Thesis (B.S.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Mechanical Engineering, 1980. / MICROFICHE COPY AVAILABLE IN ARCHIVES AND ENGINEERING. / Includes bibliographical references. / by Martin Raymond Prince. / B.S.

Thesis (M.S.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Mechanical Engineering, 1982. / MICROFICHE COPY AVAILABLE IN ARCHIVES AND ENGINEERING. / Includes bibliographical references. / by Martin Raymond Prince. / M.S.

Thesis (M.Sc.)--Memorial University of Newfoundland, Faculty of Medicine, / Typescript. Bibliography: leaves 44-68.

MPH / Department of Public Health / High blood pressure is a global public health problem. High blood pressure shows no signs or symptoms and it can only be detected through BP measurements by a health professionals. It’s a chronic condition which requires long term management. Poor control of high blood pressure can lead to complications and even death. The aim of the study was to determine the prevalence of high blood pressure among University of Venda academic staff. UNIVEN is situated in Thohoyandou, Vhembe District in Limpopo. A cross-sectional design was used. A modified WHO stepwise questionnaire for non-communicable diseases version 3.1 was used to collect data regarding demographic characteristics, BP status, and stress and lifestyle characteristics. Charts and graphs were used to present the results of the study. The Statistical Package of Social Sciences was used to analyse data. The Chi-square test was used to determine the association between blood pressure and risk factors. A total of 179 respondents were selected, their ages of were ranged from 22 to 68 years. Their blood pressure, weight and height of the participants were also measured. The prevalence of high blood pressure was 20%, while 46% were on prehypertension stage and about 34% had a normal BP. About 23% had been previously diagnosed with HBP, while about 90% were on treatment for high blood pressure. Only 13% had their BP under control. The prevalence of high blood pressure was associated with gender, family history, vegetable intake and diabetes. Department of Sports need to introduce sports among academic staff as a way of prevention and management of high blood pressure.

MCur / Department of Advanced Nursing Science / Noncompliance with antihypertensive treatment is a challenge for uncontrolled hypertension in both high income and middle income countries. Compliance to antihypertensive treatment and lifestyle modification plays a significant role in the control of hypertension and reduces the cardiovascular morbidity and mortality rate. The purpose of this study was to explore and describe contributory factors of noncompliance to treatment among patients diagnosed with hypertension in the Vhembe District of the Limpopo Province The study was conducted at the regional Hospital and nine Primary Health Care facilities in the rural community in the Vhembe District of the Limpopo Province. The study population consisted of those patients diagnosed with hypertension receiving treatment from the ten sampled health facilities. In this study, the target population included 134 noncompliant patients diagnosed with hypertension taking treatment at the sampled health facilities. This study used simple random sampling. The instrument used for data collection was self-administered questionnaire. Data was analysed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences. The results of this current study reveal that participants aged 40 years and above (85.1%) were noncompliant to treatment compared to those of the same or less than 40 years old (14.9%). Also, it indicated that females were more frequently noncompliant to treatment (73.1%) compared to males (26.9%), which was statistically significant. The study revealed that the unmarried participants (64.9%) were more non-compliant with treatment when compared to the married participants (35.1%). The current findings demonstrate that 40.3% of noncompliant participants mentioned the reason being that they were feeling well. Various factors related to participants’ noncompliance with their antihypertensive treatment and lifestyle modification regimen were described. Health education should cover the nature of hypertension specifically emphasising causes, severity and potential complications. / NRF

Institute for Gender and Youth Studies / PHDGS / Historically, the cardiovascular disease (CVD) has internationally been viewed as a man’s disease. This is witnessed by the high number of males who have fallen victim to this scourge. However, with rapid changes in today’s societies, the disease has increasingly become a public health concern among women also. This study aimed to explore rural women’s perspectives of CVD in Gwanda South Rural District. The study was guided by a feminist perspective where theories of gender such as social construction feminism, intersectionality and standpoint theory, were employed as a theoretical framework. In this process, the research endeavoured to unearth some contradictions inherent in the manner in which women view CVD. The population of the study comprised of females aged 21-60 years residing in Gwanda South Rural District of Zimbabwe. An exploratory case study design was adopted and this guided the qualitative data collection and analysis. Purposeful sampling technique was used to select 16 participants for semi-structured interviews and six participants for focus group discussions. Data were analysed using thematic analysis which is an essential tool for qualitative data analysis. Data were presented and discussed as themes and subthemes. The concepts of credibility, transferability, dependability and confirmability were used to describe and ensure various aspects of trustworthiness. Ethical considerations like informed consent, confidentiality and anonymity and no harm to participants were ensured. The following seven themes were derived from the study; women’s knowledge of CVD, causes of CVD, prevention of CVD, perceived effects of CVD, difference in experiences of CVD, assistance of women with CVD and management of CVD. Findings revealed that women had limited knowledge of most CVDs but were familiar with hypertension and stroke. Various symptoms of CVD were identified. It was concluded that rural women do not have adequate knowledge of CVDs. A lot should be done by the government and other stakeholders to ameliorate cardiovascular health in rural women. / NRF