The confidential enquiry into maternal deaths in South Africa: a case study

Obstetric medicine as a speciality is yet to be developed in South Africa. South Africa is regarded as a developing country. The burden of HIV and metabolic syndrome creates a need for advanced maternal care. An increase has been noted in hypertension and gestational diabetes due to increasing maternal age and increasing prevalence of obesity. The South African National Committee on Confidential Enquiry into Maternal Deaths’ 2015 Saving Mothers Report identified non-pregnancy-related infections as the leading cause of maternal deaths. Obstetric medicine care includes pre-conception, antepartum and postpartum care. This article aims to highlight the importance of obstetric medicine, even in a resource-poor setting. The current internal medicine and obstetrics and gynaecology training is discussed and emphasis is placed on the opportunity to create an obstetric medicine programme.

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Comparison of Causes of Maternal Mortality in the Limpopo Province between 2011/13 and 2014/16: Findings from the National Committee of Confidential Enquiry into Maternal Deaths in South Africa

10.21203/rs.2.13378/v1 ◽

2019 ◽

Author(s):

Sam Ntuli ◽

Maboya EM ◽

FLM Hyera ◽

S Naidoo

Keyword(s):

South Africa ◽

Pulmonary Embolism ◽

Maternal Death ◽

Statistical Significance ◽

Limpopo Province ◽

National Committee ◽

Confidential Enquiry ◽

Maternal Deaths ◽

Hypertensive Disorders ◽

Obstetric Haemorrhage

Abstract Objective To review and compare underlying causes of maternal deaths in Limpopo Province (LP) using data of the National Committee of Confidential Enquiry into Maternal Deaths in South Africa (NCCEMD). Method This is a review of the findings of the causes of maternal deaths from the two trienniums 2011-2013 and 2014-2016 of the NCCEMD. When pregnancy related deaths occur a maternal death notification form is completed and submitted to the provincial Maternal, Child and Women's Health (MCWH) units. The provincial assessors assess the death and forward the report to the NCCEMD, where the data are collated and analyzed to provide summary estimates for the extent of important public-health problems. Results In the triennial 2011/13, 750 women deaths were recorded in LP of which 728 (97.1%) were maternal deaths and 22(2.9%) were coincidental deaths. While in the triennial 2014/16, of the 623 women deaths, 607(97.4%) were maternal deaths and 16 (2.6%) were coincidental deaths. In both trienniums, non-pregnancy related infections, obstetric haemorrhage, pregnancy-induced hypertensive disorders and medical and surgical disorders were the leading cause of deaths and accounted for two-thirds of maternal deaths. The number of deaths due to non-pregnancy related infections significantly decreases from 228 to 135 (p<0.05), while deaths due to medical and surgical disorders slightly increased (from 66 to 69, p>0.05). There was a marked reduction in the number of obstetric haemorrhage, pregnancy-induced hypertensive disorders, pregnancy-related sepsis, anaesthetic complications, ruptured ectopic pregnancy and acute collapse-cause unknown but the result did not reach statistical significance (p>0.05), and deaths due to miscarriage increased (p>0.05). The number of deaths due to pulmonary embolism increased significantly (p<0.05). Conclusion Although there is a reduction in the number of maternal deaths in LP, non-pregnancy related infections, obstetric haemorrhage, pregnancy-induced hypertensive disorders and medical and surgical disorders remain the major causes of maternal death and pulmonary embolism is an emerging concern.

