UPSpace
Institutional Repository
Faculty Research Collections
UP Research Output Collections
Featured
Recent Submissions
Inclusive education practices in TVET institutions in Botswana, South Africa and Thailand : a systematic review
(Routledge, 2024-08-22) Chinengundu, Tawanda; Hondonga, Jerald
This study collects data on inclusive education practices within Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions across Botswana, South Africa, and Thailand. Utilising a systematic review methodology, the research examines international policies, government reports, and peer-reviewed journal articles relevant to inclusive education in the TVET sector. The objective is to present an overview of current practices, policies, and guidelines, assess the provision of inclusive facilities and amenities in these institutions, and identify the challenges encountered. Despite inclusive education policies in the three countries, the TVET sector continues to inadequately address the diverse inclusive needs of students and other stakeholders. TVET facilities in these nations remain systemically segregated, thereby excluding individuals with special needs. The literature indicates that effective inclusive practices depend more on the institutional implementation of inclusive processes than students’ abilities. The findings reveal gaps in both policy and practice, highlighting that many TVET teachers lack training in inclusive education pedagogies. Furthermore, there are inadequate funding mechanisms to modernise existing infrastructure, acquire specialised equipment for laboratory work, and support inclusive pedagogies and assessments. Leaders within TVET institutions must recognise the exclusionary barriers faced by individuals and develop solutions to overcome these obstacles.
Evolving landscape of sickle cell anemia management in Africa : a critical review
(MDPI, 2024-11-29) Musuka , HazelW.; Iradukunda , Patrick Gad; Mano , Oscar; Saramba , Eric; Gashema , Pierre; Moyo, Enos; Dzinamarira, Tafadzwa
Sickle cell disease (SCD) is a prevalent inherited blood disorder, particularly affecting populations in Africa. This review examined the disease’s burden, its diverse clinical presentations, and the challenges associated with its management in African settings. Africa bears a significant burden of SCD, with prevalence varying across countries and age groups. Newborn screening programs have highlighted the high prevalence of SCD at birth, emphasizing the need for early diagnosis and intervention. The clinical manifestations of SCD in Africa are multifaceted, encompassing acute complications like vaso-occlusive crises, acute chest syndrome, and stroke, as well as chronic complications such as organ damage and leg ulcers. Biological factors, including fetal hemoglobin levels, and demographic factors, like age and sex, influence disease severity and outcomes. The management of SCD in Africa faces numerous challenges. Limited access to resources, including diagnostic tools, medications, and trained healthcare professionals, hinders optimal care. The high cost of advanced therapies further restricts patient access. Cultural stigma and a lack of awareness create additional barriers to effective management. To address these challenges, early diagnosis through newborn screening programs and point-of-care testing is crucial. Comprehensive care models, including hydroxyurea therapy, pain management, and patient education, are essential for improving outcomes. Collaboration with international networks and leveraging local resources can enhance the sustainability of SCD programs. In conclusion, SCD significantly impacts African populations. Overcoming the challenges associated with its management requires addressing resource limitations, affordability issues, and cultural barriers. Early diagnosis, comprehensive care models, and ongoing research focused on affordability and accessibility are crucial for improving the lives of individuals living with SCD in Africa.
Treatment patterns and clinical outcomes in patients with Hodgkin lymphoma from Saudi Arabia, Turkiye, and South Africa : subgroup analysis from the international multicenter retrospective B-HOLISTIC study
(Galenos Publishing House, 2024-12) Brittain, David; Akhtar, Saad; Rodrigues, Sylvia; Patel, Moosa; Moodley, Dhaya; Singh, Jaimendra Prithipal; Dreosti, Lydia M.; Mohamed, Zainab; Al-Mansour, Mubarak; Alzahrani, Mohsen; Rauf, M. Shahzad; Maghfoor, Irfan; Besısık, Sevgi Kalayoglu; Boga, Can; Saydam , Guray; Huang , Zhongwen; Pinchevsky , Yacob; Ferhanoglu, Burhan
ENGLISH
OBJECTIVE : B-HOLISTIC was a real-world retrospective study of treatment patterns and clinical outcomes in Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) in regions outside Europe and North America. This subgroup analysis reports findings from Saudi Arabia, Türkiye, and South Africa.
