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Youth disengagement is a growing concern globally, yet little research has been done to explore participatory approaches that can engage youth as co‐creators of community programs that improve their resilience. The primary objective of the study is to report on the results of an innovative participatory approach used in the Eastern and Western Cape provinces, South Africa, to engage vulnerable youth in needs ranking. Data for this paper were collected in three phases. Using information gleaned from the literature review (Phase I), authors compiled a list of core needs on separate cards. In Phase II, youth discussed and ranked each need in terms of importance for their community. In Phase III, youth participated in focus group discussions on the ranked needs as part of a broader discussion on youth risk behaviours. Thematic analysis was used for qualitative data. Needs ranking data were analysed using descriptive statistics. Although expressed priority needs differed amongst communities, combined data revealed the top expressed priorities as further education (priority 1; 85%), skills development (priority 2; 74%) and career development and training (priority 3; 68%). Differences between critical needs as discussed in the literature and those perceived by youth were noted. Focus group data validated the expressed priority needs and highlighted that vulnerable youth felt valued through the needs ranking activity. Involving youth in the assessment of their needs can improve the value of information obtained, which in turn can facilitate better allocation of community resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With a shift in moving towards the 4th industrial revolution, digital storytelling has been identified as a novel way of facilitating teaching and learning. This paper will be aimed at offering an understanding of the experience and perspective of occupational therapy students in using digital storytelling as a reflective tool as an assignment as part of their undergraduate and masters occupational therapy curriculum at a university in South Africa. A descriptive qualitative study was undertaken, and five participants were purposively recruited. Individual semistructured interviews were conducted as well as a focus group with participants. An inductive analysis revealed two themes: Reflections on relevance within the occupational therapy curriculum and Is technology the new direction? The findings conclude that digital storytelling as a medium to showcase reflections on identifying formation was an innovative and novel way of documenting the reflective experiences of occupational therapy students. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims This paper describes the perceptions of nurse managers about their dual role in nursing units as cost centres. Background The tertiary hospital in the Limpopo province is the first institution to appoint nurse managers with a dual role in cost centres. The development of a conceptual framework for a context-specific programme for Cost Centre Managers is the first of its nature in South Africa. Method A qualitative, exploratory, descriptive design was followed. The target population included nurse managers ( n = 35) formally appointed as cost centre managers with a dual role of delivering quality care and cost management. A focus group and individual interviews were conducted until data saturation occurred. Results Personal and professional distress, an empowering potential of being a cost centre manager, and the need for decentralized cost centre management were indicated as barriers for nurse managers that led to a framework for a context-specific training programme. Conclusion There is a need for a context-specific training programme for cost centre managers in a hospital with cost centres. Implications for nursing management The training of cost centre managers for their dual role in cost centres could enhance cost effectiveness, quality care and staff satisfaction. [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]

Introduction. The South African government introduced a reengineered primary healthcare approach to promote universal health coverage. The approach was to ensure equitable, efficient, and quality health services for consumers in private and public healthcare sectors. The transition toward a more comprehensive primary healthcare approach to intervention requires occupational therapists who predominantly worked in private and hospital settings to extend their services to clients who previously would have had little access to such services. This study was conducted to identify the key competencies required by occupational therapists to deliver appropriate primary healthcare services to communities from previously disadvantaged periurban and rural areas. Methods. An exploratory, qualitative study design was used. Through the use of policy documents and data from key informants (n = 5), established therapists (n = 14), and novice occupational therapy graduates (n = 39), the study identified and mapped the stakeholders' perspectives of the competencies required by graduates to practice in periurban and rural settings in KwaZulu-Natal in South Africa. Data was collected using semistructured interviews, a focus group discussion, a document review of the university's curriculum, and the local and global regulatory documents. A framework based on the seven roles of the university's competency framework informed the data analysis process. The seven roles are health practitioner, communicator, collaborator, health advocate, leader and management, scholar, and professional. Findings. Participants highlighted the need for graduates to have adequate knowledge and understanding of the impact of the Department of Health policies and social determinants of health on occupation and the client's health. They also needed to be suitably skilled in culturally sensitive communication, negotiating shared goals with the stakeholders, and managing a department. Graduates needed to be socially accountable and develop services to advocate for their clients. Conclusion. The study offered insights into the essential graduate competencies identified by the stakeholders and recommended measures to prepare rehabilitation graduates for service delivery in primary healthcare contexts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Youth can be a positive force for development when provided with the knowledge and opportunities they need to thrive, yet they continue to experience insurmountable challenges, such as poverty and absentee fathers, that prompt them to resort to risk behaviours such as substance use. In rural South Africa, women tend to be the breadwinners and more involved with parenting than men. Objective: The primary objective of the study was to explore perspectives of rural youth on factors influencing youth participation in substance use. The secondary objective was to obtain the perspectives of adult women on factors influencing substance use among young people. Methods: The qualitative study, informed by a social‐ecological framework, utilised a semi‐structured interview protocol in focus group discussions in rural South Africa. Seven focus group discussions, each with between 8 and 15 individuals were conducted with 79 youth. The eighth discussion was with nine adult women. Data were audio recorded and transcribed verbatim, manually coded and further analysed into themes using NVivo 12. Findings: Four themes emerged: hopelessness and lack of motivation, lack of adult role models such as father, lack of built environment for recreational activities and lack of educational opportunities. The social‐ecological model provided a useful framework to understand the findings. In line with this model, rural youth in South Africa described a variety of factors that influenced youth substance use and other risk behaviours. These related to the individual, relationships with others, community and societal norms and values factors of the social‐ecological model. Conclusions: The broadening spectrum of substances available to an increasing youth population bulge in Africa suggests a strong threat of social and disease burden due to substance use disorders. Given this threat, this study provides awareness to a multi‐systems approach needed to support the rural South African youth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]