Much research has examined how rate affects visual preferences in human infants and auditory preferences in avian infants. In the visual domain, it seems that human infants prefer stimuli (e.g., flashing displays) presented at faster relative rates. Research using avian species has shown that ducklings, for example, prefer their species- specific maternal call only when it is presented at values close to the species-typical mean. These studies have shown that experience affects ducklings'­ preferences for rate in auditory events. Researchers in the areas of human infant preferences for visual rate and avian infant preferences for auditory rate have suggested that an effective window of frequencies exists for which infants show maximal attention. Unlike these two areas, little research has addressed how rate affects human infants' preferences for auditory events. A study by Cooper and Cooper (1997) was the first to find that infants attend to rates of speaking infant directed (ID) speech. Specifically, infants preferred ID speech at its normal rate to ID speech at a faster rate. The present study was intended to further investigate how rate of speaking affected infants' preferences for ID speech. More specifically, this study sought to determine whether a window of effective rates also exists for infant preferences for rate in ID speech. Using an infant-controlled preference procedure, 20 six- to eight-week old infants were presented with ID-normal speech (ID speech as its normal rate) and ID- slow speech (ID speech slowed to half the normal rate). It was found that infants looked longer to a visual display when it was paired with ID-slow speech than when it was paired with ID-normal speech. How these results relate to research and theory on visual rate preferences in human infants and auditory rate in avian species is discussed, as well as future directions for this line of research. / Master of Science

INTRODUCTION/BACKGROUND UNICEF introduced a community infant and young child feeding (cIYCF) training and counselling package in 2010, which was implemented in Zimbabwe for community counsellors (CCs) in rural districts. The training package is generic for programming and capacity development on community-based IYCF counselling skills. The implementation includes a set of 15 pre/post-test questions on different aspects of IYCF practices. No analysis of the training pre- and post-tests for the package has been documented in literature. The main aim of the research was therefore to analyse training records on the training in Zimbabwe and identify specific IYCF practices that might require additional attention. The mini-dissertation presents recommendations for the Ministry of Health and Child Care/Welfare Zimbabwe for possible follow up. METHODS The study used a quasi-experimental design. We retrieved pre- and post-test training records on the 15 questions from 19 districts where training had been conducted from the Zimbabwe National Nutrition Department of the Ministry of Health and Child Care/Welfare. Fifteen districts were included for the educational material case-study experience presented in manuscript 1, while 13 districts satisfied the inclusion criteria for the in-depth analysis in manuscript 2. SPSS (version 17.1) was used to do a t-test mean comparison of the proportions of CCs giving correct responses before and after training. ANOVA was used to compare changes in proportions of correct responses from pre- to post-training by district and province. Post hoc analysis was done to determine where differences lay. A p value of < 0.05 was accepted for statistical significance. Graphical trends of proportions of CCs giving correct responses pre- and post-training for individual questions by district were generated and presented in manuscript 2. RESULTS The training package is valuable in taking IYCF training to community level. In manuscript 1, a total of 966 CCs evaluated the training. Ninety-one per cent of CCs evaluated all the training components on average as good, while 0.2% evaluated them as unsatisfactory. In manuscript 2, we used 88% of the retrieved data for analysis. ANOVA results of the percentage change in CCs giving correct responses pre- to post-test by district were not significant (p>.05) for all the questions except question 8 on milk production and the baby’s suckling stimulus. The mean comparison t-test of proportions (pre- and post-test) was significant for all 15 questions (p<.05). Three different trends were observed in the proportions of CCs giving correct responses to different questions. CONCLUSION Our results demonstrate the value of analysing the records of the pre- and post-training test training package to inform follow-up on aspects needing additional attention. The different trends in proportions of CCs giving correct responses have implications for the knowledge base on specific IYCF practices in the communities served by the CCs. We recommend analysis of similar training records where such training is planned or has taken place to inform the implementation process. For Zimbabwe we recommend follow-up of the CCs with training to address the issues raised in our findings. / MSc (Nutrition), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2015

