Auxiliary Workers Research Articles

Social Auxiliary Workers as the “Cinderellas” of Supervision: The Case of John Taolo Gaetsewe District, Northern Cape Province

The supervision of social auxiliary workers has received little attention, both in research and supervision practice. Social auxiliary workers are trained and qualified to support the services of qualified social workers. Yet, despite their importance in social welfare service delivery, social auxiliary workers are seen as the stepchild to social workers and are often neglected in terms of receiving supervision for their professional duties. This article explores how social auxiliary workers experience supervision to guide their daily activities. Although there are a few studies on the supervision experiences of social auxiliary workers in South Africa, there are no previous studies focused on the Northern Cape province. This article is based on a qualitative study that used an exploratory and descriptive research design. Semi-structured interviews were used to gather data from six social auxiliary workers in the John Taolo Gaetsewe District of the Northern Cape. Using Tesch’s eight steps of analysis, the findings reveal the inconsistent use of the role and function of supervision in developing the capacity and training of social auxiliary workers and the implications of ineffective supervision. A key recommendation is that social auxiliary workers should have mandatory, structured and supportive supervision to uphold the professional purpose of employing social auxiliary workers in the context of social service delivery to vulnerable populations.

Применение ультразвуковой кавитации при санации посуды в системе общепита

Kitchen and dining utensils can become a transmission link for infection, which can affect the development of the catering system. The degree of cleanliness of the dishes depends to a large extent on the diligence of the worker washing the dishes at the enterprise; Objective factors of tableware’s compliance with regulatory parameters also include uneven traffic flow of visitors throughout the day. Analysis of scientific literature contributed to the search for a solution to the problem of increasing the reliability of cleanliness of dishes while reducing, first of all, physical costs for auxiliary workers in school canteens and prompted the development of a patent «Method of washing tableware manually in public catering organizations,» based on the use of cheap ultrasonic washing machines during the secondary washing and rinsing stages. As a positive effect, we noted the possibility of reducing the temperature of the water used by 20–25 °C, the refusal of an additional measure – the use of a disinfectant during quarantine or a pandemic; compliance of the final result with HACCP (Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points) requirements and a reduction in the load on the worker washing the dishes. Thus, the implementation of the proposed method, according to the authors, is economically profitable and can have a health-preserving effect on both visitors to catering establishments and the worker washing the dishes. Keywords: ultrasound, changes in the production process, HACCP, quality of work performed.

Analysis of the Role of Pantai Panjang Bengkulu Tourism Objects in Increasing Community Income from an Islamic Economic Perspective

The tourism sector is one of the people's economic potentials that needs to be developed in order to improve community welfare and regional development. Panjang Beach is one of the most famous tourist attractions in Bengkulu. One of the factors is that the Panjang Beach tourist attraction is able to open up employment opportunities for the local community by becoming auxiliary workers and opening micro, small and medium businesses run by the community around the area. So there is management and many regional development programs on the grounds that the Panjang Beach tourist attraction is able to produce economic benefits for the community. This research aims to analyze the role of the Bengkulu Panjang Beach tourist attraction in increasing people's income according to an Islamic economic perspective. The types of research used in this thesis are field research and library research . The methods used to collect data in this research are observation, documentation, interviews and questionnaires. The results of the research can be concluded that the role of the Bengkulu Panjang Beach tourist attraction is able to make a very big contribution as a place that is able to absorb labor as well as providing employment opportunities for the surrounding community in particular and based on data obtained both practically through observation and theory, it can be concluded it is said that the business activities that occur in the Panjang Beach tourist area of Bengkulu and those carried out by the community around the Panjang Beach tourist attraction are in accordance with the Ijarah principles. Keywords: Tourist Attractions, Long Beach, Income, Islamic Economy

노인 돌봄의 전문성 향상을 위한 인력정책 비교연구: 독일, 일본, 한국을 중심으로

labor policy among the long-term care insurance policies for the elderly in Germany, Japan, and Korea. To this end, previous studies examined changes in the policy environment and the framework of policy calculation in the global historical trend of elderly care policies in countries that first experienced an aging society. As a result, various policies appeared from country to country between tax-based care and social insurance-based care. Germany and Japan, which first chose the same route as Korea, advanced the professionalism of care workers, while dualizing them into auxiliary workers at the level of daily care. Strengthening the professionalism of elderly care workers is a must-achieve goal in the long run, but it can be seen that various real conditions have also been linked to an important part of the elderly care labor policy. Based on this study, suggestions were included at the level of policy, education, and medical care institutions. First, at the policy level, the minimum line should be maintained in the professionalism of caregivers. Second, at the educational level, it is necessary not only to deliver knowledge and skills, but also to build the pride of care workers. Third, even if it is not a salary, at the medical care institution level, if expertise is developed and awareness is raised through self-education and the possibility of promotion, the effect of long-term tenure can be seen.

