The study examined the correlations between gender, ethnicity, socio-economic status, self-reported mode of exposure to HIV, the types of coping strategies utilized, social support, perceived stress, preventive resources, depression, and disease progression among 79 HIV+ patients, eleven of which were Spanish speaking, seen at a federally and city funded HIV/AIDS clinic. The first aim was to demonstrate that there is a linear relationship between gender, ethnicity, the manner in which one copes with the HIV infection (utilizing problem-focused strategies versus emotion-focused strategies), and the progression of HIV as measured by each participant’s CD4 count. The second aim of the study was to show that the higher the frequency of seeking medical support at the HIV/AIDS clinic, the lower the rate of HIV progression as measured by the CD4 count. The third aim of the study was to demonstrate that there is a significant difference in the types of coping strategies utilized by differing ethnicities to combat the stress related to HIV. Findings indicated that among the 78 participants who completed the surveys, housing status (homeless versus having a home), intravenous drug use (IVDU), Escape-Avoidance behavior, Positive Reappraisal, the perception of having familial support, and the perception of mastery were all significantly correlated with the difference in the CD4 count initially obtained at the time of the interview and the CD4 count that was obtained again 3 through 15 months later. Of the 17 of the total 78 participants who did not return to the clinic consistently, housing status was found to be significantly correlated with the difference in the CD4 count initially obtained at the time of the interview and the CD4 count that was obtained again 3 through 8 months later. Of the 61 of the 78 participants who did return to the clinic consistently, IVDU, the perception of family as supportive, the perception of having sources of comfort, the perception of the ability to scan the environment as a resource, the perception that one recognizes the opportunity to prevent stress, perceived control, the perception that one has control, the perception that one has efficacy, the perception that one can master tasks, and the perception that one can maintain self-direction were all significantly correlated with the difference in the CD4 count initially obtained at the time of the interview and the CD4 count that was obtained again 9 through 15 months later. Therefore, there was a significant difference between those patients who returned for consistent medical treatment at the clinic versus those who attended the clinic infrequently. The issues pertaining to the adherence of medical treatment as well as attempts to buffer the positive coping strategies that facilitate adherence are of critical importance to current prevention measures. In addition, it was found that there were significant differences in the manner in which differing ethnicities coped with the stressors related to HIV. The study revealed that among the 25 black men and women, coping by accepting responsibility, and coping by positively reappraising situations were predictive of ethnicity. Among the 21 Hispanic men and women and the 31 white men and women who participated in the study, none of the coping strategies were predictive of ethnicity. The identification of the differential manners in which each ethnicity copes with the stressors related to HIV has the potential to bolster both HIV treatment and prevention efforts. Further research needs to be conducted in order to further explore these important issues. / text

Rationale Epilepsy is a common, chronic, neurological condition that disproportionately affects individuals living in low- and middle- income countries, including much of sub-Saharan Africa. Epilepsy is treatable, with the majority of individuals who take anti-epileptic drugs experiencing a reduction, or elimination, of seizures. Yet the number of individuals taking and adhering to medication in Africa is low and interventions aimed at improving treatment are lacking. Aims To define the epidemiology of convulsive epilepsy in rural South Africa in terms of incidence, mortality and disability-adjusted life years; to determine outpatient, out-of-pocket costs resulting from epilepsy treatment; to establish the level of adherence to anti-epileptic drugs amongst people with epilepsy; and, to determine whether the introduction of routine visits to people with epilepsy by community health workers is a cost-effective intervention for improving adherence to anti-epileptic drugs. Methods Nested within the Agincourt Health and Demographic Surveillance System, this work utilized a cohort of individuals diagnosed with convulsive epilepsy in 2008 to determine health care utilization and out-of-pocket costs due to care sought for epilepsy. Additionally, using blood samples from the cohort, anti-epileptic drug adherence was measured and, following the cohort, mortality rates were determined. Using these collected epidemiological parameters, disability-adjusted life years due to convulsive epilepsy were determined. Finally, combining the epidemiological and cost parameters, a community health worker intervention was modeled to determine its incremental cost-effectiveness ratio. Key Findings The burden of convulsive epilepsy is lower in rural South Africa than other parts of Africa, likely due to lower levels of known risk factors. Yet the burden, especially in terms of mortality, remains high, as does the treatment gap and health care utilization. Findings from the economic evaluation found the introduction of a community health worker to be highly cost-effective and would likely lower the burden of epilepsy in rural South Africa. Implications Epilepsy contributes to the burden of disease in rural South Africa, with high levels of mortality and a substantial treatment gap. The introduction of a community-health worker is likely to be one cost-effective, community based intervention that would lower the burden of epilepsy by improving adherence to anti-epileptic drugs. Implementing this intervention, based on these findings, is a justified and important next step.

