Social and Economic Stress Related to the HIV/AIDS Epidemic in Botswana

The paper describes the consequences of HIV/AIDS in Botswana; the country with the highest HIV prevalence rate in Africa. In addition to frequently experienced trauma due to sickness and death, many households experience rising health expenditures and a sharp deterioration of incomes. High levels of morbidity and mortality among workers result in depressed returns on investment, reduced productivity and increased expenditure on training and replacement of workers. As the health care system finds it increasingly difficult to cope, home-based care provides an inadequate solution since the home infrastructure of many households is inadequate for proper care of seriously ill patients. The stigma associated with AIDS often isolates fragile households and provides an environment in which abuse of infected individuals and of orphans whose parents have died of AIDS is not uncommon. The quality of education also suffers, resulting in an ill prepared skilled manpower, with adverse consequences for social, economic, and political development as well as for good future governance of the country

HIV/AIDS Care, Coping Strategies and Work Environmental Stress Among Nurses in Botswana

Since 2006 there has been universal acceptance in both developing and industrialized societies that HIV treatment and related services, including more effective programs, be available to all citizens. However, as a result of the worldwide recession and shifting health priorities, progress toward these goals has stalled. While the epidemic continues to grow (approximately 34 million globally, with 2.7 million new cases in 2010), fewer resources are dedicated to treatment and prevention than previously, and clinical staffs, especially nurses are challenged by more patient care responsibilities. This paper focuses on the relationships of HIV/AIDS care, coping strategies and work environmental stress for nurses working in an African country (Botswana) with a significant epidemic. Data for this study was obtained through questionnaires completed by a sample of 201 nurses working in different types of health facilities in rural and urban areas of Botswana. Results show that 65% of the nurses frequently provided care to clients with HIV/AIDS. Only 35% of the nurses provided care to clients with HIV/AIDS infrequently. Those caregivers who often worked with patients infected with HIV reported significantly (

HIV/AIDS Care, Coping Strategies and Work Environmental Stress Among Nurses in Botswana

Since 2006 there has been universal acceptance in both developing and industrialized societies that HIV treatment and related services, including more effective programs, be available to all citizens. However, as a result of the worldwide recession and shifting health priorities, progress toward these goals has stalled. While the epidemic continues to grow (approximately 34 million globally, with 2.7 million new cases in 2010), fewer resources are dedicated to treatment and prevention than previously, and clinical staffs, especially nurses are challenged by more patient care responsibilities. This paper focuses on the relationships of HIV/AIDS care, coping strategies and work environmental stress for nurses working in an African country (Botswana) with a significant epidemic. Data for this study was obtained through questionnaires completed by a sample of 201 nurses working in different types of health facilities in rural and urban areas of Botswana. Results show that 65% of the nurses frequently provided care to clients with HIV/AIDS. Only 35% of the nurses provided care to clients with HIV/AIDS infrequently. Those caregivers who often worked with patients infected with HIV reported significantly (p\u3c.05) more role demand , job control and shift work stress and said that their coping strategies were more likely to include taking food supplements. Implications for professional burn out among HIV/AIDS caregivers in developing societies are discussed together with strategies for more effective allocations of health care personnel

Sharing diversity: establishing and supporting community seedbanks in South Africa (pilot phase 2013-2015)

A promising start has been made: the two new community seedbanks of Gumbu and Sterkspruit and complementary technical support provided by the government will allow farmers to improve seed conservation technologies, increase access to crop diversity, apply crop improvement practices and explore seed production and marketing opportunities. The Gumbu community seedbank in particular illustrates the key role of women farmers in local conservation efforts and how these efforts in turn have the potential to change the local agro-ecological and socio-economic landscape. Future work will continue to pay attention to the successes and challenges of such farmers’ efforts and continue to draw more attention and support to: encourage the safeguarding and improvement of local plant species and varieties maintained by smallholder farmers and their communities recognizing the central role of women; value and reward farmers’ collective efforts to safeguard and improve agricultural biodiversity and associated cultural values and knowledge; and support farmers technically and financially to organize themselves, and strengthen their organizational capacity taking into consideration the leadership role of women

A survey of undergraduate students’ attitudes towards studying isiZulu at university

The study’s main objective was to investigate the attitudes held by undergraduate students towards studying isiZulu at university. The purposive sampling method was used to gather data from 100 students who studied the language as major subject, as well as three lecturers who taught the language at the same university. The study was a descriptive survey that used questionnaires to gather quantitative data and face-to-face interviews to gather qualitative data – mixed methods were used. The following five variables, namely: (1) sex, (2) age group, (3) years at university, (4) location of nurture and (5) linguality, were used to test the extent to which they influenced respondents’ attitudes towards the phenomenon under discussion. It was found that all five variables influenced respondents’ attitudes towards studying their L1 at university level. The findings revealed that respondents generally held positive attitudes towards studying isiZulu at university level. The study explored secondary phenomena and found that respondents believed that there were adequate job opportunities for those who studied isiZulu at university level and that they were proud to be the Zulu people

Embracing diversity: inputs for a strategy to support community seedbanks in South Africa’s smallholder farming areas: Report of field visits to Limpopo and Eastern Cape

This report presents the findings of a field mission to Limpopo and Eastern Cape provinces of the Republic of South Africa. The mission aimed to assess the viability of establishing and supporting community seed banks in the country’s smallholder farming areas. Tools used included four cell analysis, seed network mapping, seed survey and historical trend analysis. The report recommends establishing pilot community seed banks in each province backed up by sound management and monitoring plans

Mobilizing diversity: establishment of the first two community seedbanks in South Africa’s smallholder farming areas

This report presents the findings of the 2015 field missions to Limpopo and Eastern Cape provinces of the Republic of South Africa. The missions aimed to build the technical and organizational capacity of the farmers to be able to manage the community seedbanks independently, with minimum support from Bioversity International and the NPGRC. Physical buildings were built or prepared and farmers in the two project sites contributed seeds for the very first collections of their community seedbanks. Contributing farmers have agreed on the functions and governance and management structures of the community seedbanks, and have learned about seed registration, and seed selection, treatment, storage and maintenance