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Novel care: public health and professional caregiving in the nineteenth-century British domestic novel
No full textIn Communities of Care, Talia Schaffer describes the early nineteenth-century care community as an "ad-hoc, flexible, small grou[p] of caregivers" typically composed of one’s relations or neighbors. Both in historical reality and in the pages of domestic fiction, these caring collectives functioned as the primary means of addressing the period’s abundance of illness and disability. However, by the mid-century, Schaffer notes that care communities were no longer "visible as the default way of dealing with sickness," overshadowed by the rise of professional medicine and its attention to an undifferentiated mass public. Late-century fiction, she argues, mourns the loss of these intimate collectives, regularly referring back to and attempting to recreate them. This dissertation contributes to Schaffer’s history of the care by demonstrating how the domestic novel’s nostalgia for the care community is often accompanied and destabilized by the genre’s concerns about the efficacy of such an intimate model of care, especially against the century’s mounting public health crises. From Jane Austen to H. G. Wells, nineteenth-century novelists repeatedly imagine how care might be scaled up to address the needs of a local, national, and even global public. In doing so, their fiction also anticipates pressing questions about who might be held responsible for enacting this new, large-scale and professionalized approach to care and how they might go about performing it.
In conversation with theorists of the novel, cultural historians, and care ethicists, this dissertation explores how the development of the British public health system is imagined, reflected, and theorized by the nineteenth-century domestic novel. In the novels at the heart of this project, I identify a surprising narrative pattern: 1) Outside of the main narrative arc, each novel references an ongoing public health crisis, whether real or imagined. This crisis produces a kind of narrative urgency that underlies characters’ speculations about the relative health of the local and national public and the future of public healthcare. 2) Public health initiatives are spearheaded by a central professional man, displacing generations of women who were traditionally associated with care work. In fact, these novels repeatedly represent women caregivers as hypochondriacs, meddling busybodies, and dangerous devotees of quack medicine. 3) Although each novel explores a particular approach to public health, they also confront obstacles that complicate the scaling up of care. Despite the efforts of these professional men, public health measures in these novels often render care inaccessible or unrecognizable. By attending to this narrative pattern across the nineteenth century, I track how novelists began to grapple with both the need for and potential failures of public health initiatives.
This dissertation is organized into four chapters. In each chapter, I explore a different public health crisis as well as a central male figure whose profession motivates a particular approach to public health. In Chapter 1, I read Austen’s Sanditon (1817) in order to examine the rise of the public health entrepreneur in the early century. Taking advantage of a period of economic upheaval, Mr. Parker seeks to transform care from a concrete domestic practice to an abstract institutional enterprise that monetizes the public’s fear of illness. In Chapter 2, I investigate the figure of the soldier in Charlotte Yonge’s The Clever Woman of the Family (1865). Alick and Colin Keith, wounded soldiers returning from the Sepoy Rebellion, outline an approach to public health that centers a paradoxically intimate institution – a care home that provides meaningful work for starving local children while also treating the wounds of imperial soldiers. While the entrepreneur seeks to endlessly expand care, Yonge’s soldiers endeavor to limit their efforts to a national scale, creating a strategy for public health that is at once expansive and insular, national but also strictly nationalist. In Chapter 3, I read Harriet Martineau’s Deerbrook (1839) alongside George Eliot’s Middlemarch (1871) to investigate the figure of the provincial doctor. Hope and Lydgate aim to protect the public from the devastating cholera epidemic both by promoting a new standard of rational care and by contributing to professional medical knowledge. However, neither doctor succeeds in making headway against the spread or severity of the disease. Read together, these novels question whether the trained medical man and his new medical epistemologies are any more efficacious than the lost care community. In Chapter 4, I look ahead to Wells’s Tono-Bungay (1908) to consider the state of public healthcare by the end of the century, paying particular attention to the entrepreneurial, soldier, and doctor figures that are reprised in this text. While the early- and mid-century authors across this dissertation maintain some degree of optimism about the future of care, Wells predicts the destruction of any recognizable model of caregiving by the corrupt global pharmaceutical industry.Ph.D.Includes bibliographical reference
