Student's Journal of Health Research Africa
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Beyond teaching: understanding the emotional and administrative burden of university academics -A qualitative case study.
Get PDFBackgroundWhile teaching and research are recognised as the core responsibilities of academic staff, increasing attention is being paid to the hidden demands of university work, specifically emotional labour, administrative duties, and invisible workloads such as student care, departmental service, and institutional compliance. These under-acknowledged responsibilities significantly affect academic productivity, well-being, and institutional engagement. This study investigates how academic staff at a South African university experience and manage these demands, and how they influence teaching, research output, and personal health.
MethodsA qualitative case study was conducted at a South African public university from January to March 2025. A purposive sample of 20 academic staff (12 women, 8 men) across five faculties, Humanities, Sciences, Engineering, Education, and Health Sciences, was selected. Data collection included 18 semi-structured interviews and 2 focus group discussions, focusing on emotional strain, administrative burden, institutional support, and job satisfaction. Data were analysed using Braun and Clarke’s six-phase thematic analysis, with triangulation enhancing credibility.
ResultsMost participants (85%) reported moderate to severe emotional strain, often linked to student mental health support and unstructured pastoral care roles. Administrative overload, including excessive meetings, compliance reporting, and bureaucratic tasks, was identified as a key barrier to research productivity. Female academics reported disproportionate emotional workload expectations. A perceived lack of institutional support contributed to burnout, with 60% of participants expressing intent to scale back research or exit academia prematurely.
ConclusionEmotional and administrative labour are deeply embedded in academic life and significantly affect staff morale, identity, and sustainability. Recognising these demands is crucial to institutional well-being and academic success.
RecommendationsUniversities should formally acknowledge hidden workloads in staff evaluations and planning. Resilience training, digital streamlining, and wellness support systems must be prioritized. Future research should examine long-term effects on staff retention and academic quality
Sugammadex for the reversal of muscle relaxation in general anaesthesia: A systematic review and economic assessment.
Get PDFBackground
For intubation and surgical optimisation, general anaesthesia requires neuromuscular blocking agents (NMBAs). Sugammadex, a new reversal drug, reverses Aminosteroidal-induced neuromuscular blockade quickly and predictably, improving patient outcomes and operating room efficiency.
Objectives
To evaluate the clinical effectiveness and economic viability of sugammadex compared to neostigmine or placebo for the reversal of rocuronium- or vecuronium-induced neuromuscular blockade in general anaesthesia.
Methods
A comprehensive review compared sugammadex to neostigmine or placebo for reversing moderate, profound, and acute neuromuscular blockade. Recovery timeframes, safety, and economic impacts were collected. A de novo cost-effectiveness model based on UK NHS practice assessed the value per minute of recuperation time saved.
Results
Sugammadex shortened recovery times by 1.3–1.7 minutes (moderate blockade) and 2.7 minutes (deep blockade) compared to neostigmine and placebo. Economic studies showed that sugammadex might be cost-effective if operating room recovery time savings were over £2.40 per minute. The safety profile was better than neostigmine.
Conclusion
Sugammadex is a clinically effective and potentially cost-efficient agent for NMB reversal. Its advantages are especially relevant in high-turnover or high-risk surgical settings, though broader economic assessments across healthcare systems are needed
Body mass index and its correlation with polycystic ovarian syndrome: Insights from a cross-sectional study among MBBS females at a tertiary care hospital.
Get PDFBackground:Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) is a multifactorial endocrine disorder with rising global prevalence among reproductive-aged women. Body Mass Index (BMI) plays a significant role in modulating its clinical presentation.
Objectives:
To evaluate the correlation between BMI and PCOS prevalence and to determine the impact of BMI on clinical and anthropometric features among female medical students.
Methods:
A cross-sectional observational study was conducted at the Konaseema Institute of Medical Sciences and Research Foundation, Amalapuram, from November 2023 to November 2024. Two hundred female MBBS students aged ≥18 years were enrolled. PCOS was diagnosed using the Rotterdam criteria. Anthropometric parameters, including BMI, waist/hip ratio, and mid-arm circumference, were recorded, and clinical features such as hirsutism (mFG score), acne, alopecia, and acanthosis nigricans were assessed. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS version 22.
