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An exploration of the perceptions of HIV and aids district coordinators regarding the implementation of comprehensive sexuality education in the Eastern Cape
Full text linkIn 2015, the South African Department of Basic Education (DBE) announced plans to pilot scripted lesson plans (SLPs) aligned with the Comprehensive Sexuality Education (CSE) component of the Life Orientation (LO) curriculum. This initiative aimed to address critical challenges such as learner dropout rates, the spread of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), teenage pregnancy, and risky behaviours among learners in both primary and secondary schools. Despite being deemed successful by some individuals and organisations, using CSE in Africa faces many obstacles. The DBE in South Africa equipped district coordinators for HIV and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) to train LO teachers in their respective school districts. Despite being seen as beneficial overall, the use of CSE in Africa and other regions is not without difficulties. The HIV and AIDS district coordinators oversee the successful implementation of CSE lessons by LO teachers and train LO teachers in CSE using the recently created CSE scripted lesson plans (SLPs) from the DBE. However, district and provincial office officials' regular monitoring reports show that CSE courses have either not been implemented at all or only partially been implemented in public schools. It appears that HIV and AIDS district coordinators have not provided enough of the updated CSE curriculum to LO teachers during their training. Therefore, this study aimed to explore the perceptions of HIV and AIDS district coordinators regarding the training and monitoring of the CSE programme implementation in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa. The study employed exploratory research informed by the interpretivism paradigm and qualitative research methodology. The study used Urie Bronfenbrenner’s ecological systems theory as a theoretical foundation. Fifteen (15) HIV and AIDS district coordinators from Eastern Cape education districts in South Africa were included in the purposeful sample applied for this study. Data was gathered through open-ended questionnaires and subsequently analysed using thematic analysis. The thematic analysis was conducted according to Braun and Clarke's six-step framework (Maguire & Delahunt, 2017). The study's findings indicate that the HIV and AIDS district coordinators possess varying qualifications that are insufficient for effectively training LO teachers on CSE. The inadequate training of these coordinators has resulted in ineffective implementation of CSE. Furthermore, the district coordinators' cultural and personal beliefs, rooted in their diverse cultural and religious backgrounds, impact their approach to teaching and learning strategies. The study also found a lack of monitoring and support from the HIV and AIDS district coordinators. Additionally, the effectiveness of CSE implementation is hampered by differing perceptions of CSE among various stakeholders. The study recommends that HIV and AIDS district coordinators improve their qualifications through further education and professional development. They should pursue relevant academic and professional training in HIV and AIDS and LO to gain the skills and knowledge needed for effective training and coordination. The DBE and curriculum designers should consider the cultural and religious values of HIV and AIDS district coordinators for successful CSE implementation and equip them with effective CSE teaching and learning strategies. Regular monitoring and support should be conducted in districts, particularly in schools implementing CSE. In conclusion, the study emphasises the need for strengthening focused monitoring and supporting CSE implementation by HIV and AIDS district coordinators and provincial office officials. The DBE should also raise community awareness of CSE, targeting all key stakeholders to prevent conflicting messages.Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Education, School of Education, Research and Engagement, 202
Perceptions of nurse educators and student nurses regarding substance abuse and its management at a nursing college in the Eastern Cape
Full text linkvital:80564Substance abuse is a global problem affecting individuals of all age groups and presents with complications which are detrimental to an individual’s mental, physical, social well-being. Globally, over 11 per cent of people who use drugs, or around 29.5 million people, are estimated to suffer from drug use disorders (United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC).2017:13). The problem of substance abuse and the consequences thereof are of concern about university and college students due to the variety of effects that substance abuse has on the person’s abilities to cope with life challenges. Nursing students are at risk for developing substance abuse behaviours due to inordinate levels of stress and burn-out, and the high demands of nursing