Submitted in fulfillment of the requirements For the degree of Master of Management Science: Tourism and Hospitality Management, Durban University of Technology, Durban, South Africa, 2016. / The advent of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) coupled with sophisticated network channels and applications have unveiled new avenues for small organizations and those in the hospitality industry must be included. However, there is limited industry specific research activity on the impact of adoption and utilisation of ICTs on business specifically with regard to the hospitality industry in developing countries. This report records the findings of an analysis into ICT and e-commerce adoption and use in small remote hospitality establishments in the Natal Midlands of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. The research used a mixed methods approach involving questionnaires, observations and interviews. The participants were drawn from three case areas namely Curry’s Post, Nottingham Road and Lions River. From each case area, two restaurants, two wedding venues, two lodges and two curio shops participated. The findings indicate that most establishment acknowledged the need to adopt and utilise ICT and e-commerce. The links between ICT adoption and level of business success were marked. The challenges to adoption and utilisation of ICT were found to centre on cost, owners’ lack of familiarity with ICTs, and a corresponding lack of ICT skills amongst staff. The inability of imported software packages to suit local needs also emerged as a significant issue. Recommendations involve targeted sponsorships of ICT courses, language accessibility initiatives, and adaptation of software packages to local needs, along with advantages in starting small and adopting more sophisticated ICT as the business grows. / M

Thesis(MPhil)--Stellenbosch University, 2014 / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This thesis documents a Participatory Action Research (PAR) project conducted from 2011 to 2013 in a rural communal area in southern KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. The area is a microcosm of the global environmental and socio-economic polycrisis; with adult unemployment at 50 percent, 73 percent female-headed households, heavy dependence on government social grants and a food system reliant on purchased food. Eight, mainly female-headed households (the co-researchers), assisted by the student researcher, implemented and assessed a cropping system, designed on agroecological principles, on their abandoned garden plots. The objective was to grow culturally acceptable food crops to supplement their household diets and positively affect their food security. The student researcher provided the necessary infrastructure, including goat-proof plot fences, hand tools, a grain hammermill, seed, and fertiliser. The literature review, which also used early 1900’s photographs and contemporary isiZulu language as evidence, revealed the agroecological basis of pre-colonial agriculture. However, colonial and apartheid influences destroyed this knowledge base. The cropping system design utilized practices from this pre-colonial era combined with current agroecological techniques. The agroecological techniques employed on the plots included non-inversion tillage of planting pits using garden forks, precision placement of phosphate fertiliser and animal manures, open pollinated seeds, east-west orientated strip cropping, soil surface mulches, crop rotations including legumes and the use of chickens to control pests. Dryland crops included maize, beans, sweet potatoes, and butternuts, with small trial vegetable patches on some plots. The research identified a method to calculate the planting frequency of these vegetables to ensure a constant annual supply, however further research is needed. The dryland crops supplemented household diets between harvests. The formation of structured groups amongst the households proved vital to the success of the cropping system, providing mutual labour assistance, shared decision-making, building knowledge and moral support. The importance of dialogue and trust, reinforced by the student researcher’s ability to communicate in isiZulu with the co-researchers, formed the basis of both the PAR, and Focus Group Discussions(FGD), used to qualitative assess the cropping system. During these, the households reported a good understanding of the agroecological principles of the cropping system, a willingness to continue with it post research, and positive benefits, including better health, and money saved on food purchases, redirected to improve their asset