Results:
The mean age of participants was 23.7 ± 3.6 years, with most belonging to the 18–25 year age group. Among 200 students, 74 (37%) were diagnosed with PCOS. The mean BMI, waist/hip ratio, mFG score, and mid-arm circumference were significantly higher in PCOS individuals. A high waist/hip ratio (>0.85) was seen in 70.2% of PCOS participants versus 33.3% of non-PCOS participants. Prevalence was greatest in obese individuals (BMI ≥30 kg/m²), with features including menstrual irregularities, hirsutism (17.9% vs. 5.0%, p = 0.025), alopecia, and polycystic ovarian morphology. Some lean participants (BMI 18.5–24.9 kg/m²) also manifested PCOS, suggesting additional contributing factors.
Conclusion:
The prevalence of PCOS in this cohort was 37%, indicating a considerable burden among young female medical students. Increased BMI correlated strongly with PCOS severity, though normal-weight individuals also exhibited features, highlighting the roles of genetic and metabolic factors.
Recommendations:
Routine BMI screening and lifestyle interventions are essential for reproductive-aged women, irrespective of BMI, to reduce PCOS-related complications and long-term risks
Pioneering early diagnosis and management in ectopic pregnancy: A cross-sectional study to enhance maternal safety and clinical outcomes in a tertiary care setting.
Get PDFBackground:Ectopic pregnancy is a leading cause of maternal morbidity and mortality in the first trimester, requiring early diagnosis and prompt management to protect maternal health. This study evaluated the clinical spectrum, risk factors, implantation site, and management strategies in ectopic pregnancies.
Methods:
A cross-sectional observational study was conducted at Konaseema Institute of Medical Sciences & Research Foundation, Amalapuram, from November 2023 to November 2024. A total of 38 women diagnosed with ectopic pregnancy were enrolled. Data on demographics, clinical presentations, risk factors, ectopic site, and management modalities were collected. Descriptive statistics were analyzed using SPSS software.
Results:
The incidence of ectopic pregnancy was found to be 2%. The majority of women were below 26 years of age (65.7%) and multiparous (55.2%). Pelvic infections (31.5%) emerged as the predominant risk factor, followed by previous miscarriage (18.42%) and pelvic surgeries (15.7%). The most common clinical presentation was a combination of bleeding per vaginum and lower abdominal pain (50%). The ampulla of the fallopian tube was the site of implantation in 73.68% of cases. Surgical management was the mainstay in 84.2% of cases, predominantly through salpingectomy. Methotrexate was utilized in 2.6% of cases. Intraoperative findings revealed ruptured ectopic pregnancies in 76.3% of cases, necessitating blood transfusion in 31.5% of women.
Conclusion:
Ectopic pregnancy continues to pose significant clinical challenges, particularly when diagnosed late in the course of the disease. Early identification of high-risk women through vigilant assessment of risk factors, combined with rapid diagnostic protocols like transvaginal ultrasound and serum β-hCG levels, can markedly improve maternal outcomes. Surgical intervention remains the cornerstone of treatment in hemodynamically unstable cases, while select stable patients may benefit from medical therapy.
Recommendations:
Public health initiatives should prioritize infection prevention, enhance access to early antenatal care, and strengthen primary healthcare providers’ skills in detecting early ectopic pregnancy
A cross-sectional study on the quality of care provided by lower health facilities in Kyegegwa district, Uganda.
Get PDFMaternal and neonatal health remains a pressing global concern, particularly in low-resource settings such as Kyegegwa District, Uganda. Despite ongoing improvements in healthcare infrastructure, gaps in service delivery at lower health facilities contribute to persistently high maternal and neonatal morbidity and mortality. This study aimed to assess the quality of maternal and neonatal care provided by lower health facilities in Kyegegwa District.
Methods
A cross-sectional study was conducted among 80 respondents, including mothers attending antenatal, delivery, and postnatal services. Data were collected using structured questionnaires and analyzed using descriptive statistics, bivariate, and multivariate analyses to determine associations between quality of care and influencing factors.
Results
Of the participants, 62.5% were aged between 20–29 years, 70% were married, and 55% had attained primary education as their highest level. Overall, only 25% of respondents rated the quality of maternal and neonatal care as excellent, 45% rated it as fair, and 30% rated it as poor. High-quality maternal and neonatal care was significantly associated with regular health facility visits (χ²=12.46, p<0.001). Other factors included the availability of skilled and friendly healthcare workers (78%), presence of essential medicines (65%), availability of proper equipment (52%), effective communication (60%), and timely coordination with referral hospitals (48%). However, challenges such as understaffing, drug stock-outs, and limited infrastructure undermined service delivery.
