Implementing the Ideal Clinic Program at Selected Primary Healthcare Facilities in South Africa

Background: Primary healthcare (PHC) in South Africa often experiences crucial challenges that lead to patients’ negative experiences regarding their care, compromising the significant role that PHC services could play in health promotion and disease prevention. The primary purpose of implementing the Ideal Clinic (IC) in South Africa was to improve patients’ care quality at the clinics. There seems to be a paucity of studies determining professional nurses’ experiences when implementing the IC. Purpose: This study aimed to explore and describe professional nurses’ experiences regarding implementing the IC at three selected clinics in the Makhado local area. Study method: A qualitative phenomenological research design was used to explore professional nurses’ experiences regarding IC implementation. Purposive sampling was used to select 15 professional nurses working at the three selected clinics. Data were collected using semi-structured one-on-one interviews. Interviews were conducted until saturation was reached. Trustworthiness was ensured by applying Lincoln and Guba’s four criteria, i.e., credibility, transferability, dependability, and confirmability. Ethical clearance was obtained from the University of Limpopo Turfloop Research and Ethics Committee, and permission to conduct the study was obtained from Limpopo Province Department of Health Research and Ethics Committee. Thematic analysis was used to analyze data. Results: The following themes emerged from the study findings: perceived benefits of the IC on the primary healthcare services provided to the community, challenges experienced by professional nurses when implementing the IC program, and challenges related to the supply of resources for implementing the IC. The study results revealed that, although the IC aimed to improve the overburdened PHC facilities in SA, the professional nurses still experienced some challenges when implementing the IC program. Some of the challenges faced were a lack of knowledge and training in the IC program, poor infrastructure and the shortage of equipment, and inadequate provision of support by line managers, all of which resulted in poor-quality patient care. Conclusion: This study revealed that the introduction and implementation of the IC can have potential benefits to the community and the primary healthcare system. However, it was not introduced and appropriately implemented, which resulted in professional nurses experiencing several challenges. The national department of health needs to strengthen the program’s implementation through proper training, consultation, and continuous support of the nurses. Provision of quality equipment and supplies is also recommended.

Download Full-text

Nurses’ attitudes towards the implementation of the Mother-Baby Friendly Initiative in selected primary healthcare facilities at Makhuduthamaga Municipality, Limpopo province

Curationis ◽

10.4102/curationis.v42i1.1929 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 42 (1) ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Siyabulela E. Mgolozeli ◽

Hilda N. Shilubane ◽

Lunic B. Khoza

Keyword(s):

Primary Healthcare ◽

Positive Attitude ◽

Negative Attitude ◽

Healthcare Services ◽

Primary Objective ◽

Strategy Implementation ◽

Limpopo Province ◽

Healthcare Facilities ◽

Positive Attitudes ◽

The Ideal

Background: The implementation of the Mother-Baby Friendly Initiative (MBFI) strategy demonstrated its capabilities to improve global children’s health and maternal survival. However, its implementation in primary healthcare (PHC) facilities remains a challenge as many nurses are reluctant to adopt it for the improvement of child and maternal healthcare services in their respective clinics.Objectives: The primary objective of this study was to determine the attitudes of nurses towards the implementation of the MBFI in selected PHC facilities in the Makhuduthamaga Municipality, Limpopo province.Method: This study used a quantitative, descriptive design, and all respondents were conveniently sampled. A self-administered questionnaire was used to collect data. One-hundred and seventy-seven questionnaires were distributed, and 153 nurses responded and completed the questionnaire. The Statistical Package for Social Sciences version 23 was used to analyse data.Results: Results show that the majority of nurses (professional nurses [PNs] = 65, 78%; enrolled nurses [ENs] = 18, 72%; enrolled nursing auxiliaries [ENAs] = 23, 51%) had a positive attitude towards the MBFI strategy implementation as they agreed that it increased breastfeeding rates. Most PNs (n = 58, 70%) and ENs (n = 15, 60%) showed positive attitudes towards exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) as they agreed that it was the ideal feeding option for any child, and most ENAs (n = 38, 84%) showed a negative attitude as they disagreed that EBF was the ideal feeding option for any child.Conclusion: In this study, most PNs and ENs had a positive attitude in all the aspects that determined their attitudes towards MBFI strategy implementation. A concern is the fact that most ENAs showed negative attitudes in almost all the statements that were in line with the principles of MBFI, as they disagreed in most aspects. Therefore, this study recommends that on-going orientation and trainings should be offered to all nurses including ENAs to equip them with information that can assist in changing their attitudes towards MBFI implementation in PHC facilities.