Me, my selfie, and I: exploring the interplay between identity development, social media use, and suicidal ideation in adolescents
No full textAdolescence is a critical developmental period for identity development and the first onset of suicidal thoughts and behaviors. However, the relationship between identity development and suicidal ideation has been understudied. Moreover, social media use provides functional affordances for identity development and may mechanistically link identity to suicidal ideation. This study aims to test the relationship between identity and social media experiences, identity and suicidal ideation, social media experiences and suicidal ideation, and finally an integrated exploratory model in which social media experiences mediate the relationship between identity and suicidal ideation. The sample contained 367 adolescents (14-17, M = 16.02; SD = 0.85) recruited from social media platforms. Participants completed measures assessing consolidated, disturbed, and lack of identity, social media experiences, and suicidal ideation. Social media experiences were measured via six subscales: positive/negative engagement, positive/negative exposure, and positive/negative interactions. Structural equation modeling with diagonally weighted least squares estimation was used to examine the relationships of interest and fit the six subscales of social media experiences into two latent factors: positive social media experiences and negative social media experiences. Across the three models, positive engagement (b’s = .31-.38), positive exposure (b’s = .29-.30), and positive interactions (b’s = .78-1.01) significantly loaded onto positive social media experiences (p’s < .001), while negative engagement (b’s = .85-.93), negative exposure (b’s = .60-.74), and negative interactions (b’s = .71-.76) significantly loaded onto negative social media experiences (p’s < .001). Consolidated and disturbed identity were positively associated with positive social media experiences, and disturbed and lack of identity were positively associated with negative social media experiences. Consolidated identity was negatively associated with suicidal ideation occurrence and frequency, while disturbed and lack of identity were positively associated with suicidal ideation occurrence and frequency. In the model with disturbed identity predicting social media experiences and suicidal ideation, positive social media experiences were negatively associated with suicidal ideation frequency. In all other cases, social media experiences were not associated with suicidal ideation after accounting for identity. There were no significant mediational models. The current study highlights the importance of understanding identity in relation to suicidal ideation and considering developmental and psychological factors when evaluating the relationship between social media use and suicide risk.M.S.Includes bibliographical reference
Development of iridoid based arthropod repellents through stability assessment, chemical synthesis, and human metabolism
No full textNaturally occurring compounds derived from plants have been a cornerstone of human health for hundreds of years. Although it’s mainly known for its euphoric effects on felines, catnip (Nepeta cataria), has seen use as a botanical treatment for fever, diarrhea, insomnia, and adjustment of menstruation cycles, while also being efficacious in traditional medicine based treatments of colic, gastrointestinal, and respiratory issues. Today, the research pursuits of catnip products are focused on using its bioactive compounds for improving human health or on developing arthropod repellent products to reduce infectious diseases to humans and animals because of their iridoid compounds. These compounds are unique bicyclic monoterpene lactones found in very few species of plants. Nepetalactone (NL) is the most recognized iridoid from catnip as it is a pleasant smelling chemical which acts as both a feline attractant and arthropod repellent. Other iridoids have been unearthed in catnip, yet their relevance as bioactive analytes remain unclear. The focus of this dissertation centered on nepetalactone and the other similarly structured iridoids: nepetalic acid (NA), dihydronepetalactone (DHNL), and nepetalactam (NT) as potential arthropod repellents. Arthropods are known vectors of serious diseases such as malaria, Dengue fever, Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, among others. Ticks (Ixodes scapularis and Haemaphysalis longicornis) and bed bugs (Cimex lectularius) were the research organisms for these studies considering their well-documented impacts on human health and wellness. Novel catnip cultivars, CR3 and CR9, were processed into extracts and their ability to be highly repellent towards the aforementioned tick species was examined which resulted in a product that was competitive with the gold standard repellent, DEET. By removing the chemosensory Haller’s organ from the ticks, a general mechanism of action for these extracts was developed, with additional insight into their potential arachnicidal properties.
