Thesis (MScPhysio (Physiotherapy))--University of Stellenbosch, 2007. / INTRODUCTION Computer use has been identified as a risk factor for the development of musculoskeletal dysfunction among children and adolescents internationally. Computer exposure has increased in the Western Cape since 2002, with the inception of a project to install computer laboratories in all schools in the province. As musculoskeletal dysfunction experienced during adolescence is predictive of musculoskeletal disorders in adulthood, it is essential to identify all risk and/or associative factors. METHODOLOGY A descriptive study was conducted with the aim to investigate whether the musculoskeletal dysfunction of high school learners in the Cape Metropolitan region was related to their computer use. This study was conducted in two phases. Phase 1 of the study entailed the completion of a new questionnaire, the Computer Usage Questionnaire, by grade 10-12 learners. The learner sample was divided in a computer and a non-computer group depending on their exposure to the school computer. Phase 2 of the study involved the assessment of the ergonomic design of the computer laboratories at randomly selected high schools within the Cape Metropolitan region. RESULTS A total of 1073 learners (65% girls & 35% boys), aged 14-18 years, completed the CUQ in phase 1 of the study. The results indicated that learners in the computer group had greater weekly exposure to computers than the non-computer group. The prevalence of musculoskeletal dysfunction among this learner sample was 74%. The most common body areas of dysfunction were the head, low back and neck. The female gender, playing sport and using the school computer for more than three years were associated with musculoskeletal dysfunction. Weekly computer use of more than seven hours was predictive of general musculoskeletal dysfunction, low back pain and neck pain. Twenty nine computer laboratories within 16 selected high schools were assessed by means of the Computer Workstation Design Assessment (CWDA). Out of a total score of 40, the computer laboratories obtained average scores of less than 45%, indicating compliance with less than half of the standard ergonomic requirements. The average scores for the workspace environment was less than 40%. The design of the desk, chair and computer screen had the poorest compliance to ergonomic guidelines. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION The prevalence of musculoskeletal dysfunction among this sample was higher than among other similar samples on the same study topic. The higher prevalence may be attributed to the poor ergonomic design of the computer laboratories in the Cape Metropolitan region. Learners’ reduced participation in activities such as sport and working on a computer due to their musculoskeletal dysfunction, may impact on their choice of a future career. The tendency of learners not to seek medical advice for their musculoskeletal dysfunction may predispose the development of chronic musculoskeletal disorders. Education of related parties on safe computing habits as well as advice on the ergonomic design of computer laboratories is recommended to prevent the progression of adolescent musculoskeletal dysfunction into chronic disorders in adulthood.

<p>Solid waste management is a phenomenon that has been researched for many years. With the development of industries and commerce, waste inputs into waste management programs are crucial, since these are the sectors responsible for the generation of waste and thus the inputs are invaluable when programs are formulated. In order to develop effective waste management strategies, it is important to identify the source of waste generation and the processes that must be followed to minimize waste. The objective of this research was to follow waste from generation to ultimate disposal and to case study why and how differences in waste disposal practices occur in the Breede River District (BRD) and the Cape Metropolitan Area (CMA).</p>

<p>Solid waste management is a phenomenon that has been researched for many years. With the development of industries and commerce, waste inputs into waste management programs are crucial, since these are the sectors responsible for the generation of waste and thus the inputs are invaluable when programs are formulated. In order to develop effective waste management strategies, it is important to identify the source of waste generation and the processes that must be followed to minimize waste. The objective of this research was to follow waste from generation to ultimate disposal and to case study why and how differences in waste disposal practices occur in the Breede River District (BRD) and the Cape Metropolitan Area (CMA).</p>

Magister Artium - MA / Solid waste management is a phenomenon that has been researched for many years. With the development of industries and commerce, waste inputs into waste management programs are crucial, since these are the sectors responsible for the generation of waste and thus the inputs are invaluable when programs are formulated. In order to develop effective waste management strategies, it is important to identify the source of waste generation and the processes that must be followed to minimize waste. The objective of this research was to follow waste from generation to ultimate disposal and to case study why and how differences in waste disposal practices occur in the Breede River District (BRD) and the Cape Metropolitan Area (CMA). / South Africa

