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Browsing by Author "Waggie, Firdouza"

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A qualitative study exploring the experiences of Black South African vegetarians residing in the urban settings of Cape Town.
(University of the Western Cape, 2017) Sedupane, George; Waggie, Firdouza
Vegetarianism is a growing global trend. Movie stars and world class athletes proudly brand themselves vegetarian. Apart from its health implications vegetarianism has been extensively studied as a social and psychological phenomenon. However the understanding that has emerged from these studies has almost exclusively reflected Caucasian Western societies. Internationally there is a paucity of research regarding vegetarianism among people of African descent. The purpose of this study was to fill this knowledge gap by exploring the development of a vegetarian identity among Black urban South Africans living in Cape Town and the contextual factors involved in their adoption and practice of vegetarianism. Bronfenbrenner’s bioecological systems theory which emphasizes the bidirectional influence between human behaviour and broader contextual factors was used as a theoretical framework for understanding vegetarianism among Black South Africans. This study used a qualitative exploratory approach to describe the perceptions and experiences of Black vegetarians. Snowball sampling was used to locate eight Black South African adult vegetarians who were interviewed in depth. The audio recorded interviews were transcribed and analysed through thematic analysis yielding three main themes. The first and central theme is that “vegetarianism is life.” This theme encapsulates the fact participants view vegetarianism as an instrument through which the highest ideals of life are attained including physical vitality, spiritual vibrancy and intellectual superiority. In the second theme the process of developing a vegetarian identity was unfolded. Contextual religio-cultural influences of Rastafarianism and Seventh day Adventism were a major influence in the development of a vegetarian identity. The last theme unfolds the experience of Black vegetarians living in meat dominated society. The study reveals that becoming a vegetarian definitely affects one’s social relations. However the gender of the vegetarians modulated the reaction of family members. Vegetarians also employed several strategies to manoeuvre difficult social situations. This study is among the first to contribute an African perspective to the global vegetarian discourse. It has highlighted the way Black Africans develop a vegetarian identity and the contextual factors acting as barriers and facilitators to this development. It has highlighted how this identity is informed by their Africanness though at times it conflicts with certain African ideals. Finally it has identified the social, cultural and psychological variables involved in the vegetarian phenomenon on the African continent.
Assessment of risk factors for Non-Communicable diseases among a cohort of community health workers in Western Cape, South Africa
(The College of Medicine and the Medical Association of Malawi, 2021-09) Johnson, Levona; Schopp, Laura; Waggie, Firdouza; Frantz, J.M
Community Health Workers (CHWs) have been identified as the key health professionals to drive the agenda of the prevention of health risk behaviours, linked to noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) in South Africa. They are regarded as the agents of change, who will provide impetus to the achievement of the health behaviour goals, set out by the South African National Department of Health1 . However, this cohort, may suffer from an array of NCDs. There are various risk factors that influence the health of individuals and contribute to NCDs, including modifiable and non-modifiable risk factors, which cannot be changed, or altered by an intervention, such as age, family history, gender and ethnicity2,3. Modifiable risk factors have been classified as behavioural, physical, and biological4 . Globally, NCDs are responsible for 80% of premature deaths in LMICs5,6. In response to the NCD pandemic, the World Health Organisation (WHO) set a global target in 2012, which was aimed at reducing premature deaths, caused by NCDs, by 25%, by the year 20257 . However, this goal will require drastic, immediate, and targeted approaches that address the root causes of NCDs. South Africa has followed the global trend, and evidence depicts an increase in NCDs8 , with a 27% probability of dying between the ages of 30 and 70 years, as a result of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), diabetes, cancers, or chronic respiratory conditions7,9. This is similar to other countries such as India (26%), Philippines (28%), Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (27%), Mali (26%), Russian Federation (30%), Ukraine (28%) , Tajikistan (29%), Fiji (31%), Afghanistan (31%) and Armenia (31%)9 In the Western Cape, the prevalence of chronic diseases of lifestyle raises major concerns about the communities’ health risk behaviour. The Burden of Disease Survey for the Western Cape, which was released on 24 April 2017, reported that NCDs contributed to 61% of deaths in the Western Province10
Challenges experienced by community health workers and their motivation to attend a self-management programme
(AOSIS, 2022) Johnson, Levona J.; Schopp, Laura H.; Waggie, Firdouza
Community health workers (CHWs) are change agents expected to assist in decreasing the global burden of disease in the communities they serve. However, they themselves have health risk behaviours, which predispose them to non-communicable diseases and thus need to be empowered to make better health choices. There is a gap in literature detailing the challenges faced by CHWs in addressing their own health risk behaviours.: This study aimed to explore the challenges experienced by CHWs in carrying out their daily duties and the motivating factors to join a self-management programme.
