Ethnicity, conflict and the developmental state in Rwanda
- Authors: Muleya, Emmison
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Rwanda -- Politics and government -- 1994- Rwanda -- Politics and government -- 1962-1994 Rwanda -- Economic conditions
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD (Development Studies)
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/10083 , vital:35334
- Description: Socioeconomic development is a crucial means of improving standards of living and increasing the incomes of developing countries. This study is premised upon the assumption that the concepts of the developmental state and socioeconomic development are inextricably interrelated. The concept of a developmental state has gained a significant amount of traction in both academic and non-academic circles in recent times. This study took the form of a case study of Rwanda and its developmental trajectory since the country gained independence in 1962. By adopting a historical approach, this study determined that the factors which continue to retard socioeconomic development in post-colonial and post-genocide Rwanda are rooted in a lingering colonial legacy. Although Rwanda has achieved a significant degree of socioeconomic development since 1994, the sustainability of the nascent developmental state which appears to be emerging could still be undermined by ethnic divisions. Accordingly, it was recommended on the basis of the findings of this study that the Rwandan state and its development partners should pursue transformative socioeconomic policies which ensure an equitable distribution of socioeconomic resources, in order to facilitate the creation of an enabling environment for local entrepreneurs and a reduction of dependence upon foreign aid through the effective mobilisation of domestic resources.
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Evaluating selected enterprises for sustainable social development in South Africa :|ba case study of Buffalo City Municipality, Eastern Cape
- Authors: Kajiita, Robert Mutemi
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Social entrepreneurship Social responsibility of business Nonprofit organizations -- Management
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/10829 , vital:35825
- Description: Globally, countries, institutions, and organizations are investing time, resources, and human capital on finding best solutions to address poverty, inequality and unemployment; and importantly on achieving sustainable development. This study sought to investigate how social enterprises in Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality (BCMM) contribute to sustainable social development within the municipality and the country at large. The study endeavoured to answer the following research questions: what is the knowledge level among the selected stakeholders on social enterprise in BCMM? What is the scope, application, and sustainability of selected social enterprises in BCMM? What is the contribution of selected social enterprises in social development in BCMM? What are the bottlenecks associated with the application of social entrepreneurship in BCMM? These questions were answered through mixed methods approaches and techniques, where both qualitative and quantitative data was collected and analysed. The data was collected through in-depth interviews (key informant technique) and a min-survey which was administered to users of the social enterprises. Qualitative data was analysed thematically, while quantitative data was statistically analysed with help of SPSS software. The interpretation of the findings was premised on pragmatic and transformative paradigms. The study further used theoretical lenses such as empowerment theory, capability approach and positive theory of social enterprise to support and explain the findings. The main findings showed that: the selected stakeholders conceptualized social enterprises through the African lens of communal living; the social enterprises widely provided their services across a range of sectors and geographical locations; the social enterprises had direct and indirect contribution to socio-economic development in BCMM. This was specifically through provision of employment, training and skill development among others; the future of social enterprises in the country is bright as many sectors presented opportunities for social investment; and social enterprises face financial constraints, lack of skills in the sector, and competition from the mainstream market. The recommendations from this study address government entities, social services providers and practitioners, social enterprises, and researchers on pertinent endeavours to improve the growth and development of social enterprises. The study concludes that social enterprises are: vital vehicles of socio-economic development, more especially for the marginalized segment of the populations; tools for reducing inequality; platforms for innovations, community participation and conduits of empowerment interventions. Thus, social enterprises play dynamic role and presents potential for capable sustainable social development in the local communities and the South African community at large.
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Evaluation and identification of microbial contaminants in polyherbal medicines used for the treatment of tuberculosis in Amathole District Municipality, Eastern Cape Province, South Africa
- Authors: Famewo, Elizabeth Bosede
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Tuberculosis -- Treatment -- South Africa Mycobacterial diseases -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Medicinal plants -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/9680 , vital:34818
- Description: Tuberculosis is caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis. The emergence of drug-resistant strains of this organism has become a global public health problem. In the continuing search for effective treatment, polyherbal medicines offer a great hope in the development of alternative drugs for the treatment of tuberculosis. The use of herbal formulations for therapeutic purposes has significantly increased in the developed and developing countries because of their curative property, less toxicity and minimal side effects. However, there is little information on their safety and effectiveness in the literature. To address this, polyherbal medicines used for the treatment of tuberculosis in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa were evaluated. Ethno-medicinal survey was conducted through semi-structured questionnaires coupled with informal conversations with the herbal sellers in five communities in the study area. Bacterial and fungal DNA was extracted from the polyherbal medicines purchased. A fragment of the bacterial 16S rRNA gene and internal transcribed spacer region of the fungal rRNA operon were amplified with universal primers 27F and 518R, and ITS1 and ITS4 respectively. Following standard procedures, the amplicons were finally run on Illumina’s MiSeq platform. Furthermore, the remedies were screened against Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37Rv using Middlebrook 7H9 media and MGIT BACTEC 960 system. Agar dilution method was used to determine the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of the remedies against eight bacteria and three fungi isolates. The herbal preparations were assayed for their toxicity using hatchability success and larval mortality of Artemia salina Leach. Finally, their nutritive properties were analysed using an inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometer for mineral analysis while the vitamins were determined using standardized methods A total of nine polyherbal preparations were collected. The herbs used for the preparation of these remedies belong to 20 families. Apiaceae [5(25 percent)] was the most prominent plant family used, followed by Liliaceae [4(20 percent)], Strychnaceae [4(20 percent)], Rutaceae [4(20 percent)] and Hypoxidaceae [3(15 percent)]. The two most frequently used plants were Allium sativum L. (Liliaceae) and Strychnos decussata (Pappe) Gilg. (Strychnaceae). Rhizomes was the most common parts used, followed by the roots and barks. The herbal medicines were prepared mainly by infusion and decoction. The presences of pathogenic and non-pathogenic bacteria were identified in the polyherbal medicines. Generally, the most common bacteria identified from the samples were Bacillus sp., Enterobacter sp., Klebsiella sp., Rahnella sp., Paenibacillus sp., Clostridium sp. and Pantoea sp. The predominant mycoflora obtained belongs to different genera or species of fungi; these include Alternaria, Candida, Ramularia, Cladosporium, Penicillium, Aspergillus and Malassezia. The susceptibility testing revealed that all the remedies contain anti-tubercular activity against M. tuberculosis H37Rv at concentrations below 50 ug/ml. Seven of the polyherbal preparations showed activity at concentrations below 25 ug/ml. The MIC values exhibited inhibitory activity at 1.562 μg/ml. However, isoniazid showed more inhibitory activity against M. tuberculosis at 0.05 μg/ml when compared to the polyherbal remedies. The inhibitory activity of the polyherbal medicines based on the overall MIC revealed that Hogsback first site (HBfs) and Fort Beaufort (FB) remedies were the most active remedies against the bacterial isolates at the concentration of 2.5 mg/mL. Among the nine herbal formulations, only King Williams Town site A (KWTa) remedy showed activity against Aspergillus niger and Aspergillus fumigatus with the MIC valve of 2.5 mg/mL. While King Williams Town site C (KWTc) and Hogsback third site (HBts) had the highest activity at 1.25 mg/mL against Candida albicans, the remaining remedies were active at 2.5 mg/mL. The percentage hatchability of 44.42 percent, 42.96 percent and 39.70 percent were observed in A. salina cysts incubated with herbal preparations from KWTa, HBfs and HBts respectively. The hatching success of the cysts in these remedies was significantly higher than the positive control (nystatin) and the negative control (sea water) at p < 0.05. The mortality of A. salina nauplii incubated in Alice (AL), King Williams Town site B (KWTb) and KWTc remedies were significantly higher than when larvae were incubated in both controls. Based on Meyer’s index, the LD50 of each polyherbal medicine was between 2.9 and 4.0 mg/ml, the LD50 values greater than 1 mg/ml, an indication that they are not toxic. The polyherbal preparations were found to be rich in vitamins and mineral nutrients. Calcium was the highest macronutrient detected while the lowest nutrient was phosphorus. Iron was the highest micronutrient in the majority of the polyherbal preparations while the lowest value was recorded for copper. Vitamin C was absent in the herbal preparations while vitamin A and E were detected. This study provides significant ethno-medicinal information on polyherbal medicines used for the treatment of TB in the study area. The presence of the identified bacteria and fungi in the herbal formulations is a cause for concern. However, the ability of the remedies to possess activity against Mycobacterium tuberculosis and other pathogenic microorganisms associated with tuberculosis infection makes them potential sources of new antimycobacterial agents. Also, they are rich sources of mineral nutrients, and are as well non-toxic, thus, they are safe for consumption. In view of their anti-tubercular properties, this study has provided a better understanding of the reasons why TB-patients make use of these polyherbal formulations. Also, the study supports the folkloric use of polyherbal medicines in the treatment of tuberculosis in the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa.
