Mobility impairment and life satisfaction in the Northern Region of Malawi

There exist many psychosocial sequelae associated with mobility impairment, especially in low-resource settings where access to mobility assistive devices is limited. Objectives: This study aims to (1) define the burden and presenting aetiologies of mobility impairment in the rural Northern Region of Malawi and (2) assess the relationship between physical disability, life satisfaction and access to mobility aids. Methods: At mobility device donation clinics throughout the Northern Region of Malawi, adults living with mobility impairment were surveyed with a demographic questionnaire and a series of validated surveys to assess their physical activity levels (Global Physical Activity Questionnaire [GPAQ]), degree of mobility impairment (Washington Group Extended Set Questions on Disability) and life satisfaction (patient-reported outcomes measurement information systems satisfaction with participation in social roles and general life satisfaction). Results: There were 251 participants who qualified for inclusion, of which 193 completed all surveys. Higher physical activity scores were positively correlated with increased life satisfaction: (1) satisfaction with participation in social roles (0.481, p < 0.0001) and (2) general life satisfaction (0.230, p < 0.001). Respondents who had previously used a formal mobility device reported 235.5% higher physical activity levels ([139.0%, 333.0%], p = 0.006), significantly higher satisfaction with participation in social roles ([0.21, 6.67], p = 0.037) and equivocally higher general life satisfaction ([−1.77, 3.84], p = 0.470). Conclusion: Disability and mental health do not exist in isolation from one another. Given the positive correlations between formal mobility device usage and both physical activity and life satisfaction, interventions that increase access to mobility-assistive devices in undertreated populations are imperative. Contribution: This study contributes to the understanding of the complex relationship between physical disability, access to mobility aids, and life satisfaction. Results from this study suggest the potential benefit that increasing access to mobility aids may have in improving the quality of life of mobility impaired persons in resource-limited settings, such as the Northern Region of Malawi

Teen motherhood and women's later life outcomes: evidence from South Africa

Background: The pathway from teen motherhood to later life outcomes has received considerable attention in both research and political agenda due to its fundamental and pivotal link to life-course and inter-generational development of mothers and their progenies. Very few studies have however, looked beyond educational and economic outcomes.Data source and methods: This paper uses pooled data from four waves of National Income Dynamic Study (NIDS) survey collected from 2008-2014 in South Africa to investigate the impacts of early motherhood on mothers' later life outcomes using propensity score matching and endogenous treatment techniques which controls for endogeneity. A total of 11203 mothers who have given birth at least once were selected to form the sample with information on their life outcomes, childhood poverty and other background precursors included. The study reveals that teen motherhood has significan negative effects on women's educational attainment (by -5.2years at 0.1% significance level), economic well-being (-19.99% at 0.1% significance level), psychological well-being (by increasing depression score by 5.2 at 0.1% significance level) and life satisfaction (by -1.24 at 0.1% significance level).Results: Based on the results of the study; proactice, reactive and post-active policy interventions, which require the complementary role of policy-makers, government, parents, service prodividers and adolescents, are recommended.Conclusions: The insignificant impact on health related outcomes is arguably because of the sample selection bias casued by the high rates of teenage maternal mortality

Challenges of including sex education in the life orientation programme offered by schools: the case of mahikeng, north west province, south Africa

Teenage pregnancy and the prevalence of HIV among school girls are very high in South Africa, despite the introduction of sexuality education in schools since 2002. A qualitative approach of inquiry was used to investigate challenges faced by schools offering sexuality education in Mahikeng, South Africa. Four school principals, seven teachers and 39 learners were interviewed. The curriculum on sexuality education indicates that sexual matters are introduced to learners only when they reach Grade 8, whereas pregnancy is already common among girls as early as Grade 3. Participants from all groups represented in the study revealed that Life Orientation was not taken seriously in schools compared to other subjects. Although learners are very much interested in the subject matter, there were no qualified teachers and the content of the curriculum is very shallow. In addition, schools paid very little attention to this subject since it is not considered for admission into tertiary institutions. There is need, therefore, for the South African government to revise the curriculum content and presentation of Life Orientation to ensure the improvement of sexuality education in schools. The appropriate age-specific topics on sexual matters for learners should also be revised and the qualification of teachers considered

Coping Responses as Predictors of Satisfaction with Life amongst a Group of Patients Diagnosed with Diabetes Mellitus

The purpose of this study was to investigate the extent to which coping responses could predict the level of life satisfaction experienced by patients suffering from diabetes mellitus. A non-experimental; cross-sectional design was adopted. The sample consisted of 154 individuals (62 Type I diabetics; 80 Type II diabetics; and 12 individuals for whom diagnostic information was not available) recruited from the outpatient diabetes clinic at a large state hospital. All participants completed the Coping Responses Inventory - Adult Version; as well as the Satisfaction with Life Scale. Initially; Pearson product-moment correlation coefficients were calculated to examine the relationship between the predictor variables (coping responses) and the criterion variable (satisfaction with life). Hierarchical regression analyses were conducted to determine the amount of variance in the satisfaction with life scores that was explained by coping responses. The combination of approach and avoidance coping subscales accounted for 33of the variance in the participants' satisfaction with life scores. However; upon further analysis; the avoidance coping subscales were found to account for 28of the variance in the sample's satisfaction with life. The cognitive avoidance subscale and the acceptance or resignation subscale were found to correlate negatively with satisfaction with life at the 1level of significance. It appears that approach coping responses do not predict the satisfaction with life experienced by individuals suffering from diabetes. However; avoidant coping responses; particularly cognitive avoidance and acceptance or resignation; are predictive of lower levels of satisfaction with life