Introduction Self-rated health (SRH) is a widely used indicator of health service utilisation and reflects self-perceived objective health condition. Poorer non-comparative SRH was shown to be related to higher inpatient and outpatient utilisation in Western and elderly populations. Little is known about how healthcare utilisation relates to SRH in non-Western settings, such as Hong Kong and in adult populations. The association of age- and time- comparative SRH with healthcare utilisation is also unclear. This study aimed to assess the association of three types of SRH (non-, age- and time- comparative SRH) with inpatient and outpatient utilisation in Hong Kong‟s general populaion. Methods Data were derived from 2011 Thematic Household Survey (THS), covering 23,892 non-institutional residents aged 20 and above. The study adopts Andersen‟s Behavioral Model of Health Service Use for the analytical framework. Healthcare utilisation was measured by inpatient use during the past year and outpatient use (including General Outpatient Clinic (GOPC) and Specialist Outpatient Clinic (SOPC)) during the past month, in terms of ever-use and the amount of use (bed-days and number of outpatient visits). SRH was measured with a 5-point Likert Scale: non-comparative SRH from “Excellent” to “Poor”; age- and time- comparative from “much worse” to “much better”. Logistic regression and zero-truncated negative binomial/ Poisson regression were applied to examine the association of SRH and chronic diseases with healthcare utilisation in the public and private sector separately as per the Andersen behavioral model. Results “Fair/ poor” non-comparative SRH was associated with higher inpatient and outpatient utilisation. The association was not significant for hospital bed-days. Similarly, age-comparative SRH was associated with inpatient (except private bed-days) and outpatient utilisation (except the number of SOPC visits). “Worse/ much worse” time-comparative SRH was associated with higher healthcare utilisation, but the relationship was less clear for private hospitalisation. The presence of cancer, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, lower respiratory diseases, and musculoskeletal diseases were associated with higher healthcare utilisation, with stronger association observed for ever-use than the amount of use. The relationships between musculoskeletal diseases and inpatient utilisation, between cardiovascular diseases and diabetes and the number of private outpatient visits, and between lower respiratory diseases and GOPC utillisation were not significant. Conclusions The present study suggests SRH to be a useful health indicator of health service utilisation. All three SRH measures were associated with health service utilisation and no marked differences were observed between different measures. Poorer SRH were strongly related to higher public inpatient utilisation, with stronger association observed for ever hospitalisation than bed-days. Poorer SRH measures were also related to higher outpatient uilisation in both sectors during the past month. All the selected chronic conditions were related to increased healthcare use. The associations were less clear for hospital bed-days and the private sector. Future studies should focus on the predictive validity of SRH on future healthcare utilisation. / published_or_final_version / Public Health / Master / Master of Philosophy

No description available.

