43 research outputs found
An investigation of a group of Khayelitsha parents' understanding of the causes and management of their childrens' epilepsy
Bibliography: leaves 53-57.The purpose of this dissertation was to document the findings of a study on what the parents of children with epilepsy understood as the cause of their childrens' condition, and how they managed it The study utilised the framework of medical, anthropological and eco - systemic models to gain an understanding of the causes and management of epilepsy. Twelve parents of children with epilepsy in Khayelitsha, a peri-urban township in Cape Town, were interviewed with the use of a semi- structured interview schedule. Interviews were recorded and later transcribed and data was analysed through the constant comparative method. The interview explored the causes of epilepsy and the factors that trigger the onset of seizures of which most respondents had no understanding. It further explored the medical management of epilepsy in regard to kind of treatment received by child, understanding of required dose and when medication bad to be taken
An evaluation of University of Cape Town medical studentsâ community placements in South Africa
âThe others look at you as if you are a graveâ: a qualitative study of subjective experiences of patients with epilepsy regarding their treatment and care in Cape Town, South Africa
Background: Existing evidence shows that the majority of people with epilepsy in lower and middle income countries are not receiving appropriate treatment and care. Although this problem has been reported as one of the factors affecting the quality of lives of people with epilepsy, very few studies have investigated patientsâ perspectives and their experiences about the problem. This qualitative study explored perspectives and subjective experiences of people with epilepsy about their illness in an urban township in South Africa. Methods: Individual face-to-face interviews included twelve people who had epilepsy. A semi-structured interview guide which was based on Kleinman (1980) Explanatory Models Framework was used to elicit participantsâ perspectives and subjective experiences about their illness and its treatment. Thematic analysis method was used to analyse the data. Results: The main theme reflecting participantsâ verbatim accounts was about their perceived difficulties affecting their access to treatment and care during their routine clinical follow up visits. These concerned rushed consultations which focussed on seizure frequency and adherence to medication with no attention to personal concerns. They perceived that part of the problem could be that some health care practitioners were not adequately trained and lacked empathy, interest, respect and listening skills. We argue that in a health system where patients feel that they are not respected and their concerns are not listened to or are ignored, they may lack trust in the system and this may violate their right to access treatment and care. Conclusions: The findings provide a glimpse of the extent to which the power and nature of the routine task-centred system can lead to violation of patientsâ health rights â especially with epilepsy which is poorly understood and stigmatized. Appropriate interventions are needed to address health system factors affecting the treatment and care of this marginalized and vulnerable group of patients
Chronic Diseases in North-West Tanzania and Southern Uganda. Public Perceptions of Terminologies, Aetiologies, Symptoms and Preferred Management
Research outputs produced to support a quantitative population survey, quantitative health facility survey, focus groups and in-depth interviews performed by the projec
Perspectives on epilepsy on the part of patients and carers in a South African urban township
Thesis (PhD)--Stellenbosch University, 2016.ENGLISH ABSTRACT: In a setting where epilepsy support services are available but are inaccessible and
where the population is of low-socio economic background and where there are
experiences of marginalization and oppression, people with epilepsy and their carers
may have difficulties in accessing appropriate treatment and care. This qualitative
study provides rich description of perspectives and subjective experiences of adults
who have epilepsy and their carers in an urban Xhosa-speaking Black township in
Cape Town, South Africa. The study sought to gain an understanding of how adults
who have epilepsy and their carers understand the illness (epilepsy). Its aim was to
explore their perspectives and subjective experiences and the objectives were to
describe and analyse these aspects and to provide information that can be used to
guide policy and future research.
