Experiences of learners from informal settlements

The purpose of this article is to describe the experiences of learners from informal settlements at predominantly Indian secondary schools in Lenasia, as well as their experiences at the informal settlements themselves. Grade 8 learners from the Thembelihle and Hospital Hill informal settlements in Lenasia, Gauteng province, were identified as the target population in the study. A qualitative research design that was explorative, descriptive and contextual was used. Data were collected through individual interviews, focus group interviews, life studies/essays and a projective test. Analysis of the data revealed that learners experience a variety of negative feelings, that they were misunderstood by their educators and other learners and that they experienced racial discrimination, bullying and ganging-up. On the positive side, however, they felt privileged to be in schools where there was a good quality of education. At the informal settlement they experience difficulty in studying. Unemployment and poverty further add to their negative experiences, and make the learners feel disempowered. On the basis of the findings, several recommendations are made for an ecosystemic intervention with the learners, with specific roles of families, government, schools, and the community in the empowerment of learners from the informal settlements. South African Journal of Education Vol.24(1) 2004: 5-

The Church and development in the new South Africa : towards a theology of development

Bibliography: pages 333-365.The Churches in South Africa played a vital role in the dismantling of apartheid. However, since the establishment of the new democratic government the Church seems to have retreated into denominational and ecclesiological interests. The Church claims that it was forced into the liberation struggle because all our (political) leaders were either in exile or imprisoned. And now that our leaders have been elected into political office it is their responsibility to build a new South Africa. This research takes issue with the latter view. It is our claim that the Church has an even greater role to play now in the development of the new South Africa. The task of the Church is not only to break down unjust structures but to also build new ones. The task of the Church is to point to the "Kingdom of God. " Development has captured the central stage of history and it is also a key word in the new South Africa. This ambiguous process is often depicted as the crucible through which all societies must pass and, if successful, emerge purified: modem, affluent, and efficient. Is this what development is all about? Is this the Christian understanding of development? By defining the Christian understanding of development as humanisation this research offers its central thesis: The Christian Church has always had a notion of development and under girding this is a theology (of development) that the Church has not fully understood or adequately embraced. Hence it is no longer a question of whether the Church must be involved in development instead it is the question of: What kind of development must the Church engage? This research prepared the way for a "theology of development" by: (1) offering a comprehensive discussion on the concept and theories of development (Chapter Two), (2) showing development as an integral part of the mission of the church in history (Chapter Three) and, (3) examining Biblical material on the poor and pointing to a preferential option for the poor (Chapter Four). Then in Chapter Five, in using a qualitative research design that is explorative, descriptive and contextual, we looked at two local churches and their attempts to transform (develop) their communities. In doing the latter we were able to identify, from within these communities, theological themes that contribute to a Theology of Development. These theological themes were then further explored and discussed in Chapter Six as we attempted to formulate a theology of development Having proved our central thesis in this research, that the Christian Church has always had a notion of development and having established a rheological mandate for development, what remained is to see how the Church is challenged in the area of development. Thus in the concluding Chapter we more specifically looked at the Church in the new South Africa and her role in the development of the country

Conducting Epidemiological Research in South Africa: Challenges in the Data Collection Process

This article addresses the challenges faced by research supervisors and research assistants while collecting data to explore the prevalence of psychiatric disorders among children and adolescents in South Africa. The article focuses on budgetary constraints, interviewee expectations, moral issues, limited confidentiality, fatigue factors and racial issues that threatened the completion of the project. These challenges are examined from the emic-etic theoretical paradigm and the interactions between the research supervisors, the research assistants and the research participants are analyzed. The authors propose recommendations that can serve to prepare researchers who embark on conducting research in similar socio-cultural environments

Preferential electrosorption of cobalt (II) tetra-aminophthalocyanine at single-wall carbon nanotubes immobilized on a basal plane pyrolytic graphite electrode

