published_or_final_version / Medical Sciences / Master / Master of Medical Sciences

published_or_final_version / Architecture / Master / Master of Architecture

published_or_final_version / Medical Sciences / Master / Master of Medical Sciences

published_or_final_version / Medical Sciences / Master / Master of Medical Sciences

published_or_final_version / Medicine / Master / Doctor of Medicine

One hundred take-away food outlets within the Central Operational Entity of eThekwini Municipality were investigated in order to assess the microbiological quality and safety of perishable food sold as well as the level of hygiene conditions under which these food shops operate. This cross sectional observational and descriptive study was conducted between August and September 2005 with the overall aim to improve the delivery of safe food, promote good hygiene practices from take-away food outlets and target interventions that will assist improvements of service delivery in the food control section of eThekwini Municipality Health Department. Ready-to-eat foods which were collected included salads, beef, chicken and chips to determine actual microbiological quality of these products. Food temperatures were recorded at the time of sampling. Premises were inspected by the teamof trained Environmental Health Practitioners who used pre-structured checklist forms to determine the status food preparation areas and associated food handling practices. Standard methods were used to determine total bacteria count, coliform count, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus and Salmonella. The overall microbiological quality of the food served by the take-away food outlets were found within acceptable safety limits. Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus and Salmonella were evaluated and no incidence of these organisms was detected in all the food products sampled. 76% of samples showed high total bacteria count and coliforms were detected in 50% of food products. The results of the study indicate that there are some handling practices in the preparation process of ready- to-eat food that require more attention. In particular, control in food handling needs to be observed by food handlers as a result of significant incident of a high total bacteria count. There was a lack of correlation between bacterial count and the observed cleanliness of preparation areas and food handling practices. It is recommended that eThekwiniMunicipality Health Department embarks on a health education campaign on food safety. Food handlers should receive training and education in two aspects of food safety; namely, principles of good hygiene practice and the application of the Hazard Analysis and CriticalControl Point concept to food preparation. / Thesis (M.Med.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 2009.

Background: There is global concern about the impact of lifestyle related diseases which have been on a steady increase in recent years. Poor nutrition, reduced physical activity and cigarette smoking have been documented as the main lifestyle behaviors that result in an increase in prevalence of the three most common occurring chronic diseases of lifestyle namely: diabetes, hypertension and cardiac diseases. Healthcare workers are frontline personnel and are seen as role models by their family, friends and the community they serve. It is therefore important that positive healthy lifestyle behaviors are practiced and encouraged by healthcare workers themselves. Objectives: To develop an initial descriptive profile of hospital employees with regards to their general knowledge, attitudes and practices about healthy lifestyles and to make appropriate recommendations to the hospital management on how the workplace can support the adoption of healthy lifestyles. Methods: The study was conducted at one health institution using the permanently employed staff as the study population. An exploratory descriptive study design was used in context of the precede-proceed planning framework. Self-administered questionnaires and consent forms were distributed in English and isiZulu. Collection boxes were placed in all wards and departments. Data was captured using the SPSS version 13 statistical package. Results: The response rate was 42%. Respondents were classified into the administrative, general staff and health professional categories. There was a significant difference (p=0.03) between the staff body mass index and their weight perception. Knowledge and attitude had mean indices of greater than 70% and the practice indices were lower for all three categories at less than 45%. A significant difference was found between certain staff categories in the knowledge and attitude indices but no significant difference existed in their practices. Conclusion: All categories of staff possessed adequate knowledge and attitudes but this is not transferred into positive health promoting practices. The possibility of workplace health promoting interventions was well supported by staff especially with regards to healthier meal choices at the staff dining room and an onsite gym facility. The main limitations of the study were the non-standardized data collection tool, and the poor response rate, which make the generalization of the study findings difficult. / Thesis (M.PH.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, 2008.

