Search

Background: Due to intensified measles immunization efforts, measles mortality has decreased substantially worldwide, particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). The World Health Organization (WHO) estimated a 92% decrease in measles-related deaths in the WHO AFRO region for the period 2000-2008. Recently, the AFRO region established a measles pre-elimination goal and experts have suggested engaging in a measles eradication campaign at the global level. However, recent large-scale outbreaks in many Sub-Saharan African countries present a challenge to measles control efforts. This paper examines measles immunization and the impact of measles supplemental immunization activities (SIAs) on routine immunization coverage in South Africa (SA)., Methods: We reported on immunization coverage trends in SA for the period 2001-2010 at the province and district levels. The data included routine immunization for 1st and 2nd doses of measles vaccine (MCV1, MCV2), SIAs, 1st dose of Bacille Calmette-Guérin vaccine, 1st and 3rd doses of oral polio vaccine (OPV1, OPV3), 3rd dose of Diphtheria-Tetanus-Pertussis-Haemophilus-influenzae-B vaccine (DTP-Hib3), and the number of under-one-year-olds having completed a primary course of immunization (Imm1). A regression model looked at the SIA impact on routine coverage., Results: Over the past decade, MCV1 and MCV2 coverage have increased nationally from 68% and 57% in 2001 to 95% and 83% in 2010, respectively. SIA coverage has remained at high levels, around 90%, over the same period. Substantial heterogeneity in MCV1 and MCV2 coverage is present across SA districts, with differences in coverage of 56% (MCV1) and 51% (MCV2) in 2010. In any given year, occurrence of SIAs was associated with a decrease in routine immunization coverage of MCV1, MCV2, OPV1, OPV3, DTP-Hib3, and Imm1, at the district level., Conclusions: The heterogeneity in measles vaccination coverage across SA districts challenges the goal of measles elimination in SA and SSA. The reduction in routine immunization coverage associated with the occurrence of SIAs raises the legitimate concern that SIAs may negatively impact health systems' functioning., (Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Background: InterVA is a probabilistic method for interpreting verbal autopsy (VA) data. It uses a priori approximations of probabilities relating to diseases and symptoms to calculate the probability of specific causes of death given reported symptoms recorded in a VA interview. The extent to which InterVA's ability to characterise a population's mortality composition might be sensitive to variations in these a priori probabilities was investigated., Methods: A priori InterVA probabilities were changed by 1, 2 or 3 steps on the logarithmic scale on which the original probabilities were based. These changes were made to a random selection of 25% and 50% of the original probabilities, giving six model variants. A random sample of 1,000 VAs from South Africa, were used as a basis for experimentation and were processed using the original InterVA model and 20 random instances of each of the six InterVA model variants. Rank order of cause of death and cause-specific mortality fractions (CSMFs) from the original InterVA model and the mean, maximum and minimum results from the 20 randomly modified InterVA models for each of the six variants were compared., Results: CSMFs were functionally similar between the original InterVA model and the models with modified a priori probabilities such that even the CSMFs based on the InterVA model with the greatest degree of variation in the a priori probabilities would not lead to substantially different public health conclusions. The rank order of causes were also similar between all versions of InterVA., Conclusion: InterVA is a robust model for interpreting VA data and even relatively large variations in a priori probabilities do not affect InterVA-derived results to a great degree. The original physician-derived a priori probabilities are likely to be sufficient for the global application of InterVA in settings without routine death certification.

Background: It is widely accepted that assessing the impact of heat on populations is an important aspect of climate change research. However, this raises questions about how best to measure people's exposure to heat under everyday living conditions in more detail than is possible by relying on nearby sources of meteorological data., Objective: This study aimed to investigate practical and viable approaches to measuring air temperature and humidity within a population, making comparisons with contemporaneous external data sources. This was done in a rural South African population during the subtropical summer season., Results: Air temperature and humidity were measured indoors and outdoors at three locations over 10 days and the datalogger technology proved reliable and easy to use. There was little variation in measurements over distances of 10 km., Conclusions: Small battery-powered automatic dataloggers proved to be a feasible option for collecting weather data among a rural South African population. These data were consistent with external sources but offered more local detail. Detailed local contemporary data may also allow post hoc modelling of previously unmeasured local weather data in conjunction with global gridded climate models.

