Research Output Repository (HSRC)
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An assessment of skills development interventions in South Africa: work-based skills upgrading in firms in the public and private sectors: skills planning dead in the water without data
No full text'Improving skills planning' is the very last sub-section of the Department of Higher Education and Training's (DHET) Green Paper for Post-School Education and Training, released for public comment in January 2012. The state of data management in parts of the post-school sector suggests it should have been the first. To illustrate the point, BONGIWE MNCWANGO, XOLANI NGAZIMBI and THEMBINKOSI TWALO drew on a recently completed study of training in the private sector.
Early substance use initiation and suicide ideation and attempts among school-aged adolescents in four Pacific Island countries in Oceania
Get PDFThis study aimed to investigate the correlations between early initiation (<12 years) of smoking cigarettes, alcohol use, and drug use (cannabis) with suicidal ideation and suicide attempts in school-aged adolescents in four Pacific Island countries in Oceania. The sample included 6540 adolescents (13 to 16 years old) from Kiribati, Samoa, Solomon Islands, and Vanuatu. Bivariate and multivariable analyses were conducted to assess the association between pre-adolescent substance use initiation and suicidal ideation and suicide attempts. Results indicate a prevalence of 25.8% suicidal ideation in the past 12 months (ranging from 17.2% in Vanuatu to 34.7% in Kiribati) and 34.9% suicide attempts in the past 12 months (ranging from 23.5% in Vanuatu to 62.0% in Samoa). The prevalence of early cigarette smoking initiation was 15.7%, early alcohol initiation 13.8%, and early drug use initiation was 12.9%. Students who reported pre-adolescent substance use initiation, compared with non-substance users, were more likely reporting suicidal ideation and suicide attempts. The concurrent initiation of cigarette smoking, alcohol, and drug use should be targeted in early prevention programmes in order to prevent possible subsequent suicidal behaviours.
Scaling up family planning to reduce maternal and child mortality: the potential costs and benefits of modern contraceptive use in South Africa
Get PDFFamily planning contributes significantly to the prevention of maternal and child mortality. However, many women still do not use modern contraception and the numbers of unintended pregnancies, abortions and subsequent deaths are high. In this paper, we estimate the service delivery costs of scaling up modern contraception, and the potential impact on maternal, new-born and child survival in South Africa. The Family Planning model in Spectrum was used to project the impact of modern contraception on pregnancies, abortions and births in South Africa (2015-2030). The contraceptive prevalence rate (CPR) was increased annually by 0.68 percentage points. The Lives Saved Tool was used to estimate maternal and child deaths, with coverage of essential maternal and child health interventions increasing by 5% annually. A scenario analysis was done to test impacts when: the change in CPR was 0.1% annually; and intervention coverage increased linearly to 99% in 2030. If CPR increased by 0.68% annually, the number of pregnancies would reduce from 1.3 million in 2014 to one million in 2030. Unintended pregnancies, abortions and births decrease by approximately 20%. Family planning can avert approximately 7,000 new-born and child and 600 maternal deaths. The total annual costs of providing modern contraception in 2030 are estimated to be US7 per year. The incremental cost per life year gained is US1,000 for mothers.
Comparing R&D: what South Africa can learn from other countries. Analytical brief no. 02/2025
No full textThis brief looks at how South Africa compares to other countries that are active in research and experimental
development (R&D). It aims to provide useful insights to South African policymakers by showing what has worked and what has not worked in other countries.N/
Poverty among older people in South Africa
No full textSouth Africa has one of the most rapidly ageing populations in Africa, and the proportion of older persons has been increasing steadily over time. While living longer is a significant achievement, it is equally concerning as ageing is occurring in a context where poverty is wide-spread. This study uses data from the 2017 South African National Income Dynamics Survey to explore poverty among older people. The study examines key socio-demographic and economic determinants of poverty among older people in South Africa. The results indicate that more older people are living below the upper-bound poverty line in com-parison to those who are food poor. Older Black African women with lower levels of education who have never been married, have a higher risk of living in poverty. More older people accessing a grant live in poverty. This demonstrates the importance of social protection in alleviating household poverty.
Requests for proposals/funding opportunities: our brief identification, analysis and evaluation
No full textPaper presented at the Fundraising/Grant Writing Capacity Development Workshop, 7 FebruaryThis one-day, in-person and office-based workshop was designed to enhance knowledge of and skills in grant writing and fundraising, which is particularly relevant for new and emerging researchers and their professional development. The workshop comprised of several sessions that we co-facilitated by senior researchers, management and administrative staff from the Equitable Education and Economics Division. The sessions touched upon various dimensions of grant writing and fundraising, therefore providing a holistic training that included administrative, project management, academic and social elements along the entire process. In addition to input and discussion sessions, the workshop also incorporated a group activity centring on developing ideas for a proposal in response to a current call / funding opportunity as well as a panel discussion with experienced EEE fundraisers.N/
Perceptions and experiences of nondiabetic Cameroonian immigrants in Minnesota on access to affordable, culturally adapted healthcare services
Get PDFCameroonian immigrants, like many ethnic minority groups, face disproportionately high risks of type 2 diabetes due to barriers in accessing culturally responsive and affordable healthcare. This study explores their
healthcare experiences, perceptions, and knowledge of diabetes prevention and self-management to identify gaps in healthcare delivery and opportunities for culturally adapted interventions. Using a phenomenological approach, 13 nondiabetic Cameroonian immigrants were purposively selected for in-depth interviews. Data were transcribed, manually coded, and analyzed using NVivo 14 software to identify recurring themes related to healthcare interactions and diabetes prevention efforts. Participants frequently reported leaving medical appointments without fully understanding their healthcare providers’ advice, leading to confusion and poor health outcomes. Many expressed frustration over the lack of integration between psychosocial and physical health needs in their care. Additionally, they emphasized the need for culturally tailored health education, particularly regarding portion control and the nutritional value of traditional foods, to support healthier dietary habits. This study underscores the urgent need for culturally sensitive healthcare approaches that address the holistic needs of immigrant communities. Strengthening provider-patient communication, fostering trust, and incorporating culturally relevant dietary guidance can enhance diabetes prevention and self-management efforts among Cameroonian immigrants. Healthcare systems should implement culturally tailored interventions to reduce health disparities and improve provider-patient interactions. Training healthcare providers to adopt a more holistic approach—integrating both psychosocial and physical health considerations—can lead to better health outcomes. Additionally, promoting culturally relevant education on diabetes prevention and management can empower immigrant populations to make informed health decisions and adopt sustainable self-care practices.
'African universities are becoming more and more ambitious'
No full textAfrican universities are increasingly showing a keen interest in innovative governance, internationalization and collaboration, and are investing resources in technology to enhance teaching, learning and research, says Professor Ernest Aryeetey, the former vice-chancellor of the University of Ghana, who recently retired as the secretary-general of the African Research Universities Alliance (ARUA).N/
Africa cannot afford ‘the old ways of thinking’ anymore
No full textContestation over the nature of knowledge and how students are being taught is mounting as new universities and think tanks challenge traditional approaches to higher education across Africa, says Professor Tade Aina, senior director of the higher education and research in Africa programme at the Carnegie Corporation of New York.N/
Decolonised university should be a ‘space of exchange’
No full textAfrican universities should decolonise through human and epistemic diversity and internationalization rather than by adopting a parochial “nativism” and by retreating into epistemic enclaves separate from the rest of the world, says Dr William Mpofu, a researcher at the Wits Centre for Diversity Studies, University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa