Provision of and access to HIV prevention, treatment and care among young gender and sexuality diverse people living with HIV in Zimbabwe occurs in a context characterised by stigma and discrimination based on HIV status and gender identity or sexual orientation. Little is known about the experiences and impact of intersecting stigma on adherence to anti-retroviral treatment (ART) among members of this group. To fill this gap, we conducted a concurrent mixed methods study to collect data through self-administered questionnaires and in-depth interviews among young men who have sex with men and transgender women. More than one-third of the participants scored above 10 on the CESD-10, with 5% in the highest band (>20), indicating the potential for a significant mental health burden. Experiences of intersectional stigma were common, impacting participants' mental health. Experiences and anxieties regarding the potential for stigma and discrimination contributed to threats to ART adherence and influenced commitment to staying on treatment. However, despite the many potential risks to adherence, participants utilised various means to remain adherent. Programmes to alleviate intersectional stigma among young gender and sexuality diverse people should seek to strengthen existing intrapersonal and interpersonal resources and enhance mental health.

BackgroundLimited research has been conducted on the forms, manifestations and effects of intersectional stigma among young HIV-positive men who have sex with men (MSM) and transgender women (TGW) in Zambia. In this study, we aimed to address this gap by elucidating the experiences of these in a small group of young, HIV + MSM and TGW in Zambia.MethodsWe applied a mixed-methods design. Data were collected from January 2022 to May 2022. Qualitative data were collected using in-depth interviews while quantitative data were collected using a questionnaire. Qualitative transcripts were coded using thematic analysis while paper-based questionnaire data were entered into Kobo Connect. Descriptive statistics, using chi-squared tests were calculated using Excel. In this paper, we provide a descriptive profile of the sample and then focus on the qualitative findings on intersectional stigma, depression, and contemplation of suicide.ResultsWe recruited 56 participants from three sites: Lusaka, Chipata, and Solwezi districts. Participants' mean age was 23 years. The study found that 36% of all participants had moderate to significant symptoms of depression, 7% had major depression, 30% had moderate signs of anxiety, 11% had high signs of anxiety, 4% had very high signs of anxiety and 36% had contemplated suicide at least once. A greater proportion of TGW had moderate to significant symptoms of depression (40%) or major depression (10%) compared to MSM, at 33% and 6%, respectively (X2 = 0.65; p = 0.42). Similarly, more TGW (55%) had contemplated suicide than MSM peers (36%, X2=1.87; p = 0.17). In the qualitative data, four emergent themes about the forms, manifestations, and effects of intersectional stigma were (1) HIV, sexual orientation, and gender identity disclosure; (2) Dual identity; (3) Challenges of finding and maintaining sexual partners; (4) Coping and resilience. Overall, having to hide both one's sexuality and HIV status had a compounding effect and was described as living "a private lie."ConclusionEffectively addressing stigmas and poor mental health outcomes among young HIV-positive MSM and TGW will require adopting a socio-ecological approach that focuses on structural interventions, more trauma-informed and identity-supportive care for young people with HIV, as well as strengthening of authentic community-informed public health efforts.

New HIV infections and AIDS-related deaths among children and adolescent girls and young women (aged 15-24 years) in eastern and southern Africa continue to occur at unacceptably high rates. The COVID-19 pandemic has also severely undermined ongoing initiatives for HIV prevention and treatment, threatening to set the region back further in its efforts to end AIDS by 2030. Major impediments exist to attaining the UNAIDS 2025 targets among children, adolescent girls, young women, young mothers living with HIV, and young female sex workers residing in eastern and southern Africa. Each population has specific but overlapping needs with regard to diagnosis and linkage to and retention in care. Urgent action is needed to intensify and improve programmes for HIV prevention and treatment, including sexual and reproductive health services for adolescent girls and young women, HIV-positive young mothers, and young female sex workers.

