Dissertations / Theses on the topic 'Agricultural workers' diseases Tuberculosis'

Thesis (MTech (Environmental Health))--Peninsula Technikon, Cape Town, 2003
Recent studies have reported an increased prevalence (19%) of respiratory symptoms among furm workers exposed to pesticides. International studies suggest excessive pesticide use and biological factors such as outdoor mites as important factors responsible for asthma symptoms. Studies in Korea suggest that spider mites may be responsible for allergic asthma symptoms among workers on fruit (citrus, apple, and . pear) furms. The fuming of wine and table grapes in South Africa involves about 3000 farms employing over 50,000 workers. Workers on table grape farms, in contrast to other fruit farms have not been previously investigated for occupational respiratory allergy to spider mites. Objectives • To determine the spectrum and prevalence of work-related allergy and asthma among table grape farm workers • To determine the environmental and host factors associated with work-related symptoms and allergic outcomes. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 207 workers employed on nine table grape farms in the Hex River valley of South Africa. A modified European Community Respiratory Health Survey questionnaire was used to interview workers. Skin prick tests used 8 commercial extracts of common airborne allergens (ALK) and potential occupational allergens, which included grape mould (Botrytis cinerea) and an in-house extract of spider mite, Tetranychus urticae. Specific IgE to Tetranychus urticae was determined using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and to house dust mite (Dermatophagoides Pteronyssinus) and storage mite (Lepidoglyphus Destructor) using Pharrnacia CAPRAST. Results: The mean age of the workers was 36 years with a standard deviation of 11 years.

Thesis (MMed)--Stellenbosch University, 2013.
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Introduction: The morbidity and mortality associated with tuberculosis (TB) disease is of grave consequences for the health and employment of afflicted individuals. Healthcare workers are identified amongst high risk groups in communities. The prevalence/incidence of TB is dependent on the presence of associated risk factors which varies in diversity and intensity in different communities and workplaces. Understanding the risk factors operating in any given environment is indispensable to any tuberculosis control programme. Objective: The objective of this study was to describe the occurrence and trends of TB disease as well as to determine the risk factors associated with the disease among Tygerberg hospital employees. Method: A cross-sectional descriptive study design with a nested case-control component was used to determine the occurrence (and trends) and risk factors of TB disease respectively. Occurrence and trends of tuberculosis: The frequencies, distribution and trends of TB disease from 2008 to 2011 were obtained by calculating and comparing the annual incidence rates for each variable. Cases were identified from the occupational health clinic TB register, while the various denominator data were obtained from the Human Resource database. Determination of risk factors: Cases were recruited from the occupational health clinic TB register and controls were randomly selected from unaffected workers during the study period. Self-administered risk factor questionnaires were completed by both cases and controls. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to determine the association between known and suspected risk factors and the occurrence of TB disease amongst employees. Results: Sixty six cases of TB disease occurred in the workforce during the study period resulting in an annual average incidence rate of 397/100,000 population (95% CI: 307/100,000-505/100,000). Twenty three (34.8%) of the 66 cases occurred in Housekeeping staff, making them the most affected sub-group [1181/100,000 population (95% CI: 747/100,000-1768/100,000)]. The rate of TB disease in nurses was 1.7 times (95%CI: 1.4-2.0) that of doctors. Workers in the 40-49 years age-group experienced the highest incidence [490/100,000 population (95%CI: 329.6/100,000-706.8/100,000)] of TB disease compared to the other age-groups. There was no obvious difference in gender occurrences. Disease rates varied among different racial groups, with the highest rate in black employees [1473/100,000 population, (95%CI: 924/100,000-1981/100,000)]. Distribution of TB disease in the institution was widespread, with security department being the most affected [2500/100,000 population (95%CI: 311/100,000- 9262/100,000)]. There was a downward but statistically insignificant (annual range 9-23; p=0.28) trend in the rate of disease occurrence over the study period. No previous training on TB prevention (OR: 2.97, 95% CI: 1.15 - 7.71), HIV (OR: 67.08, 95% CI: 7.54 – 596.64) and working without knowledge of TB risk profile of the workplace (OR: 8.66, 95% CI: 1.10 – 67.96) were associated with TB disease occurrence. Conclusion: Occurrence of TB disease among Tygerberg hospital employees was low compared to that of the general population of its drainage areas. Disease occurrence in the facility was wide and varied with respect to occupational groups, workplaces and time. Well-established risk factors for TB infection (and disease) were found to be determinants of disease occurrence in the facility.

