{"title":"Recent South African court rulings on failing to disclose HIV status to sexual partners.","authors":"Jillian B Gardner, Siraaj Khan","doi":"10.4102/safp.v66i1.6014","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4102/safp.v66i1.6014","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>In South Africa, the sexual transmission of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) between partners is criminalised under general criminal law offences such as attempted murder, assault and rape, despite the absence of specific HIV-related legislation. Recent court cases have opened the door to securing convictions.Contribution: These cases highlight the serious legal consequences of non-disclosure and the importance of consent to sexual intercourse. Health professionals in South Africa have a legal and ethical duty to counsel patients on HIV and may be obligated to inform patients who refuse to disclose their status to their partners about the potential legal implications under South African criminal law.</p>","PeriodicalId":22040,"journal":{"name":"South African Family Practice","volume":"66 1","pages":"e1-e4"},"PeriodicalIF":1.2,"publicationDate":"2024-12-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142847815","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Prevalence and risk factors of osteoarthritis in patients at a public hospital in Limpopo province.","authors":"Tsundzuka Masangu, Boikhutso Tlou, Thembelihle Dlungwane","doi":"10.4102/safp.v66i1.5966","DOIUrl":"10.4102/safp.v66i1.5966","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Osteoarthritis (OA) is a public health concern affecting millions globally. Osteoarthritis has been ranked as the 12th leading cause of disability among the ageing population globally. In addition, OA can lead to disability, which can affect the quality of life and physical and emotional well-being.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A cross-sectional survey was conducted. An interviewer-administered questionnaire was utilised. Logistic regression was used to identify OA-related factors in the univariable and multivariable models. A p-value less than 0.05 was deemed statistically significant.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>A total of 210 participants responded to the questionnaire. The overall prevalence of OA at the public hospital was 55.7% in adults over 18 years willing to participate. Among the study participants, females, individuals over the age of 50 years, and obese patients reported a high prevalence of OA. Family history and knee and hip pain were significantly associated with OA (p 0.05). Participants with a family history of OA were 6.9 times more likely to have OA, those with knee pain were 22.8 times more likely and those with hip pain were 5.5 times more likely after adjusting for the other variables.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>A high proportion of patients reported to have OA. Family history, knee pain and hip pain were strongly associated with OA. Understanding the prevalence and risk factors associated with OA is crucial for developing targeted interventions for prevention and management.Contribution: Targeted health promotion and education interventions are needed for prevention and early management.</p>","PeriodicalId":22040,"journal":{"name":"South African Family Practice","volume":"66 1","pages":"e1-e6"},"PeriodicalIF":1.2,"publicationDate":"2024-11-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11622042/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142772459","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Princess Z Mkhize, Vinogrin Dorsamy, Olive P Khaliq, Jagidesa Moodley
{"title":"Nurses' knowledge to identify, prevent and manage hypertensive disorder of pregnancy.","authors":"Princess Z Mkhize, Vinogrin Dorsamy, Olive P Khaliq, Jagidesa Moodley","doi":"10.4102/safp.v66i1.5995","DOIUrl":"10.4102/safp.v66i1.5995","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy are major contributors to maternal mortality in South Africa. Preventative strategies in low- and middle-income countries emphasise frequent antenatal visits, symptom identification, patient education and the prophylactic use of calcium and low-dose aspirin to prevent HDP for nurses because they are the frontline workers at antenatal clinics countrywide.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This was a cross-sectional study where a self-administered questionnaire was conducted among nurses (midwives and professional nurses) employed at hospitals and clinics in Durban, South Africa, to assess their understanding and practices regarding identification and initial management of HDP, particularly for eclampsia and PE with severe features. The questionnaires were distributed in person by the researcher.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Of the 106 respondents, most (88.7%) worked in the public sector, with over 5 years of experience (64.9%). There was a varied understanding of HDP categories: 72.6% identified gestational hypertension correctly; 49.1%, chronic hypertension; 93.4% PE and 83.0% eclampsia. Knowledge of the recommended treatments for severe PE (55.7%) and eclampsia (66.0%) was moderate with respect to the recommended anticonvulsant and rapid-acting antihypertensive agents, with only 10% recognising the role of aspirin for the prevention of HDP.