21838 research outputs found
Sort by
The influence of cognitive bias on the use of menu nutritional information among consumers in Mahikeng city, South Africa
Get PDFPrevious studies have found that the provision of nutritional information on restaurant menus has had a disparate effect on consumers in various countries. Numerous explanations have been offered to rationalise consumers' failure to incorporate new information during decision-making in developed countries and not much information is availed in the developing world. This study investigates the effect of nutritional information provision on consumers in South Africa, a country that is experiencing an increase in the consumption of food-away-from-home and lifestyle-related diseases similar to some developed countries. The study utilised the Endogenous Treatment Poisson regression model to compare the changes in intended behaviour before and after the provision of nutritional information on typical fast-food meals. The empirical results show that the provision of nutritional information had a significant influence on intended consumption behaviour. However, consumers’ cognitive biases with regard to the level of importance of the different nutrient-content information resulted in the over-reliance on calorie information and negligence of sodium and fat content information. These results imply that efforts to encourage healthier food choices by increasing information can be curtailed by cognitive biases. Hence, the study recommends that efforts be made to improve consumer education on how to integrate various nutritional-content information in decision-making. Furthermore, additional research on the best ways to relay nutritional information is recommended.Graduate School of Business Leadershi
Social (in)justices during the educator developmental appraisal process : a post-apartheid South African case study
No full textGlobally, the appraisal of educators remains a contested issue as the process, which aims to provide support
and development to educators, is generally considered a punitive measure for educators. Within the South
African context, the Integrated Quality Management System is used to evaluate educators. Drawing on
Fraser’s theories of social justice, this article explores the perspectives of 11 educators regarding educator
developmental appraisal in post-apartheid South Africa as a catalyst for social (in)justice. Data was collected
through semi-structured interviews and analysed using critical discourse analysis. This article highlights the
importance of social justice practices in enhancing learner achievement and foregrounds the (in)justices
often witnessed during the appraisal process. Findings reveal that the developmental appraisal process has
the potential to promote social justice; however, contextual factors seem to be hindering the successful
implementation of the appraisal process.Institute for Social and Health Studies (ISHS
Assessment of integration of tuberculosis and diabetes mellitus in health services in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Get PDFText in EnglishThe Co-morbidity of tuberculosis (TB) and diabetes mellitus (DM) is a major global public health challenge. Both diseases disproportionately affect low - and middle-income countries. While integrated care approaches offer synergistic benefits, TB and DM services often remain fragmented in many health systems. The purpose of this study was to assess the factors affecting the integration of health services for patients with TB and DM, and to develop an integration framework to improve the management of TB in patients with DM, and DM in TB patients.
The study population was adult patients with pulmonary TB who tested positive for type 2 diabetes (T2DM) and were attending DOTS clinics in the 52 selected public health facilities in Addis Ababa. Cluster sampling with stratified simple random sampling was used to select hospitals and health centres. Simple random sampling technique was used to select patients with comorbid TB and diabetes for the quantitative study. Purposive sampling was used to select key informants for in-depth interviews. The study began with an explanatory quantitative phase, which included a survey of 357 patients with comorbid TB and diabetes and 23 key informant interviews with experts and practitioners working in clinical facilities and TB and diabetes programmes in public health facilities and the health bureau in Addis Ababa. Quantitative data were collected using structured questionnaires developed from the Sustainable intEgrated chronic care modeLs for multi-morbidity: delivery, Financing and performancE (SELFIE) multi-morbidity framework. Both quantitative and qualitative data were collected between March 2021 and June 2022. Quantitative data were analysed using SPSS version 28, while thematic analyses of qualitative data were conducted using Atlas.ti8 software.
