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Tuberculosis treatment adherence and associated factors in the Butha-Buthe district, Lesotho : a retrospective cohort study
Rangoanana, Motlatsi; Ngah, Veranyuy; Tamuzi, Jacques Lukenze; Maphalale, Sele; Molete, Mabatho; Ratikoane, Retselisitsoe; Maama, Llang; Fwemba, Isaac; Daramola, Olawande; Ogunrombi, Modupe; Nyasulu, Peter Suwirakwenda (Pan African Medical Journal, 2025-04-02)
INTRODUCTION : Lesotho remains one of the world's 30 high-tuberculosis (TB) burden countries. In Butha-Buthe district, unfavourable TB treatment outcomes were higher than those set forth by the WHO. This study's objective was to evaluate TB treatment adherence and treatment resistance among patients enrolled in the 12 health facilities in Butha-Buthe. METHODS : data were collected from the medical records of patients with sputum smear-positive TB and extra-pulmonary forms of TB between January 2015 and December 2020. Results were presented in frequencies and percentages. Univariate and multivariable logistic regression analyses were conducted to identify factors associated with treatment adherence. RESULTS : among 1,792 patients who were enrolled, 1,320 were included in the study. The overall mean TB treatment adherence rate was estimated at 37.20%. Factors found to be associated with treatment adherence in multivariate analysis were age ≥60 years (aOR: 0.59, 95%CI: 0.54- 0.66; P<0.001), being a mine worker (aOR 1.09, 95%CI: 1.03-1.14; P<0.001), having pulmonary TB (aOR: 1.23, 95%CI: 1.17-1.29, P<0.001), being in the continuation phase of the treatment (aOR 1.38, 95%CI: 1.33, 1.45; P<0.001) and category 2 (aOR 0.93, 95%CI: 0.88-0.99; P = 0.016). Regarding TB contact support, family members (aOR: 1.08, 95%CI: 1.03-1.14; P<0.001), friends (aOR 1.30, 95%CI: 1.19-1.41; P<0.001), spouses (aOR: 1.24, 95%CI 1.16-1.34; P<0.001), and unreported contacts (aOR 1.18, 95%CI: 1.09-1.27; P = 0.015) all showed increased TB adherence. CONCLUSION : the overall adherence to TB therapy was poor in Butha-Buthe district. Lesotho urgently needs district-level strategies to improve TB treatment adherence and reduce treatment resistance.
Die latere Ystertydperk in Suidoos- en Sentraal-Marico
Boeyens, Jan C. A. (University of Pretoria, 2026)
Abstract available on PDF
Evaluating a human-machine student intervention framework in higher education from legacy data
Combrink , Herkulaas Morkel van Eyssen (University of Pretoria, 2026)
This study aims to answer the question: “Can education be abstracted in a framework and conceptually studied for a student intervention process?” To do so, it designs and tests a student intervention framework that uses a systems approach and complexity theory to learn from different student contexts and recommend and apply systemic interventions for students. The framework is based on the assumption that education is a complex system that involves multiple interacting elements, such as students, teachers, curriculum, policies, and resources. The specific interventions and their impact on student success are not assessed in this work, as they depend on the expertise in the education domain. Rather, this work focuses on the framework that can be used to apply and evaluate different contexts and interventions. The study applies complexity theory and systemic intervention theory to understand the lens and the methods for studying the system. It also explains the education system in South Africa as the context of the study. One of the main challenges of the study is data sharing and data handling. To address this challenge, the study generates synthetic data from openly available tabular data and evaluates its conditional interdependence using different machine learning classification tasks. Then, it applies the same methods to a real-world education dataset from the University of the Free State. The study contextualizes the student intervention framework as a multi-armed bandit (MAB) stateless reinforcement learning problem and tests its performance and viability using probabilistic models. The results show that the probabilistic models yield the best results with the minimum required fine-tuning, and that they scale well to the real-world dataset. The results also indicate that the framework is viable for student intervention recommendations within the context of contextual bandits. The study concludes with a discussion of the implications and limitations of the framework, and suggests areas for future research.
Understanding black women opportunity entrepreneurs' networking behavior : navigating intersectionality in South Africa's entrepreneurial ecosystem
Pettersen, Inger Beate; Scheepers, Caren Brenda; Botha, Melodi; Moos, Menisha; Moos, Menisha (Emerald, 2026)
PURPOSE : Globally, black women entrepreneurs represent the fastest-growing group of entrepreneurs, driving significant economic and social impact. This research timely responds to calls aiming for varied research contexts and for investigating women entrepreneurs in non-Western contexts. This study examines networking within South Africa's entrepreneurial ecosystems (EEs) to contextualize theory across diverse cultural and socio-economic settings, thereby deepening understanding of the compounded barriers faced by black women entrepreneurs at the intersection of race and gender. DESIGN/METHODOLOGY/APPROACH : A qualitative research design was adopted to explore individual experiences while identifying patterns and connections that can enhance our understanding of black women's networking behavior to navigate the EEs in South Africa. FINDINGS : The study's findings reveal three unique themes which contribute to women's proactive networking behavior, involving cross-gender and cross-race relations. Furthermore, we learn how black women entrepreneurs exploit strategic networking opportunities to grow their tech ventures and navigate intersectionality through resilience of being part of a minority group. RESEARCH LIMITATIONS/IMPLICATIONS : EE actors should deliberately introduce allyship programs to enhance black women's position and belonging in various settings through, e.g. mentorship and training programs. Policymakers in other countries could gain key insights from the South African Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment (BBBEE) policy, which positively influence women entrepreneurs' position in EEs. ORIGINALITY/VALUE : Our study links the Intersectionality Theory with Social Network Theory. Previous studies considered gender and networking behavior, without referring to the intersection between gender and race and how this intersection might influence networking behavior.
Affordable loss heuristic scale development and validation
Lew, Charlene; Smith, Sean Michael (Emerald, 2026-12)
PURPOSE : The study aims to develop a distinct and parsimonious scale of affordable loss. The affordable loss heuristic explains a way of reasoning in entrepreneurial investment decision-making in uncertainty. DESIGN/METHODOLOGY/APPROACH : The scale development process spans several phases including conceptualization, qualitative interviews and expert item review in the item development phase. In the exploratory phase, two studies are used to refine the instrument. In the validation phase, the scale is validated through confirmatory factor analysis and assessment of the invariance thereof. FINDINGS : The study produces a two-dimensional reflective scale of affordable loss, including dimensions of a loss heuristic in uncertainty and experimental mindset. The scale is validated and invariant across different geographical contexts. RESEARCH LIMITATIONS/IMPLICATIONS : The scale builds on the theory of affordable loss, presenting clearer insights into the nature and dimensions of this heuristic. It offers an empirical contribution by enabling the measurement of affordable loss as a construct in entrepreneurial decision-making. PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS : An understanding of affordable loss gives practitioners the means to assess and develop entrepreneurial reasoning. ORIGINALITY/VALUE : The study presents a novel measure of the affordable loss investment heuristic, paving the way for future studies into its antecedents and outcomes.