Attitudes of community stakeholders towards stigmatization of people living with HIV/AIDS in Highland View, linked to St Patrick's Clinic, Bizana, Eastern Cape
- Authors: Nkalane, Athenkosi
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: AIDS (Disease) -- Social aspects -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , HIV-positive persons -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Stigma (Social psychology)
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSoc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/9446 , vital:34352
- Description: The researcher attempted to investigate attitudes of community stakeholders towards stigmatization of people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA). This is because people living with HIV/AIDS are usually subjected to negative and positive attitudes in South African communities. The study made use of a case study as a specific research design which was explorative and descriptive. The study employed in-depth interviews, focus group discussions and secondary data sources to collect data. The study was a cross-sectional and adopted a non-probability sampling methodology, but specifically purposive technique. The study used 25 participants who consisted of 12 PLWHA, 5 nurses, and 8 selected community members. The data were analyzed through content thematic analysis. The findings that emanated from the study were: awareness of stigmatizing attitudes subjected to people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA); the attitudes displayed towards PLWHA, the drivers of stigma; the impact of stigma on PLWHA; PLWHA suffers immense psychosocial deficit; PLWHA face a state of abject poverty; PLWHA faces Psycho-emotional deficit; the secrecy surrounding the virus forms a fertile ground for infection; fear of contagion; stigma confounds chances of HIV/AIDS disclosure and issues of confidentiality. The study recommended that: the government should prioritize the PLWHA’s human rights; adoption of social media platforms to raise awareness and education of HIV/AIDS; collaboration between the Department of Health and the Department of Traditional affairs; invention of a youth-based psycho-emotional programme; and establishment of in-depth community supported interventions.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2017
- Authors: Nkalane, Athenkosi
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: AIDS (Disease) -- Social aspects -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , HIV-positive persons -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Stigma (Social psychology)
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSoc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/9446 , vital:34352
- Description: The researcher attempted to investigate attitudes of community stakeholders towards stigmatization of people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA). This is because people living with HIV/AIDS are usually subjected to negative and positive attitudes in South African communities. The study made use of a case study as a specific research design which was explorative and descriptive. The study employed in-depth interviews, focus group discussions and secondary data sources to collect data. The study was a cross-sectional and adopted a non-probability sampling methodology, but specifically purposive technique. The study used 25 participants who consisted of 12 PLWHA, 5 nurses, and 8 selected community members. The data were analyzed through content thematic analysis. The findings that emanated from the study were: awareness of stigmatizing attitudes subjected to people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA); the attitudes displayed towards PLWHA, the drivers of stigma; the impact of stigma on PLWHA; PLWHA suffers immense psychosocial deficit; PLWHA face a state of abject poverty; PLWHA faces Psycho-emotional deficit; the secrecy surrounding the virus forms a fertile ground for infection; fear of contagion; stigma confounds chances of HIV/AIDS disclosure and issues of confidentiality. The study recommended that: the government should prioritize the PLWHA’s human rights; adoption of social media platforms to raise awareness and education of HIV/AIDS; collaboration between the Department of Health and the Department of Traditional affairs; invention of a youth-based psycho-emotional programme; and establishment of in-depth community supported interventions.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2017
Inhalable particulate systems for anti-tubercular drug delivery
- Nkanga, Christian Isalomboto
- Authors: Nkanga, Christian Isalomboto
- Date: 2017
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/37966 , vital:24720
- Description: Tuberculosis (TB) is a deadly infectious microbial disease that is currently dominating public health concerns. Among the pharmacological issues in the management of TB are the poor bioavailability of some anti-TB drugs, mostly due to the fast first-pass metabolism, and high drug load needed for combination therapy. These result in a lengthy treatment with several adverse effects causing decreased patient compliance. These factors often lead to the therapeutic failure and promote the development of drug resistant strains, justifying the urgent need for new therapeutic strategies. Liposomes are lipid-based particulate vehicles known to be the most clinically appointed drug carriers currently. Liposomal systems are reported to be rapidly engulfed by macrophages - where the mycobacterium often resides. This makes liposomes appropriate vehicles for targeted anti-TB drug delivery. Many research groups have reported the potential of liposomes systems to deliver anti-TB drugs. However, the costly formulation status of liposomes, due the use of expensive synthetic or highly purified natural