Browsing by Subject "health"

Now showing 1 - 20 of 21
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    ARIA 2016: Care pathways implementing emerging technologies for predictive medicine in rhinitis and asthma across the life cycle
    (2016) Bousquet, J; Hellings, P W; Agache, I; Bedbrook, A; Bachert, C; Bergmann, K C; Bewick, M; Bindslev-Jensen, C; Bosnic-Anticevitch, S; Bucca, C; Caimmi, D P; Camargos, P A M; Canonica, G W; Casale, T; Chavannes, N H; Cruz, A A; De Carlo, G; Dahl, R; Demoly, P; Devillier, P; Fonseca, J; Fokkens, W J; Guldemond, N A; Haahtela, T; Illario, M; Just, J; Keil, T; Klimek, L; Kuna, P; Larenas-Linnemann, D; Morais-Almeida, M; Mullol, J
    Abstract The Allergic Rhinitis and its Impact on Asthma (ARIA) initiative commenced during a World Health Organization workshop in 1999. The initial goals were (1) to propose a new allergic rhinitis classification, (2) to promote the concept of multi-morbidity in asthma and rhinitis and (3) to develop guidelines with all stakeholders that could be used globally for all countries and populations. ARIA—disseminated and implemented in over 70 countries globally—is now focusing on the implementation of emerging technologies for individualized and predictive medicine. MASK [MACVIA (Contre les Maladies Chroniques pour un Vieillissement Actif)-ARIA Sentinel NetworK] uses mobile technology to develop care pathways for the management of rhinitis and asthma by a multi-disciplinary group and by patients themselves. An app (Android and iOS) is available in 20 countries and 15 languages. It uses a visual analogue scale to assess symptom control and work productivity as well as a clinical decision support system. It is associated with an inter-operable tablet for physicians and other health care professionals. The scaling up strategy uses the recommendations of the European Innovation Partnership on Active and Healthy Ageing. The aim of the novel ARIA approach is to provide an active and healthy life to rhinitis sufferers, whatever their age, sex or socio-economic status, in order to reduce health and social inequalities incurred by the disease.
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    Open Access
    Case study: The Health and Human Rights Programme
    (2009-02-28) Hodgkinson-Williams, Cheryl
    This case study provides an overview of the Health and Human Rights Project (HHRP), which was established and run collaboratively by the University of Cape Town’s School of Public Health and Family Medicine and a human rights NGO, the Trauma Centre for Survivors of Violence and Torture from 1997 to 1999, to devise a submission to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission on health-related issues. The HHRP subsequently assisted the organisation of the commission’s health-sector hearings. This collaboration resulted in the publication of a book based on the submissions and stimulated the inclusion of human rights in undergraduate teaching. After the project closed in 1999, the focus of the department shifted to research on human rights issues and the training of university educators of health professionals. The HHRP provided the basis for the development of the Health and Human Rights Division within the School of Public Health and Family Medicine.
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    Climate change and health in the SADC region
    (2010) Young, T; Tucker, T; Galloway, M; Manyike, P; Chapman, A; Myers, J
    The draft review examines the link between climate change and health with special reference to the Southern African region (SADC countries). It attempts to set the scene for determining pertinent research priorities in the region to contribute to knowledge on the one hand, and for identification, implementation and evaluation of adaptation interventions that are likely to be appropriate and effective in the region. This review has been conducted by Strategic Evaluation, Advisory and Development Consulting (SEAD), a health consultancy together with the COEHR, and is part of the Regional Climate Change Programme (RCPP) led by One World Sustainable Investments. While this is currently a research work which outlines research and development objectives, it is envisaged that much of the material reviewed is also suitable for inclusion in teaching - particularly postgraduate teaching at University Masters level.
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    Genomic medicine in Africa: promise, problems and prospects
    (BioMed Central Ltd, 2014) Wonkam, Ambroise; Mayosi, Bongani
    Remarkable progress has been made in using genomic information to determine how genes are regulated, and how they interact with each other and with the environment to control complex biochemical functions of living organisms in health and disease [1]. This information will have major benefits for the prevention, diagnosis and management of many diseases, including communicable and genetic diseases. In Africa, where infectious diseases are highly prevalent, research on pathogen genomes has enhanced our understanding of disease transmission, virulence mechanisms and avoidance of host defenses [2]. It is anticipated that this information will enable the development of new diagnostic tests, vaccines and therapeutic agents; it is also likely to lead to new approaches for vector control, and reveal why individuals and populations vary in their susceptibility to infectious diseases [1].
