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Development of an educational programme to improve the supervision of nursing care by registered professional nurses in selected regional hospitals in Limpopo Province
No full textDNPDepartment of Advanced Nursing ScienceBackground: Supervision is a practical method for advancing nurses' professional growth, creating advanced independent practitioners, supporting nursing personnel, and raising the standard of patient care. An educational programme in supervision positively impacted nurses’ ability to provide high-quality nursing care aimed at reducing patient complaints and improving patient outcomes. However, it seems that this is not happening as expected because there were continuous complaints from the patients about the poor quality of care. This study aimed at development of an educational programme to improve the supervision of nursing care by registered professional nurses in the selected regional hospitals of Limpopo Province.
Methodology: A qualitative study was conducted using an explorative, descriptive, and contextual research design, the 5D phases of Appreciative inquiry design. The nonprobability purposive sample was used, where twenty-four (24) registered professional nurses and thirty (37) registered staff and registered assistant nurses were selected, of which eighteen (18) were registered staff nurses and nineteen (19) were registered assistant nurses. Participants were recruited from Paediatric, Maternity, and Casualty units of the selected regional hospitals. Semi-structured individual face-to-face interviews were used to collect data from registered professional nurses, whereas focus group interviews were used to collect data from registered staff nurses and registered assistant nurses. The focus group was also used to collect data from registered professional nurses, registered staff nurses, and registered assistant nurses using an interview guide. The nominal group technique was used to develop and validate an educational programme to improve the supervision of nursing care.
Data Analysis: Data was analysed according to Tesch’s eight steps. Trustworthiness was ensured by following the principles of credibility, dependability, confirmability, transferability, and authenticity. Ethical considerations were ensured by requesting permission before conducting the study and observing human rights principles, including informed consent, voluntary participation, and avoidance of harm.
Findings: The findings from the data collection were administrative challenges, Shortage of resources, organisational challenges and education and training challenges. The findings were validated using the Nominal group technique method. The findings after Nominal group Technique were the need to address the shortage of resources, the need to address organizational challenges, the need to address staff attitude, the need to address professional growth and development, and the need for role modelling. These findings assisted with the development of
an educational programme to improve the supervision of nursing care by registered professional nurses.
Recommendations: The study recommends that there is a need for future research in other provinces to check if the findings could be the same. The incorporation of intensive training on supervision in the training of nurses from the beginning. The need to develop a supervision policy was identified.
Conclusions: Supervision of nursing care is mandatory for the purpose of improving quality patient care outcomes, reducing patients’ complaints and litigation
Synthesis of Ce/Al/Fe Tri-Metal Oxide Modified Diatomaceous Earth /Chitosan Composite Films for Fluoride Removal from Groundwater
No full textMENVSCI in GeographyDepartment of Geography and Environmental SciencesSustainable Development Goal 6.1 calls for developing technologies to improve water quality for human consumption to ensure clean drinking water for everyone by 2030. This study aims to contribute to the goal by synthesizing Ce/Al/Fe metal oxides modified diatomaceous earth and the fabrication of Ce/Al/Fe tri-metal oxide modified DE/chitosan composite films for the adsorption of fluoride from drinking water. The results were presented in two chapters i.e. Enhancing the fluoride adsorption efficiency of diatomaceous earth through modification by Ce/Al/Fe metal oxides and Synthesis of Ce/Al/Fe tri-metal oxide modified DE/chitosan composite films for fluoride removal from groundwater.
The first chapter of results focused on enhancing the fluoride adsorption efficiency of diatomaceous earth through modification by Ce/Al/Fe metal oxides. Adsorption experiments were performed to determine the efficiency of the Ce/Al/Fe metal oxides modified diatomaceous earth in fluoride removal. About 98% fluoride removal efficiency was obtained from an initial fluoride concentration of 5 mg/L using 0.6 g/100 mL adsorbent dosage at an initial pH range of 7 after 50 mins’ agitation time. The adsorption kinetics models revealed that fluoride adsorption occurred via chemisorption, while the isotherm models confirmed both monolayer and multi-layer adsorption. Thermodynamic studies showed that the adsorption process was spontaneous, endothermic, and random, as denoted by the negative ΔG˚, positive ΔH˚, and positive ΔS˚, respectively. Regeneration studies showed that Ce/Al/Fe metal oxides modified diatomaceous earth can be reused for 8 successive regeneration-reuse cycles. This study revealed that modification of diatomaceous earth with Ce/Al/Fe metal oxides enhances the adsorption of fluoride and the material has the potential for use in defluoridation of groundwater.
