MPH / Department of Public Health / See the attached abstract below

PhD (Sociology) / Department of Sociology / The purpose of this study was to critically determine the impact of communal child-rearing approach on the prevalence of teenage pregnancy in Vhembe District, in order to develop facilitation tools from which the parents can be empowered on the constructive parenting approaches, specifically for a girl-child and teenage girls against the prevalence of teenage pregnancy. This study further empowers the teenage girls in particular growing-up in Vhembe District with the chance of healthy development and future favourable womanhood. A combination of quantitative and qualitative approaches was used to conduct the study, with a quantitative description and exploratory study design. A total of 400 participants, mainly teenage girls, participated in a quantitative approach. Then 16 pregnant teenage girls, 19 teenage mothers, 6 key informants and 23 parents of pregnant teenage girls and mothers participated in a qualitative approach. The participants for the quantitative approach were sampled using the stratified random sampling technique because of the age-specific (13-19 years). Close-ended questionnaires were administered to them. The participants for in-depth interviews were sampled using the purposive and snowball non-random sampling technique. They were high school principals, teachers, and community leaders, pregnant teenage girls and teenage mothers, and their parents. Data collected through close-ended questionnaires were analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) programme. Frequencies tables were created to categorize variables and cross-sectional frequencies tables were further created to show associations between the variables. The data collected through structured interviews, matrices were created using content thematic analysis. The responses were grouped thematically and, with the emergence of subthemes, broad categories were generated to differentiate and explain the thoughts expressed by the participants. The study findings suggest that the prevalence of teenage pregnancy is purely a social behavioral problem develop through critical parenting practices and approaches. The study concluded that the total blame for the prevalence of teenage pregnancy is in the way parents raise the teenage girls, whether influenced by their socio-economic status, cultural values, availability or absence of the other parent, etc. the primary lack of sensitive parenting recognition of the prevalence of teenage pregnancy, critically placed the teenage girls in Vhembe District in the prevalence of teenage pregnancy. / NRF

MCur / Department of Advanced Nursing Science / Nursing students’ absenteeism has become a very serious concern in every higher educational institution in the whole world especially those of nursing. This study was conducted to investigate factors leading to student nurses’ absenteeism in Limpopo College of Nursing during Psychiatric Nursing Science clinical placement. A quantitative approach using descriptive design was used. Purposive sampling method was used to get a sample of two hundred and six (206) of students who have absented themselves before. Data was collected through a self-report scale in the form of questionnaires of structured questions, entered and analysed using SPSS version 24. Ethical considerations were adhered to throughout. The correlation between clinical factors and absenteeism was determined. The main reported factors for absenteeism were: student nurses being treated as a workforce in the clinical areas; shortage of staff in the clinical areas; study for tests and examinations; inadequate supervision of student nurses by professional nurses; and being inconsiderate of student nurses request for days off in the clinical area. This study recommends that the college should make a provision of one week of study for student nurses between the period of clinical placement and tests or final examinations as most of the respondents indicated that they absent themselves due to study for tests and examinations. The Department of Health should find a way of not overworking students due to shortage of staff in the wards but consider them for experiential learning. A research study should be conducted to develop a model to reduce student nurses absenteeism. / NRF

