Research Articles (Public Health)

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Role and contribution of private healthcare sector doctors in the management of HIV-infected patients in the eThekwini Metropolitan area of KwaZulu-Natal.
(MedPharm, 2007) Naidoo, Panjasaram.; Jinabhai, Champaklal Chhaganlal.; Taylor, Myra.
Private healthcare sector doctors have a pivotal role to play in the management of HIV and AIDS infection. These doctors need to have an accurate knowledge of the management of the infection, and a positive attitude towards the treatment of persons with HIV and AIDS. This study investigated the extent of private healthcare sector doctor involvement in the management of HIV and AIDS patients and their training needs. Across sectional descriptive study of private general practitioners and specialists was undertaken in the eThekwini Metro of KwaZulu-Natal. Structured self-report questionnaires were sent to 931 private healthcare sector doctors. Of the 331 (35.6%) responses received, three doctors did not complete the questionnaire, 235 (71.6%) doctors managed HIV and AIDS patients, but 93 (28.4%) doctors did not; of these, 48 (51.61%) had not encountered HIV and AIDS patients, 25 (26.88%) referred such patients to specialists, six (6.45%) cited cost factors as reasons for not treating such patients, whilst 12 (12.90%) doctors, though they indicated that there were other reasons for not managing HIV-infected patients, did not specify the reason. Two doctors (2.15%) indicated that due to inadequate knowledge they did not manage HIV and AIDS patients. Most doctors, 151 (63.5%), managed between 1-20 patients, whilst 19 (8%) managed more than 200 patients. The mean number of years since doctors had qualified was 22.02 (SD 10.58). Significantly more younger (recently qualified) doctors than older (qualified more years) doctors treated HIV/AIDS patients (p<0.001). Most doctors (76.3%) expressed a need for more training/knowledge on the management of HIV patients in areas such as overall HIV care (59%), antiretroviral therapy (53%), side effect management (39%) and therapeutic monitoring (35%); 194 (62.2%) doctors indicated their willingness to participate in a post graduate diploma in HIV and AIDS management. These results suggest that increased private sector doctor involvement in the treatment of HIV/AIDS patients needs to be facilitated. Addressing doctors’ training needs could contribute to achieving this.
Knowledge, attitudes and perceptions of pharmacy and nursing students towards male circumcision and HIV in a KwaZulu-Natal University, South Africa.
(AOSIS, 2011) Naidoo, Panjasaram.; Dawood, Farzana.; Driver, Christine.; Narainsamy, Magdalene.; Ndlovu, Sikhanyiso.; Ndlovu, Victor.
Background: Male circumcision is currently being promoted in South Africa as a Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) prevention method. Effective implementation requires that healthcare providers should believe in the procedure’s efficacy and should possess a positive attitude. A study was undertaken amongst pharmacy and nursing students with different objectives. Objectives: To ascertain students’ knowledge, attitudes and perceptions regarding male circumcision and (HIV) prevention. Method: A descriptive cross-sectional study using anonymous questionnaires was undertaken amongst 4th year pharmacy and nursing students studying at a university in KwaZulu-Natal, after obtaining their consent. Data were captured and analysed using SPSS version 15. Results: A response rate of 83.18% and a mean knowledge score of 66.43% with relatively positive attitudes (62.7) were obtained; 85.4% of the respondents felt that promoting male circumcision is appropriate, with all Muslim students (n < 11) supporting the promotion of male circumcision. Even though all Muslim students supported male circumcision, only 3 students were willing to perform the procedure if adequately trained (p < 0.03). The majority of the female students were unwilling to perform the procedure (p < 0.005). A third of the respondents indicated that male circumcision would both undermine existing protective behaviours and strategies as well as increase riskier sexual behaviour. Over 54% of the respondents believed that the South African Health System would be able to cope with the massive male circumcision drive. The majority of the respondents favoured the procedure to be done at birth. Pain was cited as the most important reason for not wanting to be circumcised. Conclusion: Pharmacy and nursing students have a moderate knowledge of male circumcision and HIV prevention with relatively positive attitudes. The majority felt that promoting male circumcision is appropriate and should be encouraged.
