Browsing by Author "Vawda, Mohammed Yacoob."
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Item Complexities surrounding unpaid internships for historically disadvantaged students on Westville Campus, University of KwaZulu Natal.(2020) Dlamini, Abahle Samkelisiwe.; Vawda, Mohammed Yacoob.The primary aim of this study is to investigate the complexities surrounding internships among UKZN Westville students. This includes knowledge, attitudes, perceptions and behaviors towards internships (especially unpaid internships). To limit the scope of the relevant data and strengthen the study, this study draws from the employment relationship framework – under the larger umbrella of labour relations. This theoretical framework was instrumental in the entire study in terms of using the right research methods to better answer the research’s questions. The theoretical framework also limits generalisations by identifying the key elements and connections that inform the study’s direction. The framework is structured around four (4) elements or sub-theories: the unitarist, pluralist, Marxist and radical. This study adopted an explorative qualitative research approach for collecting the required data and the analysis thereof. In this qualitative research both semi-structured and in-depth interviews were used to evaluate the complexities surrounding internships among UKZN Westville students. A non-probability sampling method was used to recruit a total sample size of 15 participants. The findings from this study revealed that there are various factors influencing the complex relationship between unpaid internships and graduate employment within the studied population. Here, the results found that lack of compensation, social class, discrimination, favouritism, nepotisms, and lack of paid internships are some of the factors that impact on the complexities surrounding internships among UKZN Westville students. The results from this study further highlight that difficulties to get paid internships or work experience programmes is a challenge which restrict the potential for under-privileged groups to secure their first employment. In other words, the difficulties to find paid internships or work experience programme for under-privileged groups is related to the lack of work experience itself since they do not have the luxury of working for free while still taking care of their financial needs. In conclusion, the results from this study present a direct evaluation of the association between social class and graduates’ internships, and ultimately employability. The role of legal frameworks and stakeholders (such as government, higher institutions and employers) ultimately has the potentials to improving youths and/or graduates’ employability through the promotion of paid internships.Item Determinants of access to financial services for youth in South Africa : an analysis of the national income dynamics study data.(2017) Khan, Mohamed Istiaak.; Vawda, Mohammed Yacoob.The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the National Development Plan for South Africa have highlighted the importance for improving the accessibility of financial services to all South Africans. South African youth form the majority of the population. Therefore, this study investigates the determinants of their financial access with consideration placed towards age, gender, marital status, education, race, employment and place of residence. Using the National Income Dynamics Study Wave 3, through bivariable and multivariable regression, this study revealed that the majority of the youth do not have financial access. Major findings of the study indicate that there is a significant relationship between age, race, gender, place of residence, employment status, education, marital status and financial access. The findings of this study hold value in contributing towards the discussion of poverty reduction and reducing income inequality in a country whose majority of citizens have been historically disadvantaged.Item Examining the impact of cohabitation on fertility amongst South Africans: an analysis of the National Income Dynamics study data.(2019) Dube, Ntombiziphelele Camelia.; Vawda, Mohammed Yacoob.Conducted studies on marriage patterns in South Africa have shown a clear trend towards decreasing proportions of married women and an increase in age at first marriage. Despite marriage being one of the proximate determinants of fertility, the role of these nuptiality changes on the country’s decreasing fertility levels has not been adequately explored. Using data from the National Income Dynamics Survey, wave 3 this paper fills this research gap by examining the relationship between cohabitation and fertility trends among South Africans. The aims and objectives of this study are: 1. To establish and compare fertility rates in South Africa using STATA to measure the Age-Specific Fertility Rate, Age-Specific Marital Fertility Rate, Total Fertility Rate, Total Marital Fertility Rate and Children Ever Born to get the fertility differences amongst married and cohabiting couples. Also use stata commands to analyse the National Income Dynamics Survey data, wave 3 with statistics regarding fertility rate by married and cohabiting couples. 2. To highlight the different socio-economic factors associated with fertility differences among cohabiting and married couples in South Africa. 