scholarly journals Reproductive Health Choices Among Adolescents in Secondary Schools: A Case Study of Selected Schools in Limpopo, South Africa

2018 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 319-329
Author(s):  
Netshikweta ML ◽  
Olaniyi FC ◽  
Tshitangano TG
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Reproductive Health ◽  
Parental Involvement ◽  
Secondary Schools ◽  
Sexual Debut ◽  
Survey Design ◽  
Limpopo Province ◽  
First Year ◽  
Health Choices ◽  
First Time

Objectives:This study was conducted to determine the knowledge, opinions and practices of female adolescents in selected secondary schools in Limpopo Province of South Africa about reproductive health issues and assess the level of parental involvement in their choices.Materials and methods:A quantitative, exploratory, survey design was adopted. A total of 512 learners from grades 8 (first year of secondary school) and 12 (final year) were conveniently sampled from 24 randomly selected secondary schools in Limpopo Province. Data was collected with a structured, self-administered questionnaire and analysis was done using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 20.0.Results:Sixteen (3.9%) of the learners attained menarche at or before the early age of 8 years and 102 (29.3%) experienced sexual debut before age 14 years. More than half of grade 12 (n =84, 52.5%) and 49 (14%) of grade 8 learners were sexually active and 80% (n = 444, 86.7%) of them were unaware of contraceptives when engaging in sexual intercourse for the first time. Only 116 (22.7%) of the respondents admitted to having knowledge about contraceptives before engaging in sex for the first time and more than a third (n = 172, 33.6%) have been pregnant at least once before the study was conducted. Parental involvement in Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH) education was found to be low and many obtained the little information they have mainly through friends.Conclusion:Many adolescents are lacking in vital information regarding their SRH and some hold wrong opinions about contraception. Parents are advised to initiate and sustain discussions regarding SRH with their children to help them make informed reproductive health choices.

scholarly journals Assessment of learners’ exposure to health education and promotion at school in the Limpopo Province of South Africa

2016 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Oni H. Tosin ◽  
Takalani G. Tshitangano
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Health Education ◽  
Secondary Schools ◽  
Limpopo Province ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Sexually Transmitted ◽  
School Participation ◽  
Physical Changes ◽  
Self Administered Questionnaire ◽  
Health Education And Promotion

Background: School participation and educational attainment among adolescents have been rising rapidly in the developing world. Thus, to attain Millennium Development Goal 6 (Combat HIV and/or AIDs, malaria and other diseases), it is crucial to seize the opportunity to educate and encourage teenagers about healthy choices and proper social behaviours that will continue into adulthood.Aim: This study aimed to assess the exposure of rural secondary school learners to health education and promotion at schools in the Limpopo Province of South Africa.Setting: This study was carried out at 10 secondary schools in Vhumbedzi educational circuit.Methodology: The study adopted a cross-sectional quantitative approach. Data were collected from 338 randomly selected learners from 10 secondary schools that make up a rural Vhumbedzi circuit in the Limpopo province. A self-administered questionnaire was used to collect data.Results: The findings showed that, 102 (66.07%) male and 121 (67.60%) female learners reported that they were taught about physical changes that occur during adolescence. In the same vein, most of the participants (n = 128, 84.39%) and (n = 152, 85.39%) males and females respectively claimed to have been taught about sexually transmitted diseases.Conclusion: In this study the secondary schools in the Limpopo Province of South Africa are making efforts to uphold and expose their learners to health education and promotion at school.Keyword: Health education and promotion, adolescents, school, learners

New host-plants records of Afrotropical Gelechiidae (Lepidoptera), with description of three new species

Zootaxa ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 4952 (3) ◽  
pp. 495-522
Author(s):  
OLEKSIY BIDZILYA
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
First Record ◽  
Limpopo Province ◽  
New Combination ◽  
Larval Biology ◽  
New Host ◽  
North West ◽  
Annotated List ◽  
Three New Species ◽  
First Time

