Factors of acute respiratory infection among under-five children across sub-Saharan African countries using machine learning approaches.

Symptoms of Acute Respiratory infections (ARIs) among under-five children are a global health challenge. We aimed to train and evaluate ten machine learning (ML) classification approaches in predicting symptoms of ARIs reported by mothers among children younger than 5 years in sub-Saharan African (sSA) countries. We used the most recent (2012-2022) nationally representative Demographic and Health Surveys data of 33 sSA countries.

Predictors for participation in mass-treatment and female genital schistosomiasis re-investigation, and the effect of praziquantel treatment in South African adolescents.

Objective: Female Genital Schistosomiasis (FGS) causes intravaginal lesions and symptoms that could be mistaken for sexually transmitted diseases or cancer. In adults, FGS lesions [grainy sandy patches (GSP), homogenous yellow patches (HYP), abnormal blood vessels and rubbery papules] are refractory to treatment. The effect of treatment has never been explored in young women; it is unclear if gynaecological investigation will be possible in this young age group (16-23 years).

Operational manager's knowledge and attitudes toward data and universal health coverage indicators in primary health clinics in Ugu, South Africa.

Universal health coverage (UHC) aims to ensure people have access to the health services they need. Sixteen tracer indicators were developed for implementation by countries to measure UHC in the health system. South Africa uses 15 of the proposed 16 indicators.

Knowledge, attitudes and acceptance of voluntary medical male circumcision among males attending high school in Shiselweni region, Eswatini: a cross sectional study.

Background: In countries such as Eswatini, where there is a high HIV prevalence and low male circumcision the World Health Organization and the Joint United Nations Programme for HIV/AIDS recommend infant and adult circumcision be implemented. The aim of this study was to assess the knowledge, attitudes and acceptability of voluntary medical male circumcision amongst males attending high school in Eswatini.

Methods: An observational cross-sectional study was conducted during February and March of 2018 amongst 407 young males (15-21 years) attending Form 4, in nine high schools in the Shiselweni region of Eswatini using a self-administered questionnaire of 42 close ended questions.

Strengthening Social Compact and Innovative Health Sector Collaborations in Addressing COVID-19 in South African Workplaces.

Workplaces are nodes for Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 transmission and require strategies to protect workers' health. This article reports on the South African national coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) strategy that sought to ensure workers' health, protect the economic activity, safeguard livelihoods and support health services. Data from the Occupational Health Surveillance System, Surveillance System of Sentinel Hospital Sites, and government databases (public sector health worker and Compensation Fund data) was supplemented by peer-reviewed articles and grey literature.

Establishing and Integrating a Female Genital Schistosomiasis Control Programme into the Existing Health Care System.

Female genital schistosomiasis (FGS) is a complication of infection, and imposes a health burden whose magnitude is not fully explored. It is estimated that up to 56 million women in sub-Saharan Africa have FGS, and almost 20 million more cases will occur in the next decade unless infected girls are treated. Schistosomiasis is reported throughout the year in South Africa in areas known to be endemic, but there is no control programme.

Vulnerability of South African women workers in the COVID-19 pandemic.

On March 5th, 2020, the first SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) case was diagnosed in South Africa. Shortly after, President Cyril Ramaphosa, declared a National State of Disaster placing the country under "lockdown". Two years later the National State of Disaster was terminated on 15 March 2022 with more than 3.

Interventions to Reduce Pesticide Exposure from the Agricultural Sector in Africa: A Workshop Report.

Despite the fact that several cases of unsafe pesticide use among farmers in different parts of Africa have been documented, there is limited evidence regarding which specific interventions are effective in reducing pesticide exposure and associated risks to human health and ecology. The overall goal of the African Pesticide Intervention Project (APsent) study is to better understand ongoing research and public health activities related to interventions in Africa through the implementation of suitable target-specific situations or use contexts. A systematic review of the scientific literature on pesticide intervention studies with a focus on Africa was conducted.

Association between caregiver and household alcohol use and child behavior problems in KwaZulu Natal, South Africa.

We explored the association between household alcohol use and behavior problems among South-African children, using data from the Asenze study, a population-based cohort of South African children and their caregivers. Household alcohol use and child behavior were assessed when children were 6-8 years old. To examine the association, we performed linear regressions.

