African Girls Research Articles

P46 Ethnic differences in pace of growth between birth and 5 years: results from the millennium cohort study

ObjectiveSize at birth and accelerated postnatal growth are linked to obesity and cardiovascular disease (CVD) in adulthood. CVD is more common in Black African and South Asian origin populations in...

White South African school girls and their accounts of black girls at school and cross-racial heterosexual relations outside school

The post-apartheid era has generated opportunities for cross-racial mixing and socializing among young people inconceivable under apartheid, and this perhaps is no more apparent than in the formation of racially mixed public schools. In this article we draw on an interview study that seeks to investigate Grade 11 (16—17-year-old) young people and their lives and identities in different schools near Durban. We concentrate on interviews conducted with a group of middle-class white girls in a formerly white school and we examine whether and if so how they draw on whiteness when asked to reflect on themselves and their relations with others in and outside the school. While we begin with how these girls spoke about themselves and their relations with others in the school, we focus mainly in this article on these girls’ accounts of cross-racial heterosexual relations outside the school. In their accounts of schooling whiteness was constructed in opposition to versions of blackness associated with racial essentialism and intransigence. What was very striking was how positively they presented (heterosexual) desire when directed to boys of other races, associating this with free will and agency as against ‘constraints’ imposed by their parents, peers and culture. In these accounts their sense of whiteness seemed much less assured and taken for granted than in their accounts of their relations with black girls in school. Whereas, we argue, white girls drew on versions of whiteness (and blackness) in school that reinforced racial divisions and hierarchies, despite presenting themselves as non-racial, their interest in cross-racial heterosexual relations and expressions of cross-racial desire subverted racial essentialisms even if, in some cases, this was extremely limited.

Race-specific transition patterns among alcohol use classes in adolescent girls

We used data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health to examine transitions among alcohol use classes in 2225 White and African American adolescent girls, and race differences in predictors of transition into and out of problematic drinking classes. Latent class analysis confirmed four classes for White girls and three for AA girls, defined in a previous study. Latent transition analysis revealed more stable abstainers and decreasing alcohol use among AA girls, and more increasing alcohol use among White girls, though stable abstainers were the largest group in both races. Increasing use was predicted by delinquency, academic misbehavior, substance use, and peer support for White girls, and by older age and delinquency for AA girls. Decreasing use was predicted by older age and depressive symptoms for White girls, and by family relationship quality and substance use for AA girls. Study limitations and implications of findings are discussed.

Street hawking and socio‐economic dynamics of nomadic girls of northern Nigeria

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to provide a qualitative explanation, understanding, and policy suggestions on the socio‐economic causes, effects, and challenges facing nomadic rural girls' street hawking in cities of Northern Nigeria. The aim is to present the paper as a source of literature that will serve as a future document in formulating inclusive policies for the girls as explained in the section on educational policy options.Design/methodology/approachResearch orientation and design involved qualitative phenomenology that explored girls' street hawking experiences. Study sites included three major Nigerian cities and three villages of the girls. Purposeful sampling was used to select 20 girls between ages eight and 15 and female parents as primary participants, while two traditional and religious leaders from each of the villages, and one administrator of the local state nomadic education commission served as secondary participants. Snowball samples of three male parents of the girls in each village were used as part of data validity. Data collection technique involved unstructured focus group interviews, participant observations, and video recording of the girls at home, at markets, and at streets in the cities. Ethical issues were addressed by obtaining oral and written consent of participants orally and in writing using the native language for clarity and understanding of their role. Data analysis of interview involved transcription and the repeated reading of the transcripts that identified major themes. Observational data were converted to field notes and analyzed for patterns of ideas that support major themes of the analyzed interview data for validity. Triangulation process of checking validity was used with sample of snowball participants as state educational administrators of nomadic education, religious leaders, amongst others.FindingsMajor findings are presented as themes on major economic causes of the girls' street hawking of dairy products as a part of family gender division of labor, poverty level of most families, preparing girls for self‐reliance and economic independence, and to augment family income. Social causes include Islamic religious pressure of teaching youth self‐reliance in preparation for early marriage, to finance wedding expenses, to acquire material possessions as child brides, for family honor, to accrue income to maintain their bodily aesthetic needs, group street hawking as a means to girls socialization, and exposing girls to suitors as future husbands, amongst others. Challenges facing the girls include lack of safety, exposure to forms of abuse, and being left behind in basic literacy, amongst others.Originality/valueThis paper is of significant value due to its novelty. It will serve as primary literature on minority West African pastoral girls' impact on rural‐urban migration, their challenges, and their position in the current world social policy of the Department for International Development and UNICEF Girls Education Project.

