scholarly journals Knowledge of Brucellosis, Health-Seeking Behaviour, and Risk Factors for Brucella Infection amongst Workers on Cattle Farms in Gauteng, South Africa

Pathogens ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (11) ◽  
pp. 1484
Author(s):  
Krpasha Govindasamy ◽  
Eric M. C. Etter ◽  
Bernice N. Harris ◽  
Jennifer Rossouw ◽  
Darrell A. Abernethy ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
South Africa ◽  
Strong Evidence ◽  
Farm Workers ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Health Seeking Behaviour ◽  
Health Seeking ◽  
Cattle Farm ◽  
Brucella Infection ◽  
Cattle Farms

Brucellosis in humans is under-detected and underreported in sub-Saharan Africa. Risk factors associated with Brucella infection and health seeking behaviour in response to brucellosis-like symptoms, amongst cattle farm workers and veterinary officials in South Africa, are unknown. Farm workers and veterinary officials (N = 230) were screened for brucellosis using commercial Rose Bengal Test (RBT®), IgM Enzyme-linked Immunoassay (ELISA)®, IgG ELISA® and the BrucellaCapt® test. Knowledge of brucellosis and risk factors for exposure to Brucella were also investigated. Seroprevalence varied according to test used: 10.1% (RBT®), 20.9% (IgG ELISA®) and 6.5% (BrucellaCapt®). Only 22.2% (6/27) of veterinary officials opt to visit a clinic, doctor, or hospital in response to self-experienced brucellosis-like symptoms, compared to 74.9% (152/203) of farm workers (p < 0.001). Of the BrucellaCapt® seropositive participants, 53% (7/15) did not visit a clinic in response to brucellosis-like symptoms. Weak evidence of an association between the handling of afterbirth or placenta and infection of a short evolution (RBT®, IgM ELISA® and IgG ELISA® seropositive) was found (OR = 8.9, 95% CI: 1.0–81.1, p = 0.052), and strong evidence of an association between this outcome and the slaughter of cattle (OR = 5.3, 95% CI: 1.4–19.6, p = 0.013). There was strong evidence of a positive association between inactive/resolved infection and veterinary officials vs. farm workers exposed to seropositive herds (OR = 7.0, 95% CI: 2.4–20.2, p < 0.001), with a simultaneous negative association with the handling of afterbirth or placenta (OR = 3.9, 95% CI: 1.3–11.3, p = 0.012). Findings suggest a proportion of undetected clinical cases of brucellosis amongst workers on cattle farms in Gauteng.

scholarly journals Diarrhoeal diseases in Soweto, South Africa, 2020: a community survey

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Siobhan Johnstone ◽  
Nicola Page ◽  
Shabir Madhi ◽  
Portia Mutevedzi ◽  
Nellie Myburgh ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
South Africa ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
Community Survey ◽  
Health Seeking Behaviour ◽  
Older Children ◽  
Health Seeking ◽  
Healthcare Facilities ◽  
Clinical Surveillance ◽  
Household Members

Abstract Background In South Africa, there are limited data on the burden of diarrhoea at a community level, specifically in older children and adults. This community survey estimated rates of and risk factors for diarrhoea across all ages and determined the proportion of cases presenting to healthcare facilities. Methods Randomly sampled households were enrolled from an existing urban health and demographic surveillance site. A household representative was interviewed to determine risk factors and occurrence of diarrhoea in the household, for all household members, in the past two weeks (including symptoms and health seeking behaviour). Diarrhoeal rate of any severity was calculated for <5 years, 5-15 years and >15 years age groups. Risk factors for diarrhoea and factors associated with health seeking behaviour were investigated using binomial logistic regression. Results Diarrhoeal rate among respondents (2.5 episodes/person-year (95%CI, 1.8-3.5)) was significantly higher than for other household members (1.0 episodes/person-year (95%CI, 0.8-1.4); IRR=2.4 (95%CI, 1.5-3.7) p<0.001). Diarrhoeal rate was not significantly different between age groups, however younger children (<5 years) were more likely to present to healthcare facilities (OR=5.86 (95%CI, 1.09-31.37), p=0.039). Having a child between 5-15 years in the household was associated with diarrhoea (OR=2.26 (95% CI, 1.32-3.86), p=0.003). While 26.4% of cases sought healthcare, only 4.6% of cases were hospitalised and only 3.4% of cases had a stool specimen collected. Conclusion Diarrhoeal rate was high across all age groups in this community; however, older children and adults were less likely to present to healthcare, and are therefore underrepresented through facility-based clinical surveillance.

