International Journal of Research in Business and Social Science (2147- 4478)
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A decade of teenage pregnancy in South Africa, 2014–2023: A spatial analysis of national birth records
Get PDFTeenage pregnancy remains a significant and multifaceted public health concern within the South African context. This public health threat has led to a disproportionate prevalence of HIV among female youth, along with increased maternal and child mortality rates. This retrospective cohort study employed birth record data from South Africa. This study utilises descriptive statistics and the Pearson Chi-Square Test of Independence to analyse the statistical differences in the prevalence of teenage pregnancy. The Global Moran’s I was employed to analyse spatial autocorrelation, and the Local Moran’s I was subsequently utilised to identify hotspots of teenage pregnancy. In the past decade, births to mothers under the age of 20 constituted 13.0% of a total of 9,609,356 births, amounting to 1,249,074 births. Teenage pregnancy rates were markedly elevated from 2014 to 2018 in comparison to the period from 2019 to 2023 (13.7% versus 12.3%, p<0.001). Late registration of teenage births occurred at a significantly higher rate (34.8%, p<0.001). The Global Moran’s I value of 0.5641 (z-score=6.29; p<0.001) demonstrates a strong and statistically significant positive spatial autocorrelation. The Local Moran’s I identified two significant High-High clusters extending from northern KwaZulu-Natal into the Eastern Cape. This study\u27s findings highlight the necessity for a focused intervention to tackle teenage pregnancy in the Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal, concentrating on the identified hotspots. Interventions should prioritise comprehensive sex education for youth and enhance access to contraception and family planning services. District-level health departments can utilise these findings to identify and prioritise high-risk areas. Spatial insights should guide local planning, particularly regarding outreach and mobile health services
Understanding the drivers of customers\u27 continuance intention to use AI chatbots in e-commerce
No full textThe e-commerce experience has been transformed by artificial intelligence, which has also opened new avenues for customer communication through chatbots. This study aims to examine how chatbot characteristics influence continuance intention in e-commerce. Specifically, it explores how interactivity, compatibility, information quality, and service quality affect users\u27 perceptions of chatbot usefulness and enjoyment. A quantitative approach using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) was employed for data analysis. The main findings reveal that (i) information quality and service quality positively influence both perceived usefulness and perceived enjoyment of chatbots, which in turn enhance continuance intention; (ii) compatibility positively affects perceived enjoyment but not perceived usefulness; and (iii) interactivity moderates the relationship between information quality and both perceived usefulness and enjoyment. This study extends the Technology Acceptance Model by incorporating service-related and interactive factors, contributing to the growing body of knowledge on consumer behavior and technology adoption in e-commerce. The findings offer valuable insights for chatbot designers, managers, and customer service practitioners
Dating business cycle turning points for South Africa: A comparison of parametric and non-parametric dating methods
Get PDFSeveral official dating institutions viz: SARB, NBER, OECD, CEPR, and others, provide Business Cycle (BC) chronologies with lags ranging from three months to several years. This is problematic for the various oppressed as it poses limits to the usefulness of BC indicators in terms of forecasting and policy implementation at large. In this article, we propose the construction of composite indicators as accurate measures of business cycles in South Africa. We use this composite index to facilitate comparison of both a non-parametric Bry and Boschan dating algorithm and a parametric Markov Switching dating method, in terms of performance and accuracy of dating business cycle turning points in South Africa. Utilising data spanning the period 2000M1 – 2018M12, empirical evidence obtained is such that, composite indices are better than single indicators due to information rich. Further, while the parametric and non-parametric methods’ performances are matched in terms of the number of turning points identified, however, the non-parametric method is more accurate in identifying these turning points. Due to its accuracy the non-parametric method proved to be a promising method of dating business cycle turning points in South Africa and alleviate the problems which are currently facing the South African Reserve Bank, the private sector and the economy at large
The drugs and substance abuse among youth in South African community: The case study of youth-network engaged scholarship project
