Masters Degrees (Sociology)

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An analysis of the media as a key socialising agent for gender and gender stereotypes.
(2023) Zungu, Sindisiwe.; Lamula, Sihle Pretty.
This study examines how the media influences gender identities among university students by studying harmful gender stereotypes toxic masculinities and femininities. Qualitative data were gathered through detailed interviews with students aged 18–26 at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, Howard College campus, using snowball and purposive sampling. The thematic content analysis involved coding the interview transcripts, identifying recurring themes, and analysing patterns in the data. The study revealed that the media significantly influences how students view themselves and others. Men are frequently shown in powerful roles, while women are often portrayed in submissive roles. This reinforces harmful gender stereotypes and unequal power dynamics. Participants observed that societal norms restrict women from independence and limit men from self-expression. These observations reflect entrenched, harmful gender norms. Moreover, male power dynamics and societal structures frequently contribute to gender disparities and reinforce damaging gender stereotypes. Students encounter challenging stereotypes regarding women, which persist through the depiction of beauty norms and traditional gender roles. Furthermore, the media portrays hegemonic masculinity, which refers to the dominant form of masculinity that idealises traits like aggression and control. This perpetuates restrictive and harmful ideas of true masculinity. To promote gender equality, the media should prioritise equality in content, policy, and practice. To combat gender-based violence, address public health issues, and promote positive and constructive gender practices, it is critical to address gender stereotypes in the media. The media exerts a significant influence on societal norms and values. Therefore, it is essential to coordinate efforts to foster a deeper understanding of harmful forms of masculinity and femininity, while also promoting positive gender practices. Gender-based violence and problems with public health will only get worse if harmful gender stereotypes in the media are not addressed. Future research should explore the impact of the media on gender identities across different cultures and promote positive representations of gender. Gender socialisation significantly shapes an individual’s views on gender roles, beliefs, cultural norms, and societal expectations. This underscores the critical importance of implementing education programmes that integrate gender equality education into curricula and community initiatives that establish safe spaces for open dialogue, challenging traditional societal gender norms.
An analysis of communication in development in the eThekwini Msunduzi municipalities.
(2003) Hulane, Zwelithini Rassendyll.; Burton, Simon Ingram Robshaw.
The ushering in of the new democratic government came with high expectations from all South Africans in terms of how development processes were to unfold. The previous system had made it virtually impossible for people on the ground to be informed of all developments within areas where they lived. This resulted in great suspicions on the part of communities as they only saw things just happening, in many instances such activities had no direct impact on their lives. The new government, as elected by the people, had to address this matter in order to ensure that all development processes had a meaning to the daily lives of ordinary South Africans. This assumes that for development to be meaningful, such development should be based on a realistic understanding of the needs of the people. Such needs can only be determined through a process of consultation, and in that process communication between government, other development agencies and communities is vital. Institutions of local government have been seen as critical pillars in the process of uplifting the standards of living of people in South Africa, and therefore this sphere of government is critical for government to be seen as making a positive contribution to people's daily livelihoods. The ability of this sphere of government to address the needs of local people is therefore dependent upon the extent to which communication with residents would be prioritised, and the level at which communities would be accorded an opportunity to make contributions to local development initiatives.
An analysis of staff responses to the merger at University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN).
(2010) Khan, Soomaya.; Teer-Tomaselli, Ruth Elizabeth.
This study examines the challenges and opportunities that face the merging of Higher Education institutions with the focus on staff’s responses to the merger at the University of Kwa-Zulu Natal (UKZN). The focus of the study was based on staff’s attitudes and their varying experiences since the merging of former University of Durban Westville (UDW) and University of Natal (UN) forming the new institution of UKZN. It examines the barriers, challenges and opportunities of the Heads of School, Academic staff and Administrative staff in the Faculty of Humanities, Development and Social Sciences (HDSS) and the Faculty of Management Studies. The study also reviewed the international or rather global experiences of mergers of Higher Education Institutions and brought into perspective examples of mergers such as in the UK, Australia, United States, Netherlands and Norway. The study then shifted focus to a much more local level in terms of UKZN in assessing the ethos of governance in terms of dialogue and inclusivity and how they perceived the merger of the two former institutions. Since the study is a qualitative, judgmental sampling technique was utilized in this study since it allowed me the researcher to use my own discretion as to who is in the best position to be knowledgeable about the subject under investigation. Therefore a structured interview was employed in this study with a set of inter-related questions, asked in the same order to all participants of this study. Issues of governance, mismanagement of finances, degree scandals, demoralized staff, wage disputes and academic freedom are some of the negative aspects that are perceived to riddle the new institution.
