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Health care access and challenges: A case study of women migrant labourers in Newcastle, KwaZulu-Natal.
(2023) Ntshangase, Mlungisi Lungisile.; Muthuki, Janet Muthoni.
Extreme economic disparity, both within and between nations, as well as unequal national political settings, characterize Southern Africa. “In 2019, 272 million people worldwide were international migrants” (Jinnah, 2020). Different types of cross-border mobility take a pivotal role in the livelihoods of both individuals and households in these circumstances. Historically, formal male migrant labour had dominated intra-regional labour mobility, particularly in the mining industry in South Africa (SA). Even now, the major destination is still South Africa, but over the past 20 to 25 years, political and economic shifts have led to a greater diversity of intra-regional migrant flows by location, temporality, and demography, including gender.
Additionally, migrants' jobs and means of support now cover a diverse range of formalities, industries, and security. Female migrants often work in feminized labour, such as domestic and care work, but they also engage in a variety of service sector jobs and informal cross-border trading. Their presence in the labour market puts them in confusing and contentious relationships with South African citizens, who also deal with high unemployment and insecure employment rates. As a result, immigrants face xenophobia, gender and employment vulnerability and are accused of "taking jobs" from South African citizens. There is a great heterogeneity and history to migration in Southern African Development Community (SADC), including but not limited to, forced migrants fleeing conflict; individuals moving in search of improved livelihood opportunities; asylum seekers and refugees; traders and seasonal workers displaced within their own countries or moving cross-border - some have legal documents while others are without (Crush et al., 2005). In cases of labour migrants each situation may create and respond to its own set of health concerns, dependent on part upon where migrants work and live, the duration and conditions of their stay, and whether and when they return home (Preston-Whyte, 2006:33).
Various interrelated factors account for migrant health, including behaviour, health-seeking behaviour and care-seeking decisions. Some behaviours are born of vulnerability, such as risky sex to procure food security, and some vulnerabilities are born of discrimination. Furthermore, health is not solely a physical condition that should be attained or maintained, but one that also incorporates mental health, which can be damaged through trauma, torture or depression, and ultimately causes much detriment to the well-being and the ability to adapt to a new environment (IOM, 2013; UNAIDS, 2014). The behaviour of health professionals has similarly been indicated as one of the two factors that most determine the use or non-use of health services by immigrant communities.
Studies suggest that these professionals frequently present a limited knowledge of legislation and/or its applicability and act in accordance with social stereotypes (Wolffers & Fernandez, 2003 and Dias et al., 2010), not responding to the effective needs of the users. In addition, they tend to have no cultural competencies necessary to relate with users from other nationalities, and do not know their specific characteristics (Pusseti et al., 2009).
The South African legislative framework advocates for the universal acquiring of health services and the basic determinants of health. The National department of health has committed to providing efficient, equitable and accessible health services to all people residing within the
country regardless of their identity status. Inaccessibility of healthcare service not only violate women migrants’ rights, but also may results in increasing the prevalence rate of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV); Sexually-transmitted Infections; Prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmission (PMTCT); Non-communicable diseases and Child mortality rate. This may also threaten the women labour migrants’ lives if they had not taken necessary precautions.
Women labour migrants from Southern Africa, working in the Newcastle Municipality textile industry, are also not immune to the challenges of healthcare accessibility. This study examines the experience of women migrants labourers from Southern Africa to determine their accessibility to healthcare services given their working conditions, culture shock, language barrier and their socio-economic conditions.
This is an empirical qualitative study that adopted in-depth interviews for the data collection of women labour migrants’ views and experiences regarding access to healthcare services within Newcastle Municipality in KwaZulu-Natal Province. The in-depth interviews were purposively conducted with 35 participants from Newcastle textile firms, and these comprised 7 key informants. The sample was only limited to women labour migrants from Southern Africa working in the textile industries within Newcastle Municipality. The analysis of the datum, which was intended to give meaning to the conundrum of women labour migrants’ access to healthcare services, adopted a thematic analysis that capitalized on structured themes throughout the analysis process.
The study employed the theories of intersectionality feminism, the health capability approach thus including capabilities of gender inequality, access to health care, and the social exclusion theory. This study found out that within the transnational space, women experienced overt and covert issues regarding access to health-care services on transition and during their stay whilst working in the textile industry. However, there were some factors that influence their utilisation of healthcare facilities within the Newcastle Municipality area, these include culture, degree on basic education, the number of years stayed in the area and spoken language.
Genetic algorithm based prediction of students' course performance using learning analytics.
(2024) Raghavjee, Rushil.; Subramaniam, Prabhakar Rontala.; Govender, Irene.
Learning Analytics (LA) can play a key role in understanding students’ learning and academic
performance. By identifying poorly performing students early, LA can also be used to identify
students who are at risk of dropping out of programmes. This enables academic advisors to
intervene early and provide help to ensure students stay on track and succeed in their studies.
