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Classical biological control for the management of floating invasive plants has been highly successful in South Africa. However, restoring ecosystem services has been compromised by a new suite of submerged invasive plants. This study proposes that biological control of floating invasive macrophytes acts as a catalyst in a regime shift between floating and submerged invasive plant dominance. Regime shifts are large and sudden changes in the structure and functioning of ecosystems. The proposed shift is driven by the rapid decomposition of floating plants and subsequent increase in availability of nutrients and light. A mesocosm experiment explored the effect of biological control on floating Pistia stratiotes L. (Araceae) upon the growth of invasive submerged Egeria densa Planch. (Hydrocharitaceae), and native submerged plant species of the same family; Lagarosiphon major (Ridl.) Moss (Hydrocharitaceae). The results revealed a cascade effect of biological control of P. stratiotes on the availability of nitrogen, resulting in increased relative growth rates and invasive capacity for E. densa. In contrast, the native L. major could not compete with healthy or damaged P. stratiotes. These findings highlight the vulnerability of South African freshwater systems to submerged plant invasions and demonstrate the importance of a more holistic approach to invasive plant management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims The therapeutic potential of honey for the treatment of wound infections is well documented. However, South African ( SA) honey has been poorly explored as an antimicrobial agent and given the well-established antimicrobial properties of the indigenous plant species from SA, there is the potential that honey from this geographical region may exhibit noteworthy anti-infective properties. In this study, the antimicrobial properties of 42 SA honey samples were determined. Methods and Results The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) agar dilution method was used to determine antimicrobial activity. The MICs of the honeys ranged from 6·25 to 50·00%. Samples 4-(CITYMIX/WC), 12-(BUSHVELD/KZN), 15-(ONION/WC), 16-(FYNBOS/WC), 17-(AKMS/FS), 19-(CITYMIX/FS), 41-(INDIGENOUS/WC) and 52-(SURBURBANGARDEN/WC) displayed broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity. The physicochemical properties including pH, water content and stable isotope analysis (SIA) was analysed. The pH of the honeys ranged between 3·89 and 5·09. The SIA revealed strong overall trends between protein concentration and MIC suggesting close links with antimicrobial activity. Conclusion A number of SA honey samples tested have potential as an effective antimicrobial agent in wound healing. Significance and Impact of the Study The future of South Africa's market for medical grade and therapeutic honeys looks promising as the antimicrobial properties of the honeys have some superior activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ecological importance of submerged macrophyte beds to fishes within estuaries was investigated through the example of the ubiquitous Cape stumpnose Rhabdosargus holubi, an omnivorous, vegetation and estuary-dependent species, using stable-isotope techniques and long-term abundance (catch-per-unit-effort) data from the East Kleinemonde Estuary, South Africa. Outputs from a Bayesian mixing model using δ13C and δ15N signatures indicated that the submerged macrophytes Ruppia cirrhosa and Potamogeton pectinatus were not a primary source of nutrition for R. holubi, confirming previous work that revealed that macrophytes are consumed but not digested. Long-term seine netting data showed reduced abundance of R. holubi during a prolonged period of macrophyte senescence, suggesting that submerged macrophyte habitats provide shelter that reduces mortality (predation risk) and a food-rich foraging area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Biological Soil Crusts (BSCs), consisting of cyanobacteria, algae, microfungi, lichens and bryophytes in varying proportions, live within or immediately on top of the uppermost millimeters of soil, where they form a more or less firm aggregation of soil particles and organisms. They mainly occur in soils of arid and semi-arid regions, which cover more than 35% of the earth''s land surface and are assumed to play a major role as primary producers, C- and N-sinks and soil stabilizers. In order to establish a methodology for mapping of BSCs, their spectral characteristics with respect to different crust types were analyzed. The resulting reflectance spectra of different crust types had a shallow absorption feature centered around 680 nm in common, in which they differed from the spectra of bare soil. In October 2004, hyperspectral CASI data with a spatial resolution of 1 m were recorded in conjunction with field spectroscopic measurements in the Succulent Karoo, South Africa. Available spectral indices for Biological Soil Crusts were tested on the image but did not produce satisfying classifications. Therefore, an alternative approach was established based on spectral field data, field observations and the hyperspectral dataset. The newly developed Continuum Removal Crust Identification Algorithm (CRCIA) is based on small and narrow spectral characteristics, that were extracted by continuum removal and subsequently expressed as a set of logical conditions. Using this method, 16.2% of the area which covers 12 km2 of gently sloping hills with some granite outcrops were classified as BSCs. Validation of the classification resulted in a Kappa index of 0.831. In a next step, the methodology will be tested with regard to scale-dependent effects and applied to images covering areas with additional types of BSCs and soil to develop a robust and generally applicable method. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Background: Dyslipidaemia and hypertension care have not been reported in large samples of community-based participants with known diabetes (KD) nor compared with individuals at high risk for diabetes., Objectives: To describe the management and associations of dyslipidaemia and hypertension in adults with KD, newly diagnosed diabetes (NDD) and normoglycaemia., Methods: This urban population-based cross-sectional study comprised participants with KD, NDD and normoglycaemia. Participants at high risk for diabetes but without KD underwent oral glucose tolerance tests; those who were subsequently classified as NDD or normoglycaemic were included in this study. Data collection comprised administered questionnaires, clinical measurements and biochemical analyses. Multivariable logistic regressions determined the associations with hypertension and dyslipidaemia management in separate models., Results: Among 618 participants (82% women), aged median 58 years, there were 339 participants with KD, 70 with NDD and 209 with normoglycaemia. Prevalence of hypertension (BP ≥140/90 mmHg or on treatment) and dyslipidaemia (raised low-density lipoprotein cholesterol >3 mmol/L or on treatment) was highest in KD (89% and 83%) compared with NDD (64% and 74%) and normoglycaemia (66% for both) (p<0.001). Detected or known hypertension was highest in KD (97.4%), followed by NDD (88.9%) and normoglycaemia (80.3%). Among participants with known or detected hypertension, those with KD were most likely to be treated (90.2%) compared with NDD (77.5%) and normoglycaemia (74.5.%). Hypertension control among participants on treatment was highest in KD (69.5%) compared with NDD (51.6%) and normoglycaemia (61.0%). Participants with KD had significantly higher rates of previously detected dyslipidaemia (85.1%) compared with NDD (36.5%) and normoglycaemia (35.5%). KD participants were also more likely to be treated for their previously detected dyslipidaemia (85.4%) and to be controlled when on treatment (56.3%) compared with their counterparts (NDD: 63.2% and 33.3%, normoglycaemia: 61.2% and 43.3%, respectively). Diabetes control was poor; only 20% of those with KD had HbA1c <7%. In the regression models, compared with normoglycaemia, KD was associated with hypertension detection (odds ratio (OR) 6.91, 95% confidence interval (CI) 2.25 - 21.22) and control (OR 2.05, 95% CI 1.04 - 4.02). KD compared with normoglycaemia was associated with dyslipidaemia detection (OR 10.29, 95% CI 5.21 - 20.32) and treatment (OR 3.94, 95% CI 1.68 - 9.27). Sociodemographic and cardiovascular disease risk factors were generally not associated with hypertension or dyslipidaemia management., Conclusion: Albeit that diabetes control was poor and required better management, dyslipidaemia and hypertension prevalence were higher and better managed in KD than NDD and normoglycaemia. Different approaches are required to improve glucose control in KD, better identify NDD and monitor and prevent diabetes in high-risk individuals. Also important would be to improve care of hypertension and dyslipidaemia in those without KD.

