Acheampong Yaw Amoateng

RACE DIFFERENCES IN EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT OF YOUTH AGED 7-18 IN POST- APARTHEID SOUTH AFRICA: THE ROLE OF FAMILY STRUCTURE, RESOURCES AND SCHOOL QUALITY

ABSTRACT The present study uses seven waves of the General Household Survey by Statistics South Africa to examine the role of family structure, resources and school quality in educational inequalities in post-apartheid South Africa. Indians/Asians and whites have an education advantage over Africans and coloureds, and maintain that advantage as they age. About half of the disadvantage of Africans and coloureds is because of family background; very little is because of school characteristics that can be measured in this study. Findings show that the family institution is central in understanding racial inequalities in educational outcomes in South Africa.

Country Monographs: Post-Apartheid South Africa

Historically, South Africa has relied on foreign migrant workers for its industrial and general economic development; this is especially true for the migration of workers from other parts of Africa (Davies and Head, 1995). In fact, the analysis of census data since 1911 has shown that about 6 per cent of the country’s population comprised non-South Africans from the region. In 1961, for example, there were 836,000 regional migrants in the country (Peberdy, 1997). Meanwhile, consistent with the racist orientation of the country’s immigration policy, the government welcomed whites from neighbouring states in Southern Africa who felt threatened by black majority rule (Crush, 2000). Between 1960 and 1980, for instance, skilled and semi-skilled white migrants from Zambia, Kenya and Zimbabwe were given citizenship to boost the local ‘white’ population (Peberdy, 1997). It was within this context of South Africa’s conflicting immigration regimes that Crush and McDonald (2001) noted that the country’s twentieth-century immigration policies under white rule were racist,1 exploiting migrant labour from neighbouring countries and repudiating international refugee conventions.

Social inequality and children’s health in Africa: a cross sectional study

BackgroundThis study examines socioeconomic inequality in children’s health and factors that moderate this inequality. Socioeconomic measures include household wealth, maternal education and urban/rural area of residence. Moderating factors include reproductive behavior, access to health care, time, economic development, health expenditures and foreign aid.MethodsData are taken from Demographic and Health Surveys conducted between 2003 and 2012 in 26 African countries.ResultsBirth spacing, skilled birth attendants, economic development and greater per capita health expenditures benefit the children of disadvantaged mothers, but the wealthy benefit more from the services of a skilled birth attendant and from higher per capita expenditure on health.ConclusionSome health behavior and policy changeswould reduce social inequality, but the wealthy benefit more than the poor from provision of health services.

CHANGING RACE DIFFERENCES IN FAMILY STRUCTURE AND HOUSEHOLD COMPOSITION IN SOUTH AFRICA

ABSTRACT We used the 2001 and 2011 population census data of South Africa to examine race differences in changes in family structure, household resources and household composition over the 10-year period. We found noticeable changes in all the indicators of family structure for all race groups, although black African and coloured households remained the largest, while white and Asian households remained the smallest. While racial differences in family structure, household composition and resources are changing, there are still persistent differences between black Africans and coloureds on one hand, and Indian/Asians and whites on the other in terms of the traditional patterns of extended and nuclear family living.

Psycho-social experiences and coping among caregivers of people living with HIV/AIDS in the North-West province of South Africa.

This study examined psycho-social experiences and coping among caregivers of people living with HIV/AIDS in the North West Province of South Africa. Using a cross-sectional survey design and non-probability purposive sampling method, 728 participants were surveyed. Data were collected using self-developed, validated scales for coping and caregivers’ challenging experiences. Results showed no significant gender difference in coping. Employment status had a significant influence on coping, with the employed coping significantly better than the unemployed. Marital status did not significantly predict coping among caregivers. Caregivers who did not receive food support coped less well with the challenges of caregiving. Caregivers who did not perceive that they had financial challenges, challenges of meeting medical demands of relatives, or the challenge of the fear of death of relatives (respectively) were more likely to cope better with the stress of caring for people living with HIV/AIDS. Caregivers face a number of psycho-social challenges, and it is recommended that policy makers, non-government organizations and healthcare providers review their programmes to assist in addressing psycho-social challenges in this context.

