scholarly journals Peritoneal Dialysis in Cape Town, South Africa

2012 ◽  
Vol 32 (3) ◽  
pp. 254-260 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ikechi G. Okpechi ◽  
Brian L. Rayner ◽  
Charles R. Swanepoel
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Peritoneal Dialysis ◽  
Health Care Workers ◽  
Cape Town ◽  
Public Health Problem ◽  
Developed Countries ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Major Public Health Problem ◽  
Care Workers

BackgroundChronic kidney disease is a major public health problem in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), which encompasses 70% of the least-developed countries in the world. Most people in SSA have no access to any form of renal replacement therapy (RRT). Given its ease of performance and patient independence, peritoneal dialysis (PD) should be an ideal form of RRT in SSA, but several complex and interdependent factors make PD a difficult option in SSA. The present review describes the practice of PD in SSA, with emphasis on Cape Town, South Africa.Methods and ResultsAfter a review of the recent PubMed literature on RRT in SSA and an appraisal of nephrology practice in South Africa, factors that make the provision of RRT (especially PD) a challenge in SSA include the low number of qualified health care workers, socio-demographic issues (poor housing, electricity, and water supplies), and the cost of PD fluids in the region. Although South Africa has the largest PD population in all of SSA, the growth of PD in South Africa is specifically impeded by the system of RRT rationing, which favors HD; the methods of funding for dialysis and for remuneration of doctors in private practice; and many other socio-economic factors. The peritonitis rate remains relatively high, and it is a significant contributor to morbidity in PD patients in Cape Town.ConclusionsIn many parts of SSA, PD could be the main dialysis modality. However, African governments must start taking responsibility for their people by providing adequate funds for renal replacement programs. Attempts to produce PD fluids locally and to train and educate health care workers will greatly improve the use of PD as a RRT option in SSA.

scholarly journals Seroprevalence of Hepatitis B and C among Healthcare Workers in Dutse Metropolis Jigawa State, Nigeria

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
N.M. Sani ◽  
I. Bitrus ◽  
A.M. Sarki ◽  
N.S. Mujahid
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Hepatitis B ◽  
Health Care Workers ◽  
Healthcare Workers ◽  
Public Health Problem ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Chromatographic Technique ◽  
Major Public Health Problem ◽  
Care Workers ◽  
Sub Saharan

AbstractHepatitis is one of the neglected infectious diseases in sub Saharan Africa and most of the available data is based on blood donors. Health care workers (HCWs) often get infected as a result of their close contact with patients. A cross sectional study was conducted to determine the prevalence of hepatitis B and C among this group of professionals with a view to improving the quality of care to their patients. Hepatitis B and C infections pose a major public health problem worldwide. While infection is highest in the developing world particularly Asia and sub-Saharan Africa, healthcare workers are at higher risk of acquiring blood-borne viral infections, particularly Hepatitis B and C which are mostly asymptomatic. This study was aimed at determining the prevalence of Hepatitis B and C infections and associated risk factors among health care workers in Dutse Metropolis, Jigawa State - Nigeria. A standard rapid immuno-chromatographic technique i.e. rapid ELISA was used to screen all sera for Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and Hepatitis C viral antibody (HCVAb) respectively. Strips containing coated antibodies and antigens to HBV and HCV respectively were removed from the foil. Strips were labeled according to samples. Using a separate disposable pipette, 2 drops of the sample (plasma) were added into each test strip and allowed to run across the absorbent pad. Results were read after 15 minutes. The prevalence of HBV and HCV infection in 100 healthcare workers was determined by testing the plasma collected from the clients during their normal checkup using HBsAg and HCVAb test strips. Results were subjected to statistical analysis using chi-square test. The prevalence of HBV among HCWs was 19 out of 100 (19.0%) and that of HCV was 5 out of 100 (5.0%) where in both cases, higher prevalence was observed among female nurses. It was also observed that all HCV positive cases were recorded among nurses only. The study revealed that nurses are at greater risk of contracting HBV and HCV due to their frequent contact with patients. It is therefore recommended that effective vaccination and other infection control measures be encouraged among healthcare workers.

scholarly journals A mixed reception: perceptions of pregnant adolescents’ experiences with health care workers in Cape Town, South Africa

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ronel Sewpaul ◽  
Rik Crutzen ◽  
Natisha Dukhi ◽  
Derrick Sekgala ◽  
Priscilla Reddy
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Antenatal Care ◽  
Health Care Workers ◽  
Cape Town ◽  
Pregnant Adolescents ◽  
High Quality ◽  
Care Workers ◽  
Antenatal Clinics ◽  
Antenatal Services

Abstract Background Maternal mortality among adolescent mothers in South Africa is higher than many middle-income countries. This is largely attributable to conditions that can be prevented or managed by high quality antenatal care. The way in which pregnant adolescents are treated at antenatal clinics influences their timely utilization of antenatal services. This qualitative study reports on the experiences of pregnant adolescents with health care workers when accessing antenatal care. Methods Pregnant girls aged 13–19 (n = 19) who attended public health care facilities that provide Basic Antenatal Care (BANC) services in Cape Town, South Africa were recruited. Four face to face in-depth interviews and four mini focus group discussions were undertaken, facilitated by a topic guide. Thematic analyses were used to analyse the data. Results Experiences that reinforce antenatal attendance, such as respectful and supportive treatment, were outweighed by negative experiences, such as victimization; discrimination against being pregnant at a young age; experiencing disregard and exclusion; inadequate provision of information about pregnancy, health and childbirth; clinic attendance discouragement; and mental health turmoil. Conclusions There is evidence of a discordant relationship between the health care workers and the pregnant adolescents. Adolescents feel mistreated and discriminated against by the health care workers, which in turn discourages their attendance at antenatal clinics. Maternal health care workers need to receive support and regular training on the provision of youth friendly antenatal care and be regularly evaluated, to promote the provision of fair and high quality antenatal services for adolescent girls.

