Gauteng Province Research Articles

Cultural Practices and Constitutional Rights in Widowhood: Lived Experiences of Black Widowed Women in Makapanstad Village in South Africa

This paper aims to examine the various cultural practices that apply to widows vis à vis their constitutional rights. The Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996 (hereinafter referred to as the constitution) outlines inalienable human rights that do not prescribe their attainment requirements. This paper is part of a more extensive study conducted in the Gauteng province of South Africa. The research tools were piloted in Makapan village. The aim of this paper is to explain how cultural practices interact with constitutional rights and affect the lives of Black widows in Makapanstad village. The objective of the study is to describe the intersections in widowhood cultural practices, which are often not aligned with the constitution of South Africa. Qualitative research was used. Three widows were sampled in this paper. The research question that is addressed by this paper is the following: “What cultural processes in widowhood are still practiced by the community of Makapanstad that can be analyzed in line with the constitutional imperatives for the South African context?” The intersectionality theory was used in this study. Findings reveal that widowhood rites are gendered. Some Black cultural practices are embedded in culture and religion, and they undermine the constitution and human rights of widowed women.

Contested and nervous spaces: exploring the environment of healthcare provision for international migrants in the Gauteng province of South Africa

ABSTRACT Background Notwithstanding the global goal of inclusive universal health coverage, and the notion of migrant-sensitive health systems, limited healthcare access or the exclusion of migrants from national health systems persists. South Africa has a rights-based constitution, but there is an inability or a failure of the health system to recognise and address the health needs of migrants. Objective To explore the intersection of the environment of healthcare provision for migrants and the everyday practices and behaviours of health workers and patients in the Gauteng province of South Africa. Methods The conceptual frameworks of health system responsiveness and social exclusion informed this institutional ethnographic study at 13 healthcare facilities in Gauteng province. We developed an observation guide to explore the intersection of culture and environment and its influence on healthcare provision to patients, especially migrants. Following ethics approval, we observed the facilities for 234 person-days. We used thematic analysis to analyse the data. Results Busy, frantic or nervous spaces, and contestations between patients and health workers, and among health workers formed part of the social and cultural environment of healthcare provision. The presence of migrant patients during busy periods served as a detonator for rude or discriminatory remarks, exacerbated by staff shortages and language barriers. Simultaneously, migrants exercised their agency by rebutting or confronting rude health workers. We also observed encouraging examples of kindness, caring and professionalism of health workers. Conclusion The study has implications for achieving a migrant-sensitive health system in South Africa.

Differentiated Service Delivery Model in Improving HIV Treatment Outcomes Among Female Sex Workers in Gauteng Province of South Africa: A Protocol Paper

Differentiated Service Delivery Model in Improving HIV Treatment Outcomes Among Female Sex Workers in Gauteng Province of South Africa: A Protocol Paper

Midwives’ experiences regarding adverse events in obstetric units of the selected district of Gauteng province, South Africa

Adverse events are a global challenge and the leading cause of litigation in the world. In the current study, a qualitative, exploratory, and descriptive design was used to explore and describe the experiences of midwives in relation to adverse events that occurred in the obstetric units of the selected district of Gauteng province, South Africa. Non-probability purposeful sampling was used to select 25 midwives who work in obstetric units in the selected district of Gauteng Province, South Africa, In-depth face-to-face interviews were conducted with each participant at their workplace. Tesch method was used to analyse the data. Measures to ensure the trustworthiness of the study were observed. The study results revealed that midwives experienced a lack of recognition and acknowledgment of their efforts; poor support and unequal opportunities; blame, litigation, and psychological effects due to adverse events. The failure to recognize, acknowledge, and support midwives during an adverse event had a detrimental effect on productivity and affected the quality of maternal health care. For midwives to provide maternal health care services effectively regardless of an AE, adequate support, effective communication, and referral for appropriate counseling were recommended.

