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Schools Effectiveness and Schools Improvement in South Africa: A Guide for School Leaders
No full textOnly bibliographic information of the titleThis book provides a comprehensive account how school leaders conceptualize the notion of school improvement and school effectiveness in a South African school context. The various authors have critically examined crucial themes, accentuating school improvement and school effectiveness and encapsulating the pertinent perspectives of curriculum leadership, resource management, professional development, school administration, school development planning, inclusion and equity, student management and the role of school management teams. This book is targeted at aspiring and practicing school leaders, school administrators, policymakers and scholars of school leadership and management across different levels who intend positively changing the education landscape of not only South Africa, but also other developing and underdeveloped countries.Curriculum and Instructional Studie
Guidelines to improve antibiotic prescribing practice at primary healthcare facilities in Ethiopia
No full textBackground
Antibiotics are the most frequently used medicines in healthcare facilities. Since their
discovery, they have played a pivotal role in combating infectious diseases and
maintaining health, especially in developing countries where such diseases still remain
as a big challenge. In recent years, however, the benefits derived from antibiotic use
are facing great challenges due to the emergence of resistance where many bacteria
have become resistant to the most commonly used first-line antibiotics. The major
driver of antimicrobial resistance is known to be the huge increase in antibiotic
prescribing, especially in low- and middle-income countries.
Studies conducted on the rate of antibiotic resistance in Ethiopia have shown that the
majority of bacteria that cause infections have developed a considerable degree of
resistance to commonly used first-line antibiotics. In this country, antibiotics are
prescribed at a far higher rate than the optimal value recommended by the World
Health Organization. This exposes the available antibiotics to the risk of resistance.
Purpose
The purpose of this study was to describe the rate and patterns of antibiotic
prescribing, explore the factors that affect the decisions to prescribe antibiotics, and
identify interventions that should be implemented with a view to developing evidence-
based and theory-informed intervention guidelines to improve antibiotic prescribing at
primary healthcare facilities in Ethiopia.
Methods
Guided by the PRECEDE-PROCEED Model, the study was conducted using an
explanatory sequential mixed method approach. In the first phase of the study
(quantitative), data was collected from 2 000 prescriptions and patient medical charts
sampled from ten randomly selected, public health centres situated in five of the sub cities in Addis Ababa City Administration. The second phase of the study (qualitative)
was undertaken through in-depth interview of 20 prescribers from five of the health
centres, as well as with 22 key informants from the five health centres, five sub-city
health offices and the Health Bureau. The quantitative data was analysed using SPSS
version 28. Thematic content analysis supported by ATLAS.ti 9 was used to analyse
the qualitative data. Intervention guidelines to improve antibiotic prescribing were then
developed by integrating findings of the qualitative and quantitative studies.
Results
The average number of medicines per prescription was 1.87 ranging from 1.71 to 2.11
among the health centres. The percentage of prescriptions containing one or more
antibiotic was 52.5%, with wide variation (41.5% to 61.5%) among the health centres
included in the study. The rate of antibiotic prescribing was shown to have a statistically
significant correlation with the patient’s age, the qualification of the prescriber and the
season of prescribing.
Amoxicillin, ciprofloxacin, cloxacillin, doxycycline and cotrimoxazole accounted for
nearly 80% of the antibiotics prescribed, with amoxicillin (41.2%), ciprofloxacin (14.1%)
and cloxacillin (9.6) being the top three most commonly prescribed. About 56% of the
prescribed antibiotics belong to the Penicillins category and majority (92.7%) of the
antibiotics were prescribed for oral administration. Nearly 77% belong to the Access
category and the remaining 23% to the Watch category of the World Health
Organization’s Access, Watch and Reserve Classification of antibiotics.