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    Government expenditure and health, education and housing outcomes: empirical analysis from South Africa
    (2025) Mbatha, Michael; Alhassan, Abdul Latif
    This study analyses the relationship between government expenditure on health, education, and housing and their corresponding outcomes across nine provinces in South Africa. Notwithstanding considerable public investment in these vital areas, South Africa persists in confronting serious difficulties, such as elevated infant and TB mortality rates, enduring HIV prevalence, inadequate educational achievement, and a substantial housing deficit. These challenges prompt enquiries into the efficiency and efficacy of public expenditure and its congruence with developmental aims. The study utilised panel data from nine provinces between 2004 and 2019, employing fixed and random effects models to examine the influence of government expenditure on sector-specific outcomes. The findings indicate that health expenditure has a positive, statistically insignificant impact on health outcomes, such as infant mortality, TB mortality, and HIV prevalence. Conversely, education expenditure had a negative and statistically significant correlation with educational outcomes, as indicated by senior certificate results, learner-school ratios, and educator-school ratios, underscoring potential inefficiencies and mismatched fiscal objectives. Housing expenditure was determined to have a positive and statistically significant effect on housing outcomes, particularly the total quantity of housing units supplied. The findings indicate that although government investment in housing produces concrete advantages, inefficiencies in health and education funding obstruct the achievement of intended objectives. The study findings highlight the necessity for improved resource allocation, focused interventions, and enhanced monitoring systems to ensure public spending result in substantial advancements in societal well-being.
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    Health and human rights pamphlets
    (2010) Learning Network for Health and Human Rights, School of Public Health & Family Medicine
    A series of 7 pamphlets exploring different aspects of the right to Health. These pamphlets are available in three languages: English, Xhosa and Afrikaans, and cover topics of patient and human rights, rights to healthcare and healthcare information, and community involvement in health. The Learning Network pamphlets have been developed using principles of popular education and are suited for use by academia and community organisations' with other members of civil society.
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    Health Seeking Behavior in Northern KwaZulu-Natal
    (2005) Anne, Case; Alicia, Menendez; Cally, Ardington
    We examine patterns of health seeking behaviour prior to death among 1282 individuals who lived in the Umkhanyakude District of Northern KwaZuluNatal. Information on the health care choices of these individuals, who died between January 2003 and July 2004, was gathered after their deaths from their primary care-givers. We examine choices made concerning public and private medicine, western and traditional medicine, and non-prescribed self-medication. We find that virtually all adults who were ill prior to death sought treatment from a Western medical provider, visiting either a public clinic or a private doctor. In this district, which is predominantly poor, ninety percent of adults who sought treatment from a public clinic also visited a private doctor. Fifty percent also sought treatment from a traditional healer, suggesting that traditional medicine is seen as a complement to, rather than a substitute for, Western care. Better educated people who were ill for less than a month before dying were significantly more likely to visit a private doctor, while those least well educated were more likely to visit a traditional healer. Controlling for length of illness, better educated and wealthier people sought care from a greater range of providers, and spent significantly more on their treatment.
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    Hepatitis C in HIV-infected individuals: a systematic review and meta-analysis of estimated prevalence in Africa
    (2016) Azevedo, Tiago Castro Lopes; Zwahlen, Marcel; Rauch, Andri; Egger, Matthias; Wandeler, Gilles
    Although hepatitis C virus (HCV) screening is recommended for all HIV-infected patients initiating antiretroviral therapy, data on epidemiologic characteristics of HCV infection in resource-limited settings are scarce.
