Practice of community-service doctors in the assessment and medico-legal documentation of common physical assault cases

Background: In South Africa, allegations of physical assault are managed primarily at the primary healthcare level, where they are attended to by medical officers or community service doctors(CSDs). However, reports that the knowledge and skills provided at undergraduate level are not sufficient to equip these CSDs to deal with evidence in medico-legal examinations in various settings, including in cases of patients who allege being the victims of common physical assault or assault with intent to inflict grievous bodily harm, have been documented in the literature. This study investigates the practice of CSDs in relation to the assessment and medico-legal documentation of allegations of common assault, with a view to identifying gaps in their knowledge of clinical forensic medicine.Method: The study was a cross-sectional descriptive study. A questionnaire with quantitative sections that used an adapted Likert scale was used to gather data. An electronic survey tool was employed to target 150 CSDs countrywide. Percentages are used to display results. Results: A response rate of 59.3% was achieved and results indicate that clinical forensic training in the undergraduate medical programme does not prepare CSDs sufficiently for the task of managing the medico-legal examination and documentation of allegations of assault by patients. Conclusions: The courts rely heavily on medico-legal documentation for success in criminal prosecution. Any substantial flaw in the documentation, including inadequate observations and/or notes made by a medical practitioner, may make proving guilt very difficult. This study revealed an important gap in the knowledge and practice of clinical forensic medicine by CSDs and suggests that the current curriculum should be adapted to allow adequate training of undergraduate medical students in the area of clinical forensic medicine. Appropriate undergraduate training will ensure that medico-legal documentation is completed accurately and that medical practitioners help ensure the administration of justice

Quality of Antenatal Care Provided For Pregnant Women in Ribat University Hospital; Khartoum

Background:The purpose of antenatal care is to assure that every pregnancy culminates in the birth of a healthy baby without any impairment of the mother's health. The objective of this study was to study thequality of care given to pregnant women attending the referral clinics in Ribat University Hospital; Khartoum;Sudan.Methods:This is a descriptive; cross sectional study. 300 antenatal care cards were checked fordocumentation for the following parameters at the 5th month of pregnancy: date of the first visit; age of the pregnant woman; the address; date or duration of marriage; parity; the first day of the last menstrual period; the expected date of delivery; the gestational age; vaccination; blood pressure; fundal level; foetal heart sound; haemoglobin estimation; urine analysis; blood group; ultrasound check and the date of ultrasound check. Data was analysed by the computer using SSPS soft ware; version 16.Results:The date of the first visit; the age of the pregnant woman and her address were documented in 294(98); 296(98.7) and226(75.3) respectively. The date/duration of marriage; parity; the first day of the last menstrual period; the expected date of delivery; the gestational age and vaccination were documented in 70(23.3); 298(99.3);298(99.3); 295(98.3); 278(92.7) and 45(15) respectively. Blood pressure; fundal level and foetal heart sound were checked in 266(88.7); 280(93.3); 244(81.3) respectively. Haemoglobin; urine analysis; blood group and Rhesus factor; ultrasound were done in 187(62.3); 159(53); 173(57.7); 121(40.3) respectively.Conclusions: The study concluded that documentation of the personal history and obstetrical examination were adequate. On the other hand documentation of obstetrical history was high except for date of marriage and vaccination which were very poor. Documentation of results of investigation were average

A select bibliography of health information in Malawi

This bibliography of health and medical information is aimed at aiding the researcher and administrator by letting him know what information is available in the field. The bibliography was was compiled from downloaded records of the Malawi Health Information database created by the Ministry of Health Library et Documentation Centre on CDS/ISIS software