Learners at the public schools of North West Province in the Dr Kenneth Kaunda Education region, within the Matlosana Local municipality’s municipal area of jurisdiction, are exposed to unhygienic health hazard conditions due to insufficient toilet facilities used by a large number of learners and poor health conditions resulting out of it, which might cause and spread health related diseases to the users of these toilet facilities. The primary objective of this research was to investigate the nature and extent of the provisioning and maintenance of toilet facilities in the public schools within the Matlosana Local Municipality’s municipal area. A questionnaire was designed and distributed to obtain information from 57 respondents who comprised of the 3 schools principals who constituted 5% of the research population, 18 educators who constituted 32% and 36 learners who constituted 63%, all totalling 100% of the research sample size, at Are-Fadimeheng; Dominion Reefs and Nkagisang public schools. The findings revealed that the majority, which is 85% of the research population (learners and educators) as users of these facilities are affected and were generally unhappy about the prevailing conditions of the school toilet facilities. This they attribute to lack of proper budgeting as the main cause. The most aggravating factor is the absence of a janitor with plumbing skills to look after the schools’ toilet facilities. Findings highlighted that school learners and educators deserve as their human right to live under acceptable health conditions and clean environment. However it is the responsibility of the Government to expand the existing schools toilet structures which are in line with the National Building regulation ratio of 1:25 of users per toilet as recommended by Department of Water Affairs (DWA), to ensure health for all. The results of this study can assist the government to embark on strategic intervention programmes that can improve conditions of public schools toilet facilities in the North West Province, South Africa to meet the Millenium Development Goals (MDG) target in addressing sanitation backlogs by half in 2015. Conclusions for the study were drawn and recommendations were made for the improvement of conditions in the Public Schools Toilet facilities. / Thesis (M. Development and Management)--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2011.

Learners at the public schools of North West Province in the Dr Kenneth Kaunda Education region, within the Matlosana Local municipality’s municipal area of jurisdiction, are exposed to unhygienic health hazard conditions due to insufficient toilet facilities used by a large number of learners and poor health conditions resulting out of it, which might cause and spread health related diseases to the users of these toilet facilities. The primary objective of this research was to investigate the nature and extent of the provisioning and maintenance of toilet facilities in the public schools within the Matlosana Local Municipality’s municipal area. A questionnaire was designed and distributed to obtain information from 57 respondents who comprised of the 3 schools principals who constituted 5% of the research population, 18 educators who constituted 32% and 36 learners who constituted 63%, all totalling 100% of the research sample size, at Are-Fadimeheng; Dominion Reefs and Nkagisang public schools. The findings revealed that the majority, which is 85% of the research population (learners and educators) as users of these facilities are affected and were generally unhappy about the prevailing conditions of the school toilet facilities. This they attribute to lack of proper budgeting as the main cause. The most aggravating factor is the absence of a janitor with plumbing skills to look after the schools’ toilet facilities. Findings highlighted that school learners and educators deserve as their human right to live under acceptable health conditions and clean environment. However it is the responsibility of the Government to expand the existing schools toilet structures which are in line with the National Building regulation ratio of 1:25 of users per toilet as recommended by Department of Water Affairs (DWA), to ensure health for all. The results of this study can assist the government to embark on strategic intervention programmes that can improve conditions of public schools toilet facilities in the North West Province, South Africa to meet the Millenium Development Goals (MDG) target in addressing sanitation backlogs by half in 2015. Conclusions for the study were drawn and recommendations were made for the improvement of conditions in the Public Schools Toilet facilities. / Thesis (M. Development and Management)--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2011.

