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Substance abuse, harm reduction and harm prevention, setting a research agenda
No full textHuman and Social Dynamics (HSD) Research Seminar Series, Research Seminar Report, Cape Town, 2 Marc
Urbanisation and development: reinforcing the foundations
No full textThe chapter explores the proposition that urbanisation is a major driver of growth and development in the global South. This is a crucial issue for low and middle income countries wrestling with burgeoning urban populations. The chapter first considers whether an urbanising population causes economic growth, but finds little evidence to support this. It argues instead that there is an interdependent relationship between urbanisation and development. Urbanisation is intimately bound up with the evolving dynamics of economic development, but it is not a separate driver of change. The relationship is also dependent on the context, including the composition of economic growth and the physical environment in which growth occurs
Sustainable food systems transformation in South Africa
No full textThis chapter reflects on the state of South Africa’s food systems, highlighting disparities and inefficiencies; explores the impact of the non-functioning food system on the country’s population, particularly marginalised and vulnerable groups; and discusses and underscores the importance of supporting policy reforms by addressing environmental challenges and food waste, leveraging technology and innovations, and promoting urban agriculture as potential strategies to transform sustainable food systems in South Africa.
Population shift in antibody immunity following the emergence of a SARS-CoV-2 variant of concern
Get PDFSevere Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) variants of concern (VOCs) exhibit escape from pre-existing immunity and elicit variant-specific immune responses. In South Africa, the second wave of SARS-CoV-2 infections was driven by the Beta VOC, which coincided with the country-wide National COVID-19 Antibody Survey (NCAS). The NCAS was conducted between November 2020 and February 2021 to understand the burden of SARS-CoV-2 infection through seroprevalence. We evaluated 649 NCAS sera for spike binding and pseudovirus neutralizing antibodies. We classified individuals as ancestral or D614G neutralizers (114/649), Beta neutralizers (96/649), double neutralizers (375/649) or non-neutralizers (62/649). We observed a consistent decrease in preferential neutralization against the D614G variant from 68 to 18% of individuals over the four sampling months. Concurrently, samples with equivalent neutralization of both variants, or with enhanced neutralization of the Beta variant, increased from 32 to 82% of samples. Neutralization data showed that geometric mean titers (GMTs) against D614G dropped 2.4-fold, while GMTs against Beta increased 2-fold during this same period. A shift in population humoral immunity in favor of Beta-directed or cross-neutralizing antibody responses, paralleled the increase in genomic frequency of the Beta variant in South Africa. Understanding similar population immunity shifts could elucidate immunity gaps that drive SARS-CoV-2 evolution.
Viral load non-suppression among adolescents and youth living with HIV in South Africa
Get PDFDespite the increased initiation and uptake of antiretroviral therapy (ART) in South Africa, some people living with HIV (PLHIV) who are on ART still have nonsuppressed viral load (VL). This study aimed to determine the prevalence of VL non-suppression among adolescents and youth (aged 12 years – 24 years) living with HIV and on ART in South Africa, as well as the factors associated with it. Data from the 2017 South African national HIV prevalence, incidence, behaviour, and communication survey were analysed. The survey used a multistage-stratified cluster sampling design. A backward stepwise multivariable generalised linear model was used to
identify factors associated with VL non-suppression. The study included 340 participants aged 12 years – 24 years, with a median age of 21 (interquartile range [IQR]: 18–23). The proportion of adolescents and youth living with HIV and on ART with non-suppressed VL was 19.2% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 14.4–25.3). Approximately 60% of the participants were not on ART. The odds of VL non-suppression were significantly higher among youth aged 15 years – 19 years (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 1.63 [95% CI: 1.24–2.13], p = 0.001) and aged 20 years – 24 years (AOR = 1.22 [95% CI: 1.06–1.41], p = 0.005) compared to adolescents aged 12 years – 14 years. The odds were significantly lower among individuals of other races (AOR = 0.80 [95% CI: 0.69–0.92], p = 0.003) compared to black African people. Findings suggest a need for ART education and counselling as part of treatment support. In addition, the promotion of HIV awareness as part of strengthening the HIV treatment and prevention cascade.
