A prospective, cross-sectional study of anaemia and peripheral iron status in antiretroviral naïve, HIV-1 infected children in Cape Town, South Africa

Background: There is limited data on the association between diarrhoea among children aged under five years (U5D) and water use, sanitation, hygiene, and socio-economics factors in low-income communities. The study investigated U5D and the associated risk factors in the Zeekoe catchment in Cape Town, South Africa. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in 707 households in six informal settlements (IS) two formal settlements (FS) (March–June 2017). Results: Most IS households used public taps (74.4%) and shared toilets (93.0%), while FS households used piped water on premises (89.6%) and private toilets (98.3%). IS respondents had higher average hand-washing scores than those of FS (0.04 vs. −0.14, p = 0.02). The overall U5D prevalence was 15.3% (range: 8.6%–24.2%) and was higher in FS than in IS (21.2% vs. 13.4%, respectively, p = 0.01). Water storage >12 h was associated with increasing U5D (OR = 1.88, 95% CI 1.00–3.55, p = 0.05). Water treatment (OR = 0.57, 95%CI 0.34–0.97, p = 0.04), good hand-washing practices (OR = 0.59, 95%CI 0.42–0.82, p = 0.002) and Hepatitis A vaccination (OR = 0.51, 95%CI 0.28–0.9, p = 0.02) had significant preventing effects on U5D. Conclusions: The study highlights that good hygiene practice is a key intervention against U5D in informal settlements. The promotion of hand-washing, proper water storage, and hygienic breastfeeding is highly recommended.

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Factors impacting knowledge and use of long acting and permanent contraceptive methods by postpartum HIV positive and negative women in Cape Town, South Africa: a cross-sectional study

BMC Public Health ◽

10.1186/1471-2458-12-197 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 12 (1) ◽

Cited By ~ 32

Author(s):

Sarah Credé ◽

Theresa Hoke ◽

Deborah Constant ◽

Mackenzie S Green ◽

Jennifer Moodley ◽

...

Keyword(s):

South Africa ◽

Cape Town ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Hiv Positive ◽

Sectional Study ◽

Contraceptive Methods ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Long Acting

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The prevalence of refractive error in three communities of Cape Town, South Africa

African Vision and Eye Health ◽

10.4102/aveh.v71i1.65 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 71 (1) ◽

Author(s):

M. Otutu ◽

J. Nachega ◽

J. Harvey ◽

D. Meyer

Keyword(s):

South Africa ◽

Refractive Error ◽

Cape Town ◽

Structured Interview ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Sampling Procedure ◽

Spherical Equivalent ◽

Sectional Study ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Consent Forms

The prevalence, distribution and demographic associations of refractive error in three communities in Cape Town, South Africa were assessed. In this cross-sectional study, a clustered random sampling procedure was used to recruit participants (n=176; age=40.6±14.7 years; males=76, females=96) from Khayelitsha, Milnerton, and Mitchell’s Plain. From March to May 2010, participants underwent autore-fraction and subjective refraction eye examinations.A structured interview was used to collect data on sociodemographics, age, gender, level of education, employment and race. Participants younger than 15 years, non-residents, or residents for less than six months, who declined signing the informed consent forms were excluded from the study. In this study myopia was defined as the spherical equivalent value in the better eye of −1.00D or worse and hyperopia as the spherical equivalent value in the better eye of ≥1.00D. Astigmatism was defined as −0.50 cylinder or worse in the better eye. The prevalence of myopia was 17.4% with a 90% confidence interval (CI) of 12.65-22.15, hyperopia was 13.4% (90% CI 9.13-17.67), and astigmatism was 60% (90% CI 53.86-66.14). Myopia was found to be significantly associated with race and age; while hyperopia was significantly associated with age, employment and race. The results of this study may assist in planning for eye care on district level. (S Afr Optom 2012 71(1) 32-38)

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