PhDH / Department of Advanced Nursing Science / Background: The National Committee for the Confidential Enquiries into Maternal Deaths recommend the implementation of “Saving Mothers’ recommendations” as a measure to reduce maternal deaths. However, this objective has not been achieved because the Maternal Mortality Rate in South Africa was standing at 134.33/100 000 live births and Limpopo Province at 165.16/100 000 live births. The national target for reduction of maternal mortality was 20% for all provinces for 2016. Limpopo Province’s reduction was below 12.5% for 2016. Purpose: The purpose of the study was to develop a strategy to enhance the implementation of the Saving Mothers’ recommendations in the maternity units of Limpopo Province. Methods: The convergent parallel design was used in this study. The study was conducted in phases, namely: Phase 1(a) was a qualitative research approach and a non-experimental, descriptive and exploratory design. The population consisted of district managers who were managing the Maternal Health Services and registered midwives who were working in the maternity units of Limpopo Province. Non-probability purposive sampling was used for both the district managers and the registered midwives. Data were collected using a central question for the managers managing Maternal Health services which was “What support are you giving to facilitate the implementation of the recommendations by the Saving Mothers Report?” and the question for the registered midwives was “What challenges are you experiencing when implementing the Saving Mothers’ recommendations.” Tesch’s open-coding technique was used to analyse qualitative data. Trustworthiness was ensured through credibility, confirmability, dependability, transferability and authenticity. Phase 1(b) was a quantitative and a non-experimental descriptive design. The population comprised of 200 patients who were included in the study. Questionnaires were developed and used to collect ABSTRACT vi data. Data was analysed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS, version 24.0) with the assistance of the statistician. Discussion of data were done in an explanatory sequential way where data from Phase 1a was discussed and supported by data from Phase 1b. Findings: The themes that emerged were: Challenges related to implementation of the recommendations of the Saving Mothers Report in maternity units, Description of existing training programmes and in-service education for health care professionals, Knowledge on implementing recommendations for the Saving Mothers Report when providing care in maternity units and Suggestions related to improvement of adherence to recommendations for the Saving Mothers Report in maternity units. Some of the themes were supported by the quantitative results whilst some not supported. Validity and reliability were ensured by giving the questionnaires to experts on the subject, colleagues and promoters to analyse and determine if items adequately represent content in the correct proportion. Ethical considerations were ensured by obtaining ethical approval from the University of Venda Ethics Committee and permission to access the facilities from the Limpopo Province Department of Health. The participants signed informed written consent. Phase 2 entailed strategy development and validation of the developed strategy. Recommendations: The recommendations included that the Department of Health should employ more staff and put operational managers in permanent positions. Sufficient equipment and supplies essential for maternal health care and maternal health infrastructure should be procured and a good plan for the managing thereof implemented. It is also recommended that health care workers should work hand in hand with the community structures and the ‘mosate’. / NRF

MPM / Department of Public Health / The dawn of democracy in 1994 saw huge strides in the adjustment of various statutory instruments that aimed at opening the systems to all South Africans particularly the previously excluded groups. Health care system was one of the ear marked areas by the South African government for post-apartheid transformation. Resultantly, access to health care was declared a right and incorporated into the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa 1996. Numerous legislative and practical steps towards achieving access to health care for all have been made with notable results. However, due the apartheid spatial planning which persuaded separate development left some sections of the community remote and with no infrastructure to support health care delivery. As a result, this has made the realization of the health care for all dreams elusive. Reportedly, the most affected communities were mainly homelands which were largely rural and townships. Despite notable improvements in the delivery of health care services across the Republic, there are still major challenges faced in this sector mainly in the rural areas and townships. Therefore, the study was set to investigate and evaluate the state of health care service delivery in rural Ndengeza Township. The study employed both qualitative and quantitative method following a descriptive design (cross-sectional) and data was collected using a self-administered questionnaire and interview questions. The results revealed that transport, staff-patient relationship, unavailability of medication and medical staff were the major challenges of health care service delivery in rural areas. The respondents alluded that to improve health service delivery in the area, there is need to make available basic medication and trained medical personnel. It is believed, by the participants, that adding the number of staff will go a long way in changing the negative perceptions such as long queues, unavailability of critical services and unprincipled professionals that the public have of the local health care centers / NRF

The purpose of this study was to explore and describe the knowledge of clients regarding renal donation at a specific urban health care facility in the Limpopo province. A quantitative, explorative, descriptive and cross-sectional design was used. Data was collected using a structured pre-tested questionnaire. Out of 317 questionnaires, 300 were valid and considered for the study. Analysis was done using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) computer software version 25. Data was presented using tables, graphs and charts. The study revealed that 32% (n=95) were males and 68% (n=205) were females. The results showed that there are a significant correlations between the attitudes, knowledge and actions of clients with regards to renal donation. The study revealed inadequate knowledge on the majority 74,7% (n=224) of the respondents on renal donation. A recommendation was that awareness campaigns on renal donation to be planned on world kidney days. Furthermore, the recommendations of the study will be presented to the Limpopo Department of health to take effective measures to educate people with relevant information on renal donation. A policy regarding awareness programme of renal donation should be developed. / Health Studies / M.A. (Public Health)

In the following chapters, I will discuss the effectiveness of radio and audiotapes as appropriate tools for health communication particularly suited to reaching deprived and isolated communities. I will refer to the striking achievements in radio and audiotape projects by drawing on the experiences of more than sixty radio and cassette projects concerned with primary health care in developing countries. I will present a detailed description of my Argentinean and South African radio experiences, focussing on how the two programmes came into existence, the different stages they have gone through, the problems and constraints encountered as well as their strengths and successes. I will describe the audiotape project I am involved in, and demonstrate how audiotapes can be used alone or in conjunction with radio for primary health education.

