2694 research outputs found
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An interpretative approach in conceptualising entrepreneurial success in Limpopo Province, South Africa
No full textPhD (Business Management)Department of Business ManagementThis thesis analysed how entrepreneurial success is conceptualised and communicated both in practice and within the literature. The thesis argued that within the framework of small, micro, and medium enterprises (SMMEs), contemporary views on how entrepreneurs understand and communicate entrepreneurship success, as expressed in the literature are impoverished and limiting. From this, the thesis sought to understand how entrepreneurs conceptualise entrepreneurial success through an interpretative approach and to proposes a model – the half-truth model – that seeks to reflect on the extent to which entrepreneurs disclose information about their business success to different stakeholders. An interpretative research paradigm was followed with the aim of getting a thorough understanding of the concept of entrepreneurial success as understood by entrepreneurs themselves. A qualitative research study was conducted, wherein the interpretative approach was followed to conceptualise entrepreneurial success by interviewing twenty entrepreneurs in Limpopo Province, South Africa. Purposive sampling was used, targeting entrepreneurs operating in Limpopo. An inductive approach was followed to get in-depth information about how business owners, personally define and communicate entrepreneurial success. ATLAS.ti was utilised when the researcher organised, coded, and sorted data interactively, creating themes that closely reflected the content and the objectives of the study. The findings revealed that entrepreneurs understand entrepreneurial success in the context of achieving their business objectives, through maintaining high levels of perseverance and determination. From a theoretical perspective, the thesis provided valuable insights for the available literature and further research; from the practical level, the proposed model would serve as a diagnostic tool for business performance as well as a basis for policy intervention.NR
Assessing the potential of biochar to restore degraded lands
No full textMENVSCDepartment of Geography and Environmental SciencesLand degradation and climate change are interlinked processes that negatively impact sustainable development. Globally, they pose a risk to human livelihoods, but their effects are even more prominent in developing nations, especially in sub-Saharan Africa. Even with land degradation and climate change currently happening, communities, especially in developing countries, still need to adapt to the changes. This may be due to the high adaptation costs and the need for more knowledge. Biochar is the product of the thermochemical conversion of biomass through pyrolysis. Using biochar as a soil ameliorant has been increasingly advocated because of its effects on soil properties, crop productivity, and carbon sequestration. Biochar has been reported to improve soil quality, crop yield, and soil carbon sequestration potential. Despite this, little is known about the effects of biochar on soil physical properties, making it difficult to recommend biochar to improve soil quality in agriculture. Thus, this study aims to assess the potential of biochar to restore severely degraded land by improving soil properties and crop productivity and mitigating climate change through carbon sequestration at the Lapalala Wilderness Reserve, Waterberg District, Limpopo Province, South Africa. For this purpose, four treatments (biochar, biochar with fertilizer, biochar without fertilizer, and control) were applied to four plots, each replicated five times. A 14-species grass mixture was sown in each of the 20 plots. Soil physical and chemical properties, plant biomass, carbon stock, species richness, and species composition were then measured. None of the four treatments had a significant effect on soil bulk density while only biochar had a significant effect on soil chemical properties of soil Total C, Na and soil pH. No treatment had a significant effect on plant biomass. The analysis of similarity showed no significant difference in species composition for all treatments at month three and month six. The species composition for both treatments and sites for months three and six was mostly similar. The effects of biochar were not significant on soil chemical and physical properties as well as plant growth and biomass. Longer-term studies with higher rates of biochar application are required to confirm the effects of biochar on soil properties, plant growth, and species composition. The biochar feedstock (e.g., agricultural residues, forestry residues, and grassland cutting), biochar properties (such as porosity, bulk density, carbon content) and soil types need to be taken into consideration before application of biochar into the soil to enhance soil properties and plant growth.National Research Foundation (NRF
Assessment of the Effectiveness of the Anti-Poverty Programme (APP) in Women Empowerment: The Case of Musina Township in the Vhembe District, Limpopo Province