Using data from the Household Component of the 1996 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey, the study compares (1) the accessibility, and (2) the predictors of health care services utilization among African American and non-Hispanic White males, 18 to 65 years old in the United States. Using ANOVA procedure in comparing the means for use of physicians, hospitals, doctors, and difficulty obtaining care, seven hypotheses were tested in the study. First, it was hypothesized that African American men of working age will have less access to health care services (physicians, hospitals, and dentists), and be more likely to report having experienced delay or difficulty obtaining care, compared to non-Hispanic white males of working age. Second, it was hypothesized that, controlling for health status, African American men of working age will have less access to health care services (physicians, hospitals, and dentists), and will also be more likely to experience delay or difficulty obtaining care, than non-Hispanic white males. This was followed by the third hypothesis which compared utilization of physicians, hospitals, dentists, and difficulty obtaining care among African American and non-Hispanic white males, controlling for health status and insurance coverage (any insurance, private insurance, any public insurance, and Medicaid). Hypotheses four through six compared the utilization of physicians, hospitals, and dentists, as well as difficulty obtaining care among African American and non-Hispanic white males, controlling for the following variables sequentially: health status and poverty status; health status and having a usual source of care; and health status and employment status, in that order. Finally, it was hypothesized that, controlling for health status, any insurance, poverty status, and employment status, African American men of working age will have less access to physicians, hospitals, and dentists, and experience more difficulty and delay obtaining care, compared to non-Hispanic white males of working age. Results from the study indicated that Hypothesis 1 was supported for use of physicians and dentists. Hypotheses 2, 3a and 3c were supported for use of physicians, hospitals, and dentists. Hypotheses 3b, 3d, and 4 received support for use of physicians, hospitals, dentists, and difficulty obtaining care. Additionally, both Hypotheses 5 and 6 were supported for use of physicians, hospitals, and dentists, with the last hypothesis being confirmed for use of physicians, hospitals, dentists, and difficulty obtaining care. The study calls for a closure of the gap in access to health care between African American and non-Hispanic white adult males in the US. A reform-oriented government-sponsored single-payer plan modeled after the Canadian health care system is recommended for the United States. A national health insurance plan is most likely to ensure equity of access, compared to others, in the sense that it is founded on the premise that everyone will be covered in a similar fashion. Considering the role of Community Health Centers in serving Medicaid and Medicare recipients, low-income uninsured and insured, the underinsured, as well as high-risk populations and the elderly, in the interim, they should be extended to every community in the United States.

Dissertation submitted in compliance with the requirements for the Masters Degree in Technology: Nursing, Durban University of Technology, 2016. / Introduction Although the South African Government adopted a primary health care approach to health care service provision in order to ensure equitable access to and utilization of health care services to all communities, the country continues to face challenges regarding access and utilisation of health care services especially in the rural communities. Antenatal care which is mostly provided at primary health care level is regarded as the cornerstone for the success of the maternal and child health care programme. Therefore, poor access to and under-utilisation of health care services could potentially influence the success of this programme and pregnancy outcomes. Aim of the study The aim of the study was to determine whether pregnant women from KwaMkhizwana rural community had access to and were utilising antenatal care services. Methodology A qualitative, exploratory, descriptive and contextual study was conducted guided by Thaddeus and Maine’s three delays model. Purposive sampling of the pregnant women and all categories of nurses who were employed in the three health care facilities in the area was done. Data was collected in two phases through in-depth semi-structured interviews with both the pregnant women and the nurses respectively between February and March 2016. The sample size was guided by data saturation. All data were analysed using the Tesch’s method of data analysis. Study findings Six major themes and several sub-themes emerged from the interviews with both Phase 1 and Phase 2 participants. The major themes included: 1) access to health care and emergency services, 2) availability of human and material resources, 3) social and cultural beliefs, 4) past pregnancy experiences, 5) communication and transparency regarding health care service delivery and 6) quality of antenatal care services. Summary of the findings The pregnant women encountered several challenges which led to delays in seeking, reaching and receiving antenatal care. Most of the pregnant women participants related limited access to health care, with under-utilisation of antenatal services. They were unhappy about the antenatal care services they received in the three available health care facilities in the area, which made these facilities to be inaccessible and underutilised. The nurse participants recognised the challenges facing the pregnant women regarding the access and utilisation of antenatal care services, together with the challenges faced by the nurses while working in the three available health care facilities in the area. Recommendations The recommendations that were made included: to consider building a centrally located fixed primary health care clinic that would ensure equal access to health care services, strengthening the implementation of policies regarding the referral system and ambulance services, ensuring sustainable availability of human and material resources, developing strategies to ensure that the antenatal care services are delivered in line with the South African Department of Health policies and guidelines and strengthening community education. A further study on provision of antenatal care services in the area is also recommended. / M

Abstract EXPLORING SUBSTANCE USE DISORDERS COMMUNITY OUTPATIENT COUNSELORS’ EXPERIENCES TREATING CLIENTS WITH CO-OCCURRING MEDICAL CONDITIONS. AN INTERPRETATIVE PHENOMENOLOGICAL ANALYSIS Lauretta Anne Cathers, Ph.D. A dissertation submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy at Virginia Commonwealth University. Virginia Commonwealth University, 2013 Major Director: Amy Armstrong, PhD, Chair, Rehabilitation Counseling The Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis study presents the findings from a qualitative study examining substance use disorders (SUD) community outpatient treatment counselors’ experiences treating clients with co-occurring medical conditions. Interviews from five SUD community outpatient treatment counselors resulted in four emerging super-ordinate themes. The findings illustrate the relationships between SUDs, medical conditions and other predisposing, enabling and need factors. In order to assist clients in focusing on therapy, counselors work to identify resources to treat the basic needs of the clients, including medical care. Challenges included limited resources, complex system processes, and client fear and apathy. In addition, various unique challenges related to medical conditions treated by potentially habit forming medications and traumatic brain injury were identified. Counselors discussed how their roles and responsibilities have expanded to include case management and additional responsibility for the overall well-being of the clients they serve. They encouraged SUD educators to include more education on counselor self-care, trauma, pain conditions and the assessment process. Implications from the study highlight the need for integrated behavioral and physical health care.

