Health systems'resilience during the COVID-19 pandemic: A South African polio surveillance case study.

Background: More needs to be known on how the South African health system contained the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic and maintained the core business of health service delivery. We describe the practices that have shown to affect the health systems' resilience in ensuring maintenance of polio surveillance and immunization systems in South Africa (SA) during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methodology: This is a descriptive, reflective desk review study using the South African polio surveillance systems and immunization coverage as a case study.

Experiences and challenges of nurses in initiating antiretroviral drugs among adolescents living with HIV and AIDS in Thaba-Tseka, Lesotho.

Background: Lesotho has the second-highest HIV and AIDS prevalence globally and is the country's second leading cause of death. Despite increasing ART coverage, adolescents remain left behind and face high mortality because of delayed ART initiation. This study aimed to explore the experiences and challenges of nurses when initiating adolescents living with HIV on ART in Thaba-Tseka, Lesotho.

Emerging theragnostic radionuclide applications for hepatocellular carcinoma.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a major global health problem. Theragnostic is a term that refers to the integration of diagnostic and therapeutic modalities into a single system for personalized medicine. Theragnostic care in HCC involves the use of imaging techniques to diagnose the cancer and assess its characteristics, such as size, location, and extent of spread.

Immune correlates analysis of the Imbokodo (HVTN 705/HPX2008) efficacy trial of a mosaic HIV-1 vaccine regimen evaluated in Southern African people assigned female sex at birth: a two-phase case-control study.

Background: The HVTN 705 Imbokodo trial of 2636 people without HIV and assigned female sex at birth, conducted in southern Africa, evaluated a heterologous HIV-1 vaccine regimen: mosaic adenovirus 26-based vaccine (Ad26.Mos4.HIV) at Months 0, 3, 6, 12 and alum-adjuvanted clade C gp140 at Months 6, 12.

The feasibility of a Community Mental Health Education and Detection (CMED) tool in South Africa.

Background: Poor mental health literacy, misinformation about treatment and stigma result in low demand for mental health services in low-and middle-income countries. Community-based interventions that raise mental health awareness and facilitate detection of mental health conditions, are instrumental in increasing demand through strengthened mental health literacy, as well as supply of available mental health services through strengthened detection and linkage to care.

Objective: To assess the feasibility of a Community Mental Health Education and Detection Tool (CMED) for use with household members by community health teams in South Africa.

Sociodemographic and health systems determinants of antiretroviral therapy adherence among human immunodeficiency virus-positive patients in the Volta Region of Ghana: A multi-centre study.

Objectives: Optimal adherence to antiretroviral therapy is required for viral load suppression. This study investigated the sociodemographic (age, sex, marital status, level of education, monthly income, settlement type, distance to the antiretroviral therapy-providing site, ethnicity) and health system (antiretroviral therapy-providing site) determinants of antiretroviral therapy adherence among human immunodeficiency virus-positive patients in the Volta Region, Ghana.

Methods: A cross-section design was adopted, collecting data from 1729 human immunodeficiency virus patients and analysing them using STATA version 17 at level 0.

Barriers and enablers to emergency obstetric and newborn care services use in Wolaita Zone, Southern Ethiopia: a qualitative case study.

Background: Globally, 11.4 million untreated obstetric complications did not receive Emergency Obstetric and Newborn Care (EmONC) services yearly, with the highest burden in low and middle-income countries. Half of the Ethiopian women with obstetric complications did not receive EmONC services.

Human lung-resident mucosal-associated invariant T cells are abundant, express antimicrobial proteins, and are cytokine responsive.

Mucosal-associated Invariant T (MAIT) cells are an innate-like T cell subset that recognize a broad array of microbial pathogens, including respiratory pathogens. Here we investigate the transcriptional profile of MAIT cells localized to the human lung, and postulate that MAIT cells may play a role in maintaining homeostasis at this mucosal barrier. Using the MR1/5-OP-RU tetramer, we identified MAIT cells and non-MAIT CD8 T cells in lung tissue not suitable for transplant from human donors.

