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Item Open Access Do socio-cultural practices by elderly women influence obstetric complications?(AOSIS, 2024) Makhado, Langanani C.; Raliphaswa, Ndidzulafhi S.; Maluleke, Mary; Netshikwetwa, Mutshinyalo L.Background: Worldwide, women continue to die from obstetric-related complications, despite the global progress made to reduce maternal mortality. Elderly women play a key role in using their own socio-cultural practices during pregnancy and childbirth. Objectives: The study aimed to explore the practices based on the beliefs of elderly women in Limpopo province. Method: A qualitative approach using descriptive, explorative and contextual design was employed. Audio recording of unstructured focus group discussions was conducted of the elderly women who were purposively sampled. Data were analysed and coded using thematic analysis approach following Tesch’s method and co-coded to ensure trustworthiness. Ethical considerations were also adhered to. Results: The findings discuss practices based on beliefs of elderly women and the need for them to be trained to participate in maternal health practices. Conclusion: The study concluded that practices based on beliefs of elderly women lead to delays in seeking medical intervention. Therefore, elderly women need to be trained to reduce maternal mortality. Contribution: This study adds knowledge to the need for training and the importance of elderly women to be trained in order to reduce maternal mortality.Item Open Access A systematic review of the effectiveness of epilepsy education programs on knowledge, attitudes, and skills among primary school learners(Frontiers, 2024) Makhado, Thendo Gertie; Sepeng, Nombulelo Veronica; Makhado, LufunoEpilepsy is a common neurological condition affecting primary school learners, often leading to misconceptions, stigma, and limited social inclusion. These misconceptions transpire because of a lack of knowledge regarding the condition and may lead to high school dropouts. This systematic review aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of epilepsy education programs on epilepsy-related knowledge and understanding, values and attitudes, and skills among primary school learners. A thorough search of electronic databases was conducted to identify relevant studies published between January 2000 and September 2023. Studies that satisfied the eligibility criteria were chosen, and two reviewers conducted data extraction independently. A narrative synthesis approach was utilised to analyse the findings. The review included 10 studies that satisfied the inclusion requirements. The epilepsy education interventions varied in content, duration, and delivery method. Findings indicated that diverse delivery methods, such as classroom-based programs, hospital-based programs, and community-centred interventions, effectively enhanced epilepsy-related knowledge and understanding, values and attitudes, and skills among primary school learners. This systematic review provides evidence that epilepsy education programs can effectively enhance epilepsy-related knowledge, understanding, values, attitudes, and skills among primary school learners. These findings support developing and implementing comprehensive guidelines for teaching epilepsy in primary schools, suggesting various delivery methods and integrating cultural values to promote optimal learning outcomes and social inclusion for learners with epilepsy.Item Open Access Professional nurses supporting learners during professional socialisation in Limpopo province(AOSIS, 2024) Mafumo, Julia L.; Luhalima, Takalani R.; Maputle, Maria S.Background: Professional nurses play a significant role in the professional socialisation of learner nurses during clinical placement. Clinical placements are areas of experiential learning as learner nurses come in contact with real-life experiences. Professional nurses are custodians of learners and need to offer them support. Aim: The study sought to explore the role of professional nurses in supporting learner nurses during professional socialisation. Setting: Four clinical health facilities in Limpopo province at different levels of care were purposely sampled to obtain information from different levels of care. Methods: An ethnonursing approach and qualitative, explorative design was used. Non-probability purposive sampling was used to select 25 professional nurses. The criteria were professional nurses with 3 years of experience in professional socialisation and working in institutions accredited for clinical placement of learner nurses registered in the undergraduate programme. Data were collected through a face-to-face interview until data saturation was reached. Tesch’s open coding system was used to analyse data. Results: Professional nurses acknowledged that their responsibilities in supporting learners during professional socialisation are mentoring, teaching and being competent practitioners. Professional nurses were aware of their role in transferring ethical skills and knowledge to learners through professional socialisation. Conclusion: The effectiveness of professional socialisation of learner nurses depends on the support offered during clinical placements. Contribution: The study adds to the body of knowledge in nursing education