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Exploration of factors influencing health-risk behaviours among youth aged 15 -24 in Nkomazi Local Municipality, Ehlanzeni District, Mpumalanga Province, South Africa: a qualitative survey
No full textPresentation presented at the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR)No description available
Key findings from the South African National GBV study: implications for community responses
No full textPaper presented at the Introductory Meeting of the Akunyamezeleki Solidarity Network (ASN), 8 OctoberN/
Food systems hazards and impact of social exclusion on the spread of hazards
No full textCommissioned by the Department of Science, Technology and Innovation, MarchThe report outlines a conceptual framework and theories to help understand how vulnerability to hazards is compounded by social exclusion. The theories analysed underline how social exclusion and unequal access to resources and opportunities increase vulnerability to food system hazards, for example worsening food insecurity and health risks for the marginalised. The report discussed factors, for example institutional governance and socioeconomic, that constrain the options available to the marginalised and socially excluded and hinder them from life opportunities and benefits of food systems. The report explains social exclusion as both i) a status or an outcome in which some people cannot fully participate in life because of their socioeconomic characteristics, such as ethnicity, gender, religion, race, or other characteristic and ii) the mechanisms by which some members of society become excluded from accessing important networks and societal resources and opportunities. Case studies from the Global South provide additional context for the report’s findings, demonstrating that issues such as governance structures, spatial dynamics, population characteristics, and economic status all contribute to social exclusion. For example, climate change intensifies disputes among herders and farmers regarding access to and use of land and water, heightening food insecurity and increasing susceptibility to hazards in West Africa. In addition, the report benefited from feedback given on its draft version during a workshop hosted by Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC) in 2024 and attended by people across the disciplines involved in food systems. The varying insights and views on the understanding of the notion of social exclusion at the workshop participants provided an opportunity to revise the draft report. The report was eventually improved by discussing social exclusion in the context of a country like South African with its unique sociopolitical and history and highlight the link between social exclusion and social inequality.N/
Violence and discrimination against LGBTIQ individuals in South Africa: legal rights vs. lived realities
No full textSouth Africa is internationally recognized for its progressive legal protections of LGBTIQ + populations; yet,
these individuals continue to experience pervasive violence and discrimination. This study examines the disjuncture between formal rights and lived realities, highlighting how factors such as gender identity, sexuality, health status, and visibility contribute to vulnerability to violence and discrimination. Data were drawn from the Global Pride Study, using an anonymous, self-administered online survey completed by 130 South African LGBTIQ + adults aged 18 and older. The survey captured demographic characteristics, health status, social connectedness, and detailed experiences of violence and discrimination. Descriptive and inferential analyses were used to identify patterns and predictors of harm. Findings reveal widespread victimization: 57.4% of participants reported verbal insults, 38.8% threats of violence, and 23.3% sexual assault. Transgender respondents reported disproportionately high rates of threats and physical assault, while bisexual women were notably overrepresented in the sample. Identity disclosure and functional limitations emerged as significant predictors of vulnerability, highlighting the risks associated with visibility and health inequities. Despite progressive constitutional and legal frameworks, LGBTIQ + individuals in South Africa remain highly vulnerable to harm, with violence and discrimination embedded in multiple social and institutional domains. This study contributes to global evidence by providing quantitative analysis from an underrepresented context. Targeted interventions—including strengthened hate crime reporting, culturally competent healthcare training, focused outreach to vulnerable populations, and future additional research on the geographic and socio-political context are essential to close the gap between formal protections and lived experiences and to ensure substantive equality for LGBTIQ + communities.
Accuracy and acceptability of VISITECT CD4 Advanced Disease compared to PIMA CD4
No full textCD4 testing is the first step of the advanced HIV disease (AHD) care package. The semi-quantitative VISITECT CD4 Advanced Disease (Accubio Limited, VISITECT) is increasingly used but has variable reported performance. We compared VISITECTs diagnostic accuracy and acceptability with PIMA CD4 (Abbott, PIMA) at point-of-care within the AHD care package. Mixed-methods study embedded in a community-based TB case-finding trial in South Africa. Following a VISITECT batch recall (April 2023), a sample of trial participants with HIV (PWH) received VISITECT and PIMA testing in parallel on one venous blood sample. Sensitivity, specificity and positive and negative predictive values (PPV, NPV) were calculated. We conducted in-depth-interviews with PWH, focus group discussions with nurses, and participant observations with nurse/PWH pairs. Among 609 included PWH, 76 (12.5%) were found to have ≤200 cells/µl on VISITECT versus 28 (4.8%) on PIMA. The sensitivity, specificity, PPV and NVP of VISITECT were 89.3% [95%CI 71.8-97.7%], 91.2% [95%CI 88.6-93.4%], 32.9% [95%CI 22.5-44.6%] and 99.4% [95%CI 98.4-99.9%] compared to PIMA, respectively. Three VISITECT results (0.05%) were false negative (CD4 counts: 16, 82, 175 cells/µl) and 51 (8.4%) false positive (median CD4 counts: 563, IQR: 382-739 cells/µl). PWH and public sector nurses believed that point-of-care CD4 tests improve access to CD4 counts. Study nurses preferred PIMA to VISITECT in terms of accuracy, duration, user-friendliness, and yielding a numeric CD4 result. Compared to PIMA, VISITECT had a good diagnostic accuracy but low PPV, and was less acceptable for study nurses. VISITECT’s role should be further evaluated.
