Knowledge, attitudes and practices of physiotherapists’ towards controlling Tuberculosis infection in southwest Nigeria

M.A. (Public Health)Abstract: Background: Despite the existence of national tuberculosis (TB) infection control guidelines, Nigeria still ranks among the top 10 high-burden countries for TB globally. This suggests TB infection control measures are not well implemented. The physiotherapists (PTs) are among health professionals that have direct contacts with patients. However, there is paucity of African research investigating knowledge, attitudes and practices of PTs regarding TB. Objective: The study sought to investigate the knowledge, attitudes and practices (KAP) of PTs’ towards controlling TB infection in the southwest Nigeria. The study further examined the associations of PTs’ KAP characteristics with age. Methods: A descriptive quantitative cross-sectional study involving 323 PTs practicing in the six states of Nigerian southwest zone was conducted. Participants were recruited using the probability simple cluster sampling technique. The participants were given a pre-coded structured self-administered questionnaire via electronic means. Data management and analysis were performed using EPINFO 7.2 and SPSS version 27. EPINFO 7.2 was utilized to calculate crude odds ratios (OR) while adjusted odds ratios (AOR) and corresponding confidence interval (CI) were calculated using multivariate logistic regression in SPSS to examine KAP characteristics associations with age categories (< 40 years and ≥ 40 years). Results: The mean age of the participants was 34.93 ± 9.51 years and 62.2% of them were males. The majority of the participants, 58.2%, 57.6% and 39.3% had low knowledge, negative attitude and poor practice regarding TB infection control respectively. Participants who were unsure whether TB patients with negative sputum smears could be considered infectious were significantly more likely to be below 40 years of age, (AOR 6.73, 95% CI 1.05 – 43.02). Those who correctly noted that having a TB suspect wear a surgical mask is necessary before a confirmed diagnosis, were significantly more likely to be below 40 years of age (AOR 6.19, 95% CI 1.30 – 29.50). Physiotherapists who had positive attitude regarding TB infection control were significantly less likely to be below 40 years of age (OR 0.42, 95% CI 0.26 – 0.68). Participants who expressed strong agreement and strong disagreement regarding willingness to be have TB testing, were significantly less likely to be below 40 years of age (OR 0.13, 95% CI 0.03 – 0.53) and OR 0.51, 95% CI 0.31 – 0.85) respectively. Physiotherapists who expressed strong disagreement regarding accepting approved TB vaccine were significantly less likely in crude analysis to be below 40 years of age (OR) 0.09, 95% CI (0.02 – 0.45). Participants who showed strong agreement regarding willingness to care for patients with TB, were significantly less likely to be below 40 years of age (OR 0.49, 95% CI 0.29 – 0.84). PTs who never used an N95 respirator when collecting sputum from a patient and also in the TB consultation room were significantly more likely to be below 40 years of age (AOR 6.53, 95% CI 1.24 – 34.51) and AOR 8.75, 95% CI..

Actor-oriented self-organizing maps

Abstract: Please refer to full text to view abstract.M.Sc. (Computer Science

Gender equity in leading a South African private Higher Education Institution

Abstract: Significant gender inequity remains despite initiatives to increase the representation of women leaders in higher education. There is a scarcity of research focusing on gender equity in higher education leadership in the African context or reference to the standing of gender equity in private higher education institutions. Thus, this study sought to explore gender equity in leading a South African private higher education institution. Using a generic qualitative research approach, data collection was undertaken using semi-structured interviews, and a focus group with eight institutional leaders from a South African private higher education institution. The data from the study revealed that gender stereotypes persist in private higher education institutions, defining which roles women should hold and how they should be managed and regarded inside the institution. These gender biases are based on patriarchal attitudes that have cultural origins and impact the micropolitical culture of the institution. As a result, many women opt not to pursue leadership positions to protect themselves and their domestic responsibilities. As demonstrated by the study’s findings, there is no clear policy on leadership appointments, which has led to unfair practices in selecting leaders, such as an old boys club that advances male leaders. Women leaders face unequal treatment and must fight to be recognised and respected, often assuming masculine characteristics. Despite women numerically being the majority of the leaders in the institution, the study’s findings indicated that these women leaders’ responsibilities are primarily administrative. As a result, defining leadership and its responsibilities and context becomes significant. The benefits of attaining gender equity in leadership include being reflective of the student body, recruiting stronger female candidates for leadership roles, and growing the business. Some proposed strategies to achieve gender equity include formal mentorship and professional development plans, encouragement to take leadership roles, flexibility, and family-friendly policies. It is recommended that South African private higher education institutions establish a comprehensive, transparent policy on leadership and the support thereof, to advance gender equity in the leadership of these institutions. Key words: gender equity, leadership, private higher education, women leaders, policy.M.Ed. (Educational Leadership and Management

