Submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirement for the degree Master of Education in the Department of Educational Planning and Administration at the University of Zululand, 2005. / Schools are judged by their results and the quality of learners they produce. The quality of learners depends, among other things, on the amount of knowledge and skills he or she acquired at school. Motivation, both intrinsic and extrinsic, plays a crucial role in the learner's performance and acquisition of knowledge. The principal, through the effective exercise of his leadership role, motivates learners to make concerted efforts to improve their academic performance. A literature study and empirical investigation were conducted to determine the principal's role in influencing learner academic performance. The study investigated the kind of leadership that the principal has to exercise in order to contribute to the improvement of learner academic performance. It also investigated the leadership style that the principal has to adopt to improve learner performance. Factors that hinder effective leadership and negatively affect learner performance were also highlighted. A key finding was that principals do not involve learners in making decisions on matters affecting them. Their leadership style has an autocratic bias and they cannot strike a balance between democratic and autocratic leadership. Most principals also did not provide instructional leadership in their schools by, among other things, monitoring learner progress, showing high expectations of learners and visiting classes regularly to ensure that teaching and learning take place. A key recommendation was that principals should keep communication channels open so that they are informed about the feelings, needs and problems learners encounter in schools. Monitoring of learner progress cannot be overemphasized. It was recommended that principals should involve learners in making decisions on matters affecting them. It was also recommended that effective leadership requires a balance between democratic and autocratic leadership styles.

Bibliography: p. 151-153. / The dissertation, "Institutional Change in Higher Education: A Case Study" examines efforts to bring about fundamental institutional change at the University of Natal over a period of some 1 0 years, 1988 to 1997. The case study is characterised as being of an embedded single case design. It is an instrumental rather than an intrinsic study. It attempts to extend understanding of the complex social phenomenon of institutional change in higher education, through analytic generalization. The two sub-units of the case study relate to different attempts by the executive of the University of Natal to bring about consensus on the need for fundamental change and the nature of the change: through a more-or-less conventional strategic planning process; and by the adoption- as a strategic initiative- of the notion of becoming a learning organization. The two sub units are examined on the strength of University documents and interviews with past and present University office bearers and staff, within a conceptual framework of organizational theory derived mainly from Mintzberg, McGregor, and Senge. Both the strategic planning approach and the learning organization approach are seen to have failed as means of engineering consensual change and in the latter half of 1997 the University experiences a restructuring crisis as a result of financial pressures. A puzzle around restructuring, viz. why the University should pursue structural change which goes beyond the needs of simple cost-cutting and efficiency, is addressed first in terms of a perceived need for innovation, within the foregoing organizational theoretical framework. The analysis is then extended (effectively recontextualised) within a more pedagogic , social and political theoretical framework which is dependent largely on Bernstein. This analysis sees the changes being pursued at the University of Natal as being consistent with a shift in higher education generally to a market-dominated, competitive discourse in which University lecturers become knowledge entrepreneurs, competing within the institution and between institutions for scarce resources in response to perceived market needs . In this process, the narcissistic and introjected identities of academic departments, in which professionals in bounded disciplines determine priorities themselves , are replaced by projected identities and priorities are determined outside the discipline and the University. This cannot happen overnight. However , plans at the University of Natal to remove their administrative authority from academic departments are seen as a step in this direction.

