Addressing the Twin Challenges of Poverty and Unemployment through Community Work Programmes in South Africa :
- Tshishonga, Ndwakhulu, Matsiliza, Noluthando S
- Authors: Tshishonga, Ndwakhulu , Matsiliza, Noluthando S
- Date: 2021-06
- Subjects: South Africa Poverty Equality Community organization Livelihoods Public Works Article
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/11260/7424 , vital:53961 , https://doi.org/10.31920/2634-3649/2021/v11n2a12
- Description: This paper interrogates gaps in the implementing community work programmes in South Africa using the case of the Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) and Community Work Programmes (CWP). The EPWP and CWPs were adopted by government as strategies aimed at uprooting poverty and unemployment in South Africa. The intention was to respond to high levels of poverty and structural unemployment compounded by gross inequity which renders South Africa the most unequal society in the world. South Africa is characterised by inequality, poverty and unemployment, and this has created an uneven allocation of resources to society at large. The interface of poverty, unemployment and inequality undermines South Africa’s policies to become a developmental state. This paper argues that the legacy of apartheid and the adoption of neo-liberal policies in the post-apartheid era has not only contributed to socio-economic exclusion and marginalisation, but also relegate the poor and disadvantaged people into the deprivation trap. The paper evaluates the potential and challenges faced by EPWP, and the CWP to address the twin problems of poverty and unemployment in the country. Authors of this paper adopted a qualitative research approach to review literature from various sources such as books, articles from accredited journals and online credible publications. To respond to the aim, this paper argues that, although community-based work programmes such as the Expanded Public Works Programme and Community Work do not sustain employment opportunities in South Africa, they provide short-term safety nets for the unemployed, semi-skilled and unskilled citizens. Findings from this study revealed that community development work is not successful in achieving all the goals that are directly linked to poverty alleviation at programme level. Challenges found to be stifling the effective implementation of community work programmes included the implementation of the programmes at small scale, lack of active participation by unemployed and host communities, poor coordination and inadequate adequate infrastructure and resources to run the programmes effectively as we as well limited access to resources, assets and skills that can be jointly used to sustain the economy. The paper recommends the adoption of pluralistic approach in promoting active participation among community work programmes’ stakeholders. This a literature review paper hence secondary sources of data were used.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2021-06
- Authors: Tshishonga, Ndwakhulu , Matsiliza, Noluthando S
- Date: 2021-06
- Subjects: South Africa Poverty Equality Community organization Livelihoods Public Works Article
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/11260/7424 , vital:53961 , https://doi.org/10.31920/2634-3649/2021/v11n2a12
- Description: This paper interrogates gaps in the implementing community work programmes in South Africa using the case of the Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) and Community Work Programmes (CWP). The EPWP and CWPs were adopted by government as strategies aimed at uprooting poverty and unemployment in South Africa. The intention was to respond to high levels of poverty and structural unemployment compounded by gross inequity which renders South Africa the most unequal society in the world. South Africa is characterised by inequality, poverty and unemployment, and this has created an uneven allocation of resources to society at large. The interface of poverty, unemployment and inequality undermines South Africa’s policies to become a developmental state. This paper argues that the legacy of apartheid and the adoption of neo-liberal policies in the post-apartheid era has not only contributed to socio-economic exclusion and marginalisation, but also relegate the poor and disadvantaged people into the deprivation trap. The paper evaluates the potential and challenges faced by EPWP, and the CWP to address the twin problems of poverty and unemployment in the country. Authors of this paper adopted a qualitative research approach to review literature from various sources such as books, articles from accredited journals and online credible