Browsing by Subject "South African women"

Now showing 1 - 3 of 3
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Open Access
    Accuracy of reporting food energy intake: Influence of ethnicity and body weight status in South African women
    (2010) Mchiza, Z J; Goedecke, Julia; Lambert, Estelle
    The current study sought to identify characteristics that may be associated with the misreporting of food energy intake (EI) in urban South African women. A total of 198 women (61 black, 76 of mixed ancestry, 61 white) completed a quantified food frequency questionnaire, from which daily energy and macronutrient intake were calculated. Body composition (body mass index [BMI], percentage of body fat), body image (Feel-Ideal Difference index and Body Shape questions) and socio-economic status (SES) (household density and asset index) were also measured. Food EI in relation to estimated basal metabolic rate ratio that was less than 1.05 represented under-reporting, whereas a ratio greater than 2.28 represented over-reporting. Results suggested that 26% of the participants under-reported, 64% adequately reported and 10% over-reported. Participants who under-reported had a higher BMI (p < 0.01) and higher percentage of body fat (p < 0.05) than those who adequately and over-reported. The majority of under-reporters were black (38%) versus 21% under-reporters of mixed ancestry and 20% white under-reporters (p < 0.01). Eighty-three per cent of black under-reporters were obese. On the other hand, a majority (63%) of overweight women of mixed ancestry and a majority (50%) of white normal-weight women under-reported their food EI. Under-reporters reported a lower intake of dietary fat (p < 0.01) and a higher intake of dietary protein (p < 0.01) than adequate or over-reporters. Food EI reporting was not influenced by SES or body image. In conclusion, results suggest that food EI reporting is influenced by body size, and may be ethnic-specific in South African women.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Open Access
    The burden of antenatal heart disease in South Africa: a systematic review
    (BioMed Central Ltd, 2012) Watkins, David; Sebitloane, Motshedisi; Engel, Mark E; Mayosi, Bongani
    BACKGROUND: Maternal mortality in South Africa is rising, and heart conditions currently account for 41 per cent of indirect causes of deaths. Little is known about the burden of heart disease in pregnant South Africans. METHODS: We systematically reviewed the contemporary epidemiology and peripartum outcomes of heart disease in South African women attending antenatal care. Searches were performed in PubMed, ISI Web of Science, the EBSCO Africa-Wide database, the South African Union Catalogue, and the Current and Completed Research database (South Africa). References of included articles were also hand-searched. Studies reporting epidemiologic data on antenatal heart disease in South Africa were included. Data on morbidity and mortality were also collected. RESULTS: Seven studies were included in the systematic review. The prevalence of heart disease ranged from 123 to 943 per 100,000 deliveries, with a median prevalence of 616 per 100,000. Rheumatic valvular lesions were the commonest abnormalities, although cardiomyopathies were disproportionately high in comparison with other developing countries. Peripartum case-fatality rates were as high as 9.5 per cent in areas with limited access to care. The most frequent complications were pulmonary oedema, thromboembolism, and major bleeding with warfarin use. Perinatal mortality ranged from 8.9 to 23.8 per cent, whilst mitral lesions were associated with low birth weight. Meta-analysis could not be performed due to clinical and statistical heterogeneity of the included studies. CONCLUSION: Approximately 0.6 per cent of pregnant South Africans have pre-existing cardiac abnormalities, with rheumatic lesions being the commonest. Maternal and perinatal morbidity and mortality continue to be very high. We conclude this review by summarising limitations of the current literature and recommending standard reporting criteria for future reports.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Open Access
    Is it all chaos, loss and disruption? The narratives of poor, HIV-infected South African women
    (2008) Brandt, Rene
    The purpose of this article is to employ a qualitative research approach to explore whether the lives of poor HIV-infected South African women are predominated by chaos, loss and disruption. Five women were each interviewed three times over a six-month period. Data was analyzed using a narrative lens as well as the theory of illness narratives. The narratives revealed that some disruption was associated with women's initial diagnoses. However, they were typically not preoccupied with HIV unless they were actively ill and not receiving antiretroviral therapy, and even for these women, wellbeing shifted over time. Moreover, women had denial-based coping strategies that kept HIV and chaos marginalized. Competing narratives concerned with poverty were typically dominant and served as a constant through which women's experiences were filtered. The case studies suggest that both mental health services and poverty alleviation are important components of appropriate health care for poor HIV-infected women.