scholarly journals An evaluation of warfarin use at an urban district-level hospital in KwaZulu-Natal Province, South Africa

2018 ◽  
Vol 108 (12) ◽  
pp. 1046 ◽  
Author(s):  
D J Laäs ◽  
M Naidoo
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
District Level ◽  
Urban District ◽  
Kwazulu Natal ◽  
Level Hospital

scholarly journals A serological survey of leptospirosis in cattle of rural communities in the province of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

2009 ◽  
Vol 80 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
U.W. Hesterberg ◽  
R. Bagnall ◽  
B. Bosch ◽  
K. Perrett ◽  
R. Horner ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Rural Communities ◽  
Agglutination Test ◽  
District Level ◽  
Sampling Point ◽  
Serological Survey ◽  
Test Sensitivity ◽  
Apparent Prevalence ◽  
Kwazulu Natal ◽  
Leptospira Interrogans Serovar Pomona

A serological survey of leptospirosis in cattle originating from rural communities of the province of KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) in South Africa was carried out between March 2001 and December 2003. The survey was designed as a 2-stage survey, using the local dip tank as the primary sampling point. In total, 2021 animals from 379 dip tanks in 33 magisterial districts were sampled and tested with the microscopic agglutination test (MAT). The apparent prevalence at district level was adjusted for clustering and diagnostic test sensitivity and specificity and displayed in maps. The prevalence of leptospirosis in cattle originating from communal grazing areas of KZN was found to be 19.4% with a 95% confidence interval of 14.8-24.1 %. At district level the prevalence of leptospirosis varied from 0 to 63 % of cattle. Bovine leptospirosis was found to occur in communal grazing areas throughout the province with the exception of 2 districts. The southeastern regions showed a higher prevalence than other areas of the province; while in some of the northern and western districts a lower prevalence was noted. Several serovars were detected by the MAT and although Leptospira interrogans serovar pomona occurred most frequently, serovars tarrasovi, bratislava, hardjo, canicola and icterohaemorrhagica were also frequently identified. The findings of the survey are discussed.

scholarly journals Blood pressure control amongst patients living with hypertension presenting to an urban district hospital outpatient clinic in Kwazulu-Natal

2014 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Folafolu A. Adebolu ◽  
Mergan Naidoo
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Blood Pressure ◽  
Side Effects ◽  
Blood Pressure Control ◽  
District Hospital ◽  
Pressure Control ◽  
Urban District ◽  
District Hospitals ◽  
Kwazulu Natal ◽  
Poor Blood Pressure Control

Background: The prevalence of hypertension in South Africa has been estimated to be 20% of the adult population with over six million people being affected. Poor adherence to treatment plans lead to inadequate blood pressure control and high morbidity. Many studies have looked at factors contributing to poor blood pressure control in South Africa but few studies actually focus on district hospitals in Kwazulu-Natal in particular, despite the fact that the province has the most heterogeneous population in South Africa.Method: The study was a descriptive cross-sectional study conducted at the chronic out patient clinic of an urban district hospital involving 370 participants aged 18–90 years.Result: The study showed poorly controlled blood pressure in 58% of the participants. Only 35% knew their blood pressure results on the day of interview and 19.2% were aware of their target blood pressure. Good adherence was self-reported by 95% of the participants, whist 51.4% reported significant side-effects to medication.Conclusion: The majority of patients had poor knowledge about blood pressure and little awareness of their blood pressure reading. These may be precursors to poor blood pressure control and this needs further investigation. A high level of self-reported adherence to medication did not translate into effective blood pressure control. A significant number reported medication side-effects which may have contributed to the poor blood pressure control. The high adherence rate may therefore have been over reported. An objective way tomeasure adherence will be necessary for future research.

scholarly journals Underweight and overweight in primary school children in eThekwini district in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

2011 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Threethambal Puckree ◽  
Pooveshni Naidoo ◽  
Prabashni Pillay ◽  
Therona Naidoo
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Public Schools ◽  
Primary School ◽  
School Children ◽  
Normal Weight ◽  
Overweight And Obesity ◽  
Primary School Children ◽  
World Health ◽  
Urban District ◽  
Kwazulu Natal

Background: The prevalence of overweight and obesity in children has been increasing worldwide. South Africa has minimal data on childhood body weight.Objectives: This study determined whether school children in the eThekwini district in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, were underweight or overweight.Method: A survey with quantitative and qualitative components was conducted amongst 120 participants between 10 years and 12 years of age. The participants were randomly selected from six public schools in an urban district of the province. A calibrated Goldline bathroom scale was used to measure body weight and a KDS Freo non-elastic measuring tape was used to measure height. A questionnaire consisting of open and close-ended questions collected demographic and lifestyle information. Body mass index (BMI) was calculated from height and weight data. Proportions of obese, overweight and underweight children were calculated and subjected to chi-square tests at the p ≤ 0.05 significance level. All qualitative information was summarised.Results: According to World Health Organization criteria, 66% of the children were underweight, 28% were of normal weight and 5% were overweight. The proportion of underweight children increased with age (64% of children aged between 10 years and 11 years vs 70% for 12-year-olds). Of the underweight children, 41% were female and 51% were Indian.Only one child was obese. BMI was related to dietary patterns and activity levels during and outside school hours.Conclusion: A significant number of primary school children from the six selected public schools in the eThekwini district were underweight. More effort is required to improve the nutritional status of school children in the eThekwini district.

scholarly journals Geographical variation in HIV testing in South Africa: Evidence from the 2017 national household HIV survey

2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sean Jooste ◽  
Musawenkosi Mabaso ◽  
Myra Taylor ◽  
Alicia North ◽  
Yolande Shean ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Hiv Testing ◽  
Secondary Analysis ◽  
District Level ◽  
Cluster Sampling ◽  
North West ◽  
Spatial Targeting ◽  
Home Based ◽  
Self Testing ◽  
Kwazulu Natal

Background: Identification of the geographical areas with low uptake of HIV testing could assist in spatial targeting of interventions to improve the uptake of HIV testing.Objectives: The objective of this research study was to map the uptake of HIV testing at the district level in South Africa.Method: The secondary analysis used data from the Human Sciences Research Council’s 2017 National HIV Prevalence, Incidence, Behaviour and Communication Survey, where data were collected using a multistage stratified random cluster sampling approach. Descriptive spatial methods were used to assess disparities in the proportion of those ever tested for HIV at the district level in South Africa.Results: The districts with the highest overall coverage of people ever having tested for HIV ( 85%) include West Rand in Gauteng, Lejweleputswa and Thabo Mofutsanyane in Free State, and Ngaka Modiri Molema in North-West. These provinces also had the least variation in HIV testing coverage between their districts. Districts in KwaZulu-Natal had the widest variation in coverage of HIV testing. The districts with the lowest uptake of HIV testing were uMkhanyakude (54.7%) and Ugu (61.4%) in KwaZulu-Natal and Vhembe (61.0%) in Limpopo. Most districts had a higher uptake of HIV testing amongst female than male participants.Conclusion: The uptake of HIV testing across various districts in South Africa seems to be unequal. Intervention programmes must improve the overall uptake of HIV testing, especially in uMkhanyakude and Ugu in KwaZulu-Natal and Vhembe in Limpopo. Interventions must also focus on enhancing uptake of HIV testing amongst male participants in most districts. Strategies that would improve the uptake of HIV testing include HIV self-testing and community HIV testing, specifically home-based testing.

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