SUNScholar - Browsing by Author "Esterhuizen, Tonya"

Browsing by Author "Esterhuizen, Tonya"

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The 12-month period prevalence and cardiac manifestations of HIV in patients with acute coronary syndrome at a tertiary hospital in Cape Town, South Africa : a retrospective cross-sectional study
(BMC (part of Springer Nature), 2021) Pennefather, Camilla; Esterhuizen, Tonya; Doubell, Anton; Decloedt, Eric H.
Background: HIV-positive patients are increasingly being affected by non-communicable diseases such as coronary artery disease (CAD). Data from high-income countries (HICs) indicate that HIV-positive patients have different riskfactor profiles for acute coronary syndrome (ACS) as well as different cardiac manifestations of this syndrome compared to HIV-negative patients. There is limited data from Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), and particularly from South Africa with the biggest HIV epidemic in the world. The objective of this study was to determine the 12-month period prevalence of HIV in patients with ACS and to compare the risk-factor profile, ACS presentation and management between HIV-positive and HIV-negative adults. Methods: We included all patients hospitalised with ACS from 01 January to 31 December 2018 in a tertiary hospital, Tygerberg Hospital, in Cape Town, South Africa. The HIV-status of all patients was determined using routine clinical records. We performed multiple conditional logistic regression on HIV-positive and HIV-negative patients (1:3 ratio) to compare the risk factor profile, ACS presentation and management between the groups. Results: Among 889 patients, 30 (3.4%) were HIV-positive (95% confidence interval (CI): 2.3–4.8). HIV-positive patients were younger, more frequently men, and had a lower prevalence of medical comorbidities and a family history of CAD. They were more likely to present with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) [odd’s ratio (OR) (95% CI): 3.12 (1.2–8.4)], and have single-vessel disease [OR (95% CI): 3.03 (1.2–8.0)]. Angiographic and echocardiographic data, as well as management, did not differ between the groups. Among HIV-positive patients, 17 (65%) were virally suppressed (HIV viral load < 200 copies/mL) with a median CD4+ count of 271 cells/mm3. The majority (20, 67%) of HIV-positive patients were receiving antiretroviral therapy at the time of the ACS. Conclusions: We found an HIV-prevalence of 3.4% (95% CI 2.3–4.8) in adults with ACS in a high endemic HIV region. HIV-positive patients were younger and more likely to present with STEMIs and single-vessel disease, but had fewer CAD risk factors, suggesting additional mechanisms for the development of ACS.
Building capacity in clinical epidemiology in Africa : experiences from Masters programmes
(BioMed Central, 2017-02-27) Young, Taryn; Naude, Celeste; Brodovcky, Tania; Esterhuizen, Tonya
ENGLISH SUMMARY : Background: To describe and contrast programmatic offering of Clinical Epidemiology Masters programmes in Africa, to evaluate experiences of graduates and faculty, and assess if graduates are playing roles in research, practice and teaching of Clinical Epidemiology. Methods: We searched and identified relevant programmes, reviewed programmatic documentation, interviewed convenors and surveyed graduates. Participants provided informed consent, interviews with faculty were recorded and transcribed for analysis purposes, and graduates participated in an online survey. Results: Five structured Masters programmes requiring health science professionals to complete modules and research projects were assessed. Demand for programmes was high. Graduates enjoyed the variety of modules, preferred blended teaching, and regarded assessments as fair. Graduates felt that career paths were not obvious after graduating. Despite this, some have gone on to promote and teach evidence-based health care, and conduct and disseminate research. Areas of concern raised by faculty were quality assurance; research project initiation, implementation and supervisory capacity; staff availability; funding to support implementation and lack of experiential learning. Conclusion: Although faced with challenges, these programmes build capacity of health professionals to practice in an evidence-informed way, and conduct rigorous research, which are central to advancing the practice of Clinical Epidemiology in Africa.
A comparison of coronary angiography and myocardial perfusion studies, using quantitative scoring systems
(South African Heart Association, 2021) Premsagar, Preesha; Aldous, Colleen; Esterhuizen, Tonya
Background: Results of myocardial perfusion for screening coronary artery disease (CAD), and angiography for diagnosing CAD, can be quantified using summed difference score (SDS) and Synergy between Percutaneous Coronary Intervention with Taxus and Cardiac Surgery (SYNTAX) score, respectively. Aim: The aim is to quantitatively compare myocardial perfusion studies with angiography amongst South African patients using scoring systems. Methods: SDS on myocardial perfusion and SYNTAX score on angiography were compared. Regional scores within each vessel (left anterior descending (LAD), circumflex and right coronary artery (RCA)) were also compared. Scores were further risk categorised and evaluated. Results: The weak correlation between SDS and SYNTAX score (rs=0.210, p=0.015), became slightly negative when SYNTAX scores were stratified into low and intermediate-high risk groups. Regionally, LAD had very slight positive correlation (rs=0.171, p=0.048), circumflex (rs=0.164, p=0.058), and RCA (rs=0.116, p=0.184) no correlation. Conversely, comparison of scores categories was signifi cant (p=0.001). Conclusions: Inherent differences in the design of 2 scoring systems that evaluate the LAD territory may explain these findings. These differences were dominance, regional blood flow distribution and significant luminal diameter reduction. This study highlights the need to interpret myocardial perfusion results contextually during CAD screening.