The familiarity, attitude, and knowledge of complementary medicine in attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in children amongst paediatricians in Gauteng

M.Tech. (Homoeopathy)Abstract: Background Attention Deficit Hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a common neurodevelopmental disorder with a high incidence among children worldwide. The current allopathic approaches to its treatment are associated with several adverse and long-term effects which contribute to parents seeking alternative options such as complementary medicines (CM) and related therapies to help manage their child’s ADHD. Aim The aim of this study is to determine the familiarity, attitude, and knowledge of CM in ADHD in children amongst paediatricians in Gauteng, by means of a survey with the utilization of a questionnaire. Setting The questionnaire was completed by means of a survey and conducted in Gauteng with participating paediatricians by means of email, telephone and in person. Methods A quantitative, descriptive survey design was used. Paediatricians practicing in Gauteng listed on Medpages and the Paediatrician Management Group (PMG) were recruited. Data was obtained through a structured 21-item, questionnaire. Data was descriptively analysed using IBM SPSS 27.0. Results A total of 23 paediatricians participated in the research study. Only a small portion of paediatricians reported feeling comfortable referring or recommending CM to their ADHD patients. Most paediatricians had previously been exposed to CM but reported only being limitedly familiar with the different CM therapies available. The majority of the paediatricians were found to be familiar with both self-help practices and over-the-counter (OTC) CM products used in the management of ADHD. Most paediatricians reported asking their patients about CM use in their ADHD and believed that Homeopathy and Phytotherapy was most frequently used CM in ADHD treatment. The majority of paediatricians did not consider..

Development and application of an African physical and technical talent identification field test battery for Zimbabwean male junior soccer players

D.Phil. (Sport Science)Abstract: Despite the availability of several studies on talent identification, there is no universal physical and technical talent identification test battery for predicting future potential in Under-14 Zimbabwean footballers. The aim of this study was twofold, firstly, to determine the coaches’ perceived physical and technical talent identification (TI) attributes for male Under-14 Zimbabwean footballers. Secondly, to develop and apply a physical and technical TI test battery for under-14 footballers. The present study utilised an exploratory sequential design using a modified Delphi method to establish a coaches perceived list of physical-physiological and technical attributes for TI. The identified attributes culminated in the development of and application of the test battery in Bulawayo Metropolitan and Matabeleland North province. The study utilised purposive sampling. The Zimbabwean Confederation of African Football (CAF 'A') accredited coaches (n = 39) completed five rounds of the Delphi questionnaires comprised of an initial questionnaire with open-ended questions. The subsequent questionnaires utilised the Miller’s (1972) Scale Battery of International Patterns and Norms for rating the attributes. Descriptive statistics (means, standard deviations, frequencies and percentages) were used for analysis. The results indicated that leg power, speed, endurance, change of direction and flexibility were crucial in predicting talent in Under-14 footballers. The coaches further identified height, percentage body fat, bone diameter, weight, body composition, passing, dribbling, shooting, running with the ball, heading, diving and ball control. The field test method was used to collect anthropometric, technical and physical-physiological data in the second phase. Participants were 141 in-field Under-14 Zimbabwean junior footballers with a mean age of 12.01 ± 0.88. Descriptive statistics, birth quartile distributions, One-way Anova, odds ratios, Crammer’s V effect size, Chi-square test, Hochberg or Dunnett test were utilised for analysis. Data were processed using SPSS version 26.0 and 27.0. The level of significance was set at 0.05%. The junior footballers were divided into two groups, according to age categories and clusters. The results on age and maturity related attributes were significant in some variables between the 9 – 11.9 and 12 -13.9 while other attributes revealed no differences. Overall, 97.2% of the under-14 footballers in the original grouped cases were classified correctly into talented and non-talented groups. The talented group was classified with better accuracy of 97.6% compared to 89.5% of the non-talented group in the crossvalidated grouped cases. The talented group displayed an irregular birth distribution while the non-talented group had a linearly unbalanced distribution in favour of the first two quarters. Biological maturity revealed significant differences in some of the attributes wherein others no differences were observed. It was concluded that coaches considered multi-dimensional attributes based on anthropometric, physical fitness and technical attributes to identify talent. Additional, biological maturity and the relative age effect had no influence in the selection of Under-14 footballers. It was recommended that further research is warranted to unpack other variable attributes such as the psychosocial that may define talented Under-14 footballers. Football entities are encouraged to establish and implement a multi-dimensional test battery for talent identification

Localizing youth employment : exploring the role of community based organizations in Youth Employment Transitions

