The socio-cultural impact of the introduction of motorbike taxis in the rural community of Tombel, South West region, Cameroon

“The socio-cultural impact of the introduction of motorbike taxis in the rural community of Tombel, South West region, Cameroon” seeks to bring out the impact of commercial motorbike taxis on the lifestyle of the Bakossi. The principal objective of this research is to show how the introduction of motorbike taxis has modified the lifestyle of the Tombel population. This anthropological research defines the profile of a motorbike taxi rider, his role in society, the perception of the population towards this activity and the impact of this activity on the lifestyle of the rural population of Tombel. This study reveals that motorbike taxi riders are essentially made up of youths from all works of life who earn a living by riding a motorbike taxi on a daily bases for commercial purposes. The revenue earn here goes a long way to sustain the livelihood of the rider and his entourage, becoming an ascension tool into the social ladder. The activity is very dangerous not only for the riders buts also for the passengers because of the risks involved in riding for most of the riders do not have the basic knowledge of the road code. This research also reveals that motorbike taxi has become the preferred means of public transport of most inhabitants of Tombel to the point of monopolising certain destinations. The population of Tombel perceives this activity as an instrument of change that has brought development and progress. But this activity also constitutes a social ill because of the prevalent sexual promiscuity encouraged by the riders. This activity has also gotten a cultural impact on the society, changing perceptions and being involve in rituals. Motorbike taxis have become a force to reckon with in the organisation of the community. They are a “response from below” to the transport crises in Cameroon.

SOCIAL CULTURAL FACTORS IN HIV/AIDS TRANSMISSION AMONG WOMEN IN RWANDA

This study examines the social cultural factors that influence HIV/AIDS transmission among women in RWANDA and especially in RUGALIKA sector. Some of those social cultural factors we can say marriage, polygamy, early marriage, poverty, religious beliefs, lack of access to productive resources and lack of education and training. The objectives of the study were to identify the social cultural factors which influence in HIV transmission among women and the constraint of HIV/AIDS among women and to find out how those constraint can be overcome and also to identify the measures that could be take for more prevent the spread of HIV infection to the women and to the all people in general. The research contains 5chapters which are: 1st chapter: general conclusion; 2nd chapter: literature review; 3rd chapter: research methodology; 4th chapter: data analysis and interpretation and the 5th chapter is general conclusion and recommendation. This research was conducted in RUGALIKA sector which has about 2990 women aged between 21 35 years old and thus a sample of 290 women was selected in different region of RUGALIKA sector. After the interpretation of the findings; the most vulnerable group is the women aged between 31-35 years; the vulnerability is due to different factors but most of them we have: poverty issues, polygamy, lack of access to productive resources, lack of education and training, religious beliefs and we cannot forget the physiological factors. After the genocide of 1994, Rwanda has known many orphans; and in RUGALIKA sector young women and girls are often to be sexual exploited in order to survive.