Original Research

Detection, referral and control of diabetes and hypertension in the rural Eastern Cape Province of South Africa by community health outreach workers in the rural primary healthcare project: Health in Every Hut

Angela A. Morris-Paxton, Paul Rheeder, Rose-Marie G. Ewing, Dillon Woods
African Journal of Primary Health Care & Family Medicine | Vol 10, No 1 | a1610 | DOI: https://doi.org/10.4102/phcfm.v10i1.1610 | © 2018 Angela A. Morris-Paxton, Paul Rheeder, Rose-Marie G. Ewing, Dillon Woods | This work is licensed under CC Attribution 4.0
Submitted: 11 August 2017 | Published: 11 April 2018

About the author(s)

Angela A. Morris-Paxton, Donald Woods Foundation, Mbashe, South Africa; Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, South Africa
Paul Rheeder, Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Pretoria, South Africa
Rose-Marie G. Ewing, Donald Woods Foundation, Mbashe, South Africa
Dillon Woods, Donald Woods Foundation, Mbashe, South Africa; Donald Woods Foundation, London, United Kingdom

Abstract

Background: Non-communicable diseases, mainly cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, cancer and chronic respiratory diseases, are responsible for approximately 63% of all deaths occurring worldwide in any given year. The majority of these deaths have occurred in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). The latest World Health Organization (WHO) report shows that the increase in diabetes is also most pronounced in the LMICs. The South African Labour and Development Research Unit estimated a 9% prevalence within the adult population in 2016. In the Eastern Cape Province, hypertensive heart disease has become the second most common cause of death, followed by diabetes, the third most common cause of death.
Aim and setting: The aim of this study was to report on the follow-up of patients in the community with known hypertension or diabetes or who were deemed at-risk (as identified during a prior community-wide survey).
Methods: Data were collected via a household primary health screening, monitoring and follow-up process, which included taking anthropometric measurements, blood pressure (BP) and blood glucose and referring to clinics for further testing and treatment where necessary.
Results: Of the 1885 participants followed up by the community health outreach workers, 1702 were known to be hypertensive and 183 were deemed at-risk [of these, only 24 (13.2%) had normal or high normal systolic BP readings]. There were 341 participants with diabetes and 34 at-risk of diabetes [of these, 28 (82%) had levels of 11 mmol/l or higher at follow-up]. There was a significant improvement in BP and glucose control over repeated visits.
Conclusion: In this rural area of the Eastern Cape, South Africa, the follow-up of patients with hypertension or diabetes as well as those individuals at-risk adds value to hypertension and glucose control.

Keywords

Non communicable diseases; Community health workers

Metrics

Total abstract views: 3890
Total article views: 7587

 

Crossref Citations

1. A case study of healthcare services in Lurwaryizo, Mbhashe Local Municipality, Eastern Cape Province
Chidy Akunwafor, Musa Zuma, Iyabo Obasanjo
Global Public Health  vol: 19  issue: 1  year: 2024  
doi: 10.1080/17441692.2024.2418595

2. The clinical outcomes of patients with diabetes and hypertension in a peri-urban area, Johannesburg, South Africa
Leisha P. Genade, Elizabeth M. Webb, Jacqueline E. Wolvaardt, Charl Janse Van Rensburg
Primary Care Diabetes  vol: 15  issue: 2  first page: 212  year: 2021  
doi: 10.1016/j.pcd.2020.08.010

3. Glycemic control and associated factors among type 2 diabetes mellitus patients: a cross-sectional study of Azar cohort population
Masoud Faghieh Dinavari, Sarvin Sanaie, Kimia Rasouli, Elnaz Faramarzi, Roghayeh Molani-Gol
BMC Endocrine Disorders  vol: 23  issue: 1  year: 2023  
doi: 10.1186/s12902-023-01515-y

4. “We shall have gone to a higher standard”: Training village heath teams (VHTs) to use a smartphone-guided intervention to link older Ugandans with hypertension and diabetes to care
Joseph Okello Mugisha, Janet Seeley
AAS Open Research  vol: 3  first page: 25  year: 2021  
doi: 10.12688/aasopenres.13049.2

5. Approaches and outcomes of community health worker’s interventions for hypertension management and control in low-income and middle-income countries: systematic review
Grace Wambura Mbuthia, Karani Magutah, Jennifer Pellowski
BMJ Open  vol: 12  issue: 4  first page: e053455  year: 2022  
doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2021-053455

6. Training of medical coordinators for noncommunicable diseases based on Japanese experience
Megumi Ogawa, Yurie Kobashi
Journal of Rural Medicine  vol: 20  issue: 1  first page: 46  year: 2025  
doi: 10.2185/jrm.2024-033

