216 results match your criteria: "School of Applied Human Sciences[Affiliation]"
BMC Med
November 2024
HIV Center for Clinical and Behavioral Studies, Gender, Sexuality and Health Area, New York State Psychiatric Institute and Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, USA.
Despite the common belief that human papillomavirus (HPV) primarily affects women, it is imperative to recognize and address the impact of HPV on boys and men. Overlooking the health implications for males is a notable gap, as efforts have predominantly focused on preventing HPV-related infections in women. This commentary aims to emphasize the importance of HPV awareness and vaccination for boys and men by highlighting the prevalence and consequences of HPV infection, elaborating on the associated health risks, elucidating the benefits of vaccination, and urging readers to recognize the necessity of protecting males from HPV.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPrev Med Rep
October 2024
Centre for Community Based Research, Human Sciences Research Council, Pietermaritzburg, South Africa.
The syndemic of HIV, sexually transmitted infections (STIs), and early pregnancy remain a key challenge to global public health. Decision-making around sexual and reproductive health (SRH) behaviours is critical to ensuring the uptake of biomedical technologies. Drawing from behavioural science theories, we propose a novel conceptual framework-the Decision Cascade-to describe the decision-making process that a user will go through as they navigate these decisions.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFCommun Psychol
April 2024
Department of Psychology, University of Limerick, Limerick, Ireland.
We assess the strategic alignment of attitudes and the active construction of attitude-based identity across two studies. Study one assessed the twitter response (hashtags in English) to the war in Ukraine for five months after Russia's first invasion of Ukraine 2022 (N = 8149). Results demonstrated that individuals publicly expressed hashtags similar to others close to them in the followership network, showing their support for Ukraine and condemnation of the Russian invasion in qualitatively different ways.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFJ Empir Res Hum Res Ethics
October 2024
South African Research Ethics Training Initiative (SARETI), School of Applied Human Sciences, College of Humanities, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, South Africa.
Journal editors instruct authors to describe human participant protections in original research reports. However, little is known about African biomedical journal authors' adherence to such journal editors' instructions. This study investigated changes in editors' instructions to authors and authors' reporting of research ethics information in selected African biomedical journals between 2008 and 2017.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBr J Soc Psychol
August 2024
Centre for Social Issues Research, University of Limerick, Limerick, Ireland.
Social bots, employed to manipulate public opinion, pose a novel threat to digital societies. Existing bot research has emphasized technological aspects while neglecting psychological factors shaping human-bot interactions. This research addresses this gap within the context of the US-American electorate.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFClin Nutr ESPEN
October 2024
Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Tygerberg Hospital, Cape Town, South Africa; School of Applied Human Sciences, Discipline of Psychology, University of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.
Aim: To implement a childhood cancer-specific nutritional algorithm adapted for the South African context for interventions at time-set intervals to evaluate differences in the nutritional status of newly diagnosed children with cancer.
Method: Children with newly diagnosed cancer were assessed for stunting, underweight, wasting, and moderate to severe malnutrition (MUAC < -2SD and < - 3 SD) between October 2018 and December 2020 in a longitudinal nutritional assessment study with monthly assessments. Two pediatric oncology units (POUs) served as the intervention group that implemented the nutritional algorithm-directed intervention and three other POUs formed the control group that implemented standard supportive nutritional care.
PLoS One
August 2024
KwaZulu-Natal Research Innovation and Sequencing Platform (KRISP), College of Health Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa.
Introduction: Relapse among individuals with serious mental illnesses in resource-limited contexts, including South Africa, is a significant concern. To date, the risks for relapse among this population is well documented, but little is known about prevention strategies to reduce its occurrence in these resource-limited settings. Therefore, this qualitative study explores the risk factors and strategies for relapse prevention from the patients' and caregivers' perspectives.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFVaccine
August 2024
South African Research Ethics Training Initiative, School of Applied Human Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg 3209, South Africa.
Background: Identifying factors associated with vaccine uptake among health care workers (HCWs) remains crucial to generating evidence aimed at guiding national COVID-19 vaccination and future infectious disease outbreak strategies. This study aimed to elucidate these factors, focusing on the interplay between socio-demographic, health, knowledge, beliefs and attitudinal indicators.
Methods: This was a cross-sectional online survey administered to HCWs across South Africa between August and October 2022.
