A retrospective chart review of disease prevalence inpatients attending Homoeopathic Health Centres within the eThekwini Health District
Authors:   , du Plooy Roger Mark 
Published: February 2022

Introduction The Durban University of Technology (DUT) has four Homoeopathic satellite health centres operated by the Department of Homoeopathy. This study analysed three of the satellite health centres, namely Ukuba Nesibindi Homoeopathic Health Centre located within Warwick triangle within the central Durban area, Kenneth Gardens Homoeopathic Health Centre located within a municipal lowcost housing estate within the Umbilo area and Cato Ridge Homoeopathic Health Centre located within the Mkhizwana village near Cato Ridge. The fourth health centre, Redhill Homoeopathic Health Centre, was excluded from the study due to it not meeting all aspects of the inclusion criteria for the study. This descriptive and retrospective study aimed to determine patient demographics and disease prevalence at each homoeopathic health centre which could assist in better tailoring of patient care, student education and improve stocking of dispensaries. Data was collected from all initial patient files for the year of 2016. Methodology The research was a retrospective design by means of a clinical chart review of disease prevalence of the three Homoeopathic satellite health centres of DUT located within the eThekwini district. The initial visit for each patient at each centre for 2016 was examined and the disease prevalence recorded via ICD 10 codes, along with statistically relevant information such as age, gender, ethnicity, vital signs, glucose and urine dipstick analysis. Once disease prevalence and demographic data had been recorded at each centre, the data was analysed using Microsoft excel and SPSS version 24 and submitted to a statistician to track trends within each centre using descriptive statistics. Results A total of 828 files were analysed between the three centres of which 638 were at Ukuba Nesibindi Homoeopathic Health Centre (UNHHC), 79 at Kenneth Gardens Homoeopathic Health Centre (KGHHC) and 111 at Cato Ridge Health Centre (CRHHC). The overall disease prevalence at each Homoeopathic health centre centred on respiratory diseases, all three centres experienced a high incidence of influenza and arthritis. A total of 638 files were recorded at UNHHC. The top five recoded diseases at UNHHC were influenza, arthritis (unspecified), primary hypertension, dermatitis (unspecified) and tension type headache. The UNHHC population was predominantly female (71.5%) and African (98.1%) With an average age of 41.3 years. A total of 79 files for KGHHC were recorded. The top five recorded diseases at KGHCC were influenza, atopic dermatitis, dermatitis (unspecified), furuncle/boil mono arthritis (unspecified). The patients at KGHHC had an average age of 36.05 years; the KGHCC population was predominantly female (63.3%) and African (88.6%). White and Indian patients were at 7.6% and 2.5% respectively. 1.3% of patients did not indicate which race group they belong to. A total of 111 files for CRHHC were recorded. The top five recorded diseases at CRHCC were arthritis-unspecified, influenza, cough, primary hypertension chronic bronchitis, rheumatoid arthritis. The numbers for CRHHC indicated six diseases in the top disease prevalence due to both chronic bronchitis and rheumatoid arthritis sharing fifth place in CRHCC’s prevalence. The CRHCC population was predominantly female (63.3%) and exclusively African (100%) with an average age of 45.71 years. Conclusion Influenza was commonly treated amongst all three Homoeopathic healthcare centres in 2016 and was the disease most prevalent at both Kenneth Gardens and Ukuba Nesibindi. Influenza ranked second highest at Cato Ridge. Various forms of arthritis were commonly seen amongst the three Homoeopathic health centres. Cato Ridge was unique in that dermatological complaints did not feature in the top prevalence like the other homoeopathic health centres. Most patients seen across the Homoeopathic health centres are African women. The three Homoeopathic health centres showed similarities in disease prevalence as respiratory and musculoskeletal complaints featured strongly in each homoeopathic healthcare centre’s disease prevalence. The above information can be utilised by the DUT Department of homeopathy in order to provide better patient care by targeted training to students, by assessing each clinics unique and individual prevalence.