Thesis (M.Sc. (Botany)) -- University of Limpopo, 2013 / Traditional medicine plays a major role in the primary health care of many people residing in rural areas. People in these areas still consult traditional healers who utilise plants as medicine. Medicinal plants have come under increasing pressure due to a number of factors, which have resulted in the decline of certain species, extinction in others, and a general decrease in biodiversity of high use areas of South Africa, Blouberg Mountain included. To date there has been a lack of information on how traditional healers utilise the Blouberg Mountain with respect to amounts and species removed, or where the most important collecting sites are located. Thus, no conservation strategy exists for the Blouberg Mountain to ensure sustainable management of its natural resources. Furthermore, there is a perception amongst elders of this area that, as with indigenous knowledge around the world, the knowledge centered around Blouberg’s medicinal plants is declining, and little formal documentation of that knowledge has taken place. Consequently, this study investigated aspects related to medicinal plant use such as collection, patterns of collection, legislation, storage and packaging of medicinal plants by traditional healers around Blouberg Mountain. These were documented via a semi-structured questionnaire and a data collection sheet. Furthermore, traditional harvesting methods employed by traditional healers, and in situ conservation issues related to species removal from the mountain were investigated. Data was collected between September 2010 and September 2011. Sixteen villages in close proximity to the mountain, and 32 healers (two per village) were selected. In addition 16 consulting rooms were sampled (one per village) in order to gather information on the number of species collected from the mountain and stored in the consulting rooms. The 16 most used (indicated by village traditional healers) collection tracks, (one per village surrounding Blouberg Mountain), were travelled with traditional healers to record botanical and vernacular names of the medicinal plants, vegetation type, habitat, parts used, harvesting method, replacement value of plant species and perceived rarity of collected material. A Garmin GPS was used to record waypoints for the beginning and end of each track. Co-ordinates were logged automatically every 10 m. A map using Quantum GIS software to capture the position of the healers’ collection tracks, overlaid with topographical and vegetation information, and protected area information of the Blouberg Mountain, was generated. Geographic Information System software was used to geo-process the collection tracks of the healers with respect to where medicinal plants were collected relative to the various vegetation types. This gave information on vegetation types important to healers. The majority of traditional healers were females. Most of them had no formal education, with only a minority reaching secondary school. Due to their low level of literacy they tended to shy away from sources of written information, with the result that none of the questioned healers had any knowledge of the various national or provincial environmental legislations. The majority of them see between 15 and 20 patients per month. Most of the healers had more than 30 years of experience in traditional healing. The study found 64 plant species commonly used for medicinal purposes. Most of them were harvested for their roots and bark. According to the healers, Boophane disticha and Hypoxis hemerocallidea are declining in Blouberg Mountain, with Warburgia salutaris, endangered in South Africa, not perceived as rare or declining. However, a number of plant species recorded in the Red Data List as of least concern, or not threatened, are seen as rare by the healers. These include Clivia caulescens, Erythrina lysistemon, Lannea schweinfurthii and Maerua juncea. No exotic species were documented from the surveyed tracks. However, two naturalised exotics were collected from the mountain, namely Cassytha filiformis and Corchorus tridens. Cocculus hirsutus, a naturalised exotic and Abrus precatorius, an exotic species were found in one of the consulting rooms. Dichrostachys cinerea, Philenoptera violacea and Tarchonanthus camphoratus, which are indicators of bush encroachment, were identified on selected tracks. Tracks on which indicators of bush encroachment are present should be investigated more thoroughly to ascertain the extent and severity of such a threat. vii Investigations into healers’ collection tracks showed that the Soutpansberg Mountain Bushveld vegetation type is the most heavily utilised of the five vegetation types around Blouberg Mountain. This vegetation type is vulnerable to human population densities as most species were collected from it, therefore it should be conserved and managed if possible as it is targeted for plant species of medicinal value. The most travelled tracks were found in the Catha-Faurea Wooded Grassland community. Solutions to the problems of over harvesting of medicinal plants require local innovations and the full participation of traditional healers in resource management initiatives. The development of medicinal plant nurseries together with propagation of key species will be a crucial management tool, as this will reduce over harvesting of natural resources from the wild. In conclusion, it was found that although most species utilised around Blouberg Mountain are abundant and not threatened, healers are nevertheless concerned about dwindling medicinal plant supplies. They would welcome conservation initiatives and the use of GIS maps would be useful in prioritising conservation areas.