base. The World Food Programme (2008) Food Consumption Score Analysis Method (FCS), modified to show the percentage contribution of homegrown food to the FCS, provided the quantitative assessment of the cropping system. The FCS scores rose during the research, with homegrown food contributing over a third of the FCS at times. The co-researchers suggested instituting group ‘stokvels’1to finance inputs and maintain infrastructure post research. The financial implications of these ‘stokvels’ was calculated. Due to the initial success of the PAR, the research recommends a method to extend the cropping system to more households, utilizing state finance to provide the infrastructure, and the co-researchers imparting technical knowledge through farmer-to-farmer extension. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: In hierdie tesis word verslag gedoen van ’n deelnemende aksienavorsingsprojek wat van 2011 tot 2013 in ’n landelike dorpsgebied in die suide van KwaZulu-Natal, Suid-Afrika, uitgevoer is. Die gebied is ’n mikrokosmos van die wêreldwye omgewings- en sosio-ekonomiese polikrisis, met volwasse werkloosheid op 50%, 73% huishoudings met vroue aan die hoof, swaar afhanklikheid van die staat se maatskaplike toelae en ’n voedselstelsel wat van gekoopte kos afhanklik is. In die studie het agt huishoudings, wat hoofsaaklik vroue aan die hoof het (die medenavorsers), met behulp van die studentenavorser, ’n verbouingstelsel, wat op agro-ekologiese beginsels gegrond is, op hul verlate tuingrond geïmplementeer en geassesseer. Die doel was om kultureel aanvaarbare gewasse te verbou om hul huishoudelike dieet aan te vul en hul voedselsekerheid positief te beïnvloed. Die studentenavorser het die nodige infrastruktuur verskaf, met inbegrip van bokbestande omheining, handgereedskap, ’n graanhamermeul, saad en kunsmis. Die literatuurstudie, waarin foto’s uit die 1900’s en moderne Zoeloe as bewyse gebruik is, toon die agro-ekologiese grondslag van prekoloniale landbou. Koloniale en apartheidsinvloede het egter hierdie kennisbasis vernietig. Die verbouingstelselontwerp was gegrond op praktyke uit hierdie prekoloniale era gekombineer met moderne agro-ekologiese tegnieke. Hierdie tegnieke het ingesluit nie-inversie-grondbewerking van plantgate met gebruik van tuinvurke, presisieplasing van fosfaatkunsmis en dieremis, oop bestuifde sade, oos–wes-georiënteerde strookverbouing, grondoppervlak-deklae, wisselbou met onder andere peulgewasse en die gebruik van hoenders om peste te beheer. Droëland-gewasse het ingesluit mielies, bone, soetpatats en botterskorsies, met klein toetsgroenteakkers op sommige stukke grond. ’n Metode is in die navorsing geïdentifiseer om te bepaal hoe gereeld hierdie groente geplant moet word om ’n konstante jaarlikse voorraad te verseker. Verdere navorsing is egter nodig. Die droëland-gewasse het huishoudelike diëte tussen oeste aangevul. Die vorming van gestruktureerde groepe onder die huishoudings het noodsaaklik geblyk te wees vir die sukses van die verbouingstelsel, waardeur wedersydse hulp met arbeid, gedeelde besluitneming, die bou van kennis en morele ondersteuning gebied is. Die belangrikheid van dialoog en vertroue, wat versterk is deur die studentenavorser se vermoë om in Zoeloe met die medenavorsers te kommunikeer, het die grondslag gevorm van die deelnemende aksienavorsingsprojek asook die fokusgroeponderhoude, wat gebruik is om die verbouingstelsel kwalitatief te assesseer. In hierdie onderhoude het die huishoudings verslag gedoen van hul grondige begrip van die agro-ekologiese beginsels van die verbouingstelsel, hul gewilligheid om ná die navorsing daarmee voort te gaan, asook die voordele wat dit bied, soos beter gesondheid en geld wat op voedselaankope gespaar is, wat heraangewend is om hul batebasis te verbeter. Die Wêreldvoedingsprogram (2008) se Food Consumption Score- (FCS-)ontledingsmetode, wat aangepas is om die persentasie bydrae van selfgekweekte voedsel tot die FCS aan te toon, is gebruik vir die kwantitatiewe assessering van die verbouingstelsel. Die FCS-tellings het tydens die navorsing toegeneem, met selfgekweekte voedsel wat by tye tot meer as ’n derde tot die FCS bygedra het. Die medenavorsers het voorstel dat ’n stokvel gestig word om insette te finansier en die infrastruktuur ná die navorsing in stand te hou. Die finansiële implikasies van hierdie stokvel is bereken. Op grond van die aanvanklike sukses van die deelnemende aksienavorsingsprojek stel die navorser ’n metode voor om die verbouingstelsel na meer huishoudings uit te brei met behulp van staatsfinansiering om die infrastruktuur te verskaf asook die oordrag van die medenavorsers se tegniese kennis na ander boere.

