Promoting entrepreneurship in agriculture in the Eastern Cape:
- Antrobus, Geoffrey G, Fraser, Gavin C G
- Authors: Antrobus, Geoffrey G , Fraser, Gavin C G
- Date: 2010
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/143067 , vital:38198 , DOI: 10.1080/03031853.1994.9524779
- Description: Selected cases in developing entrepreneurship in small-scale subsistence and commercial agriculture in the Eastern Cape are examined, including the provision of marketing facilities, the training programme of the Africa Cooperative Action Trust (ACAT) in Ciskei, government sponsored irrigation projects and the farmer support programme. An attempt is made to draw general conclusions about the necessary ingredients for successful entrepreneurship and the formulation of proposals for further promoting entrepreneurship in agriculture in South Africa.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2010
- Authors: Antrobus, Geoffrey G , Fraser, Gavin C G
- Date: 2010
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/143067 , vital:38198 , DOI: 10.1080/03031853.1994.9524779
- Description: Selected cases in developing entrepreneurship in small-scale subsistence and commercial agriculture in the Eastern Cape are examined, including the provision of marketing facilities, the training programme of the Africa Cooperative Action Trust (ACAT) in Ciskei, government sponsored irrigation projects and the farmer support programme. An attempt is made to draw general conclusions about the necessary ingredients for successful entrepreneurship and the formulation of proposals for further promoting entrepreneurship in agriculture in South Africa.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2010
The role of processors, wholesalers and retailers in the marketing of food in South Africa:
- Authors: Antrobus, Geoffrey G
- Date: 2010
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/143090 , vital:38200 , DOI: 10.1080/03031853.1979.9524558
- Description: The importance of the middlemen of marketing was recently high-lighted with the publication of a thirty item 'food basket' for South Africa. While the producer's share of the foodbasket is usually of chief interest to the farmers of our country and often to agricultural economists, the field of traditional agricultural marketing takes in the whole area from farm gate to consumer's table.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2010
- Authors: Antrobus, Geoffrey G
- Date: 2010
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/143090 , vital:38200 , DOI: 10.1080/03031853.1979.9524558
- Description: The importance of the middlemen of marketing was recently high-lighted with the publication of a thirty item 'food basket' for South Africa. While the producer's share of the foodbasket is usually of chief interest to the farmers of our country and often to agricultural economists, the field of traditional agricultural marketing takes in the whole area from farm gate to consumer's table.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2010
The advent of the 'Festivore' an exploration of South African audience attendance in the performing arts at the National Arts Festival
- Authors: Antrobus, Richard Roy
- Date: 2010
- Subjects: Standard Bank National Arts Festival -- Economic aspects , Arts -- Economic aspects , Performing arts festivals -- Economic aspects -- South Africa -- Grahamstown , Arts -- South Africa -- Economic aspects , Arts -- South Africa -- Finance , Arts -- South Africa -- Political aspects , Arts audiences -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:2130 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1002362
- Description: In South Africa, the performing arts have contributed to enhancing national identity and distinctiveness despite coming up against weak legislation, policy and infrastructure to support their growth and proliferation (Fredericks, 2005: 9). Coupled with a decline in both government and consumer support and the contradictory disparity between valuing the arts and the funding of the arts, theatre companies can no longer rely on the comfort of external subsidies and financial support. In order to be economically viable and sustainable to ensure their survival, there is an increasing demand for theatre companies to look to novel ways of increasing audience demand for theatre and improving audience attendance. However, instead of risking artistic integrity and the performance product to satisfy the market, this research suggests that promotion and development of theatre at arts festivals provides a platform to access a wider theatre-going public, which therefore facilitates a change in the market focus toward appreciation of the product (production). It explores leading arguments pertaining to the attendance of arts and cultural events, namely, Peterson and Simkus (1992), later updated by Peterson‟s (2005)„omnivore-univore‟ argument. The argument purports cultural consumption as binary in nature: either significant and diverse or limited, if not absent altogether. Supported by a number of case-studies, including Chan and Goldthorpe (2005) and Montgomery and Robinson (2008) and Snowball et al. (2009), the investigation challenges Bourdieu‟s (1984) theory on cultural distinction as well as the homology and individualisation argument. In determining the factors that influence cultural taste and consumer behaviour, including motivators and inhibitors of attendance and a predominant emphasis on audience risk and information asymmetry, the research was placed in a local context, providing an overview of the socio-economic theatre environment in South Africa. It investigated the nature, structure and impact of local festivals (as events) in changing audience demand and theatre attendance. With specific reference to the South African National Arts Festival (NAF) the research notes the effects of Hauptfleisch‟s „eventification‟ phenomenon on univore attenders and therefore expands the omnivore-univore theory to include a new breed of attender: the “Festivore”. A case study explored the “Festivore” hypothesis through empirical research, surveys and face-to-face qualitative interviews and on-seat questionnaire responses by festival attenders. Personal interviews and communication was also carried out with leading experts in the field. The data was then analysed using SPSS 13 electronic statistical analysis programme to determine the socio-demographics and the factors that affect theatre attendance of existing, as well as potential target, theatre audiences at the National Arts Festival The study concluded that South African theatre attenders are generally omnivorous consumers and that, more importantly, there seems to be a shift towards „festivorous‟ consumption. Furthermore, evidence supports the development and proliferation of festivals as a means not only to support and promote the arts in South Africa but, more importantly, to generate new theatre audiences and entrench theatre attendance into South African culture.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2010
- Authors: Antrobus, Richard Roy
- Date: 2010
- Subjects: Standard Bank National Arts Festival -- Economic aspects , Arts -- Economic aspects , Performing arts festivals -- Economic aspects -- South Africa -- Grahamstown , Arts -- South Africa -- Economic aspects , Arts -- South Africa -- Finance , Arts -- South Africa -- Political aspects , Arts audiences -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:2130 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1002362
- Description: In South Africa, the performing arts have contributed to enhancing national identity and distinctiveness despite coming up against weak legislation, policy and infrastructure to support their growth and proliferation (Fredericks, 2005: 9). Coupled with a decline in both government and consumer support and the contradictory disparity between valuing the arts and the funding of the arts, theatre companies can no longer rely on the comfort of external subsidies and financial support. In order to be economically viable and sustainable to ensure their survival, there is an increasing demand for theatre companies to look to novel ways of increasing audience demand for theatre and improving audience attendance. However, instead of risking artistic integrity and the performance product to satisfy the market, this research suggests that promotion and development of theatre at arts festivals provides a platform to access a wider theatre-going public, which therefore facilitates a change in the market focus toward appreciation of the product (production). It explores leading arguments pertaining to the attendance of arts and cultural events, namely, Peterson and Simkus (1992), later updated by Peterson‟s (2005)„omnivore-univore‟ argument. The argument purports cultural consumption as binary in nature: either significant and diverse or limited, if not absent altogether. Supported by a number of case-studies, including Chan and Goldthorpe (2005) and Montgomery and Robinson (2008) and Snowball et al. (2009), the investigation challenges Bourdieu‟s (1984) theory on cultural distinction as well as the homology and individualisation argument. In determining the factors that influence cultural taste and consumer behaviour, including motivators and inhibitors of attendance and a predominant emphasis on audience risk and information asymmetry, the research was placed in a local context, providing an overview of the socio-economic theatre environment in South Africa. It investigated the nature, structure and impact of local festivals (as events) in changing audience demand and theatre attendance. With specific reference to the South African National Arts Festival (NAF) the research notes the effects of Hauptfleisch‟s „eventification‟ phenomenon on univore attenders and therefore expands the omnivore-univore theory to include a new breed of attender: the “Festivore”. A case study explored the “Festivore” hypothesis through empirical research, surveys and face-to-face qualitative interviews and on-seat questionnaire responses by festival attenders. Personal interviews and communication was also carried out with leading experts in the field. The data was then analysed using SPSS 13 electronic statistical analysis programme to determine the socio-demographics and the factors that affect theatre attendance of existing, as well as potential target, theatre audiences at the National Arts Festival The study concluded that South African theatre attenders are generally omnivorous consumers and that, more importantly, there seems to be a shift towards „festivorous‟ consumption. Furthermore, evidence supports the development and proliferation of festivals as a means not only to support and promote the arts in South Africa but, more importantly, to generate new theatre audiences and entrench theatre attendance into South African culture.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2010
Revolutionary Overthrow of Constitutional Orders in Africa
- Authors: Anyangwe, Carlson
- Date: 2010
- Subjects: Constitutional law -- Africa Civil-military relations Coups’d’états Revolutions
- Language: English
- Type: text , Lectures
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/11260/823 , vital:29828