Are engineers people? : an investigation into the approach of civil engineers to development in South Africa.
(1998) Johnston, Colin James.; Marcus, Tessa.
Engineers have throughout history performed an important role in the technical advancement of mankind. The record of development in the less developed countries of the world, however, has been less than successful. These countries are littered with monuments to failed development programmes that have incurred immense financial, economic and social costs. Among the primary causes of failure are the inadequate attention to the details of the social and political dimensions of development, and a tendency by engineers to presume that their common sense view of the world is sufficient. This situation is exacerbated by the fact that frequently engineers have found themselves to be in the position of sole arbiters of development projects. For most of the latter half of the twentieth century engineers have been constrained by the complexities of their technology to confine themselves to providing technical solutions to the needs of society. In the 1980s however society, at least in the First World, started to become increasingly concerned with environmental degradation and perceptions of diminishing resources. These concerns and the economic and financial costs of failed development, have led to concerted efforts to reexamine the processes of development. Successful development is driven by social and political understanding and commitment combined with innovative and appropriate technology. These require knowledge of the historical context of each society, an understanding of the concept of community, and an ability to recognise the requirement for interdisciplinary relationships. In South Africa in the 1990s there is strong political commitment towards the elimination of poverty and to development in rural areas. This has been translated into action through the Reconstruction and Development Programme. Much of the responsibility for its implementation falls on civil engineers. It is important therefore that engineers gain a better understanding of development theory, and of the complexities and diversity of development action. This study briefly examines development theory and the role of engineers as development practitioners, and considers two examples of rural development. The study concludes that engineers perform a pivotal role, and that a co-ordinated multidisciplinary approach with improved capacity, responsibility and accountability in local government are key ingredients for a successful development programme.
Assessing the relationship between sports engagement and school performance amongst learners in Chesterville Secondary school, Durban.
(2011) Mayeza, Emmanuel Simo.; Khan, Sultan.
There is a growing body of knowledge in the field of sociology of sports and education which speaks to the positive relationship between youth engagement in organised sports and school performance. These sources of knowledge are largely confined to the developed countries in Europe and North America addressing the impact of organised sports on Positive Youth Development (PYD). In a developing context such as South Africa, which is undergoing rapid transformation from the previous legacy of apartheid, youth are defined as being at risk especially in light of the vast levels of social and economic inequalities which threatens its newly found democracy. It is in this context, the study located in a historically disadvantaged high school in the township of Chesterville in the Metropolitan Area of Durban, examines the role of school sports engagement as an element of PYD in enhancing school performance. The study seeks to assess the applicability of PYD principles in a developing and historically disadvantaged context within a school setting with the purpose of making contribution towards intervention programmes for the vast majority of South African youth who are considered to be at risk. Using a sample of 100 male and female learners in Grades 11 and 12 with an equal distribution of sports engaged and non-engaged, the study tests the principles of two PYD elements in respect of school Competence and Contribution to community. The study is of an exploratory nature on the applicability of PYD programmes in a context such as South Africa and does not purport to be conclusive, but instead the merit of a study of this nature is to set the foundation for future research studies in the fields of sociology of sports and education in order to intervene on the different social, political and economic volatility that South African youth are challenged within a democratic era.
Assessment of information literacy skills of first-year students at Mangosuthu Technikon at a pre-library orientation and instruction phase.
(2005) Zimu, Acquinatta Nomusa.; Leach, Athol Brian.
