Men in the service of humanity: Sociocultural perceptions of the nursing profession in South Africa

Background. The classification of nursing as a female-gendered profession, along with patriarchally determined cultural gender roles, makes it difficult for men to select nursing as a career and to excel in their caring capacity as nurses.Objective. To gain in-depth insights into and an understanding of male nursing students' perceptions of the nursing profession. Methods. A generic qualitative approach, which was explorative, descriptive and contextual, was used to conduct the study. Sixteen male nursing students at two nursing education institutions in KwaZulu-Natal Province, South Africa, were purposively sampled to participate in the study. Data were collected using semi-structured interviews and unstructured observation. Thereafter, thematic analysis was used to analyse the data. Results. Three main themes were developed from the interview data. The participants perceived nursing as the extension of women's work, with low social status ‒ nursing is not considered to be a profession for men. During the provision of nursing care, feelings of discomfort and embarrassment were experienced. They feared misinterpretation of their care, especially when caring for the naked body when alone with a patient. They resorted to the use of cautious caring, where they do not provide physical care alone, but seek support, especially from female nurses.Conclusion. Male nursing students require role models to support them in their academic journey towards becoming competent practitioners. A male-friendly environment should be created to enable them to provide quality nursing care to all patients. The society needs to be empowered in understanding that men choose the nursing profession to provide care, and that they are capable of caring for the sick.

Perceptions, risk and understandings of the COVID-19 pandemic in urban South Africa

Background: How people perceive the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic and understand their risk can influence their health, behaviours and overall livelihood. The disease's novelty and severity have elicited a range of attitudes and perspectives countrywide, which consequently influence the public's adherence to public health prevention and treatment guidelines. Aim: To investigate perceptions, experiences and knowledge on COVID-19 in a communitybased cohort study. Setting: Adults living in Soweto in South Africa's Gauteng province during the first six weeks of the national lockdown regulations (i.e. Alert Level 5 lockdown from end of March to beginning of May 2020). Methods: Participants completed a series of surveys and answered open-ended questions through telephonic interviews (n = 391). We queried their perceptions of the origins of COVID-19, understandings of the disease, personal and communal risks and its relations with the existing disease burden. Results: Findings from our sample of 391 adults show that perceptions and knowledge of COVID-19 vary across several demographic characteristics. We report moderate levels of understanding about COVID-19, prevention methods and risk, as well as exposure to major physical, psychosocial and financial stressors. Depressive symptoms, perceived infection risk and concern about COVID-19 significantly predicted COVID-19 prevention knowledge. Conclusion: Public health communication campaigns should focus on continuing to improve knowledge and reduce misinformation associated with the virus. Policymakers should consider the mental health- and non-health-related impact of the pandemic on their citizens in order to curb the pandemic in a manner that maximises well-being.

Causes of stress in vehicle manufacturing employees and perceptions of the effectiveness of a stress management intervention programme

Background: Stress has become a part of everyday life for most employees. Studies have shown the negative effect that stress has on employee wellbeing. Stress management intervention (SMI) programmes are commonly implemented by organisations to reduce work-related stressors, as well as to assist employees to cope with and minimise the impact of stress. Objectives: We aimed to explore the causes of stress at a vehicle manufacturing company, and the perceptions of employees about the effectiveness of an SMI programme. Methods: A qualitative interpretive approach was followed, using a case study design. The research was conducted at a vehicle manufacturing company in Pretoria, South Africa; eleven purposively sampled permanent white- and blue-collared employees who had participated in an SMI programme were included. Data were collected from personal interviews and a focus group discussion. The data were analysed using the ATLAS.ti software. Results: Some of the causes of stress in the workplace, identified by the participants, were company ethics and culture, interpersonal conflict, management style, deadlines, workload, type of job, job profiles, job insecurity, incompetence of employees, lack of resources, and remuneration. Most participants (90.9%) evaluated the SMI as being very effective. Conclusion: The causes of stress amongst workers are multifactorial. Effective SMIs can assist to alleviate stress and to equip employees with skills to manage stress. This promotes a healthy workforce and increases productivity. If SMIs are not implemented effectively, there might be loss in productivity, increased absenteeism, and deteriorating health in the workforce

Equipping Educators to Address HIV and AIDS: A Review of Selected Teacher Education Initiatives

