Re-Envisioning Global Health Competencies for the African Region Aligned with Local Health Needs and Resources.

Background: While many Global Health programs aim to address health inequalities within and between HICs and low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) there is a need to establish new Global Health academic programs within the growing trend towards 'internationalization of higher education'.

Objective: This study was undertaken to re-envision Global Health competencies for the African region context with respect to the local health needs and availability of resources.

Methods: This study was undertaken over a period of four years from 2017 till 2020.

Temporal Trends in the South African Diagnostic Radiology Workforce (2002-2019).

Background To facilitate imaging resource planning and address key health targets of the United Nations (UN) 2030 Sustainable Development Goals, accurate data are required on imaging personnel at the country level. Such data are currently limited. Objectives This study aims to analyze trends in the number, geographical distribution, and demographics of South African (SA) diagnostic imaging personnel between 2002 and 2019.

Outcomes of hospitalised patients with hyperkalaemia at a South African tertiary healthcare centre.

Background: Hyperkalaemia is a common electrolyte disorder in hospitalised patients. There is a lack of data from Africa on the prevalence, causes and outcomes of patients with hyperkalaemia. We aimed to identify the frequency of hyperkalaemia in hospitalised adults, and to identify any risk factors for in-hospital death.

Hypoglycaemia due to insulin therapy for the management of hyperkalaemia in hospitalised adults: A scoping review.

Introduction: Hyperkalaemia is a very common electrolyte disorder encountered in hospitalised patients. Although hypoglycaemia is a frequent complication of insulin therapy, it is often under-appreciated. We conducted a scoping review of this important complication, and of other adverse effects, of the treatment of hyperkalaemia in hospitalised adults to map existing research on this topic and to identify any knowledge gaps.

Estimating the emergency care workforce in South Africa.

Background: Emergency care is viewed as a fundamental human right in South Africa's constitution. In the public sector, all emergency medical services (EMS) come under the Directorate: Emergency Medical Services and Disaster Medicine at the National Department of Health (NDoH), which provides regulation, policy and oversight guidance to provincial structures.

Aim: The aim of the study is to understand the supply and status of human resources for EMS in South Africa.

Estimating the Specialist Surgical Workforce Density in South Africa.

Background: South Africa is an upper middle-income country with inequitable access to healthcare. There is a maldistribution of doctors between the private and public sectors, the latter which serves 86% of the population but has less than half of the human resources.

Objective: The objective of this study was to estimate the specialist surgical workforce density in South Africa.

Trends in the nephrologist workforce in South Africa (2002-2017) and forecasting for 2030.

Background: The growing global health burden of kidney disease is substantial and the nephrology workforce is critical to managing it. There are concerns that the nephrology workforce appears to be shrinking in many countries. This study analyses trends in South Africa for the period 2002-2017, describes current training capacity and uses this as a basis for forecasting the nephrology workforce for 2030.

Impacts of Tooth Loss on OHRQoL in an Adult Population in Cape Town, South Africa.

(1) Background: Tooth loss is an important component of the global burden of oral disease, greatly reducing the quality of life of those affected. Tooth loss can also affect diet and subsequent incidences of lifestyle diseases, such as hypertension and metabolic syndromes. This study aimed to evaluate the oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) score using the oral impacts on daily performance (OIDP) index in relation to tooth loss patterns among adults.

Forecasting for the need of dentists and specialists in South Africa until 2030.

To manage the increasing burden of dental diseases, a robust health system is essential. In order to ensure the oral health system operates at an optimal level going into the future, a forecast of the national shortfall of dentists and dental specialists in South Africa (SA) was undertaken. There is currently a shortage of dentists and specialists in SA and given the huge burden of dental diseases, there is a dire need to increase the number of these health care workers.

Reflecting on the current scenario and forecasting the future demand for medical doctors in South Africa up to 2030: towards equal representation of women.

Background: Increasing feminization of medical professions is well-acknowledged. However, this does not always equate to equitable representation of women within medicine, regarding their socio-demographic indicators, regions, sectors and fields of practice. Thus, this paper quantifies the gap in supply of female medical doctors in relation to demand, towards reaching different gender equity scenarios.

Planning the oral health workforce: Time for innovation.

The levels and types of oral health problems occurring in populations change over time, while advances in technology change the way oral health problems are addressed and the ways care is delivered. These rapid changes have major implications for the size and mix of the oral health workforce, yet the methods used to plan the oral health workforce have remained rigid and isolated from planning of oral healthcare services and healthcare expenditures. In this paper, we argue that the innovation culture that has driven major developments in content and delivery of oral health care must also be applied to planning the oral health workforce if we are to develop 'fit for purpose' healthcare systems that meet the needs of populations in the 21st century.

A Situational Mapping Overview of Training Programmes for Community-Based Rehabilitation Workers in Southern Africa: Strategies for Strengthening Accessible Rural Rehabilitation Practice.