Objectives: Treatment for multidrug-resistant/rifampicin-resistant tuberculosis (MDR/RR-TB) is increasingly transitioning from hospital-centred to community-based care. A national policy for decentralised programmatic MDR/RR-TB care was adopted in South Africa in 2011. We explored variations in the implementation of care models in response to this change in policy, and the implications of these variations for people affected by MDR/RR-TB., Design: A mixed methods study was done of patient movements between healthcare facilities, reconstructed from laboratory records. Facility visits and staff interviews were used to determine reasons for movements., Participants and Setting: People identified with MDR/RR-TB from 13 high-burden districts within South Africa., Outcome Measures: Geospatial movement patterns were used to identify organisational models. Reasons for patient movement and implications of different organisational models for people affected by MDR/RR-TB and the health system were determined., Results: Among 191 participants, six dominant geospatial movement patterns were identified, which varied in average hospital stay (0-281 days), average patient distance travelled (12-198 km) and number of health facilities involved in care (1-5 facilities). More centralised models were associated with longer delays to treatment initiation and lengthy hospitalisation. Decentralised models facilitated family-centred care and were associated with reduced time to treatment and hospitalisation duration. Responsiveness to the needs of people affected by MDR/RR-TB and health system constraints was achieved through implementation of flexible models, or the implementation of multiple models in a district., Conclusions: Understanding how models for organising care have evolved may assist policy implementers to tailor implementation to promote particular patterns of care organisation or encourage flexibility, based on patient needs and local health system resources. Our approach can contribute towards the development of a health systems typology for understanding how policy-driven models of service delivery are implemented in the context of variable resources., Competing Interests: Competing interests: None declared., (© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2023. Re-use permitted under CC BY. Published by BMJ.)

