https://ir.unisa.ac.za/handle/10500/14519 2026-08-03T20:57:05Z https://ir.unisa.ac.za/handle/10500/32845 The Role of Teachers in Fostering Literacy Practices among Preschoolers in South Africa Adewoye, Segun Emmanuel; Mavhandu-Mudzusi, Azwihangwisi Helen; Kutame, Azwidohwi Philip; Portia Mavhandu, Thinawanga Abstract. Using a descriptive phenomenological qualitative research approach, this article explored the roles of teachers in fostering literacy practices among preschoolers in selected schools in South Africa. Fifteen preschool teachers were interviewed at the preschool centers where they are employed. Interviews and environmental field notes were used as data sources. A thematic analysis strategy was applied to analyse the data. The findings revealed that teachers take on the roles of nurturer, researcher, facilitator, and advocator, depending on circumstances dictated by the literacy practice interactions in the classrooms. The role of nurturer is regarded as the foundation for teacher-preschooler interactions, which opens possibilities for preschoolers to engage and participate in more literacy activities in the classrooms. The roles of teachers in fostering literacy practices in the classrooms develop and change over time in relation to the rapid growth of preschoolers, group dynamics, and preschooler–teacher relationships. This article suggests that the teacher’s role in fostering literacy practices within the classrooms is complex and ever-changing and requires integrated mobilization of literacy resources for all stakeholders. The researchers received no funding. 2025-07-04T00:00:00Z https://ir.unisa.ac.za/handle/10500/32844 Considering Ethical Issues Affecting Patients’ Records Stored on the Cloud in South Africa Marutha, Ngoako; Mavhandu-Mudzusi, Azwihangwisi Helen The study sought to investigate the ethical implications of patients’ medical and health records being stored on the cloud in South Africa. A literature review was conducted in this qualitative study to examine ethical implications of patients’ medical and health records being stored on the cloud in South Africa. It was found that healthcare facilities use private cloud storage, hosted by a third party, across national borders without consideration of any ethical matters. In most instances, healthcare facilities do not request consent from patients before their records are transferred to the cloud in the hands of a third party. A framework is proposed for consideration of ethical issues regarding patients’ records that may be stored on the cloud in South Africa. It is envisaged that the framework would minimise violation of ethics principles while avoiding possible litigations to health service providers or information getting misused in the hands of the third party. There are a number of ethical issues surrounding patients’ information or records produced during healthcare services rendered to patients and kept in healthcare facilities which need to be considered before seeking service for information keeping from any third party. For different reasons, including insufficient filing space and difficulty in retrieving patients’ records during healthcare services, most healthcare facilities apply the latest technologies such as cloud computing to which the decision eventually affect patients’ personal information. Patients’ information kept on the cloud contain personal information that may eventually affect patients’ personal life. One of the issues to be addressed by the study is obtaining patient consent before disclosing their personal information to a third party. The authors received no financial support for the publication. 2025-06-10T00:00:00Z https://ir.unisa.ac.za/handle/10500/32843 Psychosocial Impacts on Pentecostal Church Pastors of Providing Support to Children in Need of Care and Protection: An Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis Design Spaumer, Andrew; Mavhandu-Mudzusi, Azwihangwisi Helen; Rembuluwani, Mbedzi Pentecostal church pastors are engaged in supporting children in need of care and protec tion. This study employed an interpretative phenomenological analysis design to explore the psychological impacts on pastors of Pentecostal churches supporting children in need of care and protection. The study was conducted in South Africa with 19 criterion pur posively selected Pentecostal church pastors. Semistructured face-to-face interviews were conducted. Data were analyzed thematically, guided by the interpretative phenomenologi cal analysis framework. The trustworthiness of the study was established through adher ence to credibility, transferability, dependability, and confirmability. Findings indicate that Pentecostal church pastors derive satisfaction and happiness from providing care and sup port to children in need of care and protection. However, their inability to provide the req uisite support results in feelings of sadness and disappointment. The provision of care and support to children encroaches upon the Pentecostal church pastors’ family time and occa sionally necessitates the utilization of family resources to deliver the required assistance. The assistance offered by Pentecostal church pastors to children in need of care and protec tion is accompanied by conflicting emotions of both satisfaction and emotional distress. Researchers recommend collaborative efforts between child protection practitioners, such as social workers and Pentecostal church pastors, to enhance support for children in need of care while maintaining their health and families. Open access funding provided by University of South Africa. The researchers received no specific grant from any funding agency in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors. 2025-08-13T00:00:00Z https://ir.unisa.ac.za/handle/10500/32842 High Diabetes Prevalence and Implications for Progress Toward SDG3: AnUmbrellaReviewofFour African Countries Addisu Tadesse, Mussie Wubshet; Sahile, Addisu Tadesse; Mavhandu-Mudzusi, Azwihangwisi Helen Abstract Background: Diabetes mellitus (DM) is an emerging public health challenge in Africa, driven by rapid urbanisation, changing lifestyles and socio-economic transitions. As the global prevalence rises, evidence on the burden and determinants of DM across African countries remains fragmented and inconsistent. Objective: We aimed to synthesize ev idence from existing systematic reviews and meta-analyses on the prevalence and de terminants of diabetes mellitus across African populations, thereby informing targeted interventions and policy actions. Methods: This umbrella review followed the PRISMA guidelines and included systematic reviews and meta-analyses of studies, published up to December 2024, that reported on DM prevalence and/or risk factors for DM in adults across four African countries. The literature was retrieved from PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science and African Journals Online (AJOL). Quality assessment was conducted using the AMSTAR2(A Measurement Tool to Assess Systematic Reviews, version 2) tool, and only moderate- to high-quality reviews were retained. Random-effects models were used to estimate the pooled prevalence and odds ratios (ORs), while heterogeneity, publication bias and sensitivity analyses were also conducted. Findings: Seven reviews were included, cov ering four countries: Ethiopia, South Africa, Nigeria and Ghana. The pooled prevalence of diabetes mellitus was 9.0% (95% CI: 6.0–12.0%), with significant heterogeneity (I2 = 99.8%). Among thedeterminants, only family history of DM (OR:5.11, 95% CI: 2.96–8.85), hyperten sion (OR: 2.52; 95% CI: 1.65–3.83), obesity (OR: 3.04; 95% CI: 1.92–4.82), physical inactivity (OR:3.32; 95%CI:1.99–5.54), smoking(OR:2.59; 95%CI:1.23–5.47), unhealthydiet(OR:4.77; 95% CI: 1.73–13.18) and urban residence (OR: 5.81; 95%CI: 4.41–7.65), showed a statistically significant association. Sensitivity analysis confirmed the robustness of pooled prevalence, and no significant publication bias was detected. Conclusions: Diabetes mellitus preva lence in Africa is rising and approaching the global averages. Funding: This research received no external funding. 2026-05-18T00:00:00Z