scholarly journals Assessment of learners’ exposure to health education and promotion at school in the Limpopo Province of South Africa

Author(s):  
Oni H. Tosin ◽  
Takalani G. Tshitangano

Background: School participation and educational attainment among adolescents have been rising rapidly in the developing world. Thus, to attain Millennium Development Goal 6 (Combat HIV and/or AIDs, malaria and other diseases), it is crucial to seize the opportunity to educate and encourage teenagers about healthy choices and proper social behaviours that will continue into adulthood.Aim: This study aimed to assess the exposure of rural secondary school learners to health education and promotion at schools in the Limpopo Province of South Africa.Setting: This study was carried out at 10 secondary schools in Vhumbedzi educational circuit.Methodology: The study adopted a cross-sectional quantitative approach. Data were collected from 338 randomly selected learners from 10 secondary schools that make up a rural Vhumbedzi circuit in the Limpopo province. A self-administered questionnaire was used to collect data.Results: The findings showed that, 102 (66.07%) male and 121 (67.60%) female learners reported that they were taught about physical changes that occur during adolescence. In the same vein, most of the participants (n = 128, 84.39%) and (n = 152, 85.39%) males and females respectively claimed to have been taught about sexually transmitted diseases.Conclusion: In this study the secondary schools in the Limpopo Province of South Africa are making efforts to uphold and expose their learners to health education and promotion at school.Keyword: Health education and promotion, adolescents, school, learners

Author(s):  
Deepak Anand ◽  
Khurshid Parveen ◽  
Gyan Prakash

Background: Providing information about changes during adolescence and sexually transmitted diseases is an important means of promoting healthy development and reducing negative outcomes of social behaviors in adolescents. For this purpose we must know their level of knowledge. So this study was designed to assess the knowledge of male students of class VIth to IXth about issues related to adolescence, their attitude for sexuality related problem and their source of information.Methods: It is a cross-sectional study, sample size was 400. Data was collected between August 2017 and December 2017 by using structured questionnaire.Results: Regarding physical changes 4.5% students have no knowledge, 58.75% have some knowledge and 36.75% have satisfactory knowledge. Whereas 9.75% have no knowledge, 80.75% have some knowledge and 9.50% have satisfactory knowledge regarding sexually transmitted diseases. Only 24.75% students knew legal age for marriage.Conclusions: It was found in study that majority of students do not have satisfactory knowledge and there is a need for targeted education for providing proper knowledge.


Author(s):  
Perpetua Modjadji ◽  
Josephine Mashishi

Despite years of interventions intended to reduce child malnutrition in South Africa, its negative effects, stunting in particular, persist mainly among children under five years old living in under-resourced regions. A cross-sectional study was conducted to determine the prevalence of malnutrition and associated factors among 404 children under age five attending childcare services with their mothers in selected healthcare facilities of Limpopo Province, South Africa. Anthropometry, socio-demographics and obstetric history were collected. Height-for-age, weight-for-age and body mass index-for-age Z-scores were used to determine stunting, underweight and thinness among children, respectively. Logistic regression analyses were performed to generate the factors associated with malnutrition. Stunting (45.3%) was the prevalent form of malnutrition among children under age five, affecting boys (51.7%) more than girls (38.8%) and children aged 12–23 months (62.4%) more than those <11 months old (40.1%), in addition to the overall prevalence of underweight (29.0%) and thinness (12.6%). Boys had increased odds of stunting (adjusted odds ratio, AOR = 2.07, 95% CI: 1.26–3.41, p = 0.004) and underweight (AOR = 2.17, 95% CI: 1.32–3.57, p = 0.002) than girls. Children aged 12–23 months were more likely to be stunted (AOR = 4.79, 95% CI: 2.36–9.75, p ≤ 0.0001) than children aged ≤11 months. Delayed introduction of solid foods increased the odds of stunting (AOR = 5.77, 95% CI: 2.63–12.64, p ≤ 0.0001) and underweight (AOR = 2.05, 95% CI: 1.08–3.89, p = 0.028). Children with normal birth weight were less likely to be thin (AOR = 0.42, 95% CI: 0.19–0.92, p = 0.029) and underweight (AOR = 0.34, 95% CI: 0.17–0.68, p = 0.003) than children who had low birth weight. Children whose mothers had obtained secondary school education (AOR = 0.39, 95% CI: 0.16–0.97, p = 0.044), and Grade 12 or post-Grade 12 education (AOR = 0.32, 95% CI: 0.12–0.83, p = 0.020) were less likely to be stunted than were children of mothers who had only primary school education. Suboptimal complementary feeding predisposed children to stunting and underweight. National nutrition programs should be context-specific to improve the introduction of complementary foods among children, especially in the remote and poor areas.


BMJ Open ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (12) ◽  
pp. e030701 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kathryn L Hopkins ◽  
Khuthadzo Hlongwane ◽  
Kennedy Otwombe ◽  
Janan Dietrich ◽  
Mireille Cheyip ◽  
...  

