Current Projects
Themes
Maternal, newborn and child health
Maternity Care Dialogue |
On 5 October 2024, the South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC), in collaboration with the Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI), convened a dialogue with key stakeholders to discuss a proposed new model of maternity care for theprivate sector. A diverse group of stakeholders, including representatives from the public and private health sectors, midwives, obstetricians, civil society, academic institutions, and non-governmental organisations were present. The platform allowed for the exchange of insights, perspectives, and expertise on the challenges and opportunities in developing sustainable and accessible models of care. Here we share the documents from the dialogue. Contact: (tanya.doherty@mrc.ac.za) Journal articles
Reports and presentations
Media article Mail and Guardian - https://mg.co.za/partner-content/2024-08-30-the-case-for-developing-alternative-maternity-care-models-in-sa/ Conference presentations Board of Healthcare Funders Conference May 2025
Video For further information please contact Prof Tanya Doherty (tanya.doherty@mrc.ac.za) |
STAR – Strengthening teamwork and respect |
Respectful maternal and newborn care is a priority, yet little evidence exists on what works to improve it. Strategies typically involve once-off didactic teaching which fails to encourage self-reflection or sustainable learning cultures. Our project has tackled this challenge through participatory learning processes, embedded in routine service delivery. A multi-disciplinary team developed the Strengthening Teamwork and Respect (STAR) intervention approach and toolkit which was implemented in nine rural hospitals in South Africa. A before-after mixed method evaluation was conducted to assess feasibility and impact of the intervention on person-centred maternity care and hospital organisational culture. The midwife-led STAR intervention aimed to give control to health professionals to identify their own priorities for improving their working environment and ways of relating to women in their care. The findings will advance the evidence base for interventions to improve respectful care and cultures of teamwork and learning. With approval of the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Health, the STAR project is a partnership of the South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC), the Centre for Rural Health at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, and the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. Contact: tanya.doherty@mrc.ac.za Journal articles
Conference presentations SOMSA conference August 2025
43rd Conference on Priorities in Perinatal Care in Southern Africa – March 2025
FIGO World Congress of Gynecology and Obstetrics Conference October 2025
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Social policy and health
A birth cohort assessing the utilisation of the CSG and its link to dietary diversity, and child growth |
PI: Dr Wanga Zembe, Dr Vundli Ramokolo, Prof Tanya Doherty, Prof David Sanders, Prof Rina Swart The birth cohort commenced in March 2016. Fieldwork is in progress with the aim to recruit and follow up 500 mothers and their children. Collaboration: The Centre of Excellence for Food Security, and UWC School of Public Health, Contact person |
Exploring the experiences of CSG recipients and non-recipients regarding coping, access to social protection, food security, income security, and safety in the time of Covid-19 |
PI: Dr Wanga Zembe-Mkabile, Dr Vundli Ramokolo, Prof Tanya Doherty Overview Study Aim To explore the experiences of Covid-19 among recipients and non-recipients of the CSG in Langa Township, Western Cape For this qualitative study we are conducting twenty telephonic qualitative interviews over two time points with participants (mother-child pairs) that we have been following up for two years in a longitudinal cohort study assessing the impact of the CSG on child nutritional status and food security. For this additional piece of research we are exploring participants’ experiences of accessing social grants in the time of Covid-19; their experiences of securing food for their children and households, experiences of restrictions to movement, loss of earnings due to not working and social distancing while living in informal settlements and or small housing structures with small or no yard space; experiences with safety; perspectives and concerns they might have for themselves and their children and families at this time; and what they see as the role of social grants and the CSG in particular in providing support to impoverished and vulnerable households and communities in the time of Covid-19. The study will provide learnings and lessons on how poor households reliant on small social grants cope during pandemics such as Covid-19 and the ways in which the social security system in South Africa can better respond to and support children and families from poor households. Collaboration Project status Contact person |
Exploring the links between food and nutrition messaging, local food knowledge systems and food experiences and eating practices in Langa |
PI: Prof Yanga Zembe, Co-PI: Dr Wanga Zembe Aim: To explore the engagement of poor people with public health policies, interventions and food knowledge systems, including social media, and how these shape their food experiences and eating practices in Langa Township, Cape Town Objectives