No full textMGSDepartment of Youth in DevelopmentThis study assesses the effectiveness of the Anti-Poverty Programmes around the world and opines that these are essential in stopping the tide of hunger, marginalization and poverty. In particular, the aim of the study was to assess the effectiveness of Anti-Poverty Programme in Women Empowerment in Musina Township. The researcher utilised the qualitative research approach, and the research was exploratory in nature. Data was collected using semi-structured interviews. Participants were interviewed face to face, while adhering to the Covid-19 protocols. The study adopted the non-probability, purposive sampling to select the participants. Ten participants were interviewed from Musina Township, two officials from Musina Local Municipality and Office of the Premier, to make up a minimum of 12 members from the community, until data saturation was reached. Data was analysed using thematic analysis to present data in an explorative manner. Furthermore, all ethical considerations were followed, to protect the participants from any harm. In addition, consent to conduct the research in the community was granted and confidentiality was maintained. This study will assist communities living in poverty, to find ways to develop the communities, with equal rights and fairness. Thus, participants were granted equal opportunities to describe their abilities in community projects. The study found that women were exploited in leadership roles, while men still dominate in rural communities. The study recommends anti-poverty programmes should consider gender mainstreaming techniques that will help to identify possible gender factors that determine the probability of individuals experiencing poverty. They should also be able to differentiate the characteristics of poverty between men and women.NR
The factors related to the utilization of antenatal care services among pregnant women in Vhembe District, Limpopo Province
No full textMCurBackground: Providing mothers with access to quality care before, during, and after childbirth has proven to be an effective strategy for reducing maternal and neonatal mortality rates. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), United Nations Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF), and United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) (2018), approximately seven million women become pregnant each year, resulting in nearly six million childbirths. Despite these numbers, neonatal mortality rates remain high, particularly in developing countries where a large portion of the population lives in poverty. For both maternal and infant health, it's important that pregnant women receive sufficient healthcare during both the antenatal and delivery stages. Fortunately, South Africa provides antenatal care services (ANC) at no cost. Despite this, pregnant women still persistently miss indispensable services provided during the ANC. Typically, in rural regions, the majority of expectant mothers pursue antenatal care (ANC) sometime during their second or third trimester, while on occasion, they may opt not to attend.
Purpose: This research aimed to evaluate the factors associated with the utilization of ANC services and neonatal outcomes among expectant mothers.
Methods: The study utilized a quantitative, non-experimental approach to gather descriptive information, employing structured questionnaires to collect data. To identify eligible participants, a convenient sampling approach was utilized, resulting in the selection of 108 pregnant women and postnatal mothers from the ANC and postnatal wards who had given birth to their babies. Results: According to the results, reasons for not utilizing ANC services were linked to socio-economic factors, particularly among those who are unemployed and rely solely on social grants, accounting for 71% of the total, in comparison to employed women who represent only 29%. In addition, an individual’s perceptions about ANC benefits (82%), knowledge about ANC (82%), and accessibility of a healthcare institution with regard to distance and road networks (85%). Most of the participants (100%) in the study reported that they were able to afford accessing ANC services as they are available for free in all public health institutions. Furthermore, just a small percentage (19.3%) of the respondents stated that professional midwives/doctors were necessary for addressing obstetric complications.
According to the findings, most pregnant women who attended ANC were given sufficient support from their partners (77%), family members (92%), and colleagues (76%). Recommendations: One of the current requirements is to enhance outreach efforts for women's reproductive health, which includes antenatal care programs. Additionally, it's essential to make maternal health services more accessible, increase their use, and raise the quality of the services offered.NR
Effects of orange-fleshed sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas)-Bambara groundnut (Vigna subterranea) composite flour on quality properties of pasta
No full textMSCFSTDepartment of Food Science and TechnologyNon-wheat flours are being used to partially replace wheat flour. This is expected to increase the utilization of local raw materials while easing demand for wheat. The goal of the study was to investigate how composite flour derived from orange fleshed sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas (L.) LAM) and Bambara groundnut (Vigna subterranean (L.) Verdc) affects the quality of pasta while also improving its nutritional characteristics. Orange fleshed sweet potatoes (OFSP) were produced at the Agricultural Research Council Roodeplaat Campus in Pretoria, and Bambara groundnuts were sourced from the Thohoyandou area, Vhembe district in South Africa. The OFSP were peeled, sliced, dried for 10 hours at 60℃ using a hot air oven drier and ground into flour. Bambara groundnut flour was made by soaking the seeds in water for 24 hours, dehulling them, drying them in an oven dryer for 24 hours at 60℃, and they were then ground into flour. The pasta was produced from a mixture of semolina, OFSP and Bambara groundnut flours in the ratios 90:5:5; 70:15:15 and 