Introduction: A quantitative cross-sectional study was undertaken to assess whether parenting practices regarding alcohol use (as perceived by 16-18 year old adolescents) are determinants of alcohol use by the adolescents. Parental practices include supervision, emotional support and parenting alcohol socialization behaviours that could influence adolescents' alcohol use behaviour. Aim: The aim of the study was to investigate the influence of perceived parental practices and alcohol use behaviour among 16-18 year old adolescents in public high schools in the Emawaleni District, KwaZulu-Natal. Methods: A cross-sectional study design was used. Self-administered questionnaires provided data from 704 adolescents enrolled in public high schools Data were processed using SPSS 15.0. (SPSS Inc., Chicago, Illinois). Scale reliability analyses were conducted and frequencies on all items calculated. Chi-square tests were used to assess associations between adolescent alcohol use and demographic variables. Logistical regression analyses explored the associations between the different demographic variables, adolescents' perceptions of parental practices and alcohol use behaviours. Results: The results indicated that the most significant others that affect the adolescents' drinking behaviour are parents (51.3%) and peers (33.8%). It was revealed that peers (40.1%) and parents (12.9%) offered the first alcoholic drink to adolescents. Age of alcohol use initiation was found to be as early as 13 years. It was found that mothers who communicated the risks of drinking (84.2%), and it is also mothers (36.9%) who inform adolescents of safe drinking practices. Eighty-two percent of parents are aware of adolescents' whereabouts. Regarding peer connectedness, 86% of the adolescents who drank alcohol felt that they could depend on peers when drunk and 77% of adolescents reported that they discouraged their peers from getting drunk. The best predictors of adolescent alcohol use were: younger age, being male, race (White), religiosity, parental and peer alcohol use. Discussion: The evidence demonstrated a basic understanding of the processes by which parents influence adolescent alcohol use behaviours. Although the study showed a stronger parental protective factor than reported in other studies, the influence of the peers in the adolescents' development is also consistent with that of other studies. Recommendations: Adequate interventions for adolescents are urgently needed to improve parenting skills in order to prevent risky adolescent alcohol use behaviours. / Thesis (M.Med.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 2009.

Adequate recovery from intense exercise is essential to optimise performance and reduce the associated symptoms of tiredness, fatigue and lethargy. The purpose of the study was to :- i. investigate the effects of massage and stretching in delaying the development of fatigue during repeated bouts of dynamic activity and, ii. to investigate the relative effects of massage and stretching on delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS). Eighteen volunteer males participated in this study. They were randomly allocated into one of six groups of an Orthogonal Latin square design. Subjects performed five repetitions of as many heel raises as possible in 45 seconds. Each repetition was followed by a recovery technique of three minutes duration. This was repeated weekly until each group has had all three recovery techniques. A fatigue index % was calculated from the decline in the number of repetitions from stage 1 to stage 5. Muscle soreness ratings were retrospectively assessed at 12-36 hour after each session. An analysis of variance showed a significant difference in the fatigue indices. Post hoc intergroup comparison using paired T-tests with the Bonferroni adjustment showed a significant difference between rest and massage (p=0.0001) and rest and stretching (p=0.0006). The differences between massage and stretching were not significant. Fourteen (77.8%) and Fifteen (83.3%) subjects showed an improvement in performance following massage and stretching respectively. Massage is associated with significantly less muscle soreness than stretching (p<0,001). DOMS was most frequently found in the stretching group while the lowest incidence and lowest mean ratings of muscle soreness associated with DOMS was found in the massage group. The difference between massage and stretching was marginal (p=046I) and showed a trend that massage is associated with less DOMS than stretching. This suggests that rest is the least beneficial recovery technique, and that massage may be superior to stretching as there is less muscle soreness. / Thesis (M.Med.Sc.)-University of Natal, 1997.

Spirituality in the discipline of nursing has gained popularity over the past two decades. National and provincial nursing associations and colleges expect nurses to be educated in providing spiritual health assessments and interventions in order to provide holistic nursing care. There is a paucity of research in the nursing literature on the meaning of spirituality from the perspectives of individuals who experience chronic mental illness, specifically schizophrenia. Spirituality remains an elusive construct, challenging psychiatric nurse educators, researchers and practitioners in the development of nursing curricula to guide psychiatric nursing practice. The focus of this research study was to develop a substantive theory about the experience of spirituality among individuals living with schizophrenia using grounded theory methodology in the tradition of Glaser and Strauss (1967). Forty semi-structured interviews and four focus groups were conducted with 20 participants who self-reported to be diagnosed with schizophrenia. Findings: The substantive theory "spirituality as connection" indicates that spirituality for persons living with schizophrenia involves a dialectical process in which one strives to be connected to one's spiritual self (body-mind-spirit), significant others (family, friends, G o d / Higher Power, health care professionals), community (others living with a mental illness, others who are well, a faith community, the community in which participants lived), and nature, while at the same time experiencing situations and incidents that promote disconnection from these sub-themes. Strategies used by participants to achieve connection included: taking prescribed atypical anti-psychotic medications, maintaining their health and a healthy lifestyle, use of prayer / meditation, caring for self and others, and engaging in creative activities that added meaning to their life experiences. Among the 17 factors contributing to connection, exemplars are: reconnecting with one's spirit through prayer and meditation, attending drop-in centres for persons living with a mental illness, and walking / hiking in nature. Outcomes include feeling peaceful, love, contentment, being accepted and nurtured by others. Among the 14 factors contributing to disconnection, exemplars are: the effect of the illness on relationships with other people, the stigma of being in a psychiatric ward, being unemployed, and taking typical antipsychotic medications. Outcomes include feeling powerlessness, isolation, rejection and alienation.