Front Public Health
August 2024
School of Applied Human Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa.
Background: While internal migrants (Kayayei) in Ghana have been perceived as a vulnerable group facing various health-related challenges, there has not been enough research on the impact of their work on their health and well-being. This study investigated the lived experiences of the Kayayei to identify the health-related challenges associated with their work and the coping mechanisms they adopt in dealing with these challenges.
Methods: We interviewed 21 participants purposely selected and conducted two focus group discussions (FGD) of five participants each at the Agbogbloshie market.
Soc Sci Med
September 2024
Gender and Health Research Unit, South African Medical Research Council, Pretoria, South Africa; Department of Public Health, University of Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa.
Alcohol is recognized as a driver of intimate partner violence (IPV) perpetration and experience, but relatively little research has focused on the role of couples' drinking patterns, nor pathways between alcohol and violence. We draw on data collected among young (18-30 year old) people living in informal settlements who self-selected to enroll in an intervention trial to reduce IPV in Durban, South Africa to understand these dynamics. Between September 2015 and September 2016 quantitative data were collected from women, who reported on their own experiences of IPV and alcohol use, as well as their partner's own alcohol use.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPsychol Sport Exerc
November 2024
Department of Psychology, Institute of Sport, Manchester Metropolitan University, Manchester, United Kingdom.
Until recently, research examining the application of Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT) in sports settings was virtually absent in South Africa. Despite the growing evidence of REBT's potential as a psychological intervention in Western nations, its use within the multicultural and sports-fervent context of South Africa remains unexplored. Moreover, limited research has addressed the impact of REBT on rugby players, with only a few case studies being reported.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFHealth SA
June 2024
Discipline of Social Work, School of Applied Human Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa.
Background: Depression consistently emerges as a significant predictor of poor antiretroviral therapy (ART) adherence among adult people living with human immunodeficiency virus (PLHIV). However, a gap exists regarding how social support and depressive symptoms can interact to influence ART adherence among adult PLHIV in South Africa (SA).
Aim: To investigate the interaction between social support and depressive symptoms on ART adherence among adult PLHIV.
Int J Drug Policy
June 2024
School of Applied Human Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Howard College 238 Mazisi Kunene Road Glenwood, Durban, South Africa.
Background: In Sweden, as in other countries, individuals with immigrant backgrounds are disproportionately represented within the incarcerated population. This study examined the association between immigrant background and future incarceration for individuals assessed for illicit substance use severity, while considering their prior incarceration history.
Methods: Using data from Swedish Addiction Severity Index (ASI) assessments linked to register data from Statistics Sweden, we employed Zero-Inflated Negative Binomial (ZINB) regression models to analyse differences in incarceration histories within five years before and after ASI assessments based on immigrant backgrounds.
J Int Assoc Provid AIDS Care
April 2024
Discipline of Social Work, School of Applied Human Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa.
Background: People living with human immune deficiency virus (PLHIV) grapple with distinct challenges, including HIV stigma which affects their antiretroviral therapy (ART) adherence self-efficacy. This study investigates the interaction of HIV stigma and perceived social support on ART adherence self-efficacy among adult PLHIV in South Africa.
Methods: This study utilized a cross-sectional design that involved 201 participants selected using time location sampling at a tertiary health facility in Durban.
Curr HIV/AIDS Rep
June 2024
Centre for Community Based Research, Human Sciences Research Council, Old Bus Depot, 1 Caluza Street, Sweetwaters, KwaZulu Natal, South Africa.
Purpose Of Review: Lottery incentives are an innovative approach to encouraging HIV prevention, treatment initiation, and adherence behaviours. This paper reviews the latest research on lottery incentives' impact on HIV-related services, and their effectiveness for motivating behaviours to improve HIV service engagement and HIV health outcomes.
Recent Findings: Our review of ten articles, related to lottery incentives, published between 2018 and 2023 (inclusive) shows that lottery incentives have promise for promoting HIV-related target behaviours.
Dev Med Child Neurol
September 2024
Division of Paediatric Neurodevelopment, Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town and Red Cross War Memorial Children's Hospital, Cape Town, South Africa.
Aim: To identify cerebral palsy (CP) variables collected in CP registries from high-income countries (HICs) and low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) to assist with the development of a regional CP registry relevant to the African region.