The COVID-19 pandemic, particularly from 2020 to mid-2022, debilitated the management of the HIV epidemic in Africa. The multiple effects included well-documented HIV service interruptions, curtailment of HIV prevention programmes, the associated marked increase in both the risk for HIV infection among key populations and vulnerability of sub-populations (e.g. adolescent girls and young women) who are the focus of these programmes and - as importantly but less well-documented - the diverse negative socio-economic effects that accentuate HIV risk and vulnerability generally (e.g. loss of earnings, gender-based violence, stigma, police harassment of people during "lockdowns"). The global biomedical response to COVID-19 was necessary and remarkable for mitigating the bio-physical impacts of the pandemic (e.g. wide-spread surveillance coupled with rapid updates on the epidemiology of infections, rapid development of vaccines and revisions of treatment). However, drawing upon the widespread criticisms of state responses to the socio-economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and of "lockdowns" themselves, this article elaborates a core argument within those criticisms, namely that key lessons learnt during the HIV and AIDS and other pandemics were ignored, at least during the early stages of COVID-19. Our critique is that better integration of the social sciences and humanities in responses to pandemics can counter the reflex tendency to uncritically adopt a biomedical paradigm and, more importantly, to enable consideration of the social determinants of health in pandemic responses. At root, we re-assert a key value of 'integrated' interventions, namely the accommodation of context-sensitive considerations in the formulation of strategies, policies, plans and programme designs.

Background Depression is the leading cause of mental health-related disease burden globally, yet the symptoms of the disorder are not well-understood and it is stigmatised in South Africa. The way depression is portrayed in the media contributes to an understanding of the symptoms, causes, and treatment of the condition. While research on the framing of depression has been conducted widely in other contexts, our search did not yield any study on media framing of depression in South Africa. Therefore, this study used the framing theory to examine the media framing of depression following the enactment of two mental health policies in South Africa. Methods We examined 152 news stories that covered depression from 21 South African newspapers retrieved from the SABINET – SA Media online archive over a 13-year period (2004–2016). We used the four categories of framing; problems, causes, moral judgements and remedies to conduct deductive and inductive thematic analysis. Results The findings show that most of the news stories had problems as their main frame. The problems identified included the challenge of diagnosing and treating depression, misconceptions about depression, lack of funding for mental health initiatives and shortage of mental health practitioners. Most news stories framed depression as mainly caused by various risk factors, including high rates of crime and violence. Calls were made for increased mental health funding. Improving knowledge of depression in the community and seeking mental health services and support were identified as remedies. Conclusions This study provides an understanding of the framing of issues related to depression in the news media post the enactment of two Mental Health policies. While the two policies have clear provisions that seek to ensure that appropriate care, treatment and rehabilitation are provided to people living with mental health conditions, numerous challenges exist in the health system and society. To overcome these challenges, the study suggests a need for multi-level interventions that target to increase funding, reduce mental health stigma, and develop tailor made mental health promotion and prevention strategies.

BACKGROUND:Pregnant young women in an academic environment are susceptible to stressors associated with unintended pregnancy and academic demands of universities. The challenges they face may be exacerbated by lack of social support, putting them at risk of psychological disorders such as depression. Women who receive social support during pregnancy and postpartum experience less emotional distress and report greater maternal satisfaction. However, very little is known about the perspectives about social support among unmarried pregnant students in tertiary institutions.METHODS:Participants were purposively selected among unmarried pregnant students and those in the puerperal period at the time of the study. We conducted semi-structured qualitative interviews to explore the perspectives of unmarried pregnant students on the type of support that they need during pregnancy and the puerperium and the period when most support is needed. The data were audio-recorded and transcribed verbatim, then analysed using thematic analysis.RESULTS:The findings show that social supports (emotional, instrumental, informational, and financial) were highlighted as important resources to cope with stressors during pregnancy and post-birth. Emotional support from male partners was the most important type of support needed as it entailed a sense of being loved and cared for. Social support was identified as important throughout the different phases of pregnancy and post birth, with different support needs expressed at each of these phases.CONCLUSION:This study identified support needs of unmarried pregnant university students in their transition to motherhood. Given the several challenges that they are faced with, unmarried pregnant students need social support, including male partner support to enhance wellbeing as they try to cope with academic and pregnancy-related stressors.

