scholarly journals Availability of tuberculosis infection control plans at rural hospitals of Vhembe district, Limpopo Province of South Africa

2013 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Takalani G. Tshitangano ◽  
Sonto M. Maputle ◽  
Lizzy M. Netshikweta
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Infection Control ◽  
Target Population ◽  
Health Care Facilities ◽  
Limpopo Province ◽  
World Health ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Tuberculosis Infection Control ◽  
Open Coding ◽  
Vhembe District

Background: In Limpopo province the rate of new tuberculosis (TB) cases increase daily.The Infection Control (IC) plan is one of the essential actions for TB IC. This study aimed to establish the availability of these plans at health care facilities.Objectives: The objectives were to explore and describe the awareness and knowledge of health care workers (HCWs) of the availability and content of TB IC plan; and to identity the role of infection control committees from the perspective of HCWs.Method: A qualitative approach using a cross-sectional descriptive design was adopted. The target population was all HCWs from the seven hospitals of Vhembe district. A purposive sampling approach was used to select 57 participants. The approval to conduct this study was obtained from the relevant authorities and participants. Data was collected through seven focus group discussions comprising five to 10 members. An unstructured discussion guide was used to collect data, and an open-coding method was used to analyse the data. Lincoln and Guba’s criteria ensured trustworthiness of the study findings.Results: Findings revealed that HCWs were not aware of the availability and the information contained in the TB IC plans. No person was designated as TB IC officer at hospital level. There was lack of a TB IC Committee and teams as well as ineffective utilisation of those that did exist.Conclusions: It was concluded that if the TB IC plans are not available at health care facilities,then the TB IC practices implemented by HCWs vary, resulting in TB nosocomial infection transmission. It was recommended that the World Health Organisation’s TB IC plans be adopted and implemented in Vhembe district.

scholarly journals Primary Health Care Facility Preparedness for Outpatient Service Provision During the COVID-19 Pandemic in India: Cross-Sectional Study (Preprint)

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Suneela Garg ◽  
Saurav Basu ◽  
Ruchir Rustagi ◽  
Amod Borle
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Primary Health Care ◽  
Infection Control ◽  
Care Facility ◽  
Health Care Facilities ◽  
Control Measures ◽  
Primary Health Care Facility ◽  
Outpatient Services ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Primary Health

BACKGROUND Primary health centers (PHCs) represent the first tier of the Indian health care system, providing a range of essential outpatient services to people living in the rural, suburban, and hard-to-reach areas. Diversion of health care resources for containing the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic has significantly undermined the accessibility and availability of essential health services. Under these circumstances, the preparedness of PHCs in providing safe patient-centered care and meeting the current health needs of the population while preventing further transmission of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infection is crucial. OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to determine the primary health care facility preparedness toward the provision of safe outpatient services during the COVID-19 pandemic in India. METHODS We conducted a cross-sectional study among supervisors and managers of primary health care facilities attached to medical colleges and institutions in India. A list of 60 faculties involved in the management and supervision of PHCs affiliated with the community medicine departments of medical colleges and institutes across India was compiled from an accessible private organization member database. We collected the data through a rapid survey from April 24 to 30, 2020, using a Google Forms online digital questionnaire that evaluated preparedness parameters based on self-assessment by the participants. The preparedness domains assessed were infrastructure availability, health worker safety, and patient care. RESULTS A total of 51 faculties responded to the survey. Each medical college and institution had on average a total of 2.94 (SD 1.7) PHCs under its jurisdiction. Infrastructural and infection control deficits at the PHC were reported in terms of limited physical space and queuing capacity, lack of separate entry and exit gates (n=25, 49%), inadequate ventilation (n=29, 57%), and negligible airborne infection control measures (n=38, 75.5%). N95 masks were available at 26 (50.9%) sites. Infection prevention and control measures were also suboptimal with inadequate facilities for handwashing and hand hygiene reported in 23.5% (n=12) and 27.4% (n=14) of sites, respectively. The operation of outpatient services, particularly related to maternal and child health, was significantly disrupted (<i>P</i>&lt;.001) during the COVID-19 pandemic. CONCLUSIONS Existing PHC facilities in India providing outpatient services are constrained in their functioning during the COVID-19 pandemic due to weak infrastructure contributing to suboptimal patient safety and infection control measures. Furthermore, there is a need for effective planning, communication, and coordination between the centralized health policy makers and health managers working at primary health care facilities to ensure overall preparedness during public health emergencies.

