Implementation of Tuberculosis Control Measures in Rural Public Hospitals of Vhembe District, South Africa: A Thematic Analysis

Abstract Background: Healthcare workers (HCWs) in close contact with SARS-CoV-2-infected patients have an increased risk of infection compared to non-HCWs, but little is known about the clinical course and risks for mortality amongst HCWs in South Africa. In this study, we compared characteristics of hospitalised HCWs with non-HCWs with COVID-19 and assessed factors associated with COVID-19 mortality among HCWs.Methods: Data from 5 March 2020 to 30 April 2021 was obtained from DATCOV, the national surveillance programme monitoring COVID-19 admissions in private and public hospitals across South Africa. A logistic regression model was used to determine factors associated with COVID-19 HCW admissions and mortality. Results: There were a total 169,678 confirmed COVID-19 admissions reported on DATCOV, of which 6,364 (3.8%) were HCWs. Compared to non-HCWs, HCWs were less likely to be male [aOR 0.3, 95%CI (0.3-0.4)], and more likely to be younger, white or other race, have pre-existing obesity and asthma, and be admitted in the private sector, in Eastern Cape, Gauteng, Kwa-Zulu Natal, Limpopo, Northern Cape and North West provinces. Pre-wave 1 [aOR 3.0; 95%CI 2.4-3.7)], wave 1 [aOR 2.1; 95%CI (1.8-2.5)] and post-wave 1 [aOR 1.3; 95%CI (1.0-1.7)] were associated with increase in HCW admissions compared to wave 2. There was an increased risk for in-hospital mortality among HCWs in the older age group (40-49 [aOR 3.8; 95%CI (1.6-8.80)]; 50-59 [aOR 4.7; 95%CI (2.0-10.9)] and 60-65 years [aOR 9.8; 95%CI (4.2-23.0)] compared to HCWs less than 40 years, with comorbidities such as hypertension, diabetes, chronic kidney diseases, malignancy and TB. Mortality was decreased for HCWs who were coloured [aOR 0.5; 95%CI (0.3-0.8)], admitted in the public sector [aOR 0.7; 95%CI (0.5-0.9)] in pre-wave 1 [aOR 0.6; 95%CI (0.3-0.9)] compared to wave one period. Conclusion: In-hospital mortality in HCWs was associated with age, race, wave period, presence of comorbidites and sector. Policies should be put in place to remove older HCWs with comorbidities from direct patient care. Optimal management of comorbid conditions is advised and improvement of infection prevention and control measures in healthcare settings for those that come into direct contact with infected patients.

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National COVID-19 Hospital Admissions and Mortality Among Healthcare Workers in South Africa, 2020-2021

10.21203/rs.3.rs-637985/v1 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Nonhlanhla Tlotleng ◽

Waasila Jassat ◽

Cheryl Cohen ◽

Felix Made ◽

Tahira Kootbodien ◽

...

Keyword(s):

South Africa ◽

Hospital Mortality ◽

Healthcare Workers ◽

Hospital Admissions ◽

Kidney Diseases ◽

Public Hospitals ◽

Control Measures ◽

Infection Prevention And Control ◽

Factors Associated ◽

Increased Risk

Abstract Background: Healthcare workers (HCWs) in close contact with SARS-CoV-2-infected patients have an increased risk of infection compared to non-HCWs, but little is known about the clinical course and risks for mortality amongst HCWs in South Africa. In this study, we compared characteristics of hospitalised HCWs with non-HCWs with COVID-19 and assessed factors associated with COVID-19 mortality among HCWs. Methods: Data from 5 March 2020 to 30 April 2021 was obtained from DATCOV, the national surveillance programme monitoring COVID-19 admissions in private and public hospitals across South Africa. A logistic regression model was used to determine factors associated with COVID-19 HCW admissions and mortality.Results: There were a total 169,678 confirmed COVID-19 admissions reported on DATCOV, of which 6,364 (3.8%) were HCWs. Compared to non-HCWs, HCWs were less likely to be male [aOR 0.3, 95%CI (0.3-0.4)], and more likely to be younger, white or other race, have pre-existing obesity and asthma, and be admitted in the private sector, in Eastern Cape, Gauteng, Kwa-Zulu Natal, Limpopo, Northern Cape and North West provinces. Pre-wave 1 [aOR 3.0; 95%CI 2.4-3.7)], wave 1 [aOR 2.1; 95%CI (1.8-2.5)] and post-wave 1 [aOR 1.3; 95%CI (1.0-1.7)] were associated with increase in HCW admissions compared to wave 2. There was an increased risk for in-hospital mortality among HCWs in the older age group (40-49 [aOR 3.8; 95%CI (1.6-8.80)]; 50-59 [aOR 4.7; 95%CI (2.0-10.9)] and 60-65 years [aOR 9.8; 95%CI (4.2-23.0)] compared to HCWs less than 40 years, with comorbidities such as hypertension, diabetes, chronic kidney diseases, malignancy and TB. Mortality was decreased for HCWs who were coloured [aOR 0.5; 95%CI (0.3-0.8)], admitted in the public sector [aOR 0.7; 95%CI (0.5-0.9)] in pre-wave 1 [aOR 0.6; 95%CI (0.3-0.9)] compared to wave one period. Conclusion: In-hospital mortality in HCWs was associated with age, race, wave period, presence of comorbidites and sector. Policies should be put in place to remove older HCWs with comorbidities from direct patient care. Optimal management of comorbid conditions is advised and improvement of infection prevention and control measures in healthcare settings for those that come into direct contact with infected patients.