Method: A systematic search of online databases to identify peer-reviewed publications and grey literature about CP risk-factor variables, using Ovid MEDLINE, Embase Ovid, CINAHL, and Google Scholar.
Results: A total of 197 studies published from global CP registries between 1990 and 2023 were identified.
J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr
February 2024
Division of Pulmonary, Allergy, and Critical Care Medicine, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York City, NY.
Introduction: For people living with HIV/AIDS, care is commonly delivered through Differentiated Service Delivery (DSD). Although people with multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) and HIV/AIDS experience severe treatment associated challenges, there is no DSD model to support their treatment. In this study, we defined patterns of medication adherence and characterized longitudinal barriers to inform development of an MDR-TB/HIV DSD framework.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFFront Psychol
January 2024
Department of Population and Health, University of Cape Coast, Cape Coast, Ghana.
Introduction: Before 2020 and the advent of the COVID-19 pandemic, mental disorders, including anxiety and mood disorders, were considered the leading causes of the global disease burden. There is evidence from multiple countries and social contexts that suggest the high risk of anxiety and mood disorders among students. Yet, there is a knowledge gap concerning understanding the association between the experience of discrimination and the risk of anxiety and mood disorders.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPLoS One
January 2024
Centre for Community Based Research, Human Sciences Research Council, Pietermaritzburg, South Africa.
Traditional gender and social norms reinforce asymmetrical power relations, increase the risk of experiencing gender-based violence and mediate poor engagement with sexual and reproductive health services. This study explored gender norms and expectations amongst cisgender adolescents in rural KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. A purposive sample of 29 adolescents aged 16-19 years old were enrolled as part of a longitudinal qualitative study.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFJ Empir Res Hum Res Ethics
February 2024
HIV AIDS Vaccines Ethics Group (HAVEG), School of Applied Human Sciences, College of Humanities, University of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.
Stakeholder engagement is increasingly recognized as a key component of ethical research in leading ethics guidelines. Ethics commentators have also argued that engagement has several beneficial outcomes for the field. This paper reports on the beneficial outcomes of stakeholder engagement in HIV prevention trials as perceived by stakeholders in the field.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFArch Womens Ment Health
April 2024
Gender and Health Research Unit, South African Medical Research Council, Francie van Zijl DriveTygerberg, PO Box 19070, Cape Town, 7505, South Africa.
Floods are increasing in frequency and may increase the risk for experiencing emotional distress, anxiety, depression and PTSD. The aim of this study was to determine the extent of damage, loss, injury and death resulting from floods that occurred in and around the city of Durban, South Africa, in April 2022, and associated changes in mental health pre- to post-floods in a low-income setting. Seventy-three women between the ages of 18 and 45, residing in flood affected, low-income settings, were interviewed prior to the floods occurring.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPLOS Glob Public Health
November 2023
South African Research Ethics Training Initiative, School of Applied Human Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, South Africa.
This study aimed examin the factors associated with the uptake and non-acceptance of COVID-19 vaccine booster doses among healthcare workers (HCWs) in South Africa. We used a mixed-methods design with data from a web-based self-administered survey followed by semi-structured in-depth interviews (IDIs) with selected participants. Of the 6235 HCWs included in our analysis who had fully vaccinated, 3470 (56%) had taken their booster dose with a further 17% intending to get the booster.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPLoS One
October 2023
School of Applied Psychology, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland.
Deepfakes are a form of multi-modal media generated using deep-learning technology. Many academics have expressed fears that deepfakes present a severe threat to the veracity of news and political communication, and an epistemic crisis for video evidence. These commentaries have often been hypothetical, with few real-world cases of deepfake's political and epistemological harm.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFChild Abuse Negl
December 2023
Faculty of Health, Liverpool John Moores University, United Kingdom. Electronic address:
Background: Child sexual abuse (CSA) remains a challenge in South Africa, despite various legislative developments to address child abuse. Despite non-offending caregivers (NOC) playing a critical role in child safeguarding, and supporting disclosure and recovery, very little research has focused on understanding what works in assisting them in supporting child victims in South Africa.
Objectives: The study examines the exposure of NOC who watched a short film based on the testimonies of four CSA perpetrators in therapy, with a view to exploring whether this film could be useful for CSA prevention, disclosure and support initiatives.