First and additional host-plant records for 38 species of Gelechiidae from South Africa and Kenya are presented. An annotated list with brief descriptions of larval biology and known geographical distributions is presented. Three species are described as new: Mesophleps kruegeri sp. nov. (Namibia: Kavango Region and South Africa: Limpopo Province), Istrianis inquilinus sp. nov. (South Africa: North West Province), and Teleiopsis sharporum sp. nov. (South Africa: Limpopo Province). The new combination Istrianis epacria (Bradley, 1965) comb. nov. is proposed. The male genitalia of Hypatima melanecta (Meyrick, 1914) is described for the first time. It is noticed that male hitherto associated with T. commaculata (Meyrick, 1918) in fact refers to T. pundamilia Bidzilya & Mey, 2018. Hypatima stasimodes (Meyrick, 1931), Dichomeris coenulenta (Meyrick, 1927), Dichomeris eustacta Meyrick, 1921, Neotelphusa similella Janse, 1958 and Argophara epaxia Janse, 1963 are recorded for the first time from South Africa, and Istrianis epacria is new for Kenya. The adults, male and female genitalia are illustrated for some species mentioned in paper. The first record of the genus Teleiopsis Sattler, 1960 from South Africa is briefly discussed. 

scholarly journals Prevalence and determinants of stunting and overweight in 3-year-old black South African children residing in the Central Region of Limpopo Province, South Africa

2005 ◽  
Vol 8 (5) ◽  
pp. 501-508 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ramoteme L Mamabolo ◽  
Marianne Alberts ◽  
Nelia P Steyn ◽  
Henriette A Delemarre-van de Waal ◽  
Naomi S Levitt
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Central Region ◽  
Limpopo Province ◽  
First Year ◽  
Working Mother ◽  
Rural Villages ◽  
Black South African ◽  
High Prevalence ◽  
Z Scores ◽  
First Year Of Life

AbstractObjectivesTo determine the prevalence of stunting, wasting and overweight and their determinants in 3-year-old children in the Central Region of Limpopo Province, South Africa.DesignProspective cohort study.SettingRural villages in the Central Region of the Limpopo Province, South Africa.SubjectsOne hundred and sixty-two children who were followed from birth were included in the study. Anthropometric measurements and sociodemographic characteristics of the children were recorded.ResultsHeight-for-age Z-scores were low, with a high prevalence of stunting (48%). The children also exhibited a high prevalence of overweight (22%) and obesity (24%). Thirty-one (19%) children were both stuntedandoverweight. Gaining more weight within the first year of life increased the risk of being overweight at 3 years by 2.39 times (95% confidence interval (CI) 1.96–4.18) while having a greater length at 1 year was protective against stunting (odds ratio (OR) 0.41; 95% CI 0.17–0.97). Having a mother as a student increased the risk for stunting at 3 years by 18.21 times (95% CI 9.46–34.74) while having a working mother increased the risk for overweight by 17.87 times (95% CI 8.24–38.78). All these factors also appeared as risks or as being protective in children who were both overweight and stunted, as did living in a household having nine or more persons (OR 5.72; 95% CI 2.7–12.10).ConclusionThe results of this study highlight the importance of evaluating anthropometric status in terms of both stunting and overweight. Furthermore, it is important to realise the importance of normal length and weight being attained at 1 year of age, since these in turn predict nutritional status at 3 years of age.

Morphological and molecular characterisation of Criconemoides brevistylus Singh & Khera, 1976 and C. obtusicaudatus Heyns, 1962 from South Africa (Nematoda: Criconematidae) with first description of a male C. obtusicaudatus and proposal of new synonyms

Nematology ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 14 (8) ◽  
pp. 961-976 ◽  
Author(s):  
Esther van den Berg ◽  
Louwrens R. Tiedt ◽  
Sergei A. Subbotin
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Limpopo Province ◽  
Rrna Gene ◽  
28S Rrna ◽  
Molecular Characterisation ◽  
Closely Related Species ◽  
New Synonyms ◽  
Maize Field ◽  
Kwazulu Natal ◽  
First Time

During recent collections in South Africa, two species of Criconemoides were found. Criconemoides brevistylus is described and illustrated from a golf course in KwaZulu-Natal Province. It is compared with several closely related species, and three previously described species (C. helicus, C. onostris and C. paronostris) are regarded as junior synonyms of C. brevistylus. Criconemoides obtusicaudatus is described and illustrated from a maize field in Limpopo Province. The male of the species is described for the first time. Molecular characterisation of C. brevistylus and C. obtusicaudatus using the D2-D3 expansions segments of 28S rRNA and ITS rRNA gene sequences are provided. Phylogenetic relationships of these species with other Criconemoides are discussed.

