International Journal of Research in Business and Social Science (2147- 4478)
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Traditional medicine in reproductive health: A social justice analysis in Allandale village, Mpumalanga province, South Africa
Get PDFThis study investigates the role of traditional medicine in addressing reproductive health needs in Allandale Village, Mpumalanga Province, through the lens of social justice. The research explores how indigenous healing practices intersect with principles of equity, cultural relevance, and access to reproductive healthcare in a context marked by structural inequality and limited biomedical services. In many rural South African communities, traditional medicine remains the primary source of reproductive health support due to its accessibility, affordability, and alignment with cultural values. Therefore, by investigating how indigenous healing practices interact with the concepts of equity, cultural relevance, and access to reproductive healthcare in a setting that is socially and economically marginalized, this study fills a crucial need. Guided by an ethnomedical framework, the study adopts a qualitative approach to assess whether traditional medicine enhances or constrains women\u27s reproductive autonomy and health outcomes. Participants included local women aged 18 to 50 who actively use or engage with traditional reproductive health practices. The findings reveal that traditional healers play a crucial role in preventive care, fertility regulation, and postpartum support, with many women expressing confidence in the efficacy and cultural resonance of indigenous treatments. However, the study also highlights tensions between traditional and biomedical systems, including gaps in regulation, safety assurance, and gender dynamics. From a social justice perspective, the research argues for a pluralistic health policy that recognises and supports indigenous knowledge systems, promotes collaboration between biomedical professionals and traditional healers, and ensures that all women, especially those in marginalised rural areas, have access to safe, effective, and culturally appropriate reproductive healthcare. The study findings underscore traditional medicine’s role and further contribute to broader discussions on health equity globally by underscoring the importance of integrating culturally grounded, community driven healthcare approaches into national and international health systems to address persistent disparities and promote inclusive, context sensitive reproductive health solutions to women reproductive health. The study concludes with a call for the strengthened implementation of the Traditional Health Practitioners Act 22 of 2007 and the development of community-led, rights-based models of health integration
Modelling financial time series with threshold nonlinearity
Get PDFFinancial markets are a system of complex price dynamics that are often influenced by various nonlinear factors. Traditional linear models such as Autoregressive Moving Average also known as ARMA and the GARCH model often fail to capture the inherent nonlinearities observed in financial market returns and trading volumes which poses significant problems in modelling financial time series. The aim of this study was to investigates the role of threshold nonlinearity in modelling financial market returns and trading volume. Daily share prices and trading volumes from the S&P 500 and the Nasdaq indices spanning from January 2000 to December 2020 were used as the sample financial markets. The findings revealed that the threshold model improves predictive performance over traditional linear models, highlighting the importance of incorporating nonlinearity for understanding the dynamics of financial markets. A threshold autoregressive model was proposed to account for sudden shifts in market conditions and nonlinear dependencies between returns and trading volumes
Investigating the concept of volatility spillover: Evidence in international financial markets
Get PDFPrior research on volatility spillover indicates that financial market spillovers are not uniform across all markets. Their intensity and direction depend on factors such as market size, economic linkages, and the nature of the shock. The aim of this study was to comprehensive investigation of volatility spillovers across five major international equity markets from January 2008 to January 2024, a period encompassing multiple financial crises. Utilizing a conditional volatility model, followed by the construction of a spillover index and Granger causality tests to investigate the direction and magnitude of volatility transmission, the findings of this study revealed that the S&P 500 is a net receiver of volatility, acting as a global shock absorber rather than a primary transmitter. In contrast, European markets and the Nikkei 225 emerged as net transmitters, with a tightly coupled, bidirectional relationship observed between the United Kingdom and European markets. The Shanghai Composite was also found to be nearly neutral, likely due to capital controls. These results reiterated the notion that volatility transmission networks are dynamic and not solely dictated by market size. The findings of this study suggest that asset managers and other investors can significantly increase the value of their portfolios if they adopt a multi-polar risk management framework, moving beyond a United States centric view for international diversification to include more European and Asian markets assets in their portfolios
The strategies to mitigate challenges associated with the preservation of Tshivenda proverbs through the use of ICT
