bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
El proceso atencional en el trastorno dismórfico corporal
Authors: Ramírez Zuñiga Jhovani Andrés , Amado Callejas Melissa , Rincón Barreto Dubis Marcela , Correa Pérez Luisa Fernanda
Published: September 2022

Este artículo es una reflexión sobre el proceso atencional de personas con trastorno dismórfico corporal. Para esto, se hizo una búsqueda de antecedentes de investigación que mencionaran resultados relacionados con la evolución de la clasificación del trastorno, su prevalencia y su relación con las posibles afectaciones que se pueden dar en el proceso atencional. Se encontró que las personas diagnosticadas pueden presentar alteraciones tanto en el procesamiento atencional como en el visual de información relacionada con rostros. A nivel neurofisiológico, se resalta menor activación de las regiones occipitales y la corteza parietal.
Evaluation of the Toxicity of Dichlorodiphenyl-trichloroethane (DDT) to the Expression Levels of Three Genes p53, rarα1, wnt in the Embryos and Liver of Fish Medaka Oryzias latipes
Authors: Huong Tran Thi Thu , Tong Nguyen Xuan
Published: September 2022

Three genes p53, rarα1, wnt and liver of Medaka fish tissue were selected to study the toxicity of DDT to fish embryo (8 days old) and adult Medaka fish (3 months old). TEM and real-time PCR methods were used to examine changes in structure of liver tissue and genetic expression. The TEM results recorded a clear difference between the control and the experimental sample. Adult Medaka fish exposed to 1µg/L DDT for 24 hours has a distorted liver cell nucleus with many hollow lipid particles, and the sinus-shaped meshes are clustered, interrupted; lysosome is not intact with many degenerative bubbles. The results of real-time PCR analysis showed that DDT affects the development, different and proliferation of cells in the embryonic stage and gene expression in adult stage. All three genes p53, rarα1 and wnt in fish embryos changed strongly and tended to be inhibited when exposuring with 1700µg/L DDT, the values ​​were recorded respectively 0.9; 4.9 and 5.4 times compared to the control sample (1 times). For adult fish, gene expression was lower than fish embryos with real-time PCR analysis values ​​for the three genes p53, rarα1 and wnt respectively 0.9 and 0.5; 0.36 and 0.09; 0.53 and 0.09 times after exposure to 1500 and 1700 µg/L DDT. These results demonstrated that gene expression is dependent on the developmental stage of the cell as well as on the dose of the chemical exposed. The development, cell differentiation/proliferation in the embryonic and adulthood stages affected differently to the cell gene expression.
Using Semantic Pathways to Reveal the “Depth” of Pre-Service Teachers’ Reflections
Authors: Rusznyak Lee
Published: September 2022

During teacher preparation programmes, pre-service teachers need to reflect meaningfully on their classroom experiences. However, some pre-service teachers tend to provide narrative accounts of classroom events and interactions. Mentors and assessors urge them to “probe more deeply” but give little guidance about what this entails. This study reports on an intervention in which reflection guidelines were changed after noticing how guidelines asked questions that limited professional learning. The revised set of guidelines prompted pre-service teachers to make iterative links between the theoretical insights gleaned from coursework and their experiential learning in classroom settings. The Semantics dimension from Legitimation Code Theory is used to compare the reflections written in response to the original and revised guidelines. Using the revised guidelines, two thirds of participants drew more intentionally on theoretical insights to interpret and explain their classroom experiences. The article concludes by suggesting several conditions for enabling pre-service teachers to write “deeper” reflections that are both theoretically informed and contextually responsive. These conditions include access to relevant concepts, guidelines that make expectations visible and access to a language of practice for providing feedback about what “probing more deeply” looks like. I argue that the concepts from Legitimation Code Theory offer such a language.
Translocal Social Movement Learning in the Face of COVID-19: Building Online Solidarity During Lockdowns
Authors: Langdon Jonathan
Published: September 2022

Social movements are at the forefront of fighting for another world as conceptualised through Arundhati Roy’s portal. COVID-19 and state measures imposed to contend with it have severely impacted not only the activism of movements, but also their capacity to learn. Translocal social movement learning offers one way in which such learning can continue. This article shares reflections from participants involved in a translocal learning engagement between movement members and activist-scholars from Ghana, South Africa and Canada. It provides an important example of the kind of non-hierarchal social movement learning that can happen at a distance, when movements share, learn and support one another.
Teaching and Learning Paulo Freire: South Africa’s Communities of Struggle
Authors: Sinwell Luke
Published: September 2022

