Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is the most common endocrine disorder affecting up to 18% of all women, yet only 1.5% have been formally diagnosed. Untreated, PCOS is associated with the early onset of diabetes mellitus type II, heart disease, and cancer. One of the most common clinical symptoms of PCOS is mental health illness. The estimated lifetime prevalence of mental illness in women with PCOS is 80%. Therefore, mental health professionals may be especially poised to screen, refer, and address PCOS in their practices. This study was used to develop a survey tool as well as a brief educational intervention using framing theory to boost PCOS knowledge of diagnostic criteria and clinical symptoms, screening practices, and referrals for PCOS evaluation. The survey assessed mental health providers' knowledge about PCOS, estimates of PCOS prevalence in their practices, and evaluated attitudes about screening for PCOS in order to identify other potential barriers and facilitators to screening. This study was conducted using a randomized, two-group (experimental vs. attention control) design with three measurement periods: pre-intervention, 4-weeks, and 12-weeks. Participants were stratified by whether or not they had medical degrees. One-hundred and sixty three (N=163) participants completed the first survey and were randomized and completed one of the two educational interventions (PCOS related or attention control). Knowledge outcomes included number of correctly identified PCOS diagnostic criteria and clinical symptoms. Behavior outcomes included whether or not participants screened or referred clients for PCOS in the last 3 months. Fourteen attitude measures and two confidence measures were also separately evaluated as potential influencing factors of knowledge and behavior. The study resulted in no change in PCOS knowledge of diagnostic criteria or clinical symptoms or behavior based on intervention assignment in medical professionals; however, baseline knowledge in this group was high. Confidence in PCOS knowledge was associated with screening behavior. The PCOS educational intervention appears to have potential efficacy at increasing non-medical professional clinical symptom knowledge of PCOS (Chi-square(1)=5.341, p=0.021) but did not improve screening or referring behavior. The PCOS intervention resulted in greater confidence in PCOS knowledge in the PCOS intervention group than in the attention control group (p=.003). Framing theory appears to be a promising framework for messaging designed to increase knowledge about PCOS only in non-medical mental health practitioners. Results of this study should be interpreted with caution because sample size goals were not met and there was high attrition among medical mental health practitioners. Future intervention strategies should consider the inherent differences in the type of professional that are targeted (i.e. medical vs. non-medical) and the presence of specific barriers to screening and referral behavior. These strategies should improve upon the intensity of the intervention and the timing of the intervention to occur during provider training (i.e. during residency or early internships) in order to increase screening and referring behaviors for PCOS. / Public Health

Thesis (M. Sc. (Microbiology)) --University of Limpopo, 2019 / Informal street traders and traditional health practitioners at Ga Maja (Limpopo Province) primarily offer consumers semi-processed herbal concoctions that are indicated to have blood-cleansing, immune-boosting, detoxifying, antidiarrheal, antiHIV/AIDS and pain-relieving therapeutic properties. The focus of this study was to validate the pharmacological effects and safety of these herbal concoctions as indicated by the traders. Five herbal concoctions and their medicinal plant recipies used for their preparation were purchased from five independent traders. A laboratory concoction was prepared according to the traders’ instructions. Possible microbial contaminants were identified using Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionisation time-offlight mass spectrometry and VITEK 2. Nutritional content of the concoctions was determined by a plasma atomic emission spectrophotometer. Qualitative phytochemical analysis was determined using standard chemical tests and thin layer chromatography. Total polyphenol content was quantified calorimetrically. Antioxidant activity was quantified using 2, 2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and ferric reducing power assays. Antimicrobial activities were determined using a broth micro-dilution assay and bioautography. Anti-HIV-1 reverse transcriptase activity was used to determine the antiviral potential of the concoctions. Anti-inflammatory activity was determined using the cyclooxygenase inhibition assays and possible cytotoxic effects of the concoctions were evaluated using MTT cell viability assay. Growth on potato dextrose and nutrient agar plates indicated heavy microbial contamination. Sodium, potassium and zinc were most abundant in the concoctions. The concoctions had similar phytochemical profiles, and together with plant decoctions consisted primarily of polyphenolic constituents. Generally, some plant decoctions had higher antioxidant (EC50: 15.71 – 40.87 µg/mL) and antibacterial (MIC: 0.04 – 0.63 mg/mL) activities. The antimicrobial activities of the concoctions were as a result of synergistic effects of the compounds because no single compound was observed to have antimicrobial activities on the bioautograms. Combination studies showed that the combination of crude decoctions from different plant species resulted in reduced antioxidant, antibacterial and antifungal activities. The laboratory concoction had higher anti-HIV reverse transcriptase activity (EC50: 2.90 µg/mL) than the positive controls used (EC50: 36.65 – 40.90 µg/mL). The concoctions also demonstrated considerable antiinflammatory activity. The lack of standardisation of phytomedicines reduces their xxi pharmacological potential and consistency. However, this study validated the ethnopharmacological use of the different plant species and herbal concoctions towards the treatment of human immune-deficiency virus, pain caused by inflammation, infectious diarrhoea and for immune-boosting. This study also highlighted the complexities associated with combinations of aqueous extracts and the importance of appropriate knowledge on which plant species are to be mixed to enhance their therapeutic properties. Although the concoctions did not exhibit cyctotoxic effects, toxicities may arise from endotoxins produced by the microbial contaminants. Hygienic processing and packaging are essential to ensure that consumers receive quality products that are safe to consume.