Upper respiratory tract infection (21.7%), urinary tract infections (13.1%) and topical
infections – skin, eye and ear (9.7%) were the most common diagnoses for prescribing
the antibiotics. About 37.3% of the cases for prescribing of antibiotics were respiratory
tract infections, the majority (90.7%) being for upper respiratory tract infections. Of
those prescribed for respiratory tract cases, 51.6% were found appropriate and 34.9%
inappropriate. The types of inappropriate antibiotic therapy included unnecessary
antibiotic use (53%); high dose (16%); need for additional antibiotic (14%); not
choosing the right antibiotic (11%); and low dose (6%).
Cost wise, antibiotics accounted for 36.2% of the total cost of medicines prescribed,
with the majority of that being for amoxicillin (39.8%), cloxacillin (15.7%) and
ciprofloxacin (10.3%). Five of them (amoxicillin, cloxacillin, ciprofloxacin,
amoxicillin/clavulanic acid and cotrimoxazole) accounted for about 81% of the total
cost of antibiotics prescribed. Antibiotics prescribed for all kinds of upper respiratory
tract cases accounted for over one-third of the total cost of antibiotics prescribed.
There were various kinds of problems with the prescription of antibiotics and their use
at health centres, including the repeated use of antibiotics for the same diagnosis; use
of antibiotics for minor problems; using high level antibiotics; discontinuing medication;
and self-medication with antibiotics. The decision of healthcare providers to prescribe
antibiotics is influenced by various predisposing, enabling and reinforcing factors. The
factors are related with prescribers, patients and the health system, including gaps in
the knowledge of health professionals on the use of antibiotics and resistance, low
awareness of patients and the public on antimicrobial resistance, shortage of
antibiotics and laboratory reagents, lack of updated information on the national and
local antibiotic resistance pattern, patient pressure, patient load, excessive antibiotic
prescribing at private health facilities, and the dispensing of antibiotics without
prescription at private pharmacies.
Though not as such heavily focused on antibiotics and resistance, various initiatives
have been implemented at health centres that could contribute to improving the
prescription of antibiotics and their use. Various interventions have been identified
based on which intervention guidelines are developed to improve antibiotic prescribing
at primary healthcare facilities. Challenges that might be faced when implementing
these proposed interventions include shortage of personnel; financial constraints; resistance to change from professionals; shortage of medicines and laboratory
reagents; inadequate government commitment; and resistance from the private sector
because of the profit-motive.
Conclusion
There is high rate of antibiotic prescribing at health centres that far exceeds the
recommended rate for primary healthcare facilities. The majority of antibiotics were
prescribed for upper respiratory tract infections which are known to be mostly viral
origin. Most of the antibiotics prescribed belong to the Access group of the World
Health Organization’s Access, Watch and Reserve Classification. Antibiotics
accounted for over one-third of the cost of medicines prescribed. Despite prescribers
and key informants being aware of antibiotic resistance, its causes and consequences,
there are still various types of antibiotic prescribing problems at health centres. The
prescribing decisions of healthcare providers are influenced by several factors that are
categorised as predisposing, enabling or reinforcing factors. Intervention guidelines
that will be used to improve the prescribing of antibiotics at health centres were
developed based on the interventions suggested by the study participants.
urther studies on medicine use are required to appropriately understand the rate and
patterns of antibiotic prescribing, and prescribers’ adherence to the new Primary
Healthcare Clinical guidelines in managing commonly encountered cases such as
upper respiratory tract infections at primary healthcare facilities. Research should be
undertaken to evaluate the effectiveness of the intervention guidelines developed
following PRECEED component (implementation, and monitoring and evaluation
phases) of the PRECEDE-PROCEED Model that guided this study. The piloting and
implementation of the guidelines requires the active involvement of all stakeholders
under the leadership of Ministry of Health and the Health Bureau. The anticipated
challenges need to be taken into consideration in implementing the interventions.D.Phil. (Public Health)Health Studie
Backpacking as an inner journey – an empirical-theological examination of the spirituality of backpackers with missiological implications
No full textAbstract in English with German, Afrikaans and Xhosa translationsWhile many religious institutions in Western societies are confronted with challenging changes, non-institutional, individualised forms of spirituality are gaining relevance. Based on this, backpacking trips are proving to be opportunities for individual spiritual experiences and personal transformation.