Manganeng area is a communal land with the local community relying on use ofland for their livelihoods. Manganeng shows signs of continued land degradation due to inappropriate land use management, while land use and land cover offer low returns. Continued degradation of natural resources has led to an investigation into changes in land use patterns in the area. Past and present aerial photographs (covering the years 1950, 1964, 1977, 1983 and 1995), recorded and oral history were used as main data sources for investigating changes in land use patterns in the study area. A GIS was also used to quantify the rate of land use change. Data collected from this study aided in providing infonnation about natural resources in the area, how these resources have changed over time and methods used to protect the environment. This study established that from 1950 to 1995, residential land had increased significantly, while farmland and bare rock on Ntswelatau Mountain had increased slightly. Other land cover such as dongas and scattered trees had remained stable over time. Grazing land had decreased significantly while deposited sand and clustered trees decreased insignificantly. A visual change assessment conducted in 2003 indicated that no significant change had occurred in the area since the 1995 aerial photograph was taken. Population growth in Manganeng has led to an increase in residential land use, which directly affected other land uses such as grazing and farmland. The communities' indigenous knowledge has helped in reducing and/or maintaining donga sizes over the past 54 years while restrictions on tree felling on Ntswelatau Mountain has conserved vegetation in the area. Cultivation methods applied in Manganeng are not environmentally sustainable and need to be improved. It is recommended that further research be carried out to assess soil erosion, economic potential, and integration of political/governing powers, as well as levels of agricultural education and awareness among the community. This will ensure an improved understanding of the natural environment in Manganeng, and can provide coping and recovery strategies from stress and shocks of unsustainable resource use in order to preserve these resources for future generations. It is further recommended that the Sustainable Livelihood Framework be adopted in assessing an integrated view of issues related to community based resource management in the area so as to provide insight into priority development options for Manganeng. / Thesis (M.Env.Dev.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2006

The study was aimed at exploring the relationship between poverty and aggravated robbery in Limpopo Province. Sampled secondary data of aggravated robbery of- fenders, obtained from the South African Police (SAPS), Polokwane, was used in the analysis. From empirical researches on poverty and crime, there are some deductions that vulnerability to crime is increased by poverty. Poverty set was categorised by gender, employment status, marital status, race, age and educational attainment. Variables for aggravated robbery were house robbery, bank robbery, street/common robbery, carjacking, truck hijacking, cash-in-transit and business robbery. Canonical correlation analysis was used to make some inferences about the relationship of these two sets. The results revealed a signi cant positive correlation of 0.219(p-value = 0.025) between poverty and aggravated robbery at ve per cent signi cance level. Of the thirteen variables entered into the poverty-aggravated model, ve emerged as sta- tistically signi cant. These were gender, marital status, employment status, common robbery and business robbery. / Mathematical Sciences / M. Sc. (Statistics)