- Description: The title of my Professorial Inaugural Lecture is ‘Revolutionary Overthrow of Constitutional Orders in Africa’. It is a subject at the intersection of three disciplines: jurisprudence and legal philosophy, constitutional law and power politics, and civil-military relations, i.e. military security policy which is one aspect of national security policy.2 The subject is of interest in at least four aspects: (i) it problematises the inescapable question of governance in the African continent; (ii) it challenges the democratization agenda in Africa - how does one democratize not only political governance but also the instruments of violence in the state? (iii) it challenges African constitutional lawyers and policy makers to seek a constitutional model that addresses the enduring menace of the power of the gun in African affairs and the changing role of the military in African politics; and (iv) it underscores national security and sovereignty concerns.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2010
- Authors: Anyangwe, Carlson
- Date: 2010
- Subjects: Constitutional law -- Africa Civil-military relations Coups’d’états Revolutions
- Language: English
- Type: text , Lectures
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/11260/823 , vital:29828
- Description: The title of my Professorial Inaugural Lecture is ‘Revolutionary Overthrow of Constitutional Orders in Africa’. It is a subject at the intersection of three disciplines: jurisprudence and legal philosophy, constitutional law and power politics, and civil-military relations, i.e. military security policy which is one aspect of national security policy.2 The subject is of interest in at least four aspects: (i) it problematises the inescapable question of governance in the African continent; (ii) it challenges the democratization agenda in Africa - how does one democratize not only political governance but also the instruments of violence in the state? (iii) it challenges African constitutional lawyers and policy makers to seek a constitutional model that addresses the enduring menace of the power of the gun in African affairs and the changing role of the military in African politics; and (iv) it underscores national security and sovereignty concerns.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2010
Strategic management guidelines for construction SMEs in the Eastern Cape
- Authors: Appels, Gaynor
- Date: 2010
- Subjects: Construction industry -- Management , Strategic planning
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: vital:8663 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/1414 , Construction industry -- Management , Strategic planning
- Description: SMEs fulfil an important role in the long-term growth and development of the economy of the country. The development and growth of construction SMEs are important for all countries, as a strong SME base has the capacity to produce a high-quality infrastructure for the country. Construction SMEs also stimulate economic activity in other sectors of the economy. Research has, however, shown that the failure rate of small businesses within the first five years is high in South Africa. Reseatch has also indicated that the lack of long-term planning and the lack of strategic thinking are major contributing factors to the business failure of SMEs. SMEs operating in the construction industry are faced with the same challenges as their counterparts in other sectors of the economy, but in addition to those difficulties, construction SMEs also have to deal with the unique characteristics of the industry that have adverse implications for them. The construction industry has experienced considerable growth and success, in the past decade, particularly as a result of the government's considerable infrastructural spending, especially in the run-up to the 2010 FIFA World Cup. The growth in the construction industry has, however, not resulted in similar results for Construction SMEs; and research has shown that most of them have not developed into more established entities. In fact, in the Eastern Cape, 91 per cent of all registered contractors fall within the lowest level of the Construction Industry Development Board's classification system. Many construction SMEs perform poorly, but among them there are those that have the potential to grow and develop into larger more established entities. Research has shown that contractor development programmes aimed at assisting the growth and development of construction companies have been successful in increasing participation in the industry, but not in ensuring that small enterprises grow into self-sustainable established enterprises. In contrast, the research has shown that SMEs that practice strategic management perform better, and that there are many advantages for SMEs in applying strategic management principles. This study, therefore, investigates how strategic management can be applied to address the problems faced by construction SMEs, and to exploire techniques and tools of strategic management that can make a significant contribution to their growth and development.
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 2010
- Authors: Appels, Gaynor
- Date: 2010
- Subjects: Construction industry -- Management , Strategic planning
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: vital:8663 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/1414 , Construction industry -- Management , Strategic planning
- Description: SMEs fulfil an important role in the long-term growth and development of the economy of the country. The development and growth of construction SMEs are important for all countries, as a strong SME base has the capacity to produce a high-quality infrastructure for the country. Construction SMEs also stimulate economic activity in other sectors of the economy. Research has, however, shown that the failure rate of small businesses within the first five years is high in South Africa. Reseatch has also indicated that the lack of long-term planning and the lack of strategic thinking are major contributing factors to the business failure of SMEs. SMEs operating in the construction industry are faced with the same challenges as their counterparts in other sectors of the economy, but in addition to those difficulties, construction SMEs also have to deal with the unique characteristics of the industry that have adverse implications for them. The construction industry has experienced considerable growth and success, in the past decade, particularly as a result of the government's considerable infrastructural spending, especially in the run-up to the 2010 FIFA World Cup. The growth in the construction industry has, however, not resulted in similar results for Construction SMEs; and research has shown that most of them have not developed into more established entities. In fact, in the Eastern Cape, 91 per cent of all registered contractors fall within the lowest level of the Construction Industry Development Board's classification system. Many construction SMEs perform poorly, but among them there are those that have the potential to grow and develop into larger more established entities. Research has shown that contractor development programmes aimed at assisting the growth and development of construction companies have been successful in increasing participation in the industry, but not in ensuring that small enterprises grow into self-sustainable established enterprises. In contrast, the research has shown that SMEs that practice strategic management perform better, and that there are many advantages for SMEs in applying strategic management principles. This study, therefore, investigates how strategic management can be applied to address the problems faced by construction SMEs, and to exploire techniques and tools of strategic management that can make a significant contribution to their growth and development.
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 2010
Evaluation of antidiarrhoeal and toxicological properties of Hermannia Incana cav.: a South African medicinal plant
- Authors: Appidi, Jaipal Reddy
- Date: 2010
- Subjects: Sterculiaceae , Medicinal plants -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Diarrhea , Botany, Medical
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: vital:11304 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/259 , Sterculiaceae , Medicinal plants -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Diarrhea , Botany, Medical
- Description: Hermannia incana Cav. (Sterculiaceae), known as sweet yellow bells, is a medicinal plant used by the people of the Eastern Cape for the treatment of stomach-ache and diarrhoea. It has purgative and diaphoretic effects. It is a prostrate herb with yellow flowers and sparsely hairy and slightly glandular leaves, occurring in grassland and marshes in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa. Based on the ethnomedical uses of this plant, the research project was designed to evaluate its antidiarrhoeal and toxicological properties. An ethnobotanical study of plants used for the treatment of diarrhoea in the Eastern Cape Province was carried out, using a questionnaire which was administered to herbalists, traditional healers and rural dwellers. This survey indicated a total of 17 plant species from 14 families. Elephantorrhiza elephantine (Burch.) Skeels, Hermannia incana Cav., Pelargonium reniforme Curt., Alepidea amatymbica Eckl. & Zeyh. and Bulbine latifolia (L.f.) Roem. et Schult. were the most frequently mentioned and highly recommended plants for the treatment of diarrhoea by both the traditional healers and rural dwellers. The root, bark and leaves are the common parts of plants used, while decoctions and infusions are the main methods of preparation. The agar dilution method was used to study the antimicrobial activity. The methanol extracts of the plant showed appreciable activity against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria at concentrations ranging from 0.5 to 7.0 mg/ml. The acetone and water extracts of both the leaves and the roots showed moderate activity against Gram positive bacteria and less activity against Gram negative bacteria. All the extracts inhibited the growth of the fungi Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus niger, and Mucor hiemalis with growth inhibition ranging from 54.31 percent to 96.67 percent at 0.1-10 mg/ml. None of the extracts suppressed the growth of Candida albicans at the maximum concentration (10 mg/ml) tested. iii In the in vivo antidiarrhoeal evaluation using Wistar rats, the aqueous extract at all the doses tested, significantly prolonged the time of induction of diarrhoea and also reduced the frequency of diarrhoeal episodes and fecal parameters (total number, number of wet, fresh and dry weight and water content of the faeces). The percentage inhibition of defecation and intestinal content (enteropooling) were increased in dose dependent manner. The doses also reduced the intestinal transit time of charcoal, masses and volumes of intestinal fluid (gastrointestinal motility). These results are indications of antidiarrhoeal property of H. incana leaf extract with the 600 mg/kg body weight of the extract being the most effective. In the toxicological evaluation using Wistar rats, the oral administration of the extract did not produce any significant effect on the liver and kidney body weight ratios, RBC, HB, PCV, MCV MCH, MCHC, RCDW, WBC, neutrophils, monocytes and basophils cholesterol, triacylglycerol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and atherogenic index. The extract also did not affect the levels of sodium, potassium, chloride, inorganic phosphorus, urea, creatinine, total protein, globulin, albumin, total and conjugated bilirubin. The activities of alkaline phosphatase, gamma glutamyl transferase and alanine aminotransaminase in the serum were increased by the extract whereas aspartate aminotransaminase was decreased. The levels of LUC, platelets, lymphocytes and eosinophils were significantly affected at 600 mg/kg body weight. The available evidence in this study suggests that the extract of H. incana leaf is mild, parameter and dose specific. The structure and distribution of foliar appendages on the leaves of this plant were investigated with the JEOL (JSM-6390LV) scanning electron microscope (SEM). Both glandular and non-glandular trichomes were observed. Long stalked glandular trichomes were present on both the abaxial and adaxial surfaces while short stalked glandular trichomes were present only on the adaxial surface. Glandular trichomes were capitate while nonglandular trichomes were stellate with many arms. Energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopyiv SEM showed that Al, Ca, K, Na, Ti and Si were the major constituents of the crystals analyzed from the leaf surfaces. The phytochemical screening of H. incana revealed the presence of bioactive antidiarrhoeal agents such as alkaloids, tannins, saponins, phenolics, triterpenes, cardiac glycosides, flavonoids, cardenolides and dienolides. Two flavonoids, epicatechin and 3, 5, 7, 2’ tetra-hydroxy flavone-3- O--D-glucopyranoside were isolated from the leaves of the plant through bio-active guided fractionation. Both these compounds were screened against diarrhoea causative organisms (Echerichia coli, Shigella flexneri, Bacillus cereus and Staphylococcus aureus) and exhibiting minimum inhibitory concentrations ranging from 12.5 to 100 μg/ml. The findings from this research have generally justified the traditional use of this plant for the treatment of diarrhoea in this province.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2010