This article highlights both the internal educative practices of social movements and how these practices can effectively link to building Freirean pedagogies within higher education institutions. At the heart of this possibility lies the democratic transformation of relations between students and teachers on the one hand and researchers and activists on the other. I draw from two case studies of my own research on community-based organisations and workers’ movements in post-apartheid South Africa, which point to the possibilities and challenges of developing Freirean approaches within the neoliberal higher education context. The article suggests that if the goal of education is to challenge systems of oppression, then social justice and the democratisation of the knowledge project must be the guiding principles we employ to navigate our everyday teaching and learning practices both inside and outside the academy.
The Effect of Perceived Risk on Value and Adoption of Proximity Mobile Payments
Authors: Barnard Zumae , Humbani Michael
Published: September 2022

Purpose/objectives: The purpose of this study was to explore the influence of risk dimensions on the perceived value and adoption of proximity mobile payments (m-payments) through the perspective of the perceived value theory.
Design/methodology/approach: A quantitative approach was adopted, and a convenience sample of 261 adults participated in this study.
Findings: The findings of this study indicate that psychological risk has the most significant influence on perceived value of m-payment adoption, followed by time risk; whereas social and privacy risks are insignificant factors. Perceived value also emerged as a significant predictor of adoption.
Practical implications: M-payment service providers can enhance perceived value and increase adoption by addressing psychological and time-risk concerns by offering clear information about the features and functions of the application, as well as creating calibrated payment systems that shorten the payment process. The study provides some insights to service providers on how to improve their value propositions so as to attract more users.
Originality/value: Limited studies have used the perceived value theory in emerging markets, especially pertaining to the sub-dimensions of risk in the context of proximity m-payments. The study identifies the salient risks that influence adoption of proximity mobile payments, and recommendations to management are made to that effect.
Grade 9 Learner Perceptions on Teacher-learner Relationship Influencing their Mathematics Performance in Tshwane
Authors: Odeyemi Bamidele Segun Donald , Chireshe Regis
Published: September 2022

The study that directed this article explored the perceptions of Grade 9 learners on teacher-learner relationship as a factor influencing their mathematics performance in Tshwane municipality public secondary schools, South Africa. The study applied a quantitative research approach, following a descriptive survey design. The sample comprised 400 learners (280 females and 120 males). A self-designed questionnaire was employed for data collection, and the data were further analysed using the 24.0 version of the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS). One hypothesis was tested and it was accepted. The study revealed that the perceptions of Grade 9 learners on teacher-learner relationship was a major factor influencing their performance in mathematics.
Parental Perceptions of Male Early Childhood Development Teachers in Khami District, Zimbabwe
Authors: Matsvange Melody , Mudimba Collen , Sithole Mangena Codelia Siziwe
Published: September 2022

The purpose of this study was to establish parents’ perceptions of the involvement of males as early childhood development (ECD) teachers. The research adopted a qualitative approach and used a case study design to allow interaction with the subjects and to draw conclusions based on their diverse perceptions. A sample was drawn from the Khami District population that comprised 10 parents, four administrators, four female teachers and two male teachers. Two sampling techniques, namely convenience and purposive sampling, were used. Convenience sampling allowed the researcher to select a small sample where participants were chosen on the basis of being accessible and convenient. Only parents with children taught by male teachers were purposively sampled. Ethical considerations were observed during data collection by explaining to participants that participation was voluntary, with confidentiality guaranteed. Online questionnaires, telephone interviews and virtual focus group discussions were used to collect data, making it easy to maintain social distancing during the Covid-19 lockdown. The following are some of the major findings of this study: parents have mixed perceptions about the involvement of males as ECD teachers; female teachers and school administrators have more positive perceptions about the involvement of males as ECD teachers because they are viewed as qualified for their job. However, in spite of the positive perceptions established about male teachers, some factors such as gender and societal inclinations still cause parents to have fears about the involvement of males as ECD teachers. The study recommends that more male teachers should be recruited to balance gender representation and more workshops and refresher courses for both parents and teachers should be conducted to develop trust.
Using Community Service Learning as a Conduit to Decolonise Bachelor of Social Work Education
Authors: Mullings Delores V. , Power Emily , Giwa Sulaimon , Karki Karun K. , Burt Melanie , Caines Courtney , English-Lillos Paige , McLean Ashlyn , Ricketts Jessica
Published: September 2022

Social work education and practice have been implicated in colonial violence against Black and Indigenous people in Canada. Notwithstanding, undergraduate students enter social work programmes ready to “help” service recipients. Schools of social work also continue to centre social work education around the notion of “helping” alongside other key activities such as advocacy and counselling. Regarding the intent, social work education and practice have and continue to perpetuate anti-Black racism, racism, and colonialism at the intersections of race, among some of the most vulnerable and systemically disadvantaged in society. This article demonstrates how to combine decolonising social work education and community service learning (CSL) to provide students an opportunity to critically and consciously work with community groups to meet the community’s needs. This reflective paper captures 1) the lessons learned and growth achieved among a group of undergraduate social work learners as they completed a CSL term project through a decolonised lens in partnership with Indigenous community members in Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada; and 2) the coaching and support that the teacher provided to the students to help them understand colonisation and their complicity as mostly white settler learners and future social work practitioners. The paper discusses the importance of CSL and decolonising social work education; then outlines the class’s context, process, and actions; next, through excerpts, CSL reflections are shared, and the paper concludes with a brief discussion.
Being and Force: An Exploration in Classical and African Metaphysics
Authors: Aleke Patrick Owo
Published: September 2022