Estimating vaccine confidence levels among healthcare staff and students of a tertiary institution in South Africa
(MDPI, 2021) Oduwole, Elizabeth O.; Esterhuizen, Tonya; Mahomed, Hassan; Wiysonge, Charles S.
Healthcare workers were the first group scheduled to receive COVID-19 vaccines when they became available in South Africa. Therefore, estimating vaccine confidence levels and intention to receive COVID-19 vaccines among healthcare workers ahead of the national vaccination roll-out was imperative. We conducted an online survey from 4 February to 7 March 2021, to assess vaccine sentiments and COVID-19 vaccine intentions among healthcare staff and students at a tertiary institution in South Africa. We enrolled 1015 participants (74.7% female). Among the participants, 89.5% (confidence interval (CI) 87.2–91.4) were willing to accept a COVID-19 vaccine, 95.4% (CI 93.9–96.6) agreed that vaccines are important for them, 95.4% (CI 93.8–96.6) that vaccines are safe, 97.4% (CI 96.2–98.3) that vaccines are effective, and 96.1% (CI 94.6–97.2) that vaccines are compatible with religion. Log binomial regression revealed statistically significant positive associations between COVID-19 vaccine acceptance and the belief that vaccines are safe (relative risk (RR) 32.2, CI 4.67–221.89), effective (RR 21.4, CI 3.16–145.82), important for children (RR 3.5, CI 1.78–6.99), important for self (RR 18.5, CI 4.78–71.12), or compatible with religion (RR 2.2, CI 1.46–3.78). The vaccine confidence levels of the study respondents were highly positive. Nevertheless, this could be further enhanced by targeted interventions.
Factors influencing the confidence and knowledge of nurses prescribing antiretroviral treatment in a rural and urban district in the Western Cape province
(AOSIS Publishing, 2019) Solomons, Deborah J.; Van Der Merwe, Anita S.; Esterhuizen, Tonya; Crowley, Talitha
Background: Since the introduction of nurse-initiated and managed antiretroviral treatment (NIMART) in South Africa in 2010, initiation of antiretroviral therapy (ART) in primary care has become the responsibility of nurses. The continued success of this approach is dependent on factors such as adequate training and effective support systems. Objectives: This study aimed to investigate factors influencing the knowledge and confidence of professional nurses in managing patients living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in primary healthcare settings in a rural and urban district in the Western Cape. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted amongst 77 NIMART-trained nurses from 29 healthcare facilities to measure demographic details, influencing factors, HIV management confidence and HIV management knowledge. Results: The majority of participants had adequate HIV management knowledge and reported being very confident or expert in the HIV management skills or competencies. Participants trained recently on local guidelines (Practical Approach to Care Kit) (3 years ago or less) had significantly higher knowledge scores. Regular feedback about clinic and personal performance was associated with higher HIV management knowledge. Participants who received NIMART mentoring over a period of 2 weeks had a higher mean confidence score compared to other periods of mentoring. A higher caseload of patients living with HIV was also associated with higher knowledge and confidence. Conclusion: Training, mentorship and clinical practice experience are associated with knowledge and confidence. Recommendations include the strengthening of current training and mentoring and ensuring that NIMART-trained nurses are provided with regular updates and sufficient opportunities for clinical practice.