The synthesized adsorbent in the first chapter had low permeability due to its fine particle size which limits its applicability in a column set-up. Therefore, there was a need to further modify the synthesized adsorbent. The second chapter of results aimed to synthesize the Ce/Al/Fe tri-metal oxide modified diatomaceous earth-chitosan composite films for removal of fluoride from drinking water. The modified DE/chitosan films were developed using the casting method. The functional groups, elemental composition and morphology of the synthesized material were characterized using Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) and scanning electron microscopy-energy dispersion X-ray (SEM-EDX), respectively. Batch experiments were conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of
the material in fluoride removal. The results showed 7.89 mg/g adsorption capacity towards fluoride from 5 mg/L initial fluoride concentration, when adsorbent dosage of 0.3 g/100 mL was used at initial pH range of 7 after 50 mins agitation time at shaking speed of 200 rpm. The data for adsorption kinetics showed a better fit to pseudo-second order which indicates that the adsorption mechanism was chemisorption. The adsorption isotherm model data best fitted to Langmuir isotherm model which suggests that the adsorption took place on a monolayer surface. The presence of co-existing anions such as Cl-, SO42-, CO32- and NO32- reduces the fluoride removal efficiency of the material. The Ce/Al/Fe tri-metal oxide modified DE/chitosan composite films showed lower adsorption capacity relative to Ce/Al/Fe tri-metal oxide modified DE. Based on the results obtained, the synthesized Ce/Al/Fe tri-metal oxide modified DE/chitosan composite films can be used for Groundwater defluoridation. It is therefore recommended that future studies further modify Ce/Al/Fe tri-metal oxide modified DE/chitosan composite films to enhance their fluoride affinity. Furthermore, future studies should evaluate Ce/Al/Fe tri-metal oxide modified DE/chitosan composite films performance in a column set-up and further evaluate their anti-microbial potency
Characterization of the structure-function features of the R2TP complex of Plasmodium falciparum
No full textPhD (Biochemistry)Department of Biochemistry and MicrobiologyMalaria remains a major cause of death worldwide. Plasmodium falciparum is responsible for the most severe form of malaria. The malaria parasite life cycle involves stages of development that span across the cold-blooded mosquito vector and a warm-blooded human host. Maintaining protein homeostasis across these physiologically distinct life stages of the parasite is mainly accomplished by a family of proteins termed molecular chaperones that assist in protein folding. Heat shock protein 90 (Hsp90) a molecular chaperone of P. falciparum is known to be important for cell development and signal transduction. The protein clientele of this chaperone runs in several hundred and efforts are ongoing to account for all its cellular clients. R2TP complex acts as a chaperone or the assembly of critical complexes in the cell, hence it is implicated in the assembly of the Hsp90 functional complex. Hence, this study aims to characterize the structural-functional features of the R2TP complex of P. falciparum. Bioinformatics analysis has revealed unique features of this complex with 3 RUVBL genes as opposed to its orthologues from yeast and humans whom both have 2 Rvb and 2 RUVBL genes, respectively. The study involved the design of antibodies and biophysical characterization of PfRUVBL proteins and their functional features. Biophysical characterization of PfRUVBL1, PfRUVBL2, and yeast Rvb1 was conducted using tryptophan spectrophotometry and limited proteolysis. In addition, surface plasmon resonance (SPR) was used to explore the oligomerization of the proteins. The ATPase activities of PfRUVBL1 and PfRUVBL2 were further investigated. Furthermore, the holdase chaperone activities of the proteins were investigated by monitoring the capability of the proteins to suppress heat-induced aggregation of a model protein, malate dehydrogenase (MDH). P. falciparum recombinant proteins showed abilities to bind nucleotides and revealed ATPase activity. In addition, these proteins revealed capabilities to self and hetero associates as suggested by SPR and slot blot assays
Conceptualizations of ancestral calling: Symptoms of mental illness from the traditional healers’ viewpoint in villages around Tzaneen Municipality of Mopani District
No full textM.A. (Psychology)Department of PsychologyCultural beliefs about ancestral spirits and ancestral calling are widespread in Southern Africa. When an individual particularly Black/African has an ancestral calling they may sometimes present with symptoms similar to those of mental illness or disorder as outlined in the DSM (Statistical Diagnostic Manual).
