Early sexual debut: Voluntary or coerced? Evidence from longitudinal data in South Africa – the Birth to Twenty Plus study

Background: Early sexual debut, voluntary or coerced, increases risks to sexual and reproductive health. Sexual coercion is increasingly receiving attention as an important public health issue owing to its association with adverse health and social outcomes.Objective: To describe voluntary and coerced experience at sexual debut.Methods: A longitudinal perspective among 2 216 adolescents (1 149 females, 1 067 males) in a birth cohort study in South Africa, analysing data collected on six occasions between 11 and 18 years.Results: The median age of sexual debut was 16 years for females and 15 for males. Reported coerced sexual debut included children <11 years of age. Males reported earlier sexual debut, with both voluntary and coerced sexual experience, than females (p<0.0001). Sexual coercion at early sexual debut among both male and female adolescents occurred mostly through sexual intercourse with older adolescents and partners of the same age.Conclusion: The identified time periods and age groups need to be targeted for interventions to delay sexual debut and prevent sexual coercion among young people. More research is needed to understand underlying predisposing risk factors for sexual coercion at sexual debut, both early and not early

Performance management and talent development : their impact on job satisfaction at selected higher education institutions

Abstract: The purpose of this study was to examine the impact of performance management and talent development on job satisfaction amongst academic staff in selected higher education institutions (HEI’s in the South African context. This research is significant because performance management and talent development are perceived as having a positive influence on job satisfaction. This study employed a quantitative research method to investigate the impact of performance management and talent development on job satisfaction within HEIs. An explanatory hypothesis-generating approach was employed, and a survey design used to collect data through a semi-structured questionnaire. A sample of 279 academic staff was selected for the study. Results revealed a positive and significant impact between performance management (0.591), talent development (0.624) and on the job satisfaction (0.442). Therefore, talent development has the strongest impact on job satisfaction amongst academic staff. Based on the findings, management in HEIs should implement performance management systems (PMS) and provide talent development opportunities to enhance job satisfaction amongst academic staff with the aim of achieving institutional objectives

Acceptance of a ready-to-use supplementary food by stable HIV-treated and HIV and tuberculosis (co-infected)-treated patients

Objectives: The objective of the study was to determine consumer  acceptance and perceptions of a ready-to-use supplementary food (RUSF)by subjects treated for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and HIV and tuberculosis (co-infected subjects).Design: A cross-sectional study was conducted.Subjects: One hundred and thirty-nine stable HIV-treated and HIV and tuberculosis (co-infected)-treated patients participated in the study. Sixty-eight healthy subjects served as the control group.Setting: The setting was Northdale Hospital and Grey’s Hospital in  Pietermaritzburg, KwaZulu-Natal.Outcome measures: Acceptance of the RUSF was assessed using a five-point facial hedonic scale by stable HIV-treated and HIV and tuberculosis (co-infected)-treated patients (n = 139) from Northdale Hospital and Grey’s Hospital in Pietermaritzburg, KwaZulu-Natal. Perceptions of the RUSF were determined through focus group discussions in which HIV-treated and HIV and tuberculosis (co-infected)-treated patients (n = 43) participated.Results: The overall acceptance of the RUSF was significantly associated with the health status of the subjects (p-value < 0.05). Overall, the product was liked by more than 90% of the HIV-treated and HIV and tuberculosis (co-infected)-treated individuals compared to 85% of the control group. More than 90% of the HIV-treated and HIV and tuberculosis   (co-infected)-treated individuals liked the taste, compared to 87% of the control group. The colour and mouth feel were rated to be “good” by more than 80% of the HIV-treated and HIV and tuberculosis (coinfected)-treated group, compared to approximately 70% of the healthy group. Focus group discussions revealed that the subjects perceived the mouth feel of the RUSF to be “rough”, and that as a health supplement, the RUSF should be provided free of charge, or at a reasonable cost, at public health centres.Conclusion: The RUSF was found to be highly acceptable to stable   HIV-treated and HIV and tuberculosis (co-infected)-treated subjects, although concern was raised about the mouth feel

Total rewards and its effects on organisational commitment in higher education institutions