The study involved 357 respondents, a response rate of 96.5%, and in-depth interviews with 23 key informants. The results of the study found that integration of TB-DM services in health facilities is minimal, with only a quarter of facilities providing integrated care. Several factors contribute to this, including inadequate counselling on medication use, limited awareness of TB risks among DM patients, and the lack of organised TB-DM services and integration strategies. Screening practices and training of health workers are also inadequate. Leadership and governance play a crucial role in promoting integration, with supportive leadership and the availability of guidelines being key factors. In addition, the lack of a reimbursement mechanism and equitable cost of services are barriers to comprehensive care. Limited access to technology and medical products, such as electronic health record systems and diagnostic tools, affects the integration of services. Furthermore, the lack of personalised patient data and tailored registration and reporting tools hampers the provision of integaeted care and the collection of data on TB-DM co-morbidity. These findings emphasised the need for interventions to address these factors and improve the integration of TB-DM services, ultimately improving patient outcomes.
The results of this study emphases the urgent need to address the limited integration of TB-DM services in health facilities. This gap has significant implications, as it hinders the provision of integrated care to a significant number of TB-DM patients. Inadequate integration puts patients at risk of suboptimal treatment outcomes, increased disease burden and higher long-term health care costs. To effectively address these challenges, it is essential to prioritise and improve the integration of TB and diabetes services. This can be achieved by improving continuity of care, establishing multidisciplinary teams, implementing clear guidelines, involving patients in decision-making, improving access to technology and adopting innovative health care approaches. Further research is needed to refine these recommendations and assess their impact on population health.D. Phil. (Public Health)Health Studie
Farewell semanr of Prof M Clasquin-Johnson
No full textNow on the verge of retirement, Prof Michel Clasquin-Johnson shares some of his experiences from the day he registered as a raw first-year student. However, this is not intended to be an exercise in nostalgia. This will be a seminar inviting attendees to share their ideas of what Religious Studies is, where it comes from and where it may be heading in the South African context.Religious Studies and Arabi
Assessing the abundance of Cryptosporidium and Giardia spp. in borehole water close to eMbalenhle wastewater treatment plant and associated human health impacts
No full textGroundwater quality is often an overlooked aspect and due to this oversight, groundwater
remains vulnerable to contamination by such sources as wastewater treatment plants
(WWTPs). Even though most WWTPs in South Africa are monitoring the contamination of
groundwater for physicochemical and some microbiological parameters, contamination by
Cryptosporidium and Giardia spp. are often disregarded. Using groundwater contaminated
with enteric pathogens like Cryptosporidium and Giardia oo(cyst) for consumption, irrigation,
and recreational activities lead to gastrointestinal illness in humans and animals. This
research aimed to assess the abundance of Cryptosporidium and Giardia spp. in borehole
water close to the eMbalenhle wastewater treatment plant and the associated impacts.
Groundwater samples were collected from three boreholes located inside the eMbalenhle
wastewater treatment plant in the period autumn to the summer season. The samples were
collected and analyzed for the physicochemical and microbiological indicator parameters
including the presence of Cryptosporidium and Giardia oo(cyst). The selected parameters
were evaluated and compared with the South African National Standard for Drinking Water
SANS241:2015, South African Water Guidelines (Irrigation, Recreational Activities, and
Aquatic Ecosystem), and guidelines for drinking water as stipulated by the World Health
Organization (WHO). The correlation between the physicochemical and microbiological
parameters with the abundance of the oo(cyst) was determined using Microsoft Excel
correlation analysis.
