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Hosting events and festivals is the best way of providing the wine tourism experience. Wine festivals offer a wide range of experiences that are different from day-to-day living, offer a lifestyle package and are an indicator of lifestyle tourism experience. Tourists travel to wine festivals for wine and other leisure-related experiences, including opportunities for social and/or cultural experiences, interactivity and personal development. Therefore, wine festivals should provide an experience that can influence the quality of life (QoL) of the attending tourist. QoL is influenced by various life domains, which include social, leisure and recreational, intellectual, culinary, and travel life. By its nature, a wine festival is able to influence life domains, thereby decreasing or increasing the level of satisfaction with QoL, according to the level of satisfactory experience. The purpose of this article is to examine the influence of the wine festival experience on the QoL of attending tourists. The structural relationship between the wine festival experience on tourists' QoL is shown in a structural equation model (SEM), which is based on the notion that the QoL of attending tourists will be influenced by their level of satisfaction in various life domains. A self-administrated questionnaire was distributed during the Wacky Wine Festival in Robertson South Africa. The data from 329 (N) eligible questionnaires was cleaned, captured and analysed using SPSS. Furthermore, Amos was used to test the structural model providing statistical support. From the study's findings, managerial recommendations were made with the aim of maximising attending wine tourists' QoL. The research contributes to the literature related to QoL. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To determine the ability of consumers to: locate and manipulate food label information; assess the accuracy of nutrient content claims and which health/nutrient claims are allowed; and identify symbols on food labels. Associations pertaining to use and knowledge regarding food label information were also determined for consumers from different demographic and related groups.Design: An exploratory descriptive study was undertaken, employing a face-to-face survey focusing on demographic information, shopping behaviour, nutrition is important beliefs, label use, label knowledge and label preference and information sources.Setting: Selected public locations in Potchefstroom in the North West Province of South Africa.Subjects: Respondents (n 229) complying with set inclusion criteria were recruited through purposive sampling.Results: The results indicated respondents' general health and label awareness, as most of them (>80%) could locate label information and identify symbols and specific nutrient content claims although only 53% were able to calculate the number of servings. Nevertheless, an inability was found to assess the accuracy of some nutrient content claims and permissible health/nutrient claims. More educated, younger, Afrikaans- and English-speaking respondents seemed to be more knowledgeable regarding food label information.Conclusions: Respondents who were informed about nutrition were also informed about label information, while label reading practices resulted in label-influenced purchasing decisions. Educational programmes on food labels should start with nutritional background that could be implemented by consumers during label reading and purchasing decisions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

According to the Self-Determination Theory (SDT) (Deci and Ryan ), intrinsic and extrinsic motivations can be differentiated with levels along a continuum representing distinct self-regulatory styles for behavior. Behavioral regulations consider different degrees to which they represent autonomous or self-determined functioning and specifically intrinsic motivations are characterized by the highest level of self-determination. Past research into the SDT has highlighted correlations between reasons with high levels of autonomy or self-determination for engaging in a particular behavior and enhanced Subjective Well-Being (SWB), as well as positive behavioral outcomes. Little is known about the relationship between visitors' reasons for visiting a national park, associated self-regulatory styles and their self-appraisals of SWB. Therefore, the present research investigates the relationship between intrinsic and extrinsic motivations for visiting the Kruger National Park (KNP), associated self-regulatory styles and self-evaluations of SWB among 389 overnight visitors. A structural equation model (SEM) is proposed to examine both the cognitive (life satisfaction) and affective (positive and negative feelings) components of SWB in association to motivations with different degrees of self-determination. Reflecting previous research, the results show that overnight visitors who are more intrinsically motivated have higher life satisfaction levels, higher positive feelings and lower negative feelings. In contrast, overnight visitors who are less intrinsically motivated have lower life satisfaction levels, lower positive feelings and higher negative feeling. The practical implications of these findings are highlighted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study was to determine the contribution of selected stressors to the level of stress experienced by South African soccer officials. Forty-two South African Football Association (SAFA) accredited officials, attending a training camp in Potchefstroom, participated in this study. The group comprised of 40 male and two female officials. The average age of the officials was 37.52 (±6.09) years, and the period for which they were accredited as a SAFA official ranged from 2 to 27 years. The Ontario Soccer Officials' Survey (OSOS) was used to determine the perceived levels of stress. The results indicated that fitness concerns were rated as the highest contributor to the stress experienced followed by role-culture conflicts, fear