Magister Artium - MA / The aim ofthis study is to analyse the interrelationships among domestic energy needs, the system of prepayment electrification and development as manifested in two lowincome communities of the Cape Metropole, namely Wallacedene and Delft. The study highlights the various dimensions of the following problem: Technological applications such as prepayment systems of electrification (whereby payment precedes the supply of electricity to users) can be rendered ineffective if it is not compatible with all the conditions that shape the livelihoods of its target groups

Magister Educationis - MEd / The primary South African policy document on Inclusive Education, Education White Paper 6 (EWP 6) (DoE, 2001), states that all children can learn, and they should be supported and assured of equal and equitable education. EWP 6 further states that all educational systems should be transformed to accommodate all learners in mainstream schools and proposes the establishment of support teams at school level. The main function of the School-based Support Teams (SBSTs) in all schools is to assist teachers to effectively provide support to all learners experiencing learning barriers.

Thesis submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree Master of Education in the Faculty of Education and Social Sciences at the Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2011 / Bullying at schools is a worldwide phenomenon and has been extensively researched. However, the role of teachers in this regard, specifically their responses and attitudes towards bullying, has not been as widely covered or reported on. In this study a qualitative case study approach was used to explore teachers‟ attitudes with regard to bullying at a high school in the Cape Metropole. Teachers‟ attitudes, responses, understandings and perceptions with regard to bullying were explored primarily through interviews with nine staff members at the school. The purpose of the research is to attempt to create a greater awareness among teachers of the phenomenon of bullying, and to investigate how their attitudes affect the dynamics in the school yard and related educational issues such as retaliation, tolerance, etc. The research was conducted according to international ethical guidelines and with the permission of the Western Cape Education Department (WCED). The literature review for this study covers two main areas: bullying and teachers‟ attitudes towards it. The area of bullying looks at the phenomenon itself, the definitions thereof, how it is viewed in this study, types of bullying, the role players as well as the effects. Teachers‟ attitudes towards bullying hone in on school climate, the whole-school approach to bullying prevention, teachers‟ attitudes with regard to bullying, and the South African context of the study. Findings will be reported in a narrative format, considering the methodology cited and the literature review. The conclusions in this study are meant to contribute to the overall prevention of bullying in schools in this country. The conclusions concerning teachers‟ attitudes with regard to bullying should be of some value in the ongoing challenge to minimise the scourge of bullying in South African schools.

Magister Psychologiae - MPsych / Mental health is one of the most neglected issues among school-going adolescents, with the result that little is known about aspects of these young people in the South African context. Given the stressors encountered by adolescents in the South African context specifically, there is a great need for research into which health-promoting behavioural and coping strategies adolescents use to buffer the negative consequences of these stressors on their mental health and overall psychological well-being.

Magister Pharmaceuticae - MPharm / The global movement towards enhancing inter-professional collaboration in patient care is in light of the increasing potency of drugs and complexity of drug regimens, particularly in the chronically ill where poly-pharmacy is rife, collaborative patient management by general practitioners and community pharmacists, in particular, has the potential to enhance patient therapeutic outcomes in primary healthcare. Literature from other parts of the world has enumerated the advantages of collaboration. South Africa with its unusual quadruple burden of disease and human resource deficient public healthcare system would benefit from collaboration between general practitioners and community pharmacists through expanded roles for community pharmacists to enable them to make more meaningful contributions to primary healthcare regimens. Particularly with the introduction of the National Health Insurance (NHI) programme. This dissertation aims to assess from general practitioners‟ perspectives: the current level and stage of collaboration (using the collaborative working relationship (CWR) model proposed by McDonough and Doucette, 2001) between general practitioners and community pharmacists in patient care, if general practitioners‟ perceptions of the professional roles of community pharmacists in patients‟ care can influence desired collaboration (prospects of enhanced future collaboration) and how do general practitioners envision enhanced future collaboration between them and community pharmacists in patient care, possible barriers to the envisioned collaboration between the two practitioners, and how general practitioners‟ demographic characteristics influence inter-professional collaboration with community pharmacists. Sixty randomly selected consenting general practitioners in private practice participated in a cross-sectional, face- to-face questionnaire study. The questionnaire contained a range of statements with Likert scale response options. Data was initially entered into Epi Info (version 3.5.1., 2008) and then exported to IBM SPSS Statistical software for analysis (version19, 2010). Medians were used to summarize descriptive data and Spearman‟s correlation coefficient, Mann-Whitney U Test and Kruskal-Wallis Test was used for bivariate analysis. Ethical approval was granted by the Senate Research and International Relations Committee, University of the Western Cape (Ethical Clearance Number: 10/4/29). The results indicated low-levels of current collaboration at stage 0 of the CWR model between general practitioners and community pharmacists. A statistically significant correlation was observed between general practitioners‟ perceptions of the professional roles of community pharmacists and desired collaboration (prospects of enhanced future collaboration), [p=0.0005]. Good prospects of enhanced future collaboration between general practitioners and community pharmacists were observed. General practitioners identified barriers to collaboration to include: the lack of remuneration for collaboration, absence of a government mandate or policy supporting collaboration, inability of general practitioners to share patients‟ information with community pharmacists and questionable professional ethics exhibited by community pharmacists particularly over financial gains. Most general practitioners agreed that joint continuing professional education organized by pharmaceutical companies or other groups will increase interaction and enhance collaboration. Enhanced Inter-professional collaboration between general practitioners and community pharmacists‟ can be possible in the future but hindrances need to be eliminated for this to be achieved. Future research can be aimed at exploring the perspectives‟ of community pharmacists to inter-professional collaboration in South Africa and interventions that will enhance collaboration.