- Authors: Appidi, Jaipal Reddy
- Date: 2010
- Subjects: Sterculiaceae , Medicinal plants -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Diarrhea , Botany, Medical
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: vital:11304 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/259 , Sterculiaceae , Medicinal plants -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Diarrhea , Botany, Medical
- Description: Hermannia incana Cav. (Sterculiaceae), known as sweet yellow bells, is a medicinal plant used by the people of the Eastern Cape for the treatment of stomach-ache and diarrhoea. It has purgative and diaphoretic effects. It is a prostrate herb with yellow flowers and sparsely hairy and slightly glandular leaves, occurring in grassland and marshes in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa. Based on the ethnomedical uses of this plant, the research project was designed to evaluate its antidiarrhoeal and toxicological properties. An ethnobotanical study of plants used for the treatment of diarrhoea in the Eastern Cape Province was carried out, using a questionnaire which was administered to herbalists, traditional healers and rural dwellers. This survey indicated a total of 17 plant species from 14 families. Elephantorrhiza elephantine (Burch.) Skeels, Hermannia incana Cav., Pelargonium reniforme Curt., Alepidea amatymbica Eckl. & Zeyh. and Bulbine latifolia (L.f.) Roem. et Schult. were the most frequently mentioned and highly recommended plants for the treatment of diarrhoea by both the traditional healers and rural dwellers. The root, bark and leaves are the common parts of plants used, while decoctions and infusions are the main methods of preparation. The agar dilution method was used to study the antimicrobial activity. The methanol extracts of the plant showed appreciable activity against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria at concentrations ranging from 0.5 to 7.0 mg/ml. The acetone and water extracts of both the leaves and the roots showed moderate activity against Gram positive bacteria and less activity against Gram negative bacteria. All the extracts inhibited the growth of the fungi Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus niger, and Mucor hiemalis with growth inhibition ranging from 54.31 percent to 96.67 percent at 0.1-10 mg/ml. None of the extracts suppressed the growth of Candida albicans at the maximum concentration (10 mg/ml) tested. iii In the in vivo antidiarrhoeal evaluation using Wistar rats, the aqueous extract at all the doses tested, significantly prolonged the time of induction of diarrhoea and also reduced the frequency of diarrhoeal episodes and fecal parameters (total number, number of wet, fresh and dry weight and water content of the faeces). The percentage inhibition of defecation and intestinal content (enteropooling) were increased in dose dependent manner. The doses also reduced the intestinal transit time of charcoal, masses and volumes of intestinal fluid (gastrointestinal motility). These results are indications of antidiarrhoeal property of H. incana leaf extract with the 600 mg/kg body weight of the extract being the most effective. In the toxicological evaluation using Wistar rats, the oral administration of the extract did not produce any significant effect on the liver and kidney body weight ratios, RBC, HB, PCV, MCV MCH, MCHC, RCDW, WBC, neutrophils, monocytes and basophils cholesterol, triacylglycerol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and atherogenic index. The extract also did not affect the levels of sodium, potassium, chloride, inorganic phosphorus, urea, creatinine, total protein, globulin, albumin, total and conjugated bilirubin. The activities of alkaline phosphatase, gamma glutamyl transferase and alanine aminotransaminase in the serum were increased by the extract whereas aspartate aminotransaminase was decreased. The levels of LUC, platelets, lymphocytes and eosinophils were significantly affected at 600 mg/kg body weight. The available evidence in this study suggests that the extract of H. incana leaf is mild, parameter and dose specific. The structure and distribution of foliar appendages on the leaves of this plant were investigated with the JEOL (JSM-6390LV) scanning electron microscope (SEM). Both glandular and non-glandular trichomes were observed. Long stalked glandular trichomes were present on both the abaxial and adaxial surfaces while short stalked glandular trichomes were present only on the adaxial surface. Glandular trichomes were capitate while nonglandular trichomes were stellate with many arms. Energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopyiv SEM showed that Al, Ca, K, Na, Ti and Si were the major constituents of the crystals analyzed from the leaf surfaces. The phytochemical screening of H. incana revealed the presence of bioactive antidiarrhoeal agents such as alkaloids, tannins, saponins, phenolics, triterpenes, cardiac glycosides, flavonoids, cardenolides and dienolides. Two flavonoids, epicatechin and 3, 5, 7, 2’ tetra-hydroxy flavone-3- O--D-glucopyranoside were isolated from the leaves of the plant through bio-active guided fractionation. Both these compounds were screened against diarrhoea causative organisms (Echerichia coli, Shigella flexneri, Bacillus cereus and Staphylococcus aureus) and exhibiting minimum inhibitory concentrations ranging from 12.5 to 100 μg/ml. The findings from this research have generally justified the traditional use of this plant for the treatment of diarrhoea in this province.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2010
An assessment of the effectiveness of trade union participation in municipal decision-making: a case study of the Buffalo City Municipality
- Authors: Apraku, Amos
- Date: 2010
- Subjects: Arbitration, Industrial -- South Africa , Labor unions -- South Africa , Local government -- South Africa -- Buffalo City Municipality
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:9037 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/1262 , Arbitration, Industrial -- South Africa , Labor unions -- South Africa , Local government -- South Africa -- Buffalo City Municipality
- Description: The objectives of this study were to first identify the decision-making bodies structures in the Buffalo City Municipality. Secondly, to assess compositions, powers and functions of such identified bodies or structures. The field study was limited to the administrative jurisdictions of the Buffalo City Municipality; however, the findings and recommendations were applicable to all municipalities in South Africa with the same or similar decision-making like the Buffalo City Municipality. In order to achieve the research objectives, a review of the relevant literature was done. It began by first looking at the constitutional and other legislative provisions establishing the Municipal government system or concept. The literature review looked at the powers and functions given to municipal governments by such constitutional provisions and how effective are such powers exercised. The literature further highlighted the role of trade unions participation and civil society groups in the smooth and effective administration of the municipality and in making the Integrated Development Planning a successful one. The data collection was done by means of questionnaire, focus group discussions complimented by face-to-face interviews. Forty respondents were sampled from six different trade unions and top municipal management. The data collected were analysed thematically with the use of frequency tables, pie charts and histograms. The findings of the study showed among other things that, the highest decision-making body in the municipality is the municipal council supported by various committees, boards and directorates. All the legislative and executive powers are vested in the municipal council. Again, it became known that, the municipal workers unions participate effectively in labour related issues whereas the non-municipal workers unions participate poorly in all consultative processes. In conclusion, there is the urgent need to bring all stakeholders including trade unions in the municipality during decision-making processes in order promote sustainable development in the municipality.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2010
- Authors: Apraku, Amos
- Date: 2010
- Subjects: Arbitration, Industrial -- South Africa , Labor unions -- South Africa , Local government -- South Africa -- Buffalo City Municipality
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:9037 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/1262 , Arbitration, Industrial -- South Africa , Labor unions -- South Africa , Local government -- South Africa -- Buffalo City Municipality
- Description: The objectives of this study were to first identify the decision-making bodies structures in the Buffalo City Municipality. Secondly, to assess compositions, powers and functions of such identified bodies or structures. The field study was limited to the administrative jurisdictions of the Buffalo City Municipality; however, the findings and recommendations were applicable to all municipalities in South Africa with the same or similar decision-making like the Buffalo City Municipality. In order to achieve the research objectives, a review of the relevant literature was done. It began by first looking at the constitutional and other legislative provisions establishing the Municipal government system or concept. The literature review looked at the powers and functions given to municipal governments by such constitutional provisions and how effective are such powers exercised. The literature further highlighted the role of trade unions participation and civil society groups in the smooth and effective administration of the municipality and in making the Integrated Development Planning a successful one. The data collection was done by means of questionnaire, focus group discussions complimented by face-to-face interviews. Forty respondents were sampled from six different trade unions and top municipal management. The data collected were analysed thematically with the use of frequency tables, pie charts and histograms. The findings of the study showed among other things that, the highest decision-making body in the municipality is the municipal council supported by various committees, boards and directorates. All the legislative and executive powers are vested in the municipal council. Again, it became known that, the municipal workers unions participate effectively in labour related issues whereas the non-municipal workers unions participate poorly in all consultative processes. In conclusion, there is the urgent need to bring all stakeholders including trade unions in the municipality during decision-making processes in order promote sustainable development in the municipality.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2010
