Development and assessment of gastric-retentive sustained release metronidazole microcapsules
- Authors: Makan, Anjana
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Metronidazole , Drug delivery systems , Helicobacter pylori , High performance liquid chromatography , Gas chromatography , Drugs , Drugs Controlled release
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/59240 , vital:27491
- Description: Helicobacter pylori is one of the most common pathogenic bacterial infections and is the leading cause of gastritis, gastroduodenal ulcer disease and gastric cancers. Studies have revealed the prevalence of Helicobacter pylori is high in many countries around the globe. Although Helicobacter pylori is highly sensitive to antimicrobial agents in vitro the clinical eradication rate of the disease is still low. The instability of API at gastric pH, low concentration of API in the gastric mucosa and short gastric residence times are the main reasons for poor eradication rates. The high prevalence rate of this disease necessitates the design and development of gastric-retentive site specific oral dosage forms for the optimized delivery of existing therapeutic molecules and may be an approach to improving the eradication rate of Helicobacter pylori. Metronidazole (MTZ) is a 5-nitroimidazole derivative that exhibits antibiotic and antiprotozoal activity. MTZ is used in combination with other compounds for the treatment of Helicobacter pylori in peptic ulcer disease. MTZ is a potential candidate for inclusion in a sustained release gastric-retentive delivery system that acts in the stomach and since it is unstable in the intestinal/colonic environment enhancing gastric residence time would be a therapeutic advantage. MTZ is a cost-effective therapy that exhibits good anti-microbial activity and has a favourable pharmacokinetic profile. A sustained release gastric-retentive formulation is therefore proposed as an approach to enhance the local delivery of MTZ and improve treatment outcomes for patients infected with Helicobacter pylori. A stability indicating Reversed-Phase High Performance Liquid Chromatography (RP- HPLC) method for the quantitation of MTZ in pharmaceutical dosage forms was developed and optimised using a Central Composite Design (CCD) approach. The RP-HPLC method was found to be linear, accurate, precise, sensitive, selective, and was applied to the analysis of MTZ in commercially available medicines. Preformulation studies were conducted as preparative work prior to manufacture gastric- retentive sustained release MTZ microcapsules. The experiments conducted were tailored for the development of sustained release MTZ microcapsules using a solvent evaporation method. The particle size and shape of the microcapsules was investigated using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). MTZ- excipient compatibility studies were performed using Fourier Transform Infra-red Spectroscopy (FTIR), Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) and X-Ray Diffraction (XRD). The results revealed that no definite interaction between MTZ and intended excipients to be used for manufacture of MTZ formulations occurred. A solvent evaporation procedure was used for the manufacture of MTZ microcapsules. Preliminary formulations were manufactured using two different grades of Methocel® at various levels. In addition the impact of processing parameters on performance was also investigated. The formulations were assessed in terms of in vitro release, buoyancy, yield, encapsulation efficiency and microcapsule size. Formulation optimisation was undertaken using a CCD approach and numerical optimisation was used to predict an optimised formulation composition that would produce minimal initial MTZ release, maximum MTZ release at 12 hours and maximum buoyancy, encapsulation efficiency and yield. The kinetics of MTZ release from microcapsules was established by fitting in vitro release data to different mathematical models. Higuchi model and first-order model appeared to best fit the data as majority of the formulation batches had highest R2 values for these models. Short-term stability assessment of the optimised formulation was established by undertaking stability studies at 25°C/60% RH and 40°C/75%RH. No significant changes in any of the CQA were observed over 30 days of stability testing. A gas chromatographic (GC) method was developed and validated for the quantitation of residual acetone and n-hexane. The optimised formulation contained 213.60 ppm/g acetone and 25.23 ppm/g n-hexane which are well below the limits set for residual solvents. In conclusion, gastric-retentive sustained release MTZ microcapsules with potential for further development and optimisation have been successfully developed and assessed in these studies. , Thesis (MSc) -- Faculty of Pharmacy, Pharmacy, 2017
- Full Text:
- Authors: Makan, Anjana
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Metronidazole , Drug delivery systems , Helicobacter pylori , High performance liquid chromatography , Gas chromatography , Drugs , Drugs Controlled release
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/59240 , vital:27491
- Description: Helicobacter pylori is one of the most common pathogenic bacterial infections and is the leading cause of gastritis, gastroduodenal ulcer disease and gastric cancers. Studies have revealed the prevalence of Helicobacter pylori is high in many countries around the globe. Although Helicobacter pylori is highly sensitive to antimicrobial agents in vitro the clinical eradication rate of the disease is still low. The instability of API at gastric pH, low concentration of API in the gastric mucosa and short gastric residence times are the main reasons for poor eradication rates. The high prevalence rate of this disease necessitates the design and development of gastric-retentive site specific oral dosage forms for the optimized delivery of existing therapeutic molecules and may be an approach to improving the eradication rate of Helicobacter pylori. Metronidazole (MTZ) is a 5-nitroimidazole derivative that exhibits antibiotic and antiprotozoal activity. MTZ is used in combination with other compounds for the treatment of Helicobacter pylori in peptic ulcer disease. MTZ is a potential candidate for inclusion in a sustained release gastric-retentive delivery system that acts in the stomach and since it is unstable in the intestinal/colonic environment enhancing gastric residence time would be a therapeutic advantage. MTZ is a cost-effective therapy that exhibits good anti-microbial activity and has a favourable pharmacokinetic profile. A sustained release gastric-retentive formulation is therefore proposed as an approach to enhance the local delivery of MTZ and improve treatment outcomes for patients infected with Helicobacter pylori. A stability indicating Reversed-Phase High Performance Liquid Chromatography (RP- HPLC) method for the quantitation of MTZ in pharmaceutical dosage forms was developed and optimised using a Central Composite Design (CCD) approach. The RP-HPLC method was found to be linear, accurate, precise, sensitive, selective, and was applied to the analysis of MTZ in commercially available medicines. Preformulation studies were conducted as preparative work prior to manufacture gastric- retentive sustained release MTZ microcapsules. The experiments conducted were tailored for the development of sustained release MTZ microcapsules using a solvent evaporation method. The particle size and shape of the microcapsules was investigated using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). MTZ- excipient compatibility studies were performed using Fourier Transform Infra-red Spectroscopy (FTIR), Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) and X-Ray Diffraction (XRD). The results revealed that no definite interaction between MTZ and intended excipients to be used for manufacture of MTZ formulations occurred. A solvent evaporation procedure was used for the manufacture of MTZ microcapsules. Preliminary formulations were manufactured using two different grades of Methocel® at various levels. In addition the impact of processing parameters on performance was also investigated. The formulations were assessed in terms of in vitro release, buoyancy, yield, encapsulation efficiency and microcapsule size. Formulation optimisation was undertaken using a CCD approach and numerical optimisation was used to predict an optimised formulation composition that would produce minimal initial MTZ release, maximum MTZ release at 12 hours and maximum buoyancy, encapsulation efficiency and yield. The kinetics of MTZ release from microcapsules was established by fitting in vitro release data to different mathematical models. Higuchi model and first-order model appeared to best fit the data as majority of the formulation batches had highest R2 values for these models. Short-term stability assessment of the optimised formulation was established by undertaking stability studies at 25°C/60% RH and 40°C/75%RH. No significant changes in any of the CQA were observed over 30 days of stability testing. A gas chromatographic (GC) method was developed and validated for the quantitation of residual acetone and n-hexane. The optimised formulation contained 213.60 ppm/g acetone and 25.23 ppm/g n-hexane which are well below the limits set for residual solvents. In conclusion, gastric-retentive sustained release MTZ microcapsules with potential for further development and optimisation have been successfully developed and assessed in these studies. , Thesis (MSc) -- Faculty of Pharmacy, Pharmacy, 2017
- Full Text:
Development and assessment of ketoconazole intravaginal thermosetting hydrogel formulations
- Authors: Ramanah, Ashmita
- Date: 2017
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/5198 , vital:20785
- Description: Imidazole compounds are commonly used as antifungal therapies and ketoconazole was the first broad spectrum orally active azole identified and registered. However, the risks of hepatotoxicity and drug interactions following systemic delivery and absorption of ketoconazole outweigh the therapeutic benefits and ketoconazole was therefore discontinued as first line systemic antifungal therapy in many countries. Although not yet banned in South Africa, the South African Medicine Formulary has ceased to recommend the use of ketoconazole for systemic treatment. Topical use of ketoconazole is, however, regarded as safe following extensive human use as low systemic absorption occurs following topical administration. Vulvo-vaginal candidiasis is a yeast infection that affects a large number of women, some of whom present with several infections annually. The topical treatment options for vulvo-vaginal candidiasis include the use of vaginal tablets, capsules, ovules and creams administered as a single dose or one to three times daily for three to fourteen days either alone or in combination with another dosage form depending on the regimen. Administration of the dose nightly is recommended for most vaginal creams and ovule formulation due to leakage and the uncomfortable feel of the dosage form if administered during the day. A thermosetting gel that remains in the vagina following administration and prolongs the release of ketoconazole from a once daily dose would be a useful addition to the arsenal for intra-vaginal antifungal therapy. Thermosetting gels would be more comfortable to administer as the gel would set in a form similar to naturally occurring mucous in the vagina and, if formulated with a low pH, irritation of the sensitive and fissured tissue would be minimised. A further benefit would be that once set the gel would loosely take on the anatomical shape of the vagina. A simple, precise, accurate, reproducible and sensitive stability-indicating reversed phase-high performance liquid chromatographic method using ultraviolet detection for the quantitation of ketoconazole was developed and validated. The method was specific and was applied to the determination of ketoconazole in commercial and experimental formulations in addition to samples from degradation studies and in vitro release testing. Product performance characteristics of commercial products were investigated with the goal to provide a strategy for the development of a novel intra vaginal gel in the shortest possible time. Characterisation of Xolegel®, Kez® shampoo and Ketazol® cream included an evaluation of pH, viscosity and assay, in addition to spectroscopic and thermal analysis, to identify ideal characteristics of topical products that could be used as targets during formulation development of the gel. An in vitro release method was developed and validated for precision and accuracy and