Biomedical subjects

R J Blignaut

Publications and source records attributed to R J Blignaut.

5 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2001

Drinking water in South Africa: implications for fluoride supplementation.

During the extremely heavy rainfall period in the first half of 2000 in certain summer rainfall regions of South Africa a similar investigation as in 1983-1984/1985 was done but on a smaller scale, and compared to the previous results. A greater reduction (P < 0.05) of the fluoride levels in the drinking water than previously recorded has recently been demonstrated, thus strongly accentuating the effect of heavy rains. Presently, for fluoride prescription we recommend that the prescriber should decide whether it is a dry or wet period for his area and then read the fluoride content for that area, from the higher or lower end of the water fluoride content range from the tables published in 1988, 1991 or 1994. When in doubt the higher fluoride level should be used as a measure of safety against overprescribing. If only one value exists it should be used until further notification. An extended study is in process to set a single table for South Africa.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1995

Effectiveness of two school-based caries preventive programmes.

Although the efficacy of school-based preventive programmes is well established, their effectiveness under conditions prevailing in the community require further exploration. A longitudinal study was conducted to assess the community effectiveness of two school-based caries preventive programmes. A group of 150 primary school pupils, 10-15 years old were randomly selected from each of three primary schools (Dagbreek, Vergesig, De Villiers) in the Boland town of Robertson. The sample comprised 75 10-12 year-olds and 25 in each of the 13, 14 and 15 year age groups. The 75 (10-12 year-olds) constituted the experimental cohort, which was to be followed up over a period of 3 years and compared to the 13-15 year-olds, the control or baseline cohort. The experimental cohort in Vergesig was exposed to a daily toothbrushing programme with a fluoride dentifrice, the Dagbreek children were exposed to the same regimen plus a weekly 0.2 per cent fluoride rinse and the De Villiers cohort acted as a control group for contamination and co-intervention. The DMFT index (WHO, 1987) was used as a caries measure. Dagbreek showed a reduction of 0.96 DMFT (14.2 per cent) and Vergesig of 1.85 DMFT (24.5 per cent). The difference is attributed to a higher baseline DMFT at Vergesig. The weekly fluoride rinse did not confer any additional benefit. Although the caries reduction was lower than that generally found in clinical trials, the two intervention programmes were cost-effective.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1995

Private medical schemes: dental claims during 1989 and 1990.

In this investigation, claim patterns of members of 6 private medical aid schemes were studied. The number of members per scheme, the maximum benefits per member, the number of members with no claims, the age distribution of members with no dental claims and the percentage of total paid out per discipline are shown. The percentage of principal members who made no dental claims from these 6 medical schemes ranged between 53.6 - 75.5 per cent in 1989 and between 67.1 - 85 per cent in 1990. In this article we seek possible explanations for these unexpected findings.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1992

Youth attending Cape Peninsula day hospitals. Sexual behaviour and missed opportunities for contraception counselling.

Questionnaires were completed by a sample of youth (aged 15-24 years) attending day hospitals in the Cape Peninsula. Of the total sample of 225, 73.3% indicated that they had experienced sexual intercourse; of these, 27.3% had had 2 or more partners in the previous year, and on their last coital episode 91.0% had known their partner for more than 7 days and 52.8% had used some form of contraception. The criteria of a strict definition of missed opportunity for contraception intervention were fulfilled by 7.6% of the total sample, while 43.6% of those who had experienced sexual intercourse and 43.9% of those who had not did not receive contraception intervention but would have liked to have done so. Those who had had more than one partner in the previous year were more likely to have satisfied the strict definition of missed opportunity, while of those who had not had sexual intercourse, younger respondents and students were more likely not to have received contraception intervention despite wanting such intervention. It is concluded that all youth attending day hospitals should routinely be offered contraception counselling and that the issue of sexually transmitted diseases should be addressed simultaneously.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1991

Oral health status and treatment needs of black college students at Khayelitsha.

Descriptive information on the oral health status and treatment needs of black students at a teacher training college in Khayelitsha was collected to facilitate the planning of appropriate preventive and therapeutic programmes. A random sample of 96 subjects was drawn from the college population. The average age of the group was 27.3 years; 83.3 per cent were females and 90.6 per cent had experienced caries. The mean DMFT was high (11.14), the mean score for males was almost half that for females (p = 0.0247). 54.2 per cent needed treatment for caries such as fillings (47.9 per cent) and extractions (25.0 per cent). No students had shallow pocketing and deep pockets were recorded in only 3.4 per cent. However more than 4 segments on average showed signs of bleeding or higher scores for periodontal disease. A significant difference existed between the sexes for the presence of calculus (p less than 0.005). Oral hygiene instruction and prophylaxis were needed by the majority of students namely 92.1 per cent and 70.8 per cent respectively. The high number of students with bleeding and calculus indicates that an intensive program of oral health education is required by this group.

Adult↗