The discourse being that the perceived ‘sick person’ may need to go through the process of ukuthwasa (initiation) and become a traditional healer. Therefore, the study sought to explore the conceptualizations of ancestral calling: Presentation of mental illness from the traditional healers’ viewpoint. The research was conducted at villages around Tzaneen Municipality of Mopani District Limpopo Province, South Africa. The study had adopted a qualitative research approach. Because the study has focused on people’s knowledge and experiences, a qualitative approach has afforded the researcher to obtain in-depth information. An exploratory design was employed for the researcher to gain more insight and understanding into the phenomenon that was being researched.
To select traditional healers, the study employed a qualitative research approach and used exploratory and phenomenological research designs. The participants of the study were sampled using purposive and convenience sampling. The African Perspective Theory served as the theoretical framework for this research. The population from which the sample was drawn for this study was all the traditional healers who went through the process of ukuthwasa, residing and currently practicing in the villages under Tzaneen Municipality of Mopani District in Limpopo province, South Africa
A sample of twenty participants was considered as a target population. However, the researcher discontinued interviews with 15 participants due to data saturation. Semi-structured interviews were used for data collecting using an interview guide as an instrument, and data was analyzed using thematic analysis. Ethical principles such as informed consent and confidentiality and the code of ethics to protect the rights of the participants were applied throughout the study.
The findings of the study revealed that there are certain symptoms of mental illness that are present and regarded as a sign that an individual has an ancestral calling. According
to the research findings these symptoms may be healed or treated only when the individual accepts the call at the beginning of the training process for one to become a traditional healer, this process is called Ukutwasa.
This research will provide additional information in aspects of African Psychology for the trained mental health practitioner in the assessment and treatment of mental health care users who holds significant African traditional and cultural beliefs
Determinants of commercialization among smallholder vegetable cash crop farmers in Thulamela Municipality of Limpopo Province, South Africa
No full textMScAGMAAEDepartment of Agricultural Economics and AgribusinessSmallholder farmers in developing countries play a crucial role in meeting the future food demand and improving the welfare of households. Commercial vegetable farming involves growing vegetables for market and personal use. Vegetables offer a unique market for South African growers because they are a necessity for everyone and are essential to address food security and satisfy people's requirements for additional nutrients. The study examined factors influencing the commercialisation of smallholder vegetable cash crop farmers in the Thulamela Municipality of Vhembe district, Limpopo province, South Africa. A simple random sampling technique was used to select a sample of 207 vegetable farmers. A structured questionnaire was used to collect data. Descriptive statistics were employed to analyse the socioeconomic characteristics of smallholder vegetable farmers, while the Market Orientation Index (MOI) was used to examine the intensity of commercialisation. A Tobit regression model was employed to analyse factors influencing the intensity of commercialisation. The study uncovered that women were the dominant group, with an average age of 45 years. Furthermore, 85% of the farmers were full-time farmers, with the majority of them dependent on social grants as a source of off-farm income. The study also uncovered that females were only leading at medium and weak CI, whereas males were dominant at higher CI. The study revealed that the revenue, transactional arrangements, farming experience, land size, educational level, and availability of labour were statistically significant and positively influenced the intensity of commercialisation. However, credit access, production cost, gender and household size were also statistically significant but negatively influenced commercialisation intensity. The study also found that technical challenges such as land ownership, production inputs, and farm management practices were the most dominant challenges that smallholder vegetable farmers faced in the study area. Therefore, the study recommends improved overall financial inclusion and simpler and faster loan processing as being necessary to assist farmers with credit. The study also recommends input hubs where farmers can buy inputs at a lower price. And for a policy that will enable the government to regulate the price of inputs
The impact of single-parenting on the performance of Foundation Phase Grade R learners in the Vhembe District, Limpopo Province
No full textSEMEECDepartment of Early Childhood EducationSince many children are denied the chance to achieve academic greatness in their lives, single parenting is a societal issue that should be of worldwide concern. One important issue that requires consideration is the effect that single parenting has on Foundation Phase students' performance. This study looked into how single parents affected Foundation Phase Grade R students' performance in a few chosen schools in the province of Limpopo's Sibasa Circuit and Vhembe East District. Two theories served as the foundation for the study: the sociocultural theory and the family system theory. According to family theory, as the family is an interactive, systemic framework, any modification to one of its parts will alter the way the system functions as a whole. According to sociocultural theory, learners' performance can be positively impacted by and any negative effects can be mitigated by a supportive social and cultural context in single parenting. This study employed a qualitative case study research design. All of the single parents with kids enrolled in Foundation Phase Grade R classrooms at Sibasa Circuit, Vhembe East District's Foundation Phase, made up the population. Sampling with purpose was done. Nine single parents, six Foundation Phase Grade R instructors, and three Foundation Phase Grade R HODs made up the sample. Semi-structured interviews, observation, and document analysis were used to gather data. Thematic analysis was used to examine the data from the observations, interviews, and documents. The study's findings increased instructors' and single parents' awareness of the importance of parental involvement during the Foundation Phase Grade R. The Department of Basic Education should establish school-based support programs that offer academic and emotional support to children from single-parent households, according to the study's recommendation