While efficacious, there are documented doubts about the long-term efficacy of catnip and other phytochemically based repellents. A two-year stability study measuring the concentration of the iridoids in catnip was completed to discern if these claims are warranted. We found a distinct difference between the stability of the two identified NL isomers, Z, E-NL and E, Z-NL. The knowledge of which is impactful for those that cultivate, harvest, and process catnip materials which contain more of one isomer over another. In addition, the conversion of NL to NA was observed which substantiated anecdotal claims of degradation reactions. Dihydronepetalactone was also quantified over the same timeframe, and we found this compound to be stable as there was no decline in concentration. Catnip iridoids were isolated and synthesized to provide a direct comparison of their ability to repel arthropods. Only NA was ineffective in this endeavor, providing important structure activity relationships (SAR) for iridoid repellents. Using NL and NT as pharmacophores, a series of synthetic analogues were then designed and produced for further mechanistic exposition and to develop a novel class of compounds. Alpha-substituted analogues of NL were powerful and long-lasting (>24 hours) repellents of Ixodes scapularis ticks and Cimex lectularius bed bugs that improved upon the short acting repellency of nepetalactone and were comparable to DEET. The final endeavor in this dissertation was to determine the human liver metabolites of the naturally occurring iridoids as a preliminary assessment of their ADME properties should products containing such chemicals be applied to people. Each compound was digested by enzymatic preparations and the resulting metabolites were structurally elucidated by HRMS. A total of 30 metabolites were identified through these means, some specific to CYP3A4 enzymes, and others found in full microsomal incubations.Ph.D.Includes bibliographical reference
Magnetic imaging of intrinsic magnetic topological materials
No full textRecently synthesized Mn(Bi/Sb)2n(Se/Te)3n+1-family van der Waals compounds incorporate intrinsic magnetism and topologically nontrivial band structure, providing ideal platforms to investigate many fascinating quantum phenomena. Examples include quantum anomalous Hall (QAH) effect, axion insulator state, and Weyl semimetal phases. Different members in the Mn(Bi/Sb)2n(Se/Te)3n+1 family exhibit distinct magnetic orders, yet comprehensive studies about their domain behavior and associated magnetic phase transitions have been lacking. In this thesis, we focus on cryogenic magnetic force microscopy (MFM) study on several Mn(Bi/Sb)2n(Se/Te)3n+1 compounds.
In chapter 3, we report direct visualization of spin-flip transition of the surface layer in antiferromagnet MnBi4Te7, a natural superlattice of alternating MnBi2Te4 and Bi2Te3 layers. The observation of magnetic contrast across domain walls and step edges confirms that the antiferromagnetic order persists to the surface layers. The magnetic field dependence of the MFM images reveals that the surface magnetic layer undergoes a first-order spin-flip transition at a magnetic field that is lower than the bulk transition, in excellent agreement with a revised Mills model. Our analysis suggests no reduction of the order parameter in the surface magnetic layer, implying robust ferromagnetism in the single-layer limit. The direct visualization of surface spin-flip transition not only opens up exploration of surface metamagnetic transitions in layered antiferromagnets, but also provides experimental support for realizing quantized transport in ultrathin films of MnBi4Te7 and other natural superlattice topological magnets.
In chapter 4, we report the magnetic imaging of two kinds of defect engineered MnSb2Te4 single crystal. For the ferromagnetic MnSb2Te4, the magnetic field dependence of the domains reveals very weak pinning of domain walls in MnSb2Te4, resulting in a negligibly small magnetic hysteresis loop. The temperature dependence of the domain contrast reveals a mean field like behavior, in good agreement with that of bulk magnetization measurements. For the MnSb2Te4 with competing phases, we visualize a temperature driven ferromagnetic-antiferromagnetic transition. The nucleation of magnetic domains in the transition shows no preference at the domain wall, indicating negligible energy difference between the competing phases. The MFM data for warming and cooling exhibits distinct features, suggesting a surface-to-bulk transition process.
