A5060234594- Global Public Health Policies and Epidemiology
- Global Maternal and Child Health
- Injury Epidemiology and Prevention
- Obesity, Physical Activity, Diet
- Nutritional Studies and Diet
- Trauma and Emergency Care Studies
- Food Security and Health in Diverse Populations
- Child Nutrition and Water Access
- Health and Conflict Studies
- HIV/AIDS Impact and Responses
- Intimate Partner and Family Violence
- Substance Abuse Treatment and Outcomes
- Health disparities and outcomes
- Global Health Care Issues
- Public Health Policies and Education
- Global Cancer Incidence and Screening
- Air Quality and Health Impacts
- Medical Coding and Health Information
- Gun Ownership and Violence Research
- Energy and Environment Impacts
- Lipoproteins and Cardiovascular Health
- Sodium Intake and Health
- Blood Pressure and Hypertension Studies
- Physical Activity and Health
- Health Systems, Economic Evaluations, Quality of Life
University of Greenwich
2021-2025
South African Medical Research Council
2015-2025
University of South Africa
2011
Stellenbosch University
2007-2009
BackgroundThe poor health of South Africans is known to be associated with a quadruple disease burden. In the second National Burden Disease (NBD) study, we aimed analyse cause death data for 1997–2012 and develop national, population group, provincial estimates levels causes mortality.MethodWe used underlying from notifications obtained Statistics Africa. These were adjusted completeness using indirect demographic techniques adults comparison survey census child mortality. A regression...
Objective This pilot study explores the feasibility and acceptability of using telephonic verbal autopsies (teleVAs) in South Africa to collect information on causes death. Design Quantitative qualitative data collection methods were used evaluate these interviews. Setting The teleVA was conducted Africa’s Western Cape province. component also included two rural African Population Research Infrastructure Network nodes (Africa Health Institute KwaZulu-Natal Agincourt Mpumalanga), which had...
The global burden of disease (GBD) 2010 study used a universal set disability weights to estimate adjusted life years (DALYs) by country. However, it is not clear whether these can be applied universally in calculating DALYs inform local decision-making. This derived for resource-constrained community Cape Town, South Africa, and interrogated the GBD necessarily represent preferences economically disadvantaged communities.A household survey was conducted Lavender Hill, assess health state...
Ongoing quantification of the disease burden attributable to smoking is important monitor and strengthen tobacco control policies.To estimate due in South Africa for 2000, 2006 2012.We estimated selected causes death African (SA) adults aged ≥35 years 2012. We combined prevalence results from 15 national surveys (1998 - 2017) impact ratios using mortality rates. Relative risks between select were derived local international data.Smoking declined 25.0% 1998 (40.5% males, 10.9% females) 19.4%...
Skeletal muscle protein loss, known as atrophy, occurs during inactivity, disease, and aging. Atrophy may be the result of increased catabolic factors, e.g. glucocorticoids, or reduced influence anabolic insulin. The purpose this study was to investigate signaling mechanisms, apoptosis in a rat model restraint stress 40 adult male Wistar rats. Due anxiolytic effects Sutherlandia frutescens, we also determined if any molecular events gastrocnemius would affected by daily treatment with S....
Household air pollution (HAP) due to the use of solid fuels for cooking is a global problem with significant impacts on human health, especially in low- and middle-income countries. HAP remains problematic South Africa (SA). While electrification rates have improved over past two decades, many people still owing energy poverty.To estimate disease burden attributable SA three time points: 2000, 2006 2012.Comparative risk assessment methodology was used. The proportion Africans exposed...
Reducing child mortality requires good information on its causes. Whilst South African vital registration data have improved, the quality of cause-of-death remains inadequate. To improve this, from death certificates were linked with forensic mortuaries in Western Cape Province.A local surveillance system was established 2007 by Health Department to quality. Cause-of-death captured copies notification forms collected at Home Affairs Offices. Using unique identifiers, additional mortuary...