Emerging evidence suggests that the addition of text messages to standard healthy lifestyle interventions may improve the outcomes of diabetes prevention programs (DPP). This paper describes the process of developing text messages targeting behavior change in people at risk of developing diabetes in low-resourced communities as part of the South African DPP (SA-DPP). The development comprised multiple steps led by nutrition and physical activity experts. The steps included the following: (1) text message development based on the existing SA-DPP curriculum and its formative research; (2) text message evaluation for readability/understandability in terms of content, language, and quality, with 75 participants from two low-resourced areas in Cape Town; (3) text message refinement by the expert panel; (4) evaluation of the refined text messages by participants from Step 2; and (5) text bank finalization. Based on the readability survey, 37 of the 67 formulated text messages [24 of the 44 encouraged healthy eating, and 13 of the 23 promoted physical activity] were refined. Based on focused discussions with participants, seven more messages were refined to consider alternative terminology. The final text bank includes a total of 67 messages comprising topics related to fruit and vegetable consumption as well as the importance of having variety in the diet (n = 15), limiting fat intake (n = 10), avoiding sugar (n = 11), avoiding salt (n = 5), promoting fiber-rich foods (n = 1), messages promoting physical activity (n = 21), and general check-in messages (n = 4). Most of the text messages were acceptable, understandable, and largely feasible to all participants, with some of the nutrition-related messages being less feasible for participants due to their socioeconomic position. The next step is to assess the text messages in the SA-DPP intervention trial.

The South African Diabetes Prevention Programme (SA-DPP) is a lifestyle intervention targeting individuals at high risk of developing type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). In this paper we describe the mixed-method staged approach that was used to develop and refine the SA-DPP intervention curriculum and the appropriate tools for local resource-poor communities. During the preparation phase, existing evidence on similar DPP interventions was reviewed, focus group discussions with individuals from the target population were conducted as part of a needs assessment, and experts were consulted. The curriculum booklet, a participant workbook and facilitator workbook were developed, and the content was evaluated by experts in the field. The design and layout of the booklet and workbooks needed to be culturally and contextually appropriate. The printed material was evaluated for readability and acceptability by participants of the target population; based on their feedback, the design and layout were refined and the printed material was translated. The suitability of the intervention was tested in a pilot study; based on feedback from the participants and facilitator, the curriculum was revised where needed and finalised. Through this process a context specific intervention and printed materials were developed. A complete evaluation of this culturally relevant model for T2DM prevention in South Africa is pending.

Background: Convincing evidence supports the effectiveness of lifestyle interventions in preventing the occurrence of diabetes in high-income countries, however little is known about appropriate interventions for use in African countries, where there are higher relative increases in diabetes prevalence. The South African Diabetes Prevention Programme (SA-DPP) was initiated with the aim of preventing or delaying the occurrence of diabetes among South Africans (SAs), through interventions, targeting lifestyle changes related to diet and physical activity. The purpose of the current project is to implement and evaluate the suitability and applicability of the SA-DPP developed and tailored in urban populations in the Western Cape Province, in peri-urban populations in the Eastern Cape Province of SA., Methods: The SA-DPP, which is an cluster randomized control trial, will be implemented in adults aged 30-65 years residing in the OR Tambo district, Eastern Cape, SA. Participants will be recruited using self-selected sampling techniques and 24 clusters across peri-urban communities will be randomly allocated to participate in the lifestyle intervention, facilitated by non-professional health workers (NPHW). The diabetes risk screening will follow a two-staged approach, including the community-based screening, using the African diabetes risk score (ADRS), followed by a clinic-based risk status assessment by an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) to exclude unknown diabetes. The lifestyle-change objectives of the current programme relate to, 1) < 30% of total energy intake from fat; 2) < 10% of total energy intake from saturated fat; 3) > 15 g of fibre/1000 kcal; 4) > 4 h/week moderate level of physical activity; and 5) > 2% body mass index (BMI) reduction., Discussion: The SA-DPP could represent a successful model for the prevention of diabetes and potentially other lifestyle-related diseases in SA and other countries in the region that are confronted with similar challenges., Trial Registration: PACTR202205591282906., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