schools. A qualitative, explorative, and descriptive study design was used. Purposive sampling of nurse educators and student nurses was used to participate in separate focus groups. Tesch’s method of thematic synthesis was used to analyse data and help draw meaning from the content. Data was collected using four focus groups that were conducted and the discussions were digitally recorded. The collected data was then transcribed verbatim. Three main themes emerged. Results reveal that both nurse educators and students view substance abuse as multifaceted problem and a coping mechanism influenced by a variety of personal and environmental factors. Firstly, substance abuse impacts student nurses negatively, secondly, this takes place across three domains of their well-being and lastly, there is no structured way to manage this scourge on campus. To ensure trustworthiness of the study, Guba and Lincoln’s criteria were used, namely: credibility, confirmability, dependability, and transferability. The researcher complied with the ethical principles of respect for persons, beneficence, and justice. 5 Recommendations were made, based on the findings elicited from the focus group discussions.Thesis (MCur) -- Faculty of Science, School of Clinical Care & Medicinal Sciences, 202
The geology, archaeology and ichnology of pleistocene sequences in the Woody Cape Nature Reserve, Eastern Cape, South Africa
Full text linkThe palaeoenvironmental conditions and the palaeoecology of the eastern edge of the Palaeo- Agulhas Plain (PAP) remain enigmatic. This project focuses on the Quaternary geology, archaeology, and ichnology of the relatively understudied SANParks Woody Cape Nature Reserve, which is located within the northeastern portion of the PAP, Eastern Cape Province, South Africa. The aeolianite outcrops, as well as the Alexandria dune field capping the cliff sequence, offered key insights into this region and the past conditions that prevailed along this stretch of the South African coastline and its presently drowned offshore palaeo-ecosystem. The aeolianite cliffs are interspersed with palaeosols and rhizolithic horizons. The cliffs were logged geologically, and eight discrete units were identified within the stratigraphic profiles: six generations of aeolianite and two palaeosols. These units (aeolianite and palaeosols) were sampled for Optically Stimulated Luminescence (OSL) dating of which five samples underwent further geological analyses. The geochronology results show that the Woody Cape cliffs range in age from ~0.4 kya – ~126 kya. This provides the first OSL ages for this region, which range from the Late Pleistocene to the Late Holocene. Significantly, these data show that the age of the Alexandria dune field extends back to at least the Last Interglacial, and that cementation and lithification of coastal dunes in this area has taken place until as recently as the Late Holocene. The palaeosols in the sequence, which are interpreted to represent times of landscape stability between dominant phases of dune deposition, dated to 28 ± 2 kya and 61 ± 4 kya. Coastal archaeological sites were documented within the Alexandria dune field and these revealed the presence of Later Stone Age pastoralist communities. Contributing to the eastward extension of the Cape South Coast Ichnology Project, a total of seventeen ichnological trackways were observed and investigated within the aeolianites. Photogrammetry provided increased diagnostic features of images for selected trackways. Identified trackways include a shod-toddler hominin, elephant, buffalo, bird tracks and vertebrate and invertebrate burrows. Ichnological studies therefore also revealed a Middle Stone Age hominin presence along the Woody Cape coast. This multi-disciplinary approach to an almost unstudied palaeo-environment allowed for a better understanding of the holistic PAP, adding to the southern and western components, as a fertile ecosystem for life, including hominins, especially during glacial periods.Thesis (MSc) -- Faculty of Science, School of Environmental Sciences, 202
The effects of iloprost treatment on molecular and neurocognitive responses to inhibited il-4r alpha function in a mouse model of trypanosomiasis
Full text linkThe development of neurological disorders following trypanosome brain infection has been recognized for over a century. However, a comprehensive understanding of the neurocognitive and neuropathological changes associated with such infection and their progression remains a work in progress. Concurrently, there is ongoing research aimed at identifying innovative and effective trypanocidal compounds. Current therapeutic strategies are shifting toward the pharmacological activation of classical macrophage type-2 (M2) phenotype induced by IL-4 or IL-13 anti-inflammatory cytokines. Unlike proinflammatory M1 macrophages, which contribute to chronic inflammation and tissue damage, M2 macrophages exhibit anti-inflammatory properties, promoting healing and reducing pathological immune responses. Targeting M2 polarization has emerged as a promising strategy for treating inflammatory