The aim of this research is to answer the question of the spiritual aspects of backpacking trips from the perspective of Christian spirituality. The research question is: "What spiritual interests, attitudes and practices can be identified among backpackers and to what extent can connections to Christian spirituality be found?" The empirical part of the study focussed on German-speaking backpackers.
The data was collected using qualitative guided interviews with photo-based elements and analysed using qualitative content analysis methods according to Kuckartz. The methodological framework was provided by Faix's empirical-theological practice cycle.
The results provide an insight into the various spiritually significant experiences of backpackers when travelling. Such experiences were observed among backpackers with and without a consciously spir-itual travel motivation. Significant missiological implications could be derived from the study. With regard to the spiritually meaningful experiences and travellers' extensive openness to them, Christian spirituality can provide valuable impulses as an experiential component of the Christian faith.Terwyl talle godsdienstige instellings in Westerse samelewings voor uitdagende veranderings te staan kom, ontwikkel rugsakstaptogte in geleenthede vir individuele spirituele ervarings en persoonlike transformasie.
Die doel van hierdie navorsing is om die vraag oor die spirituele aspekte van rugstaptogte vanuit die perspektief van Christelike spiritualiteit te beantwoord. Die navorsingsvraag is: “Watter geestelike belangstellings, houdings en gebruike kan onder rugsakstappers identifiseer word en in watter mate kan skakels met Christelike spiritualiteit gevind word?” Die empiriese deel van die studie het op Duits-sprekende stappers gefokus.
Die data is met behulp van kwalitatiewe semi-gestruktureerde onderhoude met fotogebaseerde elemente versamel, wat deur middel van kwalitatiewe inhoudsontleding ontleed is, soos opgeteken deur Kuckartz. Die metodologiese raamwerk is deur Faix se empiries-teologiese praktyksiklus verskaf.
Die resultate van die studie het ‘n indruk gegee van die verskillende spiritueel betekenisvolle ervarings van reisigers tydens hul staptogte. Sulke ervarings is waargeneem onder stappers met en sonder bewustelike spirituele motiverings. Belangrike missiologiese implikasies vir die dissipline van Christelike spiritualiteit het in die hantering van hierdie onderwerp na vore gekomNgeli xa amaziko amaninzi ezenkolo kuluntu laseNtshona ejamelene notshintsho olungumngeni, uhambo loonothwal’impahlana (backpackaging trips) luphuhlisa amathuba amava angokomoya kunye nokuguquka komntu ngamnye.
Injongo yolu phando kukuphendula umbuzo weenkalo zangokomoya zoonothwal’impahlana ngokwembono yangokomoya wobuKrestu. Umbuzo wophando uthi: "Ngowuphi umdla wangokomoya, iindlela ezithile zokucinga kunye neenkqubo ezinokuchongwa phakathi koonothwal’impahlana (backpackers) kwaye lungafunyanwa kangakanani unxibelelwano lwangokomoya wobuKrestu?" Inxalenye yobungqina obucacileyo nobuqinisekisiweyo bolu phando igxile koonothwal’impahlana abathetha isiJamani.
Idatha iqokelelwe ngokusebenzisa udliwanondlebe oluthe lwakhokelwa luphandontyilazwi kunye nezinto ezifunekayo ezisekelwe kwimifanekiso, yaze yahlalutywa ngokusebenzisa iindlela zohlalutyo lomxholo zophandontyilazwi ngokokukaKuckartz. Isikhokelo sendlela yokwenza uphando sibonelelwe yiFaix's empirical-theological praxis.
