BackgroundHealth care workers need to be equipped to deal with the increasing obesity and obesity-related morbidity occurring in developing countries.ObjectivesTo assess weight status, eating practices and nutritional knowledge amongst nursing students at the University of Fort Hare, Eastern Cape.MethodA cross-sectional descriptive survey was conducted on 161 undergraduate (51 male and 110 female) students of the Department of Nursing Sciences at the University of Fort Hare. Body mass index, waist and hip circumferences and waist hip ratio were determined. Nutritional knowledge and eating practices were investigated by structured interviewer-administered questionnaires.ResultsStatically, 49.7% were overweight or obese (58.2% of the females; 31.4% of the males) and 65.2% had waist circumferences putting them at risk for non-communicable diseases. Most did not meet the recommendations for intakes from the vegetable group (97.5% ate <3 servings per day), the fruit group (42.2% ate <2 servings per day), and the dairy group (92.6% ate <2 servings per day); whilst 78.3% ate ≥4 serving per day of sugar or sweets. Most consumed margarine, oil or fat (68.3%), sugar (59.0%) and bread (55.9%) daily, but few reported daily intakes of vegetables (12.4%), fruit (23.6%), fruit juice (21.2%) and milk (15.6%). Fewer than 50% knew the recommended intakes for vegetables, fruit, dairy, starchy foods and meat or meat alternatives.ConclusionsThese nursing students had a high prevalence of overweight and obesity, poor eating habits and inadequate knowledge on key nutrition issues, which may impact negatively on their efficacy as future health ambassadors to the public.

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BackgroundEpidemiological information on childhood disability provides the basis for a country to plan, implement and manage the provision of health, educational and social services for these vulnerable children. There is, however, currently no population-based surveillance instrument that is compatible with the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF), internationally comparable, methodologically sound and comprehensively researched, to identify children under 5 years of age who are living with disability in South Africa and internationally. We conducted a descriptive pilot study to investigate the sensitivity and specificity of translated versions of the Ages and Stages Questionnaire Third Edition (ASQ-III) and the Washington Group on Disability Statistics/UNICEF module on child functioning (WG/UNICEF module) as parent-reported measures. The aim of our study was to identify early childhood disabilities in children aged 24–48 months in a rural area of South Africa, to determine the appropriateness of these instruments for population-based surveillance in similar contexts internationally.MethodsThis study was conducted in the Xhariep District of the Free State Province in central South Africa, with 50 carers whose children were registered on the South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) database as recipients of a grant for one of the following: Care Dependency, Child Support or Foster Care. The researchers, assisted by community healthcare workers and SASSA staff members, conducted structured interviews using forward–backward translated versions of the ASQ-III and the WG/UNICEF module.ResultsBoth measurement instruments had a clinically meaningful sensitivity of 60.0%, high specificity of 95.6% for the ASQ-III and 84.4% for the WG/UNICEF module, and the two instruments agreed moderately (Kappa = 0.6).ConclusionSince the WG/UNICEF module is quicker to administer, easier to understand and based on the ICF, it can be considered as an appropriate parent-reported measure for large-scale, population-based as well as smaller, community-specific contexts. It is, however, recommended that future research and development continues with the WG/UNICEF module to enhance its conceptual equivalence for larger-scale, population-based studies in South Africa and internationally.

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The posterior IVS delivered satisfactory results for vault and posterior compartment prolapse, with a 75% improvement in vault prolapse. It was not possible, however, to separate the effect of posterior IVS and posterior colporrhaphy on the prevention of recurrent prolapse nor on the improvement of difficulty in defecation. Due to the utilization of the now-abandoned vaginal anterior colposuspension procedure for the treatment of anterior compartment prolapse, no conclusions regarding the impact of the posterior IVS on the anterior compartment can be made.

Objective: To evaluate the nutritional intake and status of HIV-1 seropositive patients, as well as the relationship between malnutrition and disease stage. Design: A cross-sectional study. Settings: The Immunology Clinic at the Pelonomi Hospital in Bloemfontein, South Africa. Subjects: Eighty-one HIVaAIDS patients in different stages of disease were recruited consecutively from January to May 1995. Eleven of these patients were followed in 1997. Main outcome measures: Anthropometric data including current weight, height, triceps skinfold thickness, midupper-arm circumference, body mass index and bone-free arm muscle area were collected. Nutrient intake was estimated using a diet history in combination with a standardised food frequency questionnaire. The patients were divided into 3 groups according to their CD4 T cell counts. Results: The men were leaner (BMI 18.9) than the women (BMI 22.7) and patients with a CD4T cell count`200 (stage III) tended to have the lowest median values for all anthropometric measurements. More than half the patients had a low intake (`67% of the recommended dietary allowances) of vitamin C, vitamin B 6 , vitamin D, vitamin A, calcium, iron and zinc. Conclusions: The results con®rms that HIVaAIDS patients from this population are malnourished. There was, however, no association between disease stage and nutritional status. Nutritional supplementation of HIVaAIDS patients should be considered, as this might lead to improved immune function in these patients.

Objective The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of uterine artery embolisation (UAE) in myomatous uteri larger than 24 week's gestation (780 cm 3 ). Design Prospective case control study.Setting Universitas Hospital, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa.Population Sixty-one women, who underwent UAE, were included in the study. The study group comprised of 12 women with uteri !780 cm 3 and the control group 49 women with uteri <780 cm 3 . Methods UAE was performed and the difference in outcome for the two groups was determined at 12 months.Main outcome measure Symptomatic improvement with embolisation of the large uterus.Results Reduction of dysmenorrhoea, menorrhagia and pressure effects was similar for both groups. The median reduction in uterine volume (pre-to post-embolisation) was 188 cm 3 (range 28-2038 cm 3 ) with a 95% CI for the median difference for paired data of 146.5 and 236. Only 66% of the study group had, however, a reduction in volume to <780 cm 3 . The complication rates were similar for the two groups with regards to post-embolisation syndrome, fibroid slough, haematoma formation, infection, hysterectomy and failure to embolise. Satisfaction was similar between the two groups, with 91% of women satisfied with the procedure. Conclusion The large uterus does not decrease UAE's efficacy. Although 33.3% of the study group still had a uterus of !780 cm 3 , symptom reduction was still similar for both groups. Women may thus still be left with a large uterine volume but without symptoms. This must be taken into consideration when counselling women with an extremely large uterus for UAE.