Thesis (MBA)--University of Stellenbosch, 2011. / There is a global scarcity of health care workers (Boseley, 2011: 1). There has been global competition for the scarce resource, with developing countries competing for their own health care workers (Padarath et al., 2004: 5). The health outcomes of a country have been directly correlated with the quantity and quality of its health human resources (Dolea et al., 2005: 3). Pharmacists, who were ranked as the third scarcest professional group in the world, are the most accessible of all health workers (Chan & Wuliji, 2006: 7). The shortage of pharmacists has resulted in inaccessibility to drug treatment, prevention and care, resulting in an insurmountable number of preventable deaths and disease. The number of pharmacists in KwaZulu-Natal province is currently 383, with a 76% vacancy rate (Avery, 2011). The aim of the present study was to define a retention strategy for public sector pharmacists in KwaZulu-Natal province. This self-administered questionnaire survey was participated in by 103 pharmacists. Pharmaceutical services were found predominantly to have been rendered by young (with 32% falling in the age group 22–29 years of age and 36% falling in the age group 30–39 years), Indian (74%), female (82%) pharmacists. Many (68%) of the pharmacists concerned were new entrants (having been in employ for a period of 0–5 years) in the public sector, with just over half (36%) being new entrants into the pharmacy profession, meaning that two-thirds of the public sector pharmaceutical workforce lacked the experience and expertise to make the desired service delivery changes in said environment. The top three motivations for job changes were found to be financial (27%), working conditions (26%) and career advancement opportunities (22%). A third of the respondents were found to be satisfied with the Occupation-specific Dispensation. The remainder of the pharmacists were equally divided about whether they regarded the payout to be inadequate or fair. Nonetheless, 20 per cent had definite intentions to leave, with 40 per cent having no intention to leave, and 40 per cent being uncertain about doing so. Such a finding correlated well with the fact that 24% of the respondents indicated that they felt that they were earning inadequate salaries. The finding did not correlate with the overwhelming response (83%) that money was not the most important consideration in making the choice. The pharmacists were divided regarding career-advancing opportunities in the public sector. Such a finding was echoed in a comparable division of who had access to information on career-advancing opportunities. Two-thirds of the respondents neither shared their goals regarding career progression with their supervisors, nor applied for any such posts. The top three factors that pharmacists liked about their jobs were financial, resources and congenial working conditions. Resources, working conditions and lack of career progression factors were disliked; resources, career progression and financial factors could result in turnover. In summary, money, career progression and resources matter. The pharmacists in the province were found to be satisfied with their earnings. They wanted to be rewarded on merit and were prepared to move to receive this and support in career progression. The National Department of Health (KwaZulu-Natal) must drive recruitment efforts to address the skills shortage, improve working conditions and ensure that salaries keep pace with inflation to create long-term wins for the public health sector.

Thesis (MBA)--Stellenbosch University, 2015. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Lungisisa Indlela Village is a non-profit organisation in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. It provides holistic residential care for orphaned and vulnerable children in order to “rescue a child, restore a life, raise a leader and release a star”. The village can house 1 000 orphans and the model used is long-term cluster foster care where the children will get a sense of belonging in a homely environment, modelling an African village lifestyle. The houses are built in clusters, each with eight homes surrounding a communal play area. Each home has a fully-trained house mother who may bring two biological children, and will be given up to six children through the Department of Social Welfare. Within a family environment, they will receive unconditional love, spiritual discipleship, care and nurturing. The Lungisisa Indlela Village School is a registered independent school which comprises a play-school, pre-school, primary school and secondary school. Lungisisa Indlela Village is assisting others who have the same vision to build villages in Pretoria, Benoni, Kimberley, Grahamstown, East London and George. The vision of Lungisisa Indlela Village is to build thousands of villages across Africa in order to turn one of the continent’s biggest problems into the solution. The research focus is on the discipline of social marketing. More specifically, how Lungisisa Indlela Village makes use of the principles of social marketing in order to gain support from the community, government, corporate organisations and churches. A case study approach was followed, whereby literature and in-depth interviews were used to compare Lungisisa Indlela Village’s current marketing activities to best practice social marketing principles. The aim of the research was not only to assist Lungisisa Indlela Village with their expansion, but also to assist other orphanages and cause-related marketing organisations in putting together a marketing plan to drive the desired behaviour in both South Africa and the rest of Africa (in countries facing similar challenges). The study, even though aimed at how Lungisisa Indlela Village compares to best practice social marketing principles, revealed that there are many other business and strategic issues to consider. These issues, however, inform how the marketing plan is executed. Leadership, governance, relationship with government and marketing the Lungisisa Indlela Village brand and solution are very important questions, issues and initiatives that need to be addressed before further expansion takes place. The author would like to encourage the reader to watch the following video: www.youtube.com/watch?v=OSnujMEumrc, before reading the rest of this paper.

