uMgungundlovu District Research Articles

The effects of an educational intervention on the early management of oral lesions in the uMgungundlovu District in KwaZulu-Natal

Oral lesions that are associated with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection are often the first clinical signs of an underlying infection. This study aimed to test primary healthcare (PHC) nurses’ knowledge and practices before and after an educational intervention on the detection and management of oral diseases, and in particular, those associated with HIV infection. A crosssectional study was conducted among PHC nurses who were employed in a range of clinical settings within the public sector (hospitals, clinics and nurse training colleges) in urban and rural areas in the uMgungundlovu Health District of KwaZulu-Natal. The convenience sample comprised 121 nurses who completed a self-administered questionnaire, undertook pre-education testing, were provided with educational material and underwent post-education testing. The obtained results showed that most nurses (90%) had received little or no undergraduate or postgraduate training in the examination, diagnosis or treatment of oral lesions. Analysis of the pre-education test results that pertained to the identification of a number of oral lesions revealed a mean correct response rate of 38.5%. Post-education results revealed a statistically significant (p-value < .0001) (24%) improvement to 62.4%. The provision of a basic education intervention can have significant effects on knowledge, treatment and referral patterns, and can lead to early diagnosis, treatment and improved quality of life for persons who are infected with HIV.

Language issues, ‘‘misconceptions’’ and confusion: A qualitative analysis of KZN grade 6 learners’ responses on a mathematics test

Abstract Language is a recognised factor in the performance and learning of South African learners, the majority of whom are schooled in a language other than their mother tongue. In this paper, we interrogate grade 6 learners’ answers to 40 questions across the mathematics curriculum qualitatively. Learners from a stratified random sample of public schools in the Umgungundlovu district in KwaZulu-Natal were given a questionnaire on their personal circumstances and a test on mathematical knowledge, mostly from the grade 5 curriculum. They wrote the test at the beginning of grade 6 school year. A quantitative analysis of the results indicated that English home language learners can be expected to score 14.5 percentage points higher on the learner maths test than non-English home language learners, after socio-economic status has been accounted for. However, correlating the difficulty of the question formulation with learner performance did not show any significant correlations. In order to understand furth...

P34 Youth involvement – An optimal technique to eradicate cancer

Background: Evidence that any delay in providing information results in lack of treatment or admission, which might result in death or irreversible harm to an individual, constitutes an emergency. Involving youth in the process could help avoid an unnecessary lack of information, and might contribute to the sustainable legacy of fighting cancer. Youth-development programmes and initiatives associated with awareness, education, and eradication of cancer could decrease unnecessary deaths caused by cancer. Ongoing youth-development projects and partnership campaigns could improve health awareness. Methods: Analysis of 500 young people involved in a Rural Youth Health-Development programme (RYHD) conducted by Umvithi Youth Development and Department of Health in KwaZulu, Natal, showed an improved ability to care, teach, and prevent cancer. Through the RYHD, 2500 community members underwent training and tests to recognise symptoms, and others were diagnosed with cancer and related diseases that they were not aware of. Findings: As a result of the RYHD, many individuals took positive action and full responsibility to decrease cancer risk, such as quitting smoking, eating healthy food, and exercising regularly. Interpretation: Utilising youth for information distribution and involvement in the fight against cancer could propel communities towards sustainable improvement in health, and enhances the ability of individuals to take responsibility for their own health. Young people are founders and initiators of projects, groups, and organisations; they are lobbyists, decision-makers, and are a key element for building a successful and growing community. Funding: UMgungundlovu District Municipality. The author declared no conflicts of interest.