Download Full-text

Challenges faced by professional nurses when implementing the Expanded Programme on Immunisation at rural clinics in Capricorn District, Limpopo

African Journal of Primary Health Care & Family Medicine ◽

10.4102/phcfm.v8i2.923 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 8 (2) ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Tebogo M. Mothiba ◽

Flora M. Tladi

Keyword(s):

Public Health ◽

Primary Healthcare ◽

Public Health Intervention ◽

Cost Effective ◽

Limpopo Province ◽

Cold Chain ◽

Department Of Health ◽

Professional Nurses ◽

Rural Clinics ◽

Health Burdens

Background: Immunisation is the cornerstone of primary healthcare. Apart from the provision of safe water, immunisation remains the most cost-effective public health intervention currently available. Immunisation prevents infectious conditions that are debilitating, fatal and have the potential to cause huge public health burdens, both financially and socially, in South Africa.Aim: To determine the challenges faced by professional nurses when implementing the Expanded Programme on Immunisation (EPI) at rural clinics in Capricorn District, Limpopo Province, South Africa.Setting: The study was conducted in selected primary healthcare clinics of Capricorn District, Limpopo Province.Methods: A qualitative explorative descriptive contextual research design was used to gather data related to the challenges faced by professional nurses when implementing EPI at rural clinics in Capricorn District.Results: The findings revealed that professional nurses had knowledge of the programme, but that they experienced several challenges during implementation of EPI that included staff shortages and problems related to maintenance of the vaccines’ potency.Conclusions: The Department of Health as well as the nursing administration should monitor policies and guidelines, and especially maintenance of a cold chain for vaccines, to ensure that they are practised throughout Limpopo Province. The problem of staff shortages also needs to be addressed so that the EPI can achieve its targeted objectives.Keywords: Professional nurse, knowledge, EPI-SA, immunisation

Download Full-text

Towards 'men who have sex with menappropriate' health services in South Africa

Southern African Journal of HIV Medicine ◽

10.4102/sajhivmed.v14i2.78 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 14 (2) ◽

pp. 52-57 ◽

Cited By ~ 10

Author(s):

Kevin Brian Rebe ◽

Glenn De Swardt ◽

Helen Elizabeth Struthers ◽

James Alisdair McIntyre

Keyword(s):

South Africa ◽

International Development ◽

Healthcare Services ◽

Lessons Learned ◽

Health Clinic ◽

Emergency Plan ◽

State Sector ◽

Department Of Health ◽

Sex With Men ◽

Hiv Acquisition

Health programming for men who have sex with men (MSM) in South Africa has been ignored or absent until fairly recently, despite this population being at high risk for HIV acquisition and transmission. Anova Health Institute, with support from the US President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR)/United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and in collaboration with the South African National Department of Health, launched the first state sector MSM-targeted sexual health clinic in 2010. The clinic has been successful in attracting and retaining MSM in care, and lessons learned are described in this article. Components contributing to the creation of MSM-appropriate healthcare services are discussed.

Download Full-text

Primary healthcare services in the rural Eastern Cape, South Africa: Evaluating a service-support project

African Journal of Primary Health Care & Family Medicine ◽

10.4102/phcfm.v12i1.2207 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 12 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Angela A. Morris-Paxton ◽

Stephen Reid ◽

Rose-Marie G. Ewing

Keyword(s):

South Africa ◽

Primary Healthcare ◽

Healthcare Services ◽

Eastern Cape ◽

Service Support

Download Full-text

Using a mentorship model to localise the Practical Approach to Care Kit (PACK): from South Africa to Nigeria

BMJ Global Health ◽

10.1136/bmjgh-2018-001079 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 3 (Suppl 5) ◽

pp. e001079 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Ajibola Awotiwon ◽

Charlie Sword ◽

Tracy Eastman ◽

Christy Joy Ras ◽

Prince Ana ◽

...

Keyword(s):

South Africa ◽

Primary Healthcare ◽

Healthcare Services ◽

Health Systems Strengthening ◽

Added Value ◽

Practical Approach ◽

Continuous Learning ◽

Healthcare Facilities ◽

Face To Face ◽

User Friendly

Nigeria, in its quest to strengthen its primary healthcare system, is faced with a number of challenges including a shortage of clinicians and skills. Methods are being sought to better equip primary healthcare clinicians for the clinical demands that they face. Using a mentorship model between developers in South Africa and Nigerian clinicians, the Practical Approach to Care Kit (PACK) for adult patients, a health systems strengthening programme, has been localised and piloted in 51 primary healthcare facilities in three Nigerian states. Lessons learnt from this experience include the value of this remote model of localisation for rapid localisation, the importance of early, continuous stakeholder engagement, the need expressed by Nigeria’s primary healthcare clinicians for clinical guidance that is user friendly and up-to-date, a preference for the tablet version of the PACK Adult guide over hard copies and the added value of WhatsApp groups to complement the programme of face-to-face continuous learning. Introduction of the PACK programme in Nigeria prompted uptake of evidence-informed recommendations within primary healthcare services.