Get PDFThis research seeks for strategies to mitigate challenges associated with preservation of Tshivenda proverbs through Information Communication Technology. Proverbs are valuable cultural practices of oral tradition, which used to empower the young generation on morals, norms, behaviour, education, and other African values. It has been noticed that due to modernisation and lack of preservation, proverbs have been abounded by the majority of Vhavenda youths, which seems to be resulting in moral degeneration because youth no longer acquire moral knowledge and skills through proverbs. This study grounded by Sankofa theory and Critical theory. This study used a qualitative research design and was exploratory in nature. Data was generated using semi structured interview as data collection method. The study’s finding shows that use of information communication technology in preserving Tshivenda proverbs, this technology does not suit people who live in rural areas, since they are from poor family backgrounds who do not have access to smartphones, some are illiterate, and cannot read nor write and the issue of network problems become a big challenge on rural areas, since South Africa still developing area. The study recommends that there is a need for the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture should promote campaign on how to use digital devices. This will influence youth and community members to consider the significance of Tshivenda proverbs. The issue of digital inequality in the socio economic gap between those with access and without access to digital technology, must also addressed this gap includes awareness, adoption, knowledge, skills and ability to use digital technolog
Financialization of the economy and the primacy of rural development in South Africa
Get PDFThe aim of the paper is to demonstrate how financialization of the economy has created structural inequalities in South Africa; and to further demonstrate the pertinence of rural development in alleviating the structural repercussions of the finance dominated regime. Financialization of the South African economy relates to the supremacy of speculative reforms, finance and shareholder-oriented motives in the oversight of the economy. The paper exhibits the failures of the dominance of financial and profit-making efforts in South Africa. The paper uses desktop analysis and literature survey to theoretically explore the opportunity space of rural development as a response to the effects of financialization of the South African economy. The paper finds that financialization of the South African economy polarizes and spatialises income distribution for the benefit of the elite minority in the urban financial and corporate space while the rural poor are getting poorer. It further finds that government planning and policy making efforts do not respond directly to the causes of inequality which were framed by the exclusionary economic planning. Moreover, local policy making has left a lacuna in as far as rural community based financial reconstruction and rehabilitation is concerned; instead, development policies seem to give reverence to the accentuation of exclusionary planning for the elite minority. The paper posits that the opportunity space for rural development should be exploited and given concerted efforts to remedy the impact of financialisaton and exclusionary colonial planning. Lastly, community-based cooperatives should be prioritised as appropriate institutional role players in facilitating the process of inclusive and redistributive rural development in South Africa
The impact of credit and debt shocks on household consumption in South Africa
Get PDFThis study investigates the dynamic relationship between credit supply and demand shocks and household consumption in South Africa using a quantile autoregressive distributed lag (QARDL) model. Motivated by the increasing reliance of South African households on debt amid stagnant income growth, rising living costs, and persistent unemployment, the research aims to understand how credit market conditions influence consumption across different segments of the income distribution. Drawing on data spanning from 1970 to 2024, the study incorporates key macroeconomic variables including real GDP per capita, household income per capita, household debt as a percentage of GDP, the credit-to-GDP ratio, inflation, interest rates, and the unemployment rate. The QARDL framework allows for the estimation of both short-run and long-run relationships while accounting for heterogeneity across consumption quantiles. The results indicate that household consumption is more responsive to income shocks and credit availability in the lower and middle quantiles, suggesting heightened sensitivity among poorer households. Credit supply, proxied by the credit-to-GDP ratio, exhibits weak but positive short-run effects, while household debt consistently exerts a negative influence on consumption across all quantiles and time horizons, with stronger effects in lower quantiles. These findings highlight the consumption-depressing effects of excessive debt, especially for financially vulnerable households. Moreover, macroeconomic stability indicators such as inflation and interest rates are found to negatively affect consumption, particularly in lower quantiles, underscoring the uneven transmission of monetary policy. The empirical results support the hypothesis that household debt contributes to financial fragility and undermines consumption over time, while credit supply shocks play a more modest role. The study concludes that policies aimed at improving income stability, managing household debt levels, and enhancing financial inclusion—particularly for low-income groups—are essential for sustaining household consumption and promoting inclusive economic growth in South Africa
Educational technology for equity in South Africa: Promise and challenge
Get PDFDespite extensive research on the impact of educational technology in enhancing the quality of teaching, learning, and learner academic achievement, there remains a notable lack of research focusing on teachers’ perspectives regarding the role of technology in addressing educational inequities. Using South Africa as a case study, this qualitative investigation sought to explore South African teachers’ views on the perceived role of educational technology in promoting educational equity. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with four purposefully selected teachers from public schools in South Africa. The thematic findings indicated that the participants believed educational technology holds the potential to significantly contribute to the redress of educational inequities by expanding access to information and resources, improving the quality and efficiency of education, and catering to diverse learner preferences. However, participants also expressed concern that technology could potentially worsen existing disparities rooted in socioeconomic status. They emphasized the importance of equitable access to technological infrastructure. This study provides insights into the complex relationship between educational technology and equity within the South African context and underscores the importance of incorporating teachers’ perspectives in the implementation of technology-driven initiatives intended to eliminate educational inequalities