Contemporary discussions in African metaphysics or ontology seem to be indifferent to the place of force in the African thought. This is the case because of two reasons, viz, the rejection of or indifference to ethnophilosophy and the misrepresentation of force ontology by Placide Tempels, by equating force in African thought with being in classical Aristotelian-Thomistic metaphysics. In this essay, I examine the relation between being and force in the African worldview by exploring the conception of being according to Aristotle and Thomas Aquinas and Tempels’s conception of force in Bantu ontology. Contrary to Tempels’s claim that being and force are equivalent or identical in African ontology, I argue that what is called “being” in classical metaphysics is best rendered as “thing” in most African languages. As such, being is that which subsists in itself and cannot be identical with force, which inheres in things. Hence, I affirm that force is a key attribute of being or thing and so is a transcendental property of being since force is a positive attribute of all beings, whether animate or inanimate. My approach in this essay is both exploratory and explanatory.
Does the Death Anxiety of Nurses Providing Care for Patients with Covid-19 Affect their Commitment to the Profession? A Correlational Descriptive Study
Authors: Güven Şefika Dilek
Published: September 2022

Nurses make up the largest group of healthcare professionals fighting Covid-19, and they frequently face patients with Covid-19 from hospitalisation to discharge. For this reason, they are exposed to several psychological pressures and occupational hazards. This study aimed to determine the relationship between death anxiety and commitment to the profession in nurses providing nursing care for patients with Covid-19 in Turkey. A correlational descriptive study was conducted with 130 nurses giving nursing care to patients with Covid-19 in a hospital in Turkey providing care to Covid-19 patients. A personal information form, the Turkish Death Anxiety Scale, and the Nursing Professional Commitment Scale were used to collect the study data. Descriptive statistical methods were used to summarise the general information. The data are expressed as “mean ± standard deviation (X ± SD)” or “frequency and percentage.” Correlations between the scales were determined using Spearman’s correlation test. The statistical significance level was accepted as p < 05. The mean score of nurses from the Turkish Death Anxiety Scale was 76.00 ± 23.44, and their mean score from the Nursing Professional Commitment Scale was 57.00 ± 14.60. No significant relationship was found between the Turkish Death Anxiety Scale and the Nursing Professional Commitment Scale scores (r = 0.085, p = .336). The findings of the study showed that nurses had a high death anxiety level, their commitment to the profession was moderate, and that no significant relationship was found between their death anxiety and commitment to the profession. Nurses should be supported by employers to enhance their professional commitment and reduce death anxiety during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Experiences of Nurses on Tutor-marker Feedback in their Postgraduate Open and Distance Learning Course at the University of Namibia
Authors: Ashipala Daniel Opotamutale , Konkola Selma
Published: September 2022

The development of education in Namibia is guided by four broad goals: access equity, quality and democracy. Open and distance learning (ODL) remains one of the most convenient modes of study, promoting access to higher education in Namibia. However, studies have pointed out that feedback plays a significant role in the improvement of distance education and students’ performance. Institutions of higher education need to constantly assess the experiences of students who choose to study through this mode in order to devise strategies that can be used to address the challenges. The experiences of postgraduate nursing students regarding tutor-marker feedback in Namibia have not been extensively researched. The purpose of this study was to explore and describe the experiences of nurses regarding tutor-marker feedback in their postgraduate ODL course at the University of Namibia. A qualitative, explorative and contextual study was conducted. The sample comprised postgraduate nursing diploma students specialising in nursing education and health service management in the 2020 academic year, studying through ODL. Purposive sampling was utilised. Data were collected from 17 participants using semi-structured interviews. The data were analysed using qualitative thematic analysis and strategies to ensure trustworthiness. Ethical considerations related to the study were implemented. The analysed data revealed three themes, namely: students’ experience of tutor-marker feedback, challenges of marking feedback, and recommendations for improvement. Therefore, the findings of this study call for actions and plans from ODL management teams to address the challenges identified in this study. For effective learning to take place in ODL, timely and helpful feedback from tutors should be provided.
Fostering Clinical Judgement Ability among Nursing Students by Application of Concept Mapping in the City of Bangalore, India
Authors: Joseph Jasmine , Ravi Hemalatha
Published: September 2022

