scholarly journals High level of initial default among smear positive pulmonary tuberculosis in eThekwini health district, KwaZulu-Natal

2016 ◽  
Vol 31 (2) ◽  
pp. 41-43
Author(s):  
Lindiwe P. Cele ◽  
Stephen Knight ◽  
Elize Webb ◽  
Khin Tint ◽  
Thembelihle Dlungwane
Keyword(s):  
Infectious Disease ◽  
South Africa ◽  
Pulmonary Tuberculosis ◽  
Case Identification ◽  
Tb Control ◽  
Kwazulu Natal ◽  
High Incidence ◽  
Smear Positive Pulmonary Tuberculosis ◽  
Control Programmes ◽  
High Level

In this study, initial tuberculosis (TB) default was measured in clinics in a district with a high incidence of TB. A retrospective review of TB case identification registers in 2007 found 4049 (9.0%) new smear positive pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) cases from 44 987 suspects. There were 725 (17.9%) initial defaulters. Fifty-three percent of those traced had already died. TB is the leading cause of death in South Africa due to an infectious disease, and the high level of initial defaults in PTB is one of the “unresolved issues” in TB control programmes that needs to be addressed.

scholarly journals High level of initial default among smear positive pulmonary tuberculosis in eThekwini health district, KwaZulu-Natal

2016 ◽  
Vol 31 (2) ◽  
pp. 41-43 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lindiwe Priscilla Cele ◽  
Stephen Knight ◽  
Elize Webb ◽  
Khin Tint ◽  
Thembelihle Dlungwane
Keyword(s):  
Pulmonary Tuberculosis ◽  
Health District ◽  
Kwazulu Natal ◽  
Smear Positive Pulmonary Tuberculosis ◽  
High Level

scholarly journals 24-Hour Measurement of Gastric pH in Rural South Africa

2015 ◽  
Vol 2015 ◽  
pp. 1-5 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alastair M. Sammon ◽  
Eugene J. Ndebia ◽  
Ekambaram Umapathy ◽  
Jehu E. Iputo
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Ambulatory Monitoring ◽  
Duodenogastric Reflux ◽  
Lower Oesophageal Sphincter ◽  
Gastric Ph ◽  
Night Time ◽  
High Incidence ◽  
The Mean ◽  
H Pylori ◽  
High Level

Background. Previous studies have established norms of 24-hour gastric pH profiles for western countries. This study was designed to establish the pattern for a rural African population with a high incidence of oesophageal cancer.Methods. After lower oesophageal manometry a probe was placed 10 cm distal to the lower oesophageal sphincter. We carried out 24-hour ambulatory monitoring of gastric pH on 59 healthy subjects. This was satisfactorily completed on 26 female and 18 male (age 21–64, median 35) subjects in the Transkei region of South Africa.Results. The mean 24 hour gastric pH was 2.84 and the mean night-time pH was 3.7. 40 volunteers recorded a night-time pH reaching over 4. 33 volunteers recorded a night-time pH over 7. Night-time alkalinisation was present for 136.4 minutes (25th centile 22.8, 75th centile 208.1) at pH4 or over, and 79.3 (2.5, 122.7) minutes at pH7 or over. Episodes of rapid alkaline rise were 17 (10, 47). 21.1% of these occurred while supine. 35 of 36 tested subjects were positive forH. pyloriIgG.Conclusion. Gastric alkalinisation is common in Transkei, at a higher pH than that reported in other studies, and is sustained longer. Nighttime alkalinisation is frequent. This suggests a high level of duodenogastric reflux.

scholarly journals Persistently high incidence of HIV and poor service uptake in adolescent girls and young women in rural KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa prior to DREAMS

PLoS ONE ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 13 (10) ◽  
pp. e0203193 ◽  
Author(s):  
Natsayi Chimbindi ◽  
Nondumiso Mthiyane ◽  
Isolde Birdthistle ◽  
Sian Floyd ◽  
Nuala McGrath ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Adolescent Girls ◽  
Young Women ◽  
Kwazulu Natal ◽  
High Incidence

scholarly journals Combined antiretroviral and antituberculosis drug resistance following incarceration

2013 ◽  
Vol 14 (3) ◽  
pp. 135-137 ◽  
Author(s):  
Katharine Elizabeth Stott ◽  
Tulio De Oliveira ◽  
Richard John Lessells
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
South Africa ◽  
Drug Resistance ◽  
Health Systems ◽  
Control Strategies ◽  
Antituberculosis Drug ◽  
Tb Control ◽  
Prison Health ◽  
Kwazulu Natal

We describe a case of HIV/tuberculosis (TB) co-infection from KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, characterised by drug resistance in both pathogens. The development of drug resistance was linked temporally to two periods of incarceration. This highlights the urgent need for improved integration of HIV/TB control strategies within prison health systems and within the broader public health framework.