The lived psychological experiences of the youth resulting from the use nyaope drug in Sekhukhune District, Limpopo Province, South Africa

Substance abuse among the youth is emerging as one of the gravest social and Public Health global concerns. This paper aims to share the psychological experiences of the youth who used a newly invented local drug called nyaope in rural communities, Limpopo province, South Africa. A qualitative study, using focus group discussion was conducted among nyaope users between 18-35 years. Thematic data analysis was applied to develop themes, sub-themes, and categories. Findings indicated that nyaope users encountered devastating psychological experiences such as; self-blame, stress, mental relaxation, drug dependency, and addiction. Furthermore, the life of nyaope users seem to revolve around acquiring more nyaope than seeking rehabilitative interventions to counteract the addiction. The Ubuntu theory was used to guide intervention in combating the nyaope problem. It is essential to recruit, train and capacitate more social workers and social auxiliary workers who would specialize in substance abuse services and prevention programmes. There should also be more rehabilitation centres to curb the growing number of drug addicts in the local communities as well as increased funding for non-government organizations that render substance abuse prevention services. 
 How to reference using ASWNet style:
 Mamukeyani, E., Mashamba, T. J. & Onya, H. (2023). The lived psychological experiences of the youth resulting from the use nyaope drug in Sekhukhune District, Limpopo Province, South Africa. African Journal of Social Work, 13(3), 147-154. https://dx.doi.org/10.4314/ajsw.v13i3.3
 Visit journal website: https://ajsw.africasocialwork.net

Gender, race and class at work: enlisting African health labour into the Gold Coast Medical Service, 1860–1957

From the mid-nineteenth century, the people of the Gold Coast formed an essential component of the missionary and early colonial medical services (CMS). The labour of the people was mainly...

ДОЗИМЕТРИЧЕСКАЯ ХАРАКТЕРИСТИКА КОГОРТЫ ПЕРСОНАЛА СИБИРСКОГО ХИМИЧЕСКОГО КОМБИНАТА В ПЕРИОД 1950–2010 гг.

Purpose: To give a dosimetric characterization of the personnel of the Siberian Chemical Plant (SCP) subjected to prolonged technogenic occupational exposure to ionizing radiation (IR) in the period 1950–2010, as well as the cohort of the personnel of the SCP involved in working with uranium compounds. Material and methods: SCP is one of the largest and oldest complexes of nuclear industry enterprises in the world, having experience in continuous dosimetric monitoring of personnel for more than 60 years. The database of the regional medical-dosimetric register of employees of the SCP (RMDR) contains information about all employees of the SCP for the entire history of the enterprise, including personal data of medical, dosimetric and professional nature of 65.350 employees of the SCP, of which more than 32.000 people were exposed to chronic technogenic occupational radiation in the range of low doses. The archive of the medical documentation of the Seversk Biophysical Research Center contains 55.569 medical histories of the employees of the SCP, 29.800 outpatient records and 11.953 autopsy protocols. Results: Employees of the radiochemical, chemical-metallurgical, sublimate and separation industries of the SCP were subjected to combined (external and internal) irradiation, while the personnel of the reactor production were exposed exclusively to external irradiation. Auxiliary production workers were mainly exposed to non-radiation factors. Individual dosimetric control (IDC) of external exposure was carried out for all workers who were in the zone of exposure to external radiation sources. The average accumulated dose of external radiation for employees of the SCP was 28.3 mSv. IDC of internal irradiation was carried out for all workers employed at the production site, where the excess of the regulatory level of the concentration of radionuclides in the air of the working area was detected. The average value of the activity of radionuclides in the urine of SCP workers does not exceed 0.74 Bq. The life status has been clarified for 80.8 % of the employees of the SCP. About 3.500 employees of the agricultural complex have an IDC for internal irradiation from uranium based on the results of a biophysical examination. The life status is established for 75 % of employees of the uranium cohort. Conclusion: For the first time, a dosimetric characteristic of a cohort of 65.350 workers of the SCP (21 % women) who started work in the period 1950–2010 was given. The cohort of the staff of the SCP is suitable for conducting epidemiological studies in order to establish the risks associated with the impact on the human body of technogenic occupational exposure to IR.

