1,720,983 research outputs found
Exploring livelihood strategies for HIV/AIDS-affected households in Zambezi, Mozambique
No full textDissertation (MDS.(Development Studies))--University of the Free State, 2020Mozambique has enjoyed a relatively stable political environment after the civil war that took place almost thirty years ago and which ended after a peace agreement was signed in Lusaka in 1992. The country has experienced economic growth, with a gross domestic product (GDP) that grew by 7.4% every year in the past two decades, making it one of the fastest-growing economies in the world (International Monetary Fund, 2014). However, there are still many people living in rural areas in Mozambique, and the country remains one of the poorest in the world (International Monetary Fund, 2014).
Most of Mozambique depends on subsistence farming or agriculture as the main source of livelihood, which contributed close to 23% of the GDP in 2008 and was a source of employment to 78% of the labour force in the country (USAID, 2008). Furthermore, natural resources such as forests have also made a significant contribution to people’s livelihoods, accounting for over 75% of the farming community in Mozambique. About 67% of the land that is suitable for livelihood strategies and environmental dependency is located in rural areas, while 33% is situated in government-protected areas (USAID, 2008).
In sub-Saharan Africa, HIV/AIDS is one of the major development issues destroying the livelihoods of increasing numbers of people, especially those living in the poorer areas on the continent (Krieger et al., 2003). The HIV/AIDS pandemic has had devastating effects, especially in Southern Africa, where the prevalence rates are as high as 30% in some parts (Kamali, 2010). Data from the United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) reveal that each year there are over a hundred and twenty thousand new HIV infections in Mozambique. As further indicated by the UNAIDS (2019), more than a million and a half people are infected with HIV around Mozambique and the national HIV rate, as recently assessed, is around 16 per cent for people fifteen years and older. The UNAIDS revealed that almost half of the population living with the virus that causes AIDS are not accessing antiretroviral treatment or support (UNAIDS, 2019).
The HIV/AIDS pandemic is described as a development disaster in all of Africa, suggesting that HIV has negatively affected the development agenda in Southern Africa (Kamali, 2010). Drimie (2002:3) quotes the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) as saying that HIV/AIDS is associated with a state of devastation in an affected household, making it even more unique since it deprives the family, community members and the entire nation of productive and energetic people who are sometimes the main providers for the household. There are fears that as the problem of HIV/AIDS continues to grow, there will be increased pressure on the already fragile relationship between communities and the environment at the local level, as well as on the social infrastructure and community livelihoods. This will lead to increased dependency on the natural environment as a coping mechanism (Oramasionwu, 2011). Zambezia is one of the communities in Mozambique most impacted by HIV/AIDS (USAID, 2008). Recent reports suggest that the over the years, Mozambique has made attempts to deal with HIV, with the number of new HIV infections and the number of AIDS deaths showing a decline since 2010 (WHO, 2019).
Zambezia Province is mostly rural, since it is located in the northern central part of Mozambique (Moon et al., 2010). The Province is heavily dependent on subsistence farming and fishing (Moon et al., 2010). Most of the inhabitants’ livelihoods revolve around agricultural products which include rice, maize, cassava, cashews, sugarcane, coconuts, citrus, cotton, and tea. While this Province includes Mozambique’s largest tea estates, which are based in Gurúè, fishing for shrimps and small-scale mining of gemstones also occur in some areas (Moon et al., 2010). The adult HIV/AIDS prevalence rate in this Province is estimated at 12.6% (INSIDA, 2009), with about 20% of all people living with HIV/AIDS in Mozambique residing in Zambezia (PEPFAR, 2013)
Sexual and Reproductive Health Services: experiences and views of young adults and providers in Soshanguve
No full textDissertation(M.Soc.Sc.(Health Systems Studies))--University of the Free State, 2024: Despite efforts to educate young people about healthy sexual behaviours and the availability of sexual and reproductive health (SRH) services, risky sexual behaviour (RSB) outcomes such as unplanned pregnancies, unsafe abortions, and sexually transmitted infections (STIs) among youth in South Africa persist. Efforts have been made to implement SRH interventions aimed at addressing RSB outcomes through targeted clinic SRH services tailored for young people. However, implementation discrepancies continue, necessitating improvements in service delivery strategies and policy guidelines. These discrepancies stem from various barriers such as insufficient knowledge, education gaps, myths, misconceptions, family dynamics, socio-cultural elements, and systemic health issues. To comprehensively analyse these challenges, this study adopted the Socio-Ecological Model (SEM) proposed by McLeroy et al. (1988). The SEM framework acknowledges the multi-layered influences on human behaviour; that is, the , , , - .
: How do socio-ecological factors influence young adults and SRH providers’ experiences and views regarding SRH services in Soshanguve, South Africa?
: The aim of the study was to explore how socio-ecological factors influence the experiences and views of young adults and SRH providers regarding SRH services in Soshanguve.
