- University of KwaZulu-Natal
College of Health Sciences
Department of Public Health
2nd Floor George Campbell Building
Durban, 4001
South Africa - +250-791569646
- I am a Public Health and Research Methods specialist who's research interests focus on understanding the potential im... moreI am a Public Health and Research Methods specialist who's research interests focus on understanding the potential impact of climate change on vector borne diseases. I apply the knowledge gained from research methods and statistics to design flexible studies and apply various analytical approaches to have a deep understanding of the potential impacts of climate change on disease transmission and vector population dynamics.edit
Research Interests: Pathology, Sociology, Nursing, Pediatrics, Economics, and 14 moreSocioeconomics, Poverty, Economic Growth, Global Health, Environmental Health, Public Health, Medicine, Systematic Reviews, Breastfeeding, Population, Millennium Development Goals, Socioeconomic Status, Sanitation, and Per Capita Income
Research Interests: Pathology, Sociology, Nursing, Pediatrics, Economics, and 14 moreSocioeconomics, Poverty, Economic Growth, Global Health, Environmental Health, Public Health, Medicine, Systematic Reviews, Breastfeeding, Population, Millennium Development Goals, Socioeconomic Status, Sanitation, and Per Capita Income
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Systematic reviews (SR) and meta-analyses (MA) have become important in addressing specific questions of clinical importance and presenting evidence from an in-depth analysis of literature and aiding clinical decision-making. The... more
Systematic reviews (SR) and meta-analyses (MA) have become important in addressing specific questions of clinical importance and presenting evidence from an in-depth analysis of literature and aiding clinical decision-making. The “Systematic Reviews on infectious diseases” collection will address several important questions by summarizing large bodies of evidence in a reproducible and concise approach to advance our knowledge and understanding of infectious diseases.
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One of the most deadly neglected tropical diseases known to man is schistosomiasis. Understanding how the disease spreads and evaluating the relevant control strategies are key steps in predicting its spread. We propose a mathematical... more
One of the most deadly neglected tropical diseases known to man is schistosomiasis. Understanding how the disease spreads and evaluating the relevant control strategies are key steps in predicting its spread. We propose a mathematical model to evaluate the potential impact of four strategies: chemotherapy, awareness programs, the mechanical removal of snails and molluscicides, and the impact of a change in temperature on different molluscicide performances based on their half-lives and the length of time they persist in contact with target species. The results show that the recruitment rate of humans and the presence of cercaria and miracidia parasites are crucial factors in disease transmission. However, schistosomiasis can be entirely eradicated by combining all of the four strategies. In the face of climate change and molluscicide degradation, the results show that increasing the temperatures and the number of days a molluscicide persists in the environment before it completely d...
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Toxocariasis is an emerging zoonotic disease caused byToxocara canisandT.cati. Toxocariasis and its etiological agents are of global public health importance, whose burden appears underestimated, especially in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA).... more
Toxocariasis is an emerging zoonotic disease caused byToxocara canisandT.cati. Toxocariasis and its etiological agents are of global public health importance, whose burden appears underestimated, especially in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). The diversity in the transmission routes of these parasites contributes to disease prevalence and often hinders disease control measures. This study aimed to review the epidemiological distribution ofToxocarainfections in SSA region. A systematic review and meta-analysis were performed using PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis). We identified 94 relevant, peer-reviewed articles, out of which, 75 articles were found eligible based onToxocarainfections in dogs, cats and humans. Overall, 27,102 samples were examined forT. canisin dogs,T. catiin cats andToxocaraserology in humans, out of which 6142 were positive forToxocarainfection: 3717 (13.7%) in dogs (faecal, 3487; necropsy, 180; hair, 50); 266 (1%) in cats (faec...
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Background The attainment of targets set for modern contraceptive use remains a challenge in sub-Saharan Africa. Rwanda, in its new Family Planning and Adolescent Sexual Reproductive Health/Family Planning (FP/ASRH) Strategic Plan... more
Background The attainment of targets set for modern contraceptive use remains a challenge in sub-Saharan Africa. Rwanda, in its new Family Planning and Adolescent Sexual Reproductive Health/Family Planning (FP/ASRH) Strategic Plan 2018–2024 has set the attainment of a contraceptive prevalence rate (CPR) of 60% by 2024. To achieve this, identifying factors that enhance modern contraceptive use among sexually active women is critical. Methods We used three Rwanda Demographic Health Surveys (RDHS) datasets collected in 2010, 2015, and 2019/2020 in a multivariable decomposition analysis technique to describe trends and identify factors influencing change in modern contraceptive use among sexually active women aged 15–49 years. Results presented as coefficients and percentages took into consideration the complex survey design weighted using StataSE 17. Results Modern contraceptive use increased from 40% in 2010 to 52.4% in 2020 among sexually active women. About 23.7% of the overall perc...
