This research study was designed to investigate the relationships of stress, anxiety, self concept, social support and illness in children and to examine the potential of specific cognitive mediating variables, self concept and anxiety, and an external mediating variable, social support and an interaction between self concept and social support, to significantly increase the efficiency of stress as a predictor of children's illness. The purposes of this study were (1) to determine if stressful life events, anxiety, self concept, social support, sex and illness are related in children, (2) to determine if stressful life events are an adequate predictor of illness in children, (3) to determine if a combination of anxiety, self concept and social support will increase the predictive efficiency concerning illness in children, (4) to provide information that may help develop a theoretical base concerning stressful life events and illness in children, and (5) to provide information that may be beneficial with regard to future research involving stress, anxiety, self concept, social support, sex and illness in children.

Thesis (MCur)--Stellenbosch University, 2012. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Member states of the United Nations accepted eight Millennium Development Goals in 2000. Millennium Development Goal number four addresses the improvement of child health. The purpose of goal number four is to decrease the child mortality rate by 60% for the period 1990 to 2015. South Africa is one of twelve countries where the incidence of child mortality increased during this period. Guided by the research question “What are the experiences and perceptions of mothers utilizing child health services”, a study was done. A qualitative, descriptive phenomenological methodology was applied to explore the experiences and perceptions of mothers utilizing child health services for children younger than two years. The goal of this study was to determine the experiences and perceptions of mothers utilizing child health services. The objectives were to explore their experiences and perceptions, with specific reference to the service they receive regarding: - immunization - nutrition assessment - the growth of the child - the growth chart - other underlying illnesses Ethical approval was obtained from Stellenbosch University and various health authorities. Validity was assured by adhering to the principles of trustworthiness, namely credibility, transferability, dependability, and conformability. The population for this study was mothers who utilized ten clinics in a demarcated area of Cape Town for child health services. Purposive sampling was utilized to consciously select three clinics (N =10), and at each of the clinics four mothers were purposively selected to participate. A total of seventeen mothers participated in the study. An interview guide was used to conduct interviews with participants. The researcher conducted and recorded the interviews after obtaining written informed consent from each participant. A field diary was kept for notation of observations. Data analysis involved the transcribing of digitally recorded interviews, the coding of the data, the generating of themes and sub-themes, interpretation and organization of data and the drawing of conclusions. The Modeling Role-Modeling Nursing theory of Erickson, Tomlin and Swain were utilized as conceptual theoretical framework to facilitate application to the broad population. Findings of the study indicated varied experiences. All mothers did not receive information about the RtHB or RTHC. Not all mothers developed a relationship of trust with caregivers or were afforded the respect of becoming part of the child’s health care team. According to the mothers integrated child health care services were not practised. The consequences were missed opportunities in immunization, provision of Vitamin A, absence of growth monitoring, feeding assessment and provision of nutritional advice. Hospitals and private practitioners equally did not provide immunization services or offered holistic care. Simple interventions such as oral rehydration, early recognition and treatment of diseases, immunization, growth monitoring and appropriate nutrition are not diligently offered; that could reduce the incidence of child morbidity and mortality. The following recommendations are made: determine why hospitals do not immunize children. The root causes must be addressed to change practice. Rendering of child services must happen in an integrated approach. Staff must be empowered with skills regarding procurement, in particular regarding vaccines. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: In 2000 het die lidlande van die Verenigde Volke Organisasie die Millenium Ontwikkelingsdoelwitte aanvaar. Die Millenium Ontwikkelingsdoelwit nommer vier roer die kwessie van kindergesondheid aan. Die strategie om die voorkoms van kindersterftes met 60% te verminder vanaf 1990 tot 2015 is die vierde millenium doelwit. Suid Afrika is een van twaalf lande in die wêreld waar die kindersterftes vir hierdie tydperk toegeneem het. ‘n Studie is gedoen om te bepaal “Wat die ervaring en persepsies van moeders is wat van kindergesondheidsdienste gebruik maak. ‘n Kwalitatiewe, beskrywende, fenomenologiese studie is gedoen,om die ervaring en persepsies van moeders wat kinders jonger as twee jaar na klinieke geneem het, te bepaal. Die doel van die studie was om die ervaring en persepsies van moeders ten opsigte van kindergesondheidsdienste vas te stel. Spesifieke doelwitte was die bepaling van die ervaring en persepsies rondom: - immunisasiedienste - groeimonitering - voedingsvoorligting - die groeikaart - behandeling van siektes Etiese goedkeuring was verkry vanaf die Universiteit van Stellenbosch en die verskeie gesondheidsowerhede. Geldigheid van die studie is verseker deur die beginsels van geloofwaardigheid na te kom naamlik, aaneemlikheid, betroubaarheid, oordraagbaarheid en inskiklikheid. Die bevolking betreffende die studie was moeders wat kliniekdienste gebruik het vir hulle kinders in ‘n spesieke area van Kaapstad, bestaande uit tien klinieke. Drie klinieke (N=10) is doelgerig geselekter vir deelname. Vier moeders is doelgerig by elk van die drie klinieke geselekteer vir deelname. Onderhoude is met sewentien deelnemers gevoer. ‘n Onderhoudsgids is gebruik en die navorser het rekord gehou van waarnemings. Die navorser het onderhoude gevoer en opgeneem na skriftelike toestemming daarvoor van elke deelnemer verkry is. ’n Veldwerkdagboek is gehou van alle waarnemings. Data-analise het behels: digitale opnames wat woordeliks beskryf , tematies ontleed en geïnterpreteer is en volgens temas georganiseer is. Toepassing na die breër populasie is bevorder deur die gebruik van die verpleegteorie van Erickson, Tomlin en Swain. Bevindinge van die studie het getoon dat moeders verskillende ervaringe gehad het. Nie alle moeders het inligting ontvang omtrent die RtHB of RTHC nie. Nie alle moeders het vertroue in die kliniek nie en moeders word nie erken as bepalende faktore in die sorgspan nie. . Volgens die moeders is geïntegreerde gesondheidssorg nie beoefen nie. Die gevolge is dat geleenthede nie benut word om te immuniseer nie, vitamien A te verskaf, groei te kontroleer, voeding te bepaal en voedingsadvies te verskaf. Die voorraadvlakke van entstof word nie oral doeltreffend beheer nie. Hospitale en dokters beoefen nie altyd immunisering en holistiese kindergesondheidsdienste nie. Eenvoudige intervensies, wat die voorkoms van kindermorbiditeit en kindermortaliteit kan bestry, word nie verskaf nie. Voorbeelde van sulke intervensies is mondelinge rehidrasie, vroeë diagnose en behandeling van siektes, immunisering, groeimonitering en geskikte voedingsinligting. Daar word aanbeveel dat daar indringend bepaal word hoekom hospitale nie kinders immuniseer nie en dat die oorsake aangespreek word. Integrasie van dienste by klinieke moet as prioriteit gesien en geïmplimenteer word. Personeel se vaardighede betreffende beheer van voorraad moet verbeter word, veral t.o.v. entstof voorraad.

