Health care in South Africa

2020 ◽  
pp. 70-75
Author(s):  
Elena Frolova
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Organ Transplant ◽  
Developed Countries ◽  
World Health ◽  
Malignant Neoplasms ◽  
The Rich ◽  
The Republic ◽  
The Government ◽  
Health Organization

Every person who is at least somewhat familiar with the history of medicine knows the name of Christiaan Barnard, cardiac surgeon who performed the first successful heart transplant. This happened on December 3, 1967 at a hospital in Cape Town, South Africa. A man suffering from an incurable heart disease had a healthy organ transplant from a 25-yearold girl who died in a car accident. The patient lived for two weeks and died from complicated bilateral pneumonia, however, this case marked the beginning of a new era in transplantology giving hope of saving hundreds of patients. What do we know about health care of the Republic of South Africa, one of the most developed countries on the African continent? How much does the present situation allow the government to be classified as a world leader in healthcare? Unfortunately, according to the World Health Organization newsletter, South Africa at the present stage tops the sad ranking of countries by the number of HIV-infected and AIDS patients — about 7 million out of the 58 million people are infected with a dangerous virus. Unlike developed countries, where the main cause of death is pathology of the cardiovascular system, strokes and malignant neoplasms, three quarters of patients in the Republic of South Africa die due to infectious processes. Speaking about the heterogeneity of medicine, we were almost for the first time confronted with the fact that health services can be divided not only into health care for the «rich and poor», but also for the «white and black».

Medical Technology and Developing Countries: The Case of Brazil

1986 ◽  
Vol 16 (3) ◽  
pp. 363-373 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. David Banta
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Developing Countries ◽  
Health Care Services ◽  
Medical Technology ◽  
Developed Countries ◽  
World Health ◽  
Care Services ◽  
Use Of Technology ◽  
The Government ◽  
Health Organization

Developing countries, faced with severe resource limitations, are trying to develop modern health care services that deliver sensible medical technologies. Because of their lack of development, these countries must import much technology, while often lacking the expertise to make wise choices. In this article, the case of Brazil is examined. Brazil has shared many of the problems of other developing countries, including inadequate access of the population to health services, maldistribution and excessive use of technology, a relatively weak national industry for production of drugs and medical devices, a weak policy structure for dealing with medical technology, and little tradition of using research or policy analysis as a guide to action. Since the election in 1985 that returned Brazil to democratic rule, the government has taken active steps to address many of these problems. The example of Brazil is important for all of the developing world to examine and follow, where applicable. In addition, North American and European aid programs could play a much more constructive role in helping less developed countries develop their health care services. International organizations such as the World Health Organization must also be active in assisting such countries to improve their decisions concerning medical technology.

scholarly journals Adolescent mothers’ utilisation of reproductive health services in the Gauteng province of the republic of South Africa

Curationis ◽  
2000 ◽  
Vol 23 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
VJ Ehlers ◽  
T Maja ◽  
E Sellers ◽  
M Gololo
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Reproductive Health ◽  
Adolescent Mothers ◽  
Termination Of Pregnancy ◽  
World Health ◽  
Reproductive Health Services ◽  
Gauteng Province ◽  
Emergency Contraceptive ◽  
The Republic ◽  
Health Organization

A financial grant was received from the World Health Organization (WHO) during 1998 to establish whether adolescent mothers (aged 19 or younger at the birth of their babies) utilized contraceptive, emergency contraceptive and termination of pregnancy (TOP) services in the Republic of South Africa (RSA). This report refers to data obtained from 111 questionnaires completed by dolescent mothers between January 2000 and May 2000 in the Gauteng Province; 61 in the Pretoria and 50 in the Garankuwa areas, and excluding the 12 completed questionnaires used foi pretesting the research instrument. The biographic data of the 111 adolescent mothers indicated that the minority were married, employed or earned sufficient income to care for themselves and their babies. However, the minority used contraceptives prior to conception, none used emergency contraceptives or termination of pregnancy (TOP) services. The minority attended ante-natal clinics five or more times during their pregnancies, and a negligible number indicated that they had ever been treated for sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). These findings indicate that the 111 adolescent mothers in Gauteng who participated in this survey did not make optimum use of the available reproductive health (RH) care services. Education about sex, pregnancy and contraceptives should commence at the age of 10, but no later than the age of 12 as the majority of respondents did not have the necessary knowledge to make informed decisions about their futures. The accessibility of contraceptive, emergency contraceptive and TOP services for adolescents should be investigated in specific areas and attempts made to enhance such accessi- bility. This might necessitate offering these services over weeker| ds or during evenings when school girls could attend without fear of meeting their mothers, aunts or teachers at these clinics.

