21838 research outputs found
Sort by
Prospects of rearing selected southern African swarming insects for animal feed: a review on insect farming and the economic value of edible insects
Get PDFAbstract
The potential of insects as animal feed is currently under doubtful spotlight due to the limited number of reared insect species and fewer farm or biotechnological companies producing insects on a large scale for animal feed worldwide. Again, the costs of incorporating reared insects in animal diets as an alternative replacement for expensive conventional protein sources (CPS), mainly fishmeal and soybean meal, remain uncertain due to gradual increase in the sales prices of farmed insects. To date, black soldier fly, yellow mealworm and cricket are the only insect species dominating in the insect farming industry at limited supply. This triggers the need to expand insect farming through the introduction of additional insect species while monitoring the costs of insect-based diets. The commercial rearing of swarming edible insects with a good nutritional profile, such as termites alates (Macrotermes spp.), migratory locusts (Locusta migratoria) and mopane worms (Imbresia belina) found in Southern Africa could potentially become an alternative solution to expand insect farming in addition to the commonly reared insect species. However, there is limited information available on the reproductive ability and economic value of swarming insects as animal feed. Therefore, this paper will provide an overview of the possible rearing of selected swarming insects as well as the profitability of using insect-based diets. It will also give clarity on whether the mass production of edible insects will be cost-effective or not by discussing and comparing recent sales prices of various edible insect as compared to that of CPS in animal diets
Adoption of Artificial Intelligence to manage records in support of the claims management system at the Road Accident Fund in South Africa
Get PDFText in EnglishThe purpose of this study was to investigate the adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) to manage records in support of the claims management system at the Road Accident Fund (RAF) in South Africa. The convergent mixed methods research was applied, and data were collected through document analysis, interviews, observation, and questionnaires. The sampled population of the study included one acting senior manager for support services, the Manager for Correspondence and Documents Management Services, senior administrative officers, administrative officers, junior administrative officers and administrative assistants. Quantitative data results were presented descriptively and by means of tables, graphs and figures, whereas the qualitative data results were quoted verbatim. The findings revealed that the records are not being adequately managed to support the claims management system at the Road Accident Fund. Based on the research findings, the study recommends the adoption of artificial intelligence by the Road Accident Fund, so as to digitise and manage records to support the claims management system. An AI-powered framework has been proposed to guide the current paper-based system towards digitisation.D. Litt. et Phil. (Information Science)Information Scienc
Iphethelo elifiphele kanye nemingcele eyandisiwe kumkhuba wobuciko obuphakathi : umthelela womuntu, we-anamofikhi yobuchwepheshe bedijithali
No full textAbstracts in English, Afrikaans and ZuluDigital technology and its associated cultures have profoundly impacted art
practice, leading to the emergence of posthuman identity and artistic forms that
blur the boundaries of art ontologies. Examining key posthuman concepts, this
hypothesis on digital culture illustrates the multifaceted nature of posthuman
identity, which is preoccupied with rituals of masking and constructs of imagined
identity. These are issues investigated through notions of self-representation in
digital culture; role-play; masking and ritual in performance; and the mask as a
multifaceted media entity. Posthuman identity is characterised by its
manifestation within a networked culture comprising entanglement, embodiment,
and becoming, encompassing both human and nonhuman entities. It is argued
that blurry edges and expanded boundaries in art production are associated with
intermediality, scrutinised through the presence of affect and emotions in
multisensory experiences of installation art and liminality (a state of inbetweenness)
