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This paper sought to investigate the accessibility of Digital Access Centres as a resource for Unisa Students needing to access services away from campus. The Digital Access Centres are available in open-distance e-learning institutions like Unisa in a quest to reach students. Unisa regional computer labs are always fully packed with students queuing to access the computers to access online platforms to write and submit assignments. Students are also expected to use Digital Access Centres to access support services instead of travelling long distances to regional offices or campuses. This study investigated UNISA students' perceptions and knowledge of Digital Access Centres. A qualitative research methodology was used. Data was generated through semi-structured interviews with thirteen students. The sample was drawn from a population of students who visit computer labs at the Gauteng Regional Service Centre. The data collected revealed that students do not know about Digital Access Centres despite information being available on myUnisa and myChoice brochures. The findings also revealed that few students are accessing Digital Access Centres, and those who visited the centres, indicated that the centres are not fully operational and struggle with connectivity.

Over the past decades, the language management discourse in South Africa has focused on the development and intellectualization of the functional status of indigenous African languages in high-status domains. African languages are marginalized despite the existence of various empowering and restorative legislative provisions and policies of the new democratic dispensation. Of particular interest in this paper are the challenges that affect the localization of information and communication technologies in the higher education domain. The reliance mostly on former colonial languages for the transmission of knowledge in education has had a negative impact on the development and intellectualization of these languages. It has been argued that Information and Communication Technology (ICT) localization has the potential of improving information access in indigenous languages which can further facilitate the maximum utilization and development of these languages. The promotion of African languages and their use in scientific domains is critical in addressing historical linguistic inequalities and injustices in the South African higher education sector. In this paper, I argue that the dynamics associated with the connection between macro and micro level language management, and some socio-linguistic and socio-cultural factors affect the ultimate goal of achieving language management goals associated with ICT localization.

This paper identified the training strategies for distance education academic libraries that could improve remote clients' access to information resources during the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. The positivism research paradigm anchored this study and employed a quantitative approach. Eighty-two (82) online questionnaire was sent to the library staff working in academic libraries that operate in a distance education environment in Gauteng Province of South Africa. The collected data were analyzed with frequency counts and percentages. The hypothesis was tested using multinomial logistic regression statistics. The findings revealed that academic libraries provided training through the library staff to ensure that remote clients cope with the technological advancement facilitated by the emergence of COVID-19. This study recommended that the library staff should consider training intervention in the areas that seem to be neglected, such as identifying information resources relevant to their information needs, introduction to library products and services, and introduction to reference techniques to facilitate the usage and access to information resources by the remote clients.

Purpose: The objective of this study is to present evidence regarding how young people, who are not in education, employment or training (NEET) in South Africa, lack literacy skills and access to enabling resources to actively search and navigate information services systems that are primarily web-based. Information Poverty Theory is adopted to better understand the technological and social strata challenges experienced by young NEET people. Design/methodology/approach: The study used semi-structured interviews for collecting data over two months in 2018, employing snowball sampling with 24 key participants, representing a diversity of educational backgrounds and previous experience of economic participation. Findings: The findings of this study suggest that most interviewed young people, who are NEET, lack advanced information literacy and digital skills to access information services. The results also indicate that access to information services that are primed for online information is a challenge for most of these NEET young people residing in underserviced communities. The high cost of an Internet connection means that the Internet is out of reach for most low-income households. In communities that are underserviced with no adequate information and communication technology (ICT) infrastructure, people residing in such areas are subjected to living in circumstances where there is poverty and thus a lack of access to online information. Research limitations/implications: This paper reports on data collected in 2018 using intense interviews, while acknowledging limitations in terms of the sample size. Hence, it is not fully representative of the whole population of young people, who are NEET, residing in the Gauteng Province of South Africa. Practical implications: The findings illustrate the need for further collaboration among relevant stakeholders to strengthen existing programmes and for stronger partnerships. The arguments presented herein enhance knowledge and understanding concerning the digital literacy skills divide that exists among young people who are NEET. It includes a discussion to contribute to policy development. Originality/value: This study focuses on challenges young people who are NEET experience when looking for work and developmental opportunities. This qualitative study adopts Information Poverty Theory and uses prior studies to link the undertaken survey and research. It is expected that this study may serve as a pilot for future studies and may also contribute to the ongoing discussions around the use of ICTs on their use and access, especially the effect on young people when searching for information related to jobs and other developmental opportunities using online services.

