| Summary: | Student Number : 8910202A -
MPH research report -
School of Public Health -
Faculty of Health Sciences === An increasing number of people are migrating to South African urban
centers (GJMC, 2000). There are various reasons that can be
attributed to this migration; including the hope of finding employment
and better living conditions. Recent urban migrants find themselves
faced with the basic problem of lack of shelter and, depending on the
migrant’s situation, they may choose to live in indoor shacks within the
city center, backyard shacks in the black townships or join the growing
number of informal settlement dwellers (GJMC, 2000).
The number of informal settlements continues to grow at an alarming
rate in Johannesburg (CEROI, 2000). This poses unique health care
challenges as well as presenting the health care system with unusual
disease conditions associated with general lack of infrastructure and
services (CEROI, 2000). It has been established that the proportion of
HIV infected patients is higher in people living in informal settlements
when compared to people living in private houses (SAHR, 2000). Thus,
it is expected that more people will be presenting with HIV and AIDS
related illnesses in an informal settlement health center as compared to
well-developed residential areas.
This study aimed at exploring the prescribing patterns of health care
givers for patients attending a health center in an informal settlement
as well as to determine the major disease patterns prevalent in the
area. The study was carried out in Davidsonville and OR Tambo clinics
as well as Bophelong and Hikhensile clinics in Ivory Park. The study
covered regions five, one and two respectively according to Gauteng
metropolitan services area classification (GJMC, 2000).
The findings of the study will help the appropriate policy makers
improve the Essential Drug List and inform public health officials in
formulating strategies that may lead to health status improvement for
people living in informal settlements.
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