publications. To respond to the aim, this paper argues that, although community-based work programmes such as the Expanded Public Works Programme and Community Work do not sustain employment opportunities in South Africa, they provide short-term safety nets for the unemployed, semi-skilled and unskilled citizens. Findings from this study revealed that community development work is not successful in achieving all the goals that are directly linked to poverty alleviation at programme level. Challenges found to be stifling the effective implementation of community work programmes included the implementation of the programmes at small scale, lack of active participation by unemployed and host communities, poor coordination and inadequate adequate infrastructure and resources to run the programmes effectively as we as well limited access to resources, assets and skills that can be jointly used to sustain the economy. The paper recommends the adoption of pluralistic approach in promoting active participation among community work programmes’ stakeholders. This a literature review paper hence secondary sources of data were used.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2021-06
Atypical HIV-vacuolar myelopathy: a case report :
- Mongezi, Tau, Sibi, Joseph, Jerry, George, Lourdes de Fátima, Ibañez Valdés, Tozama, Dubula, Humberto, Foyaca Sibat
- Authors: Mongezi, Tau , Sibi, Joseph , Jerry, George , Lourdes de Fátima, Ibañez Valdés , Tozama, Dubula , Humberto, Foyaca Sibat
- Date: 2021-06
- Subjects: South Africa HIV (Viruses) Cervical spondylotic myelopathy Article
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/11260/7670 , vital:54741 , https://doi.org/10.1186/s40001-021-00483-0
- Description: Background: Here, we report an atypical HIV-vacuolar myelopathy and search the available medical literature about atypical presentations of human immunodefciency virus associate vacuolar myelopathy (HIV-VM) and immunoglobu‑ lin therapy response. Case: A 26-year-old lady who was 4 weeks postpartum presented to us with acute faccid quadriparesis, with no sen‑ sory level. Extensive workup ruled out other causes of myelopathy. She developed a stage 3 acute kidney injury, and MRI showed difuse cord atrophy involving the lower cervical and thoracic cord. The patient received IV-immunoglob‑ ulin, ARVs, and supportive therapy with inadequate response. Unfortunately, she developed nosocomial pneumonia and died. Discussion: In HIV-VM, there is spinal cord atrophy, which mainly involves the thoracic cord. In our case, this patho‑ logical process also afected the spinal cord’s cervical region, leading to faccid tetraplegia, with high CD4 level, with‑ out response to the treatment, including intravenous immunoglobulin. Keynotes: Vacuolar myelopathy, HIV, Immunoglobulin therapy, faccid tetraplegia, hypokalaemia. Renal failure. Keywords: Human immunodefciency virus, Associated lesions of the nervous system, Human immunodefciency virus-associated myelopathy, Intravenous immunoglobulin administration, Case report, HIV-vacuolar myelopathy
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2021-06
- Authors: Mongezi, Tau , Sibi, Joseph , Jerry, George , Lourdes de Fátima, Ibañez Valdés , Tozama, Dubula , Humberto, Foyaca Sibat
- Date: 2021-06
- Subjects: South Africa HIV (Viruses) Cervical spondylotic myelopathy Article
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/11260/7670 , vital:54741 , https://doi.org/10.1186/s40001-021-00483-0
- Description: Background: Here, we report an atypical HIV-vacuolar myelopathy and search the available medical literature about atypical presentations of human immunodefciency virus associate vacuolar myelopathy (HIV-VM) and immunoglobu‑ lin therapy response. Case: A 26-year-old lady who was 4 weeks postpartum presented to us with acute faccid quadriparesis, with no sen‑ sory level. Extensive workup ruled out other causes of myelopathy. She developed a stage 3 acute kidney injury, and MRI showed difuse cord atrophy involving the lower cervical and thoracic cord. The patient received IV-immunoglob‑ ulin, ARVs, and supportive therapy with inadequate response. Unfortunately, she developed nosocomial pneumonia and died. Discussion: In HIV-VM, there is spinal cord atrophy, which mainly involves the thoracic cord. In our case, this patho‑ logical process also afected the spinal cord’s cervical region, leading to faccid tetraplegia, with high CD4 level, with‑ out response to the treatment, including intravenous immunoglobulin. Keynotes: Vacuolar myelopathy, HIV, Immunoglobulin therapy, faccid tetraplegia, hypokalaemia. Renal failure. Keywords: Human immunodefciency virus, Associated lesions of the nervous system, Human immunodefciency virus-associated myelopathy, Intravenous immunoglobulin administration, Case report, HIV-vacuolar myelopathy