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    The Human Rights Key
    (2014-08-20) Mitchell, Veronica
    The link between health and human rights is clear. Yet, questioning how we can better facilitate students' personal meaning-making in higher education was the catalyst that led to my interest in seeking alternative approaches to teaching. While working as a facilitator in the Health Science Faculty at the University of Cape Town I noticed students frequently grappled with conceptual and practical issues in human rights education even though they had learnt about human rights in their Life Orientation course, a compulsory topic in all South African high school curricula. Within the Faculty I queried and evaluated the strength and relevance of the medical curriculum's "golden thread" of human rights. This led to opportunities to engage with students in their clinical years, in an unrestricted way -- without assessment demands and in an authentic manner where students could draw on their own experiences. Taking risks and teaching in uncertain spaces has been a rewarding experience. I witness the opening of students' minds and eyes when alternative perspectives are considered. In the process I developed the metaphor of a Human Rights Key which highlights the connection between the students' experiences and the United Nations' human rights framework. The Key is a graphic tool that gives structure and tangible visibility, showing the relationships between theoretical and intangible concepts, and practical realities. Through an iterative process I have had pleasure in developing this as a visual representation for teaching and learning with colours and shapes assisting students to make meaningful connections and interpretations. The Key is memorable and promotes dialogue and discussion. Students feel motivated to think about the issues that face them and to question their own understanding. The Key emerges as a valued tool that each person can relate to within the context of their own lives and use in their present and future practice. By using the Key in different places and spaces, I have been gratified to realise the impact it has on other educators too. Each individual engages with the concept from their own frame of reference. Through Creative Commons licensing I am pleased to offer the Key and its themes for reusing and remixing in different contexts. As other educators take up their Key to teach and advocate for human rights, reviews and suggestions will be most welcome. The Key is an entitlement and it is up to us to become advocates for change. Teaching through this interactive tool is fulfilling. It turns and shifts attitudes and values.
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    Juvenile mortality in Southern African archaeological contexts
    (2008) Harrington, Lesley; Pfeiffer, Susan
    Estimates of age at death that are both accurate and precise and provide information about the patterns and causes of premature mortality in both Later Stone Age and Iron Age archaeology. Assuming a link between subsistence and health differences in patterns of childhood growth are hypothesized. The best source of this information comes from the formation of tooth crowns and roots. Through the study of femurs hafts from Later Stone Age juvenile skeletons, it can be demonstrated that linear growth was normal in tempo. The study of femora from a smaller number of Iron Age juvenile skeletons suggests that growth in this group did not follow a normal pattern, perhaps because prolonged ill health preceded death. Growth of Iron Age children who failed to reach adulthood appears to be variable but slow and this may provide insights into the Iron Age biosocial environment. Because of the demonstrated correlation between dental development and femur shaft length, the Later Stone Age juvenile long bone lengths provided here can be used in Later Stone Age contexts to estimate chronological age at death if dental information is unavailable. This approach should not be used in Iron Age contexts, since such an approach is likely to yield biased (under-aged) estimates of age at death.
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    Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex human rights in Southern Africa: A contemporary literature review
    (HIVOS, 2017-06-01) Meer, Talia; Lunau, Marie; Oberth, Gemma; Daskilewicz, Kristen; Muller, Alex
    Individuals engaging in same-sex acts, individuals identifying as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and/ or intersex (LGBTI), and individuals who do not conform to heteronormative ideals of gender and sexuality experience structural, institutional and individual discrimination and exclusion across the world. This is no different in Southern African countries. While LGBTI individuals are heterogeneous and face very specific challenges based on their sexual orientation, gender identity, race, class, ethnicity and other factors, they share experiences of structural, institutional and individual discrimination and marginalisation based on their sexual orientation and gender identity (SOGI). In most Southern African countries, same-sex activity remains criminalised, which further marginalises LGBTI individuals, and acts as an additional barrier to accessing public services and realising full civil and political rights. This contemporary literature review focuses on the state of LGBTI human rights in 10 Southern African countries: Angola, Botswana, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Swaziland, Zambia and Zimbabwe. The purpose of this review is to contribute towards a strong evidence base and scientific foundation for informed programming in the region.
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    The links between migration, poverty and health: evidence from Khayelitsha and Mitchell's Plain
    (2004) Ndegwa, David; Horner, Dudley; Esau, Faldie
    In the mid-1950s, the City of Cape Town was part of a wider area demarcated as a Coloured Labour Preference Area. The free movement of African people into the city was strictly controlled and the residential areas were segregated along racial lines. In terms of Apartheid’s grand design, an area designated Mitchell’s Plain was demarcated for occupation by Coloured people in 1973 while another designated Khayelitsha was allocated for African people. The two areas were incorporated in one magisterial district, Mitchell’s Plain, in the mid- 1980s. A sample survey of the area was conducted in late November and early December 2000 with a focus on labour market issues. Its aim was to capture occupants of households aged 18 or older. The survey data has been interrogated to describe the connections between migration, poverty and health in a city where recent rapid urbanisation is changing the demographic profile significantly. As a consequence, the need to provide adequate infrastructure, decent housing and employment poses a daunting challenge ten years after the new democracy has been ushered in.