scholarly journals Factors influencing the choice of profession of first-year teaching students

2008 ◽  
Vol 27 (1) ◽  
pp. 30-52 ◽  
Author(s):  
N. Hislop-Esterhuizen ◽  
J. G. Maree ◽  
M. J. Van der Linde ◽  
A. Swanepoel
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Career Choice ◽  
Survey Design ◽  
Teaching Profession ◽  
First Year ◽  
Qualified Teachers ◽  
Number Of Factors ◽  
University Of Pretoria ◽  
Role Of Parents ◽  
The University

The lack of appropriately qualified teachers in South Africa is growing rapidly and debates about the decline in teacher numbers in South Africa are increasing. In this study, the results of an investigation into possible factors that impact on the career choice of teaching students are reported. The reasons why first-year teaching students at the University of Pretoria chose teachings a career were studied by using a non-experimental design (survey design; administering anon-standardised questionnaire). The results revealed, inter alia, that a number of factors influence the career choice of first-year teaching students. Trends that emerged from the current study include the following: many more women than men enter the teaching profession; relatively few African language speaking students choose education as a field of study and the role of parents in helping their children to choose a career cannot be underestimated. 

scholarly journals Instructional Leadership Capacity of Secondary School Science Heads of Department in Gauteng, South Africa

2021 ◽  
Vol 20 (12) ◽  
pp. 267-293
Author(s):  
Cynthia B Malinga ◽  
Loyiso C Jita ◽  
Abiodun A Bada
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Instructional Leadership ◽  
Secondary Schools ◽  
Science Teachers ◽  
Survey Design ◽  
School Science ◽  
Natural Sciences ◽  
Leadership Capacity ◽  
Data Set ◽  
Science Disciplines

Natural sciences (NS) is an amalgam of five science disciplines, but the teachers of this subject are usually generalists, or have specialised in a maximum of two of the disciplines. This poses a major challenge to heads of department (HoDs), who are expected to lead instruction in these disciplines. We investigate science HoDs’ capacity to provide instructional leadership in South African secondary schools. The study was quantitative in nature and adopted the survey design. The investigation involved 77 secondary schools out of the 243 schools in the Gauteng province of South Africa. A data set from 142 participants (HoDs = 30; teachers = 112) was used to explore the capacity of science HoDs to provide instructional leadership in secondary schools, using questionnaires. The findings suggest that the capacity of science HoDs to lead instruction is limited by their inability to differentiate between curriculum management and instructional leadership and the relatively insufficient time allocated to provide instructional leadership. Unless schools and local district offices review the grouping of subjects in science departments and in the allocation of natural science teachers and HoDs, much stronger subject-based instructional leadership may potentially continue to remain a mirage. We recommend more focused subject-specific training in natural sciences for both teachers and HoDs, and that leadership should be distributed along science disciplines.

scholarly journals Sexual behaviour and attitudes among university students in Zagreb

2019 ◽  
Vol 29 (Supplement_4) ◽  
Author(s):  
M Majer ◽  
B Puškarić Saić ◽  
V Musil ◽  
R Mužić ◽  
N Pjevač ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Medical Students ◽  
Reproductive Health ◽  
Secondary Schools ◽  
University Students ◽  
Sexual Intercourse ◽  
Sex Education ◽  
Sexual Behaviour ◽  
First Year ◽  
Continuous Education ◽  
Catholic University

