•The majority of the children walk to school, with only 12% accompanied by an adult.•More than half (53%) of self-reported pedestrian collisions involved a bicycle.•Older boys (10–15 years) were most ...likely to report a severe pedestrian collision.•Children who walk accompanied reported more severe pedestrian collisions.•Children who spend more time walking engage in safer Sight Behaviour.
Pedestrian injuries are a leading cause of death among South African children, and young children residing in low-income communities are more at risk, due to various factors such as inadequate road infrastructure, exposure to traffic due to reliance on walking as a means of transport, and lack of supervision. This study used a cross-sectional, non-randomized self-report survey to assess pedestrian safety knowledge, road-crossing behaviour and pedestrian injuries of primary school children in selected low-income settings in Cape Town. The survey focused on three primary schools that had joined the Safe Kids Worldwide Model School Zone Project and was administered to 536 children aged 6–15 years, in their home language of isiXhosa. Descriptive and bivariate analyses as well as multivariate regression analyses were conducted to investigate potential predictor variables for pedestrian collision severity and unsafe road-crossing behaviour. Walking was the sole form of travel for 81% of the children, with a large proportion regularly walking unsupervised. Children who walk to or from school alone were younger and reported riskier road-crossing behaviour, although children who walk accompanied tended to have higher pedestrian collision severity. “Negligent Behaviour” related to road-crossing was significantly associated with higher pedestrian collision severity, with predictors of “Negligent Behaviour” including the lack of pedestrian safety knowledge and greater exposure to traffic in terms of time spent walking. More than half of the reported pedestrian collisions involved a bicycle, and older boys (10–15 years) were most at risk of experiencing a severe pedestrian injury. The findings substantiate emerging evidence that children in low-income settings are at greater risk for child pedestrian injury, and emphasise the need for evidence-based safety promotion and injury prevention interventions in these settings.
The aim of this study was to determine the influences on adolescents' aspirations from a low-income community in Cape Town. A sequential mixed method exploratory design was used following two ...distinct phases. The qualitative phase comprised focus group interviews with 118 grade 12 learners attending a school in a low-income community (age range: 16-19 years) and focused on identifying factors influencing life aspirations. The quantitative phase with 191 adolescents (males = 54.45 %, females = 45.55 %); age range: 14-18 years) from the same community aimed to ascertain the influences of personal attributes on self-aspirations. Participants completed the Expectations/Aspirations measure, the New General Self-Efficacy Scale, the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale and the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support. Qualitative data were thematically analysed. Quantitative data were analysed using multiple regression. The findings revealed that self-efficacy, self-esteem and social support were the most critical factors influencing adolescents' aspirations. Self-efficacy was a major determinant of life aspirations among the adolescents. Life skills programmes with youth from disadvantaged communities should seek to incorporate training aimed at developing adolescents' self-efficacy.
Magister Artium (Psychology) - MA(Psych)
Menstruation is a normal physiological process that has been distorted and riddled with negative connotations. The purpose of this study was to determine ...whether the biological factor, age at menarche, influences the attitudes and beliefs of the experience of menstruation; whether the psychological factor, preparedness, has an impact on the attitudes and beliefs of the experience of menstruation; and whether the socio-cultural factor, population group, affects the attitudes and beliefs of the experience of menstruation. The biopsychosocial model was used to guide this study as it examined the biological, psychological and socio-cultural factors that impact the attitudes and beliefs of the experience of menstruation. In this quantitative study, simple random sampling was used to recruit a sample of 200 female students from the University of the Western Cape, ages 18-21 years.;
Surveys containing biographic information as well as questions from the Beliefs and;
Attitudes Towards Menstruation questionnaire (BATM) were administered. The results indicated that there were significant associations between population group and level of secrecy as well as level of preparedness and level of pleasantness, annoyance and disability associated with menstruation. Results also revealed significant differences between normal and late onset of menarche on the level of disability associated with menstruation. Ethical guidelines stipulated by the University of the Western Cape were strictly adhered to. Research focusing on the attitudes and beliefs of the experience of menstruation will contribute to the knowledge base of menstruation in the South African context, as well as informing interventions which focus on educating women about menstruation so as to promote positive attitudes and prevent forms of social control imposed on women because of menstruation.
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