Walter Sisulu University
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Prevalence and factors associated with HIV treatment non-adherence among people living with HIV in three regions of Cameroon: A cross-sectional study
Get PDFBackground: In Cameroon, HIV care decentralization is enforced as a national policy, but follow-up of people living with HIV (PLWH) is provider-driven, with little patient education and limited patient participation in clinical surveillance. These types of services can result in low antiretroviral therapy (ART) adherence. The objective of this study was to assess the prevalence and predictors of ART non-adherence among PLWH in Cameroon. Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study of PLWH in HIV treatment centres in Cameroon was conducted. Only PLWH, receiving treatment in a treatment centre within the country, who had been on treatment for at least six months and who were at least 21 years old were included in the study. Individuals were interviewed about their demographics and ART experiences. Data were collected using a structured interviewer-administered questionnaire and analyzed using STATA version 14..
The role that principals play in the functionality of South African Schools: A case study
Get PDFThe aim of the study was to explore the roles that principals play in the functionality of the South African schools. The Instructional Leadership Theory was used, and a case study design was followed. Detailed individual and group discussions were done to get rich data from 5 participants from 5 purposively carefully chosen high schools. Through thematic analysis of the interviews, three major findings emerged. One of the key findings was that school principals in this study relied overwhelmingly on the old knowledge they acquired from their junior degrees, and from observations, to lead the schools. As such, there was a leadership gap in their daily execution of roles. This study concludes that school principals are not as capacitated and well developed to perform their everyday roles in South African schools. It was recommended that the Department of Education offer on-going development plans to up-skill the school principals so that they can be professional and administratively ready for their roles.Thesis (Masters) -- Faculty of Education, 202
Transmission Dynamics and Public Health Impact of Clonal Composition and Mixed Strain M. tuberculosis Infections among Patients in Rural High TB Incidence Settings Of Eastern Cape Province
Get PDFThesis (Masters) -- Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, 202
Impact of relaxing flood policy interventions on fish production: lessons from earthen pond‑based farmers in Southwest Nigeria
No full textThese days, aquatic (fish) welfare is a major issue and a significant component that affects fish output. Although numerous factors can be involved, climate-induced floods are one of the most critical limiting factors in the aquaculture and fisheries industry’s development. Understanding the extent of losses and damages caused by floods at the farm level will thereby exacerbate pre-emptive policy responses. Thus, the impact of floods on fish production by focusing on catfish earthen pond-based farmers in Southwest Nigeria is presented. A survey is conducted for 150 fish farms in the region. A marginal treatment effects (MTE) approach is employed to determine the heterogeneity across the households and the policy-relevant treatment effects (PRTE). The results show significant heterogeneity in the effects of floods on fish production, considering both observed and unobserved characteristics of the farmers. It is shown that flood significantly increases output loss. Furthermore, farmers with high propensity scores to flood tend to have a high likelihood of incurring output loss. The estimates of PRTE reveal that relaxing policy strategies, such as access to climate information and climate-related training and workshops, would significantly exacerbate output loss due to flood incidences. Thus, intensifying awareness and sensitization on climate change policies will address the flood menace and still increase food production
Iphoco elinesigcina-ntliziyo
No full textThe symbolic necklace showcases a guardian of the heart, embellished with a sizable central pendant and two smaller side pendants. Each pendant carries deep symbolism, with the central one symbolising an elderly man and his wife. This necklace goes beyond mere ornamentation; it embodies love, partnership, and unwavering commitment. As individuals adorn this necklace, they carry with them the narratives and connections of previous generations, paying tribute to the heritage of their forebears and honouring the enduring principles of family and camaraderie.Purchased from Mrs Joan BrosterForms part of: Walter Sisulu University Beadwork Collectio
COVID-19 in Psychiatric Inpatients: A South African Descriptive Study Conducted at Fort England
Get PDFPsychiatric patients are known to have an increased risk of adverse outcomes from COVID-19. Some psychiatric medications are known to have cardiometabolic and immune system-related side effects and have been found to either protect from or worsen outcomes in COVID-19 illness. The interaction of COVID-19 with the cardiometabolic and immune-related aspects of psychiatric illness and treatment has not been sufficiently studied in people with mental illness. Aim: To describe the clinical and demographic characteristics, and clinical outcomes of adult inpatients at Fort England Psychiatric Hospital who contracted SARS-CoV-2 during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, including statistical and case analyses of COVID-19 related deaths. Methods: The study was conducted at Fort England Hospital (FEH). Data were obtained from patient files, treatment charts, and the hospital's COVID-19 reporting schedules. Sixty-four patients were diagnosed with COVID-19 during the first wave of infections in the hospital, and five of them died. A cross-sectional research design was adopted, in which the COVID-19 outcomes of the 64 patients were described alongside their psychiatric disease and treatment factors. Descriptive statistics were used to describe the characteristics of the participants. Fisher’s exact test for contingency tables and Cramér's V effect size were computed to identify possible associations between death and specified clinical variables. Additionally, case analyses were carried out on each patient who died based on participant case notes. Results: The incidence of SARS-CoV-2 infections was 21.8% during the first wave of infections, and the case fatality rate was 7.8%. A significant association was ii found between higher age and COVID-19 related death (Fisher’s exact