A retrospective study of antimicrobial prescribing practices in paediatric patients at the Mahalapye District Hospital, Central Botswana
- Authors: Nyawera, Angella
- Date: 2022-04-06
- Subjects: Anti-infective agents Botswana Mahalapye , Drug resistance , Pediatrics Botswana Mahalapye , Pediatrics Formulae, receipts, prescriptions , Drugs Prescribing Moral and ethical aspects
- Language: English
- Type: Academic theses , Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/290682 , vital:56774
- Description: Background: The development of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) has been linked to the increased and irrational use of antimicrobial medicines. The aim of this study was to investigate the antimicrobial prescribing practices in the paediatric medical ward at Mahalapye District Hospital (MDH) in Botswana and to determine whether antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) measures were being implemented at the hospital. Methods A cross-sectional, descriptive, mixed methods, observational approach was taken in this study. The study site was the paediatric medical ward (PMW) at MDH. Information about the antimicrobials prescribed for paediatric patients from January 2018 to December 2018 was collected from patients’ information files and compared to national antimicrobial prescribing guidelines to determine prescribers’ adherence. Qualitative semi-structured interviews were conducted with members of staff at MDH to determine whether antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) measures were adopted at the hospital. Results A total of 278 patients were included in this study, 12 of these were admitted twice during the study period. In total 290 admissions were analysed, with 659 antimicrobial medicines prescribed. The most common diagnoses were pneumonia (36.9%), acute gastroenteritis (20.7%), upper respiratory tract infections (3.4%), and bronchiolitis (3.1%). The most prescribed antimicrobials were ampicillin (21.4%), gentamicin (21.2%), and cefotaxime (8.3%). Adherence to guidelines was relatively good, with 82.7% of antimicrobials prescribed for the patients in the study having been prescribed in compliance with the national prescribing guidelines. The semi-structured interviews highlighted the fact that staff knew about AMS and AMR in general, however awareness of an AMS committee at MDH varied. The AMS committee was a multidisciplinary committee, which was a subcommittee of the Drugs and Therapeutics Committee (DTC). Discussion and Conclusion The results suggest that adherence to prescribing guidelines was relatively high compared to other paediatric antimicrobial utilisation studies in African countries. Prescribing of antimicrobial medicines was consistent with other African countries. The long period of time that it takes for microbiological test results to become available means that most prescribers rely on empirical prescribing. The antimicrobial committee is a multidisciplinary committee with defined roles for its members, consistent with international guidelines for implementing an AMS committee at a hospital. , Thesis (MPharm) -- Faculty of Pharmacy, Pharmacy, 2022
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- Date Issued: 2022-04-06
Rainwater and alternative potable water microbial water quality and DRM implications in Makana Local Municipality
- Authors: Nhokodi, Tererai
- Date: 2022-04-06
- Subjects: Uncatalogued
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/232227 , vital:49973
- Description: Thesis (MSc (Pharm)) -- Faculty of Pharmacy, Pharmacy, 2022
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- Date Issued: 2022-04-06
Stock market volatility during times of crisis: a comparative analysis of the conditional volatilities of JSE stock indices during the 2007/08 global financial crisis and COVID-19
- Authors: Wang, Zixiao
- Date: 2022-04-06
- Subjects: Stock exchanges , Johannesburg Stock Exchange , Global Financial Crisis, 2008-2009 , COVID-19 (Disease) Economic aspects , Economic forecasting , Stock exchanges and current events , GARCH model
- Language: English
- Type: Academic theses , Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/284603 , vital:56078
- Description: This research analyses the comparative behaviour of stock market volatility during two crises. The goal of this research is to determine whether assumed cyclical and defensive sectors have either retained or revealed their expected properties during both the Global Financial Crisis (GFC) and COVID-19 by analysing sectoral volatility amid these two crises. Understanding how volatility changes amid crises helps to determine whether the volatility assumptions of diversified investment portfolios for both defensive and cyclical sectors still held given the different causes of each crisis. In turn, this knowledge can assist with risk management and portfolio allocation in stock market investments. The study can also contribute towards the enhancement