of failure, peer conflicts, interpersonal conflict, time pressures and lastly, fear of physical harm. The Spearman Rank Order Correlation showed a high correlation between the number of years the officials were accredited with SAFA and the total level of stress they experienced. Furthermore, the results indicated that 60% of the officials, who served as an accredited official for longer than 12 years, experienced five to seven stressors, which contributed to the total level of perceived stress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper reports on disadvantaged South African practising teachers' perceptions on computer literacy competencies while studying to improve their teaching qualifications. During the process of developing a learning technology integration framework for the School of Continuing Teacher Education at North-West University, South Africa, an initial exploratory survey identified issues and themes for systemic inquiry, in order to provide substance to the integration framework. The purposive sample related to a criterion-based selection of N=338 teacher-students attending supplementary computer literacy training sessions. Queues from the Technology Acceptance Model supplemented the questions intended to investigate enablers and barriers to learning technology adoption. The pragmatic approach was towards discovering which possible interventions could be introduced to enable adoption of technology in interaction and learning. Descriptive statistics and structural equation modelling produce a suggested parsimonious model relating to self-confidence, trust and perseverance in acquiring computer literacy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to determine the effect of leisure time physical activity participation (LTPA) on South African women presenting with some enhanced coronary heart disease (CHD) risk indicators (physical inactivity, hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, obesity and smoking). The respondents comprised 3 542 women, aged between 30 and 65 years (X = 41.6 ± 12.8 years) suffering from one or more of the primary risk factors for CHD. The cut-off points for the primary CHD risk factors considered were the following: systolic blood pressure ~l40 mmHg, diastolic blood pressure ~..90 mmHg. total cholesterol > 5.2 mmol.L', obesity (BMI ?..30) and cigarette smoking. The following physical activity categories were selected viz: high physically active (>2 000 kcal.week~), moderate physically active (1 000 2 000 kcal.week~) and low physically active (< 1 000 kcal.week'). Data were collected by means of demographic and physical activity questionnaires as well as field tests, and assessing total cholesterol, blood pressure and obesity. The respondents were selected from two age groups (30-49 and 50-65 year) representing primarily the preand postmenopausal phases of female life. Leisure time physical activity participation does not alter the selected primary coronary heart disease risk factors in the preand post-menopausal women significantly. Physically inactive women. however, tend to present more health risks than those participants in the moderately and high physical activity group. The prevalence of health risks increases with age inspite of participation in LTPA. The number of health risk indicators can be reduced by increasing LTPA, thus contributing to the management of the women's general health. Women should be encouraged to take responsibility for managing their own health by engaging in a healthy lifestyle in order to manage their health risks properly. This may require a multidisciplinary approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study was to distinguish between genre supporters and non-genre supporters at the Aardklop National Arts Festival. This was done to determine genre supporters' individual needs and wants so that effective marketing strategies can be developed and the festival programme can be designed to attract more genre supporters. Previous research indicated that the future of festivals is dependent on the number of show tickets sold and festivals therefore need to attract more genre supporters. To achieve this goal, a questionnaire survey (N = 495) was conducted, where afterwards independent t-tests were used to determine the differences between visitors who attend the different ticketed shows/productions and those who do not. Results showed that genre attendees and non-attendees differ significantly based on socio-demographic and behaviour characteristics, which gave a comprehensive profile of the two types of visitors at the festival. This method proved to be successful especially in increasing ticket sales. Marketing and management implications for effectively targeting genre supporters were also indicated. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

People travel to destinations for different reasons and the same applies to sporting events. To fulfill the needs of athletes and ensure that the event remains competitive, it is important to understand the needs of different markets through market segmentation. Reasons for participation (travel motives) were used to identify different market segments at the largest open-water swimming event in the world, the Midmar Mile in South Africa. The survey was conducted during the registration period in February 2010. A total of 461 questionnaires were administered and a factor analysis was conducted. Three motivational factors were identified: socialization and escape, fun and entertainment and intrinsic achievement. ANOVAs were applied and the results showed that the swimmers did not have homogenous motives for participation. The results confirmed that motives for participating differ according to the sporting event, and that marketers and sport event organizers need to be aware that not all participants are the same. These findings can assist organizers to differentiate between the needs of different markets, and thereby adapt their marketing campaigns accordingly, which would lead to a more competitive and sustainable event. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A sample of 41 male student rugby players (mean age: 21.87 ± 1.39 years) completed the Recovery-Stress Questionnaire (Kellmann & Kallus, 2001), Athlete Burnout Questionnaire (Raedeke & Smith, 2001) and Stellenbosch Mood Scale (Terry et al., 2003) repeatedly over a five-month period. Independent t-tests, oneway analysis of variance and effect sizes were used to indicate significant differences between groups (categorised according to playing position, experience level and starting status). The group of forwards were shown to have significantly (d ≈ 0.5) better results than the backline players for 12 of the 39 tested variables. The group of less experienced players had significantly less General and Sport-specific Stress and negative Mood State scores than their very experienced and novice counterparts, whilst the novice players showed greater General and Sport-specific Recovery scores. Differences in starting status were also observed as the reserve players were shown to have significantly higher General and Sport-specific Recovery scores and better Mood State scores than the regular starters. These results suggest that playing position, experience level and starting status should be considered in player management strategies and during the psycho-social monitoring of players aimed at reducing the onset and development of overtraining and burnout. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Little is known about ethnic differences in developing countries such as South Africa, particularly with regard to prevalence of postural deviations and body composition profiles. The aim of this study is to compare the prevalence rate for postural deviations and body composition status among two racial groups in South Africa. The sample (n = 216) consisted of 89 African girls and 127 Caucasian girls. Anthropometric (BMI and percentage body fat) and body posture measurements were performed. A posture grid and the New York Posture test were used for all postural assessments. Independent t-tests and effect sizes demonstrated that in the 11 and 13 year old group the Caucasian group had a significantly higher (p<0.05) BMI and percentage body fat than the African group. There were no statistical and practical significant differences in prevalence rate between age groups. The African group had higher prevalence rates in most of the deviations, with winged scapulae, kyphosis, protruding abdomen and lordosis demonstrating a statistical significance (p<0.05) and practical significance (large effect) with regard to the Caucasian group. The higher prevalence rate for uneven shoulders in the Caucasian group was statistically significant (p<0.05) and also visible (medium effect) with regard to the African group. The higher prevalence rate for pronated feet in the African group was statistically significant (p<0.05), and also visible (medium effect) with regard to the Caucasian group. The prevalence rate was high in both groups and the lack of awareness and the results of this study should support the development of more responsible educational and screening programmes in both rural and urban school environments. The identification of postural deviations is important for prevention, to encourage a healthier posture for children and to prevent resulting painful syndromes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study is to investigate the influence of body composition on the prevalence of postural deformities among Black South African children aged 11 to 13 years in selected schools in the Potchefstroom area in the North West Province. The sample (n = 168) consisted of 47 eleven year olds, 58 twelve year olds and 63 thirteen year old school children. Of the total number of students examined (168), 79 were boys, and 89 were girls. Anthropometric (BMI and percentage body fat) and body posture measurements were performed. A posture grid and the New York Posture test were used for all postural assessments. In boys, Spearman Rank Order Correlations demonstrated a statistical significant (p<0.05) association between protruding abdomen and BMI, and also for the association of winged scapulae and protruding abdomen with percentage body fat. A large practical significant difference (d≈0.8) in BMI and percentage body fat was demonstrated between the different categories of winged scapulae and lordosis. In girls, Spearman Rank Order Correlations demonstrated a statistical significant association (p<0.05) between BMI and percentage body fat with winged scapulae, protruding abdomen and flat feet. A large practical significant difference (d≈0.8) in BMI was demonstrated between the different categories of winged scapulae and flat feet and also in percentage body fat with regards to the different categories of flat feet. In summary the findings suggest that, winged scapulae and lordosis in boys, and flat feet in girls, are the postural deformities with the strongest association with BMI and percentage body fat. This study illustrates the need for a further investigation of more profound studies investigating factors such as BMI and percentage body fat. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Study Orientation Questionnaire in Mathematics (Primary) is being developed as a diagnostic measure for South African teachers and counsellors to help primary school students improve their orientation towards the study of mathematics. In this study, participants were primary school students in the North-West Province of South Africa. During the standardisation in 2007, 1,013 students (538 boys: M age= 12.61; SD= 1.53; 555 girls: M age= 11.98; SD= 1.35; 10 missing values) were assessed. Factor analysis yielded three factors. Analysis also showed satisfactory reliability coefficients and item-factor correlations. Step-wise linear regression indicated that three factors (Mathematics anxiety, Study attitude in mathematics, and Study habits in mathematics) contributed significantly (R2 = .194) to predicting achievement in mathematics as measured by the Basic Mathematics Questionnaire (Primary). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study is to describe the association between the practice environment and nurse educator outcomes (burnout, engagement, incivility, job satisfaction and intention to leave) in public nursing education institutions in the Gauteng province of South Africa. The practice environment holds the most promise for recruiting and retaining a qualified and engaged nurse workforce; however, the association between the practice environment and nurse educator outcomes has been relatively unexplored. Cross-sectional design. The Gauteng province was purposively selected, as it has the highest number of public nursing education institutions in South Africa. All-inclusive sampling was applied to public nursing educations institutions in Gauteng province (N = 6) and then to Heads of Department (N = 30; n = 17) and nurse educators (senior lecturers [N = 162; n = 45] and lecturers [N = 257; n = 80]). Data were collected during March to November 2018. The data were collected using the Practice Environment Scale of the Nursing Work Index; Maslach Burnout Inventory - Educators Survey; Utrecht Work Engagement Scale (UWES); Incivility in Nursing Education-Revised (INE-R); job satisfaction and Propensity to Leave Scale. The results show that nurse educators are an aging population, with limited numbers having master's and doctoral qualifications. The most job dissatisfaction is regarding wages (M=2.0; SD 1.07); appreciation, recognition and rewards for good work (M=2.1; SD 1.01); and opportunities for advancement (M=2.2; SD 1.01). The nurse educators do not experience their public nursing education institutions as having a positive practice environment. Nurse educators experienced high levels of work engagement, moderate levels of burnout and low levels of incivility, that were highly correlated with the subscale of foundations of quality outcomes. They experienced moderate levels of job satisfaction but did not intend to leave their places of employment, which was highly correlated with the subscale of manager's ability, leadership and support. A positive practice environment improves nurse educator outcomes. The subscale of foundations of quality outcomes and manager's ability, leadership and support had the most impact on nurse educator outcomes, thus quality teaching practices should be cultivated and recognised; and managers must have the necessary skill and knowledge to lead effectively, while also including nurse educators in decisions that impact them and involving them in the affairs of the nursing education institution. There is a shortage of qualified nurse educators globally and in South Africa and urgent attention must be given to factors that influence the recruitment and retention of nurse educators. The practice environment holds the most promise for recruiting and retaining a qualified and engaged nurse educator workforce, especially regarding foundations of quality outcomes and manager's ability, leadership and support. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Teachers and psychologists need an instrument to assess learners' language proficiency in mathematics to enable them to plan and evaluate interventions and to facilitate best practice in mathematics classrooms. We describe the development of a mathematics vocabulary questionnaire to measure learners' language proficiency in mathematics in the intermediate phase. It covers all the steps from designing the preliminary questionnaire to standardising the final instrument. A sample of 1 103 Grades 4 to 7 Afrikaans-, English and Tswana-speaking learners in North West Province completed the Mathematics Vocabulary questionnaire (Primary) (MV(P)), consisting of 12 items. We analysed the data by calculating discrimination values, performing a factor analysis, determining reliability coefficients, and investigating item bias by language, gender, and grade. We concluded that there was strong evidence of validity and reliability for the MV(P). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Pareto-Normal-Pareto (PNP) distribution assumes that, for log returns of financial series, the innovations are normally distributed between two threshold values with Pareto tails below and above the respective thresholds. These threshold values can be estimated by maximum likelihood estimation (MLE). Monte Carlo simulations of normal, as well as heavy tailed error distributions, are used to compare the methods using this distribution with other methods to calculate Value-at-Risk ( VaR) and Expected Shortfall ( ESf). It is also applied to South African stock exchange data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sharks have historically suffered from a negative image, which has been indirectly fuelling public fear and government decisions to kill sharks, as part of bather protection programmes in various countries. Scientists are arguing, however, that the public opinion of sharks is increasingly positive, and that opposition to lethal shark control and to negative shark framing is growing. Positive attitudes and behaviour towards sharks tend to be influenced by an array of factors, which ought to be considered in studies aimed at effectively steering shark conservation actions. This study used a questionnaire survey of 1138 beach visitors in South Africa, together with structural equation modelling, to investigate human perceptions of sharks, and their influence on outcome variables including attitudes and behaviour towards shark hazard mitigation and shark framing. The results show that basic knowledge and attitudes towards sharks have a significant effect on the outcome variables. Additionally, attitudes towards sharks moderate the effect of perceived risk from sharks on the outcome variables. The results support arguments of public concern for sharks, and provide guidance for strategies aimed at garnering more support for shark conservation. • Several factors might shape attitudes and behaviour towards sharks. • This study tested influences on perceptions of shark hazard mitigation and framing. • Basic knowledge and attitudes towards shark are influential. • Attitudes towards sharks moderate the influence of perceived risk from sharks. • Results confirm public concern for sharks and guide shark support strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: There is a substantial amount of literature on the perception of the practice environment and quality of care as perceived by registered nurses and community services nurses in South Africa and worldwide, but there is little to no research that could be found regarding other categories of nurses, and how these perceptions differ between the different categories. Therefore, the aim of this study is to describe the different nursing categories' perceptions of the practice environment and quality of care and the association between the variables. Methods: This study applied a cross-sectional survey design. Data were collected in April 2021 in the public sector of the North West Province. Multiphase sampling was applied to all categories of nurses who worked in an in-patient unit in the selected hospital for at least 3 months (n = 236). Results: All nursing categories perceived the practice environment as negative, regarding nurse participation in hospital affairs; nurse manager ability, leadership, and support of nurses and staffing and resource adequacy. Perceived quality of care and patient safety items were perceived as neutral and good. However, in all instances, the perceptions of community service nurses and registered nurses were most negative, and enrolled nurse assistants most positive. Adverse events towards patients and nurses were perceived to only occur a few times a year. Overall, nurse perceptions of quality of care and patient safety were most correlated with the subscale of nurse foundations of quality of care and nurse manager ability, leadership, and support of nurses. Adverse events towards patients were most correlated with the collegial nurse-physician relationship subscale, while adverse events towards nurses were correlated with the foundations of quality of care subscale. Conclusion: Improving the practice environment, especially regarding the subscale nurse foundations of quality of care and nurse manager ability, leadership, and support of nurses, is associated with improved quality of care. Nurses with higher qualifications, registered nurses and community service nurses rated quality of care lower than other categories of nurses, contributing to literature that higher qualified staff are more competent to assess the practice environment and quality of care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Self-determination theory is a macrotheory of human motivation that describes fundamental matters such as personality development, goals and aspirations, and self-regulation. Basic psychological needs theory, a subtheory of self-determination theory, postulates that the needs for autonomy, competence, and relatedness are universal and the satisfaction thereof essential for human functioning. Despite the theory’s strong universality claim, almost no studies tested the assumption on the African continent. The present study addressed this by exploring the factorial validity of English, Afrikaans, and Setswana versions of the Basic Psychological Needs Scale (N = 1056). After incorporating a negative-worded method effect and removing several problematic items, the fit of the intended three-factor model was good for the Afrikaans version, marginal for the English version, and poor for the Setswana version. The resulting factors’ reliabilities were low. Configural, metric, and partial scalar invariance were established between the English and Afrikaans versions. Although these findings primarily highlighted problems with the particular scale, there is also the possibility that it could have implications for the validity of the universality assumption of basic psychological needs theory and/or assumptions about denotations or manifestations of the main constructs in various cultural contexts. The study indicated the conceptual and linguistic complexities involved in assessment across diverse and multicultural contexts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study explores the relationship between common mental disorders and mental toughness in professional South African rugby players. A cross-sectional survey design was used by administering a questionnaire and preliminary and bivariate analyses were conducted. The inclusion criteria were professional rugby players who are able to communicate in English. The results indicated that, in general, these players (N = 215) portray significant mental toughness (M = 5.69) on a 7-point scale. Anxiety/depression and distress measured the lowest (M = 1.65) of all the common mental disorders measured in this study. Furthermore, the results indicated a positive relationship between mental toughness and sound sleep (r =.262). Negative relationships were found between mental toughness and all other common mental disorders with the highest relationship being with anxiety/depression positive2 (r = –.423). Other significant relationships were found with anxiety/depression (r = –.401), distress (r = –.259), and common mental disorders problems in general (r = –.220). The results indicated that the management of teams and clinicians need to look at specific aspects, such as alcohol consumption among players, the implications of alcohol use on performance, but also mental wellbeing in general. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To examine the practice environment, nurse reported quality of care and patient safety, and nurse workforce outcomes in medical and surgical units in private and public hospitals in South Africa (SA), and determine the association of modifiable features of the hospital such as the practice environment and patient to nurse workloads on these outcomes. Design: Cross-sectional survey of nurses. Setting and participants: Nurses were surveyed in medical and surgical units of 55 private hospitals and 7 public national referral hospitals in SA. A total of 1187 nurses completed the survey. Measurements: Practice environment, patient to nurse workloads, nurse reported quality of care and patient safety, and nurse workforce outcomes including burnout, job satisfaction and intention to leave. Results: On a national level, more than half, 54.4% (634/1166) of nurses intend to leave their hospital within the next year due to job dissatisfaction and 52.3% (600/1148) rate their practice environment as poor or fair, while almost half, 45.8% (538/1174) report high levels of burnout and 44.9% (517/1152) are not confident that management will resolve patient problems. Public hospital nurses report more negative outcomes than private hospital nurses. Some 71% (320/451) of public hospital nurses rate their practice environment as poor/fair, 62.9% (281/447) are not confident management will resolve patient problems, and 59% (272/461) intend to leave their hospital within the next year due to job dissatisfaction. On a national level, more favourable practice environments are significantly associated with more positive nurse reported quality of care, and nurse workforce outcomes. This is true for private and public hospitals. Patient to nurse workloads are also significantly associated with more positive nurse reported quality of care and patient safety, and nurse workforce outcomes, but primarily in public hospitals. Conclusions: Improving the practice environment, including patient to nurse ratios holds promise for retaining a qualified and committed nurse workforce and may benefit patients in terms of better quality care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Relatively limited data have been published on the chemical composition of wet deposition for South Africa, which is considered an important source region for atmospheric pollutants. Concentrations and wet deposition fluxes of ionic species determined in rain samples collected from December 2014 to April 2018 at a regional site, Welgegund, are presented, and contextualised by wet deposition composition in the northeastern interior of South Africa. 89% of rain samples collected during the sampling period complied with the data quality objectives of the World Meteorological Organisation. The total ionic concentration of rainwater at Welgegund was similar to that at two regional sites located within proximity of industrial activities. The pH of rainwater (4.80) was comparable to that determined at two rural background sites, which indicated increased neutralisation. Similarly to the other sites located in the South African interior, SO4 2- was the most abundant species in rain, with concentrations thereof in the same order as SO4 2- levels determined at the two industrially influenced sites. Lower sulphur and nitrogen fluxes at Welgegund were attributed to lower average annual rainfall. The anthropogenic (industrial) source group had the largest contribution to wet deposition chemical composition, which signified the influence of major source regions in the South African interior that impact Welgegund. Relatively large contributions were also calculated from marine and crustal sources. The influence of agricultural activities was also evident, while biomass burning had the lowest contribution due to open biomass burning occurring mainly during the dry season. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims and objectives To determine the incidence of medication administration errors, medication administration-related deviations from safe practice as well as factors associated with these errors in medical and surgical units of public hospitals in the Gauteng Province of South Africa. Background Several studies have been published on the incidence of medication administration errors, but only a few have studied the incidence of medication administration-related deviations from safe practice. Context-specific research on the incidence of medication administration errors and associated factors (patient acuity, bed occupancy, staffing levels, medication administrators' qualifications, dose calculation skills, level of hospital, unit type, medication administration route and interruptions) within the continent of Africa is lacking. Design A cross-sectional, observational design. Methods Direct observation was conducted incorporating a previously validated checklist based on basic medication guidelines including the five rights, asepsis and medication documentation. In addition, a knowledge test on dose calculations was performed. Medication administration to 315 patients (1847 medications administered) was observed between February-August 2015 in medical and surgical units from eight public hospitals. Twenty-five medication administrators completed dose calculations. Results In total, 296 medication errors were identified, of which most were wrong-time errors and omissions. Interruptions and patient acuity were significantly associated with wrong-dose and wrong-route errors, respectively. Most medication administration-related deviations from safe practice were related to patient identification or asepsis. Sixteen of 50 dosage calculations were answered incorrectly. Incorrect answers most often occurred in the calculation of parenteral dosages. Conclusions Medication administration errors, especially wrong-time errors and omissions, are prevalent in public hospitals in the Gauteng Province. Interruptions lower the risk of wrong-dose errors, while patient acuity exacerbates this risk. Relevance to clinical practice Factors associated with wrong-time errors and omissions should be addressed. Patient identification and asepsis protocols should be adhered to. Dosage calculation training is indicated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

