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. Sociodemographic details, circumcision status, acceptance of voluntary medical male circumcision, knowledge and attitude scores analysed in Stata® 14 statistical software were described using frequencies, medians and ranges respectively. Bivariate and multivariate linear regression was used to assess the impact of independent variables on circumcision status and acceptance of voluntary medical male circumcision. The level of statistical significance was p < 0.05. RESULTS: Amongst the 407 high school-going males, 48.98% (n = 201) reported being circumcised. The majority of the adolescents (75.74%; n = 306) were knowledgeable about voluntary medical male circumcision. However, an even larger majority (84.90% (n = 343) had a negative attitude towards it. In the multivariate logistic regression analysis, having parented their own children (aOR: 3.55; 95%CI: 1.2-10.48), and having circumcised friends (aOR: 3.99; 95%CI: 1.81-8.84) were significantly associated with being circumcised. Neither knowledge nor attitude were associated with the acceptability of voluntary medical male circumcision. CONCLUSION: In Eswatini male high school students are knowledgeable about voluntary medical male circumcision but have a negative attitude towards it. Having parented their own children, and having circumcised friends influenced being circumcised.

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. The sample included 1383 children with complete data under the care of 1251 adults. Children living in a household where self-reported caregiver alcohol use was scored as hazardous (4.6%) had higher levels of problem behavior (ß = 1.94, 95% CI 0.06-3.82). There were no statistically significant associations between reported hazardous alcohol use by another member of the household (14.5%) and child problem behavior. Hazardous household alcohol use was associated with child problem behavior and this effect appeared to be mainly driven by primary caregiver use.

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. Teenage pregnancy was associated with age, being female, and exposure to communication discouraging pregnancy. Students living with both parents, or where family and peers believed that the adolescents should abstain from sex, or who experienced positive social pressure discouraging pregnancy were unlikely to have had a pregnancy. This study identified sociodemographic and sociobehavioral influences associated with teenage pregnancy that can assist school nurses in their work.

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. The blood Pb distribution of the artisanal pot makers ranged from 1.1 to 4.6 µg/dl with the median blood Pb level being 2.1 µg/dl (IQR 1.7-2.5). The median blood Pb level in artisanal pot makers was 1.0 µg/dl higher compared with the non-exposed community members (p < 0.0001). Before-and-after handwipe sampling revealed a median increase in all 22 elements. Pre and post aluminum (Al) load on the handwipes revealed a 7.3 factor increase (0.53 and 3.9 mg Al/handwipe respectively) (p = 0.003). Hand Pb load before and after pot making revealed a 3.5-fold increase (median increase of 6.2 µg Pb/handwipe). An increase in backyard informal foundries may be linked to increased exposure to toxic metals for workers, family members and communities.

"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. The aim of this qualitative study was to explore adolescent pregnancy and motherhood in order to understand this phenomenon from the perspective of adolescent mothers and to gain insight into their future aspirations. METHODS: This descriptive qualitative study was based on data from four focus group discussions with adolescent mothers utilising healthcare services at a district hospital in Ugu district, KwaZulu Natal, South Africa. The data were audio-recorded and transcribed verbatim, then analysed using thematic analysis. RESULTS: Some adolescent mothers' partners were in denial and rejected them and the child while others' partners were happy and supported them during their pregnancy. Families' reactions to the pregnancies ranged between anger and disappointment to abandonment, the silent treatment, and acceptance and forgiveness. The psychological issues experienced by some of the adolescent mothers included suicidal ideation, guilt, loneliness, anxiety, and stress. They also experienced financial constraints, difficulty in returning to school, and stigmatisation in society. The participants envisioned completing their education, focusing on their dream careers, and contributing positively to society. CONCLUSION: Experiences of adolescent pregnancy and parenting are multifaceted and the healthcare needs of pregnant and parenting adolescents extend beyond information and knowledge. A multidisciplinary approach is required in the care of adolescent mothers. A key policy priority should encompass the collaboration of different professionals from various healthcare sectors to assist adolescent mothers in achieving better health and psychosocial and socio-economic outcomes as steps to securing a better future for them.