phospholipids, is a limitation to the treatment of a poverty related infectious disease like TB. The aim of this study was to design and develop liposomes for pulmonary delivery of anti-TB drugs using crude soybean lecithin (CL) and its purirified version. CL is an FDA- approved naturally occurring phospholipid mixture that is quite cheap and readily available. Various liposome batches were prepared using a film hydration method and characterized by dynamic light scattering (DLS) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Liposomes composed of CL and cholesterol (Chol) in a 3:1 mass ratio were selected for drug encapsulation based on the following characteristics: polydispersity index (PDI, 0.28), mean particles sizes (PS, 502 nm) and zeta potential (ZP, -56 mV). Isoniazid (INH) was encapsulated as a model drug using a freeze-thaw loading technique and an HPLC method was validated for quantitative analysis. The physicochemical properties of INH-loaded liposomes were comprehensively investigated using thermal, microscopy and spectroscopic techniques. This formulation showed a high encapsulation efficiency (%EE) of 78%, much better than the liposomes made from purified lecithin, 20%. Other characteristics of INH- loaded liposomes, which make them attractive for pulmonary TB therapy, are presented in this dissertation. These include a controlled release of 50% of the encapsulated INH over 12 hours. Finally, rifampicin (RIF) was added as a hydrophobic model drug and several evaluations were conducted on these dual drug-loaded liposomes. Of particular interest, it was noted that the dual drug-loaded liposomes made of CL alone showed the highest %EE (59% for INH and 90% for RIF) compared to those containing Chol or those made of purified lecithin. Surprisingly, the average PS of the dual CL-based liposomes (1114 nm) was in the size range reported for optimum deep lung deposition and macrophage uptake. In addition, the mean ZP of these liposomes (-63 mV) seems to be favourable for their shelf stability and internalization by macrophages. Overall, these findings show that the dual CL-based liposomes developed would be promising for macrophage-targeting pulmonary delivery of anti-TB drugs.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2017
- Authors: Nkanga, Christian Isalomboto
- Date: 2017
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/37966 , vital:24720
- Description: Tuberculosis (TB) is a deadly infectious microbial disease that is currently dominating public health concerns. Among the pharmacological issues in the management of TB are the poor bioavailability of some anti-TB drugs, mostly due to the fast first-pass metabolism, and high drug load needed for combination therapy. These result in a lengthy treatment with several adverse effects causing decreased patient compliance. These factors often lead to the therapeutic failure and promote the development of drug resistant strains, justifying the urgent need for new therapeutic strategies. Liposomes are lipid-based particulate vehicles known to be the most clinically appointed drug carriers currently. Liposomal systems are reported to be rapidly engulfed by macrophages - where the mycobacterium often resides. This makes liposomes appropriate vehicles for targeted anti-TB drug delivery. Many research groups have reported the potential of liposomes systems to deliver anti-TB drugs. However, the costly formulation status of liposomes, due the use of expensive synthetic or highly purified natural phospholipids, is a limitation to the treatment of a poverty related infectious disease like TB. The aim of this study was to design and develop liposomes for pulmonary delivery of anti-TB drugs using crude soybean lecithin (CL) and its purirified version. CL is an FDA- approved naturally occurring phospholipid mixture that is quite cheap and readily available. Various liposome batches were prepared using a film hydration method and characterized by dynamic light scattering (DLS) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Liposomes composed of CL and cholesterol (Chol) in a 3:1 mass ratio were selected for drug encapsulation based on the following characteristics: polydispersity index (PDI, 0.28), mean particles sizes (PS, 502 nm) and zeta potential (ZP, -56 mV). Isoniazid (INH) was encapsulated as a model drug using a freeze-thaw loading technique and an HPLC method was validated for quantitative analysis. The physicochemical properties of INH-loaded liposomes were comprehensively investigated using thermal, microscopy and spectroscopic techniques. This formulation showed a high encapsulation efficiency (%EE) of 78%, much better than the liposomes made from purified lecithin, 20%. Other characteristics of INH- loaded liposomes, which make them attractive for pulmonary TB therapy, are presented in this dissertation. These include a controlled release of 50% of the encapsulated INH over 12 hours. Finally, rifampicin (RIF) was added as a hydrophobic model drug and several evaluations were conducted on these dual drug-loaded liposomes. Of particular interest, it was noted that the dual drug-loaded liposomes made of CL alone showed the highest %EE (59% for INH and 90% for RIF) compared to those containing Chol or those made of purified lecithin. Surprisingly, the average PS of the dual CL-based liposomes (1114 nm) was in the size range reported for optimum deep lung deposition and macrophage uptake. In addition, the mean ZP of these liposomes (-63 mV) seems to be favourable for their shelf stability and internalization by macrophages. Overall, these findings show that the dual CL-based liposomes developed would be promising for macrophage-targeting pulmonary delivery of anti-TB drugs.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2017
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