Walter Sisulu University
Not a member yet
1284 research outputs found
Sort by
Decreased total antioxidant levels and increased oxidative stress in South African type 2 diabetes mellitus patients
Get PDFRe-engaging cultural perspectives on disability discourse : An analysis of the Bakossi and Isixhosa Oral Traditions
Get PDFA healthy society is one where members make efforts to work together as people from diverse backgrounds towards achieving society’s goals. Although this seems to be a difficult task, some societies have made, and continue to make conscious efforts to achieve this purpose by enacting laws that prohibit discrimination based on disability, race, gender, sexual orientation, ethnicity and colour. This article examines the perceptions and conceptualisations of disabilities as portrayed in the Bakossi and isiXhosa oral traditions of Cameroon and South Africa respectively. The article argues that the oral traditions of these communities are heavily loaded with images that highlight stereotypical notions that these societies hold towards disabled persons. The images reveal that these categories of people are the most stigmatised, prejudiced and marginalised. In other words, people with disabilities have been pushed to the margins of society, and face socially-constructed barriers that prevent them from fully participating in many domains of society’s mainstream activities. Undertaken against the background of the sociological and psychoanalytic theories, the study concludes by recommending that inasmuch as disabled people are recognised as existing among the Bakossi and amaXhosa, they should be wholly integrated into their respective societies and treated like other members of the society; as some of them have hidden potentials that can be exploited to salvage society from various trials and tribulations
Incidence of unnatural deaths in Transkei subregion of South Africa (1996 –2015)
Get PDFBackground: Unnatural deaths are a serious and preventable public health problem in South Africa. Such an event is more than the death of an individual who has died in an unnatural way. It has a negative and long-lasting impact on family members as well as on society as a whole. Objective: To study the pattern of unnatural deaths in the Transkei sub-region of South Africa. Method: A record review was undertaken from 1996 to 2015 of 24 693 medico-legal autopsies performed at Mthatha Forensic Pathology Laboratory. Results: At the Mthatha Forensic Pathology Laboratory, 24 693 autopsies were performed between 1996 and 2015 on people who had died unnatural deaths. The average rate of unnatural death is 205 per 100 000 per year in this region. The figure is 160 per 100 000 among males and 44 per 100 000 among females. The rate of unnatural death has increased from 153 per 100 000 in 1996 to 260 per 100 000 in 2015. In two-thirds (69%) of cases, the cause of death is related to trauma. Slightly less than half (45%) of the victims in this study were murdered. Conclusion: There is an increasing trend of unnatural deaths in the Mthatha region of South Africa. The male-to-female ratio is 3.8:1, and about half (48%) of the victims were between 11 and 30 years old. This situation needs the urgent attention of the law enforcement agencies. Keywords: unnatural deaths, traumatic deaths, violent deat
The effect of the Xpert MTB/RIF test on the time to MDR-TB treatment initiation in a rural setting: a cohort study in South Africa’s Eastern Cape Province
Get PDFBackground: There are significant delays in initiation of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR –TB) treatment. The Xpert MTB/RIF test has been shown to reduce the time to diagnosis and treatment of MDR-TB predominantly in urban centres. This study describes the time to treatment of MDR-TB and the effect of Xpert MTB/RIF on time to treatment in a deprived rural area in South Africa. Methods: This was a retrospective cohort study analysing the medical records of patients diagnosed with MDR-TB in King Sabata Dalindyebo Sub-District between 2009 and 2014. Numerical data were reported using the Kruskal-Wallis and Wilcoxon sum rank tests and categorical data compared using the two-sample test of proportions. Results: Of the 342 patients with MDR-TB identified, 285 were eligible for analysis, of whom 145 (61.4%) were HIV positive. The median time from sputum collection to MDR-TB diagnosis was 27 days (IQR: 2–45) and differed significantly between diagnostic modalities: Xpert MTB/RIF, 1 day (IQR: 1–4; n = 114: p less 0.0001); Line Probe Assay 12 days (IQR: 8–21; n = 28; p less 0.0001); and culture/phenotypic drug sensitivity testing 45 days (IQR: 39–59; n = 143: p less 0.0001). The time from diagnosis to treatment initiation was 14 days (IQR: 8–27) and did not differ significantly between diagnostic modality. The median time from sputum collection to treatment initiation was 49 days (IQR: 20–69) but differed significantly between diagnostic modalities: Xpert MTB/RIF, 18 days (IQR: 11–27; n = 114; p less 0.0001); Line Probe Assay 29 days (IQR: 14.5–53; n = 28; p les 0.0001); and culture/phenotypic drug sensitivity, 64 days (IQR: 50–103; n = 143: P less 0.0001). Age, sex and HIV status did not influence the time intervals. Conclusions: Xpert MTB/RIF significantly reduced the time to MDR-TB treatment in a deprived rural setting as a result of a reduced time to diagnosis. However, the national target of five days was not achieved. Further research is needed to explore and address programmatic and patient-related challenges contributing to delayed treatment initiation. Keywords: Xpert MTB/RIF, MDR-TB, Rural, Time-to-treatment, Cohort stud
Omics-based molecular techniques in oral pathology centred cancer: prospect and challenges in Africa