Thesis (MSc)--University of Stellenbosch, 2011. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The current biodiversity crisis requires creative initiatives for mitigating further biodiversity loss. The use of ecological networks (ENs) is such an initiative. The South African forestry industry recognizes that there is loss of biodiversity at the smaller patch scale, while attempting to mitigate this loss at the landscape scale by implementing largescale ENs. The aim of this study was to determine how representative grassland biodiversity in ENs are of similar habitat in a nature reserves (NR). The study was conducted in the northeast of the KwaZulu-Natal Province, adjacent iSimangaliso Wetland Park, which is a natural World Heritage site. A systematic approach compared a wide range of taxa, namely plants, decomposition macrofungi, vertebrates (birds and large mammals) and faunal manifestations (e.g. molehills, dung and ant nests) between the EN and nature reserve, while controlling for differences in disturbance regime. Species richness was compared using Mann-Whitney U tests, while differences in species composition were determined using Correspondence Analyses, Multi-Dimensional Scaling and Analyses of Similarity. Grassland ENs had significantly less plant species. In addition, there were differences in plant and fungi species composition. Differences were probably caused by (1) degree of isolation i.e. proximity to source habitat patches in the surrounding matrix, and (2) habitat quality. Habitat quality was determined by local disturbance regimes (e.g. grazing and fire) and plantation-induced drought for plants, and size and amount of coarse woody debris for fungi. In addition, significant differences in abundances of mole hills (NR>EN) and small mammal burrows (EN>NR) might have had an effect on succession and regeneration of plant communities. There were differences in plant species composition between grassland EN and that at the adjacent nature reserve. However, differences between EN and NR were small when compared to differences between habitat types at the landscape spatial scale. It is concluded that grassland ENs among forestry plantations contribute to biodiversity conservation in the commercially-productive landscape. This approach to land use planning should be explored for other commercial land uses. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die huidige biodiversiteitskrisis vereis kreatiewe strategieë om ‘n verdere verlies in biodiversiteit te bekamp. Ekologiese Netwerke (EN’e) is een voorbeeld van sulke kreatiewe strategieë. Die Suid Afrikaanse bosbou-industrie erken die verlies in biodiversiteit wat kenmerkend in plantasies gevind word. Implementering van grootskaalse EN’e kan egter die verlies aan biodiversiteit, wat in plantasies ondervind word, temper. Die doel van hierdie studie was om vas te stel hoe goed biodiversiteit in grasveld EN’e soortgelyke habitat in ‘n nabygeleë natuurreservaat verteenwoordig. Die studie was uitgevoer in die noordooste van KwaZulu-Natal, langs iSimangaliso Wetland Park wat ‘n wêrelderfenisgebied is. Ons het ‘n stelselmatige benadering gevolg waartydens ‘n wye verskeidenheid taksa, naamlik plante, makro-fungi, vertebrate (groot soogdiere en voëls) en tekens van diere-aktiwiteit (bv. miersneste, dieremis en molshope), in die EN vergelyk is met die van ‘n natuurreservaat terwyl ons vir verskillende versteuringe gekontrolleer het. Spesiesrykheid is vergelyk met Mann-Whitney U toetse terwyl verskille in spesiessamestelling vasgestel is met Correspondence Analyses, Multi-Dimensional Scaling en Analyses of Similarity. Daar was ‘n statisties beduidende verskil in die hoeveelheid spesies tussen grasveld EN’e en die natuurreservaat. Grasveld EN’e het minder plant spesies gehad. Boonop was daar verskille in die samestelling van plant en fungi gemeenskappe. Verskille was waarskynlik veroorsaak deur (1) isolasie of die hoeveelheid nabygeleë habitatbronne in die omliggende omgewing, en (2) habitat kwaliteit. Habitat kwaliteit word bepaal deur versteuringe (bv. brand en beweiding) en die uitdrogingseffek van plantasies vir plante, en die hoeveelheid en grootte van growwe houtagtige puin vir fungi. Daar was ook beduidende verskille in die hoeveelheid molshope (NR>EN) en klein soogdier gate (EN>NR), wat moontlik ‘n effek kon hê op suksessie en herstel van plantgemeenskappe. Daar was verskille in plantspesiessamestelling tussen grasveld EN’e en die van die langsliggende natuurreservaat. Hierdie verskille was egter klein wanneer dit vergelyk word met die verskille tussen verskillende soorte habitatte in die landskap. Daarom kom ons tot die gevolgtrekking dat grasveld EN’e tussen bosbouplantasies bydra tot die bewaring van biodiversiteit in kommersiële landskappe. Hierdie benadering tot grondgebruik behoort verder verken te word vir ander kommersiële bosbou en boerderypraktyke.

