20 research outputs found
Hepatitis B infection in black children from residential care facilities in KwaZulu-Natal
No Abstract
Perceptions about data-informed decisions: an assessment of information-use in high HIV-prevalence settings in South Africa
BACKGROUND: Information-use is an integral component of a routine health information system and essential to
influence policy-making, program actions and research. Despite an increased amount of routine data collected,
planning and resource-allocation decisions made by health managers for managing HIV programs are often not
based on data. This study investigated the use of information, and barriers to using routine data for monitoring the
prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV (PMTCT) programs in two high HIV-prevalence districts in South
Africa.
METHODS: We undertook an observational study using a multi-method approach, including an inventory of facility
records and reports. The performance of routine information systems management (PRISM) diagnostic ‘Use of
Information’ tool was used to assess the PMTCT information system for evidence of data use in 57 health facilities
in two districts. Twenty-two in-depth interviews were conducted with key informants to investigate barriers to
information use in decision-making. Participants were purposively selected based on their positions and experience
with either producing PMTCT data and/or using data for management purposes. We computed descriptive statistics
and used a general inductive approach to analyze the qualitative data.
RESULTS: Despite the availability of mechanisms and processes to facilitate information-use in about two-thirds of the
facilities, evidence of information-use (i.e., indication of some form of information-use in available RHIS reports) was
demonstrated in 53% of the facilities. Information was inadequately used at district and facility levels to inform
decisions and planning, but was selectively used for reporting and monitoring program outputs at the provincial
level. The inadequate use of information stemmed from organizational issues such as the lack of a culture of
information-use, lack of trust in the data, and the inability of program and facility managers to analyze, interpret
and use information.
CONCLCUSIONS: Managers’ inability to use information implied that decisions for program implementation and improving
service delivery were not always based on data. This lack of data use could influence the delivery of health care services
negatively. Facility and program managers should be provided with opportunities for capacity development as well as
practice-based, in-service training, and be supported to use information for planning, management and decision-making
Maternal recall of exclusive breast feeding duration
Background: Both the pattern and duration of breast feeding are important determinants of health outcomes. In vertical HIV transmission research, reliable documentation of early breast feeding practices is important in order to correctly attribute postnatal transmission to feeding pattern. Aims: To validate methods of collecting data on the duration of exclusive breast feeding (EBF) in an area of South Africa with a high HIV prevalence rate. Methods: A total of 130 mothers were interviewed weekly, postnatally. At every interview a 48 hour and a seven day recall breast feeding history were taken. A subset of 70 mothers also received two intermediate visits per week during which additional 48 hour, non-overlapping, recall interviews were conducted. Ninety three infants were revisited at 6–9 months of age when mothers' recall of EBF duration from birth was documented. The different methods of recalling EBF status were compared against an a priori "best comparison" in each case. Results: Reported breast feeding practices over the previous 48 hours did not reflect EBF practices since birth (specificity 65–89%; positive predictive value 31–48%). Six month EBF duration recall was equally poor (sensitivity at 2 weeks 79%; specificity 40%). Seven day recall accurately reflected EBF practices compared with thrice weekly recall over the same time period (sensitivity 96%, specificity 94%). Conclusions: 48 hour EBF status does not accurately reflect feeding practices since birth. Long term recall data on EBF are even more inaccurate. We recommend that data on duration of EBF be collected prospectively at intervals of no longer than one week
New approaches to spatially analyse primary health care usage patterns in rural South Africa.
OBJECTIVE: To develop indices to quantitatively assess and understand the spatial usage patterns of health facilities in the Hlabisa district of South Africa. METHODOLOGY: We mapped and interviewed more than 23 000 homesteads (approximately 200 000 people) in Hlabisa district, South Africa and spatially analysed their modal primary health usage patterns using a geographical information system. We generated contour maps of health service use and quantified the relationship between clinic catchments and distance-defined catchments using inclusion and exclusion error. We propose the distance usage index (DUI) as an overall spatial measure of clinic usage. This index is the sum of the distances from clinic to all client homesteads divided by the sum of the distances from clinic to all homesteads within its distance-defined catchment. The index encompasses inclusion, exclusion, and strength of patient attraction for each clinic. RESULTS: Eighty-seven per cent of homesteads use the nearest clinic. Residents of homesteads travel an average Euclidean distance of 4.72 km to attend clinics. There is a significant logarithmic relationship between distance from clinic and their use by homesteads (r(2)=0.774, P < 0.0001). The DUI values range between 31 and 198% (mean=110%, SD=43.7) for 12 clinics and highlight clinic usage patterns across the district. CONCLUSIONS: The DUI is a powerful and informative composite measure of clinic usage. The results of the study have important implications for health care provision in developing countries