Survival of Indigenous African Healing Systems in Post-Apartheid South Africa

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-20
Author(s):  
Ntokozo Mthembu
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Social Order ◽  
Cultural Practices ◽  
Social Groups ◽  
Health Sector ◽  
Healthcare Services ◽  
Cultural Perspective ◽  
Medical Practices ◽  
Need To Evaluate ◽  
The Status

This chapter focuses on the revelation of the status of traditional medicine on which a high number of users depend, despite its historical negation in South Africa. This scenario suggests the need to evaluate the current narrow cultural perspective in the health sector and consider an intervention that will promote respect for diverse cultural practices that provide healthcare services to diverse social groups with their respective moral codes. In this chapter, the researcher argues that the notion of integration of diverse medical practices is a nonstarter and a subtle way of reinsertion of the status quo. In conclusion, this chapter argues that the historical experiences reveal that each medical practice is embedded in its social order; thus, the concept of a plural healthcare system becomes a viable intervention to put an end to the historical injustices against the izinyanga and their practice in this instance.

Conclusion: Rethinking Punishment

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Didier Fassin
Keyword(s):  
Social Inequality ◽  
Political Violence ◽  
Social Order ◽  
Social Groups ◽  
The Social ◽  
Ideal Language ◽  
The Status ◽  
The Ideal

If punishment is not what we say it is, if it is not justified by the reasons we invoke, if it facilitates repeat offenses instead of preventing them, if it punishes in excess of the seriousness of the act, if it sanctions according to the status of the offender rather than to the gravity of the offense, if it targets social groups defined beforehand as punishable, and if it contributes to producing and reproducing disparities, then does it not itself precisely undermine the social order? And must we not start to rethink punishment, not only in the ideal language of philosophy and law but also in the uncomfortable reality of social inequality and political violence?

Desperation of Demographic Change in the Health Sector in Germany: Necessary Strategy Orientation for Medical Practices in the Countryside

2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (7) ◽  
pp. 667-675
Author(s):  
Sabine Abbasi ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Rural Areas ◽  
Health Sector ◽  
Healthcare Services ◽  
Skilled Workers ◽  
Demographic Development ◽  
Medical Practices ◽  
New Employees ◽  
Qualified Personnel ◽  
Shortage Of Doctors ◽  
High Degree

The demographic development in Germany affects the entire healthcare system. The fact is that more and more people are getting older and older and due to the increasing multimorbidity in old age more and more healthcare services are needed. But there are fewer and fewer professionals providing these services. This phenomenon can be observed both in the medical, nursing and social fields. The shortage of doctors and skilled workers that has become apparent in recent years — especially in rural areas — has led to hospitals, medical care centers (MVZ) and medical practices searching for qualified personnel to use the usual acquisition mechanisms (advertisements in daily and professional newspapers, recruiting staff) due to the unsatisfactory results. The alternatives require a high degree of pragmatism. This article demonstrates the importance of strategic alignment in HR marketing of rural medical practices and identifies concrete ways to retain existing employees and position them as an attractive employer for potential new employees.

scholarly journals Factors associated with underutilisation of antenatal care services in Limpopo, South Africa

2020 ◽  
Vol 28 (11) ◽  
pp. 788-795
Author(s):  
Seani Adrinah Mulondo
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Antenatal Care ◽  
Pregnant Women ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Cultural Practices ◽  
Neonatal Morbidity ◽  
Healthcare Services ◽  
Early Presentation ◽  
Factors Associated ◽  
Care Services

Background The aim of this study was to explore and describe factors associated with underutilisation of antenatal care services. In South Africa, maternal and child healthcare services are provided free of charge. Despite this, utilisation of antenatal care services remains a major public health challenge. Literature affirms that 96% of pregnant women present at antenatal care services only after 12 weeks of pregnancy, and this is influenced by several factors. Women's attitude plays an integral role. Methods This study used a qualitative, exploratory, descriptive design. Purposive and convenient sampling methods were used to select 10 hospitals and 83 pregnant women, respectively. Ten focus group discussions were conducted to collect data. Trustworthiness was ensured by means of Guba's model and data were analysed, qualitatively, using Tesch's eight steps. Results The majority of the pregnant women (83%) were from rural areas, had unplanned pregnancies, had five pregnancies/children or more, factors that are associated with underutilisation of antenatal care services. Cultural practices and beliefs regarding early presentation to antenatal care services and its effect on pregnancies were also found to be associated with underutilisation. Conclusions Some pregnant women do not consider antenatal care services as essential and choose to present late, despite the knowledge that monitoring of maternal health during pregnancy by midwives could prevent maternal and neonatal morbidity, while improving maternal and neonatal health and wellness. Recommendations include the provision of information and education materials to women, as well as health education, to sensitise and increase women's awareness of the urgency in utilising antenatal care services.

