scholarly journals Developing a self-directed career guidance intervention for South African high school learners amidst severe COVID-19 restrictions

2021 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Michelle Jäckel-Visser ◽  
Stephan Rabie ◽  
Anthony V. Naidoo ◽  
Izanette Van Schalkwyk ◽  
Francois J. Van den Berg ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
High School ◽  
Mixed Methods ◽  
South African ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Career Guidance ◽  
Western Cape ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Interpersonal Contact ◽  
Guidance Intervention ◽  
Perceived Impact

Background: South African schools have been severely impacted by the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic in 2020. State-imposed restrictions to mitigate the spread of the infection have significantly limited direct interpersonal contact, curtailing the existing career guidance and counselling activities in schools. Crucially, in low-income settings, the social distancing regulations implied that in a year of increasing anxiety and uncertainty, many high school learners would have had to make important career-related decisions with limited or no tacit career guidance.Objectives: In response to these challenges, this study developed a self-directed career guidance intervention to provide continued career guidance support for Grade 9 learners amidst the unfolding global pandemic.Method: A cross-sectional mixed-methods design was employed to evaluate feasibility and acceptability of the intervention amongst a sample of 498 learners across eight high schools in the Cape Winelands district, Western Cape province, South Africa.Results: Favourable quantitative results were obtained assessing learners’ experiences of participating in the intervention and on the perceived impact of the intervention on their career preparedness. Participants reported a mean score of 41.25 (out of 50) for acceptability of the intervention. In addition, they reported a mean score of 17.1 (out of 20) for perceived impact of the intervention on their career preparedness. In terms of feasibility, qualitative findings revealed that the intervention improved learners’ self-knowledge and career directionality.Conclusion: The mixed-methods results confirm the feasibility and utility of implementing a self-directed career guidance intervention amongst secondary school learners. Whilst learners reported positive evaluations of the self-directed career guidance booklet, they also expressed the need for one-on-one or group engagement with the intervention content.

A Group-based Career Guidance Intervention for South African High School Learners from Low-income Communities

2019 ◽  
pp. 665-685
Author(s):  
Anthony V. Naidoo ◽  
Michelle Visser ◽  
Marietha de Wet ◽  
Stephan Rabie ◽  
Izanette van Schalkwyk ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
High School ◽  
South African ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Career Guidance ◽  
Guidance Intervention

scholarly journals Commitment and the emigration intentions of South African professional nurses

2013 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jeffrey J. Bagraim
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
South African ◽  
Employee Commitment ◽  
Western Cape ◽  
Public Health Services ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Tertiary Hospitals ◽  
Quantitative Design ◽  
The Relationship

The emigration of skilled nurses from South Africa exacerbates the crisis in the provision of public health services. A descriptive, quantitative design was applied to investigate the relationship between intention to emigrate and employee commitment. Over 400 registered nurses (N = 419), working within public sector tertiary hospitals in the Western Cape, responded to a cross-sectional survey questionnaire. Three foci of employee commitment (organisational, professional and national) were examined but only national commitment significantly helped predict intention to emigrate from South Africa in the regression model (beta = -0.0525, p < 0.0001). The implications of the results obtained in this study are discussed.Die emigrasie van verpleegkundiges uit Suid-Afrika vererger die krisis in die verskaffing van gesondheidsorgdienste in die land. ’n Beskrywende, kwantitatiewe ontwerp is gebruik om die verwantskap tussen werknemertoewyding en die voorneme om te emigreer te ondersoek. Meer as 400 verpleegsters (N = 419) wat in openbare tersiêre hospitale in die Wes-Kaap werk, het op die vraelys gereageer. Drie fokusareas van toewyding (organisatories, professioneel en nasionaal) is gemeet, maar net nasionale toewyding het daartoe bygedra om emigrasievoorneme te voorspel (beta = -0.0525, p < 0.0001). Die implikasies van hierdie resultate word bespreek.

scholarly journals Sleep and BMI in South African urban and rural, high and low-income preschool children

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Dale E. Rae ◽  
Simone A. Tomaz ◽  
Rachel A. Jones ◽  
Trina Hinkley ◽  
Rhian Twine ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Preschool Children ◽  
South African ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Urban Environments ◽  
Z Score ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Rural And Urban ◽  
Sleep Parameters ◽  
Z Scores