Quality of emergency obstetric and newborn care services in Wolaita Zone, Southern Ethiopia.

Background: Globally, nearly 295,000 women die every year during and following pregnancy and childbirth. Emergency obstetric and newborn care (EmONC) can avert 75% of maternal mortality if all mothers get quality healthcare. Improving maternal health needs identification and addressing of barriers that limit access to quality maternal health services.

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.

Mapping the evidence of intimate partner violence among women living with HIV/AIDS in sub-Saharan Africa: a scoping review.

Objectives: The present study undertakes a scoping review aimed to map the evidence of intimate partner violence (IPV) against women living with HIV/AIDS in Africa.

Design: We used the online database to identify papers published from 1 January 2009 to 1 April 2019, from which we selected 21 articles from Uganda, Nigeria, Kenya, South Africa, Zambia, Ethiopia, Cameroon, Tanzania and Swaziland that used IPV as an outcome variable among women living with HIV/AIDS.

Data Sources: PubMed, MEDLINE, EBSCO host, Google Scholar.

MR1-Restricted MAIT Cells From The Human Lung Mucosal Surface Have Distinct Phenotypic, Functional, and Transcriptomic Features That Are Preserved in HIV Infection.

Mucosal associated invariant T (MAIT) cells are a class of innate-like T cells that utilize a semi-invariant αβ T cell receptor to recognize small molecule ligands produced by bacteria and fungi. Despite growing evidence that immune cells at mucosal surfaces are often phenotypically and functionally distinct from those in the peripheral circulation, knowledge about the characteristics of MAIT cells at the lung mucosal surface, the site of exposure to respiratory pathogens, is limited. HIV infection has been shown to have a profound effect on the number and function of MAIT cells in the peripheral blood, but its effect on lung mucosal MAIT cells is unknown.

Knowledge, attitude, perception, and preventative practices towards COVID-19 in sub-Saharan Africa: A scoping review.

Background: Knowledge, attitudes, perception, and preventative practices regarding coronavirus- 2019 (COVID-19) are crucial in its prevention and control. Several studies have noted that the majority of people in sub-Saharan African are noncompliant with proposed health and safety measures recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO) and respective country health departments. In most sub-Saharan African countries, noncompliance is attributable to ignorance and misinformation, thereby raising questions about people's knowledge, attitudes, perception, and practices towards COVID-19 in these settings.

Lived experience of intimate partner violence among women using antiretroviral therapy and other outpatient services in Wolaita Zone, Ethiopia: a phenomenological study.

Background: Ethiopia is one of the nations which has an enormous burden of intimate partner violence (IPV), and where it is usually difficult to talk about HIV separately from IPV.

Objectives: This research aimed to explore the lived experience of IPV against women using antiretroviral therapy (ART) and other outpatient services in Wolaita Zone, Ethiopia METHODS: We used an Interpretive (hermeneutic) Phenomenological Analysis design among purposively selected adult women aged 18-49 years. A total of 43 women participated in this study, of whom 30 were using ART, and 13 women were using other health services.

Risk factors associated with high prevalence of intimate partner violence amongst school-going young women (aged 15-24years) in Maputo, Mozambique.

Background: In many countries, there is evidence that intimate partner violence is prevalent among young women. This study aimed to determine the prevalence and the factors associated with intimate partner violence in young women (aged 15-24 years) attending secondary schools in Maputo, Mozambique.

Method: Using a probability proportional sampling strategy, 431 participants were recruited, and the data were collected using a self-administered questionnaire.

Evidence of sociocultural factors influencing intimate partner violence among young women in sub-Saharan Africa: a scoping review.

Objective: This study carried out a scoping review of research on intimate partner violence to determine the extent to which studies on sociocultural factors influencing intimate partner violence among young women (15-24 years) have been conducted, and how different geographical areas are represented. It also considered whether the methodologies used were sufficient to describe the risk factors, prevalence and health outcomes associated with intimate partner violence among young women.

Study Design: Scoping review.

