The Prevalence of Childhood Asthma, Respiratory Symptoms and Associated Air Pollution Sources Among Adolescent Learners in Selected Schools in Vhembe District, South Africa.

Unlabelled: This study investigated the prevalence of childhood asthma and respiratory symptoms with their associated air pollution sources among adolescents aged 13-14 years residing in a Malaria-endemic region.

Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted with 2855 adolescents from fourteen (14) selected schools in communities exposed to high levels of air pollution from indoor residual spraying (IRS) that is used for malaria vector control in the Vhembe region. Data were collected using a self-administered standardized International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC) questionnaire.

Respiratory conditions and health symptoms associated with air pollution amongst children aged six years and below in Melusi Informal Settlement, Tshwane Metropolitan Municipality, South Africa: a cross-sectional study.

Background: Respiratory conditions and health symptoms associated with air pollution in children are a major public health concern, as their immune systems and lungs are not yet fully developed. This study aimed to assess self-reported respiratory conditions and health symptoms associated with air pollution sources amongst children aged six years and below in Melusi informal settlement, Tshwane Metropolitan Municipality, South Africa.

Methods: With a quantitative cross-sectional study design, parents/caregivers of children aged six years and below (n = 300) from eight Early Childhood Development Centres were invited to participate in the study.

Dietary patterns and risk of developing asthma among pre-schoolers.

Background: Early childhood dietary patterns have been identified as potential factors that can influence the development of asthma in children. The objective of the study was to determine the association between dietary patterns, identified through principal component analysis (PCA), and asthma in pre-schoolers.

Methods: This unmatched case-control study used data from 3145 pre-schoolers participating in the parent population-based observational study conducted in a District Municipality, Province.

Perceptions and views of key implementers on the implementation of the health-promoting school programme in the City of Tshwane, South Africa.

Background: The health-promoting school programme has been associated with numerous benefits for school communities where it is well implemented. In Tshwane, the implementation processes have not been evaluated.

Objective: A qualitative research approach based on grounded theory was used to investigate the experiences of 27 health-promoting school programme implementers across Tshwane.

Insights into prostate cancer awareness and perceptions among men in Tshwane.

Background: Globally, prostate cancer (PCa) accounts for 6.6% of deaths, while in South Africa (SA), PCa accounts for 13% of deaths in males, with over 4 000 SA men diagnosed with PCa annually. This may be attributed to the inadequate availability of screening, early detection and possibly other socioeconomic and lifestyle factors.

Corrigendum: Access to healthcare by undocumented Zimbabwean migrants in post-apartheid South Africa.

No abstract available.

Prevalence of Wheezing and Its Association with Environmental Tobacco Smoke Exposure among Rural and Urban Preschool Children in Mpumalanga Province, South Africa.

Background: This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of wheezing and its association with environmental tobacco smoke exposure among rural and urban preschool children in Mpumalanga province, South Africa, an area associated with poor air quality.

Methods: In this study, parents/caregivers of preschool children ( = 3145) completed a modified International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC) questionnaire. Data were analysed using multiple logistic regression models.

Association between Outdoor and Indoor Air Pollution Sources and Atopic Eczema among Preschool Children in South Africa.

The objective of the study was to investigate the association between outdoor and indoor air pollution sources and atopic eczema among preschool children in South Africa. A cross-sectional design, following the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC) Phase III protocol, was applied. The study was conducted in Mabopane and Soshanguve Townships in the City of Tshwane Metropolitan Municipality in Gauteng, South Africa.

Access to healthcare by undocumented Zimbabwean migrants in post-apartheid South Africa.

Background:  Zimbabwean undocumented migrants rely on the South African public health care system for treatment of non-communicable and communicable diseases, surgery and medical emergency services. A gap remains to understand undocumented migrant experiences at a time when accessing public healthcare has been topical in South Africa.

Aim:  This article aimed to describe and understand the experiences, challenges and health-seeking alternatives of undocumented Zimbabwean migrants in accessing healthcare services in Nellmapius in Pretoria.

Case-crossover study for the association between increased hospital admissions for respiratory diseases and the increase in atmospheric PM and PM-bound trace elements in Pretoria, South Africa.

Outdoor PM was sampled in Pretoria, 18 April 2017 to 28 February 2020. A case-crossover epidemiology study was associated for increased PM and trace elements with increased hospital admissions for respiratory disorders (J00-J99). The results included a significant increase in hospital admissions, with total PM of 2.

Health risk assessment of PM and PM-bound trace elements in Pretoria, South Africa.

Exposure to outdoor air pollutants poses a risk for both non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic respiratory disease outcomes. A standardized health risk assessment (US EPA) utilizes air quality data, body mass and breathing rates to determine potential risk. This health risk assessment study assesses the hazard quotient (HQ) for total PM and trace elemental constituents (Br, Cl, K, Ni, S, Si, Ti and U) exposure in Pretoria, South Africa.

Knowledge, attitude and practices on notifiable diseases among environmental health practitioners in the City of Johannesburg: A cross-sectional study.

Background: Notifiable diseases, a public health challenge in low- and middle-income countries, require mandatory reporting and play a significant role in disease prevention and control. Environmental health practitioners are responsible for reporting and investigating notifiable diseases.