Iziphumo zophando zinikeza imbono yamava ahlukileyo abalulekileyo ngokomoya woonothwal’impahlana xa bethatha uhambo. Amava anjalo aye aqwalaselwa phakathi koonothwal’impahlana abaneempembelelo zangokomoya kunye nabo abanganazo ezi mpembelelo. Ekujonganeni nesi sihloko, kuye kwavela iziphumo ezibalulekileyo zezifundo ngomsebenzi, iindlela nenjongo yobuKrestu kwinkalo yangokomoya wobuKrestuWährend viele religiöse Institutionen in westlichen Gesellschaften mit herausfordernden Verände-rungen konfrontiert sind, gewinnen nicht-institutionelle, individualisierte Spiritualitätsformen an Re-levanz. Davon ausgehend erweisen sich Backpacking-Reisen als Möglichkeiten individueller spiritu-eller Erfahrungen und persönlicher Transformation.
Ziel dieser Forschungsarbeit ist es, die Frage nach den spirituellen Aspekten von Backpacking-Reisen aus der Perspektive christlicher Spiritualität zu beantworten. Die Forschungsfrage lautet: „Welche spirituellen Interessen, Haltungen und Praktiken sind unter Backpackern zu identifizieren und inwie-fern lassen sich Anknüpfungspunkte zu christlicher Spiritualität finden?“ Der Fokus lag im empiri-schen Teil auf deutschsprachigen Backpackern.
Die Daten wurden mithilfe qualitativer Leitfadeninterviews mit fotobasierten Elementen erhoben und mit Methoden der qualitativen Inhaltsanalyse nach Kuckartz ausgewertet. Den methodologischen Rahmen bot der empirisch-theologische Praxiszyklus nach Faix.
Die Ergebnisse geben einen Einblick in die diversen spirituell bedeutsamen Erfahrungen von Back-packern auf ihren Reisen. Solche konnten bei Backpackern mit und ohne bewusst spirituelle Reise-motivation beobachtet werden. Aus der Studie ließen sich wesentliche missiologische Implikationen ableiten. Im Hinblick auf die spirituell bedeutsamen Erfahrungen und die weitgehende Offenheit da-für auf Reisen, kann christliche Spiritualität als erfahrbare Komponente des christlichen Glaubens wertvolle Impulse setzen.M. Th. (Christian Spirituality)Christian Spirituality, Church History and Missiolog
An exploration of the use of intelligence-led policing in combating cybercrimes in South Africa
No full textText in EnglishThe study explores the use of Intelligence-Led Policing to combat cybercrime in South Africa through intensive literature and empirical research. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with members of the South African Police Service and members of the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation in the Limpopo, Gauteng, Mpumalanga, Free State and North West provinces, to obtain their lived experiences on the use of Intelligence-Led Policing to combat cybercrime. The dynamics of cybercrime and its impact on the economy is dealt with, including the challenges in using Intelligence-Led Policing and specific factors that restrict the prevention, investigation and successful prosecution of cybercriminals.
Indicating the value of Intelligence-Led Policing in policing operations and how such value could be used in the fight against cybercrime should the identified challenges that affect the effective and efficient use of this policing approach be addressed. Specific recommendations are made on the conceptual implementation of Intelligence-Led Policing, and misconceptions on the use of Intelligence-Led Policing, the expiration of investigating licences of cybercrime investigators as well as the reluctance of some cybercrime victims to testify, in an attempt to protect the reputation of their companies.D. Phil. (Criminal Justice)Criminal and Procedural La
Quality of obstetric and newborn care in health centers of Addis Ababa City: using the WHO quality framework
Get PDFAbstract
Objective
The study aims to assess the quality of obstetric and newborn care using the WHO quality framework.
Design
The study used explanatory sequential mixed methods design.
Setting
This study was conducted in 50 health centers in Addis Ababa city administration from January 25 to December 31, 2021.