Get PDFSubstance abuse refers drug use is associated with sexual risk behaviour, violence, and mental health and suicide risks. Many individuals who are addicted to drugs resort to criminal activities in order to finance their addiction. This can lead to an increase in theft, burglary, and even violent crime in communities where drug abuse is prevalent. The purpose of this paper is to outline the elements that influence of the impact of drugs and substance abuse in South Africa and Africa Communities. The findings of drug usage in the informal community serve as the foundation for the conclusions drawn in this article regarding substance abuse in South Africa. Young people in South Africa misuse and consume alcohol at significant rates. Unemployment, a lack of effective mentoring, a lack of family values, inadequate parental advice, and a loss of hope were some of the contributing reasons. To achieve the study\u27s goals, a literature review using secondary data to evaluate and deconstruct the research problem. This study\u27s major goal was to look at the causes and motivations behind young people\u27s alcohol abuse. The inquiry concentrated on young people\u27s excessive and unusual alcohol consumption
Educational barriers for HIV/AIDS-affected rural female learners with disabilities in Zimbabwe during El Niño droughts
Get PDFThis qualitative study examines significant educational challenges encountered by HIV/AIDS-infected rural female learners with physical disabilities in Zimbabwe amidst the severe impacts of El Niño-induced droughts. To capture nuanced perspectives of this marginalised group, researchers selected 16 participants based on specific criteria, including gender. The data collection process comprised two separate focus group discussions: one involving learners with disabilities and the other involving adult participants. This strategic approach seeks to reduce power imbalances and facilitate the expression of individual narratives by learners. The thematic analysis of the data identified two significant findings. Initially, individuals with physical disabilities and HIV/AIDS faced significant obstacles in obtaining educational resources, exacerbated by the intersectional effects of their disabilities, health conditions, and environmental challenges. Female learners encountered additional gender-related challenges, such as social stigma, insufficient family support, and heightened caregiving responsibilities at home, which further impeded their educational achievement and overall well-being. This study recommends the development of inclusive and comprehensive support programs that address the needs of learners with physical disabilities and HIV/AIDS, ensuring access to healthcare, assistive technologies, and tailored educational accommodations. The Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education should implement policies that offer flexible learning options and resource allocation for HIV/AIDS-affected rural female learners with disabilities during El Niño droughts, thereby ensuring their sustained access to education
The impact of financial literacy on savings in South Africa
Get PDFThe study investigates the relationship between financial literacy and savings among individuals in South Africa, utilising data from the National Income Dynamics Study. The theoretical framework highlights the importance of financial literacy, encompassing knowledge, behaviour, and attitudes towards financial planning. Empirical analysis using OLS, Logit, Probit, and Tobit models reveals a positive correlation between financial literacy and savings. Higher financial literacy levels are associated with increased savings propensity, with significant coefficients observed across various models. The findings underscore the critical role of financial education in enhancing savings behaviour, suggesting that improved financial literacy can lead to better financial outcomes and contribute to economic growth. The study’s results have policy implications, advocating for targeted financial literacy programmes to boost savings rates and support economic development in South Africa
Exploring the measures to improve parent-teen sexual health communication in rural Mpumalanga province, South Africa
Get PDFTeenagers\u27 ignorance and reckless decision-making lead to poor consequences for their sexual and reproductive health. This could be exacerbated by teenagers looking for information from unreliable sources such as the internet and social media. This emphasizes the importance of communication between parents and teenagers about sexual health practices. There is an increasing number of sexually transmitted infections such as HIV among teenagers in South Africa. This study aimed to explore the measures to improve parent-teen sexual health communication in rural Mpumalanga province, South Africa. This qualitative, exploratory and descriptive research was conducted using individual in-depth interviews. Purposive sampling was used to select parents who had teenagers aged 12 to 19 years. Content analysis by Tesch’s approach was used for data analysis. The research process was guided by ethical principles which were applied throughout the study. The study findings revealed four themes such as setting up a forum for parent-teen engagement at health centres, open family communication, community sexual health support structures and sexual and reproductive health education. There is a need to improve sexual reproductive health communication between parents to teenagers. The study findings revealed suggestions to improve communication for the future and this will encourage parents to communicate with their teenagers in future such as concerning sexual health. Ensuring that teenagers have access to sexual and reproductive health services contributes to fulfilling their sexual and reproductive rights, providing them with more choices to best suit their needs and empowering them