One of the aims included in the United Nations Millennium Development Goals is to decrease the number of the world’s population without access to sanitation and water that is safe, by half by the year 2015. The use of water that is not safe for consumption leads to water–related diseases. For the purpose of this study gastro–intestinal disease was redefined as diseases of the gastro–intestinal tract caused by pathogens that spread via contaminated drinking water, poor sanitation and inadequate hygiene. Information obtained regarding the use of gastro–intestinal disease medication, may provide information about the prevalence of gastro–intestinal disease in South Africa. The general objective of this study was to determine the prescribing patterns of gastro–intestinal medication in different geographical areas in the private health care sector of South Africa. A retrospective drug utilisation review was conducted on data obtained from a medicine claims database of a pharmacy benefit management company for 2007 and 2008. A pharmacoepidemiological approach was followed in order to determine the prevalence of gastro–intestinal disease as well as the use of gastro–intestinal medication in South Africa as well as the different provinces of South Africa. The impact of water quality and sanitation on the prevalence of gastro–intestinal disease was also investigated. Gastro–intestinal medication (used in the treatment of gastro–intestinal disease) included the following pharmacological groups according to the MIMS®–classification: antivertigo and anti–emetic agents (group 1.8), antispasmodics (group 12.3), antidiarrhoeals (group 12.7), minerals and electrolytes (group 20.4, selected according to specified NAPPI–codes) and antimicrobials (group 18). Antimicrobials had to be prescribed in combination with one of the specified gastro–intestinal medication groups in order to be classified as a gastro–intestinal medication. In 2007 and 2008 respectively, 428864 and 340921 gastro–intestinal medication items were prescribed. The most frequently prescribed gastro–intestinal medication pharmacological groups in 2007 and 2008 were beta–lactam antimicrobials (with proportion percentages of 22.77% and 20.85% in 2007 and 2008 respectively), antivertigo and anti–emetic agents, antispasmodics, antidiarrhoeals and quinolone antimicrobials. Minerals and electrolytes represented only a small proportion (2.99% and 2.56% in 2007 and 2008 respectively) of the prescribed gastro–intestinal medication in South Africa. In the Free State and Western Cape antivertigo and anti–emetic agents were the most frequently prescribed gastro–intestinal medication items, while in other provinces beta–lactam antimicrobials ranked the highest. In all provinces except the Western Cape and the Northern Cape, amoxicillin/clavulanic acid was the most frequently prescribed gastro–intestinal medication active ingredient. In the Western Cape loperamide was the most frequently prescribed active ingredient, while ciprofloxacin ranked highest as active ingredient in the Northern Cape in 2008. Based on the prescribing patterns of gastro–intestinal disease medications the treatment of gastro–intestinal disease in this section of the private health care sector of South Africa, does not fully comply with the Standard Treatment Guidelines with regard to the use of antimicrobials and electrolyte replacement therapy. / Thesis (M.Pharm. (Pharmacy Practice))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2011.

One of the aims included in the United Nations Millennium Development Goals is to decrease the number of the world’s population without access to sanitation and water that is safe, by half by the year 2015. The use of water that is not safe for consumption leads to water–related diseases. For the purpose of this study gastro–intestinal disease was redefined as diseases of the gastro–intestinal tract caused by pathogens that spread via contaminated drinking water, poor sanitation and inadequate hygiene. Information obtained regarding the use of gastro–intestinal disease medication, may provide information about the prevalence of gastro–intestinal disease in South Africa. The general objective of this study was to determine the prescribing patterns of gastro–intestinal medication in different geographical areas in the private health care sector of South Africa. A retrospective drug utilisation review was conducted on data obtained from a medicine claims database of a pharmacy benefit management company for 2007 and 2008. A pharmacoepidemiological approach was followed in order to determine the prevalence of gastro–intestinal disease as well as the use of gastro–intestinal medication in South Africa as well as the different provinces of South Africa. The impact of water quality and sanitation on the prevalence of gastro–intestinal disease was also investigated. Gastro–intestinal medication (used in the treatment of gastro–intestinal disease) included the following pharmacological groups according to the MIMS®–classification: antivertigo and anti–emetic agents (group 1.8), antispasmodics (group 12.3), antidiarrhoeals (group 12.7), minerals and electrolytes (group 20.4, selected according to specified NAPPI–codes) and antimicrobials (group 18). Antimicrobials had to be prescribed in combination with one of the specified gastro–intestinal medication groups in order to be classified as a gastro–intestinal medication. In 2007 and 2008 respectively, 428864 and 340921 gastro–intestinal medication items were prescribed. The most frequently prescribed gastro–intestinal medication pharmacological groups in 2007 and 2008 were beta–lactam antimicrobials (with proportion percentages of 22.77% and 20.85% in 2007 and 2008 respectively), antivertigo and anti–emetic agents, antispasmodics, antidiarrhoeals and quinolone antimicrobials. Minerals and electrolytes represented only a small proportion (2.99% and 2.56% in 2007 and 2008 respectively) of the prescribed gastro–intestinal medication in South Africa. In the Free State and Western Cape antivertigo and anti–emetic agents were the most frequently prescribed gastro–intestinal medication items, while in other provinces beta–lactam antimicrobials ranked the highest. In all provinces except the Western Cape and the Northern Cape, amoxicillin/clavulanic acid was the most frequently prescribed gastro–intestinal medication active ingredient. In the Western Cape loperamide was the most frequently prescribed active ingredient, while ciprofloxacin ranked highest as active ingredient in the Northern Cape in 2008. Based on the prescribing patterns of gastro–intestinal disease medications the treatment of gastro–intestinal disease in this section of the private health care sector of South Africa, does not fully comply with the Standard Treatment Guidelines with regard to the use of antimicrobials and electrolyte replacement therapy. / Thesis (M.Pharm. (Pharmacy Practice))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2011.