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Long-term travel behaviour impacts of Covid-19 on marginalised households in Cape Town
No full textIn the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic considerable research attention has been focused on the long-term effects of movement restrictions on remote working, shopping and schooling - amongst other activities. These studies have interrogated impacts on trip reduction and long-term travel behaviour amongst households with livelihoods assets that make them resilient, including those with jobs that can be performed remotely, access to resources to support home-schooling, and disposable incomes to engage with the global online retail economy. Comparatively little research attention has been given to impacts of lockdown policies amongst households with unstable income streams derived from the informal sector, casualised manual labour or social grants, with home environments unsupportive of home education, and with little or no disposable income. This paper seeks to address this gap in knowledge by focusing on pandemic-induced impacts on long-term travel behaviour of such marginalised households through an exploration of their livelihoods, mobility, and accessibility before, during and after the pandemic in the context of Cape Town, South Africa. This paper interrogates two interrelated questions: Firstly, how COVID19 has affected accessibility and social-spatial inclusion of marginalised groups; and second, how COVID19 impacted on long-term travel behaviour of marginalised groups. Through mobility biographies collected from a sample of 101 household representatives using the questionnaire-driven mapping tool Maptionnaire, the findings of this paper identify two primary shifts related to travel behaviour at the household level for two marginalised communities in Cape Town: Activity domain shifts evidenced by changes in range of activity and modal choice; and nodal shifts due to residential displacement as evidenced by the case of 'Covid City', an informal settlement that arose within one of the study sites. Taken together, these findings illustrate the uneven nature of the pandemic's impacts on long-term travel behaviour amongst marginalised households and the incompleteness of recovery
Patterns of transition of adolescents in an HIV care programme in peri-urban Cape Town, South Africa: a photovoice study
No full textSuccessful transition from paediatric to adult HIV care programme is a critical developmental milestone in the care trajectory of adolescents living with HIV (ALHIV). The transition process involves a shift from a structured, caregiver-supported healthcare model to one that requires independence and self-management. This process should be guided and supportive to ensure continued engagement in care and optimal adherence when ALHIV are transferred. This study utilised photovoice methods to explore the transition experiences of ALHIV in the Cape Town Metropole. Audio-recorded focus group data were transcribed verbatim and subjected to reflexive thematic analysis. Three distinctive patterns of behaviour from ALHIV were identified as themes. Type 1: socially reliant, dependent adolescent who heavily relies on family and peer support and struggles with adherence. Type 2: socially disconnected, hyper-independent adolescent, who is self-reliant, seeks solitude, and is generally resistant to external support. We configured a third (ideal) type, who is interdependent and able to self-manage their chronic condition, but within a supportive health care environment that provides positive healthcare and transition experiences. The findings underscore the need for supportive transition models promoting self-management skills, while facilitating a symbiotic relation with healthcare staff promoting sustained engagement in care well into adulthood. We recommend that adolescent or youth friendly services for ALHIV be expanded to support and monitor the transition process and outcomes in the adult HIV program
Spatiotemporal analysis of surface urban heat Island intensity and the role of vegetation in six major Pakistani cities
No full textThe Urban Heat Island (UHI) phenomenon exacerbates thermal discomfort in urban areas and significantly contributes to urban overheating when combined with climate change. This study investigates the spatiotemporal patterns of Surface Urban Heat Island Intensity (SUHII) in six major cities of Pakistan, focusing on the interplay between urban expansion, vegetation cover, and SUHII. To quantify SUHII dynamics, the impact of urban sprawl and vegetation changes was analyzed. The study offers critical insights into the implications for urban planning and policymaking in Pakistan. Using remote sensing data from Landsat satellites, analyzed with Geographic Information Systems (GIS) techniques, estimates of SUHII, urban expansion, and vegetation cover were derived. Specifically, imagery from Landsat-5 (2010−2013) and Landsat-8 (2014–2022), obtained from the US Geological Survey (USGS), was employed. Statistical analyses, including Pearson's correlation and linear regression, were conducted to assess relationships between these variables from 2010 to 2022. SUHII was found to increase annually by 0.18 °C in Islamabad and 0.19 °C in Peshawar, with corresponding urban expansion rates of 8.07 km2 (8967.75 pixels) and 1.67 km2 (1860.42 pixels) per year, respectively. Vegetation indices such as the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) and Fractional Vegetation Cover (FVC) were inversely correlated with SUHII, explaining up to 50 % of the variance in Peshawar. However, weaker correlations in Lahore suggest the presence of additional factors influencing SUHII. A distinct spatial relationship between increased vegetation and cooler areas was observed. For instance, Islamabad has greater vegetation cover and cool zones over 41.5 km2. In contrast, Lahore's hot spots spanned 127.1 km2, compared to Abbottabad's 10.4 km2, underscoring the thermal impact of reduced vegetation. The findings emphasize the effectiveness of urban greening, particularly in Islamabad's neutral thermal regions, in mitigating SUHII. This study offers important insights for urban planners in developing sustainable, climate-resilient cities within similar urban contexts. While the results are specific to Pakistani cities, the role of vegetation in mitigating SUHII may hold broader relevance for urban planning strategies in comparable settings