Women, land rights and HIV/AIDS in Zimbabwe: the case of Zvimba communal area in Mashonaland West Province
- Authors: Arisunta, Caroline
- Date: 2010
- Subjects: Land tenure -- Zimbabwe , AIDS (Disease) in women -- Zimbabwe , Agricultural productivity -- Zimbabwe , Women farmers -- Zimbabwe , Women in agriculture -- Zimbabwe , Widowhood -- Zimbabwe , Inheritance and succession -- Zimbabwe , HIV-positive persons -- Zimbabwe
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , M Soc Sc (Rural Development)
- Identifier: vital:11939 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/233 , Land tenure -- Zimbabwe , AIDS (Disease) in women -- Zimbabwe , Agricultural productivity -- Zimbabwe , Women farmers -- Zimbabwe , Women in agriculture -- Zimbabwe , Widowhood -- Zimbabwe , Inheritance and succession -- Zimbabwe , HIV-positive persons -- Zimbabwe
- Description: This study explores women’s access to land under the customary tenure system. It examines how the changes in land tenure, access and rights to land as a consequence of HIV/AIDS are affecting agricultural productivity, food security and poverty, with a specific focus on women who have lost their husbands to HIV/AIDS in Zvimba. Zvimba is a village community located in Zvimba District in the Mashonaland West Province of Zimbabwe. The study also discusses policy responses designed to cushion the impact of HIV/AIDS on local communities especially women living with HIV/AIDS. The study highlights the vulnerability of widows to land rights violations, mainly inflicted by relatives but sometimes by the wider community. The main form of abuse encountered included the use of abusive language, threats of evictions and at times, beatings. The legal route for seeking redress was rarely used. Fear of witchcraft, low educational levels and fear of causing conflict between children and their paternal relatives also led widows to abandon the fight for their rights. The study further reveals that widows are heavily exposed to dispossession of their land rights. HIV/AIDS has increased the vulnerability of widows and other women to threats and dispossession of their land and other property rights. Dispossession of arable fields was observed in the four wards. The dispossessions and threats to livelihoods were directly related to the HIV positive status of the widows. The findings from this study illustrate the predominant role that male members of the household or family have over land. Thus, culture and traditional practices still affect women in other cases, disadvantaging them in favour of men, as in inheritance of land and property in the household.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2010
- Authors: Arisunta, Caroline
- Date: 2010
- Subjects: Land tenure -- Zimbabwe , AIDS (Disease) in women -- Zimbabwe , Agricultural productivity -- Zimbabwe , Women farmers -- Zimbabwe , Women in agriculture -- Zimbabwe , Widowhood -- Zimbabwe , Inheritance and succession -- Zimbabwe , HIV-positive persons -- Zimbabwe
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , M Soc Sc (Rural Development)
- Identifier: vital:11939 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/233 , Land tenure -- Zimbabwe , AIDS (Disease) in women -- Zimbabwe , Agricultural productivity -- Zimbabwe , Women farmers -- Zimbabwe , Women in agriculture -- Zimbabwe , Widowhood -- Zimbabwe , Inheritance and succession -- Zimbabwe , HIV-positive persons -- Zimbabwe
- Description: This study explores women’s access to land under the customary tenure system. It examines how the changes in land tenure, access and rights to land as a consequence of HIV/AIDS are affecting agricultural productivity, food security and poverty, with a specific focus on women who have lost their husbands to HIV/AIDS in Zvimba. Zvimba is a village community located in Zvimba District in the Mashonaland West Province of Zimbabwe. The study also discusses policy responses designed to cushion the impact of HIV/AIDS on local communities especially women living with HIV/AIDS. The study highlights the vulnerability of widows to land rights violations, mainly inflicted by relatives but sometimes by the wider community. The main form of abuse encountered included the use of abusive language, threats of evictions and at times, beatings. The legal route for seeking redress was rarely used. Fear of witchcraft, low educational levels and fear of causing conflict between children and their paternal relatives also led widows to abandon the fight for their rights. The study further reveals that widows are heavily exposed to dispossession of their land rights. HIV/AIDS has increased the vulnerability of widows and other women to threats and dispossession of their land and other property rights. Dispossession of arable fields was observed in the four wards. The dispossessions and threats to livelihoods were directly related to the HIV positive status of the widows. The findings from this study illustrate the predominant role that male members of the household or family have over land. Thus, culture and traditional practices still affect women in other cases, disadvantaging them in favour of men, as in inheritance of land and property in the household.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2010
Hippocampus: seahorse; brain-structure; spatial map; concept
- Authors: Armstrong, Beth Diane
- Date: 2010
- Subjects: Hippocampus (Brain) Sea horses -- Symbolic representation Meaning (Philosophy) Deleuze, Gilles, 1925-1995 Escher, M C (Maurits Cornelis), 1898-1972 Visual perception Space perception Optical art Art -- Themes, motives
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MFA
- Identifier: vital:2427 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1002224
- Description: Through an exploration of both sculptural and thought processes undertaken in making my Masters exhibition, ‘Hippocampus’, I unpack some possibilities, instabilities, and limitations inherent in representation and visual perception. This thesis explores the Hippocampus as image (seahorse) and concept (brain-structure involved in cognitive mapping of space). Looking at Gilles Deleuze’s writings on representation, I will expand on the notion of the map as being that which does not define and fix a structure or meaning, but rather is open, extendable and experimental. I explore the becoming, rather than the being, of image and concept. The emphasis here is on process, non-representation, and fluidity of meaning. This is supportive of my personal affirmation of the practice and process of art-making as research. I will refer to the graphic prints of Maurits Cornelis Escher as a means to elucidate a visual contextualization of my practical work, particularly with regard to the play with two- and three-dimensional space perception. Through precisely calculated ‘experiments’ that show up the partiality of our visual perception of space, Escher alludes to things that either cannot actually exist as spatial objects or do exist, but resist representation. Similarly I will explore how my own sculptures, although existing in space resist a fixed representation and suggest ideas of other spaces, non-spaces; an in-between space that does not pin itself down and become fixed to any particular image, idea, objector representation.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2010
- Authors: Armstrong, Beth Diane
- Date: 2010
- Subjects: Hippocampus (Brain) Sea horses -- Symbolic representation Meaning (Philosophy) Deleuze, Gilles, 1925-1995 Escher, M C (Maurits Cornelis), 1898-1972 Visual perception Space perception Optical art Art -- Themes, motives
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MFA
- Identifier: vital:2427 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1002224
- Description: Through an exploration of both sculptural and thought processes undertaken in making my Masters exhibition, ‘Hippocampus’, I unpack some possibilities, instabilities, and limitations inherent in representation and visual perception. This thesis explores the Hippocampus as image (seahorse) and concept (brain-structure involved in cognitive mapping of space). Looking at Gilles Deleuze’s writings on representation, I will expand on the notion of the map as being that which does not define and fix a structure or meaning, but rather is open, extendable and experimental. I explore the becoming, rather than the being, of image and concept. The emphasis here is on process, non-representation, and fluidity of meaning. This is supportive of my personal affirmation of the practice and process of art-making as research. I will refer to the graphic prints of Maurits Cornelis Escher as a means to elucidate a visual contextualization of my practical work, particularly with regard to the play with two- and three-dimensional space perception. Through precisely calculated ‘experiments’ that show up the partiality of our visual perception of space, Escher alludes to things that either cannot actually exist as spatial objects or do exist, but resist representation. Similarly I will explore how my own sculptures, although existing in space resist a fixed representation and suggest ideas of other spaces, non-spaces; an in-between space that does not pin itself down and become fixed to any particular image, idea, objector representation.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2010
Beyond teaching language: towards terminological primacy in learners' geometric conceptualisation
- Atebe, Humphrey U, Schäfer, Marc
- Authors: Atebe, Humphrey U , Schäfer, Marc
- Date: 2010
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/140960 , vital:37932 , https://0-hdl.handle.net.wam.seals.ac.za/10520/EJC20922
- Description: This paper reports on a specific aspect of a broader geometry conceptualisation study that sought to explore and explicate learners' knowledge of basic geometric terminology in selected Nigerian and South African high schools. It is framed by the notion that students' acquisition of the correct terminology in school geometry is important for their success in the subject. The original study further aimed to determine the relationship that might exist between a learner's ability in verbal geometry terminology tasks and his/her ability in visual geometry terminology tasks. A total of 144 learners (72 each from South Africa and Nigeria) were selected for the study, using both the stratified and the fish-bowl sampling techniques. A questionnaire consisting of a sixty-item multiple-choice objective test provided the data for the study. An overall percentage mean score of 44,17% obtained in the test indicated that learners in this study had only a limited knowledge of basic geometric terminology. The Nigerian subsample in the study had a weaker understanding of basic geometric terminology than their South African counterparts. Importantly, there were high positive correlations between participants' ability in verbal geometry terminology tasks and their ability in visual geometry terminology tasks. These results are consistent with those of several earlier studies, and provide a reasonably firm basis for certain recommendations to be made.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2010
