No description available.

No description available.

The following research developed an approach and methodology to simultaneously gather and integrate social and natural science farm system data of developing countries into one data base. The overall approach was based on Weber's theory of abstraction, which requires the identification of the broadest number of variables as possible. The first step to understanding the farm system was to overview a number of the key variables which represented a number of key farm components; the second step was to juxtapose and blend together the various forms of data in linear forms against a test variable of Striga infestation levels; the third step was to evaluate if the amount of knowledge gained in predicting Striga infestation levels was statistically significant by cross correlating soil nutrient levels, crop management approaches, farmers' perceptions of Striga infestation and spatial distances; the fourth step was to use parametric and non-parameterc analytical tools in conjunction with data compression to locate the best combination of parameters to better manage Striga. The final part of the process was to identify and integrate the crop, field and social data into a profile of farmer's who have the highest and lowest likelihood of being infested by Striga by using a soil nutrient concentration baseline as the indicator. The results were that natural and social science data could be successfully combined, integrated and have statistically significant cross correlations. These correlations indicate that specific spatial parameters combined with specific soil components, farmer's management and crop placement could be used as predictors of Striga infestation levels. As well the farmers' perception could be validated using natural science data.

<p>This thesis aimed to explore the various legislative provisions that have affected traditional health practice in South Africa. The discussion is limited to the period dating from 1891 to 2004. The relevance of this period is that during the 19th and early 20th centuries traditional healing has gone through some turmoil as the governments of that period promulgated legislation, which curtailed the practice of traditional healing. This study focused on the art of traditional healing in a legislative context.</p>

<p>The majority of Cameroonians depend on traditional medicines for their health care needs and about seven per cent of the average household health budget is spent on traditional medicines irrespective of their incomes. The aim of this study was (i) to assess the role of traditional healers (THs) in providing oral care services in Cameroon / (ii) to determine their cost of treatment and to investigate reasons why people visit THs. The present study was cross sectional and consisted of a sample of 21 THs and 52 clients with a history of dental problems. It utilized semi structured questionnaires and photographs to collect data. The mean age of THs was 46.0 years (range 20-77 years). Thirty per cent of THs were above 40 years and the majority males. Nearly a quarter of the THs practiced as herbalists and the remainder practiced both divination and herbalism. More than two thirds of Cameroonians, who patronize THs for their oral health needs, fall within the 20-40 year age group. THs in this region are experienced and enjoy good relationships with hospitals and other THs. However, collaboration between the oral health work force and THs is very poor as only 6% of all patients seen by THs are referred to the dentist. Socio-cultural and economic factors affect the oral health care seeking behavior of patients in this area and only 6.5% of patients visit dental clinics. Reasons for not attending dental clinics included cost, poor accessibility, superstition and fear.</p>

South Africa is currently revitalising the role of Traditional Health Practitioners (THPs) in the country's healthcare provision. This undertaking is guided by Chinese Traditional Medicine which is said to be one of the most highly developed traditional healthcare systems in the world. Programmes developed by the National Department of Health and other stake holders in the development of indigenous medicine often need to be accommodated architecturally. Collaboration with biomedicine is one of the main programmes aimed at empowering Traditional Health Practitioners of the country. Accordingly, this dissertation is divided into two sections, both based on the current undertakings of collaboration between biomedicine and indigenous medicine in South Africa. Due to the fact that traditional healing systems are less commonly described than biomedicine, the main focus of this study is indigenous medicine and how architecture could be influenced by alternative healthcare practices. The first section (A) is theoretical. It investigates and compares the current architecture that accommodates THPs in rural and urban areas of KwaZulu-Natal. This unveils social, cultural, economic and political factors affecting this architectural genre. The aim thereof is to establish architectural elements to be considered when designing a health care facility for THPs. Section A also explores the current state of healthcare architecture in the country and abroad so as to establish the latest challenges to be addressed by the proposed collaborative healthcare model. Design principles for collaborative architecture accommodating THPs and biomedical practitioners in an urban context of South Africa are then be put forward. Section B incorporates the theories derived from section A, towards the design of a joint indigenous and biomedical healthcare centre for Durban. It gives specific spatial requirements for a collaboration between biomedical practitioners and izinyanga. / Thesis (M.Arch.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 2008.