50:25:25. The functional and physicochemical properties of the pasta, as well as its cooking and sensory qualities were investigated. The samples were analyzed in triplicate using a randomized complete block design. The data was subjected to ANOVA and the Duncan multiple range test was used to differentiate significant means. Pasta produced from composite flour significantly affected the proximate composition and cooking quality compared to 100% wheat pasta. Good nutritional quality pasta was obtained from the blend of 50:25:25 semolina, OFSP and Bambara groundnut flour which exhibited a high value of protein (9.73%), ash (4.38%) and fibre (2.27%), vitamin A (1.95mg/100g) and vitamin C (8.93mg/100g) content. The pasta enhanced with composite flour of 70:15:15 semolina, OFSP and Bambara groundnut was mostly preferred during consumer acceptability testing compared to the pasta produced from 90:5:5 semolina, OFSP and Bambara groundnut flour; 50:25:25 semolina, OFSP and Bambara groundnut flour and 100% wheat.NR
A Sense-making Perspective of Algorithmic Accountabity during Infodemics
No full textMCom (Business Information SystemsDepartment of Business Information SystemsDuring the pandemic era, enormous amounts of data were available to decision-makers. Much of the data was generated using algorithms in which people did not want to be held accountable for any wrong/false information (misinformation) that was being provided to the public, either on internet websites, social media or television and radios. Algorithmic Accountability examines the process of assigning responsibility for harm when algorithmic decision-making results in discriminatory and inequitable outcomes. Mis-and disinformation about science, technology, and health is neither new nor unique to the COVID-19 era. Amid an unprecedented global health crisis, many journalists, policy makers, and academics have echoed what World Health Organisation has stressed that misinformation about the pandemic presents a serious risk to public health and public action. The biggest challenge is that this misinformation or fake news is drowning official public health advice on COVID-19, making it extremely problematic for the voices of healthcare professionals to be heard; the implications of this may be enormous as it may cause the virus and other pandemics to spread more rapidly within diverse populations. The purpose of this study was to establish the extent of Misinformation during Infodemics, to address the lack of Algorithmic Accountability. A mixed-methods approach was used as the topic required a purposeful mixing of methods in data collection, data analysis, and interpretation of the evidence. The key word is ‘mixed’; this explains that an essential step in this approach is data linkage or integration at appropriate stages in the research process. The researcher used Spyder Python for extracting data from the Twitter API and then used Feedly which is a news aggregator application for various web browsers and mobile devices running iOS and Android; this procedure is also available as a cloud-based service. Python was used to compile news feeds from a variety of online sources for the researcher to customize and share with others; after filtering for the Covid-19 Tweets there were 21 of 508 records. The analysis suggests that misinformation about COVID-19 comes in many different forms, from many different sources, and makes many different claims. The process of misinformation often rearranges existing or accurate content relatively than formulated on a large scale, and where it is manipulated, it is edited with simple tools. Given the breadth of the pandemic, independent media and actions by platforms and others played a vital role in addressing virus-related misinformation. Government websites and the World Health Organization (WHO) can help sort false from true material, and accurate from misleading assertations. With running topic modelling for the data consisting of 21 of 508 tweets, topic modelling provided a way to compress the big data qualitative phase of the research.NR
Norovirus-host interaction studies HBGA phenotypic and genotypic profiles of paediatric patients with diarrhoea from rural communities of Limpopo South Africa
No full textPh.D. (Microbiology)Department of Biochemistry and MicrobiologyHuman norovirus (HNoV) are the leading aetiological agents of viral acute gastroenteritis (VAGE) worldwide. Approximately 685 million cases of VAGE and 219 000 deaths associated with norovirus infection are recorded each year. The burden is more severe in developing nations such as those in Africa, and children below the age of five are the most vulnerable. Noroviruses are commonly transmitted from person-to-person via the faecal oral route and contaminated fomite, food and water. Norovirus are extremely prevalent and exhibit great genetic diversity and rapid rates of evolution.
Studies have shown that histo-blood group antigens are essential genetic susceptibility factors for HNoV infection. Histo-blood group antigens (HBGAs) are a class of carbohydrates antigens found in the surface of red blood cells and bodily fluids or tissues. HNoVs recognize and bind to HBGAs for attachment to human epithelial cells in the gastrointestinal tract. The synthesis of HBGAs is mediated by fucosyltransferase and glycosyltransferase, which are genetically regulated by FUT2 (Secretor), FUT3 (Lewis) and ABO (H) genes. Individuals with functional FUT2 gene are termed secretors; they express HBGAs in gut epithelial cell surface and body fluids. Natural variability and inability to express HBGAs (due to mutations) plays a role in population genetic susceptibility to norovirus infection and genotype distribution.
