Indigenous Plants Used for Primary Healthcare by the Members of a Rural Community in Limpopo Province, South Africa

2022 ◽  
pp. 100-111
Author(s):  
Agnes Sejabaledi Rankoana
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
World Health Organization ◽  
Rural Community ◽  
Primary Healthcare ◽  
Limpopo Province ◽  
World Health ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Healthcare Needs ◽  
The World ◽  
Health Organization

Reliance on traditional plant-derived medicine motivated the World Health Organization recommendation to improve, regulate, and integrate it into the primary healthcare model to offer affordable, reliable, and community-specific primary healthcare. The objective of this chapter was to describe the uses of medicinal plants in traditional medicine to meet the healthcare needs of the members of a rural community in Limpopo Province, South Africa. Structured interviews conducted with 164 participants give evidence of the use of indigenous plant-derived medicine to meet the healthcare needs. This type of healthcare correlates with the World Health Organization primary healthcare, which emphasizes health promotion through curative and preventive care. The study results also present evidence of indigenous knowledge of medicinal plant conservation practices, which embrace observance of cultural taboos and following the prescribed methods of harvesting the plant materials.

World Health Organization

1948 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 374-377 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Saudi Arabia ◽  
New Zealand ◽  
The Netherlands ◽  
United Nations ◽  
World Health Organization ◽  
World Health ◽  
The World ◽  
The United Nations ◽  
Health Organization

On April 7, 1948 the World Health Organization came into existence as a specialized agency of the United Nations with the ratification of its constitution by the Byelorussian SSR and Mexico. These ratifications brought the total number of ratifying States (Member governments of the United Nations) to 27, or one more than were required by the WHO Constitution to bring the Organization into existence. The Member states who had ratified the Constitution at that time were Australia, Canada, China, Czechoslovakia, Egypt, Ethiopia, Greece, Haiti, India, Iran, Iraq, Liberia, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Saudi Arabia, Siam, Sweden, Syria, Turkey, Ukrainian SSR, Union of South Africa, USSR, United Kingdom, and Yugoslavia. In addition, Albania, Austria, Finland, Ireland, Italy, Portugal, Switzerland and Transjordan had also joined the organization.

scholarly journals Substance use and duration of untreated psychosis in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

2016 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
pp. 7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Glen P. Davis ◽  
Andrew Tomita ◽  
Joy Noel Baumgartner ◽  
Sisanda Mtshemla ◽  
Siphumelele Nene ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Mental Illness ◽  
Substance Use ◽  
World Health Organization ◽  
World Health ◽  
Duration Of Untreated Psychosis ◽  
Regression Analyses ◽  
Kwazulu Natal ◽  
The World ◽  
Health Organization

<p><strong>Background:</strong> Substance use and psychiatric disorders cause significant burden of disease in low- and middle-income countries. Co-morbid psychopathology and longer duration of untreated psychosis (DUP) can negatively affect treatment outcomes.</p><p><strong>Objectives:</strong> The study assessed substance use amongst adults with severe mental illness receiving services at a regional psychiatric hospital in KwaZulu-Natal (South Africa). We describe the prevalence and correlates of lifetime substance use and examine the association between substance use and DUP.</p><p><strong>Methods:</strong> A cross-sectional survey recruited adults diagnosed with severe mental illness and assessed lifetime and past 3-month substance use using the World Health Organization Alcohol, Smoking and Substance Involvement Screening Test. Regression analyses were conducted to determine associations between lifetime substance use (other than alcohol and tobacco) and DUP as measured by the World Health Organization Encounter Form.</p><p><strong>Results:</strong> Amongst 87 participants, alcohol (81.6%), tobacco (75.6%) and cannabis (49.4%) were the most common substances reported for lifetime use. Risk of health-related problems (health, social, financial, legal and relationship) of cannabis use was associated with younger age, single marital status and lower education. Adjusted regression analyses indicated that use of amphetamines and methaqualone is associated with longer DUP.</p><p><strong>Conclusions:</strong> Substance use is prevalent amongst psychiatric patients in KwaZulu-Natal and may contribute to longer DUP. Mental health services in this region should address co-morbid substance use and psychiatric disorders.</p><p><strong>Keywords: </strong>Substance Use; Psychosis; KwaZulu-Natal</p>

scholarly journals Prevalence and associated risk factors of hypertension amongst adults in a rural community of Limpopo Province, South Africa

