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1
Nord, Catharina. "Healthcare and Warfare. Medical Space, Mission and Apartheid in Twentieth Century Northern Namibia." Medical History 58, no. 3 (2014): 422–46. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/mdh.2014.31.
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AbstractIn the year 1966, the first government hospital, Oshakati hospital, was inaugurated in northern South-West Africa. It was constructed by the apartheid regime of South Africa which was occupying the territory. Prior to this inauguration, Finnish missionaries had, for 65 years, provided healthcare to the indigenous people in a number of healthcare facilities of which Onandjokwe hospital was the most important. This article discusses these two agents’ ideological standpoints. The same year, the war between the South-West African guerrillas and the South African state started, and continued up to 1988. The two hospitals became involved in the war; Oshakati hospital as a part of the South African war machinery, and Onandjokwe hospital as a ‘terrorist hospital’ in the eyes of the South Africans. The missionary Onandjokwe hospital was linked to the Lutheran church in South-West Africa, which became one of the main critics of the apartheid system early in the liberation war. Warfare and healthcare became intertwined with apartheid policies and aggression, materialised by healthcare provision based on strategic rationales rather than the people’s healthcare needs. When the Namibian state took over a ruined healthcare system in 1990, the two hospitals were hubs in a healthcare landscape shaped by missionary ambitions, war and apartheid logic.
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Brauns, Melody, and Anne Stanton. "Governance of the public health sector during Apartheid: The case of South Africa." Journal of Governance and Regulation 5, no. 1 (2016): 23–30. http://dx.doi.org/10.22495/jgr_v5_i1_p3.
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The healthcare system that the African National Congress (ANC) government inherited in 1994 can hardly be described as functional. Indeed the new government had inherited a combination of deliberate official policy, discriminatory legislation and at times blatant neglect. This paper presents an overview of the evolution of the healthcare system in South Africa. The structures set up under apartheid had implications for provision of public healthcare to South Africans and reveals how governance structures, systems and processes set up during apartheid had implications for the provision of public healthcare to South Africans.
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Alfaro-Velcamp, Theresa. "“Don’t send your sick here to be treated, our own people need it more”: immigrants’ access to healthcare in South Africa." International Journal of Migration, Health and Social Care 13, no. 1 (2017): 53–68. http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/ijmhsc-04-2015-0012.
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Purpose Asylum seekers, refugees and immigrants’ access to healthcare vary in South Africa and Cape Town due to unclear legal status. The purpose of this paper is to shed light on the source of this variation, the divergence between the 1996 South African Constitution, the immigration laws, and regulations and to describe its harmful consequences. Design/methodology/approach Based on legal and ethnographic research, this paper documents the disjuncture between South African statutes and regulations and the South African Constitution regarding refugees and migrants’ access to healthcare. Research involved examining South African jurisprudence, the African Charter, and United Nations’ materials regarding rights to health and health care access, and speaking with civil society organizations and healthcare providers. These sources inform the description of the immigrant access to healthcare in Cape Town, South Africa. Findings Asylum-seekers and refugees are entitled to health and emergency care; however, hospital administrators require documentation (up-to-date permits) before care can be administered. Many immigrants – especially the undocumented – are often unable to obtain care because of a lack of papers or because of “progressive realization,” the notion that the state cannot presently afford to provide treatment in accordance with constitutional rights. These explanations have put healthcare providers in an untenable position of not being able to treat patients, including some who face fatal conditions. Research limitations/implications The research is limited by the fact that South African courts have not adjudicated a direct challenge to being refused care at healthcare facility on the basis of legal status. This limits the ability to know how rights afforded to “everyone” within the South African Constitution will be interpreted with respect to immigrants seeking healthcare. The research is also limited by the non-circulation of healthcare admissions policies among leading facilities in the Cape Town region where the case study is based. Practical implications Articulation of the disjuncture between the South African Constitution and the immigration laws and regulations allows stakeholders and decision-makers to reframe provincial and municipal policies about healthcare access in terms of constitutional rights and the practical limitations accommodated through progressive realization. Social implications In South Africa, immigration statutes and regulations are inconsistent and deemed unconstitutional with respect to the treatment of undocumented migrants. Hospital administrators are narrowly interpreting the laws to instruct healthcare providers on how to treat patients and whom they can treat. These practices need to stop. Access to healthcare must be structured to comport with the constitutional right afforded to everyone, and with progressive realization pursued through a non – discriminatory policy regarding vulnerable immigrants. Originality/value This paper presents a unique case study that combines legal and social science methods to explore a common and acute question of health care access. The case is novel and instructive insofar as South Africa has not established refugee camps in response to rising numbers of refugees, asylum seekers and immigrants. South Africans thus confront a “first world” question of equitable access to healthcare within their African context and with limited resources in a climate of increasing xenophobia.
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Ogunbanjo, Gboyega A., and Donna Knapp van Bogaert. "Ethics in health care: Healthcare fraud." South African Family Practice 56, no. 1 (2014): S10—S13. http://dx.doi.org/10.4102/safp.v56i1.4028.
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Healthcare fraud is a type of white-collar crime involving the filing of dishonest healthcare claims in order to achieve a profit. Healthcare fraud is a worldwide problem and is on the increase in South Africa. In this article, healthcare fraud is explored, healthcare fraud identified as a white-collar crime and the South African legal term, “fraud”, defined. Common types of medical aid fraud, a rising concern within South African healthcare practice, are detailed. Finally, the role of ethical and moral reasoning is deliberated and the psychological factors that are believed to contribute to fraud discussed. Healthcare fraud is not a victimless crime. Therefore, healthcare professionals must inform on colleagues who practice it.
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Shai, Kgothatso Brucely, and Olusola Ogunnubi. "[South] Africa's Health System and Human Rights: A Critical African Perspective." Journal of Economics and Behavioral Studies 10, no. 1(J) (2018): 69–77. http://dx.doi.org/10.22610/jebs.v10i1(j).2090.
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For more than two decades, 21st March has been canonised and celebrated among South Africans as Human Rights Day. Earmarked by the newly democratic and inclusive South Africa, it commemorates the Sharpeville and Langa massacres. As history recorded, on the 21st March 1960, residents of Sharpeville and subsequently, Langa embarked on a peaceful anti-pass campaign led by the African National Congress (ANC) breakaway party, the Pan Africanist Congress of Azania (PAC). The pass (also known as dompas) was one of the most despised symbols of apartheid; a system declared internationally as a crime against humanity. In the post-apartheid era, it is expectedthat all South Africans enjoy and celebrate the full extent of their human rights. However, it appears that the envisaged rights are not equally enjoyed by all. This is because widening inequalities in the health-care system, in schooling, and in the lucrative sporting arena have not been amicably and irrevocably resolved. Furthermore, it is still the norm that the most vulnerable of South Africans, especially rural Africans, find it difficult, and sometimes, impossible to access adequate and even essential healthcare services. Central to the possible questions to emerge from this discourse are the following(i) What is the current state of South Africa’s health system at the turn of 23 years of its majority rule? (ii) Why is the South African health system still unable to sufficiently deliver the socioeconomic health rights of most South African people? It is against this background that this article uses a critical discourse analysis approach in its broadest form to provide a nuanced Afrocentric assessment of South Africa’s human rights record in the health sector since the year 1994. Data for this article is generated through the review of the cauldron of published and unpublished academic, official and popular literature.
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Booysen, Frederik, and Tanja Gordon. "Trends and socio-economic inequality in public perceptions of healthcare delivery in South Africa." International Journal for Quality in Health Care 32, no. 2 (2019): 135–39. http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/intqhc/mzz122.
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Abstract Objective To assess trends and inequality in public perceptions of healthcare delivery as reported by South African households. Design Secondary data analysis of the South African Social Attitudes Survey (SASAS). Setting Nationally representative weighted sample of South African households. Participants 28 326 household representatives interviewed during the annual SASAS survey (2007–16). Main Outcome Measures Adequacy of healthcare services and satisfaction with healthcare delivery. Results On aggregate, 68.2% only of households reported their healthcare needs as being adequately met, while only 54.3% were satisfied with healthcare delivery. In total, only 41.5% of households was both satisfied with healthcare delivery and adequately provided for in terms of the household’s healthcare needs. Adequacy of healthcare provision and satisfaction therewith has however improved rapidly since 2009–10, but overall satisfaction with healthcare delivery has not changed considerably. Public perceptions of healthcare delivery improved with household wealth. Socio-economic inequality in adequacy and satisfaction is pronounced and pro-rich, but inequality in satisfaction has declined significantly since 2009–10. Conclusions Although public perceptions of healthcare delivery improved, many poor South Africans’ healthcare needs are still not adequately met. In addition, many South Africans are not satisfied with government’s efforts at healthcare delivery, especially the poor. Further research is required to pinpoint how expectations impact on public perceptions of healthcare delivery and to identify the specific factors that underlie the public opinions expressed in surveys of this nature.
