scholarly journals Health promotion capacity and institutional systems: an assessment of the South African Department of Health

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Teurai Rwafa-Ponela ◽  
Nicola Christofides ◽  
John Eyles ◽  
Jane Goudge
Keyword(s):  
Health Promotion ◽  
South African ◽  
Assessment Tool ◽  
Health Information System ◽  
The South ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Middle Income Countries ◽  
Department Of Health ◽  
Health Promoting ◽  
Self Assessments

Summary Health promotion (HP) capacity of staff and institutions is critical for health-promoting programmes to address social determinants of health and effectively contribute to disease prevention. HP capacity mapping initiatives are the first step to identify gaps to guide capacity strengthening and inform resource allocation. In low-and-middle-income countries, there is limited evidence on HP capacity. We assessed collective and institutional capacity to prioritize, plan, deliver, monitor and evaluate HP within the South African Department of Health (DoH). A concurrent mixed methods study that drew on data collected using a participatory HP capacity assessment tool. We held five 1-day workshops (one national, two provincial and two districts) with DoH staff (n = 28). Participants completed self-assessments of collective capacity across three areas: technical, coordinating and systems capacity using a four-point Likert scale. HP capacity scores were analysed and presented as means with standard deviations (SDs). Thematic analysis of verbatim transcripts of audio-recorded group discussions that provided rationale and evidence for scores were conducted using deductive and inductive codes. At all levels, groups revealed that capacity to develop long-term, sustainable HP interventions was limited. We found limited collaboration between national and provincial HP levels. There was limited monitoring of HP indicators in the health information system. Coordination of HP efforts across different sectors was largely absent. Lack of capacity in budgeting emerged as a major challenge, with few resources available to conduct HP activities at any level. Overall, the capacity mean score was 2.08/4.00 (SD = 0.83). There is need to overcome institutional barriers, and strengthen capacity for HP implementation, support and evaluation within the South African DoH.

The Oxford Handbook of the South African Economy

2021 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
South African ◽  
Economic History ◽  
Economic Policies ◽  
The South ◽  
Economic Sectors ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Strategic Issues ◽  
Middle Income Countries ◽  
Depth Analysis

While South Africa shares some characteristics with other middle-income countries, it has a unique economic history with distinctive characteristics. South Africa is an economic powerhouse with a significant role not only at the southern African regional and continental levels, but also as a member of BRICS. However, the country faces profound developmental challenges, including the ‘triple challenges’ of poverty, inequality and unemployment. There has been a lack of structural transformation and weak economic growth. Ongoing debates around economic policies to address these challenges need to be based on rigorous and robust empirical evidence and in-depth analysis of South African economic issues. This necessitates wide-ranging research, such as that brought together in this handbook. This volume intends to provide original, comprehensive, detailed, state-of-the-art analytical perspectives, that contribute to knowledge while also contributing to well-informed and productive discourse on the South African economy. While concentrating on the more recent economic challenges facing the country, the handbook also provides historical and political context, an in-depth examination of strategic issues in the various critical economic sectors, and assembles diverse analytical perspectives and arguments that have implications for policymaking.

scholarly journals Reporting Incidences of Neuroblastoma in Various Resource Settings

2021 ◽  
pp. 947-964
Author(s):  
Jaques van Heerden ◽  
Natasha Abraham ◽  
Judy Schoeman ◽  
David Reynders ◽  
Elvira Singh ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
South African ◽  
Cancer Registries ◽  
Linkage Study ◽  
Seer Program ◽  
The South ◽  
Expected Number ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Middle Income Countries ◽  
Probabilistic Linkage