Changing composition of street drug nyaope and its implications in South Africa

Nyaope is a Novel Psychoacve Substance (NPS) that connues to bring major challenges to the health and social well-being of users and their communies in South Africa. The acve ingredients that make up this cocktail drug Nyaope were first idenfied in 2015 using Time-of- flight mass spectrometry (TOF-MS) in the samples collected from the surrounding areas of the capital city Pretoria, and they were found to be variable across the samples. This variability had posed challenges to the treatment and rehabilitaon programmes. The current study was conducted in 2020, and included significantly a larger number of Nyaope samples collected from two provinces: Gauteng and Kwa Zulu-Natal of South Africa. The analycal method applied was also an improved model of TOF-MS analyser with a larger library of various drugs and their metabolites for matching the ingredients. Strikingly, many non-addicve drugs that were found in the previous samples were not found in this study. The new trend of formulaon has become more addicve and compact with major opiates and a few selected opioids, and with paracetamol and caffeine in different combinaons. This study reports differences in the physical appearance and the chemical composion of street drug Nyaope across the 2 provinces of South Africa: Gauteng and KwaZulu Natal (KZN), and also compared with the previous findings of 2015 in the samples collected in Gauteng province. The drug appears to be widely consumed and has serious health consequences as per previous studies, and therefore, understanding the chemical substances used in the drug will be helpful in both treatment and rehabilitaon efforts.

Patients’ perceptions on reluctance to undergo cataract surgery in Sedibeng district hospital, Gauteng province

Background: Over 50 million people are blind, and 135 million people suffer from severe visual impairments, with cataracts contributing to 51% of global blindness cases. Despite efforts to promote cataract surgery (CS), many patients remain hesitant, underscoring the importance of understanding their perspectives.Aim: This study aimed to explore and describe patients’ perceptions regarding reluctance to undergo CS to improve awareness and increase surgery uptake.Setting: The research was conducted in the Sedibeng District, Gauteng province, South Africa.Methods: A qualitative descriptive phenomenological design was employed to capture the lived experiences of patients through face-to-face, individual semi-structured interviews with 15 patients aged 38 – 72 years prior to their CS. Purposive sampling was used to select participants, and Colaizzi’s seven-step analysis was used for data analysis.Results: The findings highlight several barriers perceived by participants, including long waiting times; fear; lack of knowledge; limited financial, material and human resources; power outages; uncontrolled blood sugar levels; and coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic restrictions. Nevertheless, some view it positively as a means to avert blindness and enhance vision.Conclusion: To address the challenges, the study recommends boosting the number of eye health care professionals, prioritising budget allocation, addressing electricity interruptions and conducting community outreach educational programmes to improve access to CS in the district.Contribution: The insights gained from this study can help health care providers and policymakers optimise care and support for CS patients through policy formulation and education. Addressing these knowledge gaps will likely increase surgery uptake and improve patients’ quality of life.

Phytochemical Screening and Characterization of Volatile Compounds from Three Medicinal Plants with Reported Anticancer Properties Using GC-MS

Annona senegalensis pers, Sutherlandia frutescens (L.), and Withania somnifera (L.) are abundant plants and widely distributed in the Limpopo, Gauteng, Kwazulu-Natal, North West and Mpumalanga provinces in South Africa. The three plants are among those used by traditional healers and herbalists in South Africa for the treatment of a variety of diseases, including cancer. The current study aimed at the phytochemical screening and characterization of volatile compounds from the three medicinal plants using GC-MS. The methanol leaf extracts were subjected to phytochemical screening using standard chemical tests to detect the presence of different classes of compounds. Volatile compounds were detected by GC-MS analysis, and detected compounds were identified by comparing the MS spectral data with those of compounds deposited in the NIST Library (NIST08). Phytochemical screening indicated the presence of different secondary metabolites such as alkaloids, quinones, steroids, cardiac glycosides, coumarins, and terpenoids in all plants. GC-MS chromatograms allowed the detection and identification of 19 volatile compounds among the three plants with known bioactivities that are important in the management of life-threatening diseases such as cancer and diabetes. The results confirm the leaves of Annona senegalensis, Sutherlandia frutescens, and Withania somnifera as sources of important phytochemicals and therefore justify their use for the treatment of various diseases by traditional healers.