An Analysis on the Impact of Service Delivery on Humam Rights: A Case of Vhembe District Municipality
No full textMaster of AdministrationDepartment of Public and Development AdministrationThe Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996, provides that failure to provide services is a violation of human rights. In addition, Section 22 of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996, forbids discrimination and guarantees freedom of trade, activity, and profession,emphasizing the connection between human rights and service delivery. It creates a framework for encouraging fair access to services and holds officials responsible for making sure that the provision of services satisfies the freedom, equality, and dignity guaranteed by the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996. This is a required activity, and people's human rights are infringed when they are denied these services. Moreover, failing to provide services to the public is not supported by the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996. It makes clear that everyone has the inherent right to dignity and the protection of the human rights. The study aims to analyze the impacts of service delivery on human rights in Vhembe District Municipality. Secondary data was sourced from the journal articles, municipal annual reports, legal framework, websites, library books, and the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa,1996, pertinent laws, and policies pertaining to human rights. The researcher used non-probability sampling and purposive sampling to collect secondary data for this study. Moreover, the study adopted desktop research. The literature on this subject has been examined in order to find common problems, patterns, and operational parallels with regard to how service delivery affects human rights in VDM. Thematic analysis was used to analyze secondary data collected. Significant gaps in access to essential services such as water, health-care, education, and power were shown by the analysis of service delivery in the Vhembe District Municipality. These gaps result in violations of core human rights, such as the right to dignity, health, and education. To overcome these gaps and protect human rights in the area, it is significant for the local government to consider infrastructure investment as a priority, enhance governance and accountability systems, transparency, and guarantee increased community involvement in decision-making. The study recommended the VDM to respect human rights by extending services to the communities.National Research Framework Gran
Interfacing Traditional and Western Health Care Systems in the Fight Against Coronavirus
No full textM.A. (African Studies)Department of English, Media Studies and LinguisticsThe study focused on exploring the factors affecting the interfacing traditional and western health care systems in the fight against Coronavirus COVID-19. Experts contend that government agencies and health officials should collaborate with traditional healers rather than oppose them to successfully tackle COVID-19. Various stakeholders appear to be undermining South Africa's traditional health care system, which served as the indigenous people's major source of healthcare. The indigenous health care system and its methods are being demonized by youth and certain scientific institutions because they are linked to witchcraft and other wicked customs. The researcher noticed that, in the twenty-first century, there appeared to be an idea of interfacing Traditional Health Practices (THPs) with Western doctors. It appears that basic healthcare systems were provided by traditional medical professionals in civilizations prior to the arrival of colonialism. The study adopted an employ Inquiry and African Healing Theories. The study used a qualitative research design and was exploratory in nature. Data was generated using observation and semi-structured interviews as data collection instruments. Purposive sampling was employed in the selection of knowledge holders among the chosen communities. The collected data was analysed thematically
Groundwater quality and human health-risk assessment in health-care facilities around Vhembe District, Limpopo, South Africa
No full textMESHWRDepartment of Earth ScienceWater quality has been associated with health outcomes globally. This research assessed the physicochemical and microbial quality of groundwater in health care facilities around Vhembe District, Limpopo Province, South Africa. For this study, nineteen sampling locations were chosen from among the many local municipalities in the Vhembe District, and sampling was conducted throughout both the rainy and dry seasons. During the various seasons, physicochemical characteristics like turbidity, salinity, pH, EC, and TDS varied as follows: (35.46-1780 μS/cm (dry), 126.38-1468 μS/cm (wet), 25.5-1267 mg/L (dry), 67.5-1195 mg/L (wet), 7-8.5 (dry), 7-9 (wet), 0-4.5 NTU (dry), 0-6 NTU (wet), and 42.31-899 ppm (dry), 37.28-706.5 ppm (wet) respectively with some samples exceeding the recommended limit standard as per SANS guideline. Total coliform levels ranged between 2-90 cfu/100 mL in the dry season and 1-128 cfu/100 mL in the wet season. E. coli varied between 0-13 cfu/100 mL) in the dry and 0-39 cfu/100mL in the wet, respectively. Major anions such as SO4, NO2, PO4, recorded levels within the recommended limit of the South African National Standards (SANS), however, anions such as F, Cl, and NO3 in some of the samples did not comply. Major cations (Na, Mg, K, and Ca) did not comply for some samples except for K which complied in all samples.
