African Journal of Primary Health Care & Family Medicine最新文献

{"title":"Family medicine and primary health care in Liberia.","authors":"David Okiror, Ibrahim Sanoe","doi":"10.4102/phcfm.v18i1.5402","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4102/phcfm.v18i1.5402","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>This country profile examines the development of family medicine (FM) and primary health care (PHC) in Liberia, a low-income West African nation with significant health and socioeconomic challenges. Liberia's PHC system is structured across three tiers and relies heavily on community health workers to serve dispersed and underserved populations. Family medicine is an emerging specialty, crucial for strengthening PHC and advancing universal health coverage, especially in rural areas facing workforce shortages. The Family Medicine Specialty Training Program, launched in 2017, addresses the deficit of rural healthcare providers through comprehensive, context-specific education and rural rotations. Family physicians contribute at multiple levels of the health system, providing clinical care, mentorship, and leadership. The Society of Family Physicians of Liberia supports professional development and advocacy. Despite ongoing challenges, Liberia's integration of FM and PHC, supported by national and international partnerships, demonstrates significant progress and offers valuable lessons for building resilient health systems in low-resource settings.</p>","PeriodicalId":47037,"journal":{"name":"African Journal of Primary Health Care & Family Medicine","volume":"18 1","pages":"e1-e4"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2026-05-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147844289","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The health effects of extreme heat.","authors":"Sa'ad Lahri","doi":"10.4102/phcfm.v18i1.5372","DOIUrl":"10.4102/phcfm.v18i1.5372","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Extreme heat is a significant direct health threat from climate change, with rising temperatures and frequent heatwaves increasingly stressing communities and health services across Africa. High baseline temperatures, widespread outdoor labour, limited cooling access and structural vulnerabilities heighten population exposure. The physiological impacts are severe: from extreme heat overwhelming thermoregulation, leading to dehydration, cardiovascular strain, direct cellular injury and potentially rapid progression to heat exhaustion, to the most severe and dangerous form, heat stroke, which is a medical emergency characterised by a core body temperature 40 °C and central nervous system dysfunction such as confusion, seizures or coma, leading to multiorgan dysfunction. Heat also exacerbates chronic conditions like heart failure, asthma and kidney disease. Beyond clinical presentations, community-level evidence shows heat causes sleep disturbance, irritability and significant reductions in productivity. Vulnerable groups include infants, older adults, pregnant women, individuals with chronic diseases and outdoor workers. Maternal and neonatal health is particularly at risk, with links to preterm birth, stillbirth and hypertensive disorders. Primary health care is central to addressing this threat through early recognition, prompt cooling, hydration, medication review and tailored counselling for low-resource settings and environments. A proactive integration of heat-health interventions into routine primary care is therefore critical to building climate-resilient health systems and safeguarding vulnerable populations.</p>","PeriodicalId":47037,"journal":{"name":"African Journal of Primary Health Care & Family Medicine","volume":"18 1","pages":"e1-e5"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2026-04-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13149558/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147844274","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Determinants of primary healthcare physicians' knowledge of diabetic kidney disease.","authors":"Wafaa Fadili","doi":"10.4102/phcfm.v18i1.5322","DOIUrl":"10.4102/phcfm.v18i1.5322","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong> Early identification of diabetic kidney disease (DKD) is a real means to prevent the progression of kidney disease. The involvement of primary practitioners in screening programmes is particularly needed as most patients with diabetes are managed in primary care.</p><p><strong>Aim: </strong> This study aims to assess primary practitioners' knowledge regarding screening, referral and management guidelines of patients with diabetes.</p><p><strong>Setting: </strong> Routine clinical setting in the region of Marrakesh.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong> This was a cross-sectional study including primary practitioners in the region of Marrakesh between May and June 2024. A 16-item questionnaire was developed to evaluate their knowledge about screening, referral and management of DKD. Multivariate analysis was performed to identify factors associated with knowledge levels.