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Davids, M. Razeen, Thabiet Jardine, Nicola Marais, Sajith Sebastian, Thaabit Davids, and Julian C. Jacobs. "South African Renal Registry Annual Report 2019." African Journal of Nephrology 24, no. 1 (2021): 95–106. http://dx.doi.org/10.21804/24-1-4980.
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The eighth annual report of the South African Renal Registry summarises the 2019 data on kidney replacement therapy (KRT) for patients with kidney failure in South Africa. This round of data collection has been adversely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, which has impacted on the completeness of the data. In December 2019, the number of patients who were being treated with chronic dialysis or transplantation stood at 9 937, a prevalence of 169 per million population (pmp). The prevalence in South Africans accessing the private healthcare sector was 788 pmp, whereas it was 57 pmp in the chronically under-resourced public sector, still below the rate reported for 1994.
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Van der Berg-Cloete, Sophy Evelyn, Steve Olorunju, John George White, and Eric Buch. "The Albertina Sisulu Executive Leadership Programme enhancing the competencies and performance of public health service managers in South Africa." Leadership in Health Services 33, no. 2 (2020): 163–83. http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/lhs-08-2019-0053.
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Purpose The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the effect of the Albertina Sisulu Executive Leadership Programme in Health (ASELPH) in improving the competencies and performance of public healthcare managers in South Africa (SA). Design/methodology/approach This study used a quasi-experimental study design, with pre-post assessments to assess the performance and competencies of students participating in a public health leadership programme. Students were assessed using a 360° assessment of 14 competencies and 56 performance indicators. Findings Students improved significantly in 11 competencies and 44 performance indicators; they perceived improvements in their own performance. The assessors observed the same improvements, which confirmed performance change at the students’ workplaces. The study showed the positive effect of the ASELPH Fellowship in improving the competencies and performance of public healthcare managers in SA. Originality/value The ASELPH Fellowship enhanced the leadership competencies and the performance of South African public healthcare managers. South African public healthcare managers face significant challenges and concerns have been raised regarding the competencies of healthcare managers to deal with these challenges. This study shows that leadership programmes can improve competencies and performance of managers to have an impact on the South African healthcare system
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Bhamjee, Aaqilah, Talita le Roux, Kurt Schlemmer, Marien Alet Graham, and Faheema Mahomed-Asmail. "Audiologists’ Perceptions of Hearing Healthcare Resources and Services in South Africa’s Public Healthcare System." Health Services Insights 15 (January 2022): 117863292211354. http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/11786329221135424.
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Background: Hearing loss poses a significant burden globally. Its prevalence is exceptionally high in countries across the African region, where healthcare resources and services remain inaccessible. This study aimed to describe audiologists’ perceptions regarding hearing healthcare resources and services within South Africa’s public healthcare system. Methods: A national self-developed telephonic survey was conducted with audiologists in public healthcare system hospitals across South Africa, with the final sample comprising 100 audiologists. Results: Most (82%) audiologists indicated that their hospitals did not have adequate hearing healthcare resources to render efficient audiology services to patients. Binaural amplification devices (invasive and non-invasive) for adults with bilateral hearing loss who adhered to the criteria for these devices were perceived to be unavailable in most hospitals. Audiologists also perceived that universal newborn hearing screening services, adult aural rehabilitation services, and follow-up care for all hearing devices post-warranty expiration were limited. Conclusion: Efforts should be made to upsurge hearing healthcare resources, including increasing the financial budgets allocated to audiology resources so that increased diagnostic and screening audiology equipment and hearing devices can be procured where required, and additional audiologists can be employed within the South African public sector hospitals where needed.
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Nwakasi, Candidus C., and J. Scott Brown. "DEPRESSION, FUNCTIONAL DISABILITY, AND ACCESSING HEALTH CARE AMONG OLDER MEN AND WOMEN IN GHANA AND SOUTH AFRICA." Innovation in Aging 3, Supplement_1 (2019): S77. http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/geroni/igz038.301.
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Abstract Objectives. To inform a preventive approach to mild depression among older Ghanaians and South Africans, this study will investigate the association and possible variabilities between mild depression, functional disability, accessing health care, sociodemographic, and socioeconomic factors across genders in both countries. Methods. Cross-sectional wave 1 (2007-2010) data from WHO’s Study on Global Ageing and Adult Health (SAGE) are used, and a sample of 3871 for Ghana and 3076 for South Africa are analyzed. Binary multiple logistic regression is used to identify the association between mild depression, functional disability status, socioeconomic and sociodemographic factors, and health status. Results. The proportion of mild depression (MD) is 3.78% and 8.15% for older Ghanaian men and women, and 2.29% and 11.91% for South African older men and women, respectively. At 95% CI, increased severity (mild and high levels) of functional disability are associated with increased odds of MD in Ghanaian and South African older men and women. Apart from South African older men, older people in the study who do not receive healthcare when needed have increased odds of MD. Sociodemographic and socioeconomic factors are also associated with MD. Discussion. An untreated, persistent MD may lead to worse conditions with fatal outcomes. Since, mental health care is lacking in both countries, this study recommends policies directed towards support for formal and informal long-term care, and healthcare access to reduce the risks of depression. Thus, this study’s findings may provide relevant information for managing depression among older Ghanaians and South Africans.
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Dube, Admire, and Naushaad Ebrahim. "The nanomedicine landscape of South Africa." Nanotechnology Reviews 6, no. 4 (2017): 339–44. http://dx.doi.org/10.1515/ntrev-2016-0108.
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AbstractNanomedicine is one of the most exciting applications of nanotechnology and promises to address several of mankind’s healthcare needs. South Africa is one of the countries engaged in nanomedicine research and product development on the African continent. In this article, we provide a top-level description of the policy, infrastructure, and human capital development programs supported by the South African government. We also highlight the nanomedicine outputs (publications, patents, and products) that have emanated from South Africa. This description of a “newly industrialized” country engagement in nanomedicine is important within the global context of nanomedicine development.
12
Dhai, Ames. "Justice in healthcare: the South African promise." Social Dynamics 46, no. 3 (2020): 434–48. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/02533952.2020.1853953.
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Solanki, G., T. Wilkinson, N. G. Myburgh, J. E. Cornell, and V. Brijlal. "South African healthcare reforms towards universal healthcare – where to next?" South African Medical Journal 114, no. 3 (2024): e1571. http://dx.doi.org/10.7196/samj.2024.v114i3.1571.
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The National Assembly approval of the National Health Insurance (NHI) Bill represents an important milestone, but there are many uncertainties concerning its implementation and timeline. The challenges faced by the South African healthcare system are huge, and we cannot afford to wait for NHI to address them all. It is critical that the process of strengthening the health system to advance universal healthcare (UHC) begins now, and there are several viable initiatives that can be implemented without delay. This article examines potential scenarios after the Bill is passed and ways in which UHC could be advanced. It begins with an overview of the trajectory of health system reform since 1994, then examines the scenarios that may emerge once the Bill is passed by Parliament and makes a case for finding ways in which UHC could be advanced within the country, regardless of any legal or financial barriers that may delay or limit NHI implementation.
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Wood, Neil. "Professionalism in South African Dental Practice." South African Dental Journal 79, no. 06 (2024): 297–99. https://doi.org/10.17159/sadj.v79i06.19952.
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A thriving healthcare system is built on professionalism, which influences the standard of patient treatment and promotes confidence among healthcare professionals. It is based on a holistic approach and includes a dynamic set of values and characteristics that are focused on the patient and the pursuit of excellence. Professionalism, which extends to include the entire field of dentistry, is fundamentally still anchored on the ethical provision of healthcare services. In the field of dentistry, professionalism refers to a multidimensional strategy centred on patient care, evidence-based procedures and the never-ending pursuit of excellence. Integrity, honesty and transparency are the cornerstones of ethical dental care delivery. Dental practitioners must make judgments that are based on what is best for their patients while also respecting their autonomy and rights. This involves navigating difficult ethical conundrums.
