Browsing by Author "Mehtar, S"

Now showing 1 - 2 of 2
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Open Access
    Challenges faced by South African health services in implementing the Mental Health Care Act
    (Health & Medical Publishing Group, 2007) Lund, C; Stein, Dan J; Flisher, A J; Mehtar, S
    The World Health Organization (WHO) has drawn attention to the growing global burden of mental disorders, and to recent advances in our understanding of and ability to treat these disorders. Mental disorders accounted for 12% of the global burden of disease in 2000. This figure will rise to 15% in 2020, when it is estimated that unipolar depression will be the second most disabling health condition in the world. In South Africa, neuropsychiatric disorders account for the second highest proportion of the local burden of disease, after HIV/AIDS.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Open Access
    Unexplained HIV-1 infection in children — documenting cases and assessing for possible risk factors
    (HEALTH & MEDICAL PUBLISHING GROUP, 2004) Hiemstra, R; Rabie, H; Schaaf, H S; Eley, B S; Cameron, N; Mehtar, S; Janse van Rensburg, A; Cotton, M F
    Background. In the year 2000 we reported possible horizontal transmission of HIV-1 infection between two siblings. An investigation of three families, each with an HIV-infected child but seronegative parents, permitted this finding. Sexual abuse and surrogate breast-feeding were thought unlikely. The children had overlapping hospitalisation in a regional hospital. Since then several cases of unexplained HIV infection in children have been reported. A registry was established at Tygerberg Children’s Hospital for collection of data on the extent of horizontal or unexplained transmission of HIV in children. Study design. Retrospective chart review. Results. Fourteen children were identified, 12 from the Western Cape and 1 each from the Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal. Thirteen (92%) had been hospitalised previously. In the Western Cape, children had been hospitalised in 8 hospitals. Ten of 13 (77%) were admitted as neonates and 9 of 13 (69%) had 2 or more admissions. Intravascular cannulation and intravenous drug administration occurred in all but 2 children before HIV diagnosis. Conclusion. We have confirmed HIV infection in a number of cases where the source of infection has been inadequately explained. Circumstantial evidence supports but does not prove nosocomial transmission. Further studies and identification of medical procedures conducive to the spread of HIV are urgently needed.