Submitted in fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree Magister Technologiae: Consumer Science Food and Nutrition, Durban University of Technology, 2014. / Introduction: Dietary diversity is an indicator of access and measurement of household food security as it relates to income, location and seasonality. Dietary diversity is measured by physically counting the number of individual foods as well as food groups consumed over a given reference period. When dietary diversity is accurately measured, nutrient adequacy will be easily predicted. In order to measure dietary diversity accurately, it is important to determine household food security. Insufficient food and resources often result in food insecurity which leads to little or no dietary diversity. Poor populations suffer most from achieving dietary diversity because they consume a standard diet based on starchy staple food with limited fruits and vegetables resulting in multiple nutrient deficiencies. Rural communities rely on seasonal food variety in order to obtain fruits and vegetables needed by the body to limit nutrient deficiencies. Some seasons are more productive than others. Rural communities also use various coping strategies to deal with food insecurity in all four seasons. High levels of unemployment as well as a lack of nutrition education results in most rural households unable to cater for dietary diversity. Aim: The aim of the study is to determine the effect of seasonal food variety, dietary diversity and nutrient adequacy on the nutritional status of women in rural areas. Method: A hundred women in this community were weighed and measured and BMI determined and classified according to the WHO cut-off points for BMI. Waist circumference was measured in order to determine the waist-to-height ratio indication risk of metabolic syndrome. Twenty four hour recall questionnaires were used to determine actual intake compared to dietary reference intake (DRIs). Food Frequency Questionnaires for a period of seven days were completed captured and analysed using the SPSS version for descriptive statistics in order to determine food diversity. Coping strategies were determined by Focus Group interviews with community members in order to identify the various strategies used in time of food shortages. The severity of these strategies was determined by the community. Seasonal food consumption patterns and dietary intake behaviour were assessed over the four seasons. The highest frequency score (7) x severity weight (1-4) x10 strategies = maximum score of 140. Thus the higher the score the more food insecure the community is. Results: Food production from crops differs in different seasons. Food insecurity is high in summer and autumn due to a low number of food items harvested from crops. The community cope less in summer and autumn due to less crops available. The community is more food insecure in spring and winter due to the high number of food items harvested from crops. The community cope better in winter and spring due to the high level of available crops. Anthropometric measurements indicated that 41.2% of women between 31 and 50 and 49% of women between 51 and 70 years of age had a BMI of 30 and above. About 44% of total women are obese and 29% are pre obese. Only 26% had a normal weight. The 24 hour recall analysis indicates that the high level of obesity is due to the fact that a high number of participants consume large amount of carbohydrates every day. Conclusion: Overall results in this study indicated that this rural community is food insecure, on a higher level during summer and autumn, which leads to the consumption of undiversified diets. The women are malnourished and obese with a risk of metabolic syndrome. The information obtained in this study can be used to formulate strategies to develop interventions that can be used to access sufficient food in rural area in order to improve food insecurity, dietary diversity and, therefore, nutrient adequacy.

Submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for the Degree in Masters of Technology in Nursing, Durban University of Technology, 2014. / Introduction High maternal, perinatal and under-five morbidity and mortality are some of the formidable development challenges in Africa. The World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates that worldwide, as many as 1500 women die every day due to complications related to pregnancy or childbirth (WHO 2010). The partograph or partogram, an inexpensive tool, was designed by WHO to be used by midwives for decision-making during labour. Many studies conducted in and out of Africa reflect sub-optimal use of the partograph. Aim of the study The aim of the study was to describe the utilisation of the partograph by registered midwives working in the maternity sections of public hospitals in the uMgungundlovu District in the province of KwaZulu-Natal. Methodology A quantitative descriptive cross-sectional study was used to describe the use of the partograph in the selected hospitals, and carried out in two phases. In phase one, 197 participants completed a questionnaire. In phase two, retrospective audits on 310 completed maternity records were done. The collected data was analysed using SPSS version 20 and presented in frequency tables, cross-tabulations and graphs. Results The results revealed that there were certain parameters that were given more focus when it came to correct and consistent recording, such as contractions (80.0%) and cervical dilatation (89%) whilst others were poorly done, such as the duration of labour (13.5%), pain relief (23.5%) and unrecorded partographs from the primary health care clinics and community health centres (80.8%).

