The system of care for persons suffering from mental retardation is in a state of upheaval. Considering the mentally handicapped as holistic beings, this study explored and assessed the needs of those residing in the community of District 22 (sub-district 222), KwaZulu-Natal, thus facilitating the planning of care and care facilities for these individuals to enable them to function optimally in the community. To accomplish this purpose, specific objectives were formulated. A quantitative, exploratory and descriptive study based on Maslow's hierarchy of needs theory was carried out, using 167 respondents. The study revealed that despite being mentally retarded, they were still regarded as valuable members of the community, their needs did not differ from the needs of others in the rest of the world and that mental retardation is still rated low in the prioritization of health problems, hence the lack of resources and support needed for the rehabilitation of such persons. / Health Studies / M.A. (Health Studies)

A higher infant mortality rate and shorter life expectancy, coupled with a high prevalence of a variety of diseases commonly associated with malnutrition, are usually a reflection of the social conditions of poverty in a society. By arguing that apartheid formed the basis of inequality and therefore the main underlying cause of an unacceptable burden of the diseases of poverty among black South Africans, this thesis, Poverty, Health and Disease in the Era of High Apartheid: South Africa, 1948-1976, locates these health problems within their social, economic and political context. It further argues that if health and disease are measures of the effectiveness with which human beings, using the available biological and cultural resources, adapt to their environment, then this relationship underpins the convergence of medical and cultural interests. Under the impact of modern technology and society's dependence upon it, profound cultural changes have taken place and issues of health and the etiology of disease are among the areas most affected by these changes. This thesis explains why, in a pluralistic medical setting, where only modern (scientific) medicine was recognised as legitimate medicine by the apartheid government, for the majority of black South Africans the advent of modern medicine was viewed not so much as displacing indigenous (African) medicine but as increasing the medical options available to them. It is therefore contended here that for most black South Africans, indigenous medicine has played a critical role; it has mitigated the impact of apartheid medicine. Since differences that people perceive in these two medical systems are crucial to the medical choices that they make at the onset of illness, this thesis argues that knowing and understanding the reasons for making such choices would not only have practical value for health authorities in their efforts to improve local, regional and national health service delivery, but would also contribute to a general understanding of human therapy-seeking behaviour in this age of the HIV/AIDS pandemic. / History / Thesis (D. Litt. et Phil. (History))

This explorative, descriptive quantitative survey attempted to determine whether the reduced number of consultations and admissions of sick children less than five years in Emfuleni sub- district clinics is due to the utilisation of the IMCI strategy or other health services. The research population comprised of all the mothers/caretakers of children less than five years who utilised the clinics and those who consulted the private medical doctor. The convenient sample consisted of 169 candidates. Data was collected by means of a questionnaire and analysed using the SAS/Basic computer statistical software package. Findings of the study revealed a need to address the major concern about the waiting time and operational times in all the three clinics. Recommendations were made that staff allocation procedures and policies be reviewed in order to abate long waiting periods at the clinics where children with childhood illnesses are treated. / Health Studies / M.A. (Health Studies)

In this study the researcher attempted to determine the current role expectations of a clinic manager in a primary health care setting, to identify factors determining and influencing the role of a clinic manager, to determine what effect the current role expectations had on the management of primary health care services rendered at the clinic, to establish the developmental needs of clinic managers to enable them to adhere to their role expectations, and to identify and recommend measures to support clinic managers in the execution of their managerial role by addressing the identified deficiencies. The researcher selected a quantitative, exploratory, descriptive and contextual design. Clinic managers of fixed clinics in the Free State province were randomly selected to participate in the study and a questionnaire was utilised as data-collection instrument. The study found that the clinic manager's role is comprehensive and varies from telephonic booking patients to assessment of the quality of primary health care programmes. A number of non-managerial functions were identified, such as consultation of patients, management of medicine, dispensing of medicine and ordering of stock. It was also found that the respondents were not involved in a number of management functions such as financial and human resource management, and adherence to the implementation of standards. Factors that negatively influenced the clinic managers' management role included: * Lack of time due to the large number of patients they had to consult due to the shortage of staff. * Shortage of staff. * The execution of non-managerial tasks. Although it was found that the current role of the clinic manager was confusing as it entailed much more than just clinic management, it is foreseen that the role of the clinic manager could in future be clarified if the recommendations are implemented. / Health Studies / D. Litt. et Phil. (Health Studies)

Text in Afrikaans / Summaries in Afrikaans and English / VIGS is 'n gesondheidsprobleem wat 'n impak uitoefen op alle gebiede in die samelewing. Voorkoming is die enigste vorm van bekamping. As gevolg hiervan, word VIGS-voorkoming binne die funksies van primere gesondheidsorg geplaas. Die persoon wat die funksies van primere gesondheidsorg uitoefen, is die gemeenskapsgesondheidswerker. Binne hierdie raamwerk is die terme primere gesondheidsorg, gemeenskapsgesondheidswerker en VIGS bespreek en die onderlinge interaksie is aangetoon. Die opleiding wat die gemeenskapsgesondheidswerker op VIGS-gebied ondergaan, is meegemaak. Die prioriteite wat op nasionale, provinsiale en plaaslike vlak bestaan is deur middel van onderhoude nagevors. Die effektiwiteit van die VIGS-voorkomingsboodskap soos oorgedra deur die gemeenskapsgesondheidswerker is tydens 'n inligtingsessie van hoerskoolleerlinge bepaal. Gevolgtrekkings en aanbevelings is in elk van bogenoemde gevalle gemaak. VIGS-voorkomingsinisiatiewe is nog in die kinderskoene in Suid-Afrika, maar het 'n belangrike rol te speel. / AIDS is a health problem that impacts on all societal spheres. Prevention is the only form of combat. Therefore, AIDS prevention falls within the functions of primary health care. The person performing these functions is the community health worker. Within this framework the terms primary health care, community health worker and AIDS were discussed and their interrelatedness illustrated. A session during which community health workers received training in aspects of AIDS was attended. Priorities existing at national, provincial and local levels were researched through interviews. The effectiveness of the community health worker in spreading the AIDS prevention message was determined during an information session for secondary school pupils. Conclusions and recommendations were made in each of these cases. AIDS prevention initiatives are still in its infancy in South Africa, but has an important role to play. / Health Studies / M.A. (Ontwikkelingsadministrasie)

