Adherence to antiretroviral therapy is crucial to ensure viral suppression. In the scientific community it is widely accepted that an adherence level of at least 90% is necessary to achieve viral suppression. This study uses pharmacy refill records to describe antiretroviral adherence in HIV-positive patients in Ugu District and to describe pharmacy refill records as reliable monitoring method of antiretroviral therapy. In total, 61 patients’ records were reviewed. Overall, 82% of participants (n=50) achieved an optimum adherence level of at least 90%. Although 38% (n=19) of these participants did not show any related viral suppression. A statistically significant relationship between adherence and viral suppression was not demonstrated. Therefore, pharmacy refill records cannot be recommended as an alternative method of monitoring response to antiretroviral therapy, but laboratory tests including CD4 cell count and or viral load must be combined to pharmacy refill method for monitoring of antiretroviral therapy in HIV-positive patients / Health Studies / M.A. (Public Health)

Adherence to antiretroviral therapy is crucial to ensure viral suppression. In the scientific community it is widely accepted that an adherence level of at least 90% is necessary to achieve viral suppression. This study uses pharmacy refill records to describe antiretroviral adherence in HIV-positive patients in Ugu District and to describe pharmacy refill records as reliable monitoring method of antiretroviral therapy. In total, 61 patients’ records were reviewed. Overall, 82% of participants (n=50) achieved an optimum adherence level of at least 90%. Although 38% (n=19) of these participants did not show any related viral suppression. A statistically significant relationship between adherence and viral suppression was not demonstrated. Therefore, pharmacy refill records cannot be recommended as an alternative method of monitoring response to antiretroviral therapy, but laboratory tests including CD4 cell count and or viral load must be combined to pharmacy refill method for monitoring of antiretroviral therapy in HIV-positive patients / Health Studies / M.A. (Public Health)

The purpose of the study was to investigate and describe the experiences of a mobile injection team for multi drug resistant-tuberculosis outpatients, and to design and recommend a mobile injection team guideline based on the experiences of the team members in Ugu District, KwaZulu-Natal and to indicate the support that the MIT require. Phenomenological research was conducted. Convenient census sampling was used as all the seven members of the Ugu District mobile injection team were included. The inclusion criteria was at least six months’ working experience with MDR-TB patients in a mobile injection team at Ugu District, be an enrolled nurse registered with the South African Nursing Council as an enrolled nurse and must have an annual practicing certificate, or be a TB assistant, be willing to participate in the study and be located at the decentralised and satellite site. Data were collected through individual in-depth interviews with the participants. Data were analysed using Giorgi’s method of data analysis. The research findings revealed four broad themes (the perceptions held by the team, challenges, available support and needs to promote the service) and 73 sub-themes. The findings of the study indicate that the MDR-TB outreach injection teams experience many challenges in the community and need to be supported by their management in order to provide quality care to the patients. This study contributes to the development of guidelines to assist the mobile injection teams to provide quality patient care and effective service delivery. Based on the findings, the recommendation is that an intervention study be performed to compare the utilisation of the mobile MDR-TB injection team after implementing the recommendations made and the guidelines developed in this study / Health Studies / D. Litt. et Phil. (Health Studies)

Local economic development (LED) has been in existence for decades. In South Africa the concept received momentum immediately after the first democratic elections in 1994. It was soon conceived as a mechanism for addressing social and economic ills such as unemployment, poverty and declining economic activity, particularly in small towns. In order to accelerate LED given its urgency, in 1998, the government introduced and subsequently promulgated the White Paper on Local Government, which mainly sought to advance the notion of a developmental state, and LED was central to that. Later in 2006 a proper LED Framework was adopted, which had as its main objective, to guide LED implementation. Up until the present time, LED implementation has not been a resounding success. Many studies have focused on implementation and challenges thereof. However, focusing on implementation alone may not be adequate. In order to bridge that gap, this particular study specifically focuses on LED conceptualization in order to assess the correlation between conceptualization and implementation outcomes. The area of the study was Ugu district in the lower south coast of the KwaZulu-Natal province of South Africa. Immediately after the first democratic elections in 1994, local economic development as a concept gained momentum. LED conceptualization was mainly centred on LED planning, which as empirical evidence has suggested, did not provide the anticipated success in terms of implementation results. Further, LED planning in South Africa focused mainly on a market-led approach, which is largely premised on pro-growth as opposed to the market-critical approach which draws much input on the pro-poor thinking in terms of both conceptualization and implementation of LED-focused initiatives. This study therefore sought to build from that proclamation. The assertion is that LED planning has become obsolete. The proposed approach was the adoption and conceiving of the dynamic complexity approach, which is mainly centred on self-organization of the system of which LED is one such sub-system. The affirmation is that, LED is neither a static nor a fixed phenomenon. It involves continuous evolution and co-evolution of agents such as banks, entrepreneurs, government etc., within the system which therefore becomes a never ending process. During such process of evolution and coevolution, new order emerges, which can be identified as an outcome-based local economic development. From the study’s findings, indications are that LED conceptualization indeed plays a significant part in shaping implementation outcomes, and indeed outcome-based LED. This conclusion is based on five (5) critical areas which were covered in the study, namely project implementation rationale, comprehension of local economic development, funding for local economic development, roleplaying by diverse LED stakeholders and complexity of local economic development. For example, the findings and analysis shows that many LED-focused interventions were implemented without proper conceptual assessments having been done, which led to ill-informed implementation and therefore poor results. Further, the comprehension of LED as a programme is also a problematic area. Due to diverse stakeholders whose interests are not necessarily the same, LED is viewed differently, which also has a direct implication in as far as co-operation and roleplaying by LED stakeholders is concerned, which further causes challenges in terms of implementation. Lastly, the final assertion is that LED is a complex phenomenon. However, in terms of the findings, this assertion is not observed by all stakeholders, which again is a conceptual matter. Adversely and perhaps as expected, LED facilitation and implementation is a problematic area within the Ugu region. The direct implication is that LED’s conceptualization needs to be revised, and in the process all stakeholders must internalize and advocate for emergence-based local economic development. / Theses (M.Com.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, 2011.

