Andrology

These are short case studies built around selected specimens in the UCT pathology teaching collection, intended to support learning around common pathological conditions in Southern Africa.  The student cases form part of the UCT Digital Pathology online collection (www.digitalpathology.uct.ac.za), which catalogues thousands of pathology specimens used for teaching and learning.

This website, shared through Creative Commons, gives electronic access to several thousand pathology specimens in our pathology teaching collection. It is intended for use by undergraduate and postgraduate students in the health sciences. There are currently three main catalogues for (1) the anatomical pathology collection (2) the forensic pathology collection and (3) the obstetrics and gynaecology collection. (A paediatric pathology section is in the pipeline).

This is an historical collection (begun in the 1920’s) so the cataloguing is rather old fashioned. The specimens are catalogued by organ or system e.g. “kidneys” and then by broad pathological category e.g. “neoplasms”. Each specimen has a brief description and commentary along with good quality photographs. The emphasis is on macroscopic pathology; we are aiming to include more radiographic imaging and also microscopy going forward.

The website is a work in progress so much of our material is still in the process of being reviewed and uploaded. For all that use the website, please be respectful of all the specimens and their images. Although anonymous now, they originate from real patients whose diseases were often distressing, painful and fatal.

Funded by: Department of Education, South Africa 

This case study focuses on the multiple factors which feed into under 5 malnutrition (including the social determinants of disease). It is set in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa in 2002. The UNICEF Conceptual Framework is used as a tool for analysis.

The case is structured as a short narrative case study followed by an introduction to the UNICEF Conceptual Framework. In addition, contextual information is supplied and could be supplemented, using links to further sources of information, plus some tables and photographs. Also included are links to journal articles outlining possible responses to this situation.

This case study resource has been developed at the School of Public Health (SOPH), University of the Western Cape (UWC) and used in our teaching. It is based on a research project undertaken over 12 years in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa by Emeritus Prof David Sanders and Prof Thandi Puoane of the SOPH, UWC with Prof Ann Ashworth from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine.

The case concerns an informal settlement with a high prevalence of diarrheal disease in sub-Saharan Africa, and the factors that feed into this situation. The learning aim is to apply a model for intervention – the Public Health Action Cycle, which is based on UNICEF’s Triple A Cycle for nutrition improvement.

Considering the challenge of providing quality, cost-effective learning resources, it made sense that UNIMA should experiment with using OER. Through grants from the Open Society Initiative for Southern Africa and the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, the International Association for Digital Publications and OER Africa, an initiative of the South African Institute for Distance Education, were able to facilitate these projects.

• The first project, conducted at Kamuzu College of Nursing (KCN), aimed at training staff to source, evaluate, and adapt OER for an e-learning University Certificate Midwifery Course.

• The second OER project, conducted at Bunda College of Agriculture (BCA), called for the use of OER to compile a first-year communication skills textbook.

• A third project, also running from Bunda, was designed to provide Post Graduate students with access to copyrighted ebooks, a component of IADP’s Affordable Access programme.

This case study is the result of semi-structured interviews with teaching faculty, other staff and students involved in health OER activities at UG. The interviewees (listed at the end of this study), gave their consent for the author to use their names and direct quotations, and their words are included here verbatim. This case study explores CHS’s experience with OER, highlighting strategic priorities, perceived benefits, achievements, challenges, production process, lessons learned, future plans and participants’ advice for others interested in creating their own institutional OER initiatives.