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    Access to health care and its determinants: the case of older persons in Chivi South district, Zimbabwe = Ukufinyelela ekunakekelweni ngokwezempilo kanye nokuma kwako: abantu abadala basesifundeni saseChivi South, eZimbabwe.
    (2024) Muzvidziwa, Evelyne.; Govender, Jayanathan Perumal.
    This study investigates the accessibility of health care services by older persons living in rural areas of Chivi South district. Access to health care has remained invisible in the scholarship in third-world countries like Zimbabwe. In this respect, the study explores the lived experiences of rural older persons residing in Chivi South, a research site embedded in political uncertainty and economic quagmire bedeviling Zimbabwe. This qualitative study was anchored on the interpretivist approach. A sample of 10 key informants and 20 older persons participated in key informant and in-depth interviews. This study established four key findings that will contribute immensely to the sociology of ageing in poor-resourced settings such as Zimbabwe. The cultural meaning of illness among older persons is essential in creating acceptable healthcare services. The consequences of not making a more enabling and inclusive environment for older persons will have a dire impact on healthcare delivery. Changes in policies that support more preventative health and social care globally instead of a reactive approach, which is wholly unsustainable for today’s ever-growing population. In Zimbabwe, older persons are often treated as a homogenous group with similar needs, leading to blanket interventions that overlook individual differences. This has resulted in poorly conceptualized and targeted assistance programs, failing to address local needs. Socially constructed narratives of successful ageing could inform the design of appropriate geriatric policies and programs to transform the healthcare needs of older persons in Zimbabwe. The key findings of the study show that the older persons living in the rural areas of Chivi South district experience challenges such as limited access to economic resources, traveling long distances to access healthcare services, inequalities in the healthcare service delivery system, reduced health status, limited availability, acceptability, and accessibility of healthcare services and inter alia. These challenges limit older persons from accessing much-needed healthcare services. The preeminent aim of this study is informed by the theoretical accounts of Penchansky and Thomas (1981) and Giddens (1984). The structures that frame rural healthcare provision ultimately function as key determinants of the nature and scope of healthcare service utilization, which propounded the structuration theory. Based on the subjective narratives of the research participants, the uniqueness of this study is anchored on its ability to offer a sociological foundation for developing innovative interventions and workable public policy options that support the aging population in African rural spaces. The study showed evidence of how social determinants of health may help reduce disparities in healthcare access for older persons in rural settings. Older persons, especially those residing in poor communities, have unique needs when addressing social health needs. The ageing population in Zimbabwe faces socio-economic predicaments and various challenges in the healthcare sector. It is particularly challenging to manage social connectedness in rural areas because of the issues around accessibility of health care, i.e., physical, financial, and societal barriers, making these multifaceted but crucially critical social determinants of health. Any efforts to improve the health and well-being of older rural persons address rural-urban disparities in healthcare needs and include a focus on the social determinants of health. Iqoqa. Lolu cwaningo lubheka ukufinyeleleka ezinsizenisidingo zezempilo ngabantu abadala ezindaweni ezisemaphandleni esifundeni saseChivi South, eZimbabwe. Ukufinyelela ekunakekelweni ngokwezempilo selokhu kungaveli kwezocwaningo emazweni amaningi asakhulayo. Ngenxa yalokhu, ucwaningo luhlwaya ngempilo yabadala abahlala emaphandleni aseChivi South, okuyindawo ehaqwe ukungazinzi kwezepolitiki kanye nomnotho ontengantengayo. Ngokusebenzisa indlela eyikhwalithethivu ehumushayo, ucwaningo lwaba nenhlayalwazi nabantu abadala nabanye abanolwazi olunqala esifundeni saseChivi South. Ucwaningo lwathola imiphumela emine ebalulekile engalekelela kakhulu enhlalweni yabadala emazweni angenazo izinsizasidingo njengaseZimbabwe. Ukuthi kusho ukuthini ukugula komuntu omdala ngokwamasiko kubalulekile ekuqhamukeni nosizo lwezempilo olwamukelekile. Ukwahluleka ukwakha ezempilo eziphilayo ezithinta abantu abadala kuyakukhubaza ukuhanjiswa kosizo lwezempilo. Ukushintshwa kwenqubomgomo