Traditional Medicine, Biomedicine and Christianity in Modern Zambia

Africa ◽  
2009 ◽  
Vol 79 (3) ◽  
pp. 435-454 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kaori Sugishita
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Traditional Medicine ◽  
National Health ◽  
Traditional Healers ◽  
World Health ◽  
National Health Care ◽  
Health Authorities ◽  
The Government ◽  
The One ◽  
Health Organization

The World Health Organization has recognized ‘traditional medicine’ as ade factoand economical substitute for biomedicine in the developing world. Accordingly, the Zambian government aims to integrate ‘traditional healers’, locally known asng'anga, with their biomedical counterparts in a national health care system. Hence, on the one hand,ng'angaelaborate their practice into ‘herbalism’, which could meet scientific standards and fit into the scope of biomedicine. On the other hand, they continue to deal with affliction by positing the existence of occult agents, such as witchcraft and spirits, at the risk of being criticized for exploiting indigenous beliefs. As a result, manyng'angaassociate themselves with Christianity, the national religion of Zambia, which serves as an official domain of the occult where they take refuge from biomedical rationalization. However, conventional churches, the government and health authorities do not approve of the link between Christianity and traditional medicine; henceng'angaas traditional healers are marginalized in modern, Christian Zambia. Being thus dissociated from the national religion,ng'angaare officially confined to the periphery of national health care, where they submit to the primacy of biomedicine and the workings of state power.

scholarly journals Behavior of Callers to a Crisis Helpline Before and During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Quantitative Data Analysis

10.2196/22984 ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (11) ◽  
pp. e22984
Author(s):  
Robin Turkington ◽  
Maurice Mulvenna ◽  
Raymond Bond ◽  
Edel Ennis ◽  
Courtney Potts ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Daily Basis ◽  
Time Of Day ◽  
World Health ◽  
Republic Of Ireland ◽  
National Crisis ◽  
Usage Patterns ◽  
The Republic ◽  
The Government ◽  
Health Organization ◽  
The Impact

Background The World Health Organization declared the outbreak of COVID-19 to be an international pandemic in March 2020. While numbers of new confirmed cases of the disease and death tolls are rising at an alarming rate on a daily basis, there is concern that the pandemic and the measures taken to counteract it could cause an increase in distress among the public. Hence, there could be an increase in need for emotional support within the population, which is complicated further by the reduction of existing face-to-face mental health services as a result of measures taken to limit the spread of the virus. Objective The objective of this study was to determine whether the COVID-19 pandemic has had any influence on the calls made to Samaritans Ireland, a national crisis helpline within the Republic of Ireland. Methods This study presents an analysis of calls made to Samaritans Ireland in a four-week period before the first confirmed case of COVID-19 (calls=41,648, callers=3752) and calls made to the service within a four-week period after a restrictive lockdown was imposed by the government of the Republic of Ireland (calls=46,043, callers=3147). Statistical analysis was conducted to explore any differences between the duration of calls in the two periods at a global level and at an hourly level. We performed k-means clustering to determine the types of callers who used the helpline based on their helpline call usage behavior and to assess the impact of the pandemic on the caller type usage patterns. Results The analysis revealed that calls were of a longer duration in the postlockdown period in comparison with the pre–COVID-19 period. There were changes in the behavior of individuals in the cluster types defined by caller behavior, where some caller types tended to make longer calls to the service in the postlockdown period. There were also changes in caller behavior patterns with regard to the time of day of the call; variations were observed in the duration of calls at particular times of day, where average call durations increased in the early hours of the morning. Conclusions The results of this study highlight the impact of COVID-19 on a national crisis helpline service. Statistical differences were observed in caller behavior between the prelockdown and active lockdown periods. The findings suggest that service users relied on crisis helpline services more during the lockdown period due to an increased sense of isolation, worsening of underlying mental illness due to the pandemic, and reduction or overall removal of access to other support resources. Practical implications and limitations are discussed.

