Browsing by Author "Gumede, Emelda Zandile."

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An analysis of health behaviour of children from child headed households in a selected health district in KwaZulu-Natal : an ethnographic study.
(2013) Gumede, Emelda Zandile.; Bhengu, Busisiwe Rosemary.
Introduction The loss of a parent predominantly as a result of HIV and AIDS disease has a negative effect on children, which can lead to increased number of orphans. Traditionally the extended family would take in orphaned children into their extended families and make one big family where culture of ‘’Ubuntu’’ still prevailed. The changes in the socio-economic systems and family structure leaves the children with very little choice but to make alternative living arrangements, where they find themselves in child headed household families. The eldest child becomes the head (caregiver) within a household. The aim of the study was to explore the health behavior, health seeking behavior and issues of access to health and social care services to children coming from child headed household families in a selected district in KwaZulu Natal. Methodology A qualitative approach using ethnographic method was conducted. Three households were purposefully chosen with a total of nine participants. Data collection processes included participant observation in their natural setting, individual interviews as well as focus group interviews in their own environment. Children participants were so heterogeneous that they could not be studied together in a focus group for three families, but the volunteers and professional group could be studied together in a focus group. The data analysis followed Spradley’s (1980) three levels of analysis called the domain, taxonomic and componential analysis as presented in chapter five. Findings The children’s health behavior is affected by the HIV and AIDS infection, poverty and lack of support from the extended family and communities. Their health seeking behavior is influenced by the previous history and attitudes towards the health professionals. The access to health and social care services is also surrounded with mistrust of the present health care system. Conclusions and study recommendations The discussions in the current study focuses mainly on the logistics of awarding the child headed status by the court of law as the lengthy and tedious process, but as the best practice because it eliminates the corruption and fraud in the system by expecting the children to be physically (identified) presented before the court of law before awarding of the status. The legislative ambiguity, shortage of volunteers, unaffordable transport and the attitude of the health care professionals impact negatively on the child headed household children’s health seeking behavior to an extent that children tend to avoid accessing health and social care services until they are very ill to be picked up by an ambulance which bypasses the administration section which subjects them to sad memories and embarrassing questions such as those related to HIV statuses of their late parents which could imply theirs too, within a limited space. The study recommended a longitudinal case study to be undertaken to follow up on the children who are 18 years and above as it appears that they tend to get lost in the thick vicious world and end up in the wrong side of the law. All participants echoed that the poor coordination of services made available for such children should be urgently attended to by government, the Faith Based Organizations (FBO) meaning the structures that represent the church and responsible Non-Governmental organizations (NGO’s). The greatest limitation of the study was that it was qualitative and used only nine participants in three families, hence cannot be generalized beyond the context of the study.
Coping strategies of parents with physically disabled children at disabled schools in Plateau State: a descriptive study.
(2017) Liberty, Shilni Jacob.; Gumede, Emelda Zandile.
Introduction Parenting is no longer accepted merely as an interpersonal bond characterised by love and care. Instead, it has been reframed as a job that must be done well with some level of competence. Parents face different kinds of stress raising a typical child without disabilities. Parents of disabled children cope with the same responsibilities and pressures that other parents face, though with additional stress as reported by some parents. There is therefore a need to devise some workable strategies for such parents concerning how best to cope with the pressures of raising a disabled child. Aim This study aimed at describing the coping strategies utilised by parents with a physically disabled child in some selected schools for children with disabilities in Plateau State, Nigeria. Methodology A quantitative, non-experimental descriptive design was adopted for this study. A total of 54 parents of children with physical disabilities participated in the study. Data collection was facilitated using the Family Crisis Orientation Personal Evaluation Scale (F-COPES) developed by McCubbin, Olson and Larsen (1981). Data was organised using SPSS, Version 24.0 and was analysed through descriptive statistics. Validity and reliability were tested thus: the research instrument was given to the research supervisor and UKZN statistician for face validity to ensure that study variables were captured and are relevant to measure the constructs. Similarly, a pilot study was undertaken using the research instrument (F-COPES) on 10 volunteer parents with physically disabled children who were not included in the research respondents, to establish validity of the instrument components. To observe ethical consideration, respect to human dignity was upheld by obtaining the informed consent of the respondents. Likewise, for confidentiality and anonymity purpose, neither the participants’ names nor any form of identification were used in the data analysis to ensure privacy. The hard and soft copy of the analysed data was protected from the public; only the researcher and research supervisor have access to it. Results The descriptive statistics for the sub-scales showed that the most commonly used coping strategy was the social support coping strategy (M = 3.87, SD = 0.53). The second-ranked coping strategy used by parents was reframing (M = 3.43, SD = 0.80). The third-ranked coping strategy was mobilising family members to seek and accept help (M=3.29, SD = 0.73). This was followed by passive appraisal (M = 3.11, SD = 0.76), and lastly the spiritual coping strategy (M = 3.01, SD = 0.77). Conclusion The results of this study confirmed that there were significant relationships between gender, number of parents in a household, religion and coping strategies (reframing, passive appraisal and acquiring social support). Since the mean usage of acquiring social support coping strategy was higher among parents with a physically disabled child, professionals should encourage parents with children with disabilities to identify and utilise any social coping strategies they may find within their reach, and not to follow the crowd.
