Research Output Repository (HSRC)
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Do we measure what should be measured?: towards a research and theoretical agenda for STI measurement in Africa
No full textA persistent critique of standard science, technology and innovation (STI) indicators is that they remain reliant on concepts and theories transposed from the literature on STI in high-income countries. It is widely recognized that their relevance for African countries is limited, so we may not be measuring what we should be measuring, to promote development goals. To inform a shift from critique to building meaningful alternatives, the paper conducts a systematic review of the literature on STI measurement in Africa. The analysis highlights that STI measurement in Africa is under researched, but the knowledge base is growing. The strongest trends relate to the adoption and extension of traditional standard STI indicators. More recent is a focus on environmental
sustainability, digitalization and the informal sector, with most scholars based in South Africa and Nigeria. The main contribution is a research agenda to facilitate theory building as a foundation for designing contextually relevant STI indicators.
Land use and land cover changes in QwaQwa: implications for service delivery 30 years after democracy
Get PDFOver the past 30 years, land use and land cover have changed significantly in QwaQwa in the Eastern Free State. The abandonment of cultivated land and increased urban growth have strained service delivery and affected livelihoods. These findings emerge from the Democracy@30 Study, conducted by the HSRC and the University of the Free State in 2024. The study aimed to provide a platform for local communities to assess
progress since the advent of democracy in South Africa and to reflect on the next 30 years in pursuit of a promised “better life for all”N/
Collaborative pathways: advancing gender equality in grant-making
No full textAfter more than a decade of deliberate efforts to narrow the gender gap and promote gender equality in science, technology and innovation, reports indicate that there are still significantly fewer women than men in scientific fields in Africa, especially in leadership roles. Addressing gender equality and inclusion in research remains an issue of social justice and socioeconomic progress in Africa.N/
The Sixth South African National HIV Prevalence, Incidence and Behaviour Survey, 2022: 20 years of strategic HIV and public health data: executive summary
Get PDFThe completion of the 6th South African National HIV Prevalence, Incidence and Behaviour Survey (SABSSM) report, coincides with the celebration of 30 years of democracy in South Africa; and marks 20 years of conducting nationally representative household-based surveys by the Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC), its collaborators and donors. Since its inception in 2002, the SABSSM series has emerged as one of the HSRC’s leading scientific contributions to the country’s HIV and AIDS response (1), providing essential data to monitor the HIV epidemic, the impact of the HIV program in South Africa, and to inform strategies for epidemic control in the National Strategic Plan for HIV, TB and STIs (NSP), now in its fifth edition. Using scientific evidence from SABSSM and other key sources, the NSP guides the country’s response, under the leadership of the South African AIDS Council (SANAC) and the National Department of Health (NDoH), with focus on equitable access to biomedical interventions, addressing the structural and social behavioural drivers of the epidemic, and targeting populations disproportionately affected by HIV; such as, black Africans, key populations and adolescent girls and
young women (AGYW) aged 15–24 years (2).
Pilot results of Masibambisane: couples motivational interviewing with mobile breathalyzers to address unhealthy drinking and adherence to antiretroviral therapy in South Africa
No full textWe evaluated the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary efficacy of couples motivational interviewing (MI) with and without mobile breathalyzers (Masibambisane) to reduce unhealthy alcohol use among couples with HIV in KwaZuluNatal, South Africa. Ninety couples were randomized to couples MI with breathalyzers (MI-plus), couples MI without breathalyzers (MI-only), or enhanced usual care (EUC). Eligible couples had at least one partner on antiretroviral therapy (ART) with a positive AUDIT-C screen. Primary outcomes included retention, session attendance, breathalyzer completion, and satisfaction rates. Exploratory outcomes were unhealthy alcohol use (i.e., positive AUDIT-C screen and/or phosphatidylethanol [PEth]≥35 ng/ml), number of drinking days in past month, AUDIT-C score, optimal adherence to ART (95% or higher), and viral suppression. Retention and attendance rates were 97.7% and 83.3% at 6-months. Breathalyzer completion was limited (58.2%) due to cellular and power challenges. Satisfaction exceeded 94.8%. MI-only and MIplus arms had larger declines in drinking days and AUDIT-C score and larger increases in ART adherence vs. EUC. We observed no differences in biomarker-confirmed unhealthy alcohol use, which remained high across all arms at two months (94.6%, 96.5%, and 100%) for EUC, MI-only, and MI-plus. Viral suppression rates were 86.7%, 96.5%, and 86.2% for EUC, MI-only, and MI-plus. Between-arm differences for outcomes were non-significant; however, moderation analysis revealed that MI-only (p<0.001) and MI-plus (p<0.016) significantly reduced AUDIT-C scores for those with severe drinking (AUDIT-C>7). Masibambisane was highly feasible and acceptable. Results provide initial evidence of couples MI with breathalyzers to reduce alcohol use among those with very high-risk drinking.