The following metals - Al, V, Cr, Mn, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Se, Cd, Sb, Hg, Pb, and U - were within the recommended limit except for Fe which was above the recommended limit as per SANS 241. According to the water quality index (WQI), during the wet season, 16.66% of the water was extremely poor, 38.88% was poor and 44.44% was good. 16.66% was poor, 72.22% was decent, and 11.11% were excellent during the dry season.
The Piper Diagram revealed three hydro-chemical facies for both seasons. Calcium chloride water type (72.22 % in wet, and 83.33 % in dry season), mixed water type (5.5 %) and sodium chloride water type (22.22 % in wet and 11.11% in dry season). The Durov Plot revealed that most samples were in the ion exchange zone and very few were in the mixing zone or dissolution. The study area's groundwater Gibbs diagram, for both seasons demonstrated that evaporation mostly regulated the hydrogeochemical processes. The average dosage of E. coli ranged from 0 – 3.16 and 0 - 0.24 for wet and dry respectively, therefore, chances of getting infection daily, was in the range of 0 – 7.6 % for wet and 0 – 6.7 % in the dry season. The probability of getting infection annually ranged as from 0 – 100%. Water from health-care facilities around Vhembe District should be treated before consumption.National Research Foundation (NRF
Statistical analysis of rainfall and groundwater trends and their spatial variations in the Mopani District, South Africa
No full textMaster of Earth Science in Hydrology and Water ResourcesDepartment of Earth SciencesThis study analysed rainfall and groundwater level trends and variations in the Mopani District, Limpopo of South Africa to guide sustainable water resource strategies, improve decision- making, drought assessments, and climate adaptation strategies. The methodology involved a two-phase approach, starting with data collection through desktop research and fieldwork in the Mopani District. Historical groundwater level and rainfall data were analysed using techniques like the double mass curve, Mann-Kendall test, Sen’s slope estimator, quantile regression, and geospatial analysis with QGIS software to identify trends and correlations. Rigorous quality control measures ensured data integrity, which was confirmed through double-mass curve analysis showing a strong correlation between monitoring stations (R² = 0.9995). The Thiessen polygon method was utilized to select rainfall stations based on their proximity to groundwater monitoring points, emphasizing the hydrological connectivity of the area. The study found that several boreholes, such as Bordeaux Julesburg, Rubbervale, State Land Vuheli, and Nghalume, Skwinyani, Caledone Ndengeza, Nkoankoa, Doorhoek, and Worcester, with Sen’s slope values ranging from -0.049 to -0.547 m/year, showed significant decreases in groundwater levels, indicating potential depletion or over-extraction. Monitoring borehole stations in Namakgale, Paardedood, and Doornhoek with slope values ranging from 0.0743 to 0.1255 m/year also showed non-significant decreasing trends. However, boreholes like Mica and Silwane Nyakalane with slopes of 1.63 m/year and 1.69 m/year exhibited significant increases, likely due to improved recharge conditions influenced by factors such as rainfall, agricultural activities, or other climatic factors. The increasing trend in Haenersburg was not statistically significant (p = 0.960), suggesting random variation rather than a reliable upward trend. The trend analysis of annual rainfall data from 2006 to 2020 at Giyani, Tzaneen Westfalia Estate, and Hoedspruit stations revealed decreasing trends, with negative Sen’s slope values of -13.504, -8.626, and -18.452, respectively. However, these reductions were not statistically significant, suggesting that these reductions may be due to natural variability rather than long-term climate changes. Quantile regression analysis of annual groundwater levels across 16 monitoring borehole stations indicated variability in trends, with negative slope coefficients reflecting decreasing groundwater levels for stations like Bordeaux Julesburg and Rubbervale Station. Overall, 75% (12 out of 16) of boreholes exhibited statistically significant decreasing trends influenced by factors such as over extraction rates and recharge variability. In Hoedspruit, the trends at quantiles 0.1 (p-value = 0.010) and 0.2 (p-value = 0.031) were significant, indicating a noteworthy decline in lower rainfall values. This study reveals significant trends in rainfall and groundwater levels across various monitoring stations, aligning with previous research in Mopani District, Limpopo Province, and South Africa. It emphasizes the need for ongoing monitoring to understand water resource management implications and address challenges related to climate variability and water availability in the region