Perceptions of waste management in different income households in Cosmo City, South Africa

Cosmo City was established as a pilot project to integrate the low, middle and high income communities to live together and share common resources like schools, medical facilities, churches and shopping centres. Over a period of seven years, waste management has become a problem leading to littering, illegal dumping and overfilling of skips. Perceptions of waste management in different income households were studied. The specific objectives were, willingness of households to separate waste from source, health concerns emanating when one interacts with waste at the sources, effect of incentives on household’s willingness to separate waste from source, household’s opinion on including the waste pickers in the formal waste management system. Data was collected using structured questionnaire and interviews. The results indicated that 30% of low income households, 23% of middle income households and 10% of high income households recycle waste. The study revealed that 78% of low income households, 78% of middle income households and 80% of high income households were willing to sort waste from source. Overall results showed about 20% drop when sorting waste without incentives was suggested. 52% of low income households, 55% middle income households and 48% high income households rated hygiene as the major health concern on sorting waste from source. 85% of low income households, 77% of low income household, 71% of middle income and 78% of high income households support the incorporation of waste pickers in the formal waste management system. The results related to perceptions of the community on waste management suggest that the three different communities are willing to participate in waste management and support the incorporation of the waste pickers in the formal waste management system. In general this study should serve as a guideline for legislation, policy and regulations formulation. Integrated solid waste management that involves waste pickers and separation of waste from source can help with job creation, boosts the economy and deviate waste from landfilling to recycling.Environmental SciencesM. Sc. (Environmental Management

Elucidation of the morpho-physiological traits of maize (Zea mays L.) under salt stress

Agriculture is an essential sector for the increasing world population, hence the need for more food production.  However, the aim of increasing food crop production is mostly suppressed by abiotic stresses such as drought and salinity. Salinity is a major limiting factor that inhibits the potential of plant growth and productivity worldwide. Hence, understanding the mechanisms behind plant stress response is important for developing new biomarker approaches that will increase salt tolerance in crops.  To survive, plants exhibit various morphological, physiological, and biochemical processes when faced with saline conditions. This study was carried out to explore and evaluate the morphological and physiological effects of salinity on maize grown in the absence/presence of NaCl, followed by measurement of the various growth parameters at the end of a treatment cycle.  Results of the study revealed that salt stress significantly decreased growth parameters such as plant height, leaf number, leaf width, leaf area, leaf length, and shoot (weight and length).  On the other hand, salinity decreased physiological traits such as stomatal count, stomatal density, transpiration, and respiration rates.  This study has shown the negative effects of salt stress on the morphology and physiology of maize.  These findings can be used as a reference tool in stress response studies focusing on salt stress pathways in maize and other related crops

Patterns and economic impacts of livestock predation in rural communities bordering Makgadikgadi Pans National Park in Botswana.

Thesis (M.Sc.)-University of Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 1997.Northern Botswana's rural agricultural settlements bordering national parks and game reserves. In two study areas (Khumaga and Gweta, bordering Makgadikgadi Pans National Park), spatial, temporal and prey-type patterns of livestock predation were assessed. Cattle, goats, horses, donkeys and sheep were the key livestock types. Lion, leopard, cheetah, wild dog, black-backed jackal, spotted hyena and the Nile crocodile (occurring only in Khumaga) were the key predators. Oral interviews with farmers in these villages provided insights into the patterns and impacts of livestock predation on rural economies. Khumaga's livestock predation scenario is dominated by lion predation on cattle, goats and donkeys, leopard predation on small stock and calves, and crocodile on goats. Wet season predation rates were higher than dry seasons', except for spotted hyena, black-backed jackal and leopard. Leopard and black-backed jackal are dominant small stock predators in Gweta. lion are the main cattle and donkey predators (though at lower frequencies). Dry season predation rates are higher. Farmers who own more livestock appear to lose more Northern Botswana's rural agricultural settlements bordering national parks and game reserves. In two study areas (Khumaga and Gweta, bordering Makgadikgadi Pans National Park), spatial, temporal and prey-type patterns of livestock predation were assessed. Cattle, goats, horses, donkeys and sheep were the key livestock types. Lion, leopard, cheetah, wild dog, black-backed jackal, spotted hyena and the Nile crocodile (occurring only in Khumaga) were the key predators. Oral interviews with farmers in these villages provided insights into the patterns and impacts of livestock predation on rural economies. Khumaga's livestock predation scenario is dominated by lion predation on cattle, goats and donkeys, leopard predation on small stock and calves, and crocodile on goats. Wet season predation rates were higher than dry seasons', except for spotted hyena, black-backed jackal and leopard. Leopard and black-backed jackal are dominant small stock predators in Gweta. lion are the main cattle and donkey predators (though at lower frequencies). Dry season predation rates are higher. Farmers who own more livestock appear to lose more cattle than those who own few. Gweta contrasts with Khumaga, having livestock predation highest during dry seasons, less reduction in livestock sales and a lower value of pending compensation claims. These predation patterns synchronise with movements of zebra and wildebeest to and from the Boteti river. Losses of livestock affect the utility derived from livestock and monetary gains from direct sales. Costs due to loss of biodiversity, though not quantified, add to those borne by the State through predator control. Both the State and the farmers loose. These losses reduce the incentives of the latter to conserve species that contribute reduction in their returns. The issue of State expenditure on predator control illustrates the possible need for re-direction of such funds into farmer-based predator control, much as an integral part of the current southern African trend of community-based natural resource management. Key words: livestock predation, predator control, economics, conservation, Botswana

