In South Africa, endemic violence and the high prevalence of mental disorders pose a double challenge to society and the justice system. While mental illnesses such as psychosis and depression affect a large part of the population, their link to crime, particularly homicide, remains poorly documented, even though studies reveal a high incidence of psychopathy among violent offenders. Some quantitative data, albeit fragmentary, allow us to explore the interactions between mental disorders and criminal behavior, and to highlight the shortcomings of the judicial and prison systems, as well as areas for improvement in mental health and justice.

Population censuses globally remain the primary source of official statistics despite the existence of sample surveys and administrative data sources, like population registers. The 2020 round of censuses was predominantly characterised by traditional approaches in about 69% of the countries, where data was obtained directly from respondents regardless of the push to explore alternative sources compelled by COVID-19. From the Babylonian times in 3800 BC to date, the principal purpose of a census has been to foster public administration. While the 1666 census in New France (now Quebec) marked the first-ever scientifically sound enumeration, it still fell short of what presently typifies a census. Besides, lack of globally standardised methods dwarfed the acceptability and comparability of results, leading to harmonisation efforts and the gradual adoption of modern censuses from the mid-1800s. Subsequently, the United Nations developed the maiden international standards on population censuses soon after World War II and established the decennial World Population and Housing Census Programme. Overtime, the census has evolved to what globally embodies universality, individual enumeration, simultaneity, periodicity and capacity to produce small area statistics. As countries transition towards the 2030 round, this paper reviews the global developments, lessons, and provides recommendations for future census implementation.

The study estimates net migration flows between rural and urban areas in Zambia between 1951 and 2022. An innovative method is proposed, based on an estimation of differences in net fertility between urban and rural. Data come from two sources: population censuses which provide proportions urban and population growth rates at regular intervals, and demographic and health surveys (DHS) which provide trends in fertility, child survival and net fertility. Results show huge net migration flows between rural and urban areas, at times positive (1951-1980) and (2000-2022), but negative at other times (1980-2000). Net migration contributed positively to 54% of urban growth in the first period, and 44% in the third period, but negatively in the second period (−28%). These fluctuations were correlated with changes in economic growth, positive between 1950 and 1975 and between 1995 and 2020, but negative between 1975 and 1995, mainly because of increasing or decreasing prices of copper ore on international markets. Counter-urbanization was concentrated in the mining cities of the Copperbelt. Zambia appears as an outstanding case of the impact of economic fluctuations due to an external shock on urbanization. However, over a long period (1951-2022), urbanization in Zambia was similar to the average in sub-Saharan Africa.

The World Health Organization (WHO) considers comprehensive abortion care as part of their essential healthcare service package, which includes the provision of information, abortion management, and post-abortion care. The WHO estimated that globally, 45% of all induced abortions were unsafe, and it noted that nearly half of all the abortions occurred under the least safe circumstances in Africa. Abortion has been legal in South Africa since the implementation of the Choice of Termination of Pregnancy (CTOP) Act (No. 92 of 1996), which was a significant departure from the country's previously restrictive abortion laws. While the CTOP Act (1996) has made provision for access to safe abortion services and pre- and post-abortion counselling, this has not been effectively implemented into effective service delivery. It's estimated that between 52% and 58% of abortions take place in informal medical settings, and that only 7% of the public health facilities in South Africa were performing abortion services in 2017. The WHO noted that the lack of access to safe, affordable, timely, and respectful abortion care, and the stigma associated with abortion pose risks to women's physical and mental well-being throughout the life-course. The aim of this paper was to explore how women in South Africa experience and cope with induced abortion. Additionally, this research looks at how religion, culture and stigma, impact abortion and mental health post-abortion of South African's women. This study utilises data from the latest South African Demographic and Health Surveys (SADHS), in 2016, which includes data from 8514 women aged 15-49 years. This study highlights the need for more data and research related to challenges and experiences of South African women around mental health and the nature of abortion within the country. In this interview conducted by Professor Jean-Pierre Bouchard, population analysts Robynn Ashely Hera and Siposethu Nojoko together with demographer Professor Nancy Stiegler from the University of the Western Cape discuss safe and unsafe abortion incidence and access and the psychological effects thereof. @ 2024 Published by Elsevier Masson SAS.