In this longitudinal study, we examine changes in psychological distress and multidimensional well-being from before to during the COVID-19 pandemic among South African adults. As a secondary purpose, we explore whether pre-pandemic flourishing is protective against subsequent psychological distress during the public health crisis. The analytic sample ( n = 293; Mage= 44.27, SD = 14.28; female = 65.19%) completed measures of anxiety symptoms, depression symptoms, and well-being shortly before the stringent nationwide lockdown started in South Africa (T1). A follow-up assessment was completed approximately 6 months later (T2). Paired samples t-tests supported very small improvements in anxiety ( d = −0.09) and depression symptoms ( d = −0.13). For domains of well-being, small increases were found in close social relationships ( d = 0.25) and financial and material stability ( d = 0.19). Positive changes in the domains of character and virtue ( d = 0.10) and meaning and purpose ( d = 0.07) were very small. Changes in physical and mental health ( d = −0.03) and life satisfaction and happiness ( d = 0.02) were more negligible. Results from the generalized linear models indicated that continuous scores of secure flourishing assessed before the COVID-19 pandemic were associated with lower subsequent psychological distress (particularly depression symptoms) during the public health crisis. We discuss the implications of the findings for the development and delivery of interventions to promote and sustain human flourishing during public health crises, especially in contexts of social-structural vulnerability.

Abstract Background Pregnant young women in an academic environment are susceptible to stressors associated with unintended pregnancy and academic demands of universities. The challenges they face may be exacerbated by lack of social support, putting them at risk of psychological disorders such as depression. Women who receive support from their partners both during pregnancy and postpartum experience less emotional distress and report greater maternal satisfaction. However, very little is known about the experiences of social support among pregnant adolescents and young women in tertiary institutions Methods Participants were purposively selected among pregnant students and those in the puerperal period at the time of the study. Semi-structured qualitative interviews were undertaken to explore the perceptions of pregnant students on the type of support that they need during pregnancy with particular focus on the role that their partners play (or do not play) in providing support during pregnancy and the puerperium. The data were audio-recorded and transcribed verbatim, then analysed using thematic analysis. Results The findings show that social support (emotional, instrumental, informational, and financial) were highlighted as an important resource to cope with stressors during pregnancy and post birth. Emotional support from male partner was the most important type of support needed as it entailed a sense of being loved and cared for. Social support was identified as important throughout the different phases of pregnancy and post birth, with different support needs expressed at each of these phases. Conclusion This study identified support needs of pregnant women in their transition to motherhood. Given the several challenges that they are faced with, pregnant students need all the available support including male partner support to enhance wellbeing as they try to cope with academic and pregnancy-related stressors.

Sport cultures transmit values for anticipated conduct. Recent events have resulted in injuries/deaths of National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) student-athletes, usually during off-season football training. Through media reports, strength and conditioning coaches (SCC) have been allegedly involved by incorporating military-style training (MST). Mental toughness (MT) has been associated with hypermasculine subcultures in sports. For the first time, perceptions of collegiate SCCs were chosen to contribute to the development of cultural best practices in sports, via a multiphase mixed-method design (Phase 1, n = 465; Phase 2, n = 72; Phase 3, n = 99). Quantitative and qualitative data were collected aiming to confirm and explore the use of MST in the NCAA, its connection to SCCs, its association with MT development, and the role of the media. MST is uncommon in the NCAA. MST takes place mostly during the off-season in the form of physical, in-scope protocols while football is the most common sport. MST promotes MT. The recent media backlash is considered unfounded. Cultures promoted by SCCs do not indicate conformity of student-athletes to unethical/unhealthy expectations. Future sport psychology research and practice should continue to prioritize culture, cultural identities, and physical and mental well-being.