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Examination of the capacity of Limpopo water services authorities in providing access to clean drinking water and decent sanitation
- Authors: Pilusa,Kgoshi Kgashane Lucas
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Municipal water supply Sanitation, Rural
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , D.Admin
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/13932 , vital:39728
- Description: This study analysed the capacity of Limpopo Water Services Authorities in providing access to clean drinking water and decent sanitation. The study raised issues of the state of access to clean drinkable water and decent sanitation through the prism of the municipality and the community. Arguably, the provision of water and sanitation services collapsed, at the level of local government, during the Jacob Zuma administration, because of the escalation of violent service delivery protests due to poor administration and management. It was discovered that all Water Services Authorities owe the Department of Water Affairs exorbitant amounts of money, well into the range of millions of Rands. This prompted the Water Boards to issue threats that they would limit the provision of bulk water. Such austerity measures compromised citizens who regularly pay for the services provided; hence, it sparked violent protests. One of the major drawbacks of the current institutional arrangements arose from the overlapping mandates of the Department of Water Affairs, Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Water Services Authorities, Local Municipalities and the Department of Human Settlements. Consequently, the structural design of the intergovernmental system should enforce synergy between all water and sanitation units. The reports produced by all units must be scrutinised, debated and followed through. The study was anchored in a qualitative research design, grounded in the descriptive approach. Interviews were conducted to acquire information from politicians, administrators and community members. It was discovered that there were no skilled personnel in Water Services Authorities and Water Service Providers and, as such, institutional capacity was in disarray. More importantly, during the interviews conducted for this study, it surfaced that financial mismanagement in all municipalities is conspicuously unacceptable, especially unauthorised, irregular and fruitless expenditures. These situations prevailed under the supervision of the well-established oversight institutions that were tasked to enhance the monitoring and evaluation for good governance, such as The Auditor General of South Africa, the Human Rights Commission and the Public Protector. Professionalism and quality performance remain at a low point, with no improvement in service provision. Therefore, radical enforcement of monitoring and evaluation through Auditor General of South Africa, Human Rights Commission and Public Protector, amongst others, is critical to any attempt to disrupt the status v quo. In addition, the appointment of the heads of these oversight institutions must be removed from the Presidency and be made by the Chief Justice. The encounters confronting Water Services Authorities and Water Service Providers are complex and may not be resolved by the government alone, without the participation of the private sector and other actors such as Civil Society Organisations, the business community and public entities. Therefore, an area for further research could be an examination of attempts to introduce effective integrated water and sanitation governance structures, and monitoring and evaluation mechanisms, under robust public scrutiny in order to inform immediate and long-term interventions.
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Examinee invariant condition of test score equating : the case of school certificate examination in computer studies for examinees across rural and urban areas of selected secondary schools in Malawi
- Authors: Phiri, Gerson Mutala
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Educational tests and measurements -- Malawi Computer studies -- Malawi -- Examinations Malawi School Certificate of Education
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/8507 , vital:32853
- Description: This study examined the invariant condition of equating test scores of examinees for the Malawi School Certificate of Education (MSCE) Computer Studies test across rural and urban areas of Zomba District in Malawi. Equating of test scores to create comparable and interchangeable scores in assessment is increasingly becoming popular to most examining bodies. However, the Malawi National Examinations Board (MANEB) and many other examining bodies in Africa and Europe do not embrace test score equating in their assessment systems. The consequences of not equating test scores have not been clearly documented. Furthermore, there are no proper equating designs for some agencies to employ because they administer tests annually to different examinee' populations and they disclose all items after each administration. Therefore, the study sought to establish whether the invariant condition of equating test scores of examinees holds for the Malawi School Certificate of Education (MSCE) Computer Studies test across rural and urban areas of Zomba District in Malawi. Data were collected through two Computer Studies tests which were administered to a sample of rural and urban examinees. The data were analysed using means, standard deviations, T-tests and Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS). The study revealed that score distributions and test difficulties were similar across test forms signifying that test score equating is necessary. The classification of examinees into rural and urban geographical areas across the test forms were different before score equating, but similar after score equating. The equating of scores for the two sub-populations of rural and urban examinees displayed similarities in their Standard Error of Equating (SEE) values but they were not the same. The equated scores for rural examinees displayed more equating errors than the equated scores of urban examinees, indicating a better performance in Computer Studies by urban examinees than the performance of rural examinees. The study further revealed that equating of test scores was necessary because it was almost impossible to construct multiple forms of a test that were completely parallel. Even though test developers use the same test specifications to develop test items and make every effort to develop items in one test form as similar as possible to the items in another test form, the study has shown that there is no guarantee that the difficulty levels of the items would be the same. Among the many recommendations made, one major one is that the Malawi National Examinations Board (MANEB) should embrace the practice of equating test scores to improve fairness of decisions which are made on examination results.
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Examining factors influencing the academic performance of grade 12 learners in English language : a study of four schools in the Oshikoto Region of Namibia
- Authors: Limene, Tobias
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: English language -- Study and teaching -- Namibia Teachers -- Training of -- Nambia Language and education -- Namibia
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/9566 , vital:34792
- Description: This study examined factors that influence the academic performance of Grade 12 learners in English Language (L 2) in the Oshikoto Region. The theoretical framework that underpinned and guided the present study was the Systems Theory of von Bertalanffy (1930), supplemented and complemented by the School Context Model of Bascia (2014). These helped me to understand how the school context shapes core processes of teaching and learning. The study sample consisted of four principals, eight parents, eight teachers and thirty two learners who were purposively sampled from four selected secondary schools. The study was anchored in the pragmatic paradigm and it adopted the mixed methods research approach. Data collection instruments consisted of questionnaires, semi-structured interviews and focus group discussions. Major findings were that, both Grade 12 English Language (L 2) teachers and learners lack English Language proficiency. This was due to lack of exposure to the English Language. The study also noted lack of learning materials in both school and the home. Major recommendations were that schools (principals) should expose both teachers and learners to English Language by coming up with policies that make it mandatory for teachers and learners to use English while at school. Teachers should also actively involve learners in their learning by using methods such as debates and drama. The study also recommended that the Ministry of Education, schools and parents work together to provide adequate reading materials for learners. For future research, the study recommended an in-depth qualitative study to test the findings of the present study.
