Perceptions of patients regarding diabetes-related health communication strategies in the Free State, South Africa

Background: This study researched the perceptions of patients diagnosed with diabetes concerning diabetes-related health communication strategies in the Free State province in South Africa. The prolongation and quality of life of patients diagnosed with diabetes are affected by lifestyle choices. An enabler of risk reduction is health communication which informs, influences and motivates individuals to adopted health-focused lifestyles.Aim: This study sought to describe the perceptions of patients regarding diabetes-related health communication strategies in the Free State, South Africa.Setting: This study was carried out in primary health care centres and community health care centres within the Free State province in South Africa.Methods: A qualitative, descriptive and exploratory research design was used in this study. Thirty-four patients diagnosed with type two diabetes for at least a year were purposively included in this study. Semi-structured interviews in Afrikaans, English, Sotho and Xhosa were conducted. Data analysis was through inductive reasoning and thematic analysis.Results: The majority of the respondents were older women having been diagnosed with diabetes for more than 5 years, with at least primary school education and of diverse South African ethnicities. The main prompting questions operationalised the term ‘perception’, probing their feelings, experiences and knowledge of health-related communication strategies as presented by a variety of information sources. After recording interviews, data were analysed according to themes, categories and sub-categories.Conclusions: The study highlights factors that encourage patients to seek help and foster attitudes of compliance. Practical problems regarding the management of diabetes are underlined. The role of family, as well as the patient–caregiver relationship, in the acceptance and management of the disease is revealed. Societal perception of male symptomology is shown. The study offers information to stakeholders and health care workers for continued successful management of diabetes in communities.

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Hope is the pillar of the universe: Health-care providers’ experiences of delivering anti-retroviral therapy in primary health-care clinics in the Free State province of South Africa

Social Science & Medicine ◽

10.1016/j.socscimed.2006.10.028 ◽

2007 ◽

Vol 64 (4) ◽

pp. 954-964 ◽

Cited By ~ 48

Author(s):

Joanne Stein ◽

Simon Lewin ◽

Lara Fairall

Keyword(s):

South Africa ◽

Health Care ◽

Primary Health Care ◽

Health Care Providers ◽

Free State ◽

Care Providers ◽

Free State Province ◽

Health Care Clinics ◽

Primary Health ◽

The Universe

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Local is lekker! The Search for an Appropriate Food Identity for the Free State Province, South Africa

African Journal of Hospitality, Tourism and Leisure ◽

10.46222/ajhtl.19770720-7 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 101-115

Author(s):

Lisa-Mari Coughlan ◽

Johan Hattingh

Keyword(s):

South Africa ◽

Free State ◽

Structured Interviews ◽

Free State Province ◽

State Food ◽

Local Residents ◽

Food Tourism ◽

Food And Drink ◽

Qualitative Responses ◽

Food Identity

The objective of this paper was to establish a food identity for one of South Africa’s least visited provinces, the Free State Province. Twenty-nine qualitative responses were obtained via structured interviews from tourism government and tourism association employees, local restaurateurs, local food and drink producers, local residents and a local historian. Key findings indicate that the Free State’s food identity can be described as hearty, comfort food cooked from ingredients typically found in the Free State, using recipes and preparation techniques passed on from generation to generation in Basotho and Afrikaner families. Meat and beer emerged as fundamental local items to be focussed on and promoted. Implications of the study include local tourism stakeholders gaining knowledge of which food items to promote as Free State food. The study shows that food tourism can assist in growing the tourism sector in the Free State, the development of a food tourism route and lead to the creation of a new tourism brand focussing on typical Free State food. Key literature contributions of this study include closing a literature gap by further studying food tourism in South Africa and establishing a determination process of authentic food identities for any destination.

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Resources and infrastructure for the delivery of antiretroviral therapy at primary health care facilities in the Free State Province, South Africa

SAHARA-J Journal of Social Aspects of HIV/AIDS ◽

10.1080/17290376.2008.9724908 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 5 (3) ◽

pp. 106-112 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Ega Janse van Rensburg-Bonthuyzen ◽

Michelle Engelbrecht ◽

Francois Steyn ◽

Nandi Jacobs ◽

Helen Schneider ◽

...

Keyword(s):

South Africa ◽

Health Care ◽

Primary Health Care ◽

Antiretroviral Therapy ◽

Health Care Facilities ◽

Free State ◽

Free State Province ◽

Primary Health ◽

Care Facilities ◽

Primary Health Care Facilities

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Health Communication: Implications for Diverse Populations

Perspectives on Communication Disorders and Sciences in Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Populations ◽

10.1044/cds18.1.12 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 18 (1) ◽

pp. 12-19

Author(s):

Amy Hasselkus

Keyword(s):

Health Care ◽

Health Communication ◽

Negative Impact ◽

Linguistically Diverse ◽

Good Health ◽

The United States ◽

Poor Health ◽

Health Care Decisions ◽

Diverse Backgrounds ◽

Health Related

The need for improved communication about health-related topics is evident in statistics about the health literacy of adults living in the United States. The negative impact of poor health communication is huge, resulting in poor health outcomes, health disparities, and high health care costs. The importance of good health communication is relevant to all patient populations, including those from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds. Efforts are underway at all levels, from individual professionals to the federal government, to improve the information patients receive so that they can make appropriate health care decisions. This article describes these efforts and discusses how speech-language pathologists and audiologists may be impacted.

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