at the intersection of different media forms.Die diepgaande uitwerking van digitale tegnologie en die meegaande kulture op
kunspraktyk het tot die verskyning van posthumanistiese identiteit en kunsvorme
wat die grense van kunsontologieë vervaag, aanleiding gegee. Hierdie hipotese
oor digitale kultuur illustreer by wyse van ’n ondersoek van kernbegrippe oor
posthumanisme, die veelvlakkige aard van posthumanistiese identiteit, wat deur ’n
vooringenomenheid met rituele van maskering en konstrukte van verbeelde
identiteit gekenmerk word. Hierdie kwessies word aan die hand van begrippe
rakende selfvoorstelling in digitale kultuur; rolspel; maskering en rituele in optrede
(performance); en die masker as ’n veelvlakkige media-entiteit ondersoek. Dit is
tiperend van posthumanistiese identiteit om binne ’n genetwerkte kultuur
bestaande uit vervlegting, vergestalting en wording, wat beide menslike en
niemenslike entiteite insluit, te manifesteer. Daar word aangevoer dat vervaagde
buitelyne en uitgebreide grense in kunsproduksie met intermedialiteit
gepaardgaan, soos aangetoon deur die bestudering van die teenwoordigheid van
affek en emosies in multisensoriese ervarings van installasiekuns en liminaliteit (’n
tussenin-staat) by die kruispunt van verskillende mediavorme.Ubuchwepheshe bedijithali kanye namasiko ahlobene nawo kube nomthelela
omkhulu ekwenzeni ubuciko, okuholele ekuveleni kokubonakala kwangemuva
lomuntu kanye nezindlela zobuciko ezifiphalisa imingcele yama-ontholoji
wobuciko. Ukuhlola imiqondo eyinhloko yangemuva komuntu, le nkolelo-ze yesiko
ledijithali ibonisa imvelo enezici eziningi zokuthi lingubani ingemuva lomuntu,
ematasatasa ngemikhuba yokuveli obala kanye nokwakhiwa kobunikazi
obucatshangelwayo. Lezi yizindaba eziphenywa ngemibono yokuzimelela
esikweni ledijithali; umdlalo wokulingisa; ukwebatha isikhumba semvu kanye
nesiko ekusebenzeni; kanye nokwembatha isikhumba semvu njengenhlangano
yemidiya enezici eziningi. Ubunikazi bangemuva bobuntu bubonakala
ngokuvezwa kwabo ngaphakathi kwesiko lenethiwekhi elihlanganisa
ukubambelela, ukufana nomuntu nokuba, okuhlanganisa kokubili izinhlangano
ezingabantu nezingezona ezomuntu. Kuphikiswana ngokuthi amaphethelo
afiphele kanye nemingcele enwetshiwe ekukhiqizweni kobuciko kuhlotshaniswa
nokuphakathi, kucutshungulwa ngokuba khona kokuthinta kanye nemizwa
kokuhlangenwe nakho okuhlukahlukene kobuciko bokufaka nokukhawulela (isimo
sokuphakathi) ezimpambanweni zamafomu ahlukene emidiya.M.A. (Visual Arts)Art and Musi
Towards a framework for enhancing employees' cybersecurity policy awareness in financial institutions
No full textIn an era marked by technological reliance and the escalating frequency of cyberattacks, prioritising cybersecurity has become imperative for organisations, particularly in the financial sector. The safeguarding of financial data and assets requires measures beyond conventional tools such as firewalls and encryption. However, a critical vulnerability persists in the form of the human element, as many financial sector employees lack adequate training in cybersecurity best practices, leaving organisations susceptible to cyber threats. To address this vulnerability, financial institutions must proactively implement effective awareness programs centred on cybersecurity policies. These programs aim to elevate employee awareness of risks, provide knowledge on identifying and responding to threats, and instilling a pervasive culture of cybersecurity. Despite the acknowledged importance of such programs, a noticeable research gap exists regarding their effectiveness and best practices.
This study bridges this gap by proposing a comprehensive framework to enhance cybersecurity policy awareness programs within the financial sector. Informed by an extensive review of relevant literature and insights from interviews with cybersecurity experts and financial professionals, the framework offers practical guidelines to fortify cybersecurity initiatives, ultimately mitigating the potential for cyberattacks.
Furthermore, employing a quantitative monomethod, the research gathered perspectives from employees of financial institutions, encompassing both IT and non-IT staff. The results unveiled a significant disparity in the impact of cybersecurity policy awareness programs on employee behaviour, exposing gender differences with males exhibiting a higher likelihood of possessing advanced cybersecurity knowledge. Recognising the implications for women's empowerment in the cybersecurity field, the framework incorporates gender mainstreaming.