This study assessed the information literacy (IL) skills of first-year students at Mangosuthu Technikon (MANTEC) at a pre-library orientation and instruction phase. What is evident is that students do, to a greater or lesser degree, display inadequate levels of IL skills. What is not so evident is the extent and nature of these inadequacies. The purpose of the study was to establish the level of these inadequacies. Background information concerning the MANTEC library orientation and instruction programme and the Eastern Seaboard Association of Libraries (esAL) User Education Pilot Project study was provided and an overview of MANTEC and its library was given. The assessment of IL skills in higher education libraries, with reference to the MANTEC library was discussed. The MANTEC students' IL skills were assessed using Bloom's Taxonomy of Educational Objectives, which are evident throughout the objectives of the study. The research method used for this study was the descriptive survey method. The sample consisted of 170 first-year students. A purposive sampling procedure was used. The questionnaire consisted of two main sections, one which elicited demographic data of students and the other extracted data that addressed the objectives of the study. Results were coded and analyzed using the SPSS program. The findings of the survey indicated that there is a dearth of IL skills among the majority of MANTEC first-year students. Like many other studies it revealed that many first-year students, especially from the historically disadvantaged institutions (HDI) are under-prepared for tertiary education generally and for IL demands made on them at the tertiary level. Even those who have had previous library exposure appear to bring with them little or no IL competencies to tertiary institutions. Based on the findings for this study, recommendations were made with the aim of improving MANTEC students' IL skills.
An assessment of people's perceptions on the sustainability of Cato Manor's local economic development initiatives in post-apartheid South Africa.
(2010) Cele, Bandile Precious.; Bhengu, Sithembiso.
No abstract available.
An assessment of the orphan reunification and rehabilitation program in Zoba Ma'akel, Eritrea.
(2004) Ghebremariam, Kirubel Bereket.; Bydawell, Moya May.
This study aims at investigating the orphan reunification and rehabilitation program in Zoba Ma'ekel, Eritrea. The orphan reunification and rehabilitation program is an intervention devised by Eritrean government in an attempt to address the ever present and continuing problem of orphans in Eritrea. This program aims at reunifying orphan children with their extended families (the uncles, the aunts, the elder brothers and sisters, the grandparents, and any other available relatives). It also aims at strengthening the participant families economically so that they provide the physical and social needs of the orphans under their care. Using data collected through in-depth interviews and questionnaires administered face-to-face in eight selected sites, this study examines the 'well-being' of the reunified orphans compared to non-orphans 1 in the same families using what were believed basic child needs indicators. The study was carried out over two months (December 2002 to January 2003). The findings illustrate that reunified orphans are provided with food, clothing/shoes and health services. However non-orphans in those families are better off than orphans. Most of the caregiver families are economically poor and tend to privilege their own children when there is scarcity of resources within the family. The statistical findings show that 81.5% of non-orphans are supplied with food four times a day compared to 73.2% of the sample orphans. The expenses made for clothing /shoes are found to be slightly higher for non-orphans than orphans (65.9% compared to 59.1%). The findings also reveal orphans' enrolment rate is higher than the national school age children which means they are better off than other children of the country although they are enrolled 6.2% lower than the comparison group (79% vs. 85.2%). However, they work longer hours than non-orphans and among orphans, females do more work than male which deprived them time for play and study. Relationship with the orphans is found stronger where there is a close family tie between the orphans and the caregivers. 1 Non-orphans in this study refer to children in the same families sampled for questionnaires administered face-to-face.
Attitudes of teachers and pupils toward use of corporal punishment in Nakuru municipal primary schools, Kenya.
(2003) Simiyu, Christine Namalwa.; Marks, Monique.
The use of corporal punishment in schools is a highly topical and much debated subject worldwide. With the advent of humanitarian principles, corporal punishment was classified by the United Nations (UN) as violence and child abuse and this led to the banning of its use in schools by many countries especially in the western world. Kenya is not an exception as it recently followed suit by banning the use of corporal punishment in schools, through the enactment of Education Act Number 30 of 2001. Despite the ban, information from press reports and other literature seem to indicate that the practice of corporal punishment continued unabated in Kenyan schools. However, there is little information to indicate: (1) whether infact corporal punishment was being practiced in the selected schools or the extent/prevalence and nature of its practice; (2) what maintains corporal punishment in schools; and (3) strategies for eliminating it. Moreover, the extent to which teachers and pupils are aware of the ban is not known. Three main goals of this study, therefore, were to establish: whether corporal punishment was being practiced in Nakuru Municipal primary schools in Kenya; the attitudes that the primary school teachers and pupils hold towards the use of corporal punishment in the selected schools and the impact, if any, that their attitudes had on the practice of this punishment in those schools. The study applied a Survey research design. Questionnaires, with both open-ended and closed-ended items were used to collect data from the respondents. The respondents' attitudes were expressed in terms of their beliefs, feelings and views about the use of corporal punishment in school. The attitudes were measured in terms of the respondents' degree of agreement and disagreement with the attitudinal statements measured along a Likert scale which gauged their beliefs, feelings and views about the use of corporal punishment in the selected schools. The target population consisted of teachers and pupils in four primary schools in Nakuru Municipality. A sample of 72 teachers and 160 pupils was selected. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyse data using the SPSS software package. The results obtained indicated that corporal punishment was being practiced in the selected schools and the teachers and pupils this practice was supported. Corporal punishment was being practiced by teachers in Nakuru municipal primary schools despite their knowledge of the legal prohibitions and negative consequences of this practice. It was also established that the attitudes of the teachers and pupils towards the use of corporal punishment in school had a significant relationship with the practice of corporal punishment in the four selected schools. Where the teachers and pupils had a favourable or positive attitude towards the use of corporal punishment in school, the level of the practice of corporal punishment was very high but where the teachers and pupils has a negative attitude towards the use of corporal punishment in school, the level of the practice of corporal punishment was extremely low. The teachers and pupils justified the practice of corporal punishment in the selected schools under the belief that it had merits. It (corporal punishment) was believed to be a chastisement for children, a catalyst for good academic performance and the most effective deterrent for bad behavior, laziness and a corrective measure. The conclusion drawn was that the teachers’ and pupils’ attitudes towards the use of corporal punishment in school had a big impact on the practice of corporal punishment in the four Nakuru municipal primary schools. The study concludes with a set of recommendations for curtailing the use of corporal punishment in schools in Kenya. (1.) Abbreviated as CP in some parts of this report.
Authoring and information seeking on the world-wide web : an experimental study.
(1997) Ilcheva, Stoyanka Atchkova.; Horton, Weldon J.; Petkov, Doncho.; Kaniki, Andrew M.
The research reported in this thesis is focused on some of the implications for Library and Information Science of the development of the Internet, and the World-Wide Web (WWW) in particular. It highlights the need for a wider involvement of this profession in the better management, organisation, and ultimately - usability, of the global information system. An extensive study of the information seeking process was carried out on a collection of interlinked hypertext documents constituting a PC-based model of the World-Wide Web. Special attention was paid to the correlation of WWW document authoring characteristics and the success rate in browsing sessions performed by novice, casual and experienced Internet end-users. The analysis of the results from a number of browsing sessions on the model led to some specific recommendations for comprehension-oriented WWW authoring.
A bibliometric study on HIV/AIDS literature in South Africa from 1982-2002.
(2003) Mitha, Sara Bibi.; Leach, Athol Brian.
The pandemic of HIV/AIDS has been felt by nations throughout the world. It is a well-known fact that the AIDS epidemic is catastrophic in sub Saharan Africa, which heads the list of the most affected regions. As the epidemic imposes a strain on the already limited resources, a better understanding of the disease is continuously being sought out. This understanding is enhanced with better information dissemination. The present research aims to assist the information requirements of HIV/AIDS researchers in the country through a bibliometric study. The present study comprised an investigation of the patterns of authorship and publications of academic institutions in the sciences, medical institutions and affiliated organizations in South Africa, focusing on HIV/AIDS literature for the two decade period, 1982-2002. Published literature in the sciences and medicine from three internationally recognised databases were used for the assessment. They were: AIDSearch, lSI Science Citation Index Expanded and MEDLINE (OVID). A total of 2 281 documents formed the basis for the assessment. The results of the study are presented, as are their consequences for researchers and policy makers. Some recommendations are provided for the developers and designers of databases. The results of the study demonstrate exponential growth in the literature as might be expected. Because of the multidisciplinary nature of the disease, research is scattered in a variety of discipline-based journals. Researchers publish mainly in journals and the South African Medical Journal is the most productive in the field of HIV/AIDS. Collaboration in research on the subject is evident. The results also demonstrate that South African researchers are fast becoming internationally recognized in the field of HIV/AIDS research. The Medical Research Council emerged as the leader in South Africa's research efforts on HIV/AIDS. Of the academic institutions, the University of the Witwatersrand is the most productive institution, followed by the University of Natal.
Challenges facing informal sector micro-enterprises in Newlands West : the case of female owned home-based dress-making enterprises.
(2007) Rasool, Fathima.; Mapadimeng, Mokong Simon.