Each clinical encounter demands competent clinical skills and expertise from a student nurse. This period also becomes the most challenging as many have trouble linking theory with practice. Thus, they experience less confidence at the bedside of patients. Delivering high-quality, safe nursing care at the bedside requires sound clinical judgement. Nurses with clinical judgement have evidence-based knowledge enabling them to identify intuitively  salient patient care information and respond accordingly. Developing these critical clinical judgement abilities takes time, and many new nurses lack them. Concept mapping is a robust instructional technique that may assist novice nurses in making links between many aspects of nursing care concepts, allowing for the development of clinical judgement. This study aimed to determine the usefulness of the concept mapping approach to foster clinical judgement among nursing students in Bangalore, India. A quantitative, quasi-experimental pretest-post-test design with a control group was implemented among Bachelor of Science in Nursing students. The subjects were undergoing medical-surgical nursing courses in four nursing colleges in an urban setting. The allocation of four colleges to the control and experimental group was random. A sample size of 300 participants completed a questionnaire on baseline characteristics and the Lasater Clinical Judgement Rubric. The experimental group was taught using the concept mapping technique, and participants prepared a concept map for their assigned patient in the clinical area. The intervention group’s mean pretest clinical judgement score was 18.24 (SD = 3.17), while the control group’s was 20.18 (SD = 4.85). The intervention group’s mean post-test clinical judgement score (29.56, SD = 5.42) is greater than the control group’s (22.33, SD = 4.63). The experimental group had a substantially higher post-test clinical judgement score (t = 3.99, P<0.001) than the control group. The findings imply that concept mapping will help nursing students improve their clinical judgement abilities.
Unrest and Violence: 2019
Authors: Du Plessis Willemien , Pienaar Juanita , Koraan René , Stoffels Myrone
Published: September 2022

The year 2019 was characterised by gang and taxi violence. In the reporting period, the South African Police Services published the 2018 crime statistics, revealing an alarming increase in violent crimes. The annual report of the Inspectorate Judge of Correctional Services revealed that prisons remain overcrowded. Section 12(1)(a) of the Gatherings Act 205 of 1993 was declared unconstitutional. Regulations to assist dependents of victims of apartheid in relation to basic and higher education, were amended. Police corruption was addressed and neighbourhood watches in the Western Cape were accredited. In this article, two cases that dealt with parole are discussed regarding the calculation of the date of parole, as well as a court’s order regarding the minimum sentence that a prisoner has to serve, before he or she can apply for parole. A decision of the Western Cape High Court is discussed in relation to the treatment of transgender prisoners. The independence of the Judicial Inspectorate of Correctional Services in relation to the Sonke case is dealt with. A Bill introduced a new military court structure, as well as described the role of the military police. A private member Draft General Intelligence Law Amendment Bill, 2019, now provides for more oversight of the intelligence services regarding finances. The note also refers to the destruction of firearms, the issuing of licences for firearms with new components, as well as the court’s decision in Corruption Watch v Arms Procurement, where the court overturned the Commission of Inquiry’s report regarding controversial arms procurement of 1997–1999. Gender-based violence has still not been addressed adequately, despite promises to strengthen legislation in this regard. In relation to terrorism, new financial regulations are being put in place.
Harmful Practices: An Obstacle in the Realisation of Women’s Rights in Tanzania
Authors: Msuya Norah Hashim
Published: September 2022

This article considers harmful practices in Tanzania that violate women’s rights. Most provisions of international human rights treaties that focus primarily on women in Tanzania have not been adequately incorporated into national legislation. Efforts to implement such international treaties are often met with suspicion or hostility from the communities owing to a prevalent patriarchal system and its accompanying customs. Women are systematically being denied their rights to autonomy, health and education with the excuse of ‘harmful practices.’ Although the universality of human rights norms and the right to enjoy one’s own culture and respect for cultural diversity have been challenged, it is undeniable that, whenever a state enters into an agreement with the intention of being governed by international law, that state has a legal obligation to comply with such international law or treaty. This article seeks to explore aspects of existing cultural practices and traditions that need to be abolished to conform to the provisions of international law. It is argued that traditional and cultural practices should adhere to the values of equality and women’s rights and that a strong legal framework is essential for addressing harmful practices.
Dismissal of an Employee for Failing to Follow COVID-19 Regulations: Eskort Limited v Mogotsi [2021] JR1644-20 (LC)
Authors: Mahhumane Delani
Published: September 2022