Depression-Related Distress in Mauritian and South African Adolescent Girls: An Exploratory Investigation

Self-reports of depression-related distress were obtained from girls of 14 to 17 years of age living in communities of low socioeconomic status in Mauritius (n = 198) and South Africa (n = 275). Of the girls in the two samples, 26.3 and 21.5%, respectively, had thought about self-harm during the past 5 yr., while between 14.6 and 16.7% had made self-harm attempts. Also, 39.9% of the Mauritian girls and 31.0% of the South Africans reported being sad and tearful every day for more than 2 wk. over the past year. Of the girls, Mauritians (54.0%) and South Africans (32.1%) felt their problems were too much to cope with, while 20.4% of the South African girls and 44.4% of the Mauritians knew of no place to go for help when feeling sad or depressed. The findings highlight the extent of depression-related symptoms and issues related to access to mental health services. Increasing mental health services and awareness programmes are indicated.

DEPRESSION-RELATED DISTRESS IN MAURITIAN AND SOUTH AFRICAN ADOLESCENT GIRLS: AN EXPLORATORY INVESTIGATION1

Self-reports of depression-related distress were obtained from girls of 14 to 17 years of age living in communities of low socioeconomic status in Mauritius (n = 198) and South Africa (n = 275). Of the girls in the two samples, 26.3 and 21.5%, respectively, had thought about self-harm during the past 5 yr., while between 14.6 and 16.7% had made self-harm attempts. Also, 39.9% of the Mauritian girls and 31.0% of the South Africans reported being sad and tearful every day for more than 2 wk. over the past year. Of the girls, Mauritians (54.0%) and South Africans (32.1%) felt their problems were too much to cope with, while 20.4% of the South African girls and 44.4% of the Mauritians knew of no place to go for help when feeling sad or depressed. The findings highlight the extent of depression-related symptoms and issues related to access to mental health services. Increasing mental health services and awareness programmes are indicated.

Schooling in black and white: assimilationist discourses and subversive identity performances in a desegregated South African girls’ school

Research on school desegregation in South Africa has largely documented an assimilationist process. As in educational contexts elsewhere, the assimilationist position presupposes that learners from non‐dominant groups are made to change their ways of being on entering schools from which they were previously excluded. Drawing on an ethnographic case‐study of a suburban girls’ school in Johannesburg, South Africa, where ‘black’ learners have replaced ‘white’ learners, as well as on post‐structuralist theorizing of ‘discourse’ and ‘identity’, this paper engages with and critiques the assimilationist position. I reconstruct the discursive positioning of the girls within official school discourses, thus highlighting the powerful assimilationist project of the school, but go on to explore the ways in which the learners use a range of semiotic resources not valued in official school discourses to subvert their positioning. I conclude that in inhabiting the school, the girls experience both repressive and liberatory effects, and they themselves produce mobile points of resistance.

Childhood urethral mucosa prolapse: outcome of surgical treatment

Background :Urethral mucosa prolapse before menarche and so in the child is an uncommon entity that affects the distal urethra and is rarely diagnosed. It is associated with significant morbidity and there is a danger of urethral loss if appropriate treatment is not initiated promptly. We have reviewed our experience managing these children over a ten year period. Results :All the patients were native African girls with ages 3-9 years and an average age of 5.3 years. The clinical presentation was i. genital bleeding 75%, ii,genital swelling 25% and iii painful micturition in 41% of cases. Two (16%) of the 12 patients, had had some form of female genital mutilation. Of the 9 patients that had urine culture in their preoperative evaluation, 4 (44.5%) of them had their urine culture positive for bacterial growth. Sitz bath was the only form of non surgical treatment offered to 3 (25%) patients. The 12 patients had surgical excision of the prolapsed mucosa; 7 (58%) patients had four quadrant excisional technique, 4 (33%) and 1 (8%) patient(s) had excision without a catheter insitu and excision with a catheter insitu respectively. Post operative urinary retention occurred in one patient. There was no case of recurrence during the 6 months follow-up period. Conclusion :Though a rare condition, surgical management of premenarcheal urethral mucosa prolapse is associated with good outcome.

Stifled Voices: Barriers to Help-Seeking Behavior for South African Childhood Sexual Assault Survivors

In South Africa, females under the age of 18 comprise approximately 40% of the rapes and other forms of sexual assault that occur. However, South African girls face multiple barriers to seeking help in the aftermath of sexual assault. This literature review provides an overview of childhood sexual assault in South African girls and addresses barriers to help-seeking behaviors. Risk factors as well as relevant sociocultural, economic, structural, and psychological perceptions regarding childhood sexual assault among South African girls are also discussed. Finally, clinical implications, culturally relevant psychotherapeutic techniques, and suggestions for future research are provided in an effort to reduce the negative mental health consequences for the victims.