the in vitro release profiles of commercial ketoconazole products were compared using analysis of variance, model dependent and independent approaches. Ketoconazole release data from test gel manufactured during formulation development were investigated to obtain information about the relationship between formulation content and drug release. Poloxamers marketed as Pluronic® and Lutrol® are synthetic non-ionic tri-block copolymers that consist of hydrophobic propylene oxide and hydrophilic polyethylene oxide blocks, which in solution interact to exhibit thermo-reversible behaviour. In situ forming hydrogels consisting of poloxamers, more specifically poloxamer 407, are activated following a temperature stimulus and undergo a sol to gel transition. This approach was used to produce a thermosetting vaginal gel that would exhibit a long residence time in the vagina with an associated enhancement of therapeutic efficacy. Ketoconazole- excipient compatibility was investigated during preformulation studies using spectroscopic and thermal analysis to enable the selection of excipients best suited for the production of a novel dosage form prior to formulation development activities. No obvious interactions between ketoconazole and excipient were observed and ketoconazole was found in an amorphous form when in combination with polysorbate 80 and poloxamers. A two-level factorial design was used to produce solvent systems with different amounts of polysorbate 80, citric acid and ethanol to identify a vehicle in which ketoconazole exhibited optimum solubility and at a pH that would be least irritating to the vaginal mucosa with a low content of excipients. The optimised vehicle consisted of 4% m/v citric acid, 1.5% v/v polysorbate 80 and 9.5% v/v ethanol made up to 50 g with citrate-phosphate buffer adjusted to pH 5.0, resulted in a vehicle of pH of 3.5 in which 71.41 mg of ketoconazole was dissolved per mL. A Central Composite Design was used to evaluate compositions for the modulation of viscosity of the thermosetting dosage form such that it was a liquid at 22 °C that rapidly formed a stiff gel when heated to 37 °C (intra-vaginal temperature) using different amounts of the poloxamer grades 407, 188 and 237. Thermosetting gels containing 2% m/v ketoconazole were manufactured using specifications generated using the Central Composite Design and the viscosity at 22 °C and 37 °C, solution to gel transition time, potency and ketoconazole release at 24, 48 and 72 hours investigated. Contour and three-dimensional response surface plots and mathematical relationships with target ranges set for responses were identified and with the aid of Central Composite Design the optimisation of a desirable thermosetting gel was achieved. The optimised composition included 16% m/v poloxamer 407, 10% m/v poloxamer 188 and 6% m/v poloxamer 237 in the gel that was used as the basis for further optimisation studies. The low ketoconazole release for ketoconazole observed indicated that the poloxamers had formed a gel matrix that sustained the release of ketoconazole and would therefore ensure that once daily administration of the gel was possible. The sol-gel transition test may be used as a simple and cheap alternative to viscosity testing for thermosetting formulations when expensive viscometers and rheometers are unavailable and was successfully used for this purpose.Ketoconazole is photolabile and is prone to degradation in aqueous solutions. The hydrophobic core of micelles formed in these dosage forms are believed to shield ketoconazole molecules and improve stability in aqueous solutions and acidic gels. The thermosetting gel optimised for poloxamer content was subjected to a further Central Composite Design in which sodium metabisulphite content and vehicle pH were investigated. The length of storage was used as a numeric variable and storage condition as a categoric variable at two levels to monitor the stability of the gels. The formulations were investigated at sample times of 0, 1, 2, 4 and 8 weeks at 5 °C, 25 °C and 40 °C. The use of a Central Composite Design facilitated an understanding of the interactions between input variables and their impact on the responses analysed including ketoconazole content, release at 24, 48 and 72 hours, gel pH and viscosity at 22 °C and 37 °C. Design of Experiments may be used as a rapid cost effective tool for an overall assessment of the stability of novel topical dosage forms. However, a more thorough assessment of stability may be required for product registration. Ketoconazole was found to be unstable in the acidic thermosetting gels despite the addition of antioxidant. The gels in liquid form at 5 °C and 25 °C have a low number of micelles for ketoconazole incorporation and therefore additional optimisation studies would be required to enhance the shelf-life of this product.
- Full Text:
- Authors: Ramanah, Ashmita
- Date: 2017
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/5198 , vital:20785
- Description: Imidazole compounds are commonly used as antifungal therapies and ketoconazole was the first broad spectrum orally active azole identified and registered. However, the risks of hepatotoxicity and drug interactions following systemic delivery and absorption of ketoconazole outweigh the therapeutic benefits and ketoconazole was therefore discontinued as first line systemic antifungal therapy in many countries. Although not yet banned in South Africa, the South African Medicine Formulary has ceased to recommend the use of ketoconazole for systemic treatment. Topical use of ketoconazole is, however, regarded as safe following extensive human use as low systemic absorption occurs following topical administration. Vulvo-vaginal candidiasis is a yeast infection that affects a large number of women, some of whom present with several infections annually. The topical treatment options for vulvo-vaginal candidiasis include the use of vaginal tablets, capsules, ovules and creams administered as a single dose or one to three times daily for three to fourteen days either alone or in combination with another dosage form depending on the regimen. Administration of the dose nightly is recommended for most vaginal creams and ovule formulation due to leakage and the uncomfortable feel of the dosage form if administered during the day. A thermosetting gel that remains in the vagina following administration and prolongs the release of ketoconazole from a once daily dose would be a useful addition to the arsenal for intra-vaginal antifungal therapy. Thermosetting gels would be more comfortable to administer as the gel would set in a form similar to naturally occurring mucous in the vagina and, if formulated with a low pH, irritation of the sensitive and fissured tissue would be minimised. A further benefit would be that once set the gel would loosely take on the anatomical shape of the vagina. A simple, precise, accurate, reproducible and sensitive stability-indicating reversed phase-high performance liquid chromatographic method using ultraviolet detection for the quantitation of ketoconazole was developed and validated. The method was specific and was applied to the determination of ketoconazole in commercial and experimental formulations in addition to samples from degradation studies and in vitro release testing. Product performance characteristics of commercial products were investigated with the goal to provide a strategy for the development of a novel intra vaginal gel in the shortest possible time. Characterisation of Xolegel®, Kez® shampoo and Ketazol® cream included an evaluation of pH, viscosity and assay, in addition to spectroscopic and thermal analysis, to identify ideal characteristics of topical products that could be used as targets during formulation development of the gel. An in vitro release method was developed and validated for precision and accuracy and the in vitro release profiles of commercial ketoconazole products were compared using analysis of variance, model dependent and independent approaches. Ketoconazole release data from test gel manufactured during formulation development were investigated to obtain information about the relationship between formulation content and drug release. Poloxamers marketed as Pluronic® and Lutrol® are synthetic non-ionic tri-block copolymers that consist of hydrophobic propylene oxide and hydrophilic polyethylene oxide blocks, which in solution interact to exhibit thermo-reversible behaviour. In situ forming hydrogels consisting of poloxamers, more specifically poloxamer 407, are activated following a temperature stimulus and undergo a sol to gel transition. This approach was used to produce a thermosetting vaginal gel that would exhibit a long residence time in the vagina with an associated enhancement of therapeutic efficacy. Ketoconazole- excipient compatibility was investigated during preformulation studies using spectroscopic and thermal analysis to enable the selection of excipients best suited for the production of a novel dosage form prior to formulation development activities. No obvious interactions between ketoconazole and excipient were observed and ketoconazole was found in an amorphous form when in combination with polysorbate 80 and poloxamers. A two-level factorial design was used to produce solvent systems with different amounts of polysorbate 80, citric acid and ethanol to identify a vehicle in which ketoconazole exhibited optimum solubility and at a pH that would be least irritating to the vaginal mucosa with a low content of excipients. The optimised vehicle consisted of 4% m/v citric acid, 1.5% v/v polysorbate 80 and 9.5% v/v ethanol made up to 50 g with citrate-phosphate buffer adjusted to pH 5.0, resulted in a vehicle of pH of 3.5 in which 71.41 mg of ketoconazole was dissolved per mL. A Central Composite Design was used to evaluate compositions for the modulation of viscosity of the thermosetting dosage form such that it was a liquid at 22 °C that rapidly formed a stiff gel when heated to 37 °C (intra-vaginal temperature) using different amounts of the poloxamer grades 407, 188 and 237. Thermosetting gels containing 2% m/v ketoconazole were manufactured using specifications generated using the Central Composite Design and the viscosity at 22 °C and 37 °C, solution to gel transition time, potency and ketoconazole release at 24, 48 and 72 hours investigated. Contour and three-dimensional response surface plots and mathematical relationships with target ranges set for responses were identified and with the aid of Central Composite Design the optimisation of a desirable thermosetting gel was achieved. The optimised composition included 16% m/v poloxamer 407, 10% m/v poloxamer 188 and 6% m/v poloxamer 237 in the gel that was used as the basis for further optimisation studies. The low ketoconazole release for ketoconazole observed indicated that the poloxamers had formed a gel matrix that sustained the release of ketoconazole and would therefore ensure that once daily administration of the gel was possible. The sol-gel transition test may be used as a simple and cheap alternative to viscosity testing for thermosetting formulations when expensive viscometers and rheometers are unavailable and was successfully used for this purpose.Ketoconazole is photolabile and is prone to degradation in aqueous solutions. The hydrophobic core of micelles formed in these dosage forms are believed to shield ketoconazole molecules and improve stability in aqueous solutions and acidic gels. The thermosetting gel optimised for poloxamer content was subjected to a further Central Composite Design in which sodium metabisulphite content and vehicle pH were investigated. The length of storage was used as a numeric variable and storage condition as a categoric variable at two levels to monitor the stability of the gels. The formulations were investigated at sample times of 0, 1, 2, 4 and 8 weeks at 5 °C, 25 °C and 40 °C. The use of a Central Composite Design facilitated an understanding of the interactions between input variables and their impact on the responses analysed including ketoconazole content, release at 24, 48 and 72 hours, gel pH and viscosity at 22 °C and 37 °C. Design of Experiments may be used as a rapid cost effective tool for an overall assessment of the stability of novel topical dosage forms. However, a more thorough assessment of stability may be required for product registration. Ketoconazole was found to be unstable in the acidic thermosetting gels despite the addition of antioxidant. The gels in liquid form at 5 °C and 25 °C have a low number of micelles for ketoconazole incorporation and therefore additional optimisation studies would be required to enhance the shelf-life of this product.