Epidemiological situation on viral hepatitis В and С among medical workers in the Voronezh region

One of the leading problems of modern health care is nosocomial infection of health care workers with bloodborne infections viruses, including parenteral viral hepatitis B and C. The aim of the study was to assess the frequency of detection of markers of hepatitis B and C based on the results of screening studies and the incidence of viral hepatitis B and C among medical workers and the general population of the Voronezh region, to analyze the structure of emergency situations in medical organizations. A retrospective descriptive study was conducted, the materials of which were data on the frequency of occurrence of markers of parenteral hepatitis, the incidence of viral hepatitis B and C among medical workers, and the frequency of registration of emergency situations. Analysis of the incidence and results of screening examinations for markers of viral hepatitis B and C among medical workers in the Voronezh region for the period 2011–2018 revealed a pronounced trend towards a decrease in the prevalence of this pathology. However, the indicators remain at a consistently high level among the staff of the hemodialysis, hematology, and surgery departments. The annual frequency of registering emergencies for the specified period was from 1.7 to 3.1 per 1000 workers. It has been established that most often medical accidents occur among middle medical personnel and auxiliary health care workers. More than half of the respondents (53.0 %) answered in the affirmative to the question about the emergency situation in their professional activities, only a fourth (26.0 %) carried out emergency postexposure prophylaxis of viral hepatitis B. Insufficient adherence of medical workers to timely accounting of injuries, low level of knowledge of algorithms of behavior in an emergency situation, a significant underestimation of emergency situations in medical organizations require close attention.

Peer-led recovery groups for people with psychosis in South Africa (PRIZE): protocol for a randomised controlled feasibility trial

BackgroundThe available care for people with psychosis in South Africa is inadequate to support personal recovery. Group peer support interventions are a promising approach to foster recovery, but little is known about the preferences of service users, or the practical application of this care model, in low- and middle-income countries (LMIC). This study aims to assess the acceptability and feasibility of integrating peer-led recovery groups for people with psychosis and their caregivers in South Africa into existing systems of care, and to determine key parameters in preparation for a definitive trial.MethodsThe study is set in Nelson Mandela Bay Metropolitan district of the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa. The design is an individually randomised parallel group feasibility trial comparing recovery groups in addition to treatment as usual (TAU) with TAU alone in a 1:1 allocation ratio. We aim to recruit 100 isiXhosa-speaking people with psychosis and 100 linked caregivers. TAU comprises anti-psychotic medication-focused outpatient care. The intervention arm will comprise seven recovery groups, including service users and caregiver participants. Recovery groups will be delivered in two phases: a 2-month phase facilitated by an auxiliary social worker, then a 3-month peer-led phase. We will use mixed methods to evaluate the process and outcomes of the study. Intervention acceptability and feasibility (primary outcomes) will be assessed at 5 months post-intervention start using qualitative data collected from service users, caregivers, and auxiliary social workers, along with quantitative process indicators. Facilitator competence will be assessed with the GroupACT observational rating tool. Trial procedures will be assessed, including recruitment and retention rates, contamination, and validity of quantitative outcome measures. To explore potential effectiveness, quantitative outcome data (functioning, unmet needs, personal recovery, internalised stigma, health service use, medication adherence, and caregiver burden) will be collected at baseline, 2 months, and 5 months post-intervention start.DiscussionThis study will contribute to the sparse evidence on the acceptability and feasibility of peer-led and recovery-oriented interventions for people with psychosis in LMIC when integrated into existing care systems. Results from this feasibility trial will inform preparations for a definitive trial and subsequent larger-scale implementation.Trial registrationPan-African Clinical Trials Register PACTR202202482587686. Registered on 28 February 2022. https://pactr.samrc.ac.za/TrialDisplay.aspx?TrialID=21496.