The evolving COVID-19 pandemic is an unprecedented global public health crisis that continues to have a major impact on the African continent. Most countries within Africa are facing significant challenges vaccinating their populations for COVID-19. Inadequate COVID-19 vaccine supply, weaknesses in health system infrastructure, COVID-19 misinformation and disinformation, and ineffective health risk communication are contributing to low adult vaccination rates on the continent. Without sufficient COVID-19 vaccine coverage on the African continent, the prolonged social, economic and health impacts of this public health crisis are likely to exacerbate pre-existing social-structural issues in this part of the world. In this paper, we highlight trends in SARS-CoV-2 infections among children and adolescents (CA), compare COVID-19 vaccination patterns in Africa to those in high-income countries, and discuss some of the benefits, challenges and unknowns associated with vaccinating CA for COVID-19. In light of ongoing COVID-19 vaccine supply challenges and the slow progress that the African continent is making towards vaccinating the adult population, we suggest that the immediate priority for Africa is to accelerate COVID-19 vaccinations among adults (particularly high-risk populations) and vulnerable CA (ie, those who are immunocompromised and/or living with certain medical conditions). Accelerating the roll-out of COVID-19 vaccines and rapidly achieving high levels of vaccination coverage in the adult population will free up capacity to vaccinate CA sooner rather than later. While we hope that COVID-19 vaccines will soon become available to CA throughout Africa, countries must continue to prioritise non-pharmaceutical interventions.

Abstract Background: The way schizophrenia is portrayed in the media contributes to the dissemination of misinformation about the symptoms, causes, and treatment of the mental disorder. The framing of news stories has the potential to perpetuate or mitigate the stigmatization of schizophrenia. While research on the news media’s role in exacerbating or mitigating the stigmatization of schizophrenia has been conducted widely in other contexts, our search did not yield any study on media framing of schizophrenia in South Africa. Therefore, this study uses the framing theory to investigate the media framing of schizophrenia in the South African context. Methods: We examined 216 news stories that covered the schizophrenia spectrum and other psychotic disorders from 20 South African newspapers retrieved from the SABINET – SA Media online archive over a 10-year period (2004–2014). Thematic analysis was used to analyse the news stories.Results: The findings show that most of the news stories had problems as their main frame. These were followed by stories framed to diagnose the causes of schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders; and stories that made moral judgements about issues around the schizophrenia spectrum and other psychotic disorders. Stories that were classified as suggesting remedies were relatively less frequent. Problems and causes were the dominant frames each year for the 11year period. Suggested remedies were shown to be the least reported each year. Nonetheless we observed fluctuations across the years of analysis.Conclusions: The study underscores the potential role of media analyses in framing schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders. We found that using the framing perspective as a way of identifying the primary themes or ideas presented in print media was very useful. Our findings highlight the need for collaboration between researchers and the media to enhance opportunities for improved and more nuanced reporting of mental health issues.

Background: The way schizophrenia is portrayed in the media contributes to the dissemination of misinformation about the symptoms, causes, and treatment of mental disorders and has the potential to perpetuate or mitigate the stigmatization of schizophrenia. While research on the news media's role in exacerbating or mitigating the stigmatization of schizophrenia has been conducted widely in other contexts, our search did not yield any study on media framing of schizophrenia in South Africa. Therefore, this study used the framing theory to examine the media framing of schizophrenia following the enactment of two mental health policies in South Africa. Methods: We examined 216 news stories that covered the schizophrenia spectrum and other psychotic disorders from 20 South African newspapers retrieved from the SABINET - SA Media online archive over an 11-year period (2004-2014). Thematic analysis was used to analyse the news stories. Results: The findings show that most of the news stories had problems as their main frame. These were followed by stories framed to diagnose the causes of schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders; and stories that made moral judgements about issues around the schizophrenia spectrum and other psychotic disorders. Stories that were classified as suggesting remedies were relatively less frequent. A common thread in the news stories was the misperceptions about schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders. Media framing of the cultural interpretations of schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders tended to be derogatory and therefore stigmatising. Most news stories framed schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders as mainly caused by using psychoactive drugs/substance with Cannabis as the most frequently mentioned psychoactive drug. Conclusion: The study underscores the role of media analyses in framing schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders following the development of major mental health policies. The study showed that the media framing of schizophrenia could perpetuate stigmatisation, discrimination and social rejection of people with lived experiences of the condition. Our findings highlight the need for collaboration between researchers and the media to enhance opportunities for improved and more nuanced reporting of mental health issues.

