Prevalence and risk factors of osteoarthritis in patients at a public hospital in Limpopo province.

Background: Osteoarthritis (OA) is a public health concern affecting millions globally. Osteoarthritis has been ranked as the 12th leading cause of disability among the ageing population globally. In addition, OA can lead to disability, which can affect the quality of life and physical and emotional well-being.

Antenatal care quality and detection of risk among pregnant women: An observational study in Ethiopia, India, Kenya, and South Africa.

Background: Antenatal care (ANC) is an essential platform to improve maternal and newborn health (MNH). While several articles have described the content of ANC in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), few have investigated the quality of detection and management of pregnancy risk factors during ANC. It remains unclear whether women with pregnancy risk factors receive targeted management and additional ANC.

Challenges of clinical accompaniment amongst undergraduate nursing students: University of KwaZulu-Natal.

Background: Clinical accompaniment is an activity predominantly supervised by the clinical facilitator to develop the skills of the students. In South Africa, clinical accompaniment aims to develop the skills of the students to equip them in delivering efficient health services to the patients. Previous studies revealed that students experienced challenges and were negatively affected due to inadequate clinical accompaniment in the learning practice.

Correction: Investigating risk factors for under-five mortality in an HIV hyper-endemic area of rural South Africa, from 2000-2014.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.

Job satisfaction among rehabilitation professionals employed in public health facilities in KwaZulu-Natal.

Background: Job satisfaction is essential in stimulating productivity and efficiency in the health sector. Dissatisfied employees are likely to leave, which places an added burden considering the shortage of health workers. Rehabilitation professionals form a critical component of the public health workforce.

Factors influencing men's decisions to utilize sexual reproductive health services in KwaZulu Natal, South Africa.

Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH) service utilization remains a global public health concern. The SRH problems account for major health challenges and disease burdens for men. This descriptive cross-sectional study of 421 men aims to identify factors influencing men's decisions to utilize SRH services.

Knowledge and perceptions about non-communicable diseases by people living with HIV: a descriptive cross-sectional study from Chitungwiza Central Hospital Zimbabwe.

Background: Sub-Saharan Africa has shown a rise in morbidity and mortality due to NCDs. PLHIV have shown to be more exposed to NCDs and identifying the knowledge gaps might help the management of NCDs in PLHIV.

Objective: The study was conducted in order to determine knowledge and perceptions regarding NCDs in PLHIV from Chitungwiza Hospital.

Knowledge, attitudes and acceptance of voluntary medical male circumcision among males attending high school in Shiselweni region, Eswatini: a cross sectional study.

Background: In countries such as Eswatini, where there is a high HIV prevalence and low male circumcision the World Health Organization and the Joint United Nations Programme for HIV/AIDS recommend infant and adult circumcision be implemented. The aim of this study was to assess the knowledge, attitudes and acceptability of voluntary medical male circumcision amongst males attending high school in Eswatini.

Methods: An observational cross-sectional study was conducted during February and March of 2018 amongst 407 young males (15-21 years) attending Form 4, in nine high schools in the Shiselweni region of Eswatini using a self-administered questionnaire of 42 close ended questions.

Tracking health system performance in times of crisis using routine health data: lessons learned from a multicountry consortium.

COVID-19 has prompted the use of readily available administrative data to track health system performance in times of crisis and to monitor disruptions in essential healthcare services. In this commentary we describe our experience working with these data and lessons learned across countries. Since April 2020, the Quality Evidence for Health System Transformation (QuEST) network has used administrative data and routine health information systems (RHIS) to assess health system performance during COVID-19 in Chile, Ethiopia, Ghana, Haiti, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Mexico, Nepal, South Africa, Republic of Korea and Thailand.

Prevalence and associated risk factors of chronic malnutrition amongst children under five in Eswatini.

Background: About 20 million children under fi-ve in Southern Africa have chronic malnutrition. This study determines the prevalence of chronic malnutrition and associated risk factors amongst children under five.

Aim: To determine the proportion of children with chronic malnutrition and investigate associated risk factors of chronic malnutrition.

Knowledge, attitudes, and practices towards drug-food interactions among patients at public hospitals in eThekwini, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.

Background: Drug-food interactions can lead to adverse drug reactions and therapy failure which can potentially impact patient safety and therapy outcome.

Objectives: This study assessed patients' knowledge, attitudes and practices regarding drug-food interactions.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among patients at three public hospitals in eThekwini, KwaZulu-Natal.

COVID-19 and resilience of healthcare systems in ten countries.

Declines in health service use during the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic could have important effects on population health. In this study, we used an interrupted time series design to assess the immediate effect of the pandemic on 31 health services in two low-income (Ethiopia and Haiti), six middle-income (Ghana, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Mexico, Nepal, South Africa and Thailand) and high-income (Chile and South Korea) countries. Despite efforts to maintain health services, disruptions of varying magnitude and duration were found in every country, with no clear patterns by country income group or pandemic intensity.

Obstructive jaundice: Studies on predictors of biliary infection and microbiological analysis in an HIV setting.

Background: Early diagnosis of biliary infection is critical for timely antimicrobial therapy and biliary drainage. HIV infection may influence the spectrum and severity of biliary infection in an environment with a high HIV prevalence. Charcot's triad has low sensitivity and higher specificity for biliary infection, and more sensitive markers are required.

Erratum: Factors associated with stroke survivors' inconsistent uptake of physiotherapy interventions at Turton Community Health Centre, KwaZulu-Natal.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.4102/sajp.v76i1.