The willingness of private-sector doctors to manage public-sector HIV/AIDS patients in the eThekwini metropolitan region of KwaZulu-Natal.
(AOSIS, 2009) Naidoo, Panjasaram.; Jinabhai, Champaklal Chhaganlal.; Taylor, Myra.
Background: South Africa is severely affected by the AIDS pandemic and this has resulted in an already under-resourced public sector being placed under further stress, while there remains a vibrant private sector. To address some of the resource and personnel shortages facing the public sector in South Africa, partnerships between the public and private sectors are slowly being forged. However, little is known about the willingness of private-sector doctors in the eThekwini Metropolitan (Metro) region of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa to manage public-sector HIV and AIDS patients. Objectives: To gauge the willingness of private-sector doctor to manage public-sector HIV and AIDS patients and to describe factors that may infuence their responses. Method: A descriptive cross-sectional study was undertaken among private-sector doctors, both general practitioners (GPs) and specialists, working in the eThekwini Metro, using an anonymous, structured questionnaire to investigate their willingness to manage public-sector HIV and AIDS patients and the factors associated with their responses. Chi-square and independent t-tests were used to evaluate associations. Odds ratios were determined using a binary logistic regression model. A p value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: Most of the doctors were male GPs aged 30–50 years who had been in practice for more than 10 years. Of these, 133 (77.8%) were willing to manage public-sector HIV and AIDS patients, with 105 (78.9%) reporting adequate knowledge, 99 (74.4%) adequate time, and 83 (62.4%) adequate infrastructure. Of the 38 (22.2%) that were unwilling to manage these patients, more than 80% cited a lack of time, knowledge and infrastructure to manage them. Another reason cited by five doctors (3.8%) who were unwilling, was the distance from public-sector facilities. Of the 33 specialist doctors, 14 (42.4%) indicated that they would not be willing to manage public-sector HIV and AIDS patients, compared with only 24 (17.4%) of the 138 GPs (p < 0.01). Conclusion: Many private-sector doctors are willing to manage public-sector HIV and AIDS patients in the eThekwini Metro, potentially removing some of the current burden on the public health sector.
Identification of sources from which doctors in the private sector obtain information on HIV and AIDS.
(MedPharm, 2009) Naidoo, Panjasaram.; Jinabhai, Champaklal Chhaganlal.; Taylor, Myra.
Background: Doctors need to constantly update their knowledge and obtain information in order to practise high-quality medicine. Antiretroviral drugs have been available only since around 1996, therefore many of the doctors who were trained prior to 1996 would not have received any formal training in the management of HIV and AIDS patients. Where doctors source their general medical knowledge has been established, but little is known about where doctors source information on HIV/AIDS. This study investigated where private sector doctors from the eThekwini Metro obtain information on HIV and AIDS for patient management. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study among 133 private general practitioners (GPs) and 33 specialist doctors in the eThekwini Metro of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, was conducted with the use of questionnaires. The questionnaires were analysed using SPSS version 15. A p value of < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: The majority of the doctors (92.4%) obtained information on HIV and AIDS from journals. Continuing Medical Education (CME), textbooks, pharmaceutical representatives, workshops, colleagues and conferences were identified as other sources of information, while only 35.7% of doctors were found to use the internet for information. GPs and specialists differed significantly with regard to their reliance on colleagues (52.9% versus 72.7%; p < 0.05) and conferences (48.6% versus 78.8%; p < 0.05) as sources of HIV information. More than 90% of doctors reported that CME courses contributed to better management of HIV and AIDS patients. Conclusion: Private sector doctors in the eThekwini Metro obtain information on HIV from reliable sources in order to have up-to-date knowledge on the management of HIV-infected patients.