diseases, neurodegenerative disorders, and tissue injuries, by leveraging the body's innate mechanisms of immune modulation and repair. This study aims to investigate whether prostacyclin analogue (Iloprost) treatment against CNS Trypanosoma brucei infection would beneficially affect cognitive and anxiety-like behaviours in IL-4/IL-13-expressing mice, with the additional aim to understand whether trypanosome-induced pathological alterations in neurocognitive processes can be therapeutically reversed and to delineate the underpinned molecular and epigenetic mechanisms. A total of eighty male albino Swiss mice (8-10 weeks old) were used for the study, comprising sixteen mice for the pilot study and sixty-four mice for the main experiment. They were divided into two groups (n=32 per group); mice with pharmacologically inhibited interleukin 4 receptor (IL-4Rα┴) and their wild-type (WT) littermates. At day 4 (D4) post-infection with Trypanosoma brucei brucei, both WT and IL-4Rα┴ infected mice received repeated intraperitoneal injections of Iloprost (200μg/kg) for 3 days. Thereafter, the animals were assessed for locomotion, anxiety-like behaviour and reference memory using the open field test, elevated plus maze and novel object recognition task respectively. Blood samples were collected for parasitaemia and hemogram tests. The expression of target gene transcripts in the prefrontal cortices (PFC) and hippocampal (HPC) tissues was quantified using RT-PCR. Also, cytokine expression and methylation profiling were assessed using ELISA and EZ DNA methylation kits, respectively. IL-4R inhibition induced systemic inflammation in IL-4Rα┴ mice, whereas Iloprost treatment reversed this. Molecular analysis reveals downregulation of IL-4Rα genes in both the PFC and HPC of IL-4Rα┴ mice with IL-4 and IL-4Rα genes exhibiting decreased expression only in the HPC of IL-4Rα┴ infected mice, suggesting distinct regional responses to infection. Furthermore, IL-4Rα in synergy with Iloprost treatments not only reversed downregulated BDNF gene expression in the PFC but also attenuated the downregulation of TNF-α genes in both brain regions, while simultaneously suppressing the presence of trypanosome parasites in the CNS parenchyma by decreasing Pfr gene expression, NO, NF-κB and CXCL-10 levels in the PFC and HPC. The study further revealed hypomethylation within the promoter regions of IL-4, IL-4R, IL-13 and BDNF genes in both PFC and HPC of WT mice. In contrast, there was significant hypermethylation at xvi TNF-α, IL-4R, IL-4 and IL-13 promoter regions in the PFC and HPC of the Iloprost-treated infected groups for both WT and IL-4Rα┴ mice. Iloprost significantly (P<0.05) increased NF-kB levels but markedly decreased TNF-α in the HPC and PFC. This study revealed that Iloprost promotes angiogenesis and suppresses trypanosome-induced inflammation. IL-4 plays a role in cognitive learning, and prostacyclin is well known for its anti-inflammatory properties. Furthermore, Iloprost treatment enhanced both IL-4 and IL-13 signalling, and contributed to the reversal of anxiety-like behaviours and cognitive deficits induced by CNS trypanosome infection. The findings suggest that Iloprost plays a significant role in suppressing neuroinflammation in trypanosome-infected mice and that activation of IL-4Rα pathway via upregulation of BDNF and IL-4 signalling, may contribute to the neuroprotective effects of Iloprost against cognitive challenge.Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Science, School of Biomolecular & Chemical Sciences, 202
Ion-implanted metal-polymer nano-composites for sensor applications
Full text linkConducting polymers are used in various electronic systems. Compared to inorganic systems, one polymer can exhibit a range of electrical properties from insulating to semiconducting and conducting. This can be attributed to their tuneable electrical properties by doping, which depends on the doping level and dopant type. The main method that is used for doping polymers is the wet chemical method. The main limitation of doping via wet chemical methods is the inability to control the depth and dispersion of dopants in the polymer matrix. However, low-energy ion implantation has been suggested as a possible method for doping polymers as the penetration depth of the implanted ions can be better controlled. There has been an increase in the fabrication of thin film conducting polymers using different doping methods for various electronic applications. It has been reported that thin film organic semiconductors have a defective and disordered structure which greatly influences their electronic properties. The microstructure and electronic properties of thin film organic semiconductors have been reported to be very sensitive to the fabrication methods and parameters used. The mechanisms by which doping affects the electrical and structural properties, morphology and chemical stability of the doped polymer composite are not well understood. The understanding of the mechanisms is complicated by the fact that numerous fabrication routes are utilised which affect the