Methods: For this qualitative study 20 telephonic qualitative interviews will be conducted with participants (primary caregivers) and five with spaza shop owners from a cohort of mother-child pairs that we have been following up for two years in a longitudinal cohort study assessing the impact of the CSG on child nutritional status and food security Collaborators: CoE for Food Security Project status: Awaiting ethical approval; data collection soon to commence. Contact person: yanga.zembe@gmail.com |
Patient experiences of the burden of TB before and during the COVID-19 crisis |
PIs: Lieve Vanleeuw, Wanga Zembe Overview Amid the COVID-19 crisis TB patients face increased vulnerability due to the consequences of the COVID-19 response such as loss of income, challenges to access healthcare services and anti-TB medication, increased stigma, and a loss of social support structures. Many of them are already poor, and many depend on informal work or have lost their jobs. The COVID-19 social and economic response in South Africa, however, might also offer some alleviation to TB patients’ burden by accessing the Covid-19 Social Relief of Distress Grant (SRDG) designed for unemployed working age adults who are destitute because of the virus. Our study will explore how the COVID-19 epidemic and response have affected the social, economic, and health situation of TB patients, as well as how COVID-19 measures to alleviate the social and economic effects of the COVID-19 epidemic and response such as the Social Relief of Distress Grant have affected TB patients’ vulnerability. Aims
Collaboration Tampere University Finland Tampere TB Foundation Finland Project status Protocol approved by the SAMRC Ethics Committee. Interviews to start in October 2020. Contact person Lieve Vanleeuw: Lieve.vanLeeuw@mrc.ac.za |
Patient experiences of the burden of TB in the context of syndemic interaction and social protection, in Cape Town South Africa |
PIs: Lieve Vanleeuw, Wanga Zembe Overview TB remains a major health problem and the number one cause of death in South Africa. While TB is closely associated with poverty, it can also push households into worsening impoverishment through costs associated with the disease such as the cost of food and travel and the loss of income. In addition, household contacts of TB patients have an increased risk of developing TB. Transmission of TB can infect multiple members of the household which in turn can aggravate the social and economic burden of TB and diminish household resilience over time. TB patients frequently also suffer from chronic conditions like HIV and diabetes. The coordination of health and social services for each of these conditions can put an extra burden on the patient. The co-occurrence of TB and chronic conditions, in the context of a broader set of socio-economic factors such as household vulnerability to multiple and recurring transmission of TB, fragmented social and healthcare services, and poverty can have a syndemic effect on the burden of TB for patients. Aim The study aims to explore patient experiences of the multiplicative burden of TB caused by the co-occurrence of TB and chronic conditions such as HIV and diabetes, in the context of a broad set of socio-economic factors such as household vulnerability to multiple and recurring transmission of TB, poverty, overcrowding, stigma, and fragmented social and healthcare services. It furthermore aims to explore patient experiences of existing interventions like contact screening, integration of services and the disability grant that can potentially alleviate the syndemic burden of TB in the Western Cape, South Africa. Project status Semi-structured interviews have been conducted with TB patients and healthcare workers at 2 clinics and officials from the South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) in Cape Town. Collected data is currently being analysed and written up for publication. Collaboration Tampere University Finland Tampere TB Foundation Finland Contact person Lieve Vanleeuw: Lieve.vanLeeuw@mrc.ac.za |
Social protection, youth economic empowerment and social support for adolescent girls and young women at risk of poor health and wellbeing |
PI: Dr Wanga Zembe Co-Investigators: Lieve Vanleeuw; Yanga Zembe A two-year mixed-methods research project that aims to assess (i) the levels of social support, economic empowerment and social protection available to adolescent girls and young women (AGYW), and (ii) the impact thereof on health and wellbeing of AGYW. The main outcomes of the project are:
Project status: The rapid review has been completed and a progress report for year 1 has been submitted to funders. The qualitative component of the project was carried out in 2019, as well as secondary analysis of data and engagement with stakeholders. Further analysis of data and writing up of reports and publications from the work have commenced. Contact person Wanga Zembe (wanga.zembe@mrc.ac.za) |
Sexual and reproductive health
ACHIEVE - Addressing research capacity gaps |