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to review the literature on factors that contribute to the successful development and use of the mobile digital library (DL). This aim will be achieved by reviewing selected journal articles on mobile DLs' successful development and use. This paper argues that the concept of DLs is evolving because of the dynamic nature of knowledge and technological developments in the infosphere. Design/methodology/approach: A systematic literature search of journal article factors that contribute to the successful development and use of the mobile DL was accomplished by searching the following databases: Emerald insight, Science directory and Google Scholar. The systematic review was conducted following the preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses guidelines. This study applied Rogers's (1965) Diffusion of innovation theory to unpack the attributes of innovation to unpack contextual factors shaping African conceptions of mobile libraries (m-libraries). The studies reviewed were published from 2016 to 2021. This paper is based on a systematic literature review. This paper uses publicly available literature on the theme of DLs concerning m-libraries. Among the search terms used for the study were: "digital libraries", "Africa and digital libraries", "electronic libraries", "information communication technologies", "access to information" and "mobile digital libraries". Findings: Reviewed literature indicates that myriad factors can contribute positively or negatively to the successful development and use of the mobile DL. These factors include the degree of staff awareness and understanding of the potential of mobile technologies in enhancing the provision of library services, the availability of relevant digital content, library staff and users' level of digital and information literacy competencies to navigate digital platforms, user friendliness of DL platforms, material and financial support to access m-libraries, power supply and access to internet connectivity. Practical implications: The results from this study will generate knowledge and insight into the factors that affect the development and optimal use of mobile DLs to enhance and widen access to scholarly databases irrespective of time and space. This study will make recommendations that will enable South African policymakers to make informed decisions relating to the factors affecting the development and usage of mobile DLs for enhanced learning, teaching and education. Originality/value: Given the growing number of scholarly publications on mobile DLs, this study seeks to discover how such technologies can help enhance learning, teaching and research in higher education. This study's findings will provide a scientific basis for policymakers and researchers with evidence-based knowledge that raises the value of mobile DLs. It was discovered that if the identified factors are handled well, users can easily access tools, such as databases, electronic journals and online reference tools, and this could improve the quality of teaching and learning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper lies at the intersection of discussions surrounding digitally mediated research methods and transnational research projects. It contributes to the current methodological debate surrounding online interviewing by focusing on tensions and affordances involved in Skype-to-phone interviewing in a transnational research context. While the Skype-to-phone facility does indeed increase further access to global participants, complex power hierarchies and ethical concerns continue to exist in relation to technological access/infrastructure, research governance regimes in different places and interpersonal research relations. We, therefore, propose that online researchers involved in transnational research projects using Skype methods move towards consideration of multiple competing constituencies and diverse social and spatial connectivities and power hierarchies in which they are researching. These social differences and spatial registers are not swept away through research conducted in a uniform virtual digital environment; rather transnational researchers must make explicit the multiple place-based contexts of their digitally mediated research, as they shape the research process in distinct ways. Thus, specific consideration must be given to ethical concerns that emanate from transnational online research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As the world came to grips with the coronavirus diseases (COVID-19), educational institutions and the society at large faced the challenge of figuring out how to continue with teaching and learning in such a context. Many countries, including South Africa made efforts to help contain and suppress the spread of Covid-19. In the South African education sector, about 13 million learners and 440 000 teachers were released before the end of the first school term in March 2020. In addition, 30 000 Early Childhood Development (ECD) centres, about 100 000 teachers were also required to end their term before the official closing date. For many young learners, the lockdown period meant that they would be at home with (a) Limited access to age appropriate, fun and explicitly educational resources to play with as many shops considered resources that could be used to develop children's sensory skills as not essential goods (b) They had limited exposure to structured learning and play as most caregivers are not qualified ECD practitioners (c) Children could not play outside, visit playgrounds and parks, yet, freedom of movement, activity and exercise is important for every child's development and young children learn best through play and experimenting (d) Most of their curriculum content cannot be fully taught using online platforms. Given this background, through a semi-ethnographic study, the paper documents the early literacy experiences of two 3 year old children during the Covid-19 