A Cross-Sectional Study of Coronavirus Disease Prevention Practices among University Staff and Students in Durban, South Africa in 2020–2021
- Authors: Sibiya, Maureen Nokuthula , Oladimeji, Kelech Elizabeth , Anyiam, Felix Emeka , Oladimeji, Olanrewaju
- Date: 2023/01
- Subjects: Covid-19 prevention , Practices , University staff and students , Durban University of South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/11260/13228 , vital:78107 , DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/idr15010009
- Description: Background: Globally, the COVID-19 pandemic has had a negative impact on individuals, education, and the economy. During its peak, the pandemic forced school closures. Although there is currently no cure for corona virus, non-pharmaceutical measures can help prevent its spread. Among these preventive measures are regular handwashing with soap and water or the use of hand sanitizers, avoiding touching the mouth, nose, and eyes, social distancing, and the use of face masks. As a result, this study investigated COVID-19 prevention practices among Durban University of Technology staff and students in South Africa. Methods: Using a cross-sectional study design, data were gathered online via self-administered, structured questionnaires from 5849 university students and staff members between May 2020 and March 2021. Utilizing descriptive statistics, the characteristics of the study sample were reported. Using logistic regression models, the relationship between demographic characteristics and the overall level of COVID-19 preventive practices was evaluated. Results: The multivariate logistic regression model showed statistically significantly associations for COVID-19 preventive practices by: male (AOR: 9.815, 95% CI: 1.721–55.959, p = 0.01) compared to female participants, single participants (AOR: 6.012, 95% CI: 2.070–17.461, p = 0.001) compared to other marital categories, and those in the faculty of Health Sciences (AOR: 1.721, 95% CI: 1.023–2.894, p = 0.041) compared to other faculties. Conclusions: Overall, the study’s preventive practices were commendable; they were also influenced by socio-demographic factors such as age, gender, marital status, and university faculty. Increasing age was associated with reduced compliance with COVID-19 preventive practices. In addition, men demonstrated greater caution than women.
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- Date Issued: 2023/01
A Cross-Sectional Study of Professional Nurses’ Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices Regarding Organ Donation in Critical Care Units of Public and Private Hospitals in the Eastern Cape, South Africa
- Authors: Green, Bukelwa , Mtise, Tobeka , Oladimeji, Olanrewaju
- Date: 2023/01
- Subjects: Organ donation , Transplantation , Knowledge , Attitudes , Practice , Professional nurses , Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/11260/13242 , vital:78114 , DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/nursrep13010024
- Description: Background: Globally, there is an overwhelming increase in the number of patients waiting for donated organs for transplantation, with a gross shortage of available organs. Lack of clear practice guidelines and the knowledge and attitudes of health care providers were hypothesized as possible reasons. We aimed to determine the attitudes, level of knowledge, and practices of professional nurses working in critical care units in public and private hospitals in Eastern Cape Province regarding organ donation. Method: The study used a quantitative, non-experimental, descriptive design to investigate the current knowledge, attitude, and practice of organ donation in critical care among 108 professional nurses working in public and private critical care units in Eastern cape. Data were collected between 26 February 2017 until 27 June 2017 using anonymous, self-administered, pretested questionnaires. The means of knowledge, and practice scores were estimated among participants, and their associated categorical explanatory variables were ascertained. Results: A total of 108 nurses participated in the study. Of these, 94 (87.0%) were female, 78 (72.2%) were black, 104 (96.3%) were Christians, 79 (73.2%) worked in an ICU, 79 (73.2%) had a diploma qualification, and 67 (62.0%) worked in a tertiary hospital. About 67% of the respondents had good knowledge, 53% had a positive attitude, and 50.4% had poor practice readiness toward organ donation...
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- Date Issued: 2023/01
Combustion synthesis of nanocrystalline Ba1.3Ca0.7SiO4 semiconductors using urea as an energy efficient fuel
- Authors: Golja, Desta R , Dejene, Francis B
- Date: 2023/01
- Subjects: Silicate , Urea , Metal oxide , Photoluminescence , Solution combustion synthesis
- Language: English
- Type: Article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/11260/13179 , vital:78007 , DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/inorganics11020048
- Description: The τ-phase Ba1.3Ca0.7SiO4 alkaline earth silicate powders were synthesized using the solution combustion technique. For this purpose, metal nitrate–urea mixtures were used as anoxidant and a fuel. Urea’s main function was to help lower the nominal combustion temperature (~550 ◦C) of the mixtures through exothermic reactions, leading to a relatively mild post-annealing temperature (~750 ◦C). If the urea concentration increased, the interconnected silicate particle size decreased with nanoscale crystallite (average, 33 ± 3 nm), affecting optical properties. Finally, the photoluminescence spectra suggested that the light emission was through trap sites, because the emitted blue and green lights (2.6 and 2.3 eV, respectively) were smaller than the bandgap (~3.2 eV) of the Ba1.3Ca0.7SiO4 semiconductor.
