AA 2005 Supplementum 1

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Browsing AA 2005 Supplementum 1 by Author "Matebesi, Zacheus"

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    DNA fingerprinting analyses of M tuberculosis-complex isolates from the Free State, South Africa, as part of a multidisciplinary study
    (University of the Free State, 2005) Van der Spoel-van Dijk, Anneke; Mokhethi, Zac; Khumalo, Macala; Shamputa, Choala; Matebesi, Zacheus; Van Rensburg, Dingie; Portaels, Françoise; Rigouts, Leen
    English: The objective of this study was to serve as a complement to socio-economic analyses of TB patients in a DOTS system, providing microbiological data and documenting the TB population dynamics. Sputum samples were collected from smear-positive TB patients in the Goldfields, Thaba Nchu and Qwaqwa areas. Laboratory analyses comprised the culturing of Mycobacterium tuberculosis isolates and DNA fingerprinting. The primary aim was hampered by problems encountered during specimen sampling, inadequate resources, and a low culture-positivity rate. Nevertheless, the fingerprinting data of a random sample showed a heterogenous TB population, suggesting that reactivation might be an important factor in the area studied. Clustering was the highest in the mining area. Preliminary data from serial isolates also detected possible re-infection during treatment or initial mixed infections in five of the eleven patients.
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    Healthcare-seeking behaviour among clinic-based tuberculosis patients
    (University of the Free State, 2005) Matebesi, Zacheus; Meulemans, Herman; Timmerman, Christiane
    English: This study investigated the factors influencing recourse to healthcare in a sample of 220 tuberculosis (TB) patients. Data collection was by means of face-to-face interviews. Patients sought help mainly from primary healthcare clinics (46%) and private doctors (40%). The mean patient delay was seven weeks, with only 21% of patients seeking professional healthcare within less than two weeks. The results show that lack of awareness of TB and use of a home remedy were significantly associated with a delay of longer than two weeks in seeking healthcare. These findings indicate an urgent need to educate communities on the signs and symptoms of TB, as well as the need to attend designated health facilities for early diagnosis and proper treatment.
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    Social capital and community TB care in the Free State, South Africa
    (University of the Free State, 2005) Meulemans, Herman; Van Ouytsel, Jeff; Rigouts, Leen; Mortelmans, Dimitri; Heunis, Christo; Matebesi, Zacheus; Van Rensburg, Dingie
    English: Where do TB patients turn for help in the South African health care system? Do they go to a clinic or a community health centre for ambulant treatment, thus retaining contact with their families and local communities? Or are they hospitalised, which means that they can no longer perform their normal duties? In order to answer these questions, a data set was compiled on the basis of oral interviews with a stratified random sample of 310 pulmonary TB patients in the Free State province. A logistic regression analysis of the data revealed that TB patients who can rely on an extended network of relationships, with relatively large amounts of social capital at their disposal, generally make use of clinic treatment and community TB care. Clinics play a central role in TB control programmes, not only as a locus of treatment, but also as a point from which patients can be referred to higher echelons in the healthcare system.