Health promoting schools, as conceptualised by the World Health Organisation, have been developed... more Health promoting schools, as conceptualised by the World Health Organisation, have been developed in many countries to facilitate the health-education link. In 1994, the concept of health promoting schools was introduced in South Africa. In the process of becoming a health promoting school, it is important for schools to monitor and evaluate changes and developments taking place. The Health Promoting Schools (HPS) Monitoring Questionnaire was developed to obtain opinions of students about their school as a health promoting school. It comprises 138 questions in seven sections: socio-demographic information; General health promotion programmes; health related Skills and knowledge; Policies; Environment; Community-school links; and support Services. This paper reports on the reliability and face validity of the HPS Monitoring Questionnaire. Seven experts reviewed the questionnaire and agreed that it has satisfactory face validity. A test-retest reliability study was conducted with 83 students in three high schools in Cape Town, South Africa. The kappa-coefficients demonstrate mostly fair (κ-scores between 0.21 and 0.4) to moderate (κ-scores between 0.41 and 0.6) agreement between test-retest General and Environment items; poor (κ-scores up to 0.2) agreement between Skills and Community test-retest items, fair agreement between Policies items, and for most of the questions focussing on Services a fair agreement was found. The study is a first effort at providing a tool that may be used to monitor and evaluate students' opinions about changes in health promoting schools. Although the HPS Monitoring Questionnaire has face validity, the results of the reliability testing were inconclusive. Further research is warranted.
SAHARA J : journal of Social Aspects of HIV/AIDS Research Alliance / SAHARA , Human Sciences Research Council, 2016
Despite an increase in HIV Counselling and Testing (HCT), few young people have been tested. It h... more Despite an increase in HIV Counselling and Testing (HCT), few young people have been tested. It has been suggested that they do not test because formal health services (where HCT is provided) are often not youth friendly. The World Health Organisation describes a youth-friendly health service (YFHS) as one which is accessible, equitable, acceptable, appropriate, and effective. A mobile school-based model has been implemented by a non-governmental organisation in Cape Town in an attempt to make HCT more youth friendly and accessible to young people. The objective of this study was to explore whether this mobile school-based HCT service is youth friendly. The study was descriptive, using three qualitative data collection methods: observation of the HCT site at two secondary schools; interviews with six service providers; and direct observation of 21 HCT counselling sessions. The mobile school-based HCT service fulfilled some of the criteria for being a YFHS. The service was equitable ...
Sahara J Journal of Social Aspects of Hiv Aids, Feb 28, 2012
The rising number of people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) worldwide has made health care professio... more The rising number of people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) worldwide has made health care professionals and policy makers search for accessible health care that will meet the needs of people who are suffering from the disease and enhance their quality of life (QoL). This study investigated met and unmet palliative care needs of PLWHA in selected areas in Rwanda. The study sample included 306 participants: PLWHA, health care professionals and coordinators of HIV/AIDS units. Quantitative and qualitative methodologies were used. The data were analysed separately and then triangulated. In the findings, over 50% of PLWHA had symptoms related to HIV/AIDS most of the time, with the most common symptom being pain. Participation in activities of daily living was significantly associated with the health status of PLWHA (p<0.001). The most common perceived palliative care needs of PLWHA were medical needs, psychosocial needs and the need for financial assistance (77%); home-based care (47%); nutritional support (44%); and pain relief and management of other symptoms (43%). Most PLWHA indicated these palliative care needs were unmet, in particular the need for pain relief, symptom management, financial assistance and nutritional support. Over 50% of health care professionals reported they were not trained in palliative care. They indicated that inadequate policy and resources were the main obstacles to the provision of optimal palliative care. Addressing unmet palliative care needs would enhance the QoL of PLWHA. In addition, developing policy related to the provision of palliative care and building the capacity of health care providers is essential for the provision of adequate palliative care services in Rwanda.
