Background: Inadequate access to healthcare in rural areas worsens the burden of disease, leading to increased morbidity and mortality rates. This study aims to explore the multifaceted barriers that hinder access to chronic disease management at selected rural facilities of the Eastern Cape Province. Methods: An exploratory descriptive qualitative design was used to collect data from a sample size of 32 participants (23 patients and 9 health professionals) between November and December 2024. A convenient sampling technique was used to select participants for the study. Semi-structured interviews were audio-recorded; transcribed; and analyzed using thematic analysis. The interview tool was piloted in one of the primary healthcare facilities in the Eastern Cape, which was not used in the actual study. Ethical principles were adhered to throughout the study. The study adhered to the Access to Healthcare conceptual framework. Results: The study identified three themes: barriers of access to healthcare services, experiences and perspectives, and existing strategies or interventions. Conclusions: Addressing systemic issues like workforce shortages, infrastructure deficits, and socioeconomic challenges in rural Eastern Cape requires a multifaceted approach, including strengthening community-based services and ensuring equitable resource distribution.

Background/Objectives: The concept of learning organisations, which rely on research-based evidence and emphasise employees’ continuous learning and professional development, is essential for effectively managing change and enhancing the quality of services. To better understand the effects of implementing learning organisation principles in hospital settings, this study aimed to compare the perceptions of selected health professionals regarding learning organisations across five sub-districts in South Africa’s Eastern Cape province. Methods: This study employed a quantitative, cross-sectional survey design to collect data from selected health professionals in 9 hospitals in Eastern Cape province. Results: Overall, the study showed wide variations in how different healthcare professionals perceived the commitment and communication of department leaders regarding the importance of learning. Key findings showed that 90.9% of dentists agreed that department leaders communicate the importance of learning. In comparison, 68.8% of allied health professionals and 56.5% of pharmacists agreed that department leaders communicated the importance of learning; 21.7% of pharmacists and 25% of allied health professionals disagreed. Conclusions: The study has highlighted significant disparities in the perceptions of selected hospital-based health professionals toward introducing a learning organisation in healthcare facilities. This divergence points to the need for tailored approaches in communicating and implementing LO strategies within hospital settings to ensure that all health professionals are equally engaged and that the benefits of continuous learning are fully realised across disciplines.

Burnout among nurses remains a major challenge in South Africa’s public healthcare system, particularly in district hospitals where high workloads, staff shortages, and limited resources are common. In the Eastern Cape, the demands of rural healthcare further exacerbate stress, leading to emotional exhaustion, reduced professional accomplishment, and high turnover rates. This study aims to investigate the factors influencing burnout and its impact on nurse retention at St. Elizabeth Hospital in the Eastern Cape. A quantitative, cross-sectional design will be employed using stratified random sampling, with hospital departments serving as strata. A total of 209 nurses will be selected using Slovin’s formula. Data will be collected through a structured questionnaire incorporating the Burnout Assessment Tool, Maslach Burnout Inventory, Personal Accomplishment Subscale, and a Burnout Knowledge and Response Survey. Descriptive statistics will summarize demographic and burnout characteristics, while chi-square tests, t-tests/ANOVA, Pearson correlation, and multiple regression analyses will identify associations and predictors. The study will generate evidence-based insights to guide the development of targeted interventions, including workload redistribution, enhanced managerial support, and wellness initiatives. Ultimately, improving nurse retention will enhance workforce stability, promote staff well-being, and strengthen the quality of patient care in Eastern Cape district hospitals.

Illegal abortion remains a significant public health challenge globally, particularly among adolescent girls who often lack adequate reproductive health information, access to healthcare services, and social support. Despite South Africa’s progressive abortion legislation, teenage girls in rural communities like Lusikisiki still face barriers to accessing safe reproductive health services due to socio-cultural stigma, misinformation, and limited youth-friendly services, increasing the risk of unsafe abortion and related health complications. This paper outlines a protocol for a proposed qualitative case study that aims to assess the awareness of teenage girls in Lusikisiki regarding the health risks associated with illegal abortion, explore their sources of information, identify factors influencing their awareness, and propose strategies to reduce unsafe abortion. A qualitative case study design guided by an interpretive paradigm will be used to explore the perceptions and experiences of teenage girls. A purposive sample of 25 participants aged 13–19 years will be recruited from Village Clinic, Bambisana Hospital, and St Elizabeth Regional Hospital. Data will be collected through semi-structured interviews and analysed using thematic analysis supported by NVivo software. The anticipated findings are expected to provide context-specific insights to support improved reproductive health education and adolescent-friendly healthcare services in rural communities.

Background Paper-based clinical records remain widely used in South African public hospitals despite ongoing challenges related to healthcare information management. There is limited evidence regarding the usability of paper-based clinical records in South African hospitals. Aim This study assessed the usability of paper-based clinical records for patient care in four selected South African referral hospitals. Methods A quantitative cross-sectional record review was conducted in four referral hospitals located in the Eastern Cape and Mpumalanga provinces of South Africa. A standardised questionnaire developed from the Canadian Institute for Health Information (CIHI) Quality Framework was used to assess clinical record usability. The usability dimension comprised four constructs: record accessibility and filing, temporal documentation usability, legibility and readability, and communication usability. A total of 255 clinical records were reviewed. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics, the Kruskal–Wallis test, and Fisher’s Exact test, with statistical significance set at p < 0.05. Results Overall usability demonstrated moderate performance, with a mean score of 53.1% (SD: 13.3). Temporal documentation usability achieved the highest performance (mean: 96.6%; SD: 11.2), followed by record accessibility and filing (mean: 74.9%; SD: 21.2). Legibility and readability performed poorly (mean: 32.6%; SD: 45.1), while communication usability demonstrated the lowest performance (mean: 8.4%; SD: 20.2). Significant differences in usability construct scores were observed across hospitals (p < 0.05). Overall, 65.1% of reviewed records were classified as having poor usability. Conclusion Paper-based clinical records in the reviewed hospitals demonstrated substantial usability limitations, particularly regarding legibility and communication. Strengthening clinical documentation practices and improving health information management systems are necessary to enhance patient care quality, continuity of care, and healthcare service delivery in South African hospitals.