Systematic review and meta-analysis assessing the status of carotid intima-media thickness and lipid profiles in type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Objectives: Carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) is a measurement for subclinical atherosclerosis and has been associated with overall cardiovascular diseases, especially in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). We aimed to assess the status of carotid health and lipid profile in T2DM.

Design: This systematic review and meta-analysis synthesised data published from clinical studies.

Effect of L. (Okra) on Dyslipidemia: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Clinical Studies.

The global prevalence of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), including dyslipidemia and atherosclerosis, is rising. While pharmacological treatments for dyslipidemia and associated CVDs exist, not all individuals can afford them, and those who do often experience adverse side effects. Preclinical studies have indicated the potential benefits of and its active phytochemicals in addressing dyslipidemia in rodent models of diabetes.

Substance Use among School-Going Adolescents and Young Adults in Rural Mpumalanga Province, South Africa.

The ongoing public health crisis of substance use among school adolescents and young adults (AYAs) in South Africa is not new in research parlance, amidst the national policy of drug abuse management in schools. In view of no tangible progress to reduce substance use in high schools in the country, we conducted a cross-sectional quantitative study aimed at investigating substance use among adolescents and young adults in the four public high schools selected through multi-stage sampling in rural Mpumalanga province, South Africa. Data on substance use, demographics, household socio-demographics, and related factors were collected via a validated self-administered questionnaire.

The Wellbeing of Healthcare Workers during COVID-19 Era in Public Primary Health Facilities in Johannesburg, South Africa.

As the world grappled with the COVID-19 pandemic, healthcare workers (HCWs) continued to provide uninterrupted health care service delivery; therefore, this disproportionately affected their wellbeing. Our study explored the wellbeing of HCWs during the COVID-19 era in public health facilities in the City of Johannesburg, Gauteng province, South Africa. A qualitative study was conducted among twenty (20) HCWs through face-to-face in-depth interviews (IDIs) in the form of semi-structured interviews, audiotapes, and transcribed verbatim, and thematically analyzed with NVivo version 10.

Exploring Barriers to Accessing Sexual and Reproductive Health Services among Adolescents and Young People with Physical Disabilities in South Africa.

Despite South Africa having a progressive and liberal sexual and reproductive health (SRH) policy framework, adolescents and young people with disabilities (AYPWDs) are less likely to receive sexual and reproductive healthcare, being consequently predisposed to a long-term detrimental impact on their health. Our study explored the barriers to accessing sexual and reproductive health services (SRHSs) in clinics among AYPWDs in Mpumalanga, South Africa. We conducted a descriptive qualitative study with twenty-seven AYPWDs in four focus group discussions using semi-structured interviews, audiotaped and transcribed verbatim, and then applied a thematic analysis of the data.

Endothelial dysfunction, a predictor of cardiovascular disease in HIV patients on antiretroviral therapy: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Unlabelled: Aim Although antiretroviral therapy (ART) is available, the rate of new HIV infections is alarming. With this trend, it is anticipated that the use of ART will continue to rise, potentially resulting in associated vascular disorders. Therefore, we aimed to examine the impact of ART on endothelial function in people living with HIV (PLHIV), a predictor of cardiovascular diseases.

Comparison of Malnutrition Indicators and Associated Socio-Demographic Factors among Children in Rural and Urban Public Primary Schools in South Africa.

Most children in South Africa attending public schools are predisposed to malnutrition due to poor infrastructure and social inequality. This is despite the implementation of the National School Nutrition Programme to address barriers to learning associated with hunger and malnutrition and the National Development Plan to reduce child malnutrition through provision of social grants. In view of this, we compared malnutrition indicators and associated socio-demographic factors among children in rural Mpumalanga and urban Gauteng in South African public primary schools selected using a multistage cluster random sampling.

Uncontrolled Hypertension, Treatment, and Predictors among Hypertensive Out-Patients Attending Primary Health Facilities in Johannesburg, South Africa.

Hypertension is a poorly controlled risk factor for cardiovascular disease in South Africa, particularly among patients receiving care in the public sector who are mostly from low socioeconomic backgrounds. This cross-sectional study investigated uncontrolled hypertension, treatment, and predictors among hypertensive out-patients attending primary health care facilities in Johannesburg, South Africa. The WHO STEPwise approach to the surveillance of non-communicable diseases was used to collect data, including sociodemographic and lifestyle factors, health status, and measurements for anthropometry and blood pressure along with self-reported adherence to treatment, estimated through the general medication adherence scale.

Multimorbidity, Treatment, and Determinants among Chronic Patients Attending Primary Health Facilities in Tshwane, South Africa.