Abstract Background Sexual behaviour of youth could have reproductive health outcomes with an impact on individual and general population health. The aim of this study was to determine sexual behaviour and attitudes among first year university students in city of Zagreb, Croatia. Methods Study included 298 first year students (61% of females) of Medical School University of Zagreb and 124 students (75% of females) of Catholic University of Zagreb in academic year 2017/2018. Data were collected by anonymous questionnaire School Health Survey, and analysed by descriptive statistics. Results Significantly higher proportion of Catholic University students have had sexual intercourse comparing to medical students of University of Zagreb (48% vs. 36%, P = 0.019). The age of first sexual intercourse for the most of students was from 16-18 years (73% of Catholic University students, and 79% of medical students). Contraception was always used among 54% of Catholic University students, and 67% of medical students, and never used among 11% and 4% of them respectively. Most of the students have gained information about human sexuality from the internet (26% of Catholic University students, and 30% of medical students), followed by friends (18%) and parents (11%) for Catholic University students, and television (25%) and friends (14%) for medical students. Most students expressed the attitude that sex education should be introduced in secondary schools (31% and 36%, respectively), followed by both, in primary and secondary schools (21%, and 30% respectively). Fourteen percent of Catholic University students and 7% of medical students thought that sex education should not be introduced to schools. Conclusions Results showed risky sexual behaviour of university students, especially Catholic University students, indicating the need of continuous education on reproductive health among youth. Key messages Results indicate the need of intervention and continuous education on reproductive health among university students in Zagreb, Croatia. Results showed insufficient use of contraception especially among Catholic University students indicating the need of education on reproductive health among medical and nonmedical students.

scholarly journals Helminths of guineafowls in Limpopo Province, South Africa

2007 ◽  
Vol 74 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
K. Junker ◽  
J. Boomker
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Limpopo Province ◽  
Trematode Species ◽  
Intestinal Helminths ◽  
New Host ◽  
New Geographic Record ◽  
Host Parasite ◽  
First Time

Between July 2005 and November 2006 the gastro-intestinal helminths of 15 Helmeted guineafowls and a single Crested guineafowl from Musina, Limpopo Province were examined, and in July and August 2005 helminths were collected from five Helmeted guineafowls from Mokopane in the same province. The acanthocephalan Mediorhynchus gallinarum, the cestodes Abuladzugnia gutterae, Davainea nana, Hymenolepis cantaniana, Numidella numida, Octopetalum numida, Ortleppolepis multiuncinata, Porogynia paronai, Raillietina angusta, Raillietina pintneri, Raillietina steinhardti and Raillietina sp. and the nematodes Ascaridia numidae, Cyrnea parroti, Gongylonema congolense, Hadjelia truncata, Sicarius caudatus, Subulura dentigera, Subulura suctoria, Subulura sp., Tetrameres numida and an unidentified subulurid were recovered. A single trematode species, Dicrocoelium macrostomum, was present in the liver. Mediorhynchus gallinarum, A. gutterae, O. multiuncinata, H. truncata and S. caudatus are recorded for the first time from Helmeted guineafowls, as well as from South Africa. South Africa is a new geographic record for D. macrostomum, G. congolense and D. nana. Subulura suctoria, G. congolense and H. truncata from the Crested guineafowl constitute new host-parasite associations.

scholarly journals Substance use amongst secondary school students in a rural setting in South Africa: Prevalence and possible contributing factors

2016 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Takalani G. Tshitangano ◽  
Oni H. Tosin
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Substance Abuse ◽  
Substance Use ◽  
Secondary School ◽  
Survey Design ◽  
Limpopo Province ◽  
Rural Setting ◽  
Contributing Factors ◽  
School Students ◽  
Design Data

Introduction: This study determined the prevalence of substance abuse amongst rural secondary school learners in a selected province of South Africa.Methodology: The study adopted a quantitative approach using a descriptive survey design. Data were collected using a self-administered questionnaire from a total of 338 randomly selected learners, age 14 to 18 years, from 10 secondary schools that make up a rural Vhembedzi circuit in the Limpopo Province. Permission to enter the circuit and the schools was obtained from the circuit manager and parents’ or learners’ informed consent was obtained prior to data collection.Results: The majority of the participants (94% male, 98% female) had never used substances. Most of the learners started using substances between the ages 15 to 20 years. The majority of learners who were using substances were male. Of the respondents, all the female (100%) students reported to have stopped substance abuse. The majority (63% male, 50% female) of the learners tried to stop substance abuse but failed. Most of the learners (72% male, 71% female) did not have family members who were substance users. The majority of the students attested that substances can be easily obtained in their communities or villages. The majority (68%) of the leaners knew that substance abuse is dangerous to health.Conclusion and recommendation: Rural secondary school learners in South Africa have a low prevalence rate of substance abuse. Hence, there is a need for a counselling program in each school to provide support and refer such learners to an appropriate institution for rehabilitation.Keywords:Prevalence of substance abuse; age of debut for substance use; possible contributing factors to substance abuse.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document