Closing the gaps in defining and conceptualising acceptability of healthcare: a qualitative thematic content analysis.

Introduction: Despite the importance of healthcare acceptability, the public health community has yet to agree on its explicit definition and conceptual framework. We explored different definitions and conceptual frameworks of healthcare acceptability, and identified commonalities in order to develop an integrated definition and conceptual framework of healthcare acceptability. Materials and Methods: We applied qualitative thematic content analysis on research articles that attempted to define healthcare acceptability. We searched online databases and purposefully selected relevant articles that we imported into ATLAS.ti 8.4 for deductive and inductive analysis which continued until there were no new information emerging from selected documents (data saturation). Results: Our analysis of the literature affirmed that healthcare acceptability remains poorly defined; limiting its application in public health. We proposed a practical definition attempting to fill identified gaps. We defined acceptability as a "multi-construct concept describing the nonlinear cumulative combination in parts or in whole of the fit between the expected and experienced healthcare from the patient, provider or healthcare systems and policy perspectives in a given context." Practice Implications: We presented and described a workable definition and framework of healthcare acceptability that can be applied to different actors including patients, healthcare providers, researchers, managers or policy makers.

Roles of role players in the implementation of school-based human immunodeficiency virus and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome prevention programmes in local high school settings.

BACKGROUND: Worldwide, a large proportion of all new HIV infections occur in people under the age of 25. HIV and AIDS remain the leading cause of deaths among adolescents in sub-Saharan Africa and second leading cause of death globally. Preventing new HIV infections and AIDS-related deaths are at the heart of South Africa's National Strategic Plan on HIV and AIDS, STIs and TB 2017-2022. AIMS: Explore and describe the roles of the local role players in the implementation of the school-based HIV and AIDS prevention programmes in local high school settings. SETTINGS: The study was conducted in the Bushbuckridge local municipal area in Mpumalanga Province. METHODS: A qualitative, explorative, descriptive design and contextual study was used. Individual interviews and focus group interviews were conducted with the purposively selected participants from the clinic, health centre, high schools and community members. Data was analysed using Tesch's method of data analysis. RESULTS: Although all the local role players were found to have important roles to play in the implementation of the school-based HIV and AIDS prevention programme, gaps exist in the rendering of youth friendly services (YFS); accessible clinic times; HIV and AIDS education; life skills education; Life Orientation (LO) and health education; information sessions; counselling; school health programmes; campaigns as well as collaborative working strategy. CONCLUSION: Successful development and collaborative implementation of the school-based HIV and AIDS prevention programme can result in significant changes in knowledge and attitudes that affect sexual behaviour of young people, leading to significant decrease in HIV infection among young people.

Health-Support Needs of Widows in South Africa: A Phenomenological Inquiry.

Community health care should facilitate effective adaptation to widowhood. In South Africa, the primary health-care nurses, who are the first-line health-care services, seem to miss opportunities for identifying and effectively managing widows experiencing health risks. This study explored the health-support needs of widows. We purposively selected 12 participants, who were widows between 25 and 65 years old residing in an urban area of South Africa. Data were gathered during unstructured individual phenomenological interviews and analyzed using a descriptive phenomenological method. Widowhood is an embodied and intense emotional experience with a cognitive impact. Related to these experiences are widows' health-support needs. Widows have a need to be listened to and to be understood and cared for; attitudes and skills which require time and availability from primary health-care nurses. Widows expressed a need to engage in support groups, receive home visits, and receive health education from primary health-care nurses.

Challenges experienced by South Africa in attaining Millennium Development Goals 4, 5 and 6.

BACKGROUND: Despite progress made by other countries worldwide in achieving Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) 4, 5 and 6, South Africa is experiencing a challenge in attaining positive outcomes for these goals. OBJECTIVE AND SETTING: To describe the challenges experienced by South Africa regarding the successful implementation of MDGs 4, 5 and 6. METHODS: An integrative literature review was used to identify and synthesise various streams of literature on the challenges experienced by South Africa in attaining MDGs 4, 5 and 6. RESULTS: The integrative review revealed the following themes: (1) interventions related to child mortality reduction, (2) implementation of maternal mortality reduction strategies, and (3) identified barriers to zero HIV and TB infections and management. CONCLUSION: It is recommended that poverty relief mechanisms be intensified to improve the socio-economic status of women. There is a need for sectoral planning towards maternal health, and training of healthcare workers should emphasise the reduction of maternal deaths. Programmes addressing the reduction of maternal and child mortality rates, HIV, STIs and TB need to be put in place.

Perceptions of educators regarding the implementation of the health promotion programme manuals for children in schools in Makapanstad, South Africa.

BACKGROUND: Health promoting schools focus on, amongst other things, preventing leading causes of death such as Sexually Transmitted Infections (STI's), Human Immune Deficiency Virus (HIV) and Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS), a sedentary lifestyle and creating conditions that are conducive to health through health education. AIM: This study explored the perceptions of educators regarding implementation of the health promotion programme manuals in selected schools of the Makapanstad community. METHOD: A qualitative, exploratory, descriptive and contextual design was utilised in this study. Four schools were selected to participate in the study. Purposive sampling was used to select educators from these schools who were actively involved in the health promotion programme. Data collection was taken through focus group interviews. One focus group comprised of eight participants who were interviewed three times. The focus group interviews were conducted until data were saturated. Data were analysed using an adaptation of Tesch's method. The eight steps of Tesch's method enabled researchers to systematically analyse and organise data using colour coding to develop data into categories, sub-categories and themes. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: The themes that emerged during data analysis were: the perceptions of educators regarding health promotion programme manuals before implementation of manuals, and the perceptions of educators regarding health promotion programme manuals after the implementation of manuals. Introducing health promotion materials to the schools served as a point of departure for developing personal skills and creating a supportive environment for health in schools. The health promotion manual assisted the educators to attain appropriate health promotion information.