This communication describes the preferential electrosorption of cobalt (II) tetra-aminophthalocyanine (CoTAPc) (rather than the expected electropolymerisation) onto a SWCNT immobilized on a basal plane pyrolytic graphite electrode (BPPGE). Cyclic voltammetric and electrochemical impedance spectroscopic data revealed that the electrosorbed CoTAPc is highly stable, well organized with comparable electron-transfer rate constant in ferricyanide solution (k[subscript app] ~ 6 × 10[superscript (−5)] cm s[superscript (−1)] order) to that of the SWNCT. Electrochemical kinetics of the electrosorbed CoTAPc yielded k[subscript s] of 0.169 s[superscript (−1)] and 832.2 s[superscript (−1)] for the cathodic and anodic reactions, respectively, indicative of different rate-determining steps for the cathodic and anodic reactions. Strong π-stacking interactions between CoTAPc and the sidewalls of the SWCNTs, with possible synergistic covalent interactions, are explained as responsible for the preferential electrosorption process. Both BPPGE-SWCNT-CoTAPc[subscript (ads)] and BPPGE-SWCNT showed comparable electrocatalytic responses towards the detection of 2-(diethylamino) ethanethiol (DEAET)

Adolescent attachment, family functioning and depressive symptoms

Background. Adolescence represents a challenging transitional period where changes in biological, emotional, cognitive and social domains can increase the risk of developing internalised problems including subthreshold depression. Adolescent-parent attachment style, perceived support and family functioning may increase risk for depressive symptoms or may reduce such risk. Adolescent-parent attachment, adolescent-perceived support from parents and family functioning were examined as correlates of depressive symptom presentation within this age group. Methods. Participants included a maternal parent and an adolescent (65.5% female) from each family. Adolescents were in Grade 7 (n=175) or Grade 10 (n=31). Data were collected through home interviews. The Self-Report of Family Inventory (SFI), Experiences of Close Relationships Scale (ECR), Network of Relationships Inventory (NRI), Children’s Depression Inventory (CDI) and Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) were used to assess depression, parental support and attachment.  Results. Two models were examined: one with adolescent report of depressive symptoms as the outcome and a second with parent report of adolescent internalising symptoms as the outcome. The model predicting adolescent-reported depressive symptoms was significant with older age, higher levels of avoidant attachment, and higher levels of youth-reported dysfunctional family interaction associated with more depressive symptomatology. In the model predicting parent report of adolescent internalising symptoms only higher levels of dysfunctional family interaction, as reported by the parent, were associated with higher levels of internalising symptoms. Conclusion. Positive family communication, cohesion and support predictive of a secure parent-adolescent attachment relationship reduced the risk of a depressive symptom outcome. Secure adolescents were able to regulate their emotions, knowing that they could seek out secure base attachment relations within their family and from friends during times of stress, buffering against the development of depressive symptoms

Legal termination of pregnancy among teenagers and older women in Soweto, 1999-2001

Background. Legal termination of pregnancy (TOP) was introduced in South Africa in 1996. No data are available to relate the numbers of TOPs to the total number of pregnancies in specific health regions. The level of use of TOPs by women of different age groups is not known.Objective. To determine the proportion of pregnancies that end in TOP, with special reference to maternal age, and to measure trends in use from 1999 to 2001.Setting. Greater Soweto, Orange Farm and Lenasia, a densely populated urban health region served by Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital and comprehensive primary care reproductive health services.Methods. Two cross-sectional studies performed in 1999 and 2001, counting all pregnancies managed in state-run health services, including legal terminations, spontaneous miscarriages, ectopic pregnancies and deliveries. Results. There were 5412 pregnancies in the study period (9 weeks) in 1999, and 5316 in the study period (8 weeks) in 2001. The TOP rates decreased from 16.1% to 13.6% (P = 0.20). The TOP rates for teenagers decreased from 22.3% to 16.3% (P = 0.006), but were higher than those for older women (15.2% in 1999 and 13.2% in 2001, P = 0.006 and 0.028 respectively). TOP rates for teenagers 13- 16 years decreased from 28.0% to 23.0% (P = 0.44), and rates for older teenagers declined from 21.0% to 14.9% (P = 0.008). In 2001, 16.2% of women aged 35 and above underwent TOP, compared with 12.7% of women aged 20 - 34 years (P =0.014).Conclusion. Use of TOP services was highest in women at the extremes of reproductive age. There was a significant decline in TOP rates among older teenagers between 1999 and 2001. These data, from a comprehensive urban reproductive health service, provide a benchmark for comparison elsewhere and in the future

