Busisiwe Ncama - Academia.edu (original) (raw)

Papers by Busisiwe Ncama

Categorization of Participant Responses to Responsiveness Performances. Describes about the categ... more Categorization of Participant Responses to Responsiveness Performances. Describes about the categorization of responsiveness performances of each of the respondents and shows the cut-off points for each of the responsiveness domains using the response categories for each of the questions in the domains. (PDF 110Â kb)

Study Instruments. (DOCX 16 kb)

A summary of the study outcomes extracted from two hospital based studies focused on breast cance... more A summary of the study outcomes extracted from two hospital based studies focused on breast cancer awareness and early detection interventions in Kenya and India.<br>

Health status questionnaire (DOCX 14 kb)

Minibus taxi drivers ’ sexual beliefs and practices

BMC Cardiovascular Disorders, 2018

Background: Hypertension, diabetes mellitus and obesity share some characteristics in relation to... more Background: Hypertension, diabetes mellitus and obesity share some characteristics in relation to diagnosis, management, and prevention. Overweight, obesity and waist-hip ratio (WHR) are associated with increased risk for development of diabetes and hypertension. Surveillance and regular screening exercises are essential in control and prevention of overweight, obesity, diabetes and hypertension. There is limited literature that reported on these health status parameters among university staff in low-and middle-income countries such as Nigeria. It is currently unclear whether Nigerian have a high or low proportion of metabolic risk factors. Therefore, the study aims to examine health status parameters and their predictors among university staff in Nigeria. Methods: The study used a cross-sectional descriptive design. Data were collected from 280 university staff in Nigeria. A self-administered questionnaire with sections for sociodemographic data and physical assessment was used to gather information from the participants. Data were analysed using the Statistical Package for Social Science (IBM-SPSS version 25). Univariable and multivariable logistic regression was conducted to explore the association between predictors and health status parameters of the participants. Result: The response rate was 87.5%. University staff had mean systolic blood pressure of 132.04 mmHg ± 19. 20 mmHg, diastolic blood pressure of 78.11 mmHg ± 10.81 mmHg, body mass index of 27.74 ± 5.22, waist-hip ratio of 0.88 ± 0.68 and random blood sugar of 98.65 ± 21.30 mg/dL. Predictors of high blood pressure were age (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 1.10, CI 95%: [1.05-1.14]) and gender (aOR = 0.5, CI 95%: [0.8-0.9]) and predictors of body mass index were gender (aOR = 2.3, CI 95%: [1.3-4.2]) and religion (aOR = 0.3, CI 95%: [0.2-0.7]). Gender and age had statistically significant association with waist-hip ratio and random blood sugar respectively. Conclusion: The prevalence rates of high blood pressure and random blood sugar; overweight, obesity and risk WHR are on the increase compared to previous studies. Lifestyle modification, organized and explicit health campaigns coupled with regular screening and surveillance will contribute to the prevention and control of noncommunicable diseases.

Global Health Action, 2016

Background: Exclusive breastfeeding in the first 6 months offers protection from postnatal HIV in... more Background: Exclusive breastfeeding in the first 6 months offers protection from postnatal HIV infection but remains low in resource-poor settings. Documentation of experiences with exclusive breastfeeding is needed to strengthen infant feeding counselling by health care workers. Objective: To explore HIV-positive mothers' experiences with exclusive breastfeeding during the first 6 months of the infant's life. Design: A health facility-and community-based exploratory qualitative study was conducted among 30 HIVpositive mothers practising exclusive breastfeeding and meeting the selection criteria. In-depth interviews were conducted four times with the same participants at 6 days, 6 weeks, 12 weeks and 18 weeks after giving birth. Interviews were transcribed verbatim and files were imported into QRS NVivo Version 10 for coding, and data were analysed using the framework analysis. Results: We found that mothers were aware of the risks of mother-to-child transmission of HIV through breastmilk and recognised the benefits of exclusive breastfeeding to their exposed babies. However, they were particularly concerned about achieving HIV-free survival for their exposed infants because of problems faced during the first 6 months of infant feeding. Although they reported being supported by their families and/or friends, their poor health and nutrition impacted how well they cared for their infants' well-being. Conclusions: We conclude that exclusive breastfeeding was difficult to achieve because of individual circumstances. Therefore, prevention of mother-to-child transmission interventions that adopt a once-off infant feeding counselling do not achieve adequate preparation on the part of mothers to practice exclusive breastfeeding. There is a need to provide frontline health care workers with steps for consideration during infant feeding counselling.

