Screening and brief interventions for hazardous and harmful alcohol use among hospital outpatients in South Africa: results from a randomized controlled trial.

Background: High prevalence rates of hazardous and harmful alcohol use have been found in a hospital outpatient setting in South Africa. Hospital settings are a particularly valuable point of contact for the delivery of brief interventions because of the large access to patient populations each year. With this in mind, the primary purpose of this randomized controlled trial is to provide screening for alcohol misuse and to test the effectiveness of brief interventions in reducing alcohol intake among hospital outpatients in South Africa.

The degree to which physiotherapy literature includes physical activity as a component of health promotion in practice and entry level education: a scoping systematic review.

Introduction: Physiotherapists are well positioned to use physical activity as a health promotion (HP) strategy. This review examines the degree to which physiotherapy literature includes physical activity as a component of HP in practice and education.

Methods: Databases PubMed, Science Direct, CINAHL, Amed and Pedro were searched using a combination of keywords.

Screening and brief interventions for hazardous and harmful alcohol use among university students in South Africa: results from a randomized controlled trial.

The aim of this study was to assess the effectiveness of Screening and Brief Intervention (SBI) for alcohol problems among university students in South Africa. The study design for this efficacy study is a randomized controlled trial with 6- and 12-month follow-ups to examine the effects of a brief alcohol intervention to reduce alcohol use by hazardous and harmful drinkers in a university setting. The unit of randomization is the individual university student identified as a hazardous or harmful drinker attending public recruitment venues in a university campus.

Effectiveness of a nurse facilitated cognitive group intervention among mild to moderately-depressed-women in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.

Objective: The purpose of the study was to determine the effectiveness of a nurse-facilitated-cognitive-group (NFCG) intervention as an adjunct to antidepressant medication, in mild to moderately, depressed women.

Method: This was a quasi-experimental, nonequivalent, control group design study. A sample of 30 consenting participants was selected from an urban, community psychiatric clinic, and the participants were randomly allocated to the control and the intervention groups.

Sequence analysis of the whole genomes of five African human G9 rotavirus strains.

The G9 rotaviruses are amongst the most common global rotavirus strains causing severe childhood diarrhoea. However, the whole genomes of only a few G9 rotaviruses have been fully sequenced and characterised of which only one G9P[6] and one G9P[8] are from Africa. We determined the consensus sequence of the whole genomes of five African human group A G9 rotavirus strains, four G9P[8] strains and one G9P[6] strain collected in Cameroon (central Africa), Kenya (eastern Africa), South Africa and Zimbabwe (southern Africa) in 1999, 2009 and 2010.

Degenerative trends of the palmaris longus muscle in a South African population.

The literature reports that the palmaris longus muscle (PL) is only found in mammals in which the forelimbs are weight-bearing extremities. It is suggested that the function of this muscle has been taken over by the other flexors in the forearm. Terms used in the literature to describe the diminishing of this muscle include retrogressive or phylogenetic degenerative trends.

The predictive validity and effects of using the transtheoretical model to increase the physical activity of healthcare workers in a public hospital in South Africa.

There have been studies conducted on the effectiveness of the transtheoretical model (TTM) in improving the level of physical activity at worksites worldwide, but no such studies have been conducted in South Africa. The aim of this study was to determine the predictive validity and effects of using the Transtheoretical Model to increase the physical activity of healthcare workers in a public hospital in South Africa. A quasi-experimental design in the form of a single-group, pretest-posttest model was used to examine the possible relationship between an exposure to interventions, attitude, knowledge, and an increased level of physical activity.

Analysis of occupational infections among health care workers in Limpopo province of South Africa.

Objective: Occupational infections particularly hospital-acquired infections (HAIs) are a serious problem in the healthcare industry worldwide. This study purported to investigate their prevalence and risk factors among healthcare workers from Limpopo province of South Africa.

Methods: Cases about occupational infectious diseases of healthcare workers from Limpopo province that were submitted to the Compensation Commissioner from January 2006 to December 2009 were reviewed.

Contraceptive practices in the era of HIV/AIDS among university students in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.

University students as a population of young adults are reportedly at a higher risk of acquiring sexually transmitted infections and HIV infection than the general public due to their higher levels of sexual experimentation and unsafe sexual practices. The objective of this cross-sectional study was to find the patterns of contraceptive use among university students at Mangosuthu University of Technology (MUT), KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. A total of 752 students were selected by stratified random sampling techniques.

Knowledge, practices, and attitudes of emergency contraception among female university students in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.

Objective: The purpose of this study is to investigate the knowledge, practices, and attitudes among female university students in South Africa regarding emergency contraceptives (EC).

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 582 female university students who were selected using multi-stage sampling techniques. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to find significant predictors for EC awareness.

Blastomycosis: a case report and review of the literature.

Background: Blastomycosis is a chronic granulomatous and suppurative mycosis caused by the fungus Blastomyces dermatitidis. This is a dimorphic fungus, which exists as a non-pathogenic mold in mycelial form in nature and converts to pathogenic yeast at body temperature. Infection is acquired by either inhalation or inoculation.

Do parents still matter regarding adolescents' alcohol drinking? Experience from South Africa.

The purpose of this cross-sectional study was to improve our understanding of adolescents' perceptions of parental practices relating to their (adolescents') alcohol use. A total of 704 students were conveniently selected and completed self-administered questionnaires. More than half (54%) of the adolescents reported that they had consumed alcohol at some time in their life.

Screening and brief intervention for alcohol problems in Dr George Mukhari Hospital out-patients in Gauteng, South Africa: a single-blinded randomized controlled trial protocol.

