A thesis submitted to the Faculty of Science, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy. Johannesburg, 2014. / Early contact between Later Stone Age hunter-gatherers at Holkrans rock shelter (BFK 1), in the Vredefort Dome, North West Province, South Africa, and food producers occurred within the last 500 years. Evidence presented in this study suggests that a more probable time frame was sometime between the early 16th and 17th centuries AD. Holkrans chronology comprises two phases, pre-ceramic and ceramic, with three superimposed components: a lower, pre-contact/ pre-ceramic period; a middle, early contact/ ceramic period; and a terminal period. Use-wear analysis of lithics from the lower and middle components provided the medium through which changes or continuity in cultural and behavioural practices between the pre-contact/ pre-ceramic and early-contact/ ceramic periods were interpreted, with a view to shedding light on the nature and impact of contact on the shelter’s hunter-gatherers with food producers. The results of analysis, supported by additional archaeological evidence, suggest that the Holkrans hunter-gatherers experienced early contact and subsequent interaction with food producers as an ‘extended pioneer phase’. Over time, as food producers subdued land and began to permanently settle in the area, the Holkrans hunter-gatherers appear to have maintained this extended pioneer phase; that is, a primarily hunter-gatherer way of life up to the terminal occupation of the shelter, probably in the early 19th century. iii