Private healthcare sector doctors and HIV testing practices in the eThekwini Metro of KwaZulu-Natal.
(MedPharm, 2010) Naidoo, Panjasaram.
Background: Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) testing has many logistic and ethical challenges. The UNAIDS/WHO policy statement states that the testing of individuals must be confidential, be accompanied by counselling, and be conducted with informed consent. HIV testing is integral to the management of the epidemic, and since KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) has the highest prevalence of AIDS in South Africa, it is vital that doctors in this province are knowledgeable about HIV testing practices. This study was undertaken in view of the lack of data on private sector doctors’ HIV testing practices in KwaZulu-Natal. Method: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among private sector doctors who manage HIV and AIDS patients in the eThekwini Metro of KZN. One hundred private practitioners were randomly selected from a sample of 175 consenting private sector doctors. These doctors were asked to fill in an anonymous questionnaire. The questionnaires were collected and analysed using SPSS® version 15. Results: A response rate of 60% was obtained, with 57 (95%) indicating that they do HIV testing after obtaining patients’ consent. Over 96% of the doctors carried out pre-test counselling, while over 98% did post-test counselling. Eighty-one per cent did a confirmatory test if the patient tested positive, while 49% performed a confirmatory test if the patient tested negative; over 50% did the test after three months. Forty-seven per cent did not know or failed to indicate what confirmatory test they used. The majority did not disclose patient status or do counselling in the presence of others. However, if it was done, it was done with the consent of the patient or the parents in cases where the patient was a minor. The majority stated that they follow the guidelines when testing. Conclusion: The HIV testing practices of private sector doctors who participated in the study are compliant with the UNAIDS/WHO policy statement regarding confidentiality, informed consent and counselling. However, doctors’ knowledge of confirmatory test appears to be inadequate.
Focus group discussion with private sector doctors in the eThekwini Metro of KwaZulu-Natal on the management of HIV/AIDS patients.
(MedPharm, 2010) Naidoo, Panjasaram.
Background: Highly active antiretroviral treatment (HAART) is essential in the treatment of HIV/AIDS; however, a holistic approach to HIV/AIDS management is important. This study was done to confirm the findings of two studies done previously in the eThekwini Metro of KwaZulu-Natal on private sector doctors’ management of HIV-infected patients and to obtain more in-depth information about their nonpharmacological management of HIV-infected patients. Methods: Two focus group discussions were conducted amongst private sector doctors in the eThekwini Metro, after obtaining their consent. The focus group sessions were scripted, audio-taped and transcribed verbatim. Prevalent themes were identified and reported. Results: Eight doctors participated. Of the total patient population seen annually by the majority of the doctors, an average of 43.8% was HIV infected. Doctors in this study managed their patients both pharmacologically and nonpharmacologically. Seventy-five per cent of doctors indicated that the taste of medicine played an important role in nonadherence to treatment, but all agreed that cultural beliefs also influenced the patient’s adherence to medication. Theft of medicines and the out of-stock situation prevented antiretroviral drug access, which impacted negatively on adherence. Five doctors mentioned that depressed patients abused alcohol, resulting in nonadherence. One doctor reported that he used the biopsychosocial approach to improve adherence in his patients. Doctors indicated that the disability grant given by the South African Government caused patients not to adhere to treatment in order to maintain a CD4 count of 200 or less so as to qualify for the grant. Conclusions: The study confirmed the previous study findings in that it showed that private sector doctors manage their HIV-infected patients both pharmacologically and nonpharmacologically. It further provided new and interesting information with regard to the nonpharmacological methods employed in HIV/AIDS management, that is the incorporation of cultural beliefs in the management of HIV-infected patients to improve adherence to treatment, and the role of the disability grant and pharmaceutical formulations in contributing to nonadherence by HIV-infected patients.
Evaluation of the clinical management of HIV-infected patients by private sector doctors in the eThekwini Metro, KwaZulu-Natal.