- Authors: Atebe, Humphrey U , Schäfer, Marc
- Date: 2010
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/140960 , vital:37932 , https://0-hdl.handle.net.wam.seals.ac.za/10520/EJC20922
- Description: This paper reports on a specific aspect of a broader geometry conceptualisation study that sought to explore and explicate learners' knowledge of basic geometric terminology in selected Nigerian and South African high schools. It is framed by the notion that students' acquisition of the correct terminology in school geometry is important for their success in the subject. The original study further aimed to determine the relationship that might exist between a learner's ability in verbal geometry terminology tasks and his/her ability in visual geometry terminology tasks. A total of 144 learners (72 each from South Africa and Nigeria) were selected for the study, using both the stratified and the fish-bowl sampling techniques. A questionnaire consisting of a sixty-item multiple-choice objective test provided the data for the study. An overall percentage mean score of 44,17% obtained in the test indicated that learners in this study had only a limited knowledge of basic geometric terminology. The Nigerian subsample in the study had a weaker understanding of basic geometric terminology than their South African counterparts. Importantly, there were high positive correlations between participants' ability in verbal geometry terminology tasks and their ability in visual geometry terminology tasks. These results are consistent with those of several earlier studies, and provide a reasonably firm basis for certain recommendations to be made.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2010
Investigations of the bioavailability/bioequivalence of topical corticosteroid formulations containing clobetasol propionate using the human skin blanching assay, tape stripping and microdialysis
- Authors: Au, Wai Ling
- Date: 2010
- Subjects: Adrenocortical hormones -- Bioavailability , Drugs -- Therapeutic equivalency , Adrenocortical hormones -- Effectiveness , Adrenocortical hormones -- Testing , Adrenocortical hormones -- Side effects , Transdermal medication
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: vital:3743 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1003221 , Adrenocortical hormones -- Bioavailability , Drugs -- Therapeutic equivalency , Adrenocortical hormones -- Effectiveness , Adrenocortical hormones -- Testing , Adrenocortical hormones -- Side effects , Transdermal medication
- Description: Currently, clinical trials in patients are required by most regulatory authorities for the assessment of bioequivalence of topical products where the drug is not intended for systemic absorption. Hence there is a dire need for suitable methods for the assessment of bioavailability and bioequivalence of such products since clinical safety and efficacy studies are expensive, time-consuming and require very large numbers of patients. Except for topical corticosteroid products where the human skin blanching assay/vasoconstrictor assay has been approved by the US FDA for bioequivalence assessment of those products, no other method has been “officially” approved for use in those investigations. However, a few alternative methods such as tape stripping and microdialysis have been pursued and considered to have the potential for use in ioequivalence/bioavailability studies. The human skin blanching assay was used to assess the bioequivalence of commercially available topical products containing 0.05% clobetasol propionate. Both visual and chromameter data were obtained and a commercially available topical corticosteroid product, Dermovate® cream was used as both the “Test” and the “Reference” product. The results indicated that both visual and chromametric assessments were comparable to each other and that either could be used for the assessment of the bioequivalence of topical products containing clobetasol propionate. The screening procedure was optimized to identify potential “detectors” for inclusion in the bioequivalence studies. This resulted in fewer subjects being required in a bioequivalence pivotal study, still having the necessary power to confirm bioequivalence using the human skin blanching assay. Another objective of this research was to re-visit tape stripping and other possible alternative methods such as dermal microdialysis and to optimize these procedures for bioequivalence assessment of topical formulations where the drug is not intended for systemic absorption. In the past few decades, tape stripping has been used to investigate bioavailability/bioequivalence of various topical formulations. This technique involves the removal of the stratum corneum to assess drug penetration through the skin. A draft FDA guidance for tape stripping was initially published but was subsequently withdrawn due to high variability and poor reproducibility. This research project used an optimized tape stripping procedure to determine bioavailability and establish bioequivalence between three commercially available formulations containing 0.05 % m/m clobetasol propionate. Furthermore, tape stripping was validated by undertaking a study to assess the bioequivalence of a 0.05% topical cream formulation (Dermovate® cream) using the same cream as both the “Test” and “Reference” product, in which bioequivalence was confirmed. The findings highlight the potential of tape stripping as an alternative method for the assessment of bioequivalence of clobetasol propionate formulations and may possibly be extended for use in other topical products. Microdialysis is another useful technique that can assess the penetration of topically applied substances which diffuses through the stratum corneum and into the dermis. Microdialysis has previously been successfully used for in vivo bioavailability and bioequivalence assessments of topical formulations. However, the drugs which were under investigation were all hydrophilic in nature. A major problem with the use of microdialysis for the assessment of lipophilic substances is the binding/adherence of the substance to the membrane and other components of the microdialysis system. As a result, this necessitates the development of a microdialysis system which can be used to assess lipophilic drugs. Intralipid® 20% was investigated and successfully utilized as a perfusate to recover a lipophilic topical corticosteroid, clobetasol propionate, in microdialysis studies. Hence, the bioavailability of clobetasol propionate from an extemporaneous preparation was determined in healthy human volunteers using microdialysis. These findings indicate that in vivo microdialysis can be used to assess lipophilic drug penetration through the skin. A novel approach to investigate drug release from topical formulations containing 0.05% clobetasol propionate using in vitro microdialysis was also undertaken. The in vitro findings were found to be in agreement with the results obtained using tape stripping to assess bioequivalence of the same commercially available products, namely Dermovate® cream, Dovate® Cream and Dermovate® ointment. These results indicate the potential to correlate in vitro with in vivo data for bioequivalence assessment of such topical dosage forms.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2010
- Authors: Au, Wai Ling
- Date: 2010
- Subjects: Adrenocortical hormones -- Bioavailability , Drugs -- Therapeutic equivalency , Adrenocortical hormones -- Effectiveness , Adrenocortical hormones -- Testing , Adrenocortical hormones -- Side effects , Transdermal medication
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: vital:3743 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1003221 , Adrenocortical hormones -- Bioavailability , Drugs -- Therapeutic equivalency , Adrenocortical hormones -- Effectiveness , Adrenocortical hormones -- Testing , Adrenocortical hormones -- Side effects , Transdermal medication
- Description: Currently, clinical trials in patients are required by most regulatory authorities for the assessment of bioequivalence of topical products where the drug is not intended for systemic absorption. Hence there is a dire need for suitable methods for the assessment of bioavailability and bioequivalence of such products since clinical safety and efficacy studies are expensive, time-consuming and require very large numbers of patients. Except for topical corticosteroid products where the human skin blanching assay/vasoconstrictor assay has been approved by the US FDA for bioequivalence assessment of those products, no other method has been “officially” approved for use in those investigations. However, a few alternative methods such as tape stripping and microdialysis have been pursued and considered to have the potential for use in ioequivalence/bioavailability studies. The human skin blanching assay was used to assess the bioequivalence of commercially available topical products containing 0.05% clobetasol propionate. Both visual and chromameter data were obtained and a commercially available topical corticosteroid product, Dermovate® cream was used as both the “Test” and the “Reference” product. The results indicated that both visual and chromametric assessments were comparable to each other and that either could be used for the assessment of the bioequivalence of topical products containing clobetasol propionate. The screening procedure was optimized to identify potential “detectors” for inclusion in the bioequivalence studies. This resulted in fewer subjects being required in a bioequivalence pivotal study, still having the necessary power to confirm bioequivalence using the human skin blanching assay. Another objective of this research was to re-visit tape stripping and other possible alternative methods such as dermal microdialysis and to optimize these procedures for bioequivalence assessment of topical formulations where the drug is not intended for systemic absorption. In the past few decades, tape stripping has been used to investigate bioavailability/bioequivalence of various topical formulations. This technique involves the removal of the stratum corneum to assess drug penetration through the skin. A draft FDA guidance for tape stripping was initially published but was subsequently withdrawn due to high variability and poor reproducibility. This research project used an optimized tape stripping procedure to determine bioavailability and establish bioequivalence between three commercially available formulations containing 0.05 % m/m clobetasol propionate. Furthermore, tape stripping was validated by undertaking a study to assess the bioequivalence of a 0.05% topical cream formulation (Dermovate® cream) using the same cream as both the “Test” and “Reference” product, in which bioequivalence was confirmed. The findings highlight the potential of tape stripping as an alternative method for the assessment of bioequivalence of clobetasol propionate formulations and may possibly be extended for use in other topical products. Microdialysis is another useful technique that can assess the penetration of topically applied substances which diffuses through the stratum corneum and into the dermis. Microdialysis has previously been successfully used for in vivo bioavailability and bioequivalence assessments of topical formulations. However, the drugs which were under investigation were all hydrophilic in nature. A major problem with the use of microdialysis for the assessment of lipophilic substances is the binding/adherence of the substance to the membrane and other components of the microdialysis system. As a result, this necessitates the development of a microdialysis system which can be used to assess lipophilic drugs. Intralipid® 20% was investigated and successfully utilized as a perfusate to recover a lipophilic topical corticosteroid, clobetasol propionate, in microdialysis studies. Hence, the bioavailability of clobetasol propionate from an extemporaneous preparation was determined in healthy human volunteers using microdialysis. These findings indicate that in vivo microdialysis can be used to assess lipophilic drug penetration through the skin. A novel approach to investigate drug release from topical formulations containing 0.05% clobetasol propionate using in vitro microdialysis was also undertaken. The in vitro findings were found to be in agreement with the results obtained using tape stripping to assess bioequivalence of the same commercially available products, namely Dermovate® cream, Dovate® Cream and Dermovate® ointment. These results indicate the potential to correlate in vitro with in vivo data for bioequivalence assessment of such topical dosage forms.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2010