scholarly journals Seroprevalence of Hepatitis C Virus among Health Care Workers

1970 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
pp. 70-74 ◽  
Author(s):  
MR Uddin ◽  
MMS Islam ◽  
MZ Hossain ◽  
MN Sarker ◽  
ASM Salimullah ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Hepatitis C Virus ◽  
Hepatitis C ◽  
Health Care Workers ◽  
Kidney Diseases ◽  
Public Health Problem ◽  
Needle Stick Injury ◽  
Major Public Health Problem ◽  
Key Words Hepatitis C ◽  
Care Workers

Context: Hepatitis C virus is one of the leading causes of liver disease and represents a major public health problem. It is a common cause of cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) as well as the most common reason for liver transplantation. Methods: A cross sectional study was carried out during the period of April 2007 to April 2008 among health care workers including phlebotomists, dialysis staffs and laboratory personnel handling blood and blood products. Total 200 health care workers from phlebotomists working at one stop collection centre of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU), Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH), Dialysis staff working at haemodialysis units of BSMMU, Bangladesh Institute of Rehabilitation for Diabetes, Endocrine & Metabolic Diseases (BIRDEM), DMCH, National Institute of Kidney Diseases & Urology (NIKDU) had at least more than one year working exposure was enrolled in this study. After taking informed written consent detailed history was taken, clinical examination was done. 0.3 ml of venous blood was collected from each patient and tested for anti HCV by commercial kit, confirmed by ELISA method. Result: Among 200 patients majority (55.5%) of patients were below 30 years of age and there was equal prevalence among male and female. Out of 200 health care workers 1% was found to be anti HCV positive. All positive patient had duration of exposure of >5 years and had history of needle stick injury. Key words: Hepatitis C virus; seroprevalence; health care workers. DOI: 10.3329/jdmc.v18i1.6310 J Dhaka Med Coll. 2009; 18(1) : 70-74

scholarly journals Assessment of knowledge, attitude and practice of health care workers towards Hepatitis B in Kabul, Afghanistan

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rohullah Roien ◽  
Sayed Hamid Mousavi ◽  
Mohammad Hossein Delshad ◽  
Fatemeh Pourhaji
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Hepatitis B ◽  
Health Care Workers ◽  
Public Health Problem ◽  
Hbv Infection ◽  
Major Public Health Problem ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Attitude And Practice ◽  
Care Workers ◽  
Knowledge Attitude And Practice

Abstract Background: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is a major public health problem worldwide. Health care workers are at high risk of obtaining HBV infection due to direct interaction with HBV-infected blood and body fluids in their workplace.Objective: The purpose of this research was to assess KAP of Health care workers towards Hepatitis B infection in Kabul.Methods: this cross-sectional study was conducted between November, 2018 and January; 2019 among 502 health care workers using simple random sampling method. The tool for data collection was a self-administered structured questionnaire. The collected data were analyzed using SPSS 16.00.Results: The overall knowledge, attitude and practice score of HCWs were 86.58%, 34.73% and 61.22% respectively. Most of participants correctly identified HBV transmissions. Health care workers with higher education level, showed good knowledge than those with low educational level (p < 0.0001). The majority of the participants had a poor attitude towards HBV prevention (53.98%). only 77.45% of participants had been screened for HBV and 56.37% of participants had been vaccinated against HBV, only 5.17% had completed three doses of vaccine.Conclusion: The finding of our study shows that health care workers in Kabul, are at higher risk of acquiring HBV infection due to low vaccination coverage and poor preventive practice. We recommend that free and compulsory vaccination, awareness and encouraging programs should be provided for all health care workers in order to increase favorable attitude and effective preventive measures for HBV infections.

scholarly journals Factors associated with low tuberculosis preventive therapy prescription rates among health care workers in rural South Africa

2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Amiya A. Ahmed ◽  
Megan Grammatico ◽  
Anthony P. Moll ◽  
Sipho Malinga ◽  
Philile Makhunga ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Health Care Workers ◽  
Preventive Therapy ◽  
Rural South ◽  
Factors Associated ◽  
Care Workers ◽  
Prescription Rates ◽  
Rural South Africa

scholarly journals Traditional healers and cancer prevention

Curationis ◽  
2000 ◽  
Vol 23 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
M Steyn ◽  
A Muller
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Health Education ◽  
Health Care Workers ◽  
Traditional Healers ◽  
Basic Knowledge ◽  
Care Workers ◽  
Prevention Of Cancer ◽  
Knowledge Of Cancer ◽  
Provide Health Education

The increase in the incidence of cancer in South Africa necessitates the expansion of preventative efforts. This study shows that traditional healers in Atteridgeville are consulted by a range of people in their communities, have a basic knowledge of cancer, provide health education to their patients and are willing to participate in cancer preventative strategies. They are therefore ideally suited to augment the services of westernized health care workers. The issue of professionalization is explored and a procedure is suggested whereby the training of traditional healers can be enhanced so as to facilitate their professionalization and their collaboration with other health care workers in the prevention of cancer.

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