South Africa, burdened with the emerging chronic diseases, is home to one of the largest migrant Indian population, however, little data exists on the risk factors for non-communicable diseases in this population. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of yet undiagnosed selected intermediate risk factors for non-communicable diseases among the Indian population in KwaZulu-Natal. We randomly selected 250 apparently healthy Indians, aged 35-55 years, living in KwaDukuza to participate in this study. Clinical and anthropometric measurements were taken under prescribed clinical conditions using Asian cut-off points. Pearson correlations was used to detect associations between anthropometric and clinical risk markers. A large percentage of participants' systolic blood pressure fell within the normal range. Diastolic blood pressure was >85 mmHg for 61 % of the participants and triglyceride levels were >1.69 mmol/L for 89 % of the participants'; 94 % of the women and 87 % of the men were classified as centrally obese. Raised fasting blood glucose was seen in 39 % of participants'. Waist circumference and body mass index showed statistically significant associations with all clinical risk markers except for diastolic blood pressure. Our findings suggest that the use of ethno specific strategies in the management of the disease profile of South African Indians, will enable the South African health system to respond more positively towards the current trend of increased metabolic and physiological risk factors in this community. Moreover, key modifiable behaviours such as increased physical activity and weight reduction may improve most of these metabolic abnormalities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

THIS STUDY REPORTS ON A learner-support intervention aimed at the development of perceptual-motor skills of kindergarten learners from disadvantaged environments. A quantitative research method was followed which consisted of a three-group, pre-test/posttest design. Three Grade R (kindergarten) schools were selected by means of a convenience sample. Two schools were selected from disadvantaged communities (Quintile 1 schools)-- C1 (n = 30) and E (n = 25)--and one from a more advantaged community (Quintile 3 school)-- C2 (n = 22). A two-level perceptual-motor intervention was implemented in school E for nine months. All participants were tested before and after the intervention by means of a schoolreadiness test. Results were analysed using an analysis of variance (ANOVA), dependent t-tests and an analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) to determine differences among and within groups. A significant relationship was found between school readiness and perceptual-motor development. Results also suggested that a perceptual-motor intervention could aid learners from disadvantaged environments in overcoming factors which impede school readiness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim To investigate the relationship between non-nursing tasks ( NNTs), nursing tasks left undone ( NTLU) and job satisfaction among professional nurses ( PNs) in South Africa ( SA). Background This study adds to the international debate about the relationship between non-nursing tasks, nursing tasks left undone and job satisfaction by studying the variables at individual nurse and hospital unit level. Method A cross-sectional survey design of 1166 PNs in 60 medical and surgical units in 55 private hospitals and seven public hospitals. Results Nationally, the three main non-nursing tasks performed were clerical duties ( M = 1.81), arranging discharge referrals and transport ( M = 1.38) and performing non-nursing care ( M = 1.31), while the main nursing tasks left undone were comfort/talk with patients (62.2%), educating patients and family (57.9%) and develop/update nursing care plans/pathways (51.6%). Nursing tasks left undone were only related to three non-nursing tasks, and job satisfaction correlated most highly with nursing tasks left undone. Conclusion Professional nurses conduct many non-nursing tasks, and leave several important nursing tasks left undone. Nursing tasks left undone cause the greatest degree of job dissatisfaction amongst professional nurses. Implications for nursing management Role overlapping and work performed by professional nurses below their skill level should be identified and re-organised; support services should be employed and efficiently used. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: A waist:height ratio (WHtR) higher than 0.5 has been proposed as a cutoff point for abdominal obesity in both sexes and at all ages. It is unknown if this cutoff point is appropriate for previously undernourished adolescents. We assessed the cutoff value of the WHtR associated with an increased metabolic risk in 178 black South African 14- to 18-y-old adolescents (69 boys, 109 girls). Methods: We measured weight, height, waist circumference, fasting plasma glucose and insulin levels, serum high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, and blood pressure and calculated the WHtR and homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR). Using receiver operating characteristics curve analyses, we assessed the WHtR with the highest sensitivity and specificity to discriminate adolescents with increased fasting plasma glucose, HOMA-IR, serum high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, and blood pressure from those with "normal" values. Results: The WHtR cutoff points derived from the receiver operating characteristics curves ranged from 0.40 to 0.41, with best diagnostic value at 0.41. A WHtR of 0.40 had 80% sensitivity and 38.5% specificity to classify adolescents with fasting blood glucose level higher than 5.6 mmol/L (area under the curve [AUC] 0.57). A WHtR of 0.41 had 64% sensitivity and 58.5% specificity for a HOMAIR higher than 3.4 (AUC 0.66), 55% sensitivity and 55.6% specificity for a high-sensitivity C-reactive protein level higher than 1 mg/L (AUC 0.57), and 64% sensitivity and 50.2% specificity for a blood pressure higher than the age-, sex-, and height-specific 90th percentiles (AUC 0.56). Adolescents with a WHtR higher than 0.41 had an odds ratio of 2.46 (95% confidence interval 0.96-6.30) for having a HOMA-IR higher than 3.4. Conclusion: The WHtR cutoff to indicate metabolic risk for black South African adolescents is 0.41, which is lower than the proposed international cutoff of 0.5. The WHtR can be used for screening adolescents with components