Dissertation submitted in fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree of Master in Technology: Emergency Medical Care, Durban University of Technology, 2011. / Background Information regarding pre-hospital emergency medical services is limited and it is therefore challenging to determine if there is delay in emergency transport of patients. This study aimed to provide such information specifically regarding the emergency transportation of obstetric patients. Purpose The purpose of the study was to describe the transport of obstetric patients within the Ugu Health District of KwaZulu Natal, in terms of patient profiles, the response time intervals and factors that affected response times. Objectives The objectives of the study were to:  determine response time intervals from the initial call to delivery of the patient to a public sector hospital;  describe the types of obstetric cases being transported;  describe factors that affect response times and;  make recommendations on policies and procedures governing emergency obstetric patient transportation Methodology All obstetric patients transported by Emergency Medical Rescue Service (EMRS) within a 2 month time frame within the Ugu District made up the study population. The study was conducted through prospective quantitative data collection using hospital records, the EMRS information system (communications centre data base records) and the EMRS patient return forms. The data was triangulated which established reliability before descriptive analysis was conducted. vi Findings The EMRS predominantly transports obstetric patients in labour with a gravidity of 1. The mean response interval (from receipt of the call to arrival at the patient) of 1h41minutes was a result of delays in the pre-response interval (pre-response waiting time). The mean pre-response interval of 1h07 minutes was a result of delays caused by ambulance unavailability. Pearson‟s correlation showed a significant relationship between the pre-response interval and response interval i.e. delays in the pre-response interval caused delays in the response interval. The EMRS lacks Standard operating procedures governing emergency transport and this was one of the main factors that contributed to some of the causes of ambulance unavailability. The lack of standard operating procedures is therefore also partly responsible for a delayed response interval. 64.5% of the incidents achieved response time intervals of more than 1hour and has therefore failed to achieve the predetermined Department of Health target for 70% of ambulances reaching the site of the patient within 1 hour. Other factors that affect the response time intervals were the poor road conditions, shift change delays and re-routing of ambulances. Conclusion EMRS predominantly transports obstetric patients in labour, including high risk patient groups that are arguably beyond the scope of care of the Basic and Intermediate qualified Emergency Care Practitioners. Standard operating procedures for governing emergency transport are lacking and have contributed to a number of factors affecting response time intervals. Standard operating procedures therefore need to be developed taking into consideration the findings of this study as well as previous recommendations by the National Committee on Confidential Enquiries into Maternal Deaths (NCCEMD).

Submitted in fulfillment of the requirements of the degree of Doctor of Philosophy: Management Sciences (Marketing), Durban University of Technology, Durban, South Africa, 2015. / Marketing and communications have become part of church activities in order to get the attention of congregations. It has become clear that church activities and marketing activities are interrelated. People become attached to a religion in the same way they become attached to a brand. This study examined whether the principles of marketing in traditional product areas are transferable to the marketing of the church and church services, persons and ideas in South Africa. It examined the ways in which core values of marketing and church are interrelated and interconnected to offer social values. The study also explored the way social marketers make use of the marketing mix in their routine activities. Religious organisations can also apply the marketing mix in order to communicate religious values in their social roles. It emerged that the church can also apply the service marketing mix through the “7P’s” with a view to achieving its social mandate. Specifically, spirituality (product), communication (promotion), delivery (place), exchange (price), employee involvement in service delivery (people), the mechanisms, via which the service is delivered (process), and the environment in which the services are delivered (physical environment). In addition, the church marketing theoretical frame work is derived from social marketing which is designed to influence individuals’ behaviour, improve their well-being and that of society. This study was conducted in Wentworth, Umlazi, Phoenix and Glenwood communities located in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. The sample size of this survey and the number of units that were required in the process of gathering data was based on interviews with professionals in the church business. Eight interviews were conducted with the officials in the four communities (two officials in each of the communities) while four focus group discussions consisting of 10-12 participants each were conducted among the selected church members of these four communities. The study used exploratory research design and the qualitative approach as data collection methods. The findings reveal that the church efforts aimed at fulfilling its vi social mandate are clouded by a number of marketing tactics. The use of marketing tactics appears to be more important in achieving church social mandates than the use of specific word-of-mouth (preaching) methods. Furthermore, there is an indication that in developing and running programmes for the church, there is an inclusion of marketing components in the planning, such as programmes that will have effect in transforming the surrounding, community, awareness, and evangelical missions. It was established that although the Holy Spirit is supreme to the church in transforming life, marketing tactics also can be employed to create an atmosphere that is welcoming to the Spirit’s work of restoration, rebirth, and awakening. Overall, the findings suggest that a church’s marketing tactics should be determined by marketing goals that relate to the vision and mission of the church. Hence, the study proposes an additional 8th “P” which is philosophy and underpinned by the vision, mission, passion, planning and ethics which could enhance the church’s ability in presenting a value proposition to its congregation in a similar manner that other marketers do.