Download Full-text

Challenges facing professional nurses implementing the Integrated Management of Childhood Illness programme in rural primary health care clinics, Limpopo Province, South Africa

South African Family Practice ◽

10.4102/safp.v62i1.5060 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 62 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Livhuwani Tshivhase ◽

Mankuku M. Madumo ◽

Indiran Govender

Keyword(s):

South Africa ◽

Health Care ◽

Primary Health Care ◽

Integrated Management ◽

Limpopo Province ◽

Childhood Illness ◽

Health Care Clinics ◽

Primary Health ◽

Professional Nurses

Download Full-text

Health-Promoting Lifestyle Behaviours Among Primary Healthcare Professional Nurses in Eastern Cape Province, South Africa

Global Journal of Health Science ◽

10.5539/gjhs.v11n1p92 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 11 (1) ◽

pp. 92 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Sizeka Monakali ◽

Daniel Ter Goon ◽

Eunice Seekoe ◽

Eyitayo Omolara Owolabi

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

South Africa ◽

Primary Healthcare ◽

Healthy Lifestyle ◽

Physical Activities ◽

Eastern Cape Province ◽

Eastern Cape ◽

Lifestyle Behaviours ◽

Primary Health ◽

Professional Nurses

Nurses play significant roles in health promotion and health education about healthy lifestyle practices and are considered role models of healthy lifestyle behaviours. It is unclear if their knowledge of healthy lifestyle choices translate to practice. This study assessed the lifestyle behaviours of primary healthcare professional nurses in the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa. This descriptive, cross-sectional study involved 203 purposively selected primary healthcare nurses in Eastern Cape Province, South Africa. We utilised the WHO STEPwise questionnaire to assess the lifestyle behaviour (smoking, alcohol use and physical activity) of the nurses. Descriptive and inferential statistics were carried out at a significance level of p<0.05. The participants’ mean age was 45.17 (Standard Deviation±11.26) years. Of all the participants, 27% had ever taken alcohol, and 18% currently use alcohol. Only 8% had ever smoked and of these, 3% currently smoke. Of all the participants, 33% do not engage in physical activities, and only 29% of them met the WHO recommendation for being active. Most of them were aware of the benefits of physical activities. Majority of the participants cited lack of time (74%) and lack of commitment (63%) as barriers to physical activity and few of them cited health challenges (3.9%). Among the primary health care professional nurses in this setting, we found a high prevalence of alcohol use and low prevalence of smoking and physical activity among primary health care nurses in this setting. There is a need to implement effective workplace strategies and wellness programmes that will foster healthy lifestyle practices among the nurses.

Download Full-text

A Cross-Sectional Survey of the Prevalence and Determinants of Overweight and Obesity Among Primary Healthcare Professional Nurses In Eastern Cape, South Africa

Global Journal of Health Science ◽

10.5539/gjhs.v11n4p53 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 11 (4) ◽

pp. 53 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Sizeka Monakali ◽

Daniel Ter Goon ◽

Eunice Seekoe ◽

Eyitayo Omolara Owolabi

Keyword(s):

South Africa ◽

Healthcare Professional ◽

Primary Healthcare ◽

Overweight And Obesity ◽

Eastern Cape Province ◽

Eastern Cape ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Primary Health ◽

Primary Health Care Professional ◽

Professional Nurses

There is a paucity of data on the burden of obesity among primary Health care professional nurses in Eastern Cape Province of South Africa. This study examines the prevalence and determinants of overweight and obesity among Primary Healthcare Professional nurses in Eastern Cape Province of South Africa. This workplace cross-sectional study was conducted among 203 Primary Health Care Professional nurses selected conveniently across 41 primary healthcare facilities in Eastern Cape, South Africa following a the WHO STEPwise approach and using the WHO STEPwise questionnaire for data collection. Data were expressed as mean, counts and proportions, as appropriate. We compared percentages using chi-square test. Descriptive and inferential statistics were conducted. Seventy six percent of the nurses were obese and 18% were overweight. Age, gender, marital status, duration of practice, alcohol use and smoking were significantly associated with obesity. Only age >30 years and not using alcohol were independent predictors of obesity, after adjusting for confounders. We found a high prevalence of obesity among primary healthcare professional nurses in this setting. This constitute future risk for an increased prevalence of chronic diseases among the healthcare workforce in this setting. There is a need for measures to promote healthy lifestyle behaviours and weight management among nurses in this setting.

Download Full-text