Our MFM results not only unveil the elusive surface magnetism in some natural antiferromagnetic superlattices but also provides key ingredient for the control and manipulation of the magnetic order in Mn(Bi/Sb)2n(Se/Te)3n+1-family compounds, opening a new path toward the realization of exotic quantum phases in intrinsic topological insulators.Ph.D.Includes bibliographical reference
Polyelectrolyte surfactant cationic antimicrobial nanospray formulation for the treatment of biofilm wound infections
No full textBiofilm wound infections continue to be a significant challenge due to their biophysical barriers that hinder drug effectiveness, with a long-term concern being the development of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Biofilms formed by Gram-negative bacteria such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P. aeruginosa) have a strong matrix made up of extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) that are difficult to penetrate with standard doses of antimicrobials. Current treatment methods such as topical antibiotics in the form of creams or ointments are not effective, are often painful to reapply, and risk systemic toxicity. Some cationic antimicrobial (CAM)s have great potential in treating biofilms, although they are limited by systemic toxicities, rapid degradation, and by electrostatic sequestration due to the anionic nature of the EPS. A potential approach to overcoming these challenges is delivery of CAMs in nanoparticles formed as self assembling polyelectrolyte complexes. In this work, we use polyelectrolyte surfactant (PS) backbones comprised of poly(methacrylic acid) (PMAA) with a 10% graft of Jeffamine® M2070 to create self assembling polyelectrolyte complexes that serve to protect the CAMs from degradation. The design of these PS-CAMs leverage a specific charge ratio that allows them to surpass EPS and treat the source of the wound infection. These PS-CAMs delivered via spray provide a gentle alternative to physical treatments while still being potent. Through various assays such as disk diffusion (Kirby-Bauer method), spray zone of inhibition, spray minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC), and Lubbock chronic wound biofilm (LCWB) model, it was found that the CAM activity of tobramycin (TB) and polymyxin B (PB), respectively, were maintained in their nanoparticle encapsulations when delivered via spray.M.S.Includes bibliographical reference
Defining a clean bill of health: eating, sleeping, and exercise habits of diverse youth
No full textAnxiety and depression are two of the most commonly diagnosed mental health conditions for children and adolescents. These mental health disorders interfere with youth’s school performance, family lives, and social functioning. Studies have shown improved overall health for individuals who exercise regularly, eat a nutritious diet, and sleep adequate amounts. Emerging research supports a relationship between positive health behaviors such as exercise, nutrition, and sleep and anxiety and depressive disorders. The current study investigated how health behaviors were associated with depression and anxiety in youth. We also investigated if health behaviors correlated with parenting styles, specifically in the area of accommodation. Data from clinical (n=82) and non-clinical (n=57) youth ages 9-17 was used with clinical youth being defined as having a primary anxiety or depression DSM-5 diagnosis and non-clinical youth being defined as youth with no DSM-5 diagnosis. The study found evidence for a relationship between health behaviors and youth mental health across populations. The data showed a strong association between sleep and youth anxiety/depression severity as well as mixed results for diet and exercise and youth anxiety/depression severity. There was also some evidence that parenting behaviors impacted health behaviors, specifically in the area of accommodation. Examining the relationship between positive health behaviors and youth anxiety and depression is critical to better understanding and treating these disorders.Psy.D.Includes bibliographical reference
Effectiveness of workplace violence prevention against ED nurses: a mixed methods systematic review with knowledge translation
No full textPurpose of Project: This project aimed to synthesize and translate available data on the effect of workplace violence (WPV) training for ED nurses on nursing perception and confidence with handling WPV. The types of training methods we sought to compare were traditional in-person education versus simulation training.
Methods: This review systematically searched Rutgers Libraries databases CINAHL, PubMed, and MEDLINE (Ovid). Two reviewers independently assessed studies for inclusion. Data were extracted by both reviewers and discrepancies were resolved through discussion.
Results: The meta-analysis yielded four overarching findings: efficacious outcomes of in-class WPV prevention training, stronger relationships, in-class simulation offers role clarity, and participants calling for more than one training session. Quantitative nursing confidence related to the exposure of WPV prevention training was measured with pooled odds ratio using a random effects model. The overall odds of 0.31 (95% CI 0.22, 0.44; p = <0.001) was statistically significant, meaning that nurses who participated in WPV prevention training had 0.31 times the odds of having more confidence when faced with WPV compared to nurses without exposure to WPV prevention training.