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Background: Schistosomiasis, due to S. mansoni, is prevalent in Rwanda. However, there is a paucity of information related to the abundance, species, distribution, and infectivity of Schistosoma intermediate host snails. Methods: Snails... more
Background: Schistosomiasis, due to S. mansoni, is prevalent in Rwanda. However, there is a paucity of information related to the abundance, species, distribution, and infectivity of Schistosoma intermediate host snails. Methods: Snails were collected from 71 sites, including lakeshores and wetlands. Snails obtained were morphologically identified, and cercariae were shed using standard procedures. Cercariae were molecularly characterized using PCR. GPS coordinates were used to generate geospatial maps of snail distribution that were overlaid with geospatial distribution of schistosomiasis among pre-school children in the same areas. Results: Overall, 3653 snails were morphologically classified as Bulinus spp. and 1449 as Biomphalaria spp. A total of 306 snails shed cercariae, 130 of which were confirmed as S. mansoni cercaria by PCR. There was no significant difference in the proportion of S. mansoni cercariae in wetlands compared to lakeshores. Conclusion: Rwandan water bodies har...
Background Patients’ views and experiences in healthcare institutions provide a means of assessing the quality of services patients receive from healthcare workers (HCWs). However, the views of patients on the health promotion (HP) and... more
Background Patients’ views and experiences in healthcare institutions provide a means of assessing the quality of services patients receive from healthcare workers (HCWs). However, the views of patients on the health promotion (HP) and disease prevention (DP) services offered by HCWs and the delivery mode have not been adequately studied. Aim This study assessed the views of patients on HP and DP services provided by various categories of HCWs. Setting The study was conducted at a tertiary hospital in the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality, South Africa. Method An exploratory cross-sectional study was conducted among 500 patients. The questionnaire elicited responses from patients regarding the HP and DP services received from the different cadres of HCWs at three different admission phases: pre-admission phase (PAP), admission phase (ADP), and post-admission phase (POP). Descriptive, bivariate, and multivariate analysis was conducted. Results In the PAP, most patients (83.33%, n = 5; ...
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Review question / Objective: What is the epidemiology and effectiveness of control measures for foot and mouth disease in African countries?’ PICOS: Description of elements Population/ problem/Setting: Artiodactyla (cloven ungulates),... more
Review question / Objective: What is the epidemiology and effectiveness of control measures for foot and mouth disease in African countries?’ PICOS: Description of elements Population/ problem/Setting: Artiodactyla (cloven ungulates), domestic (cattle, sheep, goats, and pigs), camels and wildlife (buffaloes, deer, antelope, wild pigs, elephant, giraffe, and camelids) affected by Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) or Hoof and Mouth Disease (HMD) caused by the Foot and Mouth Disease Virus (FMDV) in Africa. Intervention: Prevention measures: vaccination, ‘biosafety and biosecurity’, sensitization of the public. Control measures: quarantine, movement control, closure of markets and stock routes, mouth swabbing of animals with infected materials (old technique that is no long applicable), culling, mass slaughter, stamping out and any other interventions or control measures generally accepted by the ‘community of practice’ of animal health practitioners. Comparator: areas that did not have any ...
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Background Understanding the national burden and epidemiological profile of childhood malnutrition is central to achieving both national and global health priorities. However, national estimates of malnutrition often conceal large... more
Background Understanding the national burden and epidemiological profile of childhood malnutrition is central to achieving both national and global health priorities. However, national estimates of malnutrition often conceal large geographical disparities. This study examined the prevalence of childhood malnutrition across provinces in Zambia, changes over time, and identified factors associated with the changes. Methods We analyzed data from the 2013/4 and 2018 Zambia demographic and health surveys (ZDHS) to examine the spatial heterogeneity and mesoscale correlates of the dual burden of malnutrition in children in Zambia. Maps illustrating the provincial variation of childhood malnutrition were constructed. Socio-demographic and clinical factors associated with childhood malnutrition in 2013 and 2018 were assessed independently using a multivariate logistic model. Results Between 2013/4 and 2018, the average prevalence of stunting decreased from 40.1% (95% CI: 39.2–40.9) to 34.6% ...
