Investigating leadership practices in retail banking in South Africa: a case study of Nedbank

The purpose of the cross-sectional study was to determine the leadership practices in a retail bank in South Africa. A self-administered anonymous questionnaire was used to collect the data, using an online survey tool (QuestionPro). A total of 60 managers completed the questionnaire. Results showed that there was a significant relationship between leadership practices and leadership style in the organization. Transformational, transactional and laissez-faire leadership styles were the important predictors, which influenced the leadership practices of the managerial bank employees. Therefore, managers should adopt different leadership behavior, depending on several other situational factors that come to hand. Keywords: leadership practices, retail banking, manager, factor, South Africa. JEL Classification: G20, G21, M10, M12, L2

Factors influencing the recommendation of the Human Papillomavirus vaccine by South African doctors working in a tertiary hospital.

Background: In South Africa, HPV vaccination programme has been incorporated recently in the school health system. Since doctors are the most trusted people regarding health issues in general, their knowledge and attitudes regarding HPV infections and vaccination are very important for HPV vaccine program nationally. Objective: The objective of this study was to investigate factors contributing to recommendation of HPV vaccines to the patients. Methods: This was a quantitative cross-sectional study conducted among 320 doctors, using a self-administered anonymous questionnaire. Results: All the doctors were aware of HPV and knew that HPV is transmitted sexually. Their overall level of knowledge regarding HPV infections and HPV vaccine was poor. But the majority intended to prescribe the vaccine to their patients. It was found that doctors who knew that HPV 6 and 11 are responsible for >90% of anogenital warts, their patients would comply with the counselling regarding HPV vaccination, and received sufficient information about HPV vaccination were 5.68, 4.91 and 4.46 times respectively more likely to recommend HPV vaccination to their patients, compared to their counterparts (p<0.05). Conclusion: There was a knowledge gap regarding HPV infection and HPV vaccine among the doctors

The perception of Islamic banking by the first national bank sales staff in the Kwazulu-Natal region of South Africa

The objective of this study is to determine the perception and awareness of Islamic banking by a conventional banks sales force. This was a cross-sectional study conducted among 100 sales staff randomly selected to take part in the study. A self-administered anonymous questionnaire was used to collect the data using online system called QuestionPro. Results revealed that whilst the respondents did feel there was a need for Islamic banking, they also did feel that Islamic banking was more complicated than conventional banking. The study also revealed that there was an overall negative perception of Islamic banking which was primarily based on a lack of knowledge, awareness, and understanding. It is recommended that banks provide sufficient and effective training to their staff on all products and services so that any negative perception can be eliminated. This study can benefit organizations that are in the Islamic banking industry or looking at getting into the Islamic banking industry. Keywords: Islamic banking, conventional banking, knowledge, perception, training. JEL Classification: G21, D8

Factors influencing HIV-positive mothers to choose to use the flash-heat process of heating breast milk in South Africa

The objective of this cross-sectional study was to establish factors influencing HIV-positive mothers to choose to use the Flash-heat (FH) method to feed milk to new-born babies in South Africa. A total of 70 HIV-positive mothers were selected using purposive sampling methods. Backward stepwise binary logistic regression analysis was carried out to establish their willingness to use the FH feeding method. More than half (54.3%) the mothers were not breastfeeding their infant and among them a third (31.6%) mentioned that breastfeeding was difficult and this was given as the reason for not breastfeeding. Most of the mothers (74.3%) reported that they would use the FH method at home as a feeding method for their infants, and most (83%) of the mothers reported that they were willing to heattreat their expressed breast milk (EBM) in a pot on a Primus stove until the water boils-as required by the FH guideline. The results showed that mothers who reported that they were willing to heat EBM at home were 24 times more likely to adopt FH compared to those who were not willing to heat EBM at home (OR=24.23, p=0.001). Also, those mothers who reported that they were willing to express milk for 4 months had 22 times more chance of adopting FH than mothers who reported that they were not willing to express for 4 months (OR=21.60, p=0.016). The findings suggest that HIV-positive mothers in a public-health facility would adopt flash-heating as an alternative infant-feeding method at home.www.biomedres.infoam2017School of Health Systems and Public Health (SHSPH

Impact of antiretroviral therapy on pregnancy outcomes

Background.The majority of HIV-positive women in South Africa are of reproductive age, and pregnancies among women using antiretroviral therapy (ART) are common. However, there are mixed data regarding the impact of ART on pregnancy outcomes. Objective. To examine the impact of ART on pregnancy outcome according to the timing of initiation of treatment. Methods. A retrospective cohort study was conducted among women delivering at a tertiary hospital from 1 October 2008 to 31 March 2009. Results. A total of 245 mothers were receiving ART: 76 mothers (31%) started ART pre-conception and 169 mothers (69%) started ART after the first trimester. No significant differences were observed in the rates of preterm delivery and low birth weight (LBW) between the pre- and post-conception groups (21% v. 24% and 21% v. 25%, respectively). Conclusion. In this cohort of women receiving ART in pregnancy, timing of ART initiation did not have any adverse effect on the measured pregnancy outcomes such as preterm delivery and LBW