To address challenges, the study recommends proactive measures, including comprehensive training programs and reporting procedures, to enhance cybersecurity knowledge across all employees. Emphasising the urgency of addressing gender disparities to foster inclusivity and diversity, the refined framework strategically positions itself to tackle compliance issues. It aims to contribute to the cultivation of a robust cybersecurity culture, ensuring a holistic and inclusive approach to policy adherence within financial organisationsM. Sc. (Computing)School of Computin
Innovativeness and management models in implementing and managing digital learning in Gauteng universities
Get PDFPrior research indicates that the use of organisational innovativeness and management models has primarily been observed in firms from developed countries. Research has revealed that this factor contributes to the effectiveness and competitiveness of a business. Preliminary investigations revealed that most organisations in developing nations, such as South Africa, do not adopt these tactics and initiatives. This necessitated the research, which was carried out at six universities in the Gauteng region. The problem that was identified was that these universities do not use organisational innovativeness strategies and management models when they are discharging their core functions, which are teaching and learning, as well as digital learning. The aim of this study is to determine if these universities do have organisational innovativeness strategies and if there are any management models that are being used to ensure that they are efficient and competitive. The researcher aims to ascertain whether these universities have established any indices to gauge their innovativeness. The study would culminate in the development of an innovation framework that these universities could use to measure their level of innovativeness. During preliminary inquiries, it was discovered that the notion of organisational innovativeness is not practiced in these six universities; some use it unintentionally. It is felt that more research should be done to identify whether these notions exist, and if not, they should be added alongside generic management models. It is expected that this will help these universities become more efficient, sustainable, and competitive, as has been demonstrated with organisations in developed countries. The research method that has been used is the quantitative research methodology for collecting and analysing data. Different theories have been used during the process of conducting this research. According to the findings of this study, it was established that, indeed, most of these universities do not have organisational innovative strategies and initiatives that they are using when it comes to digital learning, teaching, and research. Based on the findings, it is recommended that when these universities are developing their strategies, they can use any of the recommended organisational innovativeness initiatives and couple them with recommended generic management models as proposed by Birkinshaw (2017) to improve their efficiency and competitiveness as proposed by previous researchers in developed countries. It is also suggested that they employ the proposed innovation indices to assess their level of innovativeness. Lastly, it's crucial to align the university's overall strategies, innovation plans, digital learning strategies, and management models.D.B.L.Business Managemen
The implementation of History curriculum reforms at secondary school level in the Manicaland province of Zimbabwe