The utility of a modified WHO TB screening tool among children at a Botswana child welfare clinic

Background: In high TB/HIV settings, the increased risk for TB amongst children exposed to HIV has been established through biomedical tests. Screening HIV exposed children for TB can improve early childhood TB detection and treatment. Objective: This study assessed the utility of a modified World Health Organization (WHO) tool by including HIV variables, to determine TB exposure amongst HIV exposed children presenting to a \u201cWell Child\u201d Clinic (CWC). Methods: Clinical data were obtained from medical records and/or from the caregivers of children presenting to CWC. Data was analyzed to explore factors associated with positive screening for TB, including being exposed to HIV and current HIV status. Results: Five percent (55/1100) screened reported a close TB contact and 21% (n=231) had positive TB symptom screen. History of close TB contact was a risk factor for positive screening for TB symptoms (OR 1.89 CI 1.05-3.4) while being HIV negative was protective (OR 0.3, Cl 0.19-0.62). HIV exposure was associated with increased risk of TB exposure (OR 2.9 CI 1.61-5.19). Conclusion: Integrating HIV variables in the existing WHO screening tool for childhood TB can be useful in early detection and treatment of TB in HIV exposed children in resource limited settings

Polyethylene/Polyhydroxyalkanoates-based Biocomposites and Bionanocomposites

The development of advanced polymer composite materials having superior mechanical properties has opened up new horizons in the field of science and engineering. Polyethylene (PE) is considered one of the most widely used thermoplastics in the world due to its excellent properties which have excellent chemical inertness, low coefficient of friction, toughness, near-zero moisture absorption, ease of processing and electrical properties. Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) are garnering increasing attention in the biodegradable polymer market because of their promising properties such as high biodegradability in different environments. This chapter covers polyethylene/polyhydroxyalkanoates-based biocomposites and bionanocomposites. It summarizes many of the recent research accomplishments in the area of PE/PHAs-based biocomposites and bionanocomposites such as state-of-the-art regarding different methods of their preparation. Also discussed are different characterization techniques and use of PE/PHAs-based biocomposites and bionanocomposites in biomedical, packaging, structural, military, coating, fire retardant, aerospace and optical applications, along with recycling and lifetime studies

Psychosocial support guidelines for nurses caring for patients diagnosed with COVID-19 infection in the North West Province

