Free-ranging banded mongooses (Mungos mungo) in northeastern Botswana are infected by a novel Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex pathogen, M. mungi, which putatively infects mongooses through lesions in the skin (often the planum nasale) from an environmental reservoir. To understand the epidemiology of the yearly and highly seasonal outbreaks of M. mungi in this population of banded mongooses, researchers need to understand what factors influence banded mongoose exposure to M. mungi and banded mongoose susceptibility to M. mungi infection. Researchers have no baseline data on the behavioral ecology of this population of banded mongooses - such as home range dynamics, denning ecology, movement ecology, and foraging ecology, all of which may play a role in banded mongoose exposure to M. mungi. Further, researchers have highlighted the potential role of prolonged elevations of glucocorticoids in impairing cell-mediated immunity, which would play a significant role in determining susceptibility to a mycobacterium such as M. mungi, however, researchers have no data on the endocrinology of banded mongooses. Finally, researchers have not detected M. mungi infection in any other population of banded mongooses. Our study population has a gradient of troops (social groups) that vary from troops with extremely close association with humans in a town, to troops associated with humans at tourist lodges within the Chobe National Park, to troops with no discernible association with humans within the national park and surrounding forest reserve. Researchers have few data on how synanthropy (living with humans) affects banded mongoose behavioral ecology and no data on how synanthropy affects banded mongoose endocrinology. Researchers do not know whether or how the high level of synanthropy in this population of banded mongooses plays a role in the epidemiology of M. mungi outbreaks. Thus, we document here some aspects of banded mongoose home range dynamics, movement metrics, denning ecology and foraging behavior for our study population in northeastern Botswana. We present a novel method for screening data from global positioning system (GPS) collars for large measurement error and we present a detailed home range study. We also document the spatio-temporal dynamics of glucocorticoid production among several banded mongoose study troops across our study site, using a non-invasive assay for fecal glucocorticoid metabolites, which we validated and also present here.  We tested to see which factors, including nutritional limitation, predation risk, and reproduction (and associated competition, agonistic encounters, and predation), best explained the variation in glucocorticoid production among our study troops over several years. We found that the metrics traditionally used to screen data from GPS collars, horizontal dilution of precision (HDOP) or fix dimension (2-D or 3-D), performed poorly relative to a new screening metric that we propose, the estimated elevation error (EEE). We propose that researchers use our screening method, which combines test data and a model-averaging information-theoretic framework that uses a priori candidate models of telemetry measurement error. Although we recommend including EEE in a priori candidate models, it may not describe telemetry error in other systems as well as it did in our own. Banded mongooses in our study population formed troops of a median of 13 adults (IQR: 11 to 21 adults) and these troops used home ranges of a median of 68 ha (IQR: 39 to 134 ha) with core areas of a median of 15 ha (IQR: 9 to 28 ha). These cores (statistically-clumped space use) occurred at a median volume contour of 66 % (IQR: 58 to 71 %). Synanthropic troops showed more clumped area use than apoanthropic troops (those living away from humans). Synanthropic troops also used man-made structures for den sites in SI{81}{percent} of nights, fed from refuse sites in 13 % of foraging observations, and drank from anthropogenic water sources in 78 % of drinking observations. From our conducted adrenocorticotropic hormone challenge, we detected valid increases in fecal glucocorticoid metabolite concentrations in mongoose feces using our four tested enzyme-immunoassays. An 11-oxoetiocholanolone assay detecting 11,17-dioxoandrostanes (11,17-DOA) performed best. Using this assay, we detected expected decreases in fecal glucocorticoid metabolite concentrations 48 h after administering dexamethasone sodium phosphate. We also validated this assay using biological events as challenges, in which captive mongooses showed higher fecal glucocorticoid metabolite concentrations during reproductive activity, agonistic encounters, and depredation events. The time delay of fecal glucocorticoid metabolite excretion approximately corresponded with food transit time, at a minimum of approximately 24 h. Fecal glucocorticoid metabolite metabolism was minimal up to 8 h post-defecation. Reproduction and its associated challenges dramatically increased glucocorticoid production, which otherwise remained low and stable in a captive troop with a constant food supply and lowered predation risk. Variation in glucocorticoid production in free-ranging banded mongooses was best explained by food limitation as described by current nutritional limitation (proportion of fecal organic matter), recent rainfall (which increases soil macrofauna availability), and access to concentrated anthropogenic food resources. Habitat differences in soil macrofauna density and reproductive events also explained variation in glucocorticoid production in free-ranging mongooses, but to a much lower degree. Predation risk, as measured by canopy cover (escape from aerial predators) and group size (decreased per capita vigilance) explained very little of the variation in glucocorticoid production. In the late dry season, banded mongooses in our population may face a "perfect storm" of nutritional limitation, agonistic encounters at concentrated food resources, aggressive evictions, estrus, competition for mates, parturition, and predation pressure on pups. We suspect that this prefect storm may push glucocorticoid responses into homeostatic overload and may impair cell-mediated immunity in banded mongooses. / Ph. D.

