Browsing by Author "Wentzel, Dorien Lesley."

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Description of health seeking behaviours and experiences of homeless people in South Central Durban, South Africa.
(2009) Wentzel, Dorien Lesley.; Voce, Anna Silvia.
The study aimed to describe the health seeking behaviours and experiences of homeless people in South Central Durban. Homelessness is a broad and complex term that affects many people in South Africa. Homelessness inevitably causes serious health problems, conditions that are closely associated with poverty. Health problems experienced by homeless people are numerous and multifaceted. Homelessness is a complex issue that not only damages both physical and mental health, but also contributes to the spread of disease to the non-homeless (National Health Care for the Homeless Council, 2008:1). Drawing on interviews with homeless participants and healthcare workers, this study depicted the experiences, and the observed, felt and perceived needs of homeless people in accessing healthcare. The study reveals why, when and where homeless people access healthcare and the factors facilitating and hindering their access to healthcare. The researcher primarily used a qualitative methodology with a small quantitative component. The qualitative component comprised one on one in-depth interview. The quantitative component comprised a record review showing frequency distribution of health problems experienced by homeless people presenting at the Kathleen Voysey clinic. The findings highlight the unique lived experiences which include health problems, basic needs, accommodation, safety and security, community networks, access to pensions and grants. Findings show that homeless people are accessing healthcare facilities however there are mixed responses as to the service that they have received. A number of recommendations were suggested by both homeless participants and healthcare workers for policy makers, healthcare services, and homeless people and for future research regarding the care of homeless people.
Exploring knowledge, attitudes and practices among undergraduate female students living in tertiary institution residences in KwaZulu-Natal with regards to the use of contraceptives.
(2015) Gopaul, Precelia.; Wentzel, Dorien Lesley.; Brysiewicz, Petra.
Background: Risky sexual behaviour is a significant part of an undergraduate student life, which can often result in unintended pregnancies, leading to major social and public health concerns. Despite the free availability of contraceptives at tertiary institutions in KwaZulu-Natal, the number of undergraduate students becoming pregnant continues to increase. Aim of the Study: To explore the knowledge, attitudes and practices among female undergraduate students in tertiary institution residences in KwaZulu-Natal with regards to contraceptive use. Method: A quantitative exploratory descriptive survey was conducted to explore the knowledge, attitude and practice among ninety-seven female undergraduate students living in campus residences in a tertiary institution in KwaZulu-Natal. The conceptual framework used for this study was the Health Belief Model, according to which healthrelated actions can be influenced positively by one’s knowledge, attitude and practice if one perceives the severity of a negative health condition. A hand-delivered, selfadministered questionnaire was used to collect data, containing 27 items divided into five sections, including the demographic profile of participants, and questions pertaining to knowledge, attitude and practice, as well as barriers /factors promoting contraceptive use. Data was entered and analysed using the SPSS version 23 package. Results: Among the participants, n=95 (97.9%) indicated that they were knowledgeable of the contraceptives methods, while n=89 (91.8%) participants indicated that contraceptives prevented pregnancies; yet, unintended pregnancies remain a major problem amongst university students. A majority of the students had a positive attitude towards contraceptive use, where n=75 (77.3%) of the participants indicated that contraceptive education should begin at puberty. Results indicated that a large percentage of the participants were not aware of some of the methods of contraception that are available to them, namely spermicidal: n=93 (95.9%); dermal patch n=82 (84.5%); natural family planning: n=78 (80.4%); and the intra-uterine device: n=76 (78.4%); which may be the reason for the low percentage of participants that practice these methods. It was found that n=3 (3.1%) of the participants practiced the spermicidal method; n= 2 (2.1%) the dermal patch; n=3 (3.1%) natural family planning and n=5 (5.2%) the intra-uterine device. The contraceptive participants practiced most with was condoms n=59 (60.8%), followed by injectable contraceptives n=34 (35%), and oral contraceptives n=14 (14.4%), respectively. A low percentage of the participants indicated that there were barriers to contraceptive use, where n=6 (6.2%) participants indicated that they do not know how close a reproductive health service is to them, n=18 (18.6%) indicated that they cannot easily access the family planning clinic at their campus and n=15 (15.5%) indicated that the clinic hours are not convenient for them. A majority of the participants n=80 (82.5%) indicated that the campus clinics promoted the use of contraceptives amongst students. The results in the current study indicated a high level of awareness of contraceptive methods, as shown in Table 5, p. 36, and a low percentage of practice of those very same contraceptive methods as shown in Table 8, p. 42. Conclusion: A majority of the students were knowledgeable about the convenient contraceptive methods, and have positive attitudes towards them, but practices with contraceptives remained inadequate, although participants indicated minimal barriers to reproductive health services. There is a need to further explore student-friendly methods to reach out to students to accept and practice contraception as part of their daily lives.
An outcomes evaluation of a quality improvement training initiative for undergraduate student nurses, at a public hospital in the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands, South Africa.
(2017) Naidoo, Marlene.; Wentzel, Dorien Lesley.
The aim of the study was to conduct an outcomes evaluation of a one-day Quality Improvement (QI) Training initiative for undergraduate student nurses, at a public hospital in the Kwazulu-Natal Midlands, South Africa. METHOD A non-experimental, quantitative, descriptive, post-test only, evaluative design was employed using a survey with a structured questionnaire, which included a post-test as well as course evaluation questions. The awareness of QI and QI initiatives and the level of knowledge of undergraduate students after quality improvement training were assessed at a campus attached to a public hospital in the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands. Recommendations regarding the need for future training of this nature were also evaluated in the study. RESULTS The evidence provided by this study show that whilst the QI training did not increase the knowledge of undergraduate student nurses for obvious reasons mentioned in the discussions (chapter 5), an increase in awareness and abilities was seen after exposure of the study participants to QI content and methodologies. This did not negate the requirement for training in this group of students, but rather a newfound interest in QI was reflected in the recommendations the students made after the training. A difference was noted concerning position held and the awareness of QI, QI methodologies and QI activities in the students in the two different levels of training at the institution. It was found that an increase in experience reflected an increase in awareness, but not an increase in knowledge of QI in undergraduate student nurses at the selected public hospital. CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS There is little evidence to show there is quality improvement training of undergraduate student nurses in the employment hospitals in South Africa (Dondashe-Mtise 2011). Since there is a concern regarding QI awareness, knowledge and application in the clinical field, the researcher recommends that QI training for undergraduate student nurses needs to be considered in order to improve the health outcomes of all South African citizens. This may be accomplished if health initiatives such as the “Make me look like a hospital project, the National Core Standards, the National Health Insurance” and many other national health initiatives are strengthened and supported by all categories of nurses with competency in QI awareness, knowledge and abilities (NCS: SA, 2011). Research as to the benefit of QI training for undergraduate student nurses in the South African context will determine the need for its inclusion in their curriculum. There is a further need to explore these learners‟ awareness of the importance of continually improving the quality of the care they give to their clients and their level of knowledge; skills and understanding of QI. KEY TERMS: outcomes evaluation, quality improvement training, undergraduate student nurses, initiatives.