The Koup Fencing Project : community-led job creation in the Karoo

This paper discusses a community-led fencing project in the Koup, an arid predominantly sheep farming district in the South African Karoo. It highlights the role of supportive government officials in sourcing funding and the importance of committed individuals in overcoming collective action problems amongst participating farmers. The project had a strong empowerment dimension in that fencing team leaders were drawn from the ranks of unemployed people in Laingsburg town and they were responsible for recruitment into the project and for the day to day management of the work. Comparative analysis of the socio-economic position of the fence workers with data from the 2011 population census of coloured people living in Laingsburg town suggests that the fence workers were relatively poor and that the project was appropriately targeted for a poverty alleviation programme. This was in part because workers were required to camp on farms for two weeks at a time, thereby resulting in the project automatically selecting for those most committed to earning additional income. The study revealed that the fencing workers identified themselves as general agricultural workers but had skills and experience from other sectors including construction and services. Urban-based agricultural workers have lived in Laingsburg for at least three decades i.e. before the shift of workers off farms that took place across South Africa after 1990. The study sheds light on this long-standing, but under-studied dimension of urban poverty and on the diverse strategies (including reliance on government grants) that people use to combat it in the Karoo

Helping young designers design for children: evaluating toys and possible values

When designing for children, it remains important not only to emphasise elements such as ergonomics and usability but also values, that can be translated into pleasurable user experiences for children. While methods such as interviews are commonly used to better understand our users, interviewing children can be a challenge. Experience as part of a year project on designing toys for children highlighted that children might answer questions in a surprising way, or students might struggle to ask questions that are not suggestive. To overcome some of these difficulties, we developed a Value Matrix, that can help students to explore the various values or incentives children might have while playing. This Value Matrix can subsequently be used to scan existing toys or new concepts and translate these insights into toys that consist of a wider variety of values children like to experience in a game or toy. We evaluated this tool with 118 first year Industrial Product Design students. Our results show that the Value Matrix gives students guidance and support while designing

Nutritional deficiency in South African adults scheduled for bariatric surgery

BackgroundGlobally, there is a rising trend in obesity, known to increase morbidity and mortality. Metabolic surgery and adequate weight loss decrease mortality but may worsen pre-existing nutrient deficiencies. Most data on pre-existing nutritional deficiencies in the population undergoing metabolic surgery is from the developed world, where an extensive micronutrient assessment is achievable. In resource-constrained environments, the cost of a comprehensive micronutrient assessment must be weighed against the prevalence of nutritional deficiencies and the potential harm if one or more nutritional deficiencies are missed.MethodsThis cross-sectional study investigated the prevalence of micronutrient and vitamin deficiencies in participants scheduled to undergo metabolic surgery in Cape Town, South Africa, a low-middle income country. 157 participants were selected and 154 reported on; who underwent a baseline evaluation from 12 July 2017 to 19 July 2020. Laboratory measurements were conducted, including vitamin B12 (Vit B12), 25-hydroxy vitamin D (25(OH)D), folate, parathyroid hormone (PTH), thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), thyroxine (T4), ferritin, glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c), magnesium, phosphate, albumin, iron, and calcium.ResultsParticipants were predominantly female, aged 45 years (37-51), with a preoperative BMI of 50.4 kg/m2 (44.6-56.5). A total of 64 individuals had Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2D), with 28 undiagnosed cases at study entry (18% of study population). 25(OH)D deficiency was most prevalent (57%), followed by iron deficiency (44%), and folate deficiency (18%). Other deficiencies (vitamin B12, calcium, magnesium, phosphate) were rarely encountered and affected ≤1% of participants. Folate and 25(OH)D deficiency were related to obesity classification, with a higher prevalence in participants with a BMI ≥40 kg/m2 (p <0.01).ConclusionA higher prevalence of some micronutrient deficiencies was noted compared with data from similar populations in the developed world. The minimum baseline/preoperative nutrient evaluation in such populations should include 25(OH)D, iron studies, and folate. Additionally, screening for T2D is recommended. Future efforts should seek to collate broader patient data on a national scale and include longitudinal surveillance after surgery. This may provide a more holistic picture of the relationship between obesity, metabolic surgery and micronutrient status inform more appropriate evidence-based care