scholarly journals Factors influencing the uptake of contraception services by Vatsonga adolescents in rural communities of Vhembe District in Limpopo Province, South Africa

2013 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Rachel T. Lebese ◽  
Sonto M. Maputle ◽  
Dorah U. Ramathuba ◽  
Lunic B. Khoza
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Rural Communities ◽  
Health Beliefs ◽  
Target Population ◽  
Limpopo Province ◽  
Negative Attitudes ◽  
Comprehensive Knowledge ◽  
Data Saturation ◽  
Open Coding ◽  
Vhembe District

The aim of the study was to determine the factors that influence the uptake of contraception services by adolescents in the Vhembe district of Limpopo Province, South Africa. A qualitative research method which is explorative, descriptive and contextual in nature was used to investigate the phenomenon from the adolescents’ perspective. The target population comprised of adolescents residing in one of the six villages of Vhembe District. Data was collected through six focus group discussions until data saturation was achieved. Data was analysed using an open coding method. The findings revealed that adolescents are aware of the availability of contraceptive services. However, they lack a comprehensive knowledge about contraception and contraceptives, which led to negative attitudes towards using the services. Cultural health beliefs and attitudes were also identified as a barrier to the uptake and use of contraceptives. Recommendations were made on interventions to increase the uptake of contraception services amongst adolescents.Die doel met die studie was om te bepaal watter faktore beïnvloed adolessente in die Vembe distrik van Limpopo Provinsie, Suid Afrika se besluit om voorbehoedmiddels te gebruik. ’n Kwalitatiewe navorsingsmetode wat eksploratief, beskrywend en kontekstueel van aard is, is gebruik om die fenomeen vanuit die perspektief van die adolessent te ondersoek. Data is ingewin deur ses fokusgroepbesprekings todat ’n punt van dataversadiging bereik is. Data is met behulp van oop kodeering geanaliseer. Bevindinge het getoon dat die adolessente wel bewus is van die beskikbaarheid van voorbehoeddienste, alhoewel hulle kennis van voorbehoeding en voorbehoedmiddels gebrekkig is, en dit het tot ’n negatiewe houding jeens die gebruik van die dienste gelei. Kulturele en kulturele gesondheidsgelowe gelowe en houdings is ook geidentifiseer as ’n hindernis tot die gebruik van voorbehoedmiddels. Aanbevelings is gemaak ten opsigte van intervensies om die gebruik van voorbehoeddienste onder adolessente te bevorder.

scholarly journals Effects of increased nurses’ workload on quality documentation of patient information at selected Primary Health Care facilities in Vhembe District, Limpopo Province

Curationis ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 39 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Rhulani C. Shihundla ◽  
Rachel T. Lebese ◽  
Maria S. Maputle
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Primary Health Care ◽  
Patient Information ◽  
Health Care Facilities ◽  
Hiv And Aids ◽  
Limpopo Province ◽  
Case Record ◽  
Primary Health ◽  
Professional Nurses ◽  
Vhembe District

Background: Recording of information on multiple documents increases professional nurses’ responsibilities and workload during working hours. There are multiple registers and books at Primary Health Care (PHC) facilities in which a patient’s information is to be recorded for different services during a visit to a health professional. Antenatal patients coming for the first visit must be recorded in the following documents: tick register; Prevention of Mother-ToChild Transmission (PMTCT) register; consent form for HIV and AIDS testing; HIV Counselling and Testing (HCT) register (if tested positive for HIV and AIDS then this must be recorded in the Antiretroviral Therapy (ART) wellness register); ART file with an accompanying single file, completion of which is time-consuming; tuberculosis (TB) suspects register; blood specimen register; maternity case record book and Basic Antenatal Care (BANC) checklist. Nurses forget to record information in some documents which leads to the omission of important data. Omitting information might lead to mismanagement of patients. Some of the documents have incomplete and inaccurate information. As PHC facilities in Vhembe District render twenty four hour services through a call system, the same nurses are expected to resume duty at 07:00 the following morning. They are expected to work effectively and when tired a nurse may record illegible information which may cause problems when the document is retrieved by the next person for continuity of care.Objectives: The objective of this study was to investigate and describe the effects of increased nurses’ workload on quality documentation of patient information at PHC facilities in Vhembe District, Limpopo Province.Methods: The study was conducted in Vhembe District, Limpopo Province, where the effects of increased nurses’ workload on quality documentation of information is currently experienced. The research design was explorative, descriptive and contextual in nature. The population consisted of all nurses who work at PHC facilities in Vhembe District. Purposive sampling was used to select nurses and three professional nurses were sampled from each PHC facility. An in-depth face-to-face interview was used to collect data using an interview guide.Results: PHC facilities encountered several effects due to increased nurses’ workload where incomplete patient information is documented. Unavailability of patient information was observed, whilst some documented information was found to be illegible, inaccurate and incomplete.Conclusion: Documentation of information at PHC facilities is an evidence of effective communication amongst professional nurses. There should always be active follow-up and mentoring of the nurses’ documentation to ensure that information is accurately and fully documented in their respective facilities. Nurses find it difficult to cope with the increased workload associated with documenting patient information on the multiple records that are utilized at PHC facilities, leading to incomplete information. The number of nurses at facilities should be increased to reduce the increased workload.Keywords: Effects; increased; professional nurses’; work-load; quality nursing documentation; patient information

