Walter Sisulu University
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Sociodemographic inequities associated with participation in leisure-time physical activity in sub-Saharan Africa: an individual participant data meta-analysis
Get PDFLeisure-time physical activity (LTPA) is an important contributor to total physical activity and the focus of many interventions promoting activity in high-income populations. Little is known about LTPA in subSaharan Africa (SSA), and with expected declines in physical activity due to rapid urbanisation and lifestyle changes we aimed to assess the sociodemographic differences in the prevalence of LTPA in the adult populations of this region to identify potential barriers for equitable participation. A two-step individual participant data meta-analysis was conducted using data collected in SSA through 10 population health surveys that included the Global Physical Activity Questionnaire. For each sociodemographic characteristic, the pooled adjusted prevalence and risk ratios (RRs) for participation in LTPA were calculated using the random effects method. Between-study heterogeneity was explored through meta-regression analyses and tests for interaction. Across the 10 populations (N = 26,022), 18.9% (95%CI: 14.3, 24.1; I2 = 99.0%) of adults (≥ 18 years) participated in LTPA. Men were more likely to participate in LTPA compared with women (RR for women: 0.43; 95%CI: 0.32, 0.60; P less than 0.001; I2 = 97.5%), while age was inversely associated with participation. Higher levels of education were associated with increased LTPA participation (RR: 1.30; 95%CI: 1.09, 1.55; P = 0.004; I2 = 98.1%), with those living in rural areas or self-employed less likely to participate in LTPA. These associations remained after adjusting for time spent physically active at work or through active travel. In these populations, participation in LTPA was low, and strongly associated with sex, age, education, self-employment and urban residence. Identifying the potential barriers that reduce participation in these groups is necessary to enable equitable access to the health and social benefits associated with LTPA
Events as catalyst to atact tourists to destinations: Spectator perceptions of the social impact of events in East London: A study of Spec-Savers Ironman South Africa 70.3 in Buffalo City
No full textIn recent years, globally events have shown rapid growth as types of attractions within destinations with such events creating a favourable image of a destination, expanding the traditional tourist season, spreading tourist demand evenly through an area and attracting foreign and domestic visitors. As far as South Africa is concerned attracting influx of tourists is the problem in the event sport tourism industry The objective of this study is to address this gap and to evaluate the social impact perceptions of event tourism spectators. The research design for the proposed study primarily involved exploratory and descriptive research. The target-sampling frame was the event tourism spectators at the Spec-Savers Ironman South Africa 70.3 Triathlon event held in East London. The findings suggest that the opportunity to meet new people, attend a major event and enhancing event tourism destination were deemed positive social impacts. Conversely, the study suggested that littering and social inequalities (exclusionary) are negative social impacts. The results in this study have produced a foundation that events management practitioners, event tourism planners, policy makers, decision makers, researchers and academics can utilise in planning for future events that are socially sustainable in a developing economy context such as South Africa
Perspectives on the effects of Principal's workload on grade 12 learners' academic performance
Get PDFThe aim of this study was to investigate perspectives on the effects of principals’ workloads on Grade 12 learners’ academic performance in selected schools in the Eastern Cape, South Africa. Principals play the role of administrators and expert overseers of legal, contractual and policy mandate initiatives in schools. Their job descriptions frequently sound overwhelming and have the indispensable role of handling and resolving large and diverse challenges. The study was informed by participatory leadership theory. In this study, a mixed methods approach was used to collect and analyse data. The sample size for the study was 214, comprised of teachers, principals and School Governing Bodies for quantitative data. In addition, 13 participants (principals, School Governing Bodies and Circuit Managers) were used for qualitative data and, therefore, the total sample size for the whole study was 227 participants and respondents. Statistical descriptive, factor and inferential analysis were used to examine the quantitative data while in qualitative data, similar categories were identified and analysed manually. The findings revealed that principals’ added responsibilities, attending unplanned departmental meetings and lack of support from various stakeholders were the work drivers which increased the workload of the principal, thus, contributing to poor Grade 12 learner performances. These resulted to poor teacher supervision, which directly or indirectly led to a lack of effective teaching and poor learner performance at the matric level. This shows that there was no participation by everyone, and it can be argued that there was no participatory leadership. The study recommends, among others, that principals be adequately trained to cope with their workloads and in various other school managerial tasks. In addition, the DoE should design a schedule of meetings for all schools the previous year for the coming year, and not hold those meetings during school hours. Planning meetings in the previous year would limit and completely put to a stop the calling of unplanned departmental meetings. The study further suggests that more personnel should be employed to assist the principal in managing extra duties like school finances, school information systems, teacher unions, school nutrition, overcrowded classrooms, school discipline, school safety, teacher redeployment and teacher rationalisation. The study concludes by suggesting a proposed A. Nontso workload reduction model for the 21st century, which, if adopted would assist reducing principal’s workload.Thesis (D.Ed) -- Faculty of Education Sciences, 202
Geometry Proficiency Of Grade 11 Learners In Alfred Nzo Education District, Eastern Cape Province, South Africa
