This thesis investigates the economic and psychological impact of industrial injuries and their history.

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A research report submitted to the Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Witwatersrand, in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Physiotherapy Johannesburg, 2019 / Background: Soccer has been described as the most popular sport globally that comes with high performance expectations. This can lead to increased risk of injuries such as ankle and foot injuries. Studies on injuries in soccer teams from under-resourced places like Gaborone, Botswana are scanty. Aim: To determine the prevalence of ankle and foot injuries and their effect on function and activity on premiere league soccer players in Gaborone. Method: A cross sectional descriptive study was conducted on 109 soccer players. A foot and ankle outcome score questionnaire was used to assess the effect of the injury on function and activity. An assessment of foot posture was carried out on each player. Results were analysed using Stata version 15.1. Results: The sample consisted of male premiere league soccer players ranging from 18-32 years with a median age of 24 years (IQR 22-26). Prevalence of ankle and foot injury was 46.80% with the majority of the injured players being midfielders (23.85%). Previous history of ankle and foot injury was reported by 66.7% of the participants. A significant association was found between playing position and previous history of ankle and foot injury (p= 0.02). A significant strong positive correlation was reported between pain and activities of daily living(����=0.74,��=0.00) . Conclusion: The results show that soccer players in Gaborone are at risk of incurring ankle and foot injury during training and matches. The study highlights the importance of putting in place stringent injury prevention measures to curb the prevalence of ankle and foot injuries. / MT 2020

M.P.H., Faculty of Health Science, University of the Witwatersrand, 2011 / Needlestick Injuries (NSI) that occur at Kimberley Hospital Complex (KHC) are reported by various categories of staff ranging from general workers to managers. They are regarded as medico-legal events and are classified as specific adverse events (AE). An AE is defined as any unexpected, unintended, unwanted event or circumstance that could have or did lead to unintended or unexpected harm, loss or damage. Although there were regular meetings related to NSI, there has been no systematic analysis of applicable data related to employees at KHC. The aim of this study was therefore to describe the NSI at KHC over a 1 year period (1 Jan 2009 – 31 Dec 2009) in order to obtain baseline information which will contribute towards improved planning of targeted preventive strategies in this setting. Methodology: A descriptive cross-sectional study was undertaken. This involved a retrospective review of selected hospital records relating to NSI reported by employees during this study period. No primary data was collected. Results: A total of 32 employees reported NSI during the study period. The prevalence of NSI was 2% of overall staff compliment. The highest reported prevalence was amongst the doctors (13, 10.4%) and the lowest amongst the general assistants (5, 0.6%). The majority of NSIs occurred during the recapping activity (20, 62.5%), was reported by female employees (27, 84.4%), took place mainly during normal working hours (23, 72%), and were mostly located within the Internal Medicine Department (10, 31.3%). About a third of the employees who reported NSIs were between 26 to 35 years (31%). The total treatment costs including drugs and vaccines provided during the study period were R 13 509.12, and the total laboratory test costs were R20 978.24. Overall the costs for drugs, vaccines and laboratory tests that made up the post-exposure measures amounted to R34 487.36. Results from this study suggest that reporting of NSI and other adverse events involving employees should be handled separately from those of patients. It is also important to profile the diverse employees that maybe at risk for this specific exposure and ensure that they are provided with the necessary training in this regard. There is a need to strengthen the relationship between the Quality Assurance Unit and the Wellness Clinic in order to optimize utilization of data regarding reported NSIs. Strategies to prevent NSIs should consider training on a regular basis and supervisors should work more closely with safety representatives in preventing NSIs.

