The background and problem statement focuses on antiretroviral therapy (ART) and the use of mobile technology to improve compliance within a primary health care (PHC) context in South Africa. South Africa is one of the countries, globally, with the highest HIV incidence and prevalence and ART enrolled patients visiting PHC facilities. Compliance to ART plays an integral part in effective HIV/AIDS management. HIV/AIDS management entails a complex process of patient education and pharmacological control to improve ART compliance in South Africa. Studies were done in South Africa on reminder messages as most studies focused on chronic conditions in general. A literature review explored what is known about ART and mobile technology to improve compliance. Literature confirmed that compliance through reminder messages were done worldwide and in Sub-Saharan countries. Previous research indicated that the compliance rate of the patients increased through reminder messages. Yet there is a gap in the literature regarding reminder messages combined with health education on ART compliance. The aim of the study was to determine the impact of reminder messages combined with health education on ART compliance among patients receiving ART at a PHC facility Methodology: The study followed a quantitative, experimental, intervention, randomised multi-group, pre- and post measurement design (Creswell, 2012:1, Welman et al., 2012:80). The research design is experimental because the researcher applied an intervention (reminder messages) to two experimental groups. Random sampling was applied and participants were grouped into three groups: Group A, (control group), Group B, (reminder messages only) and Group C (reminder messages combined with health education). A preand post-measurement design is followed as each participant’s pill count and return date were measured before and after the reminder messages with/without health education were given. The sample size was 202 eligible patients receiving Regime 1 and 2 ART’s (Lamuvidine, Tenofovir, Efavirenz, Nevirapine, Alluvia® and Zidovudine) at a PHC facility in the North West, South Africa (N=202). The sample size was determined with guidance of statistical services to ensure that results obtained from the study would be reliable and significant. Data collection was done in three phases. Phase one (1) consisted of collecting the biographical data and a pre-measurement of pill count and return dates for participants in Groups A, B and C. Phase two (2) consisted of sending bi-weekly messages (Group B) via WinSMS and with health education (Group C) for three (3) months. Phase three (3) consisted of post-measurement of participants’ pill count and return date for Groups A,B and C. Data collection stretched over six months (October 2013-March 2014), namely three months pre-measurement, then activation of intervention combined with another three months post-measurement. Descriptive and inferential statistical analysis was conducted through SPSS (SPSS Inc., 2013). Descriptive statistics indicated that more female patients visited the PHC facility for ART on a more regular basis. It was concluded that the experimental group proved a slight increase in compliance with regards to return date after the SMS intervention. No difference was noted in compliance to pill counts. It can also be concluded that pill counts is a complex monitoring procedure with room for error from the patients’ aspect. / MCur, North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2015

The South African mining industry has become known to be an important contributor to the South African economy. Subsequently, the closure of mines due to various reasons has resulted in major economic losses for mines. This study's aim is to investigate the mine closures caused by the regulatory body, namely the Department of Mineral Resources via the enforcement of the Mine Health and Safety Act (MHSA) by the Mine Health and Safety Inspectorate. The Mine Health and Safety Inspectorate has wide discretionary powers that enables them to close a mine or part thereof, often inconsistently or unfounded which may result in economic and other losses. The closure of mines due to compliance issues, known as section 54 stoppages, has caused a fiery debate and controversy within the mining industry due to the inconsistent issuing of such compliance orders. It resulted in the closure of mines for certain periods of times. The South African courts have been approached to interpret section 54, but it appears that there are still challenges remaining. Whilst the legislation in place is based on the duty posed on the employer to provide a workplace that is safe and without risk to the employee, the manner in which the legislative provisions are enforced, specifically the closures of or part of a mine, has to be investigated, the root problem/s identified and addressed. This study compares the enforcement measures of the MHSA with that of the Occupational Health and Safety Act and the National Environmental Management Act in order to make recommendations the more effective and efficient enforcement of section 54. / LLM (Environmental Law and Governance), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2015