Evaluation of the Concentration Sputum Smear Technique for the Laboratory Diagnosis of Pulmonary Tuberculosis

2003 ◽  
Vol 33 (3) ◽  
pp. 160-162 ◽  
Author(s):  
Solomon Gebre-Selassie
Keyword(s):  
Developing Countries ◽  
Pulmonary Tuberculosis ◽  
Laboratory Diagnosis ◽  
Sputum Smear ◽  
Smear Microscopy ◽  
Tb Control ◽  
Mycobacterial Diseases ◽  
Control Programmes ◽  
Rate Of Recovery ◽  
Concentration Methods

The microbiological diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) plays a key role in routine and Tuberculosis (TB) Control Programmes in developing countries. Concentration of acid-fast bacilli (AFB) in clinical specimens is an important step in the laboratory diagnosis of mycobacterial diseases. Microscopy of smears of sputum by direct and after mechanical sedimentation and centrifugation methods followed by treatment with 5% sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) solution for concentration of the organisms were compared and evaluated. The rate of recovery of AFB from sputum was 8.5%, 25.5% and 38.0% for direct smear microscopy, concentration by sedimentation of NaOCl-treated sputa followed by Ziehl-Neelsen staining and concentration by centrifugation after use of NaOCl respectively. Both the concentration methods by the use of NaOCl solution increased the yield of the AFB by more than threefold compared with the direct microscopy of sputum ( P<0.05). The concentration methods by sedimentation, and centrifugation by the treatment of NaOCl, increased the sensitivity to 75% and 77.9%, respectively, and the specificity to 100% for both techniques. In conclusion, the use of NaOCl in the concentration of AFB in sputum is recommended for use in routine laboratory diagnosis of PTB in developing countries.

Assessment of residents’ attitude towards ecotourism in KwaZulu-Natal protected areas

2015 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. 316-328 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bola Olusola Adeleke
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Protected Areas ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Sampling Technique ◽  
Target Population ◽  
Development Projects ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Research Fellowship ◽  
Kwazulu Natal ◽  
High Level

Purpose – The purpose of this paper was to assess the attitude of residents towards ecotourism in KwaZulu-Natal protected areas. It also determined how barriers to ecotourism trips could negatively affect the success of tourism development in protected areas. The new South Africa today has widely and innovatively embraced ecotourism based largely around the protected areas. Residents’ attitude towards tourism is one of the important indicators for sustainable development in protected areas. Design/methodology/approach – In total, 212 copies of structured questionnaires were used to collect information for the study. A purposive sampling technique was used to select the target population of the protected areas while respondents were selected from the communities based on random sampling technique. Mean scores for barriers to ecotourism trips were determined. Descriptive statistics and T-test inferential statistics were used to analyse the data. Findings – The results agree with the theory of planned behaviour where intentions of residents to participate in ecotourism were directly influenced by barriers such as no time, low income and no transportation. It was also found out that preference for ecotourism trips was significantly influenced by the various barriers to ecotourism activities. High level of unemployment and high level of illiteracy were considered to be responsible for poor attitude in Kwadlangezwa with many (43.4 per cent) unwilling to support ecotourism development projects. Research limitations/implications – The research implication infers that high level of poverty and illiteracy in communities surrounding protected areas could seriously indicate non-support for development projects. Practical implications – Ecotourism-related businesses need be developed in destinations to alleviate poverty. Social implications – The moral of residents need be boosted through workshops and educative seminars. Originality/value – The study was conducted during the author’s research fellowship with the Department of Recreation and Tourism, University of Zululand, Kwadlangezwa, South Africa.

scholarly journals High level of HIV-2 false positivity in KwaZulu-Natal province: A region of South Africa with a very high HIV-1 subtype C prevalence

2013 ◽  
Vol 85 (12) ◽  
pp. 2065-2071 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lavanya Singh ◽  
Raveen Parboosing ◽  
Justen Manasa ◽  
Pravi Moodley ◽  
Tulio de Oliveira
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Subtype C ◽  
False Positivity ◽  
Kwazulu Natal ◽  
High Level ◽  
Very High ◽  
Hiv 1

scholarly journals South Africa and national TB control: Are we making progress?