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong> Of the 295 general practitioners solicited for the study, 100 physicians agreed to participate, thus translating to a response rate of 33.9%. Most participants (61%) showed high levels of adherence to DKD guidelines, but they presented a substantial gap in knowledge regarding the optimum screening time of DKD in patients with type 1 diabetes, the ideal screening test for albuminuria, the recommended interval for the routine surveillance, the annual screening tests, the therapeutic target of hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), the indications of Sodium-Glucose Cotransporter-2 inhibitors (SGLT2i) and the timing of referral to a nephrologist. Higher knowledge scores were observed among physicians who received training in diabetes management.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong> This study showed varying degrees of knowledge across different aspects of DKD management in primary care. Therefore, renal health programmes should prioritise enhancing the involvement and the regular training of primary practitioners.Contribution: This study emphasises the need for ongoing DKD training among primary healthcare practitioners to enhance their knowledge and improve the early management of patients with DKD.</p>","PeriodicalId":47037,"journal":{"name":"African Journal of Primary Health Care & Family Medicine","volume":"18 1","pages":"e1-e8"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2026-04-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13149646/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147844319","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"App-based primary care in South Africa: A conceptual pathway from telemedicine service acceptance to patients' continuance intentions.","authors":"Grethe Van Tonder, Christian D Pentz, Ronel Du Preez","doi":"10.4102/phcfm.v18i1.5191","DOIUrl":"10.4102/phcfm.v18i1.5191","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong> This study reports on the quantitative research phase of a mixed-methods study that investigated patients' acceptance of an application (app)-based telemedicine service for primary care aimed at South African public healthcare sector patients.</p><p><strong>Aim: </strong> This study aimed to investigate the relationships between telemedicine service acceptance and eight antecedents of such acceptance, as well as the relationships between telemedicine service acceptance, perceived value, patient participation, patient satisfaction with a telemedicine service, patient trust in telemedicine services and two dependent variables, namely both patients' continuance intentions towards a telemedicine service and towards a telemedicine service provider.</p><p><strong>Setting: </strong> The research was conducted in South Africa and focused on an app-based telemedicine service, Kena Health, a provider of app-based primary care at the time this research was conducted.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong> Quantitative data were collected using a self-administered online questionnaire through the Qualtrics data collection platform. Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM) was used to conduct the statistical analysis of a sample (n = 505) of respondents.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong> Statistically significant effects on patients' telemedicine service acceptance were confirmed for perceived compatibility, innovativeness, privacy perception and care perception. All the hypothesised relationships between telemedicine service acceptance, perceived value, patient participation, patient satisfaction with a telemedicine service, trust in telemedicine services and patients' continuance intentions towards the service and the telemedicine service provider were statistically significant.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong> In South Africa, telemedicine services present a practical and scalable solution to more effectively address healthcare, particularly for underserved communities. This novel study offers much needed insights to improve healthcare delivery through digital innovation.Contribution: Two antecedents of telemedicine service acceptance that had not previously been considered in the technology acceptance theory, namely (positive) privacy perception and care perception, were confirmed. Insights are provided regarding the effect of patients' trust in telemedicine services on their continuance intentions towards the service and the service provider under investigation.</p>","PeriodicalId":47037,"journal":{"name":"African Journal of Primary Health Care & Family Medicine","volume":"18 1","pages":"e1-e15"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2026-04-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13149932/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147844222","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Obstetricians' perceptions of midwife specialists' roles in South Africa.","authors":"Kagiso P Tukisi, Zelda Janse van Rensburg, Wanda Jacobs","doi":"10.4102/phcfm.v18i1.5276","DOIUrl":"10.4102/phcfm.v18i1.5276","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong> The midwife specialists (MS) are trained midwifery professionals with advanced knowledge and skills to perform interventions to respond to complicated maternal and neonatal conditions. A midwife specialist is expected to function independently and interdependently with other healthcare professionals such as obstetricians and paediatricians. However, studies have shown that the circumstances within public hospitals could be more favourable to the midwife specialist's independent and autonomous practice.