Aim: The study aimed to assess the knowledge, attitude and practices on notifiable diseases among environmental health practitioners within a metropolitan municipality.

Perceptions and attitudes of black men in a rural district of South Africa towards depression and its treatment.

Background: Depression is a major contributor to the overall global burden of disease, impacting social life, family life and occupational functioning if left untreated. Despite its high prevalence and morbidity, the evidence suggests that men are hesitant to seek help, with a large percentage remaining undiagnosed. This study aimed to determine the attitudes and perceptions related to depression and its treatment amongst black men in a rural district of South Africa.

Temperature modifies the association between air pollution and respiratory disease mortality in Cape Town, South Africa.

The aim of this 10-year study was to investigate whether and how temperature modifies the association between daily ambient PM, NO SO air pollution and daily respiratory disease mortality in Cape Town. A time-stratified case-crossover epidemiological design was applied. Susceptibility by sex and age groups (15-64 years and ≥65 years) was also investigated.

Allergy and Household Living Conditions among Adolescents Living near Gold Mine Tailing Dumps in the Gauteng and North West Provinces of South Africa.

This quantitative exploratory baseline study aimed to investigate whether allergy among adolescents was associated with household living conditions, including living near gold mine tailing dumps in South Africa. A questionnaire based on the International Study of Asthma and Allergies was used to collect information on allergy and household risk factors among adolescents ( = 5611). A chi-square test was applied to determine the relationship between community (exposed/unexposed) and confounding variables.

Registered nurses' perspectives on barriers of cervical cancer screening in Swaziland: a qualitative study.

Introduction: cervical cancer is highly preventable and curable if diagnosed and treated early, however, it is still the leading cause of death among women. Despite efforts to increase cervical cancer screening, its uptake is still low. The purpose of the study was to investigate the perspectives of registered nurses on barriers of cervical cancer screening in Swaziland.

High blood pressure and exposure to dust from gold mine dumps among the elderly in South Africa: A cross-sectional study.

Objective: To investigate whether high blood pressure was associated with living close to a mine dump among the elderly in South Africa.

Study Design: This was a cross-sectional study conducted among the elderly in communities 1-2 km (exposed) and 5 km or more (unexposed), from five pre-selected mine dumps in Gauteng and North West provinces of South Africa.

Methods: Structured interviews were conducted with 2397 elderly, using a previously validated ATS-DLD-78 questionnaire from the British Medical Research Council.

Assessment of occupational health and safety practices at government mortuaries in Gauteng Province: a cross-sectional study.

Introduction: hospital mortuaries are responsible for the receipt and storage of deceased people. This exposes mortuary workers to a variety of health and safety hazards, which include physical, chemical, ergonomics, biological and psychosocial hazards/stressors. The aim of this study was to assess occupational health and safety practices (OHS) among government mortuary workers in Gauteng province.

A Study Protocol to Determine Heat-Related Health Impacts among Primary Schoolchildren in South Africa.

Climate models predict that the global average temperature of Earth will rise in the future. Studies show that high classroom temperatures can affect the ability of the student to learn and function. It is important to understand the impact that heat will have on the health, wellbeing, and academic performance of learners, as they spend a significant amount of time in classrooms compared to any other environment.

Prevalence of stillbirth at the Buea Regional Hospital, Fako Division south-west region, Cameroon.

Introduction: The study investigated the prevalence of stillbirth at the Buea regional hospital, by taking cases of pregnant women who attended antenatal clinic(s) and those who did not attend but had their deliveries at the Buea regional hospital. The study specifically estimated the prevalence of stillbirths; identified possible risk factors associated with stillbirths, and determined whether the number of antenatal clinic visits is related to the occurrence of stillbirths-because during antenatal clinic visits, pregnant women are educated on risk factors of stillbirths such as: preterm deliveries; sex of the stillbirth; history of stillbirth; history of abortion(s); what age group of mothers are more likely to have a stillbirth.

Methods: The study was a hospital based retrospective study at the maternity in which there were 3577 deliveries registered at the Buea regional hospital dated May 1, 2014 to April 30, 2017.

Knowledge and practice of pregnant women and health care workers on hepatitis B prevention in the Limbe and Muyuka health districts of the south west region of Cameroon.

Introduction: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is a major health problem worldwide owing to its high prevalence and significant morbidity and mortality. There are about 2 billion people living with HBV worldwide and over 360 million chronic carriers. The purpose of this study was to assess the knowledge and practices of pregnant women and health care workers in the ANC and maternity units on HBV infection and its transmission.

Assessing implementation modalities of mhealth intervention on pregnant women in Dschang health district, West region of Cameroon.

Introduction: Every 90 seconds, a woman dies of complications related to pregnancy and childbirth, resulting in more than 340,000 maternal deaths a year. Antenatal care (ANC) and postnatal care (PNC) are significant determinants of maternal health and, particularly, safe motherhood. Antenatal care is an important predictor of safe delivery and provides health information and services that can improve the health of women and infants.

Management of face presentation, face and lip edema in a primary healthcare facility case report, Mbengwi, Cameroon.

Face presentation is a rare obstetric event and most practitioners will go through their carriers without ever meeting one. Face presentation can be delivered vaginally only if the foetus is in the mentum anterior position. More than half of the cases of face presentation are delivered by caesarean section.