No full textAbstracts in English, Afrikaans and ZuluThe aim of this study was to establish the extent to which the mandatory study of the subject History was successfully implemented in some secondary schools in the Manicaland province of Zimbabwe. While this subject is no longer mandatory in the Zimbabwean school curriculum, it was deemed necessary to conduct this study because, just like a recurring pandemic, lessons picked out of this study are considered useful inferences to address future occurrences in this category. Interpretivism was adopted as the research paradigm of this qualitative study. A case study was used as a research type. The study involved curriculum experts, education officials, secondary school heads, and History teachers as participants. Interviews, focus group discussions and a document study were the data-gathering methods. Purposive and snowball sampling were used to identify the participants of the study. The thematic analysis method was applied to analyse and interpret research data. The study established two opposing views concerning the rationale for the mandatory study of school History, namely to benefit the learners as individuals and to benefit ZANU PF as a political party. The study also established that the use of a circular by the education ministry to disseminate the curriculum information did not necessarily guarantee the successful implementation of the reforms. For the period 2002 to 2016, no efforts had been made by the education ministry to monitor or evaluate the extent to which implementation of the reforms succeeded owing to a shortage of resources. The study established three submissions regarding the trends of the implementation of the History curriculum reforms in the Mutare and Mutasa district secondary schools, namely a complete curriculum implementation, a fractional curriculum implementation and a null curriculum implementation. Based on the findings, the study recommends the adoption of the curriculum consensus model, the matching of the curriculum reality codes when planning and designing a History curriculum, securing academic freedom for the History teachers, and that patriotism needs to be cultivated in learners through unforced and democratic History teaching and learning. The thesis is concluded by sign-posting areas that need further investigation.Die doel van hierdie studie was om vas te stel tot watter mate die verpligte studie van die vak Geskiedenis suksesvol in sekondere skole in die Manicaland-provinsie in Zimbabwe geïmplementeer is. Alhoewel die vak nie meer verpligtend in die Zimbabwiese skoolkurrikulum is nie, is dit nodig geag om die studie uit te voer omdat, net soos ’n herhalende pandemie, lesse wat uit hierdie studie geneem is, beskou word as nuttige gevolgtrekkings om toekomstige gebeure in hierdie kategorie te hanteer. Interpretivisme is aangeneem as die navorsingsparadigma van hierdie kwalitatiewe studie. ’n Gevallestudie is gebruik as ’n navorsingsvoorbeeld. Die deelnemers van die studie het bestaan uit kurrikulumkundiges, onderrigbeamptes, skoolhoofde in sekondêre skole, en Geskiedenis-onderwysers. Onderhoude, fokusgroepbesprekings en ’n dokumentstudie is as data-insamelingsmetodes aangewend. Doelbewuste en sneeubal-steekproefneming is gebruik om die deelnemers van die studie te identifiseer. Die tematiese ontledingsmetode is toegepas om die navorsingsdata te ontleed en te interpreteer. Die studie het vasgestel dat daar twee opponerende sienings is oor die beweegrede vir die verpligte skoolvak Geskiedenis, naamlik om die leerders as individue te bevoordeel en om ZANU PF as ’n politieke party te bevoordeel. In die studie is daar ook vasgestel dat die gebruik van ’n omsendbrief deur die onderwysdepartement om die kurrikulum-inligting te versprei nie noodwendig die suksesvolle implementering van die hervormings gewaarborg het nie. Van 2002 tot 2016 is daar, weens ’n tekort aan hulpbronne, geen pogings aangewend deur die onderwysdepartement om die mate waarin die hervormings suksesvol was te evalueer nie. Die studie het vasgestel dat daar drie voorleggings is wat die neigings van die implementering van die Geskiedenis-kurrikulumhervormings in die Mutare- en Mutasa-distrikte se sekondêre skole betref, naamlik ’n volledige kurrikulum-implementering, ’n gebroke implementering en ’n nul-kurrikulum. Gebaseer op die bevindings word die volgende aanbeveel: die aanneming van die kurrikulum-konsensusmodel, die paring van die kurrikulum-werklikheidskodes tydens die beplanning en ontwerp van ’n Geskiedenis-kurrikulum, om akademiese vryheid vir Geskiedenis-onderwysers te verseker, en dat patriotisme by leerders gekweek moet word deur ongedwonge en demokratiese Geskiedenis-onderrig en -leer. Die verhandeling is afgesluit deur aanwysingsareas wat verdere ondersoek benodig.Inhloso yalolu cwaningo bekuwukuthola