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Start date: 2022Subject: search.filters.subject.SDG-3: Good health and well-being

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Now showing 1 - 10 of 27
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    Feeding children with autism in South Africa: the teachers’ perspectives
    (AOSIS Publishing, 2024-02) Adams, Skye N.; Matsimela, Nthabiseng
    Background: Over 80% of children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorders (autism) exhibit disruptive behaviours during mealtimes, highlighting the need for personalised care. In South Africa, teachers often take on the responsibility of feeding due to resource constraints and the time children spend at school. Moreover, children with autism have unique and individualised feeding requirements, which many teachers may not have the necessary training or skills to address adequately. Objectives: To explore the ways in which teachers of autistic children manage feeding difficulties in the classroom. Method: A qualitative research design was employed using semi-structured interviews. Eight teachers were interviewed on feeding autistic children between the ages of 3 years - 9 years in Johannesburg, South Africa. Data were transcribed and analysed using thematic analysis. Results: The findings revealed that teachers encountered distinct challenges when it came to feeding autistic children in the classroom, particularly concerning the management of associated feeding difficulties. Teachers employed several strategies to encourage eating in the classroom setting including: (1) bolus modification, (2) behaviour modelling, (3) positive reinforcement and (4) offering choices and alternatives. Conclusion: The study concludes the need for specialised support and training for teachers to address the individualised feeding needs of children with autism. Implementing targeted interventions and providing resources for teachers could enhance their abilities to effectively support children with autism during mealtimes and promote a more inclusive classroom environment. Contribution: This study highlighted the importance of including the teacher in the multidisciplinary team when managing the feeding challenges in children with autism.
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    Exploring quality of life post sudden onset hearing loss: a convergent parallel approach
    (AOSIS Publishing, 2024-02) Ntlhakana, Liepollo; Hamid, Sabeehah
    Background: Sudden onset hearing loss (SOHL) is rare and presents differently to individuals; hence, it is complex to diagnose. The impact on the quality of life (QoL) varies for individuals and their support structure. However, the exploration of research designs is warranted. Objectives: This study explored the lived experiences of adults post-SOHL diagnosis and the impact on the QoL. Facilitators of emotional and social aspects of counselling provided by audiologists post-SOHL diagnosis were established. Method: This was a convergent parallel research study. Data were collected from the two primary participants and three secondary participants, face-to-face and telephonically. The Hearing Handicap Inventory for Adults (HHIA) screening tool and the semi-structured interviews were used for data collection. The data sets were analysed independently, viz. descriptive analysis and thematic analysis, to confirm the impact on the QoL post-SOHL diagnosis. Results: The HHIA scores obtained were 84% and 50% for P1 and P2, respectively. Key themes that emerged from the interviews revealed that communication difficulties mostly impacted the QoL, which in turn influenced their mental and social well-being. Aural rehabilitation was perceived as ineffective support, thus the inability to reduce the impact on the QoL post-SOHL diagnosis. Conclusion: The integrated findings indicated the impact on the QoL post-SOHL diagnosis. Convergent parallel methods should be considered by researchers to understand rare auditory pathologies and their impact on the QoL. Contribution: Person-centred care (PCC) and family-centred care (FCC) are facilitators of counselling that audiologists can employ as QoL management strategies post-SOHL diagnosis.
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    The assessment and aetiology of drug-induced ischaemic priapism
    (Springer Nature, 2024-12) Moodley, Divyen; Badenhorst, Anja; Choonara, Yahya; Adam, Ahmed
    Ischaemic priapism is a urological emergency characterised by a prolonged, painful erection unrelated to sexual stimulation. While several aetiological factors contribute to this condition, the pharmacological causes have gained significant attention in recent years. This narrative review aims to comprehensively assess ischaemic priapism, specifically focusing on its pharmacological aetiology. We propose an approach and assessment strategy to the numerous factors associated with pharmacologically induced ischaemic priapism. By enhancing our understanding of the harmacological causes of this condition, healthcare professionals can improve patient management and reduce the long-term complications associated with ischaemic priapism.
