The realist review/synthesis has become an increasingly prominent methodological approach to evidence synthesis that can inform policy and practice. While there are publication standards guidelines for the conduct of reviews, published reviews often provide minimal detail regarding how they have conducted some steps. This includes selecting appraising sources, which considered their 'relevance, richness rigour.' In contrast other review approaches, example, narrative meta-analyses, inclusion...

The obesity epidemic is associated with rising rates of cardiovascular disease (CVD) among adults, particularly in countries undergoing rapid urbanisation and nutrition transition. This study explored the perceptions body size, risk awareness, willingness to lose weight adults a resource-limited urban community inform appropriate community-based interventions for prevention obesity.This descriptive qualitative study. Semi-structured focus group discussions were conducted purposively selected...

Realist evaluation submits that theories and models of how, why, for whom under what circumstances programs work could be formulated by conceptualizing the relational links between context within which are implemented, generative mechanisms trigger, outcomes interest. Qualitative quantitative data collection analysis allow description relevant context, mechanisms, emergent provide explanatory power to link these elements. The ‘realist interviewing technique’, whereby interviewees comment on...

Background: South Africa currently runs the largest public antiretroviral treatment (ART) programme in world, with over 80% of people living HIV and/or AIDS on ART. However, order to appreciate benefits using ART, patients are subject uncompromising and long-term commitments taking at least 95% their as prescribed. Evidence shows that this level adherence is seldom achieved because a multilevel sometimes interwoven myriad factors.Objective: We described challenges faced by ART Vredenburg...

Mixed methods studies in social sciences are predominantly employed to explore broad, complex, and multifaceted issues evaluate policies interventions. The integration of qualitative quantitative most often follows the Peircean pragmatic approach—abductive hypothesis formation followed by deductive inductive testing/confirmation—with limited theorizing properties. This paper contributes field mixed research explicating a two-way interaction process between data [social] theory pluralistic...

The SARS-CoV-2 infection, which causes the COVID-19 disease, has impacted every nation on globe, albeit disproportionately. African countries have seen lower infection and mortality rates than most in Americas Europe Asia. In this commentary, we explore some of factors purported to be responsible for low case fatality Africa: testing rate, poor documentation cause death, younger age population, good vitamin D status as a result exposure sunlight, cross-immunity from other viruses including...

Abstract Background Despite the growing global application of mobile health (mHealth) technology in maternal and child health, contextual factors, mechanisms by which interventional outcomes are generated, have not been subjected to a systematic examination. In this study, we sought uncover context, mechanisms, outcome elements various mHealth interventions based on implementation evaluation studies formulate theories or models explicating how work (or not) both for care providers pregnant...

In remote rural Tanzania, the rate of linkage into HIV care was estimated at 28% in 2014. This study explored facilitators and barriers to individual/patient, health provider, system, contextual levels inform eventual design interventions improve care.We conducted a descriptive qualitative nested cohort 1012 newly diagnosed HIV-positive individuals Mbeya region between August 2014 July 2015. We 8 focus group discussions 10 in-depth interviews with recently 20 individual healthcare providers....

HIV remains a major public health challenge in Zambia. The roll-out of antiretroviral treatment (ART) has engendered new challenges retention care. To conceptualise the factors affecting care ART patients at three primary healthcare facilities using ecological framework. Qualitative data were collected through in-depth interviews with 45 and focus group discussions 20 providers from Kabwe district, Zambia, subjected to thematic content analysis. Individual level barriers included side...

Poor retention in care and suboptimal adherence to antiretroviral treatment (ART) undermine its successful rollout South Africa. The club intervention was designed as an adherence-enhancing enhance the of patients on ART their medication. Although empirical evidence suggests effective superiority standard clinic schemes, it is poorly understood exactly how why works, under what health system contexts. To this end, we aimed develop a refined programme theory explicating how, why, for whom...

Introduction: Transcendental realism, the philosophical perspective dealing with existence of causal powers governed by universal laws nature, provides a useful framework for research conducted in social sciences, including field health policy and systems research. realism has been criticized, however, offering weak methodological guidance conducting Consequently, realist-informed studies are deemed to be less robust transparent, particularly regarding data analysis synthesis towards...

Abstract Background Achieving undetectable viral load is crucial for the reduction of HIV transmissions, AIDS-related illnesses and death. Adolescents (10 to19 years) living with (ALHIV) on antiretroviral treatment (ART) have worse adherence lower suppression rates compared to adults. We report clinical factors associated among ALHIV in Ehlanzeni district, Mpumalanga South Africa. Methods A cross-sectional analysis was conducted 9386 ALHIV, aged 10 19 years, who were enrolled 136 ART clinics...

Realist synthesis is a recognized methodological approach to evidence inform evidence-based health policy and practice. The implicit assumption behind research that the it generates should be generalizable––drawing broad inferences from specific observations. While this understanding generally shared among social scientists, tensions exist between having generalizable how can useful in contexts. This paper considers role of mechanism-based middle-range theories obtained realist bridging...

The successful initiation of people living with HIV/AIDS on antiretroviral therapy (ART) in South Africa has engendered challenges poor retention care and suboptimal adherence to medication. club intervention was implemented the Metropolitan area Western Cape Province address these challenges. programme shown potential relieve clinic congestion, improve enhance treatment context rapidly growing HIV patient populations being initiated ART. Nevertheless, how why works is not clearly...

Suboptimal retention in care and poor treatment adherence are key challenges to antiretroviral therapy (ART) sub-Saharan Africa. Community-based approaches HIV service delivery recommended improve patient ART adherence. The implementation of the clubs Western Cape province South Africa was with variable success terms outcomes. need for operational guidelines its has been identified. Therefore, understanding contexts mechanisms successful is crucial inform roll-out rest protocol outlines an...

### Summary box There is a propitious belief that potent vaccine against the SARS-COV-2 virus panacea for COVID-19 pandemic. The need heightened as many nations are finding it counterproductive to sustain national lockdowns and individuals becoming complacent with their hygiene social (physical) distancing practices. Currently, there more than 100 candidates under development, number of these in human trial phase. It suggested introduction will prevent loss US$375 billion global economy...