Thesis (DPhil)--Stellenbosch University, 2004 / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Researchers in Social Sciences have generally encountered problems in ensuring data quality when dealing with topics that are regarded as sensitive. This thesis reports on an investigation into the methodology used for research projects around sensitive issues in education in the Limpopo Province of South Africa. Data consists of twelve interviews with individual principals (each interview schedule containing semi-structured question items from ten categories) and a thirty-three item self-report questionnaire survey administered to one hundred and fifty principals drawn from two hundred and seventy two secondary schools over the course of an academic year (2002) and conducted in the Limpopo Province of South Africa .. Results reveal nine major categories of sensitive issues in school management on which principals have difficulty in providing information to researchers: school policy, school financial issues, moral or social relations issues, learner and educator disciplinary issues, working conditions, absenteeism, developmental appraisal, educator unions, and religious matters policy issues. Principals have also reported on the various reasons why they regard each of the aspects as sensitive, thereby making it difficult for them to provide information around. Of these, moral issues were considered the most sensitive. The major reasons given were: confidentiality, intrusion of privacy, fear oflegal sanction, threat to work and violation of the rights of the individual. Analysis of the different sensitive issues also show that certain biographical characteristics - age of the principal and years of experience as principal - are significant mediators in principals' perceptions of sensitive issues in school management. That is to say, these contribute to principals' assessment of their emotional, physical and psychological well-being. Sensitivity is a problem when collecting data for research purposes. It warrants the attention of all those involved in social science research. The findings in this study point to the issues in school management that are highly sensitive to provide information suggesting that data collected would therefore not be of a high quality. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Menige navorsers in sosiale wetenskappe het oor die algemeen probleme teëgekom met die versekering van data kwaliteit in sensitiewe onderwerpe. Hierdie tesis raporteer oor 'n ondersoeke in die metodologie gebruik vir navorsing projekte rondom sensitiewe onderwerpe in onderwys in die Limpopo Provinsie in Suid-Afrika. Data bestaan uit twaalf onderhoude met individuele prinsipale (elke onderhoud se skedule bevat se gestruktureerde items van tien katagorieë) en 'n drie-en-dertig item (self-report) vraelys wat onder 150 prinsipale uitgedeel is, waarvan 272 sekondêre skole oor 'n tydperk van 'n akademiese jaar (2002) gebruik was in die Limpopo Provinsie van Suid Afrika. Die resultate toon nege hoof onderwerpe in skoolbestuur waar prinsipale dit moeilik vind om informasie aan navorsers te verskaf: skoolbeleid, finansiële onderwerpe, moraliteite of sosiale verhoudinge, leerder en onderwyser dissiplinêre onderwerpe, werkverhoudinge, afwesigheid, personeelontwikkeling, onderwysunies, en godsdienstige sake. Prinsipale raporteer om verskeie redes waarom hulle elk van die aspekte as sensitief beskou. Onder hierdie is morele sake as die sensitiefste geklasifiseer. Die hoofredes hiervoor is gegee as vertroulikheid, inbreuk van privaatheid, vrees vir wettige sanksies, dreigemente in die werk en skending van die regte van die indiwidueel. Analiese van die verskillende sensitiewe sake toon aan dat verskeie biografiese eienskappe - ouderdom van die prinsipaal - is oorsake in die prinsipaal se persepties in die prinsipaal se sake onder die skool se bestuur. Dit se met ander woorde bogenoemde dra by tot die prinsipaal se emosionele en fisiese geestelike toestand. Sensitifiteit is 'n probleem wanneer data vir navorsing doeleindes verkry word. Dit regverdig die aandag van die mense betrokke in sosiale wetenskap navorsing. Die bevinding in hierdie studie verwys na sake in skoolbestuur wat hoogssensitief is om informasie te voorsien, en stel voor dat die data verkry is nie van hoë standard is nie.