Conclusion
The quality of maternal and neonatal care in lower health facilities in Kyegegwa District is suboptimal, with the majority of mothers rating services as fair or poor. Regular health facility visits and the presence of skilled, well-equipped, and patient-centered healthcare workers were key determinants of high-quality care.
Recommendation
Government should strengthen maternal and neonatal healthcare by recruiting and retaining skilled health workers, improving drug and equipment supply, and enhancing referral systems. Additionally, healthcare workers should adopt a respectful, patient-centered approach to improve mothers’ experiences and outcomes
Spectrum of CT scan findings in non-traumatic acute abdominal pain: An observational study.
Get PDFBackground
Non-traumatic acute abdominal pain is a frequent emergency presentation with diverse etiologies. Clinical evaluation alone is often inconclusive, necessitating imaging. Computed tomography (CT) is increasingly recognized as a rapid and reliable modality for accurate diagnosis and management planning.
Objectives
To evaluate the spectrum of CT scan findings in patients presenting with non-traumatic acute abdominal pain and determine its diagnostic yield.
Methods
This hospital-based observational study enrolled 100 consecutive patients aged 18–78 years who presented with acute abdominal pain of non-traumatic origin. All patients underwent CT imaging. Demographic characteristics, symptom profiles, and CT findings were documented and analyzed. The diagnostic yield of CT in establishing definitive etiologies was assessed.
Results
The mean age of participants was 42.6 ± 15.8 years, with males comprising 58% and females 42%. Generalized abdominal pain was the most common presentation (62%), followed by right iliac fossa pain (24%). CT identified acute appendicitis in 28%, urolithiasis with obstructive uropathy in 20%, diverticulitis in 12%, pancreatitis in 10%, and hepatobiliary pathology in 8%. Less frequent findings included intestinal obstruction (7%), inflammatory colitis (5%), perforated viscus (4%), adnexal pathology (3%), mesenteric ischemia (2%), and miscellaneous causes (1%). No significant abnormality was observed in 10% of patients. Overall, CT provided a definitive diagnosis in 90% of cases.
Conclusion
CT scan proved highly effective in evaluating non-traumatic acute abdominal pain, offering rapid, accurate diagnoses across a wide etiological spectrum. Its routine use in emergency settings enhances decision-making and improves patient outcomes.
Recommendations
CT should be integrated into standard diagnostic protocols for acute abdominal pain in emergency care. Future studies should explore radiation dose reduction techniques, cost-effectiveness, and comparative accuracy with ultrasonography and MRI
Assessing knowledge and awareness about Chlamydia trachomatis among undergraduate students at a University of Technology in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
Get PDFBackgroundChlamydia trachomatis (CT) is the leading bacterial cause of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) worldwide and represents a major public health problem. The World Health Organization estimated in 2020 that the global prevalence of CT infections had increased by 2.9%, with women disproportionately affected. Understanding knowledge and awareness levels of CT among young adults is essential to inform prevention strategies. The study aimed to assess the level of knowledge and awareness of CT among undergraduate students at a University of Technology in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.
MethodsA cross-sectional survey was conducted among female students. Data was collected via a self-administered electronic questionnaire consisting of four sections: demographics and practices; awareness and knowledge of STIs; knowledge of CT; and awareness of CT risk factors and screening methods. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize responses.
ResultsMost participants (90%) had heard of STIs, primarily through social media, school, clinics, and community sources. However, only 20% reported ever being tested for an STI. Awareness of CT specifically was low, with only 43% recognizing the infection and its mode of transmission. Furthermore, 83% lacked knowledge of CT prevention and management. Small proportions identified abstinence (7%), testing (11%), and education/awareness campaigns as preventive measures.
ConclusionAlthough general awareness of STIs was high, knowledge of CT was limited. Targeted health education and campus-based interventions are needed to improve awareness, prevention, and screening practices for specific STIs. The study was limited by its small, single-institution sample and reliance on online survey distribution, which may not have fully represented the intended student population
Investigating knowledge, attitudes and beliefs of undergraduate students towards Herpes Simplex Virus-2 and diagnosis of this infection
Get PDFIntroductionHerpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) is among the most prevalent sexually transmitted viral infections globally, with an estimated 536 million infections reported among individuals aged 15–49 years. Despite its widespread occurrence, awareness and understanding of HSV-2 remain limited in many populations. The aim of this study was to investigate the knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs of undergraduate students at a University of Technology (UoT) regarding HSV-2 and HSV-2 testing.