- Full Text:
Development and implementation of health promotion activities for the prevention of adolescent pregnancies
- Authors: Chemuru, Nomsa Rutendo
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Teenage pregnancy -- South Africa -- Makhanda , Teenage pregnancy -- Prevention -- South Africa -- Makhanda
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MPharm
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/5115 , vital:20776
- Description: Of the eight Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) established in 2000 by the World Health Organisation, Millennium Development Goals 5 aimed at improving maternal health by addressing the high maternal mortality rate and increasing universal access to reproductive health by 2015.Adolescent pregnancy contributes to maternal, perinatal and infant mortality and also worsens the empowerment of young girls by negatively affecting their physical, educational, social, and economic development.This is a pressing public health concern in South Africa. The reduction of adolescent pregnancy is vital for achieving the sustainable human, health social and economic development of society at large. Culturally sensitive interventions to prevent adolescent pregnancies not only integrate the communities' norms, values, practices and behavioural patterns into the intervention's design and implementation but also the historical, social and economic contexts in which they exist. Progress has been made on the research on health promotion and education in South Africa; however communities are often not consulted on the design and conduct of health promotion research projects.The aim of the study was to develop and implement culturally sensitive and appropriate health promotion activities for the prevention of adolescent pregnancy in Grahamstown, Glenmore and Ndwayana communities in the Eastern Cape, South Africa.Two community based organisations and community care workers associated with them participated in this Community Based Participatory Research using the PEN-3 cultural model. The first phase of this study involved semi-structured interviews carried out with 14 community care workers to identify factors and consequences of adolescent pregnancies in their respective communities. The audio-recorded interviews were transcribed and coded using NVivo® 2010 software. The PEN 3 cultural model was adopted in the studyto address the socio-cultural factors contributing to adolescent pregnancy in the communities. The second phase involved a series of interactive workshops with CCWs for a participatory development of the facilitator's manual. Responses from CCWs informed the design of this study's intervention strategies. A facilitator's manual was developed to implement health promotion intervention, leading to the third phase of this study. The guided implementationof the health promotion intervention for the prevention of adolescent pregnancy was carried out over a period of 14 months and evaluated in the final phase of the study. The facilitator's manual was modified based on feedback fromCCWs, on possible improvements and cultural appropriateness. Readability testing guided the final modification of the manual. According to the community care workers, there were a number of adolescents who fell pregnant in their communities each year. The CCWs identified the influence of family members, friends and other stakeholders as contributory factors to adolescent pregnancy. They identified the lack of parental support in informing and educating adolescents about sexual health. Adolescents themselves lacked the maturity to recognise the risks and consequences of adolescent pregnancy. The negative perceptions of contraception in the community were discouraging contraceptive use amongst the adolescents. However, the results showed that enablers such as home and school visits done by the community care workers can be utilised to prevent adolescent pregnancy. Other factors included lack of health promotion materials and activities with information about preventing of adolescent pregnancy, and if available, the material is in English, that the adolescents may not comprehend. Socio-economic factors such as poverty, the Child Support Grant, cross generational relationships and coerced sex further contributed to adolescent pregnancy in the communities.CCWs identified the need for a more comprehensive health promotion intervention to prevent of adolescent pregnancy. A facilitator's manual addressing the prevention of adolescent pregnancy was developed and modified through a series participatory workshops with the community care workers.The facilitator's manual was used by CCWs to conducthealth promotion activities encouraging the prevention of adolescent pregnancies within the community's clinics, schools and during home visits. Community based participatory research methods and the PEN-3cultural model were used to develop this culturally sensitive and community specific adolescent pregnancy intervention for and by the CCWs. The participatory development of the facilitator's manual and the regular interactive workshops with the CCWs were strengthened by embedding this project into the development programs of the two non-governmental organisations contributing to sustainable development programs for women and children.
- Full Text:
- Authors: Chemuru, Nomsa Rutendo
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Teenage pregnancy -- South Africa -- Makhanda , Teenage pregnancy -- Prevention -- South Africa -- Makhanda
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MPharm
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/5115 , vital:20776
- Description: Of the eight Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) established in 2000 by the World Health Organisation, Millennium Development Goals 5 aimed at improving maternal health by addressing the high maternal mortality rate and increasing universal access to reproductive health by 2015.Adolescent pregnancy contributes to maternal, perinatal and infant mortality and also worsens the empowerment of young girls by negatively affecting their physical, educational, social, and economic development.This is a pressing public health concern in South Africa. The reduction of adolescent pregnancy is vital for achieving the sustainable human, health social and economic development of society at large. Culturally sensitive interventions to prevent adolescent pregnancies not only integrate the communities' norms, values, practices and behavioural patterns into the intervention's design and implementation but also the historical, social and economic contexts in which they exist. Progress has been made on the research on health promotion and education in South Africa; however communities are often not consulted on the design and conduct of health promotion research projects.The aim of the study was to develop and implement culturally sensitive and appropriate health promotion activities for the prevention of adolescent pregnancy in Grahamstown, Glenmore and Ndwayana communities in the Eastern Cape, South Africa.Two community based organisations and community care workers associated with them participated in this Community Based Participatory Research using the PEN-3 cultural model. The first phase of this study involved semi-structured interviews carried out with 14 community care workers to identify factors and consequences of adolescent pregnancies in their respective communities. The audio-recorded interviews were transcribed and coded using NVivo® 2010 software. The PEN 3 cultural model was adopted in the studyto address the socio-cultural factors contributing to adolescent pregnancy in the communities. The second phase involved a series of interactive workshops with CCWs for a participatory development of the facilitator's manual. Responses from CCWs informed the design of this study's intervention strategies. A facilitator's manual was developed to implement health promotion intervention, leading to the third phase of this study. The guided implementationof the health promotion intervention for the prevention of adolescent pregnancy was carried out over a period of 14 months and evaluated in the final phase of the study. The facilitator's manual was modified based on feedback fromCCWs, on possible improvements and cultural appropriateness. Readability testing guided the final modification of the manual. According to the community care workers, there were a number of adolescents who fell pregnant in their communities each year. The CCWs identified the influence of family members, friends and other stakeholders as contributory factors to adolescent pregnancy. They identified the lack of parental support in informing and educating adolescents about sexual health. Adolescents themselves lacked the maturity to recognise the risks and consequences of adolescent pregnancy. The negative perceptions of contraception in the community were discouraging contraceptive use amongst the adolescents. However, the results showed that enablers such as home and school visits done by the community care workers can be utilised to prevent adolescent pregnancy. Other factors included lack of health promotion materials and activities with information about preventing of adolescent pregnancy, and if available, the material is in English, that the adolescents may not comprehend. Socio-economic factors such as poverty, the Child Support Grant, cross generational relationships and coerced sex further contributed to adolescent pregnancy in the communities.CCWs identified the need for a more comprehensive health promotion intervention to prevent of adolescent pregnancy. A facilitator's manual addressing the prevention of adolescent pregnancy was developed and modified through a series participatory workshops with the community care workers.The facilitator's manual was used by CCWs to conducthealth promotion activities encouraging the prevention of adolescent pregnancies within the community's clinics, schools and during home visits. Community based participatory research methods and the PEN-3cultural model were used to develop this culturally sensitive and community specific adolescent pregnancy intervention for and by the CCWs. The participatory development of the facilitator's manual and the regular interactive workshops with the CCWs were strengthened by embedding this project into the development programs of the two non-governmental organisations contributing to sustainable development programs for women and children.
- Full Text:
Development and validation of an In Vitro Release Test (IVRT) to investigate the release of miconazole nitrate from topical cream formulations
- Authors: Purazi, Potiwa
- Date: 2017
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/65223 , vital:28711
- Description: Expected release date-May 2019
- Full Text:
- Authors: Purazi, Potiwa
- Date: 2017
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/65223 , vital:28711
- Description: Expected release date-May 2019
- Full Text:
Development of an item bank of health literacy questions appropriate for limited literacy public sector patients in South Africa:
- Marimwe, Chipiwa, Dowse, Roslind
- Authors: Marimwe, Chipiwa , Dowse, Roslind
- Date: 2017
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/156618 , vital:40031 , https://doi.org/10.1080/17538068.2017.1380577
- Description: The majority of current health literacy measures emanate from high-income countries. In South Africa, there is no appropriate measure available for use by the diverse public sector population, many of whom have some literacy limitations. The objective was to develop a bank of questions for this population informed by a broader definition of health literacy, which acknowledges both traditional cognitive skills and explores the influence of the collective social environment on health literacy. Thirty questions for the Item Bank were developed to ensure cultural, contextual and educational appropriateness, and were continuously subjected to critical review by an expert consultant panel. Patients (n = 120) were recruited from a local primary care clinic and individually interviewed with the assistance of an interpreter to collect data on the Item Bank, Multidimensional Screener of Functional Health Literacy (MSFHL) and sociodemographics.
- Full Text:
- Authors: Marimwe, Chipiwa , Dowse, Roslind
- Date: 2017
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/156618 , vital:40031 , https://doi.org/10.1080/17538068.2017.1380577
- Description: The majority of current health literacy measures emanate from high-income countries. In South Africa, there is no appropriate measure available for use by the diverse public sector population, many of whom have some literacy limitations. The objective was to develop a bank of questions for this population informed by a broader definition of health literacy, which acknowledges both traditional cognitive skills and explores the influence of the collective social environment on health literacy. Thirty questions for the Item Bank were developed to ensure cultural, contextual and educational appropriateness, and were continuously subjected to critical review by an expert consultant panel. Patients (n = 120) were recruited from a local primary care clinic and individually interviewed with the assistance of an interpreter to collect data on the Item Bank, Multidimensional Screener of Functional Health Literacy (MSFHL) and sociodemographics.
- Full Text:
Development of Bioinformatics Infrastructure for Genomics Research:
- Mulder, Nicola J, Adebiyi, Ezekiel, Adebiyi, Marion, Adeyemi, Seun, Ahmed, Azza, Ahmed, Rehab, Akanle, Bola, Alibi, Mohamed, Armstrong, Don L, Aron, Shaun, Ashano, Efejiro, Baichoo, Shakuntala, Benkahla, Alia, Brown, David K, Chimusa, Emile Rugamika, Fadlelmola, Faisal M, Falola, Dare, Fatumo, Segun, Ghedira, Kais, Ghouila, Amel, Hazelhurst, Scott, Itunuoluwa Isewon, Segun Jung, Kassim, Samar Kamal, Kayondo, Jonathan K, Mbiyavanga, Mamana, Meintjes, Ayton, Mohammed, Somia, Mosaku, Abayomi, Moussa, Ahmed, Muhammd, Mustafa, Mungloo-Dilmohamud, Zahra, Nashiru, Oyekanmi, Odia, Trust, Okafor, Adaobi, Oladipo, Olaleye, Osamor, Victor, Oyelade, Jellili, Sadki, Khalid, Salifu, Samson Pandam, Soyemi, Jumoke, Panji, Sumir, Radouani, Fouzia, Souiai, Oussama, Tastan Bishop, Özlem
- Authors: Mulder, Nicola J , Adebiyi, Ezekiel , Adebiyi, Marion , Adeyemi, Seun , Ahmed, Azza , Ahmed, Rehab , Akanle, Bola , Alibi, Mohamed , Armstrong, Don L , Aron, Shaun , Ashano, Efejiro , Baichoo, Shakuntala , Benkahla, Alia , Brown, David K , Chimusa, Emile Rugamika , Fadlelmola, Faisal M , Falola, Dare , Fatumo, Segun , Ghedira, Kais , Ghouila, Amel , Hazelhurst, Scott , Itunuoluwa Isewon , Segun Jung , Kassim, Samar Kamal , Kayondo, Jonathan K , Mbiyavanga, Mamana , Meintjes, Ayton , Mohammed, Somia , Mosaku, Abayomi , Moussa, Ahmed , Muhammd, Mustafa , Mungloo-Dilmohamud, Zahra , Nashiru, Oyekanmi , Odia, Trust , Okafor, Adaobi , Oladipo, Olaleye , Osamor, Victor , Oyelade, Jellili , Sadki, Khalid , Salifu, Samson Pandam , Soyemi, Jumoke , Panji, Sumir , Radouani, Fouzia , Souiai, Oussama , Tastan Bishop, Özlem
- Date: 2017
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/148239 , vital:38722 , DOI: 10.1016/j.gheart.2017.01.005
- Description: Although pockets of bioinformatics excellence have developed in Africa, generally, large-scale genomic data analysis has been limited by the availability of expertise and infrastructure. H3ABioNet, a pan-African bioinformatics network, was established to build capacity specifically to enable H3Africa (Human Heredity and Health in Africa) researchers to analyze their data in Africa. Since the inception of the H3Africa initiative, H3ABioNet's role has evolved in response to changing needs from the consortium and the African bioinformatics community.