Strategies for the Regeneration of Degraded Rural Landscapes: The Design of a “Padstal” on the Crossing of Route 62 and the Seweweekspoort Pass, Klein Karoo

The livelihood of subsistence farmers of the Little Karoo sister towns, Zoar and Amalienstein, face many challenges such as the lack of economic opportunity, unemployment and drought that ultimately leads to poverty. This dissertation investigates the potential of a collective tourism and agricultural cooperative programme, which regenerates the rural landscape into a productive one through an architectural intervention. By developing a productive landscape that ignites rural livelihoods, the challenges can be transformed into opportunities for these impoverished communities. Research into agave-based agroforestry as a driver to combat global warming will aim to establish staple household security. It will be a means of inserting informal farm production into the tourism market through the built environment. The productive landscape, driven from an agave-based agroforestry and livestock feeding model, utilises the living and natural systems existing on the site. Together with regenerative architecture, it will structure the “building blocks” of the Agave-‘padstal’. The strategic position of this ‘padstal’, on the crossing of the Cape Route 62 and the SeweweekspoortPass, would create a node of destination.Thesis (MA) -- Faculty of Engineering, the Built Environment, and Technology, 202

Strategies for the Regeneration of Degraded Rural Landscapes: The Design of a “Padstal” on the Crossing of Route 62 and the Seweweekspoort Pass, Klein Karoo

The livelihood of subsistence farmers of the Little Karoo sister towns, Zoar and Amalienstein, face many challenges such as the lack of economic opportunity, unemployment and drought that ultimately leads to poverty. This dissertation investigates the potential of a collective tourism and agricultural cooperative programme, which regenerates the rural landscape into a productive one through an architectural intervention. By developing a productive landscape that ignites rural livelihoods, the challenges can be transformed into opportunities for these impoverished communities. Research into agave-based agroforestry as a driver to combat global warming will aim to establish staple household security. It will be a means of inserting informal farm production into the tourism market through the built environment. The productive landscape, driven from an agave-based agroforestry and livestock feeding model, utilises the living and natural systems existing on the site. Together with regenerative architecture, it will structure the “building blocks” of the Agave-‘padstal’. The strategic position of this ‘padstal’, on the crossing of the Cape Route 62 and the SeweweekspoortPass, would create a node of destination.Thesis (MA) -- Faculty of Engineering, the Built Environment, and Technology, 202

The Koup fencing project: Community-led job creation in the Karoo

This paper discusses a community-led fencing project in the Koup, an arid, predominantly sheepfarming district in the South African Karoo. The project was managed by farmers but had a strong empowerment dimension in that fencing team leaders were drawn from the ranks of unemployed people in the town of Laingsburg. These leaders were responsible for recruitment into the project and for the day-to-day operations. By comparing information collected from participants with local census data, we show that the public works programme was appropriately targeted to the poor. This was in part because workers were required to camp on farms for two weeks at a time, thereby resulting in the project automatically selecting for those most committed to earning additional income. In explaining the success of the programme we highlight the role of supportive government officials in sourcing funding, and the importance of leadership in overcoming collective action problems amongst the participating farmers. This holds important lessons for the design of future public works programmes and for the kinds of mixed research methods that may be appropriate for evaluating such programmes

Table_1_Nutritional deficiency in South African adults scheduled for bariatric surgery.docx