INTRODUCTION/BACKGROUND UNICEF introduced a community infant and young child feeding (cIYCF) training and counselling package in 2010, which was implemented in Zimbabwe for community counsellors (CCs) in rural districts. The training package is generic for programming and capacity development on community-based IYCF counselling skills. The implementation includes a set of 15 pre/post-test questions on different aspects of IYCF practices. No analysis of the training pre- and post-tests for the package has been documented in literature. The main aim of the research was therefore to analyse training records on the training in Zimbabwe and identify specific IYCF practices that might require additional attention. The mini-dissertation presents recommendations for the Ministry of Health and Child Care/Welfare Zimbabwe for possible follow up. METHODS The study used a quasi-experimental design. We retrieved pre- and post-test training records on the 15 questions from 19 districts where training had been conducted from the Zimbabwe National Nutrition Department of the Ministry of Health and Child Care/Welfare. Fifteen districts were included for the educational material case-study experience presented in manuscript 1, while 13 districts satisfied the inclusion criteria for the in-depth analysis in manuscript 2. SPSS (version 17.1) was used to do a t-test mean comparison of the proportions of CCs giving correct responses before and after training. ANOVA was used to compare changes in proportions of correct responses from pre- to post-training by district and province. Post hoc analysis was done to determine where differences lay. A p value of < 0.05 was accepted for statistical significance. Graphical trends of proportions of CCs giving correct responses pre- and post-training for individual questions by district were generated and presented in manuscript 2. RESULTS The training package is valuable in taking IYCF training to community level. In manuscript 1, a total of 966 CCs evaluated the training. Ninety-one per cent of CCs evaluated all the training components on average as good, while 0.2% evaluated them as unsatisfactory. In manuscript 2, we used 88% of the retrieved data for analysis. ANOVA results of the percentage change in CCs giving correct responses pre- to post-test by district were not significant (p>.05) for all the questions except question 8 on milk production and the baby’s suckling stimulus. The mean comparison t-test of proportions (pre- and post-test) was significant for all 15 questions (p<.05). Three different trends were observed in the proportions of CCs giving correct responses to different questions. CONCLUSION Our results demonstrate the value of analysing the records of the pre- and post-training test training package to inform follow-up on aspects needing additional attention. The different trends in proportions of CCs giving correct responses have implications for the knowledge base on specific IYCF practices in the communities served by the CCs. We recommend analysis of similar training records where such training is planned or has taken place to inform the implementation process. For Zimbabwe we recommend follow-up of the CCs with training to address the issues raised in our findings. / MSc (Nutrition), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2015

No description available.

No description available.

No description available.

No description available.

No description available.

Mothers who are experiencing psychopathology are often unable to provide sensitivity to their infants, which is critical for the development of a secure attachment. The objective of the current study was to provide a statistical, quantitative consensus on the relationship between maternal psychopathology and infant attachment, by performing a number of meta-analyses. Prevalence rates of non-secure attachment in infants of mothers with overall and specific psychopathologies were calculated. Infants of mothers with psychopathology were also found to be at increased risk for developing a non-secure attachment, displayed significantly greater levels of attachment non-security, and there was a significant relationship between symptomology and non-security. Moderator analyses were also run to determine if any variables moderated this relationship. The results of this study indicate that it may be beneficial for clinicians to identify mother-infant dyads who may benefit from early interventions that focus on improving maternal mental health and enhancing infant attachment. / October 2016

Neonatal sepsis remains a global health problem due to its significant contribution to morbidity and mortality. The blood culture is the most reliable method for detection of bacterial infections. However, the sensitivity of the latter method is low and using it as a gold standard in diagnosis of bacteremia is fraught with difficulties. Neutrophil CD64 levels are upregulated in response to inflammation and tissue injury. We quantitated neutrophil CD64 by flow cytometry in neonates with signs and symptoms suggestive of sepsis/infection within the 1st four weeks of life in a prospective observational study conducted at 3 hospitals in Johannesburg. Patients were classified into categories of infection namely definite, probable and possible according to signs and symptoms of infection and blood tests including blood culture results. Of 76 neonates, there was 1 infant with definite infection, 5 infants with probable, 30 infants with possible and 32 infants with no infection. The PMN CD64 at cut off of 1.8 had a high negative predictive value in ruling out definite (100%) or probable + definite infection (95.2%). We recommend the inclusion of PMN CD64 index into the diagnostic algorithm for neonatal sepsis, as it has a high negative predictive value and can be used to rule out infection. As the positive predictive value of the test was low in confirming infection, PMN CD64 should be used as a screening rather than confirmatory test.