ResearchSpace
ResearchSpace is the institutional repository of the University of KwaZulu-Natal, unlocking knowledge, empowering impact, and preserving UKZN's research legacy.
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Probing sexual and reproductiveh health (SRH) services: experiences of women at Umkhambathini eNkanyezini, KZN-South Africa.
(2024) Kuluse, Philani Goodman.; Zondi, Balungile Prudence.
This qualitative study contributes to feminist anthropology, specifically the anthropology of women, by exploring the sexual and reproductive health (SRH) experiences of rural women in uMkhambathini, eNkanyezini, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.
The study problematizes the higher mortality rates of rural women compared to men in this village, highlighting significant health disparities. Feminist anthropology addresses the interconnected challenges women face in accessing healthcare and proposes meaningful solutions. The study is framed by three theoretical perspectives: Social Constructivism, Critical Medical Anthropology, and Gender Theory. Purposive and snowball sampling methods were used to select thirty (30) participants, with data collected through five focus groups, each comprising six women.
The findings underscore the continued marginalisation of rural women in uMkhambathini, impeding the realisation of South Africa's National Development Plan Vision 2030. These women remain unable to fully access Basic Human Rights as enshrined in the South African Constitution (No.108 of 1996) and international frameworks such as the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which advocate for sexual and reproductive rights. Data analysis reveals that structural barriers, including education levels and family size, significantly hinder their ability to access and utilise SRH services. Furthermore, rural healthcare facilities in uMkhambathini are underresourced and geographically isolated, exacerbating healthcare exclusion due to inadequate resources and limited government intervention. The study introduces the Framework for Localised Reproductive Health and Support Structures (FLRHSS), which aims to accelerate the provision of SRH services for the benefit of rural women in uMkhambathini. The findings also reveal inconsistencies and a lack of clarity regarding the age of consent for HIV and SRH services in high-burden areas like eNkanyezini, particularly concerning oral PrEP. The study recommends prioritising rural women in SRH programs and expediting the implementation of the National Health Insurance (NHI) system to address structural, economic, and geographic barriers. Ensuring the availability of essential medical technologies and products is crucial for enabling healthcare workers to deliver effective services. Additionally, community-based education programs targeting women and mothers are vital for dismantling systemic barriers to SRH access. This research underscores the need for a more inclusive and equitable approach to SRH services that addresses the unique challenges faced by rural women in South Africa. It also calls for future research to explore the SRH needs of women with disabilities, further advancing a comprehensive understanding of reproductive health disparities in rural contexts.
Community responses to floods: case study of Thornwood Township in Mariannhill, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.
(2025) Taunyane, Nteboheleng Annastarsia.; Joseph, Rudigi Rukema.
The overall aim of this study is to explore and examine the community’s response to floods in the Thornwood area. Particular focus was paid to the flood that occurred in 2022 in Thornwood township in the province of KwaZulu-Natal. This study adopted a qualitative method. In order to achieve its objectives, this study used both in-depth semi-structured interviews and focus group discussions. 13 participants were selected and interviewed for the in-depth semi-structured interviews, and 4 groups were interviewed, whereby each group comprised of 5 participants each. In total, there were 33 participants selected and interviewed for both the in-depth semi-structured interview and focus group discussions. The findings revealed that floods affected the community of Thornwood township severely. The findings also indicated that there were many serious challenges posed by floods in the study area. In addition, this study also found that the community in the study area used different coping strategies, whereby most participants indicated that those strategies were helpful. However, it was also discovered that the same coping strategies also had some limitations and disadvantages. This implies that even though these strategies were so helpful to a certain extent, but on the other side of the coin, this community was still vulnerable and unable to resist the flood effects. Furthermore, the findings again revealed that this community did not receive any external support, specifically, from the government.
The nexus between social media and ethnic identity: a study of students at Daystar University, Nairobi, Kenya.
(2025) Mutuku, Francis Mutua.; Khan, Sultan.
The relationship between social media and ethnic identity has huge worldwide implications. Social media platforms serve as virtual spaces for people to express and reaffirm their ethnic affinities, whether they are cultural, ethnic, religious, or ideological. It is critical to comprehend how social media platforms contribute to the creation, maintenance, or alteration of ethnic identity as these platforms emerge as important venues for communication and information sharing. One major issue is the presence of online communities that reinforce established ethnic identities. The aim of the current study is, therefore to establish the nexus between social media and ethnic identity amongst a group of students at Daystar University, Nairobi. The study employed social identity theory, behavioral theory, primordialism theory, constructivism theory, ethnosymbolism, and instrumentalism theory. The current research utilizes a descriptive research design and a qualitative research approach to provide a comprehensive understanding of the concept under study. Data was collected using focused group discussions as well as an interview guide employed for primary data collection. Further, key informant interviews were conducted. Results indicate that students join social media for professional development, and it serves as a platform for cultural expression, community building, and identity formation. Moreover, social media is used for content creation and live streams of cultural events in their daily life. The students also use social media to connect with other ethnic members, learn about their own and other cultures, and express their cultural identity. Social media is used to promote ethnic identity by ensuring that in modern society there is a need to preserve culture. The study recommends that universities should implement programs that control the use of social media for social segregation and othering among students.