Challenges of academic healthcare leaders in a higher education context in South Africa
(Wiley, 2018) Jooste, Karien; Frantz, Jose M.; Waggie, Firdouza
Universities are in a highly competitive environment, needing strong academic leadership. Some heads of departments have been appointed into leadership positions in a healthcare faculty after having been mere academics for a few years. They are more likely to experience challenges. This study aimed to explore the views and understanding of heads of departments in a healthcare faculty on being appointed as academic leaders in a higher education context in South Africa. A qualitative design using 12 individual unstructured interviews was conducted with all the heads of departments in a health sciences faculty. Open coding was conducted and two themes emerged, focusing on the varied skills needed for academic leadership positions and developing leadership skills amongst senior academics. The findings indicated that development of senior academics in leadership should be undertaken by a knowledgeable professional in formal or informal settings, to encourage mentorship and more regular group meetings, while addressing the core role of a leader. Implications of these findings for a faculty of health sciences and suggestions for leadership succession in future are discussed.
Development of a framework for health care professionals to lead youth victims of violence towards wellness in the Genadendal community of the Western Cape
(University of the Western Cape, 2015) Ahanonu, Ezihe Loretta; Jooste, Karien; Waggie, Firdouza
The Wellness Leadership White Paper states that leadership is needed in a supportive environment with the purpose of guiding clients to lasting wellness. Wellness can be defined as an active process that enables an individual to become aware of all aspects of the self and to make choices in terms of a more healthy existence by means of balancing and integrating various life dimensions. Health care professionals are leaders who play an important role in creating an environment that contributes to wellness. Their leadership is, therefore, viewed as a wellness strategy. Leadership has been identified as an essential role of health care professionals with a responsibility to attend to the needs of their clients, such as youth victims of violence, with the aim of leading them towards wellness. The Provincial Nursing Strategy of the Western Cape in South Africa emphasises the need for health care professionals to demonstrate their leadership capacity in practice. In the communities of the Western Cape Province of South Africa, many youth victims of violence report for treatment at the health care facilities; it places a high burden on the health care system. Even though health care professionals provide treatment to this group of youth, it is not clear how health care professionals lead them towards wellness after an incidence of violence. The purpose of this study was to develop a conceptual framework that can be implemented by health care professionals to gain a better understanding about the important role they play in leading youth victims of violence towards wellness in a rural community in the Western Cape Province of South Africa. This research study applied a qualitative, exploratory, descriptive and contextual design. The study population who were selected by means of a purposive sampling technique consisted of youth attending a high school and who had been victims of violence and of health care professionals (professional nurses, medical doctors and social workers) working at the health care facilities in the community where the study was conducted. The study was conducted in four phases. Phase 1 of the study focused on the exploration and description of the expectations of the youth victims of violence about how health care professionals should lead them towards wellness. Focus group discussions (FGDs) were conducted at a high school at the study site. Phase 2 explored and described the experiences of health care professionals who were supporting youth victims of violence at the health care facilities in the community of study. The execution of this phase comprised of unstructured individual interviews. The total number of the FGDs and unstructured individual interviews conducted in this study was determined by data saturation. Data analysis of the data collected involved transcription of the voice recordings of the all the interviews and writing up of field notes. The steps of Tesch’s coding technique were used at the end of Phases 1 and 2. To ensure trustworthiness of the collected data, Guba and Lincoln’s strategies of credibility, transferability, dependability, confirmability and authenticity were applied. Phase 3 of this study entailed the development of a conceptual framework for health care professionals to lead youth victims of violence towards wellness. It was based on the findings from Phases 1 and 2 of the study; Phase 4 of the study involved peer debriefing and validation of the developed conceptual framework. In Phase 1 of the study, a total of nine (n = 9) FGDs were conducted among fifty eight (n = 58) youth participants between the ages of 15 and 19 years. Each group consisted of 6 to 8 participants and the interviews did not last more than an hour per session. The data analysis in this phase showed that the youth victims of violence did have expectations from the health care professionals in guiding them towards wellness. They shared their interpretation of the term wellness and were also quite aware of the challenges