Improving early childhood care and development, HIV-testing, treatment and support, and nutrition in Mokhotlong, Lesotho : study protocol for a cluster randomized controlled trial
(BioMed Central, 2016-11-09) Tomlinson, Mark; Skeen, Sarah; Marlow, Marguerite; Cluver, Lucie; Cooper, Peter; Murray, Lynne; Mofokeng, Shoeshoe; Morley, Nathene; Makhetha, Moroesi; Gordon, Sarah; Esterhuizen, Tonya; Sherr, Lorraine
Background: Since 1990, the lives of 48 million children under the age of 5 years have been saved because of increased investments in reducing child mortality. However, despite these unprecedented gains, 250 million children younger than 5 years in low- and middle-income countries (LMIC) cannot meet their developmental potential due to poverty, poor health and nutrition, and lack of necessary stimulation and care. Lesotho has high levels of poverty, HIV, and malnutrition, all of which affect child development outcomes. There is a unique opportunity to address these complex issues through the widespread network of informal preschools in rural villages in the country, which provide a setting for inclusive, integrated Early Childhood Care and Development (ECCD) and HIV and nutrition interventions. Methods: We are conducting a cluster randomised controlled trial in Mokhotlong district, Lesotho, to evaluate a newly developed community-based intervention program to integrate HIV-testing and treatment services, ECCD, and nutrition education for caregivers with children aged 1–5 years living in rural villages. Caregivers and their children are randomly assigned by village to intervention or control condition. We select, train, and supervise community health workers recruited to implement the intervention, which consists of nine group-based sessions with caregivers and children over 12 weeks (eight weekly sessions, and a ninth top-up session 1 month later), followed by a locally hosted community health outreach day event. Group-based sessions focus on using early dialogic book-sharing to promote cognitive development and caregiver-child interaction, health-related messages, including motivation for HIV-testing and treatment uptake for young children, and locally appropriate nutrition education. All children aged 1–5 years and their primary caregivers living in study villages are eligible for participation. Caregivers and their children will be interviewed and assessed at baseline, after completion of the intervention, and 12 months post intervention. Discussion: This study provides a unique opportunity to assess the potential of an integrated early childhood development intervention to prevent or mitigate developmental delays in children living in a context of extreme poverty and high HIV rates in rural Lesotho. This paper presents the intervention content and research protocol for the study.
Reorganisation of primary care services during COVID-19 in the Western Cape, South Africa : perspectives of primary care nurses
(AOSIS, 2021-11) Crowley, Talitha; Kitshoff, Danine; De Lange-Cloete, Frances; Baron, Justine; De Lange, Santel; Young, Cornelle; Esterhuizen, Tonya; Couper, Ian
Background: Primary care nurses play a pivotal role in the response to disasters and pandemics. The coronavirus diseases 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic required preventative, diagnostic, and curative measures for persons presenting with symptoms of COVID-19 by healthcare providers, whilst continuing other essential services. We aimed to investigate the reorganisation of primary care services during COVID-19 from the perspectives of primary care nurses in the Western Cape province of South Africa. Methods: We administered an online survey with closed and open-ended questions to professional nurses enrolled for a Postgraduate Diploma in Primary Care Nursing at Stellenbosch University (2020) and alumni (2017–2019) working in the Western Cape. Eighty-three participants completed the questionnaire. Results: The majority of the participants (74.4%) reported that they were reorganising services using a multitude of initiatives in response to the diverse infrastructure, logistics and services of the various healthcare facilities. Despite this, 48.2% of the participants expressed concerns, which mainly related to possible non-adherence of patients with chronic conditions, the lack of promotive and preventative services, challenges with facility infrastructure, and staff time devoted to triage and screening. More than half of the participants (57.8%) indicated that other services were affected by COVID-19, whilst 44.6% indicated that these services were worse than before. Conclusion: Our findings suggest that the very necessary reorganisation of services that took place at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in South Africa enabled effective management of patients infected with COVID-19. However, the reorganisation of services may have longer-term consequences for primary care services in terms of lack of care for patients with other conditions, as well as preventive and promotive care.
Rifampicin resistant tuberculosis in Lesotho : diagnosis, treatment initiation and outcomes
(Nature Research [Commercial Publisher], 2019-12) Katende, Bulemba; Esterhuizen, Tonya; Dippenaar, Anzaan; Warren, Robin; Warren, Robin Mark
The Lesotho guidelines for the management of drug-resistant tuberculosis (TB) recommend initiation of patients diagnosed with rifampicin resistant (RR)-TB on a standardized drug resistant regimen while awaiting confirmation of rifampicin resistant TB (RR-TB) and complete drug susceptibility test results. Review of diagnostic records between 2014 and 2016 identified 518 patients with RR-TB. Only 314 (60.6%) patients could be linked to treatment records at the Lesotho MDR hospital. The median delay in treatment initiation from the availability of Xpert MTB/RIF assay result was 12 days (IQR 7–19). Only 32% (101) of patients had a documented first-line drug resistant test. MDR-TB was detected in 56.4% of patients while 33.7% of patients had rifampicin mono-resistance. Only 7.4% of patients assessed for second-line resistance had a positive result (resistance to fluoroquinolone). Treatment success was 69.8%, death rate was 28.8%, loss to follow up was 1.0%, and 0.4% failed treatment. Death was associated with positive or unavailable sputum smear at the end of first month of treatment (Fisher exact p < 0.001) and older age (p = 0.007). Urgent attention needs to be given to link patients with RR-TB to care worldwide. The association of death rate with positive sputum smear at the end of the first month of treatment should trigger early individualization of treatment.
