Sustainability challenges of community newspapers: The case study of iDike-Lethu Community Newspaper
- Authors: Ndarane, Luvuyo Gladstone
- Date: 2022-09
- Subjects: Community newspapers , Journalism, Regional
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/23754 , vital:60485
- Description: Community newspapers are an important source of information and play a vital role in the development of communities. They are, therefore, an important stakeholder in community development. IDike-Lethu community newspaper`s presence in the community of Alice and in the areas where it is distributed is facilitating communication and development in these areas. Raymond Mhlaba Local Municipality is benefiting in the presence of iDike-Lethu because this newspaper is the conduit through which communication to its citizens is submitted. This study assessed the challenges iDike- Lethu is having that impact on its maximum contribution in this society. Participants in this study are residents of Alice and are readers of iDike-Lethu Community Newspaper. This study adopted a mixed method design in which questionnaires and interviews were used to collect primary data. Data collected was analyzed using both qualitative and quantitative methods. Major findings that impede smooth operations in this newspaper were discovered. These include inadequate funding, lack of technical backing and lack of community support. The study findings show that with all the challenges iDike-Lethu is having it continues to play a meaningful role by disseminating information, promoting local culture, equipping communities with skills and providing a platform on which these communities including local businesses send information across. Recommendations include the need for this newspaper to find a commercial, profitable and sustainable financial model which will support and reinforce its operations. This study will contribute in further research of methods to link communities and community newspapers to work harmoniously. , Thesis (MSoc) -- Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, 2022
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- Date Issued: 2022-09
Experiences of midwives regarding the use of pharmacological and non-pharmacological labour pain interventions in Lejweleputswa District in Free State
- Authors: Parkies, Limakatso Elizabeth
- Date: 2022-03
- Subjects: Pharmacology , Anesthesia in obstetrics
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/23567 , vital:58166
- Description: Due to the disabling effects of severe labour pains, labour pain management remains an important topic in midwifery and needs to be reviewed more often. According to studies, various pain relief options, both pharmacological and non-pharmacological, are available to help women cope with pain, but midwives did not employ these techniques adequately because of various experiences. Studies further indicate that, though the limited number of these techniques were employed they were not effective on some women. Thus, the purpose of this research study was to explore and describe midwives’ experiences on pharmacological and non-pharmacological labour pain management in the Lejweleputswa District of the Free State Province. This study employed a qualitative, descriptive, explorative, and contextual design. A purposive sampling technique was used to select the participants. The target population was midwives who work in the maternity wards of the institutions under study with three to five years’ experience in midwifery. Individual, face-face, semi-structured interviews were conducted; these were recorded for the researcher’s reference purposes, so as not to overlook important information. In addition, the researcher made use of field notes, recording in them what was heard, observed, felt, experienced, and thought during the interview. Ethical principles and trustworthiness were maintained throughout this study. Data analysis was done using Tesch’s approach to open coding in qualitative research. Confidentiality and anonymity were ensured throughout the interviews. The nine themes and 19 sub-themes that emerged during data analysis were discussed comprehensively. The findings indicate that midwives use both pharmacological and non-pharmacological methods in managing labour pain. Some methods are effective in relieving pain for certain mothers, while other methods proved ineffective. Midwives administer Pethidine and Phenergan as per doctors’ prescription; non-pharmacological methods, such as back massage, deep breathing exercises, mobilisation, and warm baths or showers are also employed. Midwives provide pharmacological methods to all women in labour, and routinely employ non- pharmacological methods. Although the midwives are willing to manage patients’ pain, they face certain challenges, such as shortage of staff, increased workload, as well as inadequate resources. This leads to inadequate provision of non-pharmacological care. In conclusion, the midwives’ experiences were that both pharmacological and non-pharmacological techniques were used for all labouring women and they had relaxing and calming effects on some women, resulting to them giving birth with ease, although for some they were not effective. In addition, the pharmacological interventions caused drowsiness to some women and babies. The findings will provide evidence-based information to the Free State Department of Health in order to assist policymakers and stakeholders in initiating and developing appropriate policies, guidelines, and interventions that can improve labour pain management. The Free State Department of Health should consider using other opioids and non-opioids in managing labour pain to broaden the scope of pain relief methods available to the midwives. , Thesis (MPH) -- Faculty of Health Sciences, 2022
