Thesis (D.Tech. degree in Nursing)--Tshwane University of Technology, 2012. / While obesity has reached epidemic levels worldwide, it is not regarded as negative or unacceptable among South African black socio-cultural groups. It is estimated that 29% of men and 56% of women in South Africa are obese. Variations in worldview create differences between perceived weight and actual weight which influence obesity levels and interventions. This makes it necessary to develop culturally congruent weight reduction interventions so that they are acceptable to targeted communities. The objective of the study was to develop, implement and evaluate a weight reduction intervention in Thulamela in the Vhembe District of the Limpopo Province.

Thesis (MTech. degree in Architectural Technology)--Tshwane University of Technology, 2013. / The aim of this study was to conduct a Post-Occupancy Evaluation (POE) of a Green Star SA certified office building in order to determine to what extent this building performs in terms of the Internal Environmental Quality (IEQ) from the perspective of the occupants as well as the effect of POE on the occupants' health and productivity. The objectives were to measure employees' satisfaction with the IEQ in a green building; to determine whether the health of the occupants is satisfactory in a green building; and to determine whether the health of the employees and their perceived productivity are influenced by IEQ in a green building.

The purpose of this study was to provide a national overview on internal migration of children and to relate these migration patterns to the nutritional status of children. This study specifically investigated the internal migration that took place during the life span of the National Food Consumption Survey study population and relates that to their dietary intake and anthropometric status.

A research report submitted to the Schools of Public Health and Social Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the award of the Degree of Masters of Arts in the Demography and Population Studies / Although life expectancy has increased in South Africa (RSA), compared with other middle-income countries, health status is poor most especially among the black majority. Coupled with this are the burdens of infectious and non-communicable diseases. RSA has also shown evidence of weak social cohesion through prevalent racial and gender discrimination, income inequalities, and violence. While previous studies on the health status of adults in RSA has only examined its association with other social determinants, the relationship of adult health status and social cohesion, unlike in developed countries, remains under researched in South Africa and other African countries. Using the collective efficacy theory by Sampson and colleagues (1997), this study adds the ‘African perspective’ to the ongoing debate about the health importance of social cohesion. It examined the relationship between social cohesion and the health status of adults in South Africa. The levels and patterns of health across social cohesion and other socio-demographic characteristics were also examined. DATA AND METHODS: Data was drawn from the 2012 South African Social Attitudes Survey, a survey implemented annually by the Human Sciences Research Council. Social cohesion was assessed by drawing from the five measurable items from the work of Sampson and colleagues (1997) which encompass trust, a sense of belonging, shared values and helpless in both cash and kind. These items were subjected to principal component factor analysis with Promax rotation. Cronbach’s alpha (α) for this scale is 0.84. Scores were divided into tertiles of low, medium and high social cohesion. A cumulative stepwise logistic regression model was fitted on a weighted sample of 22,605,550 adults in South Africa aged 18 years or older to examine the nexus between social cohesion and self-rated health status. Sub-group analysis examined if the observed relationship differed by race. The data was analysed using STATA software version 14. All model diagnostics showed that the model fits reasonably for the data. The interpretation of results was made using odds ratios (ORs), and a 95% confidence was used. RESULTS: More than half of adults (54%) in South Africa reported themselves to be in good health while only about 17% reported that they were in poor health. The percentage of adults reporting good health is higher among adults in the highest tertile of social cohesion (59%), compared to 53% among those in the lowest tertile. Controlling for other characteristics, regression analysis showed that adults in lowest tertile [OR:0.70, CI:0.516 - 0.965] and moderate tertile [OR:0.79, CI:0.589 - 1.055] of social cohesion were less likely to report moderate or good health compared to adults in the highest tertile of social cohesion, but the relationship was only statistically significant among adults in the lowest tertile of social cohesion. Sub-group analysis by race showed that among all the racial groups (excluding Indian or Asian adults), black African [OR:0.68, CI:0.472-0.989], coloured [OR:0.63, CI:0.305-1.309], and white [OR:0.67, CI:0.293 1.545] adults residing in the lowest tertile of social cohesion were less likely to be in moderate or good health compared to those in the highest tertile of social cohesion, but the relationship was only statistically significant among black Africans. CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION: The findings from this study demonstrate that social cohesion among adults in South Africa, particularly among black Africans, is important for improvement in health. It is therefore important that the government of South Africa intensifies efforts aimed at increasing social cohesion among adults, particularly among black Africans. This could be achieved through public awareness on the health importance of social cohesion and the need for neighbours to share similar values, trust one another and be willing to help. This is especially important if significant progress is to be made in achieving the sustainable development goals to improve the health of adults in the country by 2030. / XL2018

M. Tech. Environmental Health / The purpose of the study was to determine the knowledge and perception of the Environmental Health Practitioner regarding enforcing environmental health legislation and the procedures which must be followed in terms of building control. The objectives of the study were: to determine the knowledge of the Environmental Health Practitioner regarding enforcing environmental health legislation on building plans; to determine the perceptions of the Environmental Health Practitioner towards their roles and responsibility to enforce environmental health legislation through building control; to determine the perceptions of the Environmental Health Practitioner regarding the working relationship between environmental health and building control; and to compare the practical application when building plans are scrutinised by Environmental Health Practitioner with the legal requirements needed to prevent environmental health hazards.