Food-based dietary guidelines promote consumption of a variety of nutritious foods for optimal health and prevention of chronic disease. However, adherence to these guidelines is challenging because of high food costs. The present study aimed to determine the nutrient density of foods relative to cost in South Africa, with the aim to identify foods within food groups with the best nutritional value per cost. A checklist of 116 food items was developed to record the type, unit, brand and cost of foods. Food prices were obtained from the websites of three national supermarkets and the average cost per 100 g edible portion was used to calculate cost per 100 kcal (418 kJ) for each food item. Nutrient content of the food items was obtained from the South African Food Composition Tables. Nutrient density was calculated using the Nutrient Rich Food (NRF9.3) Index. Nutrient density relative to cost was calculated as NRF9.3/price per 100 kcal. Vegetables and fruits had the highest NRF9.3 score and cost per 100 kcal. Overall, pulses had the highest nutritional value per cost. Fortified maizemeal porridge and bread had the best nutritional value per cost within the starchy food group. Foods with the least nutritional value per cost were fats, oils, foods high in fat and sugar, and foods and drinks high in sugar. Analysis of nutrient density and cost of foods can be used to develop tools to guide low-income consumers to make healthier food choices by identifying foods with the best nutritional value per cost., (© The Author(s) 2023.)

Objective: To evaluate the viability of leveraging an existing screening programme (the South African Diabetes Prevention Programme (SA-DPP)) to screen for chronic kidney disease (CKD), by assessing the yield of CKD cases among those participating in the programme., Design: Observational study conducted between 2017 and 2019., Setting: 16 resource-poor communities in Cape Town, South Africa., Participants: 690 participants, aged between 25 and 65 years, identified as at high risk for type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) by the African Diabetes Risk Score., Primary Outcome Measure: The prevalence of CKD among those participating in the SA-DPP., Results: Of the 2173 individuals screened in the community, 690 participants underwent further testing. Of these participants, 9.6% (n=66) and 18.1% (n=125) had screen-detected T2DM and CKD (defined as an estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) of<60 mL/min/1.73 m 2 and/or albumin-to-creatinine ratio >3 mg/mmol), respectively. Of those with CKD, 73.6% (n=92), 17.6% (n=22) and 8.8% (n=11) presented with stages 1, 2 and 3, respectively. Of the participants with an eGFR <60 mL/min/1.73 m 2 , 36.4% had no albuminuria and of those with normal kidney function (eGFR ≥90 mL/min/1.73 m 2 ), 10.2% and 3.8% had albuminuria stages 2 and 3, respectively. Of those with T2DM and hypertension, 22.7% and 19.8% had CKD, respectively., Conclusion: The fact that almost one in five participants identified as high risk for T2DM had CKD underscores the value of including markers of kidney function in an existing screening programme. By using an opportunistic approach to screen high-risk individuals, those with CKD can be identified and appropriately treated to reduce disease progression., Competing Interests: Competing interests: None declared., (© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2023. Re-use permitted under CC BY-NC. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.)

We assessed the distribution and association of cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors by plant foods consumption in individuals at high-risk for type 2 diabetes mellitus. This cross-sectional study utilized baseline data of 693 participants in the South African Diabetes Prevention Programme. Participants underwent a physical examination, biochemical analysis, and dietary assessment using a single non-quantified 24-h recall. Group comparisons were conducted to explore the distribution and associations of common CVD risk factors by plant foods consumption. The mean age of the participants was 51 years, with 81% being females. Consumers of yellow-coloured vitamin A-rich vegetables and tubers and maize had significantly lower systolic blood pressure, fasting insulin, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, triglycerides, and fibrinogen levels. Cereals consumption increased the likelihood of obesity (OR = 1.72 95% CI [1.09, 2.70] p = 0.019) while the consumption of white roots and tubers decreased the likelihood of obesity (AOR = 0.64 95% CI [0.41, 1.00] p = 0.048). This study reported the consumption of some healthy plant foods with lower levels of, and decreased risk for, some CVD risk factors. A further in-depth investigation is needed to understand these associations.

