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HST provides free electronic access to over 500 health systems research related reports, publications and papers. Close to 300 of these are publications that have been commissioned and funded by the Trust. Topics include among others district systems development, drug supply management, human resource development, informatics, legislation, finance, environmental health, mental health, lessons learnt, nutrition and sexually transmitted diseases / HIV/AIDS. The main publication of the HST is the annual South African Health Review. From 2005 all HST publications will be available in low resolution only. To explore the range of publications HST offers use the Advanced search to search using a variety of criteria.

This report documents the first DHER in the North West Province, conducted in the Taung Health District. The financial year under review stretches from 1 st April 1999 to 31 st March 2000.

The health services covered in this study included all public health services. There were neither district medical officers (former part-time district surgeons) nor any non-governmental organizations (NGOs) identified as service providers in this area. Services rendered by General Practitioners (GP) to private patients were excluded from the scope of the review.

Study Methds

The method of investigation included primary data collection, capturing and analysis of these data items. Data was collected from service records, information system reports, existing published materials such as the Census, Statistics South Africa 2000, internet and interviews with various service providers in the Health District, and from other government departments.

Technicon Pretoria, Nelspruit Campus, designed a spreadsheet workbook that was used in this project to record the numerical data and calculate indicators. The maps were obtained as hard copies from the Geographical Information Services (GIS), Potchefstroom, North West Province. Members of the District Health Expenditure Review Task Team validated the data.