Traditional male circumcision is a rite of passage among the AmaXhosa in South Africa. According to the custom of male traditional circumcision, initiates should remain in the bush for the entire seclusion period. The AmaXhosa male initiates encounter complications due to a ritual that has gone wrong. Common complications are penile sepsis, dehydration, penile amputations and septicaemia. As a last resort, when the AmaXhosa male initiates do not improve from complications associated with the custom they are referred to hospital for admission (Meintjes, 1998; Warren-Brown, 1998). The main purposes of this study were, first to explore and describe the delivery of care to the hospitalized AmaXhosa male initiates whilst in the hands of healthcare professionals and professional care system. Second, to describe what constitutes culturally appropriate care for hospitalized AmaXhosa male initiates. This study took place in three research sites, that included one rural hospital and two urban hospitals which admitted the AmaXhosa male initiates of traditional circumcision. A total of 13 hospitalized AmaXhosa male initiates and nine health professionals took part in this study. Leininger's ethnonursing qualitative research approach was used to guide this study. Data were collected, using purposive sampling, by means of unstructured interviews using guides, tape-recorder, and field notes. The study was first piloted at Umlamli Hospital using the same data collecting strategies as for the major study. Data from key and general informants were analysed separately using Leininger's (1991) four-phase method. This was carried out in order to answer the research questions and research purposes. Major themes and patterns emerged from this process. / Thesis (Ph.D.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 2009.

No abstract available. / Thesis (Ph.D.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 2010.

The prevalence of sub-clinical vitamin A deficiency (VAD) and anemia of lactating women (n = 113) and their breastfed infants aged 1--6 months was measured among a peri-urbanite South African sample. Mother's mean hemoglobin (Hb) was 12.4 +/- 1.3 g/dL with 32% anemia (Hb < 12g/dL). Retinol in serum was 49.8 +/- 13.2 mug/dL and 66.0 mug/dL (median) in breast milk; no evidence of sub-clinical VAD. Infants, 62% &le; 3 months, had mean Hb of 10.9 +/- 1.1 g/dL (with anemia present (<11g/dL), in 50%). Mean infant serum retinol was 26.9 +/- 7.2 mug/dL (10% prevalence of marginal VAD). No infants were exclusively breastfed. Weaning foods and breast milk substitutes were introduced early and infant intake of traditional medicines was common (52%). Our data suggest that anemia was present in both mothers and infants while VAD was evident only in infants. This early occurrence of micronutrient deficiencies may be attributed to less than optimal breastfeeding practices.

The purpose of this study was to provide a national overview on internal migration of children and to relate these migration patterns to the nutritional status of children. This study specifically investigated the internal migration that took place during the life span of the National Food Consumption Survey study population and relates that to their dietary intake and anthropometric status.

Submitted in fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree in Masters of Technology in Nursing, Durban University of Technology, Durban, South Africa, 2016. / IntroductionMale circumcision refers to the surgical removal of all or parts of the prepuce of the penis. This procedure is undertaken for religious, cultural, social, hygiene or medical reasons (Maibvise and Mavundla 2013: 139). The number of people living with Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) rose from approximately 8 million in the year 1990 to 33 million infections now. Sub-Saharan Africa is the region in the world most affected by HIV/AIDS with 22.4 million people living with the virus in the year ending 2008 (Naidoo et al. 2012: 2). The use of male and female condoms remains a challenge despite decades of promotion. There is evidence that medical male circumcision (MMC) is effective in preventing HIV sexual transmission. Medical male circumcision is a drive that was initiated by the National Department of Health as a strategy to curb HIV infection in South Africa in 2010. Aim of the Study The purpose of the study was to investigate and describe knowledge, attitudes and perceptions of males with regard to medical male circumcision. Methodology A quantitative descriptive survey research method was used to describe the knowledge, attitudes and perceptions of males attending the community health care centers (CHCs) in eThekwini district regarding medical male circumcision. Results Displayed posters motivated 71.4% (n = 329) to have circumcisions. While 65.1% (n = 300) respondents had knowledge about circumcision and HIV, 27.8% (n = 280) perceived that circumcision would interfere with their sexual function and reproduction. A total of 38.8% (n = 179) of respondents indicated that it is good for children to be circumcised. There is a significant positive correlation between age and knowledge (r = 0.135, p = .004). Higher age is correlated with more knowledge. Conclusion This study found that knowledge plays a major role in changing attitudes and perceptions. The more knowledgeable an individual is, the more the chance is of them having a positive attitude towards MMC which could also influence a positive perception of MMC. In order to strengthen male circumcision as an HIV prevention strategy, it is imperative to provide the population that reflected low knowledge and negative attitude with information, education and counselling services. This may help them to change their attitudes and acquire a positive perception of MMC. / M