African Population Studies (UAPS) / Etude de la Population Africaine (UEPA)
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Introduction to the Special Issue
Get PDFThis special issue of African Population Studies is produced under the theme ‘Population and Health’. It was coordinated by the Research Niche Area ‘Population and Health’ (RNA_PH) of the Faculty of Human and Social Sciences, North West University (Mafikeng Campus). The RNA_PH has a mission to conduct high quality research and train researchers in the broad area of population and health that will be relevant to South Africa and the wider region, with the aim of understanding society and informing policy-making and practice. The niche area is divided into three sub-programmes in line with the priority areas of population and health in South Africa and the continent as a whole: Household and Population Dynamics, Poverty and HIV/AIDS, and Quality of Life and Health
Introduction to the Special Issue on DHS in Africa
Get PDFThe DHS program has conducted nationally-representative surveys worldwide, including Africa, since the mid-1980s. The data are open access and provide a rich resource for policymakers and scholars alike; however there has never been a special issue of a journal focusing on analysis of DHS data. The idea for a special issue on the theme of DHS in Africa emerged during the 2013 DHS Fellows program. It was determined that the African Population Studies Journal, as the only peer-reviewed bilingual journal of population studies in Africa, would be the most appropriate host for a special issue. On behalf of the team from the Zimbabwe Open University, I approached the Editor-in-Chief of the African Population Studies Journal, Prof. Clifford Odimegwu, about hosting this special issue
Contraceptive Uptake Among Married Women in Uganda: Does Empowerment Matter?
Get PDFAlthough contraceptive prevalence increased from 24% to 30% between 2006 and 2011, this uptake is still below global level of 62% and low levels of women empowerment could be a factor. Data was extracted from 2011 UDHS to examine associations between women’s empowerment and contraceptive uptake. We developed four empowerment indices symbolising economic and social empowerment, established associations between them and contraceptive use. Most women (83%) were from the rural areas and 61% were married for 10+ years. Most (59%) scored low on power over earnings and domestic violence indices. All indices independently were positively associated with contraceptive use, but only the reproductive health rights index was significant before (OR 2.13, 95% CI; 1.52-2.98) and after adjusting for background characteristics (AOR 1.72, 95% CI; 1.07-2.73). Empowered women were more likely to use contraceptives. More efforts in sensitisation of women about their sexual and reproductive health rights as well as ensuring more control over their earnings.
Predictors of school reintegration of black women who previously dropped out of school in the North West province of South Africa
Get PDFDespite policies being in place, school re-entry of the girl child after school dropout continues to be low in sub-Saharan Africa. This paper estimated the school re-entry of girls who dropped out of school and identified the predictors affecting school re-entry. The paper used cross-sectional data on 306 black women who dropped out of school in the North West Province of South Africa and the logistic regression model to analyse the data. The result shows that only 28.1% of the women returned to school. School pregnancy, dropping out of school at 17-19 and 20 years of age, perceiving that neighbourhood peers were not in school and residing in rural neighbourhoods, significantly reduced school re-entry. We conclude that school re-entry after school dropped out is low in the North West province, which calls for programmes to address factors impeding school re-entry of the girl child
Determinants of Unmet Need for Family Planning among Women in Rural Kenya
Get PDFThis paper aimed at identifying factors that contribute to unmet need for family planning among women in rural Kenya. Logistic regression analysis was carried out on 2008/09 Kenya demographic and health survey women-file data that left out currently pregnant and amenorrheic women. Among the variables found to be significantly related to unmet need for spacing, limiting childbearing and total unmet need were: marital status, current age, level of education, number of living children, employment status, region, household wealth index and exposure to mass media communications. In order to reduce unmet need for family planning in rural areas of Kenya, region-specific programmatic family planning action should be adopted; the government should prioritize female education and economic empowerment to women in rural areas; agencies involved in family planning provision and communication in rural Kenya should offer suitable services that target specific age groups, and with a greater focus on married women.
