Theses and Dissertations (Public Health)http://hdl.handle.net/10386/632024-03-29T12:52:34Z2024-03-29T12:52:34ZPrevalence of ear pathologies and associated risk factors in children aged 0-7 years attending Voortrekker Hospital in Mokopane, South AfricaMabasa, Hlamarisa Vadanilehttp://hdl.handle.net/10386/44422024-02-14T01:00:11Z2023-01-01T00:00:00ZPrevalence of ear pathologies and associated risk factors in children aged 0-7 years attending Voortrekker Hospital in Mokopane, South Africa
Mabasa, Hlamarisa Vadanile
Background: Ear pathologies such as middle ear infections are most common in children (Einhorn, 2017) and if remain untreated they can result in hearing loss which is the most common sensory deficit in the human population (Dawood, Klop, Oliver, Elliott, & Pillay, 2017). Globally, an estimated 34 million children have hearing loss and 60% percent of these childhood hearing loss cases can be prevented or cured, however, the inability to put intervention measures in place can result in apparently more than 900 million people living with hearing loss by the year 2050 (WHO, 2020). There is paucity of literature on factors contributing to ear pathologies in rural areas and therefore, the current study aimed to investigate the prevalence and associated factors for ear pathologies amongst children in a rural area of Limpopo Province.
Methods: A retrospective descriptive study was conducted which followed a quantitative approach. This study used secondary data from patient clinical records from a hospital in Limpopo Province. Patients’ records of children 7 years and below that were seen in the audiology department and were registered in the year 2018 January and December 2019 were reviewed. STATA statistical software version 12 for windows was used to analyse. Comparison between groups for continuous and categorical variables was performed using student ttest, and chi-square test, respectively. P-value less than 0.05 at 95% confidence level was regarded as significant.
Findings: There was no statistical significant difference between gender (p=0.978) and majority of patients files were in the age group 4 – 7 years at 54.4% followed by those in age group 1 – 3 years and less than 1 year at 37.9% and 7.6% respectively. Majority of the patients were diagnosed with impacted wax 40.6% and males were mostly diagnosed with impacted wax at 43.9% as compared to females at 37.3%. The prevalence of outer ear pathologies was 48.3% followed by prevalence of middle ear at 28.5% while inner ear had only 0.9% and the combined had 4.6%. The
prevalence of outer ear pathologies was high in females at 51.2% while the highest prevalence in males was in middle ear pathologies at 32.3%. In overall, for this study, more females than males presented with ear pathologies. Outer ear pathologies were found to be significantly associated with older children, lower respiratory tract infections (LRTI) and those having Moderate Acute Malnutrition (MAM), Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM), upper respiratory tract infections (URTI) and retroviral diseases (RVD). Middle ear pathologies were found to be significantly associated with older children, parotitis, MAM/SAM, LRTI and RVD. Inner ear pathologies were found to be significantly associated with congenital disorders.
Conclusion: More males presented with ear pathologies as compared to females and the prevalence of ear pathologies was high in the current study with outer ear pathologies leading followed by middle era pathologies. The risk factors for ear pathologies were LRTI, URTI, MAM/SAM, RVD, parotitis and congenital disorders. Impacted wax was the most typical diagnosis in both genders while Otitis Media was the least and this could be due to a lack of accessibility and availability of resources for early identification of inner ear disorders.
Thesis (MPH.) -- University of Limpopo, 2023
2023-01-01T00:00:00ZAntiretroviral therapy availability and equity of viral load testing for treatment follow-up at Eisleben Clinic, Limpopo ProvinceMokgehle, Belinda Mokgadihttp://hdl.handle.net/10386/43602023-10-26T01:00:09Z2023-01-01T00:00:00ZAntiretroviral therapy availability and equity of viral load testing for treatment follow-up at Eisleben Clinic, Limpopo Province
Mokgehle, Belinda Mokgadi
Background: Many studies have investigated patient-level causes of poor treatment
outcomes, data on the effect of health systems on ART outcomes are scarce.
Globally, ascending access to Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) viral load
testing for individuals living with HIV undergoing antiretroviral therapy in poor
settings is a health priority. The global roll-out of HIV treatment has saved millions of
lives: an estimated 16.5 million AIDS-related deaths have been averted since 2001.