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- Date Issued: 2022-03
Raising a child with an intellectual disability in a township: The lived experiences of black South African parents
- Authors: Sothoane, Relebogile Happy
- Date: 2021-05
- Subjects: Intelligence levels , Intellectual disability , Developmental disabilities
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/23238 , vital:56483
- Description: This study was conducted to explore and understand how black South African parents residing in a township, experience raising a child with an intellectual disability. It was important to investigate this under-researched phenomenon to have a holistic understanding of the personal experiences and meanings that black South African parents have over the years attached to, and experienced in their journeys of raising a child with intellectual impairments in low economic areas. An Interpretive qualitative approach was adopted to explore and understand the experiences of raising a child with an intellectual disability in a township by black South African parents. Non-probability snowball and purposive sampling methods were used to develop the sample for this study. Four parents residing in two townships (Mdantsane and Ducan Village) around the Buffalo City Municipality which is situated in the Eastern Cape province participated in this study. Data was collected through personal, face to face and individual interviews which were audio-recorded and transcribed verbatim. Braun and Clarke’s six steps of thematic analysis was employed to analyse the data that was collected. The results of this study showed that raising children with intellectual disabilities in a township is challenging. Parents tend to feel that they are alone on this journey because of the lack of support, acceptance and understanding they receive from family members, the community and even teachers. Furthermore, the study found that being financially disadvantaged is a challenge when it comes to raising a child with an intellectual disability. Participants in this study indicated that the unconditional love they have for their children motivates them daily to raise their children and that they have hopes and dreams for their children despite the children’s impairments. This study recommends that the department of education hold more psychoeducation workshops on intellectual disability, especially for teachers in mainstream and inclusive schools who educate children with intellectual disabilities. Furthermore, more awareness campaigns in townships to educate the community on intellectual disability are recommended. , Thesis (MSoc Sci) (Counselling Psychology) --Faculty of Social Science and Humanities, 2021
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- Date Issued: 2021-05
Evaluation of the utilisation of game liver and maize meal in the production of liver sausage
- Authors: Cairncross, Kelly Inga
- Date: 2020-02
- Subjects: Meat -- Preservation , Sausages
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/23743 , vital:59029
- Description: The study aimed to evaluate the utilisation of game liver and maize meal as a partial fat replacer in the production of liver sausage. Mixed game livers (Blesbok, Impala and Springbok) were purchased and processed into sausages with varying levels of maize meal (6percent, 8percent, 10percent and 12percent). The liver sausages were cooked in a water bath for 2 hours to an internal temperate of 70 °C. Cooked sausages were cooled in ice water before storage at 4 °C before vacuum packed and frozen at -20 °C for 30 days. Proximate and fatty acid composition, pH, water activity, texture, lipid oxidation, and microbial content was determined on both day 0 and 30 days after frozen storage. Of the proximate composition, carbohydrate content had significant differences (P≤0.05) and increased as maize meal inclusion increased. The pH of raw game liver sausage batter differed (P≤0.05) between treatments. The pH of cooked game liver sausage differed (P≤0.05) from the raw batter. Textural parameters showed an increase (P<0.01) for both hardness and chewiness after 30 days of frozen storage. A positive correlation was found between hardness and chewiness with an increase in maize meal inclusion. TBARS values of the 12percent treatment differed (P≤0.05) from the maize meal inclusion treatments, but no differences (P>0.05) were recorded over 30 days of frozen storage. No differences (P>0.05) were recorded for the fatty acid composition between treatments. No growth was observed for microbial quality indicators nor Campylobacter spp. for all treatments. This study showed that frozen storage only had a negative effect on some textural parameters, while the inclusion of maize meal affects most physicochemical characteristics. , Thesis (MSc) -- Faculty of Science and Agriculture, 2020
