Background and Objectives The improved uptake of antenatal Opt-out testing has been documented internationally. In South Africa little is known about the efficiency and die acceptability of Opt-out testing. This study compared VCT with Opt-out testing by measuring the efficiency (defined as uptake of testing, number of women identified as HIV positive and consultation duration of the testing approach) and the acceptability to patients and staff. Methodology We conducted a prospective, quasi-experimental equivalent time-samples clinical trial in which we enrolled a consecutive sample of women who presented at die McCord Hospital antenatal clinic from June to August 2006. The study consisted of 2 phases. During the 6 week intervention period women were offered HIV testing with the Opt-out mediod. During die 6 week control period women were offered midwife-provided VCT. Efficiency was measured in each phase, with 150 participants in the VCT arm and 150 in die Opt-out arm. Participants also completed a survey questionnaire. In depth interviews were conducted with 9 purposefully selected participants from each arm. Two focus group discussions were held with staff. The staff focus group findings were followed-up and validated by conducting in-depdi interviews with die staff members who participated in die focus groups 18 mondis later. Results The uptake of HIV testing during the VCT period was 134/150(89.3%) compared to 147/150(98.0%) in die Opt-out period (p<0.001). The percentage of women identified as being HIV positive during the VCT period was 7.33% (11/150) vs. 12.6% (19/150) during the Opt-out period (p=0.133). Time was saved as a decrease in the duration of midwife consultations from 34 min (VCT) to 26 min (Opt-out) was found with p<0.001. Qualitative analysis revealed Opt-out testing to be an acceptable way of testing. Patients found Opt-out emotionally less distressing than VCT (p<0.05). Staff reported that Opt-out decreased the burden on human resources (only one person needed to facilitate the group and shorter consultations) while it identified more women infected with HIV. Conclusion Opt-out testing is significantly more efficient and acceptable than VCT. Opt-out testing should include a group pre-test information session, adequate and ongoing post-test counselling, to be effective and acceptable. / Thesis (M. Med.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 2008.

No abstract available. / Thesis (M.A)-University of Durban-Westville, 2004.

No description available.

Eli phepha lithiywe “Ukuzotywa kwabalinganiswa ababhinqileyo, abazintloko kwidrama zolwimi lwesiXhosa, bezotywa ngababhali besini sobuduna nesini sobukhomokazi liza kube lijongene nendlela apho ababhali abasini esohlukileyo, abathi babazobe ngayo abalinganiswa abayintloko, abangamabhinqa kwizibhalo zabo zedrama zelwimi lwesiXhosa. Apha kuzobe kujongwe ingakumbi ababhali abasini sobuduna, ngenjongo yokuveza umba wokuba ababhali besini sobukhomokazi babazoba abalinganiswa ababhinqileyo nje ngabantu abangenamiqolo okuzimela ngaphandle kokuba kubekho indoda obomini babo. Aba babhali babazoba abalinganiswa ababhiqileyo phansti kwala ngcamango yokuba, apho umntu obhinqileyo ekumela afumaneke khona kusezimbizeni apho baphekela usapho lwabo rhoqo, ekucoceni umzi nasekukhuliseni abantwana, hayi enye into engaphaya koko. Ngoko ke eli phepha libhalwe ngenjongo yokuphelisa oku dodobalisa loo ngcamango. Baninzi kea bantu abaphikisana nale ndlela yaphotho lwamabhinqa ngamadoda abo, nangamanye amadoda nje jikilele, eli phepha lizobe lingqinelana nolo ninzi lwabantu abathi loo mpatho mbi yamabhinqa mayiphele, kuvezwe imeko yokuba kukho ulingano phakathi kwamabhinqa kunye nababt abasini sobukhomakazi. Int ethetha ukuba eli phepha lizakuti ligqithele lijonge kwaye liveze indlela apho kungati kuekho ulingwano phathi kwezini zimbini, nendlela apho uwonke wonke angakwazi ukuphila ngentlonipho omnye komnye kungekho zimpatho mbi, okanye sini sinesikhundla esiphakamileyo kunesinye.