Thesis (MPA)--Stellenbosch University, 2013. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The community development workers’ programme (CDWP) is a strategic policy intervention by government to address challenges of service delivery to communities. The purpose of the CDWP is to facilitate the removal of obstacles in the course of providing services to communities. The CDWP is located in local government. Its purpose is often misunderstood by the stakeholders, because of the perception that the programme is meant to deliver services like provision of water, electricity and other social services. In essence, the CDWP is meant to facilitate communication between government and communities in order to ensure that services are delivered effectively and efficiently. Some of the challenges faced in the Makhado Local Municipality relate to the lack of infrastructure maintenance initiatives, including expansion plans that are well funded. Massive backlogs of infrastructure and services remain in the areas of water and sanitation, energy provision, housing, social security and others. If these problems relating to infrastructure and access to services are not adequately addressed, it will be impossible for the implementation of the CDWP to be successful. It is, therefore, critical that the government as a whole, and working with the private sector, should develop a comprehensive programme that mobilises society through both public and private initiatives. The purpose of this study was to investigate the challenges faced by community development workers (CDWs) in the implementation of the CDWP in Makhado Local Municipality. A qualitative research paradigm was adopted for the study. A literature review, focus groups and interviews were employed within the context of structured questions formulated in line with the framework of the study. The above were meant to facilitate a response to the research question of the study, which sought to find out what the challenges was faced by CDWs in the implementation of the CDWP in Makhado Local Municipality. One of the recommendations of the study is that the CDWP should be integrated with the Makhado Local Municipality plans and budget in order to ensure that it is sustainable and meets its stated objectives. Once this is achieved, it will be possible to confidently say that:  The introduction of CDWs is succeeding in addressing challenges of service delivery in the implementation of the CDWP  Challenges of CDWs in municipalities are being resolved through the effective implementation of the CDWP If the CDWP can be implemented fully in the Makhado Local Municipality, challenges of service delivery can be resolved over a reasonable period. It is, therefore, critical that the CDWP should remain an intergovernmental programme that fosters planning and partnership between the public, as beneficiary, and the government as service provider. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die Gemeenskapsontwikkelingswerkers Program (GOWP) is ‘n strategiese beleidsintervensie deur die regering om uitdagings met betrekking tot dienslewering aan gemeenskappe aan te spreek. Die doel van die GOWP is om hindernisse tot dienslewering aan gemeenskappe uit die weg te ruim, en die program is binne die plaaslike regering gesetel. Misverstand oor die doel daarvan kom dikwels onder belanghebbendes voor vanweë die veronderstelling dat die program bedoel is om dienste soos die voorsiening van water, elektrisiteit en ander maatskaplike dienste te lewer. In wese is die GOWP bedoel om kommunikasie tussen die regering en gemeenskappe te bewerkstellig om te verseker dat dienste doeltreffend en effektief gelewer word. Uitdagings vir die Plaaslike Munisipaliteit van Makhado staan in verband met die gebrek aan inisiatiewe om infrastruktuur in stand te hou, insluitend goed befondste uitbreidingsplanne. ’n Massiewe agterstand van infrastruktuur en dienste bestaan steeds op die gebied van water en sanitasie, kragvoorsiening, behuising en sosiale sekerheid. Indien hierdie probleem met betrekking tot infrastruktuur en toegang tot dienste nie voldoende aangespreek word nie, sal die implementering van die GOWP geen sukses behaal nie. Dit is dus van uiterste belang dat die regering, in geheel, en met die samewerking van die private sektor, ‘n omvattende program ontwikkel wat die gemeenskap deur middel van openbare en private inisiatiewe mobiliseer. Die doel van die huidige studie was om die uitdagings waarvoor gemeenskapswerkers met die implementering van die gemeenskaps- ontwikkelingswerkers program in die Plaaslike Munisipaliteit van Makhado te staan kom, te ondersoek. ’n Kwalitatiewe navorsingsplan is vir die studie gebruik. ‘n Oorsig van die literatuur, fokusgroep en onderhoude is gebruik, met gestruktureerde vrae wat binne die raamwerk van die studie geformuleer is. Die vrae was bedoel om ‘n respons tot die navorsingsvraag oor die uitdagings wat deur die gemeenskapsontwikkelingswerkers met die implementering van die GOWP in Makhado ondervind word, te fasiliteer. Een van die aanbevelings van die studie is dat die GOWP by die planne en begroting van die Plaaslike Munisipaliteit van Makhado geïntegreer moet word om die onderhoubaarheid van die program te verseker en dat die gestelde doelwitte bereik word. Wanneer dit geskied, sal dit moontlik wees om te sê dat:  Die instelling van die gemeenskapsontwikkerlingswerkers behaal sukses ten opsigte van die uitdagings van dienslewering binne die Gemeenskapsontwikkelingswerkers program.  Die uitdagings aan gemeenskapsontwikkelingswerkers in die munisipaliteite word deur die effektiewe implementering van die GOWP oorkom. Indien die GOWP ten volle in die Makhado Munisipaliteit geïmplementeer kan word, kan die probleem rondom dienslewering binne ‘n redelike tydperk opgelos word. Dit is dus belangrik dat ‘n onderneming soos die program vir die gemeenskapsontwikkelingswerkers behoue bly as ‘n inter-regeringsprojek wat die vennootskap tussen mense en die regering ondersteun.