This study sought to ascertain the role that is played by traditional healers in healthcare delivery among the Nguni people of South Africa. Its objective is to ascertain who the traditional healers are, how they are trained for the profession, how they practice their profession including how people consult with them, how they gather information relevant to identify the problems of their clients, what interventions are put in place once health problems have are identified and generally the role traditional healers play in the wellbeing and upliftment of living conditions of their communities. Three traditional healers were interviewed and observed, generating important information for the study. The study found out that traditional healers are respected traditional or community leaders whose main contribution to the community is practicing healthcare delivery by which they bring well-being to the generality of the people. Traditional healers are called to their profession by their ancestors. The training of traditional healers is by apprenticeship with experienced renowned traditional healers and the training takes place between two and six years. Training takes place in the skills of diagnosis or the gathering of information, through observation, interviews, divination and the interpretation of dreams to arrive at a decision as to the probable healthcare needs or health problems of patients. Traditional healers are generally trained to be capable of identifying different kinds of problems affecting people, whether these be physical, mental or interpersonal relationship problems. Training in skills to intervene in health matters are provided including herbal medication, interpersonal interactions and as in group healing or ritual ceremonies as well as training in the skills of prevention of ill-health and promotion of health. Other skills in which traditional healers are trained include those of advocacy, mobilization and being custodians of the people's traditional culture. Traditional healers are generally trusted for their competency and the efficacy of their intervention strategies and this explains the reason for the people's generally positive behaviour tendency towards the utilization of traditional healer's services. Traditional healers generally bring about well- being to the people in their communities. / Thesis (M.Ed.) - University of KwaZulu-Natal, 2007.

Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1), a potent hepatotoxic and hepatocarcinogenic mycotoxin synthesised by toxigenic fungi (Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus parasiticus), is a common contaminant of many cereal commodities consequently posing a major threat to human and animal health. Sutherlandia frutescens (SF), a traditional medicinal plant endemic to Southern Africa, is commonly used by many cultures as a tonic for various health-related conditions. Incidentally, the present study aimed at investigating the potential hepatoprotective capacity of SF and L-canavanine (L-can, a major constituent of SF) against AFB1-induced cytotoxicity in human HepG2 cells and used a standard treatment procedure of 24 h. Cell viability was evaluated using the methyl thiazol tetrazolium (MIT) assay, which effectively demonstrated the ability of SF, when administered individually and in combination with AFB1, to be significantly cytotoxic to HepG2 cells in a dose-dependant manner. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) and consequent peroxidative damage caused by AFB1 are considered to be the main mechanisms leading to hepatotoxicity and was confirmed by the thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) assay which revealed that AFB1 mediated a significant increase in lipid peroxidation. Additionally, comet assay analysis demonstrated the most pronounced effect to be observed following administration of AFB1. In contrast, AFB1-mediated genotoxicity was significantly reduced by SF and L-can. Such amelioration can be attributed to the marked increases in glutathione (OSH) levels observed after the co-administration of SF and L-can with AFB1. Cytoprotection by SF and L-can against AFB1-induced toxicity was further substantiated by the significant increases in heat shock protein 70 expression. Moreover, when SF and L-can were co-administered along with AFB1, analysis by flow cytometry revealed that AFB1 induced increases in apoptosis and necrosis were reduced. The findings of this study propose that SF and L-can may be selectively effective in alleviating AFB1-induced cytotoxicity and lends pharmacological credibility to the suggested ethnomedical uses of SF. However, the exact mechanism of action and the extracts efficacy in humans requires further authentication. / Thesis (M.Med.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 2008.

This research focuses on working with fifteen local youths, one elder, and two teachers in the town of Churchill, Manitoba to document intergenerational knowledge transfer. According to Tsuji (1996) there has been a significant loss of traditional ecological knowledge in First Nation communities between generations for both males and females. Traditional knowledge is important because it relies on an individual’s own knowledge, beliefs, and attitudes towards certain issues that he or she has experienced in the past. Through conducting interviews with Elders, youths, and teachers along with observation and participant observation, this research shows knowledge from the Indigenous elder is being transferred to the younger generation through stories, presentations, and education. There is a moderate level of intergenerational knowledge transfer from youth to elders and elders to youth, as well as a high level of interest in incorporating traditional and local knowledge in education.

The world today faces many challenges. Reducing poverty and protecting the environment are prominent amongst these challenges, and consequently both are high on priority lists for many national, international, governmental and non-governmental organizations. Since the 1980s there has been an increasing awareness that environmental protection must not fly in the face of social justice, especially in developing countries, and that a system can only truly achieve sustainability if it is socially just and economically sound, as well as environmentally secure. Likewise poverty reduction at the cost of the environment is worthless in the long term. This has given rise to much more holistic approaches to both conservation and poverty reduction policies and brought the rights of communities living in or near protected areas into the international focus. However, wether it is possible to conserve biodiversity and protect habitats successfully without undermining the livelihoods of local communities, or wether it is possible to offer development aid to an impoverished region without jeopardizing their local environment, is a question which has not been resolved. This study approaches this debate by examining the relationship between the livelihoods and natural resources of a rural village adjacent to a forest reserve on the Mambilla Highlands in Nigeria. A mixture of qualitative and quantitative techniques were employed during five months spent living on location to develop a picture of the situation as it currently exists, the environmental effects of development in the village to date, and the effects of these environmental changes on people’s livelihoods. Based on this research this thesis concludes that development in a region certainly increases the vulnerability of the environment. However, rather than concluding that this makes development and environmental protection conflicting agendas, this thesis argues that this period of vulnerability presents opportunities to develop true sustainability, as effective sustainable practices can develop from the experience of resource depletion. Additionally, examples of how knowledge sharing and dialogue between western scientists and indigenous communities has the potential to facilitate and accelerate this process are discussed.