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Social Design for Services Framework

Conference Proceedings of the Academy for Design Innovation Management ◽

10.33114/adim.2017.89 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 1 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Melanie SARANTOU ◽

Satu MIETTINEN

Keyword(s):

South Africa ◽

Sustainable Development ◽

Research Group ◽

Design Research ◽

Service Design ◽

Social Design ◽

Practical Action ◽

The Social ◽

The World

This paper addresses the fields of social and service design in development contexts, practice-based and constructive design research. A framework for social design for services will be explored through the survey of existing literature, specifically by drawing on eight doctoral theses that were produced by the World Design research group. The work of World Design researcher-designers was guided by a strong ethos of social and service design for development in marginalised communities. The paper also draws on a case study in Namibia and South Africa titled ‘My Dream World’. This case study presents a good example of how the social design for services framework functions in practice during experimentation and research in the field. The social design for services framework transfers the World Design group’s research results into practical action, providing a tool for the facilitation of design and research processes for sustainable development in marginal contexts.

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The Socio-Economic Challenges of South African Indigenous Musicians: A Case Study of Venda-Based Vho-Ntshengedzeni Mamphodo

Southern African Journal for Folklore Studies ◽

10.25159/1016-8427/3814 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 29 (1) ◽

Author(s):

N G Mugovhani ◽

Lebogang Lance Nawa

Keyword(s):

South Africa ◽

South African ◽

Empirical Data ◽

Cultural Policy ◽

Qualitative Case Study ◽

Arts Management ◽

Black South African ◽

Indigenous Music ◽

Entire Country

This article discusses and raises awareness about the socio-economic plight of indigenous musicians in South Africa. Through a qualitative case study of the Venda musician, Vho-Talelani Andries Ntshengedzeni Mamphodo, dubbed the â€œFather of mbila music,â€ the article highlights the fact that the welfare of Black South African artists, particularly indigenous musicians in South Africa, is generally a precarious affair. Their popularity, at the height of their careers, sometimes masks shocking details of exploitation, neglect, and the poverty they are subjected to, which are exposed only after they have died. Empirical data identifies this as a symptom of, among other things, cultural policy and arts management deficiencies in the promotion of indigenous music. The article aims to find ways to redress this unfortunate situation, which is partially a product of general apathy and scant regard that these artists have perennially been subjected to, even by their own governments, as well as some members of their societies. All these factors mentioned are compounded by ignorance on the part of South African artists. Part of the objective of this study was to establish whether the exposition of the Vhavenda musicians is a typical example of all Black South African indigenous musicians and, if this is the case, whether the suggested ways to redress this unfortunate situation could contribute to or play a role in alleviating the plight of such artists in the entire country.

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Breaking the Shackles of Gender Stereotyping to Create New Norms: The Case of Zimbabwean Migrant Women in Mthatha Town

Gender Questions ◽

10.25159/2412-8457/6847 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 8 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Sanction Madambi

Keyword(s):

South Africa ◽

Gender Stereotyping ◽

Personal Agency ◽

Migrant Women ◽

Host Countries ◽

Qualitative Research Design ◽

Norms And Values ◽

Recent Case Study ◽

Traditional Approaches

The migration of Zimbabweans into South Africa is shaped by several factors and processes. Traditionally, the decision to migrate was mostly based on family considerations (where gender stereotypic roles were a priority), although in some cases the migrants exercised individualism and personal agency. This led to migration trends that were male dominated. Current Zimbabwean migration trends reflect large volumes of women as the socio-economic crisis forces them to leave their country. These migrant women encounter a myriad of challenges in their host countries. This paper explores Zimbabwean women’s migration to the town of Mthatha in South Africa, highlighting their challenges and the strategies they employ to overcome these, as found in a recent case study. Applying a qualitative research design and using questionnaires and interviews to gather data from the 100 purposively sampled women, the study found that many Zimbabwean migrant women in Mthatha encountered numerous challenges. They lacked the required documents to live and work in South Africa, experienced exploitation and marriage constraints, and had broken ties with their families back in Zimbabwe. According to the study, these women managed to navigate these challenges, rising above the stereotypic norms and values that used to label them as non-productive citizens to superheroes who were supporting their families and the country’s economy—thus breaking the shackles of gender stereotyping to create new norms. These findings underline the importance of shifting from the traditional approaches to women migration and pursuing perspectives that present migration as a critical component of the process of social change and development to all migrants.

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