Climate change is the significant alteration in the weather conditions of a place, which include wetter, drier or warmer conditions over several years or decades. Human activities are the core cause of climate change. Research has stated that the unmitigated release of carbon will cause global warming of several degrees Celsius by 2100, causing high-impact risks to human society. The average global temperature has increased by 0.06 degrees C per decade since 1855. The global warming trend since 1982 is about three times faster than 0.20 degrees C per decade. Since the global temperatures' increase began, 2023 was discovered to be the warmest year in history. The World Health Organisation (WHO) stated that one in three women has experienced violence in their lifetime. Because the very important stakes for human societies of these two phenomena, this study's objective was to comprehensively investigate the multifaceted effects of climate change on violence against women (VAW) in diverse societal contexts. Our findings indicate that climate change significantly exacerbates Gender Based Violence (GBV). Studies in several countries have demonstrated that climate change has led to displacements, economic disruptions, lack of access to water and education, food insecurity, public health issues, which all increase violence against women. It is crucial to develop a strategic plan for protecting girls and women during climatic disasters as part of comprehensive climate action to spur the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) that are related to poverty alleviation, quality education and health, building sustainable cities and climate action. Similarly, adhering to climate action as suggested by the Paris Agreement in 2016 and reducing greenhouse gas emissions via better energy, food and transport choices can result in great gains. This will also avert several adverse effects of climate change on humans such as undernutrition, forced migration, forced marriage, forced abortion, xenophobic attacks, economic disruptions, and of course, violence against women. (c) 2024 Published by Elsevier Masson SAS.

The low prevalence of contraception in sub-Saharan Africa is due to barriers to healthcare and cultural constraints. Women face stigma and limited access to modern contraceptives. Community education is needed to normalize contraceptive use, along with the expansion of healthcare facilities, targeted research, and the involvement of men in family planning.

South Africa underwent dramatic political and social changes since 1991. This study documents changes in household size and structure from 1991 to 2022 using population census data. The average household size declined from 4.9 to 3.5 persons; the proportion of female-headed households increased from 30 to 50

Female genital mutilation: the current situation and the role of healthcare workers in combating excision. Female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C) affects more than 200 million girls and women, mainly in African countries. These procedures have no medical rationale and are essentially a form of power abuse. Despite alarming levels in some countries, prevalence has decreased over the last two decades, but only in very limited proportions. FGM/C is even found in non-African countries due to migration for family reasons, education, work opportunities or political insecurity. In countries such as France, when medical and psychological problems arise, more nurses and health personnel treat FGM/C victims. Their role in the recognition, alert, attendance and fight against such mutilations is crucial.

The Human Development Index is a useful measure of a country’s overall prosperity and standard of living (HDI). The Human Development Index (HDI) provides data on the social and economic progress of a nation by accounting for variables such as life expectancy, education attainment, and per capita income. This research delves into the intricate correlation of a nation’s historical background, policy framework, and advancements on the Human Development Index. The remarkable journey of South Africa, from apartheid to inclusive growth, is an important example. The study uses an average yearly growth rate to examine how changes in political ideologies, ongoing development initiatives, and historical contexts of inequality have shaped South Africa’s HDI trajectory. By examining crucial turning points and policy influences, the study aims to reveal the complex relationship of factors affecting human development results. Despite improvement, challenges like unemployment and poverty continue. The study stresses the relevance of understanding historical context and policy changes in shaping HDI outcomes. Ultimately, the study emphasises the need of maintaining a long-term commitment to effective and inclusive human development policies. Understanding the complex relationship of factors influencing South Africa’s HDI will help policymakers make better informed decisions that will lead to a more prosperous and fair society for all South Africans.