ukuthi kwaba yimpumelelo engakanani ukuqaliswa kokufunda okuphoqelekile kwesifundo sezoMlando kwezinye zezikole zamabanga amaphakathi e-Manicaland okuyisifundazwe esise-Zimbabwe. Nakuba lesi sifundo singasaphoqelekile kukharikhulamu yezikole zase-Zimbabwe, kodwa kubonakala kunesidingo sokuthi lwenziwe lolu cwaningo ngoba, lokhu kuyisimo esifana nobhubhane oluziphindayo, izinto esizifunda ngalolu cwaningo zibukeka ziwusizo olukhulu ekubhekaneni nezigameko ezingaphinda zenzeke esikhathini esizayo ngalesi simo. Lapha kusetshenziswe uhlelo i-interpretivism njengendlela yocwaningo oluzosebenza ukuhlola iqophelo kulesi senzo. Kulolu cwaningo kuxoxiswane nabantu ngokuhlukahlukana kwabo. Lolu cwaningo lubandakanya ababambiqhaza okungongoti bekharikhulamu, izikhulu zezemfundo, izinhloko zezikole emabangeni amaphakathi, kanye nothisha besifundo sezoMlando. Izindlela ezisetshenzisiwe zokuqoqa ulwazi kube yizinkulumongxoxo, ukuxoxisana namaqoqo athile kanye nokucwaningwa lwemibhalo. Lolu cwaningo lwenziwe ngokutonyulwa kwabantu abebehlosiwe kanye nalabo abakhethwe ngaphandle kokubhekwa ukuthi bangobani. Ukuhlaziywa kanye nokuhunyushwa kolwazi lwalolu cwaningo kwenziwe ngokuthi kusetshenziswe indlela yokuhlaziya ingqikithi. Ucwaningo luveze imibono emibili ephikisanayo mayelana nesizathu sokufunda okuphoqelekile kwezoMlando, okungukuthi ukusiza abafundi njengabantu ngabanye kanye nokuhlomulisa i-ZANU PF njenhlangano yezepolitiki. Ucwaningo luphinde lwaveza ukuthi ukusetshenziswa kwesekhula wumnyango wezemfundo ukuze usabalalise ulwazi lwekharikhulamu akubanga yinto eqinisekisa ukuqaliswa ngempumelelo kwalezi zinguquko. Kusukela ngo-2002 kuya ku-2016, akukho mizamo eyake yenziwa umnyango wezemfundo ukuze uqaphe noma uhlole ukuthi kube yimpumelelo yini ukuqaliswa kokusebenza kwezinguquko nakuba zinganele kahle izinsizakusebenza. Kulolu cwaningo kusetshenziswe izethulo ezintathu ezimayelana nendlela yokuqaliswa kokusebenza kwezinguquko zekharikhulamu yesifundo sezoMlando e-Mutare nase-Mutasa okuyizikole zesifunda zamabanga amaphakathi, nokuwukuqaliswa kwekharikhulamu ephelele, ingxenye yayo kanye nokuthi kungaqaliswa lutho ngayo. Ngokwemiphumela etholakele, ucwaningo luncoma ukuthi kusetshenziswe uhlelo lokuvumelana ngekharikhulamu, ukuhlanganiswa kwamakhodi ekharikhulamu uma kuhlelwa kuphinde kwakhiwa ikharikhulamu yesifundo sezoMlando, ukuqinisekisa inkululeko kothisha besifundo sezoMlando, kanye nokuthi intshisekelo ngezwe kumele igqugquzelwe kubafundi ngokungaphoqwa nangokuzikhethela ukufunda nokufundiswa isifundo sezoMlando. Ucwaningo luphothulwe ngokuthi kuthunyelwe izimpawu ezikhombisa izindawo ezidinga ukuphenywa ngokwengeziwe.D. Phil. (Education (Curriculum Studies))Curriculum and Instructional Studie
Exploring resilience skills and strategies of social workers : a qualitative study within the Department of Social Development, Johannesburg
No full textSocial Work is a profession that is fulfilling yet emotionally demanding. As such, the ongoing commitment to self-care by exploring resilience skills and strategies for social workers are essential to maintain a healthy professional quality of life. Limited research EXPLORING RESILIENCE SKILLS AND STRATEGIES OF SOCIAL WORKERS: A QUALITATIVE STUDY WITHINT HE DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT, JOHANNESBURG has been undertaken so far.
Using a qualitative research approach, this study explored the resilience skills and strategies of social workers employed at the Department of Social Development, working in the City of Johannesburg. A phenomenological research design supported by exploratory, descriptive, and contextual research designs were applied. For data collection, semi-structured interviews using an interview guide with open-ended questions were conducted with a sample of participating social workers. The sample was constituted by means of the purposive sampling technique. Ethical considerations maintained during the study included informed consent, anonymity and confidentiality, information management and beneficence. Data were analysed using the eight steps of Tesch (in Creswell & Poth, 2018) and data verification was done according to the model of Guba and Lincoln (in Lietz & Zayas, 2010:191).