The effect of socio–demographic factors on the utilization of maternal health care services in Uganda

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of demographic and socio-economic factors on the utilization of maternal health care services using the 2006 Uganda Demographic Health Survey. Three measures of maternal health care services are examined, namely visits to antenatal clinic, tetanus toxoid injection and place of delivery. Using binary logistic regression model, we found that urban women are more likely than their rural counterparts to use antenatal care services, receive tetanus toxoid injection and deliver their babies in public health facilities. The same positive association was observed between a woman’s educational attainment and visit to antenatal care clinic, place of delivery and tetanus toxoid injection. The policy implications of general socio-economic empowerment of women are discussed.

The Effect of Socio-Demographic Factors on Risky-Sexual Behaviours of Adolescents in the North West Province of South Africa

The present study sought to fill a research void on adolescent problem behaviours in South Africa by examining individual and contextual factors that affect sexual-risk taking behaviours amongst black African adolescents in a poor community of the North West Province of South Africa. Using the logistic and Poisson regression analytical techniques, we find that individual and contextual factors such as gender, grade, religiosity, peer influence, parental value of children, parent-child communication, school attachment, the use of alcohol and substance like tobacco and marijuana all affect sexual risk behaviours like lifetime sex, recent sexual activity and involvement with multiple sexual partners. Policy implications of these findings are discussed.

Social Context Factors and Attitudes toward Interracial Relationships on a South African University Campus

The present study used a stratified random sample of undergraduate students at a major Metropolitan University in the Gauteng province of South Africa to examine aspects of the contact hypothesis as originally formulated by Gordon Allport. Specifically, the study sought to examine the effects of two social settings, namely, educational and religious settings on students’ attitudes toward interracial relationships. We failed to find empirical support for our hypotheses that the higher education and religious settings would engender favourable attitudes towards interracial relationships. Rather we found the secondary education setting, being African, having intimate interactions with people of different racial backgrounds positively influence students attitudes towards interracial relationships.

Modelling Trends in Contraception Usage in Nigeria and Ghana

This study examines trends in contraception usage using Demographic and Health Survey (DHS) data from Nigeria (2013) and Ghana (2008, 2014). We used a cubic spline to estimate values between intervals, analysed using the time-series neural network model and forecasting till 2030. Results show contraception usage increasing with an average rate of 4.4 per cent, desire not to use declining at an average rate of 0.7 per cent and the use of modern contraception increasing at an average rate of 5.1 per cent. Use of traditional contraception is still increasing in Nigeria at a rate of 0.6 per cent but declining in Ghana at a rate of 0.3 per cent. By 2030, injectables would be mostly used, while the withdrawal method will be preferred among those still in favour of the traditional method. These trends show the readiness of the two countries to embrace the use of modern contraception in an effort to promote the campaign for Planned Parenthood and Family Programme.

Socio-demographic correlates of volunteerism among undergraduate students at North-West University, South Africa

ABSTRACT This article reports on a study that used a sample of undergraduate students at the North-West University, Mafikeng Campus, South Africa, to examine the effect of selected sociodemographic factors on the participation of voluntary activities amongst youth who have been exposed to the country’s higher education system. Specifically, the binary logit regression model was employed to analyse the effects of sociodemographic factors, such as age, gender, race, ethnicity, religion, family structure, maternal education, family socioeconomic status, academic performance and respondents’ perception of the importance of volunteering on five voluntary activities. The study found that male, older, black African, and Afrikaans-speaking youth are more likely to be involved in voluntary activities. Moreover, higher parental education, regular church attendance and being a Protestant as opposed to being a Catholic are all positively associated with youth volunteering. The single most important factor with regard to youth volunteerism is their perception of the importance of volunteering, a finding which underscores the role of socialisation in youth volunteerism.