Nearly half of South Africa’s 60 million people receive social grants. Health experts say they improve cognitive health among the elderly.
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Agincourt, the University of the Witwatersrand’s rural research centre 500km from Johannesburg, has documented the lives of 120,000 people over decades.
Malaria in Africa accounts for 96% of deaths worldwide. Cape Verde became only the third country in Africa to be declared malaria free this year. This is how they did it.
Neglected tropical diseases are often associated with social exclusion as well as physical suffering. One billion people around the world suffer from these diseases.
Adolescent girls are more at risk during childbirth. Stigma and abuse by healthcare workers makes them less likely to seek medical care, putting their lives further in danger.
It takes a family to raise a child. Vulnerable children should not be treated in isolation. Family-centred interventions usually meet the complex needs of children.
Mindfulness, being in the present moment, is often achieved through meditation, the practice of sitting still and focusing on the breath. Both help relieve feelings of anxiety and depression
Sunburn can cause cancer, heat stroke and changes to the immune system. Choosing the right sun protection, even for darker skin, is more complicated than it looks.
People who hold higher levels of hope will be less likely to experience symptoms of depression. Shared hopes are also important for expectations of national and international futures.
Heat, floods and droughts create conditions for pathogens and their vectors.
The judgment leads the way in Africa, but the new leave policies favour high income groups. Mothers will still bear the brunt of child care in poor households.
In rural Ghana, only 18% of patients believe elephantiasis is a disease. Some others think it is caused by curses or even rain. Only by understanding local beliefs can it be treated effectively.
The past two years have seen groundbreaking advances in the fight against malaria with the development of two vaccines. But demand far exceeds supply, so rollouts need to be carefully managed.
Planned early delivery is a key component of reducing child and maternal mortality.
Africa bears the heaviest burden of antimicrobial resistance, a phenomenon fuelled largely by poverty, But there are encouraging signs that the continent is taking action to fight it.
Antimicrobial resistance is an epidemic that kills close to 5 million people annually. The solutions are complex and must take into account the needs of the poor.
The impact of housing quality extends beyond health to education and subsequent economic outcomes, particularly for children.
Countries that have adopted clear food labels have seen the health benefits. Researchers explain how a new system to alert South African consumers to unhealthy choices was developed.
The three flu pandemics of the 20th century originated from birds, making it critical to fight bird flu. Breakthroughs in gene-editing chickens show promise for eliminating the disease in the future.
Children have constant access to media coverage of armed conflicts, terrorist attacks, mass shootings and other brutal acts. This makes it tough for them to develop a sense of hope for the future.
Diabetes affects about 12% of South Africa’s adult population.
The Sahel region is grappling with an outbreak of the deadly mosquito-borne disease.
The latest State of the World’s Fathers report found a shift in attitudes. In 15 countries, between 70% and 90% of men agreed with the statement, “I feel as responsible for care work as my partner.”
Some children of HIV-positive parents drop out of school to look after their mothers and fathers. Others skip class to earn cash for the family by selling goods.
This is an era of exciting advances in medical science. But Africa is in danger of being at the back of the queue once again. What should we be doing to make sure this doesn’t happen?