The Role of Ubuntu Ethics in Promoting Citizenship Values: An Investigation into the Foundations of Social Harmony

In the post-industrial revolution world, social change is often studied and understood in the context of change in means of production, mobility, urbanization and change in the constitution of workforce. Role of ethical values is generally confined to personal conduct and manners. Industrial society is supposed to have its own work ethics which may or may not agree with personal ethics and morality. Ethics and morality are generally considered, in the Western thought, as a social construct. Therefore, with the change in means of production or political system, values and morality are also expected to be re-adjusted in order to cope with the changed environment. Sometimes a totally new set of values emerges as a consequence of the change in economic, political, or legal set up. The present research tries to understand the meaning and place of these values in a global socio-cultural framework. Relying essentially on the divine principles of the Qur'ān it makes an effort to understand relevance of these universal and ultimate principles with human conduct and behavior in society.  It indicates that essentially it is the core values, principles, or norms which guide human beings in their interpersonal, social, economic and political matters. Islam being a major civilizing force, culture, and the way of life, provides values which guide both in individual and social matters. The values given by the Qur’ān and the Sunnah are not monopoly of the Muslim. These values are universal and are relevant in a technological society.

Psychosocial Factors Associated With Exclusive Breastfeeding Among Pregnant Women on Follow Up in a Tertiary Maternity Hospital

Introduction: Exclusive breastfeeding during the first six months of life is the ideal form of infant feeding. Health benefits of exclusive breastfeeding to infant and mother are well documented in literature. Despite this, the rate of exclusive breastfeeding in the first six months of infants‘ life in Kenya remains low. National nutrition strategy for maternal, infant and young child has set its 2017 target for exclusive breastfeeding at 80% from 32%. To achieve this target, new strategies are needed to complement current exclusive breastfeeding initiatives. Application of theory of planned behaviour model was used to determine the psychosocial factors associated with exclusive breastfeeding and also to identify modifiable and inexpensive interventions to promote exclusive breastfeeding. Objective: The primary objective of this study was to determine the modifiable psychosocial factors associated with exclusive breastfeeding. The secondary objective was to determine the effect of maternal demographic characteristics on exclusive breastfeeding attitude, subjective norm and perceived behaviour control scores. Study design: This was a prospective cohort study to determine psychosocial factors associated with exclusive breastfeeding using theory of planned behaviour. The study was conducted from October 2013 to March 2014. Methods: The study was undertaken at the antenatal clinic in Pumwani Maternity Hospital. It included all pregnant women who were ≥18years, at ≥ 36 weeks gestation and attending Pumwani Maternity Hospital antenatal clinic. A quantitative theory of planned behaviour based questionnaire was used to collect data from the women who fit the inclusion criteria at baseline after they had signed a written consent. Aggregate scores for each of the exposure categories were compiled to determine whether the women had positive or negative attitude, subjective norm and perceived behavioural control. Those with score above zero were considered to have positive psychosocial scores and those with scores below zero were considered to have negative psychosocial scores. Study women were followed up by a telephone interview at two and four months to determine whether they were exclusively breastfeeding or using mixed feeds for their newborns. A second household member was contacted to verify the mothers report. Results: A total of 200 women were recruited to the study at baseline. Mothers included in the final analysis were 180 while 20 were lost to follow up. Proportion of mothers exclusively breastfeeding at four months was 45.6% (95%CI 38.4-52.9). Psychosocial factors associated with exclusive breastfeeding were maternal attitude and perceived behavioural control over exclusive breastfeeding. Mothers who had positive