in their community. Four categories emerged from the data in Phase 1: Category 1 - Dimensions of wellness as it related to healthy body, mind, spirit and positive interactions: The findings of this category revealed that youth participants described wellness as a holistic concept that comprised healthy living, self-care and a healthy personality and mind (emotional, psychological) as well as spiritual well-being. They did not necessarily consider wellness as the absence of sickness or illness, Category 2 - Common problems among youth in the context of the community: They articulated that drug abuse, teenage pregnancy and violent behaviour were important issues of concern to them in their community. Category 3 – Building a sound and trusting relationship: They expressed their need for health care professionals to have a positive attitude towards them, to be respectful and to provide them with accurate information, as well as confidential and supportive services. Category 4 - Guidance of youth to wellness: The youth also proposed strategies that they believe could be used by the health care professionals while guiding them towards wellness. These strategies were: Provision of information / health education, school and community outreach programmes, provision of counselling services and role modelling. For the second phase, seven (n = 7) health care professionals were interviewed. Two (n = 2) were professional nurses, three (n = 3) medical doctors and two (n = 2) social workers. The findings of the individual interviews indicated that the health care professionals recognised the fact that wellness is very important. However, they felt that guiding youth victims of violence toward wellness was a challenging process. Three categories emerged from the data in Phase 2: Category 1 - Different points of view about the concept of wellness: The health care professionals described wellness as the holistic wellbeing of a person, an absence of illness or disease and living a healthy lifestyle. Category 2 - Barriers to leading youth victims of violence towards wellness: The health care professionals reported challenges while attempting to lead youth victims of violence towards wellness which included low socioeconomic status of families, unsupervised youth, violent behaviour, drug and substance abuse, a lack of resources in the community, negative staff attitudes, inadequate physical infrastructure and human resources as well as the absence of a process of guiding youth victims to wellness. Category 3 - Guidance to leading youth victims to wellness: The health care workers proposed strategies for guiding youth victims towards wellness. Those strategies included the provision of support in the form of counselling services, use of support groups, family and community support; recreational activities, dedicated staff to work with youth victims of violence and a multidisciplinary team approach. The findings from the first two phases were triangulated during the third phase of this study with the purpose of developing a conceptual framework. The survey list of Dickoff, James and Wiedenbach formed the foundation of the reasoning map for the development of the framework. The unique contribution of this study is the development of an original, participative leadership framework that provides health care professionals with information for leading youth victims of violence towards wellness in a rural community in the Western Cape. This study was conducted in a single rural community of the Western Cape Province of South Africa. Despite this limitation, the framework could be evaluated for use in similar settings. Finally, guidelines to implement the framework and recommendations for improving community health care practice, nursing education and nursing research were suggested based on the findings from the study.
The development of an anti-substance abuse initiative for high schools in the Capricorn district, Polokwane
(University of Western Cape, 2021) Shuro, Linda; Waggie, Firdouza
Substance abuse among adolescents is a Public Health concern globally with approximately 25 million adolescents (aged 13-15 years) who smoke tobacco, one in every ten girls and one in every five boys. In low- and middle-income countries, 14 % of girls and 18% of boys (13-15years old) are engaged in alcohol use. The Global Status Report on Alcohol and Health of 2018, reports that among the 15- to 19-year-olds, greater than a quarter were current alcohol drinkers. Cannabis (marijuana/dagga) is highly used globally with approximately 3.8% between 15 and 64 years, about 188 million people used it once or more times in 2017. The most commonly abused substances are alcohol, tobacco, and cannabis (marijuana/dagga). In South Africa, most adolescents are found in schools and the average age of drug experimentation is 12 years with early onset of use at about ten years of age.
A discursive exploration of managers’ competencies at community health centres in low socio-economic status communities in Cape Town
(University of Western Cape, 2019) Jantjies, Monalisa Ayabulela; Waggie, Firdouza
South African health professionals’ competencies, especially those of managers have been placed under the spotlight. In the community health centres (CHCs) situated in low socio-economic status areas in Cape Town, a shortage of human resources has been an area of importance, as it exacerbates the impact of competence and service delivery by the healthcare managers.
An evaluation of a community-based interdisciplinary health promotion course in one South African university.
