Sam Ntuli

• Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University

Background: Hyperbilirubinaemia is a contributing condition to the prevalence of neonatal hearing loss. Because of its pathophysiology, the use of Otoacoustic Emissions (OAE) and Automated Auditory Brainstem Response (AABR) testing is essential in diagnosing hearing loss. Two-tier screening models are typically used in developing world contexts;...

Background To determine the speciality preferences and the gender differences in the choice of speciality among medical students at Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University, South Africa. Methods This cross-sectional study was conducted among fourth- to sixth-year medical students. A structured self-administered questionnaire was used to collect...

Background. Despite numerous interventions to prevent neonatal heat loss, preventing hypothermia after delivery continues to be aconcern in developing countries.Objective. To determine the prevalence of hypothermia and its risk factors among preterm very-low-birthweight infants admitted to the neonatal care unit (NCU) of a tertiary hospital in Limp...

Background A nursing care plan is a guideline developed for a patient's needs. A well-documented care plan provides holistic patient-centred care and includes assessing, evaluating, and administering a variety of interventions as well as teaching patients and families. There are existing tools to measure nurses' knowledge, attitude, and practices i...

Background: Globally, mental disorders are common among nursing students; therefore, effective prevention and early detection are urgently needed. However, the prevalence rate of anxiety symptoms has not been investigated in South African nursing colleges. Aim: The study aimed to assess the prevalence of anxiety symptoms and their sociodemographic...

Background: Multiple myeloma (MM) is a plasma cell malignancy associated with morbidity and mortality worldwide, and most patients are referred for specialist care very late with complications. The low index of suspicion among medical practitioners is among the reasons for the delay in MM diagnosis and management. This study aimed to determine the...

Background: Job satisfaction has become an area of relevance and debate in public health as it is directly linked to staff absenteeism, retention and turnover of the workforce and as such, influences the organisational commitment of the workers and the quality of health services provided. It is therefore essential to discern what drives healthcare...

The purpose of this study was to determine and identify the pattern of mental health disorders found at a referral hospital in eSwatini. In this retrospective study, 307 patient medical records of people living with mental health disorders seen at a referral hospital in eSwatini, were consecutively sampled. Results are summarised as frequencies and...

Glycaemic control among patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D) is suboptimal and early control can reduce the risk associated with complications. Effective monitoring of glycaemic control is important and currently glycated haemoglobin (HBA1c) and whole blood capillary testing using glucometers are used to monitor glycaemic control. Both these methods...

BACKGROUND: Persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn (PPHN) is a condition of high pulmonary arterial pressures leading to hypoxaemia and continued shunting of blood across fetal channels as a result of failure of circulatory transition at birthOBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence and outcomes of PPHN at Mankweng Hospital, Limpopo Provinc...

Background: Sustainable Developmental Goal (SDG) no 3 of the United Nations Organisation places emphasise on ensuring healthy lives and promoting the well-being of all people of all age groups. Yet the prevalence of Gestational Diabetes Mellitus (GDM) is increasing and this can have an adverse impact on maternal and infant health and well-being. Cu...

Background: Cervical cancer remains the major public problem worldwide and the most common gynaecological malignancy in the developing world, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa. Aim: To determine the prevalence of abnormal cervical cytology amongst women with and without human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and examine the association between HIV an...

BACKGROUND. Preterm very low birthweight (VLBW) infants remain a challenge worldwide. Local information on factors associated with mortality of VLBW infant is lacking. OBJECTIVE. To identify the factors associated with the mortality of preterm VLBW infants at a tertiary hospital in Limpopo Province, South Africa. METHODS. A retrospective study was...

Introduction: annually, many people die due to being exposed to secondhand smoke (SHS) which they experience at a number of premises that include health institutions. Scientists agree that there is no safe exposure level to SHS, however, in the City of Bulawayo many people are exposed to SHS. There are great expectations from communities for health...

Objective To review and compare underlying causes of maternal deaths in Limpopo Province (LP) using data of the National Committee of Confidential Enquiry into Maternal Deaths in South Africa (NCCEMD). Method This is a review of the findings of the causes of maternal deaths from the two trienniums 2011-2013 and 2014-2016 of the NCCEMD. When pregnan...

Background: Prematurity and low birthweight (LBW) deliveries amongst pregnant women infected with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) remain a challenge worldwide. The association between prematurity, LBW and antiretroviral therapy (ART) or prophylactic antiretroviral drug (ARV) exposure in pregnancy is unclear. This study evaluates the risk of...

p> Abstract Objective : To determine the coping strategies used by nurses providing maternal and perinatal care in the hospitals of the Limpopo Province, South Africa. Methods : A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted in public hospitals (1tertiary, 2regional and 3district hospitals).A sample ofnurses andunit managers on duty at the tim...

Background: Prematurity and low birthweight (LBW) deliveries amongst pregnant women infected with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) remain a challenge worldwide. The association between prematurity, LBW and antiretroviral therapy (ART) or prophylactic antiretroviral drug (ARV) exposure in pregnancy is unclear. This study evaluates the risk of...

Background The shortage and unequal distribution of medical doctors in low- and middle-income countries continues to be a public health concern. Objective To establish the geographical distribution and demographic profile of medical doctors in public sector hospitals of the Limpopo Province, South Africa. Method The PERSAL system was used to obta...

Objective: To understand the elements influencing the maternal deaths in the Limpopo province, South Africa. Methods: A retrospective review of all maternal deaths which occurred at the Pietersburg Hospital, Limpopo province was done over a five-year period (January 2011 to December 2015). The hospital death register was used to collate a list of...

Objective: To understand the elements influencing the maternal deaths in the Limpopo province, South Africa. Methods: A retrospective review of all maternal deaths which occurred at the Pietersburg Hospital, Limpopo province was done over a five-year period (January 2011 to December 2015). The hospital death register was used to collate a list of m...

p> Background : Obstetric haemorrhage is potentially fatal. Its frequency contributes to assessment of population health. So this study purpose was to assess the maternal death s due to obstetric haemorrhage in a tertiary hospital of the Limpopo Province, South Africa. Methods : All maternal deaths, which occurred at Pietersburg Hospital from Jan...

Background. HIV/AIDS is one of the most common underlying causes of death in children between the ages of 3 months and 5 years in sub-Saharan Africa. In Limpopo Province, South Africa, the prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) programme introduced in early 2000 and paediatric ARV roll-out have had a poor uptake due to various factors....

BACKGROUND: HIV/AIDS is one of the most common underlying causes of death in children between the ages of 3 months and 5 years in sub-Saharan Africa. In Limpopo Province, South Africa, the prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) programme introduced in early 2000 and paediatric ARV roll-out have had a poor uptake due to various factors....

BACKGROUND: The aim of the study was to determine the prevalence and determinants of chronic non-communicable disease (NCD) risk factors in a rural community in the Limpopo Province of South Africa. METHODS: This survey was conducted using the WHO "STEPwise approach to the surveillance of non-communicable diseases" (STEPS) methodology. Participan...