Literatures indicates that there has been a rapid scale up in the provision of
Antiretroviral therapy (ART) in Sub Saharan Africa in the last decade with more than
7.5 million people receiving treatment by the end of 2012. In South Africa, HIV care
is provided by both the private and public sectors. Notwithstanding that majority of
public hospitals in South Africa have poor service delivery. The aim of the study is to
determine Antiretroviral Therapy Availability and Equity of viral load testing for
treatment follow-up at Eisleben clinic, Limpopo Province. Methodology: The study was qualitative in nature and used exploratory and descriptive design. The sampling of the study was purposive and involved nine (9) participants who met the criteria of the study: participants who are on antiretroviral therapy, 18years and above, both males and females. The study was conducted in Eisleben clinic, Capricorn district, Limpopo Province South Africa. Data collection was done through face to face interviews and analyzed using Thematic Content Analysis (TCA) to gain in-depth experience in the patients who are on treatment. Results and conclusion: The study found that barriers to access viral load testing were identified at all levels, health system, community level and patient level. This
study shows that there is lack of sufficient knowledge on the factors that controls
viral load suppression on patient who are taking ART. Some highlighted that the
clinicians who are offering the treatment in the clinics need to explain and teach
them to increase knowledge of the factors that controls the viral load suppression. It
has been observed that shortage of staff in Eisleben clinic contributes to lack of
health education to inform the patients about their health status. Amongst adult
patients in the region, various barriers to ART adherence have been identified: fear
of HIV status disclosure, HIV-related stigma, alcohol use and drug abuse,
forgetfulness, complicated ART regimens, pill burden, side effects, transportation
costs, and financial constraints.
Thesis (MPH.) -- University of Limpopo, 2023
2023-01-01T00:00:00ZPrevalence of conscientious objection to termination of pregnancy among health professionals in the Capricorn District of the Limpopo ProvinceMohale, Tshepo Kabelohttp://hdl.handle.net/10386/43582023-10-26T01:00:15Z2023-01-01T00:00:00ZPrevalence of conscientious objection to termination of pregnancy among health professionals in the Capricorn District of the Limpopo Province
Mohale, Tshepo Kabelo
Introduction: Women in South Africa have access to abortion services on demand thanks to the Choice on Termination of Pregnancy Act (CTOPA) 92 of 1996. The right to conscientious objection is one of the principal barriers to exercising this human right, which is protected by the constitution. In sub-Saharan African countries, there are little and questionable data on the prevalence of conscientious objection. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the prevalence of conscientious objections to the termination of pregnancy among healthcare professionals in the Capricorn District of Limpopo Province to ascertain the frequency of ethical objections to pregnancy termination among healthcare workers.
Methodology: A quantitative, descriptive cross-sectional research design was used to collect data from healthcare professionals at the healthcare facilities of the Capricorn District of Limpopo Province. The researcher used statistical software for Windows, such as Statistical Data Analysis version 15 (STATA, corporation, USA), and a p-value of less than 0.05 will be considered statistically significant.
Results: The overall prevalence of conscientious objection to termination of pregnancy was 55.4%. Conscientious objection to abortion was more common overall among both males and females as they aged. The healthcare professionals in the current study received were trained in a variety of methods to terminate a pregnancy, including manual vacuum aspiration, medical abortion, and dilatation and curettage. This study highlights the increasing rate of conscientious objection in the healthcare sector.
Discussion: The current study revealed that conscientious objection to termination of pregnancy is not unique to Capricorn District of Limpopo Province in South Africa. The current study found that conscientious objection to abortion was common. Contrary to other studies, religion was found not to be significantly associated with a conscientious objection to termination of pregnancy in the current study.
Thesis (MPH.) -- University of Limpopo, 2023
2023-01-01T00:00:00ZAssessment of employee wellness programme utilisation in the Department of Transport and Community Safety, Limpopo ProvinceRamokgola, Motlalepule Peterhttp://hdl.handle.net/10386/43022023-09-22T01:00:16Z2023-01-01T00:00:00ZAssessment of employee wellness programme utilisation in the Department of Transport and Community Safety, Limpopo Province
Ramokgola, Motlalepule Peter
Background: Employee Wellness Programmes (EWPs) is a comprehensive health
initiative which is a strategy to maintain and improve the well-being of employees. EWPs
are profoundly helpful in ensuring that the wellbeing of employees is taken care of. The
programme can be assessed by the programme developers to ensure that the
programme remains responsive to rapidly changing educational and healthcare settings.
The evaluation of EWPs has greater potential to influence its utilisation by employees.
This study sought to understand and document employee wellness programme utilisation
in the Department of Transport and Community Safety.
Objectives: To explore and describe employee wellness programme utilisation in the
Department of Transport and Community Safety in Limpopo Province.
Methods: The study used the qualitative research approach. Participants of the study
were full-time employees at the Department of Transport and Community Safety. Data
was collected through semi-structured interviews and the sample size was 15 participants
which was determined by saturation of data. Data was analysed through Thematic
Content Analysis. Results: Lack of wellness programme utilisation among employees and identified cases
of chronic illness, insufficient physical activity and those case that are stress related
amongst employees which were received at EWP component are associated with lack of
understanding for the programme. The study provides a useful qualitative enquiry of
employees at Department of Transport and Community Safety about the programme
utilisation. Conclusion: Many employees have concluded that Employee Wellness Programmes
intent to enhance and maintain the well-being of employees. However, in Department of
Transport and Community Safety (DTCS), there is a serious need for strengthening the
implementation of EWPs to improve utilisation.
Thesis (MPH.) -- University of Limpopo, 2023
2023-01-01T00:00:00Z