The ACHIEVE project aims to address research capacity gaps in global child, adolescent and family health disparities utilising implementation and data sciences among vulnerable populations in resource-limited settings. The programme has a special focus on children, adolescents, and their caregiving families; parenting; HIV/AIDS; mental health; cancer; nutrition; and environmental health. ACHIEVE provides trainees with dissemination and implementation, and data-science research skills and knowledge through experiential learning, mentoring, and ‘hands-on’ immersion in global health implementation and data-science research and methodologies. It is funded by the Fogarty International Center at the US National Institutes of Health and is a consortium of ten institutions: Washington University in St. Louis, Boston College, New York University, University of Illinois Chicago, University of Makeni, University of Kwazulu-Natal, University of Rwanda, University of Ghana, Makerere University and University of Nairobi. The aims include providing a research-training programme for five cohorts of healthcare professionals from the US and sub-Saharan Africa; bringing together an interprofessional network of committed mentors from the global north and the global south to promote equitable bi-directional learning and collaboration and ensure quality training; and delineate key factors that underlie successful mentorship and training of new investigators. For more information see https://sites.wustl.edu/achieve |
BeFITS-MH: Barriers and facilitators in implementation of task sharing mental-health strategies |
Task sharing is a promising strategy to expand mental-health service provision and reduce the mental-health treatment gap, which is especially severe in low-resource settings and in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). This study seeks to validate across three LMIC countries (Chile, Nepal and South Africa) a multi-dimensional, multi-stakeholder measure to assess barriers and facilitators for implementing task sharing mental-health strategies (TSMH). Using qualitative data collected by three National Institute of Mental Health-funded LMIC-based research hubs, and a systematic review of the literature on barriers and facilitators identified in other LMIC-based TSMH studies, the project has developed the Barriers and Facilitators in the Implementation of Task Sharing Mental Health strategies (BeFITS-MH) measure that includes items designed to assess acceptability, appropriateness, feasibility and cost-related domains from the perspective of clients, care providers and supervisors and administrators. This study will evaluate the psychometric properties of the BeFITS-MH tool cross-sectionally and longitudinally, and will assess the reliability, validity and utility of the tool in projects implementing task-sharing interventions. Funded by the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH). of the US National Institutes of Health. |
CAMH - Child and Adolescent Mental Health Study |
Collaborative child and adolescent mental health at the intersections of service delivery in South Africa: Towards responsive systems of care. The aims are:
The outcome is to establish the contextual knowledge required for targeted intersectoral policy development towards improving CAMH in South Africa. SAMRC SIR grant. |
COPC - Strengthening the health system for a people-centred community orientation in South Africa |
South Africa is introducing wide-scale health system reforms towards people-centred universal healthcare with the introduction of National Health Insurance and re-engineering of primary health care. At the heart is a substantial investment in Ward-based PHC Outreach Teams as well as strengthening of the community sub-system necessary for a people-centred health approach. KwaZulu-Natal is playing a pioneering role in promoting household champions and ward-based intersectoral forums called Operation Sukhuma Sakhe. The success is dependent on understanding ‘on-the-ground’ implementation and operational challenges to inform health-system modifications necessary to enable such reforms. The project has therefore partnered with the KZN Department of Health and Office of the Premier in a Primary Health Care Transformation Committee to provide evidence-based research and academic direction to this endeavour. The aim of this grant is to conduct formative research to explore mechanisms for strengthening the key pillars of the health system for a people-centred, community orientation. The objectives of this foundation grant are to:
Funded by the United Kingdom Medical Research Council (UKRI). |
HERStory Study: Impact Evaluation of a combination HIV Prevention Intervention for Adolescent Girls and Young Women (AGYW) in Ten South African Districts |
PI: Dr Catherine Mathews Overview From 2016 to the present day, the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB and Malaria has invested in a combination HIV prevention intervention for adolescent girls and young women in South Africa (AGYW), with the aim of reducing HIV incidence, teenage pregnancy, gender-based violence, and increasing retention in school and access to economic opportunities. The intervention is being implemented in several districts with high HIV burden by a range of South African organisations, with the support of the South African National AIDS Council. It is aligned with the She Conquers campaign, and the South African National Strategic Plan for HIV, STI’s and TB (2017-2022). Combination HIV prevention interventions merge effective biomedical, behavioural and structural interventions for combined delivery. They are one of the key strategies for reaching the UNAIDS 90-90-90 targets and achieving the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) of ending the HIV epidemic by 2030. The HERStory Study is an evaluation of the combination HIV prevention intervention for AGYW, conducted by the South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC) and partners. Aims The aim of the evaluation is to determine the impact of the Global-Funded AGYW intervention on HIV incidence among AGYW aged 15 to 24 years living in the intervention districts. The study also evaluates the impact of the intervention on the cognitions, behaviours and social environments of AGYW. Collaboration