Implications of climate variability and change on urban environmental security: a case study of Lagos Mega-City in Nigeria.
(2024) Akiyode, Oluwole Olusegun.; Bob, Urmilla.
The adverse ecological, political, socio-cultural, and economic consequences of climate variability and change have been documented by scientists in different parts of the world. Therefore, its implications on growing urban societies could affect stability and security in these locations. Thus, in the quest to support the closing of the capacity gaps and to enhance the body of knowledge in the emerging field of urban security in developing economy countries, this study examines the implications of climate variability on the urban environmental security of Lagos Mega-city in Nigeria. The study identifies the impacts of changing climate alongside rapid urbanisation on urban societies and is essential in promoting urban environmental sustainability that stimulates the process of encouraging climate adaptation and building resiliency in cities. The focus on vulnerability is vital given that the urban poor bear a disproportionate burden in dealing with climate variability and change associated with negative socio-economic impacts on livelihoods, infrastructure and basic services, and the natural resource base, especially in the context of limited resources and coping options. Adaptation strategies such as seeking alternate employment and livelihood opportunities, the sale of goods and services, leveraging remittances and external support, and accessing natural resources are undermined. Lagos Mega-city is a continuously growing city located on the coastline of the Atlantic Ocean. The city’s location and rapid population growth make it susceptible to the impacts of changing climate. Subsequently, the study engaged a mixed methodological research design to achieve its objectives. This involved both qualitative and quantitative methods, encompassing exploratory and descriptive approaches. Primary data was collected by undertaking face-to-face interviews using the questionnaire that targeted adults in 400 households from the purposively chosen three communities in the Mega-city. The households were selected from spatial maps using Geographic Information System (GIS) tool and Geospatial Modelling Environment (GME). Other data were collected from three focus group discussions comprising community leaders and fishmongers. Also, information was retrieved through interviews conducted with six key informants who were mainly stakeholders in the government sectors in the city. The analysis of the data from the household interviews was done using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS), while the qualitative data from the focus group discussions and key informant interviews were subjected to content analysis. The results and discussions emanating from the data analysis techniques employed were supported by relevant literature on the themes of the study. The study revealed widespread awareness of the issues concerning climate variability and change in the city due to the perceptions of the increasing variations in the intensity of rainfall, temperature, urban heat, level of flooding, and change in seasons in the city. However, there was negligible knowledge and understanding about what contributes to the increase in climate variability and change. Also, the study indicated that changing climate alongside rapid urbanisation features were perceived to be responsible for increasing biodiversity depletion and the enhancement of negative socio-economic impacts on the residents with implications on their livelihoods. Furthermore, the study showed that the communities in the city were engaged in diverse adaptation strategies to counter the impacts of climate variability and change. The study recommends sensitisation of residents on climate issues, initiation of effective urban governance, building climate-resilient infrastructures, and provision of climate variability and change policy as a sustainable urban environmental security approach essential for tackling changing climate issues in the city.
An assessment of Environment, Social and Governance (ESG) implementation and firm performance of Johannesburg Stock Exchange-listed firms.
(2024) Chawarura , Wilfreda Indira.; Sibanda , Mabutho.; Mamvura , Kuziva.
This study assesses the implementation of Environment, Social, and Governance (ESG) practices and their impact on firm performance among companies listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE). As ESG factors increasingly influence corporate strategy and stakeholder decision-making, understanding their effect on financial and non-financial outcomes, such as ESG reporting styles used by listed firms, becomes essential. The study assesses the extent to which JSE-listed firms integrate ESG principles into their operations, governance structures, and reporting frameworks. It also examined the roles of government, regulators, and investors in ESG implementation. Using a combination of quantitative methods, including the system Generalised Method of Moments, qualitative content analysis on corporate disclosures, and scoping review methodology, the study examined the relationship between ESG implementation and key performance indicators, such as stock performance and market valuation. Additionally, the study examined impression management in ESG reports and chairman’s statements. Using scoping review methodology, the study assessed the South African government, regulators, and investors’ progress towards adopting ESG in their policies, laws, and investment decisions, as well as research output on ESG implementation in South Africa. This multi-method approach employed in this study enhanced the robustness of findings, offering both empirical and interpretive insights into ESG implementation challenges and successes. In addition, this methodological triangulation enhanced academic rigor while maintaining readability for industry practitioners. The findings suggest a positive correlation between strong ESG practices and improved financial performance, with firms demonstrating robust governance frameworks, environmental stewardship, and social responsibility achieving superior market returns and stakeholder trust. However, the study also identified challenges, including inconsistent ESG reporting, impression management, and varying quality of ESG disclosures across industries. The results underscore the increasing significance of ESG factors in corporate performance, underscoring the need for enhanced regulatory standards and greater transparency in ESG reporting. In addition, the study contributes to the body of literature on sustainable business practices and provides valuable insights for investors, policymakers, and corporate managers in navigating the evolving ESG landscape.