https://ir.unisa.ac.za/handle/10500/14545 2026-05-05T17:39:43Z https://ir.unisa.ac.za/handle/10500/9834 The social and clinical correlates of typhoid fever infection in Zaria, Northern Nigeria Anyebe, E.E.; Opaluwe, S.A.; Ajayi, A.D.; Garba, S.N. The study was carried out to assess the socio-demographic and clinical variables in typhoid infection in Zaria, Northern Nigeria. Such parameters as age, sex, occupation and places of residence as well as the prescription pattern for typhoid treatment were evaluated. This retrospective, non experimental study involved the collection of case records (files) of patients admitted in Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital, Zaria for typhoid fever for a five-year period. Retrieval of the data was done manually. A total of 118 cases were analyzed, some of the records required for analysis were missing, and were excluded. Most of the typhoid infections studied (66.5%) occurred during the rainy season in Zaria (May - November) with 40.7% of cases at the beginning of the rainy season (May / June). More females (55.3%), of all age and occupational groups were affected with higher incidences in young adults and students. Most of the patients (66.5%) were urban dwellers and the incidence between patients using well water and tap water was similar. Ciprofloxacin and ceftriaxone were the most frequently prescribed antibiotics; chloramphenicol use is still relatively common despite the 12.4% mortality and 28% relapse rate recorded. The findings of this study highlight the public health and social services challenges of typhoid infection in the Zaria metropolis. Communities, health authorities and governments should therefore focus more attention on preventive measures in view of the high costs of these newer antibiotics which now form the core of treatment of typhoid fever. Most patients will find this treatment modality unaffordable, taking into cognizance the socio-economic environment of Zaria. 2008-01-01T00:00:00Z https://ir.unisa.ac.za/handle/10500/9833 Experiences of HIV / AIDS stigma of persons living with HIV / AIDS and nurses involved in their care from five African countries Greeff, M.; Uys, L.R.; Holzemer, W.L.; Makoae, L.N.; Dlamini, P.S.; Kohi, T.W.; Chirwa, M.L.; Naidoo, J.R.; Phetlhu, R.D. The concept of stigma has received significant attention in recent years in the HIV / AIDS literature. Although there is some change towards the positive, AIDS still remains a significantly stigmatized condition. AIDS stigma and discrimination continue to influence people living with and affected by HIV (PLWA), as well as their health-care providers. Unless stigma is conquered, the illness will not be defeated. Due to the burden that HIV / AIDS places on people living in Africa, a five-year project entitled Perceived AIDS Stigma : A Multinational African Study was undertaken. The focus of the first phase of this project was on exploring and describing the meaning and effect of stigma on PLWA from the experiences of PLWA and the nurses involved in their care in five African countries : Lesotho, Swaziland, Malawi, South Africa and Tanzania. An exploratory descriptive qualitative research design was used to explore and describe the experience of stigma through the critical incident method. Purposive voluntary sampling was utilized. Forty-three focus group discussions were held with respondents to relate incidences which they themselves observed, as well as those that they themselves experienced in the community and in families. The transcribed data was analyzed through the technique of open coding using the NVivo 2.0 analysis package. Three types of stigma (received stigma, internal stigma and associated stigma) and several dimensions for each of these types of stigma emerged from the data. Recommendations were made to pursue these findings further. 2008-01-01T00:00:00Z https://ir.unisa.ac.za/handle/10500/9832 Factors motivating young people in Malawi to go for voluntary counselling and testing for HIV Mphaya, J.C.; Roos, Janetta H.; Ehlers, V.J. Background : Knowledge about how HIV is transmitted and one's own HIV status is a way to empower oneself. Young people (14-25 years) are more vulnerable to this infection. Knowledgeable young people can solve the problem regarding HIV / AIDS. Purpose and objectives : The purpose was to enable more young people in Malawi to utilise voluntary counselling and testing (VCT) services. The objectives of the study were to identify factors motivating young people to use VCT services Malawi, identify barriers preventing them from doing so and to formulate strategies for helping them to utilise VCT services. Only young people who had used VCT services participated in this study. Method : A quantitative, descriptive and exploratory research design was followed. Structured interviews were conducted with 145 respondents at three VCT service sites. Results : Young people go for VCT mainly to know their HIV status because they are sexually active and feel at risk. Exposure to education, proximity of VCT services, provision of VCT services by peers, and clean VCT sites motivate young people to access VCT services. Fear of being HIV positive, poor attitudes of health service providers towards young people, and long queues at VCT sites were seen as barriers to the utilisation of these services. Provision of more VCT information, involving young people as VCT counsellors and providers and the availability of youth-friendly health services will promote young people's utilisation of VCT services in Malawi. 2008-01-01T00:00:00Z https://ir.unisa.ac.za/handle/10500/9831 The experiences of mothers with children hospitalised in a children's emergency unit, Ghana Affram, C.K.; Laryea, J.; Allen, M.; Oliver-Commey, J.O. The main purpose of the study was to explore the experiences of mothers during their stay with their children when admitted to the Children's Emergency Unit (CEU). An exploratory, descriptive and qualitative design was used to determine the experiences of mothers who stayed in hospital with their children while they were hospitalised. Ten (n = 10) mothers were purposively selected from the CEU. Semi-structured, audio-taped interviews using a general interview guide was the method of data collection. The method used to analyse the data was content analysis. The findings revealed that the majority of mothers tried remedies to treat their children at home and sought professional health care as a last resort. While in hospital, the mothers were obliged to observe and care for their children. Being a cash and carry system, mothers had to pay for almost every service obtained. Stress increased as they stayed with their children. Analysis of factors that increased their stress indicate that financial issues, cost of drugs and food, inadequate facilities, and crowded environment were prominent. The mothers were constantly anxious and worried about their children's condition. These mothers were often ill, especially as the length of stay increased. They coped by accessing various forms of support, such as from family members, friends, one another and their relationship with God. 2008-01-01T00:00:00Z