ukuze kube naleyo evimbela izifo nenakekelayo emhlabeni wonke yikona okungcono kunaleyo elinda abantu baze bagule ngoba ayiwulungele umphakathi njengoba ukhula zikhathi zonke. Abantu abadala bathathwa njengawo wonke umuntu sengathi abantu abanezidingo ezifanayo, okwenza ukungenelela kunganaki ukuthi abantu bahlukahlukene. Abantu abadala abahlala emaphandleni babhekene nezinkinga zezomnotho, zezenhlalo kanye nezengqalasizinda eziphazamisa ukufinyelela ekunakekelweni ngokwezempilo. Kusetshenziswa imiqondo kaPenchasky noThomas (1981) yokutholakala, ukufinyeleleka, ukwamukeleka kanye nokuba namandla okwenza, lolu cwaningo lwathola okuningi okungahambi kahle ekunikweni kokunakekelwa ngezempilo kubantu abadala. Isakhiwo somqulucwaningo kaGiddens salekelela ekukhombiseni ukuphuthuma kosizo lwabantu abadala njengoba bebhekene nezingqinamba zezempilo. Ngokubheka izindaba ezaxoxwa ababambiqhaza ngqo, ukuba yingqayizivele kwalolu cwaningo kuncike ekukwazini ukubeka okungaba yisisekelo sokubunjwa kwezinhlelo ezintsha zokungenelela kanye nezinhlelo zenqubomgomo yomphakathi okungakhethwa kuzo ukuze kuxhaswe asebekhulile ezindaweni zase-Afrika ezisemaphandleni. Ucwaningo lwakhombisa ukuthi izimo zenhlalo zezempilo zikuveza kanjani obala ukungalingani mayelana nokufinyeleleka kwezempilo ezindaweni zasemaphandleni. Abantu abadala banezidingo ezikhethekile okumele zibonelelwe uma kulungiswa izimo zezempilo. Yonke imizamo yokuthuthukisa ezempilo nenhlalakahle yabantu abadala kumele ibhekisise ukungalingani ngokwezidingo zezempilo okumele kubandakanye ukugxila kwezimo zenhlalo ezithinta impilo.
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    An analysis of the media as a key socialising agent for gender and gender stereotypes.
    (2023) Zungu, Sindisiwe.; Lamula, Sihle Pretty.
    This study examines how the media influences gender identities among university students by studying harmful gender stereotypes toxic masculinities and femininities. Qualitative data were gathered through detailed interviews with students aged 18–26 at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, Howard College campus, using snowball and purposive sampling. The thematic content analysis involved coding the interview transcripts, identifying recurring themes, and analysing patterns in the data. The study revealed that the media significantly influences how students view themselves and others. Men are frequently shown in powerful roles, while women are often portrayed in submissive roles. This reinforces harmful gender stereotypes and unequal power dynamics. Participants observed that societal norms restrict women from independence and limit men from self-expression. These observations reflect entrenched, harmful gender norms. Moreover, male power dynamics and societal structures frequently contribute to gender disparities and reinforce damaging gender stereotypes. Students encounter challenging stereotypes regarding women, which persist through the depiction of beauty norms and traditional gender roles. Furthermore, the media portrays hegemonic masculinity, which refers to the dominant form of masculinity that idealises traits like aggression and control. This perpetuates restrictive and harmful ideas of true masculinity. To promote gender equality, the media should prioritise equality in content, policy, and practice. To combat gender-based violence, address public health issues, and promote positive and constructive gender practices, it is critical to address gender stereotypes in the media. The media exerts a significant influence on societal norms and values. Therefore, it is essential to coordinate efforts to foster a deeper understanding of harmful forms of masculinity and femininity, while also promoting positive gender practices. Gender-based violence and problems with public health will only get worse if harmful gender stereotypes in the media are not addressed. Future research should explore the impact of the media on gender identities across different cultures and promote positive representations of gender. Gender socialisation significantly shapes an individual’s views on gender roles, beliefs, cultural norms, and societal expectations. This underscores the critical importance of implementing education programmes that integrate gender equality education into curricula and community initiatives that establish safe spaces for open dialogue, challenging traditional societal gender norms.
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    An investigation of indigenous knowledge systems as a survival strategy for the displaced Tokwe Mukosi flood Victims in Chingwizi Camp, Zimbabwe = Uphenyo lwezinhlelo zolwazi lwendabuko njengesu lokuzisindisa/lokuziphilisa kwabantu baseChingwizi Camp abasuka ezindaweni zabo emva kokuhlaselwa yizikhukhula zase Tokwe Mukosi, eZimbabwe.
    (2023) Mverecha, Kainos.; Khan, Sultan.