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    Mobile Technology use in clinical research examining challenges and implivations for health promotion in South Africa: mixed methods study
    (JMIR Publications, 2024) Norris, Shane A.; Mabetha, Khuthala; Soepnel, Larske M.; Mabena, Gugulethu; Motlhathedi, Molebogeng; Nyathi, Lukhanyo; Draper, Catherine E.
    Background: The use of mobile technologies in fostering health promotion and healthy behaviors is becoming an increasingly common phenomenon in global health programs. Although mobile technologies have been effective in health promotion initiatives and follow-up research in higher-income countries and concerns have been raised within clinical practice and research in low- and middle-income settings, there is a lack of literature that has qualitatively explored the challenges that participants experience in terms of being contactable through mobile technologies. Objective: This study aims to explore the challenges that participants experience in terms of being contactable through mobile technologies in a trial conducted in Soweto, South Africa. Methods: A convergent parallel mixed methods research design was used. In the quantitative phase, 363 young women in the age cohorts 18 to 28 years were contacted telephonically between August 2019 and January 2022 to have a session delivered to them or to be booked for a session. Call attempts initiated by the study team were restricted to only 1 call attempt, and participants who were reached at the first call attempt were classified as contactable (189/363, 52.1%), whereas those whom the study team failed to contact were classified as hard to reach (174/363, 47.9%). Two outcomes of interest in the quantitative phase were "contactability of the participants" and "participants' mobile number changes," and these outcomes were analyzed at a univariate and bivariate level using descriptive statistics and a 2-way contingency table. In the qualitative phase, a subsample of young women (20 who were part of the trial for ≥12 months) participated in in-depth interviews and were recruited using a convenience sampling method. A reflexive thematic analysis approach was used to analyze the data using MAXQDA software (version 20; VERBI GmbH). Results: Of the 363 trial participants, 174 (47.9%) were hard to reach telephonically, whereas approximately 189 (52.1%) were easy to reach telephonically. Most participants (133/243, 54.7%) who were contactable did not change their mobile number. The highest percentage of mobile number changes was observed among participants who were hard to reach, with three-quarters of the participants (12/16, 75%) being reported to have changed their mobile number ≥2 times. Eight themes were generated following the analysis of the transcripts, which provided an in-depth account of the reasons why some participants were hard to reach. These included mobile technical issues, coverage issues, lack of ownership of personal cell phones, and unregistered number. Conclusions: Remote data collection remains an important tool in public health research. It could, thus, serve as a hugely beneficial mechanism in connecting with participants while actively leveraging the established relationships with participants or community-based organizations to deliver health promotion and practice.
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    Molecular and phenotypic characteristics of RSV infections in infants during two nirsevimab randomized clinical trials
    (Nature Research, 2023) Madhi, Shabir A.; Ahani, Bahar; Tuffy, Kevin M.; Aksyuk, Anastasia A.; Wilkins, Deidre; Abram, Michael E.; Dagan, Ron; Domachowske, Joseph B.; Guest, Johnathan D.; Ji, Hong; Kushnir, Anna; Leach, Amanda; Mankad, Vaishali S.; Simões, Eric A. F.; Sparklin, Benjamin; Speer, Scott D.; Stanley, Ann Marie; Tabor, David E.; Hamrén, Ulrika Wählby; Kelly, Elizabeth J.; Villafana, Tonya
    Nirsevimab is a monoclonal antibody that binds to the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) fusion protein. During the Phase 2b (NCT02878330) and MELODY (NCT03979313) clinical trials, infants received one dose of nirsevimab or placebo before their first RSV season. In this pre-specified analysis, isolates from RSV infections were subtyped, sequenced and analyzed for nirsevimab binding site substitutions; subsequently, recombinant RSVs were engineered for microneutralization susceptibility testing. Here we show that the frequency of infections caused by subtypes A and B is similar across and within the two trials. In addition, RSV A had one and RSV B had 10 fusion protein substitutions occurring at >5% frequency. Notably, RSV B binding site substitutions were rare, except for the highly prevalent I206M:Q209R, which increases nirsevimab susceptibility; RSV B isolates from two participants had binding site substitutions that reduce nirsevimab susceptibility. Overall, >99% of isolates from the Phase 2b and MELODY trials retained susceptibility to nirsevimab.
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    Comparable safety and non‑inferior immunogenicity of the SARS‑CoV‑2 mRNA vaccine candidate PTX‑COVID19‑B and BNT162b2 in a phase 2 randomized, observer‑blinded study
    (Nature Research, 2024) Madhi, Shabir A.; Tran, Richard; Martin‑Orozco, Natalia; Panicker, Rajesh Krishnan Gopalakrishna; Pastrak, Aleksandra; Reiter, Lawrence; Grefrath, Johann; Zidel, Bian; Ostrowski, Mario; Gommerman, Jennifer; Cooper, Curtis
    In the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, the evolution of the SARS-CoV-2 into a seasonal pathogen along with the emergence of new variants, underscores the need for dynamic and adaptable responses, emphasizing the importance of sustained vaccination strategies. This observer-blind, double-dummy, randomized immunobridging phase 2 study (NCT05175742) aimed to compare the immunogenicity induced by two doses of 40 μg PTX-COVID19-B vaccine candidate administered 28 days apart, with the response induced by two doses of 30 µg Pfzer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine (BNT162b2), administered 21 days apart, in Nucleocapsid-protein seronegative adults 18–64 years of age. Both vaccines were administrated via intramuscular injection in the deltoid muscle. Two weeks after the second dose, the neutralizing antibody (NAb) geometric mean titer ratio and seroconversion rate met the non-inferiority criteria, successfully achieving the primary immunogenicity endpoints of the study. PTX-COVID19-B demonstrated similar safety and tolerability profle to BNT162b2 vaccine. The lowest NAb response was observed in subjects with low-to-undetectable NAb at baseline or no reported breakthrough infection. Conversely, participants who experienced breakthrough infections during the study exhibited higher NAb titers. This study also shows induction of cell-mediated immune (CMI) responses by PTX-COVID19-B. In conclusion, the vaccine candidate PTX-COVID19-B demonstrated favourable safety profle along with immunogenicity similar to the active comparator BNT162b2 vaccine.
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    Life became harder with COVID19 exploring the experiences of the COVID19 pandemic among youth living in eThekwini district South Africa
    (Biomed Central , 2024- 07) Closson, K.; Dong, E.; Zulu, Bongiwe; Dietrich, Janan; Zharima, Campion; Jesson, J.; Pakhomova, T.; Beksinska, Malgorzata; Kaida, A.
    Background: In South Africa, pervasive age and gender inequities have been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic and public health response. We aimed to explore experiences of the COVID-19 pandemic among youth in eThekwini district, South Africa. Methods: Between December 2021-May 2022 we explored experiences of the COVID-19 pandemic on youth aged 16–24 residing in eThekwini, South Africa. We collated responses to the open-ended question “Has the COVID-19 pandemic affected you in any other way you want to tell us about?” in an online survey focused on understanding the pandemic’s multi-levelled health and social effects. We used a thematic analysis to summarise the responses. Results: Of 2,068 respondents, 256 (12.4%, median age = 22, 60.9% women) completed the open-ended survey question (11% in isiZulu). Results were organized into three main themes encompassing (1) COVID-19-related loss, fear, grief, and exacerbated mental and physical health concerns; (2) COVID-19-related intensified hardships, which contributed to financial, employment, food, education, and relationship insecurities for individuals and households; and (3) positive effects of the pandemic response, including the benefits of government policies and silver linings to government restrictions. Conclusions: We found that South African youth experienced significant grief and multiple losses (e.g., death, income, job, and educational) during the COVID-19 pandemic. Trauma-aware interventions that provide economic and educational opportunities must be included in post-COVID recovery efforts.