Listeria monocytogenes is known to cause epidemic and sporadic cases of listeriosis. The present study investigated its occurrence, antibiotic sensitivity and serotyping of the organism in foods in various retail outlets in Gaborone, Botswana. Food samples were obtained randomly from selected supermarkets and street vendors from 5 geographical areas in Gaborone from May to September 2007. Listeria monocytogenes was isolated and positively identified by using morphological and biochemical tests. Furthermore, the organism was identified using multiplex PCR. From a total of 1324 food samples tested 57(4.3 %) were positive for Listeria monocytogenes. Out of the 57 isolates, 7 (12.3%), 3 (5.3%), 0 (0.0%), 27 (47.4%) and 20 (35.1%) were isolated from cheese, raw milk, meat (biltong), frozen cabbage and salad (coleslaw). From the 5 geographical areas selected for sampling in this study, Gaborone south recorded the most number 19 (33.3%) of L. monocytogenes isolates while Gaborone west recorded the least, 7 (12.3%). Most of the isolates (49%) belonged to serogroups 4a, 4b and 4c. These isolates were found mostly in cabbage. This was followed by serogroups 4b, 4d and 4e which comprised 30% of the isolates. This is in contrast to most studies that have found serotypes 1/2a and 1/2b to be the most common serotypes in food. That serotype 4b was detected in this study was a significant finding, because this is the number one serotype associated with human listeriosis. REP-PCR was used as a typing tool to characterize the L. monocytogenes strains. The method showed great promise as all of the L. monocytogenes strains were typable using this method, with good correlation between the REP-PCR profiles and the antibiotic resistant profiles. The findings reveal the presence of multi-drug resistant and virulent L. monocytogenes serotype 4b in ready to eat food in Gaborone, Botswana and highlight the need for education and training in food safety programmes. / Life and Consumer Sciences / M. Sc. (Microbiology (Life Sciences))

The concept of youth activity centre (YAC) has not yet been evaluated. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the YAC in Botswana. Accordingly, the researcher explored and described the lived experience of young people utilising the YAC as well as the perceptions of service providers at the Mochudi Centre in the Kgatleng District, in Botswana. Furthermore, the objective was to develop and describe guidelines for the facilitation of youth-friendly services (YFS) at YAC. A phenomenological, qualitative, explorative, descriptive and contextual research design was used to extract young people’s experiences and perceptions of service providers. Thirty-two young people and 27 service providers (peer educators and service delivery officers [SDOs]) were purposefully selected. Methods of data collection used were unstructured individual in-depth interviews, focus group discussions and observations in the forms of field notes. The data, mainly tape-recorded interviews and field notes were transcribed verbatim for data analysis. Tesch’s eight-step data analysis model (Creswell 1994:155) was used. One major theme, youth friendliness emerged with three categories, namely: physical, administrative, and psychological aspects of youth-friendly services. All the respondents indicated that they benefited and affirmed they were empowered and better people after using the facility. However, limited access to the facility by the target group due to location, cost of reaching the facility, and attitudes of service providers as well as failure to implement planned activities due to financial and staff shortage were obstacles to youth friendliness of the YAC. Based on the findings and literature review, the researcher developed guidelines to facilitate YFS and improved access to the YAC. Recommendations made are for practise in the YAC, education of SDOs and for further research. / Health Studies / D. Litt. et Phil. (Health Studies)

According to the Ministry of Health (1996:26), the most common chronic/terminal illnesses were cardiovascular disorders, diabetes, cancer, mental disorders, HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and asthma. Long term treatment and care and the growing incidence of these conditions necessitated the introduction of home-based care (HBC). Consequently, family care givers play a major role in the provision of care to chronically/terminally ill patients and professional health care providers adopt a supervisory role. This study examined the quality of home care services provided in Botswana. The availability and accessibility of home-based care services and resources have a direct bearing on the quality of home-based care delivery system. The researcher used systems theory was used as the conceptual framework for this study. The study aimed to • determine the accessibility and availability of home-based care services in Molepolole East • investigate what the perspectives and experiences of family care givers, patients and professional health care providers of Botswana home-based care are • determine the roles of professionals health care providers, patients, and family care givers and their relationships in the context of home- based care • identify the needs of chronically/terminally ill patents and family care givers • determine the type of support given to family care givers and patients by professional health care providers and make recommendations for the improvement of home-based care • develop a model to prepare family care givers The research design combined quantitative and qualitative research methods. A sample of convenience was used to obtain information from patients' family care givers and professional health care providers. Interviews and questionnaires were used. A proposed care giving preparedness model is presented to meet needs of the family care givers. The study found that family care givers needs are neither known nor catered for by the professional health care provider. The family care givers were not adequately prepared before adopting the care-giving role. It is recommended that • The proposed preparedness care giving training model is considered for training of patients and family care givers before discharge and during HBC. • Increase patients and family care givers decision-making / Health Studies / D.Litt. et Phil. (Health Studies)

No description available.

Thesis (MBA)--Stellenbosch University, 2014. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This research assignment was done to determine the status and awareness of green building solutions in Gaborone, Botswana for the year 2014. In a third world country like Botswana, design and development of ‘green building’ is low on the agenda. As with many other third world countries, other basic needs and services are missing and many people believe that all of those should be sorted out before items such as green building solutions can be looked at. Interviews were conducted with executives of companies in the property development industry or companies that make use of commercial office space. Through these executives, access was gained to the employees who were requested to complete an online survey. The focus of the interviews and surveys was to gain information of the companies’ awareness of and involvement in green building solutions, their view on the willingness to pay for such solutions and on its implementation in the future. In the findings, it became clear that cost is the most important aspect, especially when renting, while when investing, most participants were willing to contribute towards green building solutions with the understanding that this would contribute to lower running costs, and therefore returns on the investment made.

This study describes and analyses cattle management in Tlokweng Sub District. Two methods were used. The two are households' interviews and a system dynamics STELLA model called the Rain Land Cattle model, which was adapted from the 1990 Braat and Opschoor model. Ninety households, 61% of the 1991 households in the study area, were interviewed. All the households had arable fields and fifty nine percent had cattle. The Rain Land Cattle model uses 52 parameters to predict several cattle management factors, which include rainfall, stocking rate, total grazing area and livestock water availability. The model explored the use of parameters to relate water availability to grazing area and show the seasonality of the water source. Sixty two percent of the household had access to an ideal livestock water source. Cattle graze from the 5000 hectares of arable area for four months after harvesting. This seasonal grazing, optimises the uses of the grazing resource in the small sub - district. The model simulated a S and 20 percent permanent grazing land loss. Such a grazing land loss, increased the stocking rate, decreased the carrying capacity and cast doubt on sustainable cattle production. The model shows that the stocking rate is chronically greater than the carrying capacity. Most households acknowledged that there was land pressure due to the loss of grazing land. A drier climate scenario will lead to a loss of seasonal grazing, reduced livestock water, which will increase cattle emigration and cause cattle management problems. The model is exploratory; it needs to be validated. It is easily understood, adaptable to other communal areas, and identifies the most influential factors in cattle management. The livestock water parameters functioned reliably in the model. Based on the understanding of the cattle management derived from this study, more fenced grazing land is unlikely to improve the cattle management in the area.

Listeria monocytogenes is known to cause epidemic and sporadic cases of listeriosis. The present study investigated its occurrence, antibiotic sensitivity and serotyping of the organism in foods in various retail outlets in Gaborone, Botswana. Food samples were obtained randomly from selected supermarkets and street vendors from 5 geographical areas in Gaborone from May to September 2007. Listeria monocytogenes was isolated and positively identified by using morphological and biochemical tests. Furthermore, the organism was identified using multiplex PCR. From a total of 1324 food samples tested 57(4.3 %) were positive for Listeria monocytogenes. Out of the 57 isolates, 7 (12.3%), 3 (5.3%), 0 (0.0%), 27 (47.4%) and 20 (35.1%) were isolated from cheese, raw milk, meat (biltong), frozen cabbage and salad (coleslaw). From the 5 geographical areas selected for sampling in this study, Gaborone south recorded the most number 19 (33.3%) of L. monocytogenes isolates while Gaborone west recorded the least, 7 (12.3%). Most of the isolates (49%) belonged to serogroups 4a, 4b and 4c. These isolates were found mostly in cabbage. This was followed by serogroups 4b, 4d and 4e which comprised 30% of the isolates. This is in contrast to most studies that have found serotypes 1/2a and 1/2b to be the most common serotypes in food. That serotype 4b was detected in this study was a significant finding, because this is the number one serotype associated with human listeriosis. REP-PCR was used as a typing tool to characterize the L. monocytogenes strains. The method showed great promise as all of the L. monocytogenes strains were typable using this method, with good correlation between the REP-PCR profiles and the antibiotic resistant profiles. The findings reveal the presence of multi-drug resistant and virulent L. monocytogenes serotype 4b in ready to eat food in Gaborone, Botswana and highlight the need for education and training in food safety programmes. / Life and Consumer Sciences / M. Sc. (Microbiology (Life Sciences))

