A review of 'medical' knowledge of epilepsy amongst isiZulu-speaking patients at a regional hospital in KwaZulu-Natal

Background: Epilepsy is a common disorder in South Africa and the literature indicates that many patients do not access treatment. The reasons are complex and include a poor knowledge about causes; symptoms; diagnosis and treatment (medical knowledge). This study aimed to assess the medical knowledge of isiZulu-speaking people with epilepsy (PWE) who attend a combination regional and district hospital in the eThekwini district in KwaZulu-Natal Province.Method: This was a prospective; cross-sectional; descriptive study. Data were collected using a validated data collection tool for assessing the medical knowledge of PWE and analysed descriptively.Results: The questionnaires were completed by 199 PWE; with the general level of schooling being low and half being unemployed. Knowledge around causes; symptoms; diagnosis and treatments was good; but there were significant gaps in knowledge that may affect morbidity and mortality.Discussion: The findings will serve as a useful guide to develop both preventive and educational interventions to enhance knowledge around the causes and treatment of epilepsy in this population. It is important that such interventions also consider family and healthcare providers.Conclusion: There were considerable gaps in the medical knowledge of isiZulu-speaking PWE's; indicating the need for an educational intervention to improve their understanding of epilepsy. Further research is needed-using a range of tools to ensure that the data is reliable and valid-if the results are to be generalisable to the rest of the province and South Africa

Work-related stress perception and hypertension amongst health workers of a mission hospital in Oyo State, south-western Nigeria

Background: Globalisation and changes in the nature of work have resulted in increasing work-related stress in people in developing countries. Work stress is at present already acknowledged as one of the epidemics of modern working life. It is associated with a number of disease conditions; such as hypertension; cardiovascular diseases; affective disorders; depression; disturbed metabolism (risk of Type II diabetes) and musculoskeletal disorders. Objective: This study was a work site cross-sectional descriptive study carried out amongst the health workers at the Baptist Medical Centre Ogbomoso; Oyo State; south-western Nigeria. The aim of the study was to discern the prevalence of perceived work stress and to explore the relationship between perceived work stress and the presence of hypertension. Methods: A total of 324 consenting health workers of the institution were administered the job demand-control questionnaire to assess work stress. A standardised questionnaire was used to collect socio-demographic data and other personal data. Measurements of blood pressure; weight and height were carried out and body mass indices were calculated. Results: More than a quarter (26.2) of the subjects perceived themself as stressed at work. The single largest group of hypertensive subjects was seen amongst subjects with work stress. Conclusion: A significant number of health workers in this study is afflicted by work-related stress and perceived work stress was found to be significantly associated with higher hypertension prevalence