Thesis (M. (Nursing)) -- University of Limpopo, 2022 / Background: The referral system is an essential component of the health system. The system meant to complement the Primary Health Care (PHC) principle of treating patients close to their homes at the lowest level of care with the needed expertise. Aim of the study: The aim of the study is to develop the strategies that will facilitate the referral system of high-risk pregnant women in between public sectors in the Bojanala district, North West Province, South Africa. Objectives of the study: To explore the referral system of high-risk pregnant women between public sectors within the Bojanala District, North West Province, South Africa. To develop strategies that will facilitate the referral system of high risk pregnant women in the Bojanala District, North West Province, South Africa. Methods: The researcher first obtained permission from the University of Limpopo Turfloop Research Ethics Committee (TREC), and further requested permission from the North West Department of Health, Bojanala District to conduct the study and was granted the permission. Qualitative, exploratory and descriptive designs were used to explore the referral system of high-risk pregnant women and to describe the strategies to facilitate the referral system of high-risk pregnant women in between public sectors in the Bojanala District, North West, South Africa. Non-Probability Purposive sampling method was used to select the midwives and obstetricians to participate in the study until data saturation was reached. Data were collected through one-on-one interviews using semi structured Interview Guide. The data were analysed using Tesch‘s eight steps of data analysis. Results: The results of this study revealed that the participants are knowledgeable about the referral system though they are many challenges that they encounter when managing high-risk women and having to refer them. They are aware of the current state of referral system and made their own suggestions on how to improve the referral system. Recommendations: Recommendations were made to facilitate the referral system of high-risk pregnant women in the North West Province, Bojanala District. The Department of Health must prioritise the provision of human and material resources to the district in order to achieve a better referral system and reducing the maternal and neonatal mortality as one of the millennium developmental goals. Conclusion: The referral system of high-risk pregnant women in the Bojanala District still has some challenges that need the intervention of the North West Department of Health to provide enough material and human resources to the Maternity Section in order to improve current status and to have an effective referral system

Thesis (Ph.D. (Nursing Science)) -- University of Limpopo, 2017 / The aim of this study was to develop a model to ensure the integration of Tuberculosis (TB) and Human Immune Deficiency Virus (HIV) services in the Primary Health Care (PHC) facilities of Limpopo Province. An explanatory sequential mixed method was used in this study to develop a model for ensuring the integration of TB and HIV services in the PHC facilities of the Limpopo Province. The researcher collected quantitative data followed by qualitative data. Quantitative data was collected through administration of questionnaires to 450 PHC nurses in the five districts of Limpopo Province. The qualitative data was collected by conducting focus group discussions to five groups of Community Home Based Carers (CHBCs) and five groups of TB/HIV co-infected patients in the five districts of Limpopo Province. Audiotape and field notes were used to capture verbal and non-verbal cues. The Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) computer programme version 22.0 was used for capturing and analysis of the quantitative data. Content analysis was used to analyse the qualitative data from the CHBCs and the TB and HIV co-infected patients’ focus group discussions. The study revealed lack of knowledge and skills on TB and HIV management due to insufficient training of PHC nurses about TB and HIV management. Staff shortage of PHC nurses in the facilities was also indicated by PHC nurses. Furthermore, TB and HIV coinfected patients are faced with challenges in the PHC facilities and in the community. Challenges that are faced by CHBCs and the TB and HIV co-infected patients include negative attitudes of some clinic staff members towards them. The patients’ families also have some negative attitudes towards the CHBCs as they leave the patients to them without assisting them in the caring duties. The community members also has negative attitudes as they do not accept the CHBCs in their homes to support the patients. Based on the results, a model was developed to ensure the integration of TB and HIV services. The model was validated by PHC nurses and the experts in research and model development. The validation results showed that the model was clear and simple to be used in the PHC facilities for integration of TB and HIV services. The study recommends that the model should be used by PHC facilities for integration of TB and HIV services. The PHC nurses should attend TB and HIV capacity-building courses.

Many young persons live under difficult circumstances. Factors including HIV/AIDS pandemic, exacerbate the need to place young persons into alternative placements. The new and the unknown can be frightening but carrying a faithful transitional object establishes therapeutic bridge between the old and known and the new and unknown. This study sought to explore South African child and youth care workers' awareness of young persons' objects of significance in residential care settings. The rational was that with greater awareness, important objects may become a more useful option for the promotion of young persons' well-being. The research confirmed that South African child and youth care workers are aware of the existence and importance of significant objects. It further revealed that young persons possess different objects of significance to which workers need to pay careful attention. / Research Institute for Theology and Religion / M.Tech. (Child and Youth Care)