Master of Public Health - MPH / This mini-thesis, assessed the use of ORT as a treatment for childhood diarrhoea in primary health care facilities in the Cape Metropole from the caregivers' perspective. Awareness and knowledge of oral rehydration therapy (ORT) and the preparation abilities of sugar salt solution (SSS) by caregivers of children younger than 5 years attending the health facilities were assessed. The availability of resources and utensils for the use of ORS packets and SSS and the accessibility to health facilities by caregivers were also determined. Using a cross sectional descriptive study design, a baseline situation review was carried out. Primary health care facilities in three heath districts namely; Khayelitsha, Nyanga and Oostenberg were purposely selected. Ninety-two caregivers in 12 facilities participated in the study. Basic analyses of quantitative data were done using Epi-Info 2002 software. Qualitative data were analysed manually. The study found that according to caregivers, all facilities used ORS packets as their immediate treatment for uncomplicated diarrhoea, and recommended sugar salt Diarrhoea Management in PHC Facilities solution as home treatment. Ninety-one percent of caregivers used ORT at home before they presented to the health facility.Of the caregivers who were advised by the health worker to use SSS at home, 60.7%, 55.8% and 60.2% in Oostenberg, Khayelitsha and Nyanga districts respectively remembered the correct ingredients and quantities to make the solution at home. Of those given ORS packets, 94.5%, 99.0% and 98.5% respectively, remembered the quantity of water to be mixed with each packet. Packets were found to be convenient and were preferred by many caregivers as compared to SSS. The advice or health education messages given to caregivers were often unclear, and there were language barriers in Brighton and Bloekombos clinics in the Oostenberg district. A litre bottle was available in 47% of caregivers' homes, 82 % had a teaspoon and all of them had access to running water. Twelve percent and 11 % admitted to not having sugar and salt respectively when they wanted to make SSS. Eighty-eight percent walked to the health facility and 12% used taxis or buses. The study concludes that ORT is widely used in primary health care facilities for diarrhoeal disease treatment, however caregiver's knowledge and preparation abilities of SSS is still limited. The resources and utensils to prepare ORT at home were fairly available in many homes, which makes SSS preparation at home feasible and acceptable.

Magister Scientiae (Physiotherapy) - MSc(Physio) / Transition from school to work entails the preparation, education and training of learners, leading to their placement in desired work situations. The right of children with disabilities to be included in ordinary schools and employment thereafter is being advocated internationally. However, despite this, preparation for transition from school to work still poses a major challenge for many learners with intellectual disabilities. The aim of this study was to explore how schools in the Cape Metropole, South Africa, are preparing adolescent learners with Down syndrome for the transition to work. The objectives of the study were to explore: school policies related to the transition process; schools’ physical and psychosocial environments; the link between schools and the community; learners’ acquisition of skills and education support services. Collaborative qualitative research design was used with a partnership between the researcher and the Western Cape Down Syndrome Association. The participants included two teachers with experience of teaching learners with intellectual disabilities, two parents of adolescent learners with Down syndrome, ten participants with Down syndrome, amongst them, two adolescent youths in post school training who were identified in this study as role models and eight learners at school. As learners with Down syndrome might not be fluent in verbal communication, an alternative research strategy, photovoice was used. Photovoice (photography) was used a means of accessing learners’ views of the transition planning and making these views accessible to others. The eight schoolgoing learners were given cameras and requested to take photographs of things and experiences that helped to prepare them for work. The learners were then interviewed. Subsequently adults with Down syndrome (role models), who were in post school training, were also interviewed. Finally, parents and teachers were interviewed. Data analysis included translating, transcribing of raw data from the recorded tapes and content analysis by using codes and identifying themes. The synthesis of the findings from all the participants yielded multiple themes including: education support services: acquisition of skills: supportive relationships; home, community, classroom and school environments; and dreams of the participants. Ethical considerations included getting permission from the University of the Western Cape, the Western Cape Education Department, the principals of the schools, the participants and their parents/guardians. The study has illustrated that, given opportunities and proper preparation in school, adolescent learners with Down syndrome have the potential to become active members of society. For better outcomes of the transition planning process, there is need for: teachers to work closely with the parents; increased government support; job coaches and class assistants in the schools and a greater collaboration between government departments.