Text in English / South Africa is currently in the process health care reform as the Government has undertaken the task of providing universal health care to all South Africans through the implementation of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHI). This study took an in-depth look at the history and progression of the post-1994 South African health care policy, and applied the Power Resources Theory to the political economy of the current health care reform process in South Africa. Through a comparative study of the pivotal elements in the phases of health reform in Canada and Sweden this study drew lessons for the design and implementation of universal public health care provision in South Africa. This study found that a strong culture of care, strong political will, active civil society participation and a focus on equality as opposed to poverty in the creation of policy is essential to a successful implementation of universal health care. / Sociology / M.A. (Sociology)

A higher infant mortality rate and shorter life expectancy, coupled with a high prevalence of a variety of diseases commonly associated with malnutrition, are usually a reflection of the social conditions of poverty in a society. By arguing that apartheid formed the basis of inequality and therefore the main underlying cause of an unacceptable burden of the diseases of poverty among black South Africans, this thesis, Poverty, Health and Disease in the Era of High Apartheid: South Africa, 1948-1976, locates these health problems within their social, economic and political context. It further argues that if health and disease are measures of the effectiveness with which human beings, using the available biological and cultural resources, adapt to their environment, then this relationship underpins the convergence of medical and cultural interests. Under the impact of modern technology and society's dependence upon it, profound cultural changes have taken place and issues of health and the etiology of disease are among the areas most affected by these changes. This thesis explains why, in a pluralistic medical setting, where only modern (scientific) medicine was recognised as legitimate medicine by the apartheid government, for the majority of black South Africans the advent of modern medicine was viewed not so much as displacing indigenous (African) medicine but as increasing the medical options available to them. It is therefore contended here that for most black South Africans, indigenous medicine has played a critical role; it has mitigated the impact of apartheid medicine. Since differences that people perceive in these two medical systems are crucial to the medical choices that they make at the onset of illness, this thesis argues that knowing and understanding the reasons for making such choices would not only have practical value for health authorities in their efforts to improve local, regional and national health service delivery, but would also contribute to a general understanding of human therapy-seeking behaviour in this age of the HIV/AIDS pandemic. / History / Thesis (D. Litt. et Phil. (History))

This explorative, descriptive quantitative survey attempted to determine whether the reduced number of consultations and admissions of sick children less than five years in Emfuleni sub- district clinics is due to the utilisation of the IMCI strategy or other health services. The research population comprised of all the mothers/caretakers of children less than five years who utilised the clinics and those who consulted the private medical doctor. The convenient sample consisted of 169 candidates. Data was collected by means of a questionnaire and analysed using the SAS/Basic computer statistical software package. Findings of the study revealed a need to address the major concern about the waiting time and operational times in all the three clinics. Recommendations were made that staff allocation procedures and policies be reviewed in order to abate long waiting periods at the clinics where children with childhood illnesses are treated. / Health Studies / M.A. (Health Studies)

In this study the researcher attempted to determine the current role expectations of a clinic manager in a primary health care setting, to identify factors determining and influencing the role of a clinic manager, to determine what effect the current role expectations had on the management of primary health care services rendered at the clinic, to establish the developmental needs of clinic managers to enable them to adhere to their role expectations, and to identify and recommend measures to support clinic managers in the execution of their managerial role by addressing the identified deficiencies. The researcher selected a quantitative, exploratory, descriptive and contextual design. Clinic managers of fixed clinics in the Free State province were randomly selected to participate in the study and a questionnaire was utilised as data-collection instrument. The study found that the clinic manager's role is comprehensive and varies from telephonic booking patients to assessment of the quality of primary health care programmes. A number of non-managerial functions were identified, such as consultation of patients, management of medicine, dispensing of medicine and ordering of stock. It was also found that the respondents were not involved in a number of management functions such as financial and human resource management, and adherence to the implementation of standards. Factors that negatively influenced the clinic managers' management role included: * Lack of time due to the large number of patients they had to consult due to the shortage of staff. * Shortage of staff. * The execution of non-managerial tasks. Although it was found that the current role of the clinic manager was confusing as it entailed much more than just clinic management, it is foreseen that the role of the clinic manager could in future be clarified if the recommendations are implemented. / Health Studies / D. Litt. et Phil. (Health Studies)

The primary aim of this study is to describe and explain the extent of which school managers and primary healthcare facility managers possess knowledge and awareness of their roles in the implementation of the Integrated School Health Policy in Region C in the Gauteng Provincial Department of Basic Education. The study used a qualitative research method by which semi-structured interviews were conducted using a descriptive and explanative design. A sample of ten respondents was elected using a purposive sampling strategy and conventional or content analysis was utilised in the interpretation and analysis of data. The main findings of the study revealed that managers know their role in the implementation of the policy. Although managers are aware of their important roles; they are unable to fulfil them due to a lack of skills. Therefore, the study recommends that the Department of Health and the Department of Basic Education should ensure that managers are skilled and more knowledgeable in implementing the policy objectives. / Public Administration and Operations Management / M. Admin. (Public Admiistration)