Some physicochemical parameters of boreholes exceeded the recommended limits except the range of such parameters as total ded solids (TSS) (21-157 mg/L), nitrates (17-
20 mg/L), phosphate (0.2 mg/L), and ammonia (0.1- 0.2 mg/L), which were below the
SANS241:2015 specification of 1.5 mg/L. The results for (pH, conductivity, and chloride)
showed a degree of conformance with all the standards. The E. coli and coliforms were
present in all the boreholes throughout the sampling seasons, with E. coli in the range 7-
900 cfu/100 mL and fecal coliform in the range 9 – 1100 cfu/100 mL. The highest counts
were recorded in autumn. Cryptosporidium and Giardia (oo)cysts were detected by
immunofluorescence and immunomagnetic separation. An analysis of groundwater samples from all the boreholes for Cryptosporidium detected oo(cysts) in autumn in one borehole. An analysis for Giardia on all samples from the two seasons (autumn and summer) showed the presence of a Giardia cyst. In autumn, all boreholes tested positive for Giardia cysts and the highest count for the cysts were recorded in the same period. In summer cysts were detected in only one borehole. The findings of the study can be used by the Govan Mbeki Municipality to improve its existing groundwater quality and monitoring strategy. The microbial parameters exceeded acceptable limits and proved the borehole water to be unsuitable for human consumption, irrigation, recreational activities, and aquatic ecosystem.M. Sc. (Environmental Science)Environmental Science
The impact of an Extensive Reading Programme on the development of French vocabulary of additional language learners
No full textThis study investigated the effects of extensive reading on the development of French vocabulary of Grade 10 learners in the South African school context. Thirty-one learners from a high school in Gauteng participated in one of three groups: (i) a reading group who read 12 children’s picture books, (ii) a listening group who listened to the same stories, and (iii) a control group who neither read nor listened to the stories. All three groups wrote a vocabulary pretest and a posttest to measure growth in vocabulary recognition and knowledge. The reading group outperformed the other groups in terms of vocabulary acquisition and recognition. Words that occurred most frequently in the stories tended to be acquired more readily than words occurring less frequently. Whether they were avid or reluctant readers prior to the study, all participants in the reading group persevered with reading the storybooks throughout the interventionM.A. (Applied Linguistics)Linguistics and Modern Language
Strategies to promote responsible sexual behaviour among school-going adolescents in Mpumalanga province of South Africa
No full textThe purpose of the study was to develop strategies to promote responsible sexual behaviour among school-going adolescents in the Mpumalanga Province of South Africa utilising a sequential explanatory mixed-method design.
The study was conducted in two phases. Phase I (quantitative) included 252 school-going adolescents from two high schools aged 15 to 19 years. A pre-tested self-administered questionnaire was utilised to collect data. The study explored the school-going adolescents’ sexual behaviour patterns, sexual and reproductive health knowledge and information, attitudes towards responsible sexual behaviour, and utilisation of sexual and reproductive health services. Quantitative data were analysed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SSPS) version 20 software. According to Chi-square test results, the p-value of 0.562 suggested no statistically significant relationship between adolescents’ gender and attitudes towards responsible sexual behaviours. However, there was a statistically significant association between adolescents’ age and attitudes, and level of schooling and attitudes towards responsible sexual behaviours at a 5% significant ratio and a p-value of 0.000. There was another association between drinking alcohol and attitudes towards responsible behaviour (p-value 0.003 at a 5% significant level). The Chi-square test suggested acceptance of the existence of an association between getting drunk, getting drugged and casual sex and employing pregnancy prevention measures.
In Phase II, a nested sample of 14 school-going adolescents participated in two qualitative focus group discussions, and 30 key stakeholders participated in face-to-face interviews using interview schedules as data collecting tools. The phase explored the challenges adolescents face in maintaining responsible sexual behaviour and key stakeholders’ views on adolescent sexual behaviours. Creswell’s thematic data analysis approach was used to analyse the qualitative data. The findings revealed that though adolescents showed an excellent understanding of sexual responsibility, there was a high inclination to engage in risky sexual behaviours. Gaps in adolescents’ knowledge of SRH and lack of open communication between adolescents’ parents and partners put them at risk of sexual malpractice. Identified sources of information for SRH, such as religion, media, peers and significant others like teachers, health professionals and non-governmental organisations, played an important role in moulding adolescents’ sexual behaviour, both positively and negatively.
The integrated results of Phase I and Phase II, together with literature control, were used to develop the proposed strategies to promote responsible sexual behaviour among school-going adolescents. These were validated by field experts.
