The integration of mental health care act in primary care: an audit of the use of mental health care act forms for patients´ admission and the effect of continuing medical education on health professionals´ performance of usage, based on Letsholathebe II

Introduction: despite the adoption of mental disorders act in 1972, the use of required mental health care act (MHCA) forms during admission of patients with mental illnesses remained below the legal expectation in the Maun District Hospital. This study audited Letsholathebe II Memorial Hospital (LIIMH) professionals´ usage of MHCA forms. Methods: this was a quasi-experimental study that audited files of patients admitted with mental illnesses, before, three and six months after a continuing medical education (CME). Cochran Q, McNemar symmetry Chi-square were used for comparison of performance. Results: of the 239 eligible files, we accessed 235 (98.3%). About two in ten (n=36/235, 15.3%) MHCA forms were not used in combination with required forms. The quasi-majority of MHCA forms set used, aligned with involuntary admission (n=134/137, 97.8%). Required admission MHCA forms significantly increased from nil before continuing medical education (CME-0), to 64.6% (n=51/79) at CME-3 and 77% (n=59/77) at CME-6 (p<0.001). However, there was no statistical difference between the last two periods (64.6% vs 77%, p=0.164). Voluntary admission remained below 13% (n=10/79). Only six types of MHCA forms were used during this study. Conclusion: there was no adequate use of required MHCA forms at LIIMH before CME. Thereafter, the proportion of adequate use increased from period CME-0 to the periods CME-3 and CME-6. However, there was no difference in proportion between the last two periods. We recommend an effective and regular CME twice a year for health professionals on selected MHCA forms

Intimate partner violence: The need for an alternative primary preventive approach in Botswana

Intimate partner violence is a common social problem which causes considerable relationship stress and results in significant morbidity and mortality of the victims. Botswana, like many other countries in sub-Saharan Africa, has tried to address the problem of intimate partner violence with legislations prescribing punitive measures for the perpetrators and protection for the victims. The effectiveness of these measures in reducing the prevalence of intimate partner violence is doubtful. This article is to motivate for an alternative primary preventive approach to the problem as a more pragmatic option

Prevalence of human immunodeficiency virus — hepatitis B virus co-infection amongst adult patients in Mahalapye, Ngami, Serowe, Botswana: a descriptive cross-sectional study

Background: About 37 million people are living with human-immunodeficiency-virus (HIV) worldwide, with 2.6 million co-infected with the hepatitis B virus (HBV). HBV infection causes 650 000 deaths annually worldwide. Botswana has a high prevalence of HIV and a growing population of patients on highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART). This study aimed to determine the prevalence of HIV–HBV co-infection amongst HAART eligible adult patients in some rural settings in Botswana. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted amongst HAART eligible adult patients at 15 HAART clinics in the Mahalapye, Ngami and Serowe Health Districts of Botswana, from August to October 2015. A total of 132 were recruited; of these 118 consented and were tested for HBsAg reactivity using Elisa. Results: Six (5.1%, 6/118) patients from the three rural health districts were HIV–HBV co-infected, with three in the 20–29 age group. The association between sex and HIV–HBV co-infection status was not statistically significant; p = 1.00. Conclusion: The finding of 5.1% HIV–HBV co-infection prevalence in some rural settings of Botswana was similar to results from one study conducted in a Botswana urban centre, while another previous similar study reported prevalence as being twice as high. This finding may call for prioritisation of pre-HAART HBV screening and early HAART initiation for all HIV-infected patients. (Full text of the research articles are available online at www.medpharm.tandfonline.com/ojfp) S Afr Fam Pract 2017; DOI: 10.1080/20786190.2016.127223

Prevalence of human immunodeficiency virus — hepatitis B virus co-infection amongst adult patients in Mahalapye, Ngami, Serowe, Botswana: a descriptive cross-sectional study

Background: About 37 million people are living with human-immunodeficiency-virus (HIV) worldwide, with 2.6 million co-infected with the hepatitis B virus (HBV). HBV infection causes 650 000 deaths annually worldwide. Botswana has a high prevalence of HIV and a growing population of patients on highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART). This study aimed to determine the prevalence of HIV–HBV co-infection amongst HAART eligible adult patients in some rural settings in Botswana.&#x0D; &#x0D; Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted amongst HAART eligible adult patients at 15 HAART clinics in the Mahalapye, Ngami and Serowe Health Districts of Botswana, from August to October 2015. A total of 132 were recruited; of these 118 consented and were tested for HBsAg reactivity using Elisa.&#x0D; &#x0D; Results: Six (5.1%, 6/118) patients from the three rural health districts were HIV–HBV co-infected, with three in the 20–29 age group. The association between sex and HIV–HBV co-infection status was not statistically significant; p = 1.00. &#x0D; &#x0D; Conclusion: The finding of 5.1% HIV–HBV co-infection prevalence in some rural settings of Botswana was similar to results from one study conducted in a Botswana urban centre, while another previous similar study reported prevalence as being twice as high. This finding may call for prioritisation of pre-HAART HBV screening and early HAART initiation for all HIV-infected patients. &#x0D; &#x0D; (Full text of the research articles are available online at www.medpharm.tandfonline.com/ojfp)&#x0D; &#x0D; S Afr Fam Pract 2017; DOI: 10.1080/20786190.2016.1272230</jats:p

Prevention of mother-to-child transmission in HIV audit in Xhosa clinic, Mahalapye, Botswana

