Browsing by Subject "Graduates"

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    Open Access
    Clinical mentorship of nurse initiated antiretroviral therapy in Khayelitsha, South Africa: a quality of care assessment
    (Public Library of Science, 2014) Green, Ann; de Azevedo, Virginia; Patten, Gabriela; Davies, Mary-Ann; Ibeto, Mary; Cox, Vivian
    Introduction To combat the AIDS epidemic and increase HIV treatment access, the South African government implemented a nurse-based, doctor-supported model of care that decentralizes administration of antiretroviral treatment (ART) for HIV positive patients through nurse initiated and managed ART. Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) implemented a mentorship programme to ensure successful task-shifting, subsequently assessing the quality of clinical care provided by nurses. METHODS: A before-after cross-sectional study was conducted on nurses completing the mentorship programme in Khayelitsha, South Africa, from February 2011-September 2012. Routine clinical data from 229 patient folders and 21 self-assessment questionnaires was collected to determine the number of patients initiated on ART by nurses; quality of ART management before-after mentorship; patient characteristics for doctor and nurse ART initiations; and nurse self-assessments after mentorship. RESULTS: Twenty one nurses were authorized by one nurse mentor with one part-time medical officer's support, resulting in nurses initiating 77% of ART eligible patients. Improvements in ART management were found for drawing required bloods (91% vs 99%, p = 0.03), assessing adherence (50% vs 78%, p<0.001) and WHO staging (63% vs 91%, p<0.001). Nurse ART initiation indicators were successfully completed at 95-100% for 11 of 16 indicators: clinical presentation; patient weight; baseline blood work (CD4, creatinine, haemoglobin); STI screening; WHO stage, correlating medical history; medications prescribed appropriately; ART start date; and documented return date. Doctors initiated more patients with TB/HIV co-infection and WHO Stage 3 and 4 disease than nurses. Nurse confidence improved for managing HIV-infected children and pregnant women, blood result interpretation and long-term side effects. CONCLUSIONS: Implementation of a clinical mentorship programme in Khayelitsha led to nurse initiation of a majority of eligible patients, enabling medical officers to manage complex cases. As mentorship can increase clinical confidence and enhance professional development, it should be considered essential for universal ART access in resource limited settings.
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    Open Access
    Competencies and applicability of the Master of Public Health (MPH) qualification. A qualitative study of graduates from South African Universities
    (2025) Gwini, Grace Paidamoyo; Shung, King Maylene; Tshitangano, Takalani; White, Janine
    Background: The COVID-19 pandemic underscored the critical role of public health professionals in mitigating the crisis and exposed significant weaknesses in global healthcare systems. Graduates with Master of Public Health (MPH) degrees and other public health qualifications played pivotal roles in pandemic response, contributing to surveillance, policy development, community engagement, and health systems strengthening. This study evaluates the competencies of MPH graduates from South African universities, assesses their preparedness for public health roles, and explores the rationale for integrating qualitative COVID-19 study components to enhance understanding of their contributions. Methods: This qualitative exploratory study involved in-depth, one-on-one interviews with 40 MPH graduates from eight South African universities. Data was collected between 2021 and 2022 as the qualitative component of a larger mixed-methods study on the competencies and applicability of MPH training in South Africa. Participants were purposively selected to ensure diversity in institutional background, years of graduation (pre-2012 and post-2016), gender, and nationality. Interviews were conducted using a semi-structured guide, audio-recorded with consent, transcribed verbatim, and anonymised. Thematic analysis was conducted using a collaboratively developed codebook to identify key roles, competencies, and training gaps reported by graduates. Results: MPH graduates have taken up roles in international organizations, NGOs, local governments, and academia. Their MPH degrees facilitated career advancement by equipping them with leadership, management, research, analytical, and communication skills. However, gaps in practical training, advanced data analysis, program management, and emergency preparedness were identified. Graduates emphasized the need for more hands-on training and specialized skills development to align with evolving workplace demands. Conclusion: The MPH program is integral in preparing graduates for diverse public health roles, enabling them to influence policy and practice while fostering career growth. Addressing identified gaps through enhanced practical training and aligning curricula with employer needs are crucial to ensuring graduates can effectively tackle contemporary public health challenges. These improvements will strengthen health systems and improve population health outcomes, particularly in the face of future public health crises.
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    Exploring the experiences of black graduates in accessing employment in South Africa
    (2025) Leokaoke, Malesitsi; Abdullah, Somaya
    This research explores the experience of unemployment amongst black graduates in Cape Town, South Africa. The aim of the study was to examine how young black people navigate their way in life when they have graduated with a degree but are unable to find employment. The study sought to understand their educational choices and experiences, the challenges of being a young black graduate and yet still unemployed, and possible ways to improve employment prospects among this cohort. Taking a qualitative approach and a phenomenological research design, the researcher conducted face-to-face and telephonic interviews with twelve unemployed young people who had graduated from a tertiary institution in South Africa and were selected through purposive and snowball sampling techniques. The goal was to uncover how graduate unemployment affects South African youth and whether the problem of unemployment lies with the subject (or other) choices of the youth or the hostile labour market. The research took a qualitative data analysis procedure. Through thematic analysis patterns, statements and the experiences of the participants were collected and analysed to gain more understanding. The goal was to understand how the level of graduate unemployment might be reduced. The findings of the study reveal that there is a clear mismatch between the qualifications of graduates and the qualifications that the South African labour market demands. This has led to many young people being unable to find work despite their possession of a higher education qualification. It was also found that, regardless of the suitability or unsuitability of their qualifications for the labour market, participants were disadvantaged by their lack of knowledge, skills and practical ability to respond to available employment opportunities. Career guidance, which, arguably, is a crucial element in facilitating synergy between education and employment, was noticeably missing for most of the participants. In addition, they lacked the work experience so often required to secure employment. To address these circumstances, it is recommended that career guidance be taken seriously from the early schooling stages. In addition, the offering of internships should be made compulsory for companies, so that inexperienced undergraduates may gain some valuable work experience before they qualify. The findings reveal that most of the participants recognised their need for experience in order to succeed in the labour market. The complexities of the market are highlighted as a contributor to the increase in graduate unemployment.