lockdown in South Africa. In addition, analysis of parents or caregivers' feedback about their experiences in providing assistance to the young learners during the lockdown is presented. Findings of the study show that in both research contexts, literacy practices were different, but not lesser. Challenging as it was for the caregivers to support the development of literacy, the home environment provided many opportunities for learning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper identified the training strategies for distance education academic libraries that could improve remote clients' access to information resources during the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. The positivism research paradigm anchored this study and employed a quantitative approach. Eighty-two (82) online questionnaire was sent to the library staff working in academic libraries that operate in a distance education environment in Gauteng Province of South Africa. The collected data were analyzed with frequency counts and percentages. The hypothesis was tested using multinomial logistic regression statistics. The findings revealed that academic libraries provided training through the library staff to ensure that remote clients cope with the technological advancement facilitated by the emergence of COVID-19. This study recommended that the library staff should consider training intervention in the areas that seem to be neglected, such as identifying information resources relevant to their information needs, introduction to library products and services, and introduction to reference techniques to facilitate the usage and access to information resources by the remote clients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: As the prevalence of paediatric dysphagia increases, the need for long‐term non‐oral feeding has also increased. Despite these developments, little is known about caregiver experiences of transitioning a child onto long‐term non‐oral feeds, and the factors which influence the process of decision‐making and the provision of consent to do so. This paper aims to explore these factors. Methods: Semi‐structured interviews were conducted with nine participants recruited from the multidisciplinary out‐patient non‐oral feeding clinic at a hospital. Interviews explored caregiver experiences of decision‐making and the process of providing consent when transitioning their child to non‐oral feeds, as well as the support structures available to the caregivers. Interviews were audio recorded and transcribed, then analyzed using thematic analysis (Braun & Clarke, 2013) and content analysis (Neuendorf, 2016). Results: Challenges to care and quality of life, access to information and culturally relevant counselling, and the involvement of family members and significant others emerged as prominent themes. Findings suggest that quality of life was the most common motivating factor for transitioning a child to non‐oral feeding methods. Several participants suggested that support and information sharing via digital platforms were both useful and effective. Implications: The findings highlight caregivers' needs for improved access to information and social support. The findings hold implications for training of healthcare providers working in similar contexts and for models of service delivery which ensure that family‐centred intervention can be delivered in culturally and contextually relevant ways. With widespread access to smartphones, counselling should include digital messaging as a way of providing support and information sharing. Future research should focus on the complexities of counselling and the process of informed consent in settings impacted by diverse cultural, contextual and linguistic barriers, as well as the potential value of mobile health (mhealth) in ensuring improved health outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: South African women bear an intersecting burden of HIV, sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and unintended pregnancy. Multipurpose prevention technologies (MPTs) are a class of products that address multiple needs and have the potential to improve uptake and use of prevention products. Methods: Analysing survey data from 703 HIV-negative women 18--40 years in three provinces in South Africa, collected between July and November 2022, this study explores their preferences for prevention methods and factors influencing choice of hypothetical prevention methods, including MPTs. Descriptive statistics and multinomial regression analyses were conducted to determine prevention method preferences and factors associated with choosing a pill, injectable or MPT-implant type prevention method. Results: Most women wanted to prevent HIV, STIs and pregnancy. The most important factors when choosing a prevention product were whether it provided dual and long-term protection and if side effects were manageable. If choosing only one method, half of women would choose any MPT-implant and a quarter each would choose a pill or an injectable method, with method choices differing by population group. Discussion: Prevention method choices were influenced by sexual-behavioural factors and current and prior contraceptive method use. Providing a choice of prevention methods and a population specific approach to new method development and introduction with access to accurate information could enhance their ability to fill a gap in prevention needs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: There is an increase in young people's engagement with social media (SM), specifically nutrition information. Nutrition misinformation is, however, prevalent on SM due to lack of professional gatekeeping of this user-generated content. Objectives: The study aimed to assess the use of SM as a platform for obtaining nutrition information and how the accuracy thereof is evaluated. Design: A descriptive cross-sectional study with an analytical component was conducted. Data were collected from 