Mycobacterium bovis and other species of Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (MTBC) can result to a zoonotic infection known as Bovine tuberculosis (bTB). MTBC has members that may contaminate an extensive range of hosts, including wildlife. Diverse wild species are known to cause disease in domestic livestock and are acknowledged as TB reservoirs. It has been a main study worldwide to deliberate on bTB risk factors as a result some studies focused on particular parts of risk factors such as wildlife and herd management. The objectives of this study were to design questionnaires from commercial farms and smallholding farms; isolate and identify MTBC from collected samples using culture and PCR assays recovered from Fort Hare, Middledrift and Seven star dairy farms; and assessing genotypic drug resistance through detection of mutations conferring resistance to INH and RMP associated with first line treatment for MTBC infection. Questionnaires were administered to thirty (30) smallholding farm owners in the two villages (kwaMasele and Qungqwala) and three (3) three commercial farms ( Fort Hare dairy farm, Middledrift dairy farm and Seven star dairy farm). Detection of M. tuberculosis complex was achieved by Polymerase Chain Reaction using primers for IS6110; whereas a genotypic drug resistance mutation was detected using Genotype MTBDRplus assays. Nine percent (9%) of respondents had more than 40 cows in their herd, while 60% reported between 10 and 20 cows in their herd. Relationship between farm size and vaccination for TB differed from forty one percent (41%) being the highest to the least five percent (5%). The highest number of respondents who knew about relationship between TB cases and cattle location was ninety one percent (91%). Approximately fifty one percent (51%) of respondents had knowledge about wild life access to the farms. Relationship between import of cattle and farm size ranged from nine percent (9%) to thirty five percent (35%). Cattle sickness in relation to farm size differed from forty three (43%) being the highest to the least three percent (3%); while thirty three percent (33%) of respondents had knowledge about health management. Respondents with knowledge about the occurrence of TB infections in farms were forty eight percent (48%). The frequency of DNA isolation from samples ranged from the highest forty five percent (45%) from water to the least twenty two percent (22%) from soil. Fort Hare dairy farm had the highest number of positive samples forty four percent (44%) from water samples; whereas Middledrift dairy farm had the lowest positive from water, seventeen percent (17%). Twelve (22%) out of 55 isolates showed resistance to INH and RMP that is, multi-drug resistance (MDR) and nine percent (9%) were sensitive to either INH or RMP. The mutations at rpoB gene differed from 58% being the highest to the least (23%). Fifty seven percent (57%) of samples showed a S315T1 mutation while only 14% possessed a S531L in the katG gene. The highest inhA mutations were detected in T8A (80%) eighty percent and the least was observed in A16G (17%). The results of this study reveals that risk factors for bTB in cattle and dairy farm workers is a serious issue abound in the Eastern Cape of South Africa; with the possibility of widespread dissemination of multidrug resistant determinants in MTBC from the environment.

