African journal of primary health care & family medicine
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Afr J Prim Health Care Fam Med · Nov 2020
Disclosure of human immunodeficiency virus status to children: Pattern followed by parents and caregivers.
Disclosure of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) status may be perceived as simply the process of revealing a person's HIV status, whether positive or negative. Despite the emerging evidence of the benefits of disclosure, who, when and what to disclose to a HIV-infected child remains a challenge. ⋯ Human immunodeficiency virus disclosure to children demands parents' and caregivers' participation and their knowledge of child development.
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Afr J Prim Health Care Fam Med · Sep 2020
Implementing a video call visit system in a coronavirus disease 2019 unit.
The lockdown and physical distancing strategies imposed to combat COVID-19 have caused seismic shifts at all levels of society. Hospitals have been particularly affected. Healthcare workers (HCW's) wore PPE during all patient interactions and visitors were prohibited. ⋯ In this article we discuss the elements of a successful implementation and potential pitfalls in the context of a pandemic, notably cross-infection and privacy. Rapid but responsible innovation using 21st century tools was required to address the many challenges of the pandemic, including improving the lived experience for patients and families. These should be intended to last after the pandemic has passed.
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Afr J Prim Health Care Fam Med · Aug 2020
A cross-sectional self-assessment of burnout amongst a sample of doctors in Ghana.
The occurrence of burnout amongst African health professionals has been widely anticipated, but there is a dearth of published data, especially amongst doctors. Burnout has been reported to be as high as 53% amongst doctors in the United States. If not detected, it can result in prescription errors, work-related accidents, substance abuse and depression. ⋯ This pilot study has shown burnout to be common amongst physicians in Ghana. It is recommended that further studies are conducted, involving a larger cross-section of doctors in various parts of Africa.
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Afr J Prim Health Care Fam Med · Jul 2020
The effects of coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic on the South African health system: A call to maintain essential health services.
South Africa had its first coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) case on 06 March 2020 in an individual who travelled overseas. Since then, cases have constantly increased and the pandemic has taken a toll on the health system. This requires extra mobilisation of resources to curb the disease and overcome financial loses whilst providing social protection to the poor. ⋯ In such emergencies, the ability to deliver essential services is dependent on baseline capacity of health system. Our approach advocates for close collaboration between essential services and COVID-19 teams to identify priorities, restructure essential services to accommodate physical distancing, promote task shifting at primary level, optimise the use of mobile/web-based technologies for service delivery/training/monitoring and involve private sector and non-health departments to increase management capacity. Strategic responses thus planned can assist in mitigating the adverse effects of the pandemic whilst preventing morbidity and mortality from preventable diseases in the population.
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Afr J Prim Health Care Fam Med · Jun 2020
The evolving role of family physicians during the coronavirus disease 2019 crisis: An appreciative reflection.
Ten family physicians and family medicine registrars in a South African semi-rural training complex reflected on the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) crisis during their quarterly training complex meeting. The crisis has become the disruptor that is placing pressure on the traditional roles of the family physician. The importance of preventative and promotive care in a community-oriented approach, being a capacity builder and leading the health team as a consultant have assumed new meanings.