Assignment (MEd (Educational Psychology))--Universsity of Stellenbosch, 2009. / Within the movement towards an inclusive society in South Africa, learners experiencing learning barriers are included in mainstream schools. With the inclusion of these learners, there seems to be a trend of learners repeating the same grade more than twice. There seems to be a problem with regard to assessment in classrooms where these learners are present, which could be related to teachers' skills and attitudes. This is a problem found in Venda, Limpopo Province in the Dzindi circuit. Learners experiencing learning barriers in this circuit are not assessed as prescribed by the assessment policy and the draft guideline for the implementation of inclusive education (second draft). The background of Venda rural communities has an influence on educators' attitudes towards assessment of these learners. This study investigates the attitudes of educators towards assessment of learners who have been enrolled in the three primary schools. The research was conducted at three primary schools in the Dzindi Circuit, Limpopo. A qualitative approach was used and the results of this study indicate that educators would prefer to assess non-disabled learners rather than learners with learning barriers. Educators feel that they are inadequately trained, and therefore do not possess the necessary knowledge and skills for assessing learners with barriers in their classroom. School-based in-service training should be introduced to prepare all qualified educators for this task. Specialized training should be introduced into every training program, aimed at training all prospective educators to manage the full range of barriers that they will encounter in their classrooms. The results also suggest that support teams should be in place and that the number of learners in mainstream classes be reduced so that better support can be provided.

Introduction South Africa is one of the countries hardest hit by HIV/AIDS. Of particular concern, new infections among young people, especially young women and girls are on the rise. Despite widespread awareness and prevention campaigns, the prevalence of HIV and deaths caused by AIDS are still on the increase, whereas condom use particularly in rural areas remains low. Consistent condom use is central to the prevention of unwanted pregnancies, HIV and other STIs, yet young men and women alike are hesitant to use condoms because of threats to their relationships, cultural roles and at times economic survival. Purpose The purpose of this study is to identify socio-cultural and behavioral factors that influence condom use among youths in Limpopo province, South Africa. This adds to a growing body of knowledge on the determinants of condom use and how they might shape effective HIV prevention programs. Objectives 1. To conduct a secondary data analysis that examines the determinants of condom use, for men and women separately in relation to the following factors: Socio-demographic characteristics- age, education, marital status, migration and iv socio-economic status Sexual behavior characteristics- partnership type (spousal, non spousal, or both), age at sexual debut, number of lifetime sexual partners, contraceptive use (females only) and HIV-status Socio-cultural characteristics - perceived risk of HIV infection, condom self efficacy (males only), partner communication on sex, condoms, HIV and other STI’s, beliefs on gender norms, attitudes towards gender violence, knowledge on HIV/AIDS and HIV/AIDS related stigma To compare the results of this analysis to other national studies on condom use among young people. To use the results of this analysis to make recommendations to improve HIV control in rural South Africa.Methods This study is a secondary analysis of data collected from a sample of 2236 sexually active young people aged between 14-35 years in Limpopo province, South Africa. The data used in this study is part of a wider public health intervention, the Intervention with Micro-finance for AIDS and Gender Equity (IMAGE) study. STATA 8.0 was used to analyze data in bivariate and multivariate analyses to assess determinants of consistent condom use and condom use at last sex for males and females separately as the patterns of associations are likely to differ between them. Results Overall condom use in this population was low: less than a quarter of respondents used condoms consistently and less than one third of men and women used condoms at last sex. This is especially true of females, married couples and those who have multiple partners. In multivariate analysis, significant predictors of consistent condom use for both sexes included good communication, older age at sexual debut, low risk perception of HIV infection, progressive attitudes towards gender violence and high HIV-related stigma. High condom self-efficacy, defined as the intention to pick up or purchase condoms with the intention of use, was the most powerful predictor of both condom use indices among males. Among females only, having fewer than three lifetime sexual partners was positively associated with using condoms consistently. Lastly, females who used condoms as their main method of contraception were up to 20 times more likely to use them consistently and at last sex. Conclusions HIV prevention programmes in this population should focus on delaying sexual debut, increasing perceived risk of HIV infection, encouraging partner communication, making condoms more easily accessible to young men and addressing gender inequalities. Furthermore, the dual protection offered by condoms against unwanted pregnancies and against HIV and other STI’s should be emphasized in this population as it plays an important role in the prevention of HIV.