Based on the research findings it is evident that resilience skills and strategies are essential to social worker in order to cope with both their work life and personal life. Social workers face various challenges in the line of their work ranging from lack of resources, high caseloads, lack of support by managers, client-related challenges, etc. The significance of social workers understanding the word resilience is imperative, so that they can be able to identify their resilience skills and strategies that help them to cope with challenges. The research findings included the suggestions proffered by the research participants on how their employer can enhance their resilience skills and strategies. In addition, recommendations are provided which are directed towards social work practice, department, social workers, and future researcher. This study will assist social workers to understand the skills and strategies that underpin resilience on them. It will also assist the Department of Social Development and other public sectors to develop support programmes to retain social workers for the profession.M.A. (Social Work)Social Wor
The effectiveness of continuous assessment in teaching and learning of mathematics in the Frances Baard District
Get PDFInclude abstracts in Afrikaans and TswanaAssessment is an essential component of teaching and learning at any level of education, as the information obtained informs stakeholders about the learner's progress and the teaching and learning process. To ensure the success of its education system, South Africa chose to use continuous assessment as an assessment model in 2001. This study explored the perceptions of teachers on the effectiveness of continuous assessment in teaching and learning mathematics at the Grade 5 level in the Frances Baard district. Ten participants were purposively sampled from ten schools as they had experience implementing continuous assessment and could offer valuable information. The study is underpinned by an interpretivist paradigm which offered a lens to view the findings. The qualitative study guided by a case study design was employed to collect data through semi-structured face-to-face interviews, non-participatory observation and document analysis. The study findings indicate that although the participants know about continuous assessment, they are not well acquainted with it, so they do not implement it fully. The lack of parental support was discovered to inhibit the possible impact that continuous assessment could have. The lack of resources to support continuous assessment was also a hindrance to its successful implementation. Conclusion/implications.Assessering is ’n noodsaaklike komponent van onderrig en leer op enige onderwysvlak aangesien die inligting wat verkry word belanghebbers inlig oor die leerder se vordering in die onderrig- en leerproses. Om die sukses van die onderwysstelsel te verseker, het Suid-Afrika in 2001 deurlopende assessering as ’n assesseringsmodel gekies. Hierdie studie ondersoek die effektiwiteit van deurlopende assessering in die onderrig en leer van wiskunde op Graad 5-vlak in die Frances Baard-distrik. ’n Steekproef van tien deelnemers is doelbewus uit tien skole geneem aangesien hulle ervaring gehad het met die implementering van deurlopende assessering en waardevolle inligting kon bied. Die kwalitatiewe studie, gerig deur ’n gevallestudie-ontwerp, het data deur semi-gestruktureerde aangesig-tot-aangesig onderhoude, nie-deelnemende waarneming en dokumentanalise ingesamel. Die studie is onderlê deur ’n interpretivistiese paradigma wat ’n lens gebied het om die bevindinge te beskou. Die studiebevindinge het aangedui dat alhoewel die deelnemers bewus is van deurlopende assessering, hulle nie vertroud is daarmee nie en dit dus nie behoorlik implementeer nie. Daar is bevind dat die gebrek aan ondersteuning deur ouers die moontlike impak wat deurlopende assessering kan hê, inhibeer. Die gebrek aan hulpbronne om deurlopende assessering te ondersteun, is ook ’n struikelblok vir die suksesvolle implementering daarvan.Tshekatsheko e ke nngwe ya dikarolwana tse di botlhokwa tsa go ruta le go ithuta mo boemong bongwe le bongwe jwa thuto ka ntlha ya gore tshedimosetso e e fitlhelwang e sedimosetsa bannaleseabe ka tswelopele ya moithuti gammogo le ka tsamaiso ya go ruta le go ithuta. Go netefatsa gore go nna le katlego mo thulaganyong ya thuto ya yone, Aforika Borwa e tlhophile go dirisa tshekatsheko e e tswelelang jaaka sekaedi sa tshekatsheko ka 2001. Patlisiso e e tlhatlhoba bomolemo jwa tshekatsheko e e tswelelang jwa go ruta le go ithuta dipalo (mathematiki) mo boemong jwa Gerata 5 kwa kgaolong ya Frances Baard. Go ne ga tsewa sekao ka maikaelelo sa batsayakarolo ba le lesome go tswa dikolong di le lesome. Maikaelelo a se e ne e le go sekaseka maitemogelo a