Abstract: Orientation: Retaining staff with special endeavours within higher education institutions has become a top priority and crucial for any organisational productivity and competiveness. Attracting and retaining talent has remained a critical and complex issue for human capital management in organisations. Research purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of total rewards on organisational commitment measured by Total Rewards Scale and Organisational Commitment Questionnaire. Motivation for the study: There is paucity in research on the impact of total rewards on organisational commitment. Commitment of academic staff is significant as higher education institutions are influential in the development of a country. Research design, approach and method: This study employed the quantitative research method using a survey design. A semi-structured questionnaire was used to collect survey data. A sample of 279 academic staff, which was the total population of participants, was selected for this study. Main findings: Results show a positive and significant correlation between elements of total rewards (performance management, 0.387; recognition, 0.335; talent development and career opportunities, 0.328; compensation, 0.231; benefits, 0.213; work–life balance, 0.024) and organisational commitment. A variance of 52.3% of total rewards explained organisational commitment. Performance management, compensation, benefits, recognition, talent development and career opportunities significantly predicted organisational commitment. However, work–life balance indicated a negative effect on organisational commitment. Practical managerial implications: Findings of the study has implications to managers because they have to encourage and promote total rewards in order to enforce talent retention within higher education institutions for the benefit of both institutions and employees. Contribution: The results are important to managers with great interest in talent retention and can be used as guideline to develop rewards strategy

HIV risk perception and behavior among medically and traditionally circumcised males in South Africa

Abstract Background In South Africa, voluntary medical male circumcision (VMMC) has recently been implemented as a strategy for reducing the risk of heterosexual HIV acquisition among men. However, there is some concern that VMMC may lead to low risk perception and more risky sexual behavior. This study investigated HIV risk perception and risk behaviors among men who have undergone either VMMC or traditional male circumcision (TMC) compared to those that had not been circumcised. Methods Data collected from the 2012 South African national population-based household survey for males aged 15 years and older were analyzed using bivariate and multivariate multinomial logistic regression, and relative risk ratios (RRRs) with 95 % confidence interval (CI) were used to assess factors associated with each type of circumcision relative no circumcision. Results Of the 11,086 males that indicated that they were circumcised or not, 19.5 % (95 % CI: 17.9–21.4) were medically circumcised, 27.2 % (95 % CI: 24.7–29.8) were traditionally circumcised and 53.3 % (95 % CI: 50.9–55.6) were not circumcised. In the final multivariate models, relative to uncircumcised males, males who reported VMMC were significantly more likely to have had more than two sexual partners (RRR = 1.67, p = 0.009), and males who reported TMC were significantly less likely to be low risk alcohol users (RRR = 0.72, p < 0.001). Conclusion There is a need to strengthen and improve the quality of the counselling component of VMMC with the focus on education about the real and present risk for HIV infection associated with multiple sexual partners and alcohol abuse following circumcision

Perceptions about the acceptability and prevalence of HIV testing and factors influencing them in different communities in South Africa