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<p>Simulated and experimentally observed [<a href="http://www.plosntds.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pntd.0006651#pntd.0006651.ref010" target="_blank">10</a>] snail (a) fecundity (egg masses... more
<p>Simulated and experimentally observed [<a href="http://www.plosntds.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pntd.0006651#pntd.0006651.ref010" target="_blank">10</a>] snail (a) fecundity (egg masses produced per snail per week over an 11-week period, mean and 95% CI are presented for experimentally observed fecundity) and (b) survival (proportion surviving after 11 weeks, mean and 95% CI are presented for experimentally observed survival) under the indicated temperatures, as well as (c) snail population dynamics (relative abundance) simulated under seasonally varying temperatures representative of generally favorable environmental conditions [<a href="http://www.plosntds.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pntd.0006651#pntd.0006651.ref003" target="_blank">3</a>].</p
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Disease distribution is correlated to the distribution of the freshwater snails which in turn is influenced by the physicochemical status of the habitats. This study aimed to evaluate freshwater snail species diversity, abundance, and... more
Disease distribution is correlated to the distribution of the freshwater snails which in turn is influenced by the physicochemical status of the habitats. This study aimed to evaluate freshwater snail species diversity, abundance, and distribution in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) province, South Africa, between December 2020 to February 2021. A total of 4576 freshwater snails consisting of 8 species were collected from 127 sites in 11 districts. Tarebia granifera snails were the most abundant (n = 2201), while bivalves (n = 95) were the least abundant. The highest and least Shannon–Weiner Simpson’s diversity indices were recorded in Ugu and iLembe districts, respectively. A negative relationship was observed between rainfall, Bulinus tropicus, Lymnaea natalensis, bivalves, and Physa acuta, while temperature had a positive relationship with B. globosus, B. pfeifferi, and T. granifera. A positive relationship was observed between B. globosus and B. pfeifferi (r = 0.713, p < 0.05). Snail pres...
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Diabetic retinopathy is a vascular disease of the retina that affects patients with uncontrolled diabetes. Untreated diabetic retinopathy (DR) can eventually lead to blindness. To date, diabetic retinopathy is the third leading cause of... more
Diabetic retinopathy is a vascular disease of the retina that affects patients with uncontrolled diabetes. Untreated diabetic retinopathy (DR) can eventually lead to blindness. To date, diabetic retinopathy is the third leading cause of vision loss in the working class globally. Frequent retinal screening for all diabetic people is an effective method of preventing diabetic retinopathy blindness. This has relied on the use of ophthalmologists, but due to scarce resources, such as a shortage of human resources for eye health, this has denied many patients quality eye health care in a resource-limited setting. The recent advances on the use of teleophthalmology are promising to close this gap. This study aimed to map available evidence on the use of teleophthalmology in the screening of DR globally and to explore how this can be used to complement short-staffed eye clinics, especially in resource-constrained contexts. Studies were sourced from Google Scholar, PubMed, Science Direct, a...
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Efforts to interrupt and eliminate schistosomiasis as a public health problem have increased in several Southern African countries. A systematic review was carried out on the infection rates of snails that cause schistosomiasis in humans.... more
Efforts to interrupt and eliminate schistosomiasis as a public health problem have increased in several Southern African countries. A systematic review was carried out on the infection rates of snails that cause schistosomiasis in humans. The searches were conducted in PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus databases, using the PRISMA guidelines from inception to 24 February 2022. The study quality was assessed by using the Joanna Briggs Institute prevalence critical appraisal checklist. Pooled infection rates were estimated by using an inverse variance heterogeneity model, while heterogeneity was determined by using Cochran’s Q test and Higgins i2 statistics. A total of 572 articles were screened, but only 28 studies were eligible for inclusion based on predetermined criteria. In the selected studies, 82,471 Bulinus spp. and 16,784 Biomphalaria spp. snails were screened for cercariae. The pooled infectivity of schistosome intermediate host snails, Biomphalaria spp., and Bulinus spp. we...