The American Defense Institute for Medical Operations (DIMO) states that deaths associated with disasters have increased by 50 percent each decade and as Alexander (2002) notes, although disasters require special organization, coordination and resources, they are not exceptional events. Disasters tend to be repetitive; often re-occurring in the same places and as such, are sufficiently frequent and predictable enough to plan for. Disasters are occurring more frequently due to industrialization and rapid development, and as the world’s population has grown, large numbers of people are “vulnerable”; living in less desirable, less ‘safe’ areas. “Natural” disasters hit developing countries perhaps harder, where more people are vulnerable, infrastructure is lacking to begin with and resources are already stretched. Many countries including South Africa are challenged by the increasing number of natural disasters and how to protect the most vulnerable who are without basic infrastructure and largely without access to media. Thus effective public health communication and promotion has become of critical importance particularly in high risk communities and is possible since disasters often occur in the same places. Purpose Literature exists on the efficacy of using media channels to reach people with critical public health messages during disasters, but no studies have focused specifically on other means of communicating public health messages during disasters in places where media doesn’t reach or people can’t justify the cost of batteries for their radios. No research has been done to determine if the people affected recall life saving lessons imparted during disasters; why or why not. Similarly, there is little in the way of documentation detailing the following during past disasters that have occurred both on the African continent and worldwide: who communicated public health messages; what messages were communicated and how messages were imparted. Media – specifically radio and television are used in developed countries to communicate warnings and evacuation messages for example. At best there are reports from the different NGO’s that operate in communities affected by a disaster or NGO’s that arrived to provide humanitarian assistance. It can be surmised that communication is done by those that take the JENNIFER HESLOP/ Student ID No. 0516028Y 6 initiative using whatever channels exist; this may likely include the affected country’s own resources, NGO’s and responders. Coordination to prevent duplicating messages or groups operating in the same areas has in the past been lacking. As such, there is a need to look critically at vulnerable places and people, the value of the information imparted during disasters, why messages may or may not be heeded and if communities would apply the information in future without outside assistance. The study looks at a community that was affected by a specific disaster in South Africa; what proportion of the sample learned life-saving information for the first time during the disaster and whether they would recall these life-saving mechanisms, unaided, in similar future scenarios. Another objective was to determine if gender, age, education or employment status was of any significance against the portion of the study population that learned the information for the first time during the floods. The research leads one to question whether messages are in context with people’s realities and what would prevent them from applying the principles imparted. Broader questions arose, like, do disasters provide an opportunity for learning where there was no learning yet established; and is there an opportunity for engagement between “outsiders” (those with expertise) and “insiders” (affected community) that is truly beneficial to those in need of the information – beneficial in the sense that the information could be applied in future without outside assistance? Design/ methodology The research included two key groups of people: those responsible for the decision making around the communication and public health response to the disaster, and the affected communities. The research design included qualitative key informant interviews accessed through snowballing technique and quantitative face-to-face interviews with 100 community members. The qualitative study was a descriptive, semi-structure interview outline designed to provide a framework to describe the situation, the health risks, priorities, health promotion messages that were communicated and how they were communicated. Key informants were made up of members of the disaster response team as well as others that played a role during the floods. The interviews were transcribed; reoccurring themes were identified and distilled to get the three most critical public health messages that were communicated during the floods. The recurring themes formed the basis of the quantitative questionnaire. JENNIFER HESLOP/ Student ID No. 0516028Y 7 The quantitative study, a cross sectional descriptive study, relied on one hundred community members living in the broader Qho area during the floods and provided they met the criteria (they lived in the area during the floods and could recall what happened), they were asked for their consent before the interview commenced. The data were captured and analysed using Epi Info 6, frequencies were run to describe the sample, and then cross tabulations were performed, looking for associations between the outcome variables and demographic and media variables; chi square tests were performed to test for significance. The three most critical public health messages were: water purification, oral re-hydration therapy for diarrhea and warnings not to eat an animal that had died of unknown causes during the floods. Findings The findings of the research indicate that across two public health messages more than half of all respondents learned the information that may have saved their lives for the first time during the floods. Forty-eight percent learned how to purify water for the first time during the floods; 54.2 percent learned about oral re-hydration therapy during the floods; and 55.6 percent learned not to eat an animal that has died of unknown causes during the floods. Determining whether the sample population would apply the same lessons learned, unaided, in future similar circumstances, is harder to prove since it is self-reported. Nearly 100 percent across the three questions said categorically that they would and most could name ways to purify water, stop diarrhea and said that they knew not to eat an animal that has died of unknown causes. One hundred percent of responders said they would know what to do to make dirty water clean and some cited ways they would do this by boiling and/ or the use of ‘Jik’ (brand of bleach; in South Africa, the word ‘Jik’ has become synonymous with ‘bleach’). Ninety percent of the sample said they would use “the salt and sugar mixture in water” to treat diarrhea and 90 percent knew they should not eat an animal that has died of unknown causes. It is perhaps of interest to note that significantly more men learned during the flood to use OTR for diarrhea than women. Thus disasters may likely provide an opportunity for men to learn health practices that normally women would be more likely to have learned. There was also a significant difference between those that learned about ORT during the floods and those that learned before the floods by level of education, with 63 percent of those that learned about ORT before the floods, having completed primary school. Also of interest was the fact that while only 15 percent of the total sample population has access to television, of the 55.6 percent that learned not to eat an animal that has died of an unknown cause during the floods, 24.5 percent had access to television, and 86 percent of those with access to TV learned about this during the flood. Practical implications Disasters provide opportunities to fast-track development and public health goals. However, based on the research, for communication to have the desired response, communities and public health experts should be involved in dialogue with broader stakeholders before, during and after disasters. It is important to include “locals” (experts from the broader community) and community healthcare workers on an on-going basis, in public health promotion and preparedness strategies and to involve men in the community; a group that has largely been absent in communities and not historically involved in family health care. When a disaster is declared, an injection of resources – human, physical and financial assists significantly in making things happen, from providing and / or upgrading infrastructure to getting critical information and resources to affected populations. Just as critical is education – teaching people how to respond and why, as opposed to just telling people. Knowledge is more sustainable than physical resources, although both are often required. People need to truly understand the information in their own contexts, as well as the “why’ and “how” if they are going to be able to replicate the lessons unaided in future. Concurrently, affected people are more open to information and changing behaviours that may now seem foolish or outdated. Electronic media channels cannot be relied upon as the sole means of communication but need to be incorporated despite low penetration, due to the powerful effect the mediums have in stimulating word-of-mouth transmission of messages, particularly messages that may lead to social discomfort. Alternative means of communication like face-to-face dialogue and use of cell phone messaging, and understanding how communication must be done to ensure effectiveness is imperative - and these guidelines are applicable across cultural, political and socio-economic JENNIFER HESLOP/ Student ID No. 0516028Y 9 boundaries. It is imperative that those providing assistance understand the affected population and their realities as if they were his or her own. This includes local resources like media; literacy levels; beliefs and values; as well as who is trusted by the community.