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Farmers' vulnerability to climate change and variability and adaptation strategies : a case study of commercial tobacco farmers in Zimbabwe
- Authors: Nyathi, Confidence G
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Climatic changes Global environmental change
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/9111 , vital:34269
- Description: The fast track land reform program (FTRLP) of 2000 in Zimbabwe resulted in a dynamic change of Zimbabwe’s agricultural landscape. It resulted in the conversion of white owned commercial farms into resettlement models A1 and A2. Model A1 was intended to decongest communal areas and was targeted at land-constrained farmers in communal areas. Model A2 on the other hand was a commercial settlement scheme comprising small, medium and large scale commercial settlement, intended to create a cadre of black commercial farmers. This model was in principle, targeted at any Zimbabwean citizen who could prove farming experience and/or resource availability and was based on the concept of full cost recovery from the beneficiary (Musemwa, 2011) This study looked at the demographic that constitutes of commercial tobacco farmers, in Zimbabwe after the FTLRP, how they are affected by climate change and variability and how they adapt to these climate extremes; in particular, their uptake of crop insurance. The study was quantitative and utilised a structured pre-coded questionnaire to interview 158 farmers that are into commercial tobacco farming in Manicaland, Mashonaland Central, Mashonaland West and Mashonaland East Provinces of Zimbabwe. The focus was on two central themes. The first was an investigation of the commercial tobacco farmers’ vulnerability to climate change and variability in Zimbabwe. The second theme analysed the factors influencing the farmers’ adoption of crop insurance and the challenges faced by both the farmers and insurance companies in its adoption. Three approaches were used to address the above objectives. Firstly to analyze the vulnerability of commercial tobacco farmers to climate change and variability, the integrated vulnerability assessment approach using vulnerability indicators from four tobacco producing provinces in Zimbabwe was used. The vulnerability indicators used included a series of different socio-economic, institutional and biophysical attributes which were further categorized into three classes, based on the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s (IPCC 2001) definition of vulnerability, which consists of adaptive capacity, sensitivity and exposure. The LV Index and LVI-IPCC Index (Ms Excel) were then used to determine the farmer’s vulnerability index. Secondly, descriptive statistics were used to determine the manner in which farmers have been adapting to climate change and variability and lastly, the study used the binary logistic regression model to determine factors that influence the adoption of crop insurance by these farmers. The results from the analysis show that the net effect of exposure, sensitivity and adaptive capacity is moderate for the provinces of Mashonaland East, Mashonaland Central, Mashonaland West and Manicaland. Through the LVI Index and LVI-IPCC index, the study found indices of 0.566 and 0.100 respectively showing that the commercial farmers in these provinces are moderately vulnerable to the effects of climate change and variability. The factors that contributed the most to this vulnerability were aspects of finance, knowledge and skills, support services, and the state of the environment. In terms of adaptation, the majority of farmers indicated that they were aware of climate change and were aware of increased climate variability and had observed an increase in temperature and rainfall variability. The different ways in which the farmers adapted included, off-farm income, enterprise diversification, irrigation, crop rotation, conservation tillage practices, establishing woodlots and using alternative fuel for curing such as coal. The binary logistic regression model showed that the factors that were significant with a positive effect on the uptake of crop insurance are; subscription to contract farming which was the major determinant, access to crop insurance information, farm tenure and area under tobacco. Factors that had a significant but negative effect, and led to a reduction in the uptake of crop insurance were level of education, perception of crop insurance premiums and enterprise diversification. The farmers were found to be highly diversified either with off-farm income, crop diversification and or enterprise diversification. The study recommended that the farmers should promote sustainable development through their production activities and adaptation strategies adopted to increase their resilience to climate change and variability. Strengthening of social networks and institutional capacities was also recommended to; increase bargaining power, for information dissemination and provision of technical support and extension services to enable the farmers to take on appropriate measues to reduce their vulnerability. In terms of crop insurance uptake, the study recommended improvement in the dialogue between the farmers and insurance companies, and periodic training and education of farmers to improve knowledge and encourage uptake.
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Implementation of programmes for maintaining care and safety of learners in secondary schools in the Graaff Reinet education district
- Authors: Bilatyi, Nkosana Carlon
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Schools -- Security measures -- Eastern Cape School environment -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/9379 , vital:34339
- Description: Care and safety of learners refers to the behavioral practices which protect children from danger, risks and injuries. It also includes environment that is free from violence since where there is no fear perceived, there is reverence for the school and its disciplinary measures (Hernandez & Seem, 2004; Marotz, Cross, Rush, 2005; Mathe, 2008; Chukwu, 2008). Schools should have positive environment which allows members of staff, learners and guests to freely interact without threats or fear. Learners and staff should feel psychologically, physically and emotionally safe and secure (Dwyer & Osher, 2000; Tabancali &Bektas, 2009; Butcher& Manning 2005). Consequently, care and safety of learners can also be viewed in a more practical and management oriented way. According to Hull (2010) care and safety of learners in a management oriented way includes, maintenance of school buildings and grounds, care of facilities, furniture and equipment with spacious corridors that allow free flow and emergency movement to prevent illness and death. Classes should accommodate the required educator-learner ratio. The playgrounds are reduced to limited space to ensure that learners are visible and are controllable. Moreover provision of care and safety of learners includes school culture and the appropriate training of educators as well as school staff who should respond to threats and hazards. It also includes addressing the range of crisis the school can face such as death and natural disasters (Phaneuf, 2009). Reeves, Nickerson, Conolly-Wilson, Suson, Lazzaro, Jimerson, and Pesce (2012) contend that the educators on duty should provide learners with safety precautions to guard against the possibility of single learner slipping away and suffering injuries (Dilion, 2007). According to Mogopodi, Banyaladzi & Petros (2015) facilities like laboratories should be suitable for all learners because they help to transform theoretical education into practice making learning effective. Astor, Guerra, Van Acker (2010) suggest that provision of care and safety for learners is among the most essential components for achieving effective teaching and learning. This will only be achieved by putting in place proper care and safety programmes and ensuring that they are effectively implemented (Netshitahame, & Vollenhoven, 2002, Astor et.al.2010).
