Background: Rehabilitation remains an unmet need and a neglected health service in South Africa. To address the country’s complex burden of disease, a skilled rehabilitation workforce is needed. Aim: This study aimed to identify prevalent medical conditions and disease trends among patients treated by rehabilitation therapists over a six-year period. It further examined whether these prevalent health conditions are represented in the rehabilitation health education curricula. Setting: The study was undertaken in public healthcare facilities within Gauteng province, South Africa. Methods: Secondary data on provincial rehabilitation data from April 2019 to March 2024 were analysed and categorised into non-communicable diseases (NCDs), children-specific conditions, injuries, and communicable diseases. Data were analysed descriptively. Lastly, the undergraduate rehabilitation health training curriculum (Occupational therapy, Physiotherapy, Speech therapy and Audiology) was reviewed to assess whether it covers the medical conditions treated by rehabilitation therapists. Results: The most treated conditions were NCDs (44.1%), injuries (36.4%) and children-specific conditions (15.6%). All health conditions decreased during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic, followed by an increase in NCDs and injuries between 2022 and 2024. The undergraduate rehabilitation health training curriculum covers the most prevalent conditions treated by public sector rehabilitation therapists. Conclusion: The burden of diseases treated in public healthcare rehabilitation departments aligns with the national burden of diseases. The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on rehabilitation services is evident in the trend analysis over the years. Continual review of the curriculum is needed to ensure local health responsiveness. Contribution: This study highlights the burden of disease treated by the public health sector rehabilitation therapists, the trends over time and the importance of ensuring that the curriculum is locally responsive.
Background: Caregivers of children with hydrocephalus in low-resource settings face profound challenges, yet their experiences within the South African context are poorly documented. Aim: This study aimed to investigate the interrelated challenges encountered by caregivers of paediatric patients with hydrocephalus. Setting: This study was conducted at two academic tertiary hospitals in Limpopo and Gauteng provinces. Methods: A qualitative exploratory study using semi-structured interviews recruited 39 caregivers of paediatric patients with hydrocephalus. Data were analysed using inductive thematic analysis in NVivo 16 software, and the analysis was halted at saturation. Results: Caregivers were predominantly young and unemployed. Four overarching thematic challenges emerged: (1) health system challenges; (2) socioeconomic consequences of caring for a child with hydrocephalus; (3) psychosocial and caregiving burden; and (4) formal social protection availability. Conclusion: Caregivers endure severe, interconnected systemic, financial, and psychosocial burdens that critically compromise their well-being and care capacity. Findings underscore an urgent need for holistic, family-centred interventions, including systemic healthcare reforms, economic protection, integrated psychosocial support, and structured caregiver education programmes to mitigate this crisis and improve patient outcomes. Contribution: The study advances the understanding of how health system limitations intersect with poverty, amplifying caregiver vulnerability and inequity.
Background: Poor oral health resulting from poor knowledge, negative attitudes and poor practices contributes to oral diseases. Oral diseases remain a public health concern and negatively affect student nurses’ academic performance. These students should serve as role models in promoting oral health among communities. A lack of oral self-care among student nurses may raise a health concern. Aim: To assess student nurses’ knowledge, determine their attitude and practices regarding oral health at a Western Cape university.Set ting: This study was conducted at a Western Cape university, South Africa, which offers undergraduate nursing programmes. Methods: A quantitative approach with a descriptive design was conducted, and data were collected from a quota sample of 287 student nurses using a self-administered questionnaire. Data captured into IBM Statistical Package for the Social Sciences computer program IBM SPSS Statistics version 28.0 (IBM Corp., Armonk, NY, United States), were analysed using descriptive statistics and Chi-square tests to test associations. Results: The response rate was 97.9% (281/287). Most of the respondents did not recognise the importance of brushing twice daily and flossing once, and only 98 (34.9%) were knowledgeable. A positive attitude was noted among the majority of the respondents (261, 92.9%) who agreed that oral health knowledge can contribute to the prevention of tooth loss. Good practices were noted among most of the respondents (277, 98.6%) who cleaned their teeth daily with a toothbrush. Conclusion: Student nurses had poor oral health knowledge, mixed attitudes and fair oral health practices. This study highlights the need for the formal integration of oral health into the nursing curriculum. Contribution: This study contributed to the body of knowledge in nursing research and education.
Background: Adverse events (AEs) are underreported. In rare diseases (RDs), this is compounded by small patient populations, complex pathology and limited treatments. Most related research is from developed countries using survey methods. Aim: This qualitative study aimed to expand on existing knowledge by exploring perceptions of medical practitioners (MPs) managing RDs regarding AE reporting. Setting: The study took place in the South African public and private healthcare sectors. Methods: A qualitative, exploratory and interpretive design was employed. Individual interviews were conducted with 12 purposively sampled MPs, exploring their perceptions and experiences of AE reporting, and relevant barriers and facilitators. Transcripts were analysed using reflexive thematic analysis. Results: Three themes were generated: (1) Trust in healthcare systems, colleagues and doctor–patient interaction impacted reporting. (2) Reporting AEs for medicines with delayed local launch was perceived to contribute insignificantly to safety profiles. Participants’ stewardship of limited treatment options caused reluctance to report AEs and caution around direct patient reporting. (3) Risk tolerance for treatment gain, including off-label use, was perceived to be balanced by medicine safety knowledge. Conclusion: Pharmacists were trusted for AE reporting. Medical practitioners’ reluctance to report AEs associated with singular treatment options was grounded in concern regarding treatment access. Caution around direct patient reporting was driven by a reluctance to jeopardise treatment access as a result of potentially irrelevant patient-reported events. Risks associated with medicines are mitigated by knowledge generated through AE reporting. Contribution: Issues surrounding trust relationships, resources and practice risk were identified as underlying AE underreporting by MPs. Proposed solutions included pharmacist involvement and improved medicine supply.
Background: Worldwide, there is an increase in the prevalence of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Identification of the most prevalent risk factors within different communities assists in taking measures to curb the projected rise in the prevalence of T2DM in the years to come. Aim: The aim of the study was to determine the prevalence of T2DM risk factors among patients at selected clinics in Windhoek, Namibia, in order to design data-driven preventive strategies. Setting: The study was conducted at three clinics in Windhoek, Namibia. Methods: This article uses data taken from a mixed-methods study aimed at developing a lifestyle modification programme for the prevention of T2DM, involving 673 participants. Out of these 673 participants, data from 634 non-diabetic respondents were used. A questionnaire was used to collect data, and the American Diabetes Association (ADA) Diabetes risk test was also used to assess the risk levels among the non-diabetic participants. Descriptive statistics were used to analyse the data. Results: The most prevalent factor was having a family history of hypertension (258; 42.3%), then history of T2DM (267; 39.7%) and age (223; 33.1%). Other factors identified were random blood glucose levels and waist circumference. Most of the respondents (481; 75.9%) had an overall low risk of developing T2DM, while 98 (15.5%) respondents had a high risk of developing T2DM. Conclusion: Although the most prevalent factors were non-modifiable factors, the results of the ADA risk test indicate a combination of both modifiable and non-modifiable risk factors. There is a need for preventive strategies, and further research on cost-effective measures is also recommended. Contribution: The study shows the need for T2DM preventive measures and further research.