polymerisation of polymers resulting in different polymer chain lengths. The reproducibility of studies is being compromised by the fact that different polymer chain lengths have been used by different groups resulting in major challenges in the interpretation of research results of polymer composites. During the past ten years there has been an increase in the number of publications on polymers, specifically polyaniline. The aims of this thesis are firstly the successful fabrication of polyaniline (emeraldine base) (PANI-EB) thin films and secondly the investigation of the effect of Cu ion implantation, at different fluences, on the evolution of the structure and electrical conduction mechanisms of PANI-EB thin films. Thirdly, the effect of using PANI-EB of different chain lengths and the subsequent fabrication of metal-polyaniline junctions was also investigated. The investigations were conducted on PANI-EB films prepared from PANI-EB powder purchased from Sigma Aldrich. Thin films were fabricated on PET and FTO-glass substrates using a spin coating technique, followed by Cu+ ion implantation at iThemba Labs in South Africa. After Cu ion implantation, the metal-semiconductor junction was fabricated by depositing aluminium onto the thin film surface. The results of this study revealed that PANI-EB with different chain lengths exhibit different structural morphologies. High average molecular weight (MW) PANI-EB films were found to be more porous than low MW PANI-EB. This finding explains why the implanted region in high MW PANI-EB films was found to be less well-defined than that in low MW PANI-EB films. These results suggest that the MW of the polymer used to fabricate the film could affect the quality of the compact metal-semiconductor junctions. Since authors mostly do not specify the MW of the polymers used, the different MW polymers used for thin film synthesis could be one of the reasons for the poor reproducibility found for the properties of polyaniline thin films. Electrical measurements revealed that the PANI-EB changed from diode-like behaviour in its pure form, or after implantation with a low fluence (~1015 ions/cm2) ions, to Ohmic behaviour after implantation with high fluence (~1016 ions/cm2) ions. Due to the numerous potential applications of conducting polymers, it is important to optimise the fabrication methods used to produce polymer thin films with specific and reproducible properties. Therefore, a thorough understanding of the optimal fabrication parameters and their effect on the microstructure, morphology, and electrical properties is critical to overcoming the challenges.Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Science, School of Biomolecular & Chemical Sciences, 202
Speciation and fractionation of metals in the Darvill Wastewater Works Sludgeland using ultrasound-assisted single and sequential extraction procedures
Full text linkThe exponential growth of the world’s population is linked to the increasing amount of waste produced from agricultural, domestic, and industrial activities. This is inclusive of household waste, hazardous chemicals, and buildings construction, in solid and liquid (wastewater) forms. In the past years, solid waste and wastewater management practises have advanced and improved for different types of waste including management of solid waste from landfills and wastewater treatment facilities to better improve wastewater. Sewage sludge production is inevitable because of the rising rate of wastewater discharge brought on by urbanization and population growth, hence, there is the need for appropriate and effective sludge disposal and management practices. Disposal methods such as landfilling and incineration have been found to be environmentally harmful, while the irrigation of sewage wastewater sludge on agricultural land has been said to possess certain beneficial characteristics, such as nutrients addition and organic matter enhancement on the soil. Studies conducted at the Darvill Wastewater Works (DWWW) have focused on assessing the total concentration of metals in the soil. However, toxicity and speciation studies on DWWW sludge have not been conducted. Therefore, it is important to assess the concentrations of both total and bioavailable metals within the vicinity of sludgeland, to assure their health quality status to humans. This study aimed to assess the level of potentially toxic metals (As, B, Ba, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Mo, Ni, Pb, Se, V and Zn) in soil (wet and dry season) situated within DWWW sludgeland in Pietermaritzburg, South Africa. To further determine their possible environmental implications (contamination factor, potential ecological risk index (PERI) and geo-accumulation indices) in the study area. Furthermore, the study utilised the use of statistical tools such as principal component analysis (PCA) and geographical information system (GIS) to assess the potential source of contamination of these metals. The elemental analysis revealed that the soils in the study area are contaminated by trace metals such as As, B, Ba, Co, Cu, Mn, Ni, Pb, Se, V