PURPOSE The incidences of neuroblastoma (NB) differ significantly between various resource settings because of varying quality of cancer registries and underdiagnoses. This study aimed to evaluate current regional variations as reported by international cancer registries and the theoretical and reported differences in international NB incidences and to evaluate South Africa (SA) as a case for variable reporting. METHODS A comprehensive literature review on registries reporting on NB was performed to construct incidence tables. The SEER Program incidence of 10.5/million children was used to calculate the expected number of NB cases for each country. Registry data of NB cases between 2000 and 2016 were requested from The South African National Cancer registry (SA-NCR) and the South African Children's Tumour Registry (SACTR) for comparison and to perform a probabilistic linkage study. RESULTS Internationally, incidences varied between –97.1% and +80% compared with the SEER program. SA under-reported NB cases by an estimated 74.2%. Between 2000 and 2016, the SA-NCR reported between 23 and 51 cases/year, whereas the SACTR reported between 18 and 57 cases/year for the same period. The incidence reported by the SA-NCR varied between 1.5 and 2.8/million children under 15-year per year, whereas the SACTR reported 1.74-2.6 cases/million children. Both registries reported incidences less than high-income country. A probabilistic record linkage of the two registries resulted in a combined incidence of 2.9 cases/million children. CONCLUSION As with most low- and middle-income countries, SA has either a lower incidence or underdiagnoses of NB cases. The reasons for under-reporting are not clear, but can be due to undiagnosed NB cases with spontaneous regression, missed possible cases because of lack of autopsies, and diagnosed cases not recorded in registries.

scholarly journals The importance of context in early autism intervention: A qualitative South African study

Autism ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 22 (8) ◽  
pp. 1005-1017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jessy Guler ◽  
Petrus J de Vries ◽  
Noleen Seris ◽  
Nokuthula Shabalala ◽  
Lauren Franz
Keyword(s):  
Autism Spectrum Disorder ◽  
South African ◽  
Health Workers ◽  
Contextual Factors ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Middle Income Countries ◽  
Treatment Type ◽  
Low And Middle Income

The majority of individuals with autism spectrum disorder live in low- and middle-income countries and receive little or no services from health or social care systems. The development and validation of autism spectrum disorder interventions has almost exclusively occurred in high-income countries, leaving many unanswered questions regarding what contextual factors would need to be considered to ensure the effectiveness of interventions in low- and middle-income countries. This study qualitatively explored contextual factors relevant to the adaptation of a caregiver-mediated early autism spectrum disorder intervention in a low-resource South African setting. We conducted four focus groups and four in-depth interviews with 28 caregivers of young children with autism spectrum disorder and used thematic analysis to identify key themes. Eight contextual factors including culture, language, location of treatment, cost of treatment, type of service provider, support, parenting practices, and stigma emerged as important. Caregivers reported a preference for an affordable, in-home, individualized early autism spectrum disorder intervention, where they have an active voice in shaping treatment goals. Distrust of community-based health workers and challenges associated with autism spectrum disorder-related stigma were identified. Recommendations that integrate caregiver preferences with the development of a low-cost and scalable caregiver-mediated early autism spectrum disorder intervention are included.

scholarly journals Knowledge and attitudes of the South African public with regard to congenital and inherited disorders

Curationis ◽  
1984 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Hof ◽  
H.M. Esterhuysen ◽  
C.J. V.d. Merwe ◽  
C. V.d. Burgh ◽  
L. Lomberg
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
South African ◽  
Genetic Services ◽  
European Countries ◽  
Genetic Service ◽  
The South ◽  
Inherited Disorders ◽  
Community Based ◽  
Knowledge And Attitudes ◽  
Department Of Health

In the U.S.A. and most European countries the establishment of community based genetic services has emerged only within the last decade. There has been a tendency for the relevant government departments to assume partial or complete responsibility for these services. In South Africa such a community based genetic service under direction of the Genetic Services Division of the Department of Health and Welfare was conceptualised in 1971 and put into operation in 1975.

scholarly journals Socio-Ecological Nature of Drowning in Low- and Middle-Income Countries: A Review to Inform Health Promotion Approaches

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Muthia Cenderadewi ◽  
Richard Franklin ◽  
Sue Devine
Keyword(s):  
Health Promotion ◽  
Protective Factor ◽  
Prevention Strategies ◽  
Water Safety ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Drowning Prevention ◽  
Middle Income Countries ◽  
Ovid Medline ◽  
The Family ◽  
Low And Middle Income

Most deaths by drowning (91%) have occurred in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), particularly in Southeast Asia (35%) and Africa (20%), in proportion to total drowning deaths worldwide. Poor data collection in LMICs hinders the planning, implementation, and evaluation of prevention strategies. The objective of this study was to review the rates and risk factors of unintentional drowning in LMICs and to identify drowning prevention strategies within a socio-ecological health promotion framework. A systematic search, guided by PRISMA, was conducted on Ovid MEDLINE, CINAHL, Informit health, PsycINFO (ProQuest), Scopus, SafetyLit, Google Scholar, and BioMed Central databases for all relevant studies published between 2012 and 2017. McMaster appraisal guideline was used for critical review. The disparity of available drowning data was observed across selected countries. The highest rates were identified in low-middle income South-east Asian countries. The socio-economic background of the family, overcrowding, and living close to water bodies were important predictors for paediatric drowning in LMICs, while the presence of mother as caregiver was identified as a protective factor. The over-reliance on active injury prevention strategies was identified. Further research focusing on developing relevant upstream drowning prevention and water safety promotion is needed to ensure the sustainability of drowning prevention in LMICs.