(University of the Western Cape, 2010) Waggie, Firdouza
Health professionals worldwide are currently inadequately trained to address the health issues of communities, particularly in developing countries where there are major health disparities. This study argues for an alternative and more appropriate education, one which would better prepare future health professionals to address these needs. The study draws attention to how the University of the Western Cape (UWC) responded to preparing its health professional graduates to better meet the needs of South African society. The thesis explores the rationale for a shift in health professions education to one which supports service-learning, locating the study within the broader developments in higher education within South Africa. The specific aim of this thesis was to evaluate a community-based interdisciplinary health promotion course offered to the undergraduate health sciences students from the faculties of Community and Health Sciences and Dentistry at the University of the Western Cape (UWC). It focused on evaluating the perceived effectiveness and the impact on the stakeholders of the Interdisciplinary Health Promotion course, with the aim of developing an appropriate framework to guide the teaching of health promotion at higher education institutions in South Africa. Ten primary schools in three disadvantaged communities in the Western Cape were used as the health promotion settings for the Interdisciplinary Health Promotion course. The study design was a program evaluation that used the explanatory sequential mixed-methods design. An evaluation matrix was developed, consisting of three core concepts (curriculum, community-based learning, and university-school collaboration) against which the course was evaluated. Indicators and criteria were developed for each core concept. Questionnaires were distributed to all the stakeholders, that is, the university students, the lecturers, the supervisors, and the school educators, involved in the Interdisciplinary Health Promotion Course during 2006. Focus group discussions with the stakeholders were also conducted at the UWC campus and in the Delft community. There was a good response from all the stakeholders who participated in the study (students (72.4%), lecturers (85%), supervisors (100%), and school educators (71.5%)). A main finding of the study was that the Interdisciplinary Health Promotion course was relevant and up-to-date with developments in the field of health promotion. Course topics were dealt with in sufficient depth and the assignments were clear, specific, and related to the course outcomes. The interdisciplinary teaching and learning approach allowed the university students to learn and develop a better understanding of the roles and contributions that the various professions played in health promotion in a community. The course was perceived as having been of value to all the stakeholders and having a positive impact on the schools. The findings revealed that the health promotion projects implemented in the schools helped the university students to learn how to plan, implement and evaluate a project in a community setting. Furthermore, the findings suggest that the schools offered an ideal placement for university students to learn about health promotion and its application. In addressing a concern about the course not making any meaningful long-term impact on the schools and the surrounding communities, the study showed that it is important to revisit the current teaching and learning approach of the Interdisciplinary Health Promotion course. It revealed that service-learning as an alternative to the field education approach would facilitate a closer relationship between theoretical and practical knowledge, where the practical application was translated into a service that met the needs of a community. The study further revealed that the collaboration model between the university and the school also needed to be reconceptualized, to include all the stakeholders as well as their needs concerning health promotion in the schools. It was recommended that the Health Promoting School framework should be seen as the overarching framework for the sustainability of school-based health promotion. In conclusion, this study showed that the recognition and establishment of university-community partnerships and reliance upon them in the educational process would provide many new opportunities for relevant and meaningful health professional education and training. These efforts would contribute to improving the quality of higher education delivered to students, thereby ensuring their competency to better meet the needs of the communities they will serve.
Expectations of youth victims of violence regarding healthcare professionals leading them to wellness in South Africa
(AOSIS Open Journals, 2015) Ahanonu, Ezihe L.; Waggie, Firdouza
BACKGROUND: Many youth victims of violence report for treatment at the health care facilities in the Western Cape Province of South Africa. It was unclear what the youth expected regarding how they could be led towards wellness by health care professionals following an incident of violence (R1.1). OBJECTIVES: This study sought to explore and describe the expectations of the youth victims of violence with regards to health care professionals (R1.2) leading them to wellness in a selected rural community. METHOD: A qualitative, exploratory, descriptive and contextual design was used. Nine focus group discussions were conducted with 58 (23 males, 35 females) purposefully selected youth victims of violence between the ages of 15 and 19. Data analysis was done through open coding. Ethics clearance was received from the University Ethics Committee prior to the study being conducted. RESULTS: Findings indicated that the youth victims of violence expect the health care professionals (professional nurses, doctors and social workers) working in their community to act as role models, demonstrate a professional attitude, provide health education, provide confidential counselling services, and establish school and community outreach programmes. CONCLUSION: This study provides evidence that youth victims of violence have important expectations from health care professionals concerning their wellness. Hence, health care professionals should focus on designing and implementing interventions targeting these expectations.
