Associations of HIV and prevalent type 2 diabetes mellitus in the context of obesity in South Africa.

Background: It is unclear how rising obesity among people with HIV (PWH) impacts their risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus (diabetes). We examined associations between HIV, prevalent diabetes and adiposity among South African PWH and their peers without HIV (PWOH).

Methods: HIV status was ascertained by antibody testing.

Community perceived barriers to uptake of health services among men at Sedibeng district in South Africa.

Background: This qualitative study aimed to investigate the barriers that hinder men's utilisation of healthcare services in the Sedibeng district of South Africa.

Methods: The study was conducted using flyers with questions posted on the Best Health Solutions' Facebook page for two weeks. A convenience sampling method was used and a total of 104 comments were collected from 64 respondents.

The Transformative Impact of Community-Led Monitoring in the South African Health System: A Comprehensive Analysis.

Community-led monitoring (CLM) is an emerging approach that empowers local communities to actively participate in data collection and decision-making processes within the health system. The research aimed to explore stakeholder perceptions of CLM data and establish a CLM Data Value Chain, covering data collection and its impact. Qualitative data were collected from stakeholders engaged in health programs in South Africa.

Understanding health outcome drivers among adherence club patients in clinics of Gauteng, South Africa: a structural equation modelling (SEM) approach.

Background: There has been growing interest in understanding the drivers of health outcomes, both in developed and developing countries. The drivers of health outcomes, on the other hand, are the factors that influence the likelihood of experiencing positive or negative health outcomes. Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) continues to be a significant global public health challenge, with an estimated 38 million people living with the aim of this study was therefore to develop and empirically test a conceptual research model using SEM, aimed at explaining the magnitude of various factors influencing HIV and other health outcomes among patients attending Adherence Clubs.

Patient satisfaction with chronic disease care and its associated factors in primary health care facilities in Johannesburg, South Africa.

Background: Patient satisfaction is a widely used indicator of assessing health care quality and has been used by policymakers to consider the needs of patients when developing suitable strategies for safe and high-quality care. However, in South Africa, the dual burden of HIV and NCDs has implications for the health system, whereby the factors influencing the quality of care and patient satisfaction may be unique to this context. Thus, this study examined the predictors affecting chronic disease patients' levels of satisfaction with care in Johannesburg, South Africa.

Factors associated with high HIV-related stigma among commuter populations in Johannesburg, South Africa.

Stigma remains an important barrier to seeking and staying in care among individuals infected with Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV). Despite continued widespread information, education and communication campaigns to raise awareness about the infection. The aim of the study was to identify factors related to HIV stigma among a commuter population in the inner-city Johannesburg.

Acceptability of Mobile Health Interventions to Increase Diabetic Risk Factor Awareness Among the Commuter Population in Johannesburg: Descriptive Cross-Sectional Study.

Background: Developing countries are experiencing a shift from infectious diseases such as HIV and tuberculosis to noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) such as diabetes. Diabetes accounts for more disability-adjusted life years than any other NCD in South Africa, and research has identified a number of preventable risk factors; however, there is not enough evidence from lower resource settings as to how best to disseminate this information to the population. Today, 90% of the world's population lives in mobile phone coverage areas, and this provides a unique opportunity to reach large populations with health information.

Application of machine learning models in predicting length of stay among healthcare workers in underserved communities in South Africa.

Background: Human resource planning in healthcare can employ machine learning to effectively predict length of stay of recruited health workers who are stationed in rural areas. While prior studies have identified a number of demographic factors related to general health practitioners' decision to stay in public health practice, recruitment agencies have no validated methods to predict how long these health workers will commit to their placement. We aim to use machine learning methods to predict health professional's length of practice in the rural public healthcare sector based on their demographic information.

Acceptability of community-based adherence clubs among health facility staff in South Africa: a qualitative study.

Background: Patient retention in care for HIV/AIDS is a critical challenge for antiretroviral treatment programs. Community-based adherence programs (CBAPs) as compared to health care facility-based adherence programs have been considered as one of the options to provide treatment maintenance support for groups of patients on antiretroviral therapy. Such an approach provides a way of enhancing self-management of the patient's condition.

Health Information Needs and Reliability of Sources Among Nondegree Health Sciences Students: A Prerequisite for Designing eHealth Literacy.

Background: Understanding health information needs and health-seeking behavior is a prerequisite for developing an electronic health information literacy (EHIL) or eHealth literacy program for nondegree health sciences students. At present, interest in researching health information needs and reliable sources paradigms has gained momentum in many countries. However, most studies focus on health professionals and students in higher education institutions.

The mediating role of self-efficacy in the relationship between premotivational cognitions and engagement in multiple health behaviors: a theory-based cross-sectional study among township residents in South Africa.

Background: Noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) are one of the major global health challenges in developed countries and are rapidly increasing globally. Perception of self-efficacy is important for complex activities and long-term changes in health behavior. This study aimed to determine whether self-efficacy mediates the effect of individual beliefs (perceived severity, susceptibility, benefits and barriers) among informal settlement residents' health behavior in relation to the prevention and management of NCDs.

HIV-related knowledge, perceptions, attitudes, and utilisation of HIV counselling and testing: a venue-based intercept commuter population survey in the inner city of Johannesburg, South Africa.

Background: HIV counselling and testing (HCT) and knowledge about HIV have been key strategies utilised in the prevention and control of HIV/AIDS worldwide. HIV knowledge and uptake of HCT services in sub-Saharan Africa are still low. This study was conducted to determine factors associated with HCT and HIV/AIDS knowledge levels among a commuter population in Johannesburg, South Africa.

Potential barriers to rapid testing for human immunodeficiency virus among a commuter population in Johannesburg, South Africa.

Background: This study aimed to determine barriers to accessing human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) counseling and testing (HCT) services among a commuter population.

Methods: A cross-sectional, venue-based intercept survey was conducted. Participants were recruited during a 2-day community campaign at the Noord Street taxi rank in Johannesburg, South Africa.

Factors contributing to home-based acceptability of rapid testing for HIV infection among the inner city commuter population in Johannesburg, South Africa.

Background: The study aimed to determine factors contributing to the acceptability of home-based HIV counselling and testing (HBHCT) among commuters in Johannesburg inner city.

Methods: Simple random sampling was used to select participants in a venue based intercept survey at Noord Street taxi rank in Johannesburg central business district. A total of 1146 individuals were interviewed and logistic regression analysis assessed factors associated with HBHCT acceptability.