A comparison of knowledge and practices of universal precautions among public sector health care workers in Ugu north sub-district, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa (2010-2014).

Background: Annually, there are a high number of needlestick injuries (NSIs) among health care workers (HCWs) globally. The knowledge and practice of HCWs of universal precautions (UPs) play an important role in determining the risk of an NSI. The objective of this study was to compare the knowledge and practices of UPs among HCWs with NSIs with HCWs without NSIs, in Ugu north sub-district in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN), South Africa, between 2010 and 2014.

Don't Let Sexual and Reproductive Health become Collateral Damage in the Face of the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Public Health Perspective.

South Africa, similar to many other countries in the African continent is still experiencing challenges in its efforts to provide sexual and reproductive health (SRH) care to women and adolescent girls, and it has become clear that the COVID-19 pandemic is the latest threat to universal access to SRH. In the face of this threat, the Sustainable Developmental Goals that call on the global community to -leave no one behind‖ may become a blurred vision unless we adopt a wider lens away from the tunnel vision that currently plagues health systems around the globe. This paper therefore exposes how SRH may become collateral damage in the face of the present COVID-19 pandemic.

Factors associated with musculoskeletal pain in the past 12 months amongst female miners in a South African goldmine.

Background: Mineworkers, including females, are prone to work-related musculoskeletal disorders and these disorders are not well reported amongst female mineworkers in South Africa.

Objective: This study aimed to identify the factors associated with the presence of musculoskeletal pain over a 12-month period amongst female mineworkers ( = 225) in a South African goldmine.

Method: Female mineworkers' responses to the presence of musculoskeletal pain over the previous 12-month period and their exposure to physical and psychological factors were elicited using a standardised questionnaire.

Reducing Physical Aggression in High School Students in KwaZulu-Natal: A Cluster Randomized Trial.

Youth violence is of public health and social concern. A South African cluster randomized trial (434 grade 10 students, 16 schools), used the Integrated Model for Behavior Change conceptual framework to implement a 20 module classroom-based intervention program. The study contributes to the literature and used a strong analytical technique since mixed effects linear regression assessed the impact of the intervention on physical violence endpoints and other socioeconomic confounders/factors.

Adolescent Pregnancy and Parenting: Perceptions of Healthcare Providers.

Background: Adverse maternal and child health outcomes due to adolescent pregnancy are central to public health research and practice. In addition, public health has emphasised that the care rendered by healthcare providers plays a pivotal role in the health and well-being of pregnant and parenting adolescents. Healthcare providers may differ in the ways they interpret adolescent pregnancy and parenting and consequently, this may have profound implications for healthcare decision making.

"I have to provide for another life emotionally, physically and financially": understanding pregnancy, motherhood and the future aspirations of adolescent mothers in KwaZulu-Natal South, Africa.

Background: Adolescent pregnancy and motherhood has been a controversial and much disputed subject within the field of public health. Early childbearing is not only characterized as a physical body experience but also embodies the experiences and perceptions of the social norms, discourses, conflict and moral judgement. There is an increasing concern that the psychosocial challenges facing adolescent mothers remains in the background since research in this field has mainly focused on the medical and physical complications of early childbearing.

Exposure to lead and other toxic metals from informal foundries producing cookware from scrap metal.

Metal exposure remains a significant public health problem, particularly in the informal sector. The rise in informal foundries to cast scrap metal into artisanal cookware is widespread in low- and middle-income countries. The main aim of this study was to characterize metal exposure in artisanal cookware makers working in informal foundries in South Africa by measuring lead (Pb) in blood as well as sample metal concentrations on hands before and after work.

Antenatal and Postpartum Depression: Prevalence and Associated Risk Factors among Adolescents' in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.

Background: Maternal depression is a major public health concern as it affects both mothers and their children. Antenatal depression, which is often underdiagnosed, has been associated with preterm labour, low birth weight, and intrauterine growth restriction. Research has demonstrated that postpartum depression is associated with mother-infant bonding impairment, child abuse, child neglect, maternal substance abuse, and self-harm.