In 2018, the United Nations global report showed that people with disabilities, who make up 15% of the worlds' population, have poorer health and rehabilitation access (SDG 3). Without improving the needed person-centered health and rehabilitation services at household level, SDG 3 cannot be achieved. This includes addressing human resource shortages through training multi-skilled community based rehabilitation workers (CRWs) to build rural workforce capacity and enhance the lives of people with disabilities, particularly in LMICs where the need is higher but resources are lower.

Demographic transformation of the physiotherapy profession in South Africa: A retrospective analysis of HPCSA registrations from 1938 to 2018.

Rationale, Aim And Objective: The physiotherapy profession did not escape the effects of racially based segregatory practises. While numerous strategies and initiatives have been employed to redress the inequities of the past, the extent of demographic transformation within the physiotherapy profession in South Africa remains uncertain. Transformation is defined in this article as an intentional change aimed at addressing inequalities and the ultimate goal is for population group and gender profiles of higher education graduates to be representative of the national epidemiological profile.

A human resources for health analysis of registered family medicine specialists in South Africa: 2002-19.

Background: In South Africa, there is a need to clarify the human resources for health policy on family physicians (FPs) and to ensure that the educational and health systems are well aligned in terms of the production and employment of FPs.

Objective: To analyse the human resource situation with regard to family medicine in South Africa and evaluate the requirements for the future.

Methods: A retrospective review of the Health Professions Council of South Africa's (HPCSA) database on registered family medicine practitioners from 2002 until 2019.

Mechanical Debridement with Antibiotics in the Treatment of Chronic Periodontitis: Effect on Systemic Biomarkers-A Systematic Review.

In this systematic review, we assessed the effectiveness of systemic antibiotics as an adjunctive therapy to mechanical debridement in improving inflammatory systemic biomarkers, as compared to mechanical debridement alone, among adults with chronic periodontitis. We searched relevant electronic databases for eligible randomized controlled trials. Two review authors independently screened, extracted data, and assessed risk of bias.

Exploring national human resource profile and trends of Prosthetists/Orthotists in South Africa from 2002 to 2018.

Background: The World Health Organization (WHO) in 2017 estimated that around 35-40 million people require prosthetic or orthotic services. The Framework and Strategy for Disability and Rehabilitation 2015-2030 for South Africa highlights a shortage of human resources for disability and rehabilitation services to manage the various risks and types of impairments faced by the population.

Objective: To describe the demographic trends of Prosthetists/Orthotists (P/O) registered with the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA) from 2002 to 2018.

Sustainable workforce: South African Audiologists and Speech Therapists.

Background: Audiologists and Speech Therapists play a vital role in addressing sustainable development goals by supporting people who are marginalised due to communication challenges. The global burden of disease and poor social living conditions impact negatively on the development of healthy communication, therefore requiring the services of Audiologist and Speech therapists. Against this background, we examined the demographic profile and the supply, need and shortfall of Audiologists and Speech Therapists in South Africa.

A systematic review of vaccine availability at the national, district, and health facility level in the WHO African Region.

Introduction: To describe vaccine stock-outs at national, district, and health facility levels in the WHO African region.

Areas Covered: We conducted a systematic review to identify studies reporting on vaccine stock-outs at national, district, and health facility levels in 47 African countries. We searched both published and unpublished literature, including the WHO/UNICEF Joint Reporting Form (JRF), for eligible studies.

Vaccine stock management in primary health care facilities in OR Tambo District, Eastern Cape, South Africa.

Background: Poor stock management has been identified as one of the causes of vaccine stock-outs in health facilities. This study assessed the occurrence of vaccine stock-outs and vaccine stock management practices in primary health care facilities in OR Tambo district of the Eastern Cape province, South Africa.

Methods: Descriptive cross-sectional study design was used in this study to assess both the stock management practices and the availability of vaccines in the facilities.

Changing demographic trends among South African occupational therapists: 2002 to 2018.

Background: South Africa's quadruple burden of disease, coupled with health system challenges and other factors, predicts a high burden of disability within the population. Human Resources for Health policy and planning need to take account of this challenge. Occupational therapists are part of the health rehabilitation team, and their supply and status in the workforce need to be better understood.

Mobile reporting of vaccine stock-levels in primary health care facilities in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa: perceptions and experiences of health care workers.

The use of mobile and wireless digital technologies - mobile health (mhealth)- is increasingly been adopted in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) to improve data visibility, improve decision-making, and consequently help ensure availability of health commodities in health facilities. In a bid to improve availability of medicines in primary health care facilities, the South African department of Health launched the Stock Visibility Solution (SVS), a mobile application developed for the purpose of capturing and monitoring stock levels of medicines including vaccines using mobile phones. The stock levels of medicines in facilities are usually uploaded to the central stock management system so that managers can act promptly to address stock-out situations.

Human resources for nephrology in South Africa: A mixed-methods study.

Introduction: The global nephrology workforce is shrinking and, in many countries, is unable to meet healthcare needs. Accurate data pertaining to human resources in nephrology in South Africa is lacking. This data is critical for the planning and delivery of renal services and the training of nephrologists in South Africa to meet the challenge of the growing burden of chronic kidney disease.