Unisa Press Journals (University of South Africa)
Not a member yet
6222 research outputs found
Sort by
Investigating the Dielectric Photosensitivity of Zinc Oxide Nanostructures Under Ultraviolet Light
No full textIn this study, we prepared a ZnO thin film using the sol-gel spin-coating method on glass substrates. We repeated the synthesis procedure once, twice and four times to obtain the samples. We then investigated the FESEM images, XRD diffractograms, Hall effect and dielectric measurement of the samples. We observed the phase transition from the wurtzite to the zinc blende phase as a result of the number of repetitions. The films exhibited direct band gaps ranging from 3.2 eV to 3.3 eV. This result indicate that the two-times synthesis process has considerably affected the morphology and also improved the crystallinity of the layer. The sample of which the surface was covered with nearly uniform short nanorod grains with an average diameter of ~ 180 nm showed the highest sensitivity to ultraviolet light
“The Inadequately Married:” Extending the Putative Marriage Doctrine to Assist Vulnerable Parties in Invalid Customary Marriages
No full textThis article considers whether the putative marriage doctrine can be developed to assist those who find themselves in invalid customary marriages. The article considers the nature of the putative marriage doctrine, that is, as a remedy utilised where one or both parties believe in good faith that their marriage is valid when, in fact, one or more of the material requirements for marriage has not been met. The article focuses on situations where a customary marriage is considered invalid and where, in particular, women are left without protection and regulation of the proprietary consequences of the marital estate. Currently, the judgment of Zulu v Zulu impedes the doctrine’s application for property division in polygamous customary marriages. Through a comparative analysis of Californian and Namibian family law, this article suggests that the judgment is wrong, or at least short-sighted, in its failure to apply the doctrine in these circumstances. I then propose a framework that develops the putative marriage doctrine in a way that ensures the protection of customary wives in subsequent marriages that are declared invalid
African Customary Law and the Issue of Institutionalised Women’s Rights Abuse in Southern Africa
No full textThe purpose of this article is to explore the extent to which women’s rights in the southern African region have been subject to abuses in an environment that does not do much to deter such abuses. It provides insights into the institutionalised tension between African customary law and so-called modern law that date back to the colonial period. Women’s rights abuse experienced today is the result of the difficult co-existence between modern law and African customary law. The obvious form of these abuses is observable through the institutionalised incapacitation of women with focus on South Africa and Zimbabwe. By institutionalised, I mean the action or lack of action from the executive, judiciary and legislature to address this scourge
Mixed-method Study on Gender Disparity in Healthcare Leadership Positions in Southern Ethiopia
No full textGender disparity in healthcare leadership positions is a multifactorial phenomenon based primarily on how society has been socialised according to gender roles and defined how women and men progress in the workplace, including healthcare. The purpose of this mixed-method study was based on the theory of hostile and benevolent sexism as applied in organisations and explored gender disparity in healthcare leadership positions. Quantitative survey data were collected using a structured questionnaire from 414 healthcare professionals, and qualitative data were collected from 21 healthcare professionals using a semi-structured interview guide containing open questions. Quantitative data were analysed using SPSS version 25. A descriptive phenomenology using Colaizzi’s (1978) approach was used for the qualitative strand. The findings show a noticeable increase in women’s promotion to low-level leadership positions. The quantitative results were corroborated by the qualitative findings, which confirmed that healthcare workers faced several challenges in getting promoted and that cultural bias persists. Participants of both genders reported that female promotions are negatively impacted by gender roles, inherent gender bias, and family responsibilities. This study documents changes in the way men view women’s abilities in the workplace. Although there are noticeable improvements in low-level leadership positions, serious issues persist, such as the lack of support for female healthcare workers with young families and limited recognition of women’s abilities to perform at the level of their male counterparts. It is crucial to establish gender-sensitive recovery interventions that facilitate women’s progress in leadership positions. Further research and empowerment programmes are necessary to enhance women’s self-assurance.
OER Accessibility for Students with Visual Disabilities in Higher Education in the Era of Open Knowledge
No full textOpen knowledge has the potential to expand inclusive and equitable access to lifelong learning while supporting social inclusion. However, there is low public awareness on issues around inclusiveness, especially for students with visual disabilities who are unable to use the medium of the sighted owing to the consequences of their disabilities. This article discusses various issues around the accessibility of open educational resources (OERs) and the integration of inclusive institutional culture in the Nigerian university system. An interpretive approach was adopted for this study. Out of 22 universities offering enrolment to students with visual disabilities in Nigeria, seven universities were purposively selected based on the availability of OERs on their websites. The purposive sampling method was also used to choose 30 participants from four out of the seven universities who could serve as key informants for the study. Data were collected using in-depth interviews. Data from interviews was designed to achieve qualitative analyses and results were analysed thematically. The study revealed strategies university libraries could deploy to improve access to OERs for students with visual disabilities and provided insightful thoughts and direction on re-imagining the future of the open knowledge movement in Nigeria and the rest of Africa
ICT Tools for Open Educational Resources Used in an Open Distance E-learning Institution in the Fourth Industrial Revolution Era