Actor sensemaking and its role in implementation of the decentralized drug-resistant tuberculosis policy in South Africa
No full textSouth Africa has a high burden of drug-resistant tuberculosis (DR-TB). A policy to decentralize DR-TB treatment from specialized central hospitals to more accessible district facilities was introduced in 2011, but to date implementation has been suboptimal, with variable pace, coverage, and models of care emerging. This study explored multilevel policy implementation of DR-TB decentralization in two provinces of South Africa, Western Cape and KwaZulu-Natal. Applying interpretive policy analysis, this paper describes how actors across health system levels and geographies made sense of the DR-TB policy and how this shaped implementation. In an embedded qualitative case study, districts of the two provinces were compared, through data collected in 94 in-depth interviews, and analysed using Vickers’ framework of reality, value, and action judgements. Five district cases characterize variation in the pace of implementation and models of DR-TB care that emerged. Individual and collective attitudes for and against the policy were underpinned by different systems of meaning for interpreting policy problems and making decisions. These meaning systems were reflected in actor stances on whether DR-TB care needed to be specialized or generalized, nurse- or doctor-led, and institutionalized or ambulatory. Actors’ stances influenced their actions and implementation strategies adopted. Resistance to decentralized DR-TB care related to perceived threats of budget cuts to and loss of authority of central facilities, and was often justified in fears of increased transmission, poor quality of care, and inadequate resources at lower levels. New advances in diagnosis and treatment to address the growing burden of DR-TB in South Africa will have little impact unless implementation dynamics are better understood, and attention paid to the mindsets, interests, and interpretations of policy by actors tasked with implementation. Deliberative policy implementation processes will enhance the quality of discourse, communication and cross-learning between policy actors, and critical for reaching synthesis of meaning systems
Box-behnken design optimization of photocatalytic performance of znwo4 nanoparticles multiple doped with selected metals
No full textBox-Behnken Design Optimization of the photocatalytic activity of the synthesized Na@Mg@Ti@ZnWO4 nanocomposite at different mixing ratios for the degradation of malachite green in wastewater was investigated. The synthesized ZnWO4-based nanomaterials were characterized using different analytical techniques. Optical analysis demonstrated a reduction in the band gap energy from 4.68 eV for ZnWO4 to 2.08 eV for the doped ZnWO4. HRTEM/HRSEM images revealed the formation of well-defined nanocrystals with distinct lattice fringes, while EDX confirmed the homogeneous distribution of dopants (Na, Mg, and Ti) on ZnWO4. The XRD analysis showed that the incorporation of the dopant did not change the phase of ZnWO4. In ZnWO4, XPS revealed electron sharing between 3 s (Na and Mg) and 3d (Ti) dopants. The host and doped ZnWO4 surface areas increased from 24.74 m2/g to 156.93 m2/g. Compared to the SPCE/ZnWO4/Na/Mg/Ti electrode, cyclic voltammetry analysis confirmed strong conductive properties. Maximum removal of 99.93 % malachite green (MG) from wastewater was achieved using catalyst load (0.7 g) (ZnWO4@NaMgTi), contact time (35 min), and pH 12. Even after five repeated cycles, ZnWO4 nanocomposite doped with 1 % Na, 1 % Mg, and 1 % Ti exhibited superior photocatalytic behavior than other ZnWO4 nanoparticles. A toxicity test demonstrated that dyeing wastewater treated with ZnWO4@NaMgTi nanocomposites supported aquatic life (juvenile fish) better than untreated dyeing wastewater, standard water of fish farming, and water treated with ZnWO4 nanoparticles alone. The immobilization of ZnWO4 with the dopants contributed to the enhanced photocatalytic and electrochemical performance
Is trust about more than just money? insight into South African banking customers
No full textPurpose – The purpose of this study is to explore how trust guides retail banking customers’ behavioural intentions considering monetary and non-monetary drivers of trust and the moderating roles of corporate image and shared values on the relationships between these drivers and trust. Design/methodology/approach – Non-probability purposive and quota sampling were used to select a sample of South African banking customers. A self-administered questionnaire was fielded and 352 respondents participated in this study. Findings – All the proposed monetary and non-monetary drivers have a positive and significant influence on trust, except for calculative commitment. Trust mediates the relationships monetary and non-monetary drivers have with behavioural intention; and corporate image and shared values moderate all but one of the relationships between trust and its monetary and non-monetary drivers. Research limitations/implications – This study enhances knowledge of the role of trust, considering monetary and non-monetary drivers as antecedents and behavioural intention as an outcome of trust. Practical implications – This study guides retail banks in emergent markets on the mediating role of trust and its influence on behavioural intention through the application of selected monetary and non-monetary drivers. Furthermore, this study emphasises the importance of corporate image and shared values on selected relationships. Originality/value – The importance of trust as a mediating variable between its monetary and non-monetary drivers and behavioural intention is confirmed in an emerging economy setting. The moderating effects of corporate image and shared values in the relationships between these drivers and trust are also highlighted
Children and domestic violence: should child exposure to domestic violence be regarded as child abuse?