A value-based approach to promoting excellence in mathematics education
- Authors: Austin, Pamela Winifred
- Date: 2010
- Subjects: Mathematics -- Study and teaching -- South Africa , Inquiry-based learning -- South Africa , Active learning -- South Africa , Effective teaching -- South Africa , Self-efficacy
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DPhil
- Identifier: vital:9482 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/1656 , Mathematics -- Study and teaching -- South Africa , Inquiry-based learning -- South Africa , Active learning -- South Africa , Effective teaching -- South Africa , Self-efficacy
- Description: This research study has emerged as a result of my concern regarding the apparent low self-efficacy amongst initial teacher education students in my mathematics education classes. It also reflects a reported renewed interest in values, and the promotion of excellence in education. The effects of a values-based approach to mathematics education towards improving students’ self-efficacy and promoting excellence have been investigated, grounded within my ontology of excellence in mathematics education, which incorporates the values of respect, fairness, accountability, honesty and compassion. An inquiry-based teaching and learning approach formed the framework within which the study took place. Notions of ‘new scholarship’, premised on the view that teaching is about engagement in participatory learning, and the development of communities of creative students, provided the theoretical framework. Both quantitative and qualitative data gathering methods were used. Data-collection tools included affective-disposition statements, interviews, journal entries, as well as a video recording of a mathematics education lesson. The quantitative and qualitative data generated suggest improved levels of self-efficacy amongst the students who participated in the study. The data also suggest that a valuesbased approach to teaching can be used as an effective approach by mathematics teachers – and mathematics teacher educators – for the purpose of promoting the pursuit of excellence. As teacher education worldwide is currently characterised by a lack of vitality in teacher preparation (Grossman, 2008), the findings of this study should provide insights for teacher educators, teachers and policy makers who wish to promote mathematics self-efficacy, excellence and facilitate enhanced vitality within the teaching profession.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2010
- Authors: Austin, Pamela Winifred
- Date: 2010
- Subjects: Mathematics -- Study and teaching -- South Africa , Inquiry-based learning -- South Africa , Active learning -- South Africa , Effective teaching -- South Africa , Self-efficacy
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DPhil
- Identifier: vital:9482 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/1656 , Mathematics -- Study and teaching -- South Africa , Inquiry-based learning -- South Africa , Active learning -- South Africa , Effective teaching -- South Africa , Self-efficacy
- Description: This research study has emerged as a result of my concern regarding the apparent low self-efficacy amongst initial teacher education students in my mathematics education classes. It also reflects a reported renewed interest in values, and the promotion of excellence in education. The effects of a values-based approach to mathematics education towards improving students’ self-efficacy and promoting excellence have been investigated, grounded within my ontology of excellence in mathematics education, which incorporates the values of respect, fairness, accountability, honesty and compassion. An inquiry-based teaching and learning approach formed the framework within which the study took place. Notions of ‘new scholarship’, premised on the view that teaching is about engagement in participatory learning, and the development of communities of creative students, provided the theoretical framework. Both quantitative and qualitative data gathering methods were used. Data-collection tools included affective-disposition statements, interviews, journal entries, as well as a video recording of a mathematics education lesson. The quantitative and qualitative data generated suggest improved levels of self-efficacy amongst the students who participated in the study. The data also suggest that a valuesbased approach to teaching can be used as an effective approach by mathematics teachers – and mathematics teacher educators – for the purpose of promoting the pursuit of excellence. As teacher education worldwide is currently characterised by a lack of vitality in teacher preparation (Grossman, 2008), the findings of this study should provide insights for teacher educators, teachers and policy makers who wish to promote mathematics self-efficacy, excellence and facilitate enhanced vitality within the teaching profession.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2010
An investigation into the organisational culture at an academically successful secondary school in Namibia
- Authors: Awarab, Erwin Ronald
- Date: 2010
- Subjects: Corporate culture -- Namibia -- Case studies Organizational behavior -- Namibia -- Case studies School management and organization -- Namibia -- Case studies Educational leadership -- Namibia -- Case studies Education, Secondary -- Namibia -- Case studies Educational change -- Namibia -- Case studies
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MEd
- Identifier: vital:1612 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1003494
- Description: The appreciation by leadership of the culture of an organisation plays an important role in the success of that organisation. Leadership and organisation culture are an inextricable part of the life of an organisation. The shared assumptions and beliefs of the individual within an organisation shape its culture. My study investigates the aspects of school culture and, further, looks at its link to the success of an organisation, and at the leadership style that influences such an organisation. My research, conducted in the interpretive paradigm, is a case study which was carried out at a public secondary school in the capital city of Windhoek, in Namibia. Since the school was built during South African rule, it was intended mainly for white children. Since independence, it has undergone transformation and is currently integrated, accommodating learners from different cultural backgrounds. It is a successful school, with a good reputation for its discipline and academic excellence. I chose this school deliberately, for those reasons. My findings are that there are aspects of culture which maintain its creation and perpetuate the existence of a particular culture at the school. This school’s culture is embedded within the Christian faith, and there are deliberate rituals and ceremonies put in place to enhance the creation and maintenance of the values that inform its culture, and the school leadership, management, teachers and student council members have a central role in this regard. My study shows that the creation, understanding and appreciation of beliefs and values of the individual within the organisation enable the consequent creation of the shared vision and values that ultimately lead to the foundation and maintenance of a strong culture.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2010
- Authors: Awarab, Erwin Ronald
- Date: 2010
- Subjects: Corporate culture -- Namibia -- Case studies Organizational behavior -- Namibia -- Case studies School management and organization -- Namibia -- Case studies Educational leadership -- Namibia -- Case studies Education, Secondary -- Namibia -- Case studies Educational change -- Namibia -- Case studies
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MEd
- Identifier: vital:1612 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1003494
- Description: The appreciation by leadership of the culture of an organisation plays an important role in the success of that organisation. Leadership and organisation culture are an inextricable part of the life of an organisation. The shared assumptions and beliefs of the individual within an organisation shape its culture. My study investigates the aspects of school culture and, further, looks at its link to the success of an organisation, and at the leadership style that influences such an organisation. My research, conducted in the interpretive paradigm, is a case study which was carried out at a public secondary school in the capital city of Windhoek, in Namibia. Since the school was built during South African rule, it was intended mainly for white children. Since independence, it has undergone transformation and is currently integrated, accommodating learners from different cultural backgrounds. It is a successful school, with a good reputation for its discipline and academic excellence. I chose this school deliberately, for those reasons. My findings are that there are aspects of culture which maintain its creation and perpetuate the existence of a particular culture at the school. This school’s culture is embedded within the Christian faith, and there are deliberate rituals and ceremonies put in place to enhance the creation and maintenance of the values that inform its culture, and the school leadership, management, teachers and student council members have a central role in this regard. My study shows that the creation, understanding and appreciation of beliefs and values of the individual within the organisation enable the consequent creation of the shared vision and values that ultimately lead to the foundation and maintenance of a strong culture.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2010
Natural enemies from South Africa for biological control of Lagarosiphon major (Ridl.) Moss ex Wager (Hydrocharitaceae) in Europe
- Baars, Jan-Robert, Coetzee, Julie A, Martin, Grant D, Hill, Martin P, Caffrey, J M
- Authors: Baars, Jan-Robert , Coetzee, Julie A , Martin, Grant D , Hill, Martin P , Caffrey, J M
- Date: 2010
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/76914 , vital:30637 , https://doi.org/10.1007/s10750-010-0427-0