Thesis (M.Sc. (Med.) (Emergency Medicine))--University of the Witwatersrand, Faculty of Health Sciences, 2014. / INTRODUCTION Cardiac injury following blunt chest trauma (BCT) presents a clinical spectrum of varying severity ranging from asymptomatic to severe and life-threatening. Attempts to diagnose acute cardiac injury may lead to unnecessary investigations and hospitalisation. Conversely, those patients “not at risk” could potentially be discharged from hospital. This research reviewed what methods are utilised by doctors to identify those patients at risk of acute cardiac injury. METHODS An on-line questionnaire was mailed to doctors working in emergency departments (EDs) throughout South Africa to ascertain what history, examination, and special investigations should be performed on patients presenting with blunt chest injury to exclude cardiac injury. RESULTS These revealed varied responses with inappropriate investigations and lacked unanimity in the diagnostic methods. The majority of doctors did not adhere to up-to-date consensus driven and evidenced based up-to-date practice There was not much difference in the respondents responses between specialist emergency physicians (SEPs) and general practitioners (GPs). CONCLUSION A high index of suspicion based on careful history taking and physical examination together with specific diagnostic testing limited to identifying those patients at risk of a cardiac injury (and developing cardiac complications) presenting with BCT should be the cornerstone of this diagnostic challenge. It was evident that the diagnosis of acute cardiac injury remains an elusive challenge and lacks consistent utilisation of diagnostic criteria.

A thesis submitted to the Faculty of Medicine, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg for the degree of Master of Science, Occupational Therapy / Many patients have been supplied with dorsal dynamic finger extension splints for improvement of the range of motion of stiff finger joints, The design of the splint has been developed and improved over time, but the amount of force which was applied to a finger was determined intuitively. This research was undertaken to quantify the force exerted on a finger and to desigm a splint which would ensure that the amount of force exerted on a finger was constant and reliable. Since six studies were undertaken as part of the research, different protocols were developed for each. The findings of the studies can be summarised as follows: * similar tensions in a variety of rubber bands can not consistently be identified; rubber bands which are more or less equal in length, thickness and width do not undergo the same amount of elongation when identical weights are attached to them; friction between the outrigger and the traction unit plays a major role in determining how much force is exerted on a finger; a layer of Teflon paint over the outrigger coupled with a nylon fishing line traction unit causes the least amount of friction; stainless steel tension springs provide a more reliable and consistent force than rubber bands. Finally a splint was designed, taking into account the results of the six studies. The splint consists of a thermoplastic base with Velcro attachment straps, a pre-notched copper coated welding rod dipped in Teflon paint at least 14 days before use, a traction unit made from a stainless steel tension spring with a tension of 3g/rnm, a piece of nylon fishing line and a finger sling. Although the splint was designed to ensure that the force exerted on a finger is consistent and quantifiable, it should still be tested clinically to ascertain whether the design is really practical. / Andrew Chakane 2019

Interpersonal violence is a global health issue, the impact of which filters through every facet of society. Studies have shown that more than 1.6 million people die annually across the world as a result of violence; injured survivors may suffer from a range of physical, sexual, reproductive and mental health problems.3 The aim of this study is to describe the trends and profile of violence-related injuries originating in a South African community, with regard to the hospital records of an urban emergency department and crisis centre. Materials and Methods: A retrospective, descriptive study was conducted by reviewing patient files at Leratong Provincial Hospital. Relevant clinical information such as victim’s age and gender; time, date and day of hospital attendance; nature of injury; presence/absence of alcohol; and nature of weapon (if any) was extracted. Each patient record was given a unique study number and patient confidentiality was maintained at all times. The extracted information was recorded on a data sheet and analysed statistically. Results: Leratong Hospital sees a large number of patients with injuries due to interpersonal violence throughout the year, with an increase in May, November and December. Higher numbers of patients present in the last week of the month, and as found in other studies Saturday and Sundays experience the most hospital attendances due to interpersonal violence. Victims were predominantly male (64%), except in the case of sexual assault where the victims were all (100%) female; females also suffered more blunt injuries than penetrating injuries. Blunt injuries were the most frequent type of injury in the overall sample, although over the weekend males sustained more penetrating injuries than blunt injuries. Young males were noted to be the main victims of interpersonal violence, and possibly also the main perpetrators. Conclusion: This study highlights the trends in interpersonal violence injuries seen at Leratong Provincial Hospital. Young adults, especially males, are noted to be significantly affected by interpersonal violence.

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