Risk reduction of diarrhea and respiratory infections following a community health education program - a facility-based case-control study in rural parts of Kenya
(BMC (part of Springer Nature), 2020-04-29) Karinja, Miriam; Schlienger, Raymond; Pillai, Goonaseelan Colin; Esterhuizen, Tonya; Onyango, Evance; Gitau, Anthony; Ogutu, Bernhards
Background: Diarrheal and acute respiratory infections remain a major cause of death in developing countries especially among children below 5 years of age. About 80% of all hospital attendances in Kenya can be attributed to preventable diseases and at least 50% of these preventable diseases are linked to poor sanitation. The purpose of this study was to assess the impact of a community-based health education program, called Familia Nawiri, in reducing the risk of diarrhea and respiratory infections among people living in three rural Kenyan communities. Methods: Cases were defined as patients attending the health facility due to diarrhea or a respiratory infection while controls were patients attending the same health facility for a non-communicable disease defined as an event other than diarrhea, respiratory infection. Adjusted odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated using a logistic regression model to assess the risk of diarrheal or respiratory infection in association with exposure to the health education program. Results: There were 324 cases and 308 controls recruited for the study with 57% of the cases and 59% of the controls being male. Overall, 13% of cases vs. 20% of control patients were exposed to the education program. Participants exposed to the program had 38% lower odds of diarrhea and respiratory infections compared to those not exposed to the program (adjusted OR 0.62, 95% CI 0.41–0.96). A similar risk reduction was observed for participants in the study who resided in areas with water improvement initiatives (adjusted OR 0.65, 95% CI 0.47– 0.90). Variables in the adjusted model included water improvement projects in the area and toilet facilities. Conclusion: Findings from this study suggest participants exposed to the education program and those residing in areas with water improvement initiatives have a reduced risk of having diarrhea or respiratory infection.
The value of exercise stress testing in prediction of angiography amongst South African patients using quantitative scoring systems
(South African Heart Association, 2021) Premsagar, Preesha; Aldous, Colleen; Esterhuizen, Tonya
Background: Accurate pre-test assessment of high risk patients may increase positive yield on angiography. Exercise stress testing (EST) prediction of angiography, may be evaluated by Duke Treadmill Score (DTS), and Synergy between Percutaneous Coronary Intervention with Taxus and Cardiac Surgery (SYNTAX) score, respectively. Aim: To investigate the value of EST in prediction of angiography amongst South African patients using quantitative scoring systems. Methods: The DTS and SYNTAX score were compared in patients with high risk pre-test assessments selected for angiography. Logistic regression modelling determined the odds ratio of abnormal angiograms using EST as a predictor. Results: Pre-test assessment of 525 suspected coronary artery disease patients, indicated angiography in 131 high risk individuals. The positive yield of abnormal angiograms was 58.0%, with no correlation between DTS and SYNTAX scores (Pearson’s correlation coefficient = 0.113, p=0.200). There was low predictive probability on receiver-operator-curve for DTS when compared to angiogram results (area under curve (AUC)=0.529, p=0.574), and SYNTAX categories (AUC=0.432, p=0.378). Chi-square tests had no significance between angiography and EST (all p-values >0.05). However DTS predicted abnormal angiograms with odds ratio of 1.92 when relevant cardiovascular risk factors (smoking, BMI, age) were added. Conclusion: Pre-test assessment of high risk patients represented a homogenous group with prevalent cardiovascular risk factors. However, the high risk group had no relationship between DTS and SYNTAX scores, indicating DTS alone discounts risk factors. Modelling accounted for DTS limitation by demonstrating an obese, elderly smoker with high risk category DTS is 1.92 times more likely to have an abnormal angiogram.
Vector and reservoir control for preventing leishmaniasis
(Cochrane, 2015-08-05) Esterhuizen, Tonya; Gonzalez, Urba; Pinart, Mariona; Sinclair, David; Firooz, Alireza; Enk, Claes; Velez, Ivan D.; Tristan, Mario; Alvar, Jorge
Background: Leishmaniasis is caused by the Leishmania parasite, and transmitted by infected phlebotomine sandflies. Of the two distinct clinical syndromes, cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) affects the skin and mucous membranes, and visceral leishmaniasis (VL) affects internal organs. Approaches to prevent transmission include vector control by reducing human contact with infected sandflies, and reservoir control, by reducing the number of infected animals. Objectives: To assess the effects of vector and reservoir control interventions for cutaneous and for visceral leishmaniasis.

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