</p><p><strong>Aim: </strong> This study aims to explore and describe obstetricians' perceptions of midwife specialists' roles in public hospitals in South Africa.</p><p><strong>Setting: </strong> The study was conducted in the selected public hospitals in South Africa.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong> Authors followed a qualitative, descriptive, explorative research design. Data collection took place between March 2022 and June 2022. Purposive sampling was utilised to sample nine obstetricians to participate in online individual semi-structured interviews. Data were analysed using Colaizzi's seven-step method.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong> Three themes emerged. In theme 1, midwife specialists are skilled professionals practicing with limitations. In theme 2, there is an absence of the specific scope of practice (SOP) for midwife specialists'. In theme 3, they are defensive practitioners with over-reliance on physicians and clinical records.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong> The SOP should be revised to grant midwife specialists full professional and legal authority to practice independently. Removing these limitations would enable them to collaborate effectively with physicians, ensuring safe and comprehensive maternal and neonatal care.Contribution: This study highlights the state of midwife specialists practice in the public hospitals of South Africa. Obstetricians elucidate various barriers to midwife specialists autonomous and collaborative midwifery care.</p>","PeriodicalId":47037,"journal":{"name":"African Journal of Primary Health Care & Family Medicine","volume":"18 1","pages":"e1-e10"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2026-04-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13149853/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147844251","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Oral iron supplementation as a public health intervention in children aged 6 to 23 months for preventing iron deficiency and anaemia: Economic evaluation for the South African health system.","authors":"Pamela Vorster, Amanda S Brand, Celeste Naude, Funeka Bango, Gerald Manthalu, Dachi Arikpo, Tamara Kredo, Lungiswa Nkonki","doi":"10.4102/phcfm.v18i1.5083","DOIUrl":"10.4102/phcfm.v18i1.5083","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong> Anaemia prevalence among Southern African children aged 6-23 months was estimated at 65% in 2019. The World Health Organization recommends that children aged 6-23 months living in countries with an anaemia prevalence above 40% should receive preventive oral iron supplements.</p><p><strong>Aim: </strong> This study aimed to conduct a context-specific economic evaluation of oral iron supplementation in children aged 6 months - 23 months for preventing iron deficiency and anaemia in South Africa (SA).</p><p><strong>Method: </strong> We undertook a cost-effectiveness analysis (CEA), comparing preventive iron supplementation with no supplementation. Using a 1-year time horizon, we took a provider perspective and used circulating haemoglobin as the effectiveness outcome. The incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) was calculated as the cost per disability-adjusted life year (DALY) because of anaemia averted. A budget impact analysis (BIA) was carried out to estimate start-up and total annual costs of intervention implementation in SA.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong> The ICER (cost per DALY averted) was R1077.00 ($58.40); below a conservative context-relevant threshold (R62 916.00 [$3410.00]) (2024). Budget impact analysis estimated total costs over 2 years (2024-2025), excluding start-up costs, of R16.94 ($0.92) per child aged 2 years in SA, based on the CEA dosing regimen. Intervention costs (including start-up costs) represent 0.007% of the total health budget (2024).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong> Preventive oral iron supplementation resulted in increased effectiveness for averting DALYs because of anaemia. Comparisons of the ICER with context-relevant thresholds suggested the intervention could be considered cost-effective in SA.Contribution: Our findings of potential cost-effectiveness and budget impact could be used to inform decision-making for primary healthcare resource allocation in SA's health system.</p>","PeriodicalId":47037,"journal":{"name":"African Journal of Primary Health Care & Family Medicine","volume":"18 1","pages":"e1-e11"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2026-04-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13149916/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147844299","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"A setback for Sustainable Development Goal 3.1: Documenting the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic's impact on maternal mortality through a National Confidential Enquiry in South Africa.","authors":"Gomolemo Rakale, Sam T Ntuli, Tshepo Ramarumo, Solly M Seeletse","doi":"10.4102/phcfm.v18i1.5287","DOIUrl":"10.4102/phcfm.v18i1.5287","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong> Maternal mortality highlights health system effectiveness and social fairness. South Africa's Confidential Enquiry into Maternal Deaths (CEMD) monitors and improves maternal healthcare. While initial decreases in maternal mortality were positive, the COVID-19 pandemic and ongoing provincial inequalities jeopardise reaching the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) target.