In South Africa, the nutrition transition has led to unhealthy diets lacking variety, contributing to the rise in overweight, obesity and diet-related noncommunicable diseases. Using baseline screening data of the South African Diabetes Prevention Programme (SA-DPP) study, this study aims to determine the relationship of dietary diversity (DD) with nutritional status, cardiometabolic risk factors and food choices of adults at risk of type 2 diabetes in resource-poor communities around Cape Town. Data of 693 adults, 25−65 years old were analysed. This included socio-demographic information, anthropometric measurements, biochemical assessments, food groups consumed the previous day and consumption frequency of certain foods to reflect food choices. The Minimum Dietary Diversity for Women (MDD-W) indicator was calculated; 70.4% of participants had low DD (<5 food groups). Low DD was associated with elevated serum triglycerides [AOR: 1.49, 95% CI (1.03, 2.15) p = 0.036]. The DD score was positively correlated (although weak) with the unhealthy food score (r = 0.191, p = 0.050) and sugary food score (r = 0.139, p < 0.01). Study participants at risk of diabetes consumed a diet low in DD; however, DD was not associated with nutritional status or cardiometabolic risk factors except for serum triglycerides.

Introduction: The local retail food environment influences dietary patterns and food choices, as suggested in the literature. The lack of access to healthy food within this environment may result in unhealthy food choices which may lead to obesity and the development of non-communicable diseases. Evidence suggests that resource-poor communities may have unhealthy food environments, therefore, preventing residents from making healthy food choices. A systematic scoping review will be conducted to provide an overview of the evidence on adult food choices in association with the local retail food environment and food access in resource-poor communities., Methods and Analysis: This protocol for the scoping review was developed following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses Extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR) guidelines and the framework process by Arksey and O'Malley. Observational studies, published from July 2005 to January 2021, will be searched and screened. Keywords and medical subject headings (MeSH) terms will be used to search several multidisciplinary databases. Two independent reviewers will screen identified articles using the selection criteria and extract data using the PRISMA-ScR checklist. Descriptive numerical and thematic analysis will be performed to evaluate and categorise quantitative and qualitative data., Ethics and Dissemination: Ethical approval will not be required for the review, as data from published studies will be used. The results of this scoping review will form part of a PhD thesis that will be submitted to the University of the Western Cape, South Africa. The review findings will also be presented at conferences and published in a peer-reviewed journal. OPEN SCIENCE FRAMEWORK REGISTRATION NUMBER: https://osf.io/shf93., Competing Interests: Competing interests: None declared., (© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2021. Re-use permitted under CC BY-NC. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.)

In 2011, the South African National TB Programme launched a policy of decentralized management of drug-resistant tuberculosis (DR-TB) in order to expand the capacity of facilities to treat patients with DR-TB, minimize delays to access care and improve patient outcomes. This policy directive was implemented to varying degrees within a rapidly evolving diagnostic and treatment landscape for DR-TB, placing new demands on already-stressed health systems. The variable readiness of district-level systems to implement the policy prompted questions not only about differences in health systems resources but also front-line actors' capacity to implement change in resource-constrained facilities. Using a grounded theory approach, we analysed data from in-depth interviews and small group discussions conducted between 2016 and 2018 with managers (n = 9), co-ordinators (n = 15), doctors (n = 7) and nurses (n = 18) providing DR-TB care. Data were collected over two phases in district-level decentralized sites of three South African provinces. While health systems readiness assessments conventionally map the availability of 'hardware', i.e. resources and skills to deliver an intervention, a notable absence of systems 'hardware' meant that systems 'software', i.e. health care workers (HCWs) agency, behaviours and interactions provided the basis of locally relevant strategies for decentralized DR-TB care. 'Software readiness' was manifest in four areas of DR-TB care: re-organization of service delivery, redressal of resource shortages, creation of treatment adherence support systems and extension of care parameters for vulnerable patients. These strategies demonstrate adaptive capacity and everyday resilience among HCW to withstand the demands of policy change and innovation in stressed systems. Our work suggests that a useful extension of health systems 'readiness' assessments would include definition and evaluation of HCW 'software' and adaptive capacities in the face of systems hardware gaps., (© The Author(s) 2021. Published by Oxford University Press in association with The London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine.)