and Zn. The concentration of these metals in both dry and wet seasons vary significantly; As (0-28 mg/kg), B (41-207 mg/kg), Ba (147.759 mg/kg), Co (13-89 mg/kg), Cu (56-344 mg/kg), Mn (486 5897 mg/kg), Ni (45-155 mg/kg), Pb (97-461 mg/kg), Se (34-285 mg/kg), (37-242 mg/kg) and Zn (318-1722 mg/kg), and this was due to rains and leaching during the wet season. The sequential extraction method used to evaluate the bioavailability of metals revealed that arsenic (As) was present at a higher level (fraction 1: 2-84%), and this could pose a potential threat to the environment. Soil quality indicators revealed that some sample points have a moderate to trace contamination by metals viii like Cr, Mn and Zn, while others are generally moderately contaminated. The results indicated that the soil was enriched with moderate to significant levels of the following trace metals As, Cr, Mn, Mo, Ni, Pb and Zn. Overall, the PERI showed that the studied site is moderately contaminated. Statistical analysis using PCA revealed a strong interrelationship between metals such as B, Ba, Cd, Cr, Co and Ni and these possibly originate from various anthropogenic sources such as agricultural, municipal and industrial waste from landfills, while Cu, Fe, Mn, Mo, and Se could be from the chemicals used at the DWWW plant. In addition, geographical information system (GIS) spatial distribution patterns of trace metals confirmed the statistical and elementals analysis. Since there is an increase in the production of sludge at most wastewater treatment plants, proper handling, disposal and monitoring must be done. It is therefore recommended that the government and wastewater entities that produce and dispose sludge rehabilitate the contaminated land and adopt to implement techniques that can improve its trace metal concentrations. One of these techniques includes phytoremediation, which is a cost-effective and environmentally friendly technique to remediate contaminated environments (soil). It includes planting green plants such as cannabis and vetiver since these are good for removing toxic metals. The phytoremediation method can also be enhanced by bioremediation approaches, such as genetic engineering and nanoparticles, in order to enhance its efficiency. Furthermore, Darvill wastewater works must take the contamination of metal as a serious matter by not only assessing total metals, but also periodically evaluate the speciation of metals and environmental contamination of the sludgeland.Thesis (MSc) -- Faculty of Science, School of Biomolecular & Chemical Sciences, 202
Consideration or Afterthought? An Assessment of Rehabilitation in projects authorised through the NEMA EIA process within the Eastern Cape
Full text linkSouth Africa is well known as a country committed to sustainable development, having it enshrined in Section 24 of its Constitution. Sustainable development is regarded as a cornerstone for shaping and advancing environmental law and policy, emerging as a response to the extensive environmental degradation and the looming climate crisis caused by human activities. In order to achieve sustainable development, multiple tools and legislative frameworks have been crafted, among the most prominent is the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA). Appearing in the legal frameworks of over 180 countries EIAs promote sustainability, guiding government decisions on development with science-based insights into socio-environmental impacts. In South Africa, the EIA process is currently governed by the National Environmental Management Act 107 of 1998(NEMA) and the NEMA EIA Regulations of 2014 as amended. Key to the EIA process is the prediction of potential impacts and proposing mitigatory measures. These mitigations are informed by the Mitigation Hierarchy, a successional framework which prioritizes avoiding and minimizing impacts, followed by rehabilitation of impacted areas, and, as a last resort offsetting. Environmental rehabilitation seeks to repair ecological degradation caused by development activities. However, despite its importance for promoting sustainable development, neither the NEMA nor its EIA Regulations provide clear guidance on the standards or content of effective rehabilitation planning. This ambiguity raises concerns about the consistency and efficacy of post-development rehabilitation measures in South Africa. Thus, the research presented in this thesis aimed to explore this gap in the legislation and to assess the current quality of rehabilitation planning and outcomes in the EIA process of South Africa. Firstly, I examined the inclusion of environmental rehabilitation and rehabilitation planning within South African Environmental Legislation pertaining to the EIA process. The analysis revealed significant gaps, a lack of guidance, vague regulation and inconsistent practices which would hinder effective rehabilitation planning and implementation. Using the Society for Ecological Restoration’s International Principles and Standards for the Practice of Ecological Restoration (SER IPS) as a benchmark, I then assessed the quality of