and practice because when learners are offered support in the clinical areas, their learning journey will be of positive experience leading to competent practitioners.Item Open Access ‘We are working in specialty units’—An exploratory qualitative study(Wiley, 2024) Rangwaneni, Mphedziseni Esther; Raliphaswa, Ndidzulafhi Selina; Maluleke, Mary; Letlalo, Vusiwana Patricia; Masutha, Thingahangwi Cecilia; Manyuma, Duppy; Makhado, Langanani; Rikhotso, Tinyiko NellyAim To explore related support needs of general nurses in specialty mental health units and provide references for formulating a model to support this population working in mental health care units. Design An exploratory qualitative design. Method In-depth individual unstructured interviews were performed with 15 general nurses who worked in mental health care units and were selected through purposive sampling. Data were collected through in-depth, individual, unstructured interviews. Data were analysed thematically using Tech's eight-step analysis method. Results Two themes with their subthemes were extracted. The two themes included (a) Needs for professional growth and (b) the Need for emotional support. Conclusion Influenced by many factors, general nurses could not perform some nursing activities in mental health care units. Health managers should plan the training program to empower and provide emotional support to the general nurses in mental health care units. Further research is required to develop a model to facilitate the support of general nurses allocated to these units. Reporting Method This study follows the consolidated criteria for reporting qualitative research. Public Contribution A total of 15 general nurses participated in the study. We utilized their lunch time to conduct the interviews, significantly contributing to the article's content.Item Open Access Sources of knowledge empowerment amongst pregnant women with TB disease: A qualitative study in South Africa(Wiley, 2024) Mulondo, Seani Adrinah; Khoza, Lunic Base; Lebese, Rachel TsakaniBackground Providing relevant knowledge to empower all pregnant women diagnosed and nondiagnosed with tuberculosis (TB) is essential worldwide. Proper dissemination of health information for pregnant women could assist in preventing TB complications amongst women and babies. The study aimed to describe the sources of knowledge that empower pregnant women diagnosed with TB and improve their quality of life in Limpopo Province, South Africa. Methodology The study followed a qualitative, exploratory and descriptive research design. The study was conducted in 12 selected primary healthcare facilities in three crisis districts. Thirty-five pregnant women with TB disease were purposively selected, and face-to-face interviews were conducted to generate data, which were analysed using the thematic approach. Measures to ensure trustworthiness and ethical standards were adhered to. Results The findings of this study revealed that healthcare workers, community stakeholders, and TB ambassadors are the primary sources of knowledge dissemination for capacitating women diagnosed with TB. Conclusion Most pregnant women lacked knowledge regarding TB ambassadors as sources of information for empowering women, community awareness campaigns, and Google searches as sources of information sharing. All stakeholders need to work together, considering the patients' charter for TB care that sets out the right for respect and information sharing. The emphasis of this study was on developing a comprehensive educational intervention that could assist in improving the quality of TB services offered to pregnant women.Item Open Access Patient aggression experienced by professional nurses in acute psychiatric ward: South Africa(AOSIS, 2024) Thandavhathu, Tshinanne G.; Maluleke, Mary; Raliphaswa, Ndidzulafhi S.; Rangwaneni, Mphedziseni E.; Masutha, Thingahangwi C.; Lavhelani, Ndivhaleni R.; Manyuma, Duppy; Makhado, Langanani C.; Thabathe, Takalani E.; Kharivhe, Lufuno M.; Letlalo, Vusiwana P.; Mulaudzi, Mulatedzi P.Background: Aggression of patients in hospital wards has become an endemic problem and professional nurses are particularly at high risk. Aim: This article presents the types of patient aggression experienced by professional nurses working in an acute psychiatric ward in Vhembe District, South Africa.Setting: Vhembe District, South Africa.Methods: A qualitative approach using exploratory, descriptive and contextual research design was used. Four hospitals were purposively selected and 10 professional nurses were conveniently sampled to participate in the study. Individual interviews were used to collect data, which were then analysed through Tesch Open Coding Method. Measures to ensure trustworthiness and ethical considerations were adhered to throughout the study. Results: This study shed some light on the professional nurses’ lived experiences regarding the types of aggression from patients in an acute psychiatric ward in Vhembe District. The types of aggression are physical aggression, destructive behaviour and verbal aggression. Conclusion: The findings show that the types of aggression to which professional nurses are exposed are overwhelming and the consequences are shocking. As a result, the health of professional nurses is compromised. Therefore, this