</p><p><strong>Aim: </strong> This analysis evaluated South Africa's maternal mortality reduction path by examining CEMD data trends, the pandemic's effect and provincial disparities to gauge progress towards its SDG commitments.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong> A longitudinal trend analysis was conducted using secondary data from CEMD reports (2017-2022). The analysis focused on national and provincial institutional Maternal Mortality Ratio (iMMR) trends. Comparative analysis quantified changes and identified patterns of disparity.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong> Pre-pandemic improvement was abruptly reversed by a significant 42% surge in the national iMMR during the pandemic, underscoring the fragility of previous gains. Although a decrease was observed in 2022, the rate remained above the 2019 baseline, indicating an incomplete recovery. Furthermore, profound inter-provincial disparities were evident, with only two provinces sustaining a downward trend, the majority showing no clear improvement and three provinces consistently exhibiting exceptionally high and volatile iMMRs.</p><p><strong>Lessons learnt: </strong> South Africa is not yet on track to meet its SDG target for maternal mortality. The pandemic exposed and exacerbated systemic weaknesses, while deep-rooted provincial inequities persist. Achieving sustainable progress requires a dual strategy: building a more resilient health system capable of withstanding future shocks and implementing targeted, equity-focused interventions in underperforming regions to ensure that maternal healthcare is accessible and effective for all.</p>","PeriodicalId":47037,"journal":{"name":"African Journal of Primary Health Care & Family Medicine","volume":"18 1","pages":"e1-e5"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2026-04-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13149929/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147844170","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Integration of Ubuntu philosophy in maternity care units of Limpopo province, South Africa: Perceived experiences of women.","authors":"Seani A Mulondo, Sonto M Maputle","doi":"10.4102/phcfm.v18i1.5240","DOIUrl":"10.4102/phcfm.v18i1.5240","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong> In South Africa, midwives should integrate the Ubuntu philosophy in maternity care services to promote utilisation of maternal and child healthcare services. Women expect to be treated with respect, love, dignity and mutual caring during childbirth. However, women experience obstetric violence, such as physical and verbal abuse during labour, which is associated with poor integration of the Ubuntu philosophy in maternity care units.</p><p><strong>Aim: </strong> The study aimed to explore and describe the perceived experiences of women during labour regarding the integration of Ubuntu in maternity services.</p><p><strong>Setting: </strong> The study was conducted in the six community healthcare centres that were purposively selected in Limpopo province.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong> A qualitative, exploratory descriptive design was used. A non-probability, purposive and convenience sampling method was used to select participants. Data were generated from 24 women using individual face-to-face interviews. Trustworthiness and ethical standards were considered and adhered to. Data were analysed using thematic analysis.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong> The findings revealed three themes associated with a lack of integration of Ubuntu when rendering maternity care services, and two sub-themes emerged from themes one and two; three sub-themes emerged from sub-theme three. First theme: the personal conduct of midwives as perceived by women during labour. Attitude of midwives towards women in labour and midwives' lack of commitment emerged as sub-themes. Second theme: interpersonal relations as perceived by women during labour. Poor midwife-woman relationship and communication, and abusive conduct by midwives emerged as sub-themes. Third theme: the support system needed by women during labour. Poor support from midwives, the use of traditional remedies versus Western medicine, and a lack of sufficient resources that deprive women of quality midwifery care services emerged as sub-themes. Verbal and physical abuse, poor midwife-women relationships, use of traditional remedies and lack of support could lead to inadequate utilisation of maternity care services by pregnant women for childbirth.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong> Integrating Ubuntu principles into maternity care can improve maternal and neonatal outcomes by promoting compassionate, respectful, and patient-centered care.</p>","PeriodicalId":47037,"journal":{"name":"African Journal of Primary Health Care & Family Medicine","volume":"18 1","pages":"e1-e11"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13149632/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147595448","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Reframing Emergency Medical Service in the context of chronic non-communicable disease and palliative care.","authors":"Linley A Holmes, Elizabeth Gwyther, Shannon Odell","doi":"10.4102/phcfm.v18i1.5206","DOIUrl":"10.4102/phcfm.v18i1.5206","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong> Emergency Medical Service (EMS) is often the initial primary contact for patients with non-communicable disease (NCD) with symptom exacerbation. EMS personnel are not trained to manage patients requiring this type of care, or recognise the need for palliative care or expert consultation.