The current standard of care of inflammatory bowel disease
S Afr Med J. 2024 Mar 18;114(3):e1792. doi: 10.7196/SAMJ.2024.v114i3.1792.ABSTRACT-.PMID:38525569 | DOI:10.7196/SAMJ.2024.v114i3.1792 (Source: South African Medical Journal)
Source: South African Medical Journal - March 25, 2024 Category: African Health Authors: J Wright Source Type: research
Is ableism still entrenched in the medical profession in South Africa?
S Afr Med J. 2024 Feb 13;114(2):e1766.NO ABSTRACTPMID:38525570 (Source: South African Medical Journal)
Source: South African Medical Journal - March 25, 2024 Category: African Health Authors: S N Whitehead H Kathard T Lorenzo S L Amosun Source Type: research
Genetic screening of South African families with Parkinson's disease
S Afr Med J. 2024 Feb 13;114(2):e1750. doi: 10.7196/SAMJ.2024.v114i2.1750.NO ABSTRACTPMID:38525571 | DOI:10.7196/SAMJ.2024.v114i2.1750 (Source: South African Medical Journal)
Source: South African Medical Journal - March 25, 2024 Category: African Health Authors: S Bardien A Braun R Van Coller F Hassan Amod J Carr S Moosa Source Type: research
Contribution of a bonded scholarship scheme to staffing rural health facilities
CONCLUSION: The UYDF Scholarship Scheme has shown that investment in rural students through a bonded scholarship can contribute to staffing rural PHCFs, as >90% of graduates worked at rural PHCFs, and for some disciplines >70% of graduates worked for ≥5 years at a rural PHCF. Allied HCPs worked on average for longer periods at rural PHCFs than doctors.PMID:38525572 | DOI:10.7196/SAMJ.2024.v114i3.1608 (Source: South African Medical Journal)
Source: South African Medical Journal - March 25, 2024 Category: African Health Authors: R G MacGregor A J Ross Source Type: research
South African healthcare reforms towards universal healthcare - where to next?
This article examines potential scenarios after the Bill is passed and ways in which UHC could be advanced. It begins with an overview of the trajectory of health system reform since 1994, then examines the scenarios that may emerge once the Bill is passed by Parliament and makes a case for finding ways in which UHC could be advanced within the country, regardless of any legal or financial barriers that may delay or limit NHI implementation.PMID:38525573 | DOI:10.7196/SAMJ.2024.v114i3.1571 (Source: South African Medical Journal)
Source: South African Medical Journal - March 25, 2024 Category: African Health Authors: G Solanki T Wilkinson N G Myburgh J E Cornell V Brijlal Source Type: research
Lower respiratory tract infection admissions and deaths among children under 5 years in public sector facilities in the Western Cape Province, South Africa, before and during the COVID-19 pandemic (2019 - 2021)
CONCLUSIONS: The COVID-19 surges and their associated measures were linked to declining LRTI admissions and in-facility deaths, likely driven by a combination of reduced infectious disease transmission and reduced use of healthcare services, with effects diminishing over time. These findings may inform future pandemic response policies.PMID:38525574 | DOI:10.7196/SAMJ.2024.v114i3.1560 (Source: South African Medical Journal)
Source: South African Medical Journal - March 25, 2024 Category: African Health Authors: K Kehoe E Morden N Zinyakatira A Heekes H E Jones S R Walter T Jacobs J Murray H Buys M T Redaniel M-A Davies Source Type: research
Experience on postmortem minimally invasive tissue sampling to ascertain the cause of death determination in South African children: A case for implementing as standard of care
S Afr Med J. 2024 Feb 13;114(2):e1538. doi: 10.7196/SAMJ.2024.v114i2.1538.ABSTRACTDetermining the death burden for prioritising public health interventions necessitates detailed data on the causal pathways to death. Postmortem minimally invasive tissue sampling (MITS), incorporating histology, molecular and microbial culture diagnostics, enhances cause-of-death attribution, particularly for infectious deaths. MITS proves a valid alternative to full diagnostic autopsies, especially in low- and middle-income countries. In Soweto, South Africa (SA), the Child Health and Mortality Prevention Surveillance (CHAMPS) programme has...
Source: South African Medical Journal - March 25, 2024 Category: African Health Authors: J Du Toit K Storath I Dunn P Makekeng M Moosa K Mothibi N Umuneza C A Rees D Blau S Lala Y Adam S Velaphi M Hale P Swart J Wadula L Mothibi A Wise V Baba P Jaglal S Mahtab S Madhi Z Dangor Source Type: research
Early Online: Vol. 114 No. 4
S Afr Med J. 2024 Mar 20;114(3):e1531. doi: 10.7196/SAMJ.2024.v114i4.1531.ABSTRACTMaternal healthcare in South Africa faces huge private and public health systems challenges. A key challenge for policy makers is how to address the inappropriate patterns of obstetric care in the private sector and how to mobilise private sector resources to serve the broader population dependent on the public sector, without replicating those patterns of inappropriate care. Developing and implementing new obstetric care models that address these challenges and lend themselves to public private engagements could play a vital role in efforts ...