Healthcare Worker Experience and the Challenges in Screening for Intimate Partner Violence Among Women Who Use Antiretroviral Therapy and Other Health Services in Wolaita Zone, Ethiopia: A Phenomenological Study.

Background: Intimate partner violence is a crime against humanity. This study aimed to explore the experiences and challenges in screening for intimate partner violence among women who use antiretroviral therapy and other health services in Wolaita Zone in Ethiopia.

Methods: A descriptive phenomenological qualitative study design was used, and 16 in-depth interviews were conducted with healthcare workers from 19 health facilities who were providing healthcare services in Wolaita Zone.

Developing Adolescent Boys Toward Adaptation of Male Sexual and Reproductive Health in Communities With Embedded Cultural Manhood Values.

Manhood values are highly prioritized among most culturally orientated South African Black communities with an ideology that revolves around the concept of masculinity. The notion of manhood values is deeply rooted in male dominance, sexual drive, and traditional male circumcision. The goals of this study were to (a) explore the experiences of school health nurses in the provision of sexual and reproductive health among adolescent boys; and (b) recommend suggested action to develop adolescent boys to adapt a healthy behavioral lifestyle through a health-promoting school program.

Intimate partner violence against women living with and without HIV, and the associated factors in Wolaita Zone, Southern Ethiopia: A comparative cross-sectional study.

Objectives: This study aimed to measure the prevalence and associated factors of Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) among women living with and without HIV in Wolaita Zone, Southern Ethiopia.

Methods: A comparative cross-sectional study design was used to interview the 816 women between 18-49 years of age (408 = HIV positive, 408 = HIV negative). Using a multistage sampling technique, participants were recruited from nine health facilities based on probability proportional to the number of clients.

TRAV1-2 CD8 T-cells including oligoconal expansions of MAIT cells are enriched in the airways in human tuberculosis.

Mucosal-associated invariant T (MAIT) cells typically express a TRAV1-2 semi-invariant TCRα that enables recognition of bacterial, mycobacterial, and fungal riboflavin metabolites presented by MR1. MAIT cells are associated with immune control of bacterial and mycobacterial infections in murine models. Here, we report that a population of pro-inflammatory TRAV1-2 CD8 T cells are present in the airways and lungs of healthy individuals and are enriched in bronchoalveolar fluid of patients with active pulmonary tuberculosis (TB).

Benefits of health reform for households in rural South Africa following implementation of ward-based primary healthcare outreach teams: a qualitative inquiry.

Background: Major national primary healthcare reforms are seldom implemented, and few studies have explored the benefits of primary healthcare outreach teams to rural households, a knowledge gap we sought to address with this study.

Objective: The objective of this study was to explore the community benefits in the context of PHC services delivered in rural households by outreach teams.

Methods: The study was conducted in the iLembe District on the east coast of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa between July 2015 and January 2017.

The genetic tale of a recovering lion population (Panthera leo) in the Savé Valley region (Zimbabwe): A better understanding of the history and managing the future.

The rapid decline of the African lion (Panthera leo) has raised conservation concerns. In the Savé Valley Conservancy (SVC), in the Lowveld of Zimbabwe, lions were presumably reduced to approximately 5 to 10 individuals. After ten lions were reintroduced in 2005, the population has recovered to over 200 lions in 2016.

The perceived role of ward-based primary healthcare outreach teams in rural KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.

Background: The aim of ward-based outreach teams (WBOTs) is to improve access to primary healthcare (PHC) services including health promotion and disease prevention in South Africa. Limited information is available in South Africa on user perceptions of services provided by WBOTs in rural households.

Aim: The study aimed to explore community awareness and perception of WBOTs, as well people's motivation to engage and use WBOT services.

Prevalence and correlates of violence among South African high school learners in uMgungundlovu District municipality, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.

Background: Young people grow up in homes and communities where many are exposed daily to crime and antisocial behaviours.

Objective: To investigate the prevalence of violence and the demographic factors associated with such violence among South African (SA)high school learners in the uMgungundlovu District, KwaZulu-Natal, SA.

Methods: In a cross-sectional study, we used stratified random sampling to select 16 schools in uMgungundlovu District.