Approximately 20% of VAGE are caused by norovirus. Recently, global prevalence of norovirus was reported at 16%. In African countries, the range of reported prevalence was between 13% and 20%. However, higher prevalence has been reported, particularly in Ghana and South Africa. Previous data in South Africa have demonstrated the occurrence of norovirus, with higher number of cases reported in rural communities. There are limited or no studies to explain the elevated prevalence of enteric HNoVs in rural communities of Limpopo, South Africa.
Various factors including genetic, geographical, meteorological and socio-economic may play a role in the epidemiology of enteric viruses. A potential interaction between human and viral genetic diversity has been demonstrated via association of population secretor profiles and viral genotype susceptibility and distribution. Therefore, this study, aimed to investigate the prevalence and norovirus host genetic susceptibility
profiles in paediatric population under five years, within rural communities of South Africa.
To achieve the aim of this study, the following objectives were set: 1) To determine molecular characteristics of HNoV strains circulating in the rural communities of Vhembe district, South Africa; 2) To determine host phenotypic profiles of HBGAs (ABO/H and Lewis system) in HNoV infections among children from rural communities of Vhembe district, South Africa; 3) To determine the host genotypic profiles of HBGAs (FUT2/FUT3) in HNoV infections among children from rural communities of Vhembe district, Limpopo Province (South Africa) and 4) To assess the correlation between circulating HNoV genotypes and HBGAs profiles in young children from rural communities of Vhembe district, Limpopo Province (South Africa).
To achieve the study objectives, a cross-sectional survey in children with (200) and without (100) diarrhoea, below the age of five was performed. Co-paired stool (300) and saliva (300) samples were collected from October 2019 to September 2021, in South African healthcare institutions (clinics and hospitals) within the Vhembe district of Limpopo province.
Objective 1: HNoVs were detected from stool samples using real-time RT-PCR, then amplified by conventional RT-PCR, and further genotyped by Sanger sequencing. Norovirus strains from this investigation were compared to the worldwide circulating strains by phylogenetic analysis using MEGA11. ClustalW software was used to compare nucleotide similarity among strains genotyped in this study and those previously obtained within the same study region.
Objective 2: HBGAs phenotypic profiles were determined from saliva samples by ELISA assays. Monoclonal antibodies including A, B, Le-a, and Le-b were used to determine HBGAs phenotypic profiles in saliva samples. In samples where the phenotypic status was inconclusive, the secretor and non-secretor phenotypes were further confirmed using the Ulex europaeus agglutinin (UEA-1), which is specific for Fucα1-2Gal-R present in secretor, but not in non-secretor saliva.
Objective 3: Genotypic characterization of HBGAs were determined by Touch-Down-PCR using the Platinum Taq DNA Polymerase High Fidelity enzyme. The primers
used to detect SNPs were also used for nucleotide sequencing of both FUT2 and FUT3 partial genes of selected samples (100).
Objective 4: Statistical analysis was performed using Graphpad 10.0 for the association of HNoV prevalence and HBGAs profiles.
The results indicate that HNoVs were still highly prevalent in children from Vhembe district, with a confirmed significant difference (p < 0.0001) between symptomatic (37%) and asymptomatic (14%). Genogroup II noroviruses predominated children with AGE (80%), whereas genogroup I norovirus were high in children without AGE. Genotype GII.4 Sydney 2012 [P31] were dominant throughout the study period. The detected strains were phylogenetically closely related to the worldwide circulating norovirus strains but showed low nucleotide similarity when compared to other HNoV strains previously characterized in Vhembe region.
Elisa assay findings showed diversity of HBGA phenotypic profiles including Lewis and ABO type amongst study participants. Both Lewis negative and positive phenotypes were identified with the latter being the predominant and mostly infected with HNoV. All ABO phenotypes were also identified within the study population. The highest occurring was type O, which also represented the primarily norovirus infected group, followed by type A. Overall, majority of children had secretor phenotypes (81%) over non-secretors (19%), similarly, higher cases on HNoV were detected in children with secretor phenotype (93%).