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Substantial knowledge deficiencies existed among nurses in managing HDP.Contribution: Their crucial role in both emergency and preventative care in South African healthcare settings, enhancing educational training on clinical management by providing continuous training and regular updates are imperative to reduce maternal and perinatal complications associated with HDP.</p>","PeriodicalId":22040,"journal":{"name":"South African Family Practice","volume":"66 1","pages":"e1-e7"},"PeriodicalIF":1.2,"publicationDate":"2024-11-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11622127/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142772457","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Acknowledgement to reviewers.","authors":"Editorial Office","doi":"10.4102/safp.v66i1.6066","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4102/safp.v66i1.6066","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":22040,"journal":{"name":"South African Family Practice","volume":"66 1","pages":"e1-e2"},"PeriodicalIF":1.2,"publicationDate":"2024-11-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142772442","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Deepa C Alexander, Leané Lessing, Huibré Botes, Fredré Conradie, Lu-Zahn Jansen van Rensburg, Karien Nel, Emmarentia Pienaar, Maryke Prinsloo, Lialma Sinclair, Cornel Van Rooyen
{"title":"The lifestyle factors of medical doctors in academic hospitals, Bloemfontein, Free State.","authors":"Deepa C Alexander, Leané Lessing, Huibré Botes, Fredré Conradie, Lu-Zahn Jansen van Rensburg, Karien Nel, Emmarentia Pienaar, Maryke Prinsloo, Lialma Sinclair, Cornel Van Rooyen","doi":"10.4102/safp.v66i1.5979","DOIUrl":"10.4102/safp.v66i1.5979","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Lifestyle factors of medical doctors are essential to their health and well-being. Previous studies omitted factors that constituted a healthy lifestyle and did not differentiate between various medical specialties or level of seniority which may expose doctors to different stress levels, workload and responsibility. The study assessed the lifestyle factors of medical doctors and compared them between departments, levels of seniority, years of experience and gender according to globally recognised health standards.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This descriptive cross-sectional study collected data using a questionnaire created by the researchers based on healthy lifestyle factors and was administered online. Access was given to all doctors from four large departments, employed at two academic hospitals in Bloemfontein, Free State who agreed to participate in the study.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Consultants from paediatrics, with 6+ years in medical practice, had the healthiest lifestyles. Registrars and interns from surgical disciplines such as obstetrics and gynaecology and surgery, with 1-5 years of medical practice, showed unhealthy lifestyles with inadequate sleep and exercise.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The challenge remains how medical doctors can live a healthy lifestyle while managing a demanding schedule. This may impact on the management of their patients and the doctors' overall health and well-being. We recommend improving the working conditions by providing healthy meals on-site at hospitals with adequate breaks, reducing the heavy workload and providing exercise facilities.Contribution: The findings from this article may help improve the lifestyles of the identified groups of at-risk doctors and assist them in seeking ways to improve upon this.</p>","PeriodicalId":22040,"journal":{"name":"South African Family Practice","volume":"66 1","pages":"e1-e8"},"PeriodicalIF":1.2,"publicationDate":"2024-10-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11538339/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142569532","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Keolebile I Ditlhabolo, Carien Lion-Cachet, Ebrahim Variava
{"title":"Hypertension guideline implementation and blood pressure control in Matlosana, South Africa.","authors":"Keolebile I Ditlhabolo, Carien Lion-Cachet, Ebrahim Variava","doi":"10.4102/safp.v66i1.5964","DOIUrl":"10.4102/safp.v66i1.5964","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>High systolic blood pressure remains a leading modifiable risk factor for cardiovascular diseases worldwide and in South Africa (SA). Information about the extent of guideline implementation and blood pressure (BP) control is lacking in Matlosana Sub-district, North West province, SA. The study aimed to assess the implementation of the South African Hypertension Practice Guideline (SAHPG) and BP control in adults attending primary care facilities in Matlosana.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Cross-sectional study was conducted, using 523 randomly sampled medical records. Data collected included demographic information, recorded BP readings, anthropometry, screening for target organ damage (TOD), hypertension complications, comorbidities, lifestyle advice and drug therapy.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>According to the reviewed records the mean age of the participants was 56.77 years with a standard deviation of 12.4 years and 376 (71.9%) records belonged to females. Blood pressure control was documented in 229 (43.8%) of the medical records, with better control recorded in a group with comorbid human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) than in groups with other comorbidities.