rehabilitation plans within the EIA reports for 15 environmentally authorised developments. Findings reveal that 60% (9/15) of the plans were of inadequate quality, characterised by deficiencies in baseline inventories, reference ecosystems, monitoring protocols, and measurable rehabilitation goals. These shortcomings highlight the absence of legislative guidance, exacerbating the challenges in ecological recovery. Lastly, using the SER IPS “Five-star System” and “Ecological Recovery Wheel” methodologies, the rehabilitation outcomes of the same 15 environmentally authorised developments were assessed. It was found that only 47% (7 of 15) of projects achieved acceptable rehabilitation outcomes, equating to 7.15 ha of 14.6 ha that were rehabilitated. These deficiencies raise concerns about the effectiveness of EIAs in promoting sustainable development. The findings of this thesis highlight the urgent need for strengthened legislative frameworks and further research to enhance sustainable development and environmental rehabilitation within the EIA process in South Africa.Thesis (MSc) -- Faculty of Science, School of Environmental Sciences, 202
Exploring the process of unblocking the deployment of social workers in schools to enhance learners’ optimal development
Full text linkThe departing proposition of this dissertation is that the optimal development of learners within education could be best achieved if social work services are integrated as a standard part of the education system. However, as this is not the case, further exploration is required to understand what impedes the processes and procedures that are implied by relevant legislation within education from being adequately implemented. The primary purpose of this study was thus to explore how to unblock the deployment of social workers in schools. A qualitative research approach and participatory action learning and action research (PALAR) design were employed. The study comprised two sample groups of 20 education stakeholder participants. The first sample group (principals, educators from school management teams, parent representatives from the school governing body, social workers, and alumni members (who were leading advocacy for school social workers) was purposively recruited from six schools where social workers are employed. The second sample group was recruited from provincial and regional officials from the Department of Education and the Department of Social Development, respectively. These participants comprised the action learning sets and engaged in the study as co-researchers, planners, decision-makers, implementers of action, and co-managers of the research process. The four action research cycles took place over three data generation workshops of four hours each with each sample group and one individual interview with one education official of approximately two hours. The data was analysed using the thematic analysis framework by Braun and Clarke (2006) and independently coded by a PhD student in social work. The findings were verified with the co-researchers. I actively participated in the process and used the 7 Cs of Zuber-Skerritt and Wood (2020) to guide the reflection of the research process. The research study adhered to the Belmont Report’s ethical principles and guidelines, and Guba’s criteria for trustworthiness guided the strategies employed. The key findings of the study are that: • Learners have psychosocial needs that social workers in schools can address holistically, contributing to their optimal development; School stakeholders are frustrated by challenges that hinder the provision of psychosocial support to learners and view government departments, more so the Department of Education as not making this a priority; Mistrust is being created in the ability of Department of Education to effectively implement policies within education that support the provision of psychosocial support to schools; There are significant disparities in how the Department of Education’s budgets are allocated between provinces, such as the Eastern Cape and Western Cape.Thesis (MSW) -- Faculty of Health Sciences, School of Behavioural & Lifestyle Sciences, 202
Midwives’ experiences and perceptions of the implementation of maternal care guidelines regarding screening and management of hypertensive disorders in pregnancy in Polokwane Municipality, Limpopo