Knowledge, practices, and attitudes of emergency contraception among female university students in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study is to investigate the knowledge, practices, and attitudes among female university students in South Africa regarding emergency contraceptives (EC). METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 582 female university students who were selected using multi-stage sampling techniques. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to find significant predictors for EC awareness. RESULTS: The average age of the female students was 20.9 years (SD=3.0) and 57.2% were presently sexually active. Overall, 49.8% of the participants reported having heard about EC prior to the study. Regarding sexual activities among the female students, 53.2% reported to have sex, and 21.2% of the sexually experienced students used EC prior to the study. Regarding the effectiveness of EC, 29.5% students said it could be used up to 72 hours after unprotected sexual intercourse, and 8% said it could be used just before sex. About two-thirds (61.8%) would recommend the use of EC and 63.2% would use it if they needed. The multivariate analysis indicated that students who were older (>20 years), presently sexually active, and living with their parents were more likely to be aware of EC (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: The students' knowledge and utilization of EC were low. Health education and promotion should be targeted towards these students, and the EC services should be offered on campus

The growth strategies of a global pharmaceutical company: a case study of Aspen Pharmacare Holdings Limited

Given the rapid and sustained growth of Aspen over the past decade, the main aim of this study is to identify and analyze the growth strategies, adopted by Aspen over the period from 2004 to 2014. The research method used was a descriptive study through a single case study of Aspen by analyzing secondary data in the form of publicly available company reports and presentations, as well as financial results, issued between 2004 and 2014. The study finds that, guided by strategic and visionary leadership, Aspen adopted a number of growth strategies including (i) organic growth, as a key factor in creating incremental value for Aspen and its stakeholders, (ii) inorganic growth, in the form of carefully planned and well executed acquisitions, aligned to the Group strategy, (iii) extending territorial coverage through global expansion, particularly into emerging pharmaceutical countries, and (iv) ongoing investment in production capabilities as a means of achieving a strategic advantage. Despite the challenges of intense competition, restrictive legislation, pressure on medicine prices, currency volatility and market specific risks, Aspen has delivered double-digit earnings growth to its shareholders for 16 consecutive years

Acceptability of Human Papillomavirus Vaccine: A Survey among Master of Business Administration Students in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

Cervical cancer is a preventable public health problem. The two new human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccines are available but not accessible to everyone in South Africa, as they are very expensive. This study aimed to investigate educated peoples acceptability regarding HPV vaccination. This was a cross-sectional survey conducted among 146 master of business administration students by self-administered, anonymous questionnaire. The majority (74%) of the participants ever heard of cervical cancer, but only 26.2% heard about HPV. After reading the fact information regarding cervical cancer and HPV, the intention to vaccinate their daughters increased from 88% to 97.2% (P=0.003). The majority (75.4%) indicated that HPV vaccination should be given before their daughters are mature enough to understand about sex, and 80.3% reported that they will discuss matters related to sex with their daughters if their daughters want to know about the vaccine. Those who did not want to vaccinate their daughters highlighted that they want more information regarding safety of the vaccine which might change their decision towards HPV vaccination. A health education information method can increase the vaccination acceptance rate in South Africa

Acceptability of human papillomavirus vaccine : a survey among master of business administration students in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

Cervical cancer is a preventable public health problem. The two new human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccines are available but not accessible to everyone in South Africa, as they are very expensive. This study aimed to investigate educated peoples acceptability regarding HPV vaccination. This was a cross-sectional survey conducted among 146 master of business administration students by self-administered, anonymous questionnaire. The majority (74%) of the participants ever heard of cervical cancer, but only 26.2% heard about HPV. After reading the fact information regarding cervical cancer and HPV, the intention to vaccinate their daughters increased from 88% to 97.2% (P=0.003). The majority (75.4%) indicated that HPV vaccination should be given before their daughters are mature enough to understand about sex, and 80.3% reported that they will discuss matters related to sex with their daughters if their daughters want to know about the vaccine. Those who did not want to vaccinate their daughters highlighted that they want more information regarding safety of the vaccine which might change their decision towards HPV vaccination. A health education information method can increase the vaccination acceptance rate in South Africa

Utilization and attitudes towards EC among the students.

<p>Utilization and attitudes towards EC among the students.</p