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

{"title":"The holistic management of menopausal symptoms among indigenous women in the Gauteng province.","authors":"Maphefo S Aphane, Ramadimetja S Mooa, Molatelo M Rasweswe","doi":"10.4102/phcfm.v18i1.5108","DOIUrl":"10.4102/phcfm.v18i1.5108","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong> Menopause is a natural process with exacerbating symptoms for some women. Indigenous practices offer culturally rooted options that need systematic evaluation for safety and efficacy, while hormonal therapy, though effective, carries recognised risks and requires monitoring. An evidence-informed understanding of both approaches is essential for safe, individualised and effective menopausal care.</p><p><strong>Aim: </strong> To investigate the role of indigenous traditional knowledge practitioners in the holistic management of menopausal symptoms among indigenous women in the Gauteng province, South Africa.</p><p><strong>Setting: </strong> Selected homes of the participants in the Tshwane district, Gauteng province.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong> A qualitative focused ethnography approach utilised purposive and snowball sampling to select 10 indigenous knowledge users and holders and 10 traditional health practitioners. Data were collected through in-depth interviews and non-participant observation and analysed using Brewer's ethnographic analytical framework with computer-assisted qualitative data analysis software.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong> Pitsa (Pot) as a holistic traditional remedy and cultural existentialism emerged as main themes with three sub-themes. Cultural existentialism is a philosophy that situates menopausal meaning-making and care practices within the framework of cultural identity, heritage and shared traditional knowledge.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong> The study shows that Pitsa is perceived by indigenous women as a cultural practice that supports their holistic menopausal experience. It is valued more for identity, meaning-making and cultural support than for proven clinical effectiveness. Recognising such an indigenous knowledge system in menopausal health discourse is important, alongside further empirical evaluation of its clinical effects.Contribution: The study highlights the need for understanding and supporting the practices preferred by menopausal women.</p>","PeriodicalId":47037,"journal":{"name":"African Journal of Primary Health Care & Family Medicine","volume":"18 1","pages":"e1-e12"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2026-03-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13058493/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147595571","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":"Dr Zelra Malan (13 November 1963 - 22 November 2025).","authors":"Felicia Christians","doi":"10.4102/phcfm.v18i1.5408","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4102/phcfm.v18i1.5408","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":47037,"journal":{"name":"African Journal of Primary Health Care & Family Medicine","volume":"18 1","pages":"5408"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2026-03-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148158571","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":"Corrigendum: Evaluating the efficacy of digital media platforms in disseminating public health information: A global review with implications for South Africa.","authors":"Hulisani Matakanye, Ndivhuwo D Sundani","doi":"10.4102/phcfm.v18i1.5425","DOIUrl":"10.4102/phcfm.v18i1.5425","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":47037,"journal":{"name":"African Journal of Primary Health Care & Family Medicine","volume":"18 1","pages":"5425"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2026-03-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13058517/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147345222","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":"Implementation of malaria control programmes during the COVID-19 pandemic in the Southern African Development Community Elimination 8 countries: A scoping review.","authors":"Daphne N Muzamhindo, Geldine Chironda, Joyce Mahlako Tsoka-Gwegweni","doi":"10.4102/phcfm.v18i1.5110","DOIUrl":"10.4102/phcfm.v18i1.5110","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong> Malaria is one of the communicable diseases affecting the whole world. The World Health Organization (WHO) African Region is the most affected, with the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and the Malaria Elimination 8 (E8) countries accounting for 90% and 95% of the cases, respectively. The WHO tasked the SADC Malaria E8 countries to eliminate malaria by 2030, yet the COVID-19 pandemic response disrupted health programmes.</p><p><strong>Aim: </strong> The review aims to map and synthesise the evidence on malaria control programmes during the COVID-19 pandemic in the SADC E8 countries to identify gaps, inform policy, enhance planning for future pandemics and promote the attainment of the SADC 2030 Malaria E8 goal.</p><p><strong>Method: </strong> The reviewers conducted this review using the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) methodology. The population, concept and context (PCC) guided inclusion and exclusion criteria. Information relevant to the review questions was extracted using data extraction tools.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong> Of the 658 articles retrieved, only 7 met the inclusion criteria. Half of the publications were done in 2021, and nothing was published in 2020. The publishers were predominantly public health experts.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong> There is limited research on the malaria programmes during the COVID-19 pandemic in the Malaria E8 countries.Contribution: The review brings out the need for research on the topic, policies that promote the continuation of malaria programmes during a pandemic and the employment of coping strategies.