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At least 145 records · Page 8Linked to original sources
PubMed2001

Kaposi's sarcoma in South Africa.

Kaposi's sarcoma was endemic in South Africa even before the advent of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Between 1988 and 1996, the incidence of Kaposi's sarcoma in South Africa has risen at least threefold and continues to increase as the HIV epidemic grows. Research from South Africa has shown that infection with human herpesvirus 8 (HHV8) is associated with Kaposi's sarcoma but not with any other major cancer site or type. In addition, the risk of Kaposi's sarcoma increases with increasing antibody titer to HHV8, but, for a given titer, the risk is greater in HIV-seropositive compared with HIV-seronegative individuals. The age- and sex-standardized seroprevalence of HHV8 in black South African hospital patients was found to be slightly more than 30%; the seroprevalence of HHV8 increased with age and was similar in men and in women. The modes of transmission of HHV8 are yet to be fully elucidated. Limited evidence exists for sexual transmission in black South African adults, but mother-to-child and person-to-person transmission in childhood is also likely. Furthermore, the seroprevalence of HHV8 decreases with increasing levels of education and is lower in whites than in blacks, suggesting that factors associated with poverty may be important determinants of transmission. Future research should focus on risk factors for Kaposi's sarcoma in HHV8-infected individuals, on determinants and mode of transmission of HHV8, and on the elucidation of the effect of primary HHV8 infection in adults and in children.

Adult↗
PubMed2003

Doctors can kill--active euthanasia in South Africa.

Medical practitioners in South Africa will be given the legal right to end the lives of terminally ill patients. This is the practice of active euthanasia, the procedure whereby a medical doctor or a professional nurse can end the life of a terminally ill patient at the patient's request, by providing or administering a lethal dosage of a drug. Voluntary active euthanasia is included in a Draft Bill--The End of Life Decisions Act--which form part of a report of the South African Law Commission, wherein regulations regarding the end-of-life decisions are formulated. Specifically, it provides that a medical practitioner may under certain conditions stop the treatment of a patient whose life functions are being maintained artificially. Further, that a competent person may refuse life-sustaining treatment if he chooses to die. A medical practitioner may also give effect to a patient's living will in which the patient has requested the cessation of treatment. The Act also provides for the options of active voluntary euthanasia or physician-assisted suicide.

Decision Making↗
PubMed1979

The statutory noise level in South Africa.

Noise legislation in South Africa was introduced in 1974. However, in industry, compliance with the recommended maximum equivalent noise level of 85 dB(A) is poor. The subject of noise exposure is reviewed briefly and a tentative proposal for a temporary raising of the statutory limit is put forward.

Hearing Loss, Noise-Induced↗
PubMed1998

The prevalence of hypertension and the status of cardiovascular health in South Africa.

The population of South Africa is nearly 40 million and is growing at the rate of 2.5% per year. The population is 76.2% black, 13.3% white, 8.6% "mixed," and 2.6% Asian. The life expectancy (between 1985 and 1990) for whites was 69 years for males and 77 years for females; and for blacks, life expectancy was 61 years for males and 67 years for females. The major causes of death in blacks was accidents, poisoning and violence, which accounted for 14%. HIV/AIDS has reached epidemic proportions, and it is estimated that by the first decade of the next century between 18% and 27% of South African black adults will be infected. Diseases of the circulatory system claimed the most lives among whites (38.4%), Asians (34.1%), and the mixed group (21.8%). Coronary heart disease (CHD) was the major cause of death among whites and Asians in the circulatory system disease category and the main contributor to all causes of death. The CHD death rates of 165.3 and 101.2 per 100,000 population for whites and Asians, respectively, surpassed that of the "mixed" group (55.1 per 100,000); blacks had the lowest rate (5.3 per 100,000). Cerebrovascular disease is first among the "mixed" group, followed by whites and Asians, and then blacks (73.6, 62.5, and 36.5 per 100,000, respectively).

