scholarly journals Establishing a community advisory group (CAG) for partnership defined quality (PDQ) towards improving primary health care in a peri-urban setting in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Thoko Ndaba ◽  
Myra Taylor ◽  
Musawenkosi Mabaso
Curationis ◽  
2009 ◽  
Vol 32 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
M.N. Sibiya ◽  
N.S. Gwele

In South Africa, integration o f services policy was enacted in 1996 with the aim of increasing health service utilization by increasing accessibility and availability of all health care services at Primary Health Care (PHC) level. Integration of PHC services continues to be seen as a pivotal strategy towards the achievement of the national goals of transformation of health services, and the attainment of a comprehensive and seamless public health system. Although the drive behind the integration of PHC services was to improve accessibility of services to the community, the problem however, arises in the implementation of integrated PHC (IPHC) as there is no agreed upon understanding of what this phenomenon means in the South African context. To date no research studies have been reported on the meaning of the integration of PHC services. Hence, there is a need for shared views on this phenomenon in order to facilitate an effective implementation of this approach. A cross-sectional study, using a qualitative approach was employed in this study in order to analyze the phenomenon, IPHC in KwaZulu-Natal and the meaning attached to it in different levels of the health system. A grounded theory was selected as it is a method known for its ability to make greatest contribution in areas where little research has been done and when new viewpoints are needed to describe the familiar phenomenon that is not clearly understood. Policy makers and co-ordinators of PHC at national, provincial and district levels as well as PHC nurses at functional level participated in the study. The data was collected by means of observations, interviews and document analysis. The sample size for interviews was comprised of 38 participants. Strauss and Corbin’s process of data analysis was used. It emerged that there were three core categories that were used by the participants as discriminatory dimensions of IPHC in South Africa. These core categories were (a) comprehensive health care, (b) supermarket approach and (c) one stop shop.


Curationis ◽  
2010 ◽  
Vol 33 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
B.R. Bhengu

The aim of the study was to evaluate the outcome of the empowerment of rural women in relation to gender issues, power, and communication within the Zululand District of KwaZulu-Natal in South Africa after implementation of a four-year Primary Health Care project in partnership with the Provincial Department of Health, and two Schools of Nursing at the University of KwaZulu-Natal and McMaster University in Canada. This project is based on substantial evidence which reveals that rural women are being neglected to the extent that these women have missed out on opportunities for development. The reasons for this disempowerment of women, particularly rural women, are thought to be due to the feminisation of poverty, as well as female submission, educational deprivation, privacy of domestic violence, exploitation, domination by men and cultural oppression (patriarchy).A qualitative research approach was used. Focus group discussion was utilised as the data collection technique, and this was also applied during the collection of baseline data. An interview guide covered issues of concern in the communities and households, including what the women would, or had done about these, how they engaged in decision-making in their families, how they handled situations when there was a difference of opinion, and their awareness of, and ability to claim their rights, including control of their lives. The data was collected from six clinics, from groups of six to ten women in the predominantly rural Zululand District of KwaZulu-Natal.The project has revealed improvement in the women’s realisation of their rights, albeit limited, in communication, self-confidence, and reliance, including partnerships between Primary Health Care Nurses and women’s groups. The formation of women’s groups facilitated community development and participation in their own health, socio-economic and emotional development.The project suggests that such groups be encouraged and allowed to network for support as they understand their own problems better, they merely require facilitation.


Curationis ◽  
2007 ◽  
Vol 30 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
M.N. Sibiya ◽  
L. Grainger

Cervical cancer is almost completely preventable, yet it is the second most prevalent cancer amongst women in South Africa. KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) in particular has a high mortality rate of cervical cancer and 1:40 women die from cancer of the cervix. Therefore, in 1997 a cervical screening policy and programme was implemented in the province. The purpose of the study was to evaluate the implementation of selected aspects of the Provincial cervical screening programme in selected Primary Health Care (PHC) clinics in Ilembe Region, KZN.


Author(s):  
Celenkosini T. Nxumalo ◽  
Gugu G. Mchunu

Background: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a novel virus that has rapidly spread across countries globally, and has been declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization (WHO). In South Africa, more that 1 million cases have been confirmed since case zero was detected in March 2020. South Africa is currently leading in the sub-Saharan African region in terms of COVID-19-related mortality and morbidity rates.Aim: The aim of this study was to explore primary health care practitioners’ perceptions and understanding regarding the COVID-19 pandemic in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.Setting: The study was conducted at two selected primary health care facilities (a community health centre and satellite clinic) within a low-income rural context in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.Methods: A qualitative study was conducted to explore and describe perceptions and understanding of primary health care practitioners regarding the COVID-19 pandemic in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN), South Africa. Data were collected from a purposive sample of 15 participants at two different clinics situated in rural KZN, South Africa. Participants comprised of nurses, physiotherapists, pharmacists, community care givers, social workers and clinical associates. The participants were both men and women who were all above the age of 20. Data were collected through individual, in-depth face-to-face interviews using a semi-structured interview guide. An audiotape was used to collect data, which were transcribed verbatim. Data were analysed manually by thematic analysis following Tech’s steps of data analysis.Results: Participants reported pre-pandemic and pandemic perceptions of fear, denial, expectancy and a perceived poor preparation for the COVID-19 outbreak. The findings also revealed participants’ misperceptions regarding the nature of the COVID-19 pandemic and unrealistic expectations of occupational compensations for working during the outbreak.Conclusion: The findings of this study suggest that primary health care practitioners generally have negative perceptions and understanding regarding the pandemic because of misinformation obtained from social media. Interventions to support health care practitioners are necessary to mitigate the potentially negative implications of health practitioners’ misconceptions on service delivery and their mental health.


2019 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 88
Author(s):  
Thayananthee Nadasan ◽  
Verusia Chetty

Background: Community service physiotherapists need to be fit for clinical practice while addressing the evolving socio-cultural and economic health care challenges that face South African health systems. The introduction of community service for health care professions over a decade ago influenced education at tertiary institutions. The rhetoric remains as to the preparedness of physiotherapists for service delivery in a demanding primary health care setting. Objectives: The study explored perceptions of preparedness of physiotherapists for clinical practice in their community service year. Method: A qualitative approach using semi-structured interviews were used to understand perceptions of preparedness for community service by professional physiotherapists. Results: Thirty nine physiotherapists who graduated at a University in Kwazulu-Natal, South Africa were recruited using snowball sampling. Data was analysed using conventional content analysis and yielded four dominant themes i.e. (1) facilitators of preparedness for community service, (2) inhibitors to perceived preparedness for community service, (3) curriculum review and (4) personal impact of community service. Conclusions: Although, physiotherapists believed that community service contributed to their confidence as professionals, graduates deemed that physiotherapy programmes need a curriculum that is geared toward specific South African needs such as primary health care. Physiotherapists also believed that the undergraduate curricula should address global health care needs to prepare the new generation of health care professionals for global significance.


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