UWCScholar
This repository serves as a digital archive for the preservation of research outputs from the University of the Western Cape.
Communities in UWCScholar
Select a community to browse its collections.
Recent Submissions
Charting the future of censuses: Insights, lessons and recommendations for the 2030 round
(SAGE Publications Ltd, 2025) Dindi, Pierre D; Stiegler, Nancy
Population censuses globally remain the primary source of official statistics despite the existence of sample surveys and administrative data sources, like population registers. The 2020 round of censuses was predominantly characterised by traditional approaches in about 69% of the countries, where data was obtained directly from respondents regardless of the push to explore alternative sources compelled by COVID-19. From the Babylonian times in 3800 BC to date, the principal purpose of a census has been to foster public administration. While the 1666 census in New France (now Quebec) marked the first-ever scientifically sound enumeration, it still fell short of what presently typifies a census. Besides, lack of globally standardised methods dwarfed the acceptability and comparability of results, leading to harmonisation efforts and the gradual adoption of modern censuses from the mid-1800s. Subsequently, the United Nations developed the maiden international standards on population censuses soon after World War II and established the decennial World Population and Housing Census Programme. Overtime, the census has evolved to what globally embodies universality, individual enumeration, simultaneity, periodicity and capacity to produce small area statistics. As countries transition towards the 2030 round, this paper reviews the global developments, lessons, and provides recommendations for future census implementation
The impact of weather variation on the body condition of cape cobras (Naja nivea) in the Kalahari — implications for climate change
(Academic Press, 2025) Scholtz, Kim J.; Maritz, Robin A.; Maritz, Bryan
Hot and dry weather conditions are known to impact the body condition and the fitness of many organisms. However, this relationship has not been extensively studied in snakes. We examined the impact of variation in rainfall and temperature on body condition for a population of cape cobras (Naja nivea) at Tswalu Kalahari Reserve (Northern Cape Province, South Africa) over a period of five years during which time environmental conditions fluctuated substantially. We measured the mass and body length of 105 cobras, 58 from which we collected repeat measures, and calculated a body condition index (BCI) for each observation. We tested whether BCI was impacted by season, sex, and/or differences from expected mean monthly rainfall (during the preceding four-, 12-, and 24-week periods) and mean daily maximum temperature (during the preceding four-, 12-, and 24-week periods). Secondly, we tested whether BCI measures of cobras during the mating-season (September–November) were different between sexes and impacted by an index of environmental conditions (PC1 of rainfall and temperature) in the preceding summer. For our initial analysis, we found that the best-fitting model included season, sex, the relative amount of rain in the preceding twelve weeks (positive relationship), and the temperature in the preceding twelve weeks (negative relationship). Moreover, the BCI of cobras during the mating season was correlated with environmental conditions during the previous summer, with mating cobras exhibiting lower BCI measures following hot and dry summers. Our study reveals detrimental impacts of hot and dry conditions on cape cobra body condition, including measurable effects on body condition of mate-searching animals, following hot and dry summers. Taken together, we predict that prolonged hot dry periods, or increased frequency of hot dry periods in the future, might have detrimental effects on cape cobra populations in the Kalahari.
Adolescent refugee potential traumatic experience and mental health in Gambella region in Ethiopia: a model examining mediating effects of coping and resilience
(Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute (MDPI), 2025) Danga, Solomon D.; Adebiyi, Babatope O.; Roman, Nicolette Vanessa
Background: Refugees often experience multiple traumatic events due to persecution, conflict, and displacement, which can result in poor mental health outcomes. Objective: The current study examined whether coping and resilience mediate the relationship between traumatic experience(s) and mental health outcomes and whether these indirect effects were moderated by age, gender, and refugee camp duration. Method: A cross-sectional, correlational study design was employed. Data were collected from 14 July 2019 to 28 August 2019. A sample of 414 adolescent refugees from two refugee camps in the Gambella regional state of Ethiopia were selected using proportional stratified sampling and simple random sampling techniques. Participants completed a self-reported questionnaire. Data were analysed using Structural Equation Modelling for hypotheses testing causal models. Results: Coping and resilience fully mediated the relationship between traumatic experience and mental health among adolescent refugees. Refugee camp duration as a moderator factor weakens the positive relationship between traumatic experiences and mental health outcomes. Conclusions: This study highlights the critical importance of comprehensive intervention strategies that strengthen adolescent refugee personal, family, social, and community level coping and resilience abilities within refugee camps setting. The findings also strongly suggested that early intervention in refugee camps could protect adolescent refugees from possible psychological distress and maintain adolescents’ mental health and well-being within refugee camps.