The background and problem statement focuses on antiretroviral therapy (ART) and the use of mobile technology to improve compliance within a primary health care (PHC) context in South Africa. South Africa is one of the countries, globally, with the highest HIV incidence and prevalence and ART enrolled patients visiting PHC facilities. Compliance to ART plays an integral part in effective HIV/AIDS management. HIV/AIDS management entails a complex process of patient education and pharmacological control to improve ART compliance in South Africa. Studies were done in South Africa on reminder messages as most studies focused on chronic conditions in general. A literature review explored what is known about ART and mobile technology to improve compliance. Literature confirmed that compliance through reminder messages were done worldwide and in Sub-Saharan countries. Previous research indicated that the compliance rate of the patients increased through reminder messages. Yet there is a gap in the literature regarding reminder messages combined with health education on ART compliance. The aim of the study was to determine the impact of reminder messages combined with health education on ART compliance among patients receiving ART at a PHC facility Methodology: The study followed a quantitative, experimental, intervention, randomised multi-group, pre- and post measurement design (Creswell, 2012:1, Welman et al., 2012:80). The research design is experimental because the researcher applied an intervention (reminder messages) to two experimental groups. Random sampling was applied and participants were grouped into three groups: Group A, (control group), Group B, (reminder messages only) and Group C (reminder messages combined with health education). A preand post-measurement design is followed as each participant’s pill count and return date were measured before and after the reminder messages with/without health education were given. The sample size was 202 eligible patients receiving Regime 1 and 2 ART’s (Lamuvidine, Tenofovir, Efavirenz, Nevirapine, Alluvia® and Zidovudine) at a PHC facility in the North West, South Africa (N=202). The sample size was determined with guidance of statistical services to ensure that results obtained from the study would be reliable and significant. Data collection was done in three phases. Phase one (1) consisted of collecting the biographical data and a pre-measurement of pill count and return dates for participants in Groups A, B and C. Phase two (2) consisted of sending bi-weekly messages (Group B) via WinSMS and with health education (Group C) for three (3) months. Phase three (3) consisted of post-measurement of participants’ pill count and return date for Groups A,B and C. Data collection stretched over six months (October 2013-March 2014), namely three months pre-measurement, then activation of intervention combined with another three months post-measurement. Descriptive and inferential statistical analysis was conducted through SPSS (SPSS Inc., 2013). Descriptive statistics indicated that more female patients visited the PHC facility for ART on a more regular basis. It was concluded that the experimental group proved a slight increase in compliance with regards to return date after the SMS intervention. No difference was noted in compliance to pill counts. It can also be concluded that pill counts is a complex monitoring procedure with room for error from the patients’ aspect. / MCur, North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2015

The South African mining industry has become known to be an important contributor to the South African economy. Subsequently, the closure of mines due to various reasons has resulted in major economic losses for mines. This study's aim is to investigate the mine closures caused by the regulatory body, namely the Department of Mineral Resources via the enforcement of the Mine Health and Safety Act (MHSA) by the Mine Health and Safety Inspectorate. The Mine Health and Safety Inspectorate has wide discretionary powers that enables them to close a mine or part thereof, often inconsistently or unfounded which may result in economic and other losses. The closure of mines due to compliance issues, known as section 54 stoppages, has caused a fiery debate and controversy within the mining industry due to the inconsistent issuing of such compliance orders. It resulted in the closure of mines for certain periods of times. The South African courts have been approached to interpret section 54, but it appears that there are still challenges remaining. Whilst the legislation in place is based on the duty posed on the employer to provide a workplace that is safe and without risk to the employee, the manner in which the legislative provisions are enforced, specifically the closures of or part of a mine, has to be investigated, the root problem/s identified and addressed. This study compares the enforcement measures of the MHSA with that of the Occupational Health and Safety Act and the National Environmental Management Act in order to make recommendations the more effective and efficient enforcement of section 54. / LLM (Environmental Law and Governance), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2015