<p>The majority of Cameroonians depend on traditional medicines for their health care needs and about seven per cent of the average household health budget is spent on traditional medicines irrespective of their incomes. The aim of this study was (i) to assess the role of traditional healers (THs) in providing oral care services in Cameroon / (ii) to determine their cost of treatment and to investigate reasons why people visit THs. The present study was cross sectional and consisted of a sample of 21 THs and 52 clients with a history of dental problems. It utilized semi structured questionnaires and photographs to collect data. The mean age of THs was 46.0 years (range 20-77 years). Thirty per cent of THs were above 40 years and the majority males. Nearly a quarter of the THs practiced as herbalists and the remainder practiced both divination and herbalism. More than two thirds of Cameroonians, who patronize THs for their oral health needs, fall within the 20-40 year age group. THs in this region are experienced and enjoy good relationships with hospitals and other THs. However, collaboration between the oral health work force and THs is very poor as only 6% of all patients seen by THs are referred to the dentist. Socio-cultural and economic factors affect the oral health care seeking behavior of patients in this area and only 6.5% of patients visit dental clinics. Reasons for not attending dental clinics included cost, poor accessibility, superstition and fear.</p>

South Africa faces crises in both childcare and unemployment. These two areas are central to development and economic growth. South Africa may be the first country in the world to design and implement a public works programme (PWP) in early childhood development (ECD). This study compares selected models of ECD provision - centrebased ECD, integrated-ECD-interventions and programmes that equip caregivers for ECD, in terms of their ability to accomplish three goals: improve childcare, provide employment and help caregivers reconcile paid and unpaid work. The models vary in the programmes they offer, costs and reach as well as their training requirements, institutional arrangements, use of volunteers, sustainability and ability to complement developmental services, and all have a context in which they work best. Quantitative and qualitative data is used to make projections on the potential socio-economic effects of expanding services according to the various models, and in the context of government plans. ECD will not be able to expand successfully until specific challenges have been overcome. With that as a foundation, the proposed expanded public works programme (EPWP) in ECD could be used as a vehicle to train and develop a cadre of practitioners. Serious consideration needs to be given to the quality of job opportunities created as this will directly affect the programme's impact on ECD. In addition, the model chosen for expansion will determine the ability of the programme to support caregivers in reconciling their paid and unpaid work. / Thesis (M.A.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 2007.

Introduction: This study aimed to explore private General Practitioners' perceptions of Managed Health Care CMHC) for health service delivery in the Republic of South Africa (RSA). The specific objectives were to review perceptions regarding issues in MHC including ethics of care, quality of care, design ofMHC programmes and regulation and monitoring ofMHC. The study also reviewed demographic profile of respondents and associations between demographic profile and perceptions. A literature survey indicates that MHC was introduced in a Western context as a means ofregulating cost of healthcare. Models ofMHC generally involve a need to obtain authorization and a restriction of services available. There are ongoing debates about MBC and in particular the potential conflict between managing healthcare provision using business and profit principles and the principles of other stakeholders in health care. Providers, such as General Practitioners, are concerned that their autonomy and their ability to offer best possible care for their patients may be compromised. Patients feel that their ability to access optimal care is not a primary consideration in a model of MBe. The popularity ofMBC in the United States of America is declining and MBC companies have been making financial losses on the Stock Market. MBC has been introduced in South Africa and there has not been any recent assessment of healthcare provider perceptions of the model. This study aimed to address this gap in literature. Methods: The study design was mixed with quantitative and qualitative components. The study population was all private General Practitioners in RSA as this population would have most experience of MBC. The data collection tool was designed by the researcher and comprised closed-ended questions and one open-ended question around perceptions of MBe. Demographic data, and other data relating to experience of MBC, was collected on a separate questionnaire. Questionnaires were posted to a representative sample of private General Practitioners; this constituted 30% of all active private General Practitioners. Results and discussion: The response rate was poor at 13.6%. Respondents generally had negative perceptions of MHe. They cited problems with ethics ofMBC, quality of service and felt that it affected their ability to act independently. They felt that MHC should be monitored by an independent regulatory body and that there should be more teaching around differing models of healthcare. There were no significant associations between gender, place of work, experience oftvtHC and perceptions. However, there was a significant correlation between doctors employed by Iv1HC companies and perceptions. A major limitation of this study was the predominant use of quantitative methodology. A qualitative methodology, using focus group discussion, may have highlighted major issues and following initial qualitative methods a quantitative tool could have been developed. The low response rate is of concern. Respondents may be biased and may have only responded if they felt strongly about the subject. However, respondents did raise some important issues, especially with regards to ethics which must be explored further. There should be ongoing research into differing models of healthcare provision (for example private-public partnerships). Medical school curricula should include training around models of healthcare. Consideration should be given to monitoring MBC using an independent monitoring authority. / Thesis (M.Med)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 2008.

In the context of integration of the Lithuanian social service sector into the international social security system of the European Union where relations of market economy are getting more and more stronger, it is important to substantiate the trends and priorities for efficient development of the mentioned services. In order to ensure rendering of one of the types of the mentioned services – institutional care services – for elderly population not only by the objective structure and scope, but also to ensure sufficient funding thereof, it is necessary to identify the priorities and principles of efficient rendering of the mentioned services. Researches carried out in the European Union show that most of the goals of effectiveness of institutional care services (further – “the ICS”) for the elderly are short-term, driven to technical efficiency, where efforts are taken to render maximal quantity of services (of the definite quality) for the minimal ICS costs. However, the increasing need for these services in a result of new changes in the structure and values of the society is not adequate to public resources and does not ensure satisfaction of the ICS need either. As we can see from EU and Lithuanian experience, the old model of rendering of the mentioned services, which is based on the unified conception of the customers, is not a long-term model, as it does not meet the objectives of economic and social efficiency. Researches covered by this thesis demonstrate that... [to full text]

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Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Virginia, 1988. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 122-129). Also available online through Digital Dissertations

Lic.-avhandling (sammanfattning) Linköping : Linköpings universitet, 2007. / Härtill 2 uppsatser.

Thesis (M.S.)--University of Nevada, Reno, 2007. / "May, 2007." Includes bibliographical references (leaves 56-63). Online version available on the World Wide Web.

Thesis (Ed.D.)--University of Tulsa, 1985. / Bibliography: leaves 63-66.

Thesis (D Phil (Social Work))--University of Pretoria, 2007. / Includes bibliographical references. Available on the Internet via the World Wide Web.