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The study found poor documentation of the SAHPG recommendations among patients with hypertension. According to the patient records BP control was suboptimal, the most common documented comorbid illness was HIV, and screening for TOD was generally poorly documented.Contribution: Programmes that audit and improve the quality of hypertension guideline implementation and BP control in primary care require ongoing support and research.</p>","PeriodicalId":22040,"journal":{"name":"South African Family Practice","volume":"66 1","pages":"e1-e10"},"PeriodicalIF":1.2,"publicationDate":"2024-10-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11538291/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142569525","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Tobacco use and readiness to treat tobacco users among primary healthcare professionals in Soweto.","authors":"Ann N Alagidede, Olufemi B Omole","doi":"10.4102/safp.v66i1.5996","DOIUrl":"10.4102/safp.v66i1.5996","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Despite its hampering influence on the willingness of healthcare professionals (HCPs) to implement tobacco cessation treatments, the tobacco use status of these professionals remains understudied in South Africa.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This cross-sectional study, which sampled 444 HCPs, was conducted in five community health centres in Soweto. A self-administered questionnaire collected information on socio-demography, tobacco use, quit attempts and readiness to implement tobacco cessation treatments for their patients.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The mean age was 41 years. Most were female, 80% (n = 355); single, 54.1% (n = 240) and black professionals, 91.6% (n = 405). About 22% (n = 96) were ever-users of tobacco, 12.6% (n = 56) current users and 9% (n = 40) ex-users. About 56.6% (n = 30) of current users had contemplated quitting in the past year. Approximately 68% (n = 300) and 82.2% (n = 365) of respondents were ready and willing to implement tobacco cessation treatments, respectively. Only 32% (n = 143) of respondents had received any training on tobacco use and cessation treatments. There was no significant association between tobacco use and readiness to implement cessation treatments (p = 0.50).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Tobacco use is prevalent among HCPs and does not influence the implementation of cessation treatments in South African primary health care. Although most reported readiness and willingness to quit tobacco use, more training is required in both formal education and continued professional development.Contribution: This study demonstrates the alarming rate of tobacco product use among primary health care professionals in South Africa. While there is a strong willingness to implement tobacco cessation treatments for their patients, most healthcare professionals still require training to enhance their self-efficacy.</p>","PeriodicalId":22040,"journal":{"name":"South African Family Practice","volume":"66 1","pages":"e1-e11"},"PeriodicalIF":1.2,"publicationDate":"2024-10-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11538094/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142569534","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"A review of burnout among doctors in South Africa: Pre-, during and post-COVID-19 pandemic.","authors":"Saajida Khan, Itumeleng Ntatamala, Shahieda Adams","doi":"10.4102/safp.v66i1.6002","DOIUrl":"10.4102/safp.v66i1.6002","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Burnout is defined as a syndrome resulting from chronic workplace stress, which has been unsuccessfully managed. By increasing the occupational challenges faced by doctors, the COVID-19 pandemic potentiated their risk for burnout. This review aimed to determine the prevalence and determinants of burnout among doctors working in South African health facilities pre-, during and post-COVID-19 pandemic.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A narrative literature review was conducted. PubMed, SCOPUS and EBSCO databases were searched for English publications until April 2024.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>A total of 22 cross-sectional studies were included. The prevalence of burnout among doctors working in South African health facilities ranged from 4% to 84% pre-pandemic and 58.9% to 78.0% during and post pandemic, respectively. The lower value of the burnout prevalence range was higher during the pandemic. This review confirmed that individual factors (gender, age, marital status, junior status, practice setting) as well as occupational factors (workload, job control, moral distress, health system issues, job satisfaction, support at work and resilience) were associated with burnout in doctors. There was no significant association between burnout and factors related to COVID-19.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>While considerable variability exists in the prevalence of burnout among doctors working in South African health facilities, pre-, during and post-COVID-19 pandemic, the pandemic resulted in greater burnout rates. Factors associated with burnout include both individual and organisational factors, which need to be addressed to mitigate burnout.Contribution: Mitigation of burnout in South African health facilities should focus on individual-based and context-related interventional measures at an organisational level.</p>","PeriodicalId":22040,"journal":{"name":"South African Family Practice","volume":"66 1","pages":"e1-e10"},"PeriodicalIF":1.2,"publicationDate":"2024-10-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11538093/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142569522","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Oluremi A Odubanjo, Brent Tipping, Lara S Greenstein