scholarly journals Behavior of Callers to a Crisis Helpline Before and During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Quantitative Data Analysis (Preprint)

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robin Turkington ◽  
Maurice Mulvenna ◽  
Raymond Bond ◽  
Edel Ennis ◽  
Courtney Potts ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Daily Basis ◽  
Time Of Day ◽  
World Health ◽  
Republic Of Ireland ◽  
National Crisis ◽  
Usage Patterns ◽  
The Republic ◽  
The Government ◽  
Health Organization ◽  
The Impact

BACKGROUND The World Health Organization declared the outbreak of COVID-19 to be an international pandemic in March 2020. While numbers of new confirmed cases of the disease and death tolls are rising at an alarming rate on a daily basis, there is concern that the pandemic and the measures taken to counteract it could cause an increase in distress among the public. Hence, there could be an increase in need for emotional support within the population, which is complicated further by the reduction of existing face-to-face mental health services as a result of measures taken to limit the spread of the virus. OBJECTIVE The objective of this study was to determine whether the COVID-19 pandemic has had any influence on the calls made to Samaritans Ireland, a national crisis helpline within the Republic of Ireland. METHODS This study presents an analysis of calls made to Samaritans Ireland in a four-week period before the first confirmed case of COVID-19 (calls=41,648, callers=3752) and calls made to the service within a four-week period after a restrictive lockdown was imposed by the government of the Republic of Ireland (calls=46,043, callers=3147). Statistical analysis was conducted to explore any differences between the duration of calls in the two periods at a global level and at an hourly level. We performed k-means clustering to determine the types of callers who used the helpline based on their helpline call usage behavior and to assess the impact of the pandemic on the caller type usage patterns. RESULTS The analysis revealed that calls were of a longer duration in the postlockdown period in comparison with the pre–COVID-19 period. There were changes in the behavior of individuals in the cluster types defined by caller behavior, where some caller types tended to make longer calls to the service in the postlockdown period. There were also changes in caller behavior patterns with regard to the time of day of the call; variations were observed in the duration of calls at particular times of day, where average call durations increased in the early hours of the morning. CONCLUSIONS The results of this study highlight the impact of COVID-19 on a national crisis helpline service. Statistical differences were observed in caller behavior between the prelockdown and active lockdown periods. The findings suggest that service users relied on crisis helpline services more during the lockdown period due to an increased sense of isolation, worsening of underlying mental illness due to the pandemic, and reduction or overall removal of access to other support resources. Practical implications and limitations are discussed.

scholarly journals Mental health and COVID-19 in South Africa

2021 ◽  
pp. 008124632110015
Author(s):  
Siphelele Nguse ◽  
Douglas Wassenaar
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
South Africa ◽  
Health Care ◽  
World Health Organization ◽  
Human Life ◽  
World Health ◽  
Global Public Health ◽  
Health Crisis ◽  
The World ◽  
Health Organization

