Theses and dissertations (Health Sciences)
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Item Practice-related hygiene behaviours utilized by Chiropractors pre, during and post the COVID-19 pandemic in South Africa.(2024) Enslin, Jan-Frederik; Krishna, Suresh Babu Naidu; O’Connor, LauraBackground: The COVID-19 pandemic had an impact on the delivery of healthcare services worldwide. The Allied Health Professions Council of South Africa implemented regulations to control the spread of the virus, including social distancing, face masks/shields, hand sanitisation, surface disinfection, and protective shields. Chiropractors had to incorporate new hygiene measures to ensure the safety of their patients and themselves. Without adherence to proper hygiene protocols, manual therapy poses a substantial risk of transmission for both the practitioner and the patient. There is limited information available regarding the changes made by chiropractors to their practices in response to the pandemic and if these changed behaviours are still being implemented. Exploring and understanding changes in behaviour can help identify areas where chiropractors may need additional support or resources to adapt to new circumstances and can provide valuable information on how the pandemic has impacted the field of chiropractic care. Additionally, by studying how chiropractors adapted during the pandemic can help gain insight into best practices for future challenges or crises that may arise, as well as can help improve patient care and outcomes in the future. Aim: To determine the practice-related hygiene behaviours of chiropractors before, during and post the COVID-19 pandemic in South Africa. Methodology: An anonymous online survey was completed by registered Chiropractors in South Africa (n=119) registered with the Allied Health Professions Council of South Africa, having provided informed consent. The survey consisted of questions related to practice hygiene behaviours pre, during and post the COVID-19 pandemic and distributed via a link on QuestionPro®. The survey closed on 02/02/2024. Results: The study examined the distribution of hand and equipment disinfection in a healthcare setting, before and after the COVID-19 pandemic. The response rate for the survey was 22.45%. A total of 36% of chiropractors had been practicing for seven years and 60% lived in urban or major cities. Most practitioners returned to their work in level 4 of lockdown and practiced as a sole practitioner. The study found a significant statistical difference that sanitiser availability and the use of personal protective equipment were less prevalent before and after the pandemic than during the pandemic. Most chiropractors (78%) felt that the COVID-19 hygiene protocols made them more aware about practice hygiene behaviours. However, 30% of chiropractors believed they were likely to contract COVID-19 if they did not adhere to proper hygiene practices. Barriers to implementing hygiene practices during COVID-19 included patient reluctance, lack of time, resources and difficulty in adhering to hygiene practices. Half of the chiropractors agreed to continue with good hygiene practices post COVID-19. Conclusion: The COVID-19 pandemic resulted in increased adherence to practice related hygiene behaviours with the implementation of safety precautions such as protective screens and face masks. Many of the chiropractors continued to utilise these behaviours after the pandemic.Item Poor sanitation and hygiene practices : a case of eZimangweni community in Inanda, eThekwini Municipality in KwaZulu-Natal(2023-05) Thuthu, Zungezi Wiseman; Ghuman, Shanaz; Jinabhai, Champaklal ChhaganlalPurpose of the study - Access to water, proper sanitation facilities and good hygiene practices are critical in disease prevention and health in the community. The right to basic services, comprising of adequate shelter and water, are entrenched in the Republic of South Africa’s Constitution (1996) with the rights to access to both basic water supply and basic sanitation required to guarantee sufficient water and an environment not harmful to health or well-being recognized in the Water Service Act of 1997. Research Problem - In South Africa access to water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) services, remains inadequate and inequitable in many peri-urban and rural communities. Discrimination related to rising unemployment and the remnant of Apartheid separated service delivery system resulted in unequal access to WASH services. About “50% of the world’s population” live in urban and sub-urban areas, and a number of these areas have a deficiency on access to clean water and sanitation necessary for proper health and well-being. Research Methods and Design - The study employed a quantitative study design. Descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among households in Ezimangweni in Inanda between March and May 2021. A sample of 170 households was selected by means of the systematic random sampling strategy, where the margin of error was set at 5%. The research was aimed at assessing poor sanitation and hygiene practices in the community of Ezimangweni in Inanda, examine community knowledge related to health and hygiene practices, identify root causes for poor sanitation and assess challenges faced by community members regarding sanitation facility provided. Findings -The research revealed that sanitation and hygiene was very poor in the study area. This is supported by local Community Health Centre reporting 100% of cases of diarrhoea reported on a monthly basis, 66.7% cases of children reporting with blood in the stool and 33.3% of children with Dysentery and 33.3% cases amongst children vomiting. This study has established a strong relationship between poor sanitation, hygiene practices and type of diseases prevalent in the study area. Conclusion - The research has emphasised the vital role of providing sustainable WASH services to communities in order to prevent transmission of diseases and mitigate spread of water-borne illnesses.