MATERIALS AND METHODS : Patients aged ≥18 years and diagnosed with stage IIB-IV classical HL receiving frontline chemotherapy (frontline cHL) and/or with relapsed/refractory HL (RRHL) from January 2010 to December 2013 were assessed. The primary endpoint was progression free survival (PFS) in patients with RRHL.
RESULTS : Overall, 694 patients (RRHL: n=178; frontline cHL: n=653) were enrolled. Among patients with RRHL, >80% received first salvage chemotherapy. The most common first salvage regimens were etoposide, methylprednisolone, cytarabine, and cisplatin in Saudi Arabia (78.3%) and dexamethasone, cytarabine, and cisplatin in Türkiye (36.1%) and South Africa (40%). Median PFS (95% confidence interval [CI]) in the RRHL group was 5.1 (3.0-15.9), 19.7 (7.5-not reached), and 5.2 (1.1-10.1) months in Saudi Arabia, Türkiye, and South Africa, respectively. The 5-year PFS and overall survival (95% CI) rates in patients with RRHL were 33.2% (21.6-45.2) and 78.2% (65.9-86.5) in Saudi Arabia, 42.5% (29.5-54.9) and 79.4% (67.2-87.5) in Türkiye, and 13.1% (4.2-27.0) and 53% (35.5-67.8) in South Africa, respectively.
CONCLUSION : This study showed that the clinical outcomes in Türkiye and Saudi Arabia were generally comparable with those of Western countries during the study period, although Saudi Arabia had lower PFS rates. Conversely, the clinical outcomes in South Africa were suboptimal, emphasizing the need for novel therapies and improved progression to stem cell transplantation. These data may serve as a control group for future studies in these countries and inform clinical decision-making.
Application of monoclonal anti-mycolate antibodies in serological diagnosis of tuberculosis
(MDPI, 2024-11-06) Truyts, Alma; Du Preez, Ilse; Maesela, Eldas M.; Scriba, Manfred R.; Baillie, Les; Jones, Arwyn T.; Land, Kevin J.; Verschoor, Jan Adrianus; Lemmer, Yolandy; jan.verschoor@up.ac.za
Patient loss to follow-up caused by centralised and expensive diagnostics that are reliant on sputum is a major obstacle in the fight to end tuberculosis. An affordable, non-sputum biomarker-based, point-of-care deployable test is needed to address this. Serum antibodies binding the mycobacterial cell wall lipids, mycolic acids, have shown promise as biomarkers for active tuberculosis. However, anti-lipid antibodies are of low affinity, making them difficult to detect in a lateral flow immunoassay—a technology widely deployed at the point-of-care. Previously, recombinant monoclonal anti-mycolate antibodies were developed and applied to characterise the antigenicity of mycolic acid. We now demonstrate that these anti-mycolate antibodies specifically detect hexane extracts of mycobacteria. Secondary antibody-mediated detection was applied to detect the displacement of the monoclonal mycolate antibodies by the anti-mycolic acid antibodies present in tuberculosis-positive guinea pig and human serum samples. These data establish proof-of-concept for a novel lateral flow immunoassay for tuberculosis provisionally named MALIA—mycolate antibody lateral flow immunoassay.
A perspective on auditory wellness : what it is, why it is important, and how it can be managed
(Sage, 2024) Humes, Larry E.; Dhar, Sumitrajit; Manchaiah, Vinaya; Sharma, Anu; Chisolm, Theresa H.; Arnold, Michelle L.; Sanchez, Victoria A.
During the last decade, there has been a move towards consumer-centric hearing healthcare. This is a direct result of technological advancements (e.g., merger of consumer grade hearing aids with consumer grade earphones creating a wide range of hearing devices) as well as policy changes (e.g., the U.S. Food and Drug Administration creating a new over-the-counter [OTC] hearing aid category). In addition to various direct-to-consumer (DTC) hearing devices available on the market, there are also several validated tools for the self-assessment of auditory function and the detection of ear disease, as well as tools for education about hearing loss, hearing devices, and communication strategies. Further, all can be made easily available to a wide range of people. This perspective provides a framework and identifies tools to improve and maintain optimal auditory wellness across the adult life course. A broadly available and accessible set of tools that can be made available on a digital platform to aid adults in the assessment and as needed, the improvement, of auditory wellness is discussed.