The study used Kleinmanâs (1980) Explanatory Model Framework and his theoretical
framework of understanding systems of health care and healing and the Socioecological
theory of Bronfenbrenner (1994, 2005) to guide the inquiry process. A total
of sixty one adults who had epilepsy and were on seizure medication and their carers
such as medical doctors, home-based carers, traditional healers, family members who
included wives, partners, siblings and parents and other carers such as friends and
neighbours volunteered to take part in the study. Individual in-depth interviews, focus
group discussions and direct observations of interactions between health care
professionals and adult patients with epilepsy in a health care setting from which they
received their treatment and care were conducted to gain insight into the problem. The
findings point to differences in the way epilepsy is understood and experienced by
people living with the illness and their carers from different sectors of health care. They
show how lack of appropriate, empathetic, collaborative and integrated care can affect
the health and well-being of adults who have epilepsy and their carers in the setting in
which the study was conducted. The study concludes by providing a tentative
conceptual model for future research and recommendations for actions that can inform
and influence local policy and enable adults who have epilepsy and their carers to attain a good quality of life.AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: In 'n omgewing waar epilepsie ondersteuningsdienste beskikbaar, maar nogtans
ontoeganklik is, en waar die bevolking van ân lae sosio-ekonomiese agtergrond met
ervarings van marginalisering en onderdrukking bestaan, kan mense met epilepsie en
hul versorgers probleme met toegang tot behoorlike behandeling en sorg ervaar.
Hierdie kwalitatiewe studie bied 'n ryk beskrywing van die perspektiewe asook die
subjektiewe ervarings van volwassenes met epilepsie en hul versorgers in 'n stedelike
Xhosa-sprekende swart woonbuurt in Kaapstad, Suid-Afrika. Die studie het gesoek
om 'n begrip van hoe volwassenes wat met epilepsie lewe en hul versorgers die siekte
(epilepsie) verstaan. Die hoofdoel was om hulle perspektiewe en subjektiewe
ervarings te verken, terwyl die hoof doelwitte die beskrywing en ontleding van
sodanige aspekte om inligting wat gebruik kan word om die gids beleid en
toekomstige navorsingsondernemings te voorsien.
Hierdie studie gebruik Kleinman (1980) se verduidelikende model met sy teoretiese
raamwerk oor die begrip van gesondheidsorg en genesings stelsels asook
Bronfenbrenner (1994, 2005) se sosiologiese teorie om die ondersoek uitevoer. ân
Totaal van een en sestig volwassenes met epilepsie wat medikasie ontvang en hul
versorgers soos mediese dokters, tuisversorges, tradisionele genesers, familielede
soos vrouens, broers, susters, eggenote, maats en ouers tot vriende en bure het
aangebied om in hierdie studie deel te neem. Individu in-diepte onderhoude,
fokusgroepbesprekings en direkte waarnemings van interaksies tussen wesopgeliede
gesondheidswerkers en volwassenes pasiënte met epilepsie in die
gesondheidsorg instelling waar hulle hul behandeling en versorging ontvang, is
gedoen om insig in die probleem te kry. Die bevindings dui op die verskillende maniere
hoe epilepsie verstaan en ervaar word deur volwassenes wat met epilepsie lewe en
hul versorgers in die verskillende sektore van gesondheid. Dit wys hoe ân gebrek aan
geskikte, empatiese, saamwerkende en geĂŻntegreerde sorg die gesondheid en
welstand van volwassenes met epilespsie en hul versorges in die omgewing waar die
studie uitgevoer is kan bewerkstillig. Die studie sluit deur om ân voorlopige konseptuele
model vir toekomstige navorsing, aanbevelings vir optredes wat kan inlig en plaaslike
beleid kan beinvloed om vir volwassenes met epilepsie en hul versorgers te verskaf
en in sodoene in staat stel om ân goeie lewensgehalte vir hulle te behaal
Parents' understanding of the causes and management of their children's epilepsy in Khayelitsha, Cape Town
This article shares the findings of a study done In Khayelitsha, a perl-urban township in Cape Town. The study explored what parents understood as the cause of their children's epilepsy and how they managed the condition. The objective was to provide information that may be used to inform the design of appropriate health promotion interventions to address the problem. Twelve parents of children with epilepsy were interviewed through a semi-structured interview schedule, Most participants did not know the cause of their children's epilepsy. The known medical causes were meningitis, tumour, and heredity, Evil spirits (amafufunyane) and bewitchment were reported by some participants as the cause of their children's epilepsy. Major findings were the lack of understanding of the correct use of seizure medication, the appropriate use of first