Exploring the experiences of female small-scale organic cocoa farmers about gender-based inequality in agency and empowerment in light of the Sustainable Development Goal 5: A case study from rural Ghana
(2021) Kaschek, Tamara Sophia; Waggie, Firdouza
In all parts of the Global South, female farmers face challenges to access productive resources and output markets in an equal manner as male farmers, which is referred to as the gender gap in agriculture. In Ghana, where cocoa is one of the major cash crops, these systematic disadvantages mean that female small-scale cocoa farmers face challenges to equally benefit from cultivating the cash crop. Even though there is agreement among researchers that quantitative differences in access to assets result from underlying social gender norms and intra-household inequalities in bargaining power, there is a research gap as to how these underlying causes affect female small-scale cocoa farmer’s agency and empowerment in private and public spheres.
Exploring the perceptions and value of the Field Study Programme for small business owners on their human capital development
(University of the Western Cape, 2016) Oliver, Abraham Johannes; Waggie, Firdouza
The South African government is promoting Small, Micro- and Medium-Scale Enterprises (SMMEs) as a key strategy for job creation, economic growth for poverty alleviation and a reduction in inequalities. The sustainable development of small businesses is therefore seen as the antidote for high levels of unemployment and poverty alleviation. Academics and policy makers agree that entrepreneurs, and the new businesses they establish, play a critical role in the development and well-being of their societies. If South Africa is to overcome its pressing challenges of unemployment and poverty, it urgently needs to become a more entrepreneurial society. The Field Study Programme (FSP) initiated by the Tertiary School in Business Administration (TSiBA) in South Africa, and the Northeastern University (NU) in Boston, United States of America, aims to guide and support small business owners. The goal of the FSP was, therefore, to support small business owners to improve their understanding of managing their small business and their competency in finding innovative solutions to their current market challenges. Since the inception of the FSP at TSiBA in 2008, very little research has been undertaken to understand the value and benefits of the FSP from the perspective of community small business owners over the past seven (7) years. This study explored the perceptions and experiences of small business owners and the value of the FSP towards their small business venture to assist business schools and higher education institutions to execute FSP’s with greater success and impact. In terms of the FSP, local and international business students acted as ‘consultants’ applying their respective academic knowledge and skills to assist small business owners to adapt their business model to sustain their livelihoods. The major purpose of the FSP was for students to consult with participants regarding their needs or challenges and to transform their needs and challenges through practical intervention towards meaningful and sustainable solutions which are mutually beneficial for all parties involved. The FSP attempted to demonstrate how a joint service-learning and social entrepreneurship approach could contribute to improving the human capital of small business owners. The study applied a qualitative research approach to explore the experiences and perceptions of small business owners who participated in the FSP. Purposive sampling was used to acquire information from small business owners. In this study twenty (20), participants were chosen on the basis that they had run their own small businesses at the time of being selected for the FSP for more than 6-12 months. The FSP was conducted over a seven-month period from February 2014 to August 2014. The qualitative research instruments for this study were pre- and post-interviews with individuals and focus-group discussions. Tape recorded data was transcribed verbatim for each pre-and post-interview with individuals and focus group discussions. The researcher analysed the transcripts using thematic analysis. The study highlighted the following findings: A majority of participants reported a positive experience and satisfaction with their participation in the FSP. Most of the participants felt that the solutions presented had contributed to addressing their challenges and influenced the ongoing operations of their small business venture. It was perceived that a combined service-learning and social entrepreneurship approach to FSP could improve community outreach programs. Despite the positive feedback, more must be done to incorporate black small-businesses into the main economy. A further recommendation is that a more integrated approach is needed between small business owners and students to join forces and provide solutions and relevant skills-training once the FSP has been completed.
