Ayobami Precious Adekola

Background: The Norms and Standards Regulations provide a regulatory foundation for safe, quality care in South African public health facilities. Yet implementation remains inconsistent, with persistent non-compliance reported in Tshwane Municipality. Because healthcare managers translate these regulations into routine practice, their capacity is critical. However, limited evidence exists on how managers themselves understand the role of capacity building in supporting implementation. This study explored healthcare managers’ perspectives on capacity building as a strategic mechanism for implementing the Norms and Standards Regulations and improving quality of care. Methods: A descriptive phenomenological design was used as part of a broader study aimed at developing a framework to guide the implementation of the Norms and Standards Regulations. Data were collected through face-to-face and virtual semi-structured interviews with 12 purposively selected healthcare managers from public health facilities in Tshwane Municipality, Gauteng Province, South Africa. Data were analysed using Colaizzi’s seven-step phenomenological method. Results: One overarching theme and four interrelated themes were generated. Overall, participants described capacity building as a continuous, multi-level support system for implementing the Norms and Standards Regulations and improving quality of care. The themes were: structured and role-responsive learning; integration of learning within quality improvement and implementation support systems; strengthening of professional and information practices; and contextual conditions influencing the effectiveness of capacity-building efforts. Participants emphasised formal and workplace-based training, audit feedback, supportive leadership, customer care, professional ethics, documentation competence and digital readiness. Staffing shortages and system-level resource constraints were perceived to limit effectiveness. Conclusions: Healthcare managers in Tshwane Municipality understand capacity building as a continuous, multi-level support system rather than as discrete training events. Capacity building is a strategic mechanism for strengthening managers’ ability to implement the Norms and Standards Regulations and improve quality of care in public health facilities. Implementation support strategies should move beyond once-off training to include continuous, role-responsive learning, supportive leadership, audit-informed improvement, professional development, documentation strengthening and digital readiness. Strengthening these dimensions may also contribute to public health facility preparedness for South Africa’s universal health coverage agenda by supporting safer, more consistent and quality-assured care. These findings inform the development of a framework to guide implementation support for healthcare managers in Tshwane and comparable South African public health settings. Trial registration: Not applicable.

Internationalization of the curriculum (IoC) is widely proclaimed as a priority across universities, but in the Global South, the disconnect between policy statements and what happens in curricula remains substantial and insufficiently understood. This article investigates why that gap endures at the University of South Africa (UNISA), the continent’s largest open, distance, and e-learning (ODeL) institution. Drawing on critical theory and Leask’s framing of IoC, and viewing curriculum as a layered construct intended, enacted, and achieved, the study used semi-structured interviews with 39 purposively selected participants (30 students, five lecturers, three senior managers, and the director of the international office) alongside documentary analysis of national and institutional policy texts, interpreted through reflexive thematic analysis. The findings point to three interconnected sets of constraints: systemic and resourcing limitations; policy and political obstacles, including claims of curriculum sovereignty and unrealized institutional policies; and pedagogical and cultural impediments, especially the discretionary use of IoC, an ongoing Eurocentric orientation, and a lack of explicit aims and assessed outcomes. These constraints do not function in isolation; instead, they interact in a mutually reinforcing loop of institutional inertia, in which limited resources preserve existing pedagogical arrangements, thereby dampening pressure to implement change. The study advances comparative and international education by arguing that the policy–practice gap in an African ODeL context is not simply a technical implementation problem but reflects a political economy of curriculum, and by clarifying the circumstances in which internationalization and decolonization are experienced as competing agendas rather than complementary ones. The article concludes with implications for institutional leaders, policymakers, and academic developers working in similar distance-education and Global South contexts.

Purpose: The study explores the health-related consequences of gender-based violence against women in South Africa. Accordingly, gender-based violence (GBV) has become a serious and pervasive issue in South Africa, affecting practically every aspect of life. Gender-based violence (GBV) persists as a widespread public health emergency in South Africa, disproportionately impacting women across various socio-economic and cultural contexts. This study examines the many health-related effects of gender-based violence, utilising both quantitative data from healthcare facilities and qualitative insights from survivor accounts. The results indicate a significant association between gender-based violence and a heightened prevalence of chronic medical ailments, including hypertension, reproductive health issues, and gastrointestinal diseases. The study also emphasizes a notable increase in mental health illnesses, such as sadness, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), among survivors. The research reveals increasing patterns of intergenerational health effects, indicating that offspring of GBV survivors have increased risks of emotional and behavioural issues. These observations highlight the pressing necessity for cohesive health and social support systems, legislative change, and community-based interventions to mitigate the enduring health impact of gender-based violence on women in South Africa.