Capitalising further on the benefits of antiretroviral therapy (ART) for individual treatment requires an improved understanding of the psychological processes that may affect optimal ART adherence among people living with HIV. We examined internalised HIV/AIDS-related stigma and body appreciation as mediators of the association between self-esteem and ART adherence among young people living with HIV (YPLHIV). A sample of 76 YPLHIV (Mage = 19.36, s.d.age = 2.56; male 56.58%) residing in an HIV hyperendemic region of South Africa completed self-report measures of self-esteem, internalised HIV/AIDS-related stigma, body appreciation, and ART adherence. Path-analytic mediation modelling was performed to test for direct and indirect effects linking self-esteem with ART adherence. Results of serial mediation analyses indicated that self-esteem and ART adherence were indirectly associated through a two-step path of internalised HIV/AIDS-related stigma and then body appreciation, as well as a one-step path through internalised HIV/AIDS-related stigma. The results provide preliminary support for internalised HIV/AIDS-related stigma and body appreciation as mechanisms underlying the association between self-esteem and ART adherence. Implications of the findings for promoting ART adherence among YPLHIV are discussed.Significance: Self-esteem and ART adherence were indirectly related through internalised HIV/AIDS-related stigma followed by body appreciation. Outcomes of intervention initiatives designed to promote ART adherence among young people living with HIV may be further improved by integrating components that target internalised HIV/AIDS-related stigma and body appreciation.

Background The improvement of maternal and child health (MCH) outcomes is an important part of the sustainable development goals (SDGs). MCH remains an important issue globally as the SDGs have not yet been achieved in most countries. Young women in universities are likely to experience unintended pregnancy due to risky sexual behaviors in tertiary institutions which is characterized by lack of condom and/or contraceptive use and coercion. Pregnant young women in an academic environment are susceptible to stressors associated with unintended pregnancy and academic demands of universities. However, very little is known about the stress and coping among young people in tertiary institutions who get pregnant during the course of their studies and choose to keep the pregnancy. Methods Participants were purposively selected among pregnant students and those in the puerperal period at the time of the study. Semi-structured qualitative interviews were undertaken to explore the experiences of pregnancy and early motherhood, with particular focus on the various stressors experienced and possible coping strategies employed by students. The data were audio-recorded and transcribed verbatim, then analysed using thematic analysis. Results The findings show that pregnancy and early motherhood was an experience that came with a lot of stress emanating from fear of parents' reactions, academic pressure, financial constraints, relationship problems with male partners and experiences of social stigma. Participants used emotion-focused and problem-focused coping strategies to deal with the stressors confronting them during and after their pregnancy. Conclusion The experiences of pregnant students are multifaceted and generally characterised by financial crisis, academic challenges, shame, strenuous relationships and transitioning into a new identity. A multipronged approach to healthcare for pregnant students that focus on comprehensive antenatal services, health education, health promotion, psychosocial interventions including academic counselling will have positive outcomes for young mothers and their children.

