Browsing by Subject "perceptions"

Now showing 1 - 3 of 3
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    Consumer perceptions of private label brands within the retail grocery sector of South Africa
    (2010) Beneke, Justin
    This exploratory study serves to investigate the perceptions of fast moving private label brands in the South African grocery food sector. Successful positioning of these brands has been achieved globally, most notably in developed markets. However, in a South African context this does not appear to be the case. To this end, research has been undertaken in order to better understand the current position these brands occupy in the minds of South African consumers. Included in the study is the consideration of critical branding elements such as trust, availability, pricing, packaging, etc. The knowledge gained through this research should ideally facilitate the process of advancing private label brand research in an academic context and improving brand positioning, increasing market share and optimizing profit extracted from private label brands in a managerial context.
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    Exploring the perspectives of health service providers on mental health policy and interventions for school children in the Western Cape, South Africa
    (2021) Mgoqi, Khusela; Shung-King, Maylene
    Background: Mental health is recognised as a critical public health challenge globally, yet child and adolescent mental health receive low priority, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. Children and adolescents spend a significant proportion of their lives in school, suggesting that educational settings are potentially important environments where child and adolescent mental health (CAMH) can be strengthened to improve early identification and treatment. This study explored the perspectives of key service providers on needs, barriers and facilitators of child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS) in schools in the Western Cape province of South Africa. Methods: This study employed an exploratory qualitative approach. In-depth individual interviews were conducted by one of the authors (SM), and the first author (KM) conducted a thematic analysis on the interview data. Results: There were nine interviewees selected who were diverse health service providers involved in child and adolescent health which included school doctors, school nurses, psychiatrists, occupational therapist, clinical nurse and mental health nurse. Thematic findings were grouped under: a) perceived needs, b) barriers and c) facilitators. The need to improve intersectoral collaboration, following a referral pathway, a strong multidisciplinary team (MDT) and integration of services were all identified important in the delivery of CAMHS. The neglect of CAMHS in both education and health sectors and limited resources were identified as barriers. Facilitators included intersectoral collaboration, task shifting from nurses and doctors to community health workers, and committed health workers. Conclusion: CAMHS receives very low priority in comparison to other health issues such as HIV/TB in South Africa. There is an urgent need to address CAMHS in South Africa, and the school setting is an important site of intervention. Intersectoral collaboration, task-shifting, continuous training of teachers and health professionals are potential strategies that could be used to strengthen access to CAMHS in education sector and have integrated services in the Western Cape Province.
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    The association between nutrition and physical activity knowledge and weight status of primary school educators
    (2014) Dalais, Lucinda; Abrahams, Zulfa; Steyn, Nelia P; de Villiers, Anniza; Fourie, Jean M; Hill, Jillian; Lambert, Estelle V; Draper, Catherine E
    The purpose of this study was to investigate primary school educators' health status, knowledge, perceptions and behaviour regarding nutrition and physical activity.Thus, nutrition and physical activity knowledge, attitudes, behaviour and risk factors for the development of non-communicable diseases of 155 educators were assessed in a cross-sectional survey. Height, weight, waist circumference, blood pressure and random glucose levels were measured. Twenty percent of the sample had normal weight (body mass index (BMI, kg/m2) < 25), 27.7% were overweight (BMI> 25 to < 30) and 52.3% were obese (BMI < 30). Most of the participants were younger than 45 years (54.2%), females 78.1%, resided in urban areas (50.3%), with high blood pressure (> 140/90 mmHg: 50.3%), and were inactive (48.7%) with a high waist circumference (> 82 cm: 57.4%). Educators' nutrition and physical activity knowledge was poor. Sixty-nine percent of educators incorrectly believed that eating starchy foods causes weight gain and only 15% knew that one should eat five or more fruit and/or vegetables per day. Aspects of poor nutritional knowledge, misconceptions regarding actual body weight status, and challenges in changing health behaviours, emerged as issues which need to be addressed among educators. Educators' high risk for developing chronic non-communicable diseases (NCDs) may impact on educator absenteeism and subsequently on school functioning. The aspects of poor nutrition and physical activity knowledge along with educators' high risk for NCD development may be particularly significant not merely in relation to their personal health but also the learners they teach.