    The study was a sociological investigation of the Indigenous Knowledge Systems (IKS) as a survival strategy for the displaced Tokwe Mukosi flood victims at Chingwizi Camp in Zimbabwe. The study focused on the use and application of IKS by the displaced Shona-speaking people who were controversially settled at Chingwizi following the induced displacements. Of paramount importance is the argument that IKS is a better home-grown and local survival strategy and skills to cope, correct and provide a remedy to the predicament that the displaced Tokwe Mukosi flood victims are currently facing as a result of the unplanned relocation which led to the dismantling of the victim’s livelihoods. Thus, reports on the Chingwizi camp have often badly undermined human rationality and this attitude calls for immediate attention and hence needs urgent correction. The study adopted a qualitative research methodology and utilised key informant interviews, in-depth interviews, focus group discussions, documentary evidence and individual experiences. The study purposively selected twenty (20) Shona-speaking people who were involuntarily displaced from Tokwe Mukosi and controversially settled at Chingwizi Camp in Mwenezi district, southern Zimbabwe. No matter how bad the Chingwizi camp situation could be, reason has the power to invent and change the bad nature of the Chingwizi environment into a good, liveable and affordable state. It emerged from the study that IKSs have remained the most valuable resource owned by rural people for sustainable development. The study established that most of the IKSs in Chingwizi community have been fully utilised, functioning as a guide for addressing challenges associated with people in all dimensions or facets of life, for instance, in health where they rely on traditional medicine. IKSs have been recognised and fully utilised by the Chingwizi community as they were found to be capable of providing moral guidelines against the current development challenges. Based on the information collected from the twenty (20) respondents and twelve (12) key informants which includes, traditional authorities, institutions like health, education, and churches among others, the study concluded that the use and application of IKS had significantly contributed to circumventing the socio-economic challenges confronting the flood victims in Chingwizi Camp. Iqoqa. Lolu cwaningo luwuphenyo lwezenhlalo yomphakathi olumayelana nezinhlelo zolwazi lwendabuko olwaziwa nge-Indigenous Knowledge Systems (IKS) ekuziphiliseni kwabantu abashiya izindawo zabo eTokwe Mukosi emva kwezikhukhula bazithola sebehlala eChingwizi Camp eZimbabwe. Ucwaningo lwagxila ekusebenzeni kanye nasekusetshenzisweni kwe-IKS yilabo bantu abangamaShona ababekwa eChingwizi ngendlela eyasusa umsindo emva kokususwa kwabo ezindaweni zabo ngezizathu ezazidalwe ngenhloso. Okubaluleke kakhulu yinkolelo yokuthi i-IKS yilona lisu elaziwayo kubantu lokuziphilisa kanye namakhono okubhekana nesimo, ukulungisa kanye nokuveza ikhambi kule nkinga ababhekene nayo njengamanje abantu abahlukunyezwa yizikhukhula zaseTokwe Mukosi ngenxa yokuthuthelwa endaweni entsha ngokungenhloso yabo kwagcina sekuthikamezeke izindlela zabo zokuziphilisa. Ngakho-ke, imibiko emayelana neChingwizi Camp ayethuli isithombe esihle ngokucabanga kahle kwabantu, kanti lokhu kwenza ukuthi kube nesidingo sokungenelela okusheshayo okusho ukuthi kudingeka ukulungiswa kwesimo okusheshayo.. Ucwaningo lwasebenzisa indlelakwenza yokucwaninga eyikhwalithethivu futhi yasebenzisa izingxoxo nabanolwazi, izingxoxo ezijulile, izingxoxo namaqoqo acwaningwayo, ubufakazi obusemiqulwini kanye nezimo zokuphila kwabantu ngamunye. Abacwaningi bakhetha ngenhloso abantu abakhuluma isiShona abangamashumi amabili (20) abususwa ngenkani eTokwe Mukosi bahlaliswa eChingwizi Camp esifundeni saseMwenezi, eningizimu yeZimbabwe ngendlela eyasusa umsindo. Akukhathalekile ukuthi isimo saseChingwini Camp sibi kangakanani kepha ukucabanga ngobuhlakani kunamandla okuthola izindlela ezintsha ezingaguqula ububi bendawo yaseChingwizi kube yinto enhle. Kwavela ocwaningweni i-IKS iseloku iyinsiza ebalulekile kubantu basemakhaya ekuzithuthukiseni okusimeme. Ucwaningo lwathola ukuthi okuningi kwe-IKS emphakathini waseChingwizi kusetshenziswe njengomhlahlandlela wokubhekana nezinselelo ezikhungethe abantu ezinhleni ezahlukahlukene zempilo, njengezempilo lapho kuthenjelwa khona emithini yendabuko. Ama-IKS amukelwe futhi asetshenziswa umphakathi waseChingwizi ngoba ayakwazi ukunikeza inkombandlela yokuphathwa kwezimilo ngaphansi kwezinselelo zempilo yamanje. Olwazini olwatholakala kwabaphendulayo abangamashumi amabili (20) kanye nabanolwazi abayishumi nambili (12) okukhona kubo abasekhundleni zendabuko, izinhlangano/izikhungo zezempilo, ezemfundo, kanye namasonto, ucwaningo lwafika esiphethweni sokuthi ukusebenza kanye nokusetshenziswa kwe-IKS kunegalelo elibalulekile ekugwemeni izinselelo zezenhlalo-mnotho ababhekene nazo abantu baseChingwizi Camp abahlukunyezwa yizikhukhula.
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