Abstract not available. / Thesis (M.T.R.P.)-University of Natal, 2003.

The study investigates ecotourism potential at Ntimbankulu forest, a remote area which is found at Ugu District Municipality. The essential elements of true ecotourism according to Ceballos-Lascurain, Drake, Boo, Brandon, are: " the participation and involvement of the local communities and residents in close proximity to the site". It is for this reason that the researcher adopted the stakeholder theory which involves local community, NGO and the Government. The main aim of the research is: to improve the standard of living of people near Ntimbankulu forest, (b) to conserve and preserve the natural resources of the forest, (c) to promote and sustain development in the area,( d) to make local community realize the need to protect their natural heritage site which is a huge "rock ship" with a lion crest on one of its side, that is found in the deepest part of the jungle. Lastly, to make the local people benefit from the natural resources found in this Forest. The study also looks at the history and culture of the area. It is hoped that the development of Ntimbankulu Forest will bring many benefits to the local community involving better education, job opportunities, and environmental awareness. / Thesis (M.A.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 2010.

The start of the 21th century is notable for the apparent lack of safe drinking water and sanitation. Over one billion people in all parts of the world lack access to clean water. Most live in developing countries, such as Africa. Unsafe water and poor sanitation have been primary causal factors in the vast majority of water-borne diseases, especially diarrheal ones. The South African Constitution (Act 108 of 1996, Chapter 2, Section 24) states: “Everyone has the right: (a) To an environment that is not harmful to their health and their wellbeing; and (b) To have the environment protected, for the benefit of present and future generations, through reasonable legislative and other measures that prevent pollution and ecological degradation; promote conservation; ecologically sustainable development, and the use of natural resources, while promoting justifiable economic and social development.” Secondly, section 27 states that: “Everyone has the right to have access to: (a) Health-care services, including reproductive health care; (b) Sufficient food and water; and (c) Social security, including, if they are unable to support themselves and their dependants, appropriate social assistance.” These factors have prompted this research within the Ugu District Municipality on the perceptions of inadequate rural water service delivery. This study reveals information on those areas in the Ugu District Municipality, which do not have access to clean water, and on the health hazards that might lead to death if residents’ lack of access to clean water persists. The Ugu District Municipality, is situated in KwaZulu-Natal Province, and covers a surface area of 5866 km2. There are six local municipalities in this district. These are: Ezinqoleni, Umzumbe, Umziwabantu, Hibiscus Coast, Umdoni and Vulamehlo. The node is 77% rural and 23% urban, and the total population for this area is 704027 (Ugu District Municipality IDP 2nd 2011/2012:19). / M. Development and Management (Water Studies), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2012

The start of the 21th century is notable for the apparent lack of safe drinking water and sanitation. Over one billion people in all parts of the world lack access to clean water. Most live in developing countries, such as Africa. Unsafe water and poor sanitation have been primary causal factors in the vast majority of water-borne diseases, especially diarrheal ones. The South African Constitution (Act 108 of 1996, Chapter 2, Section 24) states: “Everyone has the right: (a) To an environment that is not harmful to their health and their wellbeing; and (b) To have the environment protected, for the benefit of present and future generations, through reasonable legislative and other measures that prevent pollution and ecological degradation; promote conservation; ecologically sustainable development, and the use of natural resources, while promoting justifiable economic and social development.” Secondly, section 27 states that: “Everyone has the right to have access to: (a) Health-care services, including reproductive health care; (b) Sufficient food and water; and (c) Social security, including, if they are unable to support themselves and their dependants, appropriate social assistance.” These factors have prompted this research within the Ugu District Municipality on the perceptions of inadequate rural water service delivery. This study reveals information on those areas in the Ugu District Municipality, which do not have access to clean water, and on the health hazards that might lead to death if residents’ lack of access to clean water persists. The Ugu District Municipality, is situated in KwaZulu-Natal Province, and covers a surface area of 5866 km2. There are six local municipalities in this district. These are: Ezinqoleni, Umzumbe, Umziwabantu, Hibiscus Coast, Umdoni and Vulamehlo. The node is 77% rural and 23% urban, and the total population for this area is 704027 (Ugu District Municipality IDP 2nd 2011/2012:19). / M. Development and Management (Water Studies), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2012