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27 September 2021 | Story Rulanzen Martin | Photo Supplied
From the left; Prof Michelle Engelbrecht (center), Director of the CHSR&D at the UFS, together with colleagues Dr Gladys Kigozi (right) and Prof Christo Heunis, is conducting various social sciences-orientated research projects on health and health systems.

The Centre for Health Systems Research and Development (CHSR&D) in the Faculty of the Humanities at the University of the Free State (UFS) has been at the forefront of research on the societal and human impact of COVID-19. The CHSR&D has investigated the effects of the pandemic on, among others, post-traumatic stress and the coping strategies of nurses, and is currently undertaking a research project looking at vaccine literacy and acceptability in South Africa through an online survey, which has already attracted more than 9 500 respondents.

Prof Michelle Engelbrecht
, Director of the CHSR&D, says it is important not to lose sight of the impact that the pandemic has had on society and individuals. “It has affected all aspects of life, caused economic disruptions, and posed immense challenges to both public and private healthcare, food systems, education, and employment,” she says. For the CHSR&D researchers, it is important to understand the health and socio-economic impacts in order to inform interventions and policy. 

Established in 1993, the CHSR&D stems from a rich tradition of research and training in medical sociology and sociology of health. As a centre, they generate and disseminate research findings and information on health and health systems to promote transformation in policy and practice in the South African healthcare system.

A study on the impact of the pandemic on nurses

In early 2021, the CHSR&D completed a project on the post-traumatic stress and coping strategies of South African nurses during the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic.  This study was one the first to examine how the pandemic influenced the post-traumatic stress and coping strategies of nurses in the country. It was found that 44% of nurses were experiencing post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), which was comparatively higher than their counterparts in other countries. Furthermore, a lack of preparedness to manage COVID-19 patients, poorer health, and avoidance coping mechanisms were associated with increased PTSD in nurses. Nurses voiced a need for emotional support and empathy from their managers. 

Some of the intervention strategies recommended by the nurses included emotional, psychological, and debriefing sessions focusing on positive coping strategies to address stress effectively; positive and open communication between managers and their subordinates; psychological support through the Employee Assistance Programme and occupational health units; and an uninterrupted supply of quality personal protective equipment. The findings of this project were shared with the Free State Department of Health (FSDoH).

Ongoing research projects

As of 1 September 2021, the CHSR&D commenced with a national online survey on COVID-19 vaccine literacy and acceptability. While there are a number of studies looking at the uptake of COVID-19 vaccines, Dr Gladys Kigozi notes that “this study is novel, as there is a lack of information about vaccine literacy, which may be defined as the degree to which people have the capacity to obtain, process, and understand basic health information and services to make appropriate health decisions.”. The anonymous online survey is available through social media and the Moya messaging application.
 
The CHSR&D, together with a team from the FSDoH and the World Health Organisation, are also collaborating on a project looking at the impact of COVID-19 on essential health services, mortality in hospital-admitted patients, and outcomes in patients with a history of tuberculosis. According to Prof Christo Heunis, “The COVID-19 pandemic has become infamous for crippling healthcare systems. Resources and staff are being diverted to test and provide treatment for people with presumed or diagnosed COVID-19, and thus some other healthcare services are being compromised to meet the demands of caring for COVID-19 patients.” It is thus imperative to measure the impact of the pandemic on essential health services and treatment outcomes. 


Interdisciplinary research project focusing on the health and well-being of vulnerable families 

The CHSR&D, together with the UFS Department of Social Work, the School of Nursing, and the Disaster Management Training and Education Centre for Africa (DiMTEC), will commence with a study investigating the impact of COVID-19 on the health and well-being of vulnerable families in the Mangaung Metropolitan area. This project is funded by a UFS interdisciplinary grant.  While the study is limited to the Mangaung Metropolitan area, it has the potential to inform health and social policy in other metropolitan areas in South Africa – particularly with regard to preparedness and management of pandemics such as COVID-19. 

News Archive

UFS a much safer place
2011-09-20

 

First-year students Chuma Nyiko (left) and Mabasa Teleni next to one of the red poles installed on our Bloemfontein Campus.
Photo: Amanda Tongha

Students and staff at our Bloemfontein Campus can feel even safer, with several initiatives being put in place to ensure their safety.

The stop-and-search actions of the recent past, which are being carried out at all the main gates of our Bloemfontein Campus, seem to be successful, since car theft has decreased on the campus. Mr Willie Frankim, Head of Protection Services, says the stop-and-search actions are carried out sporadically, but have a definite effect on crime at the campus. Mr Frankim says only one vehicle has been stolen in the past two months as opposed to the many more that have been stolen in the past.

The message that safety is viewed in a serious light reaches as far as our university’s parking areas and walkways, which are being patrolled by security staff. Mr Frankim says a security officer is placed in all the large parking areas, while other personnel are distributed across the entire campus, especially at key areas, such as at the library and student centre.

Our university also recently installed more than 30 red poles across the entire campus. Each of these red poles is fitted with a panic button by means of which help can be summoned. Should a student or staff member feel unsafe, all they have to do is press the button and cameras, which are installed in the vicinity, will focus on the pole and Protection Services will send assistance. Twenty five of these poles are already working and ten more still have to be activated.

Students and staff can also phone Protection Services on 051 401 2911 if they feel uncomfortable about their safety. They can use this number, for example, to ask a security officer to accompany them to their car.
 

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