Theses and Dissertations
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Browsing Theses and Dissertations by Author "Kugara, S. L."
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Item Open Access An Exploration of the Role of African Traditional Health Practitioners in Treating Cancer Patients: A Case Study of Mzinti, Mpumalanga Province of South Africa(2022-11-10) Nkosi, Lindelwa Veronicah; Netshandama, V. O.; Kugara, S. L.The purpose of this study was to explore the role of African traditional health practitioners in treating cancer patients. Most countries in Africa have a limited number of cancer specialists and cancer treatments are very expensive, hence, most cancer patients cannot afford them due to low income. Alternatives to mainstream treatment are not readily available due to patients’ lack of exploration and recognition of traditional health practitioners in treating cancer patients and the lack of clinical validation of traditional medicine. This study used a qualitative research design and perceptions were gathered through semi-structured interviews and focus group discussions. There were 16 participants who included 7 traditional health practitioners and 9 community members; data was analysed using thematic analysis. As indicated the study intended to provide an understanding of South African traditional health practices and the role of traditional health practitioners (THPs) in the treatment of cancer patients. This understanding is intended to benefit development policy makers in the formal acceptance of traditional health practitioners’ roles and pave ways for possible integration of traditional and western health care. The study unveiled that THPs have a strong cultural background and knowledge of cancer, as well as treatment methods. Participants elucidated that THPs were involved with their patients beyond the use of medicine and that they play the role of nutritionists, counsellors and care givers in their treatment practices. The study also revealed that people have both negative and positive perceptions of the role played by THPs in treating cancer. This study recommends that further research be conducted that will be focus on cancer patients’ beliefs and reasons for the preference of African traditional medicine as a treatment for cancer and the creation of social support groups for cancer patients and their families.Item Open Access Exploring The Efficacy of Customary Tenure as A Tool for Rural Development and Food Security in Vhembe District of South Africa: An Indigenous Knowledge System Perspective(2023-05-19) Mawere, Joshua; Matshidze, P. E.; Kugara, S. L.; Madzivhandila, T. S.In South Africa, numerous interested parties have expansively debated the relevance and place of customary tenure as a mechanism of land reform and a tool for rural development and food security. At the core of the debate is the notion predicated on the supposition that customary tenure is insufficient a tool to realise any meaningful rural development, thus a threat to food security. Therefore, the aim of the study was to examine the effectiveness of the South African customary tenure as a tool for rural development and food security. The study thus challenged the inherited colonial legacies which continue to militate against African Indigenous Knowledge Systems. The key concepts grounding the study were deeply entrenched on modernisation, adaptation and renaissance framework. These frameworks underpinned the reasoning of the thesis in a bid to address the thorny issue of customary tenure in Vhembe district of South Africa. An exploratory qualitative design and a doctrinal approach was adopted. Semi-structured interviews, case, overt observation, and focus groups were used to obtain the data. The information was gathered from traditional leaders, municipal managers, and other knowledge holders using a non-probability sampling method. Thematic data analysis was used to analyse the data. The data collected envisaged that customary tenure can be formerly developed to promote rural development and food security for rural communities.