UN-BLURRING THE MYTHS AND REALITIES OF WOMEN AND CHILDREN’S RIGHTS IN SOUTH AFRICA

2017 ◽  
Vol 14 (2) ◽  
pp. 109-120
Author(s):  
T N Sithole ◽  
Kgothatso B Shai
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Children's Rights ◽  
Theory And Practice ◽  
Children’S Rights ◽  
Vulnerable Groups ◽  
Great Awareness ◽  
Policy Theory ◽  
Rights Of The Child ◽  
The Status ◽  
Customary Practices

Awareness of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW 1979) and the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC 1989) is relatively high within academic and political circles in South Africa and elsewhere around the world. In South Africa, this can be ascribed mainly to the powerful women’s lobby movements represented in government and academic sectors. Women and children’s issues have been especially highlighted in South Africa over the last few years. In this process, the aforementioned two international human rights instruments have proved very useful. There is a gender desk in each national department. The Office on the Status of Women and the Office on Child Rights have been established within the Office of the President, indicating the importance attached to these institutions. These offices are responsible for co-ordinating governmental efforts towards the promotion and protection of women and children’s rights respectively, including the two relevant treaties. Furthermore, there is also a great awareness amongst non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) in respect of CEDAW and CRC. This can be ascribed mainly to the fact that there is a very strong women’s NGO lobby and NGOs are actively committed to the promotion of children’s rights. Women are increasingly vocal and active within the politics of South Africa, but the weight of customary practices remains heavy. The foregoing is evident of the widening gap between policy theory and practice in the fraternity of vulnerable groups – children and women in particular.

The Legal Status of Local Government in South Africa under the New Constitutional Dispensation

2018 ◽  
Vol 33 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mbuzeni Mathenjwa
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Local Government ◽  
Legal Status ◽  
Case Law ◽  
The Status ◽  
History Of ◽  
The Republic ◽  
First Time

The history of local government in South Africa dates back to a time during the formation of the Union of South Africa in 1910. With regard to the status of local government, the Union of South Africa Act placed local government under the jurisdiction of the provinces. The status of local government was not changed by the formation of the Republic of South Africa in 1961 because local government was placed under the further jurisdiction of the provinces. Local government was enshrined in the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa arguably for the first time in 1993. Under the interim Constitution local government was rendered autonomous and empowered to regulate its affairs. Local government was further enshrined in the final Constitution of 1996, which commenced on 4 February 1997. The Constitution refers to local government together with the national and provincial governments as spheres of government which are distinctive, interdependent and interrelated. This article discusses the autonomy of local government under the 1996 Constitution. This it does by analysing case law on the evolution of the status of local government. The discussion on the powers and functions of local government explains the scheme by which government powers are allocated, where the 1996 Constitution distributes powers to the different spheres of government. Finally, a conclusion is drawn on the legal status of local government within the new constitutional dispensation.

Corrupt Practices in the Public Health Sector: A Focus on Metropolitan Local Government Areas of Kano State, Nigeria

2020 ◽  
Vol 18 (2) ◽  
pp. 149
Author(s):  
Mohammed Mustapha Namadi
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Local Government ◽  
Health Sector ◽  
Sampling Technique ◽  
Healthcare Services ◽  
Healthcare Sector ◽  
Healthcare Provision ◽  
The Public ◽  
Public Health Sector ◽  
The Government

Corruption is pervasive in Nigeria at all levels. Thus, despite recent gains in healthcare provision, the health sector faces numerous corruption related challenges. This study aims at examining areas of corruption in the health sector with specific focus on its types and nature. A sample size of 480 respondents aged 18 years and above was drawn from the eight Metropolitan Local Government Areas of Kano State, using the multistage sampling technique. The results revealed evidence of corrupt practices including those related to unnecessary-absenteeism, diversion of patients from the public health facilities to the private sector, diverting money meant for the purchase of equipment, fuel and diesel, bribery, stealing of medications, fraud, misappropriation of medications and unjustifiable reimbursement claims. In order to resolve the problem of corrupt practices in the healthcare sector, the study recommended the need for enforcement of appropriate code of ethics guiding the conduct of the health professionals, adoption of anti-corruption strategies, and strengthening the government monitoring system to check corruption in public health sector in order to ensure equitable access to healthcare services among the under-privileged people in the society.

scholarly journals Identifying and bridging the knowledge-to-practice gaps in rehabilitation professionals working with at-risk infants in the public health sector of South Africa: a multimethod study protocol

BMJ Open ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (5) ◽  
pp. e039242
Author(s):  
Pragashnie Govender
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
South Africa ◽  
At Risk ◽  
Neonatal Intensive Care ◽  
Qualitative Data ◽  
Health Sector ◽  
Critical Time ◽  
Reliability And Validity ◽  
The Public ◽  
Public Health Sector