MAAS / Centre for African Studies / See the attached abstract below

The overall aim of this study was to investigate the knowledge, awareness and practices regarding TB at a selected gold mine in Tanzania in order to enhance the paucity of knowledge in this area of public health. The mining population is considered to be at high risk of tuberculosis infection and illness. However, there is little data available on the knowledge, awareness and practices in the mining population in Tanzania. A quantitative, descriptive study, using the Health Belief Model as the conceptual framework, was conducted among 100 workers in order to give a detailed description of the knowledge and awareness of tuberculosis. The study confirms the role of the media, particularly radio broadcasting, health workers, teachers, and the community in promoting information and education on TB. Fever as a symptom was a problem. The study area is a malaria endemic area where fever is the commonest presentation hence every fever is regarded as malaria. This complicated picking up and identifying other causes of fever. Despite feeling compassion for and wanting to help TB sufferers, most avoided them, which emphasised people’s general fear of TB. This indicated the general isolation and stigmatisation of TB sufferers. The findings highlighted the need for on-going education about TB and its treatment, especially early diagnosis and adherence to treatment. / Health Studies / M.A. (Public Health)

The overall aim of this study was to investigate the knowledge, awareness and practices regarding TB at a selected gold mine in Tanzania in order to enhance the paucity of knowledge in this area of public health. The mining population is considered to be at high risk of tuberculosis infection and illness. However, there is little data available on the knowledge, awareness and practices in the mining population in Tanzania. A quantitative, descriptive study, using the Health Belief Model as the conceptual framework, was conducted among 100 workers in order to give a detailed description of the knowledge and awareness of tuberculosis. The study confirms the role of the media, particularly radio broadcasting, health workers, teachers, and the community in promoting information and education on TB. Fever as a symptom was a problem. The study area is a malaria endemic area where fever is the commonest presentation hence every fever is regarded as malaria. This complicated picking up and identifying other causes of fever. Despite feeling compassion for and wanting to help TB sufferers, most avoided them, which emphasised people’s general fear of TB. This indicated the general isolation and stigmatisation of TB sufferers. The findings highlighted the need for on-going education about TB and its treatment, especially early diagnosis and adherence to treatment. / Health Studies / M.A. (Public Health)

Thesis (M. A. (Clinical Psychology)) --University of Limpopo, 2018 / Studies by the World Health Organisation have shown that mental illness is an international health concern across the globe, with one in four people (25%) suffering from mental disorders in both developed and developing countries. In many African countries traditional health practitioners are the health care providers of choice for individuals, families and communities. The aim of this study was to explore methods used by Shona speaking traditional health practitioners in the prevention of mental illness in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe. A qualitative research design was used in the present study. Ten Shona speaking traditional health practitioners (male=9; female=1) were selected through purposive sampling and requested to participate in the study. Data was collected using semi-structured interviews and analysed through thematic content analysis. It was found that traditional healers tend to commonly understand and conceptualise mental illness in terms of the causes instead attaching nosological labels to these conditions. The findings of the study also show that most of the traditional health practitioners interviewed had similar methods of preventing mental illness both in families and individuals. Culture was found to be central in shaping how the traditional health practitioners understand and prevent mental illness. Ancestors were found to be pivotal in specifically determining the methods to prevent mental illness for each client. The study is concluded by recommending closer collaboration between the dominant Western health care system and traditional healing in order to improve mental health care provision in Zimbabwe.

The ever-changing demands of working life pose considerable challenges to higher education. The literature indicates that traditional forms of university instruction positioned a deficit model of teaching and learning, which is embedded in a logical positivist paradigm, as authoritative in the production of ‘experts’ who possess legitimate knowledge. However, in professional practice, health practitioners often deal with ill-defined problems. If health practitioners are to be prepared properly for their future careers, the development of reflective thinking should be an integral component of professional education courses. The aim of this study was to explore the public narratives on existing teaching and learning practices in higher education, orthotics/prosthetics and psychology, and to examine the authority of these narratives in the unfolding stories of students and the facilitator in a pilot applied psychology course designed for orthotist/prosthetist professionals. There is a paucity of psychological research in orthotic/prosthetic practice and further research in this domain is needed, particularly from a qualitative approach. A story map was used to integrate the methodology of personal experience methods and narrative analysis into one model that represents the voice of public and private narratives in a specific temporality of past, present and future. The analysis of public and private texts revealed the narrative themes of teaching and learning, co-constructing knowledge, reflection-on-practice, disability, community of concern and agency. A critical psychology and social constructionist approach is proposed to facilitate reflective clinical practice in a psychology module for orthotics and prosthetics. In a collaborative learning community, the lived experiences, knowledge, skills, and desires that invited orthotist/prosthetists into this helping field are honoured. In addition, they are encouraged to reflect on the value of professional interventions by using pragmatic criteria of whether an approach fits or is useful for a client, rather than relying on some abstract notion of ‘truth’. / Thesis (PhD (Psychology))--University of Pretoria, 2007. / Psychology / unrestricted