COVID-19, the disease caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2, has affected most parts of the globe since its first appearance in the city of Wuhan, China, in December 2019. As a result, the World Health Organization declared the virus a global public health crisis and a pandemic within 2 weeks, after the virus had spread to 114 countries with 118 000 recorded cases and 4291 deaths due to the virus and related complications. The World Health Organization declaration is indicative of the enormous impact of the pandemic on human life globally. South Africa has not been exempted from that impact. While the pandemic has affected all South Africans in various ways, the poor have been most affected due to structural inequality, poverty, unemployment, and lack of access to quality health care and other services. Furthermore, public mental health has also been negatively affected by the pandemic, and this comes against a backdrop of an ailing mental health care system. We argue that the psychology profession, as a mental health profession and behavioural science, working as part of a multidisciplinary team, ought to play a significant role in addressing the mental health ramifications of the pandemic. In so doing, lessons can be drawn from other countries while establishing contextual immediate and long-term interventions.

scholarly journals Antivaccine Messages on Facebook: Preliminary Audit

10.2196/18878 ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 6 (4) ◽  
pp. e18878
Author(s):  
Dhamanpreet Dhaliwal ◽  
Cynthia Mannion
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Social Media ◽  
Health Care Providers ◽  
The United States ◽  
World Health ◽  
Vaccine Hesitancy ◽  
Care Providers ◽  
The Public ◽  
The Government ◽  
Health Organization

Background The World Health Organization lists vaccine hesitancy as one of 10 threats to global health. The antivaccine movement uses Facebook to promote messages on the alleged dangers and consequences of vaccinating, leading to a reluctance to immunize against preventable communicable diseases. Objective We would like to know more about the messages these websites are sharing via social media that can influence readers and consumers. What messages is the public receiving on Facebook about immunization? What content (news articles, testimonials, videos, scientific studies) is being promoted? Methods We proposed using a social media audit tool and 3 categorical lists to capture information on websites and posts, respectively. The keywords “vaccine,” “vaccine truth,” and “anti-vax” were entered in the Facebook search bar. A Facebook page was examined if it had between 2500 and 150,000 likes. Data about beliefs, calls to action, and testimonials were recorded from posts and listed under the categories Myths, Truths, and Consequences. Website data were entered in a social media audit template. Results Users’ posts reflected fear and vaccine hesitancy resulting from the alleged dangers of immunization featured on the website links. Vaccines were blamed for afflictions such as autism, cancer, and infertility. Mothers shared testimonies on alleged consequences their children suffered due to immunization, which have influenced other parents to not vaccinate their children. Users denied the current measles outbreaks in the United States to be true, retaliating against the government in protests for fabricating news. Conclusions Some Facebook messages encourage prevailing myths about the safety and consequences of vaccines and likely contribute to parents’ vaccine hesitancy. Deeply concerning is the mistrust social media has the potential to cast upon the relationship between health care providers and the public. A grasp of common misconceptions can help support health care provider practice.

scholarly journals Antivaccine Messages on Facebook: Preliminary Audit (Preprint)

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dhamanpreet Dhaliwal ◽  
Cynthia Mannion
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Social Media ◽  
Health Care Providers ◽  
The United States ◽  
World Health ◽  
Vaccine Hesitancy ◽  
Care Providers ◽  
The Public ◽  
The Government ◽  
Health Organization

BACKGROUND The World Health Organization lists vaccine hesitancy as one of 10 threats to global health. The antivaccine movement uses Facebook to promote messages on the alleged dangers and consequences of vaccinating, leading to a reluctance to immunize against preventable communicable diseases. OBJECTIVE We would like to know more about the messages these websites are sharing via social media that can influence readers and consumers. What messages is the public receiving on Facebook about immunization? What content (news articles, testimonials, videos, scientific studies) is being promoted? METHODS We proposed using a social media audit tool and 3 categorical lists to capture information on websites and posts, respectively. The keywords “vaccine,” “vaccine truth,” and “anti-vax” were entered in the Facebook search bar. A Facebook page was examined if it had between 2500 and 150,000 likes. Data about beliefs, calls to action, and testimonials were recorded from posts and listed under the categories Myths, Truths, and Consequences. Website data were entered in a social media audit template. RESULTS Users’ posts reflected fear and vaccine hesitancy resulting from the alleged dangers of immunization featured on the website links. Vaccines were blamed for afflictions such as autism, cancer, and infertility. Mothers shared testimonies on alleged consequences their children suffered due to immunization, which have influenced other parents to not vaccinate their children. Users denied the current measles outbreaks in the United States to be true, retaliating against the government in protests for fabricating news. CONCLUSIONS Some Facebook messages encourage prevailing myths about the safety and consequences of vaccines and likely contribute to parents’ vaccine hesitancy. Deeply concerning is the mistrust social media has the potential to cast upon the relationship between health care providers and the public. A grasp of common misconceptions can help support health care provider practice.