Assessment of knowledge of drug-food interactions among healthcare professionals in public sector hospitals in eThekwini, KwaZulu-Natal.

Background: Foods and the nutrients they contain can interact with drugs and thereby interfere with their therapeutic safety and efficacy. Adequate knowledge of healthcare professionals (HCPs) about drug-food interactions can help in preventing potential drug-food interactions among patients. This study aimed to assess the knowledge of HCPs about common drug-food interactions.

Effect of perceived HIV risk on initiation of antiretroviral therapy during the universal test and treat era in South Africa.

Background: South Africa has not achieved the 90-90-90 goals, in part due to low rates of antiretroviral therapy (ART) initiation among those aware of their HIV status. Perceived risk of HIV at the time of testing may affect likelihood of rapid ART initiation. The purpose of this study was to evaluate factors associated with perceived risk of HIV and the relationship between perceived HIV risk and rapid ART initiation during the universal test and treat era which was adapted in October 2016.

Availability and Use of Mobile Health Technology for Disease Diagnosis and Treatment Support by Health Workers in the Ashanti Region of Ghana: A Cross-Sectional Survey.

Mobile health (mHealth) technologies have been identified as promising strategies for improving access to healthcare delivery and patient outcomes. However, the extent of availability and use of mHealth among healthcare professionals in Ghana is not known. The study's main objective was to examine the availability and use of mHealth for disease diagnosis and treatment support by healthcare professionals in the Ashanti Region of Ghana.

A qualitative exploratory study of selected physicians' perceptions of the management of non-communicable diseases at a referral hospital in Zimbabwe.

Introduction: Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) have recently become a global public health burden and a leading cause of premature death, mainly in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). The aim of the study was to explore physicians' perceptions on the availability and quality of clinical care for the management of NCDs.

Methods: This was a qualitative exploratory study meant to obtain expert perceptions on clinical care delivery for NCDs in one Zimbabwean central hospital setting.

Incidence of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in HIV patients on ART in a developing country: Case of Zimbabwe's Chitungwiza Central Hospital-A retrospective cohort study (2010-2019).

Introduction: The incidence of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) has been reported to be rising over the years leading up to 2010. In Zimbabwe, there are few studies done to examine the incidence of NCDs in people living with HIV (PLHIV) on anti-retroviral treatment (ART).

Objective: To determine the incidence of NCDs in HIV patients on ART at the Chitungwiza Central Hospital over ten years and the associated risk factors.

Determinants of Confidence in Overall Knowledge About COVID-19 Among Healthcare Workers in South Africa: Results From an Online Survey.

Adequate information and knowledge about COVID-19 has been shown to induce the confidence and positive performance among healthcare workers (HCWs). Therefore, assessing the relationship between confidence in knowledge and associated factors among HCWs is vital in the fight against COVID-19. This paper investigates factors associated with HCWs' confidence in their overall knowledge about COVID-19 in South Africa in the early stages of the epidemic.

Healthcare providers' knowledge and perceptions regarding the use of modern contraceptives among adolescent girls in Umlazi Township, KwaZulu-Natal province, South Africa.

Introduction: the phenomenon of unintended adolescent pregnancy continues to be a reproductive and public health concern in sub-Saharan Africa. Healthcare providers play an important role in influencing the use of contraceptives among adolescent girls. This study assessed knowledge and perceptions of healthcare providers regarding the use of modern contraceptives among adolescent girls in Umlazi township, KwaZulu-Natal province, South Africa.

Knowledge, attitudes and practices of hospital-based staff regarding physical activity at a private hospital in Johannesburg.

Background: Physical activity has been established as an important component to incorporate into a healthy lifestyle. Hospital-based staff are also threatened by the risks of sedentary lifestyles, despite their association with a healthcare environment. The aim of this study was to determine the knowledge, attitudes and practices of private hospital-based staff regarding physical activity in Johannesburg.

Risk factors associated with high prevalence of intimate partner violence amongst school-going young women (aged 15-24years) in Maputo, Mozambique.

Background: In many countries, there is evidence that intimate partner violence is prevalent among young women. This study aimed to determine the prevalence and the factors associated with intimate partner violence in young women (aged 15-24 years) attending secondary schools in Maputo, Mozambique.

Method: Using a probability proportional sampling strategy, 431 participants were recruited, and the data were collected using a self-administered questionnaire.

Electronic Health Information Systems to Improve Disease Diagnosis and Management at Point-of-Care in Low and Middle Income Countries: A Narrative Review.

The purpose of an electronic health information system (EHIS) is to support health care workers in providing health care services to an individual client and to enable data exchange among service providers. The demand to explore the use of EHIS for diagnosis and management of communicable and non-communicable diseases has increased dramatically due to the volume of patient data and the need to retain patients in care. In addition, the advent of Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic in high disease burdened low and middle income countries (LMICs) has increased the need for robust EHIS to enable efficient surveillance of the pandemic.

Modifiable risk factors associated with non-communicable diseases among adult outpatients in Manzini, Swaziland: a cross-sectional study.

Background: Four major non-communicable diseases (NCD), including T2DM, contributed to nearly three-quarters of all deaths worldwide in 2017. Dietary and lifestyle actors associated with NCDs are potentially modifiable. Therefore, this study was conducted to determine the dietary and lifestyle factors associated with T2DM, pre-diabetes, and hypertension among adult outpatients in Manzini, Swaziland.