M.P.H., Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, 2010 / Introduction No health care services are available for staff or students on the Potchefstroom Campus of the North-West University. Lack of finances and the notion that the health of the campus community is not the core business of a university are reasons for not providing some form of health care service. The Declaration of Alma-Ata was adopted internationally, stating that essential health care must be made universally accessible to all people. South Africa endorses the Declaration of Alma-Ata and commits itself to ensure equitable access to health care. A needs analysis of the Higher Education AIDS Programme (HEAIDS) demonstrated that most South African universities, within reasonable means, respond to their students' health needs by providing some form of primary health care service. The researcher is adopting an ecological approach using the Healthy Campus Model. The model is based on primary health care principles and values which refer to the health needs of people as this would assist in alleviating the burden of disease and the risks thereof. The Healthy Campus Model also explores equal access and utilization of quality health care whereby these principles of primary health care and community participation would guide such a service. This approach determines whether basic human rights of access to health care have been met. Materials and Methods In this study the research design was a cross-sectional descriptive survey. The survey is part of a comprehensive health needs assessment, using a mainly quantitative questionnaire as a data collection tool. The study population consisted of full-time students enrolled at the Potchefstroom Campus. It included subgroups on gender, seniority and place of residence and was chosen specifically to identify possible high-risk activities and influences on student health. A sample size of 370 students and confidence interval of 95% were calculated. Both purposive and a volunteer sampling were used. iii Results The most significant finding is the students' need for an affordable and accessible health care facility with a high level of client confidentiality and quality of service. The survey included data of the financial needs of students regarding their primary source of financial assistance as an indication of their financial wealth. Access to finances specifically allocated for health care shows that almost half of the target population (47,54%) do not have the surety of access to a source of finance to cover their medical expenses. However, the majority (74,32%) are willing to contribute towards cost-effective and affordable health care and do not expect free health care. Accessible health care services are also of major concern. The majority of students (68,38%) stay on or within walking distance from campus. The results indicated furthermore that students’ have specific health needs and preferences. The highest priority of health care were given to acute care or minor ailments (79,5%) followed by counselling care (70,6%). A need for HIV and Aids clinical programmes (69,8%) and health awareness and prevention programmes (67,6%) was indicated. The majority (83,74%) indicated that the services of the proposed health care centre will be preferred and utilized if available and affordable. Discussion The results of the health needs analysis on the Potchefstroom Campus clearly indicate that the students have definite needs for such services. The researcher argues that the institution is at risk by NOT responding to the students’ health needs. Absence of a health care service attributes to the inauspicious health environment of the campus. By supporting the ecological approach, the researcher concurs that a healthy environment has the greatest impact on good health and that health and educational success are interdependent. Conclusion and Recommendation Educational success is a strategic priority and the core business of all institutions of learning. Establishing a primary health care service and acting on the health needs of the students is a risk abatement strategy to surmise educational success. A follow-up survey to determine the top ten health impediments on campus is recommended to measure and manage academic and health-related successes.

Diss.--Rechts- und Wirtschaftswissenschaftlichen Fakultät--Universität Bayreuth, 1999. / Bibliogr. p. 413-435. Glossaire. Résumé en anglais.

Based on the author's Thesis (M.A.)--Memorial University of Newfoundland, 1987. / Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (Phd- Agric) North-West University, Mafikeng Campus, 2011

Adherence to prescribed medications is a central feature of good clinical HIV care and a key factor in determining the effectiveness of treatment. This is especially true for HIV-infected patients, on antiretroviral treatment, where adherence is strongly associated with survival. HIV-associated tuberculosis is a major and increasing health problem, especially in sub-Saharan Africa. Clinical trials have demonstrated a benefit of isoniazid preventive therapy in preventing TB among HIV-infected persons, and its use among these patients is recommended. Nearly perfect compliance seems to be indispensable to obtain the maximum benefit from highly active antiretroviral treatment and prophylactic medications. Accurately assessing non-adherence is a necessary first step towards improving adherence to active antiretroviral treatment and isoniazid preventive therapy. The introduction of diary cards is being considered as a measure of adherence and as a tool to improve adherence among HIV-infected individuals receiving antiretroviral treatment or isoniazid preventive therapy. This was a preliminary study to evaluate the effectiveness of diary cards as intervention tool for promoting adherence to antiretroviral and prophylactic TB therapy in people living with HIV/AIDS, to evaluate the diary card as a tool to measure adherence and to evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of diary cards.

Wildlife viewing is a form of recreation that is becoming increasingly popular throughout the world, particularly in African protected areas. In order for protected area managers to cater for this demand effectively, managers need to incorporate wildlife viewing recreation into the planning and development of protected areas. Protected area management has traditionally focused on the management of wildlife populations and habitats to the exclusion of visitor recreational needs. Where visitor needs have been incorporated into the planning and development of protected areas, this has been through the provision of inputs such as facilities and wildlife. The experience-based management (EBM) approach to recreation however proposes that people engage in particular recreation opportunities in order to attain certain desired benefits or outcomes. Madikwe Game reserve provides visitors with the opportunity to view a wide variety of game. The aims of this study were to (1) provide an understanding of what visitors sought from their experience~ regarding wildlife viewing in Madikwe Game Reserve (2) classify the types of experiences desired by visitors to the reserve using the EBM model as a framework and (3) examine management implications of results. A survey of visitors was conducted in the reserve using a Pre-visit and a Postvisit questionnaire. Results from 178 respondents indicated that well-known species as well as rare/endangered specie: were the most popular among visitors. Respondents were generally very satisfied with their wildlife viewing experiences in terms of species abundance and variety, and information received about animals. The results also suggest that additional information about items other than wildlife could enhance the experiences of visitors to Madikwe. Three distinct wildlife viewing experiences desired by visitors were identified, namely a High Involvement Experience, which had the highest interest in almost all recreational opportunities, a Generalist Experience characterised by a moderate interest in recreational opportunities and an Occasionalist Experience that displayed the least interest. While the Occasionalist Experience is presently adequately catered for in Madikwe, lodge and park manager can provide for the High Involvement and Generalist Experiences more efficiently by expanding the wildlife viewing experience that is currently offered in the reserve. This would be done primarily through the expansion of informational items provided, and the development of activities associated with wildlife viewing. The success of such measures would be dependent on the adoption of a cooperative strategy between lodge managers, park managers and other relevant stakeholders. / Thesis (M.Env.Dev.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2004.