Implications: Based on the findings of this review, it is recommended hospital emergency departments implement traditional classroom-style education followed by simulation training multiple times annually to improve nursing confidence with handling WPV. This review can serve as the basis of a call to action for implementation of WPV training for ED nurses at the local, state, and national level.D.N.P.Includes bibliographical reference
Tracing Justina’s Argument of Fairness: Investigating a Journey of Probabilistic Reasoning
No full textThe purpose of this analytic is to examine the development of probabilistic reasoning and representations shown by Justina, a sixth-grade student, when working with Adanna, a sixth-grade student, on both dice games (see problem statements below). The video narrative is a compilation of events that documents Justina’s reasoning on what makes the dice games fair as well as the representations that she used to support her argument.
The first event showcases the structure and format of dice game #1 that both Justina and Adanna are using to analyze the game. Specifically, they both have pieces of paper and pens to document their results and a die to roll on the desk. Thereafter, after establishing that the dice game #1 is “unfair,” the next 2 events document how Justina and Adanna created “fair” versions of dice game #1. In particular, they create two distinctive versions where they both have an “even” set of different numbers from 1 to 6 (i.e., one player had 1, 3, 5 and the other had 2, 4, 6).
During Events 4 and 5, the idea of “fairness” is questioned by Researcher Asante when asking Justina and Adanna about their changes to dice game #1. In other words, Justina and Adanna thoroughly discuss all of the versions of dice game #1 that they worked on when prompted by Researcher Asante. Finally, the last 2 events highlight dice game #2 where Justina and Adanna play a slightly different variation of dice game #1. Specifically, they are using a pair of dice and rolling for the sums of the dice to determine which player will score a point.
Altogether, the purpose of these events in relation to the overall goal is that it focuses on Justina’s journey of probabilistic reasoning and construction of appropriate representations to support her reasoning. In particular, the analytic shows how Justina’s journey of reasoning develops over time when playing both dice game #1 and #2. Explicitly, Justina reasoned how the dice games were unfair and created ways to make dice game #1 fair along with her partner, Adanna (Events 2 and 3). In each dice game, Justina used experimental data (within her representations) and occasionally theoretical data to support her claims, but for dice game #1, these conjectures were challenged by Researcher Asante, which sparked more mathematical discussion and made Justina elaborate on her reasoning (Events 4 and 5). Moreover, for each dice game, Justina used representations that were composed of drawing two columns with her and Adanna’s name, documenting the number that was rolled on the die, and indicating if the game they were playing was fair or unfair (Events 3 and 7).
When looking at the dice games, a goal for students can be to develop ideas of probability prior to high school and make connections between theoretical and experimental probability. According to Kathleen Shay, “probability requires a way of thinking that does not consist of procedures to be followed to reach a predetermined solution” (2008, p. 5). With this in mind, Justina’s growth of probabilistic reasoning can be aligned with this goal as she makes explicit connections with her representations and knowledge of probability (Event 5).
Overall, there are some factors that may have impacted Justina’s journey and claims that she made in relation to the dice games. First, the task design of the dice games gave Justina an opportunity to reason what it means to be a “fair” game and make the games fair while communicating with her partner Adanna (Events 2 and 3). Likewise, the task design allowed Justina to reflect on her mathematical and personal beliefs of probability (Events 4 and 5). We see that “through sharing, questioning, and debate, children put forth hypotheses, and explore their reasonableness” (Alston & Maher, 2003, p. 32). Furthermore, the supply of materials, such as dice, pens, and paper permitted Justina to document her results and create representations, which resulted in determining that the dice games were unfair (Events 2 and 7). Nonetheless, the task design demonstrates how “engaging with complex tasks offers opportunity to work through the confusion and make strategic choice” (Alston & Maher, 2003, p. 25).
