Feasibility of infant hearing screening from a developing country context: the South African experience

2018 ◽  
Vol 16 (4) ◽  
pp. 263-270 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amisha Kanji ◽  
Katijah Khoza-Shangase ◽  
Luisa Petrocchi-Bartal ◽  
Shannon Harbinson
Keyword(s):  
South African ◽  
Developing Country ◽  
Hearing Screening ◽  
The South ◽  
African Experience

Understanding Who is Having a Taste(off) Nigeria

2020 ◽  
Vol 25 (4) ◽  
pp. 425-440
Author(s):  
Martinette Kruger ◽  
Adam Viljoen ◽  
Oghenetejiri Digun-Aweto
Keyword(s):  
Cultural Identity ◽  
South African ◽  
Developing Country ◽  
Effective Medium ◽  
Cultural Immersion ◽  
The South ◽  
Market Segments ◽  
Culinary Tourism ◽  
The Many ◽  
Multiethnic Societies

Events and festivals, especially those focused on food, showcase the many nuances within a culture and can be seen to be an effective medium to transfer cultural identity or tradition. Cultural phenomena such as food festivals are integral to cultural immersion, especially in multicultural/multiethnic societies such as Nigeria. Emphasizing the importance of investigating the culinary festival market in Nigeria, TasteOff is an example in a developing country that identifies the market segments based on a multisegmentation approach that includes (i) travel motives, (ii) the important "festivalscape" factors, and (iii) future culinary event preferences. This research contributes dually to (i) a better understanding of culinary tourism in Africa, especially since much attention is placed on the South African scenario, and (ii) the needs and preferences of Africa's largest economy, Nigeria.

scholarly journals National survey of paediatric audiological services for diagnosis and intervention in the South African private health care sector

2014 ◽  
Vol 61 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Miriam E. Meyer ◽  
De Wet Swanepoel ◽  
Talita Le Roux
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
South African ◽  
National Survey ◽  
Hearing Aid ◽  
Hearing Screening ◽  
Health Care Sector ◽  
Private Health Care ◽  
The South ◽  
Hearing Aid Fitting ◽  
Intervention Services

Objective: A national survey of early hearing detection and intervention services was undertaken to describe the current status of diagnostic and intervention services in the South African private health care sector.Methods: All private hospitals with obstetric units (n = 166) were surveyed telephonically. The data was integrated with data collected from self-administered questionnaires subsequently distributed nationally to private audiology practices providing hearing screening at the respective hospitals reporting hearing screening services (n = 87). Data was analysed descriptively to yield national percentages and frequency distributions.Results: Average reported age at diagnosis was 11 months. Most participants (74%) indicated that less than 20% of infants fitted with hearing aids received amplification before the age of 6 months. Most (64%) participants indicated that the average period between confirmed diagnosis and hearing aid fitting was 1 month, on par with international benchmarks. Only 16%–23% of participants included all diagnostic procedures recommended by the Health Professions Council of South Africa’s 2007 position statement for minimum diagnostic test batteries for infants and young children.Conclusions: Diagnosis of hearing loss, hearing aid fitting and audiological intervention is delayed significantly in the South African private health care sector. Improved services should include integrated systematic hospital-based screening as part of birthing packages with diagnostic referral to specialist paediatric audiologists for accurate assessment and management of patients in a timely manner.

scholarly journals Rapid and Successful Implementation of a COVID-19 Convalescent Plasma Programme—The South African Experience

Viruses ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (10) ◽  
pp. 2050
Author(s):  
Tanya Nadia Glatt ◽  
Caroline Hilton ◽  
Cynthia Nyoni ◽  
Avril Swarts ◽  
Ronel Swanevelder ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
South African ◽  
Successful Implementation ◽  
Western Cape ◽  
The South ◽  
South Africans ◽  
African Experience ◽  
Antibody Titres ◽  
Investigational Therapies ◽  
Set Up

Background: COVID-19 convalescent plasma (CCP) has been considered internationally as a treatment option for COVID-19. CCP refers to plasma collected from donors who have recovered from and made antibodies to SARS-CoV-2. To date, convalescent plasma has not been collected in South Africa. As other investigational therapies and vaccination were not widely accessible, there was an urgent need to implement a CCP manufacture programme to service South Africans. Methods: The South African National Blood Service and the Western Cape Blood Service implemented a CCP programme that included CCP collection, processing, testing and storage. CCP units were tested for SARS-CoV-2 Spike ELISA and neutralising antibodies and routine blood transfusion parameters. CCP units from previously pregnant females were tested for anti-HLA and anti-HNA antibodies. Results: A total of 987 CCP units were collected from 243 donors, with a median of three donations per donor. Half of the CCP units had neutralising antibody titres of >1:160. One CCP unit was positive on the TPHA serology. All CCP units tested for anti-HLA antibodies were positive. Conclusion: Within three months of the first COVID-19 diagnosis in South Africa, a fully operational CCP programme was set up across South Africa. The infrastructure and skills implemented will likely benefit South Africans in this and future pandemics.

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