Background: Rural sub-Saharan Africa is at an early stage of economic and health transition. It is predicted that the 21st century will see a serious added economic burden from non-communicable disease including vascular disease in low-income countries as they progress through the transition. The stage of vascular disease in a population is thought to result from the prevalence of vascular risk factors. Already hypertension and stroke are common in adults in sub-Saharan Africa. Using a multidisciplinary approach we aimed to assess the prevalence of several vascular risk factors in Agincourt, a rural demographic surveillance site in South Africa., Methods: We performed a cross sectional random sample survey of adults aged over 35 in Agincourt (population approximately 70 000). Participants were visited at home by a trained nurse who administered a questionnaire, carried out clinical measurements and took a blood sample. From this we assessed participants' history of vascular risk, blood pressure using an OMRON 705 CP monitor, waist circumference, body mass index (BMI), ankle brachial index (ABI), and total and HDL cholesterol., Results: 402 people (24% men) participated. There was a high prevalence of smoking in men, but the number of cigarettes smoked was small. There was a striking difference in mean BMI between men and women (22.8 kg/m2 versus 27.2 kg/m2), but levels of blood pressure were very similar. 43% of participants had a blood pressure greater than 140/90 or were on anti-hypertensive treatment and 37% of participants identified with measured high blood pressure were on pharmacological treatment. 12% of participants had an ABI of < 0.9, sugesting the presence of sub-clinical atheroma. 25.6% of participants had a total cholesterol level > 5 mmol/l., Conclusion: We found a high prevalence of hypertension, obesity in women, and a suggestion of subclinical atheroma despite relatively favourable cholesterol levels in a rural South African population. South Africa is facing the challenge of an emerging epidemic of vascular disease. Research to establish the social determinates of these risk factors and interventions to reduce both individual and population risk are required.

Background: Cardiovascular disease is an important cause of morbidity and mortality in South Africa. The Southern Africa Stroke Prevention Initiative (SASPI) found a high prevalence of stroke in the rural Agincourt subdistrict, Limpopo province. Hypertension is the commonest vascular risk factor in our population and it is essential that primary care services be adequately equipped to detect and treat hypertension. The aim of this study was to assess the number, accuracy and working condition of blood pressure measuring devices (BMD) in the clinics that serve the field site, and to assess the clinic sisters' perceptions of the availability of antihypertensive medication and aspirin., Methods: In each of the clinics serving the site we assessed the BMDs and cuffs using the following criteria: general condition, bladder size, state of rubber components, operation of the inlet valve and control of valve operation. The legibility of the gauge, level and condition of the mercury, and the condition of the glass tube were checked when relevant. The performance of the BMD was then assessed both with the cuff used in the clinic and with a new functioning cuff, against an accurate mercury sphygmomanometer. By interviewing the clinic sister we could assess the availability of antihypertensive medication and aspirin, as well as the state of the drug delivery system., Results: All BMDs were mercury sphygmomanometers. Four clinics had one BMD each, one clinic had two, and one clinic had four. In one clinic the device was not functional at all until the study cuff was used. None of the clinics had spare cuffs and only one clinic had access to a large cuff. Nine out of 10 (90%) cuffs tested had unsatisfactory valve function, and none was of the size recommended by the guidelines. Although the condition of the mercury was only considered satisfactory in 40% of BMDs, once a new cuff had been fitted to the BMDs all of them were accurate to within 4 mmHg between 50 and 250 mmHg. Fifty per cent of clinic sisters felt they always had sufficient stock of hydrochlorothiazide and alpha-methyldopa, but the supply of more expensive medication was less reliable. Only one clinic always had sufficient aspirin., Conclusion: Although none of the primary care clinics had fully functioning BMDs, almost all the defects related to malfunctioning and inappropriately sized cuffs, which would be inexpensive to repair or replace. A procedure for routine servicing or replacement of both BMDs and cuffs is needed, as well as optimisation of medication delivery to remote areas.

This article reports on a pilot study of the use of applied theatre in the dissemination of health research findings and validation of data. The study took place in South Africa, as part of the Southern Africa Stroke Prevention Initiative (SASPI) and was based at the University/Medical Research Council Rural Public Health and Health Transitions Research Unit (also known as the Agincourt Unit). The aim of SASPI was to investigate the prevalence of stroke and understand the social context of stroke. It was decided to use an applied theatre approach for validating the data and disseminating findings from the anthropological component of the study. The pilot study found that applied theatre worked better in smaller community groups. It allowed data validation and it elicited ideas for future interventions resulting from the health research findings. Evaluation methods of the impact of applied theatre as a vehicle for the dissemination and communication of research findings require further development.