Lexical reiteration as the English First Additional Language learners’ strategic approach to achieve cohesion in essay writing
Get PDFThe capacity of authors to generate coherent articles largely relies on their proficient use of cohesive devices. This chapter examines the utilisation of reiteration by Grade 12 English First Additional Language (EFAL) learners in the Malamulele South Circuit to attain cohesiveness in their written English essays. Cohesion is an essential characteristic employed by educators when evaluating students\u27 essays. Thus, a deficiency in consistency in writing may result in diminished grades or outright failure. The appropriate use of cohesive devices improves the logical progression and interrelation of phrases, paragraphs, and entire writings. This study employed a qualitative research methodology, sampling fifteen essays from a designated school in the Malamulele South Circuit. These essays have been assessed, reviewed, and finalised. Document analysis functioned as the principal method for data collecting. The results indicated that Grade 12 EFAL students in the Malamulele South Circuit employed many forms of reiteration, including repetition, synonyms, and antonyms, to construct cohesive writings. Nevertheless, the study emphasised that these learners frequently generated repetitive and redundant sentences due to their propensity to excessively repeat words and phrases for emphasis. Furthermore, they faced challenges in the proficient use of synonyms and antonyms
Barriers to quality nursing documentation at a mental health institution: A qualitative study
Get PDFThis qualitative study explores the barriers to quality nursing documentation at a mental health institution in South Africa. Nursing documentation forms a fundamental part of care as it ensures continuity of care and collaboration amongst mental health care providers on the mental health of the persons being treated. Thus, the need to obtain an in-depth understanding of the hindrances mental health nurses face in producing high-quality nursing documents arose. Using in-depth interviews and reflexive thematic analysis, the researchers identified that mental health nurses face challenges such as workforce constrains, resource limitation, leadership and supervision deficits as well as lack of quality assurance mechanisms. Subsequently, suggestions to enhance documentation excellence through capacitation, strategic oversight and standardization of documentation practices were made. The study highlights the importance of ensuring high quality of nursing documentation. Therefore, the findings offer valuable insights applicable to mental health globally, where there are concerns related to the quality of nursing documentatio
Chinese mining sector investment and energy independence in Africa: A panel data analysis of 20 Countries from 2013 to 2022
Get PDFThe study explores relationships between renewable energy variables across African nations, focusing on South Africa (RSA) and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) using panel data from 2013 to 2022. Key variables include Chinese mining sector FDI (in USD), renewable energy capacity (in MW), technological advancements, policy frameworks, natural resource management, technological adoption, and risk perception. Employing descriptive analysis, Pearson correlation, and linear regression, the study reveals notable findings. Descriptive statistics highlight significant diversity in renewable energy capacity, policy support, and mining sector FDI levels across African countries, reflecting varying development stages and investment climates. The DRC exhibits slower FDI growth compared to South Africa. Correlation analysis indicates that Chinese FDI strongly correlates with technological advancements, favorable policy frameworks, and renewable energy capacity, while high-risk perceptions discourage investment and capacity development. Regression results identify technological advancements as the most significant predictor of FDI and sustainable growth, emphasizing its critical role in attracting investment. Although policy frameworks and risk perception show potential, further exploration with larger datasets is required to uncover their moderating or indirect effects. The study underscores the interdependence between technological development, investment flows, and renewable energy capacity. It calls on African nations to prioritize technological advancements, foster partnerships with Chinese firms for technology transfer, and implement robust policy frameworks. Policymakers should focus on political stability, economic reforms, tax incentives, streamlined approvals, co-financing mechanisms, and addressing structural challenges to effectively attract FDI and drive sustainable growth