This study seeks to investigate the challenges facing informal sector micro-enterprises in Newlands West, using the case study of female owned home-based dress making enterprises in the South West of Durban. The investigation, which aims at establishing the historical background to these micro-enterprises, their main activities and their viability, and the challenges they are facing, will be conducted in the context of the broader debate both in South Africa (SA) and globally about the informal sector, to which micro-enterprises would arguably belong. This study also aims to contribute towards research and future policy developments in the field of home-based enterprises. Many of these workers have set-up home-based micro-enterprises as a means of creating employment in order to sustain their livelihoods. The purpose of this study is thus to highlight the potential of these micro-enterprises to create employment and alleviate poverty. The qualitative research method is used in this study. In-depth, semi-structured interviews using purposive sampling were conducted with ten owner-managers. Data was analysed using the constant comparative method of analysis. The conclusion drawn from this study was that these micro-enterprises received hardly any support from the local municipality or provincial government to grow their businesses. The study also found that there is potential for these owner-managers, with appropriate state support, to grow their businesses, make greater profits and create jobs. Some of the recommendations offered in this study include: a system of mentorship should be established to assist informal micro-enterprise owners improve their business acumen. They should be given enterprise support as none of the dressmakers underwent any form of business training. There should be development of the following skills: Financial management, production management, technical training, marketing and sales and understanding the regulatory environment.
The challenges of building an information society in the Limpopo Province, South Africa.
(2010) Sehlapelo, Martin Collin Abner Mmapeteke.; Leach, Athol Brian.
The participants in the World Summit on the Information Society, including South Africa, have committed themselves to building the information society in their respective countries and communities. Most countries and communities that have benefited from the information society have been those in the developed countries. Developing communities specifically those that are poor and rural are expected to have unique challenges requiring specific approaches in dealing with the problems. This study has investigated the challenges of building an information society through utilising the Limpopo Province of South Africa as a case study. The dissertation has, by using the Harvard Readiness Guide for the Networked World, determined whether the Limpopo Province is ready to become an information society. It has also identified the activities and projects that are being undertaken within the province as well as proposing what should be done to build the information society for development. The research was conducted through surveying selected leaders (leaders who are responsible for the information society implementation) within the Limpopo Province, to respond to a self-administered questionnaire as well as conducting content analysis of current planning documents for provincial departments and district municipalities. Whilst the dissertation could not determine whether it was feasible to implement the information society in a community such as Limpopo Province, the selected leaders were of the view that by focussing on the issues they identified, the province could successfully build the information society. The respondents were iv of the view that Limpopo Province was currently not e-ready, and thus could not be considered an information society. The study found that most of the activities related to the information society within Limpopo Province were not coordinated and were primarily related to e-government. Another key challenge that was identified, despite the high mobile telephone penetration, was the lack of access to the Internet as well as affordable connectivity. To address these and other challenges identified in the study, a framework for implementing the information society at the provincial level is proposed. Keywords: information society, development, developing countries/communities, Information and Communications Technologies, Limpopo Province
Child sexual abuse : a phenomenological study of the experience of adult male perpetrators
(1999) Ndaba, Ntombizethu Maureen.; Farman, Robin Hylton.
Sexual abuse of children has been a problem for decades not only in South Africa, but internationally. There is little evidence that any preventative measures are working effectively. In this study the focus was not on the victim but on the perpetrator of sexual abuse. The researcher aimed at enabling eight adult male sexual offenders to describe explicitly their lived experience of child sexual abuse. The study used a method in which offenders were asked to describe their feelings prior to, during the process and after sexually abusing the child. The researcher believed that verbalisation of how it feels to sexually abuse the child would augment the available knowledge about perpetrators. This information may be used in devising ways and means of minimising the occurrence of sexual abuse. It might serve as a springboard for professional 1 people working with offenders to uncover cognitive skills for sexual offenders to 4 use whenever having thoughts of sexually abusing the child. [i] Respondents were Blacks, Indians and Whites who had been sentenced and were in treatment programmes either at the Correctional Supervision Centre or at Childline in Durban. Treatment at these rehabilitation centres was a condition of sentence for all of them. Their ages ranged from 25-48 years. Five of them were married and three were single men. Svensson"s (1986) phenomenological method 'NaS used in analysing data. The findings of this study revealed that for these offenders the major contributing factors to this behaviour was a conflictual adult heterosexual relationship and the fact that other females have more than one sexual partner. Findings also revealed that children are experienced by sexual offenders as being satisfying sexually, non-judgemental, non-threatening and accepting. These findings were examined in relation to theory, their implications for future research, the strengths and shortcomings of the study were also described.