- Full Text:
- Authors: Mulder, Nicola J , Adebiyi, Ezekiel , Adebiyi, Marion , Adeyemi, Seun , Ahmed, Azza , Ahmed, Rehab , Akanle, Bola , Alibi, Mohamed , Armstrong, Don L , Aron, Shaun , Ashano, Efejiro , Baichoo, Shakuntala , Benkahla, Alia , Brown, David K , Chimusa, Emile Rugamika , Fadlelmola, Faisal M , Falola, Dare , Fatumo, Segun , Ghedira, Kais , Ghouila, Amel , Hazelhurst, Scott , Itunuoluwa Isewon , Segun Jung , Kassim, Samar Kamal , Kayondo, Jonathan K , Mbiyavanga, Mamana , Meintjes, Ayton , Mohammed, Somia , Mosaku, Abayomi , Moussa, Ahmed , Muhammd, Mustafa , Mungloo-Dilmohamud, Zahra , Nashiru, Oyekanmi , Odia, Trust , Okafor, Adaobi , Oladipo, Olaleye , Osamor, Victor , Oyelade, Jellili , Sadki, Khalid , Salifu, Samson Pandam , Soyemi, Jumoke , Panji, Sumir , Radouani, Fouzia , Souiai, Oussama , Tastan Bishop, Özlem
- Date: 2017
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/148239 , vital:38722 , DOI: 10.1016/j.gheart.2017.01.005
- Description: Although pockets of bioinformatics excellence have developed in Africa, generally, large-scale genomic data analysis has been limited by the availability of expertise and infrastructure. H3ABioNet, a pan-African bioinformatics network, was established to build capacity specifically to enable H3Africa (Human Heredity and Health in Africa) researchers to analyze their data in Africa. Since the inception of the H3Africa initiative, H3ABioNet's role has evolved in response to changing needs from the consortium and the African bioinformatics community.
- Full Text:
Differentiating engagement of opportunity identification: a grounded theory study of Chinese immigrant entreprenuers
- Ndoro, Tinashe Tsungai Raphael
- Authors: Ndoro, Tinashe Tsungai Raphael
- Date: 2017
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/5568 , vital:20942
- Description: The aim of this study was to develop a substantive grounded theory describing how Chinese immigrant entrepreneurs who own and operate small retail businesses in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa identify opportunities in the business environment. The substantive grounded theory was developed using the prescripts of grounded theory proposed by Strauss and Corbin (1990). In this respect, a substantive grounded theory called differentiating engagement of opportunity identification was developed from a sample of 41 qualitative interviews conducted with Chinese immigrant entrepreneurs. The study found that Chinese immigrant entrepreneurs identified various opportunities (startup, sales, operational, relational) in the business environment through their dynamic interactions and relationships with different stakeholders. These stakeholders mainly included family members, local employees and customers. The Chinese immigrant entrepreneurs displayed two interactional processes in their interactions with stakeholders, namely engaging in and disengaging from interactions. These interactional processes enabled the Chinese immigrant entrepreneurs to identify opportunities and operate their small businesses in the business environment. Assumptions held about the interactions and relationships with stakeholders in the host community were central to the interactional processes displayed by the Chinese immigrant entrepreneurs. As they operated their small businesses, the Chinese immigrant entrepreneurs would engage in interactions with customers who were perceived as favourable (approachable). From these interactions with favourable (approachable) customers, the Chinese immigrant entrepreneurs were able to identify opportunities (gaining customer insight of opportunity), whereas they would disengage from interactions with customers perceived as unfavourable (unapproachable). In this respect, they would delegate their local employees (actions of delegation in business) with the responsibility of interacting with unfavourable and hostile customers. Additionally, the Chinese immigrant entrepreneurs would engage in interactions with local employees to gain insight into local indigenous products and identify opportunities in the host community. In order to identify other opportunities (operational, relational), the Chinese immigrant entrepreneurs would disengage from interactions with local employees and engage in interactions with other stakeholders such as family members. The varying differentiated interactions and relationships established by the Chinese immigrant entrepreneurs with different stakeholders created a relational context which enabled the identification of opportunities in the host environment. Thus, the findings of the present study and the substantive grounded theory developed (differentiating engagement of opportunity identification) are discussed from the perspective of social capital, social exchange theory and Chinese cultural values. Finally, the theory developed in the present study contributes to the understanding of the processes of how social capital and relationships contribute to the process of identifying opportunities and operating a small business by immigrant entrepreneurs within a host environment.
- Full Text:
- Authors: Ndoro, Tinashe Tsungai Raphael
- Date: 2017
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/5568 , vital:20942
- Description: The aim of this study was to develop a substantive grounded theory describing how Chinese immigrant entrepreneurs who own and operate small retail businesses in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa identify opportunities in the business environment. The substantive grounded theory was developed using the prescripts of grounded theory proposed by Strauss and Corbin (1990). In this respect, a substantive grounded theory called differentiating engagement of opportunity identification was developed from a sample of 41 qualitative interviews conducted with Chinese immigrant entrepreneurs. The study found that Chinese immigrant entrepreneurs identified various opportunities (startup, sales, operational, relational) in the business environment through their dynamic interactions and relationships with different stakeholders. These stakeholders mainly included family members, local employees and customers. The Chinese immigrant entrepreneurs displayed two interactional processes in their interactions with stakeholders, namely engaging in and disengaging from interactions. These interactional processes enabled the Chinese immigrant entrepreneurs to identify opportunities and operate their small businesses in the business environment. Assumptions held about the interactions and relationships with stakeholders in the host community were central to the interactional processes displayed by the Chinese immigrant entrepreneurs. As they operated their small businesses, the Chinese immigrant entrepreneurs would engage in interactions with customers who were perceived as favourable (approachable). From these interactions with favourable (approachable) customers, the Chinese immigrant entrepreneurs were able to identify opportunities (gaining customer insight of opportunity), whereas they would disengage from interactions with customers perceived as unfavourable (unapproachable). In this respect, they would delegate their local employees (actions of delegation in business) with the responsibility of interacting with unfavourable and hostile customers. Additionally, the Chinese immigrant entrepreneurs would engage in interactions with local employees to gain insight into local indigenous products and identify opportunities in the host community. In order to identify other opportunities (operational, relational), the Chinese immigrant entrepreneurs would disengage from interactions with local employees and engage in interactions with other stakeholders such as family members. The varying differentiated interactions and relationships established by the Chinese immigrant entrepreneurs with different stakeholders created a relational context which enabled the identification of opportunities in the host environment. Thus, the findings of the present study and the substantive grounded theory developed (differentiating engagement of opportunity identification) are discussed from the perspective of social capital, social exchange theory and Chinese cultural values. Finally, the theory developed in the present study contributes to the understanding of the processes of how social capital and relationships contribute to the process of identifying opportunities and operating a small business by immigrant entrepreneurs within a host environment.
- Full Text:
Differentiations and intersections: a corpus-assisted discourse study of gender representations in the British press before, during and after the London Olympics 2012
- Jaworska, Sylvia, Hunt, Sally
- Authors: Jaworska, Sylvia , Hunt, Sally
- Date: 2017
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/139205 , vital:37714 , DOI 10.1558/genl.28858
- Description: This study examines the impact of a global sports event on gender representations in media reporting. Whereas previous research on gender, sport and media has been mainly concerned with sports events in the North American or Australian context, this study investigates the British media reporting before, during and after the London Olympics 2012. Our study follows the approach of Corpus-Assisted Discourse Studies (CADS) and uses both quantitative and qualitative research procedures. The results reveal more balanced gender representations during the London Olympics in that the ‘regular’ biased associations were supressed in favour of positive references to female achievements. However, little carry-though of the ‘gains’ was noted. Also, this study shows that the positive associations intersected with national sentiments and were used to celebrate the nation-state. At the same time, some subtle resistance was observed to accepting as ‘truly’ British the non-white athletes and those not born in Britain.
- Full Text:
- Authors: Jaworska, Sylvia , Hunt, Sally
- Date: 2017
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/139205 , vital:37714 , DOI 10.1558/genl.28858
- Description: This study examines the impact of a global sports event on gender representations in media reporting. Whereas previous research on gender, sport and media has been mainly concerned with sports events in the North American or Australian context, this study investigates the British media reporting before, during and after the London Olympics 2012. Our study follows the approach of Corpus-Assisted Discourse Studies (CADS) and uses both quantitative and qualitative research procedures. The results reveal more balanced gender representations during the London Olympics in that the ‘regular’ biased associations were supressed in favour of positive references to female achievements. However, little carry-though of the ‘gains’ was noted. Also, this study shows that the positive associations intersected with national sentiments and were used to celebrate the nation-state. At the same time, some subtle resistance was observed to accepting as ‘truly’ British the non-white athletes and those not born in Britain.