- Description: The non-native invasive plant, Lagarosiphon major (Hydrocharitaceae) is a submersed aquatic macrophyte that poses a significant threat to water bodies in Europe. Dense infestations prove difficult to manage using traditional methods. In order to initiate a biocontrol programme, a survey for natural enemies of Lagarosiphon was conducted in South Africa. Several phytophagous species were recorded for the first time, with at least three showing notable promise as candidate agents. Amongst these, a leaf-mining fly, Hydrellia sp. (Ephydridae) that occurred over a wide distribution causes significant leaf damage despite high levels of parasitism by braconid wasps. Another yet unidentified fly was recorded mining the stem of L. major. Two leaf-feeding and shoot boring weevils, cf. Bagous sp. (Curculionidae) were recorded damaging the shoot tips and stunting the growth of the stem. Several leaf-feeding lepidopteran species (Nymphulinae) were frequently recorded, but are expected to feed on a wide range of plant species and are not considered for importation before other candidates are assessed. The discovery of several natural enemies in the country of origin improves the biological control prospects of L. major in Europe.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2010
- Authors: Baars, Jan-Robert , Coetzee, Julie A , Martin, Grant D , Hill, Martin P , Caffrey, J M
- Date: 2010
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/76914 , vital:30637 , https://doi.org/10.1007/s10750-010-0427-0
- Description: The non-native invasive plant, Lagarosiphon major (Hydrocharitaceae) is a submersed aquatic macrophyte that poses a significant threat to water bodies in Europe. Dense infestations prove difficult to manage using traditional methods. In order to initiate a biocontrol programme, a survey for natural enemies of Lagarosiphon was conducted in South Africa. Several phytophagous species were recorded for the first time, with at least three showing notable promise as candidate agents. Amongst these, a leaf-mining fly, Hydrellia sp. (Ephydridae) that occurred over a wide distribution causes significant leaf damage despite high levels of parasitism by braconid wasps. Another yet unidentified fly was recorded mining the stem of L. major. Two leaf-feeding and shoot boring weevils, cf. Bagous sp. (Curculionidae) were recorded damaging the shoot tips and stunting the growth of the stem. Several leaf-feeding lepidopteran species (Nymphulinae) were frequently recorded, but are expected to feed on a wide range of plant species and are not considered for importation before other candidates are assessed. The discovery of several natural enemies in the country of origin improves the biological control prospects of L. major in Europe.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2010
The Global Auction: the broken promises of education, jobs, and incomes
- Authors: Badat, Saleem
- Date: 2010
- Language: English
- Type: Text
- Identifier: vital:7786 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1015941
- Description: Discussant: Hugh Lauder, University of Bath - Keynote Paper/Address: Economic Globalisation, Skill Formation and the Consequences for Knowledge Workers
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2010
- Authors: Badat, Saleem
- Date: 2010
- Language: English
- Type: Text
- Identifier: vital:7786 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1015941
- Description: Discussant: Hugh Lauder, University of Bath - Keynote Paper/Address: Economic Globalisation, Skill Formation and the Consequences for Knowledge Workers
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2010
Vice-Chancellor's welcoming address 2010
- Authors: Badat, Saleem
- Date: 2010
- Language: English
- Type: text
- Identifier: vital:7590 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1006581
- Description: From introduction: Rhodes University, which means, you and I and academics and support staff, exists to serve three purposes. The first is to produce knowledge, so that we can advance understanding of our natural and social worlds and enrich our accumulated scientific and cultural heritage. As a university our second purpose is to disseminate knowledge and to cultivate minds. Our goal is to ensure that you can think imaginatively, “effectively and critically”; that you “achieve depth in some field of knowledge”; that you can critique and construct alternatives, that you can communicate cogently, orally and in writing, and that you have a “critical appreciation of the ways in which we gain knowledge and understanding of the universe, of society, and of ourselves” Our final purpose as a university is to undertake community engagement. On the one hand this involves your voluntary participation in community projects undertaken thorough our Community Engagement office. On the other hand, it involves service-learning, in which through your academic courses you take part “in activities where both the community” and you benefit, “and where the goals are to provide a service to the community and, equally, to enhance (your) learning through rendering this service”
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2010
- Authors: Badat, Saleem
- Date: 2010
- Language: English
- Type: text
- Identifier: vital:7590 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1006581
- Description: From introduction: Rhodes University, which means, you and I and academics and support staff, exists to serve three purposes. The first is to produce knowledge, so that we can advance understanding of our natural and social worlds and enrich our accumulated scientific and cultural heritage. As a university our second purpose is to disseminate knowledge and to cultivate minds. Our goal is to ensure that you can think imaginatively, “effectively and critically”; that you “achieve depth in some field of knowledge”; that you can critique and construct alternatives, that you can communicate cogently, orally and in writing, and that you have a “critical appreciation of the ways in which we gain knowledge and understanding of the universe, of society, and of ourselves” Our final purpose as a university is to undertake community engagement. On the one hand this involves your voluntary participation in community projects undertaken thorough our Community Engagement office. On the other hand, it involves service-learning, in which through your academic courses you take part “in activities where both the community” and you benefit, “and where the goals are to provide a service to the community and, equally, to enhance (your) learning through rendering this service”
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2010
Rhodes University 2010 Graduation Ceremonies Address
- Authors: Badat, Saleem
- Date: 2010
- Language: English
- Type: text
- Identifier: vital:7586 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1006577
- Description: From introduction: Most of you who are graduating were born in the late 1980s, a period of great turbulence and social conflict. This was, however, also a time of great optimism for it was clear that apartheid tyranny could no longer continue and had to give way to a new social order. We must take immense pride in the imagination, creativity, ingenuity and courage that we displayed as a people to rid ourselves of tyranny and to fashion our democracy. You are a generation that has been, thankfully, largely spared the horrors, brutality and injustices of apartheid. You are the first generation with the opportunity of living in a society founded on a democratic Constitution that proclaims the commitment to human dignity, the achievement of equality, and the advancement of non-sexism and non-racialism and the human rights and freedoms that are contained in our Bill of Rights.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2010
- Authors: Badat, Saleem
- Date: 2010
- Language: English
- Type: text
- Identifier: vital:7586 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1006577
- Description: From introduction: Most of you who are graduating were born in the late 1980s, a period of great turbulence and social conflict. This was, however, also a time of great optimism for it was clear that apartheid tyranny could no longer continue and had to give way to a new social order. We must take immense pride in the imagination, creativity, ingenuity and courage that we displayed as a people to rid ourselves of tyranny and to fashion our democracy. You are a generation that has been, thankfully, largely spared the horrors, brutality and injustices of apartheid. You are the first generation with the opportunity of living in a society founded on a democratic Constitution that proclaims the commitment to human dignity, the achievement of equality, and the advancement of non-sexism and non-racialism and the human rights and freedoms that are contained in our Bill of Rights.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2010
The migration of the term "civil war" : a social constructivist explanation
- Authors: Bailie, Lawrence Craig
- Date: 2010
- Subjects: Civil Wars United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865 Iraq -- History -- Civil War, 1991
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:2845 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1006022 , DOI http://doi.org/10.21504/10962/d1006022
- Description: Although the occurrence of wars between states has been in decline, the same cannot be said of conflict within states – especially when considering the innumerable ‘Civil Wars’ said to have occurred since the end of the Cold War. In this context the use of the word ‘innumerable’ is qualified more by the variance in how ‘Civil War’ is understood as a concept (leading to different claims as to how many conflicts of this kind may have occurred over a period of time) and less by their large number. Claims regarding the occurrence of ‘Civil War’ suggest this type of conflict to be the dominant form at least since the end of World War Two. This prevalence in the face of a decline in inter-state warfare has afforded greater interest to ‘Civil War’ as a topic of inquiry. The understanding that ‘Civil Wars’ have with time increased in their occurrence and changed in their nature comes under investigation in this thesis and is seen as problematic in that the means by which a phenomenon is measured (i.e. through its nature) must be fixed so as to measure the frequency of that phenomenon. Using Social Constructivism as a theoretical lens of inquiry, sense is made of this understanding and, furthermore, the true meaning behind the claim that ‘Civil War’ has changed is revealed. The empirical evidence that accompanies this theoretical work exists in the American Civil War of 1861–1865 and the debate over the conflict in Iraq following the U.S. invasion in 2003. This debate is used as a means by which to bring the contestation over the notion of ‘Civil War’ to the fore, while a comparison of this conflict with the quintessential American Civil War reveals the migration of the term.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2010
- Authors: Bailie, Lawrence Craig
- Date: 2010
- Subjects: Civil Wars United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865 Iraq -- History -- Civil War, 1991
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:2845 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1006022 , DOI http://doi.org/10.21504/10962/d1006022
- Description: Although the occurrence of wars between states has been in decline, the same cannot be said of conflict within states – especially when considering the innumerable ‘Civil Wars’ said to have occurred since the end of the Cold War. In this context the use of the word ‘innumerable’ is qualified more by the variance in how ‘Civil War’ is understood as a concept (leading to different claims as to how many conflicts of this kind may have occurred over a period of time) and less by their large number. Claims regarding the occurrence of ‘Civil War’ suggest this type of conflict to be the dominant form at least since the end of World War Two. This prevalence in the face of a decline in inter-state warfare has afforded greater interest to ‘Civil War’ as a topic of inquiry. The understanding that ‘Civil Wars’ have with time increased in their occurrence and changed in their nature comes under investigation in this thesis and is seen as problematic in that the means by which a phenomenon is measured (i.e. through its nature) must be fixed so as to measure the frequency of that phenomenon. Using Social Constructivism as a theoretical lens of inquiry, sense is made of this understanding and, furthermore, the true meaning behind the claim that ‘Civil War’ has changed is revealed. The empirical evidence that accompanies this theoretical work exists in the American Civil War of 1861–1865 and the debate over the conflict in Iraq following the U.S. invasion in 2003. This debate is used as a means by which to bring the contestation over the notion of ‘Civil War’ to the fore, while a comparison of this conflict with the quintessential American Civil War reveals the migration of the term.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2010