Hence, LA is becoming a common trend in education particularly in higher education. Previous
studies of LA have not dealt with specific courses in information systems and information
technology. Therefore, the aim of this study was to develop a model for the application of LA to
different courses with the discipline of Information Systems and Technology using various data
sources. This study used the design science research approach to help towards solving the problem
of understanding students’ learning and performance in Higher Education Institutions (HEIs).
Multiple data sources were used. The data that was obtained was pre-processed using MS Excel.
Thereafter, the WEKA tool was used in the analysis of the data and prediction of performance.
Decision tree, Random Forest and genetic-based algorithms were used to develop prediction
models for each of the courses in the discipline of Information Systems and Technology at the
University of KwaZulu-Natal.
The study also resulted in the development of an integrated dataset for the discipline of Information
Systems and Technology in higher education and a process model for the implementation of LA
in a specific discipline. The involvedness of the data allows future researchers to continuously
improve/evolve the area of LA. This study should, therefore, be of value to LA practitioners
wishing to implement LA to courses within other disciplines as well.
Impact of fiscal consolidation on domestic government debt in South Africa 1979 to 2022.
(2023) Buthelezi, Eugene Msizi.; Nyatanga, Phocenah.
This study delves into the intricate dynamics of fiscal consolidation and its ramifications on
government debt and economic growth within the context of South Africa. Employing a variety
of methodologies and frameworks, it scrutinizes the efficacy of fiscal policy measures in curbing
government debt while stimulating economic growth. Fiscal consolidation, characterized by cuts
in government expenditures and tax increases, aims to alleviate debt burdens by reducing interest
rates and fostering economic expansion. However, existing measures such as the Cyclical
Adjusted Primary Balance (CAPB) face limitations in capturing the nuanced variations in fiscal
policy effectiveness and thresholds. Addressing these shortcomings, this study utilizes innovative
approaches including Time-Varying Parameter Structural Vector Auto-Regression (TVP-VAR),
Threshold Autoregressive Regime (TAR), Markov-switching dynamic regression (MSDR), and
Two-Stage Least Squares (2SLS) models.
Key findings reveal significant fluctuations in CAPB elasticity over time, highlighting the need
for dynamic measures in assessing fiscal policy impact. Thresholds identified through TAR deviate
from conventional benchmarks, underscoring the importance of context-specific thresholds
in fiscal planning. MSDR analysis uncovers distinct states of government debt, each eliciting
varied responses to fiscal consolidation measures. Notably, while fiscal consolidation proves effective
in debt reduction under certain conditions, its impact on economic growth appears nuanced.
Policy implications highlight the importance of tailored fiscal policies aligned with South Africa’s
economic. By discerning the intricate interplay between fiscal consolidation, government debt,
and economic growth, policymakers can devise more targeted strategies to navigate prevailing
challenges. This study advocates for a nuanced approach to fiscal consolidation, emphasizing
the need for context-specific thresholds and dynamic measures to foster sustainable economic
growth while mitigating debt burdens.
Class and racial inequality experienced by women of colour in post-apartheid South Africa, explored through selected South African literary texts (1987-2011)
(2023) Pillay, Shazlynn Juelle.; Malaba, Mbongeni Zikhethele.
South Africa is commonly referred to as the ‘Rainbow Nation’. This country is known as a
melting pot of ethnicities. However, the legacy of apartheid is eternally woven into the fabric
of the nation’s existence. This has shaped the identities of those born before and into the era of
democracy. Women of colour have difficulties adapting to a post-apartheid, male-dominated
version of South Africa. This study investigates the class and racial differences women
experience in contemporary South Africa as represented in two post-apartheid feminist texts,
along with an analysis of a text set and written during apartheid. My research focuses on
Coconut (2007) by Kopano Matlwa, Onion Tears (2011) by Shubnum Khan, and You Can’t
Get Lost in Cape Town (1987) by Zoë Wicomb. Using Kimberlé Crenshaw’s concept of
intersectionality as the foundational theoretical framework, this research project argues that
women should embrace every aspect of their heritage and identity to deal with the pressures of
a variable socio-economic atmosphere. Matlwa and Khan’s novels are debut texts for these
female writers and present characters who search for identity, yearn for belonging and struggle
to assimilate while addressing women’s societal roles and the impact of an ever-changing
socio-political environment. Wicomb’s interrelated short story anthology also deals with issues
of identity, acceptance and the difficulties Coloured women experienced during South Africa’s
darkest days. Each theme resonates with non-white women currently, just as in the past. Onion
Tears focuses on three generations of Muslim women living in suburban Johannesburg.
Khadeejah Ballim is a first-generation Indian woman who wonders if her place truly is in South
Africa. At the same time, her daughter Summaya is caught between her South African and
Indian identities. Summaya’s young daughter, Aneesa, often has difficulty connecting with her
peers and understanding her community. Similarly, Coconut documents the lives of two young
Black women living in Johannesburg. On the one hand, Ofilwe Tlou is born into a wealthy
family, receives her education from private schools and is given every advantage. On the other
hand, Fikile Twala, who hails from a township, strives to escape poverty by working hard to
change her circumstances and reinvent herself. The novel indicates that class differences create
social segregation, which is apparent in this society. Wicomb’s protagonist, Frieda Shenton,
encounters class and racial issues from a gendered perspective throughout her life in South
Africa, which influences her relocation to London during adulthood.
An analysis of contemporary IsiZulu performance poetry.
(2019) Myeni, Gladness Bongephiwe.; Sibiya, Nakanjani Goodenough.
Poetry is the most basic and profuse form of emotive expression in Africa. The African manifests feelings through an outburst of song or poem when he loves and when he hates, when he works and when he plays, when he is in peace and when he fights, when the child is born and when death takes its toll. Poetry should be understood as a part of ongoing sets of aesthetic traditions, acts of distinction, and values. These are recognizable genres of expression (in either the ways they actively align, reject, or refigure received traditions of use).This study is an analysis of thematic distribution and poetic features in isiZulu performance poetry and also seeks to explore its socio-linguistic impact in the society. An ethnographic methodological approach was employed in this study. Data collection involved use of interviews, voice recordings and observations of the performance sessions. This is informed by two complimentary theories that served as the theoretical framework. Firstly Bourne (2001) and Tolstoy’s (2001) expressive theory of arts was used as a background theory to provide benchmarks to the understanding of the main aim and appreciation of performance poetry. Secondly, the study used Hyme’s (1981) ethnopoetic theory, where ethnopoetics is concerned with composition in the course of performance. Ethnopoetics is the study of the ways that narratives are structured into “lines” and are thus poetic (Hymes, 1981). The findings demonstrate that most of the poems studied in this research dwelt much on the theme of love but without necessarily ignoring other issues such as women and child abuse, corruption and many other social ills. The researcher also discovered that isiZulu contemporary poetry employs unique linguistic elements in its expression of the diverse thematic issues. Code-mixing or code-switching and borrowing seem to be getting more attention in the composition of performance poems. = Izinkondlo e-Afrika ziyinto elula kakhulu neyindlela ejulile yokuveza imizwa. Abantu abangama-Afrika bakhombisa imizwa ngengoma noma ngenkondlo uma bethanda, bezonda, besebenza noma bedlala, uma benokuthula noma belwa, uma kuzelwe ingane noma kuvele isifo. Kumina izinkondlo zibukeka ziyizixazululo eziwusizo, ezingabukwa njengezingxenye zezinhlanganisela zobuhle besiko, izindlela zokuhlukanisa namazingakuphila. Lezi izinhlobo ezivamile zokuveza imizwa (okungaba izindlela abazihlanganisa ngokunamandla, bazinqabe, noma baphinde bazibhekisise izindlela ezitholakele zokusebenza). Lolu cwaningo luhlaziya izinkondlo zesiZulu ezihaywa bukhoma zesimanje. Lolu cwaningo luhlose ukubuyekeza ukwabiwa kwezindikimba zezinkondlo zesiZulu ezihaywa bukhoma. Okwesibili, ukuhlaziya izici noma iminxa zobunkondlo emkhakheni omusha wezinkondlo zesiZulu, bese luphetha ngokuphenya umthelela walo mkhakha omusha wezinkondlo sesiZulu emphakathini. Kulolu cwaningo kusetshenziswe ikhwalithethivu egxile empilweni yabantu namasiko abo (ethnographic methodological approach) njengendlela yokuqhuba ucwaningo. Ukuqoqwa kolwazi kubandakanya, izingxoxo, amazwi aqoshiwe kanye nokuhlaziywa kokwenzeka kwezinto zinjengoba zinjalo. Lokhu kusekelwa izinjulalwazi ezimbili ezihambisanayo njengesisekelo socwaningo. Okokuqala, injulalwazi yokuzwakalisa imizwa yobuciko (expressive theory of arts), eyethulwa nguBourne (2001) noTolstoy (2001) njengomgogodla oyisizinda sokwazi inhlosongqangi yezinkondlo nokuhaywa kwezinkondlo zeshashalazi. Okwesibili, injulalwazi eqopha imibhalo wezinkondlo ezihaywa ngomlomo (ethnopoetic theory) kaHyme (1981), lapho le njulalwazi egxile esakhiweni senkondlo ngenkathi yenziwa. I-ethnopoetic iyisifundo sezindlela zokuhlela okudluliswayo kube imisho kanye nobunkondlo (Hymes, 1981). Ulwazi olutholakele luveza ukuthi izinkondlo eziningi ezikulolu cwaningo zigxile kakhulu endikimbeni yothando. Ngale kwalokho, kongoti bezinkondlo, osonkondlo noma izimbongi babuka uthando njengengxenye yempilo ehlukile kodwa kuya ngendlela imbongi ngayinye eqonda ngayo izindaba zothando. Umcwaningi uphinde wathola ukuthi izinkondlo zesimanje zisebenzisa izingxenye zolimi lapho ziveza okuthile ezindikimbeni ezahlukahlukene. Ukuxutshwa kolimi nokuboleka kwezinye izilimi kudla umhlanganiso uma kukhiqizwa izinkondlo zeshashalazi.