(MedPharm, 2009) Naidoo, Panjasaram.; Esterhuizen, Tonya.; Jinabhai, Champaklal Chhaganlal.; Taylor, Myra.
Background: Although private sector doctors are the backbone of treatment service in many countries, caring for patients with HIV entails a whole new set of challenges and difficulties. The few studies done on the quality of care of HIV patients, in the private sector in developing countries, have highlighted some problems with management. In South Africa, two-thirds of doctors work in the private sector. Though many studies on HIV/AIDS have been undertaken, few have been done in the private sector in terms of the management of this disease. Therefore, a study was undertaken to evaluate the clinical management of HIV-infected patients by private sector doctors. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was undertaken in the eThekwini Metro in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, with 190 private sector doctors who, in the first phase of the study, indicated that they manage HIV and AIDS patients and would be willing to participate in the second phase of the study. The HIV guidelines of the Department of Health and Human Services and the South African National Department of Health were used to compare the treatment of HIV patients by these doctors. Results: Eighty-five doctors (54.5%) always measured the CD4 count and viral load levels at diagnosis. Both CD4 counts and viral load were always used by 76 doctors (61.8%) to initiate therapy. Of the doctors, 134 (78.5%) initiated therapy at CD4 count < 200 cells/mm3. The majority of doctors prescribed triple therapy regimens using the 2 NRTI + 1 NNRTI combination. Doctors who utilised CD4 counts tended to also use viral load (VL) to assess effectiveness and change therapy (p < 0.001). At initiation of treatment, 68.5% of the doctors saw their patients monthly and 64.3% saw them every three to six months, when stable. Conclusion: The majority of private sector doctors were compliant with current guidelines for HIV management, hence maintaining an acceptable quality of clinical healthcare.
Adherence-monitoring practices by private healthcare sector doctors managing HIV and AIDS patients in the eThekwini metro of KwaZulu-Natal.
(MedPharm, 2009) Naidoo, Panjasaram.; Taylor, Myra.; Jinabhai, Champaklal Chhaganlal.
Background: The danger of poor adherence to treatment by patients with HIV infection is that poor adherence correlates with clinical and virological failure. Understanding how private-sector doctors monitor adherence by their HIV-infected patients could assist in developing interventions to improve adherence by these patients. Information about such practices amongst private-sector doctors in the province of KwaZulu-Natal, however, is limited. This study was, therefore, undertaken to assess the private-sector doctor adherence-monitoring practices of HIV-infected patients in the eThekwini metro of KwaZulu-Natal. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was undertaken amongst private general practitioners (GPs) and specialists managing HIV/AIDS patients in the eThekwini metro. Anonymous semi-structured questionnaires were used to investigate adherence-monitoring practices by these doctors and their strategies to improve adherence. Results: A total of 171 doctors responded, with over 75% in practice for over 11 years and 78.9% indicating that they monitored adherence. A comparison between the GPs and the specialists found that 82.6% of the GPs monitored adherence compared with 63.6% of the specialists (p = 0.016). The doctors used several approaches, with 60.6% reporting the use of patient self-reports and 18.3% reporting the use of pill counts. A total of 68.7% of the doctors indicated that their adherence monitoring was reliable, whilst 19.7% indicated that they did not test the reliability of their monitoring tools. The most common strategy used to improve adherence by their patients was through counselling. Other strategies included alarm clocks, SMSs, telephone calls to the patients, the encouragement of family support and the use of medical aid programmes. Conclusions: Private-sector doctors managing HIV/AIDS patients in the eThekwini metro of KwaZulu-Natal do monitor adherence and employ strategies to improve adherence.
Impact of HIV/AIDS on education and poverty.
(UN Department of Public Information., 2011) Ijumba, Nelson Mutatina.
South Africa has the largest number of children orphaned or made vulnerable by HIV/AIDS. In the face of AIDS, poverty, and violence, education is a precious right for the children of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.

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