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Biomedical subjects

Y G Pillay

Publications and source records attributed to Y G Pillay.

13 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1997

The state of neoliberalism in South Africa: economic, social, and health transformation in question.

Recent overhauls of the South African government's ruling machinery in the context of an ever-deepening commitment to neoliberal economic philosophy, have done serious, even irreparable harm to this country's political transformation. Notwithstanding some progress in policies adopted by the Department of Health, the March 1996 closure of the Reconstruction and Development Ministry and the subsequent announcement of a neoliberal macroeconomic policy have been cause for disgruntlement by those advocating progressive social and health policies.

Cost-Benefit Analysis↗
PubMed1995

Health and social policies in the new South Africa.

South Africa's first democratic government is today confronted with the challenge of recasting apartheid social and health policies, transforming a moribund bureaucracy's mode of governance, and restructuring a variety of public and private institutions, including the national Department of Health. In the attempt to redress racial, gender, and class inequities, enormous barriers confront health policy analysts and planners, progressive politicians, and activists within civil society who work in the field of health. This article sets the broad social policy context for the emerging strategies, documents some of the continuing inequities in the health sector, and recounts some recent experiences in one of the nine provinces (KwaZulu-Natal). to illustrate the difficulties and potentials that change of this magnitude presents under the prevailing conditions of neoliberal politics and economics.

Democracy↗
PubMed1994

Correlations among general stress, family environment, psychological distress, and pain experience.

For 15 subjects with chronic low back pain and 15 matched healthy controls analysis of scores on Life Experiences Survey (general stress), Family Environment Scale (family relationships), Beck Depression Inventory (psychological distress), and McGill Pain Questionnaire (pain experience) indicated that the scores on environmental stressors, general stress, and psychological distress were higher for the group with pain. They experienced more negative life events and were more depressed. Certain family characteristics (decreased scores on Cohesion, Independence, Organization, and increased scores on Conflict) were unique to that group. Finally, certain family variables which did not differentiate between the groups were associated with the pain experience.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

Primary care in South Africa. Reflections on conceptualisation and a review of the recent literature.

This paper reviews the various interpretations and connotations of the term 'primary care' as employed in South African literature and practice. There is a need for clear definitions of key concepts and the utility of the primary care framework proposed by Barbara Starfield is suggested in this regard. The paper also reviews and evaluates the research on primary care in South Africa published since 1988.

Health Policy↗
PubMed1992

International comparisons: selected mental health data.

The data set from the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) was explored to investigate the relationship of gross domestic product (which provides an indication of the wealth of a country) and the provision of psychiatric services (specifically inpatient psychiatric services) in selected OECD countries. Gross domestic product per capita correlated .84 with expenditure per capita on psychiatric hospitals but r was zero between number of beds per 1000 population and length of stay.

Cross-Cultural Comparison↗
PubMed1992

Primary mental health care: indications and obstacles.

This paper considers indications and obstacles for the development of primary mental health care practice in both developed and under-developed countries. Both are considered as this represents the South African reality. While a significant body of literature has documented the need for primary mental health care, the obstacles (especially in terms of the co-modification of health) to its fruition are seldom addressed.

Attitude to Health↗
PubMed1992

Ethical issues in the transformation of health policy in South Africa.

There have, of late, been repeated calls for the transformation of the South African health care system. While there are political and economic consequences involved, there are also bio-ethical sequelae. This paper attempts to explore some of the bio-ethical dilemmas that confront both the 'consumers' and the architects of a new health policy (including the State; professional health groupings, e.g. the Medical Association of South Africa; and the so-called progressive health organisations, e.g. the National Medical and Dental Association and the South African Health Workers' Congress). While the literature has focused on libertarian and utilitarian ethical theories, communitarian perspectives are not often mentioned. This paper attempts to redress this perceived deficit.

Delivery of Health Care↗
PubMed1990

Personal constructs of fluency: a study comparing stutterers and nonstutterers.

The personal construct systems relating to fluency of a group of five stutterers and a group of five nonstutterers were examined using the repertory grid technique. The results support findings that stereotypical notions about stuttering were characteristic of both stutterers and nonstutterers and did not support Fransella's 1972 assumption that constructs relating to fluency differ in the communication subsystems of stutterers and nonstutterers.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

The role of the clinical health psychologist in the management of chronic paediatric illness. A report of 2 cases.

Behavioural problems in chronically ill children are common and adequate provision for holistic management is necessary. It appears preferable for psychological intervention to start not when the child is referred with behavioural problems but as soon as the medical condition is diagnosed. These children, and their families, are usually in need of psychological care from the earliest stages of the disease process. Two case reports are cited in this context. The role of the clinical health psychologist is emphasised.

Child↗
PubMed1987

A study of deliberate self-harm at a Pietermaritzburg general hospital.

The term 'non-fatal deliberate self-harm' (DSH) has evolved as a result of confusion surrounding the terms 'attempted suicide' and 'parasuicide'. While the latter two terms imply some relationship with suicidal intent and death wishes the term DSH does not and is therefore preferred. A study was undertaken to identify high-risk groups and significant precipitating factors for DSH. During the 12-month period ending 31 December 1985, 147 cases of DSH were seen by clinical psychologists at Northdale Hospital, Pietermaritzburg. Single people between 16 and 25 years and housewives constituted the high-risk groups. Authoritarian parenting and resultant conflict appeared to be a very significant precipitating factor in the former group.

Adolescent↗