6 research outputs found
The effects of the extended curriculum programme on the social identity of students.
Thesis (M.Ed.) - University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2009.This study explores the perceptions of the first formal cohort of Extended
Curriculum Programme (ECP) students in the Somatology Department to
determine the effects it has had on the social identity of these students. The
Somatology ECP was one of the pioneer extended programmes offered in higher
education in South Africa. The aim of the programme is to assist under-prepared
students and to attend to the transformation of the programme. It is hoped that
the insight gained from investigating how these ECP students perceive their
situation, opportunities and experiences in relation to their full curriculum peers,
can provide relevant awareness in future curriculum development of any
programme using this type of extended curriculum model. In curriculum design,
the focus is frequently on the academic sphere, with minimal attention to the
social development of the student. In recent years there has been a movement in
academia to understand the students’ experience holistically in order to develop
curricula which successfully improve their academic performance. Although
some research has been conducted into foundation provision offered
predominantly to address the concern of low throughput rates, few studies have
been conducted to determine the effects of these types of programmes on the
students’ social identity.
Thirteen students that were currently registered in the Somatology Extended
Curriculum Programme were interviewed using semi-structured interviews, and
content analysis was used to identify the main themes from the data. The two
main themes that emerged were that students believed the ECP programme had
assisted them with the transition from high school to University. They had also
constructed and adopted a particular group identity but still become fully
integrated with the Full Curriculum students in their second year
Circulating soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase-1, soluble endoglin and placental growth factor during pregnancy in normotensive women in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
Background: Based on the increased pre-eclampsia and HIV antenatal incidence in South Africa, we determined the angiogenic profiles due to its mechanistic link in preeclampsia development, throughout uncomplicated pregnancies in HIV positive and negative women.Objective: To determine the angiogenic profiles throughout uncomplicated pregnancies in HIV positive and HIV negative women. We explored possible correlations between angiogenic serum levels and selected maternal characteristics (HIV status, gestational age, maternal factors, and pregnancy outcomes).Method: This study was conducted at a primary health care facility in Durban, South Africa. Forty-six pregnant women aged 18-45 years, were enrolled at 10-20, 22-30 and 32-38 weeks’ gestation, respectively through convenient sampling. Serum samples were collected and quantitatively evaluated using ELISAs. Clinical and epidemiological data were analysed using STATA (version 14). A probability level of p < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.Results: Of those enrolled, 28.3% were nulliparous, 82% were HIV positive and none developed pre-eclampsia. Systolic and diastolic blood pressure increased slightly throughout pregnancy. Fluctuating angiogenic and anti-angiogenic levels were demonstrated during pregnancy.Conclusion: This study contributes to the current angiogenic knowledge in normotensive pregnancies, and may assist as a reference range against which these factors may be compared in HIV complicated pregnancies.Keywords: sFlt-1, PlGF, sEng, pregnancy, HIV
Circulating soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase-1, soluble endoglin and placental growth factor during pregnancy in normotensive women in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
Background: Based on the increased pre-eclampsia and HIV antenatal
incidence in South Africa, we determined the angiogenic profiles due to
its mechanistic link in preeclampsia development, throughout
uncomplicated pregnancies in HIV positive and negative women.
Objective: To determine the angiogenic profiles throughout
uncomplicated pregnancies in HIV positive and HIV negative women. We
explored possible correlations between angiogenic serum levels and
selected maternal characteristics (HIV status, gestational age,
maternal factors, and pregnancy outcomes). Method: This study was
conducted at a primary health care facility in Durban, South Africa.
Forty-six pregnant women aged 18-45 years, were enrolled at 10-20,
22-30 and 32-38 weeks\u2019 gestation, respectively through convenient
sampling. Serum samples were collected and quantitatively evaluated
using ELISAs. Clinical and epidemiological data were analysed using
STATA (version 14). A probability level of p < 0.05 was considered
statistically significant. Results: Of those enrolled, 28.3% were
nulliparous, 82% were HIV positive and none developed pre-eclampsia.