In addition to the task design, the involvement of researchers, including Researcher Asante and Alston, challenged Justina to explain her argument on what makes the dice games fair. In particular, Researcher Asante asked deep questions about the idea of fairness using the experimental data that Justina and Adanna both had, which significantly impacted Justina’s reasoning as she had to explain in her own words how the dice games were fair with appropriate reasoning to support (Events 4 and 5). Alston and Maher (2003) explained that the IML study’s environment/design of “student-to-student and student-to-researcher dialogue reveal[ed] an emphasis on sense making and collaboration in the quest for meaning. This result[s] in richer and deeper understanding of the conditions of the problem and the varying interpretations developed by the students” (p. 25).
The analytic will show how task design coupled with minimal researcher involvement may have prompted students to make representations about probability (Events 3 and 7) and construct arguments on what it means to have play a fair game (Events 4 and 5). This is because the students are encouraged to record their results and make conjectures about what it means to have a fair game between two players (Events 1 and 6). Also, they are given an opportunity to explore and communicate their ideas with another classmate (Events 2 and 3) as well as with researchers (Events 4 and 5).
Problem Tasks:
Dice Game #1: A Game with One Die: Roll one die. If the die lands on a 1, 2, 3 or 4, Player A gets one point (and Player B gets 0). If the die lands on 5 or 6, Player B gets one point (and Player A gets 0). Continue rolling the die. The first player to get ten points is the winner.
(1) Is this a fair game? Why or why not?
(2) Play the game with a partner. Do the results of playing the game support your answer? Explain.
(3) If you think the game is unfair, how could you change it so that it could be fair?
Dice Game #2: Roll two dice. If their sum is 2, 3, 4, 10, 11 or 12, Player A gets one point (and Player B gets 0). If their sum is 5, 6, 7, 8, or 9, Player B gets one point (and Player A gets 0). Continue rolling the dice. The first person to get ten points is the winner.
(1) Is this a fair game? Why or why not?
(2) Play the game with a partner. Do the results of playing the game support your answer? Explain.
(3) If you think the game is unfair, how could you change it so that it could be fair?
Video References:
B84, 42b, Probability problems: Dice games for two players part 1 of 2 (Student view), Grade 6, April 29, 2004, raw footage [video]. Retrieved from https://doi.org/doi:10.7282/t3-2wn3-1z65
B85, 43b, Probability problems: Dice games for two players part 2 of 2 (Student view), Grade 6, April 29, 2004, raw footage [video]. Retrieved from https://doi.org/doi:10.7282/t3-feqd-sm07
References:
Alston, A., & Maher, C. (2003). Modeling Outcomes from Probability Tasks: Sixth Graders Reasoning Together. In International Group for the Psychology of Mathematics Education (Vol. 2, pp. 25-32). International Group for the Psychology of Mathematics Education.
Shay, K. B. (2008). Tracing middle school students’ understanding of probability: A longitudinal study. Retrieved from https://doi.org/doi:10.7282/T3BR8SG
Behavioral and neural mechanisms of positive social sharing and social bonding
No full textThe goal of this dissertation is to investigate the underlying behavioral and neural mechanisms that link social affiliation and wellbeing. Social affiliation and a sense of belonging are fundamental human needs and are closely linked to psychological wellbeing, physical health, and mortality. Yet, the factors that promote healthy affiliative behavior are unclear, leaving a gap in our understanding of when and how people benefit most from strong social bonds or what leads people to miss out on these adaptive socioemotional outcomes. One common way that people affiliate is through positive social sharing, which is the act of sharing positive events with others. Positive social sharing is ubiquitous, easily accessible both in-person and online, and has a wide range of health benefits, making it an excellent candidate for investigation in into the broader mechanisms of affiliation. Here, we employ a novel paradigm simulating a naturalistic sharing environment to disentangle the underlying mechanisms that drive positive social sharing and contribute to socioemotional wellbeing. In Chapter 2, we demonstrated that positive social sharing is driven primarily by positive feedback given by a social partner, which, over time, shapes the extent to which a sharer builds trust and closeness with that partner. We further show that this effect of feedback is rooted in reinforcement learning mechanisms and that the extent to which a sharer learns from feedback varies as a function of how often they engage in and benefit from social sharing in daily life. In Chapter 3 we replicated these findings and demonstrated that learning from feedback engages neural circuitry implicated in reward processing and social cognition, which further predicts trust and closeness. Finally, in Chapter 4, we demonstrated that reputational information about a social partner is used to form initial impressions about them, and that these impressions were most drastically updated when feedback from a social partner violated initial expectations. Overall, these findings contribute valuable, novel insights into the key factors that shape affiliation and the formation of social bonds, as well as offer promising avenues for translational research and interventions to promote adaptive social affiliation and socioemotional wellbeing.Ph.D.Includes bibliographical reference
