behaviour in the actual environment. Monoclinic tungsten trioxide nanoparticles (m-WO3) have gained considerate interest as a photocatalyst particularly in the photodegradation of organic pollutants and oxidation of water resulting in the evolution of oxygen. As a result, the increased application will inherently lead to large amounts of m-WO3 being found in wastewater effluent. Wastewater effluent is a confluence of several chemicals; molecules such as natural organic matter, surfactants and amino acids to name a few. Natural organic matter present in wastewater include substances like humic acid and fulvic acid. Thus this study aimed to understand the fate and behaviour of m-WO3 nanoparticles in a wastewater treatment system. This research involved investigation of solution chemistry and its effects on the stability and aggregation kinetics of m-WO3. Thus, accurate characterization of the physicochemical properties was paramount as they could be extrapolated to their toxicological effects. The physicochemical properties measured included size distribution, aggregation/agglomeration, surface area, crystal structure, and surface charge..

Aluminium triflate catalysed O-glycosidation : temperature-switched selective Ferrier rearrangement or direct addition with alcohols

A temperature-controlled mechanism switch between the Al(OTf)3-catalysed direct addition of alcohols or the Ferrier rearrangement reactions in some glycals is presented. The scope and limitations are investigated as are the influence of the stereochemistry and nature of the protecting groups on the glycal substrate

The state of adolescent sexual and reproductive health

In the 25 years since the 1994 International Conference on Population and Development, significant progress has been made in adolescent sexual and reproductive health and rights (ASRHR). Trend analysis of key ASRHR indicators at global, national, and subnational levels indicates that adolescent girls today are more likely to marry later, delay their first sexual experience, and delay their first childbirth, compared with 25 years ago; they are also more likely to use contraceptives. Despite overall progress, however, unequal progress in many ASRHR outcomes is evident both within and between countries, and in some locations, the state of adolescents' lives has worsened. Population growth in countries with some of the worst shortfalls in ASRHR mean that declining rates, of child marriage, for example, coexist with higher absolute numbers of girls affected, compared with 25 years ago. Emerging trends that warrant closer attention include increasing rates of ovarian and breast cancer among adolescent girls and sharp increases in the proportion of adolescents who are overweight or obese, which has long-term health implications. (C) 2019 Published by Elsevier Inc. on behalf of Society for Adolescent Health and Medicine

If not now, when? Time for the European Union to define a global health strategy

Speakman, E. M., McKee, M., & Coker, R. (2017). If not now, when? Time for the European Union to define a global health strategy. Lancet Global Health, 5(4), e392-e393. https://doi.org/10.1016/S2214-109X%2817%2930085-

Poverty, Race, and Children's Progress at School in South Africa

This article investigates inequalities in school attainment in South Africa using community-based data collected in 2008 by the National Income Dynamics Study. Schools-based research has concluded that poor children, who are mostly African, remain disadvantaged by the continuing low performance of former African schools. In contrast, this analysis finds that most educational disadvantages of African children, including their low matriculation rates, are accounted for by household poverty and their mothers\\' own limited education. Thus, earlier studies may not have adjusted fully for pupils\\' backgrounds or the performance of former African schools may have improved since 2000

Poverty in post -apartheid South Africa: Measurement, trends and the demography of the poor