It is increasingly being recognised that agrichemical exposure may have adverse chronic health effects in humans, particularly on central nervous system function. However, much of this evidence sterns from studies relating to the effects of acute intoxications (i.e. short-term high dose exposures) and little data exist on the chronic effects of long-term low-dose exposures to agrichemicals in the absence of acute poisoning. Such a finding would have substantial public health implications for prevention and control of chronic morbidity and mortality. This is particularly important in South Africa, where a sizeable portion of the rural population are employed in agricultural work, often under extremely unhealthy living and working conditions, and where occupational agrichemical exposures appear to be substantial. To address this question, this study investigated the prevalence of neurological and neurobehavioural abnormalities amongst 247 fruit farm workers in the Kouebokkeveld in the Western Cape, of whom 163 were current agrichemical applicators. Outcomes measured included neurological symptoms, peripheral vibration sense, motor tremor, as well as performance on the World Health Organisation Neurobehavioural Core Test Battery (WHO NCTB) and a set of neurobehavioural tests based on the Information Processing model of cognitive psychology. These latter tests have been developed in South Africa for subjects of low educational levels and aim to by-pass the powerful effects of culture that complicate traditional neuropsychological testing, which may mask the smaller effects due to occupational chemical exposures. Cumulative, and average lifetime intensity of exposure to organophosphates were estimated using a job- exposure matrix based on a combination of secondary industry data, interview reports and farmer records. Confounders measured included age, education, smoking and alcohol habits, non-occupational exposure to agrichemicals and other potential neurotoxins, past medical history and usage of personal protective equipment. The study results confirmed low levels of education and high alcohol consumption amongst the sample of farm workers. Multiple logistic and linear regression were used to identify exposure-effect relationships and to control for confounding. Neurological symptoms were significantly associated with a history of previous pesticide poisoning, although this may have arisen as a result of reporting bias. Vibration sense and the neurobehavioural tests exhibited associations with established covariates, and regression modelling of the WHO NCTB tests was remarkably similar to findings in another study of solvent-exposed factory workers in South Africa. None of the vibration sense, tremor or neurobehavioural outcomes were associated with past agrichemical poisoning in the sample, and only two tests showed significant relationships with long-term occupational exposure. These included the Pursuit Aiming subtest of the WHO NCTB and one of the tests of long-term semantic memory in the Information Processing tests. However, the strength of these the associations were small (partial r²s less than 2%) and these findings may have occurred due to chance arising from multiple comparisons. The neurobehavioural tests based on the Information Processing model appeared to offer little improvement on the WHO NCTB in terms of being less sensitive to cultural effects, although some evidence was present that tests of semantic access were able to detect occupational effects and were less sensitive to education. The absence of a demonstrable and consistent long-term agrichemical exposure-effect relationship appears to suggest that long-term agrichemical exposure is not associated with adverse chronic nervous system effects, although the lack of organophosphate specificity in construction of exposure indices in the job-exposure matrix may partly contribute to this finding. Recommendations to improve the characterisation of agrichemical exposures at farming work place are made, as well as suggestions concerning the role of biological monitoring for agrichemicals, improving working and living conditions on South African farms, and methods of neurological and neurobehavioural assessment in occupational health.

Introduction Pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) is a disease which is both curable and preventable, with recognised complications such loss of lung function and progressive massive fibrosis (PMF). It is a major cause of pulmonary disability and mortality in the South Africa mining industry. Tuberculosis has a high social and economic cost, both for the individual concerned and for the industry as a whole. However, notwithstanding the extensive literature on TB in the mining industry, given the size and economic importance of coal mining in South Africa, there is surprisingly scanty information available on TB and other occupational lung diseases in coal mines. A strong correlation was reported in Canada, the USA and China between coal usage and TB. This highlights the possibility of the direct impact of coal usage on TB. Although black miners have historically done jobs with the highest exposure in the coal mining industry, there have been remarkably few studies reporting the prevalence of TB and the exposure response relationship in black coal miners in South Africa. Dust exposure in coal mines is a risk factor for occupational lung diseases such as coal workers' pneumoconiosis (CWP), chronic