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Supplemental material, sj-xlsx-13-jvi-10.1177_02646196211055924 for Prevalence of blindness and its major causes in sub-Saharan Africa in 2020: A systematic review and meta-analysis by Zamadonda Nokuthula Xulu-Kasaba and Chester Kalinda... more
Supplemental material, sj-xlsx-13-jvi-10.1177_02646196211055924 for Prevalence of blindness and its major causes in sub-Saharan Africa in 2020: A systematic review and meta-analysis by Zamadonda Nokuthula Xulu-Kasaba and Chester Kalinda in The British Journal of Visual Impairment
Supplemental material, sj-xlsx-15-jvi-10.1177_02646196211055924 for Prevalence of blindness and its major causes in sub-Saharan Africa in 2020: A systematic review and meta-analysis by Zamadonda Nokuthula Xulu-Kasaba and Chester Kalinda... more
Supplemental material, sj-xlsx-15-jvi-10.1177_02646196211055924 for Prevalence of blindness and its major causes in sub-Saharan Africa in 2020: A systematic review and meta-analysis by Zamadonda Nokuthula Xulu-Kasaba and Chester Kalinda in The British Journal of Visual Impairment
Supplemental material, sj-tif-6-jvi-10.1177_02646196211055924 for Prevalence of blindness and its major causes in sub-Saharan Africa in 2020: A systematic review and meta-analysis by Zamadonda Nokuthula Xulu-Kasaba and Chester Kalinda in... more
Supplemental material, sj-tif-6-jvi-10.1177_02646196211055924 for Prevalence of blindness and its major causes in sub-Saharan Africa in 2020: A systematic review and meta-analysis by Zamadonda Nokuthula Xulu-Kasaba and Chester Kalinda in The British Journal of Visual Impairment
Supplemental material, sj-tif-3-jvi-10.1177_02646196211055924 for Prevalence of blindness and its major causes in sub-Saharan Africa in 2020: A systematic review and meta-analysis by Zamadonda Nokuthula Xulu-Kasaba and Chester Kalinda in... more
Supplemental material, sj-tif-3-jvi-10.1177_02646196211055924 for Prevalence of blindness and its major causes in sub-Saharan Africa in 2020: A systematic review and meta-analysis by Zamadonda Nokuthula Xulu-Kasaba and Chester Kalinda in The British Journal of Visual Impairment
Supplemental material, sj-tif-11-jvi-10.1177_02646196211055924 for Prevalence of blindness and its major causes in sub-Saharan Africa in 2020: A systematic review and meta-analysis by Zamadonda Nokuthula Xulu-Kasaba and Chester Kalinda in... more
Supplemental material, sj-tif-11-jvi-10.1177_02646196211055924 for Prevalence of blindness and its major causes in sub-Saharan Africa in 2020: A systematic review and meta-analysis by Zamadonda Nokuthula Xulu-Kasaba and Chester Kalinda in The British Journal of Visual Impairment
The prevalence of visual impairment (VI) continues to rise, despite efforts to reduce it. The burden of disease negatively impacts the quality of life, education opportunities, and other developments in various communities. Henceforth,... more
The prevalence of visual impairment (VI) continues to rise, despite efforts to reduce it. The burden of disease negatively impacts the quality of life, education opportunities, and other developments in various communities. Henceforth, this study aimed to determine and quantify the major causes of VI in South Africa, to ensure accurate interventions in addressing them and to reduce the burden of ocular disease in that context. A systematic scoping review was conducted to map evidence on VI and ocular diseases, using the PRISMA-P guidelines. English studies were searched for on PubMed, Google Scholar, and EBSCOhost using various search terms. The eligible articles underwent screening and ultimately data extraction to identify major causes of VI in South Africa. A meta-analysis further resulted in pooled prevalence estimates (PPE) using the Inverse Variance Heterogeneity (IVhet) model. Of the 13,527 studies screened at three levels, 10 studies met the inclusion criteria for the final ...