Background: For alcohol drinkers in South Africa it has been found that annual consumption per drinker is among the highest in the world. High prevalence rates of hazardous and harmful alcohol use have also been found in a hospital out-patient setting in South Africa. Hospital settings are a particularly valuable point of contact for the delivery of brief interventions because of the large access to patient populations each year.

Investigating user-friendliness of the sexual and reproductive health services among youth in Botswana.

The objectives of this study were to investigate the extent of user-friendliness of sexual reproductive health services offered in Botswana. A cross-sectional study was conducted among 110 youth. A self-administered questionnaire was used to assess the friendliness of the health providers, health facility and program design using a 5-point Likert scale.

An evaluation of the implementation of integrated community home-based care services in vhembe district, South Africa.

Aim: The aim of the study is to evaluate the implementation of integrated community home-based care (CHBC) services in Vhembe District, Limpopo Province, South Africa.

Materials And Methods: In all, 393 caregivers responded to a questionnaire on various aspects of home-based care and service provider characteristics.

Results: Results indicate that in most areas of the Community Homes-based Care (CHBC) services, caregivers had confidence including wound dressing, health education, bet bathing, giving prescribed medication, and management of diabetes client, and they had sufficient knowledge received through training.

Home-based caregivers' knowledge regarding anti-retroviral therapy in Namibia.

Lack of practical knowledge among home-based caregivers (HBCs) on HIV/AIDS, anti-retroviral treatment (ART) and poor individual adherence to treatment are among the root causes of ineffective ART service delivery in Namibia. The purpose of the study was to investigate the knowledge of HBCs in Namibia regarding ART. The study was a descriptive, cross-sectional study in which 89 participants completed self-administered questionnaires to assess their knowledge regarding ART.

Knowledge of students attending a high school in Pretoria, South Africa, on diet, nutrition and exercise.

Objective: The objective of this study was to ascertain the knowledge of students on the composition of a healthy diet, daily nutritional requirements and the importance of regular exercise.

Method: A cross-sectional survey using a self-administered questionnaire with closed and open-ended questions to assess students 'knowledge on diet, nutrition and exercise was conducted. The study group were students of Tswaing High School in Pretoria, South Africa, who were in attendance on a particular day when the study was conducted and who consented to participate in the study Only 500 students of the school participated in the study

Results: Results showed that 77% of the students do not have adequate knowledge on diet, nutrition and exercise while 23% of the students showed satisfactory knowledge.

Knowledge regarding HIV/AIDS among home-based caregivers in Namibia.

Lack of practical knowledge among home-based caregivers on human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immune deficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS), anti-retroviral therapy (ART) and poor individual adherence to treatment are among the root causes of ineffective ART service delivery in Namibia. The purpose of our study was to investigate the knowledge among home-based caregivers in Namibia regarding HIV/AIDS. The study was a descriptive, cross-sectional one in which 89 participants completed a self-administered questionnaire to assess their knowledge of HIV/AIDS.

A first report on the characterization of rotavirus strains in Sierra Leone.

In an effort to reduce the high mortalities associated with rotavirus infections, a number of African countries are considering introducing human rotavirus vaccines. The demonstrated safety and efficacy of the live-attenuate human rotavirus vaccines in several clinical trials worldwide has accelerated such initiatives. Although the percentage-mortality rates for Sierra Leone are top of the list for rotavirus-associated deaths in Africa, no study has reported the prevalent strains circulating within this country.

Primary Oral Tuberculosis as an Indicator of HIV Infection.

We present a case of primary oral tuberculosis that led to the diagnosis of HIV infection. Our patient had clinically nonspecific ulcers on the labial mucosa and on the ventral surface of the tongue which were diagnosed as being tuberculous only on histological examination. This raised the suspicion of HIV infection that was subsequently confirmed by blood tests.

Trace element concentrations from lichen transplants in Pretoria, South Africa.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to assess the level and possible sources of trace elements in Tshwane metropolis using transplanted lichen thallus of Parmelia sulcata with a view to evaluating the ability of this lichen species to monitor air pollutants from a perceived polluted environment.

Methods: Samples of the lichen thalli were transplanted into ten different sites and covered with a net. Samples were exposed for 3 months.

Cervical cancer awareness and preventive behaviour among female university students in South Africa.

Objectives: The objectives of this descriptive cross-sectional study were to assess the awareness about cervical cancer and preventive behaviour of female first year Mangosuthu University of Technology students.

Methods: A total of 205 students were selected by stratified random sampling techniques.

Results: 40% of the students were currently sexually active and among them 28% reported having two or more sexual partners.

Comparative in vitro study of honey based and silver based wound preparations on cell viability.

Background: Since the early 1980s a plethora of dressings has been developed to promote wound healing. The objective of this study was to compare the effects of silver based dressings and honey based dressings on cell viability.

Materials And Methods: In this blinded study, keratinocyte cultures were exposed to prepared extracts of each of the following wound dressings for 40 h: Silver based dressings: Acticoat, Actisorb, Askina, Atrauman-Ag and Contreet.

Patterns and reasons for tooth extraction at the Winterveldt Clinic: 1998-2002.

Background: Tooth extraction is the most common form of dental treatment in developing countries despite significant advances in medicine and dentistry. Dental caries, periodontitis, orthodontics, trauma and prosthodontics are the main reasons for extractions.

Objective: To determine the patterns of tooth extractions and the reasons for these extractions in a primary care dental clinic attached to a dental training institution.