IntroductionEarly childhood is a critical time when the benefits of early interventions are intensified, and the adverse effects of risk can be reduced. For the optimal provision of early intervention, professionals in the field are required to have specialised knowledge and skills in implementing these programmes. In the context of South Africa, there is evidence to suggest that therapists are ill-prepared to handle the unique challenges posed in neonatal intensive care units and wards with at-risk infants in the first few weeks of life. This is attributed to several reasons; however, irrespective of the causative factors, the need to bridge this knowledge-to-practice gap remains essential.Methods and analysisThis study is a multimethod stakeholder-driven study using a scoping review followed by an appreciative inquiry and Delphi process that will aid in the development, implementation and evaluation of a knowledge translation intervention to bridge knowledge-gaps in occupational and physiotherapists working in the field. Therapists currently working in the public health sector will be recruited for participation in the various stages of the study. The analysis will occur via thematic analysis for qualitative data and percentages and frequencies for descriptive quantitative data. Issues around trustworthiness and rigour, and reliability and validity, will be ensured within each of the phases, by use of a content validity index and inter-rater reliability for the Delphi survey; thick descriptions, peer debriefing, member checking and an audit trail for the qualitative data.Ethics and disseminationThe study has received full ethical approval from the Health Research and Knowledge Management Directorate of the Department of Health and a Biomedical Research Ethics Committee. The results will be published in peer-reviewed academic journals and disseminated to the relevant stakeholders within this study.

scholarly journals The status of alien bamboos in South Africa

2021 ◽  
Vol 138 ◽  
pp. 33-40
Author(s):  
Susan Canavan ◽  
David M. Richardson ◽  
Johannes J. Le Roux ◽  
Scot A. Kelchner ◽  
John R.U. Wilson
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
The Status

scholarly journals Post-trial perceptions of a symptom-based TB screening intervention in South Africa: implementation insights and future directions for TB preventive healthcare services

BMC Nursing ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicole Salazar-Austin ◽  
Minja Milovanovic ◽  
Nora S. West ◽  
Molefi Tladi ◽  
Grace Link Barnes ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Community Health ◽  
Community Health Workers ◽  
Health Workers ◽  
Implementation Strategies ◽  
Healthcare Services ◽  
Preventive Therapy ◽  
Provider Perceptions ◽  
Symptom Screening ◽  
Study Implementation

Abstract Background Tuberculosis is a top-10 cause of under-5 mortality, despite policies promoting tuberculosis preventive therapy (TPT). We previously conducted a cluster randomized trial to evaluate the effectiveness of symptom-based versus tuberculin skin-based screening on child TPT uptake. Symptom-based screening did not improve TPT uptake and nearly two-thirds of child contacts were not identified or not linked to care. Here we qualitatively explored healthcare provider perceptions of factors that impacted TPT uptake among child contacts. Methods Sixteen in-depth interviews were conducted with key informants including healthcare providers and administrators who participated in the trial in Matlosana, South Africa. The participants’ experience with symptom-based screening, study implementation strategies, and ongoing challenges with child contact identification and linkage to care were explored. Interviews were systematically coded and thematic content analysis was conducted. Results Participants’ had mixed opinions about symptom-based screening and high acceptability of the study implementation strategies. A key barrier to optimizing child contact screening and evaluation was the supervision and training of community health workers. Conclusions Symptom screening is a simple and effective strategy to evaluate child contacts, but additional pediatric training is needed to provide comfort with decision making. New clinic-based child contact files were highly valued by providers who continued to use them after trial completion. Future interventions to improve child contact management will need to address how to best utilize community health workers in identifying and linking child contacts to care. Trial registration The results presented here were from research related to NCT03074799, retrospectively registered on 9 March 2017.

Perceived Social Mobility and Political Trust in China

2015 ◽  
Vol 14 (4) ◽  
pp. 315-336 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhenhua Su ◽  
Yang Cao ◽  
Jingkai He ◽  
Waibin Huang
Keyword(s):  
Economic Growth ◽  
Social Mobility ◽  
Social Order ◽  
Political Trust ◽  
Traditional Culture ◽  
Status Quo ◽  
World Values Survey ◽  
Reform Era ◽  
The Status ◽  
And Control

Existing studies have traced China’s high political trust to three sources: traditional culture, the state’s success in fostering economic growth, and ideological propaganda. We identify a fourth source: perceived social mobility. We argue that when people perceive a reasonable chance for upward mobility based on personal initiatives and efforts, the status quo becomes more justifiable because individuals are responsible for their own successes and failures. Perceived social mobility thus instills a sense of optimism and fairness and exonerates the regime from many blames, thereby enhancing political trust. Regression analysis of the China portion of the 2007 World Values Survey data shows that respondents who saw themselves as having choices and control in life were indeed more likely to trust the ruling communist party. The respondents’ overall level of perceived social mobility is also high, which is consistent with the massive shake-up of the preexisting social order in China’s reform era.

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