3. Electronic Theses and Dissertations (ETDs) - All submissions

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    The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on orthopaedic trauma admissions in a central academic hospital in Johannesburg
    (2024) Foster, Matthew
    Background: The Novel Coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2), commonly known as COVID-19, has caused a global economic and healthcare crisis. In response, many countries tried to curb the spread of the virus with the introduction of various lockdown alert levels to restrict transmission and prepare health care systems for an increase in COVID-19 admissions. The Republic of South Africa (RSA) implemented an alcohol ban as one of the lockdown restrictions. Objectives: To describe the effect of the lockdown alert levels and alcohol availability on orthopaedic trauma admissions, compared to the preceding two years. Patients and methods: A retrospective review of clinical records was conducted. The data collected included orthopaedic trauma admissions for the six-month time-period in a quaternary facility in Johannesburg from 01 March to 31 August in the years: 2018, 2019 and 2020, respectively. Lock down alert levels were categorised according to the Department of Health which included the ban, re-introduction and re-banning of alcohol consumption. Data collected for 2018, 2019 and 2020 included demographics of sex and age, as well as fracture location, open or closed injuries, polytrauma patients and those who suffered gun-shot wounds. Results: Overall, 785, 718 and 556 patients were admitted in 2018, 2019 and 2020, respectively. There was a significant decrease of 22.56% of orthopaedic trauma admissions during the five-month lockdown time-period in 2020 compared to 2019 (p-value = 0.01) and 29.17% from 2020 compared to 2018 ( p-value = 0.011). In 2020, admissions increased by 112% (n = 82) from alert level 4, when alcohol was banned, to alert level 3 (3a), when alcohol was reintroduced. Admissions decreased by 32.9% (n = 51) from alert level 3 (3a) to alert level 3 (3b), when alcohol was re-banned. Patients were 1.27 times more likely to be admitted in alert level 3 (3a) than alert level 3 (3b) (95% CI: 0.99, 1.65). Motor vehicle accidents (MVAs) were the commonest cause of admissions in alert level 3 (3a), accounting for 40.6% (n = 56) whereas in alert level 3 (3b), MVAs decreased to 12.4% (n = 12). COVID-19 tests were positive in 10.18% (n = 34) of the 346 tests performed on orthopaedic trauma admissions. 3 Conclusion: Our study showed the decrease in orthopaedic trauma admissions due to the COVID-19 lockdown regulations. Furthermore, our study demonstrated the impact of alcohol availability on orthopaedic trauma admissions in a central academic hospital in Johannesburg.
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    Investigating knowledge, attitudes and perceptions of COVID-19 vaccines among young people in Soweto, South africa
    (2024) Muthoni, Jelioth
    Vaccination against SARS-CoV-2 is the most prominent strategy in the global fight against COVID-19. Studies continue to show that vaccines are one of the most dependable and cost-effective public health interventions available as they save life every year. However, World Health Organization (WHO) has identified vaccine hesitation as one of the primary threats to global health. Little is known, however, about the causes and nature of vaccine hesitancy in Africa. Moreover, in South Africa a significant drop of COVID-19 vaccine when it was rolled out the youth. The age group is of critical importance as they are becoming productive people who would be essential in the development of any country hence the need to protect them. Furthermore, understanding why youth are hesitant to get vaccinated is critical if we are to increase and sustain public demand for vaccination and preserve the tremendous achievements of vaccination programs on the continent. Unfortunately, there are limited studies that have investigated vaccine hesitancy among the youth populations and precisely looking at their knowledge, attitudes, and perceptions of the COVID-19 vaccine. Hence, the study aims to investigate knowledge, attitudes and perceptions of COVID-19 vaccine among young people in Soweto. The study employed a quantitative method, whereby closed ended questionnaires were administered using Redcap a very power tool for collecting data. Quantitative method was the best fit for the study for it accommodates a large sample size. SowetoThembelihle Health Demographic Surveillance System database was in the identification of the samples. STATA version 13.0 was used for statistical analysis. Out of a sample size of 380, the study recorded a 79.2% (301/380) hesitancy levels. The study population recorded to be knowledgeable on COVID-19 disease and vaccine. However, negative attitudes and perceptions based on the study participants responses in some important elements. The elements included ‘COVID-19 is a hoax’ (p=0.011), ‘I prefer to gain immunity by being sick rather than by having a vaccine ‘(p=0.000) and ‘COVID-19 vaccine has serious side effects’ (p=0.000) The study found out that infordemic has played a significant on the knowledge levels precisely among the youth. The study participants were well- informed, but they had poor attitudes and perception towards COVID-19 vaccine. These insights could help to reinforce national efforts to contain the pandemic across South Africa in particular Soweto and lessen other important consequences of the pandemic well-being.
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    Narratives on the frontline: a qualitative investigation of the lived experiences of healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic in South Africa
    (2022) Kazadi, Angela Denyimi Nyembue
    Background: During the Coronavirus pandemic, a mental health pandemic emerged, with frontline healthcare workers’ arguably being the most affected. In South Africa, however, the sociohistorical background must be considered, as this virus poses a new threat to a country that has suffered a series of collective traumas. Aim: This study explored the qualitative, lived experiences of frontline healthcare workers in South Africa during the COVID-19 pandemic. Method: A lifeworld phenomenological framework was used in this study. Semi-structured interviews with 11 frontline healthcare workers were conducted as part of a broader study focused on the mental health of South African healthcare workers’ during COVID-19. The information gathered was analysed using the principles of reflexive thematic analysis. Results: This research showed that the lived experiences of frontline workers’ during the COVID-19 outbreak in South Africa are diverse and peppered with paradoxes. The findings revealed that working during COVID-19 is an emotional rollercoaster, that it is emotionally and mentally tiring, that there are concerns with the Department of Health and that COVID-19 has had a substantial influence on daily living. In addition, the data also demonstrate that the concept of a ‘front-line’ healthcare worker altered throughout the pandemic as a result of task shifting as healthcare personnel took on different responsibilities, moving them to the ‘frontline.’ Conclusion: This study adds to the body of knowledge about mental health and the working environment of health professionals during COVID-19. It also highlights the need to understand healthcare workers’ lived experience using qualitative methodologies, which has provided depth and new insights into the multiple realities of healthcare workers on the frontline
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