Children and the internet: helping kids navigate this modern minefield
The internet and social media are not all bad for children. Some online spaces may even help young people to manage their mental health.
Research
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Air pollution in South Africa: affordable new devices use AI to monitor hotspots in real time
The health risks of poor air quality are known. But it’s always been costly to set up monitoring stations to measure it regularly.
Gel manicures and acrylic nails might look beautiful but they come with ugly health risks
The chemicals in the nail adhesives can cause skin irritation and dermatitis. Nail glue burns are also widely reported.
Fewer people living with HIV in South Africa, but new infections are cause for concern
New infections are particularly high among adolescent girls and women between the ages of 15 and 49. Women in these age groups have higher infection rates than their male counterparts.
South African teens are struggling: Western Cape study shows 33% have symptoms of depression
The age range of 10- to 14-year-olds has been neglected. This age group is important because half of all mental health problems develop before the age of 14.
Scientists are a step closer to understanding how elite controllers suppress HIV in their bodies
There is a group of people who have HIV, are not on treatment, yet the virus in their bodies is undetectable. This population is known as elite controllers.
Technology makes it possible to diagnose diseases on the spot – but South Africa’s public healthcare system faces several obstacles
Testing at the point of care – where the patient is being treated – saves time that would have been spent waiting for results to come back from a laboratory.
Researchers are optimistic about the early findings of HIV prevention injection study
A trial conducted among over 5,300 adolescent girls and young women in South Africa and Uganda, showed zero HIV infections with the injectable lenacapavir, compared to daily oral drugs Descovy and Truvada.
New report highlights the profound impact of climate change on children’s health and education
Extreme weather events like floods, heatwaves, and droughts disrupt daily life, displacing families, destroying infrastructure, and limiting access to essential services such as healthcare and education.
Romantic breakups can spark severe trauma in young people – new study
Mental healthcare providers and student counselling services should recognise the possible intensity of breakups and consider screening for post-traumatic stress symptoms following a breakup.
New report shows that 1 in 3 South Africans smoke
33.9% of daily smokers say they have a cigarette within the first 5 minutes of waking up.
Social media for sex education: South African teens explain how it would help them
Integrating social media into sexuality education programmes has the potential to lead to improved sexual and reproductive health outcomes among learners.
Hunger and mental health: study looks at how families cope with food insecurity
A recent study exploring the link between food insecurity and mental health found that coping strategies such as relying on less preferred foods or sending household members to beg for food were common.
Trial results shows that new treatment for a common STI is on the horizon
A global clinical trial for a new gonorrhoea treatment has shown promising results. The trial found that the oral antibiotic drug, zoliflodacin, is effective in treating gonorrhoea, a common bacterial sexually transmitted infection (STI) that spreads through unprotected vaginal, oral,…
Teen mums in South Africa: largest ever study explores what it takes to go back to school
Kathryn Steventon Roberts, University of Oxford and Janina Jochim, University of Oxford Imagine the weight of responsibility for caring for a child when you are not yet fully grown yourself, and the fear of being shamed by parents, fellow learners,…