Thesis (PhD)--Stellenbosch University, 2002. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: A community-based growth monitoring (GM) project was established in a rural village in KwaZulu-Natal. The project is an example of community-based activities that were based on a participatory approach of problem assessment and analysis. The first phase of the study comprised of a situation assessment. The aim was to evaluate the nutritional status and related factors of children aged 5 years and younger. It included a cross-sectional survey (questionnaire and anthropometric measurements), focus group discussions and interviews with key informants. From a nutritional point of view, the situation assessment identified a need for regular GM of infants and small children, increased availability of foods rich in micronutrients, and nutrition education. Relevant findings of the situation assessment were used during a project planning workshop that was attended by community representatives. The community's concern about the health of the preschool children and the lack of health facilities, and the need for regular weighing of their children prompted the establishment of a community-based GM project. The GM project was run by nutrition monitors, through home-based centres (named Isizinda). Monthly activities at the Isizinda included GM, nutrition education, and recording of morbidity and mortality data. Children who were either in need of medical attention or showed growth faltering were referred to the nearest clinic. During the latter half of the study, the GM project was integrated with a household food production project and the Isizinda served as promotion and training centres for agricultural activities. Project activities were continuously monitored by reviewing the attendance register, scrutinising the Isizinda files, observation and staff meetings. Community meetings (at least twice a year) allowed for two-way feedback and addressing questions and concerns. Acceptability of the GM activities was measured in terms of attendance and maternal perceptions. The coverage of the Isizinda project was estimated at approximately 90% and at least 60% of these children were adequately covered. The Isizinda data showed an equal distribution of child contacts over the various age categories and was representative of the community. The attendance data suggest that community-based GM is a viable option to be used for screening and nutrition surveillance, and as platform for nutrition education. Most mothers comprehended the growth curve. Positive behavioural changes have been observed in the community and the Isizinda data showed a steady decline in the prevalence of diarrhoea. The Ndunakazi mothers were appreciative towards the Isizinda project because of a better understanding of the benefits of regular GM. They expressed a sense of empowerment regarding the knowledge that they have gained. The community had a strong desire for the project to continue. The Isizinda project showed that community-based GM can provide the infrastructure for developing capacity for agricultural activities within the community. Data from the household food production project showed that maternal knowledge regarding nutritional issues can be improved through nutrition education given at the GM sessions and that, when GM is integrated with agricultural activities, a significant improvement in child malnutrition can be obtained. The Isizinda project falls within the framework of the Integrated Nutrition Programme, and can bridge the gap in areas which lack health facilities. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: ’n Gemeenskaps-gebaseerde groeimoniteringsprojek is tot stand gebring in ’n landelike gebied in KwaZulu-Natal. Die projek is 'n voorbeeld van gemeenskapsgebaseerde aktiwiteite wat gebaseer was op 'n deelnemende benadering van probleem bepaling en analise. Die eerste fase van die studie was a situasie analise. Die doel was om die voedingstatus en verwante faktore van kinders 5 jaar en jonger te bepaal. Dit het 'n dwarssnit opname (vraelys en antropometriese metinge), fokus groep besprekings en onderhoude met kern persone ingesluit. Uit 'n voedingsoogpunt het die situasie analise 'n behoefte vir gereelde groeimonitoring van babas en klein kinders, verhoogde beskikbaarheid van voedsels ryk in mikronutriente and voedingsvoorligting aangedui. Toepaslike bevindinge van die situasie analise was gebruik tydens ’n beplannings werkswinkel wat deur verteenwoordigers van die gemeenskap bygewoon