obstructive airways disease (COAD) and lung function deficiency. However, there are still doubts and debates about the risk in such work of tuberculosis. The aim of this study was to fill the gap in the literature by determining the prevalence and exposure response relationship of TB to coal dust exposure. Objective To determine, within a sample of coal miners: . Prevalence of tuberculosis (TB) . Prevalence of coal workers' pneumoconiosis and past TB . Association of outcome variables with exposure variables and underground coalmine workers' exposure as compared to that of surface workers . Association of TB with coal workers' pneumoconiosis and past TB . Exposure response relationship of TB, coal workers' pneumoconiosis and past TB to respirable coal dust. Method A cross-sectional study of 344 employed black male coal miners at a coal mining complex with fourteen mine shafts at Secunda in Mpumalanga, was done. The records from 1 January 2000 to 31 December 2005 were reviewed. The main outcome measure was the prevalence of current TB in coal miners. The sample consisted of 220 underground and 124 surtace coal miners. The exposure variables considered were lifetime mean exposure level (LMEL) (mgim3), cumulative dust exposure (CDE) in mg-years/m3, and coal mining years. Information was collected from multiple sources including hospital files, surveillance records and medical records, and crossvalidated with the information from the human resources department. Information was collected on the demographic profile, exposure, underground or surface work, area of work, smoking history, HIV status from medical records, dust exposure intensity, length of service, TB diagnosis and the methods of diagnosis and outcome of the treatment, and previous TB and CWP. Participants with current TB were either sputum culture positive or sputum culture negative TB. Results The mean age of the sample was 45.2 years, (range 2844 years; SD = 8.2).The mean duration of service was 16.1 years (range 4.1-27.7 years; SD 5.9). There were 34 (9.9%) cases of current TB in total, of which 31 were underground coal miners and three were surface coal miners. The prevalence of current TB reported by this study was 9.97o, with a mean age of 46J years and length of service of 16.2 years. The prevalence of current TB among the underground and surface workers was 14.1o/o and 2.4o/o rcspectively. The prevalence of CWP was 3.8o/o, with a mean age of 51.3 years and a mean length of service of 2Q.l years. The prevalence of past TB was also 3.8o/o, with a mean age and length of service of 44.9 and 1 6. 1 years respectively. Underground coal mines workers' exposure to coal dust was high, with a lifetime mean exposure level (LMEL) and cumulative dust exposure (CDE) of 2.4 mg/m3 and 33.4 mgyears/ m3 respectively. The difference in LMEL and CDE among underground vs. surface workers was significant, with underground exposure being higher than surface exposure, namely p<0.001 and p<0.001 respectively. The difference in length of service between underground and surface participants was not significant. The difference in exposure to coal dust (LMEL and CDE) among participants with current and previous TB, compared to those without current and previous TB, was statistically significant, p<0.008 and p<0.04. The difference between the coal dust exposure indices (LMEL, CDE exposure duration) for participants with and without CWP was significant. However, the difference between participants with current TB and previous TB compared to those with non-current TB and without previous TB in age and length of service years was not significant. This also applied to HIV status and smoking: the difference between participants with and without current TB was not significant. There was a strong significant association of underground mine work with current TB, with a prevalence odds ratio (POR) of 6.62 (p<0.001).This showed that the association of exposure to coal dust with current TB was strong and significant as underground mine workers were exposed to higher coal dust concentrations than surface workers. Workers with current TB were more likely to have co-existing CWP, with a POR of 1.7 (95Vo Cl:0.f7.1). The exposure-response relationship of LMEL and CDE in participants with current TB and CWP was significant. A significant trend was observed of increasing of LMEL and CDE with an increase in the prevalence of current TB, CWP and past TB. Conclusions There was a possible dose response relationship between coal dust exposure and the risk of development of pulmonary TB. The study showed that coal dust exposure was associated with pulmonary TB, and a dose response relationship with the trend of increasing coal dust exposure. lt has been shown that there is a more significant and stronger association of underground coal mine work with current TB than there is in surface work. This study has shown a significant exposure response relationship in the exposure indices (CDE and LMEL), age and length of service for CWP. This study found a high prevalence of pulmonary TB of 9.9% in black migrant coal mine workers who historically held jobs in the dustiest areas in the mining industry. The limitations of the study include the use of cumulative exposure calculated from current exposure, and the secondary healthy worker effect or survivor workforce. Dust control and HIV/AIDS programmes should be an integral part of a TB and occupational lung disease control strategy in the mining industry.