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2021-06
Clinical outcomes of hospitalised COVID-19 patients at Mthatha Regional Hospital, Eastern Cape, South Africa: A retrospective study
- Kaswa, Ramprakash, Yogeswaran, Parimalaranie, Cawe, Busisiwe
- Authors: Kaswa, Ramprakash , Yogeswaran, Parimalaranie , Cawe, Busisiwe
- Date: 2021
- Subjects: COVID-19 Diabetes Hypertension Diseases Article
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/11260/7330 , vital:53402 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.4102/safp.v63i1.5253"
- Description: Background: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a public health crisis that threatens the current health system. The sudden expansion in the need for inpatient and intensive care facilities raised concerns about optimal clinical management and resource allocation. Despite the pressing need for evidence to make context-specific decisions on COVID-19 management, evidence from South Africa remained limited. This study aimed to describe the clinical characteristics and outcomes of COVID-19 hospitalised patients. Methods: A retrospective cross-sectional study design was used to evaluate the clinical outcomes of hospitalised adult patients (≥ 18 years old) with laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 illness at Mthatha Regional Hospital (MRH), Eastern Cape. Results: Of the 1814 patients tested for COVID-19 between 20 March 2020 and 31 July 2020 at MRH, two-thirds (65.4%) were female. About two-thirds (242) of the 392 patients (21.6%) who tested positive for this disease were hospitalised and one-third (150) were quarantined at home. The mean age of the patients tested for COVID-19 was 42.6 years and there was no difference between males and females. The mean age of hospitalised patients was 55.5 years and the mean age of hospitalised patients who died (61.3 years) was much higher than recovered (49.5 years). Overall, 188 (77.6%) hospitalised patients had clinical comorbidity on admission. Diabetes (36.8%) and hypertension (33.1%) were the most common comorbidities amongst COVID-19 hospitalised patients. Conclusion: The majority of the patients who were hospitalised for COVID-19 were elderly and had high baseline comorbidities. Advance age and underlying comorbidities (diabetes, hypertension and HIV) were associated with high mortality in hospitalised COVID-19 patients. Keywords: COVID-19, diabetes; hypertension; hospitalised; co-morbidity.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2021
- Authors: Kaswa, Ramprakash , Yogeswaran, Parimalaranie , Cawe, Busisiwe
- Date: 2021
- Subjects: COVID-19 Diabetes Hypertension Diseases Article
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/11260/7330 , vital:53402 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.4102/safp.v63i1.5253"
- Description: Background: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a public health crisis that threatens the current health system. The sudden expansion in the need for inpatient and intensive care facilities raised concerns about optimal clinical management and resource allocation. Despite the pressing need for evidence to make context-specific decisions on COVID-19 management, evidence from South Africa remained limited. This study aimed to describe the clinical characteristics and outcomes of COVID-19 hospitalised patients. Methods: A retrospective cross-sectional study design was used to evaluate the clinical outcomes of hospitalised adult patients (≥ 18 years old) with laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 illness at Mthatha Regional Hospital (MRH), Eastern Cape. Results: Of the 1814 patients tested for COVID-19 between 20 March 2020 and 31 July 2020 at MRH, two-thirds (65.4%) were female. About two-thirds (242) of the 392 patients (21.6%) who tested positive for this disease were hospitalised and one-third (150) were quarantined at home. The mean age of the patients tested for COVID-19 was 42.6 years and there was no difference between males and females. The mean age of hospitalised patients was 55.5 years and the mean age of hospitalised patients who died (61.3 years) was much higher than recovered (49.5 years). Overall, 188 (77.6%) hospitalised patients had clinical comorbidity on admission. Diabetes (36.8%) and hypertension (33.1%) were the most common comorbidities amongst COVID-19 hospitalised patients. Conclusion: The majority of the patients who were hospitalised for COVID-19 were elderly and had high baseline comorbidities. Advance age and underlying comorbidities (diabetes, hypertension and HIV) were associated with high mortality in hospitalised COVID-19 patients. Keywords: COVID-19, diabetes; hypertension; hospitalised; co-morbidity.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2021