M.A. (Communication Studies) / Please refer to full text to view abstract

M.A. (Communication Studies) / To firstly formulate, from the literary review, an integrated model which describes the mass communication process. Specifically the relationship between orientation needs, media usage and agenda-setting in the broader context of the individual, the media, and society. The model was delineated to define the woman as individual, Rapport as medium, and orientation needs and agenda-setting in terms of media figures. The second aim was to conduct an empirical investigation using 197 female subjects (99 Rapport-readers and 98 non-readers). Two factorial scales for personal and social orientation needs in respect of media figures were constructed. Media usage in terms of media ,figures was measured with frequency scores. The agenda-setting effect with regard to specific media figures were determined by means of the Kendall correlation coefficient and Spearman rank order correlation. Media usage of Rapport by Rapport- . readers was determined. In addition, a factorial structure of Rapport-reader gratification in terms of media figure representation in Rapport was measured. In this investigation the importance of information about media figures in orientation needs, media usage and agenda-setting has been reaffirmed. Specific orientation needs (personal and social) and their respective dimensions have been identified. A marked agenda-setting effect with respect to media figures was determined, and possible relationships between orientation needs, media usage and agenda-setting were pointed out. Certain areas do, however, require further research. One fruitful area for investigation is the explanation of significant relationships between individual orientation need gratification, media usage and agenda-setting (with regard to media figures) within a specific societal context

The post-1994 role of women in the South African economy is changing with respect to issues such as education and employment opportunities. In the past, men tended to hold the primary or ‘good’ jobs, which have the greatest stability and promotional potential, whilst women tended to hold the secondary or ‘poor’ jobs, which have lower stability and lower wages (Kelly, 1991). Women’s labour force participation has risen significantly over the years since 1994, but more in depth research is needed in order to determine where and how changes could be implemented to ensure that any past gender inequalities fall away with minimal impact on the economy as a whole. As such, certain dynamics within the labour market need to be considered. Firstly, pre-market types of discrimination, including issues such as gender discrimination during the acquisition of human capital through educational attainment should be considered. In most countries, women enter the labour market with severe disadvantage in that they have been subject to discrimination in schooling opportunities (Standing, Sender & Weeks, 1996). Secondly, the feminisation of the labour force is dealt with, as well as what factors affect the female labour force participation decision (i.e. the decision of whether to participate in the labour market or not). iv Thirdly, employment discrimination is investigated, including the concept of ‘occupational crowding’. An analysis of trends in the occupational structure of economically active women in South Africa shows the typical shift out of agriculture into industrial related jobs (Verhoef, 1996). Lastly, wage discrimination is analysed, in order to determine if women get lower rates of pay for ‘equal work’. The objectives of this study are aimed at determining whether there have been any positive changes with respect to women in any of these focal areas mentioned above. There are studies that have established gender differentials when it comes to formal education, and these place women at the disadvantaged end (Bankole & Eboiyehi, 2000). If one considers the educational measures, namely, the levels of literacy, years of education, and overall educational attainment, employed by this country to determine whether there are in fact observed differences between the education of boys and girls, the following was found: Males rate higher with respect to two of these measures, namely literacy and educational attainment, and are thus able to exhibit lower levels of poverty than females in South Africa. Men exhibit slightly higher literacy rates than women of the same age (Statistics South Africa, 2002), and men also rate higher than women when it comes to university education. With regards to primary and secondary school attainment v since 1994, the gender gap does appear to have disappeared. The ‘neoclassical model of labour-leisure choice’, as applied in this study, shows that as the wage rate increases, women have an incentive to reduce the time they allocate to the household sector and are more likely to enter the labour market. In South Africa, however, the increase in the female participation rate has merely translated into a rise in unemployment and has not been associated with an increase in the demand for female labour. This implies that South African women are being ‘pushed’ into the labour market due to economic need, rather than being ‘pulled’ into the labour market in order to earn a higher wage. Women are gradually becoming better represented at all levels across a wide range of occupations. Women, however, continue to face greater prospects of unemployment and to earn less than their male counterparts even when they do find employment. These lower female wages are partly as a result of ‘occupational crowding’, whereby women are over-represented in certain occupations resulting in excess labour supply which drives down the wage rate. It has been determined that the problem of occupational crowding is a real and immediate one and has been found to depress wages within certain female specific occupations.