is. Die gemeenskap se besorgdheid oor die gesondheid van voorskoolse kinders en die gebrek aan gesondheidsfasilitieite, asook hul behoefte om hul kinders gereeld te laat weeg, het aanleiding gegee tot die totstandkoming van ’n gemeenskaps-gebaseerde groeimoniteringsprojek. Die program is gedryf deur monitors deur tuisgebaseerde sentrums (genoem Isizinda). Maandelikse aktiwiteite by die Isizinda het groeimonitering, voedingvoorligting en die insameling van morbiditeit en mortaliteit inligting ingesluit. Kinders wie mediese sorg benodig het of wie groeivertraging getoon het, is na die naaste kliniek verwys. Die groeimoniteringsprojek is tydens die laaste helfte van die studie met ’n huishoudelike voedselproduksieprojek geintegreer en die Isizinda het as promosie- en opleidingsentrum vir die landbou aktiwitiete gedien. Projek aktiwiteite is deurgaans gemonitor deur die bywoningsregister en Isizinda leêrs deur te gaan, waarnemings en personeel vergaderings. Vergaderings met die gemeenskap (ten minste twee per jaar) het voorsiening gemaak vir wedersydse terugvoering en die aanspreek van vrae en besorgdhede. Die aanvaarbaarheid van die groeimoniterings aktiwiteite is gemeet in terme van bywoning en persepsies. Die Isizinda projek het ongeveer 90% van die kinders gedek, van wie ten minste 60% voldoende gemoniteer is. Die Isizinda data het ’n eweredige verspreiding van besoeke oor die verskillende oudersdomgroepe aangetoon. Die Isizinda data was ook verteenwoordigend van die gemeenskap. Die bywoningssyfers dui aan dat gemeenskapsgebaseerde groeimonitoring 'n lewensvatbare opsie is vir sifting en voeding opnames, en as 'n platform vir voedingvoorligting. Meeste moeders kon die groeikaart interpreteer. Positiewe gedragsveranderinge is in die gemeenskap waargeneem en die Isizinda data het ’n geleidelike afname in die voorkoms van diarree getoon. Die Ndunakazi moeders was waarderend teenoor die Isizinda projek as gevolg van 'n beter begrip ten opsigte van die voordele van gereelde groeimonitering. Hulle het 'n gevoel van bemagteging uitgespreek ten opsigte van hul verbeterde kennis. Hulle was mening dat die projek moes voortgaan. Die Isizinda projek het aangetoon dat gemeenskapsgebaseerde groeimonitoring die infrstruktuur kan skep vir die ontwikkeling vir kapasiteit vir landbou aktiwiteite binne die gemeenskap. Inligting van die huishoudelike voedselproduksieprojek het aangetoon dat die moeders se kennis ten opsigte van voedings verwante aspekte verbeter kan word deur voedingvoorligting wat gegee word tydens die groeimonitering sessie en dat, as groeimonitoring geintegreer is met landbou aktwiteite, 'n verbetering in die voedingstatus van die kind verkry kan word. Die Isizinda projek val binne die raamwerk van die Geintegreerde Voedingsprogram en kan die gaping dek in areas waar geen gesondheidsfasilteite is nie.

Thesis (MPhil)--Stellenbosch University, 2005. / On t.p.: HIV/AIDS Management. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This article describes the approach taken by a company to successfully implement prevalence testing for HIV at one of its manufacturing sites in KwaZulu-Natal. Ninety point four percent of the employees on site on the day of testing subjected themselves to voluntary anonymous testing. No rewards or incentives whatsoever were offered or given to the participants. The problem faced by the company was that there was increasing mortality amongst its employees, particularly those in the lower job grades, mainly machine operators and other lesser skilled positions. The cost of insured benefits provided by the company’s provident fund for death and disability were increasing and less money could be allocated to funding for retirement. In the absence of any empirical data the company had no idea how they would be affected by the HIV/AIDS pandemic, other than attempting to use provincial averages. The level of knowledge of HIV and AIDS in the company was judged as relatively poor. Many of the staff, more so the senior staff, had little or no exposure to the disease and what effect it had on those suffering from it or those supporting sufferers. Little had been achieved to manage HIV and AIDS until a workshop was organised by the company for representatives from all branches to attend. Various information topics about HIV were covered at the workshop, which concluded with the site representatives having to work out and table an action plan, and make a personal pledge of what they were going to do to help in the fight against HIV and AIDS. The workshop was