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Research Publications (Health Sciences)

Permanent URI for this collectionhttp://ir-dev.dut.ac.za/handle/10321/216

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    Experiences of homosexual patients’ access to primary health care services in Umlazi, KwaZulu-Natal
    (AOSIS OpenJournals, 2015) Cele, Nokulunga Harmorny; Sibiya, Maureen Nokuthula; Sokhela, Dudu Gloria
    Background: Homosexual patients are affected by social factors in their environment, and as a result may not have easy access to existing health care services. Prejudice against homosexuality and homosexual patients remains a barrier to them seeking appropriate health care. The concern is that lesbians and gays might delay or avoid seeking health care when they need it because of past discrimination or perceived homophobia within the health care thereby putting their health at risk. Aim of the study: The aim of the study was to explore and describe the experiences of homosexual patients utilising primary health care (PHC) services in Umlazi in the province of KwaZulu-Natal (KZN). Method: A qualitative, exploratory, descriptive study was conducted which was contextual in nature. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 12 participants. The findings of this study were analysed using content analysis. Results: Two major themes emerged from the data analysis, namely, prejudice against homosexual patients by health care providers and other patients at the primary health care facilities, and, homophobic behaviour from primary health care personnel. Conclusion: Participants experienced prejudice and homophobic behaviour in the course of utilising PHC clinics in Umlazi, which created a barrier to their utilisation of health services located there. Nursing education institutions, in collaboration with the National Department of Health, should introduce homosexuality and anti-homophobia education programmes during the pre-service and in-service education period. Such programmes will help to familiarise health care providers with the health care needs of homosexual patients and may decrease homophobic attitudes.
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    Integrating students with disabilities into nursing education : a South African perspective of nurse educators’ experiences
    (Elsevier BV, 2022) Moodley, Selvarani; Mchunu, Gugu
    Nurse educators play a pivotal role in integrating student nurses who have disabilities (SNWDs) in nursing education. Understanding the specific experiences of nurse educators may help reduce negative attitudes and discriminatory practices and improve the integration of SNWDs. This article aims to explore and describe nurse educators’ experiences of integrating SNWDs into nursing education institutions training programmes in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. A qualitative, descriptive, and exploratory design using a multiple embedded case study approach was adopted. Purposive sampling was used to collect data from five key informants via individual interviews and two focus group discussions comprising of nurse educators who had experience training SNWDs. Trustworthiness and ethical considerations such as obtaining individual written consent from each participant was maintained. Recordings were transcribed verbatim and analysed using conventional content analysis. This study concludes that while every effort was made to integrate SNWDs into nursing education, there are still important gaps not yet captured in the research, relating to the direct experiences of nurse educators. Nurse educators’ understanding of disability accentuates the call for nurse educators to broaden their understanding of disability beyond the medical model. Moreover, the lack of early disability disclosure disadvantages SNWDs from timeous support and reasonable accommodation.
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    Knowledge and attitudes about HIV infection and prevention of mother to child transmission of HIV in an urban, low income community in Durban, South Africa: Perspectives of residents and health care volunteers
    (AOSIS Publishing, 2016) Haffejee, Firoza; Ports, Katie A.; Mosavel, Maghboeba
    Background: HIV prevalence is high among South African women of reproductive age and transmission of HIV from mothers to children is a concern. This study ascertained the level of knowledge about HIV infection and prevention, particularly prevention of mother to child transmission (PMTCT) amongst South African women from a low income commu-nity. It also established the challenges in delivering HIV education from the perspectives of health care volunteers. Method: Female residents (n ¼ 67) from Kenneth Gardens, a low income community in Durban, South Africa were interviewed. In-depth semi-structured interviews were con-ducted with 12 health care volunteers who were either health care workers or residents who provided some form of social support in the community. Results: Themajority of respondents indicated that amother could transmit HIV to her child but were unable to specify how. Many women had general HIV/AIDS knowledge but were unable to identify essential prevention behaviours and were not very receptive to more information on HIV/AIDS. They were supportive of routine testing procedures and child bearing amongst HIV positive women. Health care volunteers indicated a need for a community clinic in the area. They also had limited knowledge of PMTCT and indicated that there was a need for more ed-ucation on HIV, particularly to encourage the youth and men to use preventative measures. Conclusion: Innovative ways to impart knowledge particularly of PMTCT and updated standards of practice are essential. It is important that the community understands how transmission occurs so that prevention can follow.
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    Sources of social support and sexual behaviour advice for young adults in rural South Africa
    (BMJ, 2018-01) Harling, Guy; Gumede, Dumile; Shahmanesh, Maryam; Pillay, Deenan; Bärnighausen, Till W.; Tanser, Frank
    While young people in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) are at greatest risk of HIV acquisition, uptake of HIV prevention interventions among them has been limited. Interventions delivered through social connections have changed behaviour in many settings, but not to date in SSA. There is little systematic evidence on whom young SSA adults turn to for advice. We therefore conducted an exploratory cross-sectional study from whom young rural South Africans received support and sexual behaviour-specific advice.

    Methods

    We asked 119 18-34  year olds in rural KwaZulu-Natal about the important people in their lives who provided emotional, informational, financial, physical, social or other support. We also asked whether they had discussed sex or HIV prevention with each contact named. We used descriptive statistics and logistic regression to analyse support and advice provision patterns.

    Results

    Respondents named 394 important contacts, each providing a mean of 1.7 types of support. Most contacts were relatives, same-gender friends or romantic partners. Relatives provided most informational, financial and physical support; friends and partners more social support and sexual advice. Respondents reported discussing sexual matters with 60% of contacts. Sources of support changed with age, from friends and parents, towards siblings and partners.

    Discussion

    Sexual health interventions for young adults in rural South Africa may be able to harness friend and same-generation kin social ties through which sex is already discussed, and parental ties through which other forms of support are transmitted. The gender-segregated nature of social connections may require separate interventions for men and women.