The growing burden of non-communicable diseases amidst the largest burden of HIV in South Africa leads to disease combinations of multimorbidity with the complexity of care. We conducted a cross-sectional study to assess multimorbidity, medication adherence, and associated factors among out-patients with chronic diseases in primary health care (PHC) facilities in Tshwane, South Africa. A structured questionnaire was used to collect data on comorbidities and medication adherence, along with socio-demographic and lifestyle factors.

Child Nutrition Outcomes and Maternal Nutrition-Related Knowledge in Rural Localities of Mbombela, South Africa.

Poor nutrition outcomes among children have become one of the major public health concerns in South Africa, attributed to poor feeding practices and maternal nutrition-related knowledge with conflicting data. In view of this, a cross-sectional study was conducted to determine the association of nutrition outcomes of children aged under two years with feeding practices and maternal nutrition-related knowledge in Mbombela, South Africa. Mothers' nutrition-related knowledge was estimated using an adapted structured questionnaire on colostrum, continued breastfeeding, diarrhea prevention and treatment using oral rehydration solution, immunization, and family planning, and scored as excellent (80-100), good (60-79), average (40-59), and fair (0-39).

Association of Stunting with Socio-Demographic Factors and Feeding Practices among Children under Two Years in Informal Settlements in Gauteng, South Africa.

Despite improvements in childhood undernutrition through integrated nutritional programs in South Africa, stunting among children remains persistent, and is attributed to poor socio-demographic status. This context has been implicated in disrupting mothers' decisions regarding effective infant feeding, ultimately meaning that children's nutritional demands remain unmet. In view of this, we conducted a cross-sectional study to determine the association between socio-demographic factors and infant and young child feeding (IYCF) practices and stunting among children under two years receiving primary health care in informal settlements in Gauteng, South Africa.

The Impact of Linn and Its Derivatives on Oxidative Stress, Inflammation, and Endothelial Function in Diabetes Mellitus: Evidence from Preclinical and Clinical Studies.

Diabetes mellitus is recognized as the leading contributor to cardiovascular disease and associated mortality rates worldwide. Despite the use of pharmaceutical drugs to treat diabetes, its prevalence continues to rise alarmingly. Therefore, exploring remedies with a lower toxicity profile is crucial while remaining safe and effective in addressing this global public health crisis.

A Systematic Review on Cardiometabolic Risks and Perinatal Outcomes among Pregnant Women Living with HIV in the Era of Antiretroviral Therapy.

Antiretroviral therapy (ART) regimens have been shown to cause metabolic changes in people living with HIV (PLWH), predisposing them to cardiometabolic disease (CVMD). However, such evidence is less established in pregnant women living with HIV (pWLWH) on ART. Pregnancy-induced cardiometabolic risks (CMR) can predispose to unfavourable pregnancy outcomes and further persist in the postpartum period, resolve, and recur in subsequent pregnancies, or emerge as newly diagnosed chronic diseases of ageing.

Self-Management of Diabetes and Associated Factors among Patients Seeking Chronic Care in Tshwane, South Africa: A Facility-Based Study.

The burden of diabetes continues to increase in South Africa and a significant number of diabetes patients present at public primary healthcare facilities with uncontrolled glucose. We conducted a facility-based cross-sectional study to determine the diabetes self-management practices and associated factors among out-patients in Tshwane, South Africa. An adapted validated questionnaire was used to collect data on sociodemography, diabetes knowledge, and summaries of diabetes self-management activities measured in the previous seven days, and over the last eight weeks.

Retrospective Analysis of the Outcome of Hospitalized COVID-19 Patients with Coexisting Metabolic Syndrome and HIV Using Multinomial Logistic Regression.

Globally, the coexistence of metabolic syndrome (MetS) and HIV has become an important public health problem, putting coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19) hospitalized patients at risk for severe manifestations and higher mortality. A retrospective cross-sectional analysis was conducted to identify factors and determine their relationships with hospitalization outcomes for COVID-19 patients using secondary data from the Department of Health in Limpopo Province, South Africa. The study included 15,151 patient clinical records of laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 cases.

A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis on the Impact of Statin Treatment in HIV Patients on Antiretroviral Therapy.

The rate of new human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infections globally is alarming. Although antiretroviral therapy (ART) improves the quality of life among this group of patients, ARTs are associated with risk of cardiovascular diseases (CVD). Moreover, virally suppressed patients still experience immune activation associated with HIV migration from reservoir sites.

Okra ameliorates hyperglycaemia in pre-diabetic and type 2 diabetic patients: A systematic review and meta-analysis of the clinical evidence.