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Experiences of Hearing Parents Following the Diagnosis of Their Child's Hearing Loss

SOUTHERN AFRICAN JOURNAL OF SOCIAL WORK AND SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT ◽

10.25159/2415-5829/2468 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 30 (2) ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Ronel Sanet Davids ◽

Mariana De Jager

Keyword(s):

South Africa ◽

Hearing Loss ◽

Thematic Analysis ◽

Qualitative Methodology ◽

Cape Town ◽

Best Interest ◽

Ethical Considerations ◽

Hearing Parents ◽

Phenomenological Design ◽

Depth Interviews

An estimated 90 per cent of children with a hearing loss are born to hearing parents. Most parents are unprepared for the diagnosis, leaving them shocked, confused, sad and bewildered. This article reports on a study aimed at exploring and describing the experiences of hearing parents regarding their child’s hearing loss. The study was conducted in Cape Town, South Africa. The study applied a qualitative methodology with a phenomenological design. Purposive sampling was implemented and data were collected by means of unstructured in-depth interviews. Data were analysed using thematic analysis. Ethical considerations were adhered to. The main findings of the study indicated that hearing parents experience a myriad of emotions when their child is diagnosed with a hearing loss. This study advocates for various stakeholders in the helping profession to collaborate in the best interest of hearing parents and a child with hearing loss. Furthermore, these findings serve as guidelines for professionals working with these families.

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Midwives’ Views on Improved Use of the Partogram in Vhembe District of Limpopo Province, South Africa

Africa Journal of Nursing and Midwifery ◽

10.25159/2520-5293/1271 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 19 (1) ◽

pp. 28-40

Author(s):

T Lumadi

Keyword(s):

South Africa ◽

Limpopo Province ◽

Vhembe District

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Municipal asset operations and maintenance performance in metropolitan and rural municipalities in Gauteng Province and Vhembe District Local Municipalities, South Africa

Cogent Engineering ◽

10.1080/23311916.2021.1935409 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 8 (1) ◽

pp. 1935409

Author(s):

Peter Bikam ◽

James Chakwizira

Keyword(s):

South Africa ◽

Gauteng Province ◽

Local Municipalities ◽

Operations And Maintenance ◽

Rural Municipalities ◽

Vhembe District ◽

Maintenance Performance

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Prevalence and Genetic Characterisation of Human Sapovirus from Children with Diarrhoea in the Rural Areas of Vhembe District, South Africa, 2017–2020

Viruses ◽

10.3390/v13030393 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (3) ◽

pp. 393

Author(s):

Mpho Magwalivha ◽

Jean-Pierre Kabue Ngandu ◽

Afsatou Ndama Traore ◽

Natasha Potgieter

Keyword(s):

South Africa ◽

Rural Communities ◽

Rural Areas ◽

Rna Extraction ◽

Diarrhoeal Disease ◽

Positive Sample ◽

Prevalent Strain ◽

Stool Samples ◽

Vhembe District ◽

Pcr Targeting

Diarrhoeal disease is considered an important cause of morbidity and mortality in developing areas, and a large contributor to the burden of disease in children younger than five years of age. This study investigated the prevalence and genogroups of human sapovirus (SV) in children ≤5 years of age in rural communities of Vhembe district, South Africa. Between 2017 and 2020, a total of 284 stool samples were collected from children suffering with diarrhoea (n = 228) and from children without diarrhoea (n = 56). RNA extraction using Boom extraction method, and screening for SV using real-time PCR were done in the lab. Positive samples were subjected to conventional RT-PCR targeting the capsid fragment. Positive sample isolates were genotyped using Sanger sequencing. Overall SV were detected in 14.1% (40/284) of the stool samples (16.7% (38/228) of diarrhoeal and 3.6% (2/56) of non-diarrhoeal samples). Significant correlation between SV positive cases and water sources was noted. Genogroup-I was identified as the most prevalent strain comprising 81.3% (13/16), followed by SV-GII 12.5% (2/16) and SV-GIV 6.2% (1/16). This study provides valuable data on prevalence of SV amongst outpatients in rural and underdeveloped communities, and highlights the necessity for further monitoring of SV circulating strains as potential emerging strains.

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