Bystanders or active participants? Mobilising meaningful participation in River Basin management: lessons from the Gauteng Province, South Africa

ABSTRACT This paper explores the concept of meaningful participation in river basin management, using the case study of the Hennops River in Gauteng Province, South Africa. Experiences of different stakeholders and communities regarding their involvement in the management of the Hennops River basin are analysed following engagement through interviews, workshops and clean-up initiatives. Several barriers and enablers for meaningful participation, such as lack of awareness, capacity, coordination, trust and incentives, are identified. Some recommendations are proposed for improving stakeholder and community participation, based on the lessons learned from the case study. This includes the formulation of a social fund to support small community-based projects such as clean-up campaigns. Projects should be reflective, keeping the community engaged and active. The paper argues that meaningful participation requires not only formal mechanisms of engagement and decision-making but also informal and practical actions that empower stakeholders and communities to take ownership and responsibility for their water resources and environment. For meaningful participation to take place, more needs to be done to shift communities away from a ‘bystander’ position to a more active role. A new approach to community engagement is therefore necessary to support stakeholder-driven initiatives and the raising of awareness in poorer communities.

Health-Related Experiences of Geophagia Among Women of Reproductive Age in Tshwane District, Gauteng Province: An Exploratory Qualitative Study.

Women of reproductive age are reported to be the largest population that practises geophagia. The short-term and long-term health related conditions originating from the practise of geophagia are often not understood by geophagic women of reproductive age. This study has explored the health-related experiences of geophagia among women of reproductive age of Tshwane District, Gauteng Province. This was a qualitative study design following inductive thematic content analysis. In-depth interviews and focus group discussions were used to collect data using an interview guide and audio record. Data collection took place in 2023. Mental health disorders, pregnancy complications, appendicitis, cancers, breathing complications, fatigue, premature deaths, worms, piles, and nutrients deficiencies were reported as some of the health-related challenges and diseases experienced by women of reproductive age of Tshwane District, Gauteng Province resulting from the practise of geophagia. The practise of geophagia was associated with various negative health outcomes. The reproductive health statuses of women of reproductive age were negatively impacted by the practise of geophagia affecting maternal and childhood mortalities and morbidities.

Exploring the applicability of effectuation theory in distressed venture environments

Orientation: Once appointed, business rescue practitioners and turnaround professionals are faced with critical decision making of whether a distressed venture contains an opportunity as judged by reasonable prospect.Research purpose: This study investigated and explored the application of ‘effectuation theory’ principles and/or causation elements to the distressed venture opportunity (DVO) decision making.Motivation for the study: Effectuation is applied by experts to an entrepreneurial opportunity, and it was important to investigate whether effectuation and its principles would inform practitioners for better decision making when evaluating a DVO.Research design, approach and method: A qualitative study was conducted with 15 business rescue practitioners (BRPs) from the Gauteng province. The data were collected through in-depth semi-structured interviews and a thematic analysis was used to analyse the data.Main findings: This study reveals that all five effectuation principles and some causation elements are applicable to the DVO judgement. The findings indicate that both effectuation and causation are applied in a complementary manner depending on the context.Practical and/or managerial implications: This study highlights the importance of applying effectuation and causation elements for practitioners to achieve success. By applying both logics, BRPs can build resilience in their strategies, be creative in adapting to solutions as they arise and engage with stakeholders in the business rescue process.Contribution and/or value add: This study extended the application of effectuation theory to distressed venture environments, offering insights into how practitioners can make better decisions when evaluating a DVO.

Chemical Composition of Clay Soil Analysis and Potential Health Risks: Experimental Study in Tshwane District, Gauteng Province

The practise of geophagy is common amongst women of childbearing age from different geographic locations, including South Africa, regardless of their social and economic status such as their level of education, race, marital status, income or occupation. This study aimed to examine the women of childbearing age in Tshwane District, Gauteng Province, South Africa. An experimental study was conducted at the laboratory to examine the chemical composition of clay soil ingested by geophagic women of childbearing age. Thirty-nine clay soil samples were collected from study participants attending antenatal care services and family planning at public healthcare facilities of Tshwane District, Gauteng Province, and subjected to geochemical analysis. The concentrations of vanadium, manganese, chromium, and barium were detected in quantities exceeding 100 mg/kg in almost all samples. Cadmium, mercury and silver were detected in low concentrations below 1 mg/kg in all samples. The practice of geophagy amongst women of childbearing age has been reported to be associated with detrimental health outcomes and risks such as iron deficiency anaemia, constipation, shortness of breath, maternal and childhood mortalities and morbidities, neurological and central nervous system disorder, death, appendicitis, cancers, teratogenic risks, and ulcers. The chemical composition of clay soil eaten by geophagic women of childbearing age contains potentially harmful substances, thus the practise of geophagy is toxic and should be discouraged to protect public health.

Knowledge, skills, and household food preparation practices in the north of Pretoria - Gauteng province, South Africa

Knowledge, skills, and household food preparation practices in the north of Pretoria - Gauteng province, South Africa

Newly qualified primary care nurses' preparedness to make sound clinical judgements in practice.

The public health sector in South Africa provides care to more than 40 million people, with primary health care (PHC) clinics acting as most patients' first contact with healthcare services; 80% of patients are treated by primary care nurses. Primary care nurses' poor clinical judgment can result in poor patient care, complications and death. However, newly qualified primary care (NQPC) nurses' preparedness for making sound clinical judgements in practice has not been evaluated in Gauteng province, South Africa. To determine NQPC nurses' level of preparedness in making sound clinical judgements in practice. A quantitative, non-experimental, descriptive design was used. The target population was NQPC nurses. A census method was used to select all NQPC nurses in public PHC facilities in three health districts of Gauteng. The sample size comprised 77 NQPC nurses, and data were collected using a self-administered questionnaire. The findings indicated that 83% of NQPC nurses were able to notice salient changes in patients' conditions, 43% were able to correctly interpret the changes that were noticed, but only 42% prioritised the correct patient care. The results reflect that 50.2% of the NQPC nurses in public PHC facilities in the three districts in Gauteng were functioning at exemplary levels.Contribution:This article highlighted NQPC nurses' level of preparedness to make sound clinical judgements within a year after qualifying.

Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on maternal, neonatal and child health service utilisation, delivery and health outcomes in Gauteng province, South Africa: an interrupted time series (ITS) analysis.

Gauteng was one of the provinces in South Africa most hit by COVID-19. However, there has been no assessment of the pandemic's impact on essential maternal, neonatal and child health (MNCH) services in Gauteng, for planning against future emergencies. This study sought to assess the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on essential MNCH service utilisation, delivery and health outcomes in Gauteng province. We employed a quasi-experimental interrupted time series (ITS) study design, using the District Health Information System (DHIS) data set to evaluate the impact of COVID-19 on eight key MNCH indicators between March 2019 to February 2021. Using Stata V.17.0 and 5% alpha, a segmented linear regression (ITS) model quantified the trends of the indicators before COVID-19 (March 2019 to February 2020) (β1), the immediate change in level due to the March 2020 lockdown (β2), the post-lockdown (March 2020 to February 2021) trend (β4) and the change in gradient from before to after the lockdown (β3). COVID-19 lockdown exerted a significant decline in primary healthcare headcount<5 years (n) (β2= -60 106.9 (95% CI, -116 710.4; -3503.3), p=0.039); and postnatal care visits within 6 days (rate) (β2=-8.2 (95% CI, -12.4; -4.1), p=0.001). Antenatal care first visits before 20 weeks (rate) declined during COVID-19 (β3=-0.4 (95% CI, -0.7; -0.1), p=0.013) compared with the pre-COVID-19 period. COVID-19 adverse effects on service delivery (measles second dose coverage and fully immunised<1 year) and health outcomes (facility deaths 0-6 days, maternal mortality ratio and pneumonia case fatality<1 year) were insignificant. While some indicators post-lockdown attempted to recover, others deteriorated. In Gauteng province, the COVID-19 pandemic significantly disrupted essential MNCH service utilisation, particularly during the March 2020 lockdown. The mechanism of MNCH service disruption by COVID-19 was induced by both supply and demand services. It is imperative to strike a balance between maintaining routine healthcare services and managing an outbreak.

Unlocking Access: How Gauteng Province's Online Admission System is upholding the Right to Basic Education in South Africa: A Human Rights Perspective

Access to basic education is a fundamental human entitlement enshrined within the framework of the Constitution of South Africa, playing a crucial role in promoting societal equity and national progress. In the dynamic context of Gauteng Province, characterised by rapid urbanisation, demographic diversity, and socio-economic disparities, achieving this constitutional mandate faces significant challenges. This research meticulously examines the implementation and consequences of the online admission system, designed to enhance access to basic education in Gauteng. The study delves into the constitutional framework of education rights and the socio-economic context of Gauteng Province, stressing the importance of innovative solutions like the online admission system to address educational disparities. It scrutinises the legal basis of education rights and the functioning of the online admission system, with a focus on legislative frameworks such as the South African Schools Act. The research extensively examines the implementation and impact of the online admission system in Gauteng, highlighting its role in enhancing access to preferred schools and rectifying historical inequalities. It also assesses challenges like the digital divide and administrative complexities, proposing strategies to enhance fairness and inclusivity in education delivery. Lastly, the study examines the impact of Gauteng's online admission system on educational access, using empirical evidence to assess outcomes and implications. By offering a detailed analysis spanning legal, socio-economic, and practical aspects, the research contributes to discussions on education rights and policy implementation in South Africa. Overall, it suggests that the online admission system has significant potential to advance societal equity and human development. Keywords: Access; Basic Education; Gauteng Province; Human Rights; Online Admission System

Experiences of maternal healthcare delivery in South Africa: Perinatal women's viewpoints.

Becoming a mother should be an exciting experience in woman's life. No mother should have to endure adverse encounters. while seeking healthcare in any maternal services facility. this is a phenomenon occurring globally. Delivery of these maternal healthcare services has a bearing on the obstetrical outcomes of mothers from preconception until six weeks after delivery. The study aims to understand the experiences of perinatal women regarding maternal healthcare services in the public hospitals of Gauteng province in South Africa. This study followed an exploratory and descriptive qualitative approach using a purposive sampling method. The study was conducted in three selected public hospitals representing different levels of care namely, district, tertiary provincial, and academic in the Gauteng province. A total of forty-six perinatal women were selected to take part in six focus groups. Data were thematically analysed following the six steps given by Braun and Clarke (2013). Three themes emerged as follows: 1) individual 2) interpersonal reasons and 3) impact of poor complaints procedure on maternal healthcare. The study showed that maternity services rendered to perinatal women in the three selected public hospitals are affected by several factors, such as midwives' attitudes, knowledge and skills, professional ethics, communication, and delayed maternal healthcare. These findings demonstrate an urgent need for practice and policy interventions that go beyond just a routine service but quality and organised maternal healthcare services provided in public hospitals, for improved healthcare outcomes at the point of service.

Teaching Strategies for Enhancing Reading Fluency and Comprehension Among Learners with Mild Hearing Impairment in Mainstream Classrooms

This paper presents the findings of a qualitative case study, which adopted the concept of communicative democracy to investigate the teaching strategies teachers use to enhance reading fluency and comprehension among learners with mild hearing impairment who were in mainstream classrooms. The purposively selected sample comprised two female teachers and 15 Grade 8 learners, aged between 14 and 15, from a public school in Gauteng province, South Africa. The data-collection methods included classroom observations and unstructured interviews with the teaching staff. Systematic sampling was used for the selection of suitable participants. Employing this technique meant acquiring a sample by selecting a random starting point close to the beginning of the target population list, and subsequently selecting every fourth name in a uniformly spaced unit thereafter. The findings revealed that the teachers’ use of strategies that emphasised active participation and learner-centred approaches considerably contributed to improving reading fluency and comprehension among learners with mild hearing impairment. These strategies included interactive reading activities, visual aids for vocabulary building, phonological awareness and rhyming techniques using visual aids, text immersion through peer collaboration, the adaptation of materials to suit individual learning needs, and word identification. The researcher concluded that learner-centred activities can be effective in enhancing reading fluency and comprehension amongst learners with mild hearing impairment. The recommendation is that future research should explore the long-term impact these teaching strategies have on the academic achievement and social inclusion of learners with mild hearing impairment in mainstream classrooms.

Critical Analysis of Principal’s Perceptions and Interpretations of Instructional Leadership in Primary School, in Gauteng Province, South Africa

Critical Analysis of Principal’s Perceptions and Interpretations of Instructional Leadership in Primary School, in Gauteng Province, South Africa

Demographic and pathogen characteristics of incident bacterial meningitis in infants in South Africa: A cohort study.

Bacterial meningitis is a major cause of death, with an approximate case fatality rate of 37% across all age groups in South Africa. This study aimed to describe the demographic and pathogen characteristics of incident meningitis in children aged <1 year in South Africa from 2014 through 2018, during a period when Haemophilus influenzae type b vaccine and pneumococcal conjugate vaccines (PCV) were both included in the expanded program on immunization (EPI). We conducted a cohort study of routine laboratory data in the National Health Laboratory Service Corporate Data Warehouse, which covers approximately 80% of the South African population. We defined a case of laboratory-confirmed bacterial meningitis as any person aged <1 year with meningitis diagnosed by culture and identification of a pathogen documented as being a common cause of meningitis in CSF. The cause-specific incidence risks were calculated by dividing the number of positive specimens in each age group and year by the corresponding mid-year population for children under 1 year old and those in the post-neonatal period (≥ 28 days to 365 days old). For children under 28 days old, the annual numbers of registered livebirths were used. We used Poisson regression to compare the incidence of meningitis by year. We identified 3575 (1.5%) cases of culture-confirmed bacterial meningitis from the 232,016 cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) specimens tested from 2014-2018. The highest number of cases were recorded in children aged <28 days (1873, 52.4%), male children (1800, 50.4%) as well as in the Gauteng Province (2014, 56.3%). Acinetobacter baumannii (14.9%), followed by Klebsiella pneumoniae (13.5%), and group B streptococcus (GBS) (10.7%), were the most common pathogens detected. Overall, A. baumannii had the highest incidence risk, occurring at 9.8 per 100,000 persons in children aged <1 year in 2018. Among neonates, A. baumannii peaked at 14.9 per 100,000 livebirths in 2018, while Streptococcus pneumoniae was most common in the post-neonatal period (≥ 28 days to 365 days old), peaking at 9.8 per 100,000 persons in 2014. There was an increase in the annual incidence of most pathogens over the study period. There was an increasing trend in the annual incidence of bacterial meningitis in infants caused by most pathogens, particularly A. baumannii, K. pneumoniae and GBS. In addition to increased uptake of vaccination, prevention measures to reduce nosocomial and mother-to-child transmission of bacteria could include antenatal screening for GBS in pregnant women, rigorous hygiene in the hospital environment as well as rational antibiotic use.

A principal component analysis of corporate dispositions for sustainable building construction in South Africa

Corporate dispositions have been associated with implementing sustainable building construction (SBC). Prior studies have underscored the need for institutions to adopt sustainable development concepts as an integral part of their operations. Nonetheless, there remains ambiguity about the characteristics essential for enabling SBC, particularly for construction companies. Consequently, this study explored the corporate dispositions influencing SBC implementation in South Africa. The respondents included built environment professionals in the Gauteng province of South Africa. Descriptive and principal component analyses were used to determine the essential characteristics or features. The study found that top management support, competency, availability of finance for the project operation, good project management culture, stakeholders’ involvement and commitment, and commitment to innovative construction are the most critical corporate disposition features for SBC implementation. These formed a principal cluster called corporate capability and commitment. The insight from the critical corporate dispositions analysis is anticipated to trigger improvement initiatives and mitigate unsustainable practices and the unaffordability of smart houses in the South African construction industry. The findings suggest that mobilising competent human and financial resources for project operation among construction firms will support the adoption of modern building techniques and the erection of smart houses. Similarly, competitive advantage and committed involvement of the relevant stakeholders, including government and community, can lead to subsidy, alignment of local needs and aspirations, and reducing the high price of erecting sustainable/smart buildings and rental costs.