Asthma in Black African, Black Caribbean and South Asian adolescents in the MRC DASH study: a cross sectional analysis

BackgroundEthnic differences in the prevalence of asthma among children in the UK are under-researched. We aimed to determine the ethnic differences in the prevalence of asthma and atopic asthma in children from the main UK ethnic groups, and whether differences are associated with differential distributions in social and psychosocial risk factors.Methods6,643 pupils aged 11-13 years, 80% ethnic minorities. Outcomes were asthma/wheeze with (atopic) and without hay fever/eczema. Risk factors examined were family history of asthma, length of residence in the UK, socioeconomic disadvantage, tobacco exposure, psychological well-being, and body mass index (BMI).ResultsThere was a pattern of lower prevalence of asthma in Black African boys and girls, and Indian and Bangladeshi girls compared to White UK. The overall prevalence was higher in Mixed Black Caribbean/White boys, with more atopic asthma in Black Caribbean boys and Mixed Black Caribbean/White boys due to more hayfever. Poor psychological well-being and family history of asthma were associated with an increased risk of asthma within each ethnic group. UK residence for ≤ 5 years was protective for Black Caribbeans and Black Africans. Increased BMI was associated with an increased reporting of asthma for Black Africans. Adjustments for all variables did not remove the excess asthma reported by Black Caribbean boys (atopic) or Mixed Black Caribbean/White boys.ConclusionThe protective effect of being born abroad accounted for ethnic differences in some groups, signalling a role for socio-environmental factors in patterning ethnic differences in asthma in adolescence.

Selected postural differences in African boys and girls (PLAY-Study)

Posture deformities in children are relatively common and frequently observed in boys and girls. The purpose of this study was to determine the difference in posture deformities between African boys and girls from very low socio-economic living conditions, aged 13-17 years in the North West Province. During these ages children are undergoing growth spurt and some children develop posture problems . A total of 252 children were screened for posture deformities. Posture screening was done according to the New York Posture test and a posture grid. The difference in posture deformities in these African boys and girls could be mainly related to growth spurt, puberty, stunting and age. A high prevalence of postural deformities was reported amongst the children and could be influenced by low socio-economical background. Posture deformities were reported to be higher in girls than in boys.

Cinderella indeed – a commentary on Iverson's ‘Developing language in a developing body: the relationship between motor development and language development’

Cinderella indeed – a commentary on Iverson's ‘Developing language in a developing body: the relationship between motor development and language development’

African Girls' Samplers from Mission Schools in Sierra Leone (1820s to 1840s)

In an article in this journal almost fifteen years ago, Colleen Kriger discussed the reluctance of historians of Africa to use objects as sources in their research. She pointed to the rich reservoir of objects “made by African hands” in museum collections around the world, which lies virtually untapped by historians. However, she also noted that while objects are “unusually eloquent remnants from the past,” they are problematic sources, presenting “special difficulties in evaluation and interpretation.”The purpose of this article is to draw attention to the existence of a number of embroidery samplers that were stitched by African girls in mission schools in the British colony of Sierra Leone in the period from the 1820s to the 1840s. So far, I have found thirteen of these samplers, which are preserved in a number of archival, private and museum collections in Europe and the USA. To historians, these pieces of needlework are of interest because they were generated by a group of people for whom we do not usually have first-hand documentary material. Moreover, they represent the direct material traces of the activity of the girls who made them, and thus appear to offer the possibility of an emphatic insight into their experience.However, these “textile documents” present serious problems of interpretation. What exactly can they be expected to tell the modern historian? In particular, how far, in fact, do they express the perspectives of the African girls who made them, as distinct from the European missionaries who directed their work? Careful source criticism and an examination of the purpose for which they were produced will help to clarify these issues.

The battle for centre stage: Women's football in South Africa

abstract From when the first official South African Women's National Football team was established in 1993, Banyana Banyana have been ‘making it happen’ for women's football in South Africa. National team players have become inspirational icons and role models for thousands of South African women and girls. This Focus draws on academic research, media reports and interviews with national team players to highlight the struggles and victories of South African women footballers over the last 40 years. Despite numerous challenges and setbacks, women's football has experienced immense growth over the past 15 years. Highlighting examples of battles for power and leadership, homophobic attitudes and attempts to feminise the bodies of women footballers, this Focus illustrates the hard fought victories and disappointing losses in the history of South African women's football.

Developing obesity prevention interventions among minority ethnic children in schools and places of worship: The DEAL (DiEt and Active Living) study.