The international journal of tuberculosis and lung disease : the official journal of the International Union against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease, 2006

Out-patient tuberculosis (TB) clinics in Durban, South Africa. Health care provider concerns abou... more Out-patient tuberculosis (TB) clinics in Durban, South Africa. Health care provider concerns about persons with active TB defaulting on medications led to a study of adherence among persons receiving anti-tuberculosis therapy and, specifically, the relationships between meaning in life, life goals, sense of coherence, social support, symptom presence and intensity, and adherence in individuals diagnosed with TB. A cross-sectional, descriptive design was used to gather self-reported data from TB-infected individuals who were enrolled in out-patient clinics. Data were collected from 159 Zulu and/or English-speaking persons who agreed to participate in the study. A significant relationship was found between higher life goals and adherence to TB treatment (P = 0.027). Analysis of variance revealed that higher meaning in life ratings were significantly associated with older age (P = 0.007). Having children and children living in the same household were significantly associated with low m...

International Journal of Nursing Studies, 2008

Background: A supportive social environment is critical for those with HIV/AIDS. In KwaZulu-Natal... more Background: A supportive social environment is critical for those with HIV/AIDS. In KwaZulu-Natal, in South Africa, antiretroviral therapy is available to some HIV-positive individuals. Antiretroviral adherence is an important issue for limiting HIV infection. Adherence to therapy may be linked to social support, particularly amidst the stigma prevalent in HIV. Objective: The purpose of this study was to examine characteristics related to social support and antiretroviral medication adherence. Design: This cross-sectional, descriptive study explored the nature of the relationships among social support and other selected variables, including sociodemographic variables, quality of life, and adherence. Settings: After ethical review board approval, the sample of HIV-infected individuals who received care in outpatient clinics were recruited and completed the self-report instruments. Participants: The sample included English and/or isiZulu-speaking (n = 149) individuals over the age of 18 years receiving treatment for HIV/AIDS. A total of 149 patients with a diagnosis of HIV/AIDS agreed to participate and completed questionnaires after completing informed consent procedures. The study participants were recruited at four outpatient settings in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal province of South Africa. Methods: A descriptive, exploratory, cross-sectional design was utilized to explore the research questions: What are the characteristics of social support and the relationship to antiretroviral adherence in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa? Descriptive statistics and regression analyses were used to answer the research questions. Results: Data analyses indicated that social support scores on the Medical Outcomes Study Social Support Survey were moderate (M = 64.4; S.D. = 14.7) among the study participants. The number of close friends and family were significantly correlated with a greater sense of social support. Despite this, the lowest scores on the quality-of-life measure using the Medical Outcomes Study Short Form 36 item survey were reported on the Social Functioning Scale.

Nursing & Health Sciences, 2008

KwaZulu-Natal province, South Africa, accounts for 28.7% of the HIV infection total and one-third... more KwaZulu-Natal province, South Africa, accounts for 28.7% of the HIV infection total and one-third of infections among youth and children in South Africa. The purpose of this study was to examine the variables of HIV/AIDS symptoms, social support, influence of comorbid medical problems, length of time adhering to antiretroviral therapy medications, quality of life, adherence to antiretroviral medications, and physical functioning in HIV-infected individuals. Based on our model, the combination of these variables was found to determine physical functioning outcomes and adherence to HIV medications. Significant relationships were observed between physical functioning and the dependent variables of length of time on medications, comorbid health problems, and social support. A linear regression model was built to determine the degree to which these variables predicted physical functioning. In total, these predictor variables explained 29% of the variance in physical functioning. These results indicate that those individuals who reported a greater length of time on medications, fewer comorbid health problems, and greater social support had better physical functioning.