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Quality Assessment of individaul studies. This is a tool that was used for critical appraisal of the studies included in the review. This tool was modified from the initially developed by Downes and Brennan [27] (DOCX 23 kb)
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STROBE checklist. Checklist used in writing the manuscript. (DOCX 18 kb)
Description of terms. Terms applicable to the Zambian health care system at the time the study was conducted. (DOCX 17 kb)
Data collection tool. Hospital Respondents Questionnaire. Includes Respondents information, written consent and description of terms. (DOC 465 kb)
Multilingual abstracts in the five official working languages of the United Nations. (PDF 820Â kb)
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Timely uptake of Antiretroviral therapy considerably improves the health of people living with the Human Immunodeficiency virus. We conducted a cross-sectional study of newly HIV diagnosed individuals in four clinics in eThekwini... more
Timely uptake of Antiretroviral therapy considerably improves the health of people living with the Human Immunodeficiency virus. We conducted a cross-sectional study of newly HIV diagnosed individuals in four clinics in eThekwini municipality, KwaZulu-Natal. Data was collected between June 2020 and December 2020. Participants completed an interviewer-administered questionnaire after HIV testing, on the day of HIV diagnosis. We evaluated factors influencing uptake of same-day ART initiation in eThekwini clinics, KwaZulu Natal, South Africa. Demographic information, health status, sexual behaviour, knowledge of universal test and treat (UTT), ART initiation uptake, and disclosure data was collected. Among the 403 participants, same-day initiation (SDI) was 69.2% (n = 279). We observed the number of sexual partners (aOR 0.35; 95% CI 0.15–0.81), HIV status of the partner (aOR 5.03; 95% CI 2.74–9.26) and knowledge of UTT (aOR 1.97; 95% CI 1.34–2.90) were identified as major factors influ...
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Health promotion (HP) and disease prevention (DP) practices among healthcare workers (HCWs) are key to achieving universal health coverage. This study identified HP and DP enablers and hindrances and compared them at different healthcare... more
Health promotion (HP) and disease prevention (DP) practices among healthcare workers (HCWs) are key to achieving universal health coverage. This study identified HP and DP enablers and hindrances and compared them at different healthcare levels in Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality, South Africa. An exploratory cross-sectional study using a structured questionnaire was conducted among HCWs (n = 501) from 23 hospitals. Bivariate and multinomial regression were used to analyze the data. The highest number of participants (70.46%; n = 353) were from tertiary hospitals. Thirteen and Eight categories of enablers and hindrances respectively were identified. Of these, eleven enablers and six hindrances of HP and DP were associated with tertiary hospitals; no enabler was identified at both primary and secondary while one hindrance was associated with primary level of health care. Collaboration among disciplines and organizations (Coeff: 2.16, 95% CI: 1.28–3.66) and programme planning (Coeff: 0.375, 95% CI: 0.23–0.62) were the predictors of HP and DP among medical doctors, while staff induction training (Coeff: 0.62, 95% CI: 0.40–0.95) and performance appraisal (Coeff: 1.86, 95% CI: 1.16–2.98) were the enablers among allied health workers. On the other hand, ‘facility promoting treatment more than prevention’ (Coeff: 2.03, 95% CI: 1.30–3.14) and ‘practice guidelines incorporating HP’ (Coeff: 2.79, 95% CI: 1.66–4.70) were the predictors of HP and DP hindrances among medical doctors and allied health workers respectively. Our work indicates the need for an operational strategy designed considering enabling and hindering factors to HP and DP practices for empowering HCWs and enhancing health outcomes.
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Supplemental material, sj-docx-1-whe-10.1177_17455065211060641 for Factors associated with modern contraceptive use: a comparative analysis between younger and older women in Umlazi Township, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa by Mbuzeleni... more
Supplemental material, sj-docx-1-whe-10.1177_17455065211060641 for Factors associated with modern contraceptive use: a comparative analysis between younger and older women in Umlazi Township, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa by Mbuzeleni Hlongwa, Chester Kalinda, Karl Peltzer and Khumbulani Hlongwana in Women's Health
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Multilingual abstract in the five official working languages of the United Nations. (PDF 762Â kb)
Background: Toxoplasma gondii is an apicomplexan parasite with zoonotic importance worldwide especially in pregnant women and immunocompromised people. This study is set to review the literature on T. gondii infections in humans and... more
Background: Toxoplasma gondii is an apicomplexan parasite with zoonotic importance worldwide especially in pregnant women and immunocompromised people. This study is set to review the literature on T. gondii infections in humans and animals in southern Africa. Methods: We extracted data regarding T. gondii infections from published articles from southern Africa from 1955 to 2020 from four databases, namely Google Scholar, PubMed, EBSCO Host, and Science Direct. Forty articles from eight southern African countries were found eligible for the study. Results: This review revealed a paucity of information on T. gondii infection in southern African countries, with an overall prevalence of 17% (95% CI: 7–29%). Domestic felids had a prevalence of 29% (95% CI: 7–54%), wild felids 79% (95% CI: 60–94), canids (domestic and wild) 69% (95% CI: 38–96%), cattle 20% (95% CI: 5–39%), pigs 13% (95% CI: 1–29%), small ruminants (goats and sheep) 11% (95% CI: 0–31%), chicken and birds 22% (95% CI: 0–84...