Objectives. The aims of this survey were (1) to assess the quality of asthma treatment and control in Latin America, (2) to determine how closely asthma management guidelines are being followed, and (3) to assess perception, knowledge and attitudes related to asthma in Latin America. Methods. We surveyed a household sample of 2 184 adults or parents of children with asthma in 2003 in 11 countries in Latin America. Respondents were asked about healthcare utilization, symptom severity, activity limitations and medication use. Results. Daytime asthma symptoms were reported by 56% of the respondents, and 51 % reported being awakened by their asthma at night. More than half of those surveyed had been hospitalized, attended a hospital emergency service or made unscheduled emergency visits to other healthcare facilities for asthma during the previous year. Patient perception of asthma control did not match symptom severity, even in patients with severe persistent asthma, 44.7% of whom regarded their disease as being well or completely controlled. Only 2.4% (2.3% adults and 2.6% children) met all criteria for asthma control. Although 37% reported treatment with prescription medications, only 6% were using inhaled corticosteroids. Most adults (79%) and children (68%) in this survey reported that asthma symptoms limited their activities. Absence from school and work was reported by 58% of the children and 31% of adults, respectively. Conclusions. Asthma control in Latin America falls short of goals in international guidelines, and in many aspects asthma care and control in Latin America suffer from the same shortcomings as in other areas of the world. / Revisión por pares

Da necessidade de instrumentos de avaliação do impacto da Atenção Primária à Saúde na população, emerge a utilização do indicador indireto de efetividade Internações por Condições Sensíveis à Atenção Primária. Parte-se do pressuposto de que resolubilidade de ações desenvolvidas à nível primário de atenção refletem na redução das internações por grupos de causas específicas definidas, no Brasil, através da Lista Brasileira de Internações por Condições Sensíveis à Atenção Primária. A hipertensão arterial sistêmica, por ser uma condição crônica de alta carga social e fator de risco para as doenças cardiovasculares é considerada uma condição sensível. Objetivou-se analisar a ocorrência de internações por hipertensão categorizada no Grupo 9 da Lista Brasileira de Internações por Condições Sensíveis à Atenção Primária, nos residentes de Ribeirão Preto, para o período de 2000 a 2008, segundo as variáveis sexo, faixa etária, tipo de internação e condição de saída. Estudo descritivo, retrospectivo que teve como base a distribuição da ocorrência das internações por hipertensão de modo proporcional à população, utilizando-se de dados secundários, com aprovação prévia em Comitê de Ética local. Os resultados evidenciaram que as internações por hipertensão, no período analisado, sofreram variações, porém se comparados os anos de 2000 e 2008, o número de internações manteve-se estável e que as internações por condições mais simples do ponto de vista clínico sofreram redução e as mais complexas sofreram acréscimo. Há predomínio de registros de internações de responsabilidade do Sistema Único de Saúde, mulheres, pessoas acima de 50 anos e alta como condição de saída. Os dados descritos favorecem a possibilidade de planejamento das ações de saúde com dimensão para novas estratégias de promoção de saúde e de prevenção de agravos em nível primário de atenção, podendo, por meio de hipóteses descritivas, ampliar as possibilidades de manejo de doenças crônicas como a hipertensão / The need for tools to assess of the impact of Primary Health Care in the population emerges the use of indirect indicator of effectiveness Hospitalizations by Primary Care Sensitive Conditions. Start with the assumption that solving actions developed to primary care level reflect in reducing hospitalizations for groups of specific causes set in Brazil, through the Brazilian List Hospitalizations by Primary Care Sensitive Conditions. Hypertension, being a chronic condition of high social burden and risk factor for cardiovascular disease is considered a sensitive condition. This study aimed to analyze the occurrence of hospitalizations for hypertension categorized in Group 9 of the Brazilian List Hospitalizations Primary Care Sensitive Conditions, in residents of Ribeirão Preto, during the period 2000 to 2008, according to variables sex, age, type of hospitalization and exit condition. Descriptive, retrospective study was based on the distribution of the occurrence of hospitalizations for hypertension in proportion mode to the population, using secondary data, previously approved by the local Ethics Committee. The results showed that hospitalizations for hypertension, in the analyzed period, have varied, but if compared the years 2000 and 2008, the number of hospitalization remained stable and that hospitalizations for simpler conditions of a clinical standpoint were reduced and the most complex suffered augmentation. There is a predominance of records of hospitalizations of responsibility of the Health System, women, people over 50 years and discharged output condition. The data presented favor the possibility of planning of health actions with dimension for new strategies to health promotion and disease prevention of injuries in primary care level, may, through descriptive hypotheses, enhancing the possibilities for management of chronic diseases as hypertension

