Overweight, obesity and underweight in nurses in Vhembe and Capricorn districts, Limpopo

Background: In South Africa, anecdotal evidence concerning the prevalence of overweight and obesity in nurses is alarming, but no scientific studies have confirmed this notion. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of underweight, overweight and obesity in black nurses practising in South Africa.Method: A cross-sectional study involving 153 nurses, aged 19-50 years and older, was undertaken in the Vhembe and Capricorn districts, Limpopo province. Height and weight were measured to determine body mass index (BMI) and physical activity was assessed by report. The World Health Organization criteria determined the BMI categories.Results: The mean BMI of the nurses was 31.7 ± 18.1 kg/m2. The prevalence of underweight, overweight, obesity and extreme obesity in the nurses was 2%, 27.5%, 44.4% and 7.2%, respectively. The prevalence of overweight and obesity increased with age, peaking at ages 30-39 for overweight, and over 50 years of age for obesity. Among the males nurses, the prevalence of underweight, overweight, obesity and extreme obesity were 2%, 30.6%, 36.7% and 6.1%, respectively. Corresponding figures for the female nurses were 1.9%, 26%, 48.1% and 7.7%, respectively.Conclusion: The study revealed a high prevalence of overweight and obesity in nurses in the Vhembe and Capricorn districts, a rate that is comparable with that of the general population in South Africa. Future studies are needed to identify risk factors for the prevalence of overweight and obesity in nurses.Keywords: nurses, body mass index, overweight, obesity, underweight, South Afric

Adolescents' knowledge, beliefs and experiences regarding sexual practices: research

Unwanted or unprotected pregnancies and sexually transmitted infections among the youth are the result of engaging in unprotected sexual behaviour. The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore and describe what adolescents view as being safer or risky sex practice, and to differentiate between their sexual practice by gender and sexual experience. Non-probability purposive sampling was used to obtain a sample comprising of 12 females and 15 males of ages ranging between 15 and 18 years. Results indicated that the adolescents were able to identify what are regarded as safer or risky sexual practices. However, when expressing their lived experiences of sexual practices, the participants were still engaging in risky sexual behaviour. In conclusion there is a need to acknowledge that young people are sexual beings. The focus of sexuality education should shift from that of disease prevention instead to looking at the more socially-oriented health-enhancing behaviour such as teaching adolescents about sexual development, sexual behaviour and its possible negative outcomes, sexual abuse, gender issues and power relations and other nonsexual ways of showing affection. Key Words: Sexual practice; Adolescents; Condom use; Safer sex practice; Risky sex practice OPSOMMING Ongewenste of onbeskermde swangerskappe en seksueel-oorgedraagde infeksies onder die jeug is die gevolg van onbeskermde seksuele gedrag. Die doel van hierdie kwalitatiewe studie was om dit wat adolessente beskou as veiliger of meer gewaagde seksuele praktyk, te verken en te beskryf en om tussen seksuele praktyke volgens geslag en seksuele ondervinding te onderskei. Nie-waarskynlikheids, doelgerigte steekproeftrekking is gebruik om ‘n steekproef te bekom wat bestaan het uit 12 vroulike en 15 manlike deelnemers, tussen 15 en 18 jaar oud. Die resultate het getoon dat adolessente by magte was om dit te identifiseer wat as veiliger en meer riskante seksuele gedrag beskou kan word. Dit terwyl die deelnemers hulle beleefde ondervinding van seksuele praktyke beskryf het, het dit duidelik geblyk dat hulle steeds riskante seksuele gedrag beoefen het. Daar is tot die gevolgtrekking gekom dat daar erkenning gegee moet word aan die feit dat jong mense seksuele wesens is. Die fokus van seksualiteitsonderrig behoort te verskuif van siektevoorkoming, na gedrag wat meer sosiaal-georiënteerd is en wat op gesondheidsverbetering gerig is soos om adolessente te onderrig aangaande seksuele ontwikkeling, seksuele gedrag en die moontlike negatiewe gevolge daarvan, seksuele misbruik, geslagsvraagstukke en magsverhoudings, en nie-seksuele maniere om liefde en toegeneentheid te toon. Health SA Gesondheid Vol.9(3) 2004: 34-4

A model for mentorship of newly qualified professional nurses employed in community health care services