scholarly journals Identifying Health Care Environment Contradictions in Terms of Infection Control during a Pandemic with a Focus on Health Workers’ Experience

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (17) ◽  
pp. 9964
Author(s):  
Maryam Lesan ◽  
Fatemeh Khozaei ◽  
Mi-Jeong Kim ◽  
Marziyeh Shahidi Nejad
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Infection Control ◽  
Organizational Support ◽  
Health Workers ◽  
Health Care Facilities ◽  
Care Staff ◽  
World Health ◽  
Infection Prevention And Control ◽  
Health Care Staff ◽  
Health Care Environment

During the past year, health care environments have struggled to cope with the various impacts of COVID-19 around the world. Health care facilities need to help strengthen resistance to pathogen threats and provide care for patients and health workers in the safest possible way. Architectural design strategies can play a significant role in infection prevention and control. The current study aims to examine the experiences of health workers with hospital spaces during the COVID-19 pandemic. Identifying the difficulties they face, the present study attempts to shed light on the role of the health care layout configuration in combating pandemics. The authors conducted observations at four hospitals and a series of online semi-structured interviews with 162 health care staff from March to May 2020. The study indicated that space configuration and the hospitalization of patients, layout and circulation of the environment, operation services such as indoor environment conditions, maintenance of health care system, and organizational support for health care staff were the most critical factors affecting infection control in health care environments. The initial zoning and separation of patients were the most effective methods of controlling infection. Hospitals with clustered plan layouts were found to be the most effective buildings for the zoning of COVID-19 patients during the pandemic and for infection control.

scholarly journals Implementation of Tuberculosis Infection Control Practices in Tuberculosis Diagnostic and Treatment Health Facilities in Kampala District, Uganda, August 2015

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Didas Tugumisirize ◽  
Stavia Turyahabwe ◽  
Lilian Bulage ◽  
Stella Zawedde Muyanja ◽  
Robert Kaos Majwala ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Infection Control ◽  
Health Facility ◽  
Health Workers ◽  
Health Care Facilities ◽  
Health Facilities ◽  
Tuberculosis Infection ◽  
Care Services ◽  
Tuberculosis Infection Control

AbstractBackgroundEffective implementation of Tuberculosis infection control (TB IC) measures in health facilities delivering TB care services is very critical in controlling nosocomial transmission of TB infections among health workers, patients and their attendants. The aim of the study was to assess and document the implementation of TB IC practices in TB diagnostic and treatment health facilities in Kampala District, which accounts for 15-20% of the total TB burden in Uganda.MethodsIn August 2015, we conducted a cross-sectional study in 25 health facilities including 07 Public and 18 Private healthcare facilities in Kampala. We used a modified checklist adopted from the national manual for implementing TB control measures in health care facilities. We reviewed health facility records and where necessary observed TB IC practices to triangulate our findings. We conducted univariate analysis and generated proportions in order to describe the extent of implementation of TB IC measures.ResultsOn average, 73% of both administrative and managerial, 65% environmental, and 56% personal protective TB IC measures were complied with at the health facilities visited. Private health facilities implemented 71% of both administrative and managerial TBIC measures compared to public health facilities (31%). Thirty Six percent of health facilities reported that they were regularly screening health care workers for TB. By Observation, 28% had TB IC guideline, 36% had TB IC plan, 12% had a designated area for sputum collection, 56% were regularly opening windows, 40% had fans installed in the waiting areas and/or consultation rooms and 24% had bio-safety cabinets fitted with UV light. In addition, 60% had N95 respirators but only 32% of the facilities reported that their health workers routinely wore them.ConclusionImplementation of WHO recommended TB IC measures in health facilities delivering TB care services in Kampala was sub optimal. Routine involvement of health facility management as well as increasing human resources for health is critical in implementing easy to do TBIC measures like triaging, patients’ educating on coughing etiquette and respiratory hygiene and daily window opening particularly in public health care settings where implementation of administrative TB IC measures is wanting

scholarly journals Determinants of access to primary health care for the elderly in the province of Essaouira