Objective: To describe the prevalence of risk factors and experience of preventive interventions in stroke survivors, and identilfy barriers to secondary prevention in rural South Africa., Methods: A clinician visited individuals in the Agincourt field site (in South Africa's rural north east) who were identified in a census as possible stroke victims to confirm the diagnosis of stroke. We explored the impact of stroke on the individual's family, and health-seeking behaviour following stroke by conducting in-depth interviews in the households of 35 stroke survivors. We held two workshops to understand the knowledge, experience, and views of primary care nurses, who provide the bulk of professional health care., Findings: We identified 103 stroke survivors (37 men), 73 (71%) of whom had hypertension, but only 8 (8%) were taking anti-hypertensive treatment. Smoking was uncommon; 8 men and 1 woman smoked a maximum of ten cigarettes daily. 94 (91%) stroke survivors had sought help, which involved allopathic health care for most of them (81; 79%). 42 had also sought help from traditional healers and churches, while another 13 people had sought help only from those sources. Of the 35 survivors who were interviewed, 29 reported having been prescribed anti-hypertensive pills after their stroke. Barriers to secondary prevention included cost of treatment, reluctance to use pills, difficulties with access to drugs, and lack of equipment to measure blood pressure. A negative attitude to allopathic care was not an important factor., Conclusion: In this rural area hypertension is the most important modifiable risk factor in stroke survivors. Effective secondary prevention may reduce the incidence of recurrent strokes, but there is no system to deliver such care. New strategies for care are needed involving both allopathic and non-allopathic-health care providers.

This research explores death from pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) using a verbal autopsy (VA) tool within the established Agincourt Health and Demographic Surveillance System site in South Africa's rural northeast. Previous work on active case finding in the area highlighted a modest burden of undiagnosed PTB in the community. This VA research confirms the existence of undiagnosed PTB deaths, with 13 (46%) of 28 PTB deaths among the permanent adult population (n = 38,251) going undetected by the health service. There was a median duration of coughing in the community of 16 weeks among these undiagnosed PTB deaths. As most undiagnosed cases present to the health service at some point during their illness, intervention strategies to support early diagnosis at this level can only be re-emphasised by this work.

Setting: The Agincourt demographic and health surveillance site in South Africa's rural Northern Province., Objectives: To accurately assess the true burden of tuberculosis in a rural sub-district with a known high prevalence of human immunodeficiency virus., Design: Data on hospital registrations of tuberculosis were combined with data from an ongoing demographic health and surveillance system to accurately describe the burden of tuberculosis in a well-defined community. Undiagnosed active cases of sputum-positive disease in the community were detected among chronic coughers identified by heads of household during a single-pass census interview., Results: The incidence of hospitalised tuberculosis among the permanently resident population (n = 56 566) was 212/100,000 person-years during 1999. The average point prevalence of detected tuberculosis (all forms) among patients aged over 10 years was 133/100,000, and 81/100,000 for sputum-positive pulmonary disease. This compares with a point prevalence of 16/100,000 cases of sputum-positive disease detected through active case finding., Conclusion: For every nine cases of sputum positive pulmonary tuberculosis being treated at any one time, there are two cases of undiagnosed disease in the community. This study demonstrates a modest burden of undiagnosed tuberculosis among residents in a rural sub-district in South Africa.

Setting: South Africa's rural Northern Province., Objectives: To examine patterns of health seeking behaviour among hospitalised tuberculosis patients., Design: Information on personal characteristics, health seeking behaviour and delays to presentation and hospitalisation was collected from hospitalised TB patients. Analysis of rates was used to investigate factors associated with delay., Results: Among 298 patients, median total delay to hospitalisation was 10 weeks, with patient delay contributing a greater proportion than service provider delay. Patients more often presented initially to public hospitals (41%) or clinics (31 %) than to spiritual/traditional healers (15%) or private GPs (13%). Total delay was shorter amongst those presenting to hospitals than those presenting to clinics (rate ratio 1.33, 95%CI 1.13-1.85), with a significantly smaller proportion of the total delay attributable to the health service provider (18% vs. 42%). Those exhibiting a conventional risk profile for TB (migrants, alcohol drinkers, history of TB) were diagnosed most quickly by health services, while women remained undiagnosed for longer., Conclusion: Considerable delay exists between symptom onset and treatment initiation among pulmonary tuberculosis patients. While a substantial delay was attributable to late patient presentation, an important, preventable period of infectiousness was caused by the failure of recognised clinical services to diagnose tuberculosis among symptomatic individuals.