aid measures, the importance of disclosing the condition, and regular check-up. Some participants reported having used traditional and Western treatment. Although the study findings cannot be generalised, they highlight potential implications for collaborative approaches to address epilepsy. These approaches should empower children with epilepsy and their carers through supportive health promotion interventions that address contextual factors impacting on the problem as a 'whole', There is also probably a need for training health care workers in epilepsy care and management. Further research is needed to investigate the difficulties encountered by children with epilepsy at school. © Psychological Society of South Africa. All rights reserved.Articl
ââIt is always HIV/AIDS and TBââ : home-based carersâ perspectives on epilepsy in Cape Town, South Africa
CITATION: Keikelame, M. J. & Swartz, L. 2016. ââIt is always HIV/AIDS and TBââ : home-based carersâ perspectives on epilepsy in Cape Town, South Africa. International Journal of Qualitative Studies on Health and Well-being, 11: 30213, doi: 10.3402/qhw.v11.30213.The original publication is available at http://www.ijqhw.netPublication of this article was funded by the Stellenbosch University Open Access Fund.ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The study highlights the complex cultural religious factors affecting epilepsy and a need for integrated home-based care services. Two focus group discussions exploring home-based carersâ (HBCs) perspectives on epilepsy were conducted using a semi-structured focus group interview guide, which was based on Kleinmanâs explanatory model framework. The audio-recorded data were transcribed verbatim, and a thematic analysis was done. The three main themes were epilepsy names and metaphors, religious beliefs about the cause and treatment of epilepsy, and HBCsâ perceived roles and strategies for engaging in epilepsy care. Findings provide some insights for research, policy, and practice.http://www.ijqhw.net/index.php/qhw/article/view/30213Publisher's versio
Integrating the primary health care approach into a medical curriculum: a programme logic model
Primary health care (PHC) is an equity-driven approach to health care that formed the foundation of South African national health policy under the new democratic government in 1994. In August 1994 the Faculty of Medicine (later renamed the Faculty of
Health Sciences) at the University of Cape Town (UCT) adopted a policy on the PHC approach in order to equip its graduates with the values and skills necessary to meet the changing demands of the new national health system. This policy committed the Faculty to make the PHC approach central to its teaching, research, clinical service, and engagement with communities
Recommended from our members
Mpathekombi, ya bantu abadala: elder abuse in black townships on the Cape flats
Commissioned by the Ikamvu Labantu Project, Marc
Decolonising research methodologies : lessons from a qualitative research project, Cape Town, South Africa
CITATION: Keikelame, M. J. & Swartz, L. 2017. Decolonising research methodologies : lessons from a qualitative research project, Cape Town, South Africa. Global Health Action, 12(1):1561175, doi:10.1080/16549716.2018.1561175.Publication of this article was funded by the Stellenbosch University Open Access Fund.Background: It is becoming increasingly important for researchers to critically reflect on
approaches that can have a positive impact on the health outcomes of indigenous people.
Such issues are of great importance and perhaps of special relevance to researchers in the
Global South, and to the African context in which we work.
Objective:To share some lessons learned from our fieldwork to contribute to current knowledge
and conversations on decolonising research process.
Methods: We used an African lens to critically reflect upon some issues raised from individual
interviews and focus group discussions with our participants which we deem to be important
for consideration in a decolonising research process.
Results: The major issues that we raise are about important structures such as power, trust,
cultural competence, respectful and legitimate research practice and recognition of individual
and communitiesâ health assets in a decolonising research process.
Conclusions: Our paper argues for alternative approaches which are culturally appropriate
for health research and for improved health outcomes of marginalised groups. In addition, we
argue that participatory and transformative research methods which recognises individual
and communitiesâ assets are needed. We hope that the lessons that we share in this paper
can contribute towards a respectful and good research practice among the marginalised
population groups in our context.https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/16549716.2018.1561175Publisher's versio