2017 ◽  
Vol 59 (2) ◽  
pp. 4
Author(s):  
Gboyega A Ogunbanjo
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
World Health Organisation ◽  
Incidence Rates ◽  
World Health ◽  
Hiv Positive ◽  
Western Cape ◽  
Eastern Cape ◽  
Tb Control ◽  
Kwazulu Natal ◽  
The World

South Africa accounts for the worst global tuberculosis epidemics fuelled by the spread of HIV infection. The tuberculosis (TB) incidence increased from 300 per 100,000 people in the early 1990s to more than 950 per 100,000 in 2012.1 In addition, the country remains one of the countries with the highest TB burden globally, with the World Health Organisation (WHO) statistics giving an estimated incidence of 454,000 cases of active TB in 2015.2 This means that about 0.8% of South Africa’s population of 54 million develop active TB disease annually. Of the 454 000 TB cases in South Africa in 2015, WHO estimated that about 57% (258,000) were HIV positive. It also estimated that of 157,505 whose status was known, and who were known to be HIV positive, some 85% (133,116) were on antiretroviral therapy.3 From the same 2015 report, Eastern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal and Western Cape provinces had the highest incidence rates of 692, 685 and 681 per 100,000 respectively. The most notable decline was in KwaZulu-Natal where the incidence decreased from 1,185 to 685 per 100,000 over the last five years.1

scholarly journals Myths, misconceptions, othering and stigmatizing responses to Covid-19 in South Africa: A rapid qualitative assessment

PLoS ONE ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 15 (12) ◽  
pp. e0244420
Author(s):  
Tenielle Schmidt ◽  
Allanise Cloete ◽  
Adlai Davids ◽  
Lehlogonolo Makola ◽  
Nokubonga Zondi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
South African ◽  
Qualitative Data ◽  
Group Discussion ◽  
Civil Society Organizations ◽  
Qualitative Assessment ◽  
Western Cape ◽  
Kwazulu Natal ◽  
High Level ◽  
Study Participants

Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is a new strain of virus in the Coronavirus family that has not been previously identified. Since SARS-CoV-2 is a new virus, everyone is at risk of catching the Coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19). No one has immunity to the virus. Despite this, misconceptions about specific groups of people who are immune to Covid-19 emerged with the onset of the pandemic. This paper explores South African communities’ misconceptions about who is most vulnerable to Covid-19. A rapid qualitative assessment was conducted remotely in Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal and the Western Cape provinces of South Africa. Recruitment of study participants took place through established relationships with civil society organizations and contacts made by researchers. In total, 60 key informant interviews and one focus group discussion was conducted. Atlas.ti.8 Windows was used to facilitate qualitative data analysis. The qualitative data was coded, and thematic analysis used to identify themes. The results show a high level of awareness and knowledge of the transmission and prevention of SARS-CoV-2. Qualitative data revealed that there is awareness of elderly people and those with immunocompromised conditions being more vulnerable to catching Covid-19. However, misconceptions of being protected against the virus or having low or no risk were also evident in the data. We found that false information circulated on social media not only instigated confusion, fear and panic, but also contributed to the construction of misconceptions, othering and stigmatizing responses to Covid-19. The study findings bring attention to the importance of developing communication materials adapted to specific communities to help reduce misconceptions, othering and stigmatization around Covid-19.

scholarly journals Performance of diagnostic tests for pulmonary tuberculosis in indigenous populations in Brazil: the contribution of Rapid Molecular Testing

2019 ◽  
Vol 45 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jocieli Malacarne ◽  
Alexsandro Santos Heirich ◽  
Eunice Atsuko Totumi Cunha ◽  
Ida Viktoria Kolte ◽  
Reinaldo Souza-Santos ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Pulmonary Tuberculosis ◽  
Secondary Data ◽  
Standard Test ◽  
Sputum Culture ◽  
Indigenous Populations ◽  
Molecular Testing ◽  
Test Results ◽  
Rural Regions ◽  
High Incidence ◽  
Smear Positive Pulmonary Tuberculosis

ABSTRACT Objective: To evaluate the accuracy of rapid molecular testing as a diagnostic tool and estimate the incidence of smear-positive pulmonary tuberculosis among the indigenous population. Methods: This is an epidemiological study based on secondary data. We calculated the incidence of smear-positive pulmonary tuberculosis between January 1st, 2011 and December 31, 2016, and the performance of bacilloscopy and rapid molecular testing in diagnosing pulmonary tuberculosis compared to sputum culture (standard test). Results: We included 4,048 cases of indigenous people with respiratory symptoms who provided sputum samples for analysis. Among them, 3.7%, 6.7%, and 3.7% had positive results for bacilloscopy, sputum culture, and rapid molecular testing, respectively. The mean incidence of pulmonary tuberculosis was 269.3/100 thousand inhabitants. Rapid molecular testing had 93.1% sensitivity and 98.2% specificity, compared to sputum culture. Bacilloscopy showed 55.1% sensitivity and 99.6% specificity. Conclusions: Rapid molecular testing can be useful in remote areas with limited resources and a high incidence of tuberculosis, such as indigenous villages in rural regions of Brazil. In addition, the main advantages of rapid molecular testing are its easy handling, fast results, and the possibility of detecting rifampicin resistance. Together, these attributes enable the early start of treatment, contributing to reduce the transmission in communities recognized as vulnerable to infection and disease.

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