PENGARUH DISCIPLINE DAN JOB SATISFACTION TERHADAP EMPLOYEE PERFORMANCE PADA DINAS LINGKUNGAN HIDUP DAN KEHUTANAN YOGYAKARTA DENGAN WORK FROM HOME SEBAGAI VARIABEL MODERATING PADA MUSIM PANDEMI

The research aims to analyze the impact of discipline and job satisfaction on the performance of the Yogyakarta Environment and Forestry Service employees with work from home as a moderating variable during the pandemic season. The population in this researchis all of Dinas Lingkungan Hidup dan Kehutanan Yogyakarta’s employee which consists by civil servants and auxiliary workers. A simple random sampling technique was applied to the sampling of this research. The number of samples used in this research uses the Slovin formula with an error rate of 1%. The number of samples was 121. The research data processing was carried out using Smart PLS4.0 software. Data analysis using SEM model. Research proves that (1) Discipline has a significant impact on the performance of employees of the Yogyakarta Environment and Forestry Service. (2) Job satisfaction has a significant impact on the performance of employees of the Yogyakarta Environment and Forestry Service. (3) WFH has a significant impact on the performance of the Yogyakarta Environment and Forestry Service employees during the pandemic season. (4) Discipline has a unidirectional but not significant impact on the performance of the Yogyakarta Environment and Forestry Service employees with WFH as moderator during the pandemic season. (5) Job satisfaction has no significant impact on the performance of the Yogyakarta Environment and Forestry Service employees with WFH as a moderator during the pandemic season.

Pretraining Skills as Predictors of Competence of Nonspecialists in Delivery of Mental Health Services.

Task-shared delivery of mental health care, which includes training people who are not mental health specialists to deliver components of care, has been identified as a core strategy for increasing access to mental health care globally. However, after standard training, nonspecialists attain variable and sometimes poor competence in task-shared mental health care. This study examined whether pretraining interpersonal skills (nonverbal communication, verbal communication, rapport building, and empathy-warmth) are related to posttraining competence in task-shared mental health care among nonspecialists in Nepal. Nonspecialists (e.g., auxiliary health workers and health assistants) (N=185) were assessed at pretraining and posttraining (4 months after training and supervision) in a task-shared mental health care program in Nepal. This study employed both a classification algorithm and a logistic regression model to examine the relationship between pretraining interpersonal skills and posttraining competence. The classification model predicted posttraining competence at above-chance levels on the basis of pretraining interpersonal skills. In particular, pretraining nonverbal communication skill distinguished participants whose posttraining competence was rated as acceptable from those whose rating was not acceptable. Nonverbal communication was also a significant predictor in the regression model. No other interpersonal skills were significantly related to posttraining competence outcomes in the regression model. Some pretraining interpersonal skills of nonspecialists may predict overall competence outcomes in task-shared mental health care. Future studies confirming the relationship between pretraining interpersonal skills and posttraining competence in care delivery could improve staff selection and training strategies in task-shared mental health care programs.

ЧАСТНАЯ МЕДИЦИНА В РЕСПУБЛИКЕ ТАДЖИКИСТАН: ТЕНДЕНЦИИ И ПЕРСПЕКТИВЫ ЕЁ РАЗВИТИЯ

Significance. The modern trend in the development of medical service providers represents the growing role of the sector of paid medical services and is becoming an important part of the national healthcare market. The purpose of the study is to analyze trends and prospects for the development of private medical activities in the Republic of Tajikistan. Material and methods. The study analyzed the development trend of the private medicine in the Republic of Tajikistan in 2005-2022 based on regulations and statistics of the Ministry of Health and Social Protection of the Population of the Republic of Tajikistan. Results. One of the development indicators of this sphere is the increase in the number of private medical institutions. At present, by January 2023, there are 791 private medical institutions are registered and successfully operating in the Republic of Tajikistan, including legal entities (n=352) with a branch (n=92) totaling to 444 (56.1%), and individuals – 347 (43.9%); compared with the same indicators in 2005 (16 legal entities and 63 individuals) the number increased by 27.7 and about 5.5 times, respectively. The total number of employees in private medical institutions of the Republic of Tajikistan is 4756 (22.9%) people, including doctors – 1919 (40.3% and 9.2% of the total number of doctors in the Republic), paramedical staff – 1840 people (38.7% and 3.0% respectively), auxiliary workers – 1012 people. Private medical institutions account for 7.4% (n=2871) of the total number of hospital beds in the country (n=38726 beds). Over the past two years, the share of paid medical services provided to the population in the Republic of Tajikistan amounted to 455.7 million somoni or 44.7 million U.S. dollars (in 2021 – 250.9 million somoni, for 9 months of 2022 – 204.8 million somoni). Conclusion. At this stage of the development of private medicine in the Republic of Tajikistan, there is an increase in the number of private providers of medical services. Productive interaction between the public health system and private health care providers is essential for improving efficiency of care delivery to the population.