PhD (Health Sciences with Nursing Science), North-West University, Mahikeng CampusBackground: Literature has shown that nurses, as frontliners caring for the patients diagnosed with COVID-19 infection, are psychologically affected by the consequences of the pandemic. Therefore, nurses need psychosocial support guidelines when caring for the patients diagnosed with COVID-19 infection. Data collected in the four public hospitals in the North West Province of South Africa suggests that there are no psychosocial support guidelines for nurses caring for patients diagnosed with COVID-19 infection, thus justifying the need to develop the psychosocial support guidelines for nurses caring for COVID-19 patients. Aim: The aim of this study was to develop and validate guidelines for the psychosocial support of nurses caring for patients diagnosed with COVID-19 in the North West Province. This was achieved through five manuscripts detailed in the structure of the study. Method: A qualitative, descriptive phenomenological and contextual design was employed to achieve the aim and objectives of the study. The study was conducted in four phases, which are phase 1: Integrative literature review, phase 2: Empirical phase, phase 3: Development phase and phase 4: Validation phase. The integrative literature review was conducted and two themes emerged, namely: psychological support and social support and subsequently, the article was published at Gender and Behaviour Journal. The empirical phase had two steps. Two themes emerged from the first step, namely: Nurses’ knowledge of COVID-19 and Nurses’ experiences of caring for patients diagnosed with COVID-19 infection and the manuscript was published at The Open Public Health Journal. Two themes also arose from the second step of the empirical phase, namely: nurses’ challenges when caring for patients diagnosed with COVID-19 infection and psychosocial support needed by nurses caring for patients diagnosed with COVID-19 and the manuscript was published at Gender and Behaviour Journal. Phase 3 had 2 steps. Step 1 focused on the development of the conceptual framework and it was facilitated by answering the six crucial questions according to Dickoff et al. (1968) and the manuscript was published at The International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health for publication. The psychosocial support guidelines of nurses caring for COVID- 19 patients were developed and validated and the manuscript was submitted to the Qualitative Research Journal for publication. Section three provides the conclusions, limitations and recommendations of the study. Four virtual focus group discussions, n=26, were conducted with nurses caring for patients diagnosed with COVID-19 until data saturation. Fifteen experts participated in the validation of the developed guidelines. Trustworthiness was ensured through credibility, dependability, transferability, confirmability and authenticity. The ethical considerations namely: beneficence, respect for human dignity and justice were considered throughout the study. Results: The study showed that nurses caring for COVID-19 patients are physically, psychologically and socially affected by the pandemic. The results also indicated that it was difficult for nurses to care for COVID-19 patients because it is a new disease and they needed support from their managers. There is no specific treatment for COVID-19 and many patients who were diagnosed with COVID-19 died. A shortage of human and medical resources to care for COVID-19 patients was reported by nurses and they are at a risk of being infected. Conclusion: The study findings from the integrative literature review and the empirical phase were used to develop a conceptual framework for the psychosocial support of nurses caring for patients diagnosed with COVID-19 infection in North West Province. The framework of Dickoff et al. (1968) was used to develop the conceptual framework which was used to guide the development of the psychosocial support guidelines. Donabedian’s (1966) model was used to develop the proposed guidelines. An e-Delphi technique was used to validate the developed guidelines. A Likert scale was used by experts to rate the guidelines, as well as open ended comments. Three rounds of group of experts were conducted until consensus was reached. The psychosocial support guidelines were developed to support nurses caring for patients diagnosed with COVID-19 infection in North West Province of South Africa.Doctora

Imagined Communities: The African Diaspora and its Discontents

The paper traces and analyzes the different developments in the fashioning or imagining of the African Diaspora, and in particular how the African diasporic discourse was produced, articulated, received and infused with authority, during the different periods in the history of blacks, especially those residing in the United States, while bringing examples from other African diasporic communities. It poses a series of questions that are both about ways of analyzing the African Diaspora and the positions and politics of such analysis in the present. Further, the paper argues that reference to the African Diaspora refers to one or more of the following elements: double-consciousness (W.E.B. Du Bois), a desire for a homeland for oppressed people, a defense of African attributes and a continuous engagement with contemporary global forces that affect all people including people of African descent. Engaging an interdisciplinary approach, it demonstrates how different forces were at work in creating communities in the African Diaspora that are both real and imagined

Natural resources foreign direct investment and conflict in South Africa: a case study of the Marikana tragedy

MA (Peace Studies & International Relations), North-West University, Mafikeng Campus, 2014This study describes and investigates the relationship between Foreign Direct Investment and conflict in the mining industry. It also explores the conduct of foreign-based companies as influenced by the Bretton Woods Institutions and their ability to bring solutions to the socio-economic problems of the North West Province. FDI companies set targets which tactfully enforce mine workers to work long hours without overtime payments. The findings indicate that racial connotations are still a factor in South Africa and in employment. Africans are restricted to low paid jobs. The study also indicates that the salaries and wages foreign multinational corporations differ significantly from one country to another and that Africans are usually restricted to lowest paid jobs. Foreign Direct Investment leads to population displacement and consequently to the cultural breakdown of some tribes. There is poor adherence to International Mining Action Standards and legislation governing the mining sector. It is therefore significant that companies that operate under FDI should implement the policies as required and laid down.Master