scholarly journals A Qualitative Analysis of Burn Injury Patient and Caregiver Experiences in Kwazulu-Natal, South Africa: Enduring the Transition to a Post-Burn Life

2021 ◽  
Vol 2 (3) ◽  
pp. 75-87
Author(s):  
Camerin A. Rencken ◽  
Abigail D. Harrison ◽  
Adam R. Aluisio ◽  
Nikki Allorto
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Lived Experiences ◽  
Burn Injury ◽  
International Health ◽  
Recovery Process ◽  
Burn Patients ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Kwazulu Natal ◽  
Returning To Work ◽  
International Health Policy

Over 95% of fire-related burns occur in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), an important and frequently overlooked global health disparity, yet research is limited from LMICs on how survivors and their caregivers recover and successfully return to their pre-burn lives. This study examines the lived experiences of burn patients and caregivers, the most challenging aspects of their recoveries, and factors that have assisted in recovery. This qualitative study was conducted in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa at a 900-bed district hospital. Participants (n = 35) included burn patients (n = 13) and caregivers (n = 22) after discharge. In-depth interviews addressed the recovery process after a burn injury. Data were coded using NVivo 12. Analysis revealed three major thematic categories. Coded data were triangulated to analyze caregiver and patient perspectives jointly. The participants’ lived experiences fell into three main categories: (1) psychological impacts of the burn, (2) enduring the transition into daily life, and (3) reflections on difficulties survivors face in returning for aftercare. The most notable discussions regarded stigma, difficulty accepting self-image, loss of relationships, returning to work, and barriers in receiving long-term aftercare at the hospital outpatient clinic. Patients and caregivers face significant adversities integrating into society. This study highlights areas in which burn survivors may benefit from assistance to inform future interventions and international health policy.

scholarly journals Psychopathology among apprentice traditional health practitioners: A quantitative study from rural KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

2020 ◽  
pp. 136346152094967
Author(s):  
Martine C.E. van der Zeijst ◽  
Wim Veling ◽  
Elliot Mqansa Makhathini ◽  
Sisanda Mtshemla ◽  
Ndukuzakhe D. Mbatha ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Psychotic Disorder ◽  
Psychiatric Symptoms ◽  
Psychotic Symptoms ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Middle Income Countries ◽  
Traditional Health ◽  
Traditional Health Practitioners ◽  
Kwazulu Natal ◽  
Health Practitioners

Sociocultural context seems to influence the epidemiology, phenotype, treatment, and course of psychosis. However, data from low- and middle-income countries is sparse. This research is part of a multidisciplinary and multimethod study on possible mental disturbances, including hallucinations, among (apprentice) traditional health practitioners (THPs) who have experienced the “ancestral calling to become a THP” in rural KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. The aim of the current article is to examine whether the calling-related experiences can be assessed according to a psychiatric taxonomy. We included individuals who were identified with the calling and who were undergoing training to become a THP ( ukuthwasa). IsiZulu-speaking formal mental health practitioners conducted thorough psychiatric interviews that measured psychological experiences with and without distress using the Community Assessment of Psychic Experiences, and psychiatric symptoms and disorders using the Schedule for Clinical Assessment in Neuropsychiatry. Of the 48 individuals who participated, 92% had psychotic experiences (PE), causing distress in 75%; and 23% met DSM-5 criteria for an unspecified psychotic disorder (15%) or mood disorder (8%). In conclusion, in rural KwaZulu-Natal, the ancestral calling may resemble phenomena that psychiatry would understand in the context of psychosis, ranging from subclinical PE to clinical psychotic disorder. Ukuthwasa might have a beneficial influence on the course of psychotic symptoms in some individuals, potentially because it reduces stigma and promotes recovery. Further multidisciplinary research is needed to investigate the psychopathology of the apprentice THPs and the underlying processes of ukuthwasa.

scholarly journals The lived experiences of postgraduate female students at the University of Kwazulu Natal, Durban, South Africa