scholarly journals Bovine Brucellosis in Gauteng, South Africa: Seroprevalence amongst Cattle Handlers and Variables Associated with Seropositive Cattle Herds, 2014–2016

Pathogens ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (12) ◽  
pp. 1547
Author(s):  
Krpasha Govindasamy ◽  
Peter N. Thompson ◽  
Bernice N. Harris ◽  
Jennifer Rossouw ◽  
Darrell A. Abernethy ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
South Africa ◽  
Dairy Herd ◽  
Farm Workers ◽  
Herd Health ◽  
Gauteng Province ◽  
Cattle Herds ◽  
Cattle Farms ◽  
Control Study ◽  
Private Farm

In South Africa, the prevalence of cattle handler exposure to Brucella on cattle farms is unknown and risk factors and cattle symptoms associated with infected cattle herds are unavailable. To address this gap, a case-control study of cattle herds was conducted in Gauteng province and farm workers and veterinary officials were tested for exposure to Brucella. Seroprevalence amongst farm workers exposed to case herds ranged from 4.0% (BrucellaCapt®) to 16.7% (IgG ELISA®), compared to those exposed to control herds, where seroprevalence ranged from 1.9% (BrucellaCapt®) to 5.7% (IgG ELISA®). Seroprevalence amongst veterinary officials was significantly greater compared to farm workers exposed to case herds for the outcome RBT+ IgM- IgG+ (OR = 11.1, 95% CI: 2.5–49.9, p = 0.002) and RBT- IgM- IgG+ (OR = 6.3, 95% CI: 2.3–17.3, p < 0.001). Risk factors associated with being an infected herd were: being a government-sponsored farm vs. private farm (OR 4.0; 95% CI: 1.4–11.3; p = 0.009), beef vs. dairy herd (OR 7.9; 95% CI: 1.4–44.9; p = 0.020), open vs. closed herd (OR 3.3; 95% CI: 1.1–10.4; p = 0.038) and the presence of antelope on the farm (OR 29.4; 95% CI: 4.0–218.2; p = 0.001). Abortions (OR = 5.1; 95% CI: 2.0–13.3; p < 0.001), weak calves in the herd (OR = 8.0; 95% CI: 2.6–24.4; p < 0.001), reduction in number of calves born (OR = 9.0; 95% CI: 2.1–43.6; p < 0.001), reduction in conception rate (OR = 3.9; 95% CI: 0.8–18.3; p = 0.046), hygromas in cattle (p = 0.011) and farmers reporting brucellosis-like symptoms in their farm workers or in him/herself (OR = 3.4; 95% CI: 1.3–8.7; p = 0.006) were more likely to be associated with Brucella infected herds than control herds. This evidence can be used in strategic planning to protect both human and herd health.

scholarly journals Parental investment in child health in sub-Saharan Africa: a cross-national study of health-seeking behaviour

2016 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
pp. 150460 ◽  
Author(s):  
Caroline Uggla ◽  
Ruth Mace
Keyword(s):  
Health Status ◽  
Child Health ◽  
Birth Order ◽  
Parental Investment ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Health Seeking Behaviour ◽  
Health Seeking ◽  
Investment Theory ◽  
Parental Investment Theory ◽  
Sub Saharan

Parents face trade-offs between investing in child health and other fitness enhancing activities. In humans, parental investment theory has mostly been examined through the analysis of differential child outcomes, with less emphasis on the actions parents take to further a particular offspring’s condition. Here, we make use of household data on health-seeking for children in a high mortality context where such behaviours are crucial for offspring survival. Using Demographic and Health Survey (DHS) data from 17 sub-Saharan African countries, we examine whether maternal factors (age, health, marital status) and child factors (birth order, health, sex, age) independently influence parental investment in health-seeking behaviours: two preventative behaviours (malaria net use and immunization) and two curative ones (treating fever and diarrhoea). Results indicate that children with lower birth order, older mothers and mothers with better health status have higher odds of investment. The effects of a child’s sex and health status and whether the mother is polygynously married vary depending on the type of health-seeking behaviour (preventative versus curative). We discuss how these results square with predictions from parental investment theory pertaining to the state of mothers and children, and reflect on some potential mechanisms and directions for future research.