Project status First survey of two consecutive representative household surveys has been completed and published. Second phase of research is in the planning phase. Contact person Dr. Catherine Mathews (Catherine.Mathews@mrc.ac.za) Tracy McClinton Appollis (tmappollis@mrc.ac.za) https://www.samrc.ac.za/intramural-research-units/HealthSystems-HERStory |
HERStory 2 Study: Process evaluation of the combination HIV prevention intervention for adolescent girls and young women (AGYW), Global Fund grant period 2019 to 2022 |
PIs: Dr Catherine Mathews, Dr Kim Jonas, and Dr Zoe Duby Overview From 2016 to the present day, the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB and Malaria has invested in a combination HIV prevention intervention for adolescent girls and young women in South Africa (AGYW), with the aim of reducing HIV incidence, teenage pregnancy, and gender-based violence and increasing retention in school and access to economic opportunities. Combination HIV prevention interventions, which merge effective biomedical, behavioural and structural interventions for combined delivery, are one of the key strategies for reaching the UNAIDS 90-90-90 targets and achieving the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) of ending the HIV epidemic by 2030. Scientists in the Health Systems Research Unit have been requested to conduct a process evaluation of the AGYW combination intervention being implemented during the 2019 to 2022 Global Fund grant period. Aims To investigate:
Collaboration
Project status Protocol development Contact person Dr. Catherine Mathews (Catherine.Mathews@mrc.ac.za) Dr Kim Jonas (Kim.Jonas@mrc.ac.za) https://www.samrc.ac.za/intramural-research-units/HealthSystems-HERStory |
HERStory 3 Study: Impact Evaluation of the My Journey Programme in 12 South African Subdistricts |
PI: Dr Kim Jonas Overview To alleviate the HIV burden among adolescent girls and young women (AGYW), the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB and Malaria has invested in a combination HIV prevention intervention, now called the My Journey Programme, for AGYW in South Africa from 2016 through to 2022 and beyond. Combination HIV prevention interventions, which merge effective biomedical, behavioural and structural interventions for combined delivery, are one of the key strategies for reaching the 90-90-90 targets and achieving the SDG goal of ending the HIV epidemic by 2030. The HERStory 3 Study is an evaluation of the impact of The My Journey Programme, conducted by the South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC) and partners. Aims/Objectives The primary objective of the HERStory 3 Study is to determine the intervention impact on HIV prevalence by age. The secondary objectives include assessing the intervention impact on HIV prevention and care coverage, pregnancy prevention coverage, behaviours that put AGYW at risk of HIV and unintended pregnancy, and on the cognitions and social environments of AGYW, including access to economic opportunities, their well-being and health-related quality of life. Collaboration
Protocol status Data collection started January 2024 and is projected to end in May 2024 Contact person Dr Kim Jonas (Kim.Jonas@mrc.ac.za) https://www.samrc.ac.za/intramural-research-units/HealthSystems-HERStory |
Imagine Evaluation |
The Imagine Programme was a combination HIV and pregnancy prevention intervention, designed to improve HIV and pregnancy related outcomes for school-going AGYW. The Imagine Programme was funded through a Social Impact Bond focused on quality sexual and reproductive health services and ambitious outcomes including HIV treatment and prevention medication; contraception uptake and pregnancy care. The SAMRC contracted NACOSA to implement the Imagine Programme through a competitive process. The programme comprised a collaborative response to the needs of high-risk young women in South Africa, conceptualised in co-creation process involving the SAMRC, NACOSA, investors, funders and researchers. The Imagine programme was implemented in Moretele in the North West province, and Newcastle in KwaZulu Natal from 2023 to 2025. Contacts: Catherine.Mathews@mrc.ac.za, Kim.Jonas@mrc.ac.za and zoe.duby@mrc.ac.za Website: https://www.samrc.ac.za/intramural-research-units/HealthSystems-imagine-evaluation Journal Articles & Research Briefs Visit the project page for journal articles and other outputs Media articles
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Mental Health Integration for Recovery (MhINT Recovery) |
The project seeks to adapt Critical Time Intervention (CTI) and explore its feasibility, acceptability and preliminary effectiveness to support people with severe and persistent mental disorders who transition to community settings following discharge from acute psychiatric hospitalization in a South African district. CTI is a time-limited, evidence-based practice that mobilizes community resources and networks to support vulnerable individuals during times of transition, particularly from institutional to community settings. Funded by the National Institute for Mental Health (R03) of the US National Institutes of Health. |
