Association between type of birth attendants and neonatal mortality: Evidence from a National survey.

Background: Although Lesotho has one of the highest childhood mortality levels in Southern Africa, there has been limited research on the link between type of birth attendant and neonatal mortality in Lesotho. This study examined the relationship between type of birth attendant and neonatal mortality while controlling for socio-demographic characteristics of mothers in Lesotho.

Methods: The study used data from the children's file of 2014 Lesotho Demographic and Health Survey data.

Prevalence and determinants of adolescent pregnancy among women of reproductive age in South Africa.

The present study used the 2016 South Africa Health and Demographic Survey data to examine the prevalence and socio-demographic determinants of adolescent pregnancy among South African women aged 15-49 years, using a logistic regression model. The results showed that adolescent pregnancy is still high in South Africa, with a third of South African women having experienced pregnancy in their adolescence. The results also found that age, race, education, employment, wealth, cohabitation, larger household size and contraceptive use generally predict the risk of adolescent pregnancy among South African women.

Comparative survey data on sociodemographic predictors of diversity tolerance among selected university students in Ghana and South Africa.

This article presents an extensive comparison of survey data on tolerance attitudes of 1758 participants from two public universities in sub-Saharan Africa, the University of Ghana and North-West University. Multi-stage and other sampling procedures were employed to collect the data between 2016 and 2017. Data were analysed using frequencies, percentages and cross-tabulations for each institution separately.

Induced abortion in Ghana: prevalence and associated factors.

The termination of unwanted pregnancies is a growing health-related issue around the world. This study used the 2017 Ghana Maternal Health Survey to examine the factors associated with the prevalence of induced abortion in Ghana. The study sample included 18,116 women of reproductive age who had a pregnancy in the 5 years preceding the survey.

Inequalities in morbidity in South Africa: A family perspective.

South Africa is struggling to achieve sustainable development targets as the country faces a quadruple burden of diseases. Concerted efforts to realise good health for all people require evidence-based targeted interventions. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between living arrangements and self-reported ill-health among adults aged 15 years and older in South Africa.

Survey data on gender in relation to youth political discussion and involvement at a Public University in Ghana.

This article presents extensive description of survey data on the political participation of 913 male and female undergraduate students at the University of Ghana. Multi-stage and other sampling procedures were employed to collect the data that took place between 2016 and 2017. Data were analysed using frequencies, percentages and cross-tabulations for each gender separately.

The family life of young people in South Africa from survey data: The case of North-West University.

This article presents a comprehensive description of student survey data on family life that was collected at the North-West University, South Africa between 2015 and 2016. Responses were obtained from 835 students in the three campuses of the university with the use of multi-stage sampling (stratified and systematic sampling techniques). Data analysis was carried out using tables, frequencies and percentages.

Socio-demographic changes in age at first marriage in Malawi: evidence from Malawi Demographic and Health Survey data, 1992-2016.

This study aimed to identify the social and demographic correlates of the trend in age at first marriage among women in Malawi, using Malawi Demographic and Health Survey data collected between 1992 and 2016. Employing Cox Proportional Hazard modelling, the results showed that the mean age at first marriage during the 18-year period remained constant at 17.4 years.

Water intake among Ghanaian youth aged 15-34 years: quantitative and qualitative evidence.

Background: The prevalence of obesity is on the increase in Ghana, and the intake of sugar-sweetened beverages may be a determinant. The aim of this study is to use quantitative and qualitative data to investigate water intake among Ghanaian youth 15-34 years old.

Methods: The 2008 Ghana Demographic and Health Survey data is used to investigate the effects of socio-demographic factors on water intake behaviours of a sample of 2771 male and 2806 female youth aged 15-34 years old in Ghana.

SOCIO-DEMOGRAPHIC FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH DIETARY BEHAVIOUR AMONG YOUNG GHANAIANS AGED 15-34 YEARS.

This study used data from the 2008 Ghana Demographic and Health Survey to investigate the association between selected socio-demographic factors and dietary behaviour as measured by fruit and vegetable consumption among a sample of 6139 young people aged 15-34 years in Ghana. Overall, fruit and vegetable consumption was low in young people, but females were likely to consume more fruit and vegetables than their male counterparts. Respondents from the Mande ethnic group, those who resided in rural areas and those living in the Brong/Ahafo, Ashanti and the Eastern regions consumed more fruit and vegetables than those from other regions.

Social inequality and children's health in Africa: a cross sectional study.

Background: This study examines socioeconomic inequality in children's health and factors that moderate this inequality. Socioeconomic measures include household wealth, maternal education and urban/rural area of residence. Moderating factors include reproductive behavior, access to health care, time, economic development, health expenditures and foreign aid.

BIOSOCIAL CORRELATES OF AGE AT FIRST SEXUAL INTERCOURSE: THE CASE OF GRADE 9 AND GRADE 11 PUPILS IN THE NORTH WEST PROVINCE OF SOUTH AFRICA.

Survival analysis - specifically the actuarial life-table method and the Cox Proportional Hazards model - was used to assess Bronfenbrenner's bio-ecological model with regards to the onset of sexual intercourse in a random sample of 1697 grade 9 and grade 11 pupils in the North West Province of South Africa. Data were collected in July and August 2007. Of the contextual factors examined, only academic performance and community disorganization were found to be statistically significantly associated with age at first sexual intercourse amongst girls.

Family predictors of adolescent substance use: the case of high school students in the Cape Metropolitan Area, Cape Town, South Africa.

Family predictors of tobacco and alcohol use were studied in random samples of school-going Black, Coloured, and White adolescents (total N=1,800) in the Cape Town Metropolitan Area. The subjects ranged in age from 14 to 17 years, with a mean age of 15.95 years.

Perceived competence of rural South-African and rural African-American families: a cross-cultural assessment of structural validity.

The present study explores psychometric differences in baseline data from rural African-American (AA) and rural South-African (SA) adolescents to establish the cross-cultural validity of the Harter Perceived Competence Scale (PCSC). Two versions of the PCSC (one English and one Sepedi) were collected from 223 rural AA families and 157 rural SA families. A multinational research team was assembled to establish content validity of the translated versions of the PCSC.

Analysing cross-sectional data with time-dependent covariates: the case of age at first birth in South Africa.

Analysing time-dependent independent variables requires the use of process-oriented statistical models. Yet social scientists--especially those in poor countries--have often had to use data collected at a single point in time, making their task difficult. Making several assumptions about the covariates, the present study uses survival analysis and other statistical techniques to analyse the 1996 South African population census data and examine the effects of selected independent variables on the timing of parenthood in the country.