MATERNAL HEALTH-SEEKING BEHAVIOUR AND UNDER-FIVE MORTALITY IN ZIMBABWE

2016 ◽  
Vol 49 (3) ◽  
pp. 408-421 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nyasha Chadoka-Mutanda ◽  
Clifford O. Odimegwu
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Maternal Health ◽  
Reproductive Age ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Health Seeking Behaviour ◽  
Health Seeking ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Under Five ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
Cox Proportional Hazard Regression

SummaryUnder-five mortality remains a major public health challenge in sub-Saharan Africa. Zimbabwe is one of the countries in the region that failed to achieve Millennium Developmental Goal 4 in 2015. The objective of this study was to examine the extent to which maternal health-seeking behaviour prior to and during pregnancy and post-delivery influences the likelihood of under-five mortality among Zimbabwean children. The study was cross-sectional and data were extracted from the 2010/11 Zimbabwe Demographic and Health Survey (ZDHS). The study sample comprised 5155 children who were born five years preceding the 2010/11 ZDHS to a sample of 4128 women of reproductive age (15–49 years). Cox Proportional Hazard regression modelling was used to examine the relationship between maternal health-seeking behaviour and under-five mortality. The results showed that maternal health-seeking behaviour factors are associated with the risk of dying during childhood. Children born to mothers who had ever used contraceptives (HR: 0.38, CI 0.28–0.51) had a lower risk of dying during childhood compared with children born to mothers who had never used any contraceptive method. The risk of under-five mortality among children who had a postnatal check-up within two months after birth (HR: 0.36, CI 0.23–0.56) was lower than that of children who did not receive postnatal care. Small birth size (HR: 1.70, CI 1.20–2.41) and higher birth order (2+) increased the risk of under-five mortality. Good maternal health-seeking behaviour practices at the three critical stages around childbirth have the potential to reduce under-five mortality. Therefore, public health programmes should focus on influencing health-seeking behaviour among women and removing obstacles to effective maternal health-seeking behaviour in Zimbabwe.

scholarly journals Prevalence, risk factors and health seeking behaviour of pulmonary tuberculosis in four tribal dominated districts of Odisha: Comparison with studies in other regions of India

PLoS ONE ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 15 (4) ◽  
pp. e0227083
Author(s):  
Tahziba Hussain ◽  
Sushri Shanta Tripathy ◽  
Shritam Das ◽  
Prakasini Satapathy ◽  
Dasarathi Das ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Pulmonary Tuberculosis ◽  
Health Seeking Behaviour ◽  
Health Seeking

scholarly journals Knowledge and Health Seeking Behaviour of Breast Cancer Patients in Ghana

2019 ◽  
Vol 2019 ◽  
pp. 1-9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Francis Agbokey ◽  
Elorm Kudzawu ◽  
Mawuli Dzodzomenyo ◽  
Kenneth Ayuurebobi Ae-Ngibise ◽  
Seth Owusu-Agyei ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Breast Cancer ◽  
Risk Factors ◽  
Cancer Patients ◽  
Teaching Hospital ◽  
Cultural Influences ◽  
Signs And Symptoms ◽  
Health Providers ◽  
Breast Cancer Patients ◽  
Health Seeking Behaviour ◽  
Health Seeking

Background. Breast cancer is a major contributor to cancer-related deaths among women worldwide, despite the numerous measures employed to prevent and manage the disease. This study explored the knowledge and health seeking behaviour of breast cancer patients at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital. Methods. A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted at Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital in Kumasi, Ghana, from June 2014 to July 2014. Thirty-five participants were purposively selected. The responses to questions about their experiences with breast cancer were determined using indepth interviews. Transcripts were coded and analysed using NVIVO version 10.0. Results. Participants’ knowledge about signs and symptoms of breast cancer after their diagnosis was high but low for risk factors. Screening for breast cancer through self-breast examination was infrequently performed prior to their diagnosis. The patients’ first point of care was generally health facilities. Some patients reported late due to misinterpretation of signs and symptoms, cultural influences and fear of losing their breast to surgery, physician delay, health providers’ laxity, and disinterest in breast cancer. Men, for example, husbands, decide on where and when breast cancer patients go for treatment. Conclusion. There is poor knowledge of the risk factors for developing breast cancer. Patients resorted to the hospital as first options for cure but were generally delayed in doing so. There is the need to create awareness about breast cancer among the general population.

scholarly journals Prevalence, risk factors and health seeking behaviour of pulmonary tuberculosis in four tribal dominated districts of Odisha: comparison with studies in other regions of India

