scholarly journals An investigation into the level of empowerment of rural women in the Zululand district of KwaZulu-Natal province of South Africa

Curationis ◽  
2010 ◽  
Vol 33 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
B.R. Bhengu
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Primary Health Care ◽  
Rural Women ◽  
Group Discussion ◽  
Research Approach ◽  
Women's Groups ◽  
Primary Health ◽  
Women’S Groups ◽  
Kwazulu Natal

The aim of the study was to evaluate the outcome of the empowerment of rural women in relation to gender issues, power, and communication within the Zululand District of KwaZulu-Natal in South Africa after implementation of a four-year Primary Health Care project in partnership with the Provincial Department of Health, and two Schools of Nursing at the University of KwaZulu-Natal and McMaster University in Canada. This project is based on substantial evidence which reveals that rural women are being neglected to the extent that these women have missed out on opportunities for development. The reasons for this disempowerment of women, particularly rural women, are thought to be due to the feminisation of poverty, as well as female submission, educational deprivation, privacy of domestic violence, exploitation, domination by men and cultural oppression (patriarchy).A qualitative research approach was used. Focus group discussion was utilised as the data collection technique, and this was also applied during the collection of baseline data. An interview guide covered issues of concern in the communities and households, including what the women would, or had done about these, how they engaged in decision-making in their families, how they handled situations when there was a difference of opinion, and their awareness of, and ability to claim their rights, including control of their lives. The data was collected from six clinics, from groups of six to ten women in the predominantly rural Zululand District of KwaZulu-Natal.The project has revealed improvement in the women’s realisation of their rights, albeit limited, in communication, self-confidence, and reliance, including partnerships between Primary Health Care Nurses and women’s groups. The formation of women’s groups facilitated community development and participation in their own health, socio-economic and emotional development.The project suggests that such groups be encouraged and allowed to network for support as they understand their own problems better, they merely require facilitation.

scholarly journals An analysis of the meaning of integrated Primary Health Care from the KwaZulu- Natal Primary Health Care context

Curationis ◽  
2009 ◽  
Vol 32 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
M.N. Sibiya ◽  
N.S. Gwele
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Primary Health Care ◽  
Health System ◽  
Health Care Services ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Primary Health ◽  
Kwazulu Natal ◽  
Comprehensive Health

In South Africa, integration o f services policy was enacted in 1996 with the aim of increasing health service utilization by increasing accessibility and availability of all health care services at Primary Health Care (PHC) level. Integration of PHC services continues to be seen as a pivotal strategy towards the achievement of the national goals of transformation of health services, and the attainment of a comprehensive and seamless public health system. Although the drive behind the integration of PHC services was to improve accessibility of services to the community, the problem however, arises in the implementation of integrated PHC (IPHC) as there is no agreed upon understanding of what this phenomenon means in the South African context. To date no research studies have been reported on the meaning of the integration of PHC services. Hence, there is a need for shared views on this phenomenon in order to facilitate an effective implementation of this approach. A cross-sectional study, using a qualitative approach was employed in this study in order to analyze the phenomenon, IPHC in KwaZulu-Natal and the meaning attached to it in different levels of the health system. A grounded theory was selected as it is a method known for its ability to make greatest contribution in areas where little research has been done and when new viewpoints are needed to describe the familiar phenomenon that is not clearly understood. Policy makers and co-ordinators of PHC at national, provincial and district levels as well as PHC nurses at functional level participated in the study. The data was collected by means of observations, interviews and document analysis. The sample size for interviews was comprised of 38 participants. Strauss and Corbin’s process of data analysis was used. It emerged that there were three core categories that were used by the participants as discriminatory dimensions of IPHC in South Africa. These core categories were (a) comprehensive health care, (b) supermarket approach and (c) one stop shop.

scholarly journals Nursing Recommendations for the Management of HIV and Hypertension in a rural Primary Health Care Setting, Eastern Cape, South Africa

