UPSpace Repository

Faculty Research Collections

UP Research Output Collections

Featured

Recent Submissions

Exploring the lived experiences of children in relation to trauma and violence exposure in the Vhembe district
Tsheole, Petunia; Makhado, Lufuno; Maphula, Angelina; Sepeng, Nombulelo Veronica (BioMed Central, 2025-11-17)
BACKGROUND : Violence and trauma exposure among children remain critical public health issues, particularly in under-resourced regions such as the Vhembe district, South Africa. Although much is known about the prevalence of child abuse, limited research explores children’s lived experiences and coping mechanisms from their own perspectives. OBJECTIVE : This study aimed to explore the lived experiences of children exposed to trauma and violence in the Vhembe district, focusing on their emotional responses, coping strategies, and perceived sources of support. METHODS : A qualitative research design using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) was adopted. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with fourteen children aged 9–17 years who had experienced trauma or violence and were receiving counselling services at the Thohoyandou Victim Empowerment Programme. RESULTS : Participants reported multiple forms of violence: physical, sexual, emotional, and community-based, often perpetrated by trusted caregivers. Themes included fear, isolation, physical and psychological pain, and reliance on avoidance or social coping strategies. CONCLUSION : Exposure to violence profoundly shapes children’s emotional well-being and coping capacity. These findings emphasize the need for trauma-informed, child-centered mental health services and school-based psychosocial interventions. Future research should expand to explore gender-specific experiences and community-level prevention strategies within rural South African contexts.
Modifiable risk factors for anemia in pregnancy : an umbrella review of systematic reviews and meta-analyses
Dagne, Woldeteklehaymanot Kassahun; Shiferaw, Mulu; Gedfie, Solomon; Jemal, Abdu; Gashaw, Muluken; Kumie, Getinet; Bazezew, Alembante; Sisay, Assefa; Abebe, Wagaw; Nigatie, Marye; Misganaw, Tadesse; Asmare, Zelalem; Getachew, Ermias; Gashaw, Yalewayker; Ashagre, Agenagnew; Tefera, Zewdu; Alemu, Bewuketu Belete; Tamrat, Ephrem; Kassanew, Brhanu; Dejazmach, Zelalem; Reta, Melese Abate (BioMed Central, 2025-12-01)
BACKGROUND : Anemia during pregnancy affects more than one-third of women globally, with the heaviest burden in low- and middle-income countries. It contributes substantially to maternal morbidity, adverse birth outcomes, and increased neonatal mortality. Despite extensive research, there remains a lack of comprehensive and up-to-date synthesis on modifiable determinants to guide effective, targeted interventions. This umbrella review aimed to consolidate evidence from systematic reviews and meta-analyses on modifiable risk factors associated with anemia in pregnancy. METHODS : A systematic search was conducted across PubMed, Scopus, ScienceDirect, Epistemonikos, Hinari, Google Scholar, and the Cochrane Library. Search terms combined controlled vocabulary and free-text keywords including anemia, hemoglobin, iron deficiency, determinants, pregnant women, systematic review, and meta-analysis. Boolean operators (OR/AND) were applied, and the search was limited to English-language publications from 2014 to 2024. Eligible studies included systematic reviews and meta-analyses examining risk factors for anemia among pregnant women. Methodological quality was assessed using the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) critical appraisal tool, and synthesis followed JBI guidance to ensure rigor and transparency. Certainty of evidence assessed using GRADE. RESULTS : Of 13,348 records identified, 10 systematic reviews and meta-analyses were included. The synthesis highlighted several modifiable risk factors. Nutritional determinants included low dietary diversity (RR = 2.38-3.59), poor dietary practices (AOR = 1.63-2.97), and inadequate iron/folic acid supplementation (AOR = 1.38-1.82). Maternal health conditions, particularly intestinal parasite infections (AOR = 2.18-4.34) and malaria (AOR = 1.94-11.19), showed strong associations. Sociodemographic risks included low maternal education (AOR = 1.34-2.04), short birth intervals (< 24 months; AOR = 1.27-2.84), adolescent pregnancy (AOR = 2.60), large family size (AOR = 1.58-1.95), and rural residence (RR = 1.56). Limited healthcare access, especially lack of antenatal care (AOR = 1.36-2.02), further increased risk. Considerable heterogeneity (I²=0-94.5%) and low-to-moderate certainty ratings (GRADE) suggest variability across settings and highlight context dependence. CONCLUSIONS : Anemia during pregnancy arises from multiple modifiable factors, including poor nutrition, low dietary diversity, adolescent pregnancy, and infections like malaria and intestinal parasites. This umbrella review highlights the importance of developing context-specific interventions and implementing multisectoral policies that integrate nutrition and infection-control strategies to reduce the global burden of maternal anemia.
Investigation of a suspected cholera outbreak within a closed community of trainees at a college in Hammanskraal, Gauteng Province, South Africa, June 2023
Sekwadi, Phuti; Malomane, Rixongile; Kwenda, Danai; Kodi, Keabetswe; Marumo, Andani; Kgatswetswe, Lerato; Mokgetle, Refilwe; Matjokotja, Tebogo; Smith, Anthony Marius; Ngomane, Mimmy; Erasmus, Linda (BioMed Central, 2025-11-22)