Knowledge, attitudes and practices of contraception amongst adolescent girls from selected high schools in a low socio-economic community in Cape Town
(University of the Western Cape, 2019) Davids, Lameez; Waggie, Firdouza
Adolescents account for 20% of the world’s population, and the majority of them are inhabitants of developing countries. Increasing sexual activity amongst adolescents is a public health concern because it can lead to teenage pregnancy which in turn leads to an increase in relative poverty, unemployment, poorer educational achievements (for the adolescent) and poor health of unborn children. Contraceptive use gives females the ability to make informed decisions about their fertility as well as greatly reduce female morbidity and mortality. Despite freely available contraception and accessible reproductive health policies and facilities, a majority of adolescents still report unintended, unplanned pregnancies. The aim of the present study was to describe knowledge, attitudes and practices associated with contraceptives, and the facilitators and barriers that influence contraceptive use amongst adolescent girls in selected public secondary schools in a low-socio-economic community in Cape Town, South Africa. The researcher adopted a quantitative cross-sectional descriptive design – more specifically, a knowledge, attitudes and practices (KAP) survey. The study used a multistage sampling method. The sample size was calculated to be N = 371 (5% confidence interval and a confidence level of 95%).The data collection instrument was a survey in the form of a selfadministered questionnaire with 4 sections that had been adapted for the South African context, from a previously validated instrument. The questionnaire was then pretested and finalised. All data was captured in Microsoft Excel and analysed using SPSS 25.0. The study found that 97% of respondents had knowledge of contraceptives. The 3 most commonly known contraceptives were injection (81.1%), the pill (65.0%) and condoms (61.7%). Their main source of accessing contraceptives was a clinic (86.8%) and the biggest source of contraceptive knowledge was identified as school (82.7%). Their attitudes comprised positive and negative aspects. The respondents did not believe that it was difficult
Moving from conversation to commitment: Optimising school-based health promotion in the Western Cape, South Africa
(Health and Medical Publishing Group (HMPG), 2013) Waggie, Firdouza; Laattoe, N.; Filies, Gerard C.
Background: Recent evaluation of the Interdisciplinary Health Promotion (IHP) course offered by the University of the Western Cape (UWC) at schools revealed that the needs expressed by the schools had not changed in the last five years. Objectives: This paper describes the process that was undertaken to identify specific interventions that would have an impact on the schools and, in turn, the broader community, and provides an overview of the interventions conducted in 2011 - 2012. Methods: A stakeholder dialogue explored notions of partnership between the university and the schools, sustainability of health promotion programmes in the schools, and social responsiveness of the university. An action research design was followed using the nominal group technique to gain consensus among the stakeholders as to which interventions are needed, most appropriate and sustainable. Results: A comprehensive plan of action for promoting health in schools was formulated and implemented based on the outcome of the stakeholder dialogue. Conclusion: The study's findings reiterate that an ongoing dialogue between schools and higher education institutions is imperative in building sustainable partnerships to respond to health promotion needs of the school community.
Occupational therapy graduates’ reflections on their ability to cope with primary healthcare and rural practice during community service
(Occupational Therapy Association of South Africa, 2017) Naidoo, Deshini; Van Wyk, Jacqueline; Waggie, Firdouza
BACKGROUND: Occupational therapy graduates are expected to deliver service in public health facilities using a primary healthcare approach (PHC) during their community service year. There is limited literature available about their experiences in this context. OBJECTIVE: This study explored the experiences of novice occupational therapy graduates and the extent to which their curriculum had prepared them for practice in PHC settings. METHODS: This qualitative exploratory study used purposive sampling to recruit thirty nine novice occupational therapy graduates. Using audio-recorded semi-structured interviews and a focus group discussion data were collected to explore participants’ experience of work and the extent to which their undergraduate programme had prepared them for primary healthcare practice. The data was analyzed thematically. FINDINGS: Occupational therapy graduates expressed challenges in applying the PHC approaches for practice in resource-restricted rural settings. They required additional skills to communicate in the local indigenous language, to understand the various beliefs of the local communities and to manage change in these settings. They were well prepared for basic clinical skills as a need for urban-based ethical practice. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE: Curriculum planners need to review the teaching of communication skills and introduce students to strategies for change management. More inter-professional collaboration and service-learning in rural primary healthcare settings will prepare them better for rural and PHC settings.
