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Perspectives of practitioners on support for caregivers of children with intellectual disability
Get PDFJournal Article, Faculty of Health Sciences, Quality In Nursing and Midwifery (NuMiQ)-- Potchefstroom CampusBackground: Children with profound intellectual disabilities are unable to do anything for themselves and require full-time care in healthcare facilities. While caring for children, secondary caregivers become overwhelmed. Coupled with little or no support, the overwhelming work affects their psychological, social and financial well-being. Mental healthcare practitioners have perspectives on conditions under which secondary caregivers work and how can they be supported. Little is known about such perspectives.
Objectives: This study aims to explore and describe the perspectives of mental healthcare practitioners regarding the conditions under which secondary caregivers of children with profound intellectual disabilities work and how can they be supported.
Method: A qualitative-exploratory-descriptive and contextual research design was adopted using a non-probability purposive sampling technique. This study was conducted in Gauteng province. Semi-structured individual interviews were performed to collect data. Content data analysis and ATLAS.ti were used to analyse the data.
Results: Knowledge and skills development, stress reduction, resources and motivation were themes that emerged.
Conclusion: This study explored and described the perspectives of mental healthcare practitioners regarding the conditions under which secondary caregivers of children with profound intellectual disabilities work and how can they be supported. If implemented, perspectives can improve the holistic well-being of secondary caregivers.Contribution: This study broadened an understanding of how secondary caregivers can be supported. Future researchers can use study results to develop programmes, intervention strategies and frameworks to support secondary caregivers.Acknowledgements
The authors would like to acknowledge Mr. Mokgaola for co-coding transcripts, Mr. Sibanda for professional editing, the participants of the study, and the authors of articles used. This article is partially based on the corresponding author’s
thesis entitled ‘A support programme for caregivers of children diagnosed with intellectual disabilities in the Gauteng province, South Africa’ towards the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Health Sciences in the Department of Nursing Sciences, North-West University, South Africa, on 02 November 2022, with supervisors Prof. Leepile A. Sehularo and Prof. Daleen M. Koen
“One Health” Perspective on Prevalence of ESKAPE Pathogens in Africa: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Get PDFJournal Article. Unit for Environmental Sciences and Management, North-West University, PotchefstroomThe leading cause of hospital-acquired infections worldwide includes Enterococcus faecium, Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Acinetobacter baumannii, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Enterobacter spp. (ESKAPE) infections. These bacteria are commonly isolated from clinical settings and linked to a number of potentially fatal diseases associated with hospitals. The objective of this study was to review the prevalence of ESKAPE pathogens in Africa. We gathered and systematically reviewed the literature concerning the prevalence of ESKAPE pathogens, published in the English language from January 2014 to February 2024, from three databases (PubMed,Web of Science and ScienceDirect). Our overall results revealed that S. aureus was the most prevalent species (79.5%), followed by A. baumannii (27.6%), K. pneumoniae (24.2%), Enterobacter spp. (20%), P. aeruginosa (9.0%), and E. faecium (5.1%). Moreover, stool samples had the highest Pooled Prevalence Estimates (PPEs) of 44.0%, followed by urine, nasal, and blood samples with 37.3%, 26.9%, and 22.9%, respectively. For the diagnostic method used to identify these ESKAPE pathogens, VITEK-MS had the highest PPE of 55.2%, followed by whole genome sequencing and PCR with 37.1% and 33.2%, respectively. The highest PPE of ESKAPE pathogens was recorded in West Africa with 77.3%, followed by Central/Middle Africa and East Africa with 43.5% and 25.1%, respectively. The overall PPE of ESKAPE pathogens from humans, animals, the environment (water, soil, and surfaces) and food sources was 35.8%, 37.3%,
47.7%, and 34.2%, respectively. Despite their prevalence in nosocomial settings, studies have shown that the ESKAPE pathogens may be isolated from a range of environmental reservoirs, including soil, dumping sites, beach sand, wastewater, food, and fish farms, among others. This wide source of ESKAPE pathogens substrates indicates the need for a multidisciplinary collaborative partnership for epidemiological studies and intervention efforts by the human, veterinary, and environmental health sectors in Africa.This work was supported by the Central University of Technology, South Africa, for their UCDP M and D fundin
It's a disaster, nobody is coming: International travel ban's effect on Cape Town's informal traders