Determinants of active ageing in Zambia
Get PDFThis study assesses the 2002 world health organisation Active Ageing Framework and how it applies to developing countries using data from Zambia. Up to date, there is little or no evidence of studies conducted to answer whether or not the 2002 world health organisation Active Ageing Framework is applicable to developing countries like Zambia. This study set out to (1) explore which of the determinants of the active ageing framework apply to Africa and Zambia in particular and, (2) the influence of HIV/AIDS on active ageing in general. A non-experimental exploratory research design was used to collect data for this paper. Snowball and purposive sampling was employed to select 690 respondents (284 males and 406 females) for the study. The study reveals that income accessibility (Economic Determinant), functional limitations (Health Determinants), low self-esteem and loneliness (Personal/Behavioural Determinants), low family and peer interactions (Social Determinants) and HIV/AIDS apply to Zambia in determining active ageing. The study suggests that focused research is needed to clarify and specify the role of each determinant, as well as the interactions between determinants in the active ageing process. In fact, the framework proposes that for such studies, a life course approach is required so as to take advantage of transitions and “window of opportunity” for enhancing health, participation and security at different stages. The study also recommends that policies on ageing should be structured to incorporate the applicability of the 2002 world health organisation active ageing framework’s main determinants of active ageing to reflect the Zambian context
Capitalizing on Nigeria’s demographic dividend: reaping the benefits and diminishing the burdens
Get PDFNigeria is the most populous country in Africa and the eighth most populous country in the world, yet there is a dearth of published research about its demography. As Nigeria enters a period of potentially rapid economic growth due to the increase in the working-age population, it is critical to understand the demographic trends in the country. This paper examines the age and sex composition of Nigeria as it relates to various population characteristics using the two most recent Demographic and Health Surveys for Nigeria (2003 and 2008), as well as some data from the 2006 Census. It also highlights Nigeria’s demographic composition and trends using United Nations population projection data, and its implications for the country reaping the demographic dividend. Finally, it draws some conclusions and makes some policy recommendations based on the findings
Street children, human trafficking and human security in Nigeria:competing discourses of vulnerability and danger
Get PDFThis paper examines the lived experience of street children and other stakeholders’ perceptions in three urban cities (Lagos, Kaduna and Port Harcourt) in Nigeria. The study used quantitative and qualitative methods to explore the perspectives of five major stakeholders: Government Agencies, Civil Society Organizations, the Community, Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) and street children themselves. The findings revealed that street children are perceived to be perpetrators as well as victims of crime. They are exploited, abused and used as drug mules, pressed into commercial sex, and manipulated or bribed into the fire-bombings and violence in Nigeria. While some stakeholders urge increased protection of child rights, others canvassed for “eradication” of the street children. There is therefore the need for more pragmatic steps by the Nigerian government and civil society to address the conditions faced by street children in order to address the security problems and the fundamental human rights of the children
Gender Disparity in HIV Prevalence: A National-Level Analysis of the Association between Gender Inequality and the Feminisation of HIV/AIDS in sub-Saharan Africa
Get PDFThe HIV pandemic in sub-Saharan Africa is often described as undergoing a ‘feminisation’ in which female HIV prevalence exceeds that of male in most age groups and countries. However, much of the variation between countries in the female-to-male (FTM) ratio of HIV prevalence remains unexplained. This paper uses information from DHS, World Bank, UNDP and UNAIDS to identify correlates of the FTM ratio at the country level, with a focus on gender inequality. The FTM ratio is investigated overall and for two age groups. Divergent results by age suggest that the influence of particular mechanisms depend on the age group in question, with epidemiological and demographic variables in particular demonstrating strong associations with the FTM ratio for 25-49 year olds. The mechanisms influencing gender disparity in HIV prevalence between younger adults remain unclear, with few significant correlates observed for the 15-24 age group.
Attitude towards sexual control among women in conjugal union in the era of the HIV/AIDS epidemic in Mahikeng, South Africa
Get PDFHusbands continue to be the greatest source of sexually transmitted infections including HIV to their wives. Using a survey of 568 respondents and 33 in-depth interviews, this study examined the attitudes of women in marital and steady relationships towards sexual control in Mahikeng. Data analysis using logistic regression showed that age, type of union, education, occupation, and number of living children were significantly associated with attitudes towards rejecting sex. Additionally, age, type of union, education, and number of living children were found to be significantly associated with demand for sex. Qualitative data revealed that social-cultural factors influence the disposition of most women regarding demanding or rejecting sex from their husbands. Their attitudes to sexual control are intertwined with cultural, religious belief and perception that husbands have sexual right over their wives. Women empowerment initiatives should continue to be considered as a means to assist women to control their sexuality