4 research outputs found
The Influence of Instructional Leadership Behaviours of School Heads on Teachers\u27 Instructional Practices in Primary Schools in Muzarabani District
No full textThe school\u27s effectiveness increases when the school head prioritises teaching and learning, dedicating significant time to academic programmes and inspiring teaching staff. Effective instructional leadership is known to enhance educational outcomes and yet its application in resource-constrained primary schools in rural districts in Zimbabwe remains underexplored. There is a notable gap in literature that scrutinises the influence of instructional leadership behaviours of school heads on the instructional practices of primary school teachers in rural districts of Zimbabwe. Addressing this gap is crucial for providing significant insights into the influence of instructional leadership behaviours of school heads on teachers\u27 instructional practices in primary schools in rural districts. This study therefore explores the influence of instructional leadership behaviours of school heads on teachers\u27 instructional practices in primary schools within Muzarabani District. The study employs a qualitative research approach through a case study to collect data using semi structured interviews. The participants were primary school heads and teachers selected by means of purposive sampling from five primary schools in Muzarabani district. The findings reveal that school heads\u27 instructional leadership behaviours, such as setting clear instructional goals, providing support and fostering a collaborative culture, significantly influence teachers’ adoption of innovative teaching strategies and practices. Despite these positive influences, barriers including limited resources, time constraints and inadequate professional development opportunities hinder the effectiveness of instructional leadership. The study concludes that school heads who prioritise the development and demonstration of instructional leadership behaviours in their schools can enhance the instructional practices of their teachers in the primary schools. This research contributes to the field of educational leadership by offering insights into the specific challenges and opportunities of instructional leadership in a rural context, providing actionable recommendations for enhancing leadership practices in similar settings.
The influence of social media on transparency and accountability of the South African public sector
No full textDATA AVAILABILITY STATEMENT : The data that support the findings of this study are available on request from the corresponding author. The data are not
publicly available due to privacy or ethical restrictions.There is a growing debate on the potential role of social media in improving government transparency and accountability and, ultimately, policy-making. This article analyses the contribution of social media, specifically Twitter, in increasing government transparency and accountability in South Africa by transferring information between the government and the public. To achieve this aim, we conducted an in-depth analysis of Twitter content, focusing on a curated selection of randomly selected top hashtags that became prominent in the South African context. These hashtags represent notable trends such as #FeesMustFall, #ZumaMustFall, #NotInMyName, #AmINext, and the #ThaboBester saga. By examining the discourses surrounding these hashtags, we aimed to uncover insights into how social media interactions intersected with government actions and reactions. Our results indicate that these hashtags served as potent catalysts for public engagement, driving discussions that critiqued government decisions and compelled timely reactions from the government.https://redfame.com/journal/index.php/smchj2024School of Health Systems and Public Health (SHSPH)SDG-16:Peace,justice and strong institution
Self-management challenges of adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus in Ekurhuleni district primary health care facilities amid COVID-19 lockdown
No full textDATA AVAILABITY STATEMENT: Derived data supporting the findings of this study are
available from the corresponding author, S.S.M., on request.BACKGROUND: Self-management is highly recommended in managing type 2 diabetes mellitus
(T2DM). Amid the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) lockdown, many restrictions were
imposed, which might have affected the continuum of care and self-management. However,
little is known about how people with T2DM experienced self-management during COVID-19
lockdown within the primary health care (PHC) facilities.
AIM: The study explored and described the self-management challenges of adults with T2DM
in Ekurhuleni PHC facilities amid COVID-19 level 5 and 4 lockdowns.
SETTING: The study was conducted in three community health centres in Ekurhuleni which are
rendering PHC services.
METHODS: A phenomenological, qualitative, exploratory, and descriptive design was utilised.
Purposive sampling was used to select adult patients with T2DM. Data were collected
telephonically between July 2022 and August 2022 using semi-structured interviews. Inductive
content analysis was used to analyse data.
RESULTS: Two themes emerged from the interviews, namely, uncontrolled blood glucose levels
and financial challenges.
CONCLUSION: The patients with T2DM experienced uncontrolled blood glucose levels and
financial challenges during the COVID-19 lockdown. Guidelines to improve self-management
programmes during restrictions are needed to promote good health during future pandemics
to prevent complications and mortality. The telehealth model can be designed to monitor
chronic patients at home during lockdown as a two-way communication.
CONTRIBUTION: More knowledge and insight into self-management and health promotion of
patients with T2DM was provided by this study. Increased training needs arose for PHC
nurses in managing and monitoring patients.https://phcfm.org/index.php/phcfmNursing ScienceSDG-03:Good heatlh and well-bein
Efficacy and safety of the RTS,S/AS01 malaria vaccine during 18 months after vaccination : a phase 3 randomized, controlled trial in children and young infants at 11 African sites
No full textA malaria vaccine could be an important addition to current control strategies. We report the safety and vaccine efficacy (VE) of the RTS,S/AS01 vaccine during 18 mo following vaccination at 11 African sites with varying malaria transmission.; 6,537 infants aged 6-12 wk and 8,923 children aged 5-17 mo were randomized to receive three doses of RTS,S/AS01 or comparator vaccine. VE against clinical malaria in children during the 18 mo after vaccine dose 3 (per protocol) was 46% (95% CI 42% to 50%) (range 40% to 77%; VE, p>0.01 across all sites). VE during the 20 mo after vaccine dose 1 (intention to treat [ITT]) was 45% (95% CI 41% to 49%). VE against severe malaria, malaria hospitalization, and all-cause hospitalization was 34% (95% CI 15% to 48%), 41% (95% CI 30% to 50%), and 19% (95% CI 11% to 27%), respectively (ITT). VE against clinical malaria in infants was 27% (95% CI 20% to 32%, per protocol; 27% [95% CI 21% to 33%], ITT), with no significant protection against severe malaria, malaria hospitalization, or all-cause hospitalization. Post-vaccination anti-circumsporozoite antibody geometric mean titer varied from 348 to 787 EU/ml across sites in children and from 117 to 335 EU/ml in infants (per protocol). VE waned over time in both age categories (Schoenfeld residuals p>0.001). The number of clinical and severe malaria cases averted per 1,000 children vaccinated ranged across sites from 37 to 2,365 and from -1 to 49, respectively; corresponding ranges among infants were -10 to 1,402 and -13 to 37, respectively (ITT). Meningitis was reported as a serious adverse event in 16/5,949 and 1/2,974 children and in 9/4,358 and 3/2,179 infants in the RTS,S/AS01 and control groups, respectively.; RTS,S/AS01 prevented many cases of clinical and severe malaria over the 18 mo after vaccine dose 3, with the highest impact in areas with the greatest malaria incidence. VE was higher in children than in infants, but even at modest levels of VE, the number of malaria cases averted was substantial. RTS,S/AS01 could be an important addition to current malaria control in Africa