- Full Text:
Disclaiming/denigrating/dodging: white South African academics’ everyday racetalk
- Vincent, Louise, Idahosa, Grace E, Msomi, Zuziwe
- Authors: Vincent, Louise , Idahosa, Grace E , Msomi, Zuziwe
- Date: 2017
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/141900 , vital:38014 , DOI: 10.1080/14725843.2017.1292119
- Description: The call for the ‘transformation’ of higher education in South Africa is one instance of a wider effort, since the country’s first democratic election in 1994, to surmount an apartheid and colonial legacy of institutionalised racism. In 2015 and 2016 nationwide protests led to universities being shut down as students and staff expressed frustration institutions that continue to be experienced as racist and ‘untransformed’. In this study we report on interviews conducted with senior white academics at one South African university shortly before these protests began. Given that our participants are people of influence in their respective university departments, we asked, in in-depth open-ended interviews, what contribution they saw themselves making to ‘transformation’. We argue that the talk of these participants could be described as what authors in the field call 'racetalk', Talk is understood here as a form of social practice, the analysis of which helps us to understand how racism is reproduced in mundane ways which, taken together, account for the persistence of pervasive institutionalised racism in South African higher education that appears impervious to policy and regime change.
- Full Text:
- Authors: Vincent, Louise , Idahosa, Grace E , Msomi, Zuziwe
- Date: 2017
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/141900 , vital:38014 , DOI: 10.1080/14725843.2017.1292119
- Description: The call for the ‘transformation’ of higher education in South Africa is one instance of a wider effort, since the country’s first democratic election in 1994, to surmount an apartheid and colonial legacy of institutionalised racism. In 2015 and 2016 nationwide protests led to universities being shut down as students and staff expressed frustration institutions that continue to be experienced as racist and ‘untransformed’. In this study we report on interviews conducted with senior white academics at one South African university shortly before these protests began. Given that our participants are people of influence in their respective university departments, we asked, in in-depth open-ended interviews, what contribution they saw themselves making to ‘transformation’. We argue that the talk of these participants could be described as what authors in the field call 'racetalk', Talk is understood here as a form of social practice, the analysis of which helps us to understand how racism is reproduced in mundane ways which, taken together, account for the persistence of pervasive institutionalised racism in South African higher education that appears impervious to policy and regime change.
- Full Text:
Discursive constructions of quality assurance: the case of the Zimbabwe Council for Higher Education
- Authors: Chidindi, Joseph
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Zimbabwe Council for Higher Education -- Evaluation , Education, Higher -- Zimbabwe , Universities and colleges -- Evaluation -- Zimbabwe
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/7800 , vital:21299
- Description: Quality assurance is on the contemporary agenda in higher education and has been prioritised across the globe. It has been conspicuous through the emergence of numerous quality assurance bodies, and in Zimbabwe, where this study takes place, the government has constituted the Zimbabwe Council for Higher Education. This study aims to identify the discourses drawn on by academics and those working within Zimbabwe Council for Higher Education to construct the roles and processes of external quality assurance practices in universities in Zimbabwe. The study was grounded on the premise that external quality assurance processes in higher education can vary according to their contextual environment. Fairclough’s Critical Discourse Analysis as a method driven theory not only provided a methodology, a way of collecting and analysing my data, but it was also a substantive theory, which provided a particular way of understanding the world through discourse. Fairclough’s Critical Discourse Analysis is grounded in a Critical Realist view of the social world that enabled generalisations about the effect discourse was having on the phenomenon of interest: quality assurance in higher education. One-to-one and group interviews were used to yield exploratory, descriptive and explanatory data. To corroborate and augment data from interviews, key documents related to quality assurance in universities in Zimbabwe and obtained from the Zimbabwe Council for Higher Education were analysed. There were a number of profound discourses that emerged in the research study. There was a discourse of ‘control’ in which Zimbabwe Council for Higher Education put in place compliance mechanisms, setting minimum requirements for universities to offer ‘credible’ higher education. There was a discourse of ‘power struggle’ in which universities endeavoured to maintain their institutional autonomy in response to what was perceived as Zimbabwe Council for Higher Education’s requirement of compliance. In the context of higher education in Zimbabwe, an important implication of the study was evident in the discourse of ‘gold standard’ of quality assurance which assumed that quality entails a generic best practice but which fails to take context into account. While a generic ‘global’ notion of best practice in quality assurance was dominant in the discourses of quality identified in this study, there were other discourses that focused on what quality might look like within the resource constraints of the context. The study highlighted the importance of collegiality between quality assurance organisations and universities to realise success of quality assurance intentions.
- Full Text:
Discursive constructions of quality assurance: the case of the Zimbabwe Council for Higher Education
- Authors: Chidindi, Joseph
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Zimbabwe Council for Higher Education -- Evaluation , Education, Higher -- Zimbabwe , Universities and colleges -- Evaluation -- Zimbabwe
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/7800 , vital:21299
- Description: Quality assurance is on the contemporary agenda in higher education and has been prioritised across the globe. It has been conspicuous through the emergence of numerous quality assurance bodies, and in Zimbabwe, where this study takes place, the government has constituted the Zimbabwe Council for Higher Education. This study aims to identify the discourses drawn on by academics and those working within Zimbabwe Council for Higher Education to construct the roles and processes of external quality assurance practices in universities in Zimbabwe. The study was grounded on the premise that external quality assurance processes in higher education can vary according to their contextual environment. Fairclough’s Critical Discourse Analysis as a method driven theory not only provided a methodology, a way of collecting and analysing my data, but it was also a substantive theory, which provided a particular way of understanding the world through discourse. Fairclough’s Critical Discourse Analysis is grounded in a Critical Realist view of the social world that enabled generalisations about the effect discourse was having on the phenomenon of interest: quality assurance in higher education. One-to-one and group interviews were used to yield exploratory, descriptive and explanatory data. To corroborate and augment data from interviews, key documents related to quality assurance in universities in Zimbabwe and obtained from the Zimbabwe Council for Higher Education were analysed. There were a number of profound discourses that emerged in the research study. There was a discourse of ‘control’ in which Zimbabwe Council for Higher Education put in place compliance mechanisms, setting minimum requirements for universities to offer ‘credible’ higher education. There was a discourse of ‘power struggle’ in which universities endeavoured to maintain their institutional autonomy in response to what was perceived as Zimbabwe Council for Higher Education’s requirement of compliance. In the context of higher education in Zimbabwe, an important implication of the study was evident in the discourse of ‘gold standard’ of quality assurance which assumed that quality entails a generic best practice but which fails to take context into account. While a generic ‘global’ notion of best practice in quality assurance was dominant in the discourses of quality identified in this study, there were other discourses that focused on what quality might look like within the resource constraints of the context. The study highlighted the importance of collegiality between quality assurance organisations and universities to realise success of quality assurance intentions.
- Full Text:
Distributed leadership in South Africa
- Authors: Grant, Carolyn
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/281024 , vital:55684 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.1080/13632434.2017.1360856"
- Description: Distributed leadership, while an established concept in the international literature on education leadership, is slowly gaining prominence in post-apartheid South Africa. This is primarily due to its normative and representational appeal. However, of concern is that the concept has become a catch-all phrase to describe any form of devolved or shared leadership and is being espoused as ‘the answer’ to the country’s educational leadership woes. Drawing on a South African publications-based doctoral study of distributed teacher leadership (Grant 2010. “Distributed Teacher Leadership: Troubling the Terrain.” Unpublished PhD diss., University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg) for its evidence, this article argues for a theoretically robust form of distributed leadership conceptualised as socio-cultural practice and framed as a product of the joint interactions of school leaders, followers and aspects of their situation (Gronn 2000. “Distributed Properties: A New Architecture for Leadership.” Educational Management and Administration 28 (3): 317–338; Spillane, Halverson and Diamond 2004. “Towards a Theory of Leadership Practice: A Distributed Perspective.” Journal of Curriculum Studies 36 (1): 3–34; Spillane 2006. Distributed Leadership. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass). It endorses a sequential distributed leadership framing for the South African context and calls for further empirical studies which interrogate the complex practices of distributed school leadership. For without this theoretically robust work, the article argues, distributed leadership is likely to be relegated to the large pile of redundant leadership theories and become a passing fad.
- Full Text:
- Authors: Grant, Carolyn
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/281024 , vital:55684 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.1080/13632434.2017.1360856"
- Description: Distributed leadership, while an established concept in the international literature on education leadership, is slowly gaining prominence in post-apartheid South Africa. This is primarily due to its normative and representational appeal. However, of concern is that the concept has become a catch-all phrase to describe any form of devolved or shared leadership and is being espoused as ‘the answer’ to the country’s educational leadership woes. Drawing on a South African publications-based doctoral study of distributed teacher leadership (Grant 2010. “Distributed Teacher Leadership: Troubling the Terrain.” Unpublished PhD diss., University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg) for its evidence, this article argues for a theoretically robust form of distributed leadership conceptualised as socio-cultural practice and framed as a product of the joint interactions of school leaders, followers and aspects of their situation (Gronn 2000. “Distributed Properties: A New Architecture for Leadership.” Educational Management and Administration 28 (3): 317–338; Spillane, Halverson and Diamond 2004. “Towards a Theory of Leadership Practice: A Distributed Perspective.” Journal of Curriculum Studies 36 (1): 3–34; Spillane 2006. Distributed Leadership. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass). It endorses a sequential distributed leadership framing for the South African context and calls for further empirical studies which interrogate the complex practices of distributed school leadership. For without this theoretically robust work, the article argues, distributed leadership is likely to be relegated to the large pile of redundant leadership theories and become a passing fad.