Completed and ongoing implementation activities globally advocate for community-based approaches to improve strategies for type 2 diabetes prevention. However, little is known about such strategies in the African region where there are higher relative increases in diabetes prevalence. We reported findings from the first 8-month pilot phase of the South African diabetes prevention program. The study was conducted across eight townships (four black and four mixed-ancestry communities) in Cape Town, South Africa, between August 2017 and March 2018. Participants were recruited using both random and self-selected sampling techniques because the former approach proved to be ineffective; <10% of randomly selected individuals consented to participate. Non-laboratory-based diabetes risk screening, using the African diabetes risk score, and based on targeted population specific cut-offs, identified potentially high-risk adults in the community. This was followed by an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) to confirm prevalent pre-diabetes. Among the 853 adults without prior diabetes who were screened in the community, 354 (43.4%) were classified as high risk, and 316 presented for further screening. On OGTT, 13.1% had dysglycemia, including 10% with screen-detected diabetes and 67.9% with glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c)-defined high risk. Participants with pre-diabetes ( n = 208) had high levels of common cardiovascular risk factors, i.e., obesity (73.7%), elevated total cholesterol (51.9%), and hypertension (29.4%). Self-referral is likely an efficient method for selecting participants for community-based diabetes risk screening in Africa. Post-screening management of individuals with pre-diabetes must include attention to co-morbid cardiovascular risk factors., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Targeted lifestyle interventions, including physical activity (PA), have been proven to prevent or delay the onset of diabetes. South Africa's unique context, complex environment and varied cultures and ethnicities require tailored interventions. Our objective was to develop a context-appropriate tool for the South African Diabetes Prevention Programme's PA lifestyle component in order to enable people at risk of developing diabetes to adopt PA. We used mixed methods to inform the development of the tool. Descriptive analyses of baseline survey data included socio-demographics, anthropometrics, blood pressure and biochemical measurements, reported medical history, PA behaviours, and built environment information. Focus group discussions assisted in understanding perceived challenges, barriers and facilitators/opportunities to PA. A literature search on successful South African PA interventions was done, and PA experts in Cape Town were consulted. Quantitative data were analysed using the software R, version 3.4.4 and qualitative data were thematically analysed. Participants (n = 316) recruited were mostly black (54.4%) and of mixed-ancestry (44.6%); they were mainly female (80.1%), obese (75.2%), and had an haemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) above 5.7% (65.5%), with 30% having hypertension and 87% (self-reported) meeting the World Health Organisation (WHO) PA recommendation. Main barriers to PA practice were safety, cost and accessibility of sports facilities, and laziness. We included practising moderate-intensity aerobic and resistance exercises and take-home self-help materials as recommended. By combining results, we produced a targeted, practical and promotional PA booklet.

SETTING: Thirteen districts in Eastern Cape (EC), KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) and Western Cape (WC) Provinces, South Africa. OBJECTIVE: To pilot a methodology for describing and visualising healthcare journeys among drug-resistant tuberculosis (DR-TB) patients using routine laboratory records. DESIGN: Laboratory records were obtained for 195 patients with laboratory-detected rifampicin-resistant TB (RR-TB) during July-September 2016. Health facility visits identified from these data were plotted to visualise patient healthcare journeys. Data were verified by facility visits. RESULTS: In the 9 months after the index RR-TB sample was collected, patients visited a mean of 2.3 health facilities (95% CI 2.1-2.6), with 9% visiting ≥4 facilities. The median distance travelled by patients from rural areas (116 km, interquartile range [IQR] 50-290) was greater than for urban patients (51 km, IQR 9-140). A median of 21% of patient's time was spent under the care of primary healthcare facilities: this was respectively 6%, 37% and 39% in KZN, EC and WC. Journey patterns were generally similar within districts. Some reflected a semi-centralised model of care where patients were referred to regional hospitals; other journeys showed greater involvement of primary care. CONCLUSION: Routine laboratory data can be used to explore DR-TB patient healthcare journeys and show how the use of healthcare services for DR-TB varies in different settings.

Background: HIV and TB programs have rapidly scaled-up over the past decade in Sub-Saharan Africa and uninterrupted supplies of those medicines are critical to their success. However, estimates of stock-outs are largely unknown. This survey aimed to estimate the extent of stock-outs of antiretroviral and TB medicines in public health facilities across South Africa, which has the world's largest antiretroviral treatment (ART) program and a rising multidrug-resistant TB epidemic., Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional telephonic survey (October-December 2015) of public health facilities. Facilities were asked about the prevalence of stock-outs on the day of the survey and in the preceding three months, their duration and impact., Results: Nationwide, of 3547 eligible health facilities, 79% (2804) could be reached telephonically. 88% (2463) participated and 4% (93) were excluded as they did not provide ART or TB treatment. Of the 2370 included facilities, 20% (485) reported a stock-out of at least 1 ARV and/or TB-related medicine on the day of contact and 36% (864) during the three months prior to contact, ranging from 74% (163/220) of health facilities in Mpumalanga to 12% (32/261) in the Western Cape province. These 864 facilities reported 1475 individual stock-outs, with one to fourteen different medicines out of stock per facility. Information on impact was provided in 98% (1449/1475) of stock-outs: 25% (366) resulted in a high impact outcome, where patients left the facility without medicine or were provided with an incomplete regimen. Of the 757 stock-outs that were resolved 70% (527) lasted longer than one month., Interpretation: There was a high prevalence of stock-outs nationwide. Large interprovincial differences in stock-out occurrence, duration, and impact suggest differences in provincial ability to prevent, mitigate and cope within the same framework. End-user monitoring of the supply chain by patients and civil society has the potential to increase transparency and complement public sector monitoring systems., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

One serious concern of health policymakers in South Africa is the fact that there is no national data on the dietary intake of adult South Africans. The only national dietary study was done in children in 1999. Hence, it becomes difficult to plan intervention and strategies to combat malnutrition without national data on adults. The current review consequently assessed all dietary studies in adults from 2000 to June 2015 in an attempt to portray typical adult dietary intakes and to assess possible dietary deficiencies. Notable findings were that, in South Africa micronutrient deficiencies are still highly prevalent and energy intakes varied between very low intakes in informal settlements to very high intakes in urban centers. The most commonly deficient food groups observed are fruit and vegetables, and dairy. This has been attributed to high prices and lack of availability of these food groups in poorer urban areas and townships. In rural areas, access to healthy foods also remains a problem. A national nutrition monitoring system is recommended in order to identify dietary deficiencies in specific population groups.

Background: Numerous studies in schools in the Western Cape Province, South Africa have shown that children have an unhealthy diet with poor diversity and which is high in sugar and fat. HealthKick (HK) was a three-year randomised controlled trial aimed at promoting healthy eating habits., Methods: Sixteen schools were selected from two low-income school districts and randomly allocated to intervention (n = 8) or control school (n = 8) status. The HK intervention comprised numerous activities to improve the school nutrition environment such as making healthier food choices available and providing nutrition education support. Dietary intake was measured by using a 24-h recall in 2009 in 500 grade 4 learners at intervention schools and 498 at control schools, and repeated in 2010 and 2011. A dietary diversity score (DDS) was calculated from nine food groups and frequency of snack food consumption was determined. A school level analysis was performed., Results: The mean baseline (2009) DDS was low in both arms 4.55 (SD = 1.29) and 4.54 (1.22) in the intervention and control arms respectively, and 49 % of learners in HK intervention schools had a DDS ≤4 (=low diversity). A small increase in DDS was observed in both arms by 2011: mean score 4.91 (1.17) and 4.83 (1.29) in the intervention and control arms respectively. The estimated DSS intervention effect over the two years was not significant [0 .04 (95 % CI: -0.37 to 0.46)]. Food groups least consumed were eggs, fruit and vegetables. The most commonly eaten snacking items in 2009 were table sugar in beverages and/or cereals (80.5 %); followed by potato crisps (53.1 %); non-carbonated beverages (42.9 %); sweets (26.7 %) and sugar-sweetened carbonated beverages (16 %). Unhealthy snack consumption in terms of frequency of snack items consumed did not improve significantly in intervention or control schools., Discussion: The results of the HK intervention were disappointing in terms of improvement in DDS and a decrease in unhealthy snacking. We attribute this to the finding that the intervention model used by the researchers may not have been the ideal one to use in a setting where many children came from low-income homes and educators have to deal with daily problems associated with poverty., Conclusions: The HK intervention did not significantly improve quality of diet of children.

Background: The burden of non-communicable diseases, including type 2 diabetes, is growing in South Africa. This country has a complex mix of over- and under-nutrition, especially in low-income communities, and concerning levels of physical inactivity in children and youth. This paper describes HealthKick, a school-based nutrition and physical activity intervention in primary schools in these settings aimed at reducing diabetes risk factors., Methods/design: This study includes schools within historically disadvantaged, low-income communities from an urban area close to the city of Cape Town and from two rural areas outside of Cape Town, South Africa. The three Educational Districts involved are Metropole North, Cape Winelands and the Overberg. The study has three phases: intervention mapping and formative assessment, intervention development, and outcome and process evaluation. Sixteen schools were purposively selected to participate in the study and randomly allocated as intervention (eight schools) and control (eight schools).The primary aims of HealthKick are to promote healthful eating habits and increase regular participation in health-enhancing physical activity in children, parents and teachers, to prevent overweight, and reduce risk of chronic diseases (particularly type 2 diabetes); as well as to promote the development of an environment within the school and community that facilitates the adoption of healthy lifestyles.The components of HealthKick are: action planning, toolkit (resource guide, a resource box and physical activity resource bin), and an Educators' Manual, which includes a curriculum component., Discussion: This study continues to highlight the key role that educators play in implementing a school-based intervention, but that developing capacity within school staff and stakeholders is not a simple or easy task. In spite of the challenges experienced thus far, valuable findings are being produced from this study, especially from Phase 1. Materials developed could be disseminated to other schools in low-income settings both within and outside of South Africa. Owing to the novelty of the HealthKick intervention in low-income South African primary schools, the findings of the evaluation phase have the potential to impact on policy and practice within these settings.