Applied Nursing Research, 2011

Symptom management in HIV/AIDS is a critical issue that influences the quality of life of those l... more Symptom management in HIV/AIDS is a critical issue that influences the quality of life of those living with the disease. Although the goals of treating the numbers living with HIV/AIDS have not yet been achieved, availability of antiretroviral therapies (ARVs) has been expanded to many clinical settings in KwaZulu-Natal, the epicenter of HIV infection in South Africa. The South African Department of Health (2007) estimates indicate that 5.54 million South Africans are living with HIV/ AIDS, whereas UNAIDS (2007) estimates suggest that 18.8% of the population in South Africa is affected. Because the symptom experience may influence adherence to ARVs and quality of life, this study focused on the prevalence of symptoms reported by patients (N = 149) diagnosed with HIV/ AIDS and adherence to medications and appointments. Self-report data were obtained from this community-based sample of HIV-infected patients who received care in outpatient clinics in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. With an average of three side effects, the most frequently reported by the study participants were fatigue/tiredness (41%), rashes (40%), headaches (32%), insomnia (31%), sadness (24%), disturbing dreams (23%), numbness (22%), pain (22%), and self-appearance (20%). On a scale of 1 to 10 (10 being worst possible), those with symptoms reported an average intensity of 4.2 (SD = 2.0), and the degree to which symptoms affected activity levels was 3.2 (SD = 2.2). Although intensity of symptoms and effects on activity levels were strongly correlated (r = .78, p b .001), there were no significant relationships between adherence and the intensity of symptoms or the relationship of symptoms with activity levels. Logistic regression analyses indicate that the presence of a greater number of symptoms was not associated with greater adherence (odds ratio = 2.27, 95% confidence interval = 0.60-8.70, ns). However, those who reported higher adherence were 1.5 times more likely to report greater physical health than low adherers (p = .04). High adherers were also 1.6 times more likely to report greater psychological health than low adherers (p = .03). This suggests that further study is needed to investigate adherence motivations for those living with HIV/AIDS in South Africa because adherence seems not to be linked to the frequency of symptoms or limitations on activity related to symptoms.

Applied Nursing Research, 2007

Adherence to anti-tuberculosis (TB) medications is a critical issue in limiting the spread of the... more Adherence to anti-tuberculosis (TB) medications is a critical issue in limiting the spread of the disease throughout the world. In South Africa, medications to treat TB are available at no cost. The purpose of this study was to examine the characteristics of medication adherence in a sample of patients diagnosed with TB (N = 159). The relationships among sociodemographic variables, social support, quality of life, and adherence were explored in this cross-sectional and descriptive study. Self-report data were obtained from a community-based sample of TB-infected individuals who received care in outpatient clinics in Durban, South Africa. Data were collected from the 159 Zuluand/or English-speaking respondents who agreed to participate in the study. Logistic regression analyses indicated that 41% of the variance in adherence was explained by the model, with nonadherent participants more likely to have less frequent symptoms and more available nutrition than their adherent counterparts. The adherent group was more likely to have increased symptoms, more days with nothing to eat, and fewer appointments with their health care provider. Implications for clinical practice and research are discussed.

AIDS Care, 2009

Given that antiretroviral (ARV) medication adherence has been shown to be high in resource-limite... more Given that antiretroviral (ARV) medication adherence has been shown to be high in resource-limited countries, the question remains as to whether adherence will remain at that level as medications become more widely available. Comparing adherence to tuberculosis (TB) medications, which have been readily available, and ARV medications may help to indicate the likely future adherence to ARVs as access to these medications becomes more widespread. This study examined sense of coherence, social support, symptom status, quality of life, and adherence to medications in two samples of individuals being treated either for TB or human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS) at clinics in Durban, South Africa. Findings revealed the distinctive socio-economic backgrounds of the two cohorts. Although there were significant differences with regard to the psychosocial variables, there were no significant differences by the two samples in adherence to medications as well as adherence to appointments. Given the self-selected nature of the participants in this study, namely those able to attend clinic, as well as those likely to be adherent to ARVs, there is every reason for caution in the interpretations of these findings. As access to ARV medications becomes more widely available in South Africa, the question remains as to whether such high adherence will be maintained given the constraints of access to food and other basic necessities.