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Implementation of strategies used to manage conflict between students and staff in secondary schools in Malawi : towards a comprehensive framework
- Authors: Zimpita, Valentino Tipitana
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Conflict management Conflict management -- Study and teaching Violence -- Prevention
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/9412 , vital:34348
- Description: The study aimed at examining how strategies used to manage conflict between students and staff in secondary schools in Malawi were implemented. This was after it had been noted that conflicts in secondary schools in Malawi usually ended in violence. The study employed a pragmatic research paradigm. In this paradigm, a researcher employs mixed methods approach which collects both quantitative and qualitative data. Using a concurrent triangulation mixed method design, the two types of data were collected concurrently and analysed simultaneously. Study participants were head teachers, teachers, students, education officials and parents. Most of the teachers were randomly sampled while a few other teachers, the head teachers, the education officials and the parents were purposefully sampled. The study found that there were various causes of conflict in secondary schools in Malawi which included misunderstanding of human rights, poor communication between students and staff, poor school management by head teachers and lack of students‘ involvement in decisions that concerned them. The study further found that conflict was in a way beneficial to schools as it was a learning point for both students and staff. However, such benefits were overshadowed by the many evils that violence brought such as disturbing teaching and learning. The study also found that there were two approaches in the way schools managed conflict; engagement of students and calling for police intervention. It transpired that on the overall, stakeholders were aware of different conflict management skills but they did not know how best to use them. In addition, it transpired that stakeholders were not comfortable with win-win approaches to conflict management. This was against a background that the stakeholders were involved in conflict management in different ways. It also came out clear that support to secondary schools in the management of conflict was at two levels; school level and system level. On the part of monitoring, it transpired that the mechanism which were there were ad hoc and they included inspection visits and the requirement that head teachers should always submit reports which could carry issues related to conflict. The study concluded that poorly managed conflicts which turned into violence were a menace to secondary schools in Malawi. In this regard, there was need to ensure effective conflict management in order to avoid violence. To achieve this, the study has made a number of recommendations. Among them, it has been recommended that schools should from time to time take stork of the likely causes of conflict and address them accordingly. It has also been recommended that schools should put in place mechanisms for ensuring two way communication so that students feel free to air out their concerns. At Ministry level, it has been recommended that the MoEST should take guidance and counselling seriously by among other things training teacher councillors and making the post an established one. It has also been recommended that the MoEST should make sure that head teachers, deputy head teachers, teachers, parents and even education officials are inducted in conflict management.
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Implementation of the school nutrition programme in selected high schools in KwaZulu-Natal Province : implications on learners' nutrition education
- Authors: Mafugu, Tafirenyika
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: School children -- Nutrition -- KwaZulu-Natal School children -- Food -- South Africa -- KwaZulu-Natal Child welfare -- South Africa -- KwaZulu-Natal
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/9637 , vital:34812
- Description: The study sought to: examine training, monitoring and support provided to NSNP stakeholders; establish what informs the procurement and preparation of the food; determine its nutritional value; identify challenges encountered in the implementation of the school nutritrition programme; and evaluate the implications of the NSNP on learners’ nutritional education in Pinetown district in South Africa. Underpinned by the pragmatic research paradigm, the study followed a mixed methods research approach which utilised a convergent parallel research design. A random sample of 108 learners and purposive samples of 32 different stakeholders participated in the study. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyse quantitative data, while qualitative data were categorised into themes which were presented in tables and text. The two forms of data were merged at the interpretation phase through triangulation of results. The study found that some of the key stakeholders of NSNP were not adequately supported and trained, and that monitoring was only done regularly by the teacher coordinators. District field officers lacked adequate expertise to train stakeholders. Food was prepared following a menu which was not updated in some schools, and food handlers in two schools could not understand quantities on the menu. The suppliers used the menu for procurement of food. The observed mean intakes per child per day for energy, protein, total fat, cholesterol, dietary fibre, vitamin K and sodium were significantly lower than the expected mean nutrient intakes, while the intakes of all other nutrients were not significantly different statistically, from the expected nutrient intakes. The intakes of all nutrients were below the minimum of 30 percent of RDA which was recommended by the Department of Basic Education. Fruits were rarely supplied. Nutritional education was not adequately taught across the curriculum and most respondents were not aware of basic nutritional principles. Training stakeholders and early payment of the suppliers could significantly improve learners’ benefit from the programme. The study’s proposed framework of implementation of the school nutrition programme recommends ways to improve the implementation process, including the incorporation of nutrition education into the Life Orientation curriculum to enhance good food choices that curb prevalent nutrient disorders among South Africans.
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Implementing values education as a vehicle to enhance moral regeneration among youths in secondary schools in Gokwe South District, Zimbabwe: towards a holistic framework
- Authors: Ndondo, Shepherd
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Values -- Study and teaching -- Zimbabwe Moral education
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/9423 , vital:34350
- Description: This study focused on the implementation of values education strategies in secondary schools in Gokwe South District in Zimbabwe. The study employed the interpretive paradigm and it used the qualitative approach and case study research design. Purposive sampling was used to select 34 participants who were rich informants and these included 1 District Schools Inspector, 3 School heads, 3 School counsellors, 3 Religious Studies teachers, 3 History teachers, 3 Arts and Culture teachers and 18 learners (6 from each school). Data were obtained through face to face interviews, focus groups and document analysis. The study revealed that most learners in these schools embodied ubuntu that shaped their behaviour. ln order to deal with elements of indiscipline, the schools adopted values education strategies which included Positive discipline, Guidance and Counselling, teaching of Religious Studies, Citizenship Education, teaching of Arts and Culture, and Parental Involvement which were implemented in the selected schools in different ways. Imparting values based knowledge to students is a commendable step, however, there were gaps that were noted in the implementation process. Some subjects like Citizenship Education existed on paper but not in practice in some schools, as students claimed ignorance of their existence. Although these subjects were supervised and supported by the District Schools Inspector (DSI) and the School heads, lack of funds and limited resources negatively affected their implementation. With regard to discipline procedures, it was noted that some teachers utilized corporal punishment, despite it being outlawed in the country, as stated in the Ministry of Education Sports and Culture Circular P.35 of 1999. It emerged that there was lack of qualified School counsellors, Arts and Culture teachers and inadequate Parental Involvement in values disciplines. It was also established that lack of financial resources constrained the implementation of values education strategies in that teachers could not go for staff development workshops. Notwithstanding the hindrances encountered, the study found that there were pockets of good practices in implementing values education. The study concluded that selected secondary schools used several strategies in values education which involved counselling misbehaving learners and involving parents when their children have behaviour problems. It was also revealed that members of the school community were playing different roles in the implementation process. The study recommended that there should be active participation of all members in positive disciplinary procedures so that values education strategies become effective.The study also recommended that teachers be trained in teaching values disciplines for effective implementation. Lastly, based on the findings of the study and literature, the researcher proposed an alternative model for implementing values education strategies that will hopefully contribute to the eradication of moral decadence among the youths.