2 318 participants using a content- and face-validated self-administered online questionnaire. Descriptive statistics and relevant inferential statistics were used. A p < 0.05 indicates statistical significance. Setting: The survey was completed by students from Stellenbosch University, South Africa. Subjects: Undergraduate students (18-25 years) registered at Stellenbosch University (2021), South Africa (n = 2 318). Results: Of 2 318 participants (69% female), 1 615 used SM to access nutrition information, with YouTube being the most used platform for this purpose (96%). Females used SM significantly more than males (p < 0.001) and participants living in shared accommodation used SM significantly less than those in other living arrangements (p < 0.001). A minority (17%) of participants 'actively' turn to SM for nutrition information, while the majority (54%) engaged only if it happened to appear on their feed. The preferred nutrition content was 'what to eat in a day' (83%). Participants felt most comfortable following a registered dietitian (64%) for accurate nutrition information. Relatability (87%) was a characteristic that motivated participants to follow SM influencers and 16% trusted claims from health influencers on SM. Although 91% understood what evidence-based nutrition information means, 77% of participants struggled to determine the accuracy of nutrition information on SM, with females indicating significantly more difficulty than males (chi2 = 39, p < 0.001). Conclusion: The participants engaged with nutrition information on SM and understood what evidenced-based nutrition information is. However, the majority lack skill in determining information accuracy on SM. A dietitian was trusted most as a source of nutrition information. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The assumption of this research is that individuals' financial position affects the technology they opt to use to access information. This is an important consideration since access to information is critical to financial emancipation. The technological divide and financial exclusion seem to go hand-in-hand. The aim of this research is to identify the leading forms of technology that are used to access information in South Africa and to assess whether any of them are income-elastic. The outcome of the research will inform decisions regarding the dissemination of information in South Africa, a country with large income disparities. Cross-sectional data collected through 3 531 interviews as part of the World Values Survey (WVS) were used to specify the different kinds of technology people use to access information and people's income levels, and to compute the income elasticity of the different types of technology. Frequencies, mean scores and correlations were calculated. The correlations between financial position and methods of accessing information were used to determine the income elasticity of the different types of technology. The demographics represent a wide spectrum of South African citizens. The primary means of obtaining information was found to be television, followed by radio. Next was the print media, followed by mobile phones, and then the Internet. It was found that the use of television and radio was not income elastic, while the use of mobile phones and even more so the Internet was income-elastic. In conclusion, technologically advanced digital devices (mobile phones and the Internet) are income-elastic and thus discriminate against people with less financial resources. Thus, the use of mobile phones and the Internet for purposes of accessing and distributing information perpetuates income discrepancies. Those interested in equal access to information should distribute information across all media and be aware that focusing only on technologically advanced digital devices will exclude the poor. Alternatively, the poor should be granted access to modern technologies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Prolacerta broomi is one of the most important of fossil reptiles. First considered as one of the earliest members of squamates, this basal archosauromorph has been used as a model for diapsid morphological evolution ever since its discovery, playing a pivotal role in hypotheses on the origin of diapsid reptiles. The holotype of Prolacerta broomi (UCMZ 2003.41R) is known from a mostly complete skull, but the original description is limited to the superficial features of the skull roof and palate. Since then, many other specimens of Prolacerta broomi have been recovered that potentially account for this limited access to anatomical information, but it remains unclear whether these aspects correspond well to the known material of the holotype. Here, the skull morphology of the holotype of Prolacerta broomi is revisited through the use of µCT scans. The identifications of some cranial elements have been corrected, such as the left prefrontal and lacrimal, and several new elements are revealed, including the epi- and ectopterygoids, prearticular, coronoid, and braincase bones. The orbitonasal region is described in detail and significantly shows a contribution of the lacrimal to the dorsal alveolar canal. Finally, the addition of the holotype as an independent OTU in recently published analyses indicate conflicts with the current knowledge on Prolacerta broomi phylogenetic affinity and taxonomy. First, it points to potential taxonomic inconsistency since the holotype does not form a monophyletic group with other Prolacerta broomi OTUs in any of the analyses and, second, it suggests a more basal position for the holotype than that recovered in some studies, more basal than rhynchosaurs and close to the origin of Crocopoda. Together, these findings indicate areas of future research interest in the study of early evolving archosauromorphs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The onset of the Covid-19 pandemic and the resultant lockdown measures to limit exposure to the virus greatly impacted healthcare