Browsing by Author "Robertson, Brian"

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    The epidemiology of risk behaviour of high-school students in the Cape Peninsula, South Africa
    (1996) Flisher, Alan John; Robertson, Brian
    Objectives: To document: (1) the prevalence of selected risk behaviours of high-school students in the Cape Peninsula; (2) whether the notion of a syndrome of adolescent risk behaviour is valid for this setting, and to investigate whether suicidal behaviour and behaviour exposing oneself to injury should be included in this syndrome; and (3) the relationships among risk behaviours, taking into account their influence upon one another. Design: The study was based on a cross-sectional survey utilising a self-completed questionnaire. Sample: A stratified random sample of 7 340 students was selected from 16 schools in the three major education departments. Results: High prevalences of risk behaviour were recorded; for example, 7,8% had tried to commit suicide in the previous year; 18, 1 % smoke cigarettes; 15,4% had engaged in binge drinking in the previous fortnight; 7,5% had ever smoked cannabis; 37,3% had failed to wear a seat belt on the last occasion this was possible; 9,8% of males had carried a knife to school and 25,0% had walked home alone at night in the previous month; and 17,4% had ever participated in sexual intercourse. With few exceptions, the unadjusted odds ratios for the relationships between pairs of these variables were significant. Between three and nine of 26 risk behaviours qualified for inclusion (p < 0,01) in each stepwise logistic regression model for each gender with each of the above risk behaviours as dependent variables. Cannabis smoking, alcohol bingeing, and exposure to danger in getting home at night were independently associated with having had sexual intercourse. Conclusions: Intervention programmes are needed to reduce the prevalence of risk behaviours in this population. The notion of a syndrome of adolescent risk behaviour is valid for this population, and both suicidal behaviour and behaviour exposing oneself to injury should be included in this syndrome. There are significant relationships between many adolescent risk behaviours even when the influence of other risk behaviours is taken into account. The probability of adverse sequalae of risk behaviours such as exposure to danger in getting home at night and sexual intercourse is amplified by the presence of selected other risk behaviours.
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    Post-traumatic stress disorder in children exposed to violence
    (1997) Ensink, Karin; Robertson, Brian; Zissis, Chris; Leger, Paul
    The International Society for Burns Injuries (ISBI) has published guidelines for the management of multiple or mass burns casualties, and recommends that 'each country has or should have a disaster planning system that addresses its own particular needs.' The need for a national burns disaster plan integrated with national and provincial disaster planning was discussed at the South African Burns Society Congress in 2009, but there was no real involvement in the disaster planning prior to the 2010 World Cup; the country would have been poorly prepared had there been a burns disaster during the event. This article identifies some of the lessons learnt and strategies derived from major burns disasters and burns disaster planning from other regions. Members of the South African Burns Society are undertaking an audit of burns care in South Africa to investigate the feasibility of a national burns disaster plan. This audit (which is still under way) also aims to identify weaknesses of burns care in South Africa and implement improvements where necessary.
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    Psychiatric disorder in Xhosa-speaking men following circumcision
    (2008) Vivian, Lauraine Margaret Helen; Robertson, Brian; Hirst, Manton
    This interdisciplinary study, within the fields of anthropology and medicine, describes my qualitative research as an anthropologist into the mental illness histories of five young Xhosa-speaking men who, within a year of their circumcision, suffered psychotic breakdowns. The study took place in Valkenberg Hospital for the Mentally Unwell and the surrounding disadvantaged, largely Xhosa-speaking communities in Cape Town, South Africa. Numerous admissions were screened over a two-year period, but only these five men met the study criteria. Their case studies describe how they perceived their circumcision and the stresses that may have contributed to the onset of their psychotic illness.