The prevalence of risk factors for non-communicable diseases among people living in Mombasa, Kenya
(2010) Tawa, Nassib; Frantz, José Merle; Waggie, Firdouza
Chronic non-communicable diseases, including cardio-vascular diseases and stroke, cancer, type 2 diabetes and chronic pulmonary disorders, are rapidly emerging as leading causes of morbidity and premature mortalities globally. The majority of the populations worldwide have experienced major transformations in disease profiles and health status characterized by a shift from infectious diseases and nutritional deficiencies to a predominance of chronic diseases of lifestyle. This epidemiological transition is regarded as an outcome of the environmental and socioeconomic changes following urbanization.Common behavioral health risk factors, such as smoking, risky alcohol consumption,sedentarism, overweigh/obesity and hypertension, have consistently been attributed to the development of chronic non-communicable diseases among populations.This thesis seeks to describe the epidemiology of the major common risk factors for noncommunicable diseases among people living in Mombasa, Kenya. The study responds to the WHO’S recommendations on comprehensive and continuous risk factor surveillance as an essential component of the public health information system and a vital health promoting strategy in the control and prevention of non-communicable diseases.A cross-sectional study design using the WHO STEPwise protocol was employed.Convenient stratification of the Mombasa population was done according to gender, age and setting categories. Using the Yamane formula n = N/1+ N(e²), a sample of 500 participants aged 15 to 70 years was arrived at. The researcher then conveniently selected public high schools, tertiary institutions, workplaces and a marketplace as the study settings.The WHO STEPS instrument (Core and Expanded Version 1.4) was used for data collection. Step 1 involved gathering information on socio-demographic characteristics and health-related behaviors of the participants using close-ended structured questions. Step involved the taking of simple anthropometrical measurements pertaining to height, weight, waist circumference, blood pressure and pulse rate.Data were captured, cleaned and analyzed using the Statistical Analysis System (SAS) and SPSS version 16.0. Chi-square and Spearman correlation tests were used to determine associations between socio-demographic variables and behavioral health risk factors.The results indicated that 61% of the study participants possessed at least one of the investigated risk factors. 17% of the participants had a multiple risk factor profile, with 54% more females having a higher mean risk factor score compared to 46% of their male counterparts.Physical inactivity, hypertension and overweight/obesity were the most common registered risk factors, accounting respectively for 42%, 24% and 11%. Physical inactivity and hypertension formed the commonest cluster of multiple risk factor patterns; they co-occurred in 68% of the participants with a multiple risk factor profile.Increasing age, female gender and a low level of educational attainment were factors seen to be significantly associated with the development of risk factors for non-communicable diseases among the participants. It was observed that the burden of risk factors was unequally distributed among Mombasa residents; intervention programs based on our findings should therefore be used to ensure effectiveness. Future studies using nationally representative samples are further suggested to provide a more comprehensive analysis of a national risk factor profile.
Reflection on an interprofessional community-based participatory research project
(Health and Medical Publishing Group, 2016) Frantz, Jose M.; Filies, Gerard C.; Jooste, Karien; Keim, Marion; Mlenzana, Nondwe; Laattoe, N.; Roman, Nicolette V.; Schenck, Catherina (Rinie); Waggie, Firdouza; Rhoda, Anthea
BACKGROUND. A collaborative interprofessional research project that involved community members was beneficial to community development. OBJECTIVE. To draw upon the experiences of academics relating to their involvement in an interprofessional community-based participatory research (CBPR) project. METHODS. A Delphi study was applied as a self-reflective evaluation process to reach consensus on the lessons learnt from participation in a CBPR project. Round one of the Delphi employed closed-ended questions and the responses were analysed descriptively using Microsoft Excel (USA). The second round consisted mainly of open-ended questions and responses, and was analysed qualitatively. Ethical clearance was obtained from the University of the Western Cape research committee. RESULTS. Based on round one of the Delphi study, it became evident that recognition of the community as a unit of identity, addressing health from physical, emotional and social perspectives and formation of long-term commitments were the CBPR principles most applied. Disseminating information to all partners and facilitation of the collaborative equitable involvement of all partners in all phases of the research were the principles least applied. Themes that emerged from the second round of the Delphi included the identification of clear objectives based on the needs of the community, a shift from identification of the needs of the community to the implementation of strategies, and the creation of capacity-building opportunities for all stakeholders. CONCLUSION. In a reflection on the research process, the interprofessional team of academics found that the basics of CBPR should be attended to first. A focus on clear objectives, implementation strategies and capacity building is important in CBPR.