BackgroundChildhood obesity is a major public health concern with serious implications for the sustainability of healthcare systems. Studies in the US and UK have shown that ethnicity is consistently associated with childhood obesity, with Black African origin girls in particular being more vulnerable to overweight and obesity than their White peers. Little is known, however, about what promotes or hinders engagement with prevention programmes among ethnic minority children.Methods/DesignThis paper describes the background and design of an exploratory study conducted in London, UK. The aim of the study was to assess the feasibility, efficacy and cultural acceptability of child- and family-based interventions to reduce risk factors for childhood and adolescent obesity among ethnic minorities. It investigated the use of a population approach (in schools) and a targeted approach (in places of worship). We used a mixture of focus group discussions, in-depth interviews and structured questionnaires to explore what children, parents, grandparents, teachers and religious leaders think hinder and promote engagement with healthy eating and active living choices. We assessed the cultural appropriateness of validated measures of physical activity, dietary behaviour and self efficacy, and of potential elements of interventions informed by the data collected. We are also currently assessing the potential for wider community support (local councils, community networks, faith forums etc) of the intervention.DiscussionAnalysis of the data is ongoing but the emergent findings suggest that while the school setting may be better for the main implementation of healthy lifestyle interventions, places of worship provide valuable opportunities for family and culturally specific support for implementation. Tackling the rise in childhood and adolescent obesity is a policy priority, as reflected in a range of government initiatives. The study will enhance such policy by developing the evidence base about culturally acceptable interventions to reduce the risk of obesity in children.

Differences in body composition and prevalence for postural deviations in girls from two racial groups in South Africa

Little is known about ethnic differences in developing countries such as South Africa, particularly with regard to prevalence of postural deviations and body composition profiles. The aim of this study is to compare the prevalence rate for postural deviations and body composition status among two racial groups in South Africa. The sample (n = 216) consisted of 89 African girls and 127 Caucasian girls. Anthropometric (BMI and percentage body fat) and body posture measurements were performed. A posture grid and the New York Posture test were used for all posturalassessments. Independent t-tests and effect sizes demonstrated that in the 11 and 13 year old group the Caucasian group had a significantly higher (p

Risk Assessment: The Predictive Validity of the Youth Level of Service Case Management Inventory with African Americans and Girls

Risk assessments like the Youth Level of Service/Case Management Inventory (YLS/CMI) are widely used by juvenile justice systems to identify young offenders that are likely to reoffend. These instruments are also used for case management purposes, to determine areas of criminogenic risk that are amenable to intervention. This study explored the risk–recidivism relationship between YLS/CMI score and reoffense rates over 24 months for African Americans (n = 459), Whites (n = 509), boys (n = 694), and girls (n = 274). The YLS/CMI had an area under the curve (AUC) coefficient of .63 overall; however, subgroup differences in distribution of recidivism by risk level were found. Moreover, subscales for the YLS/CMI had differential predictive validity for the respective subgroups. Future study should account for macrolevel risk factors like policing and surveillance levels, which are currently excluded from the assessment.

‘ONE VAGINA TO GO’

Eve Ensler's The Vagina Monologues and the accompanying global ‘anti-violence against women’ activist project by now has come to embody female liberation from violence all over the world. What has ...

The relationship between quality of life and compliance to a brace protocol in adolescents with idiopathic scoliosis: a comparative study

BackgroundCorrective bracing for adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) has favourable outcomes when patients are compliant. However, bracing may be a stressful and traumatic experience and compliance with a bracing protocol is likely to be dependent upon patients' physical, emotional and social wellbeing. The Brace Questionnaire (BrQ), a recently-developed, condition-specific tool to measure quality of life (QOL) has enabled clinicians to study relationships between QOL and compliance.MethodsThe BrQ was administered to 31 AIS patients after a minimum of 1 year of wearing a brace. Subjects were 13–16 year old South African girls with Cobb angles of 25–40 degrees. Participants were divided into two groups according to their level of compliance with the bracing protocol. Brace Questionnaire sub- and total scores were compared between the two groups using the t-test for comparison of means.ResultsTwenty participants were classified as compliant and 11 as non-compliant. Mean total BrQ scores (expressed as a percentage) were 83.7 for the compliant group and 64.4 for the non-compliant group (p < 0.001), and on analysis of the 8 domains that make up the BrQ, the compliant group scored significantly higher in the 6 domains that measured vitality and social, emotional and physical functioning.ConclusionPoor compliance with a brace protocol is associated with poorer QOL, with non-compliant patients lacking vitality and functioning poorly physically, emotionally and socially. Quality of life for adolescents with idiopathic scoliosis may relate more to psychosocial coping mechanisms than to physical deformity and its consequences. It is important to establish whether remedial programmes are capable of addressing personal, group and family issues, improving QOL and promoting compliance.

Typologies of Alcohol Use in White and African American Adolescent Girls

This study examined typologies of alcohol use among 2,948 White and African American adolescent girls using data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health. Self-report data were collected on frequency and quantity of alcohol use, negative consequences, and high-risk drinking behaviors, as well as co-occurring internalizing and externalizing problems. Latent class analysis revealed a four-group typology for White girls and a three-group typology for African American girls. Problematic drinkers reported having more internalizing and externalizing problems in both racial groups. The study's limitations and implications are discussed.