This case note discusses and analyses the COVID-19 impact that resulted in an employee’s dismissal for failing to follow COVID-19 regulations. The Eskort Limited v Mogotsi [2021] Jr1644-20 (LC) case is critically discussed because it establishes a precedent on how employees should take precautionary measures and the COVID-19 regulations in combating the virus at the workplace. This is the first case to assess the fairness of an employee’s dismissal for failing to follow COVID-19 requirements. This decision is reviewed in light of the lessons that may be drawn from workers who are careless and fail to take the required precautions to avoid the spread of COVID-19 in the workplace. COVID-19 policy regulations have imposed certain regulatory measures on businesses in order to implement proactive interventions that could slow down the spread of the virus. The objective of these procedures is for the purpose of saving human lives.
Students’ Digital Readiness for – and Satisfaction with – Online Learning: A Case Study of the University of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
Authors: Subban Mogie , Soni Sanjay , Padayachee Indira
Published: September 2022

The Covid-19 (acronym for the coronavirus disease of 2019) pandemic has signalled significance for online teaching and learning in higher education institutions (HEIs) both locally and internationally. This article reports on an empirically approved study that aimed to assess students’ digital readiness for online learning at the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN), South Africa. The article presents the main areas examined to assess intrinsic and extrinsic factors influencing students’ online readiness with respect to their technical requirements; engagement with learning tools and resources; digital readiness; and satisfaction with the Moodle (acronym for Modular Object-Oriented Dynamic Learning Environment) online learning tool. Understanding students’ online learning readiness was deemed necessary for assisting UKZN in understanding such interventions and making improvements. The study drew on 400 students’ responses to a descriptive research design questionnaire to collect data from convenience-based purposive sampling. The constructs under study were measured for reliability using Cronbach’s alpha. The results indicated that most of the students used laptops to access learning resources, followed by smartphones. Technically, the students did not express difficulties with reliable electricity supply access and university data packages, but the noted deficiencies of network coverage, internet connectivity and provision of specialised software. While the students seemed ready to engage learning tools, nevertheless improvements could be made in participating in discussion forums and working in groups. Moodle received strong support, particularly for its continuous availability and flexibility. Interestingly, the study showed that the students were digitally ready for online learning, barring some improvement areas for readiness, although wider perspectives in tracking online learning are envisaged.
Socio-economic Factors Associated with Teenage Pregnancy in the Mandela Park Community of Mthatha, South Africa
Authors: Madzamba Rowan
Published: September 2022

Teenage pregnancy is a huge social problem in developing countries. Eastern Cape is one of the provinces in South Africa with a high rate of teenage pregnancy. The study that directed this article investigated the socio-economic factors associated with teenage pregnancy in the Mandela Park community of Mthatha, South Africa. Using snowball sampling and purposive sampling, a cross-sectional study was conducted using 15 females within the age group of 18–35 years residing in Mandela Park (Mthatha). A qualitative study was conducted through face-to-face, in-depth structured interviews. The target population comprised individuals who had become pregnant when they were still teenagers. Results of the study show that there is overwhelming disapproval of teenage pregnancy in the Mandela Park community. Results of this study also show that teenage pregnancy is still a problematic issue that needs to be addressed with immediate and appropriate intervention. The rising number of teenage pregnancies in the Mandela Park community of Mthatha was explored as possibly being a result of low socio-economic status and lack of sex education. The study, therefore, recommended that the government should allow children of any age to access contraceptives without parental consent. Furthermore, there is a need for regular safe-sex education in communities and schools, starting from the primary level.
Local Government Internship and Youth Graduate Employability: Perspectives of Interns, Mentors and HR Managers
Authors: Mseleku Zethembe
Published: September 2022

In this article, I explore the relationship between the internship programme and the prospects for youth graduate employability as perceived by interns, mentors and HR managers. Unemployment, particularly youth graduate unemployment, is a major development problem. It is worrying that unemployment continues to grow despite major interventions. Among other interventions to overcome youth graduate unemployment was an internship programme established to provide graduates with work experience meant to improve their employability. However, it remains controversial whether graduate internship increases employability prospects of the youth. In this article, I seek to solve this puzzle. A total of 50 semi-structured interviews were conducted with graduate interns and staff members of the eThekwini Municipality in South Africa to elicit data. The results indicate that internship is not always the key to employability and youth graduates often require more than just internship experience to secure employment. In this article, I therefore recommend better internship planning and development. This could improve the role of the internship in graduates’ transition to employment.
Striking Bold Strokes: Albinism and Stigma in Malawian Spoken Word Poetry
Authors: Lipenga Ken Junior , Katemecha Tiwonge
Published: September 2022