Safe South Africa: Integrated prevention of HIV risk and intimate partner violence among adolescents in South Africa |
South Africa, a country with the largest HIV epidemic and some of the highest rates of IPV perpetration in the world. Few behavioural interventions integrate HIV-IPV prevention and are tailored for the unique age and developmental needs of adolescents. We utilised the insights of adolescent development theory in our school-based preventive intervention strategy by capitalizing on adolescents’ developmental propensities for maximum prevention gains. Adolescence presents an ideal age and developmental transition period for an integrated intervention targeting prevention of HIV behavioural risk reduction and perpetration of IPV including sexual violence. Developmental hallmarks of adolescence – including for example, the role of social norms in motivating behaviours, the importance of peers in shaping behavioural choices, and the desire for increased responsibility – were leveraged for prevention of sexual risk behaviour driving acquisition of HIV infection and engagement in IPV. We used positive peer pressure and tapped into adolescents’ desire to be responsible future leaders to motivate adolescents to intervene as bystanders when their peers are involved in HIV risk behaviours or sexual assault and aggression.
This project is a collaboration with the Gender and Health Research Unit, SAMRC and Brown University, USA. The project began in 2023 and will end in 2028. Contact: catherine.mathews@mrc.ac.za |
Task sharing mental health services within chronic care in South Africa (MHiNT) |
PI: Deepa Rao; Inge Petersen Overview Aim Collaboration Project Status Funder Contact person |
Yomelela Study |
Among the factors that impede retention in HIV care, ART adherence and HIV suppression is the social stigmatisation of HIV infection. HIV stigmas and behaviours intended to avoid stigma have the adverse consequences of deterring people from seeking care, interfering with clinic attendance, and detracting from taking ART. Interventions to increase HIV care retention and ART adherence have not thus far focused on reducing the adverse effects of stigma in countries where HIV is most prevalent. This study tests a theory-based mobile-phone delivered counselling intervention designed to address HIV-stigma concerns to improve HIV treatment retention and adherence in South Africa. The intervention is grounded in Behavioural Self-Regulation Theory and the HIV Stigma Framework and was developed in partnership with South African public-health agencies. We are conducting a three-arm randomised controlled trial in to compare: (a) Behavioural Self-Regulation + Stigma Management Counselling for HIV treatment retention and adherence, vs. (b) Behavioural Self-Regulation Counselling for HIV treatment retention and adherence, vs. (c) Uniform standard of care HIV patient education. We have enrolled 1250 men and women with unsuppressed HIV and receiving HIV treatment and in March 2026, we will complete following them for 15-months post-intervention to assess effects on HIV care retention and HIV suppression (primary outcomes) and ART adherence (secondary outcome). The project is a collaboration with the University of Connecticut. Contact: catherine.mathews@mrc.ac.za) Journal articles
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Health economics
Evaluation of a cash + economic empowerment programme to enhance carer wellbeing |
Strengthening the impact of South Africa's COVID-19 Social Relief Distress Grant among unpaid caregivers of adolescents living with HIV. This project is a collaboration between the Health Systems Unit and Simon Fraser University in Canada. It evaluates a cash transfer plus a gender-transformative economic livelihoods intervention for improving psychological wellbeing and gender equality among woman caregivers of children and adolescents living with HIV (CALHIV) in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. The mixed-methods research approach consists of a cluster randomised trial among HIV clinic caregivers of CALHIV. Intervention clusters will receive a monthly cash transfer and undergo a 10-session economic livelihoods intervention while the control clusters will only receive the monthly cash transfer. Qualitative interviews on economic evaluation will assess the feasibility, acceptability and cost-effectiveness of the intervention. The expected results include assessing pre- and post-intervention impacts on outcomes of psychological wellbeing, intimate partner violence, depressive symptoms, gender attitudes and earnings. The results will improve understanding of economic livelihood-based interventions in strengthening caregivers’ psychological wellbeing and the evidence generated will inform and strengthen the government’s COVID-19 recovery efforts. The project is supported by Women’s health and economic empowerment for a COVID-19 Recovery that is Inclusive, Sustainable and Equitable (Women RISE), a partnership between the Canadian International Development Research Centre, the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, and the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council. Its aim is to support global action-oriented, gender-transformative research by researchers from low- and middle-income countries and Canada. Collaborating institutions:
Journal articles
Conference and workshop presentations
Articles in newsletters
Community engagement videos
Media outputs