Class, consciousness and conflict in the Natal Midlands, 1940- 1987 : the case of the B.T.R. Sarmcol workers.
(1987) Bonnin, Deborah Rosemary.; Sitas, Aristides.
No abstract available.
The "Coloured" community of Durban : a study of changing perceptions of identity.
(1991) Fynn, Lorraine Margaret.; Moller, Valerie.; Newby-Fraser, Elizabeth.
No abstract available.
Communication between healthcare workers and Isizulu speaking female patients at the Scottsville clinic, Pietermaritzburg, South Africa.
(2000) Niba, Mercy Bi.; Leach, Athol Brian.
This study sought to establish some ofthe problems that occur during a consultation process between a healthcare worker and a patient, such as intangible and tangible verbal/nonverbal communication problems. Tangible nonverbal problems refer to eye contact, gestures, body posture and facial expression. Tangible verbal problems refer to voice tone/attitude and language and intangible to race, age, gender, education and culture. It was made clear that the problems involved in the consultation process were, in the main, common to other fonns of communication such as that between a reference librarian and a client, customer, visitor or user. The factors that hindered communication were investigated by means of semi-structured interviews and questionnaires. The sample population was made up of 100 black isiZulu speaking females and seven healthcare workers of a heterogeneous background. The perception ofthe respondents in relation to the above-named factors (language, age, gender, attitude, culture, education, gestures and postures) was sought. The analysis of the results obtained showed that some of the significant factors that are a problem in communication include voice tone/attitude, eye contact, sitting position, gestures, facial expression and language. Patients, for the sake ofeffective concentration and free flow ofinfonnation, preferred healthcare workers who were polite, had a cheerful demeanour and who sat still and straight up (not looking around or standing). This is noted because the majority of the patients acknowledged such healthcare workers and were not satisfied with those who behaved otherwise. For example, in relation to previous consultations (irrespective of the Clinics), out of the 70 respondents who encountered problems, 61 (87%) in despair cited cases of rudeness, of which the majority of such cases related to African healthcare workers. Culture also mattered, when seen in terms of people being able to speak the same language and understand one another, with respect to the contextual meaning of words. As far as eye contact was concerned, it was apparent that adjustments had been made. For example, it was discovered that although it is the Zulu culture to avoid eye contact, especially between the young and the old, Zulu people have come to accept eye contact in a crosscultural South Africa. Their acceptance was also seen as due to the advantages ofeye contact. This was made clear by the fact that ofthe 90 (91%) respondents who acknowledged the fact that the healthcare workers maintained eye contact during the consultation process, 87 (97%) said it was polite as it gave them the assurance that the healthcare workers were paying attention to what they were saying. Among the socio-demographic variables investigated, the gender of the healthcare worker emerged as one ofthe important predictors of effective communication. This is because the majority of the respondents indicated feeling freer with someone of the same gender groupmg. Certain recommendations were made which were considered vital in improving not only the consultation process but any other form of communication, including that between a reference librarian and a client. The main recommendations were that the healthcare workers be polite and endeavour to speak the main language as the patients. Due to the fact that some healthcare workers hurry during consultation, it was recommended that more staff be employed.
Communities of practice in institutions of higher learning : a descriptive study of the humanities at the University of KwaZulu-Natal and the University of Zululand.
(2007) Mngadi, Bongekile Pretty.; Ngulube, Patrick.
Knowledge is a key resource. It enables individuals and organisations to perform through social interactions. New knowledge is created and shared that gives an organisation the edge to succeed in a highly complex and demanding world. Higher education institutions need to value and nurture the knowledge of academic staff and support and encourage social interactions that exist. One way of doing this is through the utilization of communities of practice. Communities of practice may improve performance of an organization and encourage and facilitate learning, collaboration and knowledge sharing. The purpose of this study was to establish the extent to which communities of practice are defined and utilised within higher education institutions to foster learning and facilitate the sharing of knowledge among academic staff, in order to advance the scholarship of teaching and research in the humanities at the University of KwaZulu-Natal and the University of Zululand. The study intended to establish how communities of practice were understood, the nature of communities of practice and their formation, factors that support or inhibit the formation of communities of practice and the ways in which communities of practice can be cultivated and fostered within higher education institutions. Questionnaires, focus groups and semi-structured interviews were used to collect data. The study found that most academics at the University of KwaZulu-Natal and University of Zululand were involved in communities of practice and had an understanding of communities of practice. The study also established that both institutions did not have a policy on communities of practice. The major problems facing the academics at UKZN and Unizul were that they had very heavy workloads, family responsibilities, lacked support from the institution, time constraints, the absence of policy on communities of practice and organizational culture (see Table 6).
A comparative analysis of the effect of self-perceived risk of HIV/AIDS on the adoption of safer sex practices as a preventive measure for HIV/AIDS among adolescents : Uganda and South Africa.
(2003) Atujuna, Millicent.; Mare, Paul Gerhardus.
This work examines sexual behavioural change and the likely predisposing factors in the era of HIV/AIDS among young adults in Uganda and South Africa. It explores the potential role of young adults' self-perceived risk of HIV infection in sexual behavioural decisions regarding adoption of safe sex practices, in particular 'use of condoms' and 'limiting number of sexual partners '. This work further recognises that Uganda and South Africa are countries with social, cultural, economic, and political contexts, which contexts have been described by many as inextricably linked with sexual behaviour, and which often determine the choices young adults make regarding sexual activity. These are therefore examined. In order to achieve this, a rigorous examination and analysis of self-perceived risk of HIV/AIDS in relation to societal factors was done to determine which variables of the two categories best explains sexual behaviour. This is placed in the context of young female adults between the ages of 15 to 24 in Uganda and South Africa. The formulation of this study, which places emphasis on examining the potential role of self-perceived risk of HIV/AIDS as a predisposing factor for sexual behavioural change, and in Uganda and South Africa is based on a number of aspects as highlighted below: • That both Uganda and South Africa at one point or another were and/or are faced with high prevalence levels of HIV/AIDS; • That both have and/or are yet to be faced with high mortality, which is HIV/AIDS related and such profound consequences will/or have had inadvertent effects on individual, both socially and economically. In some respects, this has also affected individual perceptions regarding HIV infection; • Recognition that the progression of HIV/AIDS in Uganda was much faster than in South Africa, and this meant higher prevalence, higher mortality rates, which then triggered both government and non-governmental response towards preventing further spread. Since these factors are beginning to emerge in South Africa, one therefore asks the question as to whether the pandemic will take similar trends as those reported in Uganda. This would also enable the identification of similarities and differences in the likely determinants of sexual behavior considering these countries have different backgrounds; • In both countries, education programmes have been rigorous and that the level of awareness is at a point that would enable sexual behavioural change to occur; • A recognition that in Uganda, as shown in a number of reports and existing literature, the prevalence of HIV has declined and for this reason, it has become imperative to try and examine the likely factors leading to reduced HIV/AIDS prevalence, and to compare with what is happening in South Africa. This would enable the examination of any possible lessons that could be learnt in the reduction of the prevalence in South Africa. In the quest to achieve the set goals, a number of steps were undertaken which included looking at available literature and more importantly analysing two sets of Demographic Health Survey (DHS) data. The South Africa Demographic Health Survey of 1998 (SADHS) and the Ugandan Demographic Health Survey (UDHS) of 2000/1. All young female adults between the ages of 15 to 24 were selected from both data sets. 3,229 and 4,559 young female adults were selected in Uganda and South Africa respectively leading to a total sample size of 7,688. Findings showed that self-perceived risk of HIV/AIDS was one of the factors that did impact on sexual behaviour. This was more prominent in Uganda and less so in South Africa. Other factors found to affect sexual behaviour included age of respondent, socio-cultural and to a small extent, socio-economic factors. The conclusion that can be drawn from this work shows clearly that self-perceived risk of HIV/AIDS is an important factor determining sexual behaviour, but also shows that some societal variables are important. Therefore, in the face of HIV/AIDS and with increased levels of number of people experiencing deaths due to AIDS, selfperceived risk of HIV/AIDS is a factor worth considering when looking at sexual behaviour. As part of the recommendations, education programmes yet to be formulated should take into account the effect of HIV and AIDS on sexual behavioural change.
A comparative study of attitudes of urban Black communities in selected areas of Durban towards evolutionist strategies for social change in South Africa.
(1988) Naidoo, Kammila.; Schoombee, Gert Franstee.
No abstract available.

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