Heliyon ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 5 (11) ◽  
pp. e02731
Author(s):  
Oluwatobi Joseph Alabi ◽  
Mariam Seedat-Khan ◽  
Ali Arazeem Abdullahi
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Lived Experiences ◽  
Female Students ◽  
Kwazulu Natal ◽  
The University

scholarly journals Factors Influencing Palliative Care Utilisation Among Patients With Cancer In Kwazulu-Natal, South Africa: A Cross-Sectional Study

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Minenhle S. Dlamini ◽  
Khumbulani W. Hlongwana ◽  
Siyabonga B. Dlamini ◽  
Themba G. Ginindza
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Palliative Care ◽  
Cancer Patients ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Middle Income Countries ◽  
Patients With Cancer ◽  
Awareness Campaigns ◽  
Factors Influencing ◽  
Kwazulu Natal

Abstract Background: Cancer remains a public health challenge in low-and-middle income countries (LMICs). Over 30% of those in need of palliative care (PC) worldwide suffer from cancer and 80% of patients with cancer in LMICs are diagnosed at advanced stages, by which time they can only benefit from PC services. The aim of this study was to determine factors influencing PC utilisation among patients with cancer in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN). Methods: A study was conducted among patients who had been diagnosed with different cancers and attending Inkosi Albert Luthuli Central Hospital, Addington Hospital, Pietermaritzburg Grey’s hospital, Msunduzi Hospice and Chatsworth Hospice, using cross-sectional mixed methods. A systematic random sampling technique was used to select the participants. Semi-structured questionnaires were administered to a total of 394 patients with cancer. The questionnaire included two open-ended questions and 59 closed-ended questions. Data from open-ended questions were manually coded and converted into themes, while the closed ended-questions were entered into the REDCap (v.8.11.7) and exported to Stata for analysis. Results: The mean (+SD) age of the 394 participants was 51.89 (+14.67) years and about 22.9% were within the 41–50 years age-group. The majority of participants were females (77.7%) and were unmarried (60.6%). Most of the participants’ racial classification was black (81.5%) and 64.5% had primary education. More than four-fifths (82.7%) were unemployed, 55.8% lived in urban areas and 24.6% had cervical cancer. The analysis of the two open-ended questions incorporated into the questionnaire revealed five major barriers preventing cancer patients from seeking PC services. These themes included lack of cancer knowledge, pursuit of alternative treatment options and long waiting periods at healthcare institutions. In addition, stigma and discrimination, lack of screening and diagnostic equipment and socio-economic barriers, contributed to the underutilisation of PC services by patients with cancer. Participants recommended that cancer awareness campaigns, healthcare services and continuous professional development (CPD) be improved.Conclusion: Cancer patients in low-to middle-income countries, such as South Africa, are still facing barriers to pursuing PC. Better education of the public could contribute to increased knowledge and awareness on cancer and PC services. Utilisation of PC could be maximised, thereby providing a better quality of life for the sufferers and their families until the end of life’s journey. The study also provides information that can be used to strengthen and/or to develop PC guidelines for addressing PC issues.

scholarly journals Nitrified Human Urine as a Sustainable and Socially Acceptable Fertilizer: An Analysis of Consumer Acceptance in Msunduzi, South Africa

2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (9) ◽  
pp. 2456 ◽  
Author(s):  
Benjamin C. Wilde ◽  
Eva Lieberherr ◽  
Andrew E. Okem ◽  
Johan Six
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Human Urine ◽  
Consumer Acceptance ◽  
Smallholder Farming ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Human Waste ◽  
Middle Income Countries ◽  
Kwazulu Natal ◽  
Nutrient Mining