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Ugar, Edmund Terem. "Challenges and Prospects of Deploying AI and Machine Learning for Clinical Diagnosis in African Healthcare." Thinker 101, no. 4 (2025): 108–20. https://doi.org/10.36615/dpfmva63.
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The integration of artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML), and robotics into clinical diagnosis has become prevalent. For example, ML-driven image recognition has demonstrated remarkable efficacy, prompting clinicians to rely increasingly on these technologies for “accurate” medical diagnoses and prognoses of diseases. Although these advancements have exhibited their relevance and effectiveness in medically advanced regions of the Global North and selected areas in the Global South, the question arises as to their viability within the healthcare landscape of Africa, given contextual variations. In this paper, I delve into the potential efficiency of deploying these technologies within African healthcare, aiming to address these contextual concerns. Employing a phenomenological methodology, I demonstrate that the deployment of these technologies might inadvertently introduce biases anddiscrimination against Africans. This stems from the inherent nature of the data used to develop these technologies, primarily sourced from healthcare experiences in designing nations, coupled with the pervasive algorithmic biases prevalent in contemporary ML systems. I call for a paradigm shift in AI and ML development. I propose that African nations should proactively engage in the design of healthcare AI and ML technologies that are attuned to distinct African conditions, prevalent medical conditions, and prognostic methodologies. Key prerequisites include the establishment of robust infrastructure for efficient data collection and storage of electronic healthcare records and capturing the intricacies of day-to-day healthcare encounters across the African continent.
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Redda, Ephrem Habtemichael, and Jhalukpreya Surujlal. "ASSESSING THE LEVEL OF PATIENT SATISFACTION ON PUBLIC HEALTHCARE FACILITIES IN SOUTH AFRICAN." Humanities & Social Sciences Reviews 8, no. 4 (2020): 172–81. http://dx.doi.org/10.18510/hssr.2020.8418.
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Purpose of study: The purpose of this study was to assess patient satisfaction levels within South African public healthcare facilities. The influence of gender and ethnic grouping (race) perceptions of satisfaction of healthcare services was investigated.
 Methodology: The study followed a cross-sectional research design and a quantitative research method. The data was collected as part of the General Household Survey in 2018 by Statistics South Africa (the national statistics service of South Africa). Descriptive statistics and cross-tabulation were performed to address the research objectives of the study.
 Main findings: The results show that the majority of the patients who participated in the survey are satisfied with the public healthcare service they received. The leading provinces that achieved very satisfied patients are Limpopo, the Eastern Cape, Mpumalanga, KwaZulu-Natal, and Gauteng.
 Applications of the study: The study is important in many ways as it highlights the discrepancies of healthcare provision to the public health decision-makers. For example, the results show that generally, the male patients were slightly more satisfied with the healthcare services than their female counterparts. In terms of ethnic grouping, it appears that white patients are generally more satisfied with the public healthcare services they receive than other race groups.
 Novelty/originality of study: A study of this nature has not been conducted in South Africa apart from the anecdotal reports of the department of health and Statistics South Africa. The study delved to analyze the public healthcare service in all provinces of the republic and also provided insight into gender and racial perception of healthcare services in the country.
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Shai, Kgothatso Brucely, and Olusola Ogunnubi. "[South] Africa’s Health System and Human Rights: A Critical African Perspective." Journal of Economics and Behavioral Studies 10, no. 1 (2018): 69. http://dx.doi.org/10.22610/jebs.v10i1.2090.
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For more than two decades, 21st March has been canonised and celebrated among South Africans as Human Rights Day. Earmarked by the newly democratic and inclusive South Africa, it commemorates the Sharpeville and Langa massacres. As history recorded, on the 21st March 1960, residents of Sharpeville and subsequently, Langa embarked on a peaceful anti-pass campaign led by the African National Congress (ANC) breakaway party, the Pan Africanist Congress of Azania (PAC). The pass (also known as dompas) was one of the most despised symbols of apartheid; a system declared internationally as a crime against humanity. In the post-apartheid era, it is expectedthat all South Africans enjoy and celebrate the full extent of their human rights. However, it appears that the envisaged rights are not equally enjoyed by all. This is because widening inequalities in the health-care system, in schooling, and in the lucrative sporting arena have not been amicably and irrevocably resolved. Furthermore, it is still the norm that the most vulnerable of South Africans, especially rural Africans, find it difficult, and sometimes, impossible to access adequate and even essential healthcare services. Central to the possible questions to emerge from this discourse are the following(i) What is the current state of South Africa’s health system at the turn of 23 years of its majority rule? (ii) Why is the South African health system still unable to sufficiently deliver the socioeconomic health rights of most South African people? It is against this background that this article uses a critical discourse analysis approach in its broadest form to provide a nuanced Afrocentric assessment of South Africa’s human rights record in the health sector since the year 1994. Data for this article is generated through the review of the cauldron of published and unpublished academic, official and popular literature.
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Sarmah, Nelisha, Maureen Nokuthula Sibiya, and Thandokuhle Emmanuel Khoza. "The Sociocultural Influences on Breast Cancer Screening among Rural African Women in South Africa." International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 20, no. 21 (2023): 7005. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20217005.
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The incidence of breast cancer in South Africa is increasing, with rural South African women presenting with advanced stages of the disease. A woman’s breasts are a symbol of her womanhood; they also constitute a social definition of her femininity. Women with breast cancer in rural South Africa are heavily stigmatized and suffer from various sociocultural interpretations of the disease. Breast cancer is frequently interpreted in rural South Africa as a symbol of witchcraft, sin, and punishment, and traditionally, it is treated by offering animal sacrifices, consumption of herbs, and prayer to ancestors. Using care-seeking behaviour theory as the theoretical framework, we intend to explore the sociocultural factors influencing breast cancer screening practices among rural South African women. A qualitative exploratory study was conducted using semi-structured interviews with 22 rural South African women selected by purposive sampling. Thematic analysis was used to analyse the data. The study identified four sociocultural factors influencing women’s practices of breast cancer screening in rural South Africa, including psychological factors, habits, beliefs, and perceptions of healthcare. Women in rural South African communities have deep-rooted traditional beliefs and practices regarding breast cancer. Consequently, this influences women’s preventative health behaviours regarding breast cancer screening. The development of culturally appropriate health education programs involving traditional healers and influential community leaders is essential to increasing the number of women being screened for breast cancer in rural South Africa.
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Matthews, M. G., and J. M. Van Wyk. "Improving communication in the South African healthcare context." African Journal of Health Professions Education 10, no. 4 (2018): 194. http://dx.doi.org/10.7196/ajhpe.2018.v10i4.1000.
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Adams, Shahieda, Rodney Ehrlich, Roslynn Baatjies, et al. "Incidence of occupational latent tuberculosis infection in South African healthcare workers." European Respiratory Journal 45, no. 5 (2015): 1364–73. http://dx.doi.org/10.1183/09031936.00138414.
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The test-specific incidence of latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) in healthcare workers from sub-Saharan Africa is unknown.505 healthcare workers from South Africa were screened at baseline, and after 12 months, with a questionnaire, the tuberculin skin test (TST), and two T-cell assays (T-SPOT.TB and QuantiFERON-TB Gold-In-Tube). Test-specific conversion rates were calculated.The prevalence of presumed LTBI at baseline was 84, 69 and 62% using the TST, QuantiFERON-TB Gold-In-Tube and T-SPOT.TB, respectively. The annual test-specific conversion rate, depending on the cut-off point used, was as follows: TST 38%; QuantiFERON-TB Gold-In-Tube 13–22%; and T-SPOT.TB 18–22%. Annual reversion rates were 4, 7 and 16%, respectively. The annual TST conversion rate was significantly higher than that derived from published local community-based data (IRR 3.53, 95% CI 1.81–6.88). Factors associated with conversion (any test) included healthcare sector of employment, counselling of tuberculosis patients, and a baseline positive TST (for T-SPOT.TB).The annual rate of tuberculosis infection in South African healthcare workers was very high, irrespective of the testing method used, and may be explained by occupational exposure, as the rate was considerably higher than non-healthcare workers from the same community. Collectively, these data support the need for implementation of tuberculosis-specific infection control measures in Africa.