{"title":"Medication adherence in geriatric patients attending medical outpatient department.","authors":"Oluremi A Odubanjo, Brent Tipping, Lara S Greenstein","doi":"10.4102/safp.v66i1.6011","DOIUrl":"10.4102/safp.v66i1.6011","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Adherence to medication represents a challenge in managing chronic conditions in the geriatric population. This study assessed adherence rates and factors affecting adherence of geriatric patients attending the Helen Joseph Hospital outpatient department.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This was a prospective cross-sectional study of 130 patients aged 65 years and older, with at least two chronic conditions. Participants were administered a survey incorporating the Medication Adherence Rating Scale and the Adherence Barrier Questionnaire to identify medication adherence and patient-specific barriers to adherence, respectively. These instruments are reliable and valid.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Descriptive statistics and logistic regression were used for analysis. Most patients were female (63%) with a mean age of 72 (67-78) years. Common comorbidities included type 2 diabetes mellitus (63%), hypertension (98%), dyslipidaemia (92%) and congestive cardiac failure (38%). Polypharmacy was prevalent, affecting 53% of the participants. Despite 96% of participants being adherent, all had at least one barrier to adherence, with the majority (65%) having more than one barrier. The main barriers were forgetfulness (59%), fear of side effects (39%), problems with taking the medications (26%) and believing medications are poisonous (22%). Although most participants accessed the pharmacy easily, only 83% reported consistent medication availability and 11% could not afford to collect their medication.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Polypharmacy is common in the population. Despite high adherence rates, barriers such as believing medications are poisonous remain significant. A good patient-doctor relationship improves adherence.Contribution: Understanding the barriers to adherence in older adults with polypharmacy and multimorbidity can assist practitioners improve patient care.</p>","PeriodicalId":22040,"journal":{"name":"South African Family Practice","volume":"66 1","pages":"e1-e8"},"PeriodicalIF":1.2,"publicationDate":"2024-10-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11538091/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142569528","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Monitoring patients on ART within the CCMDD programme and those attending an urban healthcare facility in KwaZulu-Natal.","authors":"Sheldon Chetty, Andrew Ross","doi":"10.4102/safp.v66i1.5972","DOIUrl":"10.4102/safp.v66i1.5972","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>South Africa has high number of patients on antiretroviral treatment, necessitating innovative approaches to decongest healthcare facilities. The Central Chronic Medicines Dispensing and Distribution (CCMDD) programme is a national initiative that identifies stable chronic patients for collection at pick-up points away from the health facility. This study aimed to compare patient satisfaction and virological suppression among those who collected medication through the CCMDD programme and routine care.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This descriptive retrospective analytical study was conducted at a community health centre in Pietermaritzburg from 01 January 2018 to 31 December 2018 and included a questionnaire and access to their medical records on the national medicines database. The 117 patients in the routine care and CCMDD programme groups were assessed at baseline and evaluated at 6 months and 12 months, which were the time points for viral load (VL) testing.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Of the 234 participants, 34 out of 117 (31.6%) remained in routine care at the 6-month review, and all but 7 patients had transferred to the CCMDD after 12 months. At the end of the study, 7 patients had VLs above 50 copies/mL and continued in routine care, while 97% (n = 27/234) remained virologically suppressed. None of the CCMDD programme patients moved out of the programme.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Satisfaction with the CCMDD programme is indicated by the patients' continued VL suppression, highlighting its potential to decongest healthcare facilities and reduce the strain associated with medication collection.Contribution: The findings in this study validate patients being registered onto the CCMDD programme.</p>","PeriodicalId":22040,"journal":{"name":"South African Family Practice","volume":"66 1","pages":"e1-e7"},"PeriodicalIF":1.2,"publicationDate":"2024-10-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11538391/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142569530","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}