Sustainable smallholder farming is contingent on fertilizer access. Soils across Africa are typically nutrient deficient, a condition exacerbated by long-term nutrient mining. Nitrified urine fertilizer is a nutrient-rich and hygienically safe solution derived from human urine. It has the potential to provide a sustainable source of soil nutrients to low and middle-income countries struggling with food insecurity challenges. This study presents findings of a survey that assessed public acceptance within Msunduzi, Kwazulu-Natal, South Africa towards the use of nitrified urine fertilizer. Results indicate that in general attitudes were much more positive towards the use of nitrified urine fertilizer than raw urine as a soil amendment. Residents living within rural zones of the municipality (78.5%), as opposed to urban (65.7%) and peri-urban (65.2%), and younger individuals within the sampled population were found to be the most receptive to the use of nitrified urine fertilizer. Our findings also underscore the complex set of factors that shape attitudes towards a topic such as the use of human waste as a fertilizer, which are crucial in shaping the legitimacy of an emerging technology such as urine nitrification.

scholarly journals Epidemiology of Burns Injury in dr. Iskak General Hospital Tulungagung: Two Years (2017-2018) Retrospective Study

2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 28-34
Author(s):  
Fiera Avrillia Ferdianty ◽  
Santi Devina
Keyword(s):  
General Hospital ◽  
Medical Records ◽  
Burn Injury ◽  
Burn Patients ◽  
Adult Group ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Burn Victims ◽  
Middle Income Countries ◽  
Epidemiological Characteristics ◽  
Flame Burn

Introduction: Burn injury is one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality in low and middle-income countries. Yet in Indonesia, the epidemiology of burn is rarely reported. The study aims to obtain the epidemiological characteristics of burn patients in Dr. Iskak General Hospital. Methods: A retrospective analysis study was used and the medical records of patients with burns admitted at Dr. Iskak General Hospital between January 2017 and December 2018 were collected and analyzed statistically. Results: A total of 80 patients were involved in this study. The most burn victims fell in the adult group (>18 years old), which was 56.3% (n=45). Children were six times more likely to sustain scald burn than adults (OR=6.75I; CI95% 2.47-18.41), meanwhile adults were three times more likely to sustain flame burn than children (OR=3.643; CI95% 1.186-11.190). Most of burn patients (91.25%) were treated surgically. The median of hospital stay was 8 days. Flame burn was the primary etiology for longer hospitalization and there was zero mortality in this study. Conclusion: We found that the adult group was at the highest risk of acquiring burns. Scald was the major cause of burns in children, while flame was the main etiology in the adult group that caused severe burn and prolonged hospitalization.

scholarly journals Dietary habits among health professionals working in a district hospital in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

2017 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Siyabonga H. Kunene ◽  
Nomathemba P. Taukobong
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Health Professionals ◽  
Dietary Habits ◽  
Eating Habits ◽  
District Hospital ◽  
Unhealthy Lifestyle ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Kwazulu Natal

Introduction: The burden of diseases associated with unhealthy lifestyle behaviours continues to increase in the low- and middle-income countries including South Africa. Among the affected population are the health professionals who are assumed to be knowledgeable about healthy eating.Aim: This study aimed to determine the dietary habits of health professionals in a public district hospital in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted in 2012 among 109 randomly selected health professionals. Each received a questionnaire consisting of mostly closed and few open-ended questions. Its main focus was the dietary and eating habits of the professionals. An ethical clearance was granted by the Medunsa Research and Ethics committee at the University of Limpopo. Permission to conduct the study was sought and obtained from participants as well. Descriptive statistics and frequencies were used to analyse data.Results: A 100% (109) response rate was achieved. The majority skipped meals especially breakfast with a significant positive correlation between breakfast intake per week and age (r = 0.98, p = 0.048). The majority consumed a lot of unhealthy foods and carbonated beverages with sugar. Consumption of fruits, vegetables, high fibre and whole grain foods was less common.Conclusion: The study showed poor eating habits among participants. Urgent health interventions are therefore indicated to highlight the importance of healthy eating habits among the entire population.