MA (African Studies) / Centre for African Studies / This study explored indigenous medicinal knowledge of Phonda in the Vhembe District. It has been noticed that phonda is becoming a scarce crop. The objectives entail seeking to solicit information on the uses of phonda, to understand the attitudes of local households towards phonda and to establish what can be done to restore the cultivation of phonda. The study used qualitative method involving unstructured interviews to collect and thematically analyse data. Purposive sampling and snowballing methods were used to make up the study sample. From literature, it is known that traditional health practitioners used phonda for treatment of certain diseases and illnesses. Phonda is no longer common, but the study sought to encourage the cultivation of phonda. The study employed an Afrocentric paradigm of social change as the conceptual framework. The study found that many households no longer plough phonda as they used to in the past. The study recommends that people should be educated on the importance of phonda to encourage them to plough it. Additionally, the researcher recommends further studies into different purposes of phonda and areas to boost its farming.

Thesis (Ph.D. (Commerce)) -- University of Limpopo, 2021 / This research aimed to develop a costing model for the African Complementary and Alternative Medicines (ACAM) health practitioners to improve their products and services’ decision-making process. This research aim drew support from fundamental objectives, which includes amongst others, the identification of the current product and service costing approaches used by the ACAM practitioners and how this supports their decision-making, the development, and adoption of a costing model for ACAM practitioners to capture products and services’ cost information for improved health care service delivery. Furthermore, it sought to understand the challenges faced by ACAM practitioners in adopting the proposed costing model. The research applied a qualitative action research method. Data collection was through interview method from twenty-six ACAM health practitioners in six ACAM health care facilities. Data were collected after two research cycles in the field study through action research procedures. The participants were drawn from five South African provinces. The main data was gathered through face-to-face semi-structured interviews, documentation, and direct observation to enhance the research validity and reliability. The data were analysed systematically using thematic analysis The findings reveal that the study succeeded in providing more accurate cost data for each product and assist in the planning, control and decision making for the ACAM practitioners. The research contributes academically and to practice by successfully narrowing the gap between ACAM researchers and cost accounting researchers by providing a practical costing model based on solid practical and academic foundation. The researcher recommends that the South African ACAM facilities need to adopt and implement the ACAM costing model because it will provide them with more accurate cost data for the provision of each service and products and help in making effective and reliable decisions. Key words: Cost accounting practice, ACAM health facilities. ACAM health practitioners, ACAM Colonisation, ACAM Healing, Contingency Theory, Production Theory, Cost Elements, Costs Classification. ACAM Production Process

MSc (Botany) / Department of Botany / Invasive alien plants (IAPs) are non-native species that have spread beyond the introduction site; become abundant to an extent that they serve as agents of change that also threaten native biological diversity (Garcia-Berthou, 2007). IAPs have medicinal applications for the treatment of various aliments in humans (Jäger et al., 1996). In this study, an ethnomedicinal survey was conducted on medicinal uses of invasive alien plant species in order to identify and investigate the various disease treatment methods employed by Bapedi traditional health practitioners within Capricorn District. Six traditional health practitioners were randomly selected, via the snowball method from each of the five local municipalities namely: Aganang, Blouberg, Lepelle-Nkupi, Molomole and Polokwane. The whole survey included 30 traditional health practitioners. A semi structured questionnaire was administered to document information about the medicinal uses of IAPs from participants. The collected data from the questionnaire was captured in Microsoft Excel 2010 and analyzed using descriptive statistics. The study recorded 22 IAPs belonging to 14 plant families. Records or data collected show invasive alien plants species to have been used for treatment of different alignments amongst Bapedi traditional health practitioners. Plant families with the most recorded species include: Solanaceae and Myrtaceae with 18.2% for both of them. The plant parts most frequently used in descending order were as follows: roots vii (40%), followed by the leaves (39%), fruits (7%), thorns (6%), bark (4%), seeds (2%) and lastly stems (2%). Decoction was recorded as the most dominant method used during medicinal preparations (n = 176) and flu was recorded as the most treated ailment amongst traditional health practitioners (n = 29). Apart from clearing IAPs as part of management strategy by South African government, there are other alternative innovative ways that can be employed to ensure that the number of IAPs introduced does not exceed beyond measure.This could be achieved by encouraging local people to use them as either medicinal sources or by incorporating them into any other local ethnobotanical use. The new innovative ways (such as traditional health practitioners utilizing the IAPs instead of endangered plants or indigenous plants species) can bring in some form of relief to the already declining indigenous species populations. Research scholars from different research institutes and higher education research centres can regard IAPs used medicinally as source of new pharmaceutical leads to create new medications. With such attention turned to alien invasive species, their survival as well as their spread will be kept on check at the same time creating a control measure to their spread with little effort. Further laboratory-based studies are needed to determine efficiency and safety of the IAPs used by traditional health practitioners in this study. / NRF