Why the violence&#63;: exploring how South African student protesters explain violent resistance
No full textViolent student protests continue to dominate headlines in South Africa. Drawing from powerful images and testimonies, a new publication by the HSRC reveals how students explain the use of violence, linking their struggles to deeper histories of injustice, systemic exclusion, self-defence and perpetual victimhood.N/
Violence against women in South Africa: intersecting vulnerabilities
No full textSouth Africa faces a persistent epidemic of gender-based violence (GBV), despite efforts to address it. In 2024, a groundbreaking survey by the HSRC highlighted the enduring various forms of violence, including physical and sexual violence, psychological, economic and emotional abuse experienced by women over the age of 18 in the country. The study highlighted higher victimisation among black African women and women with disabilities. The HSRC recently hosted a webinar that focused on gender-based violence and femicide perpetrated against
vulnerable groups of women in South Africa. It included women with disabilities, women from the LGBTQIA+ community, black African and older women.N/
Cooperation among municipalities, universities and local industries for new and impactful local economic development solutions
No full textThe innovation required to effect economic and social transformation in local municipalities often takes time, resources, information platforms and intensive stakeholder engagements. This article discusses how local universities, municipalities and the HSRC formed “communities of practice” to jointly identify and co-produce innovative solutions for local economic development in Vhembe in Limpopo and OR Tambo in the Eastern Cape.N/
The quality and safety of donated food in charitable food assistance programs in eThekwini District, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
No full textFood insecurity is a major global problem, with over 2.8 billion people reported as unable to afford a healthy diet in 2022. While charitable food assistance programs (CFAPs) play an important role in improving food access, ensuring the quality and safety of donated foods is crucial for safeguarding needy communities from food-related illnesses. This study evaluated the safety and quality of food donations at a food bank warehouse in the eThekwini District using a novel methodology. In March 2024, a five-day audit was conducted at a food bank warehouse in the eThekwini District, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. A mobile device was utilized to document comprehensive information on all incoming deliveries, including the type of food, product details (such as brand, name, and variety), donor information, weight, and date markings. The audit assessed 1037 items, totaling 64,818 kg of donated food, against established food safety standards. Each item was visually inspected upon arrival and classified as ‘unsuitable’, ‘potentially unsafe’, or ‘unsafe’ for human consumption. Out of the 64,818 kg of donated food, 95.5% (61,886 kg) was deemed satisfactory. However, 4.5% of the total, which amounts to 2932 kg, was categorized as either unsafe (355 kg), potentially unsafe (1182 kg), or unsuitable (1395 kg) for consumption. Retail supermarkets donated the largest weight of food, and also of the food classified as unsafe or unsuitable. The study highlights an urgent need for improved quality control and safety measures in food donations to CFAPs. Stricter handling and inspection guidelines are essential to ensure the quality of charitable food, reduce health risks, and build public trust in donation programs.
Policy advocacy framework for the National Development Agency
Get PDFCommissioned by the National Development Agency, MarchThis Policy Advocacy Framework (PAF) promotes the reorientation of how the National Development Agency (NDA) engages in policy change activism as envisioned and outlined in the new Turnaround Strategy (NDA, 2023). The PAF is a practice-oriented tool that strengthens the NDA’s ability to influence policy interventions through stepwise advocacy grounded in evidence.N/