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- Date Issued: 2020-02
Preparation and characterisation of nanocomposite biodegradable films of hake fish gelatine and Na-montmorillonite
- Authors: Mutize, Innocent
- Date: 2012-12
- Subjects: Nanocomposites (Materials) , Food -- Packaging
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/24261 , vital:62595
- Description: Hake fish (Merluccius paradoxus) based films were prepared using gelatine extracted from hake fish bones and skins. They were characterized using FTIR, TGA and XRD. Polyethylene glycol and distilled water were used as plasticizer and solvent respectively. Montmorillonite clay was also added to the film matrix at different concentration (1-13percent gelatine weight) to improve the films‟ functional properties. Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR), Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate Polyacrylamide Gel Electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) and Ultra Violet-Visible (UV-Vis) spectroscopy analysis were used to characterise gelatine extracted from hake fish bones and skins. The extraction time and temperature were varied between 30 mins to 120 mins and 45°C to 75°C respectively. The yields of the gelatines extracted at the stated conditions were calculated from the hydroxyproline content giving values of 30 to 39percent, 43 to 55percent and 50 to 57percent for extraction at 45°C, 60°C and 75°C respectively. The effect of polyethylene glycol content on the mechanical and barrier properties of hake fish gelatine films was also investigated. The addition of polyethylene glycol to the film solution increased the water vapour permeability from 0.0321 ± 0.0011 ng.m/m2.s.Pa to 0.0993 ± 0.0007 ng.m/m2.s.Pa between 5 and 35percent polyethylene glycol content and decreased tensile strength from 41.92 ± 2.17 MPa to 29.93 ± 0.17 MPa. Sodium treated Montmorillonite was incorporated in the hake fish gelatine film solution in order to assess the effect of Montmorillonite clay on the film mechanical, barrier and thermal properties. Hake fish gelatine-montmorillonite composite films were successfully prepared and characterized. X-ray Diffraction (XRD) and Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) analysis indicated that the Montmorillonite clay in the film matrices was in an exfoliated state. Water vapour permeability was reduced from 0.0312 ± 0.0016 ng.m/m2.s.Pa to 0.0081 ± 0.0001ng.m/m2.s.Pa and tensile strength improved from 29.93 ± 0.17MPa to 76.78 ± 1.13 MPa. , Thesis (MSc) -- Faculty of Science and Agriculture, 2012
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- Date Issued: 2012-12
The economic impact of HIV and AIDS in South Africa
- Authors: Makhetha, Palesa (https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8730-4450)
- Date: 2011
- Subjects: AIDS (Disease) , Economic Aspects , HIV Infections South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/26130 , vital:64918
- Description: The SADC region has felt the impact of HIV/AIDS more than any other region in sub-Saharan Africa and the world. South Africa is the home of the largest number of people living with HIV/AIDS in the world. Historically, South Africa is one the countries that had a very disorderly past and this history is relevant to the explosive spread of HIV/AIDS in the region. The first cases of HIV were diagnosed in 1982 and that is when the first death from this disease was recorded. In 2004 over 5 million people out of a total 46 million South Africans were HIV positive, giving a total prevalence rate of 11 percent. HIV/AIDS has affected societies in many ways. Individuals, households and enterprises have all been affected by the pandemic. For individuals, incomes are lost as a result of HIV/AIDS. When individuals fall sick due to the disease, they loose their jobs and incomes. In most cases, these individuals are breadwinners in their households. The available money is then spent on medical services at the expense of other household investments. For example, the loss of a breadwinner inevitably affects rural households investments on farm inputs such as fertiliser, seeds etc. The result is low agricultural output and thus poverty. Dependent members of the households suffer immensely from the loss of income. Those at school are likely to drop out. When children drop out of school, they are more likely to be unemployed or underemployed. This makes them more vulnerable to being poor and other vices, such as crime or even HIV/AIDS. Poverty is another social and health issue that has a two-way relationship with HIV/Aids. Poverty increases individuals’ vulnerability to HIV/AIDS especially for females. Through its impact on productivity and loss of life of the economically productive members of the society, the disease condemns many to poverty. Households affected by the disease, are poorer than non-affected households. , Thesis (MA) -- Faculty of Management and Commerce, 2011
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- Date Issued: 2011