In the past few years, persons with albinism have been attacked and killed in various African countries due to mythical beliefs associated with their bodies. Although various non-governmental organisations have been campaigning actively to stem the violence, there have been some efforts to represent their plight in literary forms, as a way of raising awareness about albinism. In this article, we focus on spoken word poetry emerging from Malawi, one of the countries that have registered high statistics of violence against persons with albinism. Drawing from a close reading of two Malawian spoken word poets, Phindu Banda and Yamikani Mayere, the current article illustrates how Malawian spoken word poetry on albinism exists as an optimal form to express the experiential plight of persons with albinism. The article showcases how the two poets articulate awareness of albinism by interrogating crosscutting issues such as nature and (in)humanity, commodification of the human body, religious faith, and motherhood.
Policing Gangs: Facebook, Extra-judicial Killings and Popular Imaginaries of Super-cop Hessy in Eastlands, Nairobi
Authors: Omanga Duncan , Mainye Pamela , Kashara Erick Juma
Published: September 2022

Police and gangs have rarely featured as important loci of popular cultural forms, especially in Africa. As an institution, the police in Kenya are abstruse, opaque and often seen as against, and not for society. Popular culture is not only a window and a peek into how a society mainstreams ways of “looking” but also a way through which society articulates potentially controversial subjects. Nothing comes close to the controversy surrounding the subject of police killings of suspected gang members in Eastlands, Nairobi, Kenya. News reports on crime in Nairobi, drawing from news-gathering routines and news values that privilege specific experiences while excluding others, have framed gang violence in specific “singular narratives.” However, Facebook use in Eastlands Nairobi provides a unique canvas through which the imaginary of a “super-cop” is given multiple, if not conflicting meanings. “Super-cops” describe an unorthodox form of policing where specific policemen (mostly male), through a mix of public consent and state sanction, particularly in Eastlands, Nairobi, use extrajudicial means to confront suspected violent gangs. This paper reveals how Facebook groups’ discourse in Eastlands provides lenses that circulate alternative, if not equally controversial readings of so-called “super-cops” in ways that draw from Kenya’s conflicted urban histories to managing violent gangs in the city.
Combattants and Baswahili: Beyond Ethno-regional Tensions among Congolese Immigrants of Cape Town, South Africa
Authors: Vuninga Rosette Sifa
Published: September 2022

This paper focuses on the combattants (French for “fighters”), a diaspora group from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and their activities in Cape Town, South Africa. While the combattants publicly identify as socio-political activists, for ordinary Congolese (especially eastern Congolese) they are simply a Congolese gang because of the violence that characterises their modus operandi. This research focuses on understanding the combattants’ antagonism toward eastern Congolese, especially in the last term of President Joseph Kabila in office. While acknowledging that the politics of the DRC largely shape the everyday lives of Congolese migrants in South Africa, this paper looks more into the role played by the host country—South Africa—in intra-Congolese migrants’ identity conflicts and the formation of gang-like groups such as the combattants. This paper stresses the links between the South African migration system that favours some Congolese ethno-regional groups (mainly those from the war zones—the eastern region/Kivu) over others (from the relatively peaceful western region that Kinshasa incarnates) and the hatred the combattants have towards eastern Congolese. Focusing roughly on the period between 2011 and 2018, the paper argues that feuds between the combattants (from western Congo) and eastern Congolese are also a struggle between the “winners” and the “losers” produced and reproduced through South African migration laws and policies.
An Ethnographic Study of the Functions of Xitsonga Taboos in the 21st Century
Authors: Babane Morris Thembhani , Mushwana Arnold
Published: September 2022

Taboos have historically played an important role in the upbringing of indigenous children by protecting them from harm while encouraging morality and discipline. This article examines the importance of taboos in the 21st century by analysing Xitsonga taboos that target girl and boy children. As an ethnographic study using a qualitative research method, data was collected through interviews as the primary source, and these were supplemented by observations as the secondary source. Informants were conveniently sampled from Vatsonga elders who are perceived as custodians of Xitsonga culture within the Malamulele area in Limpopo Province, South Africa. The study shows that taboos are still relevant in the upbringing of children. Furthermore, the study highlights that Xitsonga taboos can be an effective tool to address and tackle some illnesses, issues of unemployment and moral decay amongst the youth. Finally, the study recommends some robust steps in bringing forth the use of taboos to address current challenges through the application of African epistemology.
Social Rental Housing and Empowerment: Voices of Beneficiaries from Gauteng, South Africa
Authors: Sobantu Mziwandile
Published: September 2022

Adequate housing undergirds all social and economic relations, connecting communities with other related services that are key for people’s optimum development. It is a key social welfare service and a basic human need whose empowerment function resonates with the social work agenda of enabling smooth functioning of the society and creating socially and economically viable communities. In this article, I report on the housing experiences of social housing beneficiaries in the Gauteng province of South Africa. Using an empowerment lens, I contend that housing has the potential to give people more control and self-determination over their lives by linking them to the economy. I employed purposive sampling in this qualitative study and selected three social housing institutions: two in Johannesburg and one in Pretoria. In each of these institutions a focus group discussion was conducted with the beneficiaries. The research findings indicate that adequate housing delivery bears numerous empowerment dividends, directly helping poor people to break from a cycle of poverty. Consonant with its mandate of empowering communities, social work needs to be more proactive in housing advocacy on behalf of poor people and marginalised individuals and groups.
A Parenting Skills Programme to Enhance School Readiness of Grade R Learners in South Africa: A Social Work Perspective
Authors: Brown Jeanne , Van der Merwe Mariette
Published: September 2022