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Incidence of porcine circovirus type 2 and porcine parvoviruses in swine herds of some communities in Eastern Cape, South Africa
- Authors: Afolabi, Kayode Olayinka
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Swine -- Diseases Swine -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/9691 , vital:34820
- Description: Porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2) is one of the swine pathogens of global economic importance. Since its first detection in early 1990s as the main etiologic agent of porcine multisystemic wasting syndrome (PMWS) and many other porcine circovirus-associated diseases (PCVAD), the virus has been extensively studied and has been found to be present in virtually all the pig producing countries of the world. As a viral pathogen that brings about clinical diseases aided by co-infecting pathogens, the involvement of many other viral agents including porcine parvoviruses (PPVs) have caught the attention of stakeholders worldwide. However, no surveillance study of the viral pathogens has been carried out in South Africa as there are little or no information on their prevalence in the swine herds of the country. This present study therefore aimed at detection and molecular characterization of PCV2 and PPVs in swine herds of some selected communities in Eastern Cape Province, South Africa. A total of 375 field samples were collected from seven commercial and communal farms from three District Municipalities of Eastern Cape, South Africa between 2015 and 2016. Structured questionnaires were also administered to each farm at the time of sample collection to obtain some important information relating to health status and farm management practices in the sampled farms. With the aid of conventional PCR method, 339 samples were initially screened for the presence of PCV2; positive amplicons were sequenced and obtained partial genomes of the virus were preliminarily analyzed. In order to obtain the complete genomes of the virus, four overlapping primer pairs were used to amplify the full-genome of PCV2 from the initial positive samples; amplified genomes were sequenced using the Sanger methods, sequenced PCV2 genomes were assembled and characterized. Furthermore, the prevalences of some designated PPVs in the sampled farms were obtained using 110 samples randomly selected from the previously archived samples and screened with 6 different primer pairs specific for the detection of 7 PPVs. All the amplified parvoviruses’ genomes were sequenced; their sequenced partial genomes were subsequently base-culled and analysed. The data obtained revealed that 54/339 (15.93 percent) samples from the swine herds were positive for PCV2; whereas the degree of occurrence of the viral pathogen as observed at farm level ranges from approximately 5.6 to 60 percent. The majority 15/17 (88 percent) of the analyzed partial sequences were found clustering with other PCV2b strains in the phylogenetic analysis. More interestingly, two other sequences obtained were also found clustering within PCV2d genotype in the initial screening and analysis. Furthermore, 15 complete PCV2 genomes were successfully amplified, sequenced and assembled. NJ and ML phylogenetic analysis of the complete ORF2 gene and full genomes unanimously showed 11 of the assembled genomes belonging to genotype PCV2b. Another 3 of the characterized sequences formed clade with other reference mutant PCV2b and PCV2b subtype 1C (PCV2d) strains from different parts of the world. The last sequence however, clustered with other reference strains belonging to PCV2 intermediate clade 2 (PCV2-IM2) recently identified in a global PCV2 strains phylogenetic analysis. Other genetic analyses including multiple sequence alignment and p-distance analysis also confirmed the outcomes of the phylogenetic analyses of the complete capsid gene and fullgenomes of the virus. On the other hand, the findings of the molecular profiling for PPVs showed that all the screened parvoviruses were present in the study area, having prevalence of 29.1 percent (PPV1), 21.8 percent (PPV2), 5.5 percent (PPV3), 43.6 percent (PPV4), 21.8 percent (PBo-likeV) and 44.6 percent for PBoV1 and PBoV2. Double infection of the screened PPVs was observed to be very rampant among the pigs as high as 20/110 (18.2 percent) for PPV2/PPV4 and PPV4/PBoV; followed by 19/110 (17.3 percent) of the samples for PPV1/PPV4 and PPV1/PBoV. Three of the viruses were found simultaneously in 19 of the screened samples representing 17.3 percent, whereas 8 (7.3 percent) samples were positive for four of the viruses. Phylogenetic analyses of PPV1, PPV2 and PBoVs 1 and 2 were conducted with two major clades homologous for each of them. This is the first report of PCV2 in swine herds of the Province and the first detection of PCV2b, PCV2d and PCV2-IM2 strains in South African swine herds. It follows the first reported case of PCV2a in an outbreak of porcine multisystemic wasting syndrome (PMWS) in Gauteng Province, South Africa over two decades ago. Also, this is the first major epidemiologic study on PPVs in the country following the initial case study of 1975. These findings confirmed the presence of the allimportant viral pathogens among pigs and also give preliminary insights into the possibility of co-infections of the pathogens in the studied area. This could however result in a serious large scale outbreak of devastating disease(s) associated with the viral pathogens, thereby ultimately resulting in huge economic losses if no appropriate measures are taken to effectively curb their spread across the country.
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Influence of trans-border trading activities on senior secondary school students' academic performance in economics in Ogun State, Nigeria
- Authors: Titus, Adesegun Benedict
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Smuggling -- Education (Secondary) Borderlands -- Nigeria
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/9659 , vital:34814
- Description: The study investigated the influence of transborder trading activities on senior secondary school students’ academic performance in economics in Ogun state, Nigeria. A descriptive survey research design involving 320 students that comprised males and females were selected through stratified random sampling technique. Two self-developed instruments were used: student questionnaire on transborder trading activities (SQTTA) with a Cronbach alpha index of 0.7845; and the economics achievement test (EAT) with a co-efficient index of r= 0.814. The results of the data collected were collated, coded, analyzed and interpreted through the use of descriptive research statistics of frequency, mean, percentages, and standard deviation while Step-wise regression analysis was used to test the hypotheses raised in the study, and the inferential statistics t-test was used to test the significant differences between the independent and dependent variables. The results revealed that there is a positive significant influence of smuggling on students’ academic performance in economics concepts (t=4.123; df =307, p<0.05) and a negative significant influence of school location on students’ academic performance in economics concepts (t=0.952; df=307, p>0.05). The study revealed that the most prevalent transborder trading activities like smuggling of used tyres, small firearms and fairly used clothes had negative influence on students’ academic performance. Based on these findings, discussions were focused on the involvement of students in trans-border trading activities and the location of schools, amongst others, which has no significant influence on students’ academic performance. However, it was recommended that schools should not be located near border areas in future.
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Inmate incarceration and rehabilitation : a cross sectional study of rehabilitation programmes and facilities in correctional centres in North Western Nigeria
- Authors: Amali, Sadiq Ewaoda
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Criminal -- Rehabilitation Prisoners -- Counseling of Prisoners -- Mental health services
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , Social Sciences
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/9984 , vital:35215
- Description: The study was conducted in Kano Central and Goron-Dutse prisons, North Western, Nigeria to determine the effectiveness of these correctional centres with regards to inmate rehabilitation. Both quantitative and qualitative collection was conducted concurrently and incorporated in the explanation of the results. This was achieved as the study empirically examined the experiences of convicted inmates and correctional officials in both correctional centres with a sample that compromised of both convicted male and female inmates as well as male and female correctional officials. A total of 250 questionnaires were administered to convicted inmates in Kano central and Goron-Dutse prisons. A sample size of 250 was determined using the sample size calculator at a confidence level of 95 percent, confidence interval of +/-5.97 percent, and with a population of 3488. Data for this study was generated from 250 respondents. Out of 250 respondents, questionnaires were administered to 140 inmates in Kano Central Prison and 110 questionnaires were administered to inmates in Goron Dutse Prison. The number of respondents in Kano Central Prisons is higher than that of Goron-Dutse Prison due to disparity in population of inmates. Also, 207 questionnaires were administered to correctional officials in Kano Central and Goron-Dutse prisons. A sample size of 207 was determined using the sample size calculator at a confidence interval of +/-5, confidence level of 95 percent and population of 449 correctional officials. Out of the 207 respondents, 107 questionnaires were administered to correctional officials in Kano Central Prison and 100 to correctional officials in Goron-Dutse Prison. The number of respondents in Kano Central Prison is higher than that of Goron-Dutse prison due to disparity in population of correctional officials. The selections were done using purposive sampling procedures. Rank, involvement in rehabilitation programmes were also used as criteria for selection of correctional officials as respondents. Furthermore, 28 correctional officials were selected purposively across the two correctional centres were interviewed. Thus, 14 correctional officials each were selected in Kano Central and Goron Dutse prisons using purposive sampling method. Thus, a total of 28 in-depth interviews were conducted in the study area. This study empirically probed into the factors mitigating against the effective rehabilitation of inmates. Therefore, against this background, this study involved an appraisal of rehabilitation programmes and facilities which was followed by an evaluation of inmates’ opinion of the correctional centre social setting and overall practices. Thus, inmate’s perceptions of correctional officials’ attitudes towards them and also its implication for re-integration principle was thoroughly appraised. The findings of this study were analyzed with the assistance of computer applications such as SPSS and atlas.ti.6. Some findings from this study revealed that only 15.7 percent of inmates in Kano Central prisons were satisfied with rehabilitation programmes, 37.3 percent were satisfied in Goron-Dutse prison while the majority of the inmates (88 percent) in Goron-Dutse prison stated that the relationship with correctional officials was cordial compared to 53.5 percent of the inmates in Kano Central prison. Also, data revealed that 64.2 percent of the inmates in Goron-Dutse Prison stated that medical attention was good and very good. The results also reveals that (58.9 percent) correctional officials stated that their relationship with inmates was very cordial compared to those of Goron-Dutse Prison (41.1 percent).Pearson Chi-square statistics showed that there was no statistical difference in correctional officials’ perceptions of the relationship with inmates between the two correctional centres (p.value>0.05). This study recommends that it is imperative for the Nigerian government to make more efforts with the provision of adequate rehabilitation programmes and facilities in the two correctional centres and correctional centres across the country as an exploration of existing literature reveals that most correctional centres in Nigeria lacked basic facilities for inmate rehabilitation as inmates were idle during incarceration.