batsayakarolo mo go tsenngwetirisong tshekatsheko e e tswelelang mme gape le gore ba ka thusa ka go neelana ka tshedimosetso e e botlhokwa malebana le se. Patlisiso e ya tlhaloso (khwaletheitifi) e kokoantse tshedimosetso (datha) ka tiriso ya ditherisano tsa tebano-matlhong, ditemogo kwa ntle le go tsaya karolo gammogo le tshekatsheko ya ditokumente. Patlisiso e e tshegeditswe ke mokgwa wa botlhalosi oo o neetseng ka molebo wa go leba diphitlhelelo. Diphitlhelelo tsa patlisiso e di supa gore le fa batsayakarolo ba na le kitso e e rileng ka ga tshekatsheko e e tswelelang, ga ba na kitso e e tseneletseng ka ga yone, mme ke ka moo e sa tsenngwetirisong ka botlalo. Tlhaelo ya tshegetso ya batsadi e fitlhetswe fa e thibela tshusumetso eo tshekatsheko e e tswelelang e ka e dirang. Tlhaelo ya dithuso tsa go tshegetsa tshekatsheko e e tswelelang e fitlhetswe fa e le nngwe ya dikgoreletsi tsa tsenyotirisong e e atlegileng ya yone.M. Ed. (Curriculum and Instructional Studies)College of Educatio
A qualitative study of midlife stories: transcending from crisis to epiphany
No full textMidlife is stereotyped and often misconstrued. This study explores and challenges the conventional portrayal of a midlife crisis and its stereotypical dénouement into a state of lasting turmoil and negativity. The narratives of six participants undergoing a midlife crisis are examined through qualitative exploration using an ethnographic lens.
This study interprets midlife crises as transcendent journeys leading to epiphanies. The narratives of each participant’s midlife crisis are explored in rich detail, eliciting both common and distinct themes emerging during midlife. These themes serve as the genesis of the participants’ transcendent journeys and provide the insights to extrapolate the epiphanies they experienced.
These epiphanies facilitate maturescence at midlife, soliciting endemic insights and equipping the midlife adult with hitherto unencountered and unique ways of navigating the world. Consequently, there is a potential to redefine the stereotypical perception of midlife and contribute to the emergence of a new midlife generation.Ph.D. (Psychology)Psycholog
Self-inflicted ingestion of harmful chemicals in adolescents and adults: risk factors and characteristics
No full textAbstract
Background
Injury due to ingestion of harmful chemicals has become an area of concern globally. In South Africa, paraffin has been widely implicated in multiple health outcomes, including severe ingestion injuries. A specific category of such injuries is those that are self-inflicted. A significant proportion of self-inflicted ingestion is reported to be intentional, although intentionality for self-infliction may be difficult to determine. Nonetheless, the identification of key explanatory risks and demographic factors of self-inflicted ingestion may contribute towards a better understanding of self-inflicted and harmful chemical ingestion injuries.
Methods
This study used secondary data that had been collected on burn injuries of all causes, including those due to the ingestion of harmful chemicals, from a sample of South Africans from low-income communities close to major metropolitan centres. The current analysis focused on the risks for self-inflicted ingestion injuries and used logistic regression to determine risks for self-inflicted ingestion as differentiated from ingestion due to the actions of another person (other-inflicted ingestion) by sex and age cohort of the victim, and the presence of alcohol, by examining paraffin ingestion versus that of other chemicals.
Results
The overwhelming majority of ingestion injuries (92.1%) were self-inflicted. The current findings indicate that sex (with females almost twice as likely to present with self-inflicted ingestion), age cohort (with those aged 18–29 and 30–44 years old four times more likely affected than older adults), presence of alcohol (twice as likely present than amongst individuals reporting ingestion injuries inflicted by others), and chemicals other than paraffin (three times more likely) are key explanatory factors for an increased risk for self-inflicted ingestion of harmful chemicals.
Conclusions
The study empirically confirms the role of several key risk factors in what remains a relatively unreported and understudied phenomenon, but which appears to align with the demographic and risk profile reported for suicidal injuries through chemical ingestion, i.e. intentional self-inflicted ingestion. The findings may contribute towards improved safety policies on the availability and sale of chemical products and more focussed community interventions for at-risk individuals such as females and young people. It also flags the importance of assessing for alcohol use and alcohol use disorders at hospital admission of self-ingestion injuries