Yi market yama phara: the importance of social media for small business development
No full textThe participatory potential of social media has been taken up in African media studies (see Bosch, 2021). Not much, however, has been written about its potential and use in small business development (especially in
townships). The need for small business development to stimulate growth of the economy is something of a truism (Lose and Eze, 2024). A major drawback, however, is that despite inherent economic potential, a majority
of micro enterprises are characterized by low‐incomes and poverty. This study explores social media’s potential to boost small businesses. Although largely universal, in the context of postcolonial settings designed to
depress economic activity, new media technologies present an opportunity for those limited by social stricture to reverse the flow of movement away from the periphery. Using township economy research as an anchor, the
chapter argues that social media offers a greater opportunity to circumvent challenges and access markets beyond their immediate surrounds.
Environmental-demographic determinants associated with tuberculosis prevalence in seven African countries: an aggregated dataset analysis
No full textKnowledge about environmental and demographic determinants of tuberculosis is largely limited to studies with ecological designs. We explored the association between these determinants and tuberculosis prevalence in an individual participant dataset aggregated across seven African countries. Data of nationally representative tuberculosis prevalence surveys (2012–2019) from highly endemic countries were supplemented with publicly accessible data at district level. Associations between individual-level diagnosis of bacteriologically confirmed tuberculosis and district-level environmental-demographic variables were investigated in generalized linear mixed-effects models accounting for the multi-level structure of the data. Of 322,615 participants aged ≥15 years across 400 districts, 976 were newly diagnosed with tuberculosis (prevalence 183–638/100,000 across the countries). Living at latitude 7.6–14.6° (adjusted odds ratio, aOR 2.07, 95% confidence interval, 95% CI 1.48–2.90) or in higher population density (aOR 1.07 per percent increase in mean population density, 1.01–1.13), or urban districts (aOR 1.31, 1.11–1.54) were independently associated with higher prevalence. Living in distsricts above 900 m altitude (aOR 0.52, 0.32–0.84), with 50–100 mm precipitation (aOR 0.62, 0.46–0.84), or at higher temperature (aOR 0.93 per degree Celsius, 0.88–0.98) was independently associated with lower tuberculosis prevalence. No significant associations were observed with fine particulate matter (aOR 1.04, 0.70–1.54 for 20–40 μg/m3, 0.82, 0.44–1.53 for >40 μg/m3), solar radiation (aOR 1.04, 0.93–1.15) or International Wealth Index (aOR 1.01 (1.00–1.02).
Youth’s perspectives regarding health-risk behaviours in Nkomazi local municipality, Ehlanzeni district Mpumalanga province
No full textPaper presented at the Population Association of Southern Africa (PASA), 18 SeptemberAbstract not availableN/
A survey-based assessment of the eResearch Knowledge Centre’s support practices in the Human Sciences Research Council in Pretoria, South Africa
No full textThis study aims to assess the current eResearch Knowledge Centre (eRKC) research support services, evaluate their adequacy in supporting Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC) researchers and identify any gaps or areas requiring improvement. Additionally, this study sought to determine which additional services, if any, should be implemented to enhance the effectiveness of eRKC in supporting HSRC researchers. This study evaluated the importance, satisfaction and usage of eRKC services during the “Prepare” phase of the research lifecycle. Environmental scanning (51%, very important) and funding opportunities (67.9%) were critical, with high satisfaction with environmental scanning (84.9%) and spatial consultations (75.1%). However, 22.6% were dissatisfied with the funding support. In terms of usage, 62.2% used environmental scanning, 36.8% used spatial consultations and 57.7% used funding services. Successful partnerships were noted by 50% of the participants, and 71.7% attended training workshops. The key sessions included literature reviews (62.9%), Mendeley (54.8%) and research impact metrics (47.2%), underscoring the vital role of these services in supporting researchers.
The consequences of global north funding reductions on South African research and science diplomacy for equitable scientific access
No full textPaper presented at an International Workshop: Free Scientific Research Under Threat, 14 OctoberNo description available.N/