2021 ◽  
Vol 319 ◽  
pp. 02021
Author(s):  
Hicham Mejdouli ◽  
Abdellatif Baali ◽  
Hakima Amor ◽  
Nadia Ouzennou
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Primary Health Care ◽  
Older People ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
World Health Organisation ◽  
Health Care Facilities ◽  
World Health ◽  
Bivariate Analysis ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Primary Health

Morocco is experiencing demographic and epidemiological changes marked by an increase in the proportion of elderly people accompanied by a growing prevalence of chronic diseases and disabilities, thus leading to an increase in the demand for health care. the Moroccan health system therefore faces the challenge of meeting the specific needs of older populations in terms of access to and use of health care services. To achieve this, the World Health Organisation (WHO) recommends a community-based approach, based on primary health care facilities (PHCFs), to the provision of services for older people. This is a descriptive, cross-sectional study based on a quantitative approach. The survey was carried out via a questionnaire intended for a sample of 739 people aged 60 years and over attending the ESSPs in the province of Essaouira between January and February of the year 2020. Our study has allowed us to understand the determinants related to the use of PHC by the elderly in the province of Essaouira. These determinants concern the characteristics of the elderly as well as the organisational and institutional aspects of the care offer. The bivariate analysis of the results showed a statistically significant association between the use of PHC by the elderly and the area of residence, gender, level of education, distance travelled to health facilities, quality of reception, and availability of medicines. Policymakers are called upon to consider the determinants of the use of PHC in order to better address the health needs of older people, and also to respond to WHO guidance in this area.

scholarly journals Primary Health Care Facility Preparedness for Outpatient Service Provision During the COVID-19 Pandemic in India: Cross-Sectional Study

10.2196/19927 ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
pp. e19927 ◽  
Author(s):  
Suneela Garg ◽  
Saurav Basu ◽  
Ruchir Rustagi ◽  
Amod Borle
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Primary Health Care ◽  
Infection Control ◽  
Care Facility ◽  
Health Care Facilities ◽  
Control Measures ◽  
Primary Health Care Facility ◽  
Outpatient Services ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Primary Health

Background Primary health centers (PHCs) represent the first tier of the Indian health care system, providing a range of essential outpatient services to people living in the rural, suburban, and hard-to-reach areas. Diversion of health care resources for containing the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic has significantly undermined the accessibility and availability of essential health services. Under these circumstances, the preparedness of PHCs in providing safe patient-centered care and meeting the current health needs of the population while preventing further transmission of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infection is crucial. Objective The aim of this study was to determine the primary health care facility preparedness toward the provision of safe outpatient services during the COVID-19 pandemic in India. Methods We conducted a cross-sectional study among supervisors and managers of primary health care facilities attached to medical colleges and institutions in India. A list of 60 faculties involved in the management and supervision of PHCs affiliated with the community medicine departments of medical colleges and institutes across India was compiled from an accessible private organization member database. We collected the data through a rapid survey from April 24 to 30, 2020, using a Google Forms online digital questionnaire that evaluated preparedness parameters based on self-assessment by the participants. The preparedness domains assessed were infrastructure availability, health worker safety, and patient care. Results A total of 51 faculties responded to the survey. Each medical college and institution had on average a total of 2.94 (SD 1.7) PHCs under its jurisdiction. Infrastructural and infection control deficits at the PHC were reported in terms of limited physical space and queuing capacity, lack of separate entry and exit gates (n=25, 49%), inadequate ventilation (n=29, 57%), and negligible airborne infection control measures (n=38, 75.5%). N95 masks were available at 26 (50.9%) sites. Infection prevention and control measures were also suboptimal with inadequate facilities for handwashing and hand hygiene reported in 23.5% (n=12) and 27.4% (n=14) of sites, respectively. The operation of outpatient services, particularly related to maternal and child health, was significantly disrupted (P<.001) during the COVID-19 pandemic. Conclusions Existing PHC facilities in India providing outpatient services are constrained in their functioning during the COVID-19 pandemic due to weak infrastructure contributing to suboptimal patient safety and infection control measures. Furthermore, there is a need for effective planning, communication, and coordination between the centralized health policy makers and health managers working at primary health care facilities to ensure overall preparedness during public health emergencies.

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