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Gorelik, Boris M. "The light from the stern: South African historians in the era of COVID-19." Asia and Africa Today, no. 8 (2022): 59. http://dx.doi.org/10.31857/s032150750021340-6.
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South Africa was among the few countries on the African continent where medical historians were often called on to reassure the public that the new pandemic could be contained and that lockdowns were bound to end. During the coronavirus pandemic, the role of South African medical historians has been to put historically informed perspectives on the virus outbreaks and their consequences. For 750 days, South Africa remained in a national state of disaster because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The imposition of lockdown in 2020 increased hunger and poverty, deprived more South Africans of their income and access to education, placed a heavy burden on the healthcare and public health sector, sparked off protest and looting of shops, caused excessive use of violence by security forces and worsened the recession. The pandemic exacerbated the disparities in health, living conditions and access to professional medical services. Epidemics affect all spheres of people’s lives and lead to noticeable social change. The study of epidemics puts the past in a different perspective by foregrounding historically important tendencies and processes. Therefore, the popular media in South Africa sought the opinion of the leading experts in this field, such as Howard Phillips, on the coronavirus disease throughout the state of disaster period. The impact of the public scholarship by Phillips and his colleagues during the coronavirus pandemic in South Africa demonstrates that knowledge gained from historical research can help people to make sense of the present, which is crucial ‘in a time of plague’. That is, historical knowledge can be useful in solving today’s problems. Uncovering patterns of responses to epidemics by previous generations of South Africans throughout the centuries, medical historians helped the nation realise that it had already been in dangerous waters before, survived, recovered and might do it again.
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Abbott, Simon G., and Claudia Sigamoney. "The Current Healthcare Industry in South Africa." International Journal of Health and Psychology Research 12, no. 3 (2024): 11–36. http://dx.doi.org/10.37745/ijhpr.2013/vol12n31136.
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The current South African Healthcare (SAHC) system remains a dual healthcare system, consisting of the public and private healthcare sector. Albeit it unevenly distributed from a gross budget perspective, the gross national spend leans disproportionately towards the private sector coverage of healthcare. This equates to R 243Bn serving approximately 20% of the population as opposed to a similar public budgeted spend of R 247Bn serving approximately 80% of the population. In effect, the private sector serves a minority of the employed population. The SA Government has historically made large government Information and Communication Technology (ICT) investments within the public health sector, regionally based, where the return on capital investments have not been realised. The SAHC sector remains siloed. Health technology is advancing globally, and being propagated by the World Health Organisation (WHO) resulting in a global digital health strategy adopted by many countries. The South African National Department of Health (NDoH) has recently subscribed to its own local version of a ‘Digital Health Strategy’, in accordance with the WHO. The South African Public Healthcare technological infrastructure, in its current state, is deficient with many challenges needing urgent upgrading. The proposed digital or ehealth strategy and the proposed National Health Insurance (NHI) will require the reengineering of a national infrastructural and technological (ICT) environment from the ground upwards. Furthermore, this can only be achieved by reengineering the current state of the public healthcare technological infrastructure including the building infrastructure. This will include a transformation of national legislation. These projects and initiatives must be nationally managed within the ambit of improving the management capacity across all regions and districts that needs to be nationally coordinated. This effort can only be achieved by performing synchronised and well-coordinated implementations of such projects nationally across the SA Public Healthcare sector. This includes the integration of healthcare technologies, or national assets, from district to national level. This study provides further insights into these opportunities and challenges currently facing the South African Public Healthcare sector in preparation for the National Health Insurance (NHI) reform currently in review by the President. It further aims to assist in an approach to a solution addressing this national healthcare crisis.
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Joosub, Noorjehan. "How local context influences access to neuropsychological rehabilitation after acquired brain injury in South Africa." BMJ Global Health 4, Suppl 10 (2019): e001353. http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bmjgh-2018-001353.
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The numbers of acquired brain injury (ABI) survivors in South Africa are increasing; however, facilities to provide neuropsychological rehabilitation are limited due to a lack of healthcare resources. The updated International Classification of Health, Functioning, and Disability (ICF) from the WHO emphasises how the context of an impairment influences the patient’s activity limitations and participation restrictions. This analysis examined South African contextual influences on the accessibility, quality and efficiency of neuropsychological rehabilitation interventions after ABI in South Africa. Three main contextual influences were identified, namely, socioeconomic disparities, sociocultural influences and discharge to underprepared communities. Systems thinking and inclusive models of healthcare are needed in low-income and middle-income countries, such as South Africa, where resource constraints necessitate creative and ecological forms of rehabilitation interventions after ABI. Contextual influences are vital to consider when designing neuropsychological rehabilitation interventions in order to improve the accessibility and relevance of these interventions and to ensure the effective utilisation of scarce healthcare resources.
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Mathonsi, Peter, Richard Chinomona, and Flip Schutte. "Interventions to Improve Service Delivery in Rural Mpumalanga Hospitals of South Africa." International Journal of Professional Business Review 8, no. 5 (2023): e01671. http://dx.doi.org/10.26668/businessreview/2023.v8i5.1671.
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Purpose: This study investigated the effects of healthcare service quality dimensions on service delivery improvement and patient satisfaction in the South African public healthcare sector. Theoretical framework: The quality of service delivery in the healthcare sector and its influence on patient satisfaction have gained attention globally, including in South Africa. Factors that affect service delivery, such as empathy, efficiency, tangibility, safety, reliability, responsiveness, assurance, communication, and discipline, have attracted the attention of both academics and healthcare practitioners, particularly in public healthcare facilities. Design/methodology/approach: A quantitative research design was followed. A data set of 500 was collected from Mpumalanga Province, South Africa, and a structural equation modelling approach was used to test ten hypotheses using Smart PLS statistical software. Findings: The research findings supported all the proposed hypotheses, with four hypotheses being insignificant. The study contributes to the literature on the effects of health service quality dimensions on service delivery improvement and patient satisfaction in an often-neglected context, namely Africa. Research, Practical & Social implications: The study provides recommendations for healthcare policies and strategies to improve service delivery in the public healthcare sector based on the research findings. Originality/value: The results indicate that the Healthcare sector needs to focus on quality service to be provided to the public. It also contributed to the body of knowledge on this topic in South Africa.
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Madela, Sanele Listen Mandlenkosi, Nigel Walsh Harriman, Ronel Sewpaul, et al. "Area-level deprivation and individual-level socioeconomic correlates of the diabetes care cascade among black south africans in uMgungundlovu, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa." PLOS ONE 18, no. 12 (2023): e0293250. http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0293250.
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South Africa is experiencing a rapidly growing diabetes epidemic that threatens its healthcare system. Research on the determinants of diabetes in South Africa receives considerable attention due to the lifestyle changes accompanying South Africa’s rapid urbanization since the fall of Apartheid. However, few studies have investigated how segments of the Black South African population, who continue to endure Apartheid’s institutional discriminatory legacy, experience this transition. This paper explores the association between individual and area-level socioeconomic status and diabetes prevalence, awareness, treatment, and control within a sample of Black South Africans aged 45 years or older in three municipalities in KwaZulu-Natal. Cross-sectional data were collected on 3,685 participants from February 2017 to February 2018. Individual-level socioeconomic status was assessed with employment status and educational attainment. Area-level deprivation was measured using the most recent South African Multidimensional Poverty Index scores. Covariates included age, sex, BMI, and hypertension diagnosis. The prevalence of diabetes was 23% (n = 830). Of those, 769 were aware of their diagnosis, 629 were receiving treatment, and 404 had their diabetes controlled. Compared to those with no formal education, Black South Africans with some high school education had increased diabetes prevalence, and those who had completed high school had lower prevalence of treatment receipt. Employment status was negatively associated with diabetes prevalence. Black South Africans living in more deprived wards had lower diabetes prevalence, and those residing in wards that became more deprived from 2001 to 2011 had a higher prevalence diabetes, as well as diabetic control. Results from this study can assist policymakers and practitioners in identifying modifiable risk factors for diabetes among Black South Africans to intervene on. Potential community-based interventions include those focused on patient empowerment and linkages to care. Such interventions should act in concert with policy changes, such as expanding the existing sugar-sweetened beverage tax.