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Understanding the predictors of depressive and anxiety symptoms among young people in South Africa |
Depression and anxiety among young people are a major public-health concern in South Africa. The country lacks child and adolescent mental health provincial policies, and the population is exposed to multiple factors (e.g. income inequality, poverty, unemployment, crime, and violence) that heighten their risk of mental health problems. The COVID-19 pandemic increased young people’s exposure to multiple social determinants of mental-health problems. There is a need to identify young people at risk of depressive and anxiety symptoms and link them to appropriate care. There is scarce research on the predictors of young people’s mental health at the individual, household, and community level in sub-Saharan Africa. There is need to understand the predictors of depressive and anxiety symptoms to inform community-based screening tools among young people. This knowledge can help us better design positive mental-health interventions such as screening tools and community-based programmes to reduce the burden of mental-health conditions in this population. The aim of this study is to analyse the predictors of depressive and anxiety symptoms among young people aged 14-24 years using existing longitudinal data from three surveillance sites in South Africa. Journal articles
Conference presentations
Newsletter articles
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PAMHoYA |
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The PAMHoYA (Co-development of a Mental Health Data Discovery Platform and Harmonisation of Mental Health Measures for Young People in South Africa) Project was launched in 2025. A first for mental-health data science on the African continent, this project brings together a multidisciplinary team of health economists, epidemiologists, psychologists, data scientists and lived experience experts from the University of Witwatersrand (co-lead), Stellenbosch University, Sol Plaatje University and University College London. It is one of 20 projects funded under the Mental Health Data Prize Africa initiative, funded by African Population and Health Research Center (APHRC) in partnership with Wellcome, United Kingdom. The project focuses on the need for Big Data to improve on the accuracy and representativeness of research findings regarding mental health in young people. The project aims to narrow the research gap by pooling and standardising measures from various South African datasets to paint a more accurate picture of the mental-health burden and trends among young people. Media outputs PAMHoYA project launch. Online - Mail & Guardian. https://mg.co.za/partner-content/2025-06-26-pamhoya-project-where-data-science-meets-youth-voices/ |
Conceptualisation & factors of wellbeing among young people living with HIV |
Young people in sub-Saharan Africa encounter health and livelihood challenges which compromise their wellbeing. Understanding how their wellbeing is defined could strengthen wellbeing policies. This project investigated perceptions and experiences of young people's wellbeing, and whether these aligned with existing wellbeing models specifically Ryff's psychological wellbeing (PWB) model. Our findings indicate that wellbeing for young people living with and without HIV is primarily cultivated within social networks. Whilst perceptions and experiences of young people's wellbeing encompassed intra-personal elements included in Ryff's PWB model (i.e. self-acceptance, self-worth, autonomy), these were more strongly rooted in social integration and social contribution, dimensions aligned with the social-wellbeing model. This highlighted that further evaluations of social wellbeing models and measures underpinned by this model are needed in this setting. Journal articles
Conference presentations
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Evaluation of health-related quality of life measures for adolescents & caregivers living with HIV |
Maximising health-related quality of life (HRQoL) is regarded as an important HIV-programme goal, aligned with Sustainable Development Goal 3 (improving health and wellbeing). There is therefore a need to monitor HRQoL in HIV programmes and measure this outcome in routine programme monitoring and in evaluations to capture the broader benefits of integrated HIV policies and interventions seeking to promote quality of life. However, there is lack of guidance on appropriate HRQoL scales that could be used in HIV programmes and evaluations in sub-Saharan Africa, particularly among adolescents living with HIV (ALHIV) who are at persistently high risk for HIV-related morbidity and mortality. The EuroQol five-dimensional youth HRQoL scale with five response levels (EQ-5D-Y-5L) has proven to be feasible among acute and chronic disease paediatric populations in developing countries. No study has compared its psychometric performance against the earlier 3L version and other generic adolescent HRQoL scales, such as the CHU9D among ALHIV aged 10-15 years. Report The feasibility, reliability and validity of the EQ-5D-Y-5L versus the EQ-5D-Y-3L and CHU9D in routine healthcare settings among adolescents living with HIV in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa: a mixed-method study. https://medat.samrc.ac.za/index.php/catalog/55 Conference presentations
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Inhlalakahle Study |