The purpose of this study is to assess the impact of the merger between the Office of the Premier and the North West Communication Services on Labour relations with a view to provide recommendations to the management of the Office on how to resolve grievances and disputes arising from the merger. The study focuses on the Office of the Premier. A qualitative research design which made use of data obtained from the Management of the Office, Advisory Committee, NWCS staff and a union representative was used in this study. The memoranda and other correspondence on the merger were analysed. The population in this study was confined to the Office of the Premier. The investigation conducted showed that the grievances/dispute lodged by the NWCS staff arise out of the merger. The merger negotiations were conducted in an atmosphere that was not conducive to proper negotiations, which consequently had adverse effects on labour relations. Employees who were absorbed from the NWCS into the Office of Premier had their benefits discontinued. This gave rise to litany of grievances/disputes wherein the grievants accuse the Management of the Office with unilateral change of terms of conditions of employment. There is a need to re-negotiate the terms and conditions of employment of the employees affected by the merger to ensure a smooth completion of this process. The amended Labour Relations Act, Section 197, on transfer of a business as a going concern allows parties to the negotiation to enter into an agreement regarding new terms and conditions of employment. It is an option that the office is advised to pursue to bring the merger process to finality . / M.Admin. (IRL) North-West University, Mafikeng Campus, 2005

Twenty-five animals that were randomly selected on the basis of sex and age from among the animals feeding exclusively on communal grazing in Mogosane village and were used to investigate the mineral (P, Ca and Mg) status, especially P, based on blood and faecal P and to estimate the quantity of P they consumed from the pasture they were grazing. The project was conducted in the same area each month for one year, and no supplement was given. Months were blocks and seasonal changes were factors and the animals were experimental units within a block. Faecal, blood and grass samples were used as indicators of P, Ca and Mg minerals within experimental units, and Analysis of Variance was done to determine whether the P status of native pastures had a significant effect on the total P, Ca and Mg utilization and movement in and out of the blood and throughout the faeces during different periods the year. Body mass, condition scores and rainfall were also recorded during this trial. When the mineral status was investigated in this trial, it was found that mineral content in blood and faeces was directly related to the minerals in the pasture since these indicators were curvilinear increasing from winter months to spring months peaking in summer months with highly (P< 0.05) significant values when grazing was best and declining as the grazing became worse during autumn and winter months. The values of the body condition of the animals increased and declined with the values of body mass. Blood P .. concentration was very inconsistent and varied greatly and did not follow the same increasing and decreasing pattern followed by faeces and the grass. This emphasizes the fact that the P content of blood is not always good indicator of the P status in the animal. The mean faecal P concentration during winter was lower with the value of 1.23 ± 0.13 mg/g, during spring was low with the value of 1.8 ± 0.06 mg/g, during summer was higher with the value of 3.22 ± 0.12 mg/g and -( during autumn was high with the value of 1.98 ± 1.04 mg/g. The mean concentration of P in the grass during winter was lower with the value of 0.92 ± 0.04 mg/g, during spring was low with the value of 1.16 ± 0.08 mg/g, during summer was higher with the value of 1.68 ± 0.06 mg/g and during autumn was high with the value of 1.22 ± 0.09 mg/g. The seasonal rainfall correlated with the faecal and grass P values vary much with the value of 0 mm in the winter season, with the value of 26.33 mm in the spring, the value of 90.4 mm during summer and the value of 44.83 mm during autumn. Condition scores and body masses had the values of 2.08 units/20 1.4 Kg during winter season, had the values of 3.07 units/272.29 Kg in spring season, had the values of 3.88 units/371 Kg during summer season and the values of2.75 units/286.65 during autumn season, respectively. / Thesis (M.Sc. (Agric.) North-West University, Mafikeng Campus, 2005