Amongst the selected samples for FUT2 genotyping, only 42 could be amplified and of those, 36 (36%) were successfully genotyped. Majority of FUT2 secretors were homozygous mutations (64%) compared to heterozygous (28%). However, only 8% were determined as non-secretor with homozygous nonsense mutation on the G428A position. FUT3 genes were also associated with norovirus positivity. The G508A SNP was the most common and predominant among positive norovirus cases. Interestingly, 2 mutant SNPs were detected. Although non-secretor was the lowest in HBGAs genotypic profiles and is often related to resistance to infection, norovirus GII.4 Sydney 2012 [P31] were identified in two samples from hospitalized children.
Overall, the data revealed correlation between the presence of HNoV and the population HBGAs profiles. Individuals expressing HBGAs of secretor status were
highly infected with norovirus, whereas non-secretor individuals demonstrated protection or less susceptibility towards norovirus infection. The GII.4 Sydney 2012 [P31] recombinant strain was dominant, followed by the GII.4 Sydney 2012 variant in all the secretor profiles.
This study concludes that the prevalence and susceptibility of human norovirus infection in symptomatic and asymptomatic children from rural communities of Vhembe District is related to their HBGAs genetic profiles. The dominance of GII.4 Sydney 2012 [P31] in AGE children may be explained by the strain’s epidemiological fitness, and genetic susceptibility related to the prevalence of secretor profiles. Population’s genetic profiles may potentially drive human norovirus genetic diversity and evolution. This has implications for vaccine formulation in the current era of vaccine development. Further surveillance on impoverished communities where preventive strategies will most likely have greater impact is needed to monitor distribution of the virus and overall population HBGAs status.NR
Effect of biochar derived from different feedstocks on nitrogen retention availability, and uptake by a maize crop
No full textMSCAGR (Soil Science)Department of Plant and Soil SciencesNitrogen (N) is an essential nutrient for most crops and can be provided directly by fertilisation or indirectly through atmospheric deposition, fixation, all of which can then be converted to nitrate through mineralization and nitrification. Incomplete N utilisation by crops leaves residual soil nitrate, which is water soluble and susceptible to leaching into groundwater, particularly in regions dominated by light-textured sandy soils with low WHC. Application of biochar (BC) can potentially have a significant impact on nitrogen retention and availability. BC is a charcoal-like substance that’s made by burning organic material from agricultural and forestry wastes (also called biomass) in a controlled process called pyrolysis. Biochar can increase organic matter content, act as a liming agent, add basic cations and micronutrients, improve water holding capacity, and release nutrients gradually to the growing plant. This study evaluated the effect of BC derived from different feedstock on nitrogen retention and availability.
Two experiments’, laboratory (column leachate) and nursery experiments were conducted at the University of Venda Soil Science Laboratory and the School of Agriculture Experimental Farm, respectively. The treatments in both experiments 1 and 2 consisted of a factorial combination of BC from three different feedstocks (acacia, hay, and poultry litter) and three BC application rates (0%, 1%, and 2%). In experiment 1, the levels of NH4+ and NO3- leached from and retained in the soil were determined in the laboratory experiment before and after 70-day leaching period. The columns were first filled with three kilograms of the soil-BC mixture based on the previously mentioned treatments, giving rise to an initial bulk density of roughly 1.5 g/cm3. A single fertiliser application with 100 mg of solutioned ammonium nitrate (NH4NO3) was applied to each column. The fertilizer was applied to each column's surface in uniform drips after being diluted in 5 millilitres of distilled water. In the laboratory, the columns were maintained at room temperature, or roughly 23 °C. Every two weeks, 200 ml of distilled water was added to each column through a funnel that was placed above the center of each column. To aid in the dispersal of the water drips, filter papers were placed on the soil surface of the columns. Columns were allowed to drain freely during the leaching process, and all leachate samples were collected in foil-wrapped Erlenmeyer flasks to minimize evaporative loss. For 10 weeks (seventy days), columns were leached every two weeks. Every two weeks, the leachates were collected and chilled before analysis to minimize the growth of algae. Leachates were collected every two weeks, and the pH and electrical conductivity (EC) were measured. The leachate samples were then filtered through Whatman No. 42 filter paper to measure the amounts of nitrite (NO3-) and ammonium (NH4+). In experiment 2, which was conducted in a nursery, 5 kg of soil was placed in pots measuring 25 cm in height and 25 cm in diameter. Maize (Zea mays L.) was used as a test crop and harvested 56 days after planting.