Association between pesticide exposure and paraoxonase-1 (PON1) polymorphisms, and neurobehavioural outcomes in children: a systematic review.

Environmental factors such as pollution, pesticide exposure and socio-demographic location have been implicated as a pressure capable of altering genetic make-up. Altered genetic sequence of genes encoding enzymes may result in single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP). Of peculiar interest is the genetic variance on the paraoxonase-1 gene induced by pre- and postnatal exposure to pesticides.

"My partner was not fond of using condoms and I was not on contraception": understanding adolescent mothers' perspectives of sexual risk behaviour in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.

Background: Adolescent pregnancy has been a persistent area of interest and concern in the field of public health. The debate about adolescents' sexual risk behaviour has also gained prominence due to findings that have demonstrated that adolescent girls between 15 and 19 years of age give birth to 16 million infants and account for 62% of new HIV infections in the Caribbean and African regions. Health compromising behaviours often develop in adolescence, yet the sexual and reproductive health of adolescent mothers is often marginalised in the healthcare field.

Gender differences in respiratory health outcomes among farming cohorts around the globe: findings from the AGRICOH consortium.

: Respiratory hazards of farming have been identified for centuries, with little focus on gender differences. We used data from the AGRICOH consortium, a collective of prospective cohorts of agricultural workers, to assess respiratory disease prevalence among adults in 18 cohorts representing over 200,000 farmers, farm workers, and their spouses from six continents.: Cohorts collected data between 1992 and 2016 and ranged in size from 200 to >128,000 individuals; 44% of participants were female.

Recycling of scrap metal into artisanal cookware in the informal sector: A public health threat from multi metal exposure in South Africa.

Recycling of scrap metal into artisanal cookware is widespread in poorly resourced countries. The aim of the study was to determine the risk of metal exposure from the use of artisanal cookware available in South Africa. Twenty cookware samples were purchased from local manufacturers and informal traders across South Africa.

Knowledge, attitudes and peer influences related to pregnancy, sexual and reproductive health among adolescents using maternal health services in Ugu, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.

Background: Knowledge and practices of sexual and reproductive healthcare is pivotal to the Safe Motherhood Initiative; however, only a few studies have investigated adolescent mothers' knowledge of sexual and reproductive health in light of the above initiative. Research should thus focus on the knowledge and attitudes of adolescent girls as well as peer influences related to pregnancy and sexual and reproductive health among adolescents, as the findings may highlight vital health interventions that should be introduced. The aim of this study was thus to determine the knowledge, personal attitudes and peer influences related to pregnancy, sexual and reproductive health among adolescents who attended maternal health services in a district hospital in Ugu, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.

The Association of Social Influences, Modeling Behavior, Self-Efficacy, and Communication With Teenage Pregnancies Among School Students in South Africa.

A better understanding of the social influences, self-efficacy, and communication with parents, peers, and teachers associated with teenage pregnancy is required owing to the consequences of teenage pregnancy. This article aimed to determine the prevalence of teenage pregnancy and to understand the association between social influences, self-efficacy, and communication about teenage pregnancies, among high school students in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Grade 11 students at 20 randomly selected schools in two districts completed an anonymous questionnaire on sociodemographics, social influences, self-efficacy communication, and teenage pregnancy.

Nurses' perception of the multidisciplinary team approach of care for adolescent mothers and their children in Ugu, KwaZulu-Natal.

Background: Adolescent childbearing has numerous consequences on maternal health, child health and the well-being of society. Because of the high-risk nature of adolescent pregnancy, a multidisciplinary team (MDT) approach is recommended to achieve satisfactory pregnancy outcomes.

Aim: The aim of this study was to explore nurses' perceptions of the MDT approach in the continuum of care for adolescent mothers and their children.

Prevalence and Risk Factors of Repeat Pregnancy among South African Adolescent Females.

In the era of HIV/AIDS, repeat pregnancies among adolescents indicate the growing problem of high-risk sexual behavior and the status of reproductive health services. A cross sectional survey was conducted to establish the prevalence and risk factors of repeat pregnancies among South African adolescents. A total of 326 adolescents participated in this study at a district hospital in, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa from June 2017 to November 2017.