Clubfoot is a congenital structural impairment that, if untreated or inadequately treated, leads ... more Clubfoot is a congenital structural impairment that, if untreated or inadequately treated, leads to deformity. Effective management is dependent on the compliance of parents to the treatment for clubfoot. A cross-sectional descriptive survey using a questionnaire identified the barriers parents encounter in bringing their children for treatment during the plaster-casting stage of managing clubfoot at the Talipes Clinics at Mbarara Regional Hospital and Mulago Hospital in Uganda. A total of 167 parents participated in the study. Ninety percent of the parents had attended weekly clinics with 67% indicating that they did not know about clubfoot and its treatment. The study found a significant association between compliance and transport costs (P = 0.014); distance travelled (P = 0.005); and family support (P = 0.028). Other barriers highlighted include the need to improve the communication skills between clinicians offering treatment to children with clubfoot and their parents. Informed parents could assist with compliance to treatment.
Http Dx Doi Org 10 1080 17430437 2011 614782, Nov 1, 2011
... 36 36 The development of social capital through sport is discussed by a number of authors: Ba... more ... 36 36 The development of social capital through sport is discussed by a number of authors: Bailey, 'Evaluating the Relationship'; Misener and Mason, 'Creating Community Networks'; Lindström, Hansen, and Östergren, 'Socioeconomic Differences'; Stone, Research Paper 24. ...
This thesis investigated the education support services provided by occupational therapists, phys... more This thesis investigated the education support services provided by occupational therapists, physiotherapists and speech and language therapists in the Western Cape Province of South Africa. Changes in the education policy in South Africa to an inclusive education system have major implications for the way therapists provide support. Therapists have been challenged to move from a medical model of support with a focus on highly specialised treatment for a small number of individual learners with disabilities, to a system, including all learners, teachers and parents. The aim of this research was to develop an appropriate and integrated approach for therapists to support schools within an inclusive and health promoting schools framework in South Africa.
A life skills resource was developed for grades 7 to 9. The material in this resource was develop... more A life skills resource was developed for grades 7 to 9. The material in this resource was developed over five years with input from teachers and learners at 5 pilot schools in the Western Cape, South Africa. The book contains 8 chapters, the contents of which were mapped to the assessment standards provided by the South African National Education Department. Each of the 8 chapters comprise illustrations, group activities and information. The book includes an interactive DVD that provides games, music and video clips. The 8 chapters include: How to be confident; How to relate to others; How to present TB and HIV; Constitutional rights and responsibilities; How to make decisions and solve problems; How to manage depression and stress; How to know more about careers; How to be a Health Activist
The global shift toward the use of information and communication technology (ICT) in health educa... more The global shift toward the use of information and communication technology (ICT) in health education and practice has been shown to enhance both the educational opportunities and the support provided to students and healthcare professionals. This study aimed to investigate the use of ICT by South African physiotherapy students and what their experiences and perceptions were regarding their use of ICT as part of their studies. The study design was a cross-sectional, descriptive survey using a self-administered questionnaire. The survey population included all of the undergraduate physiotherapy students from six of the eight universities offering the physiotherapy degree in South A frica (N=1105). The sample size consisted of 529 students from the survey population who completed and returned questionnaires, indicating a response rate of 48%. The results of the study showed that the use of ICT by South African physiotherapy students varied according to task, racial group and universit...
ABSTRACT The main aim of palliative care is to improve the quality of life of people facing threa... more ABSTRACT The main aim of palliative care is to improve the quality of life of people facing threatening diseases by allowing them a dignified death. Therefore, it is crucial to take into account the user's preference of where to be taken care of during the terminal phase of illness. Palliative care in Rwanda is at an early phase of development; therefore, effective planning and implementation that considers the user's view on where to be taken care of is important. This study investigated where HIV/AIDS patients wanted to be cared for in the terminal phase of illness. The results form part of a larger study on met and unmet palliative care needs of people living with HIV/AIDS in selected areas in Rwanda.
Health promoting schools, as conceptualised by the World Health Organisation, have been developed... more Health promoting schools, as conceptualised by the World Health Organisation, have been developed in many countries to facilitate the health-education link. In 1994, the concept of health promoting schools was introduced in South Africa. In the process of becoming a health promoting school, it is important for schools to monitor and evaluate changes and developments taking place. The Health Promoting Schools (HPS) Monitoring Questionnaire was developed to obtain opinions of students about their school as a health promoting school. It comprises 138 questions in seven sections: socio-demographic information; General health promotion programmes; health related Skills and knowledge; Policies; Environment; Community-school links; and support Services. This paper reports on the reliability and face validity of the HPS Monitoring Questionnaire. Seven experts reviewed the questionnaire and agreed that it has satisfactory face validity. A test-retest reliability study was conducted with 83 students in three high schools in Cape Town, South Africa. The kappa-coefficients demonstrate mostly fair (κ-scores between 0.21 and 0.4) to moderate (κ-scores between 0.41 and 0.6) agreement between test-retest General and Environment items; poor (κ-scores up to 0.2) agreement between Skills and Community test-retest items, fair agreement between Policies items, and for most of the questions focussing on Services a fair agreement was found. The study is a first effort at providing a tool that may be used to monitor and evaluate students' opinions about changes in health promoting schools. Although the HPS Monitoring Questionnaire has face validity, the results of the reliability testing were inconclusive. Further research is warranted.
SAHARA J : journal of Social Aspects of HIV/AIDS Research Alliance / SAHARA , Human Sciences Research Council, 2016
Despite an increase in HIV Counselling and Testing (HCT), few young people have been tested. It h... more Despite an increase in HIV Counselling and Testing (HCT), few young people have been tested. It has been suggested that they do not test because formal health services (where HCT is provided) are often not youth friendly. The World Health Organisation describes a youth-friendly health service (YFHS) as one which is accessible, equitable, acceptable, appropriate, and effective. A mobile school-based model has been implemented by a non-governmental organisation in Cape Town in an attempt to make HCT more youth friendly and accessible to young people. The objective of this study was to explore whether this mobile school-based HCT service is youth friendly. The study was descriptive, using three qualitative data collection methods: observation of the HCT site at two secondary schools; interviews with six service providers; and direct observation of 21 HCT counselling sessions. The mobile school-based HCT service fulfilled some of the criteria for being a YFHS. The service was equitable ...
Sahara J Journal of Social Aspects of Hiv Aids, Feb 28, 2012
The rising number of people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) worldwide has made health care professio... more The rising number of people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) worldwide has made health care professionals and policy makers search for accessible health care that will meet the needs of people who are suffering from the disease and enhance their quality of life (QoL). This study investigated met and unmet palliative care needs of PLWHA in selected areas in Rwanda. The study sample included 306 participants: PLWHA, health care professionals and coordinators of HIV/AIDS units. Quantitative and qualitative methodologies were used. The data were analysed separately and then triangulated. In the findings, over 50% of PLWHA had symptoms related to HIV/AIDS most of the time, with the most common symptom being pain. Participation in activities of daily living was significantly associated with the health status of PLWHA (p<0.001). The most common perceived palliative care needs of PLWHA were medical needs, psychosocial needs and the need for financial assistance (77%); home-based care (47%); nutritional support (44%); and pain relief and management of other symptoms (43%). Most PLWHA indicated these palliative care needs were unmet, in particular the need for pain relief, symptom management, financial assistance and nutritional support. Over 50% of health care professionals reported they were not trained in palliative care. They indicated that inadequate policy and resources were the main obstacles to the provision of optimal palliative care. Addressing unmet palliative care needs would enhance the QoL of PLWHA. In addition, developing policy related to the provision of palliative care and building the capacity of health care providers is essential for the provision of adequate palliative care services in Rwanda.
Clubfoot is a congenital structural impairment that, if untreated or inadequately treated, leads ... more Clubfoot is a congenital structural impairment that, if untreated or inadequately treated, leads to deformity. Effective management is dependent on the compliance of parents to the treatment for clubfoot. A cross-sectional descriptive survey using a questionnaire identified the barriers parents encounter in bringing their children for treatment during the plaster-casting stage of managing clubfoot at the Talipes Clinics at Mbarara Regional Hospital and Mulago Hospital in Uganda. A total of 167 parents participated in the study. Ninety percent of the parents had attended weekly clinics with 67% indicating that they did not know about clubfoot and its treatment. The study found a significant association between compliance and transport costs (P = 0.014); distance travelled (P = 0.005); and family support (P = 0.028). Other barriers highlighted include the need to improve the communication skills between clinicians offering treatment to children with clubfoot and their parents. Informed parents could assist with compliance to treatment.
Http Dx Doi Org 10 1080 17430437 2011 614782, Nov 1, 2011
... 36 36 The development of social capital through sport is discussed by a number of authors: Ba... more ... 36 36 The development of social capital through sport is discussed by a number of authors: Bailey, 'Evaluating the Relationship'; Misener and Mason, 'Creating Community Networks'; Lindström, Hansen, and Östergren, 'Socioeconomic Differences'; Stone, Research Paper 24. ...
This thesis investigated the education support services provided by occupational therapists, phys... more This thesis investigated the education support services provided by occupational therapists, physiotherapists and speech and language therapists in the Western Cape Province of South Africa. Changes in the education policy in South Africa to an inclusive education system have major implications for the way therapists provide support. Therapists have been challenged to move from a medical model of support with a focus on highly specialised treatment for a small number of individual learners with disabilities, to a system, including all learners, teachers and parents. The aim of this research was to develop an appropriate and integrated approach for therapists to support schools within an inclusive and health promoting schools framework in South Africa.
A life skills resource was developed for grades 7 to 9. The material in this resource was develop... more A life skills resource was developed for grades 7 to 9. The material in this resource was developed over five years with input from teachers and learners at 5 pilot schools in the Western Cape, South Africa. The book contains 8 chapters, the contents of which were mapped to the assessment standards provided by the South African National Education Department. Each of the 8 chapters comprise illustrations, group activities and information. The book includes an interactive DVD that provides games, music and video clips. The 8 chapters include: How to be confident; How to relate to others; How to present TB and HIV; Constitutional rights and responsibilities; How to make decisions and solve problems; How to manage depression and stress; How to know more about careers; How to be a Health Activist
The global shift toward the use of information and communication technology (ICT) in health educa... more The global shift toward the use of information and communication technology (ICT) in health education and practice has been shown to enhance both the educational opportunities and the support provided to students and healthcare professionals. This study aimed to investigate the use of ICT by South African physiotherapy students and what their experiences and perceptions were regarding their use of ICT as part of their studies. The study design was a cross-sectional, descriptive survey using a self-administered questionnaire. The survey population included all of the undergraduate physiotherapy students from six of the eight universities offering the physiotherapy degree in South A frica (N=1105). The sample size consisted of 529 students from the survey population who completed and returned questionnaires, indicating a response rate of 48%. The results of the study showed that the use of ICT by South African physiotherapy students varied according to task, racial group and universit...
ABSTRACT The main aim of palliative care is to improve the quality of life of people facing threa... more ABSTRACT The main aim of palliative care is to improve the quality of life of people facing threatening diseases by allowing them a dignified death. Therefore, it is crucial to take into account the user's preference of where to be taken care of during the terminal phase of illness. Palliative care in Rwanda is at an early phase of development; therefore, effective planning and implementation that considers the user's view on where to be taken care of is important. This study investigated where HIV/AIDS patients wanted to be cared for in the terminal phase of illness. The results form part of a larger study on met and unmet palliative care needs of people living with HIV/AIDS in selected areas in Rwanda.
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