Mental health symptoms among homeless shelter residents during COVID-19 lockdown in Tshwane, South Africa

Background: In order to contain the spread of COVID-19 in South Africa during the national state of emergency, the Gauteng Department of Social Development established temporary shelters and activated existing facilities to provide basic needs to street-homeless people in Tshwane, which facilitated primary health care service-delivery to this community. Aim: This study aimed to determine and analyse the prevalence of mental health symptoms and demographic characteristics among street-homeless people living in Tshwane’s shelters during lockdown. Setting: Homeless shelters set up in Tshwane during level 5 of the COVID-19 lockdown in South Africa. Methods: A cross-sectional, analytical study was conducted using a Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5)-based questionnaire that looked at 13 mental health symptom domains. Results: Presence of moderate-to-severe symptoms were reported among the 295 participants as follows: substance use 202 (68%), anxiety 156 (53%), personality functioning 132 (44%), depression 85 (29%), sleep problems 77 (26%), somatic symptoms 69 (23%), anger 62 (21%), repetitive thoughts and behaviours 60 (20%), dissociation 55 (19%), mania 54 (18%), suicidal ideation 36 (12%), memory 33 (11%) and psychosis 23 (8%). Conclusion: A high burden of mental health symptoms was identified. Community-oriented and person-centred health services with clear care-coordination pathways are required to understand and overcome the barriers street-homeless people face in accessing health and social services. Contribution: This study determined the prevalence of mental health symptoms within the street-based population in Tshwane, which has not previously been studied

Evaluating community health worker education policy through a National Certificate (Vocational) Primary Health qualification lens

BACKGROUND: In 2018, the South African National Department of Health (NDoH) published a 5-year policy framework and strategy for Ward-Based Primary Healthcare Outreach teams to improve team management and leadership and support service delivery. In the same year, the World Health Organization (WHO) published guidelines on health policy and system support to optimise Community Health Worker (CHW) programmes. AIM: This article aims to assess the National Certificate (Vocational), or NC(V), Primary Health qualification in terms of the education and training guidelines and recommendations of the 2018 NDoH and WHO policy documents. SETTING: The qualification was initiated in 2013 at 12 Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) colleges across South Africa. The evaluation covered the period 2013–2017. METHODS: Pragmatic qualitative enquiry was used to examine the context, design, implementation and outcomes of the qualification. Data collection involved document reviews, key informant in-depth interviews and focused group discussions, and individual reflections with respondents from one part-time and two full-time offerings at two colleges. Analyses of emergent themes were interpreted using appropriate models and theoretical frameworks. RESULTS: The Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET) created and implemented a standardised, curriculated national programme for CHW education that structured theoretical and practical learning over time to ensure assimilation of content and its application in practice. CONCLUSION: NC(V) Primary Health, as a single, national, quality-assured qualification for CHWs, meets WHO 2018 guidelines and recommendations, NDoH training needs and CHWs learning expectations, especially when offered part-time. Despite the termination of the programme, it remains a relevant option for CHWs in South Africa and elsewhere.National Research FoundationUniversity of Pretoriahttp://www.phcfm.orgpm2021Family Medicin

My experiences in health science education and research : a community worker’s autoethnographic account

It is essential that strong and mutually beneficial relationships be built among academics, researchers, students, and community liaison officers. Fundamental to this is the importance of a sincere and high regard for the often-invisible role of these community workers, and recognition of the importance of their contribution.http://www.journals.co.za/content/journal/healthram2020Family Medicin

The three-stage assessment to support hospital-home care coordination in Tshwane- South Africa

BACKGROUND: In complex health settings, care coordination is required to link patients to appropriate and effective care. Although articulated as system and professional values, coordination and cooperation are often absent within and across levels of service, between facilities and across sectors, with negative consequences for clinical outcomes as well as serviceload.Aim: This article presents the results of an applied research initiative to facilitate the coordination of patient care. SETTING: The study took place at three hospitals in the sub-district 3 public health complex (Tshwane district). METHOD: Using a novel capability approach to learning, interdisciplinary, clinician-led teams made weekly coordination-of-care ward rounds to develop patient-centred plans and facilitate care pathways for patients identified as being stuck in the system. Notes taken during three-stage assessments were analysed thematically to gain insight into down referral and discharge. RESULTS: The coordination-of-care team assessed 94 patients over a period of six months. Clinical assessments yielded essential details about patients’ varied and multimorbid conditions, while personal and contextual assessments highlighted issues that put patients’ care needs and possibilities into perspective. The team used the combined assessments to make patient-tailored action plans and apply them by facilitating cooperation through interprofessional and intersectoral networks. CONCLUSION: Effective patient care-coordination involves a set of referral practices and processes that are intentionally organised by clinically led, interprofessional teams. Empowered by richly informed plans, the teams foster cooperation among people, organisations and institutions in networks that extend from and to patients. In so doing, they embed care coordination into the discharge process and make referral to a link-to-care service.Department of Family Medicine, University of Pretoriahttp://www.phcfm.orgpm2020Family Medicin