2015 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Samuel T. Ntuli ◽  
Eric Maimela ◽  
Mariannes Alberts ◽  
Solly Choma ◽  
Sekgothe Dikotope
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
South Africa ◽  
Rural Community ◽  
Statistical Significance ◽  
Limpopo Province ◽  
World Health ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Chi Square ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Health Organization

Background: Hypertension is problem already faced by urban populations of South Africa, but little is known about its prevalence and risk factors in rural areas.Aim: To assess the prevalence of and risk factors associated with hypertension amongst adults in a rural community in South Africa.Setting: Dikgale Health and Demographic Surveillance Site, Limpopo Province, South Africa.Methods: A community-based cross-sectional survey was carried out at this site where individuals aged 15 years and older were screened using a locally adapted version of the World Health Organization STEPwise questionnaire. Demographics, anthropometry and three independent blood pressure (BP) readings were taken. The average of the three BP measurements was used in analysis, and hypertension taken as systolic and diastolic BP of ≥ 140 or ≥ 90 mmHg respectively, or at least a two-week history of antihypertensive treatment. Analysis included the Chi-square test and statistical significance was set at p ≤ 0.05.Results: A total of 1407 individuals were interviewed, of whom 1281 had complete BP, weight and height measurements taken. The mean age of participants was 44.2 ± 2 0.9 years (range 15–98 years), 63% were female, 55% were single and 90% were unemployed, whilst 13% were tobacco smokers and 20% reported drinking alcohol. Overall prevalence of hypertension was 41% and this was significantly associated with age and marital status.Conclusion: The prevalence of hypertension was found to be high. Prevention strategies are urgently needed to address this life-threatening and important risk factor for cardiovascular disease in rural Limpopo Province.

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 International risk of SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant importations originating in South Africa

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yuan Bai ◽  
Zhanwei Du ◽  
Mingda Xu ◽  
Lin Wang ◽  
Peng Wu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
World Health Organization ◽  
World Health ◽  
The World ◽  
Fast Spreading ◽  
Health Organization

AbstractOmicron, a fast-spreading SARS-CoV-2 variant of concern reported to the World Health Organization on November 24, 2021, has raised international alarm. We estimated there is at least 50% chance that Omicron had been introduced by travelers from South Africa into all of the 30 countries studied by November 27, 2021.

World Health Organization

1948 ◽  
Vol 2 (3) ◽  
pp. 540-542 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
South Africa ◽  
United Kingdom ◽  
World Health Organization ◽  
World Health ◽  
Director General ◽  
Board Members ◽  
Executive Board ◽  
The World ◽  
Health Organization

Program and organization were the most important questions discussed at the First Assembly of the World Health Organization, which was held in Geneva from June 24 to July 24, 1948. Dr. Andrija Stampar (Yugoslavia), who had been chairman of the Interim Commission, was elected president by acclamation. An Executive Board of eighteen members representing the following countries was chosen: Australia, Brazil, Byelorussia, Ceylon, China, Egypt, France, India, Iran, Mexico, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Union of South Africa, USSR, United Kingdom, United States, and Yugoslavia. A system was adopted whereby the Board Members would draw by lot for the duration of their terms of office. Dr. Brock Chisholm (Canada) was elected Director-General of the organization, which had a membership of 52 countries.

Introducing 24-Hour Movement Guidelines for the Early Years: A New Paradigm Gaining Momentum

2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (1) ◽  
pp. 92-95 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mark S. Tremblay
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
World Health Organization ◽  
Guideline Development ◽  
Early Years ◽  
World Health ◽  
Movement Behavior ◽  
Sedentary Behaviors ◽  
New Paradigm ◽  
The World ◽  
Health Organization

Background: Emerging research shows that the composition of movement behaviors throughout the day (physical activities, sedentary behaviors, sleep) is related to indicators of health, suggesting previous research that isolated single movement behaviors maybe incomplete, misleading, and/or unnecessarily constrained. Methods: This brief report summarizes evidence to support a 24-hour movement behavior paradigm and efforts to date by a variety of jurisdictions to consult, develop, release, promote, and study 24-hour movement guidelines. It also introduces and summarizes the accompanying series of articles related specifically to 24-hour movement guidelines for the early years. Results: Using robust and transparent processes, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, and the World Health Organization have developed and released 24-hour movement guidelines for the early years: an integration of physical activity, sedentary behavior, and sleep. Other countries are exploring a similar approach and related research is expanding rapidly. Articles related to guideline development in South Africa, the United Kingdom, Australia, and by the World Health Organization are a part of this special series. Conclusions: A new paradigm employing 24-hour movement guidelines for the early years that combines recommendations for movement behaviors across the whole day is gaining momentum across the globe.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document