attended by all board members, senior management, shop stewards and shop floor representatives. One of the key features of the presentations was by a senior official of the union, who then assisted throughout the rest of the workshop. Site plans were then later followed up when a central committee visited the sites and presentations on progress were made.At the workshop mention was made of the need to conduct prevalence testing and also the establishment of a HIV/AIDS committee. The site committee made the decision that prevalence testing should take place and consulted the workforce themselves and also through shop stewards. Once it was felt that sufficient support would be forthcoming a date for testing was set. The company had in the meantime contracted with a service provider to do testing where needed. A briefing session attended by the HIV/AIDS committee, shop stewards, the management team and two executive directors was arranged. A doctor employed by the service provider addressed the group and answered their concerns and demonstrated the saliva test on himself. On the day of testing senior management and the senior shop steward walked the factory floor encouraging employees to participate. This intervention has laid the foundation for a successful management campaign against HIV and AIDS in the workplace. / In hierdie artikel word die benadering wat n maatskappy gebruik om die voorkomsyfer van MIV by een van sy vervaardigingsterreine in KwaZulu-Natal to toets, beskryf. Op die dag waarop toetsing plaasgevind het, het 90,4% van die werknemers op die terrain hulleself vrywilliglik laat toets. Tydens hierdie anonieme toetsing is geen belonging of voordele van enige aard aan die deelnemers gebied nie. Die problem wat die maatskappy gehad het, was dat daar n toenemde sterftesyfer onder werknemers in die laer posvlakte soos masjienoperateurs en werknemers in posiese wat minder vaardighede vereis. Daar was stygende koste (in terme van dood en ongeskiktheid) van versekerde voordele waarvoor die maatskappy se voorsieningsfonds voorsiening maak, wat tot gevolg gehad het dat daar minder geld beskikbaar was vir pensionfondse. Omdat daar n tekort van empiriese data was, het die maatskappy geen idée gehad van die effek wat die MIV/VIGS-pandemie op hom sou uitoefen nie, behalwe deur die gebruik van provinsiale gemiddeldes. Die kennis van MIV/VIGS binne die maatskappy is as swak bestempel. ’n Groot hoeleevheid van die personeel, veral die in senior poste, het min of geen blootstelling gehad van die virus en die effek wat dit op VIGS-lyers en die ondersteuners van VIGS-lyers het nie. Min is gedoen on MIV/VIGS te bestuur, totdat n werkswinlek deur die maatskappy georganiseer is vir verteenwoordiges van al, die takke. ’n Verskeidenheid onderwerpe in verband met MIV/VIGS is deur die werkswinkel gedek. Een daarvan was dat die terreinverteenwoordiges n aksieplan moes opstel en n persoonlike eed moes afle dat hulle sou help in die stryd teen MIV/VIGS. Die werkswinkel is deur al die raadslede, senior bestuurslede, werkswinkelassistente en –verteenwoordiges bygewoon. Die hoofsaak van die voorleggings is deur n senior uniebeampte gelei, waarna hy vir die verloop van die program geassisteer het. Terreinplanne is opgestel en dit is later opgevolg deur n sentralle komitee wat die terreine besoek het en voorleggings gelewer het in verband met die vordering wat gemaak is. Tydens die werkswinkel is melding gemaak van die noodsaaklikheid van die toetsing van die voorkomsyfers van MIV en die instelling van n MIV/VIGS komitee. Die terreinkomitee het besluit dat die voorkomstoetsing moes plaasvind nadat die werkersmag en werkswinkelsttistente gekonsulteer is. Nadat besluit is dat die nodige ondersteuning uit hierdie toetsing sou voortspruit, is ’n datum vir die toetsing voorgestel. Vir die interementydperk het die maatskappy ’n diensverskaffer gekontrak om die toetsing, waar nodig, waar te neem. ’n Inligtingsessie is gereel wat deur die MIV/VIGS-komitee, werkswinkelassistente, die bestuurspan en twee uitvoerende direkteure bygewoon is. ’n Dokter, wat deur die diensverskaffer in diens geneem is, het die groep te word gestaan en antwoorde verskaf op hulle vraagstukke. Hy het ook die speekselftoets op himself gedemonstreer. Op die dag wat die toetsing plaasgevind het, het die seniorbestuur en werkswinkel-assistant deur die fabriek geloop en werknemers anngemoedig on aan die toetsing deel te neem. Hierdie intervensie het gelei tot die stigting van n suksesvolle bestuursveldtog teen MIV/VIGS in die werksplek.

