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Background: Communication within healthcare settings is crucial for a therapeutic relationship between nurse and patient especially in preventing human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) among adolescent girls. The school health programme in South Africa provides an opportunity to provide HIV prevention services among adolescent girls, however, uptake is low and effective communication can address this. Aim: The study’s purpose was to describe factors affecting HIV prevention communication between professional nurses and high school learners in eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality. Setting: The study was conducted in two high schools in eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality. Methods: The study used a qualitative approach and a descriptive research design. A semi-structured interview guide was used to conduct face-to-face interviews with 30 participants after ethical approval from the researchers’ affiliated institution and informed consent from participants or their guardians were obtained. Thematic analysis was used to analyse the data. Results: Participants were aged between 14 years and 17 years. Most (25) participants were female. Three main themes emerged from the study: communication between the school health nurses and high school learners is facilitated by trust, communication is hindered by fear, and infrequent visits by nurses affect communication positively or negatively. Conclusion: Health education on HIV is essential to prevent HIV among adolescent girls. Effective communication between healthcare providers and adolescent girls facilitates such health education. Contribution: The uptake of HIV prevention services by adolescent girls can be improved by communication that facilitates the therapeutic relationship which is founded on trust, with frequent visits by nurses.

Background: People living with HIV (PLWH) are ageing, and face increased risk for developing Type 2 Diabetes. Physical activity and diet are effective in reducing Type 2 Diabetes risk. However, there is variation in how older PLWH engage in physical activity and healthy eating. Aim: To describe older PLWHs’ engagement in physical activity and diet for Type 2 Diabetes risk reduction in Harare Setting: The study was conducted in five polyclinics in Harare urban district from low socio-economic areas. Methods: A qualitative approach and an exploratory descriptive design was used. Twenty-three participants were selected purposively based on the researchers’ judgement of age among PLWH. Data were collected using a semi-structured interview schedule and analysed using Braun and Clark’s six steps of thematic content analysis. Ethical approval was obtained, and each participant provided informed consent. Results: The mean age of participants was 62 years. Participants performed varied physical activities through; economic activities, walking, exercise, and domestic chores. Diet included indigenous, unrefined grains, vegetables and fruit, influenced by rural background. Diet consisted of larger proportions of carbohydrates with lesser varying portions of protein and vegetables and fruit. Healthy eating among participants was facilitated by the proximity of markets and family. Conclusion: Health education to reduce Type 2 Diabetes risk should focus on fostering current physical activities to meet prescribed standards and increasing fruit and vegetable consumption. Contribution: The physical activity and diet self-care practices among older PLWH are inadequate in reducing Type 2 Diabetes risk, emphasising the need for appropriate health education.

Background: Vaccine hesitancy has seen an uprising over the decades, even though there have been many advances regarding vaccine-preventable diseases. Of late, vaccine hesitancy has resurged towards the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccine. The SARS-CoV-2 virus has major effects on the human body and has led to the development of different vaccines, which have been shown to provide immunity against the novel coronavirus. Dentists are at an increased risk to COVID-19 because of the nature of their work. It is imperative to have high vaccination coverage for this group. Aim: The aim of this study is to determine vaccine hesitancy and drivers associated with vaccine hesitancy among dental students at a university in South Africa. Setting: A dental school in South Africa was chosen as the setting for this study. Methods: An analytical cross-sectional study was conducted by means of an anonymous, online, validated questionnaire to determine vaccine hesitancy. Results: Of the 205 dental students participated, 83.9% (n = 172) students were vaccine not hesitant. The main concerns regarding the vaccines were identified as safety and efficacy of the vaccine. Pressure by family or friends and the university to get vaccinated was evident. Conclusions: Vaccine hesitancy is high despite mandatory vaccination policies in South Africa. Specific drivers contributing to vaccine hesitancy were identified as doubt in the efficacy and safety of the vaccine. Contribution: This study has highlighted the prevalence of vaccine hesitancy among dental students at University of the Western Cape, prior to compulsory vacccination implementations.

The South African Council for Social Service Professions (SACSSP) took a principled decisionduring a meeting on 23 and 24 July 2003 to adopt continuing professional development (CPD)as a requirement for registration to practise. This decision has positioned and committed socialservice professions amongst many other professions, nationally and internationally, to continuetheir professional development through “the systematic maintenance and improvement ofknowledge, skills and competence throughout a professional’s working life” (Butler, 2003:18).