The role of health promotion practitioners during disease outbreaks in the OR Tambo District, South Africa.

BACKGROUND

In South Africa, infectious disease outbreaks are common and pose severe public health threats. To mitigate outbreaks, health promotion plays a significant role. However, the role of health promotion practitioners remains obscure.

AIM: To describe the role of health promotion practitioners during outbreaks in the OR Tambo District.

SETTING

The study was conducted in the Oliver Reginald (OR) Tambo District, a predominantly rural area in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa.

METHODS

The study used a qualitative descriptive-phenomenological design. The population comprised health promotion practitioners with a tertiary qualification. These were selected using snowball sampling until data saturation. Data were collected using individual face-to-face and telephonic interviews. Thematic analysis was used to analyse data.

RESULTS

The sample consisted of 14 participants, with the majority (57.1%, n = 8) being female. Three themes were identified. Firstly, the implementation role in planning and health education. This was supported by three subthemes: (1) planning and organising, (2) health education collaboration with government departments and (3) multidisciplinary collaborative health education. Secondly, the theme was research, monitoring and evaluation, supported by two subthemes: (1) surveillance and assessment and (2) monitoring and evaluation. Thirdly, the theme, advocacy, was supported by the subtheme advocacy for health services.

CONCLUSION

The roles of health promotion practitioners during outbreaks were aligned with the national strategy and could be optimised by inclusion in training and planning activities.

CONTRIBUTION: The study contributes to the efficient management of infectious disease outbreaks by clarifying the role of health promotion practitioners.