The purpose of this study was to develop a model for mentorship of newly qualified professional nurses (NQPNs) employed in community health care services. A triangulation of qualitative and quantitative designs was used for data collection. The experiences of NQPNs employed in community health care services were explored through focus group interviews. Based on the findings of the interviews, three questionnaires for different categories were developed to determine the self-care deficiencies that required mentorship of NQPNs. The findings revealed that NQPNs experienced self-care deficiencies regarding the performance of specific competencies related to dealing with psychiatry, midwifery practice, adaptation, organizational culture, health practice culture and interaction with the community they serve. It was recommended that adaptation/adjustment, health and nursing practice culture, development of skills and competencies, improvement of good relationships between NQPNs and community should be emphasised during training of nursing students to become professional nurses

Rural women’s understanding of the concept of menopause in Limpopo Province, South Africa

The word ‘menopause’ is derived from men and pausis and is a direct description of the psychological and physical events in women where menstruation ceases to occur. It is the time in a woman‘s life when she has experienced the last menstrual bleed. Menopause is not a disease per se but a condition associated with hormonal changes where estrogen diminishes to a low level causing health related symptoms. The purpose of this study was to explore and describe the knowledge of rural women concerning menopause in Mutale Municipality, South Africa. A qualitative, explorative, descriptive and contextual design was used. Purposive sampling was used to select the four villages and the focus groups. Sample size was determined by data saturation. The findings of the study indicated that the rural women in Mutale community had the common traditional understanding of the concept menopause, that blood is gone, old age, it was God’ nature of doing things and that cessation of menstruation was a normal and natural transition. They could not attach cessation of menstruation to menopausal conditions but to old age and physical as well as psychological health related problems. There is need for health care providers to conduct workshops in order to enlighten rural women in this community regarding phenomenal issues of menopause

Applying Orem’s self care model in empowering secondary school girls on contraceptive knowledge and use in Thulamela Municipality, Limpopo Province, South Africa

The purpose of this study was to apply the Orem’s self care theory in empowering secondary school girls’ knowledge and attitudes towards contraception in Thulamela municipality of Limpopo Province, South Africa. A quantitative descriptive study design was used and respondents were selected by means of convenience sampling from a population of secondary-school girls. The sample consisted of 273 secondary-school girls doing grades 10-12. A self-administered questionnaire was used to collect data. The findings indicate that respondents were aware of different contraceptive methods that can prevent pregnancy. However, the majority of respondents did not have knowledge of the emergency contraceptive, Intra-Uterine Device (IUD) and female condom. Pressure from male partners, fear of parental reaction to the use of contraceptives, reluctance to use contraceptives, poor contraceptive education and lack of counselling were cited as the main cause for ineffective contraceptive use and non-utilisation. Possible modalities of intervention were discussed based on Orem’s self-care model

Perspectives on pregnant women’s educational needs to prevent TB complications during pregnancy and the neonatal period. A qualitative study

Abstract Background Tuberculosis (TB) during pregnancy could confer a high risk for maternal and infant morbidity. Literature indicates that the global burden of active TB disease among pregnant women is not well researched. Statistics for South Africa from WHO give an estimated incidence of 360, 000 cases of TB in 2019; 14,000 people became ill with multidrug-resistant TB in 2019, with a rate of 615 per 100,000 population, implying that the cohorts included pregnant women with and without a diagnosis of TB infection. Therefore, the study aims to increase the understanding of the educational needs required to prevent TB complications during pregnancy and the neonatal period in women diagnosed with TB infection. Methods The study used cross-sectional qualitative and descriptive designs to collect data in the clinical setting of the primary health care services of Limpopo Province, South Africa. The population comprised pregnant women diagnosed with TB infection. A non-probability purposive sampling technique was used to sample 2 health centers and 5 clinics in each of the three sampled districts. The targeted sample size was 63 and it was achieved even though data saturation was observed. Individual interviews were conducted, audiotaped, and transcribed. Guided by the study questions, a thematic content analysis of the findings was used. Ethical considerations were also observed. Results Despite that pregnant women have general knowledge about TB disease, the knowledge and awareness regarding the prevention of TB complications in pregnancy and the neonatal period, information on TB/HIV and COVID-19 co-infections, and participants’ knowledge about other non-infectious diseases that may affect the mother with TB infection and foetus showed a deficit. Conclusion Pregnant women with TB disease need to be educated on the negative effects of non-adherence to TB treatment during pregnancy and the neonatal period. There is a need to educate pregnant women about the variant signs and symptoms of TB, HIV and COVID-19 infections since there is a misconception that the three diseases are similar. It is important that pregnant mothers diagnosed with TB should start treatment as soon as possible

Identification of self-care deficiencies requiring mentorship of newly qualified professional nurses employed in community healthcare services in Limpopo Province, South Africa