Thesis ( M.Med. )-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 2009.

Tuberculosis is a disease of global importance and remains the leading cause of death in the developing world. In South Africa a weak notification system and poor occupational health services for health care workers has resulted in little information being available about the incidence of tuberculosis and the groups at highest risk of contracting tuberculosis amongst health care workers, the clinical presentation and management of workers infected with tuberculosis. The purpose of this study was to describe the incidence of tuberculosis, and the clinical and public health aspects of the management of tuberculosis among health care workers in eight public sector hospitals in the Ethekwini Municipality of KwaZulu-Natal. Data was collected through a retrospective review of hospital records for the study period January 1999 to June 2004. Study findings: Five hundred and eighty three (N=583) health care workers were diagnosed with tuberculosis for the period under review. The mean age of the HCWs was 38 years (95% Cl: 37-39). The mean cumulative incidence for the study period was 1040/100 000 HCW population (95% Cl: 838-1242). The mean cumulative incidence of TB was highest in males (1544/100 000 HCW population; 95% Cl 1228 -1859), the age group 25 to 34 years (1043/100 000 HCW population; 95% CI: 650 -1436) and in paramedical staff (1675/100 000 HCW population; 95%CI: 880-2470). The majority of health care workers presented with pulmonary tuberculosis (77%, n=322) and 3% (n=13) had multidrug resistant tuberculosis. Successful treatment outcomes were achieved in 63% (n=334) of health care workers. Only one hospital has a work place policy with regard tuberculosis in health care workers. Compensation for this occupational disease was sought as follows. Submissions of a first medical report were made in 107 (18%) of the 583 health care workers. In the 107 cases initially reported submission of progress reports (n=75; 70%) and final reports (n=60; 56%) decreased considerably. In conclusion, the incidence of tuberculosis in health care workers has increased annually since 1999 and the treatment outcomes among health care workers do not reach the targets set by the National Tuberculosis Control Programme. Recommendations based on the study findings include establishing a uniform provincial policy for the prevention and reduction of tuberculosis infections among health care workers for implementation in hospitals; the implementation of a medical surveillance system for health care workers with respect to tuberculosis and a provincial training programme for staff on the clinical and administrative management of TB in health care workers.
Thesis (M.Med.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, 2006.

Cohort study found that being insured and having longer exposure of health insurance significantly increased migrant workers' likelihood to use professional healthcare in Shenzhen, decreased their total occasions of professional healthcare utilisation, and were causally associated with a decrease in professional healthcare expenditures which were paid out-of-pocket in the 6 months of follow-up by migrant workers.
Internal migration has become a more and more prominent societal and economic phenomenon in mainland China and Shenzhen is one of the most frequently selected locales for rural-urban migrants. This thesis aims 1) to assess health status and to describe patterns of healthcare utilisation amongst migrant factory workers, 2) to follow up the sample over 6 months to understand the impact of health insurance participation on health service utilisation and health expenditures, and 3) to assess the implications for health policies.
Our results suggest that health strategies should take into consideration the specific health needs of the highly mobile factory migrant workers. Through insurance coverage, local health authorities may be able to help improve rural-urban migrant workers' health by improving services at community level, and incorporating psychological care in the services provided by Community Health Centres.
Questionnaire surveys were used in a representative sample from factory workers in Shenzhen. The baseline and follow-up studies were conducted during April to December 2009 in Shenzhen, China.
Results show that migrant factory workers in Shenzhen represent a broad combination of geographic complexity and have special socio-demographic characteristics. The results have specified some association between self-rated health and SES, and major correlates of depressive symptoms amongst migrant factory workers. The seroprevalence of antibodies to rubella amongst female migrant workers is too low to provide immunity in the population. Sex, age, education, sleeping hours and internet use were associated with being a current smoker. The crude two-week illness rate was 21.6%. More than half and 11.6% of sick migrant workers chose self-treatment or neglected their sickness, respectively. Self-perception of disease being not severe, lack of time and economic difficulties were the major explanations for not utilizing professional care.