Exploring the relationship between assessment feedback and resilience in student teachers on teaching practice
Get PDFThis study explores how assessment feedback influences the resilience of student teachers during their teaching practice. While assessment feedback is widely acknowledged as essential in teacher education, its specific contribution to building resilience has not been fully investigated. The research focuses on how constructive feedback helps student teachers cope with the challenges they face in real classroom environments. The study is guided by Vygotsky’s Sociocultural Theory, which highlights the importance of feedback in learning, and Resilience Theory, which explains how individuals adapt to adversity. A qualitative approach was used, employing a phenomenological design to understand student teachers’ lived experiences. Data were collected from 30 purposively selected student teachers from Limpopo and Mpumalanga Provinces in South Africa. Semi-structured interviews and reflective journals were used to gather detailed insights, and thematic analysis helped identify key themes related to feedback and resilience. The study was limited to one academic year and focused only on participants from the two provinces. To ensure trustworthiness, credibility was supported through member checking and triangulation, while audit trails enhanced dependability. Ethical standards such as informed consent, confidentiality, and voluntary participation were strictly followed. Findings reveal that clear, supportive, and development-focused feedback significantly enhances student teachers’ confidence and resilience. In contrast, feedback that is vague or overly critical tends to increase stress and reduce motivation. The study recommends that teacher education programs promote a culture of supportive, formative feedback. Training for mentors and supervisors is also advised to ensure feedback practices that foster resilience and support professional growth in future teachers
Academic psycho-social effects of bullying among obese learners in rural schools
Get PDFChildhood obesity is a growing global public health concern, particularly in rural settings, where socio-cultural factors contribute to the prevalence of bullying. Obese learners often face severe psychosocial challenges due to bullying, which negatively impacts their academic performance, self-esteem, and mental well-being. Despite the increasing awareness of bullying, limited research focuses on its educational and psychosocial effects on obese learners in rural secondary schools. This study explores the experiences of obese learners subjected to bullying and examines how these experiences affect their educational outcomes and emotional health. Grounded in Bandura’s Social Learning Theory, which emphasizes how behaviours such as bullying are learned through observation and reinforcement, the study adopts an interpretive paradigm to gain in-depth insights into the lived experiences of affected learners. A qualitative research design was employed, using in-depth interviews, discussions, and observations to collect data from five public rural secondary schools. Participants included ten obese learners in grades 10 and 11 who had experienced bullying and four teachers who interacted with these learners. Purposive sampling ensured the selection of participants with relevant experiences, while thematic analysis was used to identify key patterns emerging from the data. Findings indicate that bullying has significant negative psychological effects, leading to anxiety, depression, social withdrawal, and diminished self-esteem. Academic performance is also affected, as many bullied obese learners experience absenteeism, lack of concentration, and reduced motivation to engage in learning. To address these challenges, schools should implement anti-bullying policies that specifically target weight-based discrimination and foster an inclusive school culture. Psychoeducational support programs should be introduced to provide counselling and resilience training for obese learners. This study highlights the severe academic and psychosocial consequences of bullying among obese learners in rural secondary schools. Addressing these issues requires targeted interventions that promote a supportive learning environment, empower affected learners, and discourage bullying behaviours
Impact of entrepreneurship education on students’ understanding of global markets and the productive economy: A literature review
Get PDFEntrepreneurship serves as a key catalyst for innovation, job creation, and sustainable economic growth in developing societies. This paper reviews existing literature to evaluate how entrepreneurship education enhances students’ understanding of global markets and the productive economy. Using studies published between January 2015 and September 2025, the review synthesizes evidence from diverse contexts to explore cognitive, experiential, and skill-based learning outcomes. The analysis highlights recurring themes such as adaptability, resilience, innovation, and interdisciplinary learning, revealing that entrepreneurship education significantly improves students’ economic awareness and entrepreneurial intentions. Methodologically, a structured qualitative review was applied across multiple academic databases using defined inclusion criteria. Ten studies were examined in depth, showing consistent links between entrepreneurship education and enhanced global market literacy, entrepreneurial self-efficacy, and practical business application. The paper contributes to theory by integrating insights from critical realism and evolutionary economics, offering an interdisciplinary framework for analyzing entrepreneurship education’s societal impact. In practice, the findings suggest that embedding global market simulations and intercultural experiences within curricula can strengthen students’ preparedness for dynamic economies. The review concludes with implications for policymakers, educators, and future researchers