Submitted in fulfillment of the requirement for the Masters Degree of Technology (Public Relations Management), Department of Public Relations Management, Durban University of Technology, Durban, South Africa, 2015. / In South Africa, the media coverage and the general perceptions of the public about public hospitals have been pervasively negative and this has resulted in the overshadowing of the good work being done in hospitals. In an effort to overcome these negative perceptions, the Kwazulu-Natal Department of Health has introduced the practice of public relations in public hospitals since 2001. This effort is in line with the National Health Act 2004 (Act No 61 of 2003). The act is described by the Health Systems Trust to rest heavily on the Constitution which, amongst other things, requires the State to take reasonable legislative and other measures to progressively achieve the right of access to health care services, and reproductive health care, within its available resources. The rationale behind the introduction of public relations was that, by managing and influencing the public’s perceptions, public relations professionals in public hospitals would initiate a sequence of behaviours that would contribute towards the achievement of the hospitals’ objectives. However, are relevant stakeholders aware of the presence, the role and the functions of public relations in public hospitals? Based on the above, this study seeks to evaluate public relations practices within selected public hospitals in Kwazulu-Natal, South Africa. The study is qualitative, cross-sectional and descriptive in nature. Data will be collected through observation, questionnaires and interviews. The findings revealed that a lot more needs to be done by both the Department of Health in KwaZulu-Natal and hospital CEOs in order to benefit greatly from the practice of public relations in public hospitals as public relations practitioners are under-utilized. Issues of budget constraints, lack of public relations understanding by hospital CEOs are some of the factors impacting negatively the function of public relations in hospitals. It is more of a technical role that public relations practitioners play in public hospitals. This study came to the realisation that not enough attention is given to the practice of public relations in public hospitals. One of the major recommendations is that public relations practitioners should participate in the strategic management processes and be part of the planning process and they should use public relations strategies to build harmony between the hospital and all its external and internal publics. For public hospitals to realise the need and value from the function of public relations, they have to appreciate that the practice of public relations has grown over the years and they have to employ effective public relations practitioners in order to accomplish their goals.

Submitted in fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Technology: Environmental Health, Durban University of Technology, Durban, South Africa, 2016. / South Africa, like many other developed countries, is challenged by the under attendance and delay in initiation of antenatal care (ANC) services among pregnant adolescents. Adolescents are more vulnerable to pregnancy related complications, which may contribute to maternal and child mortality and morbidity. This study aimed at evaluating the under attendance and/or delay in initiation of ANC services among young pregnant adolescents (13-16 years old) as a risk for adverse maternal and birth outcomes. The research was based at a district hospital on the North Coast of Kwazulu-Natal. A retrospective review of all young adolescent (13-16 years old) maternity case records for the period from 2011-2013 was conducted. Data collected included ANC trends in attendance, obstetric and perinatal outcomes. A total of 314 pregnancies were recorded among young adolescents at this single hospital over a period of 3 years. Adolescent pregnancy was associated with a risk of late ANC booking and reduced ANC visits. The prevalence of anaemia (32%) was relatively high among the girls. Fifty percent of all adolescents received episiotomies while, 45(14%) experienced perineal tears. Logistic regression models found that the condition of perineum was significantly associated with HIV status (OR= 0.36; 95% CI=0.16; 0.84; p<0.05). HIV positive mothers were more likely to have an intact perineum post-delivery. However, HIV positive adolescents were twice as likely to be diagnosed with anaemia compared HIV negative mothers (results not significant). Underutilisation of ANC (i.e less than 4 visits) was significantly associated with lower gestational age (< 37 weeks) (OR=2.64; 95% CI=1.04; 6.74; p<0.05). Fifteen percent of young mothers delivered early (< 37 weeks), 10% delivered babies with a low birth weight (< 2500g) and 15% of the neonates suffered fetal distress. Low birth weight, low Apgar scores as well as the incidence of maternal anaemia and Pregnancy Induced Hypertension (PIH) were found to be related to late ANC booking. Qualitative findings highlighted the perceived barriers of ANC by pregnant adolescents. Interviews identified the following as factors that hindered access of care; financial barriers, attitudes of Health Care Workers (HCW), system barriers and fear of HIV testing. Urgent population based strategies are required to encourage timeous initiation of ANC among adolescents. Strengthening of health education programs on the benefits of ANC attendance among adolescents can be utilized as part of an approach to address the current public health concern. / M