Methods
A total of 50 health centers were surveyed using a structured questionnaire and 500 women in the postpartum period were interviewed using a structured questionnaire. Delivery records of the 500 women were reviewed using a structured checklist. A total of 338 midwives were interviewed using a structured questionnaire. The quantitative data was analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS).
Results
The study revealed that only a third of the 50 health centers were providing good quality care (a quality score ≥ 75%). All the health centers had the physical resources (100%) to deliver obstetric and newborn care. The majority of the health centers had a system for actionable information (92%), functional referral (80%), and providing dignified care (80%). On the other hand, only a few of the health centers met the quality threshold for effective communication (24%), evidence-based practice of routine obstetric and newborn care (36%), and availability of mechanisms to support and motivate skilled birth attendants (24%). None of the health centers met the quality threshold for emotional support during labour and delivery. Obstetric caregivers’ high workload and job dissatisfaction were barriers to quality care.
Conclusion
Ensuring quality obstetric and newborn care needs effective quality improvement interventions that aim to ensure women had effective communication, emotional support, and dignity during labour and delivery. Reducing the workload and increasing motivation of birth attendants play a critical role in improving the quality of care
Hypervalent Iodonium-catalysed Debenzylation of Aryl Benzyl Ethers
Get PDFThis work entails an alternative, convenient and efficient debenzylation method for phenolic benzyl ethers containing electron-rich substituents on the phenolic ring using a catalytic amount of Barluenga’s reagent (IPy2BF4) in the presence of triflic acid as shown in Scheme 1.
Scheme 1: Proposed general method for the debenzylation of benzyl ethers using IPy2BF4 in acidic conditions
A number of mono-substituted aryl benzyl ethers containing electron donating (EDG) or electron withdrawing group (EWG) substituent at the ortho, meta and para position were employed to probe the electron effect of the debenzylation method. The electron donating groups (EDG) showed better rates as compared to electron withdrawing groups (EWG), while halogenated (mon-substituted) derivatives showed lower yields. We found that this method works better than previously published methods for debenzylation of a number of estrone derivatives.Chemistr
The Psychosocial Profile of Women Who Defaulted Option B+ HIV Treatment: An Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis Study
Get PDFPurpose: The study explored the psychosocial profile of women who defaulted Option B+ HIV treatment at Chitungwiza
Municipality clinics in Zimbabwe. Option B+ is a strategy to prevent mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) of HIV to reduce
MTCT rate to less than or equal to 5%.
Methods: An interpretive phenomenological analysis (IPA) design was used. Data were collected from 04 September to
12 October 2020 on twelve purposively selected HIV-positive breastfeeding women aged 18 to 40 years, who defaulted Option B+
HIV treatment. Unstructured individual face-to-face interviews were utilised. Data were analysed thematically using the interpretive
phenomenological analysis framework for data analysis.
Results: The study findings revealed that participants experienced the following: psychosocial and emotional challenges due to HIV
positive results, shown emotional distress and suicidal tendencies which affected their mental health. Their relationship was derailed
due to abuse, infidelity, partner’s high-risk behaviour and to lack of support stemming from their partners and family members.
Conclusion: Strengthening adherence support interventions and effective counselling on HIV-positive status disclosure and male
partner involvement is important for retaining women in care and for improving their quality of life. Comprehensive, integrated, and
tailor-made interventions should be adopted. Couple HIV counselling and testing should be encouraged. Psychosocial and mental
health should be encouraged. Furthermore, community sensitization, risk reduction behaviour, education on purpose and side effects of
ART as well as the benefits of Option B+ to new enrolments should be intensified and strengthened to minimize defaulting of treatment
and LTFUP. Vigorous patient tracing and visit reminders help retain women in care.Health Studie
Parental involvement in special schools of Gauteng east district as experienced by school principals and parents
Get PDFThe significance of Parental Involvement (PI) in the education of all children irrespective of their learning disabilities/abilities is crucial to enhance their scholastic performance, extra-curricular, skills development, promotion of positive behavior, consistent school attendance and minimization of school drop-out. The purpose of this phenomenological study was to establish the lived experiences of the principals and parents with learners in Special Schools (SS) with regards to PI. The objective was to perceive their lived experiences to explore affordances and constrains to PI in supporting learners in special schools with a view to forwarding recommendations to enhance PI.
