An Intensive Care Unit (ICU) is an extreme technological environment where different t)?es of equipment and devices, intended for the care of critically ill patients, are found. The use of technological equipment has assisted in reduction of morbidity, mortality, and length of hospital stay because the problems are diagnosed earlier. The purpose of the study was to explore the perceptions of nu$es who work in the Intensive Care Units about the effects of the use of technological equipment, with the intention of making recommendations for clinical practice, education of nurses and further research. A quantitative, descriptive, prospective, and non-experimental study design was utilised in this study, as well as a non-probability sampling method. Participants (n:60) were drawn from neurosurgical, cardiothoracic and main ICUs. Data collection was done by use of questionnaire. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyse data.

A research report submitted to the Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Public Health in the field of Hospital Management APRIL 2014 / Background: The South African Department of Health stipulated that district hospitals must provide comprehensive package of preventive, promotive, curative and rehabilitative reproductive health services for women that requires medical and special resources, not found in the health centres and clinics (Department of Health, 2002). The Evander District (ED) Hospital, a district hospital situated in the Govan Mbeki Subdistrict in the Mpumalanga Province provides both in-patient (36 beds in maternity unit and four nursery beds) and outpatient services. The Hospital Maternity Unit has recently been criticised by the Mpumalanga Department of Health for high rate of CS (30%), and perinatal mortality rate (40 per 1000). But, the Hospital never analysed the data collected routinely to develop an understanding of the challenges faced by the Unit. The Unit staff complained about inadequate resources as one of the reasons. The Hospital has introduced a Cost centre in the Maternity Unit for efficient management of resource allocation for the Unit. This study analysed the routinely collected data from the Hospital Information System and Maternity Unit Cost centre for assessing the maternity services currently rendered by the Evander District Hospital. Aim: To described the deliveries at the Evander Hospital over a period of 6 months from 01st January 2011 to 30th June 2011. Methodology: It was a cross sectional study that reviewed the records from Hospital Information System (all antenatal cards and Obstetric files of the women who delivered at the labour ward during the study period) and Maternity Unit cost center. The variables used for the study included number and type of deliveries, socio-demographic and clinical profiles of patients, maternal and perinatal complications and outcomes. In addition, costing information collected during the same period. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used for analysis. Permissions were obtained from the Mpumalanga Department of Health and University of the Witwatersrand ‘Human Research Ethics Committee (Medical) before commencement of the study. Results: A total of 1,081 deliveries were performed at the Evander Hospital over sixmonth period. The highest number of deliveries was NVD (67.44%), followed by caesarean sections (31.82%). The majority of the women who delivered came from poor socio-economic class and mostly single and black, which is a reflection of the characteristics of the catchment population of the Evander Hospital. Teenage pregnancy rate was quite high (20%). The majority of the subjects were primipara (41%). Although most of them (91.3%) of them were booked, only 14% had stipulated number of antenatal visits (4 or more visits) and 7.4% of booked mothers, did not have booking blood results, which was a missed opportunity. HIV was the most prevalent (33, 31.3%) medical conditions, which is similar to the HIV prevalence reported in antenatal sero-prevalence survey in South Africa. Only 17% had planned and scheduled CS. Very few patients had post-partum complications indicating well managed third stage of labour. There was no maternal death during this period. All patients were discharged home. More than 17% (n=185) subjects had low birth weight babies (less than 2500 g), which is just above national average of 16%. The median Apgar score among children delivered at Evander Hospital was 9. Interestingly, the Apgar scores of babies of subjects who had operative deliveries were significantly lower than those who had nonoperative deliveries. Most of the babies were born alive. Stillbirth rate (7 per 1000 live births) was significantly lower than South African national average 17.8 per 1000 live births. The total medical cost for the maternity ward for the six months studied amounted to R 4,584,466, the average monthly cost being R 76,407.67. The most expensive items were drugs and pharmaceuticals and least expensive being the medical consumables. Conclusion: This study was the first of its kind to be done in this Hospital and the Health District. The study identified gaps where management of pregnant women in the Evander Hospital could be further improved through improved booking, planned deliveries and thereby reducing low birth weight rates and still birth rate. This would assist the Hospital Management to develop appropriate measures to reduce unnecessary CS being done, NVD being delivered in the hospital rather than using CHC, and strengthening referral system and strategies to reduce HIV and AIDS incidence. In addition, further study is necessary at the PHC facilities in the Sub-district to identify determinants for high rate of teenage pregnancy.

A research report submitted to the Faculty of Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Public Health in the field of Hospital Management, Johannesburg, 2011 / Mecklenburg Hospital provides a comprehensive package of promotive, preventive, curative and rehabilitative reproductive health services for women which are not available in primary health care clinics and community health centres. These services require special equipment (such as cardiotochograph machine) and personnel (such as medical doctors) that are not available in these health facilities. The availability of medical equipment is one of the crucial components of effective maternal health services. Specific life saving medical equipment must be available for routine and emergency management of maternal and neonatal complications. This study is undertaken since no formal study has been done to systematically study the availability and related cost of medical equipment in a district Hospital maternity ward.

Thesis (M.H.A.)--University of Michigan, 1962.

Thesis (M.H.A.)--University of Michigan, 1962.