Field sites for demographic and health surveillance have made well-recognized contributions to the evaluation of new or untested interventions, largely through efficacy trials involving new technologies or the delivery of selected services, e.g. vaccines, oral rehydration therapy and alternative contraceptive methods. Their role in health system reform, whether national or international, has, however, proved considerably more limited. The present article explores the characteristics and defining features of such field sites in low-income and middle-income countries and argues that many currently active sites have a largely untapped potential for contributing substantially to national and subnational health development. Since the populations covered by these sites often correspond with the boundaries of districts or subdistricts, the strategic use of information generated by demographic surveillance can inform the decentralization efforts of national and provincial health authorities. Among the areas of particular importance are the following: making population-based information available and providing an information resource; evaluating programmes and interventions; and developing applications to policy and practice. The question is posed as to whether their potential contribution to health system reform justifies arguing for adaptations to these field sites and expanded investment in them.

Objective: To describe the evolution and current status of the Agincourt field site, Bushbuckridge, in South Africa's rural north-east., Setting: A defined subdistrict, with a population of some 60,000 people including Mozambican refugees, in a former 'homeland' area with substantial labour migration., Approach: Three phases are described: origins and establishment of the field site; a programme of health systems research underpinned by multi-round (prospective) demographic and health surveillance; and contributions to the University of the North's Dikgale field site., Comment: Knowledge of trends in population health (e.g. mortality) is important when shaping the skill base and organisational framework of a district health system. There are valuable opportunities for collaborative research with field sites elsewhere in sub-Saharan Africa, and within South Africa itself. This will be facilitated by a common data model. A country-wide network of field sites, with surveillance capability, would complement the occasional national census and demographic and health survey, and strengthen South Africa's embryonic health information system.

Objectives: To present baseline results from first-phase demographic and health surveillance in the Agincourt field site, Bushbuckridge. To contrast findings with international data, and comment on their relevance to health development., Design: Multi-round, prospective community-based study. Baseline census, 1992., Setting: A subdistrict in South Africa's rural north-east, adjacent to the border with Mozambique., Subjects: Entire population of the Agincourt subdistrict., Outcome Measures: Baseline variables for each resident included age, sex, months spent at home during 1991, mother alive/dead, highest educational standard achieved, and refugee status. A full demographic profile was constructed., Results: In 1992 the subdistrict contained 57,609 persons, 26.4% of whom were Mozambican, with a population density of 148 persons per km2. Forty-four per cent were under 15 years of age, and the dependency ratio was 93%. Fertility was declining, along with a moderate decline in adult female mortality. The approximate total fertility rate was 4.0; teenage parenting was common and almost 40% of 19-year-olds had at least one child. Over 60% of men and 14% of women in the 30-49-year age group were migrants, resulting in a high proportion of single-parent households. Despite improvements, most children experienced delays in reaching primary school, and less than half made the transition to secondary school. Educational levels among Mozambican children were lower than those of local children., Conclusions: Agincourt contains a complex mix of communities comprising migrant workers, Mozambicans and a more stable permanent population. The area shares features with sub-Saharan Africa, although the mortality and fertility transitions have progressed further. Reliable, local information is essential for managing decentralised health systems.

Objective: To examine changes in mortality in rural South Africa over the period 1992-1995 by age, sex and cause of death., Design: As with much of sub-Saharan Africa, South Africa lacks effective vital registration and information on mortality is lacking. The Agincourt demographic and health surveillance system was established to inform health policy and practice with regard to rural subdistrict populations., Methods: Prospective community-based study involving annual update of a household census with enquiry into all birth, death and migration events. All reported deaths (n = 1001) are the subject of a verbal autopsy., Results: An increasing trend in overall mortality relative to general population growth in the study area is apparent. There is evidence for a reversal in the previously declining trend in mortality among women 20-44 years. A comparison of 1992-1993 with 1994-1995 shows that most of the increase in mortality is concentrated in the younger adult (20-49 year) age group. AIDS and related diseases, particularly tuberculosis, appear primarily responsible. Injuries and violence (especially homicide) and circulatory disease are important, under-recognized causes of death, although their levels have remained constant over the period., Conclusions: Mortality from AIDS and related diseases appears responsible for the probable reversal in mortality emerging in South Africa's rural northeast. Findings carry implications for the emerging system of decentralized health care.