Site of struggle: the Freedom Park fracas and the divisive legacy of South Africa’s Border War/Liberation Struggle
- Authors: Baines, Gary F
- Date: 2010
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/126954 , vital:35938 , https://doi.10.1080/02533950903076428
- Description: In South Africa, Carcharias taurus is commonly known as the ragged-tooth shark or raggie. The species is also referred to as the sand-tiger shark in North America and as the grey-nurse shark in Australia. It is a long-lived species with an estimated longevity of up to 40 years (Goldman 2002). Female sharks reach sexual maturity at approximately 10 years (Goldman 2002), and they exhibit a biennial reproductive cycle (Branstetter and Musick 1994, Lucifora et al. 2002, G Cliff, Natal Sharks Board, unpublished data). Intra-uterine cannibalisation results in a maximum fecundity of two pups per litter after a gestation period of approximately 9–12 months (Bass et al. 1975, Gilmore et al. 1983). These life-history characteristics make this species particularly susceptible to overexploitation.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2010
- Authors: Baines, Gary F
- Date: 2010
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/126954 , vital:35938 , https://doi.10.1080/02533950903076428
- Description: In South Africa, Carcharias taurus is commonly known as the ragged-tooth shark or raggie. The species is also referred to as the sand-tiger shark in North America and as the grey-nurse shark in Australia. It is a long-lived species with an estimated longevity of up to 40 years (Goldman 2002). Female sharks reach sexual maturity at approximately 10 years (Goldman 2002), and they exhibit a biennial reproductive cycle (Branstetter and Musick 1994, Lucifora et al. 2002, G Cliff, Natal Sharks Board, unpublished data). Intra-uterine cannibalisation results in a maximum fecundity of two pups per litter after a gestation period of approximately 9–12 months (Bass et al. 1975, Gilmore et al. 1983). These life-history characteristics make this species particularly susceptible to overexploitation.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2010
Antibiotic use in two hospitals in West Wollega, Ethiopia
- Authors: Banja, Wakweya Dugassa
- Date: 2010
- Subjects: Antibiotics , Bacterial diseases -- Chemotherapy
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:10141 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/1263 , Antibiotics , Bacterial diseases -- Chemotherapy
- Description: In the last decades, there has been an escalating consumption of antibiotics with the number of antibiotic prescriptions increasing worldwide. Overuse or inappropriate use of antibiotics has resulted in a major increase in the development of multi-drug resistant pathogens. Antimicrobial resistance is one of the world’s most serious public health problems with great implication in terms of morbidity, mortality, and costs. To date, there has been no formal antibiotic use study conducted in the West Wollega zone of Ethiopia to assess antibiotic utilization. The objective of this study was to determine the pattern of antibiotic use in two hospitals in the West Wollega zone of Ethiopia, namely Gimbie Adventist Hospital and Nedjo Hospitals, using drug utilization metrics and the costs associated. In addition it was to assess the correlation between diagnosed infectious diseases and antibiotic prescriptions. This study was a cross-sectional, retrospective, descriptive review of antibiotic usage in the two hospitals in the year 2007. Prescriptions dispensed in the first month of each quarter of 2007 were reviewed. The number of prescriptions screened, antibiotic courses started, antibiotic days by specific agent and overall, the cost of individual and all antibiotics, the number and type of infectious diseases diagnosed were collected from which core drug use indicators were calculated. The correlation between infectious disease diagnosed and the antibiotic days prescribed were analyzed. A total of 18568 antibiotic and non-antibiotic prescriptions were reviewed retrospectively in the four months of the study period, 47 percent of which contained at least one antibiotic. The average number of antibiotics per prescription was 1.33 and 1.09 whilst the percentage of injectable antibiotics prescribed was 83.2 percent and 3.76 percent to outpatients and inpatients respectively. Antibiotics prescribed from the Essential Drug List (EDL) and List of Drugs for District Hospital (LDDH) were 63.0 percent, 74.8 percent, and 90.8 percent and 76.1 percent for outpatients and inpatients respectively. 98.6 percent of outpatient and 97.0 percent inpatient prescribed antibiotics were actually dispensed. Penicillins and quinolones were the most prescribed antibiotics in both inpatient and outpatient departments constituting 43.46 percent and 24.08 percent respectively. The antibiotic utilization ratio, incidence of outpatient antibiotic use, incidence of inpatient antibiotic use, the number of Defined Daily Doses (DDD)/1000inhabitants/year and DDD/100 Occupied Bed Days (OBD) for the zone was 0.16, 17.25, 23.56, 158.61, and 70 respectively. Antibiotic cost constituted 33.7 percent of all expenditure on drug, cost of antibiotic per patient care day and cost per antibiotic day was 3.84 Ethiopian Birr (ETB) ($0.40) and 6.29 ETB ($0.66) respectively. The correlation between infectious diseases diagnosed and antibiotic prescription shows significant variation. At outpatient departments alone an average number of antibiotic courses started was 2.7 at Gimbie Adventist Hospital and 7.6 for Nedjo Hospital. When overall antibiotic days prescribed and required was compared in both hospitals, there were 2.4 and 5 times more antibiotic days prescribed than were required for Gimbie and Nedjo Hospitals respectively. This suggests that the overuse of antibiotic is worse in the government hospital (Nedjo Hospital) than in the mission hospital (Gimbie Adventist Hospital). This study suggested that there was overuse of antibiotics in the West Wollega hospitals although further investigation is needed to identify its underlying causes and nature. It is recommended that the health personnel, the hospital management, the zonal and regional Health Bureau, the regulatory bodies and Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) work hand-in-hand to promote the rational use of antibiotics in this region so that the consequences and financial cost of antimicrobial resistance can be prevented.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2010
- Authors: Banja, Wakweya Dugassa
- Date: 2010
- Subjects: Antibiotics , Bacterial diseases -- Chemotherapy
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:10141 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/1263 , Antibiotics , Bacterial diseases -- Chemotherapy
- Description: In the last decades, there has been an escalating consumption of antibiotics with the number of antibiotic prescriptions increasing worldwide. Overuse or inappropriate use of antibiotics has resulted in a major increase in the development of multi-drug resistant pathogens. Antimicrobial resistance is one of the world’s most serious public health problems with great implication in terms of morbidity, mortality, and costs. To date, there has been no formal antibiotic use study conducted in the West Wollega zone of Ethiopia to assess antibiotic utilization. The objective of this study was to determine the pattern of antibiotic use in two hospitals in the West Wollega zone of Ethiopia, namely Gimbie Adventist Hospital and Nedjo Hospitals, using drug utilization metrics and the costs associated. In addition it was to assess the correlation between diagnosed infectious diseases and antibiotic prescriptions. This study was a cross-sectional, retrospective, descriptive review of antibiotic usage in the two hospitals in the year 2007. Prescriptions dispensed in the first month of each quarter of 2007 were reviewed. The number of prescriptions screened, antibiotic courses started, antibiotic days by specific agent and overall, the cost of individual and all antibiotics, the number and type of infectious diseases diagnosed were collected from which core drug use indicators were calculated. The correlation between infectious disease diagnosed and the antibiotic days prescribed were analyzed. A total of 18568 antibiotic and non-antibiotic prescriptions were reviewed retrospectively in the four months of the study period, 47 percent of which contained at least one antibiotic. The average number of antibiotics per prescription was 1.33 and 1.09 whilst the percentage of injectable antibiotics prescribed was 83.2 percent and 3.76 percent to outpatients and inpatients respectively. Antibiotics prescribed from the Essential Drug List (EDL) and List of Drugs for District Hospital (LDDH) were 63.0 percent, 74.8 percent, and 90.8 percent and 76.1 percent for outpatients and inpatients respectively. 98.6 percent of outpatient and 97.0 percent inpatient prescribed antibiotics were actually dispensed. Penicillins and quinolones were the most prescribed antibiotics in both inpatient and outpatient departments constituting 43.46 percent and 24.08 percent respectively. The antibiotic utilization ratio, incidence of outpatient antibiotic use, incidence of inpatient antibiotic use, the number of Defined Daily Doses (DDD)/1000inhabitants/year and DDD/100 Occupied Bed Days (OBD) for the zone was 0.16, 17.25, 23.56, 158.61, and 70 respectively. Antibiotic cost constituted 33.7 percent of all expenditure on drug, cost of antibiotic per patient care day and cost per antibiotic day was 3.84 Ethiopian Birr (ETB) ($0.40) and 6.29 ETB ($0.66) respectively. The correlation between infectious diseases diagnosed and antibiotic prescription shows significant variation. At outpatient departments alone an average number of antibiotic courses started was 2.7 at Gimbie Adventist Hospital and 7.6 for Nedjo Hospital. When overall antibiotic days prescribed and required was compared in both hospitals, there were 2.4 and 5 times more antibiotic days prescribed than were required for Gimbie and Nedjo Hospitals respectively. This suggests that the overuse of antibiotic is worse in the government hospital (Nedjo Hospital) than in the mission hospital (Gimbie Adventist Hospital). This study suggested that there was overuse of antibiotics in the West Wollega hospitals although further investigation is needed to identify its underlying causes and nature. It is recommended that the health personnel, the hospital management, the zonal and regional Health Bureau, the regulatory bodies and Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) work hand-in-hand to promote the rational use of antibiotics in this region so that the consequences and financial cost of antimicrobial resistance can be prevented.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2010