No full textDomestic and family violence is a pervasive and frequently lethal problem that challenges society at every level. Violence in families is often hidden from view and devastates its victims physically, emotionally, spiritually, and financially. It threatens the stability of the family and negatively impacts on all family members, especially the children who learn from it that violence is an acceptable way to cope with stress or problems or to gain control over another person. It violates communities’ safety, health, welfare, and economies by draining billions annually in social costs such as medical expenses, psychological problems, lost productivity, and intergenerational violence. Domestic violence is a prevalent problem globally.2 The World Health Organisation (WHO) conducted a prevalence data survey from 2000-2018 across 161 countries and found that 30% of women have been subjected to physical, sexual violence or both by an intimate partner.3 Moreover, in the same study, the WHO estimates that 38% of all murders of women are committed by an intimate partner.4 South Africa is known as one of the countries with high rates of domestic violence.5 It is estimated that 51% of women in South Africa have experienced abuse in their lifetime and 78% of men admit to having been perpetrators of women abuse.6 To highlight the severity of this matter, the number of protection orders obtained by victims of domestic violence amounted to 668 873 between the year 2009 to 2011.7 It is notable that in South Africa, domestic violence often results in the murder of women by their husbands and boyfriends.8 The interpersonal violence encountered by South African adolescents is respectively 5 to 8 times higher than the global average
A health literacy intervention for Jordanian nurses to promote patient adaptation post myocardial infarction
No full textMyocardial infarction is a leading cause of death in Jordan. Nurses’ inadequate health literacy practices may impede effective patient care, and lead to increased costs, complications, and mortality. Health literacy training programmes could enhance nurses' ability to support patients in adapting to myocardial infarction. Aim: to develop an intervention for Jordanian nurses about utilising health literacy practices to facilitate adaptive coping and adherence to disease management among patients with myocardial infarction. Methods: A multi-method research design was used in this study. Lazarus and Folkman's Psychological Stress and Coping Theory guided the study's theoretical framework. The first four phases of Rothman and Thomas’s (1994) intervention research design guided the study. Phase One: Problem analysis and project planning. A literature review was conducted on the coping strategies and health literacy practices of patients with myocardial infarction and nurses’ knowledge, attitudes and perceptions, experience and educational needs regarding health literacy. Phase Two: Three studies were conducted to gather information about the problem. Study One is a descriptive survey describing coping strategies and health literacy levels of 140 Jordanian patients with myocardial infarction. Study Two is a descriptive survey which describes nurses’ health literacy practices knowledge, skills and experience, perceptions, attitudes, and educational needs in facilitating adaptive coping and treatment adherence among patients with myocardial infarction. A systematic review was conducted in Study Three to determine the effectiveness of health literacy interventions developed for registered nurses in health care facilities to improve their health literacy knowledge, experience or skills, perceptions, and attitudes towards the promotion of health literacy
A curated walk with peer researchers and their communities: engaging a research journey toward meaningful impact
No full textAs a collective of peer researchers, scholars and members of a non-profit organisation, we have come together to share a curated walk through low-income communities in Cape Town and London. We do so with the intent of exploring the embodied and social experiences of walking and writing research differently through a collaborative process of listening, co-creating and sharing knowledge about the pedestrian mobilities of young men as mediated by the precarities of urban life. Our walking-writing practices are a hybrid of the actual practices of walking and potential for enacting change by valuing the everyday experiences and knowledge of peer researchers. The curated walk that we share guides readers on the research journey that we have taken together from the homes of those involved to the metaphorical centre of power in the cities/regions where our work takes place, with the intention of long-term, meaningful impact
Electrochemical detection of histamine in red wine using cb[7] modified electrodes
No full textIn host-guest chemistry, cucurbiturils are macrocyclic molecules made of glycoluril monomers linked by methylene bridges. This macrocyclic compound was applied in the design of electrochemical sensors for the detection of biogenic amines. Biogenic amines (BAs) are organic bases, which can be present in food and can cause several adverse reactions in consumers. The most significant BAs occurring in food are histamine, serotonin, and dopamine. Limited studies have been reported on thin film cucurbituril-modified electrochemical sensors for solution-based studies. An electrochemical sensor for the detection of biogenic amines was developed by immobilizing CB[7] at the surface of a glassy carbon electrode (GCE). Initially, the L-lysine monomer was polymerized at the surface of GCE to introduce amine groups which will then form a peptide bond with CB[7]. Immobilization of CB[7] was performed through the electrodeposition method as well as physisorption with no applied potential to form GCE/PLL/CB[7]. Scanning electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy revealed morphological properties of CB[7] as reported in the literature. The response profile of the GCE/PLL/CB[7] sensor for histamine was studied using CV, SWV, and UV-vis. The linear response was obtained in the range of 1.66×10−9–8.30×10−9 M for HI with a sensitivity of 255.22±38.20 uA M−1 cm−2. The proposed sensor was successfully applied to the determination of histamine in commercial red wine samples, with good recoveries