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Maternal health literacy programmes to improve self-care of pregnant women in Africa a scoping review
(Women's Health and Action Research Centre, 2026) Noncungu, Thabani M; Sibindi, Thandi; Chipps, Jennifer; Crowley, Talitha
Midwives are uniquely positioned to implement health literacy programmes, yet there is limited synthesis of existing midwife-led health literacy programmes for pregnant women in Africa. This scoping review maps the evidence on health literacy programmes to improve the self-care of pregnant women in Africa. Eight articles, published between 2015 and 2025, were included across African countries from six electronic databases, such as MEDLINE and one search engine: Google Scholar. Maternal health literacy programmes varied in mode of delivery, duration, components, and outcomes. Most programmes used a group antenatal care model, a combination of face-to-face and digital health tools, and focused on improving functional, interactive, and critical health literacy. Maternal health literacy programmes in African countries seem to be under-researched. More research is needed to strengthen the outcomes of programmes such as usability and acceptability, knowledge and awareness, and clinical outcomes. In addition, longer-term research is necessary to assess the implementation and sustained impact of these programmes. African Journal of Reproductive Health.
A model of HIV or AIDS transmission dynamics with treatment the case of the DRC
(Tamkang University, 2026) Munyakazi, Justin B.; Mbayi, Charles K.; Mpompi, Jean-Marie N.
In this paper, we propose a novel HIV/AIDS epidemic treatment model to reduce the number of HIV cases. We divide infected individuals into four compartments, that is, a compartment of infected individuals who are unaware of their HIV status and do not show any symptoms, a compartment of infected individuals who are aware of their status but do not show any symptoms, infected individuals in the asymptomatic compartment and a treatment compartment that receives infected individuals who are aware of their status, whether they are sick or not. The basic reproduction number R0 for the proposed model is computed using the next generation matrix (NGM). Using a corollary of Gershgorin’s circle theorem, the results show that the disease-free equilibrium (DFE) is locally asymptotically stable (LAS) if R0 < 1 and the endemic equilibrium (EE) is locally asymptotically stable if R0 > 1. We also proved by means of the Lyapunov method that the disease-free equilibrium is globally asymptotically stable if R0 < 1. Finally, numerical simulations of the model are conducted to support the theoretical results and also to investigate the sensitivity of certain parameters using HIV/AIDS data from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).
The applicability of AWaRe-based antibiotic quality indicators to assess the appropriateness of antibiotic prescribing in primary healthcare in South Africa: A multicentre point prevalence study and implications for the future
(Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute (MDPI), 2026) Johnson, Yasmina; Chigome, Audrey; Cook, Aislinn
Background/Objectives: Inappropriate antibiotic prescribing in primary healthcare (PHC) contributes to bacterial antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Antibiotic stewardship, including measuring the appropriateness of antibiotic prescribing using quality indicators, is a priority in PHC where most antibiotics are used. Using previously developed WHO AWaRe classification-based quality indicators, we aim to test the clinimetric properties of 13 acute respiratory tract infection (RTI) quality indicators and qualitatively explore factors influencing PHC antibiotic prescribing in South Africa. Methods: We conducted a mixed-methods exploratory feasibility study using point prevalence surveys (PPSs) with clinimetric assessment and prescriber interviews. PPSs were conducted at four PHC facilities in Gauteng province that had taken part in previous PPS studies, alongside face-to-face interviews with PHC personnel. Results: In total, 52/52 (100%) RTI patients received antibiotics. Four (30.8%) indicators achieved scores above 85%, while six (46.2%) scored below 50%. All indicators had applicability scores ≥10%. Twelve (92.3%) indicators had a measurability score of 100%, while one (7.7%) had a measurability score <75%. Twelve (92.3%) indicators met all predefined acceptable scores for applicability and measurability. No participant knew of the WHO’s AWaRe classification and none had specific training on antibiotic prescribing and AMR. They also had no antibiotic stewardship programmes (ASPs) or specific antibiotic-prescribing guidelines at their facilities.
Euclid quick data release (q1) Xix. First study of red quasars selection
(EDP Sciences, 2026) Karagiannis , Dionysios; Tarsitano , Federica; Fotopoulou , Sotiria; Banerji , Manda
Red quasars constitute an important but elusive phase in the evolution of supermassive black holes, where dust obscuration can significantly alter their observed properties. They have broad emission lines, like other quasars, but their optical continuum emission is significantly reddened, which is why they were traditionally identified based on near- and mid-infrared selection criteria. This work showcases the capability of the Euclid space telescope to find a large sample of red quasars, using Euclid near infrared (NIR) photometry. We first conduct a forecast analysis, comparing a synthetic catalogue of red quasars with COSMOS2020. Using template fitting, we reconstruct Euclid-like photometry for the COSMOS sources and identify a sample of candidates in a multi-dimensional colour-colour space achieving 98% completeness for mock red quasars with 30% contaminants. To refine our selection function, we implement a probabilistic Random Forest classifier, and use UMAP visualisation to disentangle non-linear features in colour-space, reaching 98% completeness and 88% purity. A preliminary analysis of the candidates in the Euclid Deep Field Fornax (EDF-F) shows that, compared to VISTA+DECam-based colour selection criteria, Euclid’s superior depth, resolution, and optical-to-NIR coverage improves the identification of the reddest, most obscured sources. Notably, the Euclid exquisite resolution in the IE filter unveils the presence of a candidate dual quasar system, highlighting the potential for this mission to contribute to future studies on the population of dual AGN. The resulting catalogue of candidates, including more the 150 000 sources, provides a first census of red quasars in Euclid Q1 and sets the groundwork for future studies in the Euclid Wide Survey (EWS), including spectral follow-up analyses and host morphology characterisation
A comparative study of rural water governance in the Limpopo basin
(University of the Western Cape, 2011) Sithole Pinimidzai; van Koppen Barbara; Derman Bill
In this thesis I examine and explore whether and if Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) inspired water reforms respond to- and address the diverse realities of women and men in informal (and formal) rural economies ofSekororo, South Africa and Ward 17 in Gwanda, Zimbabwe which are both in the Limpopo basin. South Africa and Zimbabwe, like other southern African countries, embarked on IWRMinspired water reforms, culminating in the promulgation of the National Water Acts in 1998, four years after the attainment of South Africa's democracy in 1994 and 18 years after Zimbabwe attained independence in 1980. I argue that the adoption of IWRM, which emphasises second generation water issues such as demand management, water quality, environmental flow requirements etc, and not the development of water infrastructure, begs the question whether such reforms can make a meaningful contribution to the development agenda in countries where, during apartheid and colonialism, the water rights (among other rights) of millions of blacks were compromised because of unjust legislation and skewed underinvestment in water infrastructure. I explore the emerging contradictions between the post-apartheid and post-independence water legislation (and related policies) on the one hand, and the rural realities of informal water use on the other by employing the 'hydraulic property rights creation' to analyse how people, as individuals and/or as groups, assert rights over water, and how such claims become legitimised through multiple arrangements. The negotiability/flexibility concept was used to analyse how resource rights and access are negotiated and contested in view of changing conditions and contexts within informal systems in the two study sites