Are mHealth Interventions Effective in Improving the Uptake of Sexual and Reproductive Health Services among Adolescents? A Scoping Review.

Adolescents continue to face challenges to their sexual and reproductive health (SRH) both locally and internationally. Digital technologies such as the Internet, text messaging, and social media are often viewed as valuable tools for disseminating information on SRH. Mobile health, also known as mHealth, is a medical and public health practise that uses these digital technologies to communicate information.

"It Doesn't Cure, but It Protects": COVID-19 Vaccines through the Eyes of Children and Their Parents.

Recently, studies have examined COVID-19 vaccine acceptance and/or hesitancy amongst adult populations across the globe. However, there is a paucity of literature illustrating children's voices in vaccination debates. This article draws on qualitative data collected via a mixed-methods study that explored South Africans' experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic between 2020 and 2021.

Heterogeneity in COVID-19 infection among older persons in South Africa: Evidence from national surveillance data.

Background: The 2021 World Health Organization study on the impact of COVID-19 on older people (≥60 years) in the African region highlighted the difficulties they faced as the virus spread across borders and dominated the way of life. These difficulties included disruptions to both essential health care services and social support, as well as disconnections from family and friends. Among those who contracted COVID-19, the risks of severe illness, complications, and mortality were highest among near-old and older persons.

Hope, agency, and adolescents' sexual and reproductive health: A mini review.

Availability of and access to services that promote sexual and reproductive health (SRH) amongst adolescent girls have become a global priority. Yet, while researchers have explored factors that influence the uptake of SRH services in low-and-middle income countries, the roles that "agency" and "hope" play in adolescent SRH is less understood. To study this, this mini review systematically reviewed the literature across three databases, , and , for the period of January 2012 to January 2022.

Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Mini Review.

This mini review explores the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on adolescent sexual and reproductive health. We conducted a rapid review of the literature across three databases, with a particular focus on the African continent. Few studies have specifically focused on adolescents in Africa and this paper contributes to this paucity of research.

The sexual and reproductive health needs of school-going young people in the context of COVID-19 in rural KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.

: The impact of school closures due to COVID-19 raised widespread concerns about children's health and well-being. We examine the impact on the sexual health needs of learners in the context of COVID-19 related lockdowns in rural KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.: In july-November 2020 and August-November 2021 we conducted 24 in-depth interviews and 8 group discussions with teachers and learners from 4 schools, community members and key education stakeholders.

Sexual Risk among Pregnant Women at Risk of HIV Infection in Cape Town, South Africa: What Does Alcohol Have to Do with It?

This study examines baseline associations between alcohol use and HIV sexual risk among a cohort of HIV-uninfected pregnant women (n = 1201) residing in a high HIV burdened community in Cape Town, South Africa. Alcohol use was measured using a modified version of the Alcohol Use Disorder Identification Test (AUDIT). HIV sexual risk was measured through a composite variable of four risk factors: diagnosis with a STI, self-report of > 1 recent sex partners, partner HIV serostatus (unknown or HIV+) and condomless sex at last sex.

Predictors of COVID-19 Vaccine Hesitancy in South African Local Communities: The VaxScenes Study.

South Africa launched a mass COVID-19 vaccination campaign in May 2021, targeting 40 million adults. Understanding predictors of COVID-19 vaccine intentions was required to achieve this goal. We conducted a population-based survey in June-July 2021 using the WHO Behavioral and Social Drivers (BeSD) of COVID-19 Vaccination tool to determine predictors of vaccine hesitancy, defined as intention to refuse or uncertainty whether to accept COVID-19 vaccination.

"The power of the poem": using poetic inquiry to explore trans-identities in Namibia.

Researchers exploring sensitive topics need to identify appropriate methodologies to encourage open expression. We used poetic inquiry to explore the lived realities of transwomen in Namibia, a socially marginalised group globally. We conducted two focus group discussions with 15 transwomen and developed found poems.

Interpreting social determinants: Emergent properties and adolescent risk behaviour.

A link between adversity, including low socio-economic status, and behaviours which carry health risks, such as alcohol consumption, has often been observed. The causes of this link are, however, poorly understood, making it difficult to explain why the association is often not linear and why there is so much variability between groups and individuals facing similar adversity. We investigate the use of the concept of emergent properties in explaining the link and its non-linear nature.

'It was riotous behaviour!': Mothers' experiences of adolescents' conduct while abusing drugs.

The impact of adolescent substance abuse is widespread and significantly compromises the psychosocial well-being of those closest to the adolescent. This is evidentially so for parents who are required to cope with the adolescent's misconduct. Using an interpretative phenomenological methodology, this article describes mothers' experiences of living with an adolescent who is dependent on drugs.

Mothers' experiences of coping with adolescent substance abuse: a phenomenological inquiry.

Background And Study Aim: Adolescent substance abuse significantly impacts on the lives of mothers. This paper explores the coping responses of mothers whose adolescents have been admitted to treatment for substance abuse.

Design And Method: A multiple case study design was adopted and the data were collected through one-on-one interviews facilitated by the Lifegrid.