The relationship between sensory integrative profiles and academic achievement of first year health sciences students at the University of the Western Cape
(University of the Western Cape, 2012) Bagus, Kulsum; Wegner, Lisa; Waggie, Firdouza
There is a high incidence of dropout in the first year of university studies. Some of the main reasons were attributed to adjustment or adaptation difficulties experienced by the new students which impacted on academic achievement. Much of this difficulty relates to the need to find their identity in relation to the new university environment with new rules, peers, and expectations. The acquisition of a sensory integrative (SI) profile could shed light on an element of the student’s identity. However, very little is known about the relationship between the SI profile and academic achievement. Therefore, the aim of the study was to determine the SI profiles of students and whether there was a relationship between the SI profiles and academic achievement of first year students from the Faculty of the Community and Health Sciences (FCHS) at the University of the Western Cape (UWC).The study followed the quantitative research paradigm and was more specifically a descriptive, cross-sectional study. Measurements included a demographic questionnaire to gather socio-demographic data, as well as the Adolescent and Adult Sensory Profile questionnaire to determine the SI profiles of the students.These instruments were administered to a sample of 357 registered first year students from the FCHS at UWC. Matriculation academic marks, as well as first year university academic marks were obtained and utilised for analysis. The SPSS statistical package was utilised for descriptive and inferential statistical analyses of the data. The results of the study indicated that the SI profiles of the first year FCHS students were that they responded "similarly to most people" on each of the four sensory quadrants of Dunn's (1997) Model of Sensory Processing. Secondary analyses were implemented by means of a collapsing mechanism to denote more specific results of the SI profiles. This analysis revealed that the students tended to have low thresholds for their neurological and behavioural continua of sensory processing.The inferential analyses that were implemented to determine whether there was a relationship between the SI profiles and academic achievement of the first year students yielded no statistical relationship between those variables. The analyses revealed relationships between the SI profiles and certain socio-demographic factors, such as age, race, and course of study.In conclusion, the research study uncovered the SI profiles of the first year university student sample, relationships between the SI profiles and sociodemographics and disproved a relationship between SI profiles and academic achievement. The study was therefore of value to the professions of occupational therapy and higher education and has opened avenues for further exploration. Furthermore the study has portrayed that occupational therapy tools and SI profiles could have a place in higher education and in relation to student development, teaching and learning.
Risk factors for chronic non communicable diseases in Mombasa, Kenya: epidemiological study using WHO stepwise approach
(OASIS, 2011) Tawa, Nassib; Waggie, Firdouza; Frantz, Jose M.
OBJECTIVE: To describe the prevalence and distribution patterns of the major common risk factors for non communicable diseases among the people living in Mombasa, Kenya. METHODS: Using the WHO STEPwise approach, risk factors for non communicable diseases were analyzed for 305 people aged between 13 to 67 years. The study sample was arrived at through convenient stratification of the population according to age and setting followed by random selection of the participants. RESULTS: The most common individual risk factors registered were physical inactivity, hypertension and overweight/obesity accounting for 42%, 24% and 11% of the sample respectively. Participants who possessed a single risk factor profile were 42% and those who had multiple risk factors were approximately 17%. Hypertension and physical inactivity were the most common multiple risk factor pattern possessed by 7.5% of the participants who had at least one of the investigated risk factors for CNCDs. Socio-demographic characteristics including male gender, increasing age, being a student and low socio-economic status were found to be positive predictors of CNCDs CONCLUSION: The burden of CNCDs risk factors is unequally distributed among Mombasa residents. The poorest quintile posses the worst risk factor profile compared to their privileged counterparts. The implementation of WHO STEPwise approach was feasible since it revealed a comprehensive picture of the at-risk groups thus forming a vital baseline framework for target specific and cost-effective CNCDs control and prevention interventions.
The school, a viable educational site for interdisciplinary health promotion
(Taylor & Francis, 2004) Waggie, Firdouza; Gordon, Natalie; Brijlal, Priscilla
An interdisciplinary health promotion module, using the community-based teaching approach, is offered by the University of the Western Cape (UWC). Schools in Delft, a poor socio-economic area with high unemployment, crime and a range of social problems, are used as the teaching site
Self-leadership strategies of nurses in an outreach service at a private hospital group in Gauteng
(University of the Western Cape, 2018) Prinsloo, Cathrina Johanna; Jooste, Karien; Waggie, Firdouza
Critical Care Outreach Services (CCOSs) recognize early sign of deterioration in medical units, regarding the condition of the patient, by using elements of vital sign tracking namely modified early warning score (MEWS). Nurses as leaders should be proactive by using influence to obtain a desired outcome. It is unclear how nurses experience self-leadership in this outreach service in a private hospital in Pretoria. The purpose of this research was to understand nurses’ experience of their self-leadership in the current CCOS at a private hospital in Pretoria, in order to develop self-leadership strategies that could contributes to the implementation of a CCOS (for the broader population of nurses) in a private hospital group in Gauteng. In this research the steps as outlined in the self-leadership strategic framework of Neck and Milliman (1994) were adapted for this research. The theoretical assumptions furthermore informed the methodological steps followed in the research process. The theoretical assumptions of the Practice Orientated Theory of Dickoff, James and Wiedenbach (1968) were adapted and the survey lists of this theory served as a reasoning map in this research. The central statement of this research was that, nurses need to lead themselves in implementing a CCOS in general wards in a private hospital group in Gauteng.

Browsing by Author "Waggie, Firdouza"

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