M.Cur. / The overall objective of this study is to measure the level of work satisfaction among nurses at Athlone, Lobatse Mental and Scottish Livingstone hospitals, and develop guidelines for the nursing service manager to facilitate work satisfaction. The nursing service manager is responsible and accountable for quality personnel management. Personnel management involves the adequate provision and utilisation of personnel as well as the retention and development of personnel. In view of existing problems such as high turnover rates, too much work and the public's concerns about the standard of nursing, there is need to regularly evaluate the level of work satisfaction among nurses. Hence the study address the formulation of guidelines for the nursing service manager to facilitate work satisfaction and empower nurses. Emanating from the above the following questions are relevant: What is the level of work satisfaction among nurses in the three government hospitals ? What measures need to be put in place in order to increase work satisfaction among nurses ?

thesis submitted to the School of Animal, Plant and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg in fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Masters in Science. Johannesburg 2016. / The Okavango Delta in northern Botswana contains the largest, unfenced lion population in southern Africa, and is one of the most important population strongholds for the species on the continent. Despite its conservation importance, however, little information has been published on the drivers of lion ecology in this unique wetland ecosystem. In the Okavango Delta, the annual flood pulse causes dramatic seasonal contractions of available dry land, and consequently variable distribution and abundance of prey. Lions must therefore adapt to a dynamic environment not only on an annual basis, but also on a longer time-scale as inundation patterns cycle from periods of low to high floods. The main aim of the study was to determine which social and ecological factors were most important in determining lion population demographics and social organisation in the unique wetland environment of the Okavango Delta. Data were intensively collected on demographic rates and social organisation of five resident lion prides in the south-western Okavango Delta from 1997 to 2004, during which inundation patterns shifted from low to high floods. We investigated the effects of two ecological factors, namely prey availability and flood extent, and one social factor, namely intra-specific competition, on lion social organisation and population demographics. Lions occurred at high densities, and the population was regulated socially and not by resource limitation. Our results indicated that competition with neighbours exerted the most extensive influence on the lion population and significantly affected the survival of young cubs and reproductive rates. Competition reduced pride size, but contrary to our expectations, also negatively influenced sub-group size, indicating that territorial disputes do not drive sub-group patterns in the Okavango Delta. Prey availability did not appear to be an important limiting factor for the population, and group sizes were inversely related to prey availability, most likely due to habitat saturation resulting in higher levels of recruitment. Prey availability only influenced survival of young cubs, which are most vulnerable to nutritional stress. Higher levels of flooding led to smaller pride and sub-group sizes, indicating that higher flood levels for extended periods may lead to a decline in lion densities due to increased competition for available dry land. While flooding exerted no direct effect on demographic rates, we posit that habitat conversion during high flood cycles causes a decline in prey, resulting in a time-lagged effect on the lion population. Our results show that during low flood cycles when herbivore abundance is high, lions occur at high densities and are largely self-regulated. However, as flood levels increase, prey availability declines and lions are placed under increasing pressure for space and resources, which could ultimately lead to population decline. From a conservation perspective, the south-western Okavango Delta population is thus most vulnerable during periods of high floods, when lion densities naturally decline, and lions may be pushed towards the veterinary fence where human-lion conflict is high. Future studies should focus on how anthropogenic threats around the Okavango Delta threaten the viability of the lion population in this conservation area, and seek to secure important corridors to neighbouring populations. Keywords: lion, Panthera leo, social organisation, pride size, population demographics, survival reproduction, Okavango Delta, flooding, competition, prey abundance / LG2017