Newly qualified professional nurses (NQPNs) allocated to community health care services do not always have access to other personnel for mentorship. Self-care could imply that when NQPNs achieve personal and professional maturity they should be competent and independent practitioners. Self-care deficiencies exist when NQPNs lack self-care and have an increase in self-care demands. The aim of the study was to determine the self-care deficiencies that require mentorship of NQPNs employed in community health care services of Limpopo Province. A quantitative research approach was used. The target population consisted of 150 newly qualified professional nurses and 40 professional nurses employed in similar settings as the NQPNs and served as mentors. Due to limited number of NQPNs and mentors all the 150 NQPNs and 40 mentors participated in the study. A questionnaire was used to collect data. The data were analysed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS), version 18. The NQPNs appeared to be competent in most aspects of self-care in the cognitive, psychomotor and affective domains. However, they were perceived to be incompetent in performing critical skills such as managing emergencies, research aspects and organisational management. The study recommends the development of mentorship model for NQPNs.Keywords: Newly qualified professional nurse, community health care services, mentor, mentorship, self-care deficiencies

Infant feeding practices of mothers and nutritional status of infants in Vhembe District in the Limpopo Province

Objective: To determine the breast-feeding and weaning practices of mothers and the nutritional status of infants in the Vhembe District of Limpopo Province. Design: A descriptive and exploratory study was done. A sample of 185 mothers with 185 infants 12 months and younger was selected from five primary healthcare clinics. A validated questionnaire, which consisted of questions relating to demographic data, breast-feeding and weaning practices, was used. The weight and length measurements of the infants were taken. Results: The majority (97%) of the mothers were still breast-feeding at the time of the interviews. Only 7,6% practised exclusive breastfeeding, however, while 43,2% had introduced solid foods at three months and 15% before two months. The weaning food given by most of the mothers was maize-meal soft porridge and had been introduced before four months of age. The Z-score classification was used and showed that stunting (18,9%), underweight (7%) and wasting (7%) were present among the infants but that only wasting was found to be a disorder of public-health significance. The nutritional status of the infants was therefore not significantly influenced by the breast-feeding and weaning practices of the mothers or other demographic parameters. Conclusion: Breast-feeding was still practised by many of the mothers but exclusive breast-feeding was rare. SAJCN Vol. 21 (2) 2008: pp. 36-4

An intervention programme to improve the quality of life of street children in Mopani district, Limpopo Province, South Africa

The aim of the study was to develop an intervention programme to improve the quality of life of street children in the Mopani district of Limpopo Province, South Africa. The intervention programme was developed based on the findings of the main study, which discussed the lived experiences of street children in Ba-Phalaborwa Municipality of Limpopo Province. The study generated the question “which intervention programme is required to improve the quality of life of street children’? Results indicate that some of the street children who participated in this study experienced feelings of relief from the stressful situation they experienced at home as a result the streets provided an alternative home. Participants indicated their relief from the problems such as abuse by family members, especially step-fathers; lack of satisfaction of basic needs at home; and pressure to perform according to others’ expectations. Street children experienced negative feelings such as anger, depression and frustration due to lack of basic needs and their uncertain future. Programme development in this study followed the primary health care approach namely the primary level where focus is on how to prevent the problem, secondary level deals with early detection and reversal of the problem and lastly the tertiary prevention and care, which focuses on reduction and curbing of further development of other pathologies in the street children. Ethical and trustworthiness principles were ensured. This study draws attention to the need to enhance delivery of social welfare services to street children and may also assist the municipalities in the planning of programmes to address the problem of street children

Concepts and treatment for diabetes among traditional and faith healers in the Northern Province, South Africa

The purpose of the study was to assess the concepts and treatment modalities for diabetes among traditional and faith healers in the Northern Province in South Africa. The sample consisted of 50 traditional healers (13 females and 37 males) and 50 faith healers (12 females and 38 males). They were interviewed on local terminology, clinical manifestations, causes, curability, and treatment for diabetes, help-seeking behaviour of diabetes patients, and the healers’ sources of information about diabetes. Results indicate that all healers were familiar with “diabetes”, however, not all of them had seen patients suffering from diabetes. The perceived causes of diabetes by both traditional and faith healers could be divided into (1) diet (especially too much of sugar), (2) heredity, (3) supernatural, and (4) psychological causes. Most traditional healers (92%) and faith healers (90%) indicated that diabetes is curable. Treatments used by the healers in this study included the use of prayer, diet, and herbs. The authors conclude that the concepts and treatment modalities for diabetes among traditional and faith healers should be taken note of by health workers while developing health education programmes in the Province