- Full Text:
Diurnal and nocturnal activity patterns and habitat use of Algoa Bay’s rocky reef fish community
- Authors: Juby, Roxanne
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Reef fishes -- Effect of light on , Reef fishes -- South Africa , Underwater videography in wildlife monitoring -- South Africa -- Tsitsikamma
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/44827 , vital:25445
- Description: Distinct day-night changes in ambient light are recognised as an important driver of animal activity patterns, with predictable changes to the structure and composition of animal communities between day and night. While day-night variation in the structure of animal communities has been well researched for terrestrial organisms and shallow marine fish communities around the world, there has been limited research of this type conducted on South Africa’s rocky reef fish communities. Consequently, we have a poor understanding of how nocturnal reef fish communities are structured and the day-night activity patterns of species inhabiting both shallow (10-30m) and deep-aphotic (55-100m) reefs. This research was conducted at two warm-temperate South African rocky reefs situated in Algoa Bay. The importance of natural ambient light in shaping the distribution of reef fish communities at shallow and deep-aphotic reef sites was demonstrated using baited remote underwater stereo-video systems (stereo-BRUVs). Distinct day and night fish communities were sampled at shallow and deep-aphotic reef sites. These differences were driven by significant changes in species richness (p < 0.001), species abundance (p < 0.001) and community composition (p < 0.001). These shifts appeared to be driven by day-night activity patterns that were the result of increased detectability of certain species at either day or night. The majority of species belonging to the family Sparidae showed evidence of strict diurnal activity, with their activity being further restricted to shallow reefs. These species showed evidence that they may enter micro-habitats within the reef at night. Similar activity patterns were shown for other top predatory teleost species and low level consumers, with substantial reductions in abundances, or no recordings at night throughout this study. Shallow reefs at day harboured the most diverse fish community. It is therefore hypothesised that this habitat was associated with conditions that offered improved access to resources for many visual species. In addition, the diverse community inhabiting shallow reefs at day is associated with a high risk of negative interspecies interactions, such as competition and predation. It is hypothesised that the biotic conditions associated with shallow reefs at day drove three movement patterns identified in this study; Pagellus bellottii natalensis showed evidence of movement onto shallow reefs at night from adjacent sandy flats, while Pterogymnus laniarius and Squalus sp. 1 showed evidence of movement onto shallow reefs at night from the deep- aphotic reefs that remain dark throughout the diel cycle. It is further hypothesised that other species which showed evidence for nocturnal activity, i.e. Galeichthys ater, Eptatretus hexatrema and Haploblepharus edwardsii, may enter sheltered micro-habitats within the reef during day light hours. These findings have highlighted the complex patterns that have evolved within marine fish to allow multiple species to coexist and exploit productive reef ecosystems by partitioning resource use and activity patterns at day or night, between depth zones and habitat types.
- Full Text:
- Authors: Juby, Roxanne
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Reef fishes -- Effect of light on , Reef fishes -- South Africa , Underwater videography in wildlife monitoring -- South Africa -- Tsitsikamma
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/44827 , vital:25445
- Description: Distinct day-night changes in ambient light are recognised as an important driver of animal activity patterns, with predictable changes to the structure and composition of animal communities between day and night. While day-night variation in the structure of animal communities has been well researched for terrestrial organisms and shallow marine fish communities around the world, there has been limited research of this type conducted on South Africa’s rocky reef fish communities. Consequently, we have a poor understanding of how nocturnal reef fish communities are structured and the day-night activity patterns of species inhabiting both shallow (10-30m) and deep-aphotic (55-100m) reefs. This research was conducted at two warm-temperate South African rocky reefs situated in Algoa Bay. The importance of natural ambient light in shaping the distribution of reef fish communities at shallow and deep-aphotic reef sites was demonstrated using baited remote underwater stereo-video systems (stereo-BRUVs). Distinct day and night fish communities were sampled at shallow and deep-aphotic reef sites. These differences were driven by significant changes in species richness (p < 0.001), species abundance (p < 0.001) and community composition (p < 0.001). These shifts appeared to be driven by day-night activity patterns that were the result of increased detectability of certain species at either day or night. The majority of species belonging to the family Sparidae showed evidence of strict diurnal activity, with their activity being further restricted to shallow reefs. These species showed evidence that they may enter micro-habitats within the reef at night. Similar activity patterns were shown for other top predatory teleost species and low level consumers, with substantial reductions in abundances, or no recordings at night throughout this study. Shallow reefs at day harboured the most diverse fish community. It is therefore hypothesised that this habitat was associated with conditions that offered improved access to resources for many visual species. In addition, the diverse community inhabiting shallow reefs at day is associated with a high risk of negative interspecies interactions, such as competition and predation. It is hypothesised that the biotic conditions associated with shallow reefs at day drove three movement patterns identified in this study; Pagellus bellottii natalensis showed evidence of movement onto shallow reefs at night from adjacent sandy flats, while Pterogymnus laniarius and Squalus sp. 1 showed evidence of movement onto shallow reefs at night from the deep- aphotic reefs that remain dark throughout the diel cycle. It is further hypothesised that other species which showed evidence for nocturnal activity, i.e. Galeichthys ater, Eptatretus hexatrema and Haploblepharus edwardsii, may enter sheltered micro-habitats within the reef during day light hours. These findings have highlighted the complex patterns that have evolved within marine fish to allow multiple species to coexist and exploit productive reef ecosystems by partitioning resource use and activity patterns at day or night, between depth zones and habitat types.
- Full Text:
Dose response and kinetic analysis of thermoluminescence of Li–Zn fluoroborate glass
- Thomas, Sunil, Chithambo, Makaiko L
- Authors: Thomas, Sunil , Chithambo, Makaiko L
- Date: 2017
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/116164 , vital:34326 , https://doi.org/10.1080/10420150.2017.1313844
- Description: The intention of this study is to explore the thermoluminescence properties of beta-irradiated Li–Zn fluoroborate glass. The glow-curve corresponding to 10 Gy shows two peaks when measured at 1°C/s. The dose response of the glass to beta irradiation was investigated. The trapping level parameters such as activation energy, frequency factor and order of kinetics associated with the observed glow-peak were determined using different methods. The thermoluminescence is affected by thermal quenching. A possible mechanism for the thermoluminescence is described.
- Full Text:
- Authors: Thomas, Sunil , Chithambo, Makaiko L
- Date: 2017
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/116164 , vital:34326 , https://doi.org/10.1080/10420150.2017.1313844
- Description: The intention of this study is to explore the thermoluminescence properties of beta-irradiated Li–Zn fluoroborate glass. The glow-curve corresponding to 10 Gy shows two peaks when measured at 1°C/s. The dose response of the glass to beta irradiation was investigated. The trapping level parameters such as activation energy, frequency factor and order of kinetics associated with the observed glow-peak were determined using different methods. The thermoluminescence is affected by thermal quenching. A possible mechanism for the thermoluminescence is described.
- Full Text:
Drawing on principles of Dance Movement Therapy practice in a South African water research context
- Authors: Copteros, Athina
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Water-supply -- Management -- South Africa , Dance therapy , Movement therapy , Dance therapy -- South Africa , Movement therapy -- South Africa , Interdisciplinary research , Interdisciplinary approach to knowledge , Environmental education , Environmental education -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/50759 , vital:26024
- Description: Research that draws on principles of Dance Movement Therapy in a South African water research context has not been done before. In order to initiate this exploration, culturally relevant themes from professional training in the United Kingdom were identified that could be developed in the context of trans-disciplinary water resource management research in South Africa. Hermeneutic phenomenology provided the methodological framing for this study. Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis was used to discover culturally relevant themes based on the recorded perceptions of the phenomenon of the training while it was taking place. The themes of: ‘awareness of power and difference'; ‘therapeutic adaptability'; ‘safety and ownership' and ‘connecting with the environment' emerged as overriding themes. Influences from Artistic Inquiry informed the inclusion of a creative embodied response to the themes that emerged. These themes then informed the application of some relevant principles of Dance Movement Therapy practice within a trans-disciplinary complex social-ecological systems researcher group. Eight members of the group participated in the study. They represented a range of academic research roles, genders and backgrounds. They reflected on their experience of an introductory session and five Dance Movement Therapy based sessions in semi-structured interviews. Using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis, four themes were identified that capture the quality of the participants' shared experience of the phenomenon: ‘community engagement'; ‘embodiment'; ‘individual and group identity' and ‘integration'. Based on the integration of themes, it is concluded that principles of Dance Movement Therapy have a contribution to make. Core tenets of Dance Movement Therapy such as: inclusion of body and emotion; healing from trauma through embodiment; group processes held with safety and acceptance; and a deep level of connection to self, each other and the wider ecology, address some of the basic challenges of trans-disciplinary complex social ecological systems research practice. Through researchers experiencing principles of DMT practice for themselves and reflecting on their experience, it is possible that their embodied knowledge and reflections will influence and inform their engagement with communities in the future.
- Full Text:
- Authors: Copteros, Athina
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Water-supply -- Management -- South Africa , Dance therapy , Movement therapy , Dance therapy -- South Africa , Movement therapy -- South Africa , Interdisciplinary research , Interdisciplinary approach to knowledge , Environmental education , Environmental education -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/50759 , vital:26024
- Description: Research that draws on principles of Dance Movement Therapy in a South African water research context has not been done before. In order to initiate this exploration, culturally relevant themes from professional training in the United Kingdom were identified that could be developed in the context of trans-disciplinary water resource management research in South Africa. Hermeneutic phenomenology provided the methodological framing for this study. Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis was used to discover culturally relevant themes based on the recorded perceptions of the phenomenon of the training while it was taking place. The themes of: ‘awareness of power and difference'; ‘therapeutic adaptability'; ‘safety and ownership' and ‘connecting with the environment' emerged as overriding themes. Influences from Artistic Inquiry informed the inclusion of a creative embodied response to the themes that emerged. These themes then informed the application of some relevant principles of Dance Movement Therapy practice within a trans-disciplinary complex social-ecological systems researcher group. Eight members of the group participated in the study. They represented a range of academic research roles, genders and backgrounds. They reflected on their experience of an introductory session and five Dance Movement Therapy based sessions in semi-structured interviews. Using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis, four themes were identified that capture the quality of the participants' shared experience of the phenomenon: ‘community engagement'; ‘embodiment'; ‘individual and group identity' and ‘integration'. Based on the integration of themes, it is concluded that principles of Dance Movement Therapy have a contribution to make. Core tenets of Dance Movement Therapy such as: inclusion of body and emotion; healing from trauma through embodiment; group processes held with safety and acceptance; and a deep level of connection to self, each other and the wider ecology, address some of the basic challenges of trans-disciplinary complex social ecological systems research practice. Through researchers experiencing principles of DMT practice for themselves and reflecting on their experience, it is possible that their embodied knowledge and reflections will influence and inform their engagement with communities in the future.
- Full Text:
Drivers of sustainability disclosure in Liberty Holdings
- Authors: Chembeya, Edina Matamba
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Liberty Holdings Limited (Firm) , Insurance companies -- South Africa -- Management , Risk management -- South Africa -- Case studies , Stakeholder management -- South Africa -- Case studies , Corporate culture -- South Africa -- Case studies , Product management -- South Africa -- Case studies
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/5579 , vital:20943
- Description: This research assesses the drivers of sustainability disclosure in Liberty Holdings. The relevance of reporting on sustainability is growing for both listed and non-listed companies in South Africa. However, many companies many companies still coming to terms with reporting process, although others are doing exceptionally well. Liberty Holdings is one of the insurance organisations that has continuously improved their sustainability reporting and disclosure of their sustainability issues, in a sector that previously perceived such concerns as low on their agenda, due to the perception that they had a low impact on the sector. The research findings reveal that the process of sustainability disclosure in Liberty Holdings is driven by several elements that are strategically linked and are aligned to the core strategy of the organisation. The findings also indicate that in order to understand and implement viable sustainability processes, the processes must be embedded in a well-informed sustainability strategy that is aligned with this core strategy.