No full textOpen educational resources (OER) are gaining popularity in higher education spaces and more attention in open distance e-learning (ODeL) institutions as they are gradually substituting printed prescribed textbooks in the teaching and learning space. The adoption and development of OER have been researched; however, the roles of knowledge management tools in storing and disseminating the resources are not well articulated. This research explores the use of knowledge management tools in an ODeL learning context. ODeL institutions use knowledge management tools and a host of other information and communication technologies (ICT) to deliver and facilitate synchronous and asynchronous learning and bridge transactional distance. Therefore, this study employed a qualitative approach to investigate ways in which lecturers use knowledge management tools to embrace and create OER. A case study approach was used at one ODeL institution. The knowledge management cycle (KMC) was chosen as the theoretical framework of the study. The key finding demonstrates that lecturers utilised a wide range of ICT tools for the storage, collection, and dissemination of OER as part of knowledge production. The study proposes the extension of the KMC from three cycles to four where “system” is added. There is a significant need for policy, impact, and the matrix to be covered under the system cycle. The study recommends that scholars who are investigating any IT artefact opt for an extended KMC where impact and user metrics will be evaluated, as this will enhance academic support
Developing an Android-Based Application Documentation System of Postpartum Care for Indonesian Midwifery Students
No full textMidwifery students still take notes the old-fashioned way, on paper, which has become very inconvenient. Students struggle to create accurate and complete care documentation due to the risk of losing important data, transferring data, and scribbling. Mobile Case Midwifery Notes (CMNotes) is an Android-based documentation system designed to develop learning methods and interactive consultations between students and lecturers. CMNotes facilitates digital and comprehensive recording of patient data starting from assessment, diagnosis, and plan of care to implementation and evaluation by applying Varney’s management principles and Subjective Objective Analysis Planning (SOAP) documentation. This study is research and development (R&D) to produce a documentation system for midwifery care emphasising postpartum and breastfeeding care. The researchers recruited 185 midwifery students from Aceh Health Polytechnics to be involved in a needs analysis. Out of the total number of students, 39 students took part in the implementation stage where their experience using the application was assessed. The needs analysis revealed that postpartum care and breastfeeding are important subjects, and their documentation is the most important aspect. The implementation results show that the CMNotes provide convenience and satisfaction for students when documenting childbirth and postpartum care. Since CMNotes could provide the reference range of data, the system allows students to identify and focus on the issue experienced by the patients. Due to user feedback on the system’s usability, it is necessary to create an Android-based CMNotes application to fill in patient data more easily and effectively without the need for internet access
Rational and Intuitive Decision-making Styles, Critical Thinking Dispositions and Associated Factors of Nurses
No full textBackground: Nurses often use the clinical decision-making mechanism. This mechanism is influenced by critical thinking and rational and intuitive decision-making styles. This study’s aim was to determine the levels of rational and intuitive decision-making styles and critical thinking disposition of nurses. Method: It is a prospective and cross-sectional descriptive study. Data were collected between May and August 2023. The study included 355 nurses working at two major hospitals in one of the largest cities in the Central Anatolia region. The data were gathered using a questionnaire consisting of a personal information form, Critical Thinking Disposition Scale and Rational and Intuitive Decision-making Styles Scale.Results: The Critical Thinking Disposition Scale and Rational Decision-making Styles Scale scores of the nurses were above the average and the Intuitive Decision-making Styles Scores were close to the average. A positive and significant correlation has been found between nurses’ critical thinking dispositions and levels of rational and intuitive decision making. In addition, the linear regression analysis shows nurses’ critical thinking tendencies affect their rational decision-making and intuitive decision-making styles.Conclusion: These findings suggest strengthening nurses’ critical thinking could improve both their rational and intuitive decision-making skills, thereby improving patient care outcomes by making effective clinical judgements
Assessment of Iranian Intensive Care Nurses’ Perception of Futile Care
No full textThis study aimed to evaluate the perceptions of ICU nurses regarding futile care in hospitals affiliated with Kerman University of Medical Sciences in 2018. The research specifically targeted nurses working in the ICU departments of these hospitals who held at least a bachelor’s degree. The questionnaire used in the study consisted of eight questions related to nurses’ views on futile care in the ICU. Additionally, the questionnaire included a section that explored nurses’ perspectives on the causes of futile care and its persistence, covering topics such as communication, information exchange, respect for patient preferences, involvement in decision-making, and quality of patient care. Non-normal data distribution led to the use of the Mann-Whitney U and Kruskal-Wallis tests to analyse the relationship between nurses’ perceptions of futile care, its causes, and various nurse-related factors. The study involved 236 ICU nurses who met the inclusion criteria, with 179 nurses participating in the research. The average age of the nurses was 32.78 ± 6.50 years. The results indicated a significant correlation between nurses’ perception scores of futile care and their views on the causes and dimensions of futile care (r = 0.65, p < 0.001). Further research is recommended to gain a deeper understanding of ICU nurses’ perceptions and experiences related to futile care
Exploring Early Motherhood through Perspectives from Teenage Mothers and Healthcare Providers: A Qualitative Study
No full textBackground: Motherhood is integral to women’s identity globally, yet early motherhood presents health challenges, particularly in developing countries, with approximately 21 million pregnancies annually among adolescent girls aged 15–19. This phenomenon is linked to adverse outcomes, including education barriers and some other experiences and needs participation.
Purpose: This study aimed To explore the experiences of Iranian teenage mothers and healthcare providers to identify the challenges and opportunities associated with early motherhood, thereby informing future interventions and support strategies.
Materials and Methods: This qualitative study used conventional content analysis. Data collection and analysis were done from August to December 2022, with interviews with 15 teenage mothers and 11 health carers of Shiraz and Fasa. Our tool for data collection was a semi-structured interview. Data were analysed using conventional content analysis. Guba and Lincoln criteria were used to assess data validity.
Results: The 1900 conceptual codes of the participants’ experiences were classified into three general categories of teenage mothers and healthcare provider’s experiences.
Conclusion: While early motherhood brings responsibilities and social recognition, teenage mothers in this study faced significant challenges, such as managing work and childcare and addressing mental health disorders. Efforts should focus on high-quality care for adolescent mothers, support for their children, and enhancing social support systems and educational opportunities