2021 ◽  
Vol 23 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Lwandile Tokwe ◽  
Joanne Rachel Naidoo
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Primary Health Care ◽  
Health Education ◽  
Chronic Illnesses ◽  
Research Approach ◽  
Eastern Cape ◽  
Primary Health ◽  
Co Morbidity ◽  
Professional Nurses

South Africa has an increased number of people living with the human immunodeficiency virus (PLWH). In addition, older PLWH are prone to developing non-communicable diseases (NCDs) as co-morbid illnesses, in particular hypertension. South Africa is experiencing a dual burden of care, that being the co-morbidity of HIV and hypertension. The integration of HIV and non-communicable disease management is needed towards a synergised and comprehensive approach within primary health care (PHC) settings. This article presents nursing recommendations yielded by a descriptive phenomenological study on the management of HIV and hypertension in a rural PHC context. A qualitative research approach, using Husserl’s descriptive phenomenology, was employed, and data were gathered using semi-structured interviews. The interviews were conducted by the first author at Sakhisizwe sub-district clinics, Eastern Cape. Purposive sampling was used to select nine participants. Giorgi’s phenomenological steps underpinned data analysis. Six nursing recommendations were developed to support professional nurses in the management of the co-morbidity of HIV and hypertension: 1) disease-specific health education as opposed to generic health education; 2) utilisation of existing programmes on the integration and management of chronic illnesses; 3) creating social support platforms or spaces; 4) referral pathways; 5) surveillance and monitoring; and 6) management of disease-related stigma. Professional nurses working in PHC clinics have several guidelines to manage chronic illnesses. However, there are limited nursing recommendations on how to manage the co-morbidity of HIV and hypertension. This study focused on a smaller sample of nine participants, in one sub-district and in one district.  

scholarly journals The use of PHC clinic-based women’s groups for financial empowerment in a rural area

Curationis ◽  
2006 ◽  
Vol 29 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
LR Uys ◽  
BR Bhengu ◽  
B Majumdar
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Health Promotion ◽  
Primary Health Care ◽  
Rural Area ◽  
Case Analysis ◽  
Economic Empowerment ◽  
Women's Groups ◽  
Primary Health ◽  
Women’S Groups ◽  
Cross Case Analysis

The article is based on a four-year project during which Primary Health Care (PHC) nurses worked with women’s groups in their areas. The aim of the study was to explore the involvement of PHC nurses in economic empowerment, both in terms of health promotion and in terms of the PHC approach. In particular the objectives were to establish whether nurses could lead economic empowerment groups, whether such groups could establish adequate external links and become financially viable. Eleven groups were used as case studies, and a cross-case analysis was done in terms of the three objectives. It was found that between the women and the nurses, adequate leadership existed for the groups to function well. Very limited external linkages were established, notwithstanding efforts in this regard. Nine out of 11 groups contributed to financial welfare of their members after 18 months, but a range of problems with regard to financial viability are identified.

scholarly journals An assessment of the implementation of the provincial cervical screening programme in selected Primary Health Care Clinics in the Ilembe region, KwaZulu-Natal

Curationis ◽  
2007 ◽  
Vol 30 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
M.N. Sibiya ◽  
L. Grainger
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Cervical Cancer ◽  
Primary Health Care ◽  
Screening Programme ◽  
Cervical Screening ◽  
Health Care Clinics ◽  
Primary Health ◽  
Kwazulu Natal ◽  
Cancer Of The Cervix

Cervical cancer is almost completely preventable, yet it is the second most prevalent cancer amongst women in South Africa. KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) in particular has a high mortality rate of cervical cancer and 1:40 women die from cancer of the cervix. Therefore, in 1997 a cervical screening policy and programme was implemented in the province. The purpose of the study was to evaluate the implementation of selected aspects of the Provincial cervical screening programme in selected Primary Health Care (PHC) clinics in Ilembe Region, KZN.

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