Submitted in fulfillment of the requirements for a Masters of Management Sciences: Tourism and Hospitality Management, Durban University of Technology, Durban, South Africa, 2016. / In the hospitality industry, the costs associated with promotions and advertising efforts are greater than those of maintaining relationships with existing customers. However, customer loyalty programmes have been discovered and promoted by different marketing managers and marketing experts in the different industries, as a most prominent and paramount business marketing tool in ensuring customer retention. The purpose of this research study is to assess the effectiveness of a Customer Loyalty Programme as a marketing tool in the Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife (EKZNW) Resorts. This study strategy is quantitative in nature because of its capability to attain a large number of respondents in a short space of time. The target population of this study is the customer loyalty members of EKZNW, in eight different resorts. Descriptive research was found to be relevant and appropriate for this study. A non-probability sampling, with a convenience sampling technique, was adopted for this research study, to recruit members of the EKZNW Rhino Club’s loyalty programme as participants. It was adopted because it allows for quick gathering of data and is also representative of the population. The sample size for data collection was conducted with 376 respondents that are loyalty programme members of EKZNW. A questionnaire was developed as measuring instrument, with the questions designed to be closed-ended. These questionnaires were personally distributed to the respondents in all the selected resorts of EKZNW. The findings of the study indicated that the majority of tourists holding EKZNW loyalty programme membership are happy with being Rhino Club members, however, some are not satisfied with the incentives provided. They recommend that the Rhino Card should be designed to allow them to also use it in other provinces’ game parks. / M

Submitted in fulfillment of the requirements of Master’s Degree in Technology: Tourism and Hospitality, Durban University of Technology, Durban, South Africa, 2016. / The primary aim of the study is to evaluate the community-based tourism model adopted by the Zulu-Mpophomeni Tourism Experience (ZMTE). ZMTE is a community-based tourism initiative that aims to provide visitors with a combined experience encompassing the elements of culture, history and nature. It is fully owned and managed by the Mpophomeni local residents. ZMTE is made up of different service providers including cultural and township tours, accommodation, restaurants as well as arts and crafts, which are all locally owned and managed. The inception of ZMTE was influenced by the growth in demand for authentic cultural and township experience by international markets as well as the immediate need to improve the livelihood of the local community. However, increased tourism activity results in a number of positive and negative implications to the area of Mpophomeni and its residents, primarily because the local community forms part of the tourism product. ZMTE is selected as a significant area of study due to its great potential for growth and has generated increased interest from different stakeholders within the tourism industry as well as the Mpophomeni local community. Its inception has largely improved tourism in the area of Mpophomeni and the province of KwaZulu-Natal in particular (KwaZulu-Natal Tourism Authority: 2012). The study findings are based on a sample of 280 Mpophomeni local community members, one managing director of the ZMTE and six establishments that are service providers of the ZMTE. The study adopted both quantitative and qualitative methods for data collection. Semi-structured questionnaires were used to obtain data from the Mpophomeni local community. Face- to-face interviews were conducted to obtain data from ZMTE service providers and one managing director of this project. The results suggest the ZMTE is not beneficial to the majority of the local people and a lot still needs to be done in order to improve its viability. The major factor contributing to the lack of positive contribution of the ZMTE to the local community is due to the lack of knowledge about approaches that the local people can adopt in order to be part of the ZMTE and benefit from it. Findings derived from this study will unveil the CBT model adopted by the ZMTE. This will enable to revelation of areas that require improvement within the ZMTE so that benefits and opportunities are exploited. / M