Bezbednosna komunikacija u rudarskim kompanijama - razlike u organizacionoj strukturi

For mining processes to operate safely, information about safety is crucial. Numerous authors pay attention to fostering a good safety climate without paying attention to safety communication across organizational structure, which motivates this survey. Accordingly, this paper aims to check the hypothesis whether there is a difference between the attitudes of managers, operators, and auxiliary workers in the mining industry regarding safety communication, since differences on their attitudes about safety communication issues have potential to cause safety performance. A survey of 123 respondents working in different positions in Serbian mining companies, which have evaluated the importance of communication as well as the current state regarding the quality of communication in their organizations, was conducted. After evaluating the data and conducting descriptive statistics, followed by the Mann-Whitney test, it was determined that there are no statistically significant differences in the attitudes of managers, operators, and support staff toward safety communication. This indicates that issues with an organization's safety performance are not brought on by the differences on safety attitudes at different hierarchical levels. Proposal for the future research is to examine other possible causes, such as cognitive biases in risk perception, safety training and education and similar, and to use larger sample that may confirm our hypothesis.

RESILIENCE OF SOCIAL AUXILIARY WORKERS: DEFINED BY STRENGTHS AND COPING ABILITIES

Resilience has been identified as a protective factor that improves the ability to manage stress, promotes wellbeing and enables individuals to thrive in adverse circumstances. Many social auxiliary workers function independently with sporadic and brief supervision. Considering the stressful work environment that social auxiliary workers must face, it is essential that they be equipped to effectively manage the stressors of social work practice. The study identified how individual, social and environmental factors contribute to the participants’ resilience and their ability to thrive in these challenging circumstances. The participants use their interpersonal, intrapersonal and organisational strengths and coping strategies to manage both their positive and challenging work experiences to remain both productive and resilient. Keywords: coping, intrapersonal strengths, interpersonal strengths, organisational strengths, resilience, social auxiliary work, social work

Perspectives of Medical Experts’ on Health Culture for Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Vaccination Compared to Auxiliary Health Workers

The viewpoints of Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences medical experts'' were compared with those of auxiliary health workers regarding health culture related to human papillomavirus vaccination in 2020. In this cross-sectional study, 220 medical experts' (gynecologists, cultural, psychological, infectious, dermatological, and educational) and auxiliary health workers were randomly selected and investigated. The required data were collected using a researcher-made questionnaire modeled on international questionnaires. These questionnaire contained demographic information on the subjects' age and sex as well as health culture was also assessed by measuring the knowledge, attitude, and practice of the subjects. The mean age of the included medical experts' and auxiliary health workers was 38.0 3±8.3 and 35.2±7.5 years old, respectively. There was a significant difference in the knowledge of auxiliary health workers as 55.3 ± 3.8 in comparison with the medical experts' as 51.6 3± 6.3 (p <0.002). There was a significant difference on whether changing cultural attitudes about the need for vaccination could be effective on reducing sexually transmitted diseases between the auxiliary health workers and medical experts' (p <0.001). There was a significant difference in the knowledge of auxiliary health workers 55.3 ± 3.8 in comparison with the psychology and cultural experts' as 48.5± 6.3, 48.3± 6.8 (p<0.001) respectively. Knowledge among the auxiliary health workers was significantly different from that of psychology and cultural experts' in relation to health culture for human papillomavirus vaccination. It was indicated that these experts need to upgrade their health culture knowledge to increase the rate of community participation in human papillomavirus vaccination.