The World Health Organisation’s (WHO) key population-based strategy for ending the human immunodeficiency virus epidemic is universal HIV test and treat (UTT) along with pre-exposure and post-exposure prophylaxis. Despite the successful scale-up of this strategy in sub-Saharan Africa, the quality of life (QoL) of people living with HIV (PLHIV) remains sub-optimal. Poor QoL in PLHIV may threaten the UNAIDS 95-95-95 programme targets. Monitoring QoL of PLHIV has become a key focus of HIV research among other outcomes to understand health-related QoL (HRQoL) profiles and identify interventions to improve programme performance. This study aimed to describe HRQoL profiles and identify their predictors in PLHIV in KwaZulu Natal, South Africa and has shown that a combination of old age (60 years and above), any disability and comorbidities had a considerable effect on HRQoL among PLHIV. The findings support the recommendation for an additional fourth UNAIDS target focusing on ensuring that 95% of PLHIV have the highest possible HRQoL. Psycho-social support interventions are recommended to improve the HRQoL of PLHIV. Journal articles
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The mental health investment case for South Africa |
The Mental Health Investment Case for South Africa, commissioned by the National Department of Health in November 2019, represents the result of three years of sustained dialogue and collaboration with the National Department of Health, involving key provincial partners, clinicians, financing experts, patient rights and community advocacy groups and prominent academics, all of whom are committed to upholding the rights of persons living with Mental, Neurological and Substance use Disorders in South Africa. The purpose of the Mental Health Investment Case is to share a 15-year vision for meeting the mental health and economic needs of South Africa, offering concrete recommendations for how to achieve these gains. This Investment Case draws significantly on the guidance of Global actors including the World Health Organization (WHO), the World Bank (WB) and the United Nations Development Program (UNDP). The Investment case conducted an analysis to estimate the expected return-on-investment (ROI) over a 15-year period from scaling up interventions targeting anxiety, depression (including perinatal depression), psychosis, bipolar disorder, epilepsy, idiopathic developmental intellectual disability, behavioural disorders, dementia, alcohol, and drug use as well as risky alcohol and substance-use. The investment case examines the costs and benefits of scaling up treatment for these conditions, and quantifies the infrastructural, human resource and programmatic requirements that should be in place for the achievement of mental health service scale-up. The timing of the MHIC Task Team’s work has overlapped with the passing of the NHI Bill, the ongoing development of the Service Benefits Framework (SBF), the drafting of the next Non-communicable Disease (NCD) National Strategic Plan, the Life Esidimeni Arbitration Award and the publication of the Report on the National Investigative Hearing into the Status of Mental Healthcare in South Africa. View The Mental Health Investment Case for South Africa Research Report
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Uthingo Study: Co-development of a wellbeing scale for application in economic evaluations of multi-sectoral interventions for adolescents living with HIV in Sub-Saharan Africa |
Methods for valuing health benefits for economic evaluations in adult populations are well developed. However, there is a lack of guidance on appropriate measures and methods to use when valuing health interventions for adolescents, despite the existence of several health-related quality of life (HRQoL) measures for adolescents. These measures that exist were developed in high-income countries (HICs) specifically for adolescents in those countries. Their application among adolescents in sub-Saharan Africa remains a point of contention because they might not fully capture the context of wellbeing of adolescents living in countries in Africa. The purpose of this study is to co-develop a new wellbeing scale for ALHIV and psychometrically evaluate it with the goal of using it in health economic evaluations of multi-sectoral programmes and interventions for ALHIV in SSA. The specific objectives of this study are:
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Fediša Modikologo: breaking the intergenerational cycle of violence against women and children |
This work is being conducted in collaboration with the Gender and Health Research Unit. It will be conducted in four diverse sites in South Africa with women who have experienced severe intimate partner violence and their children. This study aims to help us to understand what places women at risk of the most severe impacts of intimate partner violence, including loss of life, and to describe the myriad of ways in which their experiences, and attempts to protect themselves and their families, impact their health, social circumstances and finances. It also aims to help us understand how children are impacted by growing up in a home with violence and what may influence whether they go on to use violence themselves in their lives. It is hoped that the results will guide femicide prevention nationally and build understanding of what is needed to prevent the worst outcomes and enable recovery among exposed women and children.
