Browsing by Subject "occupational health"

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    Open Access
    Exploration of the experiences of breastfeeding doctors within the Cape Town Metropole District health service
    (2025) Davids, Tina; Ras, Tasleem; Abrahams, Theodore
    Exclusive breastfeeding in the first six months of life is known to be associated with many positive health outcomes. The regulatory environment in South Africa supports this, which has resulted in an improvement in exclusive breastfeeding from 7% in 2003, to 31.6% in 2016. However, it is not known how physician-mothers, who are themselves wanting to breastfeed, have experienced this phenomenon in their respective workplaces. This study explored the breastfeeding (BF) or breastmilk expression (BME) experience of doctors within the Cape Town Metro District Health Service. Aim: To describe the breastfeeding experiences, expectations, intentions, and outcomes of breastfeeding within the workplace. Methods: we conducted a qualitative cross-sectional study using semi-structured interviews. Data was analysed thematically, using an inductive approach. Results: Interviews with ten (N=10) participants were conducted, reaching data saturation after the eigth interview. The varying perspectives are reported within key themes that emerged: BF/BME aspirations at work; Awareness of existing breastfeeding policy; Enabling factors to BF/BME within the workplace; Barriers to BF/BME within the workplace. Conclusion: This novel exploratory study identified key factors that facilitate or hinder BF/BME within the workplace in this context. Recommendations to enhance BF/BME practices at work are made, based on implementing the existing policy. Pathways for future research are proposed that focus on improving the person-centred orientation of health services.
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    Monitoring occupational and environmental health as part of the right to the highest attainable standard of health
    (2022) Chitsa, Ndakapara; London, Leslie; Forman, Lisa
    Background: Environmental and Occupational Health (EOH) is a major contributor to global Burden of Diseases (BoD). State Parties (SPs) to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR) are obligated to implement the Right to Health (RtH); which includes improving environmental and industrial hygiene, prevention, treatment and control of epidemic and occupational disease etc. Research shows that Noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) owing to EOH, and associated risk factors are the leading cause of death globally. Yet, ICESCR has a Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (CESCR) responsible for monitoring the implementation of the RtH. Also, Civil Society Organizations (CSO)'s role, acting as watchdogs, is to ensure that SPs comply with their obligation to realise the RtH. So far, little is known whether SPs, CESCR and CSOs are paying attention to EOH factors as one of conditions necessary for the realisation of the RtH. The purpose of this study is to investigate whether and how attention is given to EOH issues in implementing the RtH Methods: A mixed method study design was used for this study. From State Parties (SPs) to the Convention, stratified random sampling was used to select 3 countries per each World Health Organisation (WHO) epidemiological region (N=18). For each country, we collected State Party (SP) reports, Concluding Observations (CO), and CSO reports published on UN OHCHR website between 2009 and 2018. Data was analysed using word frequency and thematic analysis for SPs (n=21), COs (n=18) and CSOs (n=22) reports, in total 61 reports. Results: The attention given to EOH issues is limited. Where EOH factors were given attention, either the CESCR failed to adequately acknowledge their importance in the realisation of the RtH leading to the SPs reducing their focus and failing to report on EOH issues in their follow-up reports. Alternatively, the SP and CESCR did not follow through on issues previously raised leaving these concerns unaddressed. SPs appear to have no one to hold them accountable for RtH rights since neither CSOs nor the CSECR were effectively doing so. Conclusions: Addressing EOH health risks is required of governments to protect, fulfil, and respect the RtH. In this study, a minority of SPs addressed EOH. In addition, those who addressed EOH have largely focused on addressing consequences of rather than preventing the EOH burden. There is an urgent need for governments to address the root causes of failure to provide the conditions necessary for realisation of RtH – and specifically EOH factors - within the UN system. Further work needs to be done by the CESCR in strict monitoring of SPs' obligations in terms of EOH factors as described in its General Comment 14 (GC 14).
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    Occupation focused conceptual frameworks
    (2014-09-17) Ramafikeng, Matumo; Galvaan, Roshan; Van Niekerk, Lana
    Conceptual frameworks are the core concepts of occupational therapy thinking used in practice by occupational therapy students, therapists and scientists. This module is a continuation of what students have covered in second year study at the University of Cape Town where they covered generic conceptual frameworks. This OT-focused module is therefore aimed at such users and occupational therapy training institutions that could make use of the information contained in this module.
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    Postgraduate Diploma in Occupational Health (DOH) - Module 3
    (2014-09-19) Jeebhay, Mohamed; Myers, Jonny
    Designed to help teach doctors currently practising occupational health. The third module of a total of 8 modules for a two year part-time flexible distance learning course aimed primarily at medical doctors currently practising occupational health. It includes a residential block release component which consists of between 3 or 4 weeks over the two year cycle for practicum. While the course is aimed primarily at medical doctors currently practicing occupational health, it is also suited to selected graduates with appropriate University qualifications in relevant health sciences, as long as these individuals are currently practicing professionally in an occupational health setting. There are 8 modules (the two included here cover Occupational Hygiene and Epidemiology and Biostatistics). Each module has a theme around which the inputs are organised. Teaching inputs are intended to be non-didactic, and to allow student participation wherever possible. Candidates are expected to undertake substantial homework preparation and activities as well as self-directed learning. They will be expected to read widely and intensively around topics, and to provide teaching inputs themselves either directly or by way of specially structured interactive debates and role-play simulations. The content of these activities will include critical appraisal of the occupational health literature, project work, presentations by students as well as epidemiological, bio statistical, toxicological and occupational clinical assignments. Module 3 deals with basic occupational medicine and toxicology. Module 4 covers intermediate occupational medicine and toxicology, and Module 5 is advanced occupational medicine and toxicology.
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    Postgraduate Diploma in Occupational Health (DOH) - Modules 1 and 2
    (2014-09-19) Myers, Jonny
    Designed to help teach doctors currently practising occupational health. First two modules of a two year part-time flexible distance learning course aimed primarily at medical doctors currently practising occupational health. It includes a residential block release component which consists of between 3 or 4 weeks over the two year cycle for practicum. There will be substantial requirements for homework in the form of assignments and project related work, expected self-directed learning and distance communication between students and teachers extending over the two years. While the course is aimed primarily at medical doctors currently practicing occupational health, it is also suited to selected graduates with appropriate University qualifications in relevant health sciences, as long as these individuals are currently practicing professionally in an occupational health setting. There are 8 modules (the two included here cover Occupational Hygiene and Epidemiology & Biostatistics). Each module has a theme around which the inputs are organised. Teaching inputs are intended to be non-didactic, and to allow student participation wherever possible. Candidates are expected to undertake substantial homework preparation and activities as well as self-directed learning. They will be expected to read widely and intensively around topics, and to provide teaching inputs themselves either directly or by way of specially structured interactive debates and role-play simulations. The content of these activities will include critical appraisal of the occupational health literature, project work, presentations by students as well as epidemiological, bio statistical, toxicological and occupational clinical assignments.