3. Electronic Theses and Dissertations (ETDs) - All submissions

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    Exploring the health information needs of pilgrims for the protection against infectious diseases during mass muslim gatherings (HAJJ)
    (2017) Nasir, Dalhat Mohammed
    The Hajj is widely recognized as the world’s largest and globally most diverse kind of mass gathering. This annual five day gathering takes place in the city of Mecca and includes between 2.5 and 3.5 million participants. This poses a great concern by the organizers as the risk for the spread of infectious disease due to overcrowding is greatly increased. These diseases are increasingly being recognized as a potential threat to both local and international public health systems. The lack of understanding of the infectious diseases that originate and disseminate during the Hajj was raised in the Jeddah declaration. Furthermore, despite the protective measures put in place, poor health practices from selective use of the measures by the participants contributes to the increased risks. Exploring the health information needs of the pilgrims attending Hajj, would help in knowing what is required to reduce poor health practices and simplify and improve compliance with protective measures against infectious diseases before, during and after Hajj, and this will help in minimising the spread of infectious diseases in the Hajj. The aim of this study was to explore the health information needs of the pilgrims attending Hajj in order to know what was required to reduce poor health practices and simplify and improve compliance with protective measures against infectious diseases before, during and after Hajj, and this would help in minimizing the spread of infectious diseases in the Hajj. In this study, a qualitative research design was used and focus group discussion using semi-structured questions was conducted. The members were purposely recruited and divided into four groups, two groups of males and two of females. The division of participants into focus groups was in part done in compliance with the Muslim beliefs. Data were collected using a focus group discussion with semistructured questions that was recorded using a tape recorder. These discussions were transcribed verbatim before being analyzed using thematic analysis. The findings of the study showed that pilgrims need a holistic health educational program that addresses their experiences of illnesses and chosen format as educational pamphlets are no longer effective. The findings also revealed that collaboration, surveillance and screening of pilgrims for diseases prior to departure are useful as they help in spreading messages of health and diseases issues with simplicity and yield effective result as well as identifying those at risk of contracting infectious diseases, spreading infectious diseases and exacerbating their diseased conditions. The study recommends the use of digital technology such as an app for phone to send health information to participants and promptly identify and manage individuals who develop illness during mass gathering events like Hajj. It also recommends the incorporation of mass gathering medicine into the curriculum of Nursing program in order to effectively train and equip nurses with better preparation measures against infectious diseases during mass gatherings like Hajj
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    Factors associated with on-time graduation of MPH students at the school of public health, University of the Witwatersrand: 2000-2008
    (2018) Mohamed, Ahmed Eltonesi A
    Introduction: Low throughput rates are a concern for higher education institutions nationally. Within the postgraduate Master of Public Health programme in the School of Public Health at the University of Witwatersrand. throughput rates have been identified as a key priority area for improvement. Aim: This study described on-time graduation of Master of Public Health students at the School af Public Health, University of the Witwatersrand from2000 to 200B. In addition, it examined the associations between fáctors such as socio-demographic characteristics. mode of registration. and supervision characteristics and on-time graduation in the same period. Finally, the study aimed to describe the quality of information that is used to measure throughput in the School of Public Health- Results: Frequency analyses of throughput data obtained from the University's Academic Information and Systems Unit indicated that. of the 223 students in the sample, 65% (144 students) graduated, while 35% students) did not. Of the 144 students who did graduate, 121 students (84%) did so on-time. and 23 students (16%) did not graduate on• time, Fisher's exact test showed no association between socio-demographic factors (p=0.79}. sex nationality and on•time graduation. Mode of registration: part-time or full-time number of supervisors and Wits supervisors vs, non Wits supervisors (p=Û 60) were not associated with on-time graduation. However, the study did raise concerns regarding the information system at the university. specifically the quality of data and limited monitoring and evaluation processes to monitor student progress. Conclusion: More than a third of students registered for a Master of Public Health during the period 2000•2008 did not graduate. Given the human resource needs in health and health ser•ices in sub-Saharan Africa this represents an inadequacy. There were no significant associations between students' socio-demographic factors. mode of registration. supervision related factors and either graduation or on-time graduation. The quality of the current information system is not optimal to measure student progress and to flag students who have missed key milestones, There is a need far further studies to improve the information system for the purposes of optimally tracking students' progress.
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