- Full Text:
- Authors: Chembeya, Edina Matamba
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Liberty Holdings Limited (Firm) , Insurance companies -- South Africa -- Management , Risk management -- South Africa -- Case studies , Stakeholder management -- South Africa -- Case studies , Corporate culture -- South Africa -- Case studies , Product management -- South Africa -- Case studies
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/5579 , vital:20943
- Description: This research assesses the drivers of sustainability disclosure in Liberty Holdings. The relevance of reporting on sustainability is growing for both listed and non-listed companies in South Africa. However, many companies many companies still coming to terms with reporting process, although others are doing exceptionally well. Liberty Holdings is one of the insurance organisations that has continuously improved their sustainability reporting and disclosure of their sustainability issues, in a sector that previously perceived such concerns as low on their agenda, due to the perception that they had a low impact on the sector. The research findings reveal that the process of sustainability disclosure in Liberty Holdings is driven by several elements that are strategically linked and are aligned to the core strategy of the organisation. The findings also indicate that in order to understand and implement viable sustainability processes, the processes must be embedded in a well-informed sustainability strategy that is aligned with this core strategy.
- Full Text:
Early stage ichthyofauna from shallow water habitats of the Angola-Benguela frontal zone
- Authors: Farthing, Matthew William
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Fishes -- Larvae -- South Africa -- Atlantic coast , Fishes -- Larvae -- Angola -- Atlantic coast , Striped mullet -- Angola -- Atlantic coast
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/50442 , vital:25988
- Description: Early stage fishes (larvae and early juveniles) were collected from an array of shallow water (±1.5m) habitats on the warm-temperate southern Angolan coastline between June 2014 and June 2015. This study, the first assessment of the early stages of coastal fishes in Angola, provides important new understanding of non-estuarine shallow water nursery habitat use by coastal fishes from the region. In total, 51 species from 18 teleost families were observed. The exposed surf zone was dominated by postflexion larvae, while the moderately exposed beach and sheltered bay were dominated by early juveniles. Both fish density and diversity peaked in the wet season (Feb – Apr 2015) for all habitats, attributed to the influx of summer spawning species. Diplodus sargus dominated catches from the exposed surf zone, and the timing of observations supports the growing consensus that sparid spawning is dictated by temperature, not season. The similitude of the observed species to those observed in warm temperate South Africa highlights the historical connection of the warm-temperate study area with warm-temperate South Africa, prior to the formation of the Benguela Current as a vicariant barrier. The classification of the study assemblage into established estuarine utilization categories showed that the surf zone hosted more exclusively marine species than comparable surf zones in South Africa, attributed to the absence of estuaries in southern Angola. However, the observation of the marine estuarine dependent Mugil cephalus in this study area devoid of estuaries suggests that estuarine dependency may be regionally specific for some taxa. It appears that the warm, sheltered, nutrient rich waters of Tombua Bay provide typically estuarine associated taxa with a suitable alternative, non-estuarine nursery habitat. This study provides evidence that the importance of estuaries as critical nursery habitats has been overemphasized for some warm-temperate coastal fishes. However, the absence of other marine estuarine dependent species from the study area suggests that some warm-temperate taxa do intrinsically rely on estuarine function for survival.
- Full Text:
- Authors: Farthing, Matthew William
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Fishes -- Larvae -- South Africa -- Atlantic coast , Fishes -- Larvae -- Angola -- Atlantic coast , Striped mullet -- Angola -- Atlantic coast
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/50442 , vital:25988
- Description: Early stage fishes (larvae and early juveniles) were collected from an array of shallow water (±1.5m) habitats on the warm-temperate southern Angolan coastline between June 2014 and June 2015. This study, the first assessment of the early stages of coastal fishes in Angola, provides important new understanding of non-estuarine shallow water nursery habitat use by coastal fishes from the region. In total, 51 species from 18 teleost families were observed. The exposed surf zone was dominated by postflexion larvae, while the moderately exposed beach and sheltered bay were dominated by early juveniles. Both fish density and diversity peaked in the wet season (Feb – Apr 2015) for all habitats, attributed to the influx of summer spawning species. Diplodus sargus dominated catches from the exposed surf zone, and the timing of observations supports the growing consensus that sparid spawning is dictated by temperature, not season. The similitude of the observed species to those observed in warm temperate South Africa highlights the historical connection of the warm-temperate study area with warm-temperate South Africa, prior to the formation of the Benguela Current as a vicariant barrier. The classification of the study assemblage into established estuarine utilization categories showed that the surf zone hosted more exclusively marine species than comparable surf zones in South Africa, attributed to the absence of estuaries in southern Angola. However, the observation of the marine estuarine dependent Mugil cephalus in this study area devoid of estuaries suggests that estuarine dependency may be regionally specific for some taxa. It appears that the warm, sheltered, nutrient rich waters of Tombua Bay provide typically estuarine associated taxa with a suitable alternative, non-estuarine nursery habitat. This study provides evidence that the importance of estuaries as critical nursery habitats has been overemphasized for some warm-temperate coastal fishes. However, the absence of other marine estuarine dependent species from the study area suggests that some warm-temperate taxa do intrinsically rely on estuarine function for survival.
- Full Text:
Ecosystem engineering by the wetland plant palmiet: does it control fluvial form and promote diffuse flow in steep-sided valleys of the Cape Fold Mountains
- Authors: Barclay, Amy
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Prionium serratum , Wetlands -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Aquatic plants -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Peatland ecology -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Kromme River (Eastern Cape, South Africa)
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/4646 , vital:20708
- Description: Ecosystem engineering refers to the way that organisms control the structure and function of ecosystems. It has been suggested that palmiet (Prionium serratum, Thurniaceae) works as an ecosystem engineer, shaping peat wetlands in South Africa. However, there is currently a paucity of evidence supporting this claim. Palmiet has a dense root, rhizome and stem system that forms dense stands, growing from channel banks into fast flowing river channels. This slows river flows, traps sediment, which builds up riverbeds and ultimately blocks river channels, turning the river into a wetland. The aim of this study was to determine if palmiet is an ecosystem engineer and to document its pattern of colonisation and the nature of its control of a fluvial system. This was achieved by undertaking vegetation surveys in the Kromrivier Wetland in the Eastern Cape. The data was analyzed using vegetation classification and ordination, where vegetation communities were linked to environmental factors. It was found that palmiet occupied three distinctive habitats; 1) on near-horizontal valley- bottom habitats filled with sediments that are a mixture of autochthonous organic sediment and allochthonous clastic fines, 2) the bed of gullies that have recently filled with coarse grained clastic sediment, and 3) open water bodies. Three conceptual models were developed, one that accounts for the process of gully bed colonisation, sediment trapping and gully filling, another involving rapid colonisation of sedimentary fill from tributary sediment sources that block a gully, and the third involving colonisation of open-water areas that form in former gullies upstream of the blockage. The study suggests that the wetland has been characterised by repeated cutting and filling cycles, despite which, palmiet has repeatedly reinstated diffuse flow conditions across the valley floor. Palmiet was indicated to exert a key control on fluvial form and dynamics of the wetlands in the Kromrivier valley.
- Full Text:
- Authors: Barclay, Amy
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Prionium serratum , Wetlands -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Aquatic plants -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Peatland ecology -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Kromme River (Eastern Cape, South Africa)
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/4646 , vital:20708
- Description: Ecosystem engineering refers to the way that organisms control the structure and function of ecosystems. It has been suggested that palmiet (Prionium serratum, Thurniaceae) works as an ecosystem engineer, shaping peat wetlands in South Africa. However, there is currently a paucity of evidence supporting this claim. Palmiet has a dense root, rhizome and stem system that forms dense stands, growing from channel banks into fast flowing river channels. This slows river flows, traps sediment, which builds up riverbeds and ultimately blocks river channels, turning the river into a wetland. The aim of this study was to determine if palmiet is an ecosystem engineer and to document its pattern of colonisation and the nature of its control of a fluvial system. This was achieved by undertaking vegetation surveys in the Kromrivier Wetland in the Eastern Cape. The data was analyzed using vegetation classification and ordination, where vegetation communities were linked to environmental factors. It was found that palmiet occupied three distinctive habitats; 1) on near-horizontal valley- bottom habitats filled with sediments that are a mixture of autochthonous organic sediment and allochthonous clastic fines, 2) the bed of gullies that have recently filled with coarse grained clastic sediment, and 3) open water bodies. Three conceptual models were developed, one that accounts for the process of gully bed colonisation, sediment trapping and gully filling, another involving rapid colonisation of sedimentary fill from tributary sediment sources that block a gully, and the third involving colonisation of open-water areas that form in former gullies upstream of the blockage. The study suggests that the wetland has been characterised by repeated cutting and filling cycles, despite which, palmiet has repeatedly reinstated diffuse flow conditions across the valley floor. Palmiet was indicated to exert a key control on fluvial form and dynamics of the wetlands in the Kromrivier valley.