test p = 0.010). Two-thirds (68%) of the patients who recovered were younger than 45, whereas one of the five patients who died (20%) fell in this age group. Race was also strongly related to COVID-19 outcomes, with coloured comprising 80% of the participants who died compared to 80% of black African patients in the recovered group (Fisher’s exact test p = 0.012). All patients who died had co-morbid medical conditions compared to 58% of those who recovered, although this relationship was weak (Fisher’s exact 1-sided test p = 0.076). However, case analyses for the patients who died revealed recurring themes of multiple psychiatric comorbidities, proneness to psychotropic treatment side effects, and a history of frequent relapses among most of these patients. All who died were faced with adversity and dire life circumstances. Conclusions: This study contributes to a better understanding of clinical, demographic and social variables that impacts COVID-19 outcomes in an in-patient psychiatric population. first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in patients with serious mental illness in an inpatient population. More studies of a larger scale are needed to describe the COVID-19 pandemic among psychiatric populations and to investigate factors that contribute to the vulnerability of psychiatric patients to adverse outcomes of COVID-19.Thesis (Masters) -- Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, 202
Isidla segqwalashu
No full textA traditional ceremonial garment worn by young men, the penis sheath is crafted from the skin of a wild cat and adorned with flowing grey fur streamers. This unique attire holds deep cultural significance, symbolising the transition from adolescence to adulthood. Worn with pride by young men, the process of creating the sheath involves hunting the wild cat and crafting the garment as part of a rite of passage.Purchased from Mrs Joan BrosterForms part of: Walter Sisulu University Beadwork Collectio
Sports Events and Community Development: Analysis of the Afcon 2022 Host Cities in Cameroon
Get PDFThe study presents an analysis of development opportunities presented by the African Cup of Nations (AFCON) tournament that was held in Cameroon from 6 January to 9 February 2022, as perceived by residents of the host cities. A quantitative research paradigm was employed through the use of a structured questionnaire. Data were collected from a total of 1683 respondents from all five host cities during the competition. A key finding from this study is that respondents were quite optimistic about the development opportunities presented by the sports event, particularly with regard to the promotion of their city as an attractive destination. Through the lens of the Social Representation Theory, the influence of the political and cultural backgrounds of some the respondents was also found from the data collected. The case of cultural representation was observed in the case where very few women participated in the Muslim-dominated North Region, while the social tensions in the Southwest region could be said to explain why respondents from Limbe presented the least optimistic views. The practical and policy implications of the study are elaborated on, including the need for government and sports event organisers to include community representatives as part of the planning and delivery committee..
Causes and outcomes of intensive care admission refusals: A retrospective audit from a rural teaching hospital in Eastern Cape, South Africa
Get PDF(1) Background: Patients who deserve intensive care unit (ICU) admission may be denied due to a lack of resources, complicating ICU triage decisions for intensive care unit (ICU) clinicians. Among the resources that may be unavailable are trained personnel and monitored beds. In South Africa, the distribution of healthcare resources is reflected in the availability of ICU beds, with more ICU beds available in more affluent areas. Data on ICU refusal rates, reasons for refusal, patient characteristics, and outcomes are scarce in resource-constrained rural settings. Hence, this study sheds light on the ICU refusal rates, reasons for refusal, characteristics, and outcomes of refused patients at NMAH. (2) Methods: This was a three-month retrospective cross-sectional record review of refused and admitted patients from January to March 2022. COVID-19 patients and those younger than 13 years old were excluded. Refusal rates, reasons for refusal, characteristics, and outcomes of refused patients were analysed quantitatively using SPSS VS 20 software. Reasons for refusal were categorised as “too well”, “too sick”, and “suitable for admission but no resources”. (3) Results: A total of 135 patients were discussed for ICU admission at NMAH during the study period; 73 (54.07%) were refused admission, and 62 (45.92%) were admitted. Being considered too sick to benefit from ICU was the most common reason for refusal (53.23%). Too well and no resources contributed 27.42% and 19.35%, respectively. Patients with poor functional status, comorbidities, medical diagnoses, and those referred from the ward or accident and emergency unit rather than the operating room were more likely to be refused ICU admission. Refused patients had a seven-day mortality rate of 47%. (4) Conclusions and recommendations: The study found an unmet need for critical care services at our institution, as well as a need for tools to help clinicians make objective triage decisions for critically ill patients. Therefore, the study suggests a need to improve the quality of services provided outside of the ICU, particularly for patients who were refused ICU admission, to improve their outcomes
Decolonising Classroom Management and Its Political Hegemony in Universities
No full textThis theoretical opinion paper responds to the existing colonial hegemony in university classrooms. The study is underpinned by decoloniality with the objectives to conceptualise decoloniality as a theoretical lens for classroom management and to present the assumptions of decoloniality as an effective classroom management system in universities. The study is located within a transformative worldview, and the argument was analysed using conceptual analysis as a tool to make sense of the argument deductively. The study argued that knowledge production through dialogue, advocating for the weaker voices in the classroom, and challenging power structures are dimensions needed to decolonise classroom management in the university system. The study concludes with the need to promote an atmosphere that encourages discussion, provides opportunities for underrepresented groups to take centre stage, and facilitates bravery from its members towards oppressive systems within the classrooms