Risk factors for Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) death in a population cohort study from the Western Cape Province, South Africa

BACKGROUND. Risk factors for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) death in sub-Saharan Africa and the effects of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and tuberculosis on COVID-19 outcomes are unknown. METHODS. We conducted a population cohort study using linked data from adults attending public-sector health facilities in the Western Cape, South Africa. We used Cox proportional hazards models, adjusted for age, sex, location, and comorbidities, to examine the associations between HIV, tuberculosis, and COVID-19 death from 1 March to 9 June 2020 among (1) public-sector “active patients” (≥1 visit in the 3 years before March 2020); (2) laboratory-diagnosed COVID-19 cases; and (3) hospitalized COVID-19 cases. We calculated the standardized mortality ratio (SMR) for COVID-19, comparing adults living with and without HIV using modeled population estimates. RESULTS. Among 3 460 932 patients (16% living with HIV), 22 308 were diagnosed with COVID-19, of whom 625 died. COVID- 19 death was associated with male sex, increasing age, diabetes, hypertension, and chronic kidney disease. HIV was associated with COVID-19 mortality (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR], 2.14; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.70–2.70), with similar risks across strata of viral loads and immunosuppression. Current and previous diagnoses of tuberculosis were associated with COVID-19 death (aHR, 2.70 [95% CI, 1.81–4.04] and 1.51 [95% CI, 1.18–1.93], respectively). The SMR for COVID-19 death associated with HIV was 2.39 (95% CI, 1.96–2.86); population attributable fraction 8.5% (95% CI, 6.1–11.1). CONCLUSIONS. While our findings may overestimate HIV- and tuberculosis-associated COVID-19 mortality risks due to residual confounding, both living with HIV and having current tuberculosis were independently associated with increased COVID-19 mortality. The associations between age, sex, and other comorbidities and COVID-19 mortality were similar to those in other settings.The Western Cape Provincial Health Data Centre from the Western Cape Department of Health, the US National Institutes for Health (grant numbers R01 HD0804, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, the United States Agency for International Development and the Wellcome Trust.https://academic.oup.com/cid/am2023Veterinary Tropical Disease

The MeerKAT Galaxy Cluster Legacy Survey: I. Survey overview and highlights

Please abstract in the article.The South African Radio Astronomy Observatory (SARAO), the National Research Foundation (NRF), the National Radio Astronomy Observatory, US National Science Foundation, the South African Research Chairs Initiative of the DSI/NRF, the SARAO HCD programme, the South African Research Chairs Initiative of the Department of Science and Innovation.http://www.aanda.orghj2022Physic

The SARAO MeerKAT 1.3 GHz Galactic Plane Survey

We present the SARAO MeerKAT Galactic Plane Survey (SMGPS), a 1.3 GHz continuum survey of almost half of the Galactic Plane (251○ ≤l ≤ 358○ and 2○ ≤l ≤ 61○ at |b| ≤ 1 5). SMGPS is the largest, most sensitive and highest angular resolution 1 GHz survey of the Plane yet carried out, with an angular resolution of 8″ and a broadband RMS sensitivity of ∼10–20 μJy beam−1. Here we describe the first publicly available data release from SMGPS which comprises data cubes of frequency-resolved images over 908–1656 MHz, power law fits to the images, and broadband zeroth moment integrated intensity images. A thorough assessment of the data quality and guidance for future usage of the data products are given. Finally, we discuss the tremendous potential of SMGPS by showcasing highlights of the Galactic and extragalactic science that it permits. These highlights include the discovery of a new population of non-thermal radio filaments; identification of new candidate supernova remnants, pulsar wind nebulae and planetary nebulae; improved radio/mid-IR classification of rare Luminous Blue Variables and discovery of associated extended radio nebulae; new radio stars identified by Bayesian cross-matching techniques; the realisation that many of the largest radio-quiet WISE H II region candidates are not true H II regions; and a large sample of previously undiscovered background H I galaxies in the Zone of Avoidance

Breast cancer incidence and mortality trends in 16 European countries.

Trends in the incidence of and mortality from breast cancer result from a variety of influences including screening programmes, such as those introduced in several European countries in the late 1980s. Incidence and mortality rates for 16 European countries are analysed. Incidence increased in all countries. The estimated annual percent change (EAPC) varied from 0.8 to 2.8% in prescreening years in 6 'screened' countries and from 1.2 to 3.0% in 10 'non-screened' countries. Screening related temporary increases were visible. Earlier mortality trends were maintained in the most recent decade in Estonia (EAPC +1.8%) and Sweden (-1.2%). In other countries, previously increasing trends changed. Trends flattened in Finland, Denmark, France, Italy and Norway (EAPC 0.0 to -0.3%), while they declined in England and Wales (-3.1%), Scotland (-2.0%), and The Netherlands (-1.0%), all of which have national screening programmes, and in Slovakia (-1.1%), Spain (-0.7%), and Switzerland (-1.1%). In some countries with screening programmes, declines in mortality started before screening was introduced, and declines also occurred in non-screened age groups and in some countries without national screening programmes. This suggests that the major determinants of the observed trends vary among the countries and may include earlier detection through screening in countries where this has been introduced, but also improvements in therapy, in countries with or without screening