"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. The aim of this study was to explore adolescent mothers' understanding of sexual risk behaviour. METHODS: The study employed a descriptive qualitative design. To collect the data, four focus group discussions were conducted with adolescent mothers aged 16-19 years. The eighteen adolescent mothers were recruited using purposive sampling technique from a hospital in the Ugu district in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Data were analysed using thematic analysis. RESULTS: The study revealed that decisions to engage in risky sexual behaviour is influenced by peer pressure, drugs and alcohol, sexual experimentation, myths about contraception, the media, poor parental supervision and power gender dynamics, poverty leading to transactional sex, the vulnerability of young girls, and the fear of partner rejection. CONCLUSION: The findings of this study will contribute to a better understanding of adolescent mothers' perspectives of sexual risk behaviour. In the subject matter of sexual and reproductive health, adolescents' autonomy with respect to cultural and social recommendations should not be sidelined. Due to their vulnerability, adolescent women are exposed to transactional sex, and it is particularly due to poverty that adolescent women are driven into sexual relations with older men as a means of survival. Moreover, interventions to curb postpartum sexual risk behaviour are important to protect adolescent women and mothers against HIV/AIDS. The sexual and reproductive education of adolescent women should focus on resilience, negotiating skills, and protective decision making. Collaborative efforts to curb sexual risk taking by young women should be encouraged and should involve relevant agents from the educational, social and clinical fields.

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. The intervention reduced students' experiencing physical violence compared to controls and social pressure for this, yet no differences were found for hitting others. Our results support findings that school programs against violence can reduce students' experience of physical violence, but translation of these findings to reduce the actual hitting of others may need further approaches and/or more time.

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. Previous disease outbreaks diverted attention from critical SRH services, including antenatal care, safe abortions, contraception, HIV/AIDS and sexually transmitted infections. Governments, policy makers, health system gatekeepers and civil society organisations should not allow the COVID-19 phobia to bar women and adolescent girls from accessing SRH services. In fact, the global and South African response to the COVID-19 pandemic must protect everyone's rights, particularly in the health care context. Gender considerations and a human rights approach must be embedded in ensuring the accessibility and availability of SRH services.

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. METHODS: A cross sectional study was conducted. Data were collected from 326 adolescents who accessed maternal health services in a peri-urban district hospital during June 2017 and November 2017. The questionnaire surveyed the knowledge, personal attitudes and peer influences related to pregnancy, sexual and reproductive health. The questionnaire was administered by fieldworkers using mobile devices powered by the Mobenzi Researcher® technology. The completed surveys were uploaded to the Mobenzi server where it was stored and aggregated. The data was analysed using R software. RESULTS: Of the 326 participants, 65 (19.9%) experienced repeat pregnancies in adolescence. Overall, only 143 (43.9%) of the participants answered 50% or more of the knowledge questions on pregnancy and HIV/AIDS and STIs correctly, while 183 (56.1%) answered less than 50% of the knowledge questions correctly. There was no relationship between knowledge of pregnancy and HIV/STIs and repeat adolescent pregnancies. CONCLUSION: Adolescents' knowledge of pregnancy and sexual and reproductive health was deficient as, even with repeat pregnancies, these adolescents were evidently no better informed about pregnancy and sexual and reproductive health. This suggests that social determinants, modes and platforms regarding the delivery of adolescent sexual and reproductive health education are important. An innovative mode to the delivery of sexual and reproductive health education includes the emerging digital platform. The digital platform encompasses social media, multimedia and mobile phones which is growing popular among young people.

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. Data was analysed using R Software. Out of the 326 adolescents, 19.9% had experienced a repeat pregnancy. The risk factors associated with adolescent repeat pregnancy included a history of spontaneous abortion (p <0.001) and previous contraceptive use (p <0.001). A higher level of education (p <0.001) and emotional support from family (p=0.007) were found to be significant protective factors against adolescent repeat pregnancy. These findings have implications for future interventions aimed at reducing repeat pregnancy among adolescents.

Genital tract fistula: a case series from a tertiary centre in South Africa.