of financial markets’ resistance against systemic risks through portfolio diversification, and aid government decision-making targeted at tackling the weaknesses of different economic sectors especially in times of overall economic weakness. This research makes use of the GARCH model to analyse a group of daily time series that consists of eleven sectoral indices and one benchmark index, all based on the South African stock markets. These observed series are categorised into two full sample periods, one designated to the Global Financial Crisis (January 2006 to May 2009) and the other for COVID-19 (January 2018 to May 2021). These are further divided into two sets of sub-sample periods, each made up of a pre-crisis and during-crisis. Furthermore, the dummy variables representing the occurrence of structural breaks are inserted into the full sample periods’ conditional variance equations. This is aimed at capturing the asymmetrical impact of the crises themselves on all observed series. Based on the movement of volatility persistency from pre-crisis to during-crisis for both crises, the results show that, firstly, Health Care and Consumer Goods are considered defensive Sectors. Secondly, Banks, Basic Materials, Chemicals, Telecommunications, and Financials are considered cyclical Sectors. Thirdly, Automobiles & Parts, Consumer Services, and Technology are considered indeterminable Sectors due to the inconsistent behaviour of these sectors’ volatility persistency throughout the sub-sample periods of both crises. Overall, according to the average volatility persistency, the observed series for COVID-19’s full sample period are generally less volatile than those of the GFC. However, the sub-sample periods suggest that the observed series for both pre-crisis and during-crisis periods of COVID-19 are more volatile than those same sub-samples of the Global Financial Crisis. Being able to analyse the characteristics of stock market sectors is crucial for risk management and optimal portfolio allocation of stock market investments. This can be achieved through portfolio diversification by investing in a variety of stocks, both cyclical and defensive, and adjusted over time based the needs of stock market investors. Diversified portfolios do not only serve the interests of individual investors, but can also enhance the financial markets’ overall resistance against systemic risks. , Thesis (MCom) -- Faculty of Commerce, Economics and Economic History, 2022
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- Date Issued: 2022-04-06
The impact of urban gardening on household food security: evidence from Makhanda East, Eastern Cape Province, South Africa
- Authors: Bruwer, Guillaume Marcel Xavier
- Date: 2022-04-06
- Subjects: Food security South Africa Makhanda , Urban agriculture South Africa Makhanda , Urban gardening South Africa Makhanda , Sustainable development South Africa Makhanda , South Africa Economic conditions , Subsistence farming South Africa Makhanda , Economic impact analysis South Africa Makhanda , Propensity Score Matching (PSM)
- Language: English
- Type: Academic theses , Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/263575 , vital:53640
- Description: Urban gardening in townships is a common coping strategy employed by poor inhabitants to improve food security, earn income through sales, and generate cost-savings through home consumption of fresh produce. Food security is a cornerstone of human development and welfare, and the achievement thereof remains a global challenge. The majority of academic research and policy documentation traditionally positions food insecurity as a rural phenomenon. However, recent trends point to an increase in food insecurity in urban areas, particularly in low-income areas such as townships. In South Africa, rapid urbanization has led to burgeoning townships and rapidly expanding low-income informal settlements characterised by poverty, unemployment, and food insecurity. Research concerned with the role that urban agricultural production plays in contributing to the food security of poor households is scarce and not well understood. This research, therefore, aimed to contribute to the limited research which specifically examines urban food security, and the role urban agriculture play in the achievement of household food security. The study employed collective action theory and utility theory to firstly provides an in-depth examination of the determinants of participation in urban gardening using Probit regression modeling. The second research objective was to perform an impact evaluation of participation in urban gardening on selected household food security indicators including Household Dietary Diversity Scores (HDDS), the Household Hunger Scale (HHS) and the Coping Strategy Index (CSI) using Propensity Score Matching (PSM). Purposive and snowball sampling methods were employed to obtain a sample of 60 urban gardeners and a control group of 55 