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Maree Grebe, Gerhard Philip. "Fraud risk management in private healthcare in South Africa." Corporate Ownership and Control 13, no. 1 (2015): 868–78. http://dx.doi.org/10.22495/cocv13i1c8p6.
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Worldwide, the healthcare industry aims to provide better health for all. However, fraud risk has become a threat to industries and organisations, including the healthcare industry. In the South African healthcare industry, it has been found that losses due to fraud risk amounted up to R8 billion per year. The purpose of this article was to explore the management of fraud risk within the South African private hospital industry and how this is managed. Primary data was collected by means of a survey, which involved management staff at head office level and at hospital level. The findings suggest that South African private hospitals could improve their current fraud risk management practices. By implementing the recommendations provided by the study, private hospitals will be able to manage fraud risk more effectively.
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Dangor, Faheem, Gijsbert Hoogendoorn, and Raeesa Moolla. "Medical tourism by Indian-South Africans to India: an exploratory investigation." Bulletin of Geography. Socio-economic Series 29, no. 29 (2015): 19–30. http://dx.doi.org/10.1515/bog-2015-0022.
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Abstract Medical tourism is a well-established sector in developing countries, and attracts a significant number of tourists from developed countries. Medical tourism is a strong driver of economic growth, but some argue that this kind of tourism promotes inequality in terms of access to healthcare facilities in both developing and developed countries. Whilst research has been conducted on medical tourists travelling to South Africa, no research has focused on the geography of South Africans travelling abroad for medical tourist activities. This study therefore sought to obtain first-hand information from Indian-South African citizens who have partaken in medical tourism in India. Data was gathered through personal, semi-structured interviews conducted with 54 individuals. It was ascertained that the majority of the individuals interviewed in this study travelled to India primarily for medical treatment, while tourist activities were a secondary objective. A smaller proportion of interviewees travelled to India for vacation, with medical care being a secondary motivation, or an impulse due to the low cost of treatment and convenience. Medical tourism by Indian-South Africans travelling to India highlights various shortfalls in South African medical care, including a lack of treatment availability, a poorer quality of service, medical expertise abroad, and the higher cost incurred locally.
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Diko, Mlamli. "The Ramifications of the Neglect of Indigenous South African Languages by the South African Government: COVID-19 as a Case Study." African Journal of Inter/Multidisciplinary Studies 5, no. 1 (2023): 1–12. http://dx.doi.org/10.51415/ajims.v5i1.1148.
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Since the outbreak of COVID-19 towards the end of 2019 and its proliferation across the globe, the lives of many populations have been disrupted, causing intense turbulence in social, economic and political dimensions. With that in mind, this article reflects on and problematises the neglect of the indigenous South African languages by the national government in mainstream communications on COVID-19. Qualitative research inquiry is utilised to explore the importance of indigenous languages in South Africa’s healthcare system. By the same token, an attempt to underline some of the predominant challenges within the selected phenomenon is argumentatively presented using a scoping literature review as a research technique. The findings and discussions indicate that the desolation of indigenous South African languages can be regarded as a repetitive episode of the (post)colonial injustices pertaining to indigenous South African languages as well as the healthcare system. Thus, the concluding remarks emphasise the urgency of inculcating indigenous South African languages into all communication systems, with special reference to the healthcare system.
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Kohli-Lynch, Ciaran N., Agnes Erzse, B. Rayner, and Karen J. Hofman. "Hypertension in the South African public healthcare system: a cost-of-illness and burden of disease study." BMJ Open 12, no. 2 (2022): e055621. http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2021-055621.
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ObjectivesTo quantify the health and economic burden of hypertension in the South African public healthcare system.SettingAll inpatient, outpatient and rehabilitative care received in the national public healthcare system.ParticipantsAdults, aged ≥20 years, who receive care in the public healthcare system.OutcomesWorksheet-based models synthesised data from multiple sources to estimate the burden of disease, direct healthcare costs, and societal costs associated with hypertension. Results were disaggregated by sex.ResultsApproximately 8.22 million (30.8%, 95% CI 29.5% to 32.1%) South African adults with no private health insurance have hypertension. Hypertension was estimated to cause 14 000 (95% CI 11 100 to 17 200) ischaemic heart disease events, 13 300 (95% CI 10 600 to 16 300) strokes and 6100 (95% CI 4970 to 7460) cases of chronic kidney disease annually. Rates of hypertension, hypertension-related stroke and hypertension-related chronic kidney disease were greater for women compared with men.The direct healthcare costs associated with hypertension were estimated to be ZAR 10.1 billion (95% CI 8.98 to 11.3 billion) or US$0.711 billion (95% CI 0.633 to 0.793 billion). Societal costs were estimated to be ZAR 29.4 billion (95% CI 26.0 to 33.2 billion) or US$2.08 billion (95% CI 1.83 to 2.34 billion). Direct healthcare costs were greater for women (ZAR 6.11 billion or US$0.431 billion) compared with men (ZAR 3.97 billion or US$0.280 billion). Conversely, societal costs were lower for women (ZAR 10.5 billion or US$0.743 billion) compared with men (ZAR 18.9 billion or US$1.33 billion).ConclusionHypertension exerts a heavy health and economic burden on South Africa. Establishing cost-effective best practice guidelines for hypertension treatment requires further research. Such research will be essential if South Africa is to make progress in its efforts to implement universal healthcare.
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Adam, Razia Z. "Re-thinking South African dentists' role in a pandemic." South African Dental Journal 75, no. 10 (2020): 575–79. http://dx.doi.org/10.17159/2519-0105/2020/v75no10a6.
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Mass disasters such as terrorism, earthquakes and virus outbreaks challenge any healthcare system. Response teams to disasters typically consist of health professionals, local government, corporations, and community organizations, academics and the scientific community. Dentists or dental hygienists have traditionally only played a role in the identification of victims or in the treatment of facial trauma in disaster response. In South Africa, the response was mainly driven by medical professionals. Collaborative practice supported by inter-professional education may offer a solution to assist countries struggling with access to healthcare and overburdened health systems. In addition, revisiting the dentists' role in prioritising oral health and its relationship with general health and well-being is much needed. This short article provides a perspective on the role of South African dentists' contribution to health during a pandemic.
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A., Millen, and Stacey A. "Financial literacy in South African healthcare professionals: An unmet need in health professions education." South African Journal of Higher Education 36, no. 3 (2022): 123–42. http://dx.doi.org/10.20853/36-3-4647.
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The holistic training of healthcare professionals as a strategy to build the healthcare system has received considerable attention. As part of training a holistic workforce, it is expected the healthcare professionals be component in management and governance. Financial literacy is low globally and impacts financial decision-making and business management. Despite high levels of education, medical professionals elsewhere in the world have low financial literacy. Financial literacy levels in South African healthcare professionals are unknown. This study investigated the degree of and contributors to financial literacy in South African healthcare professionals. A validated financial literacy questionnaire was completed by 473 healthcare professionals, of whom 130 owned private practices. Financial literacy scores were determined as a composite score based on financial knowledge, financial behaviour and financial attitudes. The independent contribution of demographic factors to financial literacy were determined in multivariate linear regression analysis. Financial literacy in healthcare professionals was relatively high (73%). Of the total cohort 24%, 27% and 63% did not reach acceptable scores for financial knowledge, behaviour, and attitudes, respectively. Sex, medical specialty and being in private healthcare predicted financial knowledge scores. Higher income and self-rated financial knowledge were associated with financial literacy. In business owners, business-specific financial literacy was low (51%), and not associated with general financial literacy (r=-0.11, p=0.40). Education in economics and finance predicted business-related financial literacy scores (p=0.02). Financial attitudes that favour the short term may impact financial decision-making in healthcare professionals in managing small businesses and state healthcare facilities. Current approaches in health professions education may impact the success of the healthcare system in South Africa.
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Ejoke, Ufuoma Patience, and Edwin Devon Du Plessis. "Hypertension and the Well-Being of African Migrants in South Africa." International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 22, no. 5 (2025): 779. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph22050779.
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This article examines the risk factors for hypertension among migrants in South Africa, a critical public health concern. We explore the connection between acculturation, lifestyle changes, obesity, diet, urbanization, and socioeconomic status in contributing to hypertension risk. Our analysis highlights the unique challenges faced by African migrants, including acculturative stress, limited healthcare access, and lifestyle changes. The findings have significant implications for health promotion, disease prevention, and policy development. We emphasize the need for targeted interventions and updated immigration policies prioritizing hypertension awareness, screening, and management among African migrant populations.