Describing mothers’ compliance to Kangaroo Mother Care at a selected hospital in Southern Malawi.
(2016) Mathias, Christina Tiyankhulenji.; Gumede, Emelda Zandile.
Background: Studies have shown that Kangaroo Mother Care (KMC) is one of the low-cost, effective measures practiced in low income settings to enhance the survival of low birth weight babies. Since its development in 1979 in Bogota, Colombia by Dr. Rey as an incubator alternative in caring for low birthweight (LBW) babies, KMC practice has shown numerous empirically evident advantages over LBW babies’ lives. The success of KMC rests on key players, namely, the mother. However, there are limited investigations of compliance to Kangaroo Mother Care in Malawi targeting key players in KMC practice. Therefore, full involvement in KMC practice by mothers is of significance in facilitating LBW survival in order to yield high LBW babies’ survival rate through total involvement of mothers as significant players. Aim of the study: The aim of this study was to describe mothers’ compliance to Kangaroo Mother Care at a selected hospital in Southern Malawi. A descriptive, quantitative research study was conducted on N=50 KMC mothers who were practising KMC at QECH in Malawi. Data was collected using a questionnaire, which comprised of demographic data and questions pertaining to KMC knowledge, practice and compliance. The data was analysed by SPSS version 24. A central hospital in the Southern Malawi, which is the main teaching hospital for the University of Malawi, College of Medicine. Findings: The study results show that all the KMC mothers had prior knowledge to KMC, which enhanced their KMC compliance. Although 21 (42%) of the KMC mothers initiated KMC late, due to a lack of support from the nurses and family members, 34 (68%) of the KMC mothers were compliant to KMC, as they practised continuous KMC during their hospital stay, and they noticed KMC benefits on their LBW babies, including increased body weight gain. Four (8%) of the KMC mothers managed to put their babies in KMC position for less hours in a day, due to a lack of support in putting the baby in KMC position, and as a result, their LBW babies did not gain any weight, and no other KMC benefits were noticed. Nevertheless, 45 (90%) of the KMC mothers were very eager to continue with KMC practice at home, and 41 (82%) of the mothers emphasised continuing with KMC follow-up care. Due to KMC compliance, mothers witnessed good KMC outcomes, and as such, they were keen on recommending KMC to others. Key Words: LBW globally, LBW in Sub-Saharan countries, KMC practice in Sub-Saharan countries, neonatal mortality, MDGs and SDGs, KMC protocol, KMC compliance and KMC in Malawi.
Investigating factors that may contribute to absenteeism among bursary students at a selected nursing campus in KwaZulu-Natal.
(2013) Simelane, Nomathamsanqa Doris.; Gumede, Emelda Zandile.
AIM The purpose of this study was to investigate factors that may have contributed to absenteeism among bursary students undertaking a four-year Nursing Diploma course (R425), and the extent to which these factors impacted on students’ absenteeism at a selected nursing campus in KwaZulu-Natal. METHODOLOGY The study adopted a quantitative approach, utilizing a non –experimental descriptive design. Data were collected by means of self-administered questionnaires consisting of closed and open-ended questions. Data analyses were done using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences version 21(SPSS- 21). One hundred and twenty-six bursary students from the first year to the third year of training participated in the study. FINDINGS The study revealed that absenteeism at the nursing campus under study existed at all levels of student training, and that it occurred more in the clinical area than in the college area. Clinical factors identified included escorting very ill patients without indemnity, working late shifts (19h00) before a day off, allocation to one work area without rotation, and a lack of appreciation for a job well done and criticism. College factors such as stipend, transport problems, and lecturers and their teaching methods did not have any impact on student absenteeism.
Nurses’ perceptions of Employee Performance Management and Development System (EPMDS) at a selected hospital in Durban, eThekwini District in KwaZulu-Natal.
(2017) Vezi, Matsidiso Janet.; Gumede, Emelda Zandile.
Introduction The study was to describe nurses’ perceptions regarding on Employee Performance Management and Development System (EPMDS) concerning staff at selected hospital in Durban, eThekwini District in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN). Purpose of the study The aim of the study was to describe nurses’ perceptions on Employee Performance Management and development System (EPMDS) at a selected hospital in Durban, eThekwini district of KwaZulu-Natal. Methodology A cross-sectional descriptive quantitative design was used to collect data from a purposive sample of 119 nurses from the selected hospital in eThekwini District, KwaZulu-Natal. A self-administered questionnaire was used to elicit information from nurses on their perceptions of the Employee Performance Management and Development System. Data were collected using questionnaires consisting of closed-ended questions. Descriptive tests were used to describe the data whilst Chi-Squared test was used to determine relationships between variables. Findings The findings from this study revealed that nurses’ perceptions towards the performance management system (EPMDS) were focused on three key areas namely supervisors’ roles in performance management system, performance management process and the role of performance management system in the health care setting. It was found that nurses not receiving adequate training on EPMDS, supervisor’s attitude towards performance on the performance management systems, and the lack of fair evaluation process for performance management appraisal were the factors that influence nurse’s performance on the EPMDS. Conclusion These findings underscore the need to address these critical factors in order to achieve the overall purpose of performance management and development system that it is intended to achieve within the health setting. Key words: Employee Performance Management and Development System (EPMDS), Generic assessment factors (GAFs), Key result areas (KRAs), Performance Agreement (PA).