BackgroundCovid-19 epidemics raged around the world in years 2020-2022. The dynamics of the epidemics and their mortality varied by country depending on prevention, treatments, vaccination and health status of the population.ObjectiveThe study compares Covid-19 morbidity and mortality in South-Africa and in France, two countries with similar population size and with reliable reporting systems, in order to better understand the dynamics and impacts of the epidemics and the effects of health policies and programs.Data and methodsData on cases, deaths, hospitalizations, vaccinations were drawn from national statistics. Published data on cases and deaths were corrected for undercount.ResultsResults show a different epidemiology in the two countries in the first three years of the epidemic (2020-2022). Incidence was higher in South Africa, and some 44% more people were infected by December 2022 than in France. Mortality and case-fatality were also higher in South Africa despite a favourable age structure. The age pattern of mortality showed higher values in South Africa among the young adults. Young women appeared somewhat disadvantaged in South Africa. Lastly, vaccination appeared to have had no effect on incidence, but a large effect on case-fatality in France.ConclusionsDespite about the same population size and the same crude death rate at baseline, South Africa exhibited more cases and more deaths from Covid-19 over the 2020-2022 period. Prevention strategies (lockdown and vaccination) appear to have had large impacts on morbidity and mortality.

The Human Development Index, which accounts for both net foreign income and the total value of goods and services generated domestically, illustrates how income becomes less significant as Gross National Income (GNI) rises by using the logarithm of income. South Africa ranks 109th out of 189 countries in the Human Development Index (HDI) within the Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa (BRICS) economic bloc, raising long-term sustainability concerns. The study explores the relationship between economic, demography, policy indicators and human development in South Africa. South Africa’s unique status as a developing country within the BRICS economic group, alongside its lengthy history of racial discrimination, calls for a sophisticated approach to understanding Human Development. Existing research considered economic, demography, policy indicators independently; the gap of understanding their interconnection and long-term effects in the South African contexts exists. The study addresses the gap by using Autoregressive-Distributed Lag (ARDL) approach to investigate the short-term and the long-term relationship between economic, demography, policy indicators and human development in South Africa. By discovering these links, the study hopes to provide useful insights for policymakers seeking to promote sustainable human development in South Africa. The findings indicate that growth in GDP is a key factor in the HDI since it shows that there are more financial resources available for human development. By discovering these links, the study hopes to provide useful insights for policymakers seeking to promote sustainable human development in South Africa.

Climate change and global warming have led to an increased incidence of flooding across the world. Against the backdrop of the recent devastating floods in the Kwazulu-Natal province of South Africa, this paper explores psychotraumatology of natural disasters. In particular, we explore the impact of internal migration in South Africa, as well as apartheid spatial planning and inequality on the consequences of the flooding. We also focus on the psychotraumatology resulting from flooding, in general, and in particular on the victims of the flooding in the KwaZulu-Natal province of South Africa. We conclude that the psychopathological consequences of such natural disasters are ignored even though they seriously affect the people concerned. The development of specific trainings for psychologists in psychotraumatology and the care of victims should be a priority in the future. (c) 2022 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Masson SAS. This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).