study recommends further studies to determine the kind of support needed by professional nurses working in an acute psychiatric ward and to investigate the impact of aggression from patients in acute psychiatric ward with regard to the quality of care. Contribution: This article contributes to the body of knowledge regarding patients’ aggression in acute wards in Vhembe District, South Africa.Item Open Access Expected clinical competence from midwifery graduates during community service placement in Limpopo province, South Africa(AOSIS, 2018-11-29) Netshisaulu, Khathutshelo G.; Maputle, Maria S.Background: Community service nurses are placed in a hospital within the first year after qualifying to obtain clinical experience under the supervision of experienced professional nurses. When placed in clinical environments, new midwifery graduates are expected to be job ready, demonstrate competence in the provision of evidence-based care, practise independently and assume accountability and responsibility for their own actions. Aim: The study aimed at exploring the expectations of experienced midwives of clinical competence of newly graduated midwives during transition. Setting: The study was conducted at the training hospitals of the five districts in Limpopo province. Method: The researcher used a qualitative approach which is explorative and descriptive in nature. The population comprised all the professional midwives with experience of 5 years and above working at the selected hospitals in Vhembe, Mopani, Capricorn, Waterberg and Sekhukhune districts of Limpopo province, South Africa. From each selected hospital, five experienced midwives were selected using non-probability, purposive sampling method. An in-depth individual face-to-face interview was used to collect data from the participants, until saturation was reached. The open-coding, Tesch’s eight-step process was used to analyse data. Results: Results revealed that newly graduated midwives failed to meet the perceived expectations by experienced midwives; this was reflected in sub-themes: limited sense of independence, limited participation in task sharing and commitment and competence versus incompetence to patient care. Conclusion: The experienced midwives expected newly graduated midwives to function as professionals; unfortunately, they expressed disappointment as graduates did not meet their expectations. Newly graduated midwives lacked sense of independence, commitment to patient care and did not display ability in task sharing.Item Open Access Utilization of Cervical Cancer Screening Services among Women in Vhembe District, South Africa: A Cross-Sectional Study(Bentham Open, 2018-10-16) Vhuromu, Elisa N.; Goon, Daniel T.; Maputle, Maria S.; Lebese, Rachel T.; Okafor, Benedine U.; Vhuromu, E. N., Goon, D. T., Maputle, M. S., Lebese, R. T. and Okafor, B. U. Utilization of Cervical Cancer Screening Services among Women in Vhembe District, South Africa: A Cross-Sectional Study. The Open Public Health Journal 2018; 11, 451-463. Available from : www.bethamopen.com/TOPHJ/ [Doi: 10.2174/1874944501811010451]..Aim: Screening for early detection and treatment of cervical cancer is a cornerstone of prevention. The purpose of this study was to assess the awareness in women about the utilization of cervical cancer screening services in Vhembe District, South Africa. Methods: This cross-sectional study involved a random selection of 500 women aged 20-59 years in Vhembe District, Limpopo Province, South Africa. Data was collected via a self-structured questionnaire on the demographic variables, provision, utilization and awareness of cervical cancer screening services. Results: The majority of the participants agreed to have cervical cancer screening services in their clinics (79.2%), and never had a Pap smear (58.6%). Most women would not go for cervical cancer screening, mainly because of a lack of facilities (30.0%), fear of pain (24.4%), and embarrassment (15.2%). Most participants indicated that Pap smear test meant scraping the cervix to detect abnormal cancerous cells (39.2%) and 34.2% did not know a Pap smear. Majority of the participants indicated Pap smears should be done every 10 years (65.8%); Pap smears could detect cervical cancer earlier (66.8%), and had heard about cervical cancer (71.6%). The majority of the participants considered cervical cancer as a serious problem to warrant considerable attention (59.4%); and some perceived cervical cancer as transmittable through multiple sexual partners (22.2%). The majority of the participants were aware of a vaccine against cervical cancer for girls at school (69.0%), and it was indicated that government should use health education to encourage women to attend cervical screening services (51.6%). Conclusion: Despite the free availability of cervical cancer screening services and awareness, the utilization of cervical cancer screening services is low. There is a need to intensify cervical screening health talks and campaigns, and to provide alternative accessible options for screening services for women in rural areas.Item Open Access Experiences of auxiliary nurses who trained through the poverty alleviation programme regarding nursing profession in Vhembe District, Limpopo Province(2016-02-01) Baloyi, Nomsa Florence; Nemathaga, L. H.; Maputle, M. S.