published_or_final_version / Medical Sciences / Master / Master of Medical Sciences

Thesis (Ph.D.) -- La Trobe University, 2003. Submitted to the School of Public Health, Faculty of Health Sciences. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 341-378).

Thesis (D.P.H.)--University of Michigan.

Dissertation (D.P.H.)--University of Michigan.

Dissertation (D.P.H.)--University of Michigan.

M.Cur. / With the changes in health care occuring in South Africa, new concepts and functions concerning the community health nurse are being presented. The role of the community health nurse is altering, and with his/her grassroot involvement with the community, the researcher was concerned about what contribution he/she should make on health committees. The goal of the study was to explore and describe the role of the community health nurse on health committees. The objectives were to: - explore and describe the role the community health nurse should play on health committees; explore and describe the role the community health nurse is playing on health committees and - to develop guidelines to describe the role of the community health nurse on health committees. The study was conducted in three phases: PHASE 1: After conducting a literature study, six categories were identified as the role of the community health nurse on health committees. Thereafter a questionnaire was presented to community health nurses to find out what their perceptions were about the role of the community health nurse on health committees. The results of Phase One were used to develop a central question. Individual categories relevant to the role of the community health nurse on health committees were identified and an interview schedule was drafted for presentation to selected members of health committees. ii PHASE 2: Personal interviews based on the results of Phase One were conducted with selected health committee members to find out their perceptions of the same. PHASE 3: ' Guidelines describing the role of the community health nurse on health committees were developed based on the findings of the study. It was found that the literature, the community health nurses and the health committee members all concured as to what the community health nurse should be doing on health committees. This study stresses the importance of the community health nurse's involvement on health committees. It should lead to the implementation of community health nurses being allowed to accept their rightful role on health

Primary health care has been the cornerstone of South Africa's health policies since its transition to democracy in 1994. In order to optimise the effectiveness of primary health care, the South African government introduced community health committees hich were intended to facilitate primary health care at the grassroots level through community participation. As statutory bodies outlined in the National Health Act, 61 of 2003, and in provincial legislation, Community Health Committees were to be the liaison between communities and government and assist government in improving health services in communities. Since being re-established in 2010, Community Health Committees in the Nelson Mandela Bay Health District, Eastern Cape Province, South Africa have sought to fulfil this role and have remained sustainable. This research was aimed at investigating the strategies and approaches which sustain Community Health Committees in Nelson Mandela Bay Health District. It focused on eliciting information regarding the factors that sustain Community Health Committees, factors that threaten their sustainability and factors that motivate continued membership in Community Health Committees. Qualitative research methods of key informant interviews, observations and focus groups were used and analysed to identify these factors. The findings indicated that Community Health Committees struggle to remain sustainable because of various threats to their functioning. The major threat identified was the disengagement of the Department of Health in the operations of the Community Health Committees. The Department of Health was not visible; rather it was passive and unresponsive to the reports submitted by Community Health Committees on behalf of their communities and provided no re-imbursement for administration costs. Despite threats to sustainability, these Community Health Committees had commitment, passion and drive to assist with the health improvement of their communities in partnership with health facilities in their communities. Good interpersonal relationships in the Community Health Committees, good professional relationships with the health facility staff and the liaising role played by health facility management are some of the factors that contributed to sustainability. Recommendations were made at the end of the study that may assist the Nelson Mandela Bay Health District and the Department of Health to create a working environment that will be conducive to the sustainability of Community health Committees.

Submitted in fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree in Masters of Technology in Homeopathy, Durban University of Technology, Durban, South Africa, 2015. / Introduction In South Africa homoeopathy is relatively unfamiliar, even though it has been in existence with formal qualification from 1989 at the Durban University of Technology, (formerly Durban Institute of Technology and Techikon Natal) as well as the University of Johannesburg formerly Wits Technikon). A large portion of the South African public is unclear with regards to homoeopathic understanding and homoeopathic medicine use. South African studies exploring the perception of homoeopathy have revealed that there is a degree of ignorance or misinterpretation of homeopathy. The objectives of this study were to expand the database of knowledge regarding the patients’ experiences of homoeopathy, by investigating their experiences of homoeopathic care rendered at a PHC facility in the eThekwini district, namely, the Redhill homoeopathic clinic. This study was guided by the following grand tour question: What are the experiences of patients of homoeopathic care rendered at a primary healthcare clinic in the eThekwini District? Aim of the study The aim of this study was to determine the experiences of patients receiving homoeopathic care rendered at a primary healthcare facility in the eThekwini district. Methodology A qualitative, explorative, descriptive and contextual design was employed. Qualitative research in this study was considered the most appropriate method to gain an in-depth understanding of the patients’ experiences of homoeopathic care. Convenience sampling was used to recruit a minimum of 10 potential research participants from patients receiving homoeopathic care at the Redhill homoeopathic clinic, but the sample size was only determined once data saturation was obtained. The study population were patients who were visiting the Redhill homoeopathic clinic for the second time or more and those who had utilized homoeopathic remedies. The data was collected and analysed using Tesch’s eight-step procedure. Results Results from this study showed that the study group had knowledge of homoeopathy and that there is growth in the knowledge of homoeopathy as compared to previous studies. The researcher observed that Indian participants had a better understanding of homoeopathy than African participants. Participants showed great confidence in homoeopathy and most of them revealed a high level of satisfaction with the homoeopathic treatment and were very happy with the service delivery. Results showed that there had been an improvement of the patients’ ailments since the commencement of homoeopathic treatment.

No description available.

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.