Qualitative methodology was used to generate data, and phenomenology was used as the research design. The sample comprised of ten (10) participants comprising of five (5) special school principals, and five (5) parents of learners attending SS in the East District of Gauteng, South Africa. The data collection tools were semi-structured individual face-to-face interviews that were audio recorded and transcribed for analysis.
Related literature has lauded PI as an excellent technique for the promotion of learners’ achievements, but schools continue to battle with how to effectively involve parents. The findings of the research study revealed contextual factors that contribute to the limitation of parental involvement in the SS of Gauteng East. These factors included socio-economic status, low level of parental education, stigmatization of children enrolled in SS, lack of knowledge and skills, absence of implementing legal policies frameworks on PI and lack of support to parents who are inactive, uninvolved and unreachable. The study, grounded in Epstein’s Six Types of Support to Parental Involvement, established there is a lack of parental involvement with regards to learning at home, volunteering, two-way communication and cooperative decision making.
The study however, also revealed that the school principals and the schools’ occupational therapists facilitated PI by collaborating with the community through career development and through PI with regards to parenting utilizing support specialists such as the occupational therapist, nurses, class assistance and the School Based Support Team (SBST) within the schools.
Participants reported that there is a need to implement the constructs of Epstein’s models of PI to influence the lives of learners holistically, while respecting and embracing that individuals have multiple learning developments in an inclusive setting. This study investigated PI through supportive environments by exploring principals and parents’ lived experiences with their children’s educational programmes, and views about the obstacles that could prevent them from participating. This will assist with identifying the advancements that will promote effective PI.M. Ed. (Inclusive Education)Inclusive Educatio
Magnetite-impregnated biochar of parthenium hysterophorus for adsorption of Cr(VI) from tannery industrial wastewater
No full textAbstract
The tannery industry inevitably generates toxic and catastrophic wastewater, which results in a huge threat to public health and water resources. Therefore, this work aimed to synthesize parthenium hysterophorus-based biochar–Fe3O4 composite for removal of Cr(VI) from tannery wastewater under 34 full factorial experimental designs of the Box–Behnken, which was analyzed using response surface methodology under four independent factors of pH (3, 6, and 9), initial Cr(VI) concentrations (40, 70, and 100 mg/L), contact times (30, 60, and 90 min), and adsorbent doses (20, 60, and 100 mg/100 mL). This composite adsorbent was described by a high BET surface area of 237.4 m2/g, XRD prominent peaks, SEM morphology corroborate and FTIR multifunctionalities of O–H at 3296 cm−1, the vibration of ketone C–OH at 1240 cm−1, and the vibration of C–O–C at 1147 cm−1 and Fe–O stretching at 542 cm−1. The maximum Cr(IV) removal efficiency of 91.8% was recorded at an initial Cr(VI) concentration of 40 mg/L, pH of 3, adsorbent dose of 100 mg/100 mL, and a contact time of 90 min, whereas the minimum Cr(VI) removal of 17.3% was observed at an initial Cr(VI) concentration of 100 mg/L, 20 mg/100 mL of adsorbent dose, pH of 9, and contact time of 30 min. The concentration of Cr(VI) in real wastewater was determined to be 85.13 mg/L and its remediation was found to be 81.8%. Langmuir’s model was the best fit with experimental data at R2 0.99 and qmax 400 mg/g, showing that the adsorption process was homogenous and monolayer. In conclusion, the adsorption results were encouraging, and biochar–Fe3O4 appears to be a potential candidate for Cr removal from wastewater