Dans cet entretien avec Jean-Pierre Bouchard, les démographes Michel Garenne et Nancy Stiegler explorent les préférences pour filles et garçons exprimées par les femmes qui ont répondu aux enquêtes EDS dans 29 pays africains et 10 pays asiatiques. La base de données IPUMS/DHS est utilisée pour l’analyse statistique, regroupant 140 enquêtes et 2,5 millions de femme de 15–49 ans. Dans l’ensemble, les deux tiers des femmes se prononcent pour un nombre équitable de filles et garçons ou sont indifférentes à la composition de la fratrie. Dans 20,8 % des cas, elles préfèrent avoir plus de garçons, et dans 12,6 % des cas elles préfèrent avoir plus de filles. Ces proportions varient considérablement selon les pays, et sont influencées par la culture locale, par la religion, par le niveau d’instruction des femmes, par le niveau de richesse des ménages, et dans une faible mesure par la résidence urbaine. Les préférences sont aussi influencées par la composition de la fratrie. Ces préférences sont susceptibles d’évoluer rapidement au cours du temps. Parmi les pays analysés, huit expriment des préférences en faveur des filles, tous situés en Afrique sub-Saharienne, et majoritairement en Afrique australe. Ces préférences peuvent avoir de nombreuses conséquences, démographiques, psychologiques et sociales.

Tuberculosis is an airborne infectious disease that can damage the lungs and other body organs. Early detection of people infected with Koch's bacillus is important because tuberculosis is a contagious disease. It can be cured. It is still a very common disease in South Africa and is fatal for sixty thousand people per year. Tuberculosis remains a major health problem for which the public authorities must put in place more effective prevention and management policies, particularly by improving the training of nurses and doctors.

Although eating disorders are a public health issue, treating anorexia nervosa from a demographic and socio-economic perspective remains a challenge. Data are scarce, patchy and often of questionable quality. Such a lack of data on a somatopsychic illness with serious repercussions is a real problem, since reliable, longitudinal and detailed information could provide additional answers in understanding the illness, both in terms of age, sex and gender structure, and in terms of family, social and environmental factors.

Tuberculosis is an airborne infectious disease that can damage the lungs and other body organs. Early detection of people infected with Koch's bacillus is important because tuberculosis is a contagious disease. It can be cured. It is still a very common disease in South Africa and is fatal for sixty thousand people per year. Tuberculosis remains a major health problem for which the public authorities must put in place more effective prevention and management policies, particularly by improving the training of nurses and doctors.

The study investigates parental sex-preferences for children in South Africa, using answers to the 2016 DHS survey. Some 8514 women and 3618 men were asked about the ideal composition of their family. Results show major differences between women and men: women were more often indifferent (11.9% vs. 9.9%), equalitarian, i.e. preferring the same number of boys and girls (53.1% vs. 43.1%) or preferring more girls (16.7% vs. 8.4%) than men, while men were more likely to prefer more boys (37.6% vs. 18.3%). The relative preference for girls was therefore 4.1 larger for women than for men. Several socio-economic factors were investigated: urban residence, level of education, household wealth, and exposure to media, but had hardly any impact on sex-preferences. In contrast, cultural and ethnic factors were strong. White/European groups had higher preference for boys, while Black/African groups showed virtually no differential preference between boys and girls, like in nearby southern African countries. Some minor differences could be noted among ethnic groups, in particular among Zulus and Xhosas. At ethnic level, nuptiality, in particular polygyny, and household structure showed a correlation with sex-preferences. Lastly, current family composition had an effect on stated preferences, showing that on average men and women were rather satisfied with the sex-composition of their family.

The relationship between human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection and male circumcision, medical or traditional, remains controversial. Randomized clinical trials indicate that medical circumcision reduces the incidence in the months following surgery. But population-based studies show that the prevalence is the same over the long term. This paper summarizes the results of large population-based surveys conducted in southern African countries, the region most affected by AIDS worldwide. These surveys show that HIV prevalence among men aged 40-59 years is the same regardless of circumcision status and type. These results call into question the recommendations of the World Health Organization.

The infant mortality rate (children under five) in Palestine is 21 deaths per 1,000 live births. Palestine has thus successfully reached the threshold set by the Millennium Development Goals for child mortality. However, this rate is higher than in neighboring countries. This indicator is extremely important as it is a highly sensitive indirect measure of population health, poverty and socio-economic development status, as well as the availability and quality of health services in a country. These are all factors that still present challenges in Palestine.