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Institutions, Production and Marketing of maize in Zimbabwe. Case of Marondera District of Mashonaland East Province
- Authors: Mafuse, Never
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Food security Food supply
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/15687 , vital:40506
- Description: Food security situation in Zimbabwe is deteriorating despite the efforts made by the government for embarking on agrarian reforms in terms of redressing colonial imbalances and taking on the major trading investment risks. The government assured the resettled farmers that if they invest in maize production, they would not be stranded by lack of marketing services as the markets are liberalized. However, this market liberalization policy occurring in maize sector has resulted in A1 resettled farmers becoming more vulnerable to traders preying on their weaknesses as the policy is not living up to expectations and is failing to bring dramatic increases in agricultural growth. This may mean that sending children to school is a nightmare for those who depend on farming for educating their children, inadequate food in the home, unpaid loans and subsequent impoverishment. The resettled A1farmers will remain trapped in the poverty cycle as long as institutions are not corrected. The general aim of the study was to evaluate institutional factors influencing maize production and marketing by A1 resettled farmers of Marondera district in Mashonaland East province of Zimbabwe. Using a sample of 343 farmers randomly selected in Marondera District, different econometric models like Data envelopment Analysis, Cob Douglas, Binary logistic, and Tobit as well as descriptive statistics were used to analyse the data. Institutional variables were captured in two ways: as a dummy showing whether farmers have access to institutional variables and as a continuous variable indicating importance of institutions on maize production and marketing. The study found out that, most of the A1 farmers are old, with a mean age of 47 years and a maximum of 55 years of farming experience. It is also dominated by male farmers who are literate. Results also showed that most of A1 farmers from the sample are married and very few separated. These farmers sell most their maize and keep little for consumption though they are still using convectional farming methods. Most of the farmers from the sample generate their incomes from farming activities only and they have good access to market and production information as well as extension xvi messages through training .They however have poor access to financial credit and weak social capital as well as low contract farming. Results also indicated that A1 farmers pursue the formal supply chains than informal supply chains. It is noted that, A1 farmers participate in a number of markets that include agricultural inputs markets seed, fertilizers, chemicals.; credit markets which includes banks as well as labour markets which can in the form of (maricho). In terms production and marketing efficiency, the study found out that A1 farmers are technically, allocatively and economically inefficient. The maximum efficient score is 1 while the minimum score is 0.01 for both production and marketing stage. The mean scores for production stage are 0.195, 0.504 and 0.072 for technical, allocative and economic efficient respectively. The mean scores for marketing are 0.103, 0.688, and 0.068 for technical, allocative and economic efficiency respectively. Farmers are performing better at production stage than at marketing technically while there is better allocative and economic efficiency at marketing stage. Results for determinants of technical, allocative and economic efficiency at production stage showed that, cattle ownership, farming experience, access to financial credit and (member of farmer organisation) which was used as a proxy indicator for social capital ,access to information, contract farming, distance to input market ,area planted to maize and quantity of seed used influences marketing efficiency of A1 maize farmers in Marondera District. Access to credit, Access to market, distance to market, road infrastructure, farming experience and access to information influences technical, allocative and economic efficiency at marketing stage. Cooperative membership, road infrastructure, contractual farming arrangements, and access to financial credit and transport cost to market influence choice of marketing channel respectively. Finally results from the non linear cob Douglas reveals that, maize production is significantly influenced by contract with value chain actors, access to market xvii information, access to financial credit, total topdressing used , total basal fertilizer used, total herbicides used, and total area put under maize production. The results showed that, future of A1 resettled farmers depends on correcting the institutions which are of paramount importance for maize production and marketing. The study therefore recommended the government to improve institutional environment that has direct link with institutional innovations necessary for sustainable maize production and marketing. This can be done through correcting inefficiencies and ineffective institutions by creating and maintaining both environment and arrangement that will transform maize production and marketing systems to operate efficiently. The study presents policy options to address both production and marketing of maize arguing that new direction of production and marketing of maize depends on correcting dysfunctional institutions. Policy options include increasing A1 farmers access to financial credit by removing the stringent collateral requirements which are not attainable by most A1 farmers as their asset endowment is limited to non capital. Addressing imperfections in the input markets by improving the supply of chemical fertilisers and seed at affordable prices as this influences total area put under maize production. The other policy is for private companies and NGOs to offer contract farming to A1 maize farmers as this will help them to increase total area put under maize production, access to market, access to credit, and access to information and reduces long distances to purchase inputs. Introducing focused training to motivate resettled A1 farmers on formation farmer organisations as this assists in social capital which is an important asset in maize production and marketing.Improving road infrastructure by creating a fund that would be used to maintain the road rather waiting for DDF only.
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Laccase production by selected bacteria species isolated from some aquatic and terrestrial milieu of the Eastern Cape : applications in wastewater treatment
- Authors: Unuofin, John Onolame
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Laccase Sewage -- Purification -- Biological treatment Water -- Purification
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/9626 , vital:34810
- Description: Aromatic pollutants are a diverse group of chemicals which are continuously produced from industrialization, urbanization and sophistication in technological advancement. Pristine water source polluted by these chemicls makes the water unsafe for human consumption, and as well disrupts the trophic structure of the aquatic milieu. Physico-chemical treatment techniques employed so far have been accompanied by major drawbacks which have overriden the relative successes recorded, hence, greener, simpler and more efficient methods of pollutant transformation is imperative. The prospect of enzymatic treatment of pollutants has gradually been receiving growing attention in contemporary times due to the their environmental friendliness and production economic feasiblity. Laccase, a multicopper oxidase has heightened its appeal towards environmental and biotechnological applications due to its broad substrate specificity and its requirement of atmospheric molecular oxygen as a cosubstrate and the discharge of water as the byproduct. Hence, this present study was designed to evaluate the biotechnological potentials of laccases produced by some bacteria species from some aquatic biomes of the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa. The laccase-producing bacteria were isolated from selected environmental samples by selective enrichment using selective aromatic compounds as sole carbon source and subsequently, laccase-screening phenolic substrates. The laccase-producing bacteria were identified by molecular techniques as proteobacteria belonging to the following genera: Achromobacter, Bordetella, Citrobacter, Pseudomonas and Stenotrophomonas. Optimisation of laccase production in a submerged fermentation was by traditional and statistical methods, where four isolates (Hb9c; Achromobacter xylosoxidans HWN16, Hb16c; Bordetella bronchisepta HSO16, Berl11b2; Stenotrophomonas maltophilia BIJ16, Ie1c; Citrobacter freundii LLJ16) were evaluated for the fermentative production of laccase from lignocellulosic agroindustrial residues. Predictions from statistical optimisation showed that weakly acidic conditions (pH 5) and low agitation speed (100 rpm) were required for maximum laccase production from mandarin peelings (0.5 g/200 mL) and NaNO3 (0.25 g/200 mL) in Hb9c, maize stover (0.50 g/200 mL) and NaNO3 (0.050 g/200mL) in Berl11b2 while a lower agitation speed (50 rpm) was required for maximum laccase output from 2.0 g/200 mL maize stover and 0.050 g/200 mL KNO3 in Ie1c. However, 2.50 g/200 mL wheat bran, 0.050 g/200 mL yeast extract and 50 rpm agitiation under acidic conditions (pH3) yielded maximum laccase titres in Hb16c. Further characterisation of Hb9c and Ie1c laccase secretions portrayed their polyextremotolerant capacities. They were active at a broad range of tempertaure (0-90 degreesC); with optima at 70°C (Hb9c) and 60°C (Ie1c), pH (3-11); with optima at pH 6 (Ie1c) and pH 8 (Hb9c), respectively, and were equally thermo- and pH-stable. Their activities were either improved or left unabated by high concentrations of cations, detergents, and chloride. In addition, catalytic activities of Hb9c and Ie1c laccase secretions increased when they were preincubated with 2 – 20 percent of fluoride, a potent inhibitor. Consequently, a molecular perspective depicted the isolates to have multiple homologous laccase encoding genes. The enzymes were successfully immobilised on solid supports comprising gelatin and Na-alginate with a recovery of cca. 85 percent residual activity after 8 cycles of oprertional stability experiments. The immobilised laccases were remarkable in the decolourisation of synthetic dyes, albeit, free forms also elicited satisfactory performances. Ultimately, the application of free laccases in denim bleaching, individually or with a blend of a mediator, ABTS, showed that denim colours could be bleached without the need for chemical bleaching agents. The results obtained suggest the bacteria laccases produced from lignocellulosic wastes may serve as potent degraders of phenolic pollutants in water and, may also contribute to the bioeconomy and promote greener techniques for industrial applications.
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Livelihood and unemployment transitions : drivers and effects on welfare in Nigeria
- Authors: Fashogbon, Ayodele Emmanuel
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Social service -- Nigeria Social problems -- Nigeria Nigeria -- Social conditions
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/9176 , vital:34302
- Description: Hunger, unemployment and social crisis are increasing in Nigeria. Statistics supports it that most of the able-bodied youth, both male and female, are not in employment, school or training in Nigeria while poverty rate is as high as a decade ago. A number of research efforts have looked at the micro and macroeconomic paths of the problem with less attention on dynamism of unemployment vis-a-vis the labour market transition, hence this study. This study investigates dynamism of labour market by assessing pattern and transition in labour market and out of labour, as well as determining the effect size of households head’s unemployment on household welfare. To achieve this objective, the General Household Survey (GHS) panel data for 2010/211 and 2012/2013 for Nigeria was used coupled with panel regression analyses to identify determinants of transitions from unemployment to productive sectors, and determinants of transition from productive sectors to unemployment, as well as effect of unemployment on household welfare while controlling for potential endogeneity in unemployment. Across the productive sectors and between 2010 and 2013, the descriptive results of transition show that workforce in the services sector (68 percent) are the most persistent, followed by agriculture (59 percent) and least is mining and manufacturing (44 percent). Transition from nonemployment occurred the most to services sector (22 percent), followed by out-of-labour force (18 percent), agriculture (15 percent) and least to mining and manufacturing (5 percent). Further, the results show that there are both locations and gender differences in the extent of transitions in the labour market. The econometric analyses reveal that job search characteristics, age, educational levels, gender, family ties, locations and time significantly determine transition from unemployment to productive sectors (agriculture or non-agriculture). Likewise, job characteristics, demographic variables, social network, location and time significantly determine switch from one productive sector to another or to unemployment. Moreover, it explicitly reveals as well from the analysis that household head month of unemployment reduces household total consumption and food consumption by 6.4 percent with gender and sectorial differences. The study recommends a combined and swift intervention on three sides: one, there is a need to stimulate education either through scholarship, or adult education from both public and private sectors; two, need to create jobs for youth to reduce potential social and economic crisis; and lastly there is a need to provide social support either in terms of public workfare, skills for jobs and unemployment benefits.
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Macro-prudential banking regulation, interest rate spread and the conduct of monetary policy in South Africa
- Authors: Shayanewako,Varaidzo Batsirai
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Monetary policy Economic stabilization
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , D.Com
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/14093 , vital:39843
- Description: The joint implementation of macro-prudential regulatory and monetary policies is necessary for modern banking systems not only to achieve optimal interest rate spread but to cushion the economy against the catastrophic effects of systemic risk. Therefore, the understanding of the interconnection between macroprudential regulation, interest rate spread and monetary policy, supported with empirical evidence, enables economies to build health and sound financial systems and achieve desirable growth rates. Thus, this study utilises the Vector Error Correction (VEC) mechanism to empirically investigate the interconnection between macro-prudential regulation, interest rate spread and monetary policy in South Africa. Quarterly time series data for the period from 1994 to 2016 was employed with the New Keynesian Dynamic Stochastic General Equilibrium (NKDSGE) model as the framework for analysis. The findings of this study suggest that a negative relationship exists between interest rate spread, macro-prudential regulation and monetary policy in South Africa. Moreover, the systems equation provided evidence that a short run causality running from macroprudential regulation to monetary policy is prevalent in South Africa. The empirical model of the study was found to be desirable as evidence of no serial correlation, no ARCH effect and non-normality in residuals was detected. Evidence from this study further suggest that interest rate spread has a dampening effect on monetary policy, but in the long-run this effect seems reversible in South Africa. As a result, this study recommends that caution should be taken on the appropriate selection of measures of macro-prudential regulation and its tool-kit as it can be used to disguise the symptoms of a lax monetary policy. This implies that the South African Reserve Bank (SARB) should sternly supervise and regulate the extension of credit by commercial banks in line with its inflation targeting monetary policy rule in order to achieve financial stability and ensure optimal interest rate spread that can stimulate the economy to growth.