Teacher educators; school principals and teachers are potentially well positioned to play a pivotal role in changing the course of the HIV and AIDS epidemic. The purpose of this article is to focus on a spectrum of educational initiatives in sub-Saharan Africa and South Africa which are designed to equip educators to be informed about; and to manage; HIV and AIDS in their personal and professional lives. Criteria for inclusion in the review are that the HIV and AIDS education endeavours must be operational (already functioning) and experience-based (have been experienced first-hand by the author). The review begins with a reflective account of two major undertakings: (a) an e-learning course for teacher educators in sub-Saharan Africa and (b) South Africa's Higher Education HIV/AIDS Programme. Thereafter; the review considers a range of academic pursuits currently involving inservice school teachers and principals studying at a South African university. These include (a) two Advanced Certificates in Education; (b) doctoral studies; and (c) a new short learning programme. In reflecting on these various innovative but 'do-able' offerings; the article concludes that experiential and context-specific action-based learning and research into the social and educational aspects of HIV and AIDS can contribute to breaking the silence and reducing stigma while; at the same time; equipping educators to provide care and support for infected and affected learners and colleagues

Kwazulu-Natal Minibus Taxi Drivers' Perceptions on HIV and AIDS: Transmission; Prevention; Support and Effects on the Industry

In South Africa; the minibus taxi drivers are largely becoming another high-risk category in the HIV and AIDS epidemic. Although previous studies have shown that knowledge of HIV and AIDS is relatively high among the taxi drivers it is still not clear how this sub-population perceive the support rendered to them with regard to HIV and AIDS prevention strategies. This study aimed to focus on this atypical workplace and explore the KwaZulu-Natal; minibus taxi drivers' perceptions on HIV and AIDS. In this study; qualitative methods were utilized to determine the minibus taxi drivers' understanding of HIV and AIDS infection; HIV prevention strategies; existing support strategies and effects of HIV and AIDS on the taxi industry. Focus-group discussions were conducted; to collect data. The results showed that even though the taxi drivers had some understanding on HIV and AIDS there was still a dire need for interventions that were geared towards addressing HIV-related needs of the drivers in this industry

Clinical epidemiology of lymphatic filariasis and community practices and perceptions amongst the ado people of Benue State, Nigeria

As part of efforts to initiate lymphatic filariasis elimination activities in Benue State; this study employed the use of lymphatic filariasis-related clinical signs as rapid diagnostic features; immunochromatographic card test (ICT) to detect circulating filarial antigen (CFA) and questionnaire to investigate community perceptions and beliefs. 81 (32.6) out of the 248 persons were positive for circulating filarial antigen (CFA). Infection rates denoted by CFA ranged from 41 (46.1) in Uffia to 1(6.6) in Ijigbam districts. Distribution of community ICT prevalence showed a significant variation (X2; P 0.05). The prevalence of clinical signs and/or symptoms in the communities also showed significant variations (X2; P 0.05). Community hydrocoele prevalence ranged from 8 (9.0) in Uffia to 1(6.6) in Ijigbam. The overall hydrocoele prevalence was 21 (8.5); while the overall lymphoedema prevalence was 16 (6.4) and women accounted for 14 (87.5) of persons with swollen limbs. Only about 14 (15.9) of unaffected respondents knew that lymphatic filariasis is transmitted through mosquito bites; this differ significantly from affected respondents 10 (66.6) (X2; P 0.05). The communities' capacity to protect themselves is hindered by a lack of understanding of the true cause; symptoms; transmission route and prevention of the disease. Our study demonstrates the need for the development of health education programmes that will enable people to protect themselves against mosquito bites. As Nigeria commence her lymphatic filariasis elimination programmes; there is an urgent need to develop morbidity management activities that will alleviate the burden of patients