Trends in the traffic impact assessment process

Paper presented at the 24th Annual Southern African Transport Conference 11 - 13 July 2005 "Transport challenges for 2010", CSIR International Convention Centre, Pretoria, South Africa.This paper was transferred from the original CD ROM created for this conference. The material on the CD ROM was published using Adobe Acrobat technology. The original CD ROM was produced by Document Transformation Technologies Postal Address: PO Box 560 Irene 0062 South Africa. Tel.: +27 12 667 2074 Fax: +27 12 667 2766 E-mail: [email protected] URL: http://www.doctech.co.z

The tax deductibility of e-toll expenses in respect of salaried individuals

This dissertation aims to establish whether individuals who have to incur e-toll expenses in travelling between their home and workplace since the implementation of e-tolling on roads forming part of the Gauteng Freeway Improvement Project (GFIP), referred to as “e-toll commuting expenses”, should be allowed to deduct these expenses for income tax purposes. These individuals are referred to as salaried individuals or salaried work commuters. The implementation of e-tolling on GFIP roads has led to a situation where salaried work commuters who have to make use of these roads in travelling between their home and workplace will now have to incur this additional e-toll commuting expense without receiving any tax relief. Although e-toll commuting expenses meet the requirements of the general deduction formula in s 11(a) of the Income Tax Act 58 of 1962 (“ITA”) to qualify as a deduction for income tax purposes, there are other provisions in the ITA which effectively prohibit the deduction of such commuting expenses. Section 23(b) of the ITA prohibits the deduction of all commuting expenses on the basis that they constitute a domestic or private expense. This was the decision of the Appellate Division in Commissioner for Inland Revenue v De Villiers, which is the leading authority on this topic. This was also the decision in a number of court cases decided before and after this judgment was handed down. Section 23(b) has been amended by the Legislature from time to time and although these amendments related to the deductibility of home office expenses and not to the deductibility of commuting expenses, the reason behind these amendments are relevant to the topic of this dissertation. Furthermore, s 23(m) also effectively prohibits the deduction of such commuting expenses by limiting the number of specific deductions in s 11(a) that are available to salaried individuals. As this limitation does not apply to individuals who work as agents or representatives and who earn their income mainly from commission, the question arises whether the differentiation created by this section is rational and constitutionally permissible in terms of s 9(1) of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996. It is submitted that such differentiation is indeed rational. Considering the public’s vehement opposition to the implementation of e-tolling and in light of the fact that, internationally, public acceptance is one of the factors that affect the success of such a road pricing initiative, it is argued that a tax deduction should be granted to salaried work commuters for all e-toll commuting expenses incurred by them. It is submitted that such a deduction will improve public acceptance by addressing some of the equity and socio-economic concerns caused by e-tolling and improve compliance with the e-tolling payment provisions without leading to a significant increase in congestion on GFIP roads. Although this will reduce government’s revenue from income tax, the reduced government funding required by SANRAL can offset such loss in revenue due to increased public compliance with the e-tolling payment provisions. Finally, it is submitted that a tax deduction for e-toll commuting expenses should only be granted to salaried work commuters who are also registered users in terms of the E-Road Regulations in Government Gazette 36911. Such a deduction provision should also require salaried work commuters to keep records of when they incurred these deductions. It is also argued that the amount that ought to be allowed as a deduction should be determined by having regard to the social and economic impact of the provisions of the ITA on salaried work commuters and so as to alleviate their tax burden without eroding the existing tax base.Dissertation (LLM)--University of Pretoria, 2014.lk2014Mercantile LawLLMUnrestricte

The distribution of health needs and services in south Africa

The authors recognize that social, economic and political factors play a larger role in determining public heath policy than do epidemiological principles such as the analysis of needs, demand and supply. Nevertheless, demographic and mortality statistics, information from the 1983 registers of medical and dental practitioners, and that of nurses, as well as information on hospital beds were reviewed to describe health care requirements and resources in South Africa. The maldistribution observed in health needs and services closely parallel the divisions in South African society imposed by the apartheid policy. It is concluded that fundamental political change is required to reduce this maldistribution. The provision of preventive and promotive health services for children in African rural and peri-urban areas was identified as a health care requirement of high priority. It is thought that the need in these geographical regions might best be met by employing primary health care workers at a lower level of training than doctors with an accessible, supporting referral system. In addition, the quality of health care data being collected needs to be improved. It is suggested that both these problems be approached on a regional basis, and preferably under a single health authority, rather than the current fragmented health service.demography mortality services distribution