7. Observational stepped-wedge analysis of a community health worker-led intervention for diabetes and hypertension in rural Mexico
Devin T Worster, Molly F Franke, Rodrigo Bazúa, Hugo Flores, Zulema García, Joanna Krupp, Jimena Maza, Lindsay Palazuelos, Katia Rodríguez, Patrick M Newman, Daniel Palazuelos
BMJ Open  vol: 10  issue: 3  first page: e034749  year: 2020  
doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2019-034749

8. Evaluation of Patients’ Awareness of Their Blood Pressure and Blood Glucose at the Dental Faculty of Islamic Azad University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran, in 2018
H Nori, F Hajifattahi, N Moezzi ghadim, S Alirezaei
Journal of Research in Dental and Maxillofacial Sciences  vol: 5  issue: 1  first page: 1  year: 2020  
doi: 10.29252/jrdms.5.1.1

9. Review of Ongoing Activities and Challenges to Improve the Care of Patients With Type 2 Diabetes Across Africa and the Implications for the Future
Brian Godman, Debashis Basu, Yogan Pillay, Julius C. Mwita, Godfrey Mutashambara Rwegerera, Bene D. Anand Paramadhas, Celda Tiroyakgosi, Patrick Mbah Okwen, Loveline Lum Niba, Justice Nonvignon, Israel Sefah, Margaret Oluka, Anastasia N. Guantai, Dan Kibuule, Francis Kalemeera, Mwangana Mubita, Joseph Fadare, Olayinka O. Ogunleye, Larry A. Distiller, Enos M. Rampamba, Jeffrey Wing, Debjani Mueller, Abubakr Alfadl, Adefolarin A. Amu, Zinhle Matsebula, Aubrey Kalungia, Trust Zaranyika, Nyasha Masuka, Janney Wale, Ruaraidh Hill, Amanj Kurdi, Angela Timoney, Stephen Campbell, Johanna C. Meyer
Frontiers in Pharmacology  vol: 11  year: 2020  
doi: 10.3389/fphar.2020.00108

10. Appropriateness of diabetic down-referral letters to primary healthcare clinics in the uMgungundlovu district municipality of KwaZulu-Natal
NG McGrath, S Pillay
Journal of Endocrinology, Metabolism and Diabetes of South Africa  vol: 26  issue: 3  first page: 106  year: 2021  
doi: 10.1080/16089677.2021.1928982

11. “You go an extra mile”: a qualitative study of community health worker perspectives in a health promotion intervention in urban South Africa
Catherine E. Draper, Larske Soepnel, Khuthala Mabetha, Molebogeng Motlhatlhedi, Nokuthula Nkosi, Stephen J. Lye, Shane A. Norris
BMC Health Services Research  vol: 24  issue: 1  year: 2024  
doi: 10.1186/s12913-024-12127-0

12. Acceptability and feasibility of home-based hypertension and physical activity screening by community health workers in an under-resourced community in South Africa
Mark Stoutenberg, Simone H. Crouch, Lia K. McNulty, Andrea Kolkenbeck-Ruh, Georgia Torres, Philippe J. L. Gradidge, Andy Ly, Lisa J. Ware
Journal of Public Health  vol: 32  issue: 6  first page: 1011  year: 2024  
doi: 10.1007/s10389-023-01873-w

13. Factors associated with glycemic control among South African adult residents of Mkhondo municipality living with diabetes mellitus
Charity Masilela, Brendon Pearce, Joven Jebio Ongole, Oladele Vincent Adeniyi, Mongi Benjeddou
Medicine  vol: 99  issue: 48  first page: e23467  year: 2020  
doi: 10.1097/MD.0000000000023467

14. Task shifting roles, interventions and outcomes for kidney and cardiovascular health service delivery among African populations: a scoping review
Ikechi G. Okpechi, Ijezie I. Chukwuonye, Udeme Ekrikpo, Jean Jacques Noubiap, Yemi R. Raji, Yusuf Adeshina, Samuel Ajayi, Zunaid Barday, Malini Chetty, Bianca Davidson, Emmanuel Effa, Stephen Fagbemi, Cindy George, Andre P. Kengne, Erika S. W. Jones, Hamidu Liman, Mohammad Makusidi, Hadiza Muhammad, Ikechukwu Mbah, Kwazi Ndlovu, Grace Ngaruiya, Chimezie Okwuonu, Ugochi Samuel-Okpechi, Elliot K. Tannor, Ifeoma Ulasi, Zulkifilu Umar, Nicola Wearne, Aminu K. Bello
BMC Health Services Research  vol: 23  issue: 1  year: 2023  
doi: 10.1186/s12913-023-09416-5

15. Innovative Implementation Strategies for Hypertension Control in Low- and Middle-Income Countries: a Narrative Review
Tim Mercer, Shanti Nulu, Rajesh Vedanthan
Current Hypertension Reports  vol: 22  issue: 5  year: 2020  
doi: 10.1007/s11906-020-01045-1