Get PDFBackground:The completion of the human genome project and the accomplished milestones in the human proteome project; as well as the progress made so far in computational bioinformatics and “big data” processing have contributed immensely to individualized/personalized medicine in the developed world.Main body:At the dawn of precision medicine, various omics-based therapies and bioengineering can now be applied accurately for the diagnosis, prognosis, treatment, and risk stratification of cancer in a manner that was hitherto not thought possible. The widespread introduction of genomics and other omics-based approaches into the postgraduate training curriculum of diverse medical and dental specialties, including pathology has improved the proficiency of practitioners in the use of novel molecular signatures in patient management. In addition, intricate details about disease disparity among different human populations are beginning to emerge. This would facilitate the use of tailor-made novel theranostic methods based on emerging molecular evidences.Conclusion:In this review, we examined the challenges and prospects of using currently available omics-based technologies vis-à-vis oral pathology as well as prompt cancer diagnosis and treatment in a resource limited setting.Keywords:Omics-based, Molecular, Developing world, Oral pathology, Challenge
An update on the management of breast cancer in Africa
Get PDFThere is limited information about the challenges of cancer management and attempts at improving outcomes in Africa. Even though South and North Africa are better resourceds to tackle the burden of breast cancer, similar poor prognostic factors are common to all countries. The five-year overall Survival rate for breast cancer patients does not exceed 60% for any low and middle-income country (LMIC) in Africa. In spite of the gains achieved over the past decade, certain characteristics remain the same such as limited availability of breast conservation therapies, inadequate access to drugs, few oncology specialists and adherence to harmful socio-cultural practices. This review on managing breast cancer in Africa is authored by African oncologists who practice or collaborate in Africa and with hands-on experience with the realities. A search was performed via electronic databases from 1999 to 2016. (PubMed/Medline, African Journals Online) for all literature in English or translated into English, covering the terms "breast cancer in Africa and developing countries". One hundred ninety were deemed appropriate. Breast tumors are diagnosed at earlier ages and later stages than in highincome countries. There is a higher prevalence of triple-negative cancers. The limitations of poor nursing care and surgery, inadequate access to radiotherapy, poor availability of basic and modern systemic therapies translate into lower survival rate. Positive strides in breast cancer management in Africa include increased adaptation of treatment guidelines, improved pathology services including immuno-histochemistry, expansion and upgrading of radiotherapy equipment across the continent in addition to more research opportunities. This review is an update of the management of breast cancer in Africa, taking a look at the epidemiology, pathology, management resources, outcomes, research and limitations in Africa from the perspective of oncologists with local experience
South African Learners’ Conceptual Understanding about Image Formation by Lenses
Get PDFThe purpose of this research was to explore South African Grade 11 learners’ conceptual understanding of ‘image formation by lenses’. The participants for this study were 70 Grade 11 learners from a selected senior secondary school in Mthatha, Eastern Cape Province, South Africa. The qualitative approach employed in the study made use of a two-tier open-ended questionnaire as the data collection instrument. The study explored several alternative conceptions the learners had held in terms of the roles that the lens and the screen play in the image formation and the characteristics of the image formed when a lens with a larger diameter is used and when a portion of the lens is covered. Most of the participants could not respond correctly in the situations presented in the questionnaire. However, almost all of them were found to have adequate conceptual understanding about the role of a lens in the image formation
Prevalence of metabolic syndrome in adolescents living in Mthatha, south africa
Get PDFObjective Metabolic syndrome (MetS), defined as the clustering of three of five risk factors (hypertension, obesity, triglyceridemia, dyslipidemia and hyperglycemia), is being increasingly mentioned among children and adolescents despite there being no consensus on how it should be defined in this set of population. Furthermore, very few studies have focused on MetS in children and adolescents in sub-Saharan populations. This study, therefore, aimed at determining the prevalence of the MetS and contributing risk in adolescents living in Mthatha, South Africa. Research design and methods Four hundred and ten adolescents (age range: 13–18 years, both sexes) were recruited into this cross-sectional study. In addition to a lifestyle questionnaire being administered, anthropometric measurements (weight, height and waist circumferences) were carried out for each participant. Fasting venous blood was collected for lipid profile and blood glucose assessments. Blood pressure was also measured. MetS was assessed using appropriate diagnostic criteria for children and adolescents. Results Complete data sets were collected from 371 participants. Females showed an elevation in the risk factors for MetS. Of the 371 participants, 40.2% were overweight/obese (47.5% females; 22.5% males). MetS was diagnosed in 3.1% female participants compared with 6.0% in male participants. Conclusions More risk factors for the MetS are seen among the overweight/obese as compared to lean adolescents. Given the fact that childhood overweight/obesity often continues into adulthood, it is important to address the causes of increased risk for MetS earlier in life to prevent the development of disease in adult life