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Prince, Deborah L., Ramon M. Aronius, and Gerhard B. Theron. "Postpartum laparoscopic sterilisation: A role in South African healthcare?" South African Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology 22, no. 1 (2016): 4. http://dx.doi.org/10.7196/sajog.1019.
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Douglas-Jones, P., and J. J. Fagan. "Tonsillectomy rates in the South African private healthcare sector." South African Medical Journal 106, no. 11 (2016): 1134. http://dx.doi.org/10.7196/samj.2016.v106i11.10842.
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Moeketsi, Catherine Botlwaelo, Tope Samuel Adeyelure, and Dr Mmatshuene Anna Segooa. "An Information Security Assessment Model for Bring Your Own Device in the South African Healthcare Sector." International Journal of Science Annals 7, no. 2 (2025): 57–66. https://doi.org/10.26697/ijsa.2024.2.1.
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<strong>Background and Aim of Study: </strong>The healthcare sector stands at the forefront of industries embracing personal-device usage for professional tasks. Permitting to Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) for healthcare professionals presents information security hurdles that pose challenges for decision-makers in the healthcare field, despite the considerable benefits associated with BYOD. The aim of the study: to develop an information-security assessment model for BYOD in the South African healthcare sector to guide healthcare decision-makers.<strong>Material and Methods:</strong> The main focus of the study was the South African private healthcare sector, Gauteng Province. The target population size of 170 with a sample size of 118 with the feedback responses with additional 10, which were also included in the analysis data statistics that was done for 128 received responses. The instrument used for the closed-ended questionnaire was SPSS 28.0.1.1 and the expert judgement technique for the validation questionnaire. Factors from the diffusion of innovation theory, the electronic protected health information security framework, cybersecurity knowledge, skills, abilities and external variables were adapted to inform the conceptual model.<strong>Results:</strong> The following factors have the most significant contributions to the development of an information security assessment model for BYOD in the South African healthcare sector: training is the most influential factor with a predictive power of 64.0% (β=0.640) at p=0.001; security threats with 61.3% (β=0.613) significance level p=0.020; conversely, security controls had a predictive power of 50.9% (β=0.509) at p=0.001.<strong>Conclusions:</strong> This study has developed a contextual information-security assessment model for BYOD within the South African healthcare sector. In practical terms, this model offers guidance to healthcare decision-makers in seamlessly integrating BYOD practices into daily operations; and aids in cautious planning, guided by the insights provided by the security-assessment model for BYOD.
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Taylor, Allan, David Le Feuvre, and Bettina Taylor. "COVID-19: The South African experience." Interventional Neuroradiology 27, no. 1_suppl (2021): 50–53. http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/15910199211035905.
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The coronavirus disease-2019 pandemic affected the countries differently. South Africa is a middle-income country with a struggling economy and a resource-constrained public healthcare system. Three aspects of the pandemic in South Africa are examined, the lockdown and its effect on personal freedoms, how health care resources were used and the novel stratification of health workers into vulnerability categories. It is a perspective written after experiencing the first pandemic peak in 2020.
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Gcaleka, Kholeka. "Social justice as an antidote to poverty and inequality: 30 years into democracy, what still needs to be done?" Stellenbosch Law Review 2024, no. 2 (2024): 93–114. https://doi.org/10.47348/slr/2024/i2a1.
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Thirty years after South Africa’s first democratic elections, the nation grapples with the paradox of being “democratic, yet unequal and impoverished”. This contribution examines the persistent socio-economic disparities that continue to plague South African society. Despite the progress made since apartheid, the deep-rooted legacies of injustice remain evident in the high levels of poverty and inequality. The concept of social justice, enshrined in the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996, is more than a moral imperative. It is a legally enforceable right that encompasses access to basic necessities like housing, healthcare, and education. However, translating constitutional promises into tangible improvements for the most vulnerable citizens remains a significant challenge. Social justice is not solely the responsibility of the Government. It is a collective mission for all South Africans to rectify past injustices and build a society based on democratic values, equality, and fundamental human rights. The role of institutions like the Public Protector of South Africa in upholding accountability and ensuring the protection of citizens’ rights is highlighted as crucial for the realisation of social justice.
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Kharkovskaya, A. A., and A. A. Golubykh. "Communicating Across Cultures and Languages in the Health Care Setting. Claire Penn & Jennifer Watermeyer. Palgrave Macmillan, UK. 368 Pp. ISBN 978-1-137-58100-6." Professional Discourse & Communication 3, no. 4 (2021): 91–98. http://dx.doi.org/10.24833/2687-0126-2021-3-4-91-98.
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The book under review presents the challenging and creative research endeavours concerning some peculiar characteristics of multicultural and multilingual communication in South African healthcare settings. The authors of this work – Claire Penn, a professor and director of the Health Communication Research Unit, and Jennifer Watermeyer, an associate professor in the Department of Speech Pathology and Audiology at the University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa, – focus on bridging the gap between the voices of the lifeworld and the voices of medicine via communication characterized by the complexities and pitfalls within culturally and linguistically diverse health care contexts. The research under review is aimed at analyzing the cognitive space of professional medical communication in healthcare settings for applying the results in practice. Research of the cross-language interactions in healthcare facilities (using the evidence from South African medical settings) certainly contributes a lot to establishing an adequate cultural brokers’ role in the professional communication and to describing methods aimed at modifying interactions between a healthcare professional and a patient, which taken together lead to the improvement of medical communication in general. This book is a reasonably valuable source of essential knowledge for both healthcare professionals, linguists, discourse analysis researchers, medical educators and practitioners, and for those people who are interested in the specificities of communication research projects in terms of professional medical discourse on the global scale.
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Letsoalo, Daniel Lesiba, Yaseen Ally, Wandile Fundo Tsabedze, and Curwyn Mapaling. "Challenging the nexus: Integrating Western psychology and African cultural beliefs in South African mental health care." PINS-Psychology in Society 66, no. 2 (2024). https://doi.org/10.57157/pins2024vol66iss2a6320.
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This article delves into the unique sociocultural landscape of mental healthcare in South Africa, spotlighting the divergent conceptualisations of mental illness inherent in African and Western cultures. While acknowledging certain similarities, it emphasises the importance of integrating African-centred perspectives into psychology’s training and practice. We contend that the prevailing focus on Western approaches to mental illness not only marginalises indigenous beliefs but also perpetuates the dominance of Western medical paradigms in healthcare systems. This trend risks pathologising the African experience of mental health and narrowing the understanding of African humanity through a lens of psychiatrisation and medicalisation. The article advocates for a more formal, integrative approach to mental healthcare that recognises and incorporates African notions of illness and health, underscoring the centrality of culture in the healing process. Our discourse calls for a paradigm shift towards an integrative model that respects and combines the strengths of both Western and African approaches to mental health, thereby fostering a culturally sensitive, inclusive, and effective mental healthcare system in South Africa. Keywords: African perspective, culture, integrative approach, mental illness, mental healthcare, Western psychology
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Krause, Rene, Alan Barnard, Henriette Burger, et al. "A Delphi study to guide the development of a clinical indicator tool for palliative care in South Africa." African Journal of Primary Health Care & Family Medicine 14, no. 1 (2022). http://dx.doi.org/10.4102/phcfm.v14i1.3351.
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Background: The South African National Policy Framework and Strategy on Palliative Care (NPFSPC) recommends that when integrating palliative care (PC) into the health system, a PC indicators tool should be used to guide clinicians to recognise a patient who should receive PC. The policy document recommends ‘a simple screening tool developed for use in South Africa that would assist healthcare professionals (HCPs) to recognise patients who may have unmet palliative care needs’.Aim: This research study sought to develop South African consensus on indicators for PC to assist clinicians to recognise a patient in need of PC.Setting: The South African healthcare setting.Methods: A Delphi study was considered suitable as a methodology to develop consensus. The methodology was based on the Conducting and REporting of DElphi studies (CREDES) guidance on Delphi studies to ensure rigour and transparency in conducting and reporting. Six different Delphi rounds were used to develop consensus. Each round allowed participants to anonymously rate statements with predefined rating scales.Results: Cognisant of the disparities in healthcare provision and access to equitable healthcare in South Africa, the expert advisory group recommended, especially for South Africa, that ‘this tool is for deteriorating patients with an advanced life-limiting illness where all available and appropriate management for underlying illnesses and reversible complications has been offered’. The expert advisory group felt that disease-specific indicators should be described before the general indicators in the South African indicators tool, so all users of the tool orientate themselves to the disease categories first. This study included three new domains to address the South African context: trauma, infectious diseases and haematological diseases. General indicators for PC aligned with the original Supportive and Palliative Care Indicators Tool (SPICT) tool.Conclusion: The Supportive and Palliative Care Indicators Tool for South Africa (SPICTTM-SA) is a simple screening tool for South Africa that may assist HCPs to recognise patients who may have unmet PC needs.