Mou, Jin.
Adviser: Sian Meryl Griffiths.
Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 73-02, Section: B, page: .
Thesis (Ph.D.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2010.
Includes bibliographical references (leaves 253-270).
Electronic reproduction. Hong Kong : Chinese University of Hong Kong, [2012] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web.
Electronic reproduction. [Ann Arbor, MI] : ProQuest Information and Learning, [201-] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web.
Abstract also in Chinese.

Purpose This research project was an attempt to determine situational aspects of HIV and AIDS among the designated farming communities in the Vhembe and Mopani districts of Limpopo Province. Questions arising from the pilot project were premised on the capacity of farmers in these areas to adequately address the daunting reality and prevalence of HIV and AIDS in their communities. Research Design and Methodology The research was designed to facilitate the integration of both qualitative and quantitative approaches. A sample of 228 respondents was involved in a triangulated participatory action research method. To the extent that the data collection techniques were triangulated in both nature and focus, HIV/AIDS-related data and information within the designated farming communities was attained with a maximum degree of validity. The data collection techniques used in this regard were: questionnaires, which were distributed to 228 respondents; participant observation; exploratory investigation; unstructured interviews; naturalistic observation; focus group interviews and discussion; and review of documents. The reviewed documents include (primary) sources on HIV/AIDS by the Department of Health and (secondary) sources of literature by various authors presenting a range of perspectives on HIV/AIDS in farming areas. Findings The results of the study revealed the absence of a coordinated policy on HIV/AIDS in particular, and health in general; and a vacuous prevalence of basic HIV/AIDS-related information. For instance, knowledge on condom usage as a prevention strategy was ostensibly scant. Currently, primary healthcare services in the area are not available. The sampled farm workers themselves unanimously corroborated that there was no HIV/AIDS policy on the SAFM farms. Conclusion Based on the main findings established above, it has become indispensable that comprehensive and multidisciplinary HIV/AIDS policy interventions be initiated by all the relevant stakeholders. Local and provincial healthcare authorities need to provide policy guidelines for the development of such policy, taking the particular needs and circumstances of farm workers. The pervasive degree of insufficient HIV/AIDS knowledge among this group necessitates that such a policy should integrate both a labour perspective and healthcare orientation, rather than perpetuating a separation of the two paradigms. This form of integration ensures that the observance of a human rights dimension becomes a sacrosanct component of the prevention of HIV/AIDS among farm workers, as well as their education concerning their healthcare-related rights as farm employees. Furthermore, the prevalence of a national HIV and AIDS policy is mainly aimed at facilitating broad guidelines, not addressing the specific contexts of every public, corporate and rural employment sector (DoH, 2007: 11-12; Muhlemann, et al., 1992: 479). In order that the education, prevention and treatment initiatives in the Vhembe and Mopani farming communities are achieved, the most important parameters of the policy should indicate: ,,X The systematic institutionalisation of local, provincial, and national HIV and AIDS programmes, notwithstanding the provision of healthcare facilities such as clinics; ,,X The promotion of basic healthcare education in general, and HIV/AIDS awareness and prevention among farm workers in particular; ,,X The development of HIV/AIDS work place policy by SAFM as employer; ,,X The systematic involvement and formation of partnerships between policy makers, local and international funders, HIV/AIDS healthcare workers and practitioners, NGOs and SAFM. As a critical factor and unit of analysis in the study, SAFM is expected to fulfil a developmental function among its employees, their families, and the local communities. This function could be enhanced further with the collaboration between SAFM and other farmers in the distribution of basic information regarding HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases at the workplace, as well as extensive healthcare education and training for their farming personnel. Trained personnel, especially managers, are a salient factor in the implementation of organisational health and safety requirements (DoH, 2007: 6, 8; Muhlemann, et al., 1992: 478-479).