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- Date Issued: 2023/01
Knowledge on Cervical Cancer Services and Associated Risk Factors by Health Workers in the Eastern Cape Province
- Authors: Ncane, Ziphelele , Faleni, Monwabisi , Pulido-Estrada, Guillermo , Apalata, R Teke , Mabunda, A Sikhumbuzo , Chitha, Wezile , Nomatshila, Cyprin Sibusiso
- Date: 2023/01
- Subjects: Cervical cancer , Pap smear , Screening , Risk facotors , Knowledge
- Language: English
- Type: Article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/11260/13566 , vital:78953 , DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare11030325
- Description: Globally, cancer is a leading cause of death, with cervical cancer ranking second among all cancers. Its adversity impacts not only individuals but also families, societies, and governments. The quality of services, as informed by the knowledge and adequacy of the health workers, plays an important role in both prevention, diagnosis, and management of the disease. A cross-sectional study among 108 purposively selected health workers in rural health facilities in the Eastern Cape province was conducted to assess knowledge on cervical cancer and associated risk factors through the use of validated structured questionnaires. The Statistical Package for Social Sciences was used for analysis, with a 95% confidence interval and a p-value of 0.05 considered significant. A total of 91.7% of the 108 participants were female, and 25% were over the age of 50. A total of 88% and 85.2% indicated sexually transmitted disease and human immunodeficiency virus as major risk factors, respectively. The HPV, pap smear, and vaccination age were known by 64.8%, and vaccine availability was known by 71.3%. Only 40.7% of workers were trained on cervical screening, and 35.2% were trained on the interpretation of pap smear results. An overall knowledge score of 53% was obtained, with more experienced clinicians scoring lower grades. This study identified inadequacies in essential knowledge for successful implementation of cervical cancer services and found that extensive training was needed.
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- Date Issued: 2023/01
Prevalence and Causes of Elective Surgical Cancellations: Findings from a Rural Tertiary Hospital in the Eastern Cape, South Africa
- Authors: Sukwana, Abongile , Mrara, Busisiwe , Oladimeji, Olanrewaju
- Date: 2023/01
- Subjects: prevalence , cancellation , elective surgical procedure , rural tertiary hospital
- Language: English
- Type: Article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/11260/13271 , vital:78418 , DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare11020270
- Description: Background: Cancellations of elective surgeries adversely affect the patient, hospital staff, facility, and health system. Cancellations potentially result in hospital financial losses, theatre inefficiency, and substandard patient care. A common benchmark for the cancellation rate of elective surgeries is less than five percent, and most operating rooms fall short of this standard. There is a paucity of data on the rates and causes of elective surgical cancellations in rural, resource-limited settings. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of elective surgery cancellations, the causes for such cancellations, and the surgical disciplines most affected at Nelson Mandela Academic Hospital (NMAH). Methodology: This was an observational, descriptive, cross-sectional review of operating theatre records from January 2019 to July 2019. The prevalence and main causes of elective case cancellations were determined. The causes were classified, and the most affected surgical departments and patient characteristics were identified. Results: The prevalence of elective surgical case cancellations was 14.4% in our hospital, higher than the international benchmark of 5%. Patient-, facility-, and surgical-related factors were the leading causes of cancellations, and avoidable cancellations were mostly surgical- and anaesthetic-related. Ophthalmology was the most affected, followed by gynaecology and general surgery, with plastic surgery being the least affected. The most common patient-related factors were nonattendance and uncontrolled medical conditions, while overbooking was the most common surgical reason. Abnormal investigatory results and unfit status were the most common anaesthetic reasons. Facility-related issues included the lack of theatre time, equipment scarcity or malfunction, and staff unavailability. Most cancellations were unavoidable, but with careful planning, could be avoided. Conclusion and recommendations: This study identified challenges with theatre efficiency in a rural, resource-limited setting that call for the cooperation of multidisciplinary teams of surgeons, anaesthetists, nursing staff, and health care policymakers.
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- Date Issued: 2023/01