The dissertation comprises two major parts. The first reviews major theories of poverty and measures its extent in South Africa using four datasets (the 1996 and the 2001 censuses, the 1999 OHS and the 2004 GHS). The second part applies demographic, statistical and spatial techniques to study differentials in under-5-mortality by poverty status of households and selected socioeconomic variables using only the censuses. The dissertation conceptualizes poverty as a multidimensional phenomenon that can be proxied by the socioeconomic variables that are commonly collected in African datasets. Following on Filmer and Pritchett (1998, 2001) an index of living standards is created by combining different dimensions of wellbeing, bringing together the concepts of absolute, relative and capabilities deprivation. The resulting index—the assets and capabilities poverty—demonstrates that poverty can be measured in the absence of income or expenditure data. The index is a complement, not a replacement of income measures of poverty. In addition to profiling the poor, the study shows its trend over time. Results show huge but declining inequality in living standards. Relative poverty declined from 50% in 1996 to 40% in 2004. The inequities manifest in differentials by race, urban/rural residence, province and between magisterial districts. Gauteng and Western Cape provinces are the wealthiest whilst the Eastern Cape, Limpopo and KwaZulu-Natal provinces are the poorest. This pattern is statistically significant. The district-level analysis underscores the magnitude of disparities in living conditions. Some districts have more than 95% of their households lacking even the most basic necessities of life. Data quality problems in the 2001 census prevent inferences about trends in under-5-mortality. Further analysis, however, shows that the data could still be used to show differentials in childhood mortality. Despite being one of the poorest provinces, Limpopo was found to have relatively low child mortality. Poor children experience more than twice the likelihood of dying before age five as compared to non-poor children. Lastly, a spatial analysis of the data showed that child mortality is not randomly distributed. Thus, we can learn more about demographic phenomena if we incorporate spatial dimensions of the data into our analysis

Aluminium triflate-mediated reactions of glycals: towards chiral multicyclic products

Ph.D. (Chemistry)The bridged chiral benzopyrans were strategically ring opened via acetolysis to yield either galactose based chromenes or chromans, depending on the reaction conditions. A proposal relating to the mechanism of this selective ring opening acetolysis is discussed. The benzopyrans (chromenes, chromans and bridged chiral benzopyrans) were de-acetylated via triethyl amine catalysed transesterification. Interestingly, the chromenes did not yield the anticipated hydrolysis product (triol) but a new class of bridged chiral benzopyrans which were a result of intramolecular oxa-Michael addition. A chromene that formed during the selective ring opening of the bridged chiral benzopyrans was employed to develop a method for the synthesis of a carbohydrate derived oxepane. The oxepane synthesis was achieved, albeit in the face of numerous challenges from side reactions. The difficulties encountered in the synthesis are discussed..

Poverty in post -apartheid South Africa: Measurement, trends and the demography of the poor

The dissertation comprises two major parts. The first reviews major theories of poverty and measures its extent in South Africa using four datasets (the 1996 and the 2001 censuses, the 1999 OHS and the 2004 GHS). The second part applies demographic, statistical and spatial techniques to study differentials in under-5-mortality by poverty status of households and selected socioeconomic variables using only the censuses. The dissertation conceptualizes poverty as a multidimensional phenomenon that can be proxied by the socioeconomic variables that are commonly collected in African datasets. Following on Filmer and Pritchett (1998, 2001) an index of living standards is created by combining different dimensions of wellbeing, bringing together the concepts of absolute, relative and capabilities deprivation. The resulting index—the assets and capabilities poverty—demonstrates that poverty can be measured in the absence of income or expenditure data. The index is a complement, not a replacement of income measures of poverty. In addition to profiling the poor, the study shows its trend over time. Results show huge but declining inequality in living standards. Relative poverty declined from 50% in 1996 to 40% in 2004. The inequities manifest in differentials by race, urban/rural residence, province and between magisterial districts. Gauteng and Western Cape provinces are the wealthiest whilst the Eastern Cape, Limpopo and KwaZulu-Natal provinces are the poorest. This pattern is statistically significant. The district-level analysis underscores the magnitude of disparities in living conditions. Some districts have more than 95% of their households lacking even the most basic necessities of life. Data quality problems in the 2001 census prevent inferences about trends in under-5-mortality. Further analysis, however, shows that the data could still be used to show differentials in childhood mortality. Despite being one of the poorest provinces, Limpopo was found to have relatively low child mortality. Poor children experience more than twice the likelihood of dying before age five as compared to non-poor children. Lastly, a spatial analysis of the data showed that child mortality is not randomly distributed. Thus, we can learn more about demographic phenomena if we incorporate spatial dimensions of the data into our analysis