Introduction Adherence to antiretroviral therapy (ART) remains a key challenge to achieving the fast-track goal of ending the HIV epidemic by 2030. To provide a more comprehensive indication of whether interventions designed to promote ART adherence might benefit from targeting body image perceptions, we aim to conduct a systematic review to synthesise existing evidence on the association between body image and ART adherence. Methods and analysis A systematic review of peer-reviewed observational studies and randomised controlled trials that have investigated the association between body image and adherence to ART will be performed. JSTOR, PsycARTICLES, PsycINFO, PubMed, ScienceDirect and Web of Science databases will be searched from 1 January 2000 to 31 March 2021. Eligible records will consider body image as either an independent variable or a mediator, whereas ART adherence will be assessed as an outcome variable. Study selection will follow the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines and study quality will be assessed using relevant tools developed by the National Institute of Health. If sufficient data are available, a meta-analysis will be conducted. Effect size estimates will be aggregated using a random effects meta-analysis approach. Publication bias and its impact will be evaluated through the use of a funnel plot and the trim-and-fill method. The Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation approach will be used to report on the overall quality of evidence. Ethics and dissemination Ethical approval is not required for a systematic review protocol. Findings of the proposed systematic review will be disseminated through conference presentations and publication in a peer-reviewed journal. PROSPERO registration number CRD42020212597.

No AccessRethinking education in the age of 'social distancing' : a qualitative inquiry on University of KwaZulu-Natal students' responses to online learning in the context of COVID-19 Venencia Paidamoyo Nyambuya, Patrick Nyamaruze, Mavis Dube and Kemist Shumba Venencia Paidamoyo Nyambuya0 , Patrick Nyamaruze0 , Mavis Dube1 and Kemist Shumba0 Affiliations 0University of KwaZulu-Natal 1Great Zimbabwe University, Zimbabwe Published Online:1 Apr 2021https://hdl.handle.net/10520/ejc-aa_jae-v2-n1-a6Cited by:2SectionsPDF ToolsAdd to favouritesDownload CitationsTrack Citations ShareShare onFacebookTwitterLinked InRedditGMailOutlookCopy LinkMendeley AboutAbstractCorona-virus disease-2019 (COVID-19) originated in Wuhan, China. It spread to most parts of the world. COVID-19 triggered a wave of unprecedented changes in education systems in many parts of the world and South Africa was no exception. A shift from traditional to virtual modes of learning presented several challenges, particularly in resource constrained settings such as developing countries. These challenges ranged from access to internet to Information and Communication Technology (ICT) infrastructure and gadgets among others. This study adopted a qualitative approach. Data were collected on two official Facebook Pages of the University of KwaZulu-Natal. We used E.M Rodgers' Diffusion of Innovation theory (DOI) as the lens to reflect on students' responses to the issue of migration to virtual learning posted on the University's Facebook Pages. The findings indicated that the shift mostly affected those students who hailed from low-income households. Several challenges such as interface with technology, and poor network connectivity hindered the shift. Some students felt that the shift was a much awaited innovation. They applauded the University for embracing the shift as it was moving with the times since the world is faced with a new revolution in technology, the Fourth Industrial revolution (4IR). Previous article Next article FiguresReferencesRelatedDetailsCited byNyambuya V, Shumba K, Gopal N and Wade J (2022) Shouldering a Double Burden: A Phenomenological Exploration of Gender-Based Violence among Black African Migrant Women in Durban, South Africa, African Journal of Gender, Society and Development (formerly Journal of Gender, Information and Development in Africa), 11:3, (33-57), Online publication date: 1-Sep-2022.Dlamini-Myeni B (2022) Navigating the New Normal: An Exploration of Funeral and Burial Rituals Among Traditional Zulu People in the Context of the Covid-19 Pandemic, Indilinga African Journal of Indigenous Knowledge Systems, 21:1, (64-77), Online publication date: 1-Aug-2022. Volume 2, Issue 1 | Apr 2021 Downloaded 39 times LanguagesEnglish InformationCopyright © 2021, Adonis & Abbey PublishersKeywordsInstitutions of higher learningOnline learningCOVID-19 pandemicsocial distancingPDF download Disclosure The authors confirm that the manuscript has been read and approved by all named authors and that there are no other persons who satisfied the criteria for authorship but are not listed. The authors confirm that they have given due consideration to the protection of intellectual property associated with this work and that there are no impediments to publication, including the timing of publication, with respect to intellectual property. Ethical conduct of research The authors state that they have obtained appropriate institutional review board outlined in the Declaration of Helsinki for all human or animal experimental investigations. A signed informed consent document has been obtained from all participants included in the study.

The Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) emerged in Wuhan, China in December 2019. As it spread its tentacles beyond national frontiers, its devastating effects, both as a public health threat and a development challenge, had extensive socio-economic and political ramifications on a global scale. Zimbabwe, a less economically developed country (LEDC), with a severely incapacitated and fragile public healthcare system, responded to the threat of this novel epidemic in a myriad of ways, such as enforcing a national lockdown and vigorous health education. This qualitative study elicited the views of selected Zimbabweans who commented on the governments’ response to the pandemic through Twitter. These views were analysed using critical discourse analysis. The researchers selected tweets posted over a period of one week (14-21 March 2020), following a controversial remark by Zimbabwe’s Defence Minister, Oppah Muchinguri, characterising COVID-19 as God’s punitive response to the West for imposing economic sanctions on Zimbabwe. Although the Minister’s remark was condemned by many for its alleged insensitivity, it emerged that this anti-United States propaganda inadvertently awakened the government of Zimbabwe from an extraordinary slumber characterised by sheer rhetoric and inactivity. From the public health promotion perspective, this article reflects on the implications of such a hurried and ill-conceived response on public health. It exposes the glaring policy disjuncture in the Zimbabwean context. Overall, it advocates genuine political will and commitment in the promotion of public health in Zimbabwe.

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has created extraordinary challenges and prompted remarkable social changes around the world. The effects of COVID-19 and the public health control measures that have been implemented to mitigate its impact are likely to be accompanied by a unique set of consequences for specific subpopulations living in low-income countries that have fragile health systems and pervasive social-structural vulnerabilities. This paper discusses the implications of COVID-19 and related public health interventions for children and young people living in Eastern and Southern Africa. Actionable prevention, care, and health promotion initiatives are proposed to attenuate the negative effects of the pandemic and government-enforced movement restrictions on children and young people.

Body image concerns are common among people living with HIV (PLHIV). Research into how young people living with HIV (YPLHIV) experience and make sense of feared or actual body changes is limited, yet these changes have emotional, psychological and interpersonal implications for young people who associate physical attractiveness with social desirability. The current study examined the subjective perceptions of body appearance and coping mechanisms among a sample of YPLHIV in Durban, South Africa. An interpretive qualitative inquiry was adopted to understand their lived experiences in relation to their body image and body satisfaction. In-depth interviews were conducted with 18 YPLHIV (15-24 years). Findings indicate physical and psychosocial effects of living with HIV among young people including weight loss, skin sores, body dissatisfaction, loss of self-esteem and social withdrawal. The study builds on previous research suggesting that PLHIV may experience a discrepancy between their actual self and ideal self. Enhancing existing coping mechanisms such as religious beliefs, support networks and physical exercises among YPLHIV can counter the physical and psychosocial effects of living with HIV and improve well-being. Body image concerns should be acknowledged when addressing HIV-related health in both health and family settings.

The global commitment to ending the AIDS epidemic by 2030 places HIV prevention at the centre of the response. With the disease continuing to disproportionately affect young populations in the Eastern and Southern African Region (ESAR), particularly adolescent girls and young women, reducing HIV infections in this group is integral to achieving this ambitious target. This paper examines epidemiological patterns of the HIV epidemic among adolescents and young people, indicating where HIV prevention efforts need to be focused (i.e., adolescent girls and young women, adolescent boys and young men and young key populations).Key innovations in the science of HIV prevention and strategies for dealing with programme implementation are reviewed. The paper also discusses the value of processes to mitigate HIV vulnerability and recommends actions needed to sustain the HIV prevention response. Stemming the tide of new HIV infections among young people in the ESAR requires an amplification of efforts across all sectors, which will safeguard past achievements and advance actions towards eliminating AIDS as a public health threat.