Full text linkMidwives play a crucial role in ensuring high quality maternity care through evidence-based guidelines. Their practice is grounded in the utilisation of evidence-based guidelines, which serve as a foundation for their decision-making process, ensuring timely and effective interventions. However, despite the availability of these guidelines, approximately 830 women globally die every day due to preventable causes related to pregnancy and childbirth, of which 119 out of 100,000 women in South Africa. Existing literature indicates that hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, such as preeclampsia and eclampsia, are the leading causes of maternal mortality. The incidences are not declining and continue to be associated with unfavourable pregnancy outcomes. There is a paucity of literature focusing on midwives’ experiences and perceptions of the implementation of these guidelines. Therefore, this study aimed to assess midwives’ experiences and perceptions of the implementation of maternal care guidelines regarding screening and managing hypertensive disorders in pregnancy in Polokwane Municipality, Capricorn District, Limpopo Province. The Promoting Action on Research Implementation in Health Services (PARIHS) theoretical framework underpinned this qualitative, exploratory-descriptive, and contextual study. The setting was primary healthcare clinics, a community health centre, and district hospitals in Polokwane Local Municipality, Capricorn District, Limpopo Province, South Africa. Participants were purposively selected midwives working in the study setting, with a minimum of one year of experience, having managed hypertensive disorders during pregnancy. A qualitative study design was adopted, with an exploratory, descriptive, and contextual approach. A total of 23 face-to-face, semi-structured, individual interviews were conducted. Data was transcribed verbatim using TurboScribe AI. Data analysis was conducted by the researcher and an independent coder, following Braun and Clarke’s six-phase approach to thematic analysis. Three primary themes emerged: midwives expressed caring in their practices, enhanced by the guidelines. However, they also described experiencing obstacles that hamper the implementation of maternal care guidelines during the screening and management of hypertensive disorders in pregnancy. They highlighted that women are not taking ownership of and involvement in their care due to personal challenges. An independent coder was employed to ensure trustworthiness and enhanced research quality. The study adhered to ethical principles guided by the Belmont Report: credibility, confirmability, and dependability. The researcher formulated seven recommendations based on the thematic findings.Thesis (MCur) -- Faculty of Health Sciences, School of Clinical Care & Medicinal Sciences, 202
The influence of organisational culture on employees’ social engineering susceptibility
Full text linkSocial engineering is becoming a way to open a path for successful data breaches in organisations. It targets employees and tricks them into giving unauthorised access to social engineers. Social engineers trick employees using techniques such as psychological persuasion. Employees interpret the persuasion, guided by, among other things, the beliefs, values, and attitudes fostered by their organisational cultures. This study investigated the influence of organisational culture on employees’ social engineering susceptibility. The overall goal of the study is to contribute to a solution to mitigate the success of social engineering attacks. Such a solution would save organisations billions of dollars, reputational damage, and possible collapse from the impact of data breaches. The researcher followed a positivist paradigm and quantitative approach. Two questionnaires were deployed to collect data from 20 participating organisations. The purpose of Questionnaire 1 was to uncover the existence of different organisational cultures among the participating organisations. This was an essential step because the continuation of the study depended on the existence of different organisational cultures. There were 371 respondents who completed Questionnaire 1. Questionnaire 2 was used to collect data to investigate employees’ social engineering susceptibility. There were 374 respondents who completed Questionnaire 2. The two sets of data were merged to analyse social engineering susceptibility per type of dominant organisational culture by applying SEM with IBM SPSS AMOS 27 statistical tool. Seventeen hypotheses were developed and tested. Results analysis showed four dominant cultures among the 20 participating organisations with 371 participants: clan, adhocracy, market, and hierarchy. The existence of four dominant cultures allowed the study to proceed with the analysis of data collected through Questionnaire 2. Both measurement and structural models met minimum requirements for a good fit, validity, and reliability. The empirical results confirm that openness personality trait, perceived benefits, and perceived risks cause variance in employee security attitude. Furthermore, security attitude causes variance social engineering susceptibility. Thus confirming four hypotheses. The non-confirmed hypotheses regard the four types of organisational culture-to-security attitude and four types of organisational culture-to-social engineering susceptibility, trust-to-security attitude and extraversion, agreeableness, conscientiousness and neuroticism personality traits. Future research may investigate relationships at the organisational level, improve the proposed structural model with additional independent variables and more intervening variables.Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Engineering, the Built Environment, and Technology, School of Information Technology, 202