Parenting plays a determining role in the development of school readiness. Socio-economic adversity often has a detrimental effect on the quality of parenting, which in turn has a negative impact on the school readiness of children. Intervention research was done to develop and implement a parenting skills programme for parents of Grade R learners in two resource-poor communities in South Africa. The findings indicate that parents can improve in the important areas of parenting, namely, the quality of the parent–child relationship, parent–child interaction, and creating a home-learning environment that could enhance the school readiness of their Grade R children. Social workers are in the ideal position to implement such a parenting skills programme. It will be part of their preventive work to limit later psychosocial problems in clients linked to lack of schooling, behavioural problems and unemployment.
Placement Factors that Influence the Well-Being of Social Work Interns Participating in a Graduate Internship Programme
Authors: Kruger Minette , Wilson Lizane
Published: September 2022

This study is interested in the well-being of graduate social work interns who participated in the 12-month graduate internship programme initiated by the Department of Social Development for social work bursary holders as part of a retention strategy in South Africa. The article centres on the way in which the well-being of these social work interns was influenced by external and internal factors. The research was done by means of a qualitative descriptive design. Purposive sampling was used to select 22 participants with whom semi-structured interviews were conducted. The data were analysed using thematic analysis. The findings indicated that the well-being of the social work interns was influenced by the workplace and at economic, emotional and psychological levels. Shortcomings in the workplace and a lack of resources influenced these interns’ well-being at their workplace. Financial obligations and expenses had an impact on their economic well-being and caused stress. This financial stress was caused by unplanned expenditure and the costs of transport, accommodation and food. The interns’ emotional and psychological well-being was influenced by their placements, their ability to adapt to new circumstances, and collegial relations. Mental health issues were experienced, which influenced their productivity. The findings of the project engender the recommendations that interns be more involved in their placements and provided with accommodation and appropriate workplaces. It is essential to orient new intakes and to increase their stipend.
Challenges Confronting Child and Youth Care Workers and Organisations in Their Work Milieu during the Covid-19 Pandemic in South Africa
Authors: Bhagwan Raisuyah
Published: September 2022

Child and youth care is devoted to protecting vulnerable children and youths and enhancing their well-being. Covid-19 brought many challenges to both child and youth care workers and centres in their work milieu in South Africa. Guided by a qualitative research design and the use of purposive sampling, the study sought to understand the experiences of practitioners working at different child and youth care centres. The data were collected using semi-structured interviews and a thematic analysis was used to guide the analysis. The article offers insights into the challenges faced by practitioners at these organisations during the Covid-19 pandemic. In summary, the children at these facilities presented with emotional distress and behavioural problems due to the protracted separation from their parents, family reunification was affected and the child and youth care workers themselves had to deal with increased personal fear and distress as their colleagues tested positive for Covid-19. More important were the new and diverse changes that had to be made to safeguard the well-being of the staff and children at these facilities.
Academics’ Readiness for Online Teaching in Higher Education Institutions in Developing Countries: A Systematic Review
Authors: Modise Mphoentle Puleng
Published: September 2022

This study was driven by the increasing reports on failures of e-learning initiatives in higher education institutions in developing countries. The aim was to investigate academics’ readiness for online teaching in higher education in developing countries in Africa. The COVID-19 pandemic forced many higher education institutions to offer education in online spaces and affirmed the need for distance education and e-learning in the education sector, but it also revealed the skills gaps in e-learning. I used the technological pedagogical content knowledge theory (TPACK) and the unified theory of acceptance and use of technology (UTAUT) to support and guide this study. In the study, I used an exploratory configurative systematic review, employing multiple qualitative case studies to collect and synthesise data. The PRISMA 2020 guidelines and checklist were also used to ensure that appropriate steps were taken to guard the data collection and synthesis quality. Consistent with previous research, the findings in this study indicated that higher education institutions in developing countries in Africa and other developing countries did not adequately plan and manage their e-learning implementation projects. Further research on the readiness of leaders of higher education institutions and managers in academic departments in developing countries may reveal important underlying issues contributing to the highly reported failures of the e-learning initiatives. Higher education institutions need to openly and honestly document the journeys of their e-learning projects and lessons learnt, intending to help reduce and combat the reported failures and to save the limited resources with which they operate.
The Digital Divide in the Context of E-Learning During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Zimbabwean Perspective
Authors: Svongoro Paul
Published: September 2022