of the metabolic syndrome in intervention programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Improving the practice environment, quality of care and patient safety are global health priorities. In South Africa, quality of care and patient safety are among the top goals of the National Department of Health; nevertheless, empirical data regarding the condition of the nursing practice environment, quality of care and patient safety in public hospitals is lacking.AimThis study examined nurses' perceptions of the practice environment, quality of care and patient safety across four hospital levels (central, tertiary, provincial and district) within the public health sector of South Africa.MethodsThis was a cross-sectional survey design. We used multi-phase sampling to recruit all categories of nursing staff from central (n = 408), tertiary (n = 254), provincial (n = 401) and district (n = 244 [large n = 81; medium n = 83 and small n = 80]) public hospitals in all nine provinces of South Africa. After ethical approval, a self-reported questionnaire with subscales on the practice environment, quality of care and patient safety was administered. Data was collected from April 2021 to June 2022, with a response rate of 43.1%. ANOVA type Hierarchical Linear Modelling (HLM) was used to present the differences in nurses' perceptions across four hospital levels.ResultsNurses rated the overall practice environment as poor (M = 2.46; SD = 0.65), especially with regard to the subscales of nurse participation in hospital affairs (M = 2.22; SD = 0.76), staffing and resource adequacy (M = 2.23; SD = 0.80), and nurse leadership, management, and support of nurses (M = 2.39; SD = 0.81). One-fifth (19.59%; n = 248) of nurses rated the overall grade of patient safety in their units as poor or failing, and more than one third (38.45%; n = 486) reported that the quality of care delivered to patient was fair or poor. Statistical and practical significant results indicated that central hospitals most often presented more positive perceptions of the practice environment, quality of care and patient safety, while small district hospitals often presented the most negative. The practice environment was most highly correlated with quality of care and patient safety outcomes.ConclusionThere is a need to strengthen compliance with existing policies that enhance quality of care and patient safety. This includes the need to create positive practice environments in all public hospitals, but with an increased focus on smaller hospital settings., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

In light of recent studies on the changing views on masculinity, this quantitative study aimed to determine the attitudes of South African undergraduate students toward the display of the tenets associated with orthodox and inclusive masculinities in contact sport, and to determine to what extent these attitudes were predicted by students' gender, race, religiosity, and attitudes toward the importance of primary gender-role sport socialization and homosexuality. Findings, which originated from the data collected through the use of 200 structured interviews, indicated that male and female students endorsed displays of a 'softening' in masculinities in sport, and were slightly opposed toward displays of 'harder' masculinities, a trend that was strongest among women. The more importance these students' ascribed to primary gender-role sports socialization, the more likely they were to support the display of orthodox masculinities in sport, and the less likely they were to endorse inclusive masculinities, with the converse being true for those who were more accepting of homosexuality. The study contributes to current theorization in a twofold way: Firstly, by problematizing a simplistic differentiation between orthodox and inclusive masculine typologies in favor of ascribing to theorization that indicates how the attitudes among students of the said South African university campus arguably attest to the concurrent existence of 'multiple dominant masculinities.' In-keeping with this, the findings arguably echo the Andersonian emphasis on the co-existence of declining levels of homohysteria among younger persons and the continuing prevalence of homophobia among some students on university campuses.

South Africa was among the first countries to adopt mandatory regulation in 2016 to lower the salt content in processed foods, aiming to reduce population salt intake to <5 g/day. To assess the effectiveness of this regulation in 20-30 year-old adults, we determined the change in salt intake over a mean follow-up time of 4.56-years spanning the implementation of the regulation. This observational study included baseline (2013-2016; N = 668; 24.9 ± 3 years; 47.8% black; 40.7% men) and follow-up data (2018-ongoing; N = 311; 25.4 ± 3.05 years; 51.1% black; 43.4% men) for participants of the African-PREDICT study. Salt intake was estimated from 24-h urinary sodium excretion. Median salt intake at baseline (N = 668) was 7.88 g/day (IQR: 5.67). In those followed (N = 311), salt intake reduced from baseline [median (IQR): 7.91 g/day (5.83)] to follow-up [7.26 g/day (5.30)] [unadjusted median: -0.82 g/day]. After adjusting for baseline salt intake to address regression to the mean, the mean salt reduction was -1.2 g/day. The greatest reductions were in men [mean difference: -1.47 g/day], black adults [mean difference: -2.04 g/day], and participants from low [mean difference: -1.89 g/day] or middle [mean difference: -1.84 g/day] socio-economic status groups, adjusting for baseline salt intake. Our preliminary findings suggest that South Africa's salt regulation has been effective in lowering salt intake in young adults by ~1.2 g salt/day. Our study supports the effectiveness of upstream interventions to lower population salt intake, particularly for vulnerable groups who may typically consume more processed foods. It needs to be determined if the legislation has the anticipated population health gains., (© 2021. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Limited.)