Factors influencing enrolment: a case study from Birth to Twenty, the 1990 birth cohort in Soweto-Johannesburg
OUTPUT TYPE: Journal Article
PUBLICATION YEAR: 2009
TITLE AUTHOR(S): L.M.Richter, S.Panday, S.A.Norris
KEYWORDS: BIRTH TO TEN NOW BIRTH TO TWENTY (BT20), JOHANNESBURG, SOWETO
Print: HSRC Library: shelf number 5716
HANDLE: 20.500.11910/4983
URI: http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11910/4983
If you would like to obtain a copy of this Research Output, please contact Hanlie Baudin at researchoutputs@hsrc.ac.za.
Abstract
Longitudinal studies offer significant advantages in rendering data commensurate with the complexity of human development. However, incomplete enrolment and attrition over time can introduce bias. Furthermore, there is a scarcity of evaluative information on cohorts in developing countries. This paper documents various strategies adopted to minimize loss to follow up and describes a retrospective analysis of a small group of families who were missed during initial enrolment and through several subsequent rounds of data collection of the Birth to Twenty (BT20) birth cohort in Soweto-Johannesburg, South Africa that began in 1990. A purposive case study approach was used, and 10 of the 119 families missed at enrolment were interviewed to investigate why these families were not enrolled into the study. The findings demonstrate that high mobility, both within urban areas and between urban and rural areas, are a major challenge for longitudinal studies in densely populated urban areas. In addition, enrolment was also affected by individuals changing their names, largely motivated to facilitate access to employment under Apartheid, as well as varying motivations for participating in research. Longitudinal studies in the developing country context must be mindful of the political, social and economic climate that influences enrolment and ongoing cohort maintenance.-
Related Research Outputs:
- Patterns of residential mobility amongst children in greater Johannesburg-Soweto, South Africa: observations from the Birth to Twenty Cohort
- Correlates of children's travel to school in Johannesburg-Soweto: evidence from the birth to twenty plus (Bt20+) study, South Africa
- Field report: panel studies in developing countries: case analysis of sample attrition over the past 16 years within the Birth to Twenty cohort in Johannesburg, South Africa
- "Patterns of residential mobility amongst children in greater Johannesburg: observations from the Birth to Twenty cohort"
- Low birthweight and subsequent emotional and behavioural outcomes in 12-year-old children in Soweto, South Africa: findings from Birth to Twenty
- Adolescents in the city: material and social living conditions in Johannesburg-Soweto, South Africa
- Educating street and homeless children in South Africa: the challenge of policy implementation
- Book review: Schadeberg, J. (2002) Soweto today. Menlo Park, South Africa: Protea Book House. 102 p. ISBN 191982572X
- Doing something: the initiation of sexual abuse services in Soweto
- There's space for Africa in the new South Africa?: African migrants and urban governance in Johannesburg
- Book review: Brink, E., Malungane, G., Lebelo, S., Ntshangase, D. & Krige, S. (2001) Soweto 16 June 1976: it all started with a dog. Cape Town: Kwela Books. 208 p. ISBN 0795701322
- Transition from birth to ten to birth to twenty: the South African cohort reaches 13 years of age
- Very young adolescents: a longitudinal perspective from South Africa: the Birth to Twenty study
- Understanding the city's demographic future: towards modelling the evidence on population and household growth
- La difficile definition de la justice spatiale a Johannesburg: un processus de democratie participative
- Territorialisation and rescaling of policing in post-apartheid Johannesburg
- The silent truth of teenage pregnancies: Birth to Twenty cohort's next generation
- The political stakes of academic research: perspectives on Johannesburg
- Policing Johannesburg's wealthy neighbourhoods: the uncertain 'partnerships' between police, communities and private security companies
- In-migration and living conditions of young adolescents in greater Johannesburg, South Africa