Teaching and learning considerations during the COVID 19 pandemic: Supporting multimodal student learning preferences

Background. The advent of COVID‑19 and the subsequent national lockdown has catapulted higher education institutions into emergency remote teaching (ERT). A principal challenge in this shift is the ability to stimulate student interest towards engagement with, and retention of, course content. The creation of teaching and learning (T&L) resources and activities using a combination of the visual, aural, read/write and kinaesthetic (VARK) modes is fundamental in ensuring student engagement. Objectives. To determine the learning style profiles of undergraduate students and to explore how student learning profiles may be incorporated in T&L approaches during ERT. Methods. This descriptive study profiles the learning preferences of undergraduate students in a health science faculty using the VARK questionnaire. The study further outlines modifications in T&L implemented to support the varied learning preferences during the COVID‑19 ERT response. Results. Our findings demonstrate that the majority of our students have a multimodal learning preference, with the kinaesthetic modality being the most preferred. Voice-over PowerPoint presentations with transitioning images, and audio files, supported the visual and aural learners through asynchronous engagement. Additionally, online discussion forums and applied projects (such as theme park designs) enhanced asynchronous learning by stimulating the visual, read/write and kinaesthetic preferences, respectively. Microsoft Team sessions with PowerPoint presentations supported visual and aural learning preferences through synchronous engagement. Conclusions. Rethinking traditional T&L approaches towards supporting the diverse student learning preferences is critical in student-centred T&L amidst the many challenges that ERT has precipitated. Academics need to be dynamic in their T&L approaches and intuitive in their awareness of how subject content may be modified/enhanced in the ERT environment

Inadequacy of primary health care test request guidelines - lack of evidence base

Evidence suggests that 3 - 4% of patient encounters in primary health care result in blood tests being requested. There is compelling evidence of significant misuse and poor utilisation of many laboratory tests, which results in an economic burden and other problems including further investigation of false-positive results. Patients have high expectations that blood tests be performed and have little understanding of the limitations of testing. The frequency of test ordering is much higher in the USA and Canada, for example, than in the UK, without any overt difference in the quality of care. There are suggestions that 30 - 50% of tests are unnecessary, and that about 15% of abnormal results are not acted upon

Inadequacy of primary health care test request guidelines - lack of evidence base

Evidence suggests that 3 - 4% of patient encounters in primary health care result in blood tests being requested. There is compelling evidence of significant misuse and poor utilisation of many laboratory tests, which results in an economic burden and other problems including further investigation of false-positive results. Patients have high expectations that blood tests be performed and have little understanding of the limitations of testing. The frequency of test ordering is much higher in the USA and Canada, for example, than in the UK, without any overt difference in the quality of care. There are suggestions that 30 - 50% of tests are unnecessary, and that about 15% of abnormal results are not acted upon

The increasing burden of tuberculosis in pregnant women, newborns and infants under 6 months of age in Durban, KwaZulu Natal

Objectives. In spite of the global epidemic of tuberculosis (TB) which has been exacerbated by HIV, the impact of these coinfections on maternal and perinatal health has been limited. We document new evidence from Durban, KwaZulu- Natal, on the increasing effects of TB in pregnant women, neonates and infants.Method. Women with TB were prospectively tudied at the antenatal clinics and obstetric and labour wards at King Edward VIII Hospital, Durban, between 1996 and 1998. The incidence of TB was calculated, and the population attributable fraction of TB due to HIV infection in pregnancy was estimated. Concurrently, culture-confirmed cases of Mycobacterium tubaculosis in neonates and infants under 6 months of age at the hospital were documented.Results. One hundred and forty-six cases of maternal TB were detected. TB occurred in 0.1% and 0.6% of maternities in 1996 and 1998 respectively. Overall, TB rate for HIV non-infected maternities was 72.9/ 105, and for HIV-infected maternities , 774.5/ 105. The attributable fraction of TB related to HIV in pregnancy was 71.7%; 10.3% of these mothers died. There was a 2.2-fold increase in the caseload of culture-confirmed TB in neonates and young infants at the hospital.Conclusion. In regions where TB and HIV preval nee is high, efforts to improve maternal and perinatal health must include the detection of TB in pregnancy