Magister Scientiae Dentium - MSc(Dent) / The aim of this study is to determine the perceptions of different occlusal appearance observed by schoolchildren aged 13 -16yrs in the Capricorn District of Limpopo Province in South Africa. The study determined schoolchildren’s perceptions of different occlusal appearances, by assessing the self-perception of schoolchildren toward their occlusal appearance using the Aesthetic Component (AC) of the Index of Orthodontic Need (IOTN). These were compared with the perceptions held by schoolchildren across age, gender and place of residence in Limpopo Province.

M.Fam.Med., Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, 2009 / Trauma is a pandemic that has a significant negative impact on the lives of its victims and national economies. This descriptive study was conducted on 103 private medical general practitioners in Limpopo Province. Ethical approval for the study was obtained from the University of the Witwatersrand Committee for research on Human Subjects (Medical). Approval protocol number M050230. The aim of the study was to determine the state of pre-hospital trauma care: training and preparedness of and practice by private medical general practitioners (GPs) in Limpopo Province. Data was collected by means of an anonymous, confidential, self-administered questionnaire. The objectives were to determine demographic features of the respondents; determine the status of emergency pre-hospital trauma training, preparedness and practice amongst the respondents; and to determine their incentives and disincentives to trauma medicine training, preparedness and practice in Limpopo province. The response rate was 36%. Fifty five per cent (55%) of the respondents had received trauma training since they commenced work as GPs. The proportion of GPs who said that they received trauma training while working in hospitals casualty departments was 52%. The number of respondents who completed ATLS was 24 (23%). Five (21%) of those who had completed ATLS updated their qualifications during years 2001 to 2005. Of the GPs surveyed 46% were not aware of ATLS course offered by the College of Emergency Care at Polokwane City. The majority of the respondents graduated as medical practitioners from the university of Pretoria (38%) and MEDUNSA (31%). But undergoing trauma management training was not associated with the medical schools from which 4 respondents graduated as medical practitioners (p=0.767; Fisher’s exact=0.827; Pearson chi2 = 4.9075). The medical schools from which respondents graduated as medical practitioners was also not related to the amount of private medical practice that comprised emergency care (p= 0.372). Undergoing trauma training was not associated with the age of a GP (p value= 0.120; Fisher exact=0.127). Sex was not found to be associated with trauma training (p=0.895; Fisher exact=1.000). Sex also had no link to the proportion of medical practice comprising emergency care (p-value=0.153; Fisher ‘s exact=0.214; Pearson Chi2). Even though location of GP’s practice was reported to be both an incentive and disincentive to trauma management training it was found not to be associated with trauma management training (p=0.393; Fisher exact=0.426; Pearson chi2 =1.5687) There was no association between location of GP’s practice and preparedness for trauma management. The exception to the finding was in terms of availability of chest drains where the p-value was 0.001. It was found that 31% of respondents who indicated that they had chest drains were based in rural areas while about 6% were practicing in urban areas. Availability of morphine and other analgesics (p-value=0.025, Fisher’s exact=0.038, Pearson Chi2 (1)=5.0165) were associated with preparedness for trauma. There was no association between type of GP practice and trauma management training (Pearson Chi2 (2) =2.1242. p- value = 0.346. Fisher’s exact = 0.429). Almost 95% of those who stated that they spent at least 50% of their time in private general medical practice were full-time. Being in full-time private general medical practice did not necessarily translate into a higher proportion of the practice that comprised trauma care. It was found that 64% of the respondents who were in full-time private general medical practice had an emergency trauma care burden of less than 10% compared to 36% that had a proportion of 10% and more. Amongst part-time practitioners the percentage of those whose burden of trauma care was less than 10% was equal to