Get PDFJournal Article, Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences, Trade and Development (TRADE)-- Potchefstroom CampusThe COVID-19 crisis has been one of the most significant events in recent history. Informal traders who depend on a thriving tourist market have been especially vulnerable to COVID19. The resultant travel bans affected South Africa’s tourism-related informal economic activities. The aim of this study was to determine the effects of the pandemic on informal traders’ livelihoods and resilience in Cape Town, South Africa. Tourists have always constituted a large proportion of informal traders’ customer base. They are often willing and able to spend more than locals. The impact of travel bans on traders’ income, profit margins, and livelihoods has been disastrous. However, many traders have shown commendable resilience. There were obviously limits to the effectiveness of their mitigating strategies. There is an urgent need (from a social justice and a pure economic perspective) for further relief and assistance to supplement street traders’ efforts to survive as international tourism recovers
laying the Foundations for a Child‐Focused Cities Analytical Framework: Reflections From an International, Interdisciplinary Collaboration
Get PDFJournal Article. Faculty of Law, North--West UniversityChildren, a unique yet marginalized social group, hold immense potential for driving meaningful social and environmental change, both in their current lives and as future stewards of the planet. However, their significant contributions often depend on the mechanisms and opportunities adults create to facilitate their participation and inclusion. This places local governance at a crucial juncture, mediating children’s involvement in shaping their urban environments. This research was initiated by the Swedish International Centre for Local Democracy in 2022, gathering international scholars and practitioners to critically assess the “child‐friendly city” concept. Through an interdisciplinary approach, the study sought to advance the notion from simply being “friendly” to a deeper commitment to amplifying children’s voices within social, physical, and relational spheres. The methodology transitioned from initial academic discussions to the creation of a comprehensive analytical tool, the “Child‐Focused Cities Analytical Framework.” This framework aims to tackle the complex challenges of child participation, aligning with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in both local and global settings. This article unveils new insights at the intersection of children’s rights, the SDGs, and local governance, laying the groundwork for a mod
Larger Common River Frogs (Amietia delalandii) have Fewer and Shorter Tissue Microplastic Fibres than Smaller Frogs
Get PDFJournal Article, Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, Unit for Environmental Sciences and Management-- Potchefstroom CampusLittle is known about microplastics (MPs) in adult frogs. We investigated MPs in adult Common River Frogs (Amietia delalandii) from Potchefstroom, South Africa. Five kinds of samples were analysed: natural water, water used to rinse the
skin, skin, intestine, and the remainder of the body (corpus). Tissues were digested. Microplastics occurred in all frogs and sample types (1128 MPs counted). Fibres were the most prevalent MP. Fibre lengths were between 28 and 4300 μm, either polyester or polyvinyl alcohol. MPs in skin were likely derived from the ambient, and MPs in the corpus from translocation via the skin. Fibres in tissues were significantly shorter in larger frogs, a phenomenon we provisionally assign to in situ biodegradation. Microplastics in frogs can potentially be transferred through the food web to higher trophic levels. This study provides the first evidence of MPs in adult frog tissues and avenues for further investigations.Acknowledgements
We thank the Daly family for their support over the years in allowing us to conduct research on their farm near Potchefstroom. We thank Francois Bothma and Ryan Uren for technical support, and Chloe Ackermann for her contribution with the graphical abstract.
Funding
Open access funding provided by North-West University.
Open Access
This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License, which permits use, sharing, adaptation, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, as long as you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons licence, and indicate if changes were made. The images or other third party material in this article are included in the article’s Creative Commons licence, unless indicated otherwise in a credit line to the material. If material is not included in the article’s Creative Commons licence and your intended use is not permitted by statutory regulation or exceeds the permitted use, you will need to obtain permission directly from the copyright holder. To view a copy of this licence, visit http://creativecommons. org/licenses/by/4.0/
Relationship between workplace ostracism and job productivity: The mediating effect of emotional exhaustion and lack of motivation
Get PDFJournal Article. Business School, North-West University, Potchefstroom CampusPurpose: Drawing on the transactional theory of stress and coping, this paper aims to identify the relationship between workplace ostracism and job productivity by analyzing the mediating role of emotional exhaustion and lack of motivation.
Design/methodology/approach: We collected data from a sample of 396 employees from 20 manufacturing companies in Jordan using a survey-based, two-tiered approach. The partial least squares structural equation modeling method was used to test the direct and indirect effects of ostracism on productivity.
Findings: The findings show that workplace ostracism increases emotional exhaustion and motivation, and indirectly decreases job productivity through the mediating role of emotional exhaustion and lack of motivation.