non-gardening households from Extension 6, 7 and 10 townships as well as Joza Location in Makhanda East, Eastern Cape Province. Households were surveyed using a structured household food security questionnaire. A focus group discussion was held with the Linomtha Community Garden members and key informant interviews were undertaken with important stakeholders such as the local extension officers. Descriptive analysis revealed that urban gardening households (UGs) had older household heads who were less educated, and that land and water availability were the dominant constraints to increases in agricultural production. Results from the probit and average marginal effects models showed that the likelihood of participation significantly increased when household unemployment and dependency increased and that households who were engaged in off-farm economic activity were more likely to participate in urban gardening. The impact evaluation was performed using PSM and Average Treatment Effect on the Treated (ATT). Analysis illustrated that participation in urban gardening does significantly reduce both the full CSI and Reduced CSI. Thus, participation in urban gardening improves the food security of participating households by significantly reducing the frequency of participating households (UGs) applying undesirable coping strategies such as sending children elsewhere other than the household, borrowing food from other households and reducing the number of meals eaten in a day due to food shortages. This study posits that urban gardening alone will not eradicate the rampant food insecurity and poverty which pervades in South Africa’s townships. However, urban gardening participation does contribute to the construction of a sustainable, urban livelihood by reducing the number and severity of the undesirable coping strategies that food insecure households employ by providing some nutritious produce as well improved social capital through gardening networks and supporting institutions. It is recommended that policy makers, at a national and municipal level, need to create a clearer directive for the integration of urban food production into the urban food marketplace thus increasing access to income generating channels for small-scale home, and community gardeners. Co-operation between private and public institutions for food security and urban gardeners needs to be fostered and awareness of opportunities to participate in urban gardens needs to be improved. Central to the developmental challenges that rapid increases in urbanization and food insecurity in poor urban areas, is the need for national and local governments to improve access to economic opportunities in township areas - both in urban agriculture and in other, skills intensive sectors. , Thesis (MEcon) -- Faculty of Commerce, Economics and Economic History, 2022
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- Date Issued: 2022-04-06
Transfer pricing: an analysis of legislation in the southern African Customs Union
- Authors: Patel, Nabil Ahmed
- Date: 2022-04-06
- Subjects: Transfer pricing
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/241482 , vital:50943
- Description: Transfer pricing is defined as the setting of the price for goods sold and services rendered between related entities. For example, if a subsidiary company sells goods or renders services to its holding company or a sister company, the price charged is referred to as the transfer price. Transfer pricing can be used to manipulate profits and facilitate tax evasion. Therefore, it is important that countries enact transfer pricing legislation to prevent this. The United Nations (UN) and Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) guideline documents form the basis for most global legislation and conventions dealing with transfer pricing. The over-arching goal of this research was to investigate whether transfer pricing legislation in the Southern African Customs Union (SACU) aligns between SACU countries and with the OECD Guidelines and the UN Manual. The research applied a legal interpretive doctrinal research methodology and a qualitative research method. The data comprised primary legislation in the SACU countries, transfer pricing guidelines issued by revenue authorities in the SACU, OECD Guidelines, the UN Manual and journal articles. It was found in this study that certain aspects of transfer pricing legislation in the SACU are not fully aligned to each other and to the OECD Guidelines and the UN Manual. This study proposed recommendations to improve transfer pricing legislation in the SACU. These improvements include the introduction of transfer pricing legislation in Eswatini and Lesotho, and updating transfer pricing legislation in Namibia and South Africa in terms of the latest versions of the OECD Guidelines and the UN Manual. , Thesis (MCom) -- Faculty of Commerce, Accounting, 2022
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- Date Issued: 2022-04-06