Masters in Public Administration - MPA / Local authorities in the Western Cape have all initiated affirmative action policies to address past discrimination and ethnic inequalities, however ineffectual they may have been up to now. The debate arises; what kind of programme should be adopted to address issues such as discrimination, economic and social upliftment for disadvantaged groups and individuals? Oostenberg local authority organisation in the Western Cape is a functionary in the socio-economic rejuvenation of the poverty stricken, formerly deprived and most oppressed people of the Cape Metropolitan area. Transformation has not heralded the implementation of developmental strategies or the initiation of programmes, to address the huge inequalities that exist between black and white communities. This study argues that Affirmative Action should address holistic transformation of disadvantaged groups and individuals, to utilise the development potential of society to it's maximurn. The racial inequalities that pervade all aspects of life in South Africa are major factors contributing to racial hatred and civil disobedience. Apartheid has been formally eradicated from the South African Constitution, however, the vast differences between the opulent white minority and the increasing black majority is a reason for concern. Legislation has been promulgated to ensure that all private and public sector organisation adhere to, and commit themselves to the elimination of unfair discrimination in the workplace, however no amount of legislation can assure peace and harmony in a society filled with hatred. Affirmative action has been recognised as an agency to eradicate inequalities in income and status and to develop the human potential and ability. Those who benefit from affirmative action policies should be defined in terms of objective socio-economic principles, such as living conditions, education and income levels, to ensure that programmes target the genuinely disadvantaged. The growing feeling of discontent in the Western Cape is cause for concern and this is fuelled by the incorrect implementation of affirmative action. This study will utilise statistics, records, documents and interviews to obtain a detailed and descriptive analysis of strategies and policies thus far implemented in the Oostenberg Municipality. It is also the contention of this study that this organisation has applied limited policies and strategies to overcome the corrosive effects of discrimination.

Magister Scientiae Dentium - MSc(Dent) / Aangesien 'n nasionale register vir maligniteit nie bestaan waarin informasie ten opsigte van kanker onder die verskillende bevolkings groepe van Suid-Afrika nagegaan kan word nie, kan die verspreidings patroon alleenlik bepaal word deur spesifieke projekte. Die resultaat is dat daar nog nie 'n geheelbeeld vir kanker in Suid-Afrika bestaan nie. Wat mondkanker betref, is kennis fragmentaries. Inligting oor die ver spreiding daarvan onder die Kaapse Kleurlingbevolkingsgroep is beperk en net sekere aspekte daarvan is tot hede uitgelig. Die doel van hierdie studie is om mondkanker na te gaan in die Kaapse Kleurlingbevolkingsgroep wat woonagtig is in die Skiereiland van die Kaap die Goeie Hoop. Met hierdie oogmerk, is alle mondkankergevalle wat in die Groote Schuur- en Tygerberg-hospitale behandel is, van 1970 tot 1975, nagegaan. Bewys wyse van vergelyking en ook om die invloed van eie kultuur en akkulturasie na te gaan, is aandag gegee aan ondkankergevalle van Kleurlinge woonagtig in die Skiereiland en dié in die platteland wat in die Skiereiland behandeling ondergaan het. Verder is vergelykings ook getref tussen die,Kaapse Maleier wat die Moslem-geloof aanhang en die Kaapse Kleurling wat nie hierdie geloof aanhang nie. Die mondkankerpatroon van die Indiërs wat in die Skiereiland woonagtig is, is ook nagegaan. Bewys wyse van vergelyking en ook om die invloed van eie kultuur en akkulturasie na te gaan, is aandag gegee aan mondkankergevalle van Kleurlinge woonagtig in die Skiereiland en dié in die platteland wat in die Skiereiland behandeling ondergaan het. Verder is vergelykings ook getref tussen die,Kaapse Maleier wat die Moslem-geloof aanhang en die Kaapse Kleurling wat nie hierdie geloof aanhang nie. Die mondkankerpatroon van die Indiërs wat in die Skiereiland woonagtig is, is ook nagegaan. Ten slotte is die genoemde groepe se mondkankerpatroon vergelyk met dié gevind onder die ander groepe wat in Suid-Afrika bestudeer is, dié in die res van Afrika en ook met dié in die ander kontinente.

Magister Psychologiae - MPsych / Substance abuse is recognised as one of the greatest health and social problems in South Africa (SA). There is a need to explore the problem of substance use in the South African context in terms of the Bio-ecological Systems Theoretical Framework. All of the reviewed local and international studies on instruments that are used to measure factors associated with adolescent substance use, while yielding useful information; do not adequately address the issues of an instrument that successfully includes all the levels of the Bio-ecological Systems Theoretical Framework at the dimension level. As a result, a need for an applicable instrument exists. The overall purpose of the current study was to evaluate the content validity of the dimensions of the proposed self-administered questionnaire in terms of the Bio-ecological Systems Theoretical Framework, which will assist the factors associated with youth at risk of substance abuse in low socio economic status communities in the South African context. The study was framed in psychometric test theory focusing specifically on the procedures for content validation. It is being increasingly recognized that the development of a valid test requires multiple procedures, which are employed sequentially, at different stages of test construction. Validity is thus built into the test development from the outset. Participants were selected by means of purposive sampling. The sampling method was appropriate since the participants were required to meet certain inclusive criteria. The participants comprised of two groups of community leaders within two different communities on the Cape Flats. An adapted version of the Nominal Group Technique method was employed to collect data. The data for aim one was collected using a self administered questionnaire (Content Validity Questionnaire) consisting of two sections. The first section was presented in the form of a ranking scale with all relevant factors associated with adolescent substance use. The second section of part 1 was in the form of open-ended questions. The second aim was collected in the form of focus groups. Data was analysed quantitatively and qualitatively in the relevant sections. Data collected from the Content Validity Questionnaire (CVQ) was analysed quantitatively by means of statistical analysis making use of frequencies, and the open-ended questions of the content validity and data from the focus groups was analysed qualitatively by means of thematic analysis. The study concluded that all factors presented in the CVQ are important factors associated with adolescent substance use in the two low socio-economic statuses communities that were analysed in both the quantitative and qualitative components of the study.