Abstract Background The extent to which income setting or rural and urban environments modify the association between sleep and obesity in young children is unclear. The aims of this cross-sectional observational study were to (i) describe and compare sleep in South African preschool children from rural low-income (RL), urban low-income (UL) and urban high-income (UH) settings; and (ii) test for associations between sleep parameters and body mass index (BMI). Methods Participants were preschoolers (5.2 ± 0.7y, 49.5% boys) from RL (n = 111), UL (n = 65) and UH (n = 22) settings. Height and weight were measured. Sleep, sedentary behaviour and physical activity were assessed using accelerometery. Results UL children had higher BMI z-scores (median: 0.39; interquartile range: − 0.27, 0.99) than the UH (− 0.38; − 0.88, 0.11) and RL (− 0.08; − 0.83, 0.53) children (p = 0.001). The UL children had later bedtimes (p < 0.001) and wake-up times (p < 0.001) and shorter 24 h (p < 0.001) and nocturnal (p < 0.001) sleep durations than the RL and UH children. After adjusting for age, sex, setting, SB and PA, for every hour less sleep obtained (24 h and nocturnal), children were 2.28 (95% CI: 1.28–4.35) and 2.22 (95% CI: 1.27–3.85) more likely, respectively, to belong to a higher BMI z-score quartile. Conclusions Shorter sleep is associated with a higher BMI z-score in South African preschoolers, despite high levels of PA, with UL children appearing to be particularly vulnerable.

scholarly journals Factors associated with cigarette experimentation among adolescents

2019 ◽  
Vol 18 (3) ◽  
pp. 421-454
Author(s):  
Luciene Dias Bispo Veiga ◽  
Claudio Bispo de Almeida ◽  
Paulo Da Fonseca Valença Neto ◽  
Adriana Alves Nery ◽  
Djanilson Barbosa dos Santos ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
High School ◽  
High School Students ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Prevalence Ratio ◽  
Simple Random Sample ◽  
School Students ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Factors Associated ◽  
Informed Consent Form ◽  
La Red

Objetivo: El presente estudio pretende identificar la prevalencia y factores asociados a la experimentación de tabaco en adolescentes.Método: El estudio epidemiológico, transversal, descriptivo y analítico realizado con una muestra aleatoria simple de escolares con edad de 14 a 19 años, matriculados en escuelas públicas de enseñanza media de la red estadual del área urbana del municipio de Jequié-BA. Se utilizó un cuestionario auto-aplicable de llenado voluntario, tras la firma del término de consentimiento libre y aclarado por el responsable cuando menor de 18 años. Se empleó el programa Epi DATA para la digitación de los datos y programa SPSS para calcular la razón de prevalencia y realizar la regresión de Poisson. Resultados: En el estudio de 765 adolescentes, siendo 59,9% del sexo femenino, 80,4% de etnia no blanca, 71,4% sin ocupación remunerada, 74% menos favorecidos económicamente y 37,9% consumen bebida alcohólica. El promedio de edad fue de 16,55 años (dp ± 1,33) años. La prevalencia de la experimentación de tabaco fue del 22,4%. Las variables: padres fuman (RP = 1,57, IC95%: 1,15-2,12), amigos fuman (RP = 2,15, IC95%: 1,56-2,95), uso de bebidas alcohólicas PR = 2,05; IC del 95%: 1.46 a 2.88) y la edad (OR = 1,36; IC del 95%: 1,01-1,84) fueron los que permitieron predecir mejor el riesgo de que un escolar experimente con el tabaco. Conclusiones: La prevalencia de experimentación fue 22,4%, y las variables que mejor permitieron predecir la predisposición de un escolar a experimentar el tabaco fueron tener padres fumadores, tener amigos que fuman, hacer uso de bebidas alcohólicas y ser del grupo de edad de 17 a 19 años. Objective: The present study aims to identify the prevalence and factors associated with cigarette experimentation among adolescents.Method: Cross-sectional, descriptive and analytical epidemiological study carried out with a simple random sample of students aged 14-19 years enrolled in public high schools in the urban area of the city of Jequié, in the state of Bahia. After the A self-administered questionnaire of voluntary completion was used after the participants (or their parents/guardians in the case of participants under 18) signed the free informed consent form. Data was entered with Epi DATA software and SPSS software was used to calculate the prevalence ratio and perform Poisson regression. Results: The study sample consisted of 765 adolescents, as follows: 59.9% were female individuals, 80.4% were non-white, 71.4% did not have a paid job, 74% lived in low-income families, and 37.9% used alcohol. The mean age was 16.55 years (sd ± 1.33) years. The prevalence of smoking experimentation was 22.4%. The variables: parental smoking (PR = 1.57, 95% CI: 1.15-2.12), smoking friends (RP = 2.15, 95% CI: 1.56-2.95), alcohol drinking (OR = 2.05, 95% CI: 1.46-2.88), and age group (RP = 1.36, 95% CI: 1.01-1.84) were the best predictors of the risk for experimentation with cigarettes among high school students.Conclusions: The prevalence of experimentation was 22.4%, and the variables that best predicted the likelihood of experimenting with tobacco among high school students were smoking parents, smoking friends, alcohol use and aged 17-19 years. Objetivo: O presente estudo visa identificar a prevalência e fatores associados à experimentação de tabaco em adolescentes.Método: Estudo epidemiológico, transversal, descritivo e analítico realizado com uma amostra aleatória simples, de escolares com idade de 14 a 19 anos, matriculada em escolas públicas de ensino médio da rede estadual da área urbana do município de Jequié-BA. Utilizou-se um questionário auto-aplicável de preenchimento voluntário, após assinatura do termo de consentimento livre e esclarecido pelo responsável quando menor de 18 anos. Empregou-se o programa Epi DATA para a digitação dos dados e programa SPSS para calcular a razão de prevalência e realizar a regressão de Poisson.Resultados: Participaram do estudo 765 adolescentes, sendo 59,9% do sexo feminino, 80,4% de etnia não branca, 71,4% sem ocupação remunerada, 74% menos favorecidos economicamente e 37,9% fazem uso de bebida alcoólica. A média de idade foi de 16,55 anos (dp±1,33) anos. A prevalência da experimentação de tabaco foi de 22,4%. As variáveis: pais fumam (RP=1,57; IC95%:1,15-2,12), amigos fumam (RP=2,15; IC95%:1,56-2,95), uso de bebidas alcoólicas (RP=2,05; IC95%:1,46-2,88) e grupo etário (RP= 1,36; IC95%:1,01-1,84) foram as que melhor permitiram prever o risco de um escolar vir a experimentar tabaco.Conclusões: A prevalência de experimentação foi 22,4%, e as variáveis que melhor permitiram prever a predisposição de um escolar vir a experimentar o tabaco foram possuir pais fumantes, ter amigos que fumam, fazer uso de bebidas alcoólicas e serem do grupo etário de 17 a 19 anos.