HIV counselling and testing (HCT) is considered important because it is an entry point to a comprehensive continuum of care for HIV/AIDS. The South African Department of Health launched an HCT campaign in April 2010, and this reached 13,269,746 people by June 2011, of which 16% tested HIV positive and 400,000 of those were initiated into antiretroviral treatment. The overall objective of this project was to gain insight into the general perceptions about HIV testing in the different South African communities. Factors influencing testing in these communities were also explored. Discussions with twelve focus groups (FG) of 8–12 participants each were  conducted with male and female participants recruited from both urban formal and informal communities in Cape Town and Durban. Participants included four racial groups represented by different age groups as follows: adolescents (12–17 years), youth (18–24 years) and adults (25 years and older). Data were analyzed using thematic coding. Among the key themes that emerged from the findings were the inaccurate perception of risk, fear of testing HIV positive, stigma and discrimination. Participants from both African and Indian FGs reported being less likely to do self-initiated HIV testing and counselling, while those from the FG consisting of young whites were more likely to learn about their HIV status through blood donations and campus HIV testing campaigns. Most FGs said they were likely to test if they understood the testing process better and also if the results are kept confidential. The present findings reiterate the importance of spreading positive messages and ensuring confidentiality for HIV testing in a society where there is still some stigma associated with people living with HIV/AIDS. This can partly be accomplished by the continuation of the national HCT campaign, which has been a considerable success in the fight against HIV/AIDS in South Africa during the past two years.Keywords: HIV Counselling and Testing, perceptions, stigma, discrimination and confidentiality, South AfricaLe conseil et le de´pistage (CDV) du VIH sont conside´re´s importants pour les programmes de soins du VIH/SIDA. Le ministe`re sudafricain de la Sante´ a lance´ une campagne de CDV en avril 2010, et a atteint 13 269 746 personnes en juin 2011, dont 16% ont e´te´ identifie´s se´ropositifs, et dont 400,000 ont commence´ le traitement antire´troviral. L’objectif global de ce projet e´tait de mieux comprendre les perceptions ge´ne´rales sur le de´pistage du VIH dans les diffe´rentes communaute´s sud-africaines. Les facteurs influenc¸ant la participation au de´pistage du VIH ont e´te´ aussi e´tudie´s. Douze groupes de discussion (GDD), consistant de huit a` douze hommes et femmes, ont e´te´ forme´s. Les participants e´taient recrute´s dans les localite´s urbaines formelles et informelles a` Cape-Town et a` Durban. Les groupes e´taient repartie en quatre sur base d’ethnicite´, repre´sentant diffe´rents groupes d’aˆge: les adolescents (12–17 ans), les jeunes (18–24 ans) et les adultes (25 ans et plus). Les donne´es ont e´te´ analyse´es en utilisant un codage the´matique. La  perception errone´e du risque, la peur du de´pistage du VIH, la stigmatisation et la discrimination e´taient parmi les principaux the`mes qui ont e´merge´. Les participants africains et indiens ont de´clare´ d’eˆtre moins dispose´s a` se faire tester pour le VIH a` propre initiative, tandis que les jeunes blancs e´taient dispose´s a` connaıˆtre leur statut VIH graˆce aux dons de sang et aux campagnes universitaires de de´pistage du VIH. La plupart des participants des DDG ont dit qu’ils e´taient dispose´s a` se laisser tester s’ils avaient une meilleure compre´hension du processus de de´pistage, et s’ils e´taient convaincus de sa confidentialite´. Les re´sultats de cette recherche ont re´ite´re´ l’importance de la diffusion de messages positifs et de la confidentialite´ des re´sultats le de´pistage du VIH dans une socie´te´ ou` il y a encore un stigmate associe´ au VIH. Cela peut eˆtre accompli en partie par la poursuite de la campagne nationale de CDV, qui a e´te´ un succe`s conside´rable dans la lutte contre le VIH/SIDA en Afrique du Sud au cours des deux dernie`res anne´es.Mots cle´s: Le conseil et le depistage du VIH, Perceptions, stigmate, discrimination, confidentialite, Afrique du Su

Predictors of unplanned pregnancies among female students at South African Technical and Vocational Education and Training colleges: Findings from the 2014 Higher Education and Training HIV and AIDS survey

Background. Unplanned pregnancies among college/tertiary female students pose a serious public health concern in South Africa (SA) and are associated with adverse health and social outcomes that impact negatively on educational progress and future career prospects.Objectives. To examine the potential predictors of unplanned pregnancy among female students at Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) colleges in SA.Methods. This analysis used data drawn from the 2014 Higher Education and Training HIV and AIDS survey, which was a nationally representative survey of TVET college students in SA. Associations between unplanned pregnancy and the explanatory variables were assessed using bivariate analysis. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to identify the effect of several independent predictors of unplanned pregnancy.Results. Of 1 002 female students who responded to the question on unplanned pregnancy, 74.6% reported having had an unplanned pregnancy. Predictors significantly associated with a reduced likelihood of unplanned pregnancy among female TVET students included living with a husband (odds ratio (OR) 0.28, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.13 - 0.62; p=0.002), having two (OR 0.45, 95% CI 0.23 - 0.88; p=0.003) or three (OR 0.07, 95% CI 0.01 - 0.39; p=0.003) previous pregnancies, and not having had an abortion (OR 0.16, 95% CI 0.04 - 0.62; p=0.008).Conclusions. The high level of unplanned pregnancies is indicative of the state of women’s reproductive health services at SA TVET colleges. The findings suggest that certain groups of female students are at increased risk of unplanned pregnancy and would benefit from targeted family planning interventions tailored to their needs.

Identification of an Appropriate Grass Which Can Be Used for Wastewater Treatment in Constructed Wetland

Aging and poor maintenance of wastewater treatment works affect the wastewater quality and quantity. The focus of this experimental study was to identify appropriate grass which can be used for wastewater treatment in constructed wetlands. Vetiver grass (Chrysopogon zizanioides), Lemon grass (Cymbopogon flexuosus) and elephant grass (Pennisetum purpurreum) were planted separately and exposed to influent for a period of twenty weeks. Growth measurements were recorded weekly and the quality of the effluents from each of these grasses were assessed using standard methods to determine their treatment efficiency. The study demonstrates that different grass species can be used in constructed wetlands to treat wastewater effectively. Vetiver grass showed promising results in terms of treatment efficiency, meeting WHO standards for various water quality parameters. Further research and monitoring may be needed to confirm the long-term sustainability and performance of these grasses in wastewater treatment applications