scholarly journals Barriers related to the uptake of cataract surgery and care in Limpopo province, South Africa: Professional Ophthalmic Service Providers’ perspective

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lunic Base Khoza ◽  
Wilfred Njabulo Nunu ◽  
Nthomeni Ndou ◽  
Jane Makgopa ◽  
Nditsheni Ramakuela ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cataract Surgery ◽  
Economic Status ◽  
Limpopo Province ◽  
Rural And Remote ◽  
Eye Care ◽  
Remote Areas ◽  
Socio Economic Status ◽  
Care Services ◽  
The World ◽  
Rural And Remote Areas

Abstract Background Studies in South Africa showed that cataract was the second leading cause of blindness and the leading single cause of severe visual impairment. People living in the rural and remote areas of the world are usually of lower socio-economic status and therefore lack the opportunity to utilize eye care services adequately which could result to lack of knowledge regarding cataract surgery. The primary aim of the current study was to increase a better understanding of eye health inequalities in Limpopo province with specific reference to cataract surgery and care. The study sought to answer a central question “What are the barriers related to the uptake of cataract surgery and care in Limpopo. Methods This study used qualitative and descriptive designs through exploring barriers related to the uptake of cataract surgery and care from professional nurses’ perspective. The target population comprised of 20 ophthalmic supportive staff. A non-probability, purposive sampling was applied to select three hospitals in which cataract surgeries are performed. All the 20 ophthalmic supportive staff purposively comprised the sample of the study. Data were collected through Focus Group Discussions. The Tesch’s principles as a guide for classifying data into themes and sub-themes applied. Ethical consideration and trustworthiness for data quality were explained. Results The study found that patient ignorance, low education and illiteracy, lack of awareness programmes, shortage of ophthalmologist and supportive ophthalmic health professionals, inadequate cataract facilities and resources lead to poor quality services in the hospitals were the major barriers in the uptake of cataract surgery and care. Conclusion People living in the rural and remote areas of the world are usually of lower socio-economic status and therefore lack the opportunity to utilize eye care services adequately. There is need to expand the awareness programmes and health education regarding prevention of the risks of blindness among the elderly in particular.

Rural Social Work in Australia

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Margaret Alston
Keyword(s):  
Social Work ◽  
Social Workers ◽  
Economic Status ◽  
Service Access ◽  
Rural And Remote ◽  
Remote Areas ◽  
Rural Social Work ◽  
Rural And Remote Areas ◽  
Sparse Population

This article examines the role of social workers in rural and remote areas of Australia. The uniqueness of Australia’s landscape, its vast distances, and sparse population base, create unique issues relating to service delivery in general and social work in particular. High levels of poverty, poorer health, lower socio-economic status, and an aging population base typify Australia’s remote areas. Despite these factors, inland regions of the country are subject to economic rationalist policies that make service access problematic. It is in these regions that rural and remote social workers practice. The article outlines the personal, practical, and professional challenges facing social workers and notes the unique opportunities available to workers who choose to live and work in these regions.

WiMAX Networks

2012 ◽  
Vol 3 (4) ◽  
pp. 72-86
Author(s):  
Eliamani Sedoyeka ◽  
Ziad Hunaiti
Keyword(s):  
New Technologies ◽  
New Technology ◽  
End Users ◽  
Rural And Remote ◽  
Technical Aspects ◽  
Wimax Networks ◽  
Remote Areas ◽  
The World ◽  
Rural And Remote Areas ◽  
Wimax Network

Every new technology comes with its challenges and lessons to be learnt. With a number of unknowns, deploying a new technology becomes a challenge. Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMAX) is one of these new technologies currently on the rise. This paper presents the finding of the research conducted to investigate technical and non technical aspects of network operators in Tanzania. The research looked into WiMAX network operational challenges faced by the network owners as well as the level of services experienced by the end users. This paper is suitable researchers, network operators and investors interested in WiMAX technology. It is mostly usefully for those looking into solutions to problem facing rural and remote areas of the world. The research is discussed in detail throughout of the article.

Needs, Challenges, and Opportunities in Establishing and Maintaining Medical Education in Karnali Academy of Health Sciences (KAHS)

2019 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 79-80
Author(s):  
Kiran Regmi ◽  
Kapil Amgain
Keyword(s):  
Medical Education ◽  
Health Services ◽  
Health Workforce ◽  
World Health ◽  
World Health Report ◽  
Rural And Remote ◽  
Recruitment And Retention ◽  
Remote Areas ◽  
The World ◽  
Rural And Remote Areas

 The constitution of Nepal (2015), article 35 (Right relating to health) stated that every citizen shall have the right to free basic health services from the State, and no one shall be deprived of emergency health services. According to the World Bank report (collection of development indicators compiled from various official sources, 2016), Nepal has 81% rural and remote populations. Health service delivery is a complex reality for the rural and remote populations and faces enormous challenges. One of them is insufficient and uneven distribution of health workforce. The World Health Report concluded that "the severity of the health workforce crisis is in some of the world's poorest countries, of which 6 are in South East Asia out of 57 countries having critical shortages of health workforce."1Even after 13 years situation has not much improved. Nepal faces a critical shortage of trained health workforce, especially in rural and remote areas. Health workforce recruitment and retention in rural and remote areas is a difficult task challenged by the preferences and migration of health workforce to urban areas in country, or even abroad for better life and professional development.2 One of the most effective strategies for health workforce recruitment and retention for rural and remote areas could be that of establishing and maintaining Medical Education in rural and remote areas decentralized from urban academic medical centers.

scholarly journals Strategies for reducing visual impairment and blindness in rural and remote areas of Africa

2015 ◽  
Vol 74 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Olalekan O. Oduntan ◽  
Khathutshelo P. Mashige ◽  
Rekha Hansraj ◽  
Godwin Ovenseri-Ogbomo
Keyword(s):  
Visual Impairment ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
School Health ◽  
Service Improvement ◽  
Rural And Remote ◽  
Eye Care ◽  
Remote Areas ◽  
Awareness Campaigns ◽  
Eye Health ◽  
Rural And Remote Areas

The prevalence of visual impairment (VI) and blindness in Africa is one of the highest in the world; a large proportion of the causes are preventable. The prevalence is particularly high in rural and remote areas, where many of the continent’s inhabitants live. This is of great concern because of the low number and poor distribution of primary eye care practitioners, as well as poor eye care infrastructure services in those areas. Uncorrected refractive errors are a major cause of avoidable VI and blindness, and optometrists play a major role in refractive error correction on the continent. However, as with other healthcare providers in Africa, optometrists are few and tend to be mainly in major cities. This paper highlights possible strategies, in alignment with the Ottawa Charter for Health Promotion, that can reduce VI in rural and remote areas of the continent. The strategies include increasing the eye care workforce, attracting them to rural areas and retaining them there, improving the eye care infrastructure, service improvement such as equitable distribution of eye care practitioners, implementing preventive measures such as vision screening and affordable spectacles, and eye health education such as eye health promotions, school health programmes and eye care awareness campaigns. Such strategies could drastically reduce the prevalence of VI and blindness in rural and remote areas of Africa.

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