Cholera, as defined by the US Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), is an acute diarrhoeal disease caused by infection of the intestine with the toxin-producing Vibrio cholerae serogroup O1 or O139 bacterium. We investigated a suspected outbreak of cholera at a training college with the aim of determining the magnitude of the outbreak and identifying possible risk factors. We conducted a retrospective cohort study including all persons attending training or living in the college premises between 8 May and 1 June 2023. A case was defined as anyone attending training courses on campus who experienced diarrhoea and/or vomiting between 8 May and 1 June 2023. Data were collected through an online questionnaire. R Studio was used to calculate attack rates and risk ratios to identify possible risk factors associated with illness. Two hundred and thirty-eight participants completed the online questionnaire on 1 June 2023, of which 37% (88/238) reported illness during the study period. The median age of cases was 35 years with a predominance of males (67/88; 76%). Risk factors associated with illness included brushing teeth with tap water (RR = 1.8; CI = 1.2–2.6), sex (RR = 1.6; CI = 1.1–2.5) and unavailability of hand washing soap in the bathrooms (RR = 1.6; CI = 1.2–2.3). Eating food bought outside the college (RR = 0.5; CI = 0.4–0.8) and availability of hand washing soap in the bathrooms were protective against illness (RR = 0.4; CI = 0.3–0.7). This diarrheal disease outbreak was likely caused by multiple pathogens including Vibrio cholerae, a pattern usually seen when there is suspected/possible fecal contamination of drinking water sources. Recommendations included ongoing provision of safe water to the trainees attending courses at the college and anyone living in the college until such time that the municipal drinking water was declared safe for drinking by the responsible stakeholders.
Thermotolerance and post-fire growth in Rhizina undulata is associated with the expansion of heat stress-related protein families
Wilson, Andi M.; Wingfield, Michael J.; Duong, Tuan A.; Wingfield, Brenda D. (BioMed Central, 2025-11-13)
BACKGROUND : Rhizina undulata is an important tree pathogen, infecting a wide variety of conifer species, including those in the genus Pinus. The fungus relies on heat shock-mediated activation of its ascospores, which require high temperatures to initiate germination. Consequently, disease due to R. undulata often occurs after fire events in both natural and managed forests. The genetic mechanisms contributing to the pyrophilous nature of R. undulata have not been investigated. We sought to identify key genes that may be responsible for thermotolerance in the fungus. A comparative genomics approach was used, by sequencing the genome of R. undulata for the first time and comparing its predicted proteome to those from other Pezizomycetes, both with and without known associations with fire. RESULTS : Three protein families were shown to be expanded in R. undulata; heat shock protein 20 (HSP20), glutathione-S transferases (GST), and aromatic compound dioxygenases (ACD). While HSP20 was uniquely over-represented in R. undulata, the expansions of the GST and ACD families were also identified in other fire-associated species. CONCLUSION : HSP20s are known to protect cells against heat stress, GSTs are involved in the detoxification of reactive oxygen species, and ACDs play a role in the metabolism of recalcitrant compounds present in post-fire environments. The expansion of these families thus suggests that they may play an important role in protecting and stimulating R. undulata ascospores during and after fire-induced heat shock, activating the fungus, and enabling it to colonise the root systems of conifers.
Considerations for sociocultural adaptations of a mindfulness-based program within a low socioeconomic setting in Cape Town, South Africa
Foale, Sarah; Seedat, Soraya; Heyns, Tanya (BioMed Central, 2025-12-30)
BACKGROUND : The effectiveness of mindfulness-based programs in cultivating a sense of well-being has been demonstrated in many populations globally. However, mindfulness research is lacking in low socioeconomic contexts. This study explored how a mindfulness-based program may be adapted to be feasible, acceptable, and accessible to participants in a low socioeconomic setting in Cape Town, South Africa. METHODS : Using purposive and snowball sampling and semi-structured interviews, the perspectives of 14 stakeholders in the field of mindfulness were explored. The data were thematically analyzed. FINDINGS : Stakeholders agreed that MBPs could be adapted to increase acceptability, accessibility, and feasibility for participants. The themes that emerged included strategies to encourage attendance and retention, program structure, program content, trauma sensitivity, the qualities and training of the facilitator, communication strategies, the language used, and the approach to translation. CONCLUSION : Stakeholders agreed that adapted mindfulness-based programs may be beneficial to participants in low socioeconomic contexts if appropriately and sensitively adapted to the needs of the population and context. Further research is invited into the nuances of what, where, when, and how mindfulness-based programs are offered in low-resource and especially high-risk trauma environments, such as those in South Africa.