- Full Text:
Ecosystem services in a biosphere reserve context: identification, mapping and valuation
- Authors: Ntshane, Basane Claire
- Date: 2017
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/4536 , vital:20686
- Description: Despite their contribution to human well-being, ecosystem services (ES) are being destroyed by anthropogenic activities, taken for granted and often compromised during land use decision making. The question that often arises is, what value do ES have compared to other undertakings that are economically robust, such as mining? The vision of the Millenium Ecosystem Assessment (MA) was a world in which natural assets (including ES) are appreciated and integrated into decision-making. The biodiversity strategy of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) also concerns the integration of natural assets into decision making. Responding to challenges facing ES and their mainstreaming into decision-making has been constrained by lack of data and requires new tools and approaches. Integrating natural assets into decision-making is very important for South Africa (SA), where ES have been a crucial part of human systems for decades, and also because of the country’s commitment to the implementation of the CBD's biodiversity strategy. With the aim of incorporating ES into decision-making in an integrated way, this study was conducted in two biosphere reserves (BRs), Vhembe and Waterberg, in Limpopo Province, SA. The aims of the study were the identification, mapping and valuation of ES following an integrated approach. In order to achieve these aims, the study attempted to address four key objectives: (1) to assess and evaluate the status of mapping and valuation of ES in SA, (2) to identify and quantify ES and their indicators, (3) to investigate and analyse the impact of land use/cover (LU/LC) change to ES and (4) to conduct valuation of selected ES. Two separate literature reviews were undertaken to assess and evaluate the status of mapping and valuation of ES in SA, thus addressing study objective 1. Both reviews detected a significant research gap with regard to mapping and valuation of supporting services in SA. To identify ES and indicators provided by the two BRs and to assess the impact of LU/LC change and its effect on ES, a participatory scenario planning process was conducted under three different scenarios, namely ecological development, social development and economic development. It became clear that LU issues were diverse in nature and affected ES in a number of ways and that there were always trade-offs in the choice of LU. For example, yields of ES were best in the ecological development scenario and were affected negatively, together with agricultural commodity production, in the social development and economic development scenarios. A mapping exercise was undertaken to illustrate the spatial distribution of ES supply and demand, involving five ES and 15 indicators using existing datasets and the Integrated Valuation of Ecosystem Services and Trade-offs (InVEST) mapping tool, again addressing objective 2 of the study. Carbon storage and habitat quality were assessed, modelled and quantified and their values provided in biophysical terms using InVEST modelling tools, thus addressing objective 4 of the study. High quantities of carbon storage and high habitat quality were recorded in natural areas and low quantities were recorded in managed systems (cultivated, urban and plantation areas). InVEST was again applied to conduct an economic valuation of two provisioning ES, timber and firewood, by determining their net present values, attempting to address objective 4 of the study. Results revealed that, at 12% discount rate, the net present value (NPV) for timber production accounted for R23 317/ha in VBR and R57 304/ha in WBR. However, at lower discount rates (4 and 7%), the NPVs for timber were negative in VBR and positive in WBR. With regard to firewood production, the NPVs were negative against all three discount rates in both study areas. I conclude by proposing a four-step integrated approach that can aid the successful incorporation of ES into decision-making: (1) maintain a balance between the social, economic and ecological aspects when making decisions on ES, (2) strive for an evidence- based approach to decision-making (use quantities and values), (3) apply integrated approaches (methods and techniques) to quantification and valuation, and (4) communicate all steps along the way. The results of this study will serve as a baseline for integration of ES into decision-making in SA.
- Full Text:
- Authors: Ntshane, Basane Claire
- Date: 2017
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/4536 , vital:20686
- Description: Despite their contribution to human well-being, ecosystem services (ES) are being destroyed by anthropogenic activities, taken for granted and often compromised during land use decision making. The question that often arises is, what value do ES have compared to other undertakings that are economically robust, such as mining? The vision of the Millenium Ecosystem Assessment (MA) was a world in which natural assets (including ES) are appreciated and integrated into decision-making. The biodiversity strategy of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) also concerns the integration of natural assets into decision making. Responding to challenges facing ES and their mainstreaming into decision-making has been constrained by lack of data and requires new tools and approaches. Integrating natural assets into decision-making is very important for South Africa (SA), where ES have been a crucial part of human systems for decades, and also because of the country’s commitment to the implementation of the CBD's biodiversity strategy. With the aim of incorporating ES into decision-making in an integrated way, this study was conducted in two biosphere reserves (BRs), Vhembe and Waterberg, in Limpopo Province, SA. The aims of the study were the identification, mapping and valuation of ES following an integrated approach. In order to achieve these aims, the study attempted to address four key objectives: (1) to assess and evaluate the status of mapping and valuation of ES in SA, (2) to identify and quantify ES and their indicators, (3) to investigate and analyse the impact of land use/cover (LU/LC) change to ES and (4) to conduct valuation of selected ES. Two separate literature reviews were undertaken to assess and evaluate the status of mapping and valuation of ES in SA, thus addressing study objective 1. Both reviews detected a significant research gap with regard to mapping and valuation of supporting services in SA. To identify ES and indicators provided by the two BRs and to assess the impact of LU/LC change and its effect on ES, a participatory scenario planning process was conducted under three different scenarios, namely ecological development, social development and economic development. It became clear that LU issues were diverse in nature and affected ES in a number of ways and that there were always trade-offs in the choice of LU. For example, yields of ES were best in the ecological development scenario and were affected negatively, together with agricultural commodity production, in the social development and economic development scenarios. A mapping exercise was undertaken to illustrate the spatial distribution of ES supply and demand, involving five ES and 15 indicators using existing datasets and the Integrated Valuation of Ecosystem Services and Trade-offs (InVEST) mapping tool, again addressing objective 2 of the study. Carbon storage and habitat quality were assessed, modelled and quantified and their values provided in biophysical terms using InVEST modelling tools, thus addressing objective 4 of the study. High quantities of carbon storage and high habitat quality were recorded in natural areas and low quantities were recorded in managed systems (cultivated, urban and plantation areas). InVEST was again applied to conduct an economic valuation of two provisioning ES, timber and firewood, by determining their net present values, attempting to address objective 4 of the study. Results revealed that, at 12% discount rate, the net present value (NPV) for timber production accounted for R23 317/ha in VBR and R57 304/ha in WBR. However, at lower discount rates (4 and 7%), the NPVs for timber were negative in VBR and positive in WBR. With regard to firewood production, the NPVs were negative against all three discount rates in both study areas. I conclude by proposing a four-step integrated approach that can aid the successful incorporation of ES into decision-making: (1) maintain a balance between the social, economic and ecological aspects when making decisions on ES, (2) strive for an evidence- based approach to decision-making (use quantities and values), (3) apply integrated approaches (methods and techniques) to quantification and valuation, and (4) communicate all steps along the way. The results of this study will serve as a baseline for integration of ES into decision-making in SA.
- Full Text:
Ecosystem-scale impacts of non-timber forest product harvesting: Effects on soil nutrients
- Ruwanza, Sheunesu, Shackleton, Charlie M
- Authors: Ruwanza, Sheunesu , Shackleton, Charlie M
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/180099 , vital:43309 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.1111/1365-2664.12891"
- Description: The harvesting of non-timber forest products (NTFPs) is a global phenomenon, the sustainability of which has been studied for many species at the individual and population level. However, the broader scale impacts of NTFP harvesting have been acknowledged but rarely examined. We assessed plant size and the soil attributes undercanopy and in the open, in replicate, paired harvested and non-harvested sites for three NTFPs differing in the extent of biomass removed, i.e. timber for firewood from a tree (Acacia karroo), fruits from a cactus (Opunita ficus-indica) and flowering culms from a grass (Cymbopogon marginatus). Soil variables tested included pH, resistivity, P, total N, nitrate nitrogen, ammonium nitrogen, K, Na, Ca and Mg. The extent of loss of soil nutrients decreased across the three NTFPs relative to the proportion of biomass removed. Thus, significant differences in more soil variables were evident for the firewood species, least for the fruit species and intermediate for the grass species. Lower soil pH, P, C and K were evident in soils collected underneath A. karroo, while losses in cations of Na, Ca and Mg were reported in soils underneath C. marginatus, and only NO3N losses were recorded underneath O. ficus-indica. Our study reveals that while non-timber forest product (NTFP) harvesting may affect soil nutrients, this is not uniform between species and is likely to be a function of the extent of biomass removed and harvesting frequency. This indicates the need for caution in generalisations about the ecosystem-level impacts of NTFP harvesting as well as a concerted effort to better understand impacts at a greater range of scales than has been the case to date.
- Full Text:
- Authors: Ruwanza, Sheunesu , Shackleton, Charlie M
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/180099 , vital:43309 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.1111/1365-2664.12891"
- Description: The harvesting of non-timber forest products (NTFPs) is a global phenomenon, the sustainability of which has been studied for many species at the individual and population level. However, the broader scale impacts of NTFP harvesting have been acknowledged but rarely examined. We assessed plant size and the soil attributes undercanopy and in the open, in replicate, paired harvested and non-harvested sites for three NTFPs differing in the extent of biomass removed, i.e. timber for firewood from a tree (Acacia karroo), fruits from a cactus (Opunita ficus-indica) and flowering culms from a grass (Cymbopogon marginatus). Soil variables tested included pH, resistivity, P, total N, nitrate nitrogen, ammonium nitrogen, K, Na, Ca and Mg. The extent of loss of soil nutrients decreased across the three NTFPs relative to the proportion of biomass removed. Thus, significant differences in more soil variables were evident for the firewood species, least for the fruit species and intermediate for the grass species. Lower soil pH, P, C and K were evident in soils collected underneath A. karroo, while losses in cations of Na, Ca and Mg were reported in soils underneath C. marginatus, and only NO3N losses were recorded underneath O. ficus-indica. Our study reveals that while non-timber forest product (NTFP) harvesting may affect soil nutrients, this is not uniform between species and is likely to be a function of the extent of biomass removed and harvesting frequency. This indicates the need for caution in generalisations about the ecosystem-level impacts of NTFP harvesting as well as a concerted effort to better understand impacts at a greater range of scales than has been the case to date.
- Full Text:
Education for sustainable development in the Namibian Biology curriculum
- Authors: Tshiningayamwe, Sirrka
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , book chapter
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/436223 , vital:73250 , ISBN 978-3-319-45989-9 , https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-45989-9_8
- Description: As a response to the United Nations Decade of Education for Sustainable Development, Namibia has incorporated Educa-tion for Sustainable Development (ESD) into its education poli-cy. There has thus been a growing recognition of the signifi-cance of ESD across the school curriculum. However, of the various subjects taught in secondary schools, science sub-jects (especially biology) are often perceived as subjects that can make a significant contribution to ESD. Drawing on re-search that was conducted at three schools in Windhoek, this chapter will comment critically on the uptake of ESD in the Bi-ology Namibian Senior Secondary Certificate (NSSC) curricu-lum. The chapter reflects on the influence of learner-centred education in the Namibian curriculum, the challenges and suc-cesses of ESD integration in the biology curriculum and how ESD has potential to strengthen and expand policies on learn-er-centred education, helping to translate them into practices.
- Full Text:
- Authors: Tshiningayamwe, Sirrka
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , book chapter
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/436223 , vital:73250 , ISBN 978-3-319-45989-9 , https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-45989-9_8
- Description: As a response to the United Nations Decade of Education for Sustainable Development, Namibia has incorporated Educa-tion for Sustainable Development (ESD) into its education poli-cy. There has thus been a growing recognition of the signifi-cance of ESD across the school curriculum. However, of the various subjects taught in secondary schools, science sub-jects (especially biology) are often perceived as subjects that can make a significant contribution to ESD. Drawing on re-search that was conducted at three schools in Windhoek, this chapter will comment critically on the uptake of ESD in the Bi-ology Namibian Senior Secondary Certificate (NSSC) curricu-lum. The chapter reflects on the influence of learner-centred education in the Namibian curriculum, the challenges and suc-cesses of ESD integration in the biology curriculum and how ESD has potential to strengthen and expand policies on learn-er-centred education, helping to translate them into practices.
- Full Text: