Youth’s participation in agriculture: A fallacy or achievable possibility? Evidence from rural South Africa

2021 ◽  
Vol 24 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Unity Chipfupa ◽  
Aluwani Tagwi
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Agricultural Sector ◽  
Youth Unemployment ◽  
Rural Youth ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Agricultural Cooperatives ◽  
Kwazulu Natal ◽  
Questionnaire Form ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
Rural South Africa

Background: The realisation of more youth involvement in the agricultural sector has proved to be elusive, so the question of the possibility of a youth-led agriculture needs further investigation.Aim: The aim of the study was to assess whether there is potential for the rural youth to participate in agriculture by employing the typology formulation approach.Setting: The study is premised on recent calls for strategies to reduce youth unemployment in sub-Saharan Africa by involving and enhancing the agricultural sector.Method: A survey in questionnaire form was conducted with 224 youths from two districts in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. The Principal Components Analysis and K-Means Clustering were performed to determine the youth typologies and assess their potential.Results: Five typologies were identified. Most youths (59.3%) were found in Typology 1 (those that see no benefits in farming) and in Typology 2 (older, experienced and with access to land). Typology 5 (male youths in agricultural cooperatives) had the lowest proportion of youths (5.7%). Participants in typologies 2, 3 and 5 were deemed to have high to moderate potential for successful engagement in farming. The highest potential was found in the typology with the least percentage of youths.Conclusions: The typologies showed that youths have varying perceptions and aspirations regarding agriculture. While some show an interest and have the potential to participate in farming, others do not. Therefore, the blanket notion of the youth’s lack of interest in agriculture should be qualified as it does not always hold. The heterogeneity in characteristics among the youths in these typologies, including their potential to participate in agriculture, expresses the differences in the kinds of support needed to increase their participation.

scholarly journals Factors influencing uptake of schistosomiasis research findings in ingwavuma area, uMkhanyakude District, Kwazulu-Natal, South Africa

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Tafadzwa Mindu ◽  
Moses J. Chimbari
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Health Workers ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Primary School Children ◽  
Factors Influencing ◽  
Kwazulu Natal ◽  
Research Uptake ◽  
Research Findings ◽  
Sub Saharan

Background: Research uptake is concerned with spreading ideas across multiple levels of the community. Barriers such as poverty, lack of infrastructure, illiteracy and culture prevent information sharing in arid rural areas of sub-Saharan Africa. Objective: This study explores the factors influencing schistosomiasis research uptake and the available channels for the uptake of research findings from a transdisciplinary and eco-health research project on schistosomiasis in Ingwavuma area, uMkhanyakude district, KwaZulu-Natal province in South Africa. Methods: This case study conducted in 2017 involved 78 primary school children and 73 heads of household recruited through convenience and purposive sampling. Data were collected through focus group discussions, then transcribed and analysed by the researcher using thematic analysis. Results: Factors such as poor knowledge, water and sanitation problems, and lack of sufficient health workers hindered the uptake of schistosomiasis research findings. Participants recommended several platforms to share schistosomiasis research findings with the community, including: door to door visits; social gatherings such as sports events, talent shows, and religious gatherings; mass media platforms such as radio and television; social media platforms such as WhatsApp, Facebook and Twitter; and printed media such as posters, booklets and pamphlets. Conclusions: There is a need to train health workers and peer educators in this area of South Africa to educate people about schistosomiasis infection, screening and treatment through home visits or social events. Schistosomiasis research findings must be synthesised and packaged in different forms for dissemination via multimedia media-based communication channels.

scholarly journals Occurrence of Theileria parva and other haemoprotozoa in cattle at the edge of Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

2010 ◽  
Vol 81 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
S. B.A.S. Yusufmia ◽  
N. E. Collins ◽  
R. Nkuna ◽  
M. Troskie ◽  
P. Van Den Bossche ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Buffy Coat ◽  
Babesia Bovis ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Significant Finding ◽  
Theileria Parva ◽  
Mortality And Morbidity ◽  
Kwazulu Natal ◽  
Pcr Rflp ◽  
Sub Saharan

Theileria parva, the most important bovine theilerial species in sub-Saharan Africa, causes widespread mortality and morbidity in endemic areas. A survey was conducted using buffy-coat specimens from 60 apparently healthy adult communally herded Nguni-type cattle at the northeastern edge of the Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park to determine, by means of PCR and Reverse Line Blot (RLB) hybridisation, the occurrence of Theileria and Babesia species. The presence of Trypanosoma species was determined using PCR-RFLP. Results showed that 6.7 % of the specimens were positive for Theileria parva. This significant finding suggests that cattle in South Africa, and not only African buffaloes (Syncerus caffer), may be subclinical carriers of T. parva. Other species identified were T. mutans (83.3 %), T. velifera (70.0 %), Theileria sp. (sable) (46.8 %) and T. taurotragi (1.7 %). Two specimens (3.3 %) were positive for Babesia bovis and single specimens (1.7 %) positive for B. bigemina and B. rossi, respectively. Mixed infections, of up to 4 species, were common (65.0 %). Only 1 specimen was found to be positive for Trypanosoma vivax, and 2 for T. theileri, of which only the first species is pathogenic.

scholarly journals Incident Cognitive Impairment During Aging in Rural South Africa: Evidence From the HAALSI Cohort, 2014 to 2019

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 157-157
Author(s):  
Lindsay Kobayashi ◽  
Meagan Farrell ◽  
Kenneth Langa ◽  
Nomsa Mahlahela ◽  
Ryan Wagner ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Cognitive Impairment ◽  
Incidence Rates ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Health Related ◽  
Household Assets ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
Rate Ratios ◽  
Rural South Africa

Abstract We estimated the incidence of cognitive impairment and its key sociodemographic, social, and health-related predictors at the first longitudinal follow-up of the population-representative “Health and Aging in Africa: A Longitudinal Study of an INDEPTH Community in South Africa” (HAALSI) cohort of adults aged ≥40 in rural Agincourt, South Africa. Cognitive impairment was defined as scoring ≥1.5 SD below the baseline mean composite time orientation and episodic memory score, or requiring a proxy interview with “fair” or “poor” proxy-reported memory. Activity of daily living (ADL) limitations were compared according to incident cognitive impairment status. Incidence rates (IRs) and rate ratios (IRRs) for cognitive impairment according to sociodemographic, social, and health-related predictors were estimated using Poisson regression with robust standard errors, and weighted to account for mortality. Over a 3.7-year mean follow-up, 309/3,861 at-risk participants newly developed cognitive impairment (IR=24.0/1000 person-years (PY); 95% CI: 21.6-26.8). Incidence increased from IR=9.1/1000 PY (95% CI: 5.5-16.1) among those aged 40-44 at baseline to IR=76.5/1000 PY (95% CI: 63.2-93.4) among those aged 80+. At least one ADL limitation was prevalent in 39% of those with incident cognitive impairment, compared to 7% of non-impaired participants. Incident cognitive impairment did not vary by sex/gender, HIV status, or cardiovascular factors, but was strongly graded according to education, literacy, household assets, employment, marital status, and frequency of alcohol consumption. This study presents one of the first incidence rate estimates for cognitive impairment in sub-Saharan Africa. Social disparities in cognitive impairment were apparent in patterns similar to many high-income countries.

scholarly journals Exploring the “Blesser and Blessee” Phenomenon: Young Women, Transactional Sex, and HIV in Rural South Africa

SAGE Open ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 8 (4) ◽  
pp. 215824401880634 ◽  
Author(s):  
Johannes N. Mampane
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Hiv Infection ◽  
Young Women ◽  
Sexual Behaviors ◽  
Transactional Sex ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Rural South ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
African Media ◽  
Rural South Africa

The “blesser and blessee” phenomenon has been prominent in South African media since the year 2016. This is a form of transactional sex in which older rich men (“blessers”) tend to entice young women (“blessees”) with money and expensive gifts in exchange for sexual favors. In most cases, these older men are married men who secretly engage in extramarital affairs with these young women. In this light, there have been many debates on whether transactional sex should be equated to prostitution or sex work. However, many researchers argue that both practices at the end of the day are proven to be equally high-risk sexual behaviors for HIV infection in sub-Saharan Africa. In this regard, the purpose of this study was to explore and describe perceptions and experiences of young women regarding factors that influence their susceptibility to transactional sex and the risk of HIV infection in rural South Africa. Twelve young women aged 18 to 30 years participated in two focus group discussions and 12 individual in-depth interviews. The findings of the study revealed that there are sociobehavioral, sociocultural, and socioeconomic factors that influence the susceptibility of young women to transactional sex and HIV risk. The study concluded that it was imperative for researchers to explore the context and motivation for transactional sex among young women in sub-Saharan Africa to be able to develop and implement appropriate and relevant HIV prevention interventions for this vulnerable population.

Molecular detection of natural infection ofLymnaea(Pseudosuccinea)columella(Gastropoda: Lymnaeidae) withFasciola gigantica(Digenea: Fasciolidae) from two provinces of South Africa

2019 ◽  
Vol 94 ◽  
Author(s):  
M.P. Malatji ◽  
S. Mukaratirwa
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Intermediate Host ◽  
Molecular Detection ◽  
Natural Infection ◽  
Wide Distribution ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Snail Species ◽  
Eastern Cape ◽  
Kwazulu Natal ◽  
Sub Saharan

AbstractThe main intermediate host ofFasciola giganticain sub-Saharan Africa isLymnaea(Radix)natalensis.Lymnaea(Pseudosuccinea)columellais capable of transmitting bothF. giganticaandF. hepaticaand has been reported to be present in South Africa. To date, no natural infection withF. giganticahas been reported despite the wide distribution of the snail. The aim of this study was to confirm whetherL.(P.)columellawas transmittingF. giganticaand/orF. hepaticain selected locations of KwaZulu-Natal and Eastern Cape provinces of South Africa.Lymnaea(Pseudosuccinea)columellasnails were collected from two locations in two provinces of South Africa and screened for cercariae shedding. This was followed by humanely sacrificing the screened snails, and whole tissue of each individual snail was homogenized and amplified using primers designed to amplify the ITS-1 region ofFasciolaspp. No cercariae were shed from the screened snails and molecular analysis showed that snails from the two locations were infected withF. gigantica. This study confirms natural infection ofL.(P.)columellawithF. giganticain South Africa, whereF. giganticaandF. hepaticahave already been reported to coexist. AlthoughL.(P.)columellais able to transmit the two species, surprisingly no infection withF. hepaticawas detected from the screened snails. The natural intermediate host ofF. giganticain southern Africa, including South Africa, isLymnaea(Radix)natalensisand comparative studies are needed to determine the competence of the two snail species in the transmission ofF. gigantica.

scholarly journals Emergence of rabies in the Gauteng Province, South Africa: 2010–2011

2013 ◽  
Vol 84 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Claude T. Sabeta ◽  
Jacqueline Weyer ◽  
Peter Geertsma ◽  
Debra Mohale ◽  
Jacobeth Miyen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Domestic Dog ◽  
Eastern Cape ◽  
Gauteng Province ◽  
Canine Rabies ◽  
The Past ◽  
Outbreak Period ◽  
Kwazulu Natal ◽  
Sub Saharan

Canine rabies is enzootic throughout Sub-Saharan Africa, including the Republic of South Africa. Historically, in South Africa the coastal provinces of KwaZulu-Natal and Eastern Cape were most affected. Alarmingly, outbreaks of canine rabies have been increasingly reported in the past decade from sites where it has previously been under control. From January 2010 to December 2011, 53 animal rabies cases were confirmed; these were mostly in domestic dogs from southern Johannesburg, which was previously considered to be rabies free. In addition, one case was confirmed in a 26-month old girl who had been scratched by a pet puppy during this period. The introduction of rabies into Gauteng Province was investigated through genetic analysis of rabies positive samples confirmed during the outbreak period. In addition, the nucleotide sequences of incidental cases reported in the province for the past ten years were also included in the analysis. It was found that the recent canine rabies outbreak in the Gauteng Province came from the introduction of the rabies virus from KwaZulu-Natal, with subsequent local spread in the susceptible domestic dog population of southern Johannesburg. The vulnerability of the province was also highlighted through multiple, dead-end introductions in the past ten years. This is the first report of a rabies outbreak in the greater Johannesburg area with evidence of local transmission in the domestic dog population.

scholarly journals Temperature at conception and pregnancy loss in rural KwaZulu-Natal Province, South Africa: Implications for climate change policy in sub-Saharan African settings

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yoshan Moodley ◽  
Frank Tanser ◽  
Andrew Tomita
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Global Warming ◽  
Reproductive Health ◽  
South African ◽  
Pregnancy Loss ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Kwazulu Natal ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
Women’S Reproductive Health ◽  
Women's Reproductive Health