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Klug, Eric. "SA Heart: Beating strong for South Africa’s cardiovascular health." SA Heart 21, no. 1 (2024). http://dx.doi.org/10.24170/21-1-6458.
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The South African Heart Association (SA Heart®) stands as a vital pillar in our nation’s healthcare landscape. Our not-for-profit organisation, driven by a dedicated team and a resolute mission, serves as the powerful voice of cardiovascular care in South Africa. SA Heart®’s commitment extends far beyond advocacy – it fosters collaboration, propels research, and strives to ensure exceptional care for all South Africans, from the tiniest hearts to the most seasoned.
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Janse van Vuuren, Corlia. "Impactful educational transitions: Crossroads for physiotherapy education in South Africa?" South African Journal of Physiotherapy 78, no. 1 (2022). http://dx.doi.org/10.4102/sajp.v78i1.1638.
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Background: Global changes in physiotherapy entry-level educational programmes to exit with a Doctorate or Master’s degree have consequences if physiotherapy education, worldwide, is to remain professionally competitive. However, within the South African context, such global competitiveness should be carefully considered against the national healthcare needs and implementation of the National Health Insurance (NHI) programme, with a bigger emphasis on a skilled mid-level workforce, including physiotherapy technicians or community rehabilitation workers.Objectives: These competing interests are carefully considered, against the theoretical background of international DPT training; human resource and financial constraints in the South African healthcare sector; reforms of the South African health and educational sectors intended to address the inequalities of the past; the need for quality healthcare delivery and the professional reputation of physiotherapy in South Africa.Methods: A framework for physiotherapy education in South Africa, to move on from the current educational crossroads, is proposed through an integration of multiple theoretical perspectives.Results: The framework is based on the current challenges being experienced in physiotherapy education and healthcare service delivery, which could be addressed by changes in the education sphere.Conclusion: The baseline suggestions for (re)considering the current education environment for physiotherapy, as proposed in my article, are to ensure that the profession remains relevant and able to confront the current changes presented by the South African healthcare system, including the implementation of the NHI plan, whilst remaining globally aligned and competitive.Clinical implications: The suggested, reconsidered, educational framework for physiotherapy in South Africa could become pivotal in advancing the profession on both a national and international level, through further critical conversations.
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Mohamed, Nadia, Craig W. Peck, and Janine Senekal. "Perceptions of interprofessional collaborative practice in South Africa: A systematic review." Health SA Gesondheid 29 (February 29, 2024). http://dx.doi.org/10.4102/hsag.v29i0.2413.
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Background: Interprofessional education (IPE) and interprofessional collaborative practice (IPCP) were developed to address the health needs of communities through collaborative practice across healthcare disciplines. The impact of IPE on IPCP and clinical service delivery in South Africa is not evident, possibly because of the lack of IPCP experiences among healthcare professionals.Aim: International literature reports facilitators and barriers of IPCP implementation, but there was a need to filter the evidence to identify literature from the South African context regarding the perceptions of healthcare workers’ perceived barriers and facilitators of IPCP.Setting: South African literature.Methods: A systematic review was conducted to synthesise evidence from articles published between January 2017 and December 2021. Only qualitative studies targeting health professionals in South Africa who had been exposed to IPCP were included. Consistent with Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analysis, a multi-database search yielded 424 articles, which were screened for relevance and appraised for quality using the Critical Appraisal Skills Programme (CASP) tool. A thematic synthesis of the findings was conducted by applying ethical principles.Results: Synthesis of barriers and enablers for IPCP implementation in the South African context included key aspects of healthcare systems, management and team leadership.Conclusion: The integration of IPCP into clinical practice in South Africa is still limited as healthcare professionals operate in silos.Contribution: Recommendations of this study include greater integration of services combined with competent management and visionary leadership, together with the incorporation of IPE into undergraduate professional training programmes.
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Hoosen, Ilhaam, Fiona Breytenbach, and Janine Van der Linde. "Healthcare transition practices of occupational therapists in South African public healthcare." African Journal of Disability 13 (August 29, 2024). http://dx.doi.org/10.4102/ajod.v13i0.1413.
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Background: Healthcare transition (HCT), the process of transitioning an adolescent from paediatric- to adult-oriented care, is vital for improving the long-term health of adolescents with chronic conditions. The role of occupational therapy in HCT has not been well-researched. Effective HCT practices are necessary to ensure that adolescents have access to coordinated, optimal and uninterrupted occupational therapy services throughout this period of development.Objectives: This study describes occupational therapists’ self-perceived knowledge of HCT within the context of South African public health facilities, the HCT practices used, and the factors that promote or hinder the success of HCT within this context.Method: The study utilised a quantitative, non-experimental and descriptive cross-sectional design. Simple convenience and snowball sampling were used to recruit participants via professional databases and social media forums. An online survey was used to collect data. Descriptive statistics and simple content analysis were used to analyse the information.Results: This study identifies limitations in the knowledge and practical implementation of HCT within South African occupational therapy practice. Healthcare transition is characterised by inadequate use of policies, insufficient transition preparation and poor outcome measurements.Conclusion: There is a need for the development of training programmes and practice guidelines to optimise and support HCT implementation within South African occupational therapy practice.Contribution: This study provides novel data on HCT practices utilised by occupational therapists in South African public health facilities. This study has potential use for the development of effective HCT programmes that can improve the functional outcomes of South African adolescents.
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Jaiswal, Abha, Lorena Núñez Carrasco, and Jairo Arrow. "Do black women’s lives matter? A study of the hidden impact of the barriers to access maternal healthcare for migrant women in South Africa." Frontiers in Sociology 9 (May 30, 2024). http://dx.doi.org/10.3389/fsoc.2024.983148.
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BackgroundStudies on the barriers migrant women face when trying to access healthcare services in South Africa have emphasized economic factors, fear of deportation, lack of documentation, language barriers, xenophobia, and discrimination in society and in healthcare institutions as factors explaining migrants’ reluctance to seek healthcare. Our study aims to visualize some of the outcome effects of these barriers by analyzing data on maternal death and comparing the local population and black African migrant women from the South African Development Countries (SADC) living in South Africa. The heightened maternal mortality of black migrant women in South Africa can be associated with the hidden costs of barriers migrants face, including xenophobic attitudes experienced at public healthcare institutions.MethodsOur analysis is based on data on reported causes of death (COD) from the South African Department of Home Affairs (DHA). Statistics South Africa (Stats SA) processed the data further and coded the cause of death (COD) according to the WHO classification of disease, ICD10. The dataset is available on the StatsSA website (http://nesstar.statssa.gov.za:8282/webview/) for research and statistical purposes. The entire dataset consists of over 10 million records and about 50 variables of registered deaths that occurred in the country between 1997 and 2018. For our analysis, we have used data from 2002 to 2015, the years for which information on citizenship is reliably included on the death certificate. Corresponding benchmark data, in which nationality is recorded, exists only for a 10% sample from the population and housing census of 2011. Mid-year population estimates (MYPE) also exist but are not disaggregated by nationality. For this reason, certain estimates of death proportions by nationality will be relative and will not correspond to crude death rates.ResultsThe total number of female deaths recorded from the years 2002 to 2015 in the country was 3740.761. Of these, 99.09% (n = 3,707,003) were deaths of South Africans and 0.91% (n = 33,758) were deaths of SADC women citizens. For maternal mortality, we considered the total number of deaths recorded for women between the ages of 15 and 49 years of age and were 1,530,495 deaths. Of these, deaths due to pregnancy-related causes contributed to approximately 1% of deaths. South African women contributed to 17,228 maternal deaths and SADC women to 467 maternal deaths during the period under study. The odds ratio for this comparison was 2.02. In other words, our findings show the odds of a black migrant woman from a SADC country dying of a maternal death were more than twice that of a South African woman. This result is statistically significant as this odds ratio, 2.02, falls within the 95% confidence interval (1.82–2.22).ConclusionThe study is the first to examine and compare maternal death among two groups of women, women from SADC countries and South Africa, based on Stats SA data available for the years 2002–2015. This analysis allows for a better understanding of the differential impact that social determinants of health have on mortality among black migrant women in South Africa and considers access to healthcare as a determinant of health. As we examined maternal death, we inferred that the heightened mortality among black migrant women in South Africa was associated with various determinants of health, such as xenophobic attitudes of healthcare workers toward foreigners during the study period. The negative attitudes of healthcare workers toward migrants have been reported in the literature and the media. Yet, until now, its long-term impact on the health of the foreign population has not been gaged. While a direct association between the heightened death of migrant populations and xenophobia cannot be established in this study, we hope to offer evidence that supports the need to focus on the heightened vulnerability of black migrant women in South Africa. As we argued here, the heightened maternal mortality among migrant women can be considered hidden barriers in which health inequality and the pervasive effects of xenophobia perpetuate the health disparity of SADC migrants in South Africa.