Prosthetic use by persons with unilateral transfemoral amputation in a South African setting

2019 ◽  
Vol 43 (3) ◽  
pp. 276-283 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elzbeth Pienaar ◽  
Surona Visagie
Keyword(s):  
South African ◽  
Walking Distance ◽  
Western Cape ◽  
Prosthetic Rehabilitation ◽  
Transfemoral Amputation ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Chi Square ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Chi Square Test ◽  
Study Population

Background: Due to limitations in provision of prosthetic care in South Africa, a screening tool to select transfemoral prosthetic candidates has been implemented. Objective: To describe prosthetic services, use and mobility of people with transfemoral amputation, identified as prosthetic candidates through the Guidelines for Screening of Prosthetic Candidates: Lower Limb, and to identify variables that might influence prosthetic use and mobility. Design: Cross-sectional survey. Methods: The study population included all adults who received their first prosthesis from the Orthotic and Prosthetic Centre in the Western Cape between 1 June 2011 and 31 December 2014. Data were collected, with an adapted version of the Prosthetic Profile of the Amputee, from 43 participants, through telephonic interviews. Descriptive and inferential analysis, with the chi-square test, was done. Results: The majority of participants were older than 50 years (77%). Most participants (35; 81%) used their prosthesis; however, only 42% (18) used it daily. A significant association ( p = 0.000) was found between prosthetic rehabilitation and self-reported prosthetic walking distance. Less than half of participants received prosthetic rehabilitation and only 10 (30%) could walk 500 steps and more without resting. Conclusion: Participants used their prosthetic leg, but experienced limitations in frequency of wear and mobility. Clinical relevance Current findings showed that participants’ prosthetic mobility was curtailed. In less-resourced settings, carefully selecting prosthetic candidates may be necessary to provide access to services. Prosthetic provision is advised to be followed up with prosthetic rehabilitation for favourable mobility outcomes.

scholarly journals The burden of drug resistant tuberculosis in a predominantly nomadic population in Uganda: a mixed methods study

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Brenda Nakafeero Simbwa ◽  
Achilles Katamba ◽  
Elizabeth B. Katana ◽  
Eva A. O. Laker ◽  
Sandra Nabatanzi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mixed Methods ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Conditional Logistic Regression ◽  
Drug Resistant ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Drug Resistant Tuberculosis ◽  
Public Health Burden ◽  
Factors Associated ◽  
Tb Treatment ◽  
Resistant Tuberculosis