Forty seven of 150, 15-month-old long weaners died of an acute renal disease syndrome following introduction into an old maize field with a heavy stand of Amaranthus spp. The clinical syndrome was characterised by sudden onset neurological disease with ataxia and recumbency. Subcutaneous oedema, ascites and perirenal oedema with urine odour were the major gross necropsy findings. Renal histopathology revealed marked coagulative renal tubular necrosis of the proximal and distal straight tubules with intertubular haemorrhage. Acute renal failure and perirenal oedema has been described in cattle, pigs, horses and sheep associated with the ingestion of A. hybridus L. and A. retroflexus L. This perirenal oedema syndrome has been widely reported in the Americas, while in South Africa intoxication with the amaranths has only previously been associated with nitrate and possibly oxalate poisoning in cattle.

South African canine babesiosis caused by Babesia canis rossi is a common clinical disease in dogs in South Africa and remains a significant cause of domestic dog mortality. To determine whether tick-repellent, 9% amitraz-impregnated tick collars (Preventic-Virbac) could prevent tick-borne exposure to B. canis rossi, 50 dogs were assigned to two groups. Group 1 (20 dogs), polymerase chain reaction (PCR)--and reverse line blot (RLB)-negative for B. canis rossi, were fitted with amitraz collars and blood samples collected monthly, over a 6-month period, and analysed for B. canis rossi. Group 2 (30 dogs) included 5 dogs selected on a month-by-month basis from a population of dogs from the same geographical area as the group 1 dogs, but with no history of previous tick control, which were blood-sampled together with the treatment group and analysed for B. canis rossi by PCR and RLB, to serve as the control group. Eight of the 30 control dogs (26.6%) were PCR/RLB positive for B. canis rossi, indicating high pathogen exposure during the trial period. All twenty of the treatment group dogs remained negative for B. canis rossi throughout the 6 months of the trial. These results suggest that the use of amitraz-impregnated collars had a significant effect on reducing infection with B. canis rossi.

Corneal and other external eye diseases are very common in rural areas of southern Africa. A corneal survey was undertaken in Calvinia in the northwestern Cape to establish the incidence and nature of these disorders. Corneal diseases were found in 20,2% of the population and a further 8,4% had other external eye diseases, giving an overall incidence of 28,6%. However, many of the diseases were degenerative, their incidence rising rapidly with increasing age. Pterygium and climatic droplet keratopathy, both of which are related to actinic damage, were particularly common. The aetiology and management of the most frequently encountered diseases are discussed.

Almost all ophthalmic services in southern Africa are located in large urban centres beyond the reach of many patients in isolated rural areas. The Bureau for the Prevention of Blindness organizes mobile eye-care teams which tour these areas to provide free ophthalmic therapy and surgery. The structure and aims of the mobile teams, with reference to a specific tour, are described; the problems encountered in providing rural ophthalmological services are discussed and some possible solutions proposed.

A survey of external eye diseases was undertaken in Transkei; a total of 1,519 people were examined. A high incidence of climatic droplet keratopathy was found in the population, and this was a common cause of blindness in elderly men. Only 7 people had pterygia - all women. Both climatic droplet keratopathy and pterygia are believed to result from actinic damage, therefore the discrepancy noted in the prevalence of these two degenerative disorders was unexpected. Xerophthalmia was observed in 5 children, all of whom had mild forms of vitamin A deficiency eye disease. Although the number of children with overt vitamin A deficiency was small (0.58% of children aged less than 15 years), the importance of this finding lies in the possible pool of children without clinical disease but with low levels of vitamin A and therefore more likely to develop and to succumb to infections of the respiratory and alimentary systems. A further 20 people had corneal changes similar to those found in xerophthalmia; but since associated conjunctival signs were absent it is improbable that these changes were secondary to vitamin A deficiency.