 Background. South Africa (SA)’s high rate of interpersonal violence persists as a leading public health problem for the country. The first African Comparative Risk Assessment Study (SACRA1) in 2000 quantified long-term mental and physical burden attributable to by supplementing direct injury disease injuries with substantial contribution health, behavioural reproductive consequences accruing from exposure intimate partner (IPV) child sexual abuse.
 Objectives. To revise improve...
Gunshot injuries from interpersonal violence are a major cause of mortality. In South Africa (SA), the Firearms Control Act 2000 sought to address firearm by removing illegally owned firearms circulation, stricter regulation legally firearms, and licensing requirements. Over last few years, varied implementation police corruption have increased availability.To investigate whether changes in availability SA were associated with homicide rates.This was retrospective time trend study (1994 -...
Amenable mortality comprises causes of death that should not occur with timely and effective healthcare. It is commonly used to assess healthcare performance. could also be the effectiveness pending National Health Insurance (NHI) in South Africa (SA), but do this, level distribution amenable are required using a local list causes.To establish an cause-of-death appropriate for SA determine levels, trends, geographical distribution, population group differences international comparisons...
Globally, a growing body of research has shown that ambient air pollution is one the most critical environmental issues, especially in relation to human health. Exposure leads serious health conditions such as lower respiratory infections, cancers, diabetes mellitus type 2, ischaemic heart disease, stroke and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.To estimate burden disease attributable South Africa (SA) for years 2000, 2006 2012.Comparative risk assessment method was used determine due two...
Background The burden of alcohol use among patients with trauma and the relative injury risks is not routinely measured in South Africa. Given prominent on hospital departments, Africa needs practical, cost-effective, accurate diagnostic tools for testing, surveillance, clinical management trauma. Objective This study aims to validate diagnostics injury-related assess its improving national health practice policy. Methods Alcohol Diagnostic Validation Injury-Related Trauma will mixed methods...
Background. The City of Cape Town (CoCT), South Africa, has collected cause-of-death data from death certificates for many years to monitor population health. In 2000, the CoCT and collaborators set up a local mortality surveillance system provide timeous at subdistrict level. Initial analyses revealed large disparities in health across subdistricts directed implementation public interventions aimed reducing these disparatities. Objectives. To describe changes between 2001 2013 CoCT....
Background. South Africa (SA) faces multiple health challenges. Quantifying the contribution of modifiable risk factors can be used to identify and prioritise areas concern for population opportunities promotion disease prevention interventions. Objective. To estimate attributable burden 18 2000, 2006 2012. Methods. Comparative assessment (CRA), a standardised systematic approach, was factors. Risk exposure estimates were sourced from local data, meta-regressions model parameters, depending...
Ongoing quantification of trends in high blood pressure and the consequent disease impact are crucial for monitoring decision-making. This is particularly relevant South Africa (SA) where hypertension well-established.To quantify burden related to systolic (SBP) SA 2000, 2006 2012, describe age, sex population group differences.Using a comparative risk assessment methodology, attributable raised SBP was estimated according se, adults aged ≥25 years 2012. We conducted meta-regression on data...
Homicide rates for South African children were estimated at double the global average in 2000. This article presents a secondary data analysis of National Injury Mortality Surveillance System (NIMSS), with full coverage four major metropolitan cities. Child homicide 2001-2005 calculated within 0-4, 5-9 and 10-14 year age groups. The similar to pattern, higher boys, among aged 0-4 years than older children. Poisson regression, accounting city level clustering, was used investigate age, sex...
A high body mass index (BMI) is associated with several cardiovascular diseases, diabetes and chronic kidney disease, cancers, other selected health conditions.To quantify the deaths disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) attributed to BMI in persons aged ≥20 South Africa (SA) for 2000, 2006 2012.The comparative risk assessment (CRA) methodology was followed. Meta-regressions of mean standard deviation from nine national surveys spanning 1998 - 2017 were conducted provide estimates by age...

 Background. Low intake of fruit and vegetables is associated with an increased risk various non-communicable diseases, including major causes death disability such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes mellitus cancers. Diets low in are prevalent the South African (SA) population, average well below internationally recommended threshold.
 Objectives. To estimate burden disease attributable to a diet by sex age group SA for years 2000, 2006 2012.
 Methods. We followed World...
National estimates of childhood undernutrition display uncertainty; however, it is known that stunting the most prevalent deficiency. Child manifest in poor communities but a modifiable risk factor. The intention study was to quantify trends indicators child aid policymakers.To estimate burden diseases attributable stunting, wasting and underweight their aggregate effects South African (SA) children under age 5 years during 2000, 2006 2012.The applied comparative assessment methodology. Data...
Elevated sodium consumption is associated with increased blood pressure, a major risk factor for cardiovascular and chronic kidney disease.To quantify the deaths disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) attributed to high intake in persons aged ≥25 South Africa (SA) 2000, 2006 2012.Comparative assessment (CRA) methodology was used population attributable fractions (PAFs) of intake, mediated through pressure (BP), disease were estimated. This done by taking difference between PAF elevated...
Background. Physical activity is associated with a lower risk of cardiovascular outcomes, certain cancers and diabetes. The previous South African Comparative Risk Assessment (SACRA1) study assessed the attributable burden low physical for 2000, but updated estimates are required, as well an assessment trends over time.Objective. To estimate national prevalence by age, year sex to quantify disease in Africa (SA) 2006 2012.Methods. methodology was used. treated categorical variable four...
Background. Gunshot injuries from interpersonal violence are a major cause of mortality. In South Africa (SA), the Firearms Control Act 2000 sought to address firearm by removing illegally owned firearms circulation, stricter regulation legally firearms, and licensing requirements. Over last few years, varied implementation police corruption have increased availability. Objectives. To investigate whether changes in availability SA were associated with homicide rates. Methods . This was...

 Background. Worldwide, higher-than-optimal fasting plasma glucose (FPG) is among the leading modifiable risk factors associated with all- cause mortality and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) due to direct sequelae of diabetes increased for cardiovascular chronic kidney disease.
 Objectives. To report deaths DALYs health outcomes attributable high FPG by age sex South Africa (SA) 2000, 2006 2012.
 Methods. Comparative assessment methodology was used estimate burden FPG....
Introduction Verbal autopsy (VA) methods have emerged to estimate causes of death in populations lacking robust civil registration and vital statistics (CRVS) systems. Despite World Health Organization endorsement routine VA use, cost efficiency concerns persist. Telephonic verbal autopsies (teleVAs) can reduce cost. Physician coding offers a valuable approach, but the expertise required makes it resource-intensive, often involving multiple coders for consensus. Objective To assess...