Health Studies
D. Litt. et Phil. (Health Studies)

Farm workers in South Africa have limited access to health care and health-related information. In this qualitative study, the implementation of a workplace HIV/AIDS policy was evaluated using data gathered through interviews and observation. It was found that, although the farm workers were knowledgeable about HIV and AIDS, this knowledge was insufficient. It was found that the lives of farm workers are deeply affected by HIV and AIDS. It is also suggested that the agricultural sector is not yet able to deal effectively with HIV and AIDS and that, in this regard, urgent planning is needed in respect of HIV and AIDS policies and interventions
Social Work
M.A. (Social Behaviour Studies in HIV/AIDS)

Introduction: Despite being one of the most preventable diseases, TB still remains a serious and largely neglected disease. Nurses as compared to the general population are at greater risk of acquiring nosocomial TB. This study was conducted to describe the perceptions of nurses on the underlying contributory factors that may lead to the spread of TB in the clinics treating TB patients. Methods: Quantitative, non – experimental, descriptive, exploratory and cross sectional design was used. A structured and pretested questionnaire was used. Findings: The key contributory factors identified were insufficient TB training for staff and lack of knowledge on the TB legislative framework and TB policy directives. Conclusion: The findings indicate the need for a comprehensive TB infection prevention and control policy, with associated standards for provision and practice.
Health Studies
M.A. (Public Health)

Historically, South Africans, particularly small-scale farmers have had little support and hence lack tools and information when faced with production decisions. Information plays an important role in enlightening people, raising their level of knowledge and in turn improving their standard of living and participation in decision making process. Research shows that Information Communication Technology (ICT) like Decision support tools (DSTs) plays an important role in systematic dissemination of information in agriculture, thus improving the quality of farmers’ decisions. Decision support tools provide up-to-date data, procedures and analytical capacity leading to better-informed decisions, especially in rural areas. A body of research is emerging around issues of effectiveness of DSTs for farmers in the developed world. However, few studies have focused on issues around effectiveness of these tools for farmers in the developing world, particularly for resource-limited farmers. This study set out to evaluate the effectiveness of a new DST for organic and small-scale farmers with a group of extension officers and researchers in KwaZulu-Natal. As an extension to the DST, a crop disease management component linked to the DST was developed. The study also set to evaluate the effectiveness of the crop disease management component. Extension officers and researchers were purposively selected for this study because both groups play a major role as far as organising and disseminating information to organic and small-scale farmers is concerned. This study identified key measures for effectiveness of DSTs and crop disease management guides using literature from the study. Two frameworks for measuring effectiveness were developed to evaluate the effectiveness of the new DST and its crop disease management component with the extension officers and researchers. Focus group discussions were used for data collection. The frameworks were used as a base for the focus group discussions. Focus groups were conducted to explore and establish whether in the light the groups (extension officers and researchers), the new DST and its crop disease management component are effective. Results from the study revealed that extension officers and researchers felt that the DST and its crop disease management component are effective since they meet key measures for effectiveness identified in the framework. The groups agreed that the DST and its crop disease management component are relevant to small-scale farmers. They also agreed that the DST has the ability to improve access to information for small-scale farmers. Lastly, they also agreed that the DST and its crop disease management component are transparent (meaning flexible and user friendly) for small-scale farmers. Some of the areas for improvement identified by the groups included a need for information on pests and more diseases for the DST and the crop disease management component. Although the groups felt that both the DST and crop disease management were effective, they strongly recommended a need for another study that will aim at developing a pest management component of the DST as this was clearly requested by groups in this study. Results of this study showed that half the respondents felt that the DST was easy enough to be used by small-scale farmers without help from extension officers, while the other half believed that small-scale farmers will still need the help of extension officers to show them how to use the DST. Government and other relevant institutions need to provide appropriate training for these farmers, making the DST useful to them.
Thesis (M.Agric)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2011.