The global, regional, and national burden attributable to low bone mineral density, 1990–2020: an analysis of a modifiable risk factor from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021
(Elsevier Ltd, 2025) Okonji, Osaretin; Hsieh, Evelyn; Bryazka, Dana
Fractures related to osteoporosis and low bone mineral density lead to substantial morbidity, mortality, and cost to individuals and health systems. Here we present the most up-to-date global, regional, and national estimates of the contribution of low bone mineral density to the burden of fractures from falls and additional categories of injuries from the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study (GBD) 2021. The burden of low bone mineral density was estimated from 1990 to 2020 in terms of years lived with disability (YLDs), disability-adjusted life years (DALYs), and deaths, for individuals aged 40 years and older, using data from population-based studies from 48 countries or territories (169 unique sources). Mean standardised femoral neck bone mineral density values were estimated by GBD location, age, and sex by meta-regression. Based on a separate meta-analysis of population-based studies from nine countries (12 unique sources), we also estimated the pooled relative risk of fractures per unit decrease in bone mineral density (g/cm²). The population-attributable fraction for low bone mineral density was calculated by comparing the observed distributions of standardised femoral neck bone mineral density to an age-specific and sex-specific counterfactual distribution, defined as the 99th percentile of five rounds of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey in the USA, by 5-year age group and sex. Hospital and emergency department data were used to derive the incidence of fractures for six categories of injury (road injuries, other transport injuries, falls, non-venomous animal contact, exposure to mechanical forces, and physical interpersonal violence) using ICD codes. Deaths due to fractures were estimated as the proportion of in hospital deaths due to the specified injury causes for which a fracture (nature of injury code) was more severe than the cause of injury code. YLDs and DALYs attributable to low bone mineral density by cause of injury were also determined according to previous GBD methods.
Online grocery shopping e-service quality: a generational comparison
(AOSIS, 2025) Roberts-Lombard Mornay; Cunningham Nicole; Mbeya Steven
Background: Online grocery shopping has increased due to the convenience it offers; however, consumers from different generational cohorts hold different expectations, shaping their
perceptions of e-service (e-SQ) quality. Aim: This study investigates how e-SQ perceptions differ between Generation X and Y within the South African grocery industry.
Setting: The study was conducted in the South African grocery retail sector, with data collected
online from consumers across the country.Method: A quantitative study was executed, resulting in 622 respondents. SmartPLS 4.0 was used to evaluate the measurement and structural models.
Results: Perceived risk had a significant negative impact on e-SQ for both cohorts, suggesting that this does not differ according to age. Platform content, ease of use, and service convenience
all have significant positive effects on e-SQ for both cohorts. Service convenience was the strongest predictor of e-SQ for Generation X, while platform content was the strongest
predictor for Generation Y. Conclusion: Both cohorts value similar factors. Generation Y regards platform content, ease of use, and service convenience as important, while Generation X views service convenience,
ease of use, and then platform content as important factors. These key differences allow online grocery retailers to ensure their platforms are designed to ensure the highest e-SQ levels,
depending on the cohort they target. Contribution: This study highlights specific differences between generational cohorts and whether differences in their e-SQ exist. Thus, online grocery retailers have the opportunity to
develop tailored marketing strategies focusing on different factors (e.g., platform content, ease of use, and service convenience for Generation Y and service convenience, ease of use, and
platform content for Generation X) to improve the e-SQ perceptions.