In the name of economic development: large-scale land acquisitions and women's food insecurity in sub-Saharan Africa
No full textThis dissertation investigates the intricate web of global dynamics that threaten the equilibrium of food supply and demand on a global scale. The convergence of rising food prices, population growth, increased demand for biofuels and feed, and the far-reaching effects of climate change has sparked renewed interest in large-scale land acquisitions (LSLAs) in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). The region’s abundant natural resources make it an appealing destination for commercial agriculture, attracting high levels of foreign investment, namely from emerging economies and multinational corporations. Investors perceive SSA as an untapped and/or underutilized source of opportunities and development prospects, particularly concerning access to, use of, and control over land and water resources for large-scale irrigation projects.
While investors engage in LSLAs often to serve their own agendas, a significant proportion of SSA’s population is food insecure. As of 2020, the number of undernourished individuals in the region stood at approximately 262.2 million, contributing to a global total of 720 to 811 million undernourished people – an increase of up to 161 million from 2019 (FAO et al. 2021). This crisis disproportionately impacts women due to their compromised social, economic, and political status. While recent discussions on food security have focused on conflict, climate change, economic downturns, and COVID-19, the role of LSLAs and their repercussions on women’s food security remains underexplored.
As such, this study addresses this gap by examining the relationship between LSLAs and women’s food insecurity, employing health-related indicators such as Body Mass Index (BMI), Prevalence of Anemia (PoA), and Maternal Mortality Rate (MMR) as analytical tools. The central argument of this study is that LSLAs significantly contribute to heightened levels of food insecurity among women in SSA.
The descriptive findings of the study found that in SSA, between 2000 and 2021, there were a total of 482 individual (concluded) land deals, resulting in the total acquisition of twenty-six million two hundred eleven thousand seven hundred eighty-seven and sixty- nine hundredths (26,211,787.69) hectares. In addition, the results found a moderately strong (positive) correlation between maternal mortality rate and hectares grabbed per year, no correlation between body mass index (female) and hectares grabbed per year, a weak (positive) correlation between body mass index (males) and hectares grabbed per year, and a strong (positive) correlation between prevalence of anemia and hectares grabbed per year. Furthermore, in terms of the intervening variables, the study found a weak (negative) correlation between GDP and hectares grabbed per year, no correlation between global food prices and hectares grabbed per year, and a weak negative correlation between incidents of conflict and hectares grabbed per year.
To further investigate the relationship between LSLAs and women’s food security in SSA, and to build upon the descriptive findings, the study utilized linear regression analysis. More specifically, the study investigated whether the following variables had significant impacts on the prevalence of anemia (no lag order, lag order of 1, and lag order of 2), body mass index (female and male), and maternal mortality rate: amount of hectares grabbed per year, agriculture, forestry, and fisheries value-added deflator (global food prices), incidents of conflict, and gross domestic product (GDP) per capita. Many of the regression models revealed some level of statistical significance, as illustrated in Chapter 4, and discussed in Chapter 5.
Achieving a world without hunger and malnutrition by 2030 is out of reach for many countries throughout SSA (and the world at large), and thus, there is a dire need to highlight issues that have been undermined and/or overlooked in attempting to establish inclusive, contextually-located, ethical, and sustainable pathways forward. As such, this study aims to provide valuable insights into the multifaceted challenges facing women in SSA in the face of LSLAs and food insecurity and offers a foundation for evidence-based and informed policy interventions to effectively address this pressing issue on a globalscale.Ph.D.Includes bibliographical reference