Stressor Factors for Spanish Nursing Students in a Pandemic Context: An Observational Pilot Survey.

Background: The context of the pandemic in Spain meant a high demand for care. The purpose of this pilot work was to determine the stress factors, conducted on final-year nursing students at a Spanish university, who volunteered to carry out healthcare tasks, in pandemic and post-pandemic contexts. Methods: An observational prospective cohort pilot survey was conducted with an intentional sampling of the forty-seven students. We collected sociodemographic and stressor data using the validated KEZKAK questionnaire. The STROBE checklist was used to evaluate the study. Results: The median scores obtained from nursing students incorporated as auxiliary health workers are lower than those who were not incorporated, and statistically significant differences were found: lack of skills and abilities (p = 0.016); relationship with tutors and colleagues (p = 0.004); impotence and uncertainty (p = 0.011); inability to manage the relationship with the patient (p = 0.009); emotional involvement (p = 0.032); distress caused by the relationship with patients and item overload (p = 0.039); and overload items (p = 0.011). The post-pandemic only maintained “lack of skill and abilities” (p = 0.048), from nursing students incorporated as auxiliary health workers. Conclusion: This pilot study showed that nursing students who joined as auxiliary health personnel presented less perceived stress than non-incorporated nursing students. Still, more prospectively designed clinical research is needed.

ВЛИЯНИЕ ТЕХНОЛОГИЧЕСКИХ ПРИЕМОВ НА УРОЖАЙНОСТЬ КАРТОФЕЛЯ

Due to the high operating costs in our country, the area under potatoes is being reduced in many places, so the question arises of new technologies and technical means in potato growing. The cultivation of potatoes with preliminary preparation of the soil for planting by milling was studied. The volumetric mass of the soil after such treatment in the area of the tuber nest for the entire growing season remains in the range from 0.87 to 1.06 g/cmВі, which ensures good aeration of the tubers. Soil milling on an experimental field with an area of 15 hectares, on a farm in the Kursk region, Kursk district, when planting potatoes in April 2022, was carried out with a tiller FN-2.8 at a soil moisture content of 35%, which was aggregated with a class 1.4 tractor. The results of soil milling show that the degree of soil crumbling at the depth of planting potatoes is high. Soil density after milling reached 1.0-1.1 g/cmВі, while the weeds were completely destroyed. Pre-plant soil preparation, using a tiller, will reduce the loss of tubers and increase the yield of potatoes. Potatoes were planted in the same area. Potatoes were planted in the same area by potato planter KSM-4 with simultaneous application of mineral fertilizers in a unit with a tractor MTZ-80. When planting potatoes, the number of nests was provided on average 43...45 thousand per hectare, while maintaining the potato planting rate of 2.4 tons per hectare. The potato planter unit was serviced by a tractor driver and two auxiliary workers, who ensured the loading of potatoes and mineral fertilizers. In the future, it is planned to harvest potatoes with a modernized potato harvester KPK-2-01, in which an improved separating elevator with a pressure conveyor with rubbercoated blades is installed, which will allow harvesting on waterlogged soils.

Türkiye’de bir üçüncü basamak hastanede sağlık çalışanlarında SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalansı

Objective: The aim of this study is to investigate the previous four months (March-July 2020) SARS-CoV-2 infection rate, seroprevalence and the variables affecting these in HCWs in a university hospital. Methods: The present study is a SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence study on HCWs working in a tertiary hospital during the first stage (March-July 2020) of the outbreak in Turkey. The presence of IgM and IgG antibodies against the spike structure of the virus was investigated by the chemiluminescent enzyme immunoassay (CLIA) method using the commercial antibody kit (COV2T, Siemens®, Tarrytown, NY, US). Participants’ socio-demographic characteristics, health status, lifestyle, risky occupational and social and personal protective equipment (PPE) usage were independent variables of the study. Chi-square test and Fisher’s exact test were used in univariate analyzes, and accepted type 1 error value was 0.05. The analyzes were made using the SPSS 23.0 package program. Results: 1177 out of a total of 1702 health workers participated in the study. Participation rate was 69.1% . The mean age of the study group was 35.3 ± 9.8 and 62.7% were females. SARS-CoV-2 infection rate detected by nucleic acid amplification test (NAAT-PCR) or antibody test (Elisa) was (18/1177) 1.5%; The seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 was 1.01%. 17% of the entire SARS-CoV-2 cases were asymptomatic. The highest infection prevalence was significantly higher in auxiliary health workers (3.7%) compared to other groups. The presence of symptoms HCW’s and their family members that did not exist before in the last 15 days, being overweight or obese and consulting as contacted person in survelliance unit were significantly related to having SARS-CoV-2 infection (p