BackgroundGlobally, there is a rising trend in obesity, known to increase morbidity and mortality. Metabolic surgery and adequate weight loss decrease mortality but may worsen pre-existing nutrient deficiencies. Most data on pre-existing nutritional deficiencies in the population undergoing metabolic surgery is from the developed world, where an extensive micronutrient assessment is achievable. In resource-constrained environments, the cost of a comprehensive micronutrient assessment must be weighed against the prevalence of nutritional deficiencies and the potential harm if one or more nutritional deficiencies are missed.MethodsThis cross-sectional study investigated the prevalence of micronutrient and vitamin deficiencies in participants scheduled to undergo metabolic surgery in Cape Town, South Africa, a low-middle income country. 157 participants were selected and 154 reported on; who underwent a baseline evaluation from 12 July 2017 to 19 July 2020. Laboratory measurements were conducted, including vitamin B12 (Vit B12), 25-hydroxy vitamin D (25(OH)D), folate, parathyroid hormone (PTH), thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), thyroxine (T4), ferritin, glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c), magnesium, phosphate, albumin, iron, and calcium.ResultsParticipants were predominantly female, aged 45 years (37-51), with a preoperative BMI of 50.4 kg/m2 (44.6-56.5). A total of 64 individuals had Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2D), with 28 undiagnosed cases at study entry (18% of study population). 25(OH)D deficiency was most prevalent (57%), followed by iron deficiency (44%), and folate deficiency (18%). Other deficiencies (vitamin B12, calcium, magnesium, phosphate) were rarely encountered and affected ≤1% of participants. Folate and 25(OH)D deficiency were related to obesity classification, with a higher prevalence in participants with a BMI ≥40 kg/m2 (p ConclusionA higher prevalence of some micronutrient deficiencies was noted compared with data from similar populations in the developed world. The minimum baseline/preoperative nutrient evaluation in such populations should include 25(OH)D, iron studies, and folate. Additionally, screening for T2D is recommended. Future efforts should seek to collate broader patient data on a national scale and include longitudinal surveillance after surgery. This may provide a more holistic picture of the relationship between obesity, metabolic surgery and micronutrient status inform more appropriate evidence-based care.</p

Table_2_Nutritional deficiency in South African adults scheduled for bariatric surgery.xlsx

BackgroundGlobally, there is a rising trend in obesity, known to increase morbidity and mortality. Metabolic surgery and adequate weight loss decrease mortality but may worsen pre-existing nutrient deficiencies. Most data on pre-existing nutritional deficiencies in the population undergoing metabolic surgery is from the developed world, where an extensive micronutrient assessment is achievable. In resource-constrained environments, the cost of a comprehensive micronutrient assessment must be weighed against the prevalence of nutritional deficiencies and the potential harm if one or more nutritional deficiencies are missed.MethodsThis cross-sectional study investigated the prevalence of micronutrient and vitamin deficiencies in participants scheduled to undergo metabolic surgery in Cape Town, South Africa, a low-middle income country. 157 participants were selected and 154 reported on; who underwent a baseline evaluation from 12 July 2017 to 19 July 2020. Laboratory measurements were conducted, including vitamin B12 (Vit B12), 25-hydroxy vitamin D (25(OH)D), folate, parathyroid hormone (PTH), thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), thyroxine (T4), ferritin, glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c), magnesium, phosphate, albumin, iron, and calcium.ResultsParticipants were predominantly female, aged 45 years (37-51), with a preoperative BMI of 50.4 kg/m2 (44.6-56.5). A total of 64 individuals had Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2D), with 28 undiagnosed cases at study entry (18% of study population). 25(OH)D deficiency was most prevalent (57%), followed by iron deficiency (44%), and folate deficiency (18%). Other deficiencies (vitamin B12, calcium, magnesium, phosphate) were rarely encountered and affected ≤1% of participants. Folate and 25(OH)D deficiency were related to obesity classification, with a higher prevalence in participants with a BMI ≥40 kg/m2 (p ConclusionA higher prevalence of some micronutrient deficiencies was noted compared with data from similar populations in the developed world. The minimum baseline/preoperative nutrient evaluation in such populations should include 25(OH)D, iron studies, and folate. Additionally, screening for T2D is recommended. Future efforts should seek to collate broader patient data on a national scale and include longitudinal surveillance after surgery. This may provide a more holistic picture of the relationship between obesity, metabolic surgery and micronutrient status inform more appropriate evidence-based care.</p