service delivery. This study examined how healthcare workers' use of technology to deliver maternal and perinatal mental healthcare in South Africa changed, and how they experienced these changes in their practice. Participants were invited to complete a self-reporting questionnaire distributed online to healthcare workers working with mothers and infants across South Africa. Sixty-six participants (n=66) completed the survey. All healthcare workers had access to mobile phones and made use of these to interact with patients. Since the national lockdown in March 2020, healthcare workers' use of technology in their practice has expanded. Virtual consulting as an alternative or adjunct to inperson appointments increased significantly from 22.8% pre-lockdown to 59.6% during the hard lockdown, which was sustained at 61.4% after lockdown regulations were eased. Most healthcare workers (88.9%) found the increased use of technology acceptable, and 61.4% planned to continue using a blend of in-person and virtual appointments after the various stages of lockdown were lifted. The Covid-19 pandemic has impacted how maternal and perinatal mental health services are delivered in public and private settings in SA, with an overall shift towards incorporating mobile healthcare in the form of virtual consultations as standard practice, even in under-resourced communities. This trend highlights the potential of mobile healthcare to expand the reach of perinatal mental healthcare delivery to under-serviced sectors of the population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The worldwide Covid-19 pandemic has highlighted inequities faced by persons with complex communication needs (CCN) in accessing health information and education. This study reports on the perspectives of South African rehabilitation professionals regarding access to health information and education for youth with CCN. Two asynchronous online written focus groups were conducted with 15 rehabilitation professionals. Participants' contributions were thematically analysed. Participants reported that youth with CCN faced a variety of challenges when accessing health information, related, amongst others, to the format and quality of the information. Participants reported on strategies they had successfully used to support comprehension of health information and the youth's communication during healthcare encounters. Participants suggested various Covid-19-related and general health topics of value to youth, as well as a variety of multimodal and multilingual presentation formats to make health information accessible. This information was used in the development of accessible health information resources that are now freely available on the authors' institutional website. The results confirmed that there is an urgent need to make accessible health information available in order to include South Africans with CCN in health services during the pandemic and beyond. Health information and education (including information and education provided with respect to the Covid-19 pandemic) has often not been accessible to youth with complex communication needs (CCN). South African rehabilitation professionals reported on a variety of challenges that youth with CCN face when attempting to access health information and education, but also reported on strategies that had helped to support them in this. They also highlighted Covid-19-related and general health topics that would be of value to youth, and suggested a variety of information formats and strategies to make health information more accessible. This information can assist in the design of appropriate and accessible health information resources for youth with CCN and other individuals who experience communication challenges. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article describes the processes of transforming an in-person group-based intervention to promote uptake of PrEP among young woman in South Africa to an online interactive "workshop" during the COVID-19 pandemic. Beginning in person and continuing virtually, we used a step-by-step participatory approach with multiple stakeholder groups to develop nine activities to increase knowledge about, as well as motivation and intention to take PrEP, and to address gender-based barriers to PrEP. Activities were informed by our theoretical framework and formative work with young women ages 18–25. We demonstrate how we developed a gender-enhanced online PrEP workshop that was interactive, group-based, and in accordance with elements of established successful intervention design; why WhatsApp emerged as the most accessible application for the young women in our workshop; and how an intervention with a hybrid approach—alternating between chat box and live sessions—combined with verbal, written, and emoji-based communication enabled interaction among participants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

COVID-19 prevention measures including lockdowns, school closures, and restricted movement disrupted young people's lives. This longitudinal qualitative study conducted in Soweto, South Africa aimed to explore young people's knowledge and perceptions of COVID-19, vaccination, and the impact of infections. A convenience sample of 30 young black people (n = 15 men; n = 15 women, aged 16–21 years) from Soweto participated in 24 focus group discussions (FGDs), conducted in six phases – each phase had four FGDs stratified by gender and age. Young people's understanding of COVID-19 deepened throughout the study, however, did not always translate into adherence (following the government's COVID-19 prevention measures). Although deemed inadequate, TV and radio were preferred over internet COVID-19 information. Parents, teachers, and schools were trusted sources of information. Vaccines and limited access to information attributed to low-risk perception, while new COVID-19 variants attributed to high-risk perception. A low-risk perception and conspiracy theories contributed