ObjectivesThis cross-sectional study investigated the burden of HIV-non-communicable disease (NCD) precursor comorbidity by age and sex. Policies stress integrated HIV-NCD screenings; however, NCD screening is poorly implemented in South African HIV testing services (HTS).SettingWalk-in HTS Centre in Soweto, South Africa.Participants325 voluntary adults, aged 18+ years, who provided written or verbal informed consent (with impartial witness) for screening procedures were enrolled.Primary and secondary outcomesData on sociodemographics, tuberculosis and sexually transmitted infection symptoms, blood pressure (BP) (≥140/90=elevated) and body mass index (<18.5 underweight; 18.5–25.0 normal; >25 overweight/obese) were stratified by age-group, sex and HIV status.ResultsOf the 325 participants, the largest proportions were female (51.1%; n=166/325), single (71.5%; n=231/323) and 25–34 years (33.8%; n=110/325). Overall, 20.9% (n=68/325) were HIV infected, 27.5% (n=89/324) had high BP and 33.5% (n=109/325) were overweight/obese. Among HIV-infected participants, 20.6% (14/68) had high BP and 30.9% (21/68) were overweight/obese, as compared with 29.3% (75/256) and 12.1% (31/256) of the HIV-uninfected participants, respectively. Females were more likely HIV-infected compared with males (26.5% (44/166) vs 15.1% (24/159); p=0.012). In both HIV-infected and uninfected groups, high BP was most prevalent in those aged 35–44 years (25% (6/24) vs 36% (25/70); p=0.3353) and >44 years (29% (4/14) vs 48% (26/54); p=0.1886). Males had higher BP than females (32.9% (52/158) vs 22.3% (37/166); p=0.0323); more females were overweight/obese relative to males (45.8% (76/166) vs 20.8% (33/159); p<0.0001). Females were more likely to be HIV infected and overweight/obese.ConclusionAmong HTS clients, NCD precursors rates and co-morbidities were high. Elevated BP occurred more in older participants. Targeted integrated interventions for HIV-infected females and HIV-infected people aged 18–24 and 35–44 years could improve HIV public health outcomes. Additional studies on whether integrated HTS will improve the uptake of NCD treatment and improve health outcomes are required.


BMJ Open ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 7 (12) ◽  
pp. e015943 ◽  
Author(s):  
Qiaohua Xu ◽  
Yuelong Huang ◽  
Biyun Chen

ObjectivesThis study aims to develop assessment indicators of health education and promotion for non-communicable disease (NCD) demonstration districts in China and to identify significant factors associated with NCD health education and promotion work.MethodsThree complementary techniques were used to conduct this study in Hunan Province, China, between late 2013 and 2015. The Delphi technique was used to develop weighted assessment indicators, followed by the rank sum ratio (RSR) to normalise the weights through rank conversion. Lastly, the technique for order of preference by similarity to ideal solution was conducted to assess five randomly selected NCD demonstration districts representing five different orientations in the province.ResultsA total of 24 assessment indicators were constructed covering the following sections: organisational management, fund support, personnel supplies, health education and promotion, people’s awareness of NCDs, management and control of patients with NCD, satisfaction with health education and promotion and health literacy of residents. Five districts were selected as samples for evaluation (Furong District, Ziyang District, Shaodong County, Shuangfeng County and Luxi County). Performance varied among the sites, with Furong District greatly surpassing the other sites, especially in fund support, media promotion, technical support for publicity materials, community promotion and supportive environment supplies. The latter four factors were also much greater in the second-ranked Luxi County site than those in the other sites (except Furong District).ConclusionsThere were gaps in health education and promotion work in NCD demonstration districts in Hunan Province. The districts that performed better had obvious advantages in fund support, media promotion, technical support, community promotion and supportive environment supplies. Our study provided both a methodological reference and an assessment indicator framework for similar future studies.


2018 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 319-329
Author(s):  
Netshikweta ML ◽  
Olaniyi FC ◽  
Tshitangano TG

Objectives:This study was conducted to determine the knowledge, opinions and practices of female adolescents in selected secondary schools in Limpopo Province of South Africa about reproductive health issues and assess the level of parental involvement in their choices.Materials and methods:A quantitative, exploratory, survey design was adopted. A total of 512 learners from grades 8 (first year of secondary school) and 12 (final year) were conveniently sampled from 24 randomly selected secondary schools in Limpopo Province. Data was collected with a structured, self-administered questionnaire and analysis was done using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 20.0.Results:Sixteen (3.9%) of the learners attained menarche at or before the early age of 8 years and 102 (29.3%) experienced sexual debut before age 14 years. More than half of grade 12 (n =84, 52.5%) and 49 (14%) of grade 8 learners were sexually active and 80% (n = 444, 86.7%) of them were unaware of contraceptives when engaging in sexual intercourse for the first time. Only 116 (22.7%) of the respondents admitted to having knowledge about contraceptives before engaging in sex for the first time and more than a third (n = 172, 33.6%) have been pregnant at least once before the study was conducted. Parental involvement in Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH) education was found to be low and many obtained the little information they have mainly through friends.Conclusion:Many adolescents are lacking in vital information regarding their SRH and some hold wrong opinions about contraception. Parents are advised to initiate and sustain discussions regarding SRH with their children to help them make informed reproductive health choices.