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Purpose This prospective study was aimed at assessing the ability of 99mTc-PSMA scan to detect bone metastases in prostate cancer (PCa) against 99mTc-MDP scan as a standard and assess the correlation of these modalities in PCa staging of... more
Purpose This prospective study was aimed at assessing the ability of 99mTc-PSMA scan to detect bone metastases in prostate cancer (PCa) against 99mTc-MDP scan as a standard and assess the correlation of these modalities in PCa staging of bone involvement. Patients and Methods Forty-one patients (41) with histologically confirmed PCa were scanned using both methods. Planar imaging was performed with additional regional SPECT/CT 3 to 4 hours posttracer injection. Scans were reported as positive, negative, or equivocal. In the case of positive scans, lesions were quantified by each of the 3 reporters separately. Planar and SPECT/CT images were reported together to obtain the final report on each scan. Results Our preliminary results showed no significant difference in the detection of bone metastases between the 2 scans. 99mTc-PSMA detected 52 of the 55 bone lesions detected on 99mTc-MDP. However, 99mTc-PSMA provided extra information by reporting lymph nodal metastases in 7 patients a...
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Background: Global studies show that the prevalence of visual impairment and blindness continued to rise despite the implementation of strategies outlined in the Global Action Plan, aimed at reducing these by the year 2020. Vision... more
Background: Global studies show that the prevalence of visual impairment and blindness continued to rise despite the implementation of strategies outlined in the Global Action Plan, aimed at reducing these by the year 2020. Vision impairment impacts negatively on one’s independence, opportunities, and quality of life. Therefore, knowledge of the prevalence, and the major causes of blindness impairment in any population, is vital in designing strategies to address this public health challenge. Methods: Literature mapping evidence of vision impairment was searched for on PubMed, Google Scholar, and EBSCOhost databases MEDLINE, Health Source: Nursing/Academic Edition, Health Source – Consumer Edition, CINAHL, and Academic Search Complete. Studies that were searched for included peer-reviewed and grey literature published in English from various countries in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Results: Only 77 studies with 191,173 participants, contributing data from 26 countries within SSA, met ...
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Brucellosis is a zoonosis global importance. Brucella abortus and Brucella melitensis are the main species responsible for this disease in humans and production losses in domestic ruminants. Unpasteurized milk, home-made cheese and ice... more
Brucellosis is a zoonosis global importance. Brucella abortus and Brucella melitensis are the main species responsible for this disease in humans and production losses in domestic ruminants. Unpasteurized milk, home-made cheese and ice cream, and meat present a risk for human infection. Brucellosis is an occupational hazard for professionals that are in regular contact with animals and animal products, such as veterinarians, butchers, and livestock farmers. This disease is often overlooked by public health authorities in developing countries due to insufficient human resources and laboratory capacity for diagnosis or surveillance as well as the presence of other acute febrile illnesses, such as malaria and typhoid, that confound clinical diagnosis of the disease. As a result, brucellosis is re-emerging worldwide, with global estimates of over 500,000 cases per year. Reports on human brucellosis in Namibia are limited. As a result, the epidemiology of the disease and its burden on th...
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Background: Measuring indicators for health promotion (HP) practice among healthcare workers is essential if health goals and objectives must be achieved. Such indicators provide connections between health policies and health outcomes;... more
Background: Measuring indicators for health promotion (HP) practice among healthcare workers is essential if health goals and objectives must be achieved. Such indicators provide connections between health policies and health outcomes; and ultimately add value to healthcare. This study identified indicators of health promotion among healthcare workers and compared them across levels of healthcare facilities in Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality, South Africa. Method: A cross sectional study involving 495 healthcare workers randomly sampled from 23 hospitals including primary, secondary, and tertiary level hospitals was conducted. Questionnaires were distributed to medical doctors, nurses, and allied health workers (AHW) such as social workers, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, and speech therapist. Questions (hereto referred to as dimensions) in the questionnaires were categorized to address Facility Related Indicators (FRI), Health worker related indicators (HRI) and Outcome ...