INTRODUCTION AND HYPOTHESIS: We describe the demographic profile, aetiology, management and surgical outcomes in women with genital tract fistula presenting to a tertiary urogynaecology unit. METHODS: This retrospective audit included 87 patients managed in our unit between 2008 and 2015. Frequencies and means with standard deviations are presented for categorical and continuous data. Continuous dependent variables are categorized as above or below the median for bivariate analyses performed using the chi-squared test (α = 0.05). RESULTS: The mean age of the women was 34.7 years, 64.4% were Black African, 70.2% were multiparous, 49.4% were married, 82.8% were employed, and 21.8% were HIV-infected, with 47.4% on antiretroviral treatment. Vesicovaginal (47.1%) and rectovaginal (41.4%) fistula were the most frequent injuries. The majority of the injuries (67.8%) were obstetric, with 26.4% occurring during caesarean delivery. Repair had been attempted previously in 43.7% of patients. In 63.2% of the repairs the approach was vaginal and in 35.6% abdominal. Interposition grafts were used in 23% of repairs. In 85.1% of patients the initial repair at our centre was successful. Patients with multiple repairs were more likely to have complications (p = 0.03). HIV infection was not significantly associated with complications. CONCLUSIONS: A high rate of successful repair was found, with previous unsuccessful repairs associated with poorer outcomes, highlighting the need for centralized management.

Prevalence and risk factors for latent tuberculosis infection among healthcare workers in Nampula Central Hospital, Mozambique.

BACKGROUND: Healthcare workers in high tuberculosis burdened countries are occupationally exposed to the tuberculosis disease with uncomplicated and complicated tuberculosis on the increase among them. Most of them acquire Mycobacterium tuberculosis but do not progress to the active disease - latent tuberculosis infection. The objective of this study was to assess the prevalence and risk factors associated with latent tuberculosis infection among healthcare workers in Nampula Central Hospital, Mozambique. METHODS: This cross-sectional study of healthcare workers was conducted between 2014 and 2015. Participants (n = 209) were administered a questionnaire on demographics and occupational tuberculosis exposure and had a tuberculin skin test administered. Multivariate linear and logistic regression tested for associations between independent variables and dependent outcomes (tuberculin skin test induration and latent tuberculosis infection status). RESULTS: The prevalence of latent tuberculosis infection was 34.4%. Latent tuberculosis infection was highest in those working for more than eight years (39.3%), those who had no BCG vaccination (39.6%) and were immunocompromised (78.1%). Being immunocompromised was significantly associated with latent tuberculosis infection (OR 5.97 [95% CI 1.89; 18.87]). Positive but non-significant associations occurred with working in the medical domain (OR 1.02 [95% CI 0.17; 6.37]), length of employment > eight years (OR 1.97 [95% CI 0.70; 5.53]) and occupational contact with tuberculosis patients (OR 1.24 [95% CI 0.47; 3.27]). CONCLUSIONS: Personal and occupational factors were positively associated with latent tuberculosis infection among healthcare workers in Mozambique.

Prevalence and Risk Factors Associated with Forced-Sex Among South African High School Students.

Sexual violence, a global concern, has far reaching consequences for individuals and communities. This survey of South African high school students, reported baseline prevalence and factors associated with forced sex. Data collected among 434 adolescents (54.4% boys; 45.6% girls) used a questionnaire developed using the I-Change Model conceptual framework. Forced sex prevalence was 14.2% (95% CI 9.1, 21.5) with a non-significant difference between females (15.0%) and males (13.6%) (p = 0.781). After multivariable adjustment, urban location (39%), low socio-economic status (15%) and discordant mother/father vital status (20%) remained significant risk factors for forced sex. South African high school students are still at risk of experiencing forced sex with a higher prevalence in females. Interventions to address socio-economic and structural constructs contributing to the forced sex prevalence in this population are required.

HIV health literacy, sexual behaviour and self-reports of having tested for HIV among students.