Thesis (MScPhysio (Physiotherapy))--University of Stellenbosch, 2007. / Objective The objective of this study was to establish the reliability and validity of a Portable Posture Analysis Method (PPAM). Design The design for the reliability section was a repeated measures observational study and the design for the validity section was a correlation study. Background The prevalence of spinal pain among high school learners is high (Murphy et al, 2002). It is also notable that the prevalence of back pain increases across the teenage years (Grimmer & Williams 2000, Burton et al 1996). In South Africa, the preliminary findings of a study conducted by a Physiotherapy masters candidate (Ms L Smith: ethics nr. N05/09/164) indicates that about 74% of high school learners in Cape Town complained of musculoskeletal pain. Posture has been identified by some researchers to be a primary predictor of the development of spinal, particularly upper quadrant pain among computer users (NIOSH 1997, Vieira et al 2004). Measurement of posture poses a real challenge to researchers wanting to accurately evaluate posture in research projects. Considering the practical implications in measuring posture, the validity and reliability of posture measurement are often reported to be poor. Many of these methods of indirect assessment of working posture have been reported on in the literature. These measures include; the goniometer, inclinometer, flexible electrogoniometer, flexicurve and photography (Harrison et al 2005, Christensen 1999, Nitschke et al 1999, Chen & Lee 1997). ...

abstract / Human Performance / Doctoral / Doctor of Philosophy

Fong, Hildy Felicia. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2011. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 221-234). / Electronic reproduction. Hong Kong : Chinese University of Hong Kong, [2012] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Abstract and appendix also in Chinese.

Thesis (MPH.) -- University of Limpopo, 2019 / Background: School children are mostly affected by diarrhoeal and respiratory infections and these are related to lack of proper hand washing. For children to be able to practice proper hand washing, they must have the knowledge and necessary resources to practice hand washing. The study’s purpose was therefore to establish the knowledge and practice of hand washing among primary school children. Purpose: The study’s aim was to assess the knowledge and practices of hand washing among primary school children in Kweneng Central Sub-District. Methods: A quantitative approach using a self-administered structured questionnaire to collect data regarding knowledge and practices on hand washing among primary school children was used. An observation checklist was also used to assess the practice of hand washing among primary school children. A stratified random sampling method was used to come up with a sample size of 330. SPSS 24.0 version was used to analyse the data. Results: The study revealed that the majority of primary school children had knowledge on hand washing but lacked proper hand washing practices. The results also showed that hand washing knowledge and practice among primary school children had no association with their age and gender. However, there was association between washing hands after going to the toilet and gender as well as the availability of bucket/basin to wash hands and gender. Conclusion: Children spend much of their day time at school; therefore schools are the right institutions to impart hand washing information and emphasise the importance of hand washing to the children. The availability of facilities such as clean water and soap are paramount to the facilitation of hand washing among primary school children and as such should be adequately provided in schools. Keywords: Hand washing, knowledge, practice, children, primary school.