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tahziba Hussain ◽  
Sushri Shanta Tripathy ◽  
Shritam Das ◽  
Dasarathi Das ◽  
Beena Thomas
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Pulmonary Tuberculosis ◽  
Cultural Practices ◽  
Control Program ◽  
Cold Chain ◽  
Reference Laboratory ◽  
Health Seeking Behaviour ◽  
Health Seeking ◽  
Sequential Approach ◽  
Study Sites

AbstractAimTo determine the prevalence of pulmonary tuberculosis, socio-cultural practices and health seeking behaviour of tribal people in four districts of Odisha.MethodologyThis was an action research study with qualitative and quantitative design following a sequential approach implemented in a 4-phased manner. It was carried out in the 6 selected villages from July,2015 to June,2017. The screening for active TB among chest symptomatics is followed as per the guidelines of the (RNTCP) Revised National Tuberculosis Control Program in India.ResultsIn all, 1455 households were surveyed in the 6 tribal dominated villages of 4 districts, namely Balangir, Dhenkanal, Kandhmal and Mayurbhanj. Total population of the villages was 6681. Based on the eligibility, 5144 (97.7%) individuals were screened. About 139 (2.3%) could not be screened due to non-availability in their households during day time. Out of these, 126 chest symptomatic individuals were identified. Sputum samples were collected from these and sent to the National Reference Laboratory, RMRC, Bhubaneswar using public transport and maintaining cold chain. 35 patients were found to be having active TB disease. 18 were culture positive. The prevalence of pulmonary TB is 0.68%. The risk factors seemed to be ignorance about TB symptoms, addiction to alcoholic drinks, difficulty reaching the health facilities owing to the long distances, lack of communication and transport. In addition, other morbidities like Malaria, diabetes, hypertension, malnutrition, etc. were observed in the tribes of the study sites.ConclusionObserved prevalence suggests further strengthening of TB control program. This study is the first of its kind in this State.

Risk factors for spider mite (Tetranychus urticae) allergy among table grape farm workers in South Africa

2007 ◽  
Vol &NA; ◽  
pp. S70-S71
Author(s):  
Mohamed Jeebhay ◽  
Roslynn Baatjies ◽  
Y-Y Kim ◽  
Y-K Kim ◽  
Vicky Major ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
South Africa ◽  
Tetranychus Urticae ◽  
Spider Mite ◽  
Table Grape ◽  
Farm Workers

scholarly journals Diarrhoeal diseases in Soweto, South Africa, 2020: a cross-sectional community survey

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Siobhan L. Johnstone ◽  
Nicola A. Page ◽  
Juno Thomas ◽  
Shabir A. Madhi ◽  
Portia Mutevedzi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
Community Survey ◽  
Health Seeking Behaviour ◽  
Older Children ◽  
Health Seeking ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Healthcare Facilities ◽  
Factors Associated ◽  
Household Members

Abstract Background In South Africa, there are limited data on the burden of diarrhoea at a community level, specifically in older children and adults. This community survey estimated rates of and factors associated with diarrhoea across all ages and determined the proportion of cases presenting to healthcare facilities. Methods Households were enrolled from an existing urban health and demographic surveillance site. A household representative was interviewed to determine associated factors and occurrence of diarrhoea in the household, for all household members, in the past 2 weeks (including symptoms and health seeking behaviour). Diarrhoeal rate of any severity was calculated for < 5 years, 5–15 years and > 15 years age groups. Factors associated with diarrhoea and health seeking behaviour were investigated using binomial logistic regression. Results Diarrhoeal rate among respondents (2.5 episodes/person-year (95% CI, 1.8–3.5)) was significantly higher than for other household members (1.0 episodes/person-year (95% CI, 0.8–1.4); IRR = 2.4 (95% CI, 1.5–3.7) p < 0.001). Diarrhoeal rates were similar between age groups, however younger children (< 5 years) were more likely to present to healthcare facilities than adults (OR = 5.9 (95% CI, 1.1–31.4), p = 0.039). Oral rehydration solution was used in 44.8% of cases. Having a child between 5 and 15 years in the household was associated with diarrhoea (OR = 2.3 (95% CI, 1.3–3.9), p = 0.003) and, while 26.4% of cases sought healthcare, only 4.6% were hospitalised and only 3.4% of cases had a stool specimen collected. While the majority of cases were mild, 13.8% of cases felt they required healthcare but were unable to access it. Conclusion Diarrhoeal rate was high across all age groups in this community; however, older children and adults were less likely to present to healthcare, and are therefore underrepresented through facility-based clinical surveillance. Current diarrhoeal surveillance represents a fraction of the overall cases occurring in the community.

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