Originality/value: The study provides a theoretical foundation on which various companies can base their understanding of workplace ostracism and its relationship to job productivity. By focusing on increased exhaustion and lack of motivation, this study analyzes current literature to establish the impacts on areas of interest and identify expectations in the context of productivity, as well as enhance comprehension of the detrimental effects of workplace ostracism on productivity
A Conceptual Framework to Improve Resilience Among Undergraduate First-Year Nursing Students: A Mixed-Methods Study
Get PDFArticle, Faculty of Health Sciences (Quality In Nursing and Midwifery (NuMiQ)--Northwest University, Potchefstroom CampusIt is generally presumed that most undergraduate first-year nursing students are not prepared for the transition from basic to higher education. Resilience is recommended as a viable coping strategy that acts as a buffer to the adversities that undergraduate first-year nursing students experience. Therefore, the aim of this study was to develop and validate a conceptual framework to improve resilience among undergraduate first-year nursing students at a South African university. A multiphase concurrent mixed-methods research design was followed through concept analysis, and the empirical, development and validation phases. Development and validation of a conceptual framework were guided by Dickoff et al.'s practice-oriented theory model and e-Delphi, respectively. Data used for development of the conceptual framework were gathered from undergraduate first-year nursing students from two campuses of a South African university, while national and international experts in nursing education were used to validate a conceptual framework. The conceptual framework developed shows that the undergraduate first-year nursing students are at the centre of four contexts, namely South African university, work-integrated clinical facilities, the South African Nursing Council and South African higher education. The conceptual framework includes collaboration of stakeholders, mentoring and debriefing. The guiding principles of the conceptual framework encompass strengthening internal resources and establishment of a support group to achieve the terminus, which is characterised by undergraduate nursing students' improved transition from basic to higher education. In conclusion, the newly developed conceptual framework has the potential to improve resilience among undergraduate first-year nursing students
LC–MS metabolomics and lipidomics in cerebrospinal fluid from viral and bacterial CNS infections: a review
No full textJournal Article, Department of Biochemistry, Human Metabolomics, Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, North-West University, PotchefstroomThere is compelling evidence that a dysregulated immune inflammatory response in neuroinfectious diseases results in modifications in metabolic processes and altered metabolites, directly or indirectly influencing lipid metabolism within the central nervous system (CNS). The challenges in differential diagnosis and the provision of effective treatment in many neuroinfectious diseases are, in part, due to limited understanding of the pathophysiology underlying the disease. Although there are numerous metabolomics studies, there remains a deficit in neurolipidomics research to provide a comprehensive understanding of the connection between altered metabolites and changes in lipid metabolism. The brain is an inherently high-lipid organ; hence, understanding neurolipidomics is the key to future breakthroughs. This review aims to provide an integrative summary of altered cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) metabolites associated with neurolipid metabolism in bacterial and viral CNS infections, with a particular focus on studies that used liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC–MS). Lipid components (phospholipids) and metabolites (carnitine and tryptophan) appear to be the most significant indicators in both bacterial and viral infections. On the basis of our analysis of the literature, we recommend employing neurolipidomics in conjunction with existing neurometabolomics data as a prospective method to enhance our understanding of the cross link between dysregulated metabolites and lipid metabolism in neuroinfectious diseases
Sharing vulnerability: A duoethnographic enquiry into the development of digital competencies at a South African university.
Get PDFJournal Articles. Humanities: Research & Innovation, North-West University, Vaal Campus.The duoethnographic enquiry discussed in this article grapples, in a dialogical way, with our experiences of professional learning while seeking to increase our digital competencies. The process involved happened while we were learning to use Mentimeter, an interactive presentation software. The purpose of this duoethnographic enquiry is not to provide solutions or shortcuts through a sharing of our professional learning journey. Rather we share our experiences in the hope that other higher education (HE) educators will join the conversation and reflect on their digital competencies journey. In this paper, we first present the background followed by a brief discussion of the HeDiCom framework of HE educators' digital competencies. Then we briefly discuss duoethnography as a method. Our three main findings are presented as conversations, followed by a discussion in which we weave the insights from our conversations into a critical reflection on the applicability of the HeDiCom framework
Challenges experienced by public secondary school teachers in the application of the legal framework for their safety
Get PDFJournal Article. Education and Human Rights in Diversity (Edu-HRight) Research Unit, Faculty of Education, North-West University, PotchefstroomThe safety of teachers in public schools is important for the creation of a conducive teaching and learning environment. The application of the South African legal framework should ensure that teachers work in a safe environment. The phrase ‘teacher safety’ refers to the safeguarding of teachers from harm, including physical, psychological, and emotional injury. Sec. 12 of South Africa’s Constitution (1996) ensures teachers’ safety, and various local and international studies have examined their safety. The existing studies lack an exploration of the way in which the legal framework has been applied to ensure teachers’ safety from violence in public schools. The investigation reported in this article pivots on the following research question: What challenges do public secondary school teachers experience in applying the legal framework for their safety? To respond to this question, qualitative research was conducted. Data were collected using semi-structured interviews. Purposive sampling was used to recruit ten experienced participants (five teachers and five principals) from five public secondary schools in the Ngaka Modiri Molema District of the North-West province of South Africa. The data were then thematically analysed. The main finding of the study is that, while there are sufficient legal measures that regulate teachers’ safety, there is a lack in the application thereof to ensure teachers’ safety in public secondary schools. This is one of the contributory factors to violence against teachers. The existing legal framework provisions should be applied by teachers to safeguard them against violence