Abstract Background Emergence of drug resistant tuberculosis (DR-TB) has aggravated the tuberculosis (TB) public health burden worldwide and especially in low income settings. We present findings from a predominantly nomadic population in Karamoja, Uganda with a high-TB burden (3500 new cases annually) and sought to determine the prevalence, patterns, factors associated with DR-TB. Methods We used mixed methods of data collection. We enrolled 6890 participants who were treated for tuberculosis in a programmatic setting between January 2015 and April 2018. A cross sectional study and a matched case control study with conditional logistic regression and robust standard errors respectively were used to the determine prevalence and factors associated with DR-TB. The qualitative methods included focus group discussions, in-depth interviews and key informant interviews. Results The overall prevalence of DR-TB was 41/6890 (0.6%) with 4/64,197 (0.1%) among the new and 37/2693 (1.4%) among the previously treated TB patients respectively. The drug resistance patterns observed in the region were mainly rifampicin mono resistant (68.3%) and Multi Drug-Resistant Tuberculosis (31.7%). Factors independently associated with DR-TB were previous TB treatment, adjusted odds ratio (aOR) 13.070 (95%CI 1.552–110.135) and drug stock-outs aOR 0.027 (95%CI 0.002–0.364). The nomadic lifestyle, substance use, congested homesteads and poor health worker attitudes were a great challenge to effective treatment of TB. Conclusion Despite having the highest national TB incidence, Karamoja still has a low DR-TB prevalence. Previous TB treatment and drug stock outs were associated with DR-TB. Regular supply of anti TB medications and health education may help to stem the burden of TB disease in this nomadic population.

scholarly journals Candidates from wealthy homes or urban areas are more advantageously positioned to qualify for medical school in Japan.

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Junji Otaki ◽  
Kikuko Taketomi ◽  
Machiko Shibahara ◽  
Yoko Watanabe ◽  
Shizuko Nagata‐Kobayashi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
High School ◽  
High School Students ◽  
Medical School ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Career Guidance ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
School Students ◽  
Medical Department ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Arduous Task

BackgroundDetermining the bracket of the economic situation to enroll in a medical school in Japan is an arduous task for medical schools and educational administrations.Methods and FindingsA nationwide cross-sectional survey was utilized with an original questionnaire to identify factors advantageous for high school students seeking admission in a medical school. We sent a letter and questionnaire to the teachers in charge of career guidance at 1,746 high schools in Japan.A total of 1,094 responses were obtained. Of them, 66.8% responded affirmatively to the statement, "It is difficult for students in economically disadvantaged families to enroll in medical school," while 42.0% responded affirmatively to: "Some students gave up on going to medical school because they could not afford it," and 61.9% responded affirmatively that "students living in urban areas are more likely to go on to a medical department."ConclusionsMany high school teachers in Japan believe that students from wealthy families and those living in urban areas have an advantage in advancing to medical school. Consequently, many high school students give up on going to medical school for financial reasons.

The impact of inequality and COVID-19 on education and career planning for South African children of rural and low-socioeconomic backgrounds

2021 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Indira Pillay
Keyword(s):  
Rural Communities ◽  
South African ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Education System ◽  
Career Guidance ◽  
Career Planning ◽  
Relevant Literature ◽  
Access To Education ◽  
Low Socioeconomic ◽  
The Impact

Background: South African youth in poor and rural communities have faced serious challenges, and the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has worsened their situation. The odds are stacked against them as they try to obtain an education, and eventually a career. Many students struggle to complete their studies amidst the pressure of the pandemic, and concerns over career possibilities weigh heavily on their shoulders.Objectives: The need for this research is to highlight the challenges faced by youth within the education system. It is also to explore the failings of the South African government and its education sector.Method: A brief overview of the current and historical literature was conducted. Relevant literature was reviewed and critically analysed.Results: Eight major themes emerged from the literature surveyed. These included access to education, difficulties faced by girls, racism, infrastructure problems in poor and rural schools, child-headed households, education during COVID-19, food security and the absence of career guidance in low-income schools.Conclusion: In light of South Africa’s difficult history, and the fact that it is 27 years after the fall of apartheid, the state of South Africa’s education system is not conducive to education and promoting career development in young people. More attention needs to be given to education in poorer communities, and government needs to be held accountable.

scholarly journals A mixed-methods analysis of mechanisms to support college enrollment among low-income high school students.

2020 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
pp. 118-131
Author(s):  
Teresa M. Ober ◽  
June Ahn ◽  
Alisha Ali ◽  
Bruce D. Homer ◽  
Aileen Moner ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
High School ◽  
High School Students ◽  
Mixed Methods ◽  
Low Income ◽  
College Enrollment ◽  
School Students
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