that of those with 10% and more. The findings implied lack of an association between time spent in private general medical practice and proportion of the practice that constitutes trauma care (p=0.621). The commonest method of updating trauma management skills was through personal study (37% of respondents) followed by attendance of trauma meetings (24% of respondents). Trauma trained GPs tended to have a higher proportion of their practices that comprised emergency trauma care (p-value = 0.030; Fisher’s exact =0.050) than those who had not. The frequently used sources of trauma management information were personal experience (58%) of the respondents followed by continuing medical education (50% of respondents). Almost 50.8% of the respondents reported that they were fairly skilled to manage in a pre-hospital setting various types of injuries. Minor soft tissue injuries were the type of trauma that 68% of the respondents said that they could manage excellently. Incentives factors to both trauma training and practice were high trauma prevalence (33.3% of respondents-training: and 20.7% of respondents-practice); performance improvement (20% of respondents-training: 12.1% of respondents respectively-practice); adequate and managed trauma care facilities (17% of respondents-training: 10.4% of respondents-practice); trauma care support (6.7% of respondents-training: 6.9% of respondents-practice); the need to improve trauma knowledge and skills (17% of respondents-training: 17.2% of respondents-practice) and; strategic GP practice location (7% of respondents-training: 6.9% of respondents-practice). Major disincentives to both trauma training and practice were lack of time for trauma care (28.9% respondents-training: 14.9% respondents practice); unsupportive staff (10% respondents-training: 14.9% respondents-practice); perceived high cost of trauma care and poor rewards (15.6% respondents-training: 11.7% respondents-practice); substandard and inaccessible trauma care facilities (15.6% respondents-training: 24.5% respondents-practice); under-utilized trauma knowledge and skills (6.7% respondents-training: 4.3% respondents-practice); 6 restrictive healthcare regulations and policies (2.2% respondents-training: 2% respondents-practice); and low number of trauma patients seen (11.1% respondents-training: 3.2% respondents-practice). In terms of preparedness for trauma the respondents were ill-prepared for trauma as evidenced by insufficient trauma equipment and drugs. Whereas almost all the respondents (frequency 102 or 99%) had stethoscopes only 7% had cricothyrotomy set. Only 18% of them had needle with one-way valve and chest drains. The trauma drug that appeared to have been the most widely stocked was adrenaline with a frequency of 96 or 93%. It was followed by aspirin with a frequency of 95 or 92%. Ketamine and zidovudine were drugs that were least stocked by the respondents. Their frequencies were 27 or 26%) and 33 or 32% respectively. The other equipment that was infrequently available at GPs’ rooms was goggles (frequency 46%) suggesting poor adherence to safety measures. There were low levels of preparedness to manage trauma patients independently with 43% reporting that they could independently adhere to universal safety measures. Whereas 52% of the respondents stated that they had received training in CPR 54.5% stated that they were equipped and prepared to open and protect the airway; 43% could independently provide adequate breathing while 45% of them could restore and maintain sufficient circulation, indicating a need to improve levels of CPR training. It was recommended that more general practitioners in Limpopo province should be trained and involved in trauma care. It was further recommended that awareness should be raised about the ATLS offered at the College of Emergency Care in Polokwane City. Further research is needed to explore how trauma trained GPs could be better equipped, prepared and supported in the management of trauma. There was also a need to address the disincentive factors to trauma training, preparedness and practice while strengthening the incentives. Given the critical shortage of advanced emergency practitioners (such as paramedics) in Limpopo province, there was perhaps a need to consider how GPs, with their 7 advanced medical qualifications and strategic positioning within communities, could be better deployed in pre-hospital trauma care.

Thesis (M.A. (African Languages)) -- University of Limpopo, 2004 / Refer to document