Climate change education: preparing African youth for future challenges
No full textClimate change poses significant challenges globally, with Africa being particularly vulnerable due to its socioeconomic and environmental contexts. Education is a powerful tool for equipping African youth with the knowledge, skills and attitudes necessary to address these challenges. This paper examines the role of climate change education (CCE) in preparing African youth for a sustainable future. This study presents a conceptual framework for integrating CCE into African educational systems through a robust methodology incorporating a qualitative paradigm. It also reviews the pertinent literature, discusses key findings, and proposes strategies for effective implementation.
N Gehooranalise met betrekking tot gesondheidsvoorligtingsdienste :die benutting van mediese dienste deur stedelike Zoeloes en Suid-Sotho's
No full textTuberculosis treatment adherence among tuberculosis patients: insights from a cross-sectional study in the Eastern Cape, South Africa
No full textTuberculosis (TB) is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in South Africa. Poor TB treatment adherence (TBTA) is associated with sociodemographic and socioeconomic factors. This cross-sectional study investigated TBTA among TB patients aged 18 years and above. A sample of 110 TB patients participated in the study, of whom 65 (59%) were males and 45 (41%) females, with a mean age of 34.62 ± 9.77. Almost one-third (32%) of the respondents reported forgetting to take their medication. The reasons they gave for non-adherence to TB medication included: (i) simply forgot (21%); (ii) fell asleep/slept through dose time (13%); (iii) had problems taking pills at specified times (12%); (iv) were busy with other things (12%); (v) were away from home (11%); and (vi) drank alcohol (10%). Unlike prior studies, sex and age were not associated with TBTA. However, the following factors were significantly associated with TBTA: (i) the number of people living in a household and sharing the main meal of the day (X2 [2] = 11.42; p = .003; V = 0,32) [increased non-adherence in larger households]; (ii) no one to take care of them or remind them to take their TB medication/take care of self (X2 [1] = 4.90; p = .027; V = 0.21) [increased non-adherence in the group who had someone taking care of them or reminding them to take their TB medication]; and (iii) family support (t [108] = 2.08; p = .040; d = 0.43) [increased non-adherence in the group who reported a higher level of family support]. Counterintuitively, the results showed increased non-adherence among respondents who reported having someone taking care of or reminding them to take their TB medication and those who reported getting support from their family.
A closer look at racial differences in the reporting of self-assessed health status and related concepts in South Africa
Get PDFSouth Africa's populace is characterised by large differences in health, with vast inequalities between members of different groups that can be identified by using a number of tested health indicators, with self-assessed health (SAH) status amongst them. Generally, the average White person���s health, however measured, is considerably better than that of Black African persons with the health of Indian and Coloured persons somewhere between the two. Typically, this pattern is attributed to the continued association between race and socio-economic status.
Recent empirical work conducted, however, seems to cast doubt on the validity of the assumption that SAH can be compared directly across members of different groups. In light of this concern, and the challenge which it poses to the interpretation of the results of much current South African empirical work, this article explores possible systematic differences with respect to the perception and reporting of SAH between members of different race groups in South Africa. Using data drawn from a nationally representative survey of approximately 3000 respondents, this study analysed racial differences in SAH alongside domain-specific SAH and attitudes
to a number of health-related areas (e.g. reference groups, perceptions of main influences on health, etc.). The analysis revealed a number of differences when compared to the usual racialised pattern observed. It is held that these differences suggest that there might be a role for race to play in the assessment and reporting of SAH independently of its continued association with socio-economic status.
A golf course or grazing land: using participatory communication as a conflict management tool in community development
Get PDFThe question underpinning this study is why the Tyusha (Evelyn Valley) Development Project, a tourism project in South Africa’s Eastern Cape province, championed by developers, failed to materialize. The starting point of the research was whether, as the classic view suggests, the failure of the project was due to lack of community involvement. The interviews conducted indicated that participation was not the issue. The community had been consulted and were part of the wider formative discussions. What held the project back was conflict amongst the community (or project) leadership group. Given the economic potential of the project for a poor village like Tyusha, one would have expected greater cooperation between community members. This is especially the case when there is willingness and support from private capital and local government. Through a close reading of participatory development critiques, the article finds that conflict is part and parcel of community development work. With communication breakdowns in mind, which can impede project success, the article concludes that participatory development communication is a good vehicle to carry the dual mandate of community empowerment and mediation of conflict.