Browsing by Author "Daniels, L."

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    Assessing the knowledge and perceptions of medical students from the Western Cape, South Africa, regarding the Millennium Development Goals
    (Medpharm Publications, 2012) Yeatman, Toni-Lee; Koen, N.; De Ridder, L.; Fenn, B.; Wormsbacher, L.; Daniels, L.
    Background: Health science students are key players in implementing the Millennium Development Goals (MDG). Knowledge and understanding at university level is essential to achieve the goals by 2015. The primary objective of this study was to assess the knowledge and perceptions of fifth-year medical students at Stellenbosch University and the University of Cape Town regarding the MDG. The secondary objectives were to determine the degree to which students are involved in awareness campaigns and implementation of the MDG, and to assess students’ perceptions regarding the need for the MDG in South Africa. Method: This observational, descriptive, cross-sectional study collected quantitative data. A census was carried out. All participants completed a self-administered questionnaire. Results: Of the 176 participants, 61.14% said they had previously heard or read about the MDG. Forty per cent had heard about the MDG through awareness campaigns. More than half (54.86%) claimed to know what the MDG were, but could not name all of the goals. Participants identified a mean of three out of eight MDG correctly. The majority of students considered MDG implementation in South Africa important but ineffective (69.85%), and 85.82% believed that the MDG would not be achieved on time. Conclusion: It was found that fifth-year medical students in the Western Cape were not adequately informed about the MDG and their importance in South Africa. However, their perceptions were positive, in that the majority agreed that the implementation of the MDG in South Africa is important and that more needs to be done in creating awareness about the goals.
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    Assessing the utilization of a child health monitoring tool
    (Health and Medical Publishing Group, 2017) Blaauw, Renee; Daniels, L.; Du Plessis, L. M.; Koen, N.; Koornhof, H. E.; Marais, M. L.; Van Niekerk, E.; Visser, J.
    Objective: The study assessed the implementation of growth monitoring and promotion, immunisation, vitamin A supplementation, and deworming sections of the Road-to-Health Booklet. Caregivers and health care workers knowledge, attitudes and practices were investigated as well as health care workers perceptions of barriers undermining implementation. Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted on a proportional sample of randomly selected Primary Health Care facilities across six health districts (35%; n=143) in the Western Cape Province. Health care workers involved in the implementation of the Road-to-Health Booklet, children (0-36 months) and CGs were included. Information was obtained through scrutiny of the Road-to-Health Booklet, observation of consultations and structured questionnaires. Results: A total of 2442 children, 2481 caregivers and 270 health care workers were recruited. Weight (94.7%) measurements were performed routinely. Less than half (40.2%) of caregivers reported that their child’s growth was explained. Sixty-eight percent of health care workers correctly identified criteria for underweight, whereas only 55% and 39% could do so for stunting and wasting respectively. Road-to-Health Booklet sections were completed adequately for immunization (89.3%), vitamin A supplementation (94.6%) but not for deworming (48.8%). Most health care workers (94%) knew the correct regimes for vitamin A supplementation and deworming, but few caregivers knew when treatment was due for vitamin A supplementation (16.4%) and deworming (26.2%). Potential barriers identified related to inadequate training, staff shortages and limited time. Conclusion: Focussed effort and resources should be channelled towards health care workers training and monitoring regarding growth monitoring and promotion to optimize utilization of the Road-to-Health Booklet. Mobilisation of community health workers is needed to strengthen community awareness of preventative health interventions.