3. Electronic Theses and Dissertations (ETDs) - All submissions
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Item Community health worker's perceptions (CHWS) of their role in Primary Health Care of Ga-Segonyana rural community(2019) Mkhondwane, AnnBackground: Primary Health Care (PHC) is globally recognized as one of the effective strategies for the implementation of Sustainable Developmental Goals (SDGs). The global shortage of health care workers weakens the health care system, which impacts negatively in the achievement of universal health coverage and the SDGs. Community Health Workers (CHWs) are recognized as an integral resource in addressing the shortage of health workers in health care. In the rural villages of Ga-Segonyana, access to healthcare services remains a challenge and the use of CHWs to address the problem is strongly advocated. Aim: The study sought to explore the perceptions of community health workers (CHWs) of their role regarding the services they render to the community and their contribution towards strengthening PHC services in Ga-Segonyana local municipality. Methods: This study utilised an exploratory research design to conduct semi-structured interviews with nine purposefully selected CHWs in the Ga-Segonyana. All the interviews were translated from Setswana to English language and transcribed verbatim. Directed content analysis was used to analyse data from the transcribed interviews. Atlas ti computer software, version 7.0, was used for data analysis. . Results: Despite their lack of a written scope of work, the CHWs were able to outline their roles and responsibilities as expected by the employers. In terms of their work as CHWs, the results indicated that they have had both good and bad experiences. CHWs perceived the training received to be related to the nature of their work. However, there were no support systems to assist them with issues like psychological trauma and other pertinent situations in which they find themselves. The perceived barriers and challenges to CHWs pertain to ill-treatment to which they have been subjected by patients, lack of support systems, lack of recognition for their contribution, lack of training, lack of co-operation and collaboration from the relevant departments and organisations and other stakeholders, lack of resources and late payment of stipends. Conclusion: The study successfully explored the CHWs’ perceptions of their role on the services they render to the community and their contribution towards strengthening PHC services in the rural district of Ga-Segonyana. Understanding CHW roles will assist in examining how their roles might determine how they perform their daily tasks. So the study managed to highlight the importance of investing in CHWs for the empowerment of impoverished areas in South Africa.Item The impact of a visit to Lesotho Water and Sewage Authority (WASA) on learner's knowledge about community health(2012-01-19) Molahloe, Maretsepile RelebohileThere is an increasing adoption of outdoor visits in high schools in Lesotho and this study was done to find out what students learn about community health as they visit Lesotho Water and Sewage Authority (WASA). Eighty Form D (equivalent to grade 11 in South Africa) learners were the participants in this study. In order to capture students‘ learning a qualitative study was designed. The study used observations, questionnaire (n=80) and semi-structured interviews (n=8) with learners. The data was analyzed inductively and deductively in order to answer questions about knowledge changes as a result of a visit to WASA, and about the aspects of the visit that influence learners‘ knowledge about community health. Analysis of the questionnaire and the interviews revealed that learners greatly gained knowledge as a result of the visit to WASA while others developed misconception and others did not change their conceptions at all. The forms of conceptual change identified from learners responses were enrichment and conceptual capture. Learners realized that water purification is not a minute-made activity since there are several steps involved in water purification and that taps are not the main water sources. Learners also became aware that boiling water is not the only effective way of treating water instead other purifying stations like WASA can purify water suitable for domestic use. However, some learners believed that water that has been treated by the sewage plant is not suitable to be purified and used for domestic purpose. The observation analysis indicated that the physical facilities, displays, prior knowledge and participation during the visit are some of the aspects that influence learners‘ knowledge about community health. The realism of concepts communicated during the visit enhanced learners‘ ability to acquire knowledge about community health. The physical facilities such as the machinery at WASA provided the concrete evidence that water is drawn from the rivers therefore rivers are the main water sources. Visual displays contributed much in learners‘ ability to gain knowledge during the visit to WASA. It has also been found that although manipulation of objects was minimal, learners still gained information communicated during the visit. With the stated findings above, a visit to WASA enhance learner‘s ability to acquire information about community health.