Get PDFThis is a mixed method research study that aims to investigate the Geometry Proficiency of Grade 11 learners in rural senior secondary schools of Mount Frere in Alfred Nzo Education District, in the Eastern Cape, South Africa. The study is oriented in interpretive paradigm and utilizes both quantitative and qualitative methods. The study was conducted in 10 rural senior secondary schools that were selected using convenient sampling technique. The quantitative part employed a survey that consisted of 19 mathematics teachers and total of 162 Grade 11 learners. Out of 10 rural senior secondary schools, three were purposively selected with their three (3) classes, three (3) Mathematics teachers and three (3) Heads of Mathematics and Science Divisions for qualitative part. Questionnaires were administered to 19 Mathematics teachers and 162 learners. Three teachers in three different schools were observed as they taught Grade 11 learners Circle Geometry in their respective classes. Qualitative data through observations, interviews and document analysis were gathered. The study targeted to provide an in-depth understanding of the Geometry Proficiency of the learners in the sample. The quantitative data were analysed using IBM Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) Version 22. The study found the failure of teachers to instate teaching strategies appropriate for generating acceptable levels of Geometry Proficiency and a myriad of challenges that were experienced by learners. These included inadequate preparation by teachers, lack of learning and teaching support materials, the manner in which Geometry was taught, learners' problem solving skills, absenteeism, illiterate and impoverished parents, and failure to understand the utilitarian value of Geometry. The study recommends that Van Hiele’s levels of Geometric thought as well as the Van Hiele’s phases of learning be implemented in the schools particularly in rural schools. These should be integrated with appropriate teaching strategies and learner teaching support materials, particularly the ones that include practical investigations.Thesis (D.Ed) -- Faculty of Education Sciences, 202
Critique of the International Criminal Court's Approach to International Criminal Justice in Selected African Jurisdictions
No full textIn 2002, the requisite number of ratifications to the Rome Statute was met, the International Criminal Court (ICC) was subsequently born. Just 16 years into its existence, the court finds itself under threat from the sovereign countries that at one stage, expressed their desire to improve the fight against impunity through a permanent international criminal court. But what has caused this shift? The ICC has been criticised for being a pro-African prosecution forum, this inference is drawn from the demographical distribution of the cases before the ICC that puts a significant majority of cases in Africa whereas other possible jurisdictions with similar cases have been left untouched by the ICC until recently. This study seeks to provide an analysis of the relationship between African states and the ICC. The study will provide a historical perspective on the development of International Criminal Law leading to the establishment of the International Criminal Court. This is followed by an analysis of the relations of the ICC and African states through three case studies of Kenya, South Africa and Sudan. The study will go further to provide an analysis of challenges that the ICC has faced with dealing with cases before and finally seek to explore the possibility of an alternative forum to prosecute perpetrators of international crimes centred in the African continent.Thesis (MA) -- Faculty of Humanities, Social Sciences and Law, 202
Umbilical cord interleukin-6 predicts outcome in very low birthweight infants in a high HIV-burden setting: a prospective cohort study
Get PDFObjectives South Africa has a double burden of high neonatal mortality and maternal HIV prevalence. Common to both is a proinflammatory in utero and perinatal milieu. The aim of this study was to determine cytokine profiles in HIV exposed (HE) and HIV unexposed (HU) very low birthweight (VLBW) infants and to determine whether these were associated with predischarge outcomes. Design Single-centre, prospective cohort study conducted from 1 June 2017 to 31 January 2019. Patients Inborn infants with birth weight of <1500 g were enrolled and cord blood was collected for interleukin (IL)-6 and tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) assays. Participants provided informed consent and ethics approval was obtained. Outcome measures The primary outcome was umbilical cord cytokine levels according to maternal HIV status. Secondary outcomes included death and/or serious neonatal infection, necrotising enterocolitis, intraventricular haemorrhage, periventricular leucomalacia, chronic lung disease and haemodynamically significant patent ductus arteriosus before discharge. Results A total of 279 cases were included with 269 cytokine assays performed on 122 HEs and 147 HUs. Median IL-6 levels were 53.0 pg/mL in HEs and 21.0 pg/ mL in HUs (p=0.07). Median TNF-α levels were 7.2 pg/ mL in HEs and 6.5 pg/mL in HUs (p=0.6). There was significantly more late-onset sepsis in the HE group compared with the HU group (41.2% vs 27.9%) (p=0.03). IL-6 levels were significantly higher for those with any adverse outcome (p=0.006) and death and/or any adverse outcome (p=0.0001). TNF-α levels did not differ according to predischarge outcomes. Conclusion There is no significant difference in IL-6 and TNF-α levels in cord blood of HE compared with HU VLBWs. However, IL-6 levels are significantly higher in VLBWs with adverse predischarge outcomes, and VLBW HEs are at increased risk of adverse predischarge outcomes compared with HUs, particularly late-onset sepsis
The SAPS 3 score as a predictor of hospital mortality in a South African tertiary intensive care unit: A prospective cohort study
Get PDFGenetics of schizophrenia in the South African Xhosa
Get PDFAfrica, the ancestral home of all modern humans, is the most informative continent for understanding the human genome and its contribution to complex disease. To better understand the genetics of schizophrenia, we studied the illness in the Xhosa population of South Africa, recruiting 909 cases and 917 age-, gender-, and residence-matched controls. Individuals with schizophrenia were significantly more likely than controls to harbor private, severely damaging mutations in genes that are critical to synaptic function, including neural circuitry mediated by the neurotransmitters glutamine, γ-aminobutyric acid, and dopamine. Schizophrenia is genetically highly heterogeneous, involving severe ultrarare mutations in genes that are critical to synaptic plasticity. The depth of genetic variation in Africa revealed this relationship with a moderate sample size and informed our understanding of the genetics of schizophrenia worldwide