</p><p><strong>Aim: </strong> To describe how EMS' are often responsible for managing patients with NCDs and symptom exacerbation and to assess whether palliative care and support by EMS in the out-of-hospital sector should be considered.</p><p><strong>Setting: </strong> The study took place in the southern peninsula of Cape Town, including urban, suburban and rural communities, including the informal housing community.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong> This was a retrospective descriptive analysis of de-identified patient report forms of adult patients (over 18 years old) attended to by a private EMS between January 2019 and April 2019. The patients included in the research met the inclusion criteria, identifying them as possibly requiring palliative care assistance because of the symptom exacerbation of their NCDs.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong> Of the 283 patients many had more than one NCD, and more than one of the primary symptoms of pain, shortness of breath, cognitive changes, nausea and vomiting simultaneously. The majority of these patients were likely to go to the hospital with ambulance transport, and frequently, there was no appropriate clinical intervention by paramedics. Clinical advice was seldom sought by paramedics for patients with symptom exacerbation related to their NCDs, with the data indicating that palliative care access for patients was minimal.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong> Palliative care is a necessary approach to patient-centred care, with EMS being an available resource to assist with this approach. There is a necessity for improved communication and support between palliative care resources and EMS to mitigate inappropriate transport of these patients to already over-burdened emergency departments, and to improve home care by EMS.Contribution: This study highlights the need for appropriate palliative care support by EMS for patients with chronic disease and symptom exacerbation.</p>","PeriodicalId":47037,"journal":{"name":"African Journal of Primary Health Care & Family Medicine","volume":"18 1","pages":"e1-e8"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2026-03-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13058579/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147595451","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Capacity development of researchers involved in guideline development in Malawi, Nigeria and South Africa: A mixed-methods study.","authors":"Retsedisitsoe P Mazibuko, Willem Odendaal, Sara Cooper, Tamara Kredo, Michael McCaul, Anke Rohwer","doi":"10.4102/phcfm.v18i1.5193","DOIUrl":"10.4102/phcfm.v18i1.5193","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong> The Global Evidence, Local Adaptation (GELA) project aimed to build capacity for rigorous clinical practice guideline (CPG) development and evidence-informed decision-making (EDIM) in Malawi, South Africa and Nigeria.</p><p><strong>Aim: </strong> This study aimed to explore and assess whether and how participating in GELA project activities developed the capacity of GELA researchers in evidence synthesis, guideline development, project management and interpersonal skills.</p><p><strong>Setting: </strong> GELA researchers were based at academic and research institutions in South Africa, Malawi, Nigeria and Norway.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong> We conducted a nested mixed-method study of GELA researchers comprising an online survey and semi-structured interviews. Quantitative data were analysed descriptively, while qualitative data were analysed through framework analysis.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong> Survey respondents indicated that their confidence in technical skills, as well as project management and interpersonal skills, improved during GELA. Interview results highlighted the importance of both skill sets. Collaboration emerged as a key facilitator of capacity development, while the tension between meeting deliverables and dedicating enough time to capacity development was a key challenge.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong> The GELA project enabled capacity development in technical, project management and interpersonal skills in novice as well as experienced researchers. The collaborative nature of the project facilitated this iterative process. Planning of capacity development for researchers within a project such as GELA is essential for the success of both capacity development and project deliverables.Contribution: Our evaluation sheds light on the challenges and facilitators of building capacity of researchers within the context of a multinational project on CPG development.</p>","PeriodicalId":47037,"journal":{"name":"African Journal of Primary Health Care & Family Medicine","volume":"18 1","pages":"e1-e10"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2026-03-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13058479/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147595394","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}