Perception of HIV/AIDS Among the Igbo of Anambra State; Nigeria

Perception is fundamental in the fight against stigmatization of people living with HIV/AIDS (PLHIV). Perception generally influences discriminatory attitudes towards PLHIV which exacerbates their problems and quickens the degeneration of the disease from HIV to AIDS. This study examined the Anambra people's perception and knowledge of HIV/AIDS with the goal of creating knowledge on these issues in order to design effective intervention programmes towards the reduction of social stigmatization associated with the pandemic. The study was carried out in Idemmili North and Oyi local government areas of Anambra State. Qualitative and quantitative methodologies were used to elicit information from respondents who were adult males and females of 18 years and above. The research instruments were questionnaires and in-depth interview schedule. Questionnaires were administered on 1000 respondents while 13 people were interviewed in-depth. Analysis of quantitative data were conducted by using the Statistical package for Social Sciences. Univariate analysis in the form of frequencies were conducted which generated the distribution of respondents across the research variables. Furthermore; multivariate analysis were conducted to test the hypotheses and sought for relationships among variables. The qualitative data were reported in themes based on the research objectives and were analysed jointly with the quantitative data. The findings were that majority of the respondents viewed HIV/AIDS as a disease that afflict immoral people and as a punishment from God. Only a handful of them saw the disease as a disease that could afflict anybody. Also; many of the respondents said that AIDS is real but showed a low level of knowledge. It was further indicated that there were significant relationships between educational level; sex; occupation; income influence perception and peoples' reactions to HIV positive status of a relative while there were no significant relationships between these variables and knowledge of HIV/AIDS. It was concluded that these negative perceptions were as a result of the people's low level of knowledge and cultural belief systems; which see a strange illness as punishment from God for disobedience. Furthermore; the fact that most of the socio-economic characteristics of the respondents had significant relationship with perception and reaction to HIV was an indication that most people in the study area had a uniform perception. It was also an indication that government HIV/AIDS awareness programmes were not effective. It was recommended that strategies for effective HIV educational programme should be sought and carried out in the study area. Effective intervention programme have the power to change behaviours and would likely change the people's negative perception and low level of knowledge of HIV/AIDS; thereby reducing stigmatization of people living with HIV/AIDS

L'enfant du mythe familial

Les representations qu'une societe elabore autour des maladies de l'enfant structurent les attitudes des differents membres du groupe familial a l'endroit de l'enfant malade; comportements qui peuvent jouer un role dans l'histoire de la maladie dont certains episodes vont se developper conformement aux donnees culturelles. Cette conformite constitue ainsi l'impact subjectif des effets de dramatisation entraines par la maladie de l'enfant

La visibilite de l'or prothetique sur une dent frontale rend-elle un sourire radieux ou bien ne constitue-t-elle pas une expression de fortune?

Ayant observe qu'au sein de la population zairoise de Kinshasa; certaines personnes etaient porteuses de couronnes postiches en or sur l'une ou l'autre dent frontale; sans gene; les auteurs ont recherche des mobiles profonds de cette pratique et releve ses consequences eventuelles. Le travail repose sur 57 observations dont 41 concernaient des femmes contre 16 pour les hommes. L'examen clinique succint et les enquetes menees ont revele que: ces couronnes postiches en or sont exclusivement l'oeuvre des non chirurgiens-dentistes; les incisives laterales et canines sont des dents cibles; le but poursuivi par les porteurs de ces protheses est double (l'expression de leur fortune; l'or etant un metal precieux et brillant) et le snobisme. Les auteurs deconseillent cette pratique compte tenu de ses consequences nefastes sur l'occlusion; sur le parodonte marginal et de la responsabilite qui incombe a de telles couronnes dans l'eclosion de la carie sans oublier l'incompetence et la non-qualification des praticiens

Est-ce bien le tetanos qui fait mourir le nouveau-ne?

Il s'agit d'un theme qui est assez peu aborde par les anthropologues; celui d'un mal qui tue le nouveau-ne; que les medecins nomment tetanos et qui est designe de diverses manieres dans les cultures africaines. Il s'agit cependant d'un exemple de probleme de sante; a propos duquel les certitudes du medecin sont tres fortes (il sait comment faire pour eviter le tetanos); les constats de l'epidemiologue sont clairs ; mais ou par contre les representations et les pratiques sociales existantes sont mal connues; suscitant parfois de simples reactions d'ignorance ou de rejet

People's perception and use of drugs in Zimbabwe : a socio-cultural research project

The objectives of the study were to gain knowledge about people's patterns of behavior in relation to drugs and modern health care facilities with particular reference to the way in which the perception and use of drugs may be influenced by cultural and socio-economic determinants. The quantitative data from the survey has been combined with qualitative data from the group interviews to provide a comprehensive picture of people's perceptions and behavior with regard to illness and treatment