The views of key stakeholders in Zimbabwe on the introduction of postgraduate family medicine training: A qualitative study
Background: Strengthening primary health care (PHC) is a priority for all effective health systems, and family physicians are seen as a key member of the PHC team. Zimbabwe has joined a number of African countries that are seriously considering the introduction of postgraduate family medicine training. Implementation of training, however, has not yet happened. Aim: […]
Responding to maternal loss: A phenomenological study of older orphans in youth-headed households in impoverished areas of South Africa
The aim of this study was to explore how older orphans in youth-headed households (YHHs) experience and respond to maternal death and to examine the strategies they employ to care for their younger siblings. We interviewed 18 older orphans who were purposively selected from YHHs located in informal settlements in the City of Tshwane, South […]
Helminths are positively associated with atopy and wheeze in Ugandan fishing communities: results from a cross-sectional survey
Background: Parasitic helminths are potent immunomodulators and chronic infections may protect against allergy-related disease and atopy. We conducted a cross-sectional survey to test the hypothesis that in heavily helminth-exposed fishing villages on Lake Victoria, Uganda, helminth infections would be inversely associated with allergy-related conditions. Methods: A household survey was conducted as baseline to an anthelminthic […]
Improving a mother to child HIV transmission programme through health system redesign: Quality improvement, protocol adjustment and resource addition
Background: Health systems that deliver prevention of mother to child transmission (PMTCT) services in low and middle income countries continue to underperform, resulting in thousands of unnecessary HIV infections of newborns each year. We used a combination of approaches to health systems strengthening to reduce transmission of HIV from mother to infant in a multi-facility […]
Legislation and Policies for the Right to Maternity Protection in South Africa: A Fragmented State of Affairs
Background: Maternity protection rights incorporate comprehensive benefits that should be available to pregnant or breastfeeding working women. Research Aim: To describe South Africa’s maternity protection legal and policy landscape and compare it to global recommendations. Method: A prospective cross-sectional comparative policy analysis was used to review and describe national policy documents published from 1994–2021. Entitlements […]
Perceptions of midwives on shortage and retention of staff at a public hospital in Tshwane District
BACKGROUND: Midwifery is the backbone of women and child healthcare. The shortage of staff in maternity units is a crisis faced by many countries worldwide, including South Africa. OBJECTIVES: This study aims to explore the perceptions of midwives on the shortage and retention of staff at a public institution. METHOD: The study was conducted at […]
Rethinking collaboration: Developing a learning platform to address under-five mortality in Mpumalanga province, South Africa
Following 50 years of apartheid, South Africa introduced visionary health policy committing to the right to health as part of a primary health care (PHC) approach. Implementation is seriously challenged, however, in an often-dysfunctional health system with scarce resources and a complex burden of avoidable mortality persists. Our aim was to develop a process generating […]
Care pathways during a child’s final illness in rural South Africa: Findings from a social autopsy study
Background Half of under-5 deaths in South Africa occur at home, however the reasons remain poorly described and data on the care pathways during fatal childhood illness is limited. This study aimed to better describe care-seeking behavior in fatal childhood illness and to assess barriers to healthcare and modifiable factors that contribute to under-5 deaths […]
Building knowledge, optimising physical and mental health and setting up healthier life trajectories in South African women (Bukhali): A preconception randomised control trial part of the Healthy Life Trajectories Initiative (HeLTI)
Introduction South Africa’s evolving burden of disease is challenging due to a persistent infectious disease, burgeoning obesity, most notably among women and rising rates of non-communicable diseases (NCDs). With two thirds of women presenting at their first antenatal visit either overweight or obese in urban South Africa (SA), the preconception period is an opportunity to […]
Sexually transmitted infection screening to prevent adverse birth and newborn outcomes: study protocol for a randomized-controlled hybrid-effectiveness trial
Background: Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) during pregnancy are associated with adverse birth outcomes, including preterm birth, low birth weight, perinatal death, and congenital infections such as increased mother-to-child HIV transmission. Prevalence of STIs among pregnant women in South Africa remains high, with most women being asymptomatic for their infection(s). Unfortunately, most STIs remain undetected and […]