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    Does engagement in HIV care affect screening diagnosis and control of noncommunicable diseases in sub-Saharan Africa: a systematic review and meta analysis
    (Springer , 2024-02) Kileel, E.; Zheng, Amy; Bor, Jacob; Fox, Matthew; Crowther, Nigel; George, Jaya; Khoza, Siyabonga; Rosen, Sydney; Venter, Willem; Raal, Frederick; Hibberd, Patricia; Brennan, Alana
    Low- and middle-income countries are facing a growing burden of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs). Providing HIV treatment may provide opportunities to increase access to NCD services in under-resourced environments. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to evaluate whether use of antiretroviral therapy (ART) was associated with increased screening, diagnosis, treatment, and control of diabetes, hypertension, chronic kidney disease, or cardiovascular disease among people living with HIV in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). A comprehensive search of electronic literature databases for studies published between 01 January 2011 and 31 December 2022 yielded 26 studies, describing 13,570 PLWH in SSA, 61% of whom were receiving ART. Random effects models were used to calculate summary odds ratios (ORs) of the risk of diagnosis by ART status and corresponding 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs), where appropriate. ART use was associated with a small but imprecise increase in the odds of diabetes diagnosis (OR 1.07; 95% CI 0.71, 1.60) and an increase in the odds of hypertension diagnosis (OR 2.10, 95% CI 1.42, 3.09). We found minimal data on the association between ART use and screening, treatment, or control of NCDs. Despite a potentially higher NCD risk among PLWH and regional efforts to integrate NCD and HIV care, evidence to support effective care integration models is lacking.
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    Measurement and conceptualization of male involvement in family planning: a bibliometric analysis of Africa-based studies
    (BMC, 2024-06) Petlele, Rebaone; Oni, Tosin Olajide; Banjo, Olufunmilayo Olufunmilayo; Bankole, Akinrinola; Akinyemi, Akanni Ibukun
    Background: Male involvement in Family Planning (FP) is an exercise of men’s sexual and reproductive health rights. However, the measurement of male involvement has been highly inconsistent and too discretional in FP studies. As a result, we used bibliometric tools to analyze the existing measures of male involvement in FP and recommend modifications for standard measures. Methods: Using developed search terms, we searched for research articles ever published on male involvement in FP from Scopus, Web of Science, and PubMed databases. The search results were filtered for studies that focused on Africa. A total of 152 research articles were selected after the screening, and bibliometric analysis was performed in R. Results: Results showed that 54% of the studies measured male involvement through approval for FP, while 46.7% measured it through the attitude of males to FP. About 31% measured male involvement through input in deciding FP method, while others measured it through inputs in the choice of FP service center (13.6%), attendance at FP clinic/service center (17.8%), and monetary provision for FP services/materials (12.4%). About 82.2% of the studies used primary data, though the majority (61.2%) obtained information on male involvement from women alone. Only about one in five studies (19.1%) got responses from males and females, with fewer focusing on males alone. Conclusion: Most studies have measured male involvement in FP through expressed or perceived approval for FP. However, these do not sufficiently capture male involvement and do not reflect women’s autonomy. Other more encompassing measures of male involvement, which would reflect the amount of intimacy among heterosexual partners, depict the extent of the exercise of person-centered rights, and encourage the collection of union-specific data, are recommended.
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    Using dynamic BIM to improve construction safety culture
    (University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2024-07) Amiri, Mojtaba; Saghatforoush, Ehsan; Laryea, Samuel; Laryea, Samuel; Li, Baizhan; Essah, Emmanuel Adu; Mensah, Sarfo; Liu, Hong; Yao, Runming
    Among the various studies that have addressed the application of BIM dynamics in domain of health and safety management, the lack of research regarding the impact of BIM dynamics on safety culture is clearly visible. These days, it is apparent that more and more construction technologies are currently being used for safety and health management. These technologies can be used in different construction applications to mitigate workplace hazards. Among these technologies, BIM and IoT has been shown to have significant potential in high-risk Environment, Health, and Safety (EHS) industries. Several researchers have started to explore the potential synergy between BIM and IOT. Dynamic BIM presents an influential pattern for applications to improve construction safety management. The main purpose of this paper is to demonstrate the necessity of research on the use of dynamic BIM in improving construction safety culture. Hence, the literature review method was used to identify the domains in which dynamic BIM has been applied. Prominent application domains in which dynamic BIM has been applied are construction operation and monitoring, facility management (FM), construction logistic and management, health and safety (H&S) management. Results show that no research has addressed the impact of dynamic BIM on safety culture. Therefore, research related to dynamic BIM and its impact on construction safety culture is necessary.