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    Nutritional, immune, micronutrient and health status of HIV-infected children in care centres in Manguang
    (2009) Steenkamp, L; Dannhauser, A; Walsh, D; Joubert, G; Veldman, F J; Van der Walt, E; Cox, C; Hendricks, M K; Dippenaar, H
    Aim: To assess the nutritional, immune, micronutrient and health status of antiretroviral-naïve HIV-infected children. Method: A cross-sectional descriptive study was undertaken between September 2004 and March 2006 amongst HIV-infected children of which none received antiretroviral therapy, in care centres in Mangaung, Free State. Results: The study included 37 clinically stable and food-secure HIV-infected children. Their median age was 5.4 years (range 1.2–10.2 years). Fifteen children (41%) were underweight, 30 (81%) were stunted and one (3%) was wasted. The most commonly observed clinical features were lymphadenopathy (84%), skin rashes (51%), hepatomegaly (32%) and pallor (41%). Eight per cent of children had features of TB, while 19% had a lower respiratory tract infection. The median viral load of the group (n = 35) was 117 000 copies/ml, the median CD4+ cell count was 477 cells/mm3 and the median CD4 percentage was 22.5%. A significant negative correlation could be demonstrated between viral load and nutritional indicators. Children had deficient serum levels relative to normal reference values for glutathione (91% of children), albumin (78%), vitamin A (63%), vitamin D (44%), zinc (38%) and vitamin E (13%). Sixty per cent of the children were anaemic and 30% were iron deficient. Conclusion: A high prevalence of acute and chronic malnutrition and micronutrient deficiencies occurred among HIV-infected children residing in care centres. The study highlights the need to investigate early initiation of antiretroviral therapy and nutrition interventions, including aggressive supplementation, in order to improve the prognosis of these children.
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    Partitioning the Heritability of Tourette Syndrome and Obsessive Compulsive Disorder Reveals Differences in Genetic Architecture
    (2013) Davis, Lea K; Yu, Dongmei; Keenan, Clare L; Gamazon, Eric R; Konkashbaev, Anuar I; Derks, Eske M; Neale, Benjamin M; Yang, Jian; Lee, S Hong; Evans, Patrick; Barr, Cathy L; Bellodi, Laura; Benarroch, Fortu; Berrió, Gabriel Bedoya; Bienvenu, Oscar J; Bloch, Michael H; Blom, Rianne M; Bruun, Ruth D; Budman, Cathy L; Camarena, Beatriz; Campbell, Desmond; Cappi, Carolina; Cardona Silgado, Julio C; Cath, Danielle C; Cavallini, Maria C; Chavira, Denise A; Chouinard, Sylvain; Conti, David V; Cook, Edwin H; Coric, Vladimir; Cullen, Bernadette A; Deforce, Dieter
    The direct estimation of heritability from genome-wide common variant data as implemented in the program Genome-wide Complex Trait Analysis (GCTA) has provided a means to quantify heritability attributable to all interrogated variants. We have quantified the variance in liability to disease explained by all SNPs for two phenotypically-related neurobehavioral disorders, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and Tourette Syndrome (TS), using GCTA. Our analysis yielded a heritability point estimate of 0.58 (se = 0.09, p = 5.64e-12) for TS, and 0.37 (se = 0.07, p = 1.5e-07) for OCD. In addition, we conducted multiple genomic partitioning analyses to identify genomic elements that concentrate this heritability. We examined genomic architectures of TS and OCD by chromosome, MAF bin, and functional annotations. In addition, we assessed heritability for early onset and adult onset OCD. Among other notable results, we found that SNPs with a minor allele frequency of less than 5% accounted for 21% of the TS heritability and 0% of the OCD heritability. Additionally, we identified a significant contribution to TS and OCD heritability by variants significantly associated with gene expression in two regions of the brain (parietal cortex and cerebellum) for which we had available expression quantitative trait loci (eQTLs). Finally we analyzed the genetic correlation between TS and OCD, revealing a genetic correlation of 0.41 (se = 0.15, p = 0.002). These results are very close to previous heritability estimates for TS and OCD based on twin and family studies, suggesting that very little, if any, heritability is truly missing (i.e., unassayed) from TS and OCD GWAS studies of common variation. The results also indicate that there is some genetic overlap between these two phenotypically-related neuropsychiatric disorders, but suggest that the two disorders have distinct genetic architectures.