Systolic and diastolic blood pressure increased slightly throughout
pregnancy. Fluctuating angiogenic and anti-angiogenic levels were
demonstrated during pregnancy. Conclusion: This study contributes to
the current angiogenic knowledge in normotensive pregnancies, and may
assist as a reference range against which these factors may be compared
in HIV complicated pregnancies. DOI:
https://dx.doi.org/10.4314/ahs.v19i2.4 Cite as: Ogunlola M, Reddy P,
Sibiya MN, O\u2019Connor L, Borg D, Haffejee F, Ghuman S, Ngxongo T,
Govender N. Circulating soluble fmslike tyrosine kinase-1, soluble
endoglin and placental growth factor during pregnancy in normotensive
women in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Afri Health Sci.2019;19(2):
1821-1832. https://dx.doi.org/10.4314/ahs.v19i2.
Somatology practices in non-medical aesthetic treatments: towards development of good practice guidelines for somatology in South Africa: A scoping review protocol
Factors associated with unintended pregnancy among women attending a public health facility in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
Background: Across the globe a large proportion of pregnancies have been reported as unintended. There are no available reports from South Africa concerning the prevalence of unintended pregnancies. This study explored the prevalence of unintended pregnancies among South African women attending a public primary health care (PHC) clinic in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN), South Africa. It also investigated the relationship between demographic factors, contraceptive use, substance abuse and unintended pregnancy in this setting.Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional survey was conducted among patients (n = 328) attending a PHC clinic. Participants were recruited by convenience sampling. Women who attended the clinic on their first antenatal visit were invited to participate. Participants filled out questionnaires in either English or isiZulu. Association between pregnancy and categorical variables was assessed.Results: Participants were mostly single (89.9%; n = 267), unemployed (70.8%; n = 222) with a monthly income of less than R 1 500 per month (63.8%; n = 81). Two-thirds of the women (64.33%; n = 211) had unintended pregnancies. There was a significant relationship between marital status and unintended pregnancy. Women who were married or living with their partners were more likely to have planned their pregnancies as compared with those who were single or divorced. Unemployed women were more likely to have had unintended pregnancies. No other socio-demographic factors were linked to unintended pregnancy.Conclusion: It is concluded that in this population of South African women with low education levels and low income, the prevalence of unintended pregnancies is high. These unintended pregnancies are linked to single status as well as unemployment
Circulating soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase-1, soluble endoglin and placental growth factor during pregnancy in normotensive women in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
Abstract Background: Based on the increased pre-eclampsia and HIV
antenatal incidence in South Africa, we determined the angiogenic
profiles due to its mechanistic link in preeclampsia development,
throughout uncomplicated pregnancies in HIV positive and negative
women. Objective: To determine the angiogenic profiles throughout
uncomplicated pregnancies in HIV positive and HIV negative women. We
explored possible correlations between angiogenic serum levels and
selected maternal characteristics (HIV status, gestational age,
maternal factors, and pregnancy outcomes). Method: This study was
conducted at a primary health care facility in Durban, South Africa.
Forty-six pregnant women aged 18-45 years, were enrolled at 10-20,
22-30 and 32-38 weeks\u2019 gestation, respectively through convenient
sampling. Serum samples were collected and quantitatively evaluated
using ELISAs. Clinical and epidemiological data were analysed using
STATA (version 14). A probability level of p < 0.05 was considered
statistically significant. Results: Of those enrolled, 28.3% were
nulliparous, 82% were HIV positive and none developed pre-eclampsia.
Systolic and diastolic blood pressure increased slightly throughout
pregnancy. Fluctuating angiogenic and anti-angiogenic levels were
demonstrated during pregnancy. Conclusion: This study contributes to
the current angiogenic knowledge in normotensive pregnancies, and may
assist as a reference range against which these factors may be compared
in HIV complicated pregnancies. Keywords: sFlt-1, PlGF, sEng,
pregnancy, HIV. DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.4314/ahs.v19i2.4 Cite as:
Ogunlola M, Reddy P, Sibiya MN, O\u2019Connor L, Borg D, Haffejee F,
Ghuman S, Ngxongo T, Govender N. Circulating soluble fmslike tyrosine
kinase-1, soluble endoglin and placental growth factor during pregnancy
in normotensive women in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Afri Health
Sci.2019;19(2): 1821-1832. https://dx.doi.org/10.4314/ahs.v19i2.