The views of women in the Limpopo Province of South Africa concerning girls' puberty rites: research

This study was a qualitative, exploratory, descriptive and contextual research study, conducted in the Northern Region of the Northern Province (now Limpopo) among Vatsonga / Manchangana in four selected areas. The ethnographic strategy was used to gain access to the puberty rites and to view and describe it from an emic perspective. The techniques for data collection included participant observation, semi-structured interviews, focus group discussions, key informant interviews and feedback workshops. Initiated and uninitiated women view the rite differently. Initiated women see it as an important cultural practice while the uninitiated women see it as a dangerous practice. Die navorsingsontwerp van hierdie studie was kwalitatief, verkennend, beskrywend en kontekstueel, uitgevoer in die Noordelike streek van die Noordelike Provinsie (nou Limpopo), onder die Vatsonga / Manchangana in vier geselekteerde areas. Die etnografiese strategie is gebruik om toegang te verkry tot die pubertiteitseremonie sodat dit vanuit 'n kontekstuele perspektief beskryf kon word. Die insameling van data is gedoen deur middel van deelnemende waarneming, semi-gestruktureerde onderhoude, fokusgroepbesprekings, onderhoude met sleutelinformante en werkswinkels vir terugvoer. Vroue wat die inisiasie deurloop het en dié wat nie geïnisieer is nie se siening omtrent die seremonie het verskil. Geïnisieerde vroue sien dit as 'n belangrike kulturele praktyk, terwyl die ongeïnisieerdes dit as 'n gevaarlike praktyk beskou. (Health SA Gesondheid: interdisciplinary research journal: 2003 8(3): 47-60

HIV/AIDS prevalence among South African health workers

Introduction. Studies on HIV prevalence among health workers usually focus on occupational exposure to HIV. Little is known about HIV prevalence in this group. However, it is expected that HIV prevalence among health workers will reflect prevalence in their society. Objective. To determine HIV prevalence among South African health workers. Method. A stratified cluster sample was drawn of 5% of health facilities in South Africa (N = 222) representative of the public and private health sectors in South Africa. The sample was designed to obtain a nationwide representative sample of medical professionals and non-professional health workers. A subsample comprising health workers in four provinces was tested for HIV status. The Orasure HIV-1 device in combination with the Vironostika HIV UNI-Form II plus O enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kits were used to collect oral fluid specimens for HIV testing. Results. Based on a sample of 721 health workers and a response rate of 82.5% (or 595 respondents), the study found that an estimated 15.7% (95% confidence interval (CI): 12.2 - 19.9%) of health workers employed in the public and private health facilities located in four South African provinces, were living with HIV/AIDS in 2002. Among younger health workers, the risk is much higher. This group (aged 18 - 35 years) had an estimated HIV prevalence of 20% (95% CI: 14.1 - 27.6%). Non-professionals had an HIV prevalence of 20.3%, while professionals had a prevalence of 13.7%. Conclusion. HIV prevalence among health workers in South Africa is high; this calls for the introduction of antiretroviral programmes targeting them. In addition, there is a need for the development of new policy regarding placement of infected health workers in tuberculosis (TB) wards, coupled with vigorous human resource planning to replace the health workers likely to die from AIDS. Infection control procedures also need to be reviewed. S Afr Med J 2004; 94: 846-850

Challenges of primary healthcare nurses regarding the integration of HIV and AIDS services into primary healthcare in Vhembe district of Limpopo province, South Africa

Background: Integration of human immunodeficiency virus and acquired immune deficiency syndrome (HIV and AIDS) services into primary healthcare (PHC) is a key public health approach to achieving universal access to antiretroviral therapy (ART). Despite the government’s efforts of integrating HIV services into PHC, an insufficient number of PHC staff and inadequate infrastructure are challenging when integrating HIV and AIDS services into PHC. This study explored the challenges of PHC nurses regarding the integration of HIV and AIDS services into PHC. Objectives: The aim of the study was to explore the challenges of PHC nurses regarding the integration of HIV and AIDS services into PHC. Method: An exploratory, descriptive and contextual qualitative research design utilising face-to-face semi-structured interviews was conducted with 12 PHC nurses from selected clinics and health centres in the Vhembe district of Limpopo province. Results: Two main themes emerged from data analysis which included challenges related to healthcare recipients and challenges related to healthcare providers. Conclusion: Clear policies on the integration of HIV and AIDS services into PHC should be available and should include strategies to promote HIV testing and counselling, adherence to ART and scheduled appointments, disclosure of HIV status as well as revising the human resource policy to reduce workload

Symmetry group classification for general Burger's equation

The present paper solves the problem of the group classification of the general Burgers' equation $u_t=f(x,u)u_x^2+g(x,u)u_{xx}$, where $f$ and $g$ are arbitrary smooth functions of the variable $x$ and $u$, by using Lie method. The paper is one of the few applications of an algebraic approach to the problem of group classification: the method of preliminary group classification. A number of new interesting nonlinear invariant models which have nontrivial invariance algebras are obtained. The result of the work is a wide class of equations summarized in table form.Comment: 9 page

Taking up the cudgels against gay rights? Trends and trajectories in African Christian theologies on homosexuality

Against the background of the HIV epidemic and the intense public controversy on homosexuality in African societies, this article investigates the discourses of academic African Christian theologians on homosexuality. Distinguishing some major strands in African theology, that is, inculturation, liberation, women’s and reconstruction theology, the article examines how the central concepts of culture, liberation, justice, and human rights function in these discourses. On the basis of a qualitative analysis of a large number of publications, the article shows that stances of African theologians are varying from silence and rejection to acceptance. Although many African theologians have taken up the cudgels against gay rights, some “dissident voices” break the taboo and develop more inclusive concepts of African identity and African Christianity

Strengthening primary eye care in South Africa: An assessment of services and prospective evaluation of a health systems support package

Visual impairment is a significant public health concern, particularly in low- and middle-income countries where eye care is predominantly provided at the primary healthcare (PHC) level, known as primary eye care. This study aimed to perform an evaluation of primary eye care services in three districts of South Africa and to assess whether an ophthalmic health system strengthening (HSS) package could improve these services. Baseline surveys were conducted in Cape Winelands District, Johannesburg Health District and Mopani District at 14, 25 and 36 PHC facilities, respectively. Thereafter, the HSS package, comprising group training, individual mentoring, stakeholder engagement and resource provision, was implemented in 20 intervention sites in Mopani District, with the remaining 16 Mopani facilities serving as control sites. At baseline, less than half the facilities in Johannesburg and Mopani had dedicated eye care personnel or sufficient space to measure visual acuity. Although visual acuity charts were available in most facilities, <50% assessed patients at the correct distance. Median score for availability of nine essential drugs was <70%. Referral criteria knowledge was highest in Cape Winelands and Johannesburg, with poor clinical knowledge across all districts. Several HSS interventions produced successful outcomes: compared to control sites there was a significant increase in the proportion of intervention sites with eye care personnel and resources such as visual acuity charts (p = 0.02 and <0.01, respectively). However, engaging with district pharmacists did not improve availability of essential drugs (p = 0.47). Referral criteria knowledge improved significantly in intervention sites (p<0.01) but there was no improvement in clinical knowledge (p = 0.76). Primary eye care in South Africa faces multiple challenges with regard to organisation of care, resource availability and clinical competence. The HSS package successfully improved some aspects of this care, but further development is warranted together with debate regarding the positioning of eye services at PHC l

Thinking our way out of the bottom of a pit latrine

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