2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (9) ◽  
pp. 134
Author(s):  
Sylven Masoga ◽  
Sefora H. M. Makuse ◽  
Makoma M. Bopape

OBJECTIVE: To determine the dietary intake of amateur bodybuilding athletes around Polokwane municipality in Limpopo Province, South Africa. DESIGN: This was a descriptive cross-sectional study in which purposive sampling was used to recruit 51 participants out of 65 registered part-time competitive bodybuilders at three training gyms around Polokwane. Dietary information was collected using a modified 24-hour-recall questionnaire on three different days, which was validated by the modified Food Frequency Questionnaire. SETTINGS: The study took place at three gyms that enrolled these part-time athletes, all of whom were registered with the International Federation of Bodybuilding in South Africa (IFBBSA). Data were collected during the off-season period. RESULTS: Macronutrients: All the athletes consumed energy and carbohydrates below the daily recommendations of the International Society for Sports Nutrition (ISSN) with mean values of 129 &plusmn; 36.7 KJ/kg and 3.9 &plusmn; 0.9 g/kg respectively. Furthermore, 78% and 94% of the athletes consumed protein (1.3 &plusmn; 0.5 g/kg) and fat (0.8 &plusmn; 0.4 g/kg) below the daily recommendations, respectively. Vitamins: Most of the athletes took vitamins C (53%); B1 (82%) and B6 (82%) within the Estimated Average Requirements (EAR) while the intake of vitamins A (69%) and E (72%) were below the recommendations. While 88% of the athletes consumed above the EAR for vitamin B12, only 41% and 17% took vitamins B2 and B6 above the Upper Tolerable Limit (UL). Minerals: Most of the athletes consumed phosphorus (94%), iron (88%), zinc (78%), magnesium (71%) and selenium (61%) within the EAR. The proportions of bodybuilders who consumed minerals below the EAR were 86% for calcium, 4% for phosphorus, 10% for iron, 19% for zinc, 23% for magnesium and 37% for selenium. CONCLUSION: The macronutrient intake of bodybuilders around Polokwane is mostly below recommendations, but consumption of micronutrients is mostly within the recommendations. Therefore, the dietary intake of these bodybuilders especially for macronutrient intake is sub-optimal to support their competitive activity.


2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. 155
Author(s):  
Upuli Amaranganie Pushpakumari Perera ◽  
Chrishantha Abeysena

This study aimed to describe knowledge and attitudes on sexually transmitted infections (STI) and HIV among undergraduates in state universities of Western province, Sri Lanka. A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among second and third year undergraduates in 2014. The stratified cluster sampling method was applied to select 1575 undergraduates. A pre-tested self-administered questionnaire was administered to assess knowledge and attitudes on STI and HIV. The associations of knowledge and attitude categories with selected variables were assessed. Most (42.3%, n=667) of the undergraduates belonged to poor knowledge category, 41% (n=646) satisfactory knowledge on STI. Only 16.6% (n=262) had good overall knowledge on STI. Undergraduates who had studied in bioscience stream (36.7%, n=91) were better knowledge than others (12.6%, n=171) (p&lt;0.001). A majority (62.6%, n=976) of undergraduates had overall good knowledge on HIV, 27.7%, (n=432) satisfactory knowledge and 9.7% (n=151) had poor knowledge. Males who had studied in bioscience stream and those who had studied at non-mixed schools were better knowledge on HIV than the counterparts. A majority (56.5%, n=883) of undergraduates had undesirable attitudes and 43.5% (n=681) had desirable attitudes towards HIV. Males (45.9%, n=294) had more desirable attitudes than females (42%, n=386) (p&gt;0.05). Knowledge on STI was low and HIV was higher. About half of the undergraduates had desirable attitudes towards HIV.


2015 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 840-850 ◽  
Author(s):  
Olawale Fatoki

The failure rate of new SMEs is very high in South Africa. Financing constraints is one of the major causes of failure. The knowledge of the alternative sources of finance can help to reduce the financing constraints faced by new SMEs. The study investigated the effect of human and social capital on the understanding of financing alternatives. Self- administered questionnaire was used in a survey to collect data from data were from 136 owners of new SMEs in the Limpopo province of South Africa. The Cronbach’s alpha was used as a measure of internal consistency. Descriptive statistics and independent samples T-test used for data analysis. The results indicated that new SME owners with higher levels of generic and specific human capital have a better knowledge of financing alternatives. There are significant differences in the level of education and business courses and the knowledge of factoring, venture capital, Alt-X, bootstrapping, Islamic baking and crowdfunding. New SME owners with social capital as measured by direct and indirect ties have a better knowledge of financing alternatives.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document