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Molecular characterization of streptococcus agalactiae isolated from pregnant women in the Eastern Cape, South Africa and Windhoek, Namibia and antibacterial activities of some medicinal plant extracts on the isolates
- Authors: Mukesi, Munyaradzi
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Streptococcus Medicinal plants Pregnant women
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/13034 , vital:39437
- Description: Streptococcus agalactiae (S. agalactiae) also known as group B Streptococcus (GBS) is one of the leading causes of bacterial morbidity and mortality among neonates worldwide. It is the cause of invasive Early Onset Disease (EOD), which occurs in the first 7 days of life and characterised by sepsis, pneumonia and meningitis and Late Onset Disease (LOD) occurring between 7 and 89 days of life. Late onset disease is characterised by meningitis and long term neurological sequelae such as cerebral palsy, hearing impairment and cognitive challenges. S. agalactiae does not only infect neonates, it also infects the elderly, immunocompromised individuals and pregnant and non-pregnant women, causing invasive disease. In the world, 10-40 percent of healthy women are rectally or vaginally colonised with GBS and they face the risk of passing it to their babies during the process of childbirth. During parturition, a GBS colonized pregnant woman transfers the bacterium to her new-born as the baby passes through the ruptured membrane, thus infecting the child. However, GBS has been reported to be transferred even without rupture of membranes. Once it infects the membranes, it is transferred into the amniotic fluid and subsequently infects the baby. It can be aspirated into the lungs causing pneumonia or it can infect the blood stream and disseminated round the body causing septicaemia, meningitis and other infections. Once in the neonate’s body, the bacteria is able to evade the immune system as the host immune system is not yet fully developed. Bacterial evasion of the immune system is enhanced by its various virulence factors which are deployed to help it escape the immune system. These include the polysaccharide capsule, haemolysin and the release of complement inactivating factors such C5a peptidase. The World Health Organisation (WHO) (2010) recommends universal screening of pregnant women to identify those colonised and who are at risk of passing the bacterium to their babies during birth. WHO also recommends identification of at risk women and providing Intrapartum Antibiotic Prophylaxis (IAP) using penicillin. However, problems arise in penicillin allergic women and while alternatives for IAP include erythromycin and clindamycin, there is increasing resistance to these drugs thereby limiting therapeutic options. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing is also not always possible in most resource constrained countries due to poor infrastructure, limited access to health care and the logistical problems in implementing the WHO guidelines. Alternative therapeutic options to GBS infection include developing new and potent antibiotics, development of a vaccine, use of medicinal plants and the use of bacteriophage therapy. While these look like better alternatives there is massive scientific work to be carried out to ensure proper characterisation and efficiency of such alternatives. This process should be followed by in vitro diagnostic testing, experiments with animal models and clinical trials. The problems encountered during vaccine development to curtail GBS infection are compounded by the multiplicity of S. agalactiae capsular types which vary in different geographic locations. Medicinal plants are a cheap and convenient option since they are widely used in communities but the phytochemical components of the plants have to be identified and subjected to in vitro testing to evaluate their therapeutic efficacy as antimicrobial agents. This study therefore sought to isolate GBS from pregnant women between 35 and 37 weeks gestation in Windhoek (Namibia) and the Eastern Cape (South Africa), to determine the prevalence of GBS colonisation in the vagina and rectum of the pregnant women, characterise the isolates by molecular techniques, determine the antimicrobial resistance profiles and genes of the isolates and explore the efficacies of medicinal plant extracts as possible candidates for therapeutic options.
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Molecular epidemiology of vibrio pathogens in selected surface waters and treated final effluents of wastewater treatment plants in Chris Hani District Municipality in the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa
- Authors: Ayodeji, Onsula Charles
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Sewage disposal plants Sewage -- Purification Water -- Purification -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , Microbiology
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/10464 , vital:35478
- Description: Access to clean and safe water is essential for the survival of human beings. Nevertheless pollution from wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) effluents often impacts the microbiological qualities of surface waters. Availability of freshwater resources is indispensable for preventing waterborne diseases. The current study evaluated the physicochemical properties and abundance of Vibrio species in selected rivers and WWTPs in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa, over a one year sampling regime (December, 2016 to November, 2017). Water samples were collected monthly at designated locations along the banks of two rivers, treated effluents from 500 m upstream and downstream discharge points of two WWTPs and examined for physicochemical qualities, prevalence of Vibrio pathogens and their antibiogram profiles using both cultural and molecular techniques. The findings reveal the qualities of Tsomo and Great Fish river qualities with respect to electrical conductivity (EC) (137.75 – 377.69 mg/l), total suspended solids (TSS) (52.00 – 725.19 mg/l) and temperature (12.7 – 23 oC) and the treated effluents of WW-AD and WW-CR WWTPs with respect to EC (525.73 – 1071.89 mg/l), free chlorine (0.00 mg/l – 0.68 mg/l), temperature (12.4 – 28.8 oC), TSS (14.67 – 276.44 mg/l) exceeds the permissible limits set for effluent discharged to freshwater by South Africa guidelines. Other physicochemical qualities such as turbidity (63.11 – 797.17 NTU), BOD (3.30 – 5.26 mg/l) and TDS (68.88 – 148.14 mg/l) for Tsomo and Great Fish river and turbidity (20.33 – 310 NTU), biological oxygen demand (BOD) (1.28 – 4.96 mg/l), and total dissolve solid (TDS) (262.89 – 534.89 mg/l) for WWTPs WW-AD and WW-CR did not comply with WHO and EU standards as no regulation is set for them in the South African guidelines for domestic water usage. Statistical analysis revealed that pH, electrical conductivities, dissolved oxygen and total dissolved solid were significantly different whereas temperature did not differ significantly with respect to the four seasons (P < 0.05). The Vibrio densities for Great Fish river ranged between 0 and 3.29 log10 CFU/ml with the highest obtained in the spring. The Tsomo River Vibrio densities varied between 0 to 3.56 log10 CFU/ml and the maximum densities recorded during summer. The presumptive Vibrio densities in WW-AD and WW-CR WWTPs ranged from 0 to 3.67 log10 CFU/ml and 0 to 4.42 log10 CFU/ml with autumn and spring having the highest loads respectively. Molecular identification of the presumptive Vibrio species revealed 424 positive for the Vibrio genus. Of these, 21.69 percent, 11.79 percent, 8.25 percent and 2.12 percent were confirmed as V. cholerae, V. mimicus, V. parahaemolyticus and V. fluvialis respectively. The presence of potentially Vibrio pathogens in the rivers and treated effluents suggests potential public health threat to the communities relying on receiving watersheds where the effluents are discharged. Results of antibiotic sensitivity testing revealed high sensitivities against Ofloxacin (85.54 percent), Cefuroxime (81.93 percent), and Ciprofloxacin (74.70 percent), whereas resistance against other antibiotics follow this order: Imipenem (42.17 percent), Amoxicillin-Clavulanic Acid (54.17 percent), Ampicillin (63.54 percent), Nitrofurantoin (71.79 percent) and Polymyxin B (97.44 percent). Surprisingly, the resistance of Vibrio species against the known effective Carbapenems was relatively high (Meropenem (38.54 percent) and Imipenem (58.88 percent). Multiple antibiotic resistance phenotypes (MARP) of the isolates were resistant to two or more antibiotics whereas the calculated multiple antibiotic resistance index (MARI) ranged from 0.2 to 0.7. The observed high multiple antibiotics index suggest the recovered Vibrio pathogens are of high antimicrobial usage origin. Increase in antimicrobial resistance profiles towards conventionally used antibiotics as indicated in this study calls for adequate sanitation facilities and proper surveillance programs towards monitoring of antimicrobial resistance determinants in wastewater treatment effluents and receiving watersheds. This will in turn enhance early detection of resistant strains of public health importance, and supports the prompt notification and investigation of outbreaks. It further advocates the need for constant monitoring programme by the relevant regulatory agencies to ensure total compliance of the wastewater treatment facilities to the stipulated standards.
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