Adult↗
PubMed1997

Simple Words and Fuzzy Zones: Early Directions for Temporary River Research in South Africa

/ Although a large proportion of South Africa's rivers are nonperennial, ecological research into these systems has only recently been initiated. Consequently, we have little verified information about the ecological functioning of these rivers or knowledge of how best to manage them. High water demands in a semiarid region results in the flow of most perennial rivers being altered from permanent to temporary in sections, through impoundment, land-use changes, abstraction, etc. Conversely, sections of many temporary rivers are altered to perennial as a result of interbasin transfers or may be exploited for surface water. Effective and appropriate management of these modifications must be based on sound scientific information, which requires intensified, directed research. We anticipate that temporary river research in South Africa will, of necessity, be driven primarily by short-term collaborative efforts and secondarily by long-term ecological studies. At the outset, a simple conceptual framework is required to encourage an appreciation of current views of the spatial and temporal dynamics of nonperennial rivers and of the variability and unpredictability that characterize these systems. We adopt the view that perennial and episodic/ephemeral rivers represent either end of a continuum, separated by a suite of intermediate flow regimes. A conceptual diagram of this continuum is presented. In the absence of a functional classification for temporary rivers, a descriptive terminology has been systematically devised in an attempt to standardize definition of the different types of river regimes encountered in the country. Present terminology lacks structure and commonly accepted working definitions. KEY WORDS: Temporary rivers; Intermittent rivers; Continuum; Terminology; Classification; Ecosystem management; South Africa

Journal Article↗
PubMed1979

[The development of occupational health in South Africa].

Industrial development in South Africa started after the discovery of diamonds and gold towards the end of the last century. Two world wars gave impetus to an industrial revolution which is still continuing. Experience with good occupational health services on the mines was not fully applied to industries, and the Erasmus Commission of Inquiry (1975) found many shortcomings. It is hoped that 1979, the Health Year, will bring a new deal for good health in our industries.

History, 19th Century↗
PubMed2006

"Nothing new": responses to the introduction of antiretroviral drugs in South Africa.

Interviews conducted in South Africa found that awareness of antiretroviral therapy was generally poor. Antiretroviral drugs were not perceived as new, but one of many alternative therapies for HIV/AIDS. Respondents had more detailed knowledge of indications, effects and how to access alternative treatments, which is bolstered by the active promotion and legitimization of alternative treatments. Many expressed a lack of excitement about the introduction of antiretroviral therapy, and little change in their attitudes concerning the epidemic.

Anti-Retroviral Agents↗
PubMed1978

The role of community paediatrics in South Africa.

Community paediatrics in South Africa is concerned with helping to identify the factors that retard realization of the full developmental potential of the nation's children. It is also concerned with the removal of such blocking factors. Paediatricians familiar with the orientation and methods of community medicine are suited to this task, which involves: (i) co-operation with all health, education and welfare organizations concerned with child care; (ii) taking part in the education of all child care professionals; (iii) taking part in the planning and organization of child care services; and (iv) being concerned with clinical care, particularly at primary care and rehabilitative levels.

Child↗
PubMed1992

A theoretical perspective on population policy in South Africa.

The author describes the goals of South Africa's Population Development Programme, which works to enact the government's population policy. The primary objective is to achieve a balance between population size and natural and socioeconomic resources in the country. "The Population Development Programme promotes specific fertility-inhibiting programmes, projects and actions in the socio-economic fields of education, manpower training, health, the economy and housing. Population information, education and communication programmes are also directed at people with high fertility to facilitate the change of fertility perceptions in favour of a small family norm."

Africa↗
PubMed2005

Effect of artemether-lumefantrine policy and improved vector control on malaria burden in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.