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Background: The distribution of ABO and Rh blood groups varies from one population to another attributable to underlying geographic, genetic and ethnic diversity. Despite the presence of a large number of blood groups, these two (2)... more
Background: The distribution of ABO and Rh blood groups varies from one population to another attributable to underlying geographic, genetic and ethnic diversity. Despite the presence of a large number of blood groups, these two (2) blood groups play a major role in modern medicine, anthropology and genetic research. We conducted a study to determine the distribution of ABO and Rh blood groups among blood donors in a population of Namibia. Methods and Materials: We carried out a retrospective cross sectional study among 809 Namibian blood donors aged between 16 to 65 years from the Namibia Blood Transfusion Services in Windhoek, Namibia. Data were extracted from the blood bank's database using systematic random sampling from all participants whose blood samples were tested using a slide agglutination test. Results: More donors were young adults in the age group 17-31 years. Blood group O was found to be widely distributed (54%, n=445), followed by A (22.2%, n=180) and B (21....
Background Healthcare professionals (HCPs) play a pivotal role in ensuring access to quality healthcare of patients. However, their role in health promotion (HP) and disease prevention (DP) has not been fully explored. This study aimed at... more
Background Healthcare professionals (HCPs) play a pivotal role in ensuring access to quality healthcare of patients. However, their role in health promotion (HP) and disease prevention (DP) has not been fully explored. This study aimed at determining how training, attitude, and practice (TAP) of HCPs influence their practice of HP and DP. Methods Data on TAP regarding HP and DP were collected from 495 HCPs from twenty-three hospitals in the study area using a standardized questionnaire. Bivariate, univariate, and multivariate analyses were conducted to describe how the TAP of HCPs influence their HP and DP practices. The analysis was further desegregated at the three levels of healthcare (primary, secondary and tertiary levels). Results Most of the medical doctors 36.12% (n = 173), registered nurses 28.39% (n = 136), and allied health professionals (AHPs) 11.27% (n = 54) indicated the absence of coordinated HP training for staff in their facilities. Similarly, 32.93% (n = 193) of th...
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Background: Closing the gap of unmet needs for family planning (FP) in sub-Saharan Africa remains critical in improving maternal and child health outcomes. Determining the prevalence of unmet needs for family planning among married women... more
Background: Closing the gap of unmet needs for family planning (FP) in sub-Saharan Africa remains critical in improving maternal and child health outcomes. Determining the prevalence of unmet needs for family planning among married women in the reproductive age is vital for designing effective sexual reproductive health interventions and programmes. Here, we use nationally representative data drawn from sub-Saharan countries to estimate and examine heterogeneity of unmet needs for family planning among currently married women of reproductive age. Methods: This study used secondary data from Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS) conducted between January 1, 1995 to December 31, 2020 from 37 countries in sub-Saharan African. An Inverse Heterogeneity model (IVhet) in MetaXL application was used to estimate country and sub-regional level pooled estimates and confidence intervals of unmet needs for FP in SSA. Results: The overall prevalence of unmet need for family planning among married ...
Background: Head computed tomography (head CT) examinations conducted at emergency departments (EDs) for non-trauma patients are expensive and expose patients to ionizing radiation. Identification of symptoms likely to yield abnormal head... more
Background: Head computed tomography (head CT) examinations conducted at emergency departments (EDs) for non-trauma patients are expensive and expose patients to ionizing radiation. Identification of symptoms likely to yield abnormal head CT scans can reduce costs and prevent unnecessary patient irradiation. There is limited comprehensive data in the literature concerning the utilization of head CT in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) EDs.Methods: A retrospective study of successive non-contrasted head CT scans from February 2017 through January 2018 performed on non-trauma ED patients aged 18 years and above without known pre-existing intracranial pathology was conducted. Univariate and multivariate logistic models were used to determine which presenting clinical features were likely to yield abnormal head CT findings. Clinical information was obtained from the history and physical examination findings entered on the requisition form by the ED clinicians and from previous he...