Browsing by Subject "risk factors"

Now showing 1 - 4 of 4
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    Displaced intracapsular neck of femur fractures: dislocation rate after total hip arthroplasty
    (2015) Shituleni, Sibasthiaan Gometomab; Maqungo, Sithombo
    Background: Dislocation is one of the most common orthopaedic complications after primary total hip arthroplasty (THA). The reported dislocation rate in elective THR is 5 - 8%. This number increases up to 22% for THA done for neck of femur fractures. Larger femoral head sizes increase the head-neck ratio and range of motion before impingement, therefore reducing the dislocation rate. Due to the reported increase in dislocation for trauma, some surgeons prefer to do a hemi-arthroplasty or open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF). Methods: A retrospective review of all THA done for neck of femur fractures during 2006 - 2012 was undertaken at a large referral hospital. Records were reviewed for patient related and surgical risk factors. We excluded all pathological fractures, extra-capsular fractures and failed ORIF. Results: A total of 96 cases were identified as suitable for analysis. Average age at surgery was 73.2 years (range 30 - 81). Delay to surgery was 5.3 days (range 1 - 63). Average follow up period was 18.3 months (range 3 months - 4.3years). Four patients (4.3%) had a confirmed dislocation. The four patients who had confirmed dislocation had the following characteristics, 28 mm femoral head size, age over 60 years, 2 posterior approaches and 3 females, although not statistically significant. Conclusion: The outcomes of THR in patients with neck of femur fractures can be favourable and provide good long-term prosthesis survival. We report on low dislocation rate post total hip replacement for intra-capsular neck of femur fractures.
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    Exploring the property development risks in modern South Africa and their impact on property development projects.
    (2025) Nomlomo, Chulumanca; Viruly, Francois
    Property development in South Africa is inherently capital intensive and risky but has the potential to reward brave developers through high returns. The risks that property developers face is multi-layered and unique to each project, requiring discernment on the part of the developer. However, projects likely to yield high returns are fairly easy to identify, and mitigation strategies can be implemented to ensure that property development projects are completed within cost and time limitations, and to a high standard. The intention of this study was to identify the property development risks in modern South Africa and the impact of these risks on property development viability, and to make recommendations on how identifiable risks may be mitigated in the property development sector. Property professionals were selected as participants in this study. These included senior executives in some of South Africa's largest development companies, people in the property finance industry, and those who deal daily with property development projects. All participants were interviewed one-on-one. This strategy yielded insight into the research questions, since participants were able to draw directly from their personal experiences. Responses in the interviews answered all the research questions and thus informed the recommendations made in this study. The study revealed that the main risks to property development projects in South Africa are political and socio-economic factors, municipal inefficiencies, social unrest, increases in municipal costs and materials, and lack of consistent power supply from Eskom. Increased capital costs in property development projects have reduced returns for property developers, forcing many to consider investing outside of South Africa. This was identified as the main impact of the risks on property development projects. The recommendations made in this study to mitigate property development risks are government subsidies for bulk infrastructure, fixing of material prices, greater engagement of all stakeholders in the property development process, ensuring that construction contractors have the required capacity and skills, greater use of technology in property development projects, and municipal rebates for property developers, in order to incentivise development. It is also recommended that in all property development projects, developers factor in potential cost increases.
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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 effect of educational attainment and other factors on HIV risk in South African women: results from antenatal surveillance, 2000-2005
    (2009) Johnson, Leigh F; Dorrington, Rob E; Bradshaw, Debbie; du Plessis, Hendrika; Makubalo, Lindiwe
    Objectives: To assess the effect of educational attainment and other factors on the risk of HIV in pregnant South African women. Design: Repeated cross-sectional surveys. Methods: Pregnant women attending public antenatal clinics were tested for HIV annually between 2000 and 2005, and provided demographic information. Logistic regression models were applied separately to the data collected in each year, to identify factors associated with HIV infection. Data from all years were combined in a logistic regression model that tested for trends in HIV prevalence. Results: Amongst women aged 15–24 years, HIV risk in those who had completed secondary education was significantly lower than in those who had only primary education, in all years except 2000. HIV risk increased by 8% per annum (odds ratio 1.08, 95% confidence interval 1.04–1.12) in young women with no secondary education but did not increase in young women with secondary education. In women aged 25–49 years, HIV risk increased over the 2000–2005 period, at all levels of educational attainment, and did not differ between women with completed secondary education and women with only primary education. Conclusion: Together with other evidence, this study suggests that higher educational attainment did not protect against HIV in the early stages of the South African HIV/AIDS epidemic. In recent years, the risk of HIV infection in young South African women with completed secondary education has reduced significantly relative to that in young women with primary education, suggesting that HIV prevention strategies may have been more effective in more educated women.