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Maternal and child and
adolescent health

Projects focused on understanding the drivers of poor health outcomes in children and adolescents as well as strengthening maternal and child health care systems.

Current projects

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ARISE-NURINT

Reducing Nutrition-Related Noncommunicable Diseases in Adolescence and Youth: Interventions and Policies to Boost Nutrition Fluency and Diet Quality in Africa (ARISE-NUTRINT)

The ARISE Network Studies, conducted within the USINGA Health and Demographic Surveillance System (HDSS) in Umlazi, focus on improving adolescent health and wellbeing in sub-Saharan Africa. Through projects such as ARISE-NUTRINT and ARISE-DASH, the studies address critical issues of nutrition, physical activity, sexual and reproductive health, and mental health among adolescents aged 10 to 24.

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Asenze

The impact of changes in social determinants of health on adolescent and young adult mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic: A longitudinal study of the Asenze cohort in South Africa.

The Asenze Study is a longitudinal, population-based study following children from early childhood into adolescence in peri-urban and peri-rural communities in KwaZulu-Natal. The study examines child health, neurodevelopment, behaviour, household and caregiver wellbeing, and broader social outcomes, with a focus on factors such as HIV, nutrition, education, and family functioning. The Asenze Impilo sub-study explores adolescent and young adult mental health, particularly in the context of COVID-19, and evaluates the acceptability of targeted interventions.

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Community Mental health Education and Detection tool for adolescents and children (CMED-C)

The CMED-C study addresses the lack of community-based mental health screening and limited mental health literacy among children, adolescents, and caregivers in South Africa. It aims to develop a practical tool to improve understanding of mental health, support early detection of possible conditions, and strengthen pathways to care for young people aged 6–18 and their families.

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DASH

Research Network for Design and Evaluation of Adolescent Health Interventions and Policies in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Adolescents in sub-Saharan Africa face significant health challenges across nutrition, physical activity, sexual and reproductive health, and mental health, including exposure to violence. Limited population-level data and insufficiently targeted interventions hinder effective policy and program responses in the region.

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Quality Evidence for Health System Transformation (QuEST)

Many health systems in low- and middle-income countries face challenges in delivering high-quality, equitable care. There is a need for robust evidence and practical solutions to guide health system transformation globally.

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Supportive Team Action for Rural Health (STAR)

An evaluation of a participatory learning and action intervention to support health workers to act as change agents for improving quality of care for mothers and newborns in rural health facilities in South Africa.

Maternal and newborn health outcomes in rural South Africa lag behind global targets due to weak health systems, under-resourced facilities, and isolated, unsupported health workers. Challenges such as poor infrastructure, limited teamwork, and low staff motivation prevent the delivery of high-quality, respectful care.

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The Primary Health Care Transformation Committee (PHCTC)

The Primary Health Care Transformation Committee (PHCTC) is a learning collaborative in KwaZulu-Natal that drives health system reform to strengthen Primary Health Care (PHC) and revitalise Community-Oriented Primary Care (COPC). Established in 2018 through a partnership between the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Health and UKZN’s Centre for Rural Health, the PHCTC promotes evidence-based decision-making and shared learning to improve people-centred health services.

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