The HIV prevalence among young South African adults makes it important to understand their HIV knowledge, sexual behaviour and HIV counselling and testing (HCT) behaviour in this group. This paper presents the demographics, knowledge, sexual behaviour and cues to action as reported by sexually active students' who had HCT. A cross-sectional study conducted in 10 high schools in the eThekwini and Ugu districts, KwaZulu-Natal, surveyed students' HIV knowledge, sexual behaviour and HCT behaviour. Complete information was available from 1 114 (97.9%) students who participated in the survey. Of these, 378 (33.9%) were sexually active and were included in this analysis. Logistic regression models tested for significant associations between the independent and the dependent variables under study, nesting the students within schools and controlling for age, sex, grade and school location (urban/rural).The median age of students was 17 years (range: 14-23 years) with most being male (n=287; 75.9%). The lifetime median number of sexual partners of students was 3 (range: 1-27). Students who used condoms with their regular partners were more likely to have had counselling for HIV (OR :1.79; 95% CI: 1.06-3.01). Those students who were more likely to have been tested for HIV were female (OR: 44.90; 95% CI: 7.77-259.38), those who had always used a condom with their non-regular partner (OR: 2.75; 95% CI: 1.01-7.47), and those who knew a person who had tested for HIV (OR: 15.28; 95% CI: 5.16-45.23). Targeting students, especially males early in adolescence and reinforcing safe sex behaviour messages through their high school years, can encourage HCT among students.

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. The air pollution covariates such as global annual surface particulate matter (PM 2.5) and the nitrogen dioxide available in the form of raster images were obtained from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). The MLA was used for predicting the symptoms of ARIs among under-five children. We randomly split the dataset into two, 80% was used to train the model, and the remaining 20% was used to test the trained model. Model performance was evaluated using sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, and the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve. A total of 327,507 under-five children were included in the study. About 7.10, 4.19, 20.61, and 21.02% of children reported symptoms of ARI, Severe ARI, cough, and fever in the 2 weeks preceding the survey years respectively. The prevalence of ARI was highest in Mozambique (15.3%), Uganda (15.05%), Togo (14.27%), and Namibia (13.65%,), whereas Uganda (40.10%), Burundi (38.18%), Zimbabwe (36.95%), and Namibia (31.2%) had the highest prevalence of cough. The results of the random forest plot revealed that spatial locations (longitude, latitude), particulate matter, land surface temperature, nitrogen dioxide, and the number of cattle in the houses are the most important features in predicting the diagnosis of symptoms of ARIs among under-five children in sSA. The RF algorithm was selected as the best ML model (AUC = 0.77, Accuracy = 0.72) to predict the symptoms of ARIs among children under five. The MLA performed well in predicting the symptoms of ARIs and associated predictors among under-five children across the sSA countries. Random forest MLA was identified as the best classifier to be employed for the prediction of the symptoms of ARI among under-five children.

