The College of Humanities in association with the School of Built Environment and Development Studies (BEDS) hosted the 10^th annual Population Association of Southern Africa (PASA) Conference on the Howard College campus.

The Provincial MEC for Social Development, Ms Weziwe Thusi, who officially opened the three-day event, said she believed the conference would lead to exposure to new methods of demography and population studies that would aid government and policymakers in the area of service delivery.

‘This conference is of great importance as it allows for public awareness; partnerships and collaborations between government, universities and demographic institutions. We appeal to the researchers to engage with government for scientific evidence and statistics for service delivery and evidence-based planning.’

PASA President and UKZN lecturer, Ms Nompumelelo Nzimande, was confident the conference would advance population scholarship in the region through sharing of population related research and programmes, interaction of scholars and practitioners as well as exposure to new methods and issues in demography and population studies. 

‘This year’s theme is Implications of the Demographic Transition in Southern Africa: Past, Present and Future,’ said Nzimande. ‘It is significant because it speaks to the youth in South Africa and how they need to be prepared to take on specific roles in the South African society.’

Interim Dean for the School of Built Environment and Development Studies, Professor Betty Mubangizi, said the conference was especially significant to UKZN and the College of Humanities as the School had a dedicated Population Studies component that shared a good working relationship with the Provincial Population Unit (PPU).

‘Through such multidisciplinary conferences, academics and practitioners are able to identify research study opportunities, provide ideas and solutions to the global economy, realise the country’s 2030 developmental goals and contribute to meaningful research on migration.’

Mubangizi encouraged all conference participants to disseminate their research through accredited journals and publications.

The conference also provided preparation for the Union of African Population Studies (UAPS) conference, in Gauteng later this year, with the UAPS President, Professor Jean-Francois Kobiane, congratulating PASA and commending its leadership.

Delivering the keynote address at the conference, Professor Winfred Avogo of Illinois State University in the United States, discussed migration challenges in his paper titled: Labour Migration, Social Networks and Response to HIV/AIDS in Southern Africa.

Avogo examined social capital perspectives to conceptualise the pathways through which men’s labour migration may have differential effects on the nature and content of women’s informal social networks on HIV/AIDS.

‘We make a contribution to sociological literature by bridging gaps in two bodies of knowledge - that on social interaction and health behavioural change and that on the effects of migration on the incidence and prevalence of HIV/AIDS.’  

Avogo employs two key concepts of social capital-bonding and bridging, further describing and comparing the determinants and content of HIV/AIDS communication in personal social networks of three groups of women: those whose husbands have migrated recently, those whose husbands have been away for some time and those who are married to non-migrants. 

Using multi-level random intercept models drawn from a probability sample of 1,680 women and their dyadic interactions, he found that women who were married to recent migrants were more likely to converse about HIV/AIDS than those whose husbands have been away for some time and were non-migrants.

‘Such interaction was likely among social network members whose husbands have also migrated. Similarly, we find that women who are very worried about getting HIV/AIDS infection from their husbands are more likely to engage in conversations about HIV/AIDS.

‘We analyse qualitative data in tandem with our survey results to explore further dynamics of social interaction, risk perception and HIV/AIDS prevention in sub-Saharan Africa,’ said Avogo.