scholarly journals A comprehensive capacity assessment tool for non-communicable diseases in low- to middle-income countries: development and results of pilot testing

2016 ◽  
Vol 25 (1) ◽  
pp. 43-53 ◽  
Author(s):  
Isabel Garcia de Quevedo ◽  
Felipe Lobelo ◽  
Loren Cadena ◽  
Madalena Soares ◽  
Michael Pratt
Keyword(s):  
Assessment Tool ◽  
Public Health Problem ◽  
Premature Mortality ◽  
Communicable Diseases ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Non Communicable Diseases ◽  
Middle Income Countries ◽  
Care Services ◽  
Primary Care Services ◽  
Challenges And Opportunities

Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are the leading causes of death worldwide, with higher rates of premature mortality in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). This places a high economic burden on these countries, which usually have limited capacity to address this public health problem. We developed a guided self-assessment tool for describing national capacity for NCD prevention and control. The purpose of this tool was to assist countries in identifying key opportunities and gaps in NCD capacity. It was piloted in three countries between 2012 and 2013: Mozambique, Colombia, and the Dominican Republic. The tool includes details about NCD burden; health system infrastructure and primary care services; workforce capacity; surveillance; planning, policy, and program management; and partnerships. In the three pilot countries, the tool helped to identify differences in capacity needs pertaining to staff, training, and surveillance, but similarities were also found related to NCD challenges and opportunities. The NCD tool increased our understanding of needs and critical capacity elements for addressing NCDs in the three pilot countries. This tool can be used by other LMICs to map their efforts toward addressing NCD goals and defining priorities.

Academic and Scientific Authorship Practices: A Survey Among South African Researchers

2018 ◽  
Vol 13 (4) ◽  
pp. 412-420 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elsie Breet ◽  
Jan Botha ◽  
Lyn Horn ◽  
Leslie Swartz
Keyword(s):  
South African ◽  
Empirical Studies ◽  
High Income ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Perceived Ability ◽  
Middle Income Countries ◽  
Scientific Authorship ◽  
Level Of Agreement ◽  
Low And Middle Income

Empirical studies of authorship practices in high-income countries have been conducted, while research on this issue is scarce in low- and middle-income countries. A survey was conducted among South African researchers who have published in peer-reviewed journals, to explore their understanding of and ability to apply academic authorship criteria. A total of 967 researchers participated in the survey; 88% of respondents had knowledge of academic authorship criteria, while only 52% found it easy to apply the criteria. More respondents experienced disagreement regarding who qualifies for coauthorship compared with authorship order (59% vs. 48%). Disagreement was mostly linked to different ways of valuing or measuring contributions. Level of agreement with academic authorship criteria was higher than the perceived ability to apply the criteria.

Challenges and Complexities of the South African Economy

2021 ◽  
pp. 2-25
Author(s):  
Fiona Tregenna ◽  
Arabo K. Ewinyu ◽  
Arkebe Oqubay ◽  
Imraan Valodia
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
South African ◽  
Growth And Development ◽  
The Political ◽  
Economic Data ◽  
Growth Path ◽  
The South ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Policy Context ◽  
Key Characteristics

This chapter discusses the key characteristics and core challenges of the South African economy in the post-apartheid era. South Africa shares some commonalities with other African and middle-income economies, yet has a unique history and some distinctive economic features. South Africa’s economic complexities and challenges are discussed here with reference to six comparator countries. We examine South Africa’s growth path, considering the low rates of economic growth as well as the lack of structural transformation and the unsustainable and non-inclusive nature of this growth. The ‘triple challenges’ of poverty, inequality, and employment are both a manifestation of the nature of this growth path and a constraint on overall growth. This is also briefly evaluated in the context of the political economy and policy context of growth and development in South Africa. The chapter reviews South African economic data, with a focus on microeconomic survey data.

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