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). We explored the predictors for accepting anti-schistosomal treatment and/or gynaecological reinvestigation in young women, and the effects of anti-schistosomal mass-treatment (praziquantel) on the clinical manifestations of FGS at an adolescent age. METHOD: The study was conducted between 2011 and 2013 in randomly selected, rural, high schools in Ilembe, uThungulu and Ugu Districts, KwaZulu-Natal Province, East Coast of South Africa. At baseline, gynaecological investigations were conducted in female learners in grades 8 to 12, aged 16-23 years (n = 2293). Mass-treatment was offered in the low-transmission season between May and August (a few in September, n = 48), in accordance with WHO recommendations. Reinvestigation was offered after a median of 9 months (range 5-14 months). Univariate, multivariable and logistic regression analysis were used to measure the association between variables. RESULTS: Prevalence: Of the 2293 learners who came for baseline gynaecological investigations, 1045 (46%) had FGS lesions and/or schistosomiasis, 209/1045 (20%) had GSP; 208/1045 (20%) HYP; 772/1045 (74%) had abnormal blood vessels; and 404/1045 (39%) were urine positive. Overall participation rate for mass treatment and gynaecological investigation: Only 26% (587/2293) learners participated in the mass treatment and 17% (401/2293) participated in the follow up gynaecological reinvestigations. Loss to follow-up among those with FGS: More than 70% of learners with FGS lesions at baseline were lost to follow-up for gynaecological investigations: 156/209 (75%) GSP; 154/208 (74%) HYP; 539/722 (75%) abnormal blood vessels; 238/404 (59%) urine positive. The grade 12 pupil had left school and did not participate in the reinvestigations (n = 375; 16%). Follow-up findings: Amongst those with lesions who came for both treatment and reinvestigation, 12/19 still had GSP, 8/28 had HYP, and 54/90 had abnormal blood vessels. Only 3/55 remained positive for S. haematobium ova. Factors influencing treatment and follow-up gynaecological investigation: HIV, current water contact, water contact as a toddler and urinary schistosomiasis influenced participation in mass treatment. Grainy sandy patches, abnormal blood vessels, HYP, previous pregnancy, current water contact, water contact as a toddler and father present in the family were strongly associated with coming back for follow-up gynaecological investigation. Challenges in sample size for follow-up analysis of the effect of treatment: The low mass treatment uptake and loss to follow up among those who had baseline FGS reduced the chances of a larger sample size at follow up investigation. However, multivariable analysis showed that treatment had effect on the abnormal blood vessels (adjusted odds ratio = 2.1, 95% CI 1.1-3.9 and p = 0.018). CONCLUSION: Compliance to treatment and gynaecological reinvestigation was very low. There is need to embark on large scale awareness and advocacy in schools and communities before implementing mass-treatment and investigation studies. Despite challenges in sample size and significant loss to follow-up, limiting the ability to fully understand the treatment's effect, multivariable analysis demonstrated a significant treatment effect on abnormal blood vessels.

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. Operational managers in the public health care sector collect data and report on these indicators at a primary health clinic level. This qualitative study explored the knowledge and attitudes of managers toward data and UHC service indicators in a sub-district in Ugu, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Operational managers saw data collection as information gathering, measuring performance and driving action. They understood UHC indicators as 'health for all' linking them to National Department of Health Strategic plans and saw the value of indicators for health promotion. They found the lack of training, inadequate numeracy skills, requests for data from multiple spheres of government and the indicator targets that they had to reach as challenging and untenable. While operational managers made the link between data, measuring performance and action, the limited training, skills gaps and pressures from higher levels of government may impede their ability to use data for local level planning and decision making.

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. A multipronged, multi-stakeholder response to occupational health and safety (OHS) policy development, risk management, health surveillance, information, and training was adopted, underpinned by scientific input, through collaboration between government, organized labour, employer bodies, academia, and community partners. This resulted in government-promulgated legislation addressing OHS, sectoral guidelines, and work-related COVID-19 worker's compensation. The OHS Workstream of the National Department of Health provided leadership and technical support for COVID-specific workplace guidelines and practices, surveillance, information, and training, as well as a workplace-based vaccination strategy.

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

Female genital schistosomiasis (FGS) is a complication of Schistosoma haematobium 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. We analyze five actions for both a better understanding of the burden of FGS and reducing its prevalence in Africa, namely: (1) schistosomiasis prevention by establishing a formal control programme and increasing access to treatment, (2) introducing FGS screening, (3) providing knowledge to health care workers and communities, (4) vector control, and (5) water, sanitation, and hygiene. Schistosomiasis is focal in South Africa, with most localities moderately affected (prevalence between 10% and 50%), and some pockets that are high risk (more than 50% prevalence). However, in order to progress towards elimination, the five actions are yet to be implemented in addition to the current (and only) control strategy of case-by-case treatment. The main challenge that South Africa faces is a lack of access to WHO-accredited donated medication for mass drug administration. The establishment of a formal and funded programme would address these issues and begin the implementation of the recommended actions.

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. This was followed by a qualitative survey among stakeholders involved in pesticide research or management in the African region to learn about barriers to and promoters of successful interventions. The project was concluded with an international workshop in November 2021, where a broad range of topics relevant to occupational and environmental health risks were discussed such as acute poisoning, street pesticides, switching to alternatives, or disposal of empty pesticide containers. Key areas of improvement identified were training on pesticide usage techniques, research on the effectiveness of interventions targeted at exposure reduction and/or behavioral changes, awareness raising, implementation of adequate policies, and enforcement of regulations and processes.