Applied Nursing Research, 2009

This article addresses global health opportunities related to HIV/AIDS and women's health care in... more This article addresses global health opportunities related to HIV/AIDS and women's health care in sub-Saharan Africa through Fulbright Scholar and Fulbright Student Awards. Although many universities offer a gateway to the J. William Fulbright awards, some disciplines and areas of specialization, including nursing and women's health, have had fewer scholars or students as recipients of these awards. Resource-limited countries, including the countries of sub-Saharan Africa, offer rich opportunities for cross-cultural exchange and advancement of global health. Amidst the context of the shortage of health care workers, the increasing prevalence of HIV/AIDS and other infectious and chronic diseases in sub-Saharan Africa, and the challenges of public health, this article addresses an example of partnerships in global nursing that can be developed through the Fulbright programs.

Africa Journal of Nursing and Midwifery

Systematic Reviews

Background Nutritional therapy practice guidelines are designed to improve nutritional practices ... more Background Nutritional therapy practice guidelines are designed to improve nutritional practices and thus the delivery of nutritional therapy in critically ill patients. However, they are not implemented despite the strong recommendation of nutritional therapy in the management of critical illness. The aim of this study is to map evidence on nutritional therapy guidelines and their implementation in critically ill adult patients. Methods Two independent reviewers will conduct a search of published scholarly and gray literature on the implementation of nutritional therapy guidelines in critically ill adults using Arksey and O’Malley’s scoping review framework. The search of studies will be conducted from databases such as PubMed, Google Scholar and EBSCOhost databases, Cumulative Index for Nursing and Allied Health Literature, MEDLINE, PsychINFO, PsychARTICLES, Health Source: Consumer Edition, Health Source: Nursing/Academic Edition, PreMEDLINE, Joanna Briggs Institute, and Cochrane ...

World Family Medicine Journal/Middle East Journal of Family Medicine

Caregiving and Home Care [Working Title]

In most middle and low economic nations, problem in the active management of health complaints is... more In most middle and low economic nations, problem in the active management of health complaints is patients defaulting on follow-up appointments, attributable to financial constraints and cost of health services due to economic recession. This increases the danger of aggravation and deterioration of the condition and leads to re-hospitalisation. Most terminally ill patients and elderly prefer to be cared for at home by family caregivers or paid health professionals towards the end of their life. Holistic/palliative care is a key component of home health care. Current structure of health and social care services shows that the home is gradually becoming a significant location of long-term care. Holistic care as advocated by Florence Nightingale and others takes cognizance of the care of total human being looking at the spiritual, physical, social and psychosocial care of individual. Quality care for patients and their families can be achieved by establishing principles of holistic/pal...

African Health Sciences

Background: Despite significant gains in the HIV epidemic in South Africa, with reduction in mort... more Background: Despite significant gains in the HIV epidemic in South Africa, with reduction in mortality and elimination of vertical transmission, national HIV prevalence remains high, with women rather than men continuing to bear higher bur- den of the disease. Population subgroups, through ignorance, disbelief or recklessness, continue to engage in risky sexual behaviour. A substantial proportion of minibus taxi drivers engage in risky sex, seldom seeing themselves at risk for STIs or HIV/AIDS. These taxi drivers have been linked with so-called taxi queens, with whom they engage in transactional and intergenerational relationships. Objectives: The study explored condom use and condom negotiation strategies among taxi drivers and taxi queens in Kwa- Zulu-Natal, South Africa. Methods: Applying explorative qualitative design, we conducted focus group discussion and individual interviews among participants who were purposively recruited in KwaZulu-Natal. Results: Qualitative data analys...