Asthma prevalence in children under age 18 has risen steadily in the U.S. since the mid-1970s. Most researchers attribute this increase to air pollutants, socioeconomic status or urban residence. This study examined asthma prevalence in Lane County, Oregon, using children's asthma hospital discharges (1990-1995), and data from 10 of 16 school districts. The overall asthma prevalence in Lane County was 5.8%, ranging from 1.9% (coastal Siuslaw District) to 10% (urban, industrial Bethel District). Asthma prevalence during 1988-1997 was examined for the largest school district, Eugene 4J (43% of the total study population). Eugene 4J is divided into four regions: North, South, Churchill, and Sheldon. The largest asthma prevalence increase during this time was detected in North Region (2.5%-8%), while the overall district prevalence nearly doubled (3.3%-6.2%). No correlation was found between socioeconomic status and asthma prevalence, and there was not a consistent pattern between asthma prevalence and location of each school district (urban vs. rural). Two out of the three urban school districts had higher asthma prevalence than five of the rural school districts. However, three school districts did not follow this pattern, either being lower than expected for an urban area or higher than expected for a rural area. Asthma hospitalization rates increased for most children between 1990 and 1995, with a 20-fold increase for ages 15-19 years. The results of this study show an increase in prevalence and severity of asthma in school children in Lane County. Further studies are warranted to investigate the contribution that geography, meteorology, and proximity to industry have in asthma prevalence in Lane County. / Graduation date: 1999

The ground work for this research thesis was completed seven years ago when the Dow Pharmaceutical Company selected Muncie, Indiana to test their new rubella vaccine. In the Fall of 1970, 311 seronegative elementary school children were innoculated with HPV-77, DK12 rubella vaccine. Of the 302 children who seroconverted, 98 were available for follow-up six years post innoculation. The participant's sera drawn six years previously was recovered in order to determine a six week and six year post innoculation titer on paired specimens. All 98 children, when retested, has measurable antibody. The geometric mean titer six years post innoculation was 55; a 14% decrease from the geometric titer of 64 six weeks after innoculation. At the six year point in time, there was at least a 9.2% incidence of subclinical reinfection, detected by a fourfold rise in the HI-titer, within the study group.Ball State UniversityMuncie, IN 47306

An instrument measuring Perceived Vulnerability was administered to grades three through twelve across a rural school district. The background literature base for the concept and validity of the Perceived Vulnerability measurement is reviewed. A series of means is calculated for the above data and subjected to a simple analysis of variance. Resulting data support a relative unchanging level of Perceived Vulnerability with a possible rise in the fifth grade level only. It is concluded that an adequate control value for this rural school district is established which can be used to measure impact of teaching programs. The need for further research to investigate the fifth grade "window" is noted.Ball State UniversityMuncie, IN 47306

This study investigated the needs assessment phase of the health education process for school children. The objectives of the study were to identify health education needs of school children using three approaches, namely, the epidemiological, consumer and social science approaches. In the social science approach, a PRECEDE model has been used. Time taken in using each approach and the skills of PHC nurses necessary to use each, were investigated in order to determine the most effective and efficient approach. A comparative case study design has been used, whereby each approach was considered as a case, hence, an embedded case study. One rural administrative area in the district of Umtata, which has a health centre in its catchment area, was selected. The population for the sudy were school children aged 12 to 16 years doing standard five. Four out of ten Junior Secondary schools in the area were randomly selected. In the epidemiological approach, records from the health centre and three of the four selected schools were analysed. In the consumer approach, focus group interviews (two groups of boys and two groups of girls) were conducted. In the social science approach, focus group interviews of school children(four groups) from the other two remaining schools, focus group interviews of mothers as carers( four groups), and in-depth interviews of standard five teachers from each of the four schools were conducted. Data analysis was done using Tesch's method of qualitative data analysis.A time activity sheet was used to estimate time used in each approach. A questionnaire was distributed among PHC nurses to determine their skills in relation to the approaches used. Results showed that the social science approach was the most comrehensive approach but used the longest time. The consumer was balanced and efficient though the least time was used. The epidemiological was found to have identified physical problems to the exclusion of the social and psychological problems. / Thesis (Ph.D.)-University of Natal, Durban, 1998.