Thesis (MPhil)--Stellenbosch University, 2003. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The aim of this study was to investigate the nature and purpose of migrant social in Marconi Beam Informal Settlement, and Joe Slovo Park. The study found that migrant social networks served both economic and cultural functions. Through their social networks migrants seek to maximise their remittances to their areas as well as to convey information about the availability of jobs and housing conditions in the city. Newly arrived migrants depend on their kin and village mates for food, shelter, and sense of belonging in an environment that can otherwise be hostile. Similarly in times of crisis such as redundancy, property losses migrants can call on the support within their immediate area of residence or from other members based in their rural areas of origin. Furthermore, migrants visit their rural areas of origin to partake in marriages, initiation ceremonies, and funeral service. And many of the migrants who die in the city are transported to the rural areas for burial. Migrant social networks demonstrate the complex interconnectedness of the urban and rural spheres of life in both the economic and cultural aspects of life. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hierdie studie het die aard en doel van sosiale netwerke onder migrante werkers in die Marconi Beam informele nedersetting en Joe Slovo Park ondersoek. Daar is gevind dat hierdie netwerke ekonomiese en kulturele funksies vervul. Op ekonomiese vlak fasiliteer die netwerke die twee-rigting vloei van goedere en dienste tussen stedelike huishoudings en die landelike tuiste. D.m.v. netwerke onder migrante werkers word inligting oor die beskikbaarheid van werk, behuising en dies meer versprei. Gebasseer op die ideologiese aanname dat die landelike tuiste meer belangrik is as die stedelike huishouding, word materiële goedere en geld, wat in die stad verdien word, na die landelike tuiste oorgeplaas. Daarmee saam word stedelike uitgawes tot In minimum beperk. In die geval van gebeurlikhede kenmerkend van die stedelike situasie, soos verlies van werk of eiendom, wend migrante werkers hulle na die landelike tuiste vir hulp en ondersteuning. Op In kulturele vlak besoek migrante die landelike areas om deel te neem aan begrafnisse, troues en inisiasie seremonies. Baie van diegene wat tot sterwe kom in die stad, word na die landelike areas oorgeplaas vir hul begrafnis. Hierdie besoeke dien as bewys van die migrant se lojaliteit teenoor die landelike tuiste en gemeenskap. In die geheel gesien bevestig die sosiale netwerke onder migrante werkers die inter-afhanklikheid van die stedelike en landelike lewenssfere.

Magister Psychologiae - MPsych / The outcome of child abuse, i.e. physical, emotional and/or sexual, and child neglect is multifactorial. The severity, duration and nature of abuse and the child’s vulnerabilities are all contributory factors with regards the outcome of abuse. Children who are traumatized are likely to be profoundly affected. Studies have shown and nearly every researcher agrees that early childhood traumas lie at the root of many emotional and psychological illnesses. It has been noted that drug abuse is a major problem in the Western Cape. This thesis explored the relationship between subjectively perceived childhood trauma and drug dependence in an in-patient treatment-seeking sample of adults in the Cape Town Metropolitan Area in the Western Cape. This thesis presents the results of a measure of childhood trauma, namely the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire [CTQ] and a measure of drug dependence, the Drug Use Disorder Identification Test [DUDIT]. The sample consisted of 52 participants and included both males and females. Only participants who were identified as drug dependent were included in the study. Patients who were actively psychotic and/or alcohol dependent were not included in the study. Ethical clearance was obtained from the University of the Western Cape’s higher degree ethical committee. The anonymity of the participants, the importance of responding openly and honestly and the sensitive nature of the questions were highlighted during the test administration. Questionnaires were administered in accordance with the guidelines stipulated in the respective manuals. The data was analysed through correlation. The study found a positive correlation between childhood emotional abuse and drug dependence, and childhood physical abuse and drug dependence.