Supporting retention in HIV care through a holistic, patient-centred approach: a qualitative evaluation

BackgroundHIV is a complex disease which affects different facets (social, economic, physical, emotional and spiral) of an individual’s life, making the goals of retention in care and adherence to treatment difficult to achieve. Holistic patient-centred approaches to providing care for people living with HIV bind together economic, social, emotional and physiological aspects and have the potential to improve retention in care and ART adherence. Case management is a holistic, patient-centred approach which is increasingly being implemented in the management of chronic illnesses.MethodsWe conducted a qualitative study based on semi-structured interviews with key informants (retention officers and social auxiliary workers) and patients. A total of 60 patients and 17 KIs (11 retention officers and 6 social auxiliary workers) participated in the study. The study was conducted in Johannesburg District, Gauteng province, South Africa. Key informants (KIs) and patients were drawn from 8 health facilities located in four management clusters of the district.ResultsThe findings identified facilitators and barriers to adherence and retention in care, and demonstrated that case management offered holistic, patient-centred services which patients considered to be beneficial to their well-being and helped them overcome some of these barriers. The success of case management was driven by its holistic and patient-centred approach, which extended the focus to patients’ non-clinical needs which impact on their quality of life. Complex interacting barriers and facilitators at different levels influenced implementation of the model and its outcomes.ConclusionHolistic approaches such as case management have a strong potential to improve retention in care and adherence to ART. HIV is a complex disease which impacts different facets of an individual’s life, hence requires holistic care to address all facets. Health systems need to transition towards holistic care to ensure that some patients do not slip through the cracks, improve patient outcomes and efficiency.

Compared hand hygiene compliance among healthcare providers before and after the COVID-19 pandemic: A rapid review and meta-analysis

BackgroundHand hygiene (HH) is a cost-effective measure to reduce health care-associated infections. The overall characteristics and changes of hand hygiene compliance (HHC) among health care providers during the COVID-19 pandemic provided evidence for targeted HH intervention measures. AimTo systematically review the literature and conduct a meta-analysis of studies investigating the rate of HHC and the characteristics of HH during the COVID-19 pandemic. MethodsThe PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, CNKI, WanFang Data, VIP, and CBM databases were searched. All the original articles with valid HHC data among health care providers during the COVID-19 pandemic (from January 1, 2020 to October 1, 2021) were included. Meta-analysis was performed using a DerSimonian and Laird model to yield a point estimate and a 95% CI for the HHC rate. The heterogeneity of the studies was evaluated using the Cochrane Q test and I2 statistics and a random-effects model was used to contrast between different occupations, the WHO 5-moments of HH and different observation methods. Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses (PRISMA) reporting guidelines were followed. FindingsSeven studies with 2,377 health care providers reporting HHC were identified. The estimated overall HHC was 74%, which was higher than that reported in previous studies (5%-89%). Fever clinic has become a new key place for HHC observation. Nurses had the highest HHC (80%; 95% CI:74%-87%) while auxiliary workers (70%; 95%CI:62%-77%) had the lowest. For the WHO 5-moments, the health care providers had the highest HHC after contact with the body fluids of the patients (91%; 95% CI:88%-94%), while before contact with patient's health care providers had the lowest HHC (68%; 95% CI:62%-74%) which was consistent with before the pandemic. There existed great HHC differences among different monitoring methods (automatic monitoring system:53%; 95% CI:44%-63% versus openly and secretly observation: 91%; 95% CI: 90%-91%). ConclusionsDuring the COVID-19 pandemic, the compliance of health care providers’ HH showed a great improvement. The fever clinics have become the focused departments for HH monitoring. The HHC of auxiliary workers and the HH opportunity for “before contact with patients” should be strengthened. In the future, it will be necessary to develop standardized HH monitoring tools for practical work.