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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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Author: search.filters.author.Ngxongo, Thembelihle Sylvia PatienceHas files: Yes

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    Experiences and views of the pregnant women regarding the Basic Antenatal Care approach to health care services provision in eThekwini district, KwaZulu-Natal
    (Research and Reviews, 2016-12-23) Ngxongo, Thembelihle Sylvia Patience; Sibiya, Maureen Nokuthula; Gwele, Nomthandazo S.
    Purpose: The purpose of the study was to describe the experiences and views of the pregnant women regarding the antenatal care services received in the Primary Health Care clinics that were implementing the Basic Antenatal Care (BANC) approach. The BANC approach is listed as one of the priority interventions for reducing maternal and child mortality in South Africa and is used in the public health institutions to provide health care services to the pregnant women. Methods: A descriptive qualitative design was used to conduct the study in the 12 primary health care clinics that were providing antenatal care services and implementing the BANC approach in eThekwini district, KwaZulu-Natal The study took place seven years following the introduction of the BANC approach. Data were collected using semi-structured interviews conducted with 54 pregnant women from October 2014 to March 2015. Data were analysed using Tesch’s method of data analysis. Findings: Although some participants highlighted how the BANC approach had brought about improvement in the quality of care, other participants were concerned regarding the waiting times, the intervals between antenatal care visits, integration of antenatal care with other primary health care services, limited space at the clinics and attitudes and performance of clinic staff. Conclusion: In the current study, the participants shared their experiences and views regarding the antenatal care services that were provided using the BANC approach. Most of the situations that the participants had encountered and their views regarding Antenatal care services highlighted specific areas of the BANC approach that needed attention. Guided by this, the researchers were able to provide the recommendations from the study that would assist to improve implementation of the BANC approach. These included special emphasis on compliance to service delivery guidelines and protocols by antenatal health care providers, availability of the clinic staff members who had been trained and oriented towards the implementation of the BANC approach, integration of services and reviewing human and material resources for adequacy when new programs are introduced.
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    Evidence of application of the Basic Antenatal Care principles of good care and guidelines in pregnant women’s antenatal care records
    (AOSIS Publishing, 2016-05-31) Ngxongo, Thembelihle Sylvia Patience; Sibiya, Maureen Nokuthula; Gwele, Nomthandazo S.
    Background: Basic Antenatal Care (BANC) is an approach that is used in the public health institutions of South Africa to provide health care services to pregnant women. The approach was introduced as a quality improvement strategy based on the belief that good quality Antenatal Care (ANC) could reduce maternal and perinatal mortalities and improve maternal health. Aim: The aim of this study was to analyse pregnant women’s ANC records for evidence suggesting that the BANC principles of good care and guidelines were being applied. Setting: The study was conducted in the 12 primary health care clinics that were providing ANC services using the BANC approach in eThekwini district, KwaZulu-Natal. Methods: A cross-sectional quantitative design was used to conduct the study. Data were collected through retrospective record review of 1200 maternity case records of the pregnant women who had attended for ANC services three or more times and was analysed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 21.0. Results: The majority of the processes detailed in the guidelines and principles of good care were evident in the records. However, several were missing or recorded in few reviews. These included the ANC plan, delivery plan, midwives’ counter signatures on the cards, assessment for foetal congenital abnormalities, and consent for HIV testing. Conclusion: The study identified evidence of incomplete application of the BANC principles of good care and guidelines in pregnant women’s antenatal care records which indicated that the BANC approach was not being successfully implemented. Recommendations were made with regards to policy development, institutional management and practise, nursing education, and further research to assist in successful implementation of the BANC approach in line with the guidelines and principles of good care.
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    Experiences of community care givers caring for clients with tuberculosis in eThekwini district, KwaZulu-Natal Province, South Africa
    (AFAHPER-SD, 2015-10) Mazibuko, Ntombifuthi Norah; Ngxongo, Thembelihle Sylvia Patience; Sibiya, Maureen Nokuthula
    Tuberculosis (TB) is still a leading cause of deaths in low and middle income countries especially Sub-Saharan Africa. It is estimated that around 70% of adult new cases of tuberculosis in South Africa are co-infected with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). TB is curable if the clients take a full uninterrupted course of drug therapy. Treatment interruption presents a problem for clients, their families, the community, and the health personnel caring for them. The National Department of Health (NDOH) introduced the community care giver (CCG) programme to assist health professionals with the control and management of TB. The study aimed to explore and describe the experiences of CCGs caring for TB patients and to identify the support systems available for them. A qualitative exploratory descriptive design was used to conduct the study. Purposive sampling, guided by data saturation, was used to select the 24 participants that were included in the study. The experiences of the CCGs included facing several challenges in caring for TB patients in the eThekwini district. The challenges were; insufficient work kits, failure to access protective clothing, exposure to communicable diseases, insufficient stipends, no career paths, poor supervision and support. Negative experiences of CCGs might have contributed to demoralisation and poor performance resulting into poor care given to TB patients in the communities.
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    Factors influencing the uptake of the revised expanded immunisation programme at Umlazi Township, KwaZulu-Natal Province, South Africa : maternal and child care
    (AFAHPER-SD, 2015-10) Ngxongo, Thembelihle Sylvia Patience; Chonco, Nomfundo Prudence Hedwig; Sibiya, Maureen Nokuthula
    The Expanded Programme on Immunisation (EPI) is one of the most powerful and cost-effective global public health programmes to improve child survival. In South Africa, the programme remained fragmented because of the system of apartheid until 1995 when the national EPI was formed through the unification of all immunisation services in the country. Since then there have been significant advances in immunisation service delivery in South Africa with numerous revisions in the schedule, last of which was in 2009. The data information system for eThekwini district reflects remarkably low immunisation coverage for children aged 6 to12 years compared to the other age groups from the time the 2009 revision was made. The aim of the study was to investigate the factors that influence the uptake of the revised EPI for children between the ages of 6 to 12 years at Umlazi Township, KwaZulu-Natal (KZN). A descriptive quantitative design was used to conduct the study. All (n=10) primary health care (PHC) clinics from Umlazi Township were included in the study. Data was collected from 1009 child caregivers (CCGs) and all (n=12) health care workers (HCWs) who were involved in EPI services using self-directed questionnaires. The study revealed that although the EPI programme was well-implemented in Umlazi Township, EPI coverage for children between 6 to 12 years old remained low. Several factors that influenced the uptake of the immunisations were identified. The positive factors which could be used to strengthen the programme were mainly in relation to how the EPI programme was implemented and a few other factors in relation to the CCGs and their access to the PHC clinics. The negative factors were in relation to emergency ordering and supply of vaccines and the knowledge of the children care givers regarding the immunisation. These highlighted a need to strengthen how the EPI was implemented.