Da necessidade de instrumentos de avaliação do impacto da Atenção Primária à Saúde na população, emerge a utilização do indicador indireto de efetividade Internações por Condições Sensíveis à Atenção Primária. Parte-se do pressuposto de que resolubilidade de ações desenvolvidas à nível primário de atenção refletem na redução das internações por grupos de causas específicas definidas, no Brasil, através da Lista Brasileira de Internações por Condições Sensíveis à Atenção Primária. A hipertensão arterial sistêmica, por ser uma condição crônica de alta carga social e fator de risco para as doenças cardiovasculares é considerada uma condição sensível. Objetivou-se analisar a ocorrência de internações por hipertensão categorizada no Grupo 9 da Lista Brasileira de Internações por Condições Sensíveis à Atenção Primária, nos residentes de Ribeirão Preto, para o período de 2000 a 2008, segundo as variáveis sexo, faixa etária, tipo de internação e condição de saída. Estudo descritivo, retrospectivo que teve como base a distribuição da ocorrência das internações por hipertensão de modo proporcional à população, utilizando-se de dados secundários, com aprovação prévia em Comitê de Ética local. Os resultados evidenciaram que as internações por hipertensão, no período analisado, sofreram variações, porém se comparados os anos de 2000 e 2008, o número de internações manteve-se estável e que as internações por condições mais simples do ponto de vista clínico sofreram redução e as mais complexas sofreram acréscimo. Há predomínio de registros de internações de responsabilidade do Sistema Único de Saúde, mulheres, pessoas acima de 50 anos e alta como condição de saída. Os dados descritos favorecem a possibilidade de planejamento das ações de saúde com dimensão para novas estratégias de promoção de saúde e de prevenção de agravos em nível primário de atenção, podendo, por meio de hipóteses descritivas, ampliar as possibilidades de manejo de doenças crônicas como a hipertensão / The need for tools to assess of the impact of Primary Health Care in the population emerges the use of indirect indicator of effectiveness Hospitalizations by Primary Care Sensitive Conditions. Start with the assumption that solving actions developed to primary care level reflect in reducing hospitalizations for groups of specific causes set in Brazil, through the Brazilian List Hospitalizations by Primary Care Sensitive Conditions. Hypertension, being a chronic condition of high social burden and risk factor for cardiovascular disease is considered a sensitive condition. This study aimed to analyze the occurrence of hospitalizations for hypertension categorized in Group 9 of the Brazilian List Hospitalizations Primary Care Sensitive Conditions, in residents of Ribeirão Preto, during the period 2000 to 2008, according to variables sex, age, type of hospitalization and exit condition. Descriptive, retrospective study was based on the distribution of the occurrence of hospitalizations for hypertension in proportion mode to the population, using secondary data, previously approved by the local Ethics Committee. The results showed that hospitalizations for hypertension, in the analyzed period, have varied, but if compared the years 2000 and 2008, the number of hospitalization remained stable and that hospitalizations for simpler conditions of a clinical standpoint were reduced and the most complex suffered augmentation. There is a predominance of records of hospitalizations of responsibility of the Health System, women, people over 50 years and discharged output condition. The data presented favor the possibility of planning of health actions with dimension for new strategies to health promotion and disease prevention of injuries in primary care level, may, through descriptive hypotheses, enhancing the possibilities for management of chronic diseases as hypertension