AbstractBackgroundGlobal warming is projected to cause a substantial rise in temperatures with serious health implications across sub-Saharan Africa. Although South African policy makers have drafted a climate change adaptation plan, potential health threats posed by increasing temperatures on women’s reproductive health are overlooked due to the lack of local population-based evidence. We sought to address the gap in the evidence around global warming and women’s reproductive health in sub-Saharan Africa by using one of the continent’s largest prospective cohorts from rural KwaZulu-Natal Province, South Africa to investigate the relationship between temperature at conception and pregnancy loss.MethodsOur study sample consisted of 36341 pregnancies from 16765 women from the uMkhanyakude District of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa between 2000-2017. Average monthly temperatures for the study locale during the study period were obtained from the South African Weather Services. An adjusted logistic regression model was used to investigate the relationship between temperature at conception and pregnancy loss (miscarriage or stillbirth).ResultsThe rate of pregnancy loss in the study sample was 1.9 (95% Confidence interval [CI]: 1.7-2.0) per 100 pregnancies. We observed a 4% higher odds of pregnancy loss for each 1°C increase in temperature (Adjusted Odds Ratio: 1.04, 95% CI: 1.01-1.08).ConclusionThere is a clear relationship between temperature and pregnancy loss in our sub-Saharan African setting. The effects of global warming will likely exacerbate the existing challenges for women’s reproductive health in this region. Pregnancy outcomes should be given adequate attention when sub-Saharan African governments draft policies in response to global warming.

scholarly journals Large age shifts in HIV-1 incidence patterns in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

2021 ◽  
Vol 118 (28) ◽  
pp. e2013164118
Author(s):  
Adam Akullian ◽  
Alain Vandormael ◽  
Joel C. Miller ◽  
Anna Bershteyn ◽  
Edward Wenger ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Antiretroviral Therapy ◽  
Hiv Risk ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Voluntary Medical Male Circumcision ◽  
Hiv Incidence ◽  
Kwazulu Natal ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
Hiv 1

Recent declines in adult HIV-1 incidence have followed the large-scale expansion of antiretroviral therapy and primary HIV prevention across high-burden communities of sub-Saharan Africa. Mathematical modeling suggests that HIV risk will decline disproportionately in younger adult age-groups as interventions scale, concentrating new HIV infections in those >age 25 over time. Yet, no empirical data exist to support these projections. We conducted a population-based cohort study over a 16-y period (2004 to 2019), spanning the early scale-up of antiretroviral therapy and voluntary medical male circumcision, to estimate changes in the age distribution of HIV incidence in a hyperepidemic region of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, where adult HIV incidence has recently declined. Median age of HIV seroconversion increased by 5.5 y in men and 3.0 y in women, and the age of peak HIV incidence increased by 5.0 y in men and 2.0 y in women. Incidence declined disproportionately among young men (64% in men 15 to 19, 68% in men 20 to 24, and 46% in men 25 to 29) and young women (44% in women 15 to 19, 24% in women 20 to 24) comparing periods pre- versus post-universal test and treat. Incidence was stable (<20% change) in women aged 30 to 39 and men aged 30 to 34. Age shifts in incidence occurred after 2012 and were observed earlier in men than in women. These results provide direct epidemiological evidence of the changing demographics of HIV risk in sub-Saharan Africa in the era of large-scale treatment and prevention. More attention is needed to address lagging incidence decline among older individuals.

scholarly journals Budgetary allocation to agriculture in South Africa: an empirical review from 1994 to 2014

2016 ◽  
Vol 14 (2) ◽  
pp. 236-239
Author(s):  
Isaac B. Oluwatayo ◽  
Stephen M. Mantsho
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Gross Domestic Product ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Agricultural Sector ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Government Policies ◽  
Number Of Factors ◽  
Aging Infrastructure ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
Budgetary Allocation

The agricultural sector is no doubt one of the most important sectors in sub-Saharan Africa, considering its prime place as a livelihood source and employer of the vast majority of residents, especially those in rural areas. In South Africa, for instance, agriculture plays a very significant role despite its declining contributions to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) for some years now. This dwindling share of agriculture in the country’s GDP could be attributed to a number of factors ranging from changing government policies, declining budgetary allocation to the sector, and aging infrastructure and population growth. It is against this backdrop that a review of the effect of this downward slide in budgetary allocation on the development of the country is considered to be important

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