Knowledge, attitude and preventative practice of tuberculosis in rural communities of Dikgale, Mamabolo and Mothiba health and demographic surveillance system in Limpopo province, South Africa.

BACKGROUND: Tuberculosis continues to be a serious public health issue. To reduce the transmission of the disease, it is imperative to address the major obstacle of inadequate understanding regarding the causes, risk factors, treatments, and prevention of pulmonary TB. The study assessed knowledge, attitude, and preventative practices of tuberculosis among community members in Dikgale, Mamabolo and Mothiba (DIMAMO) Health Demographic Surveillance system, Limpopo Province South Africa. METHODS: A cross-sectional clinic-based survey involving 360 participants was conducted at clinics at Dikgale, Mamabolo and Mothiba (DIMAMO) Health and Demographic Surveillance System. A standardised questionnaire on socio-demographic, knowledge, attitude and preventative practices towards tuberculosis based on (WHO) KAP-TB template guidelines was used to collect data. Descriptive statistics on Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 27.0 was used to analyse data. RESULTS: The results of the cross-sectional survey on KAP-TB illustrated that the participants have good knowledge, attitude, and perception of TB. Majority of the participants (n = 270, 75%) had good general knowledge, while (n = 90, 25%) had poor knowledge about TB. However, the study reports (n = 57, 15.6%) having knowledge of causative agents of TB. Participants showed a favourable attitude toward people who are infected with TB. 87% showed a favourable attitude while only 12.46% showed an unfavourable attitude towards TB. Participants showed a good practice of (71.7%) while (28.3%) of participants had poor practice towards TB. CONCLUSION: Health education interventions programme on TB needs to be intensified among the community members to improve TB awareness and reduce transmission. Focused educational interventions on TB aetiology and mode of transmission are required to increase TB preventative practices and improve health-seeking behaviour among community members.

Potential anticancer activity of Acetone extracts of Toona cilliata, Seriphium plumosum and Schkuhria pinnata on HeLa cervical cancer cells.

BACKGROUND: Cervical cancer is common in women in less developed regions of the world. The plant biomolecules can be employed for synergistic activity with chemo- and radiotherapy. This combinations might result in reduced toxicity and increased efficacy of the treatment regimen. OBJECTIVES: The anti-HeLa cells activity of the acetone extracts of S. plumosum, T. cilliata and S. pinnata was assessed using different parameters. METHODS: Secondary metabolite detection and antioxidant activity quantification were determined using the DPPH and ferric iron reducing assays. HeLa cell growth inhibition and mechanistics were assessed by employing MTT and Annexin-V flous assays. RESULTS: Observations revealed the presence of phenolic, flavonoids, tannins steroids and coumarins in all the plants extracts. High amount of total phenolic and flavonoid content were detected in S. plumosum and T. cilliata. S. plumosum extract had the best DPPH scavenging activity and ferric reducing powers. CONCLUSION: Observable concentration dependent cell proliferation inhibition by test materials was exhibited. The leaf extracts from T. cilliata, S. plumosum and S. pinnata contain compounds of various polarities with free-radical, antioxidant and anti-cancerous activities that may play a beneficial role in treatment.