Hopes for the Future of Geriatric Medicine in South Africa

2019

With more South Africans living past the age of 60, the country faces a growing chronic disease burden. Further research and action are needed for the health system to address the budgetary and social strains of this phenomenon effectively.

Age and Ageing, 2013

Background: the population is ageing globally and developing countries are experiencing the most rapid increase in the number of older persons. By 2045 the United Nations estimate that for the first time in history more people will be over 65, than under 15, years of age. The World Health Organization predicts that deaths from non-communicable diseases will rise by 24% in Africa in the next decade. The aim of this survey was to determine the specialist medical services available for older persons and the undergraduate and postgraduate training systems in place for geriatrics in each African country. Methods: a short survey was developed and sent to representatives from every country. Where appropriate, French and Portuguese translations were available. Results: responses were received from 40/54 countries (74%). Data were obtained via an internet search for a further three countries. Out of 43, 25 countries had no geriatricians. Out of 40, 35 countries had no formal undergraduate training for medical students on geriatrics and 33 of 40 countries reported no national postgraduate training scheme for geriatrics. Having at least one geriatrician in the country was associated with a World Bank upper middle-income status (P = 0.04), but there was no significant association with the population size (P = 0.395). Conclusion: despite increasing numbers of older people and the increasing burden of chronic disease there are few geriatricians in Africa. Without undergraduate training, even general medical physicians will have limited knowledge of specialist geriatric needs. This is an area that will require development and investment in the future.

This essay reviews the South African government's National Health Insurance policy document, the White Paper on NHI, as it relates to future prospects for healthcare for older persons.

In sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), a rapidly aging population is presenting challenges to health care systems. Doctors need specialized knowledge to be prepared for the increase in age-related medical conditions. This study aims to investigate the current provision of geriatrics education (GE) in SSA medical schools and discover some of the barriers faced in its implementation. Questionnaires were sent to a list of medical schools in SSA, supplied by the sub-Saharan African Medical Schools Study. Responses were received from 25/135 institutions (19%), representing 11 countries in SSA. Of these institutions, 4% taught geriatrics and 40% had no geriatrics teaching. The largest perceived barriers to GE were a lack of staff expertise (72%), lack of funding (52%), and absence of geriatrics in the national curricula (48%). There are still a large number of medical schools in SSA who do 2 L. Frost et al. not teach geriatrics. Improvements in GE should be implemented through local approaches and national policy, while appreciating the cultural context and economic constraints of each country to prepare future doctors for the increasing challenges of an aging population.

Revista Brasileira de Enfermagem, 2020

Objective: to know the social and health responses for the elderly in sub-Saharan Africa. Methods: An integrative literature review. Results: There is a lack of specialized health care to meet the real needs of the elderly, and the shortage of health professionals does not contribute favorably to this situation. There is a small number of facilities for the elderly and most of them are inadequate. Although there are models of care as well as social and health support policies for the elderly, there are still inequities/inequalities in access to these policies, especially for the most disadvantaged populations. Conclusion: Social and health policies for the elderly in Sub-Saharan Africa are below standard and appropriate economic, political and social intervention is required.

New Research in Nursing - Education and Practice [Working Title]

Population ageing is very fast catching up worldwide and with a resultant rise in demands for health services and medical costs. This is because older adults are typically more vulnerable to falls and chronic diseases. It is estimated that by 2025, 57% of the world’s population aged 80 years or older will be living in less developed regions. By 2050, there is an estimated increase of more than 70%. Although, Africa, on average, has the lowest life expectancy in the world, in virtually every country, the section of people aged 60 years and over is developing faster than any other age group, because of both longer life expectancy and declining fertility rates. Older adults have recommended that nurses should receive some training for improving their behaviour and attitude. Older adults and their significant health needs are different from that of an adult or a child and should be considered to meet SDG Goal 8: “ensuring equitable access to, and utilisation of, health and long-term car...

Journal of Gerontology & Geriatric Research, 2016

Due to the growth rate of the elderly (3.5%) that exceeds the national average of 2.7%, the country of Senegal will not escape from the aging process of its population. For now, gérontological issues do not stand in terms of demographic weight, but instead in terms of social destructuration, destruction of community solidarity networks and finally in terms of poverty. Despite the implementation of the "Sésame Plan " a policy of free access to the geriatrics medical care, elder people still meet issues concerning the support of their chronic affections. In addition, there is not enough specialists in geriatrics and care providers are not trained in that field. With regard to all of the above, it is important to propose gérontological and-geriatric solutions adapted to our socioeconomic and cultural context even if we still need developed countries' experience in our réflexion. The alternative is to integrate the medical particularity and specificity of the elders in to the global care system within the framework of Primary Health Cares. Recommendations for an efficient gérontological organization in our country must be based upon the knowledge of the following data: the current and future demography of elder people; the geriatrics pathology as it currently stands and its future development; the socioeconomic and cultural data: the country health system (health huts, posts, centers, regional and national hospital, university hospital center).

Southern African Journal of Gerontology, 1998

2013

Conclusion 4: Current South African policy responses on ageing do not make significant provision for several economic challenges produced by an ageing population. ....... 178 6.2.5 Conclusion 5: South African policy responses on ageing are hampered by several obstacles that contribute to the insufficiency of such policy.

2013

This report is part of a regular series of thematic health reports produced by Statistics South Africa. It outlines the patterns of morbidity and mortality among older persons (60 years and above) in South Africa using data from the 2013 General Household Survey and the 2013 Mortality and causes of death from the South African civil registration system. The report provides information on the general health status of older persons, focussing on perceived health status; medical aid coverage; self-reported illnesses suffered a month prior to the survey; and consultations with health workers. The report further outlines information chronic illnesses and use of medication. Information on mortality is also included in the report and highlights the leading causes of death among older persons, and causes of death due to communicable and non-communicable diseases. It is anticipated that this report will contribute to the provision of relevant health information that can assist programme managers dealing with older persons in South Africa in improving their health status and quality of life in general.