: The research project utilised an interpretive paradigm. A qualitative approach was employed by using an exploratory research design to explore the personal views and experiences of young adults and SRH providers regarding SRH services at clinics. The study was conducted in three purposively selected local clinics in Soshanguve. The sample consisted of fifteen young adults, comprising of seven females and eight males, selected through convenience sampling. Five SRH providers were selected through purposive sampling. They were collected through in-depth interviews (IDIs) with young adult participants, in addition to key informant interviews (KIIs) with SRH provider-participants. All interviews were audio-recorded and transcribed for analysis by applying Thompson’s (2022) eight-step abductive analysis, which allowed the blending of inductive and deductive reasoning. Data from young adults and SRH providers was triangulated. Ethical considerations focused on informed consent, confidentiality, privacy, and respect throughout the research.
: Both young adults and SRH providers identified key challenges across the SEM that affected their views and experiences of clinic SRH service in Soshanguve. At the , knowledge, attitudes and beliefs about SRH were crucial determinants. At the , both groups perceived parent-child and peer communication as the critical factors influencing young adults' knowledge, attitudes, and behaviours towards SRH. - factors hindering and facilitating young adults’ access to and utilisation of clinic SRH services such as societal attitudes, religious beliefs, and cultural norms emerged as significant barriers contributing to stigma and discrimination for both groups. Both groups perceived similar - barriers and facilitators such as limited clinic operating hours, overcrowding, and lack of confidentiality. However, young adults expressed greater concerns about SRH providers’ judgemental and gender-bias attitudes, while SRH providers were concerned with the impact of the clinic booking system, especially for the abortions. At the , both groups emphasised the need for guidelines that could support comprehensive education, youth-friendly services, and mobile SRH services to address systemic issues and enhance access for young adults.
: The findings revealed the views and experiences of both young adults and SRH providers regarding young adults’ access to and utilisation of clinic SRH services in Soshanguve, thus underscoring the necessity for a multi-layered SEM approach. Addressing the identified SEM factors through targeted interventions and policies can assist in bridging the gaps in service delivery and the utilisation of resources to promote better SRH outcomes among young adults
Hospitalisation for TB in the Free State: opinions of health workers and managers
No full textEnglish: Non-governmental health care providers in the Free State have traditionally provided long-term hospitalisation services for TB patients. This history now appears to have come to a halt. This paper documents the opinions of a purposive selection of public health workers and managers with regard to TB-related hospitalisation. The views and experiences of health workers and managers at the district, provincial and national levels were recorded by means of self-administered questionnaires and personal interviews over the period 2001-2003. In the Free State this period was characterised by a range of intricate problems. Indications are, however, that public district hospitals are capable of dealing with the burden caused by the sequential closure of the former Allanridge Chest and Santoord hospitals.Afrikaans: Tradisioneel het nieregeringsverskaffers van gesondheidsdienste in die Vrystaat lang- termynhospitaaldienste vir tuberkulosepasiënte gelewer. Klaarblyklik het hierdie ge- skiedenis nou tot ’n einde gekom. Hierdie artikel dokumenteer ’n groep doelmatigge- selekteerde gesondheidswerkers en -bestuurders se standpunte oor hospitalisasie vir tuberkulose. Gedurende die tydperk 2001-2003 is die menings en ervarings van ge- sondheidswerkers en -bestuurders op distrik, provinsiale en nasionale vlak deur middel van selfgeadministreerde vraelyste en persoonlike onderhoudvoering aangeteken. In die Vrystaat is hierdie periode deur ingewikkelde probleme gekenmerk. Daar is egter aan- duidings dat openbare distrikshospitale in staat is om die las op te neem wat deur die opeenvolgende sluiting van die voormalige Allanridge Chest and Santoord hospitale ontstaan het.Publisher's versio
Going Beyond Counting First Authors in Author Co-citation Analysis
Get PDFThe present study examines one of the fundamental aspects of author co-citation analysis (ACA) - the way co-citation
counts are defined. Co-citation counting provides the data on which all subsequent statistical analyses and mappings
are based, and we compare ACA results based on two different types of co-citation counting - the traditional type that
only counts the first one among a cited work's authors on the one hand and a non-traditional type that takes into
account the first 5 authors of a cited work on the other hand. Results indicate that the picture produced through this non-traditional author co-citation counting contains more coherent author groups and is therefore considerably clearer. However, this picture represents fewer specialties in the research field being studied than that produced through the traditional first-author co-citation counting when the same number of top-ranked authors is selected and analyzed. Reasons for these effects are discussed
Variations on the Author