Submitted in fulfillment of the Masters Degree in Technology: Homoeopathy, Durban University of Technology, 2010. / Introduction All the studies on the perception of homoeopathy in South Africa conducted so far have found that the group least knowledgeable about homoeopathy is the African group. However, no study yet has focused on this group, and tried to find out more detail about their perceptions of homoeopathy. The study took place in Mnambithi, a town in the northern part of KwaZulu Natal within the Uthukela District with a population of about 200 000 people. Aim of the study The overall aim of this study was to determine the perception, knowledge and utilization of homoeopathy amongst African adults resident in Mnambithi, KwaZulu Natal. Methodology The survey method was employed to conduct this study. The research instrument was a self-administered questionnaire. The number of questionnaires completed was 1034, distributed according to suburbs 10.6%, centre of town iii 9.8%, former township areas 58.7% and rural areas 20.6% which approximately reflected the proportion of the population resident in those areas. The data was primarily analyzed by means of descriptive statistics using frequency tables. Results The sample consisted of 50.3% males and 49.5% females, with the largest group of respondents being 41 years old and above. Most were unemployed (61.8%). The educational standard was high, with 43.8% of respondents having matric and 20.4% having a diploma or degree. Most respondents (98.6%) had not heard of homoeopathy before. Only 0.1% of respondents had consulted a homoeopath before. 83.8% of respondents answered that they would consider consulting a homoeopath in the future, and 43.3% indicated they were interested in learning more about homoeopathy. The lack of knowledge about homoeopathy and yet being interested in learning more, is a similar finding to other perception studies. Conclusions It can be concluded from the results that the level of knowledge of homoeopathy amongst respondents was minimal, with only 10 out of 1034 respondents having heard of homoeopathy. Questions relating to the perception of homoeopathy were restricted to those who had heard of homoeopathy, but because of the small number, no conclusions regarding perception can be drawn. / M

Dissertation in partial compliance with the requirements for a Master's Degree in Technology: Chiropractic, in the Department of Chiropractic, Durban University of Technology, 2010. / Background: Chiropractic in South Africa seems to be gaining acceptance by medicine with increased recognition from the private healthcare sector. This trend is reflected by the recognition of private healthcare providers of chiropractic services. Integration would accelerate the growth of the chiropractic profession in this country. It is therefore important to understand how chiropractic is currently perceived with respect to integration into the KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) healthcare system. As well as to determine factors perceived to facilitate or hinder this integration. Objectives: To explore and describe the perceptions of selected stakeholders about the integration of the chiropractic profession into the KZN healthcare system. Method: The sample included ten selected stakeholders within the KZN healthcare sector. Each participant participated in a semi-structured interview. Questions included participants‟ experience of chiropractic, the role and scope of chiropractic practice, and key developmental issues affecting integration. Interviews were captured on a digital voice recorder and transcribed into text. Data was analysed by the use of NVivo software (NVivo 8, developed and designed in Australia, copyright 2008 QSR International Pty Ltd. ABN 47 006 357 213). Results: The majority of participants (n = 7) had a positive experience of chiropractic, but few (n= 2) recognised the diagnostic role of chiropractic. All participants, except two doctors, believed that integrating chiropractic into the public healthcare system would benefit the healthcare fraternity, the chiropractic profession and patients. However, hindering factors perceived by the participants included: chiropractors practicing non-evidence based techniques; chiropractic being registered with a different council and being taught at a different institution to conventional medical professionals; and most importantly a lack of knowledge of the profession. Facilitating factors were III perceived to be: increased education of stakeholders about chiropractic; improved communication between chiropractors and medical doctors; improved marketing strategy; and lastly improved patient management. Conclusions: A positive experience of chiropractic is directly affected by a positive exposure to the profession. The profession itself is responsible for dispelling some of the confusion it has created, by collectively practicing evidence based medicine, and marketing a united message to stakeholders. / M

Submitted in fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree in Master of Health Sciences in Nursing, Durban University of Technology, Durban, South Africa, 2016. / Introduction and Background According to the Declaration of Alma-Ata, maternal and child health care forms an integral component of primary health care. In line with this, the South African national government legislated free maternal and child healthcare services in the public sectors to ensure accessibility and availability of basic health care services to the community of South Africa. However, poor access and utilization of antenatal care services in rural areas continues and contributes to high maternal mortality and morbidity rates and untoward pregnancy outcomes. Aim The aim of this study was to explore the experiences of pregnant women from the KwaMkhizwana rural area regarding antenatal care services in order to identify the factors affecting effective provision of and access to the antenatal care services. Method A qualitative, explorative, descriptive research design, which was guided by Rosenstock’s Health Belief Model, was used to conduct the study. Data were collected by conducting semi-structured interviews with 15 participants who were purposively sampled between February and March 2016 and was analysed using Tesch’s method of data analysis. The sample size was determined by data saturation that was reached after ten interviews were conducted. A total of five additional interviews were conducted to confirm saturation of data. Findings There were five major themes and several sub-themes that emerged from the interviews. The major themes included: 1) availability and accessibility of antenatal care services; 2) established practices by the health post staff to reduce the number of clients; management and administration of the health posts; 3) access to health information by pregnant women; 4) communication between the pregnant women and the health post staff; and 5) socio-cultural taboos and beliefs of the community in the area. Conclusion and Recommendations The information gathered from the participants with regard to their experiences affirms that challenges still exist in this rural community regarding access to health care services, particularly antenatal care services. Recommendations pertaining to policy development, institutional management, practice, and research were made. Some of these recommendations included that several policies that are currently non-existent should be developed in order to promote accessibility of antenatal care service at primary health care level, more primary health care training schools should be established to increase the number of primary health care trained nurses, short courses for training of clinic supervisors should be conducted and that further research studies looking at ANC service accessibility especially in rural areas, focusing on health care workers and management experiences be conducted. / M