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    Short-run subsidies, take-up, and long-run demand for off-grid solar for the poor: Evidence from large-scale randomized trials in Rwanda
    (2019) Clarke, Rowan Philip; Visser, Martine
    More than a billion people lack access to modern electricity and instead rely on kerosene and other dirty lighting sources, grid expansion is not expected to keep pace with population growth, and both contribute to climate change. Moreover, pneumonia is the leading cause of death for under-fives in the world and kerosene smoke is a significant risk factor. For-profit distribution of low-cost solar LEDs has been touted as an answer, but adoption remains low, especially by the poorest. This study estimates demand curves for both the initial price of low-cost solar LEDs as well as the subsequent user fee for repeated purchases, while also estimating the impact of shortrun subsidies, or a free trial period, on long-run demand. We find uptake is highly sensitive to price with most households purchasing at zero price and none at full cost. Furthermore, using unique objective big data on long-term usage we show that households that received lights for free use their lights as much as those that paid a positive price, disproving the notion, in this context, that consumers will not use goods they received for free. Finally, we find short-term subsidies for user fees actually increases long-term demand in the context of repeated purchases.
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    Sudden cardiac death: what everyone should know
    (2013) Mayosi, Bongani
    Coordinated by Professor Bongani M. Mayosi, physician and cardiologist, Department of Medicine, University of Cape Town, this audio lecture is intended to inform members of the public about heart related health issues.
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    The association between nutrition and physical activity knowledge and weight status of primary school educators
    (2014) Dalais, Lucinda; Abrahams, Zulfa; Steyn, Nelia P; de Villiers, Anniza; Fourie, Jean M; Hill, Jillian; Lambert, Estelle V; Draper, Catherine E
    The purpose of this study was to investigate primary school educators' health status, knowledge, perceptions and behaviour regarding nutrition and physical activity.Thus, nutrition and physical activity knowledge, attitudes, behaviour and risk factors for the development of non-communicable diseases of 155 educators were assessed in a cross-sectional survey. Height, weight, waist circumference, blood pressure and random glucose levels were measured. Twenty percent of the sample had normal weight (body mass index (BMI, kg/m2) < 25), 27.7% were overweight (BMI> 25 to < 30) and 52.3% were obese (BMI < 30). Most of the participants were younger than 45 years (54.2%), females 78.1%, resided in urban areas (50.3%), with high blood pressure (> 140/90 mmHg: 50.3%), and were inactive (48.7%) with a high waist circumference (> 82 cm: 57.4%). Educators' nutrition and physical activity knowledge was poor. Sixty-nine percent of educators incorrectly believed that eating starchy foods causes weight gain and only 15% knew that one should eat five or more fruit and/or vegetables per day. Aspects of poor nutritional knowledge, misconceptions regarding actual body weight status, and challenges in changing health behaviours, emerged as issues which need to be addressed among educators. Educators' high risk for developing chronic non-communicable diseases (NCDs) may impact on educator absenteeism and subsequently on school functioning. The aspects of poor nutrition and physical activity knowledge along with educators' high risk for NCD development may be particularly significant not merely in relation to their personal health but also the learners they teach.
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    The Impact of Aid on Human Development Indices in Sub-Saharan Africa
    (2020) Tsokodayi, Jade Takudzwa; Gossel, Sean
    This study investigates the relationship between official development assistance (ODA) and human development indicators (HDIs) in 49 sub-Saharan African countries over the period of 1995 to 2017 using 3-stage least squares (3SLS). The four key sub-classes of HDIs considered for this research include education, health, government and civic society, as well as environmental indicators. Of all these HDIs, the results of the analysis show that health aid is the most effective form of aid, significantly reducing the incidence of HIV, the infant mortality rate and the maternal mortality rate, as well as leading to improved life expectancy. Education aid has a significant effect on the progression to secondary school followed by adult literacy rates. Government and civil society aid significantly affects the ability of girls to access education at primary, secondary and tertiary levels while environmental aid is found to increase the carbon efficiency of production. Hence, this study demonstrates that aid is most effective on the health, education and environmental human development indicators.
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    The role of rural electrification in promoting health in South Africa: Medical Research Council
    (1997) Ross, Fiona; Matzopoulos, Richard; Phillips Rozett
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    Training trainers for health and human rights
    (2010) Ragaven, Laurel Baldwin; London, Leslie
    Manual for South African health professional trainers originating from the Train-the-Trainer course at UCT. The aims of this manual are: To provide those interested in doing human rights teaching with a framework for training of trainers in health and human rights To provide resources which will be of use to the training of trainers and students To support alumni of our Train-the-Trainer courses, who now number nearly 200 people To share our eight years of experience in running this course with others so as to begin a dialogue around educational issues in teaching human rights To build additional teaching capacity in health and human rights.