Workplace policies in public education: a review focusing on HIV/AIDS

Policy governs many aspects of the professional lives of educators. It is also central to their and the sector's response to crises such as the HIV/AIDS epidemic. As such policy can contribute directly to curtailing the attrition of educators, by encouraging and providing protection against threats such as HIV/AIDS, and by creating a positive and supportive working environment. This study examines workplace and HIV/AIDS policies from the Department of Education (DoE) and the HIV/AIDS policies of two trade unions, as part of a broader study looking at the attrition of educators. The policies themselves were found to be well written and if implemented, would create a good environment for educators. A number of successes were noted, particularly in terms of the transformation of education structures. The findings suggest that problems are centered on a lack of policy implementation, resulting from disjunctures between the national office and provincial and district offices, as well as a lack of resources and inadequate planning and preparation for implementation

Knowledge of students attending a high school in Pretoria, South Africa, on diet, nutrition and exercise

Objective: The objective of this study was to ascertain the knowledge of students on the composition of a healthy diet, daily nutritional requirements and the importance of regular exercise. Method: A cross-sectional survey using a self-administered questionnaire with closed and open-ended questions to assess students’ knowledge on diet, nutrition and exercise was conducted. The study group were students of Tswaing High School in Pretoria, South Africa, who were in attendance on a particular day when the study was conducted and who consented to participate in the study. Only 500 students of the school participated in the study. Results: Results showed that 77% of the students do not have adequate knowledge on diet, nutrition and exercise while 23% of the students showed satisfactory knowledge. Approximately 26% and 16% of the students reported that they participated in rigorous and moderate exercise respectively. The study also showed that the majority of the students were however not engaged in physical activities. Conclusion: Students at Tswaing High School do not have adequate knowledge on nutrition, diet and exercise. Their views on what exercise entails were found not to be satisfactory. Programmes/ information or seminars that could assist to inform students on the importance of diet and exercise are therefore suggested

Knowledge of Students Attending a High School in Pretoria, South Africa, on Diet, Nutrition and Exercise

Objective: The objective of this study was to ascertain the knowledge of students on the composition of a healthy diet, daily nutritional requirements and the importance of regular exercise. Method: A cross-sectional survey using a self-administered questionnaire with closed and open-ended questions to assess students’ knowledge on diet, nutrition and exercise was conducted. The study group were students of Tswaing High School in Pretoria, South Africa, who were in attendance on a particular day when the study was conducted and who consented to participate in the study. Only 500 students of the school participated in the study. Results: Results showed that 77% of the students do not have adequate knowledge on diet, nutrition and exercise while 23% of the students showed satisfactory knowledge. Approximately 26% and 16% of the students reported that they participated in rigorous and moderate exercise respectively. The study also showed that the majority of the students were however not engaged in physical activities. Conclusion: Students at Tswaing High School do not have adequate knowledge on nutrition, diet and exercise. Their views on what exercise entails were found not to be satisfactory. Programmes/ information or seminars that could assist to inform students on the importance of diet and exercise are therefore suggested. Keywords: Exercise, informal settlement, knowledge, nutrition, unhealthy lifestyle "Conocimientos de los Estudiantes que Asisten a una Escuela Secundaria de Pretoria, África del Sur, Acerca de las Dietas, la Nutrición y los Ejercicios" RESUMEN Objetivo: El objetivo de este estudio fue determinar el conocimiento de los estudiantes sobre la composición de una dieta saludable, los requisitos nutritivos diarios, y la importancia de realizar ejercicios de forma regular. Método: Se realizó un estudio transversal usando una encuesta auto-administrada con preguntas cerradas y abiertas, a fin de evaluar el conocimiento de los estudiantes sobre las dietas, la nutrición y los ejercicios. El grupo del estudio estuvo formado por estudiantes de la Escuela Secundaria Tswaing en Pretoria, África del Sur, que estaban presentes el día cuando se llevó a cabo el estudio, y estuvieron de acuerdo en participar en dicho estudio. Sólo 500 estudiantes de la escuela participaron en el estudio. Resultados: Los resultados mostraron que el 77% de los estudiantes no tienen conocimientos adecuados sobre la dieta, la nutrición y los ejercicios, mientras que el 23% de los estudiantes mostraron conocimientos satisfactorios. Aproximadamente el 26% y el 16% de los estudiantes reportaron haber participado en ejercicios rigurosos y moderados respectivamente. Sin embargo, el estudio también mostró que la mayoría de los estudiantes no participaban en actividades físicas. Conclusión: Los estudiantes en la escuela secundaria de Tswaing no tienen conocimientos adecuados sobre nutrición, dieta y ejercicios. Se halló que sus opiniones sobre lo que los ejercicios implican, no eran satisfactorias. Por lo tanto, se sugieren programas de información o seminarios que puedan ayudar a informar a los estudiantes acerca de la importancia de la dieta y los ejercicios. Palabras claves: Ejercicios, asentamiento informal, conocimientos, nutrición, estilo de vida no saludable