to non-adherence (disregarding COVID-19 preventative measures provided by the government), particularly among young men. Accessing reliable information that considers young people's lives and their living context is important. Communities, scientists, and policymakers must learn from the COVID-19 experience and implement localised preventive strategies for education, awareness, and economic support in future emergencies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article identified the library promotion strategies that distance education academic library services can employ to improve the ability of remote clients to access information resources during the COVID-19 pandemic. Academic libraries operating in a distance education environment in Gauteng Province, South Africa, are currently changing how library and information services are provided to remote clients. The traditional means of promoting library services through posters, banners, flyers, and pamphlets are now in the past. The emergence of COVID-19 facilitated information technologies. The study was anchored by the positivism research paradigm and used a quantitative approach. Microsoft Form was used to structure an online questionnaire sent to eighty-two (82) library staff, whereby 45 responses were received. The structured online questionnaire designed on Microsoft Form was used for data collection from the library staff working in academic libraries operating in a distance education environment in Gauteng Province of South Africa. The gathered data were downloaded, then exported from Microsoft Form to Microsoft Excel, then to Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) for data analysis using frequency, percentages, means and standard deviation. The pilot study was carried out to test the reliability and validity of the questionnaire. Cluster sampling was adopted because it was impossible to determine the actual number of respondents from the four participating higher learning institutions. The study results revealed that social media, teleconferencing platforms, and e-mails were the most used channels to promote library services during COVID-19. It was recommended that since social media, teleconferencing, and e-mail are common amongst both the library staff and the remote clients, the promotion of library services during the COVID-19 era should be done using these three platforms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Access to long-term biodiversity datasets is vital for monitoring, managing and protecting freshwater ecosystems. Detecting critical ecosystem changes, such as losing unique biodiversity and ecosystem services, is dependent on access to data. A wealth of biodiversity data exists for river ecosystems in South Africa, but an operational information system to access these data is currently not available. This gap is the result of limited capacity for managing freshwater biodiversity data, with existing systems isolated, difficult to access and not well maintained. To address this knowledge gap, the Freshwater Biodiversity Information System (FBIS) has been developed. The FBIS is a powerful, visual, data-rich information system for hosting and serving freshwater biodiversity data. It serves as a platform for the inventory and maintenance of data, thereby facilitating the evaluation of long-term change in river biodiversity and ecosystem condition, and guiding future monitoring strategies and management decisions. System design and functionality was strongly informed by data and reporting needs of key end-user groups, including water resource managers, biodiversity and conservation managers and planners, scientific researchers, and environmental consultants. Future expansion aims to increase the diversity of data accessed, data flow, geographic coverage and strategically embed FBIS into South Africa's main freshwater decision-making pipelines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The South African government is putting policies, strategies and programmes in place with the intention of establishing an empowering environment for Small and Medium-sized Enterprises. To make this a success, a thorough understanding of the factors that might influence their export propensity is necessary. The aim of this article was to examine the drivers influencing the export propensity of South African Small and Medium-sized enterprises. A quantitative, descriptive research design was implemented. Management experience was identified as the most significant factor influencing export propensity. The willingness of the business leader to participate in export-related activities largely correlate with management commitment as well as marketing capabilities, this correlation was also evident between management experience and government support as well as between management commitment and marketing capabilities and lastly between marketing capabilities and access to information. Marketing capabilities, government support, as well as management commitment had an impact on business performance (turnover). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite policy on adolescent sexual and reproductive health (SRH) services and education, teen pregnancies remain common in South Africa. Social norms and cultural resistance are a well-documented challenge for SRH program implementation in South Africa, and beyond. To gain insight on the complex picture of adolescents' access to SRH information and services in a peri-urban township, we explored this topic from a diversity of perspectives, carrying out 86 interviews to capture perceptions of adolescents, their parents, community members, and health professionals. Our research shows that despite the taboo nature of the issue of adolescent SRH, individual positions on adolescent access to SRH services and information are shifting and diverse, and are influenced by factors other than cultural norms. This research serves as a reminder to avoid simplistic reference to "culture" as a way of explaining health-related behaviors and people's responses to health challenges. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