BACKGROUND: Between 1995 and 2000, KwaZulu-Natal province, South Africa, experienced a marked increase in Plasmodium falciparum malaria, fuelled by pyrethroid and sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine resistance. In response, vector control was strengthened and artemether-lumefantrine (AL) was deployed in the first Ministry of Health artemisinin-based combination treatment policy in Africa. In South Africa, effective vector and parasite control had historically ensured low-intensity malaria transmission. Malaria is diagnosed definitively and treatment is provided free of charge in reasonably accessible public-sector health-care facilities. METHODS AND FINDINGS: We reviewed four years of malaria morbidity and mortality data at four sentinel health-care facilities within KwaZulu-Natal's malaria-endemic area. In the year following improved vector control and implementation of AL treatment, malaria-related admissions and deaths both declined by 89%, and outpatient visits decreased by 85% at the sentinel facilities. By 2003, malaria-related outpatient cases and admissions had fallen by 99%, and malaria-related deaths had decreased by 97%. There was a concomitant marked and sustained decline in notified malaria throughout the province. No serious adverse events were associated causally with AL treatment in an active sentinel pharmacovigilance survey. In a prospective study with 42 d follow up, AL cured 97/98 (99%) and prevented gametocyte developing in all patients. Consistent with the findings of focus group discussions, a household survey found self-reported adherence to the six-dose AL regimen was 96%. CONCLUSION: Together with concurrent strengthening of vector control measures, the antimalarial treatment policy change to AL in KwaZulu-Natal contributed to a marked and sustained decrease in malaria cases, admissions, and deaths, by greatly improving clinical and parasitological cure rates and reducing gametocyte carriage.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2005

[Tobacco control in South Africa].

The aim of this paper is to briefly describe South Africa's experience in tobacco control, and to highlight some of the lessons that are applicable to other developing countries. South Africa's tobacco control strategy is based on two main pillars: (1) rapidly increasing excise taxes on tobacco, and (2) comprehensive legislation, of which the most important features are banning all tobacco advertising and sponsorship, and prohibition of smoking in public and work places. As a result of the increases in the excise tax, the real (inflation-adjusted) price of cigarettes has increased by 115% between 1993 and 2003. Aggregate cigarette consumption has decreased by about a third and per capita consumption has decreased by about 40% since 1993. Despite the decrease in cigarette consumption, real government revenue from tobacco excise taxes has increased by nearly 150% between 1993 and 2003. Some important lessons can be drawn from South Africa's experience in tobacco control. Firstly, strong and consistent lobbying was required to persuade the government to implement an effective tobacco control strategy. Country-specific research, drawn from a variety of disciplines, was used to back up and give credibility to the lobbyists' appeals. Secondly, rapid increases in the excise tax on cigarettes are particularly effective in reducing tobacco consumption. An increase in the excise tax increases the price of cigarettes, which in turn reduces cigarette consumption. In South Africa a 10% increase in the real price of cigarettes decreases cigarette consumption by between 6 and 8%. Similar results have been found for many other developing countries. Thirdly, while an increase in the excise tax is generally regarded as the most effective tobacco control measure, tobacco control legislation also plays an important role in a comprehensive tobacco control strategy. Bans on tobacco advertising and bans on smoking in public and work places denormalise and deglamorise smoking, and are likely to make other tobacco control interventions more effective. Fourthly, the industry would typically claim that they want to be constructive partners in drafting "reasonable and sensible" tobacco control legislation. In South Africa's experience, when they were involved in the drafting process in 1993, the role of the industry was to delay and water down the legislation. In drafting an amendment to the original legislation in 1998, the industry's views were largely ignored, and the result was a more comprehensive and effective piece of legislation. Fifthly, tobacco control legislation, particularly laws banning smoking in indoor public places, is largely self-enforcing. It does not require heavy-handed police intervention, as is typically claimed by the industry. The legislation clarifies and explains that the rights of non-smokers to clean air supersede the right of smokers to smoke. Smokers typically refrain from smoking where smoking is not allowed.

Humans↗
PubMed2004

Australian public health: some history lessons from South Africa.

OBJECTIVE: To draw historical parallels between inequalities in South Africa and Australia and their implications for public health, and especially Aboriginal health, in the latter. METHODS: To use the work of Terreblanche in South Africa and Houston in Australia to demonstrate the relevance of past inequalities to some of today's health problems. RESULTS: Economic structural issues remain crucial to the development of and the future health of these two countries. There are more grounds for hope for a more equal society in South Africa than there are in Australia. CONCLUSIONS: South Africa has made some attempt to face its past while Australia has not. Attempts to kill off Aboriginal culture continue. Aboriginal health will only improve when white Australia is prepared to face its 'black' past and move beyond the racism and indifference that surround Aboriginal affairs. The neo liberalism of both countries serves their disadvantaged populations ill.

Australia↗