The exploration of in-service training needs of psychiatric nurses

BACKGROUND: New research findings, changes in legislation and the use of information technology in nursing, require continuous in-service training of psychiatric nurses to cope with, reflect on and modify their clinical practice based on emerging knowledge. Many international studies have been conducted on the importance of in-service training and authors agree that in-service training improves the quality of nursing care. However, few studies have been conducted on in-service training in South Africa and psychiatric nursing. OBJECTIVES: The objectives of the study were to explore and describe the needs and benefits of in-service training for psychiatric nurses; and to formulate recommendations for in-service training. METHOD: The research project followed a qualitative, explorative, descriptive and contextual approach. Six focus group interviews were conducted and the following questions were asked: 'What are your in-service training needs as psychiatric nurses?', 'What are the benefits of doing in service training?' and 'What can be done to ensure that in-service training is done continuously?' Data were analysed through the use of content analysis and Tesch's eight steps of data analysis were used. RESULTS: The findings of this research included three main themes, namely, that on-going in-service training is necessary, in-service training is beneficial to psychiatric nurses and that challenges exist with regard to in-service training. CONCLUSION: The findings confirmed the need for ongoing in-service training which has many advantages for psychiatric nurses. Aspects that hinder in-service training need to be addressed by planning ahead and by implementing the recommendations as identified by the psychiatric nurses and their managers

Educator supply and demand in the South African public education system: integrated report

Education plays a key role in the development of any society. Responding to the need for empirical evidence on the demand for and supply of public educators in South Africa, the Education Labour Relations Council (ELRC) commissioned the Human Sciences Research Council-led consortium to conduct nation-wide research on the factors determining educator supply and demand in South African public education system. Growth demand for educators depends on learner enrolments and the learner-educator ratio, while replacement demand for educators depends on employment trends, demographics and attrition (including morbidity and morality). Educator supply depends on a number of factors, such as education graduates, morbidity and morality, and educators returning after a break from the profession. This report is an integration of the seven reports which emerged from the research, and pulls together the findings arising from it. What emerges is that the resignation, death and ageing of the present educator force is likely to have a significant effect on replacement demand for educators over the next four years

The survival of influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 virus on 4 household surfaces.

We investigated the survival of a pandemic strain of influenza A H1N1 on a variety of common household surfaces where multiple samples were taken from 4 types of common household fomite at 7 time points. Results showed that influenza A H1N1sw virus particles remained infectious for 48 hours on a wooden surface, for 24 hours on stainless steel and plastic surfaces, and for 8 hours on a cloth surface, although virus recovery from the cloth may have been suboptimal. Our results suggest that pandemic influenza A H1N1 can survive on common household fomites for extended periods of time, and that good hand hygiene and regular disinfection of commonly touched surfaces should be practiced during the influenza season to help reduce transmission

Estimating the harms of nicotine-containing products using the MCDA approach

Background: An international expert panel convened by the Independent Scientific Committee on Drugs developed a multi-criteria decision analysis model of the relative importance of different types of harm related to the use of nicotine-containing products. Method: The group defined 12 products and 14 harm criteria. Seven criteria represented harms to the user, and the other seven indicated harms to others. The group scored all the products on each criterion for their average harm worldwide using a scale with 100 defined as the most harmful product on a given criterion, and a score of zero defined as no harm. The group also assessed relative weights for all the criteria to indicate their relative importance. Findings: Weighted averages of the scores provided a single, overall score for each product. Cigarettes (overall weighted score of 100) emerged as the most harmful product, with small cigars in second place (overall weighted score of 64). After a substantial gap to the third-place product, pipes (scoring 21), all remaining products scored 15 points or less. Interpretation: Cigarettes are the nicotine product causing by far the most harm to users and others in the world today. Attempts to switch to non-combusted sources of nicotine should be encouraged as the harms from these products are much lower

An international survey of bacterial contamination and householders' knowledge, attitudes and perceptions of hygiene

This prospective, multinational study was conducted in 20 homes in eight cities or regions in different countries to determine the level of microbiological contamination of common surfaces and items, and investigate the attitudes and perceptions of householders towards cleaning and hygiene. Environmental Health Practitioners took eight standardised swabs in each home. The swabs were cultured for a range of micro-organisms. Householders ( n=160) were also interviewed regarding their cleaning habits and perceptions of hygiene. Overall, 28% of surfaces or items tested in the study had ‘moderate bacterial growth’ or ‘heavy bacterial growth’. Kitchen cloths were the most contaminated items, with 86% having moderate bacterial growth or heavy bacterial growth; kitchen taps were the second most contaminated items, with 52% having moderate bacterial growth or heavy bacterial growth. High proportions (&gt;50%) of kitchen cloths contained coliforms, Enterobacteriaceae and Pseudomonas spp. The visual appearance of surfaces and items frequently (30%) did not correspond to their level of contamination with micro-organisms. The majority of householders (65%) cleaned to make the house ‘look clean, smell nice and remove germs’; however, householders’ perceptions of the cleanliness of their homes frequently did not correspond to microbiological reality. In conclusion, further research and education are needed regarding hygiene in the home. </jats:p