Objectives: To describe the extent of mortality from cerebrovascular accident (CVA) in a rural South African population., Design: Annual demographic and health surveillance with verbal autopsy of all deaths, 1992-1995., Outcome Measures: Stroke mortality rate by age and sex., Results: Stroke mortality increased with age and is higher in men than women over age 35. Proportionate mortality ratio from CVA: 10.3% of deaths in the 35-64-year age group., Conclusion: Cerebrovascular disease is an important cause of death in South Africa's rural north-east. Community-based research is needed to inform policy and practice.

The health centre practice pioneered by Sidney and Emily Kark and their colleagues at Pholela during the 1940s was a forerunner of and direct contributor to what later emerged as 'the primary health care approach'. This article gives a detailed account of the context, work and methodologies used at the Pholela Health Centre, emphasising the development of concepts that are now well recognised and described as community-oriented primary health care (COPC). COPC remains highly relevant to health service development in South Africa today.

Curricular reform in the education of medical students is highlighted within the context of changing patterns of provision of health care. A number of industrialised countries' medical schools have accepted that they have a 'social contract' to respond to the health needs of the populations they serve. Such a contract, and the commitment to populations which it would necessitate, is also relevant in the South African context.

District health systems are increasingly acknowledged as a foundation for national health services based on primary health care. Initial efforts to institute a demonstration district health system in the Bushbuckridge area of the eastern Transvaal are described. These include efforts to overcome the organisational and administrative fragmentation caused by homeland and provincial boundaries. Close attention needs to be given to district-level health management, the complementary roles of district and regional health authorities, working relationships and accountability among professional staff from different disciplines, involvement of the community in a district health authority and the district health system as an element of local government.

This paper assesses the implementation of the 1986 Gazankulu policy on immunisation in 2 of the homeland's 6 health wards, Mhala and Elim. Vaccination coverage was estimated using the cluster sampling technique recommended by the Expanded Programme on Immunisation of the World Health Organisation. Vaccination coverage of children aged 12-23 months who have received eight valid doses (as stipulated in the programme) is estimated at 25% in Mhala and 53% in Elim (P < 0.001). While both figures can be substantially improved, the analysis concentrates on factors that help explain the differences between 2 districts that fall under the same central administration. As well as demographic differences, key factors include the presence of community-based health facilities and availability of staff (including programme leaders). The need for regional planners to have detailed and comprehensive knowledge of the health system at district level, and to make allowance for this, is put forward as vital to effective health planning. The failure of the Gazankulu policy to attain its objectives also reflects the often unrecognised consequences of the fragmentation of health services.

Community oriented primary care is a commonly used term applied to a variety of situations and programs. Its use frequently extends beyond an understanding of its specific elements or an appreciation of its history and development. This article discusses the origins and evolution of the ideas, theory and practice of community oriented primary care. In South Africa in the 1940s a team headed by Sidney Kark embarked on work in the Pholela region of Natal that became the forerunner of ideas that were later formalized and systematized under the rubric of community oriented primary care. Widespread implementation took place in South Africa but was prematurely curtailed following the accession to power of the National Party. By the early 1960s many in the team had moved to Jerusalem where the theoretical basis of the concept was strengthened and came to describe a form of practice in which aspects of primary medical care and community health are integrated and systematically applied to a defined community. Experience with community oriented primary care in the United States and elsewhere is growing. This experience is reviewed and an assessment and critique offered.

Medical internship can be a physically exhausting and emotionally traumatic experience. This study assesses various aspects of internship, including continuing medical education, workload and stress, at the five Johannesburg teaching hospitals during 1985 and 1986. Data were analysed from a confidential questionnaire. Eighty-two interns completed the questionnaire at the end of 1985 and 120 at the end of 1986. Problem areas defined were excessive patient load, sleep deprivation and severe stress. The commonest symptoms of stress were fatigue, irritability and weight loss. In 1985, 53% of interns stated that they could not cope, and in 1986 this increased to 65%. Forty-eight per cent of 1985 and 69% of 1986 interns lost interest in medicine during their intern year. The implications of these results are discussed and the importance and impact on the medical profession and hospital services analysed.

The long-term behavioural consequences of moderate to severe closed head injury (CHI) have been examined within a neuropsychological framework. It is argued that neuropsychological assessment must be considered if the behavioural sequelae of a brain injury are to be fully appreciated and assessment and rehabilitation modules appropriately formulated. Functioning of the frontal lobes is emphasised because this is the area most at risk when a head injury occurs. The meaning of 'executive functions' is examined, and the behavioural and rehabilitation implications of an impaired 'executor' are discussed. It is demonstrated that traditional individual and family-based psychotherapeutic techniques are inappropriate for people with impaired executive functions.