The study supported evidence that there are challenges adolescents meet in their effort to maintain responsible sexual behaviours. Hence the proposed twelve strategies to promote responsible sexual behaviour among school-going adolescents.PhD. (Nursing)Health Studie
The impact of Whatsapp usage on academic performance of high school learners: A case study of Mamabudusha Secondary School
No full textSecondary school education serves as the fundamental basis and cornerstone for acquiring advanced knowledge in tertiary institutions. The persistent decline in academic achievement at the Senior High School level poses a significant risk to the educational system of every nation, particularly South Africa. Hence, it is imperative to conduct a comprehensive examination of the existing body of scholarly work pertaining to academic achievement, with a focus on identifying the many determinants such associal media and their impact on the educational results of students enrolled in Senior High Schools. This approach may potentially reveal deficiencies in the existing body of literature and provide light on additional concerns that have received significant attention in research and publications. This study aims to investigate ways that can be used to ensure correct WhatsApp usage for better academic performance and writing abilities, as well as to identify the negative and positive effects it has on learners and their academic performance. The study was conducted at a public school named Mamabudusha High School located in Mankweng Rural Area called Mamotintane in the Limpopo Province. The target population constituted 462 high school learners aged between 16 and 18. This study allowed a sampling size of 50 learners aged between 16 and 18 years in Mamabudusha High School to participate. The method of lottery has been used to procure a sample of 50 respondents. Closed-endedquestions like Yes/No, True/False, and the Linkert Scale were employed to collect primary data. The findings of this study revealed that students had a positive attitude and showed excitement about incorporating WhatsApp into their academic pursuits. This was mainly due to the ease of accessing the platform on different devices and at any time. The study unveiled a direct correlation between pupils' utilization of WhatsApp and their scholastic achievement. According to the findings of this study, it is evident that WhatsApp has superior effectiveness when compared to traditional ways of teaching and learning. Hence, the researcher recommends that WhatsApp be incorporated as a platform for educational instruction.MA (Communication Science)Communication Scienc
Innovation across cultures: Connecting leadership, identification, and creative behavior in organizations
No full textInnovation is considered essential for today's organizations to survive and thrive. Researchers have also stressed the importance of leadership as a driver of followers' innovative work behavior (FIB). Yet, despite a large amount of research, three areas remain understudied: (a) The relative importance of different forms of leadership for FIB; (b) the mechanisms through which leadership impacts FIB; and (c) the degree to which relationships between leadership and FIB are generalizable across cultures. To address these lacunae, we propose an integrated model connecting four types of positive leadership behaviors, two types of identification (as mediating variables), and FIB. We
tested our model in a global data set comprising responses of N = 7,225 participants from 23 countries,grouped into nine cultural clusters. Our results indicate that perceived LMX quality was the strongest relative predictor of FIB. Furthermore, the relationships
between both perceived LMX quality and identity leadership with FIB were mediated by social identification. The indirect effect of LMX on FIB via social identification was stable across clusters, whereas the indirect effects of the other forms of leadership on FIB via social identification were stronger in countries high versus low on collectivism. Power distance did not influence the relations.Psycholog
De-risking renewable energy investment towards a low carbon development pathway : the case of South Africa
Get PDFSouth Africa is a country that depends heavily on coal to produce energy. With the global outcry
to address climate change challenges, a shift to renewable energy sources is critical. The change
from large carbon footprint power sources (e.g., coal power stations) to renewable energy
sources, comes with its own issues such as cost of production, energy transmission, barriers to
entry, availability of power, power quality issues, resource location, information barrier, politics
and intermittent nature of renewable energy options (Dey et al., 2022). The main dangers and
obstacles to the growth of renewable energy are examined in this thesis. Focus was placed on
de-risking elements that could be considered to encourage investment in renewable energy.
Among these were financial, political, regulatory, and policy concerns are only a few of the
hazards that have been highlighted. De-risking investments in renewable energy has been
identified as one of the essential pillars for accelerating the adoption of renewable technology
for many emerging nations. Using the De-risk Investment Framework and Financial Tool of
2013 from the United Nations Development Programme (United Nations Development
Programme, 2015), this study examined the energy and policy landscape in South Africa. The
study identified the financial risks and other barriers that discourage the deployment of
renewable energy projects in Nkangala District of Mpumalanga, in South Africa. Furthermore,
policy instruments that promote renewable energy investments in South Africa are evaluated.
Finally, the study proposes sound and effective ways of de-risking renewable energy investment
towards a low carbon development pathway in South Africa.M. Com (Economics)Economic