Despite the use of available pharmaceutical drugs, high rates of metabolic diseases and cardiovascular disorders are alarming. This calls for alternative therapies that can attenuate these complications. Therefore, we investigated the beneficial effects of okra on glycaemic control in pre-diabetes and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2D).

"Breastfeeding at Night Is Awesome" Mothers' Intentions of Continuation of Breastfeeding Extreme and Very Preterm Babies upon Discharge from a Kangaroo Mother Care Unit of a Tertiary Hospital in South Africa.

Kangaroo mother care (KMC) is effective in increasing mothers' initiation and maintenance of breastfeeding (BF) for extreme and very preterm (VLBW) infants. Although South Africa has implemented KMC for more than two decades, little is known about mothers' perspectives on KMC. The purpose of this study was to describe the BF intentions and practices of mothers of VLBW infants at home following discharge and assess the role long stay in KMC has on their decision to BF beyond discharge.

Facilitators and barriers associated with breastfeeding among mothers attending primary healthcare facilities in Mpumalanga, South Africa.

Introduction: Despite the health benefits of breastfeeding for both the mother and the child, early cessation of breastfeeding remains a public health problem in South Africa, attributed to contextual barriers and facilitators. Within the context of Mpumalanga province, which is characterized by low breastfeeding rates and high infant mortality rates in children under 5 years, we explored the facilitators and barriers to breastfeeding among mothers attending the three primary health facilities in Ermelo.

Methods: Using a semi-structured interview guide suggested by the socio-ecological model, three focus group discussions and 12 in-depth interviews were conducted among mothers selected using a purposive sampling.

Beliefs and Norms Influencing Initiation and Sustenance of Exclusive Breastfeeding: Experiences of Mothers in Primary Health Care Facilities in Ermelo, South Africa.

Exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) is not a norm in many communities in South Africa despite the World Health Organizations' recommendations for EBF in the first six months of infant's life. Thus, South Africa continues to observe suboptimal and poor practices of EBF. The purpose of the study was to explore the experiences of mothers who are HIV-positive and negative on EBF and examine the extent to which initiation and sustenance of EBF is influenced by cultural beliefs, societal norms, and family norms and practices in Mpumalanga Province.

The Multidimension of Malnutrition among School Children in a Rural Area, South Africa: A Mixed Methods Approach.

To address childhood malnutrition, the use of multifaceted methodologies, such as mixed methods research, is required to inform effective and contextual interventions. However, this remains limited in studying malnutrition among school children in a South African context, notwithstanding its persistence. We adopted a convergent parallel mixed methods design to best understand the magnitude of malnutrition through multilevel influences in a rural area.

Risk factors for alcohol use among adolescents: The context of township high schools in Tshwane, South Africa.

Background: Risk factors for alcohol use originate from many interconnected factors to an interplay of social and physical environments. However, there is a scarcity of data on the contextual risk factors of alcohol use among the adolescents regarding high schools located in townships in South Africa. This study aimed to determine the risk factors for alcohol use among adolescents attending selected township high schools in Tshwane, South Africa.

Evidence of Concurrent Stunting and Obesity among Children under 2 Years from Socio-Economically Disadvantaged Backgrounds in the Era of the Integrated Nutrition Programme in South Africa.

In view of persistent stunting and increasing rates of obesity coexisting among children in the era of the Integrated Nutrition Programme, a cross-sectional study was conducted to determined concurrent stunting and obesity (CSO) and related factors using a random sample of child-mother pairs ( = 400) in Mbombela, South Africa. Sociodemographic data was collected using a validated questionnaire, and stunting (≥2SD) and obesity (>3SD) were assessed through respective length-for-age (LAZ) and body mass index (BAZ) z-scores. Using SPSS 26.

A comparative study of postnatal depression and associated factors in Gauteng and Free State provinces, South Africa.

Background: The factors contributing to probable postnatal depression (PND), a type of clinical depression that can affect woman after childbirth, are socially derived. Therefore, variations among groups of women necessitate studies in different communities.

Aim: This study compared the prevalence of PND and associated factors among women attending postnatal services facilities.

Alcohol Use among High School Learners in the Peri-Urban Areas, South Africa: A Descriptive Study on Accessibility, Motivations and Effects.

Learners are vulnerable to alcohol use and its negative effects, largely due to accessibility of alcohol products, especially in the localities with poor socioeconomic status and infrastructure. This study aimed to determine the accessibility, motivations and effects of alcohol use among high school learners (n = 403) in Tshwane North and West, South Africa, using a descriptive, cross-sectional design. Data were collected using a validated questionnaire and analysed using STATA 17.