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Faculty of Health Sciences

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Has files: YesSubject: search.filters.subject.Preventative health services

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    Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) therapy in KwaZulu-Natal : an implementation guideline
    (2020-04) Moodley, Roxann; Orton, Penelope Margaret; Basson, Petro Magdalena
    Why is pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) therapy not implemented as a preventative treatment against human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in primary health care (PHC) clinics in the KwaZulu Natal province? PrEP therapy has proven to be an effective preventative strategy against HIV (Bekker et al. 2016) which could be used to decrease the number of individuals becoming infected with the Human Immunodeficiency virus. This study explores the perceptions of PHC nurses, PHC doctors, PHC support staff and individuals at high risk of contracting HIV regarding PrEP therapy in KwaZulu Natal public clinics. The Department of Health (DoH) has published guidelines for the implementation of PrEP therapy; however, the guidelines have not been adopted and used by the primary health care staff in the clinics and has resulted in pre-exposure prophylaxis therapy not being implemented in the clinics to individuals at high risk of contracting Human Immunodeficiency Virus. This research employed a qualitative framework using the grounded theory approach of Charmaz (2014). There are ten districts in KwaZulu Natal with a total of 588 primary health clinics that are accessible to the public. Five primary health care clinics were used in this research study with fourteen participants that were interviewed. Using semi-structured interviews with research participants across primary health care clinics that were purposefully selected, the researcher was able to develop an implementation guide for the department of health (DoH) pre-exposure prophylaxis therapy guidelines. The implementation guide that has been developed can be used by health care providers to assist with the implementation of the department of health pre-exposure prophylaxis therapy guideline in the primary health care clinics. The results of the study showed that educating the public and the individuals at high risk of contracting HIV can create awareness and demand for pre-exposure prophylaxis therapy. Participants expressed their concern regarding the implementation of pre- exposure prophylaxis in the primary health care clinics as there may not be enough resources to successfully implement and monitor individuals that want to take pre- exposure prophylaxis therapy.
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    Chiropractic and public health : a study on the perceptions and attitudes of chiropractors on health promotion and disease prevention in South Africa
    (2014-04-08) Ford, Timothy William; Korporaal, Charmaine Maria
    Background: Considering the quadruple burden of disease and chronic shortages of health care professionals in South Africa, the stance of the chiropractic profession on public health (PH) matters has not been established. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the attitudes and perceptions of chiropractors practicing in South Africa on PH, health promotion (HP) and disease prevention (DP). The objectives were to determine demographic profile, lifestyle practices and attitudes and perceptions of practicing chiropractors in South Africa regarding PH agencies, HP and DP. Methods: An IRB approved quantitative survey (electronic and postal) was used to collect data from a total sample of practicing chiropractors in South Africa (meeting inclusion criteria). Follow up email and telephone calls were made to encourage response from participants. After a 17 - week period, returned questionnaires were collected and data analysed. Results: A response rate of 45% was obtained. Of the participants, 51.7% were female, 60.3% practiced in upper – middle income communities and 66.4% perceived themselves as neuro - musculoskeletal specialists. Over 90% of practitioners regularly counselled patients on postural habits, injury prevention and ergonomic risk reduction. Where as 35.1% agreed to counselling patients on STI / HIV prevention, tobacco cessation and related risks (41.4%), alcohol abuse (53.4%) and cancer prevention (56.9%). Regarding evidence – based practice (EBP) and PH agencies, 39.1% could not identify the statistical significance of the p value and 46% were unable to provide examples to journals they used to inform best practice. Similarly, 59% of the participants could not identify PH agencies to refer to for information on smoking cessation / risks or PH agencies to refer patients on HIV (57%), notifiable diseases (59%) and terminal illnesses (45%). Conclusion: The results suggest that chiropractors from this study were proficient on topics of DP, but were reletively less proficient in regards to PH, HP and EBP. It was recommended that further research be done regarding EBP within the profession and that greater emphasis be placed on topics of HP and PH in chiropractic training programmes.