Insights into prostate cancer awareness and perceptions among men in Tshwane.

BACKGROUND: Globally, prostate cancer (PCa) accounts for 6.6% of deaths, while in South Africa (SA), PCa accounts for 13% of deaths in males, with over 4 000 SA men diagnosed with PCa annually. This may be attributed to the inadequate availability of screening, early detection and possibly other socioeconomic and lifestyle factors. OBJECTIVES: To determine the factors associated with knowledge and perceptions of PCa among men in the Tshwane district. METHODS: A descriptive cross-sectional survey was conducted between August 2022 and June 2023 in a study population of men, ≥18 years, residing in Tshwane district located in Gauteng, South Africa. RESULTS: In this study, 91.7% of the subjects responded that they had heard about PCa, while 11% thought they might be at risk for having PCa. While 93.7% of the respondents reported that they had never tested for PCa, 98.3% said that if they were offered the opportunity to test voluntarily, they would agree to test for PCa. There was a significant association between age and knowledge of PCa (p≤0.001). There was also a significant association between perception of PCa and smoking (p=0.034), age (p=0.035) and level of education (p=0.04). CONCLUSION: This study shows significant associations between age and level of education with knowledge, perception and awareness of PCa. Educational campaigns targeting diverse age and education groups are recommended, along with smoking cessation programmes, improved PCa screening access, tailored messaging, healthcare collaborations, and cultural sensitivity to enhance awareness and early detection.

Perceptions and views of key implementers on the implementation of the health-promoting school programme in the City of Tshwane, South Africa.

BACKGROUND: The health-promoting school programme has been associated with numerous benefits for school communities where it is well implemented. In Tshwane, the implementation processes have not been evaluated. OBJECTIVE: A qualitative research approach based on grounded theory was used to investigate the experiences of 27 health-promoting school programme implementers across Tshwane. METHODS: Data were collected through a combination of methods, including semi-structured interviews with principals (n=6), educators (n=10) and school governing body members (n=4), one focus group discussion with health promoters (n=7), field notes from school observations and memos. RESULTS: Implementation fidelity was weak in the City of Tshwane, as a result of poor training of implementers, poor leadership and collaboration, weak accountability structures, and lack of resources and communication. A grounded theory was developed which showed that schools needed guidance and accountability to properly implement the programme. The theory offers a framework that could be used to improve implementation and evaluation outcomes. CONCLUSION: Implementers were keen on improving the lives of learners - health-wise and academically. With proper guidance, support and accountability measures by government at district and provincial level, implementation of the programme is feasible in the City of Tshwane.

Secondary trauma amongst administrative support staff working with traumatic incident dockets within the South African Police Service in Johannesburg, South Africa

Background: Secondary trauma is trauma experienced by those in close contact with the victims of trauma. Research shows that some individuals exposed to photographs or video presentations of traumatic events may experience secondary trauma. This includes administrative staff within the South African Police Service (SAPS), who work with trauma dockets. Objectives: We explored the effects of secondary trauma on administrative support staff within the SAPS, their access to psychological support in the SAPS, and their use of the employee health and wellness (EHW) services in the SAPS. Methods: An exploratory qualitative study was conducted among administrative support staff from one of the four Johannesburg clusters of the SAPS. In-depth interviews took place with seven staff members. The data were analysed using Atlas.ti. Results: Administrative support staff are exposed to trauma through incident dockets, victim statements, and gruesome images. The study participants indicated that they experienced trauma daily, and symptoms of trauma such as flashbacks, anxiety, sadness, nightmares, paranoia, avoidance, recurrent thoughts, and fear of death. They were overprotective of their loved ones and paranoid. They were not utilising the EHW services due to lack of access to appropriate services, or the stigma attached to seeking help from mental health professionals. Conclusion: The SAPS needs to develop and implement a strategy to mitigate the impact of secondary trauma on its personnel, which include administrative support staff. Evidence-based interventions, such as resilience training, should be considered as part of the strategy