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Evidence synthesis and knowledge translation
Cochrane Africa |
Cochrane Africa is a network of sub-Saharan African regional hubs (West, Francophone, Southern and East Africa) managed by experienced Cochrane Review contributors. Cochrane Africa is an innovative, African-led response to the need to increase the use of evidence in Africa and the recognition that where disease burden and health system challenges are greatest, the need for evidence to support decision-making and resource use is most critical. Cochrane Africa aims to increase the use of Cochrane evidence to inform healthcare decision-making in the sub-Saharan region by supporting the production of high-quality reviews, making relevant evidence accessible; advocating for evidence; and, building a sustainable network. |
Cochrane Nutrition |
The Cochrane Nutrition Field is under the leadership of Health Systems Research Unit, the South African Medical Research Council, and the Centre for Evidence-based Health Care (CEBHC), Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, along with international partners. Cochrane Nutrition aims to coordinate activities related to nutrition reviews within Cochrane; to ensure that priority nutrition reviews are conducted with rigorous methodological approaches; and, to promote the use of evidence from nutrition systematic reviews to inform healthcare decision making. |
South African GRADE Network |
The SA GRADE network contributes to capacity building and enhanced use of GRADE methodology within South Africa. SA GRADE is jointly led and managed by Centre for Evidence Based Health Care (CEBHC), Stellenbosch University and the Health Systems Research Unit, South African Medical Research Council. |
Previous Projects
Achieving Good Governance and Management in the South African Health System |
Executive Summary The Academy of Science for South Africa (ASSAf) commissioned a consensus study on achieving good governance and management in the South African health system. ASSAf holds a mandate within South Africa to generate evidence-based solutions to national and global challenges and consensus studies provide evidence-based advice to government and other stakeholders to support policy development and practice. A seven-member consensus Panel was drawn from a multidisciplinary group of South African public health and health systems researchers, academics and practitioners. The Panel contributed their time and expertise on a voluntary basis over a three-year period, from September 2020, with the overall brief to:
The Panel explored relevant conceptual frameworks to guide the investigation, identified experts to serve as key informants, and invited them to individual consultative meetings. The key informants were chosen purposively from across different sectors including the State, Service Providers, and Citizens/Clients. Key informants included senior health managers who had extensive experience in public sector governance at national and provincial levels, academics, and key actors representing civil society, health worker unions, non-governmental organisations, and patient advocate groups. Information was supplemented by a review of relevant peer-reviewed literature on governance in South Africa and globally View the complete Achieving Good Governance and Management in the South African Health System Report Published by the: Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf) This consensus study report is the result of the collaborative work of several people who are acknowledged as follows: The members of the panel: Emeritus A/Professor Lilian Dudley, panel chairperson, Stellenbosch University (SU); Professor Flavia Senkubuge, University of Pretoria (UP); Professor Sharon Fonn, University of the Witwatersrand (Wits); Professor Leslie London, University of Cape Town (UCT); Dr Mark Blecher, National Treasury; Dr Guinevere Lourens, Stellenbosch University (SU); A/ Professor Catherine Mathews, South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC). These members volunteered their time and expertise for this study and are acknowledged. |
Collaboration for Evidence-Based Healthcare and Public Health in Africa (CEBHA+) |
The Collaboration for Evidence-Based Healthcare and Public Health in Africa (CEBHA+) is a research network funded by the German Ministry of Education and Research. This network intends to translate the principles of evidence based public health by ensuring that the priority research questions are relevant and fill a real gap, through conducting robust research and through overcoming the disconnect between primary research, evidence synthesis and implementation into policy-and-practice. CEBHA+ comprises six partner institutions in Africa, in Uganda, Malawi, Rwanda, Ethiopia, and South Africa, and two partner institutions in Germany. Cochrane SA is one of the African partners, contributing toward all work packages of the network, including:
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Research, Evidence and Development Initiative (READ-It) |
The Health Systems Research Unit, South African Medical Research Council in partnership with the Centre for Evidence-based Health Care at Stellenbosch University is involved in the Read-It project which is co-ordinated by the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine. READ-It focuses on two main areas:
READ-It activities include:
READ-It (project number 300342-104) is funded by UK aid from the UK government. |