In this study, I examine the ways in which the COVID-19 pandemic had an impact on students from different family backgrounds studying in higher education institutions in Zimbabwe. When Zimbabwe implemented lockdown measures in line with the health regulations by the World Health Organization, the government directed all institutions of learning to migrate from face-to-face teaching and learning to online delivery of lessons. However, this directive was not supported by providing the prerequisite funding for equipment and related needs. Consequently, the government’s directive caused serious concerns related to access, equity and inclusion in education. Data for this study were collected through online focus group discussions and a semi-structured survey. For the analysis of the data, I adopted the framework proposed by Khan who suggests eight dimensions and sub-dimensions in his e-learning framework. I examined the level of preparedness among Zimbabwe’s higher education institutions for online learning and the extent to which they were ready to provide the best and most meaningful flexible learning environments for students regardless of perceived and real differences in the backgrounds of the students. The analysis of the data suggests that the pandemic confirmed the divide between rich and poor students in Zimbabwe because most students who were expected to participate in online teaching and learning activities were unable to do so consistently. Further efforts are therefore needed at the institutional, student and academic staff level to minimise barriers to online learning and to ensure a genuinely inclusive e-learning environment.
The eye wash technique: A simple and effective technique for intraoperative ocular surface lavage
Authors: Rosatelli Neto
Published: September 2022

Objectives:

The author proposes an extremely effective and practical method of ocular surface hydrating and cleaning during anterior segment surgery, the Eye Wash Technique (EWT), in substitution for the traditional methods employing a syringe and cannula for ocular irrigation.

Materials and Methods:

The EWT utilizes the intraocular irrigating solution (IS) used in the surgery. It is performed by employing the irrigating line of the phacoemulsification (phaco) machine or the irrigating fluid IV drip in case of manual cataract surgery. The eye irrigation is performed directly from the Luer end attachment of these irrigating lines, which is positioned above the inner cantus pointing to the globe’s nasal limbal region. With the phaco machine pedal in position 1 (irrigation only) or in panel continuous irrigation mode in case of phaco surgery, or by opening the roller clamp of the IV drip line in case of manual surgery, IS flow ensues and is directed to the eye from a nasal direction to provide a steady flow to wash the exposed eye surface as well as the lid margins and lid speculum. The irrigation is maintained for two to five seconds with side-to-side jiggling if needed, to ensure complete ocular surface coverage. Cornea hydration is achieved and any unwanted material on the ocular surface is washed out.

Results:

The EWT was easily incorporated into the surgical routine with no difficulty in adaptation to the technique or in its employment. The surgical time was not prolonged when employing the technique. The EWT effectively provided both corneal hydration and ocular surface cleaning every time it was used, with no need to resort to the traditional syringe and cannula irrigation method at any time.

Conclusion:

The EWT should be incorporated into the anterior segment surgical routine and performed at the beginning of surgery, before inserting the intraocular lens, and at the end of the surgery; also, at any time during surgery should the need arise, enhancing anterior segment surgical visualization and safety.
Impediments of Cancer Survivorship and Palliative Care: A Mixed-Methods Study in a Tertiary Healthcare Facility in Odisha, India
Authors: Palo Subrata Kumar , Panda Meely , Sahoo Krushna Chandra , Mahapatra Pranab , Pati Sanghamitra
Published: September 2022

Objective:

Measure the satisfaction level of patients visiting a tertiary level cancer institute in Odisha, identify the factors associated with the satisfaction level and assess the health system challenges related to quality service provision for cancer survival.

Material and Methods:

Analytical cross-sectional study was carried out using a mixed-methods approach in a tertiary cancer care unit in Odisha among 538 cancer patients using the Patient Satisfaction 32 questionnaire and the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ)-9 questionnaire.

Results:

There were 41% and 43% of outdoor and indoor patients who were below poverty line. Hindu was the predominant religion (>90%), 10% were illiterates and 90% were married in each category. Breast cancer (16%) was predominant among outdoor patients, whereas, it was stomach cancer (15%) among indoor patients. The PHQ median score for females was 1.5 and 1 each for indoor and outdoor patients, respectively. Nearly, 72% and 57% of males and females had mild depression to adjustment disorders statistically significant atP< 0.05. 90% of outdoor and 68% of indoor patients with a greater frequency of visits were significantly more depressed than their counterparts. All those accompanied by people other than their family members also showed higher values of adjustment and mild depressive features (69%) atP< 0.05. About 81% were satisfied with both general services and staff and nearly 40% with treatment and diagnosis.

Conclusion:

It gave us demographic details of cancer morbidity and its associates besides validating the survivorship framework in the Indian setting. Self-help anonymous and rehabilitation centres for a holistic integrative approach at the primary level of care need to be done.