Abstract: While governments and the private sector appear in literature on youth unemployment responses, there is limited research on the role that the civil society sector, and specifically community-based organisations (CBOs) play in addressing this issue. Although CBOs appear to provide intermediation programs between unemployed youth and employers in formal or direct Youth Employment Programs (YEPs), there is still limited literature on other CBO programmes which are not formal YEPs. Exploring such CBO programmes and services and how they indirectly contribute to addressing youth unemployment may provide a profound understanding of a critical role player in youth transitions to employment. The study aim is to explore how local level CBOs operating in Tembisa facilitate youth employment transitions, with a primary focus on the indirect role that CBOs play. The study adopted a qualitative approach in which key methods encompassed conducting thirteen (13) semi structured interviews and network maps created with the leaders or employees of CBOs. Data was analysed according to emerging themes. Ethical considerations included informed consent and confidentiality of participants. The findings show that CBO programmes offer key resources or assets such as access to information, ICT facilities, work experience, career development planning and skills development programmes. From the perspective of the research participants, these all play a crucial role in the long- and short-term employment transitions of youth. The findings suggest a need for employing or developing an ecosystem for youth employment transitions by directing investments towards long- and short-term youth transitions through CBOs.M.A. (Social Policy and Development (M7068Q)

The role of policy networks in self-build housing

Abstract: In 2009 South Africa’s enhanced People’s Housing Process (ePHP) through which self-build housing would be implemented, was introduced. This article summarises the purposes and results of a research project undertaken to determine what role good policy network practices played in the attainment of ePHP policy objectives. The Clark Policy Network model served as a heuristic device in analysing the relationship between network characteristics, the Masizakhele Project as a case study and the attainment of policy outcomes in the project. The analysis revealed that project operations exhibited many of the indicators of the characteristics contained in the Clark Policy Network model, and that the operationalised policy outcomes associated thereto were fully attained. Generalisable observations developed during the analysis allowed the researcher to propose a network theory of policy implementation, that policy networks aimed at attaining developmental objectives must incorporate strategies to both attract and retain resources within the network

Professional development needs of TVET college lecturers towards remote learning : implications for leadership

Abstract: Rapid technological development has affected the educational sector, prompting it to evolve and embrace technology as part of everyday teaching and learning. The coronavirus outbreak has exacerbated the need for educational institutions to transform from being 100% face-to-face learning institutions to ones that integrate ICT mechanisms as part of teaching and learning. As a result of the COVID-19 lockdown in 2020, universities were forced to suspend all contact learning activities and transition to online learning. However, Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) colleges had to come to a complete halt because they lacked response mechanisms in the form of infrastructure, and experienced and knowledgeable lecturers. In this study, the training and resource needs of TVET college lecturers are investigated. Moreover, lecturer training guidelines for remote learning are proposed for TVET college leaders. Employing a generic qualitative research approach, within the interpretivist worldview, data gathering was undertaken through qualitative surveys and semi-structured interviews. Seventy-three TVET college lecturers participated in the survey and three TVET college Heads of Department (HODs) were interviewed from a TVET college in Ekurhuleni, Gauteng. The findings were presented using a generic qualitative research design and reporting methods. The findings of the study revealed that TVET college leaders need to furnish lecturers with resources and training in the utilisation of remote learning prior to implementation. The appropriate resources and training needed were recommended. The study also found that owing to the differing nature of the vocational subjects offered at TVET colleges, the training and resource needs of lecturers differed and therefore recommended that TVET leaders cater for the individual and subject-related needs of the lecturers. The study also recommended a distributive leadership approach to assist with the resource and training needs of lecturers, through the formation of and reliance on campus and college committees comprising internal and external stakeholders. Furthermore, training guidelines were recommended to ensure that the training of lecturers is adequate, appropriate, accredited and meets global educational standards to make sure that lecturers become 21st-century transformative intellectuals.M.Ed. (Educational Leadership and Management

Comparative Study of Machine Learning Classifiers for Modelling Road Traffic Accidents

Abstract: Please refer to full abstract to view abstrac

Development of a Stock Price Prediction Framework for Intelligent Media and Technical Analysis

Abstract: Equity traders are always looking for tools that will help them maximise returns and minimise risk, be it fundamental or technical analysis techniques. This research integrates tools used by equity traders and uses them together with machine learning and deep learning techniques. The presented work introduces a South African-based sentiment classifier to extract sentiment from new headlines and tweets. The experimental work uses four machine learning models for fundamental analysis and six long short-term memory model architectures, including a developed encoder-decoder long short-term memory model for technical analysis. Data used in the experiments is mined and collected from news sites, tweets from Twitter and Yahoo Finance. The results from 2 experiments show an accuracy of 96% in predicting one of the major telecommunication companies listed on the JSE closing price movement while using the linear discriminant analysis model and an RMSE of 0.023 in predicting a significant telecommunication company closing price using encoder-decoder long short-term memory. These findings reveal that the sentiment feature contains an essential fundamental value, and technical indicators also help move closer to predicting the closing price