This scoping review examines the intersectional impact of religion and gender on health outcomes in sub-Saharan Africa, with particular attention to their combined implications for health equity. Despite notable improvements in healthcare systems across the region, substantial disparities persist, particularly among marginalized populations. Existing scholarship has largely analysed religion, gender, and health outcomes in isolation, overlooking the complex and mutually reinforcing dynamics that shape lived health experiences. Drawing on intersectionality theory, this review synthesises peer-reviewed studies published between 2010 and 2023 to explore how religious beliefs, gender norms, and structural inequalities interact to influence health behaviours, access to care, and overall well-being. The findings indicate that religion plays a dual role, acting both as a facilitator and as a barrier to positive health outcomes. Religious doctrines and leadership structures significantly influence health-seeking behaviour, attitudes toward medical interventions, and community perceptions of illness. At the same time, entrenched gender norms and roles continue to shape differential access to healthcare services, decision-making power, and exposure to health risks. The review highlights how individuals experiencing compounded vulnerabilities—particularly women in socioeconomically disadvantaged or religiously conservative contexts—face distinct and amplified health challenges. It further demonstrates the influential role of religious leaders in shaping community health practices and policy acceptance. By offering an integrated and intersectional synthesis, this study contributes to the fields of Public Health, Global Health, Health Policy, and Gender Studies. It advances current knowledge by demonstrating how sociocultural and religious structures interact with gender to sustain or mitigate health inequities in sub-Saharan Africa. The findings underscore the importance of engaging religious actors in health policy processes and designing culturally responsive, gender-sensitive interventions aimed at reducing persistent health disparities across underserved populations.

Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) faces persistent challenges in access to health care due to resource shortages, weak infrastructure, and geographical barriers, which disproportionately affect vulnerable populations. Digital health innovations offer promising solutions to these inequities. The purpose of this study is to examine how digital technologies can be leveraged to advance Sustainable Development Goal 3, ensuring healthy lives and well-being for all by improving healthcare access and equity in SSA. Using the social determinants of health (SDH) framework, this study conducted an integrative literature review using the PRISMA guidelines. Peer-reviewed articles, government reports, and relevant literature published between 2013 and 2024 were identified in PubMed, ScienceDirect, Scopus, Africa Journals Online, Google Scholar, and the Directory of Open Access Journals. Of the initial 985 records from database searches and 93 from other sources, 245 sources were left after removing duplicates. Further screening yielded 75 full-text articles, of which 62 were excluded for various reasons, leaving 13 studies for qualitative synthesis. Findings reveal that digital health can enhance healthcare delivery in underserved areas by enabling remote care and improving system efficiency, but its adoption relies on policy support, infrastructure, and community engagement. Barriers include low digital literacy, regulatory weaknesses, infrastructure gaps, and data privacy concerns. Sustainability demands integration into national strategies, stronger health information systems, and sustainable financing, alongside ethical and legal frameworks on equity and data governance. While digital health holds transformative potential in SSA, decisive policy action is essential to realise equitable and just healthcare access.

The incorporation of cultural traditions into education is gaining recognition worldwide. In South Africa, the Curriculum and Assessment Policy Statement for the subject of Technology encourages learners to explore the intersection of societal values, technology, community, and the natural world. This study investigated the impact of cultural traditions on the acquisition of graphic design skills among senior-level technology learners, guided by the social learning theory. We examined how cultural norms influenced graphic design education, focusing on a group of Grade 9 learners in the Mgwenya circuit in Mpumalanga Province, South Africa. The data were collected through qualitative semi-structured interviews and classroom observations. The analysis was conducted using the interpretative phenomenological analysis framework. The study found that while learners understood the subject content, they lacked awareness of graphic design methodologies and did not effectively incorporate cultural elements into their work. This was attributed to the absence of supportive environments, opportunities for cultural expression, and genuine appreciation for cultural diversity. This study highlights the vital role of cultural practices in graphic design education within the Technology curriculum, emphasizing the need for a more inclusive and culturally responsive approach.

Cervical intraepithelial neoplasia is a precancerous lesion that can rapidly progress to cervical cancer in people living with HIV if not promptly treated. This cross-sectional study included 108 women who returned for re-evaluation after participating in the see-and-treat program at regional hospitals in Addis Ababa. Chi-square tests and odds ratios with 95% confidence intervals were calculated. Findings revealed an effectiveness rate of 73.2%, while 26.8% of women required further treatment. Multivariate analysis showed statistically significant associations for the following factors: age group (adjusted OR [AOR] = 0.03, 95% CI: 0.002–0.36, p = 0.03), ever use of family planning (AOR = 0.26, 95% CI: 0.07–0.96, p = 0.04), number of sexual partners (AOR = 0.26, 95% CI: 0.07–0.96, p = 0.04), and CIN stage (AOR = 0.19, 95% CI: 0.04–0.95, p = 0.04). The findings highlight a lack of effectiveness for a substantial number of women, underscoring the need for further research and potential revisions to the see and treat program for HIV positive women.

South Africa, despite progressive legislation, continues to grapple with high rates of hate speech and violence against gender and sexual minorities (GSM). Online platforms have become a breeding ground for hate speech, potentially impacting the mental health and social inclusion of GSM individuals. This study employed a qualitative research design, integrating a systematic literature search guided by the PRISMA framework with a thematic analysis of secondary data between 2014–2024 to understand the impact of online hate speech on the mental health and social inclusion of GSM individuals in South Africa. Guided by multi-theoretical frameworks of minority stress theory, cyberpsychology and social identity theory, this study used thematic analysis of peer-reviewed articles focusing on "online hate speech," "GSM," "mental health," "social inclusion," and "South Africa." from databases such as Google Scholar, Scopus, Sabinet, Web of Science, and AJOL and the Directory of Open Access Journals (DOAJ). This study finally included nine papers from the initial 137 articles and documents identified during the search process. This study highlighted the prevalence of online hate speech against South Africa’s LGBTQ+ community, linking it to worsening mental health, social exclusion, and healthcare barriers. It emphasised gaps in legal protections, education, and advocacy. Urgent policy interventions are needed to combat hate speech and support GSM.