Search

Migration to South Africa is motivated by the pursuit of employment, safety, and improved living conditions. However, immigrants encounter significant challenges, such as restricted access to essential services, which were exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. This paper investigates the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Malawian immigrants in South Africa, addressing the lack of attention given to this immigrant population by highlighting their vulnerabilities. Using a qualitative exploratory and descriptive approach, in-depth interviews were conducted with 24 Malawi immigrants who were over 18 years old and had established residency in South Africa before the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Five key stakeholders were also interviewed for additional perspectives and to ensure triangulation and improve data reliability. The interviews were transcribed verbatim and analyzed using thematic analysis strategies and coding with Nvivo12 software. The study highlighted the exacerbated struggles of Malawian immigrants in South Africa amid the COVID-19 pandemic, uncovering systemic discrimination in healthcare, marked by longer wait times and reluctance from health workers to treat undocumented immigrants. The study also revealed a dire security situation, with immigrants living in high-crime areas and feeling particularly targeted due to their foreign status, a situation worsened by the pandemic's economic effects. Additionally, the economic downturn induced by COVID-19 significantly impacted employment opportunities, with many immigrants facing prolonged unemployment and job losses, especially in sectors where they traditionally found work. The detailed accounts of participants highlight not only the multifaceted challenges imposed by the pandemic but also the critical need for inclusive policies and support systems that ensure healthcare access, safety, and economic resilience for immigrants, particularly during global health emergencies. Future research should focus on effective interventions for socioeconomic integration and well-being, particularly for immigrants from other African countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. Community engagement is crucial for effective and sustainable sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHRs) promotion. Community engagement in community-based health promotion initiatives is contextual and influenced by individual, community, and societal factors. In South Africa, community engagement in SRHR promotion is challenging due to numerous historical and contemporary factors including the socionormative community context and socionormative perceptions regarding SRHR matters. There is little empirical literature to guide community-based practitioners working in health promotion in understanding the contextual influences on community engagement with SRHR promotion generally or in South Africa specifically. Objective. This research aimed to explore the influences on community engagement in community-based SRHR promotion initiatives in the Eastern Cape, South Africa. Methods. An ethnographic and multiqualitative study was conducted in the Eastern Cape, South Africa, involving 78 purposively and conveniently sampled participants. Findings. Three superordinate themes influence community engagement with SRHR promotion in South Africa (i) representations of the issues; (ii) perceived relevance of SRHR issues and SRHR promotion; and (iii) the relational environment, often operating in interactive ways. The themes are presented in a conceptual framework. Conclusions. Influences on community engagement in SRHR promotion in the Eastern Cape of South Africa are highly contextual. The conceptual framework arising from the study's findings could be used in community-based health promotion and primary health care in other settings to develop the understanding of factors influencing community engagement in SRHR or other sensitive or emerging health issues, and inform relevant and appropriate design and implementation of community-based initiatives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]