Predictive Factors for Returning to Work in Burn Adult Patients That Were Working Before Their Injury

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Karina Tolentino-Bazán ◽  
Tatiana Chavez-Heres ◽  
Mariana Morales-García ◽  
Salvador Israel Macías-Hernández ◽  
Alma Citlallic Ramírez-Ramírez ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Return To Work ◽  
Predictive Factors ◽  
Burn Injury ◽  
Secondary Infection ◽  
Univariate Analysis ◽  
Burn Patients ◽  
Retrospective Case ◽  
Amputation Level ◽  
Burn Care ◽  
Returning To Work

Abstract The goal of this study was to identify predictive factors that influence return to work in burn patients treated at the National Center for Burn Care and Research at the National Institute of Rehabilitation (CENIAQ) in México City. This is a retrospective case–control study that included all burn patients of working age (16–91 years old), treated between January 2011 and December 2013. Patients were divided into two groups: unemployed (no work group) and those who returned to work (RTW). The statistical analysis was performed by a logistic regression univariate and multivariate analysis. A total of 210 subjects were included in the study. The mean age was 38 ± 15 years and 66.7% of them were male. One hundred sixty-five patients (79.6%) were able to return to work after treatment. Through univariate analysis it was found that the predictive factors for not returning to work after injury were: education lower than elementary school (OR: 3.59; CI 95%: 1.79–7.32); history of epilepsy prior to burn injury (OR: 10.18; CI 95%: 1.9–54.43); total burned surface area (TBSA) ≥20% (OR: 2.87; CI 95%: 1.46–5.64); third-degree burns (OR: 2.64; CI 95%: 1.32–5.29); hospital stay ≥20 days (OR: 2.8; CI 95%: 1.47–5.68); length of stay in the burn intensive care unit (OR: 2.5; CI 95%: 1.25–4.97); secondary infection (OR: 2.24; CI 95%: 1.15–4.38); amputations (one or more regardless of amputation level; OR: 8; CI 95%: 2.52–25.30); burn of the upper extremity (shoulder; OR: 2.21; CI 95%: 0.97–5.03); thigh (OR: 2.41; CI 95%: 1.32–5.14); and knee (OR: 2.81; CI 95%: 1.21–6.55). Some of these factors have never been reported by other authors.

Adverse Events Reporting System as Experienced by Critical-Care Nurses in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

2018 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Thusile Mabel Gqaleni ◽  
Busisiwe Rosemary Bhengu
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Critical Care ◽  
Adverse Events ◽  
Patient Care ◽  
Family Involvement ◽  
Reporting System ◽  
Legal Framework ◽  
Critical Care Nurses ◽  
Kwazulu Natal ◽  
Life Threatening

Critically ill patients admitted to critical-care units (CCUs) might have life-threatening or potentially life-threatening problems. Adverse events (AEs) occur frequently in CCUs, resulting in compromised quality of patient care. This study explores the experiences of critical-care nurses (CCNs) in relation to how the reported AEs were analysed and handled in CCUs. The study was conducted in the CCUs of five purposively selected hospitals in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. A descriptive qualitative design was used to obtain data through in-depth interviews from a purposive sample of five unit managers working in the CCUs to provide a deeper meaning of their experiences. This study was a part of a bigger study using a mixed-methods approach. The recorded qualitative data were analysed using Tesch’s content analysis. The main categories of information that emerged during the data analysis were (i) the existence of an AE reporting system, (ii) the occurrence of AEs, (iii) the promotion of and barriers to AE reporting, and (iv) the handling of AEs. The findings demonstrated that there were major gaps that affected the maximum utilisation of the reporting system. In addition, even though the system existed in other institutions, it was not utilised at all, hence affecting quality patient care. The following are recommended: (1) a non-punitive and non-confrontational system should be promoted, and (2) an organisational culture should be encouraged where support structures are formed within institutions, which consist of a legal framework, patient and family involvement, effective AE feedback, and education and training of staff.

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