Background: The Mahalapye district health management team (DHMT) conducts regular audits to evaluate the standard of services delivered to patients, one of which is the prevention of mother-to-child-transmission (PMTCT) programme. Xhosa clinic is one of the facilities in Mahalapye which provides a PMTCT programme. Aim: This audit aimed to identify gaps between the current PMTCT clinical practice in Xhosa clinic and the Botswana PMTCT national guidelines. Setting: This audit took place in Xhosa clinic in the urban village of Mahalapye, in the Central District of Botswana. Methods: This was a retrospective audit using PMTCT Xhosa clinic records of pregnant mothers and HIV-exposed babies seen from January 2013 to June 2013. Results: One hundred and thirty-three pregnant women registered for antenatal care. Twenty-five (19%) knew their HIV-positive status as they had been tested before their pregnancy or had tested HIV positive at their first antenatal clinic visit. More than two-thirds of the 115 pregnant women (69%) were seen at a gestational age of between 14 and 28 weeks. About two-thirds of the pregnant women (67%) took antiretroviral drugs. Of the 44 HIV-exposed infants, 39 (89%) were HIV DNA PCR negative at 6 weeks. Thirty-two (73%) children were given cotrimoxazole prophylaxis between 6 and 8 weeks. Conclusion: The PMTCT programme service delivery was still suboptimal and could potentially increase the mother-to-child transmission of HIV. Daily monitoring mechanism to track those eligible could help to close the gap

COVID-19 frontline primary health care professionals’ perspectives on health system preparedness and response to the pandemic in the Mahalapye Health District, Botswana

Background: The World Health Organization issued interim guidelines on essential health system preparedness and response measures for the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. The control of the pandemic requires healthcare system preparedness and response.Aim: This study aimed to evaluate frontline COVID-19 primary health care professionals’ (PHC-Ps) views on health system preparedness and response to the pandemic in the Mahalapye Health District (MHD).Setting: In March 2020, the Botswana Ministry of Health directed health districts to educate their health professionals about COVID-19. One hundred and seventy frontline PHC-Ps were trained in MHD; they evaluated the health system’s preparedness and response.Methods: This was a cross-sectional study that involved a self-administered questionnaire using the Integrated Disease Surveillance and Health System response guidelines.Results: The majority (72.5%) of participants felt unprepared to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic at their level. Most of the participants (70.7%) acknowledged that the health system response plan has been followed. About half of the participants attributed a low score regarding the health system’s preparedness (44.4%), its response (50.0%), and its overall performance (55.6%) to the COVID-19 pandemic. There was an association between participants’ age and work experience and their overall perceptions of preparedness and response (p = 0.009 and p = 0.005, respectively).Conclusion: More than half of the participants gave a low score to the MHD regarding the health system’s preparedness and response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Further studies are required to determine the causes of such attitudes and to be better prepared to respond effectively.</jats:p

Corrigendum: The effectiveness of the South African Triage Tool use in Mahalapye District Hospital – Emergency Department, Botswana

No abstract available

The diabetic foot risks profile in Selebi Phikwe Government Hospital, Botswana

Aim: The present study aimed: (1) to evaluate the proportion of each diabetic foot (DF) risk category, according to the International Working Group on the Diabetic Foot (IWGDF) consensus, in patients attending the diabetic clinic in Selebi Phikwe Government Hospital (SPGH) and (2) to examine some of the factors that may be associated with the progression to higher risk categories such as anthropometric measurements, blood pressure, glycosylated haemoglobin (HbA1c) and lipid profile.Methods: A retrospective, cross sectional chart review of patients who had attended the diabetic clinic in SPGH from January 2013 to December 2013 was performed. Patients were included if they had undergone a foot examination. Patients with amputation due to accident were excluded. The DF risk category was assessed by determining the proportion of patients in each of four risk categories, as described by the IWGDF consensus.Results: The study encompassed 144 records from patients reviewed for foot examination from January to December 2013. Patients’ ages were between 16 and 85 years, 46 (40%) were male and 98 (60%) were female. The majority (122, [85%]) of patients were in DF risk category 0, whilst a limited number of patients were classified in risk category 1 (10, [6.9%]), risk category 2 (7, [4.9%]) and risk category 3 (5, [3.5%]). Most of the patients had the type 2 diabetes mellitus (139, [97%; 95% CI 92% − 99%]). Patients’ ages were associated with the progressively higher DF risk categories. The adjusted odd ratio was 1.1 (95% CI 1.03−1.14; p = 0.004).Conclusion: The present study revealed that about 15% of patients attending the SPGH diabetic clinic were categorised in higher risk groups for diabetic foot; patients’ ages were linked to the higher DF risk categories.</p

The effectiveness of the South African Triage Toll use in Mahalapye District Hospital – Emergency Department, Botswana

Background: The study aimed to determine the proportion of each priority level of patients, time of performance in each priority level, and the reliability of the South African Triage Scale (SATS) tool at the Mahalapye District Hospital - Emergency Department (MDH-ED), a setting where the majority of the nurses were not formally trained on the use of the SATS. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study using case records in MDH-ED from 1 January 2014 to 31 December 2014. A panel of experts from the Mahalapye site of the Family Medicine Department, University of Botswana, reviewed and scored each selected case record that was compared with the scores previously attributed to the nurse triage. Results: From the 315 case records, both the nurse triage and the panel of expert triage assigned the majority of cases in the routine category (green), 146 (46%) and 125 (40%), respectively, or in the urgent category (yellow), they assigned 140 (44%) and 111 (35%) cases, respectively.Overall, there was an adequate agreement between the nurse triage and the panel of expert triage (k = 0.4, 95% confidence interval: 0.3–0.5), although the level of agreement was satisfactory. Conclusion: Findings of the study reported that the profile of the priority-level categories in MDH-ED was made in the majority of routine and urgent patients, only the routine and the emergency patients were seen within the targeted time and they had a satisfactory level of reliability (between 0.4 and 0.6)