Demographically the aged are the fastest growing group both world-wide and in South Africa but despite this, psychologists have neglected psycho-geriatric research and its importance. In the past, old age has been studied by psychologists as a deviation from the norm of youth. The primary focus has been on the rate of cognitive decline, the process of social withdrawal and the etiology of dementia. Although these issues are of significant importance, the positive aspects of aging should also be considered; thereby challenging the stereotype that old age means disengagement, decline and degeneration. This study aimed to explore and describe the coping and life satisfaction of the retired elderly females in a residence for the aged. A quantitative exploratory descriptive research design was employed, making use of non-probability convenience sampling. The sample consisted of 40 retired females who have been living in a residence for the aged for at least 12 months. Further inclusion criterions were that the participants should have a relatively "sound/stable" neuropsychological status (i.e., they should not be suffering from any clinically diagnosed disorders, for example, dementia and/or Alzheimer's disease). The Coping Resources Inventory (CRI) was utilized to identify the coping resources used by the participants; the Orientation to Life Questionnaire (SOC-29) was utilised as a measure of the participants' sense of coherence; the Life Satisfaction in the Elderly Scale (LSES) was employed to measure the global life satisfaction of the participants, namely on the cognitive level. A biographical questionnaire collated important demographic and background information. The data was analysed through computing descriptive statistics. Following this a Pearson product-moment correlation coefficient was utilised to inter-correlate the total score of the SOC-29 and the total score of the LSES with the individual subscales of the CRI. The results of the present study indicated the following: the SOC-29 revealed a relatively high mean score for the current sample. Results of the CRI revealed relatively high mean scores for the total scale as well as the five different subscales. The highest scores were obtained for the Spiritual/Philosophical and Physical Resources Subscales, while the lowest score was obtained for the Cognitive Resource Subscale. Results from the LSES indicated relatively high mean scores for both the total and all eight subscales. The highest scores were obtained for the Mood and xii Social contacts Subscales, while the lowest scores were obtained for the Health and Finance Subscales. Significant positive correlation was evident between the total scores of the CRI, the SOC-29 and the LSES. With regard to the individual subscales of the CRI, the results indicated significant moderate relationships between the SOC- 29 total raw score, the LSES total raw score and the Cognitive, Social and Physical Subscales scores of the CRI. However, the SOC-29 and LSES total raw scores did not correlate with the Emotional and Spiritual/Philosophical subscales of the CRI.

During the Apartheid era in South Africa, women were marginalized from sport. The ability to participate in sport in South Africa is inherently linked to the political history of the country. Sport played a dynamic role in the struggle against the diabolical system of apartheid in South Africa and has a powerful role to play in the transformation and nation building of South Africa. Women have made great strides in sport in recent years in South Africa. However, at times we find that there is unfair media coverage. The unfair coverage of women’s sport displays gender based attitudes which systematically disadvantage women’s position in society. Women’s participation in sport has grown dramatically but despite this growth coverage of women in sport remains inferior. This research study investigated the marginalization of women in soccer in the Gelvandale area, Port Elizabeth. The objective of this study is to investigate if women are being marginalised in Gelvandale where soccer is concern as well as determining the meaning of gender inequality from an anthropological perspective within the context of soccer in the Gelvandale area. Further, to contribute within the anthropology of soccer in South Africa particularly in the Eastern Cape Province and to come up with recommendations that will contribute towards improvement of soccer in Gelvandale and beyond.

Submitted in fulfillment of the requirements for the Master of Health Sciences in Nursing, Durban University of Technology, Durban, South Africa, 2017. / Background. Unintended pregnancy is a major global challenge among sexually active women of childbearing age. Non-use of modern contraception and inconsistent use of short term contraceptive methods are the main reasons associated with unintended pregnancy. Long acting reversible contraceptives (LARCs) have proven to be highly effective with good continuation rates, and are cost-effective compared to other methods, when used more than one year. However, there is low uptake of LARC methods globally and in South Africa. Aim of the study. The aim of the study was to determine factors influencing the uptake of LARC methods among women at the primary health care (PHC) clinics in eThekwini District. Methodology. A quantitative, descriptive survey was used in this study. Purposive sampling of six fixed PHC clinics from the three sub-districts was done. Convenience sampling resulted in 371 participants. A survey questionnaire in English and isiZulu was used to collect data. Data was analysed using SPSS version 23.0. Inferential statistics were used to determine the relationship between the variables. Results. The results of this study revealed that the contraceptive injection was most common LARC used, and the least used method was the intrauterine contraceptive device. The side effects were the main reasons for discontinuation with LARCs and all other contraceptive methods. Irregular vaginal bleeding was the main side effect cited by respondents associated with contraceptive implant usage. The respondents had positive attitudes and perceptions towards LARCs; however, the majority of respondents were not interested in using LARC methods. Common myths and misconceptions were not negatively associated with LARCs, since respondents disagreed with them all. / M