3. To explore the change in marriage trends and unions The decision to focus on South Africa as a study area is because research has shown that more South Africans, especially women are choosing to remain single/ never- married and those that do get married, tend to get married later in life as compared to 50 years ago. Data analysis shows that as age increases, the number of Children Ever Born (CEB) increases meaning that possibly older women are still having children in South Africa. Singulate Mean Age At Marriage (SMAM) is lower for the age group 50-54, meaning that in South Africa most individuals who are single are younger than 50. Although South Africans spend most of their younger years single, their fertility rates show the opposite and they are high especially for the individuals that have secondary schooling. The cohabitation rates are also highest amongst this group. The data analysis also shows that the White population tends to cohabit before other races but eventually ends up getting married, unlike African who cohabit later but end up never getting married.Item Socioeconomic status and chronic illnesses : an analysis of the National Income Dynamics Study data.(2011) Vawda, Mohammed Yacoob.; Vermaak, Kerry.Over the past decade, chronic illnesses have increased significantly in developing regions around the world, with implications for health service provision. Research shows that morbidity follows a social gradient in many countries around the world. Though various studies highlight the importance of socioeconomic status as a predictor of a person’s morbidity and mortality experience, there is a dearth of data and literature in the South African context. This study aimed to address this gap by examining the association between socioeconomic status and diabetes and hypertension among participants aged 35 years and older. This was achieved by undertaking the analysis of secondary data from the National Income Dynamic Study. The findings of the study reveal that there is a significant relationship between socioeconomic factors and chronic health outcomes of individuals. People with lower levels of education were more likely to have a chronic illness than those with higher levels of education. However, interestingly the lowest rates of prevalence were found in the unemployed category in South Africa. This draws attention to the need for further research on employment and chronic disease prevalence. An important finding of the study was the relatively higher prevalence of chronic conditions in rural areas and among the Black/African population. This data suggests that changes in lifestyle and behavior in the context of globalization and urbanization may be contributing to changes in the health profile of these communities. Policy makers need to acknowledge that chronic diseases are no longer the preserve of the wealthy with diseases such as diabetes and hypertension evident across all sectors of South African society. By addressing the causes of chronic conditions policies and programs can aim to prevent the emergence of future epidemics. In the long-term, sustainable progress will only be achieved with greater attention directed towards the socioeconomic factors underlying the health profile of the country.Item Understanding coping mechanisms used by first and second year university students in the transition from secondary to tertiary education: a case study of University of KwaZulu-Natal, Howard College.(2018) Kunene, Siphesihle Ndumiso.; Vawda, Mohammed Yacoob.The existing literature has acknowledged that student enrolment in South African universities has meaningfully amplified. However, current studies have also exposed that student dropout rates are high, especially among first years and disadvantaged students. Studies have also indicated that the transition from secondary to university education is a stressful experience and a challenging time for most university first years. The surviving literature has revealed the major challenges encountered by first year university students during the transition phase. However the coping strategies were unknown. This study therefore explored coping mechanisms used by first- and second-year university students in the transition from secondary to tertiary education at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, Howard College. A qualitative, exploratory and descriptive design was used in this study. The sample size consisted of fifteen (15) participants in total; seven first years and eight second years from the University of KwaZulu-Natal, Howard College campus. The sample was stratified according to all four colleges applicable at Howard College (college of agriculture, engineering and science, college of health science, college of law and management studies) and at least 3-4 participants were recruited per college. In this study, data was collected using semi structured interview guide. The findings revealed that challenges faced by university first years, mostly include the monetary challenges, environmental adaptation, securing accommodation and adjusting to the university workload. Equally the findings of the study exposed that students rely on different coping mechanisms during the transition from second to tertiary education. The study revealed that university first-timers at UKZN, Howard College campus capitalise on coping mechanisms such a religion, social networks, resilience and campus connectedness/friends. The study has shed light on the coping mechanisms used by first- and second-year university students in the transition from secondary to tertiary education at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, Howard College campus. The study has certified that providing support systems is essential to ensure that they mitigate the challenges usually encountered by university first-year students, equally this is vital for the adaptation of university first years.