If not adequately managed, climate change is predicted to have a large negative impact on smallholder subsistence farmers, posing a significant danger to household food security. However, the role of adaptive techniques used by farming households to reduce these negative effects and, as a result, their food insecurity status has not been sufficiently evaluated. This study explores the factors that influence smallholder farmers' adoption of climate change adaptation measures, as well as their impact on household food security. Using an endogenous treatment-effect ordered probit model, agricultural households' food security status is likely to significantly improve when they employ measures to adapt to adverse climatic conditions. The empirical findings also show that the gender makeup of the household, age, tropical livestock unit, and access to climatic information improve the likelihood of smallholder farmers adopting climate change adaptation measures. Based on the findings, this study advocates that governments and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) support smallholder farmers' Indigenous adaptation options with various institutional, regulatory, and technological assistance, with a particular emphasis on female-headed households. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. Informed consent (IC) is constitutionally protected in South Africa based on individual rights to bodily integrity and well-being. In terms of the law, patients cannot be involved in medical treatment or research without IC. This study explored patients' experience on practice and applicability of IC in African traditional medicine (ATM) in Msunduzi and eThekwini municipalities, KwaZulu-Natal province, South Africa, to evaluate whether important elements of IC such as full information disclosure, capacity, understanding, and volition are considered or being applied during ATM. Methods. This cross-sectional quantitative study was conducted using semistructured questionnaires administered to patients attending traditional health practitioners' (THPs') treatment centres. Stata V15.1 was used to analyse variables including descriptive and inferential data analysis. Results. One hundred and twenty-nine (129) participants completed this study, of which 62% were females. Most participants were in the age range of 26–35 (38.8%). All respondents were IsiZulu home-language speakers, single (62.8%), employed (48%), and with some tertiary education (48.8%). Most patients were informed about their diagnosis (58.9%), treatment benefits (79.8%), and recommended treatment (79.8%). Fewer were informed about risks of treatment (36.4%), right of refusal (3.1%), and risks of refusing recommended treatment (0.8%). All participants reported satisfaction with information disclosed by the THPs and did not feel coerced to accept treatment. Consent was obtained verbally in all cases. The majority of participants (76.7%) sought surrogate assistance when consulting THPS, and 81.4% preferred being informed about all treatment risks. Most respondents also preferred involvement in healthcare decision-making during ATM. Conclusion. This study reveals that most patients consulting THPs in the KwaZulu-Natal province for treatment are aware of their right to information disclosure and the need to reach agreement before involvement in ATM treatment procedures. The study also showed that some key elements of IC are currently being applied during ATM practice in South Africa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Factors affecting households' choices to participate in markets are often not disaggregated by gender, leading to policies that are insensitive to women's needs. Using qualitative and quantitative methods, the study analysed challenges faced by male and female-headed households in goat commercialisation in the semi-arid Msinga area of South Africa. The main constraints were poor condition of goats and mortality, high illiteracy rates of women, shortage of transport to take goats to the market and limited access to information. The study recommends that women be provided with greater market access and information and for the government to avail more attractive investment opportunities to reduce the use of goats as a store of wealth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The benefits of the application of ICT tools in the education of high school learners have been well-established in various studies. As developments in technology have increased the reach of electronic information resources and enhanced learners' access to educational information, it is imperative that these tools be available and accessible without any hindrances whatsoever to high school learners. This study was set out to evaluate the state of ICT infrastructure available to high school learners for the advancement of access to educational information while accentuating the efforts by the South African government to promote computer access in schools. This study underscores the importance of ICT tools for high school learners in ensuring quality educational outcome. A triangulated design was adopted to collect both qualitative and quantitative data on the condition of ICT-enabled access to educational information from Grade 12 learners and teachers in the Fort Beaufort Education District, Eastern Cape South Africa. Results show that learners' access to educational information is constrained by inadequate provision of ICT infrastructure, restricted access to ICT tools, regulations for use of personal ICT tools and absence of information literacy for high school learners. The study, therefore, recommends the improved and dedicated provision of ICT resources, ICT-enabled educational information literacy program and flexibility of rules regarding the use of personal ICT tools at school. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]