Get PDF“Variations on the Author” discusses two of Eduardo Coutinho’s recent films (Um Dia na Vida, from 2010, and Últimas Conversas, posthumously released in 2015) and their contribution to the general question of documentary authorship. The director’s filmography is characterized by a consistent yet self-effacing form of authorial self-inscription: Coutinho often features as an interviewer that rather than express opinions propels discourses; an interviewer that is good at listening. This mode of self-inscription characterizes him as an author who is not expressive but who is nonetheless markedly present on the screen. In Um Dia na Vida, however, Coutinho is completely absent form the image, while Últimas Conversas, on the contrary, includes a confessional prologue that moves the director from the margins to the center of his films. This article examines the ways in which these works stand out in the filmography of a director who offers new insights into the notion of cinematic authorship
Appropriate Similarity Measures for Author Cocitation Analysis
Get PDFWe provide a number of new insights into the methodological discussion about author cocitation analysis. We first argue that the use of the Pearson correlation for measuring the similarity between authors’ cocitation profiles is not very satisfactory. We then discuss what kind of similarity measures may be used as an alternative to the Pearson correlation. We consider three similarity measures in particular. One is the well-known cosine. The other two similarity measures have not been used before in the bibliometric literature. Finally, we show by means of an example that our findings have a high practical relevance.information science;Pearson correlation;cosine;similarity measure;author cocitation analysis
Hospitalisation for TB in the Free State: opinions of health workers and managers
Get PDFNon-governmental health care providers in the Free State have traditionally provided long-term hospitalisation services for TB patients. This history now appears to have come to a halt. This paper documents the opinions of a purposive selection of public health workers and managers with regard to TB-related hospitalisation. The views and experiences of health workers and managers at the district, provincial and national levels were recorded by means of self-administered questionnaires and personal interviews over the period 2001-2003. In the Free State this period was characterised by a range of intricate problems. Indications are, however, that public district hospitals are capable of dealing with the burden caused by the sequential closure of the former Allanridge Chest and Santoord hospitals
One patient, two diseases: collaboration in controlling TB and HIV in the Free State
No full textEnglish: A perilous synergism exists between TB and HIV/AIDS, which form a dual epidemic requiring joint action. This paper first reviews key global and South African policy developments in relation to TB-HIV/AIDS control. Secondly, the early response of the Free State to global and national directives to implement integrated TB-HIV/ AIDS programmes is described. As is clear from the experience of the first TB-HIV training site in the Free State, the Mafube local municipality, integrated TB and HIV/AIDS control is made possible by means of actual practical interventions as well as the collaboration of a range of role-players. In Mafube, and later also in the Free State at large, attempts at integration have resulted in substantially more TB patients undergoing voluntary counselling and testing for HIV.Afrikaans: ‘n Gevaarlike sinergisme bestaan tussen TB en MIV/VIGS. Hierdie siektes vorm ‘n dubbele epidemie wat tweeledige optrede vereis. Die artikel bied eerstens ’n oorsig van die internasionale en Suid-Afrikaanse beleidsontwikkelinge wat verband hou met die beheer van TB-MIV/VIGS. Tweedens word die vroeë respons van die Vry- staat op internasionale en nasionale voorskrifte om geïntegreerde TB-MIV/VIGS- programme te implementeer, beskryf. Soos blyk uit die ervaring van die eerste TB- MIV-opleidingsarea, die Mafube plaaslike munisipaliteit, word geintegreerde TB- en MIV/VIGS-beheer moontlik gemaak deur werklike praktiese intervensies, asook die samewerking van ’n reeks rolspelers. In Mafube, en later ook in die Vrystaat as ’n ge- heel, het pogings tot integrasie ’n substansiële toename in die aantal TB-pasiënte wat vrywillige berading en toetsing vir MIV ondergaan, tot gevolg gehad.Publisher's versio
Integration of ART: concepts, policy and practice
No full textEnglish: The recent implementation of ART in the South African public health sector necessitates
renewed debate on the integration of key primary health care (PHC) programmes.
Integration of PHC is really best understood in relation to its opposite, i e verticalisation
or selective PHC. This paper discusses these approaches in international and South
African contexts. Integration as it has been applied to HIV, namely the continuum of
care and TB-HIV integration, is also considered, with specific reference to the Free
State. We then present the “voices” of programme implementers on the theme of
integration in this province. Both in the literature and in the interviews with implementers,
the need for integration is supported. However, there is also recognition that
the vertical and integrated approaches should not be exclusive, but should both feature
in ART roll-out, particularly in the inception phases of the programmeAfrikaans: Die onlangse implementering van ART in die Suid-Afrikaanse openbare gesondheidsektor
noodsaak hernieude debat oor die integrasie van belangrike PGS-programme.
Integrasie van PGS word ten beste verstaan in verhouding tot die teenoorgestelde daarvan,
dit is vertikalisasie of selektiewe PGS. Die artikel ondersoek dié konsepte binne
’n internasionale en Suid-Afrikaanse perspektief. Integrasie, soos toegepas op MIV,
naamlik die kontinuum van sorg en TB-MIV-integrasie, word ook oorweeg, met spesifieke
verwysing na die Vrystaat. Daarna volg programimplementeerders in die
provinsie se “stemme” oor integrasie. Die behoefte aan integrasie word ondersteun
in beide die literatuur en die onderhoude met implementeerders. Terselfdertyd word
daar erken dat die vertikalisasie- en integrasiebenaderings mekaar nie moet uitsluit
nie, maar dat beide in die implementering van ART toegepas moet word, veral in die
aanvangsfases van die program.Publisher's versio
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