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The measurements made in this experiment were dry matter (kg) and nitrogen uptake (kg/ha). A uniform application of nitrogen fertilizer (LAN) at a rate of 100 kg N/ha was given to each pot. The soils were treated with BC as per the stated application rates and ammonium nitrate fertilizer one week prior to planting. The treatments were arranged in a completely random design (CRD) The pots were wetted to 60% field capacity (FC) and allowed to dry out for 24 hours prior to planting. Three maize seeds were planted in each pot. After watering, the pots were filled to 60% of their field capacity (FC). After being allowed to develop for a maximum of eight weeks (56 days), maize crops were collected, dried, weighed, ground, and the N content determined.
In experiment 1, the current study's findings show that using BC can significantly reduce the leaching of highly mobile nutrients like NH4+ and NO3-. The total amount of leachates collected increased by 46% and 42% at the 1% and 2% biochar application rates, respectively. The amount of ammonium and nitrate retained increased by 1.62% and 16.2% at a 2% rate of application, respectively. In comparison to the control, where no BC was added, BC significantly reduced ammonium leaching at 1% on days 56-70 and 2% (w/w) in BC-amended soils. Biochar increased EC in all BT and retained NH4+ and NO3-. In experiment 2, this study has shown that feedstock type significantly affects biomass accumulation and N uptake. Biomass yield and N uptake increased in the order poultry litter > acacia > hay. Increasing biochar rates from 0 to 2% increased biomass accumulation and N uptake. In summary, biochar type and rate of application have a potential effect on N leaching and retention in the soil, as well as the biomass and N uptake and therefore these factors should be considered when biochar is used as a soil amendment, especially for N management in agricultural systems.NR
Studies on structural, electronic and optical properties of SnO2 doped with nitrogen, chloeine, antimony and indium
No full textM.Sc. (Physics)Department of PhysicsSnO2 has recently attracted a great deal of interest due to its many technological applications, including in solar cells as it possesses advantageous optical and electrical characteristics, outstanding chemical stability, and thermal stability. However, the photocatalytic activity and charge carrier mobility are constrained by the large band gap. A cost-effective and efficient method for reducing the SnO2 band gap and increasing the potential for photocatalytic applications is doping with different elements. Examining how mono-doping and co-doping impact the electronic, structural, electrical, and optical characteristics of the SnO2 supercell structure, the current theoretical study used Density Functional Theory (DFT) calculations of different metal and nonmetals (N, Cl, In, and Sb) and (N-Cl and In-Sb) as dopants and co-dopants, respectively. The results show that due to the band gap narrowing and the existence of impurity levels in the band gap, all mono-doped and co-doped SnO2 exhibit some small redshift. The results of the trials and the calculated optical characteristics, such as the dielectric function, reflectivity, absorption coefficient, and energy-loss spectrum, are in good agreement. According to the predicted absorption coefficient, doped SnO2 has a noticeable band of absorption. Doped SnO2 exhibits superior absorption in the visible area of the electromagnetic spectrum than undoped, In-doped, Sb-doped, and In-Sb co-doped SnO2.National Research Foundation (NRF) and National Institute for Theoretical and Computational Sciences (NITheCS
The impact of gender-based violence on women's health in rural communities of Collins Chabane Municipality, Limpopo Province
No full textMPHDepartment of Public HealthGender-based violence is a serious global issue that affects women of all races, colors, and social statuses. It has negative health consequences for survivors and is perpetuated by culture, patriarchy, and tradition. In South Africa, it is a significant social and public health problem that affects women, families, and society as a whole. The effects of violence against women extend beyond survivors, causing indirect trauma to families.
This study aimed to explore the health effects of gender-based violence on women who have experienced different types of violence in the Collins Chabane Municipality, Vhembe District, Limpopo Province. The study used a qualitative research approach, guided by exploratory and descriptive designs. The participants were women aged between 18 and 59, who live in Mulenzhe communities and have experienced gender-based violence. The study involved 20 women who were sampled through purposive sampling. Data was collected through individual semi-structured in-depth interviews and analyzed using thematic analysis. Trustworthiness considered to measure the degree of confidence in data, through interpretation and method used to ensure the quality of a study. Ethical considerations were taken into account due to the sensitive nature of the research.
The study findings show that women who experience gender-based violence are more likely to contract communicable diseases like HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted infections. Mental health problems, including post-traumatic stress, stroke, heart disease, and hypertension, were also identified as outcomes of gender-based violence Contributory factors are found to be the pushing factors to GBV. unemployment plays an important role as women stay in abusive relationships because of no means of living. Empowerment of women through awareness campaign is very important as women will understand how GBV affects their health wellbeingNR