Source: South African Medical Journal - March 25, 2024 Category: African Health Authors: G C Solanki T Doherty V Brijlal E Daviaud S Fawcus Source Type: research
The role of new hepatitis B vaccines in South Africa
S Afr Med J. 2024 Feb 13;114(2):e1473. doi: 10.7196/SAMJ.2024.v114i2.1473.ABSTRACTVaccination is key to eliminating hepatitis B virus infection in South Africa (SA). Despite introducing immunisation in 1995, as part of the expanded programme of immunisation (EPI), hepatitis B virus infection remains endemic, and EPI vaccine coverage is incomplete. In addition to infants, non-immune adults at risk of infection through their occupation or with behavioural risk factors should receive vaccination. SA has many individuals with diabetes mellitus (a prevalence of almost 13%), obesity, HIV (8.45 million) or older age (5 million &g...
Source: South African Medical Journal - March 25, 2024 Category: African Health Authors: G U Van Zyl T Maponga H Rabie J Taljaard Source Type: research
Cryoballoon ablation for atrial fibrillation in South Africa: One-year outcome from the Cryo Global Registry
CONCLUSION: CBA standard-of-care procedures in SA resulted in a high clinical freedom from arrhythmia recurrence, with a low risk of safety events within 12 months post ablation. In addition, participants experienced an improvement in QoL and high freedom from healthcare utilisation at 12 months. The obtained results will be important for guiding clinical decisions around CBA in SA.PMID:38525578 | DOI:10.7196/SAMJ.2024.v114i3.1338 (Source: South African Medical Journal)
Source: South African Medical Journal - March 25, 2024 Category: African Health Authors: A Stanley K A Van Bragt V Obidigbo B Vezi Source Type: research
Community perceptions of community health worker effectiveness: Contributions to health behaviour change in an urban health district in South Africa
CONCLUSION: As important stakeholders in CHW programmes, exploring community acceptance, appreciation and support is critical in understanding the drivers of programme performance. Community acceptance of the CHWs in the Ekurhuleni health district was high. The perspective of the community was that the CHWs were quite effective. This was demonstrated when they reported changes in household behaviour with regard to improved access to care through early screening, referrals and improved management of chronic and other conditions.PMID:38525579 | DOI:10.7196/SAMJ.2024.v114i2.1334 (Source: South African Medical Journal)
Source: South African Medical Journal - March 25, 2024 Category: African Health Authors: L S Thomas Y Pillay E Buch Source Type: research
Differential management and associations of dyslipidaemia and hypertension by glycaemic status in urban South Africans
CONCLUSION: Albeit that diabetes control was poor and required better management, dyslipidaemia and hypertension prevalence were higher and better managed in KD than NDD and normoglycaemia. Different approaches are required to improve glucose control in KD, better identify NDD and monitor and prevent diabetes in high-risk individuals. Also important would be to improve care of hypertension and dyslipidaemia in those without KD.PMID:38525580 | DOI:10.7196/SAMJ.2024.v114i3.1315 (Source: South African Medical Journal)
Source: South African Medical Journal - March 25, 2024 Category: African Health Authors: N Peer L Kotz é-Hörstmann J Hill A-P Kengne Source Type: research
The development of a nurse-led preoperative anaesthesia screening tool by Delphi consensus
CONCLUSION: A structured nurse-administered preoperative screening tool is proposed to identify high-risk patients who are likely to benefit from a timely preoperative specialist anaesthetist review to avoid cancellation on the day of surgery.PMID:38525581 | DOI:10.7196/SAMJ.2024.v114i2.1306 (Source: South African Medical Journal)
Source: South African Medical Journal - March 25, 2024 Category: African Health Authors: M B Nejthardt P Alexandris S Bechan M F A Bijli S Chetty J M Dippenaar M Gibbs M Johnson H Kluyts R Llewellyn M Motiang P Mogane P Motshabi B Mrara F Roodt U Singh S Spijkerman E Turton J Van der Westhuizen B Biccard Source Type: research
The burden and outcomes of firearm injuries at two district-level emergency centres in Cape Town, South Africa: A descriptive analysis
CONCLUSION: Firearm injuries represent a substantial proportion of the trauma burden at district emergency centres in the Western Cape Province. Managing patients with firearm injuries is resource intensive, as evident by their high acuity, the need for operative care, the long length of stay, the high burden on emergency medical services with interfacility transfers and the high demand for tertiary care. Data from this study aid our understanding of the prevalence and burden of firearm injuries at district level emergency centres, and multisectoral action, supported by evidence-based primary and secondary preventive strat...
Source: South African Medical Journal - March 25, 2024 Category: African Health Authors: L Bush C Hendrikse C Van Koningsbruggen K Evans Source Type: research
Household transmission of SARS-CoV-2 in a rural area in South Africa
CONCLUSION: We found a high SARS-CoV-2 infection rate among HCs in a rural setting, with 48% of households having a co-primary case at the time of enrolment. Households with co-primary cases were associated with a higher seroprevalence and incidence of SARS-CoV-2. Sociodemographic and health characteristics were not associated with SARS-CoV-2 transmission in this study, and we did not identify any transmission risks inherent to a rural setting.PMID:38525583 | DOI:10.7196/SAMJ.2024.v114i2.1159 (Source: South African Medical Journal)
Source: South African Medical Journal - March 25, 2024 Category: African Health Authors: G Maimela C E Martin M Chersich B Bello J Mauti T B äernighausen S Kohler A Almuedo-Riera S Luchters S Sawry Source Type: research