scholarly journals A study on disease burden and treatment among patients attending teleconsultation during lockdown period

2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (4) ◽  
pp. 434
Author(s):  
Mounika Yedlapalli ◽  
Sai Pasupula Kiran ◽  
Sravani Potti ◽  
Devikala A. ◽  
Chandrakala Kambar
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Health Care Services ◽  
Disease Burden ◽  
Medical Officer ◽  
Vital Role ◽  
World Health ◽  
Care Services ◽  
Disease Pattern ◽  
The Government ◽  
Health Organization

Background: Covid-19 has been announced as a pandemic by the World Health Organization. To maintain social distancing effectively, the Government of India announced a complete lockdown on March 25th, 2020. As there are no proper transport facilities for patients who need health care services, the Government of Andhra Pradesh started 104 sevakendram as a helpline. Medical services were also provided by this 104 sevakendram through teleconsultation with doctors. The aim and objectives of the study were to study the disease pattern and treatment given to patients attending teleconsultations, to analyze the disease burden among the patients attending teleconsultation, to study the treatment given to the patients attending teleconsultation.Methods: It is a retrospective, observational, and analytical study. After prior IEC clearance and permission from teleconsultation authority, we did the study at Dr.YSR Aarogyasri health care trust, Guntur. Data regarding all calls connected to 104 was collected. Detailed information of the calls related to the Medical officer about the age, gender, disease pattern, and treatment given to the patient was collected. Statistical analysis was done using MS excel software.Results: On average, 104 sevakendram received two hundred valid teleconsultations per day. Most of the calls are related to anxiety and these calls constitute twenty four percent. Treatment given was according to probable diagnosis, mostly symptomatic and continuation of the same treatment.Conclusions: 104 sevakendram has played a vital role in meeting the medical and health requirements of the people suffering from different diseases during the lockdown period. 

A(H1N1)v cases of the 2009/2010 and 2010/2011 influenza seasons in the Medical and Health Sciences Centre of Debrecen University

2012 ◽  
Vol 153 (17) ◽  
pp. 649-654
Author(s):  
Piroska Orosi ◽  
Judit Szidor ◽  
Tünde Tóthné Tóth ◽  
József Kónya
Keyword(s):  
High Risk ◽  
Influenza Season ◽  
National Level ◽  
Organ Transplant ◽  
High Risk Patient ◽  
Risk Groups ◽  
Health Sciences ◽  
World Health ◽  
Transplant Patients ◽  
Health Organization

The swine-origin new influenza variant A(H1N1) emerged in 2009 and changed the epidemiology of the 2009/2010 influenza season globally and at national level. Aims: The aim of the authors was to analyse the cases of two influenza seasons. Methods: The Medical and Health Sciences Centre of Debrecen University has 1690 beds with 85 000 patients admitted per year. The diagnosis of influenza was conducted using real-time polymerase chain reaction in the microbiological laboratories of the University and the National Epidemiological Centre, according to the recommendation of the World Health Organization. Results: The incidence of influenza was not higher than that observed in the previous season, but two high-risk patient groups were identified: pregnant women and patients with immunodeficiency (oncohematological and organ transplant patients). The influenza vaccine, which is free for high-risk groups and health care workers in Hungary, appeared to be effective for prevention, because in the 2010/2011 influenza season none of the 58 patients who were administered the vaccination developed influenza. Conclusion: It is an important task to protect oncohematological and organ transplant patients. Orv. Hetil., 2012, 153, 649–654.

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