MethodologyA prospective, cross-sectional study design was employed to assess variables related to knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs. The study population included undergraduate students at all levels of study at a UoT in Durban, KwaZulu Natal, South Africa. Data were collected via structured surveys and analysed using Microsoft Excel to generate descriptive statistics.
ResultsA total of 139 undergraduate students participated in the study, with females comprising 53.2% (n = 74) and males 46.8% (n = 65). Participants’ ages ranged from 18 to 24 years, with a mean age of 25 years. Findings revealed that accurate knowledge of HSV-2 was generally limited; only 47.5% of respondents reported awareness of HSV-2 infection, transmission, and symptoms. Attitudes and beliefs about HSV-2 testing were also varied, with many students demonstrating uncertainty regarding the importance of testing.
ConclusionThe study highlights a substantial gap in knowledge regarding HSV-2 among undergraduate students. These findings highlight the need for targeted sexual health education programs and awareness campaigns to improve understanding of HSV-2 transmission, symptoms, and testing, which could contribute to better prevention and early detection practices among young adults
Knowledge and practice of caregivers towards diarrhea management among children under five years in Buhweju district, southwestern Uganda: A cross-sectional study.
Get PDFIntroduction
Diarrhea remains the second leading cause of death among children under 5 globally. The study objectives were to assess caregivers’ knowledge on the management of diarrhea, examine caregivers’ practices on prevention of diarrhea among children under five years, and factors associated with caregivers’ management of diarrhea among children under five years.
Methods:
A descriptive cross-sectional design employing both quantitative and qualitative approaches for data collection and analysis. Information was gathered from a sample of 196 caregivers of children under five years using a questionnaire and interviews. Quantitative data were analyzed using the Special Package for Social Scientists (SPSS), while thematic analysis was adopted for qualitative data.
Results:
Results indicate that caregivers knew the causes and symptoms of diarrhea among children under five years. Most of the mothers reported using herbs and buying tablets from the nearby clinics to control the situation after detecting diarrhea in their children. Results further found that gender among others [AOR = 2.569; (95% CI: 1.239 - 5.327); p = 0.011], age [AOR = 2.321; (95% CI: 0.129 - 4.797); p = 0.014], level of education [AOR = 1.919; (95% CI: 0.870 - 3.97); p = 0.002], occupation [AOR = 1.930; (95% CI: 0.887 -0.976); p = 0.003], income status [AOR = 0.676; (95% CI: 0.348 - 0.682); p = 0.011], attitude and perception [AOR = 1.221; (95% CI: 0.539 - 0.763); p = 0.032] were some of the factors associated with caregivers’ management of diarrhea among children under five years.
Conclusion:
Income status, religion, and levels of education affect caregivers in the management of diarrhea.
Recommendation:
There is a need to conduct community advocacy on ways of preventing diarrhea among children under five years in rural areas
A prospective cross-sectional study comparing surgical and conservative management in acute scrotum.
Get PDFBackground:Acute scrotum is a common urological emergency presenting with the sudden onset of pain and swelling. Its causes range from benign inflammatory conditions to testicular torsion, a time-sensitive surgical emergency. Accurate differentiation between surgical and conservative cases is crucial for preserving testicular function. This study aimed to compare the outcomes of surgical and conservative management of acute scrotum in a tertiary care setting.
Methods:
This prospective cross-sectional observational study was conducted at Acharya Vinobha Bhave Rural Hospital, Sawangi (Meghe), Wardha, from August 2016 to October 2018. A total of 100 male patients presenting with acute scrotal pain and swelling were evaluated clinically and with Colour Doppler Ultrasonography. Patients were managed surgically (n = 58) or conservatively (n = 42) based on diagnosis, and outcomes were assessed at 14 days and 1 month.
Results:
The mean age was 41.56 ± 15.81 years (range 12–74). Testicular torsion accounted for 44 surgical cases, with an 81.8% salvage rate when treated within 6 hours, but 18.2% required orchidectomy after delayed presentation. Epididymo-orchitis was the predominant conservative diagnosis (85.7%), all resolving with medical therapy. Minor wound infection occurred in 3.4% of surgical cases; no recurrences or long-term complications were observed.
Conclusion:
Surgical exploration is vital for torsion and complicated scrotal pathology, while conservative therapy is effective for infective and inflammatory conditions. Timely presentation and Colour Doppler Ultrasonography are key to optimal outcomes.
Recommendation:
Early surgical exploration should be undertaken in suspected torsion, ideally within six hours, and Colour Doppler Ultrasonography should be routinely used to enhance diagnostic accuracy