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Moonsamy, Wesley, and Shawren Singh. "Live Healthcare Console: Evaluating digital health design models, a South African perspective." South African Journal of Information Management 26, no. 1 (2024). http://dx.doi.org/10.4102/sajim.v26i1.1798.
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Background: The Department of Health has implemented eHealth systems, yet Gauteng (South Africa) continues to experience healthcare burdens such as prioritising scarce resources. The healthcare technology landscape continues to grow in complexity, yet the availability of real-time information for decision making is limited. A Live Healthcare Console has been proposed to keep key stakeholders informed using real-time information by connecting existing healthcare resources.Objectives: The objective of the research was to identify and evaluate five eHealth design models to determine whether they can be used to design a Live Healthcare Console. The evaluation of the models considered the Batho Pele Principles, which was created by the South African government to promote service delivery.Method: A literature review was conducted to identify relevant eHealth models. The models were evaluated and scored using a custom evaluation framework. The models were also scored against the eHealth model aims (combine, communicate, collaborate and connect) identified in this research.Results: The average score of the five models was 70%, with none fully satisfying the unique South African contexts such as the Batho Pele Principles.Conclusion: A new design model needs to be created as the foundation for the Live Healthcare Console, as no model which caters to the South African context exists.Contribution: A custom evaluation framework for eHealth models considering the unique South African contexts was created. Five models were also evaluated and scored against the new framework.
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Matlebjane, Dineo A., and Patrick Ndayizigamiye. "Antecedents of the adoption of blockchain to enhance patients’ health information management in South Africa." SA Journal of Information Management 24, no. 1 (2022). http://dx.doi.org/10.4102/sajim.v24i1.1552.
Full textAbstract:
Background: Currently, the South African public healthcare system is hampered by a lack of effective patient data management. This leads to, amongst other challenges, a lack of transparency in the management of patients’ health information and unsecure medical records. Blockchain, on the other hand, can make healthcare records more secure, easily auditable, and hence more reliable. These advantages, among others, make Blockchain an appealing technology for managing patients’ health information in the South African context.Objectives: The study investigated the antecedents of the adoption of blockchain technology as a tool to improve the management of patients’ health information in the South African public healthcare sector.Method: The four pillars of a health information system (strong leadership, contingency plan, security and privacy, and IT or vendor support) were adopted as the theoretical grounding for the study. Qualitative data were collected through interviews with IT specialists and healthcare professionals working in the public healthcare sector.Results: The study identified 11 antecedents that can be related to the four pillars of a health information system. These antecedents must be addressed for blockchain to contribute meaningfully to enhancing patients’ health information management in South Africa.Conclusion: Although blockchain can contribute meaningfully to addressing health information management challenges in South Africa, contextual factors need to be considered for it to fulfil its promises. It is anticipated that the study findings will help stakeholders in the South African public healthcare sector to make informed decisions in their quest to deploy technology innovations like blockchain.
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Malungana, Lario, and Lovemore Motsi. "Critical success factors of smart card technology in South African public hospitals." SA Journal of Information Management 25, no. 1 (2023). http://dx.doi.org/10.4102/sajim.v25i1.1613.
Full textAbstract:
Background: Even though the government has set several admirable targets for raising the standard of healthcare, as highlighted by communities and media reports, public health institutions’ services continue to fall short of patients’ expectations and basic standards of care. For this reason, the general public has lost faith in the healthcare system. The public healthcare system in South Africa is completely dysfunctional and urgently needs to be transformed to serve the majority of those who use public hospitals.Objectives: The study aimed to improve healthcare for the majority of South Africans by investigating the critical success factors (CSFs) that influence the adoption of smart card technology (SCT) in South African public hospitals.Methods: A thorough review of peer-reviewed literature was conducted to determine potential barriers to adopting SCT. Furthermore, a hybrid model that combines the Health Unified Technology of Acceptance Theory (HUTAUT) model, DeLone and McLean IS success model (DM) and the diffusion of innovation (DOI) theory will be developed, validated and tested to identify the CSFs adoption of SCT in public hospitals in South Africa.Results: The validated research model has been developed to be adopted by nurses at public hospitals.Conclusion: This research will contribute to the development of a new framework that identifies the CSFs for SCT adoption in South African public hospitals.Contribution: The study’s results will make a special contribution to the body of knowledge in the fields of health informatics, particularly e-health.
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Khoza-Shangase, Katijah. "Setting a research agenda for speech therapy and audiology practice in South Africa." South African Journal of Communication Disorders 72, no. 1 (2025). https://doi.org/10.4102/sajcd.v72i1.1085.
Full textAbstract:
In South Africa, the integration of research into clinical practice within the fields of speech therapy and audiology remains a pivotal, yet underexplored challenge. This opinion piece discusses the critical need for a structured research agenda to drive meaningful changes in clinical practice in South Africa. With healthcare realities such as limited resources, linguistic and cultural diversity, and access to services, it is essential that practitioners, policymakers and researchers collaboratively define and prioritise research topics that address the unique needs of South African patients. Through identifying gaps in current practice, engaging with communities and overcoming barriers to change, the South African healthcare system can adapt to evidence-based, patient-centred models of care. By building a culture of research and innovation, fostering multidisciplinary collaboration and ensuring continuous professional development, South Africa can align its speech therapy and audiology practices with global standards, ultimately improving outcomes for individuals with communication and hearing disorders.Contribution: This article highlights the steps needed to establish a research-driven framework for clinical practice change, positioning research as a cornerstone of future healthcare delivery.
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Clarke, Nicholas John, Dr Tara Hipwood, and Dr Seyeon Lee. "Disease and design in twentieth-century South Africa: exploring the consequences of the 1918–19 Spanish Flu pandemic through contributions of émigré Dutch architects." Architecture_MPS 24, no. 1 (2023). http://dx.doi.org/10.14324/111.444.amps.2023v24i1.002.
Full textAbstract:
The architectural history of healthcare in South Africa remains greatly understudied, as do the consequences of the 1918–19 Spanish Flu, which ravaged its population. Yet that pandemic had great consequences for South African society, spatial planning and the development of healthcare, of which the latter two were still in their infancy at the time. This article explores the link between disease and design in South Africa through the presentation of the histories of selected hospitals, maternity homes, orphanages and a special care school designed by émigré Dutch architects from the 1920s to the 1970s. It is the product of desktop and archival research, site visits and interviews undertaken in both South Africa and the Netherlands. It outlines the disparity of care that was provided for different groups and is a first attempt to identify healthcare ideas transposed into the subcontinent fuelled by the tragic experiences of the Spanish Flu pandemic. Due to this health crisis, communities – structured in terms of language, faith and race – attempted to develop their own facilities for the care of their own. Where communities had no means of their own, charitable organisations tried to fill the void. Over the course of the twentieth century, public healthcare was centralised, but many of the community and charitable institutions persist. By chance or choice, émigré Dutch architects made a disproportionately large contribution to the development of healthcare facilities in South Africa, not only in the number and range of facilities they designed, but also by introducing contemporary ideas into South African healthcare design.