Prevalence and determinants of tobacco use amongst South African adults with mental illness in the Eastern Cape
- Tindimwebwa, Linda K, Ajayi, Anthony I, Adeniyi, Oladele Vincent
- Authors: Tindimwebwa, Linda K , Ajayi, Anthony I , Adeniyi, Oladele Vincent
- Date: 2021
- Subjects: mental health mental illiness tobacco use Article
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/11260/7278 , vital:53109 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.4102/sajpsychiatry.v27i0.1637"
- Description: Background: Given the physical and mental health consequences of tobacco use amongst individuals with mental illness, it was imperative to assess the burden of tobacco use in this population. Aim: This study examined the patterns and factors associated with tobacco use in individuals attending the outpatient unit. Setting: Cecilia Makiwane Hospital Mental Health Department in Eastern Cape province, South Africa. Methods: Lifetime (ever use) use and current use of any tobacco products were examined in a cross-sectional study of 390 individuals between March and June 2020. A logistic regression was fitted to determine the correlates of lifetime and current use of any tobacco products. Results: The rates of ever use and current use of tobacco products were 59.4% and 44.6%, respectively. Of the participants interviewed, lifetime tobacco use was more prevalent amongst individuals with schizophrenia (67.9%) and cannabis-induced disorders (97.3%) and lower in those with major depressive disorders (36.1%) and bipolar and related disorders (43.5%). Men were six times more likely to have ever used or currently use tobacco products in comparison to women. Also, those who had a salaried job or owned a business were over three times more likely to have ever used or currently use tobacco products compared with those receiving government social grants. Conclusions: The prevalence of tobacco use in this study was significantly higher than the general population in the Eastern Cape. Therefore, smoking prevention and cessation interventions targeted at the general population should target this often neglected sub-population in the region. Keywords: Eastern Cape province; mental health users; mental illness; South Africa; tobacco use.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2021
- Authors: Tindimwebwa, Linda K , Ajayi, Anthony I , Adeniyi, Oladele Vincent
- Date: 2021
- Subjects: mental health mental illiness tobacco use Article
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/11260/7278 , vital:53109 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.4102/sajpsychiatry.v27i0.1637"
- Description: Background: Given the physical and mental health consequences of tobacco use amongst individuals with mental illness, it was imperative to assess the burden of tobacco use in this population. Aim: This study examined the patterns and factors associated with tobacco use in individuals attending the outpatient unit. Setting: Cecilia Makiwane Hospital Mental Health Department in Eastern Cape province, South Africa. Methods: Lifetime (ever use) use and current use of any tobacco products were examined in a cross-sectional study of 390 individuals between March and June 2020. A logistic regression was fitted to determine the correlates of lifetime and current use of any tobacco products. Results: The rates of ever use and current use of tobacco products were 59.4% and 44.6%, respectively. Of the participants interviewed, lifetime tobacco use was more prevalent amongst individuals with schizophrenia (67.9%) and cannabis-induced disorders (97.3%) and lower in those with major depressive disorders (36.1%) and bipolar and related disorders (43.5%). Men were six times more likely to have ever used or currently use tobacco products in comparison to women. Also, those who had a salaried job or owned a business were over three times more likely to have ever used or currently use tobacco products compared with those receiving government social grants. Conclusions: The prevalence of tobacco use in this study was significantly higher than the general population in the Eastern Cape. Therefore, smoking prevention and cessation interventions targeted at the general population should target this often neglected sub-population in the region. Keywords: Eastern Cape province; mental health users; mental illness; South Africa; tobacco use.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2021
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