</p>","PeriodicalId":47037,"journal":{"name":"African Journal of Primary Health Care & Family Medicine","volume":"18 1","pages":"e1-e12"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2026-02-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12969604/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147345275","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":"Transitioning to midwifery models of care: Implementation insights from focus groups with Health leaders in two African countries.","authors":"Lise-Lotte Franklin Larsson, Solomon Hailemeskel, Helena Lindgren, Ulrika Byrskog, Michael B Wells, Johanna Blomgren, Joyce Jebet Cheptum, Kaddy Ceesay, Kerstin Erlandsson","doi":"10.4102/phcfm.v18i1.5238","DOIUrl":"10.4102/phcfm.v18i1.5238","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong> Midwifery models of care, endorsed by the World Health Organization (WHO), offer rights-based, person-centred care with proven benefits for safer maternal and newborn care worldwide. Despite these demonstrated benefits, the successful adoption of midwifery models of care depends on context-specific factors, making it essential to understand how healthcare leaders perceive and approach such transitions.</p><p><strong>Aim: </strong> To examine healthcare leaders' perceptions of transitioning to midwifery models of care in Ethiopia and The Gambia, and to identify key barriers and facilitators influencing implementation.</p><p><strong>Setting: </strong> The study was conducted in Ethiopia and The Gambia within their respective maternal health system contexts, focusing on national and sub-national leadership perspectives.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong> A qualitative study using open-ended, semi-structured interviews. An inductive thematic analysis was applied to explore leaders' insights on midwifery models of care and system readiness for transition.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong> Facilitators included midwives' active advocacy for women's rights and strong community engagement in maternal health decision-making. Common barriers across both countries were workforce shortages, limited health system infrastructure, donor dependency, and persistent gaps in access for rural populations. Additional barriers included inadequate transport networks, geographic inaccessibility, financial challenges limiting women's ability to reach skilled care, hierarchical governance structures that restrict midwives' professional autonomy, insufficient facility readiness, and cultural resistance to evidence-based midwifery practices.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong> Transitioning to midwifery-led models of care requires context-specific strategies aligned with the World Health Organization implementation guidance, with particular attention to strengthening infrastructure, financing, and workforce capacity.Contribution: The study underscores the need to integrate midwives more fully into policy and governance structures. Strengthening their leadership and advocacy roles may enhance the visibility, influence, and overall contribution of the midwifery profession within national health systems.</p>","PeriodicalId":47037,"journal":{"name":"African Journal of Primary Health Care & Family Medicine","volume":"18 1","pages":"e1-e9"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2026-02-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12969609/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147345273","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":"Health services and programmatic responses to improving adolescent HIV care in Lusaka, Zambia: A descriptive qualitative study.","authors":"Kaala Moomba, Talitha Crowley, Brian Van Wyk","doi":"10.4102/phcfm.v18i1.5189","DOIUrl":"10.4102/phcfm.v18i1.5189","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong> Adolescents living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) face disproportionately poor treatment outcomes because of a combination of psychosocial, structural and health systems challenges. Despite efforts to implement adolescent-friendly and differentiated service delivery models in Zambia, gaps remain in the organisation and delivery of care.</p><p><strong>Aim: </strong> This study aimed to explore how HIV services for adolescents are delivered and experienced by healthcare workers and programme managers in Lusaka District.</p><p><strong>Setting: </strong> The study was conducted across six health facilities in Lusaka District, Zambia, representing different levels of the health system and providing HIV care to adolescents.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong> A descriptive qualitative design was employed. Thirty purposively selected participants (24 healthcare workers and six HIV programme managers) participated in individual in-depth interviews (IDIs) conducted between 20 February 2025 and 30 April 2025 using a semi-structured interview guide. Data were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim and analysed using inductive content analysis.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong> Inductive content analysis identified three themes: programmatic responses, highlighting strategic leadership, policy direction, adolescent-focused service delivery and workforce capacity building; implementation challenges, including inadequate infrastructure, health system limitations and individual-level barriers; and opportunities for improved programmatic response and service delivery, emphasising improvements in policy, health systems, infrastructure and service delivery.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong> Although notable progress has been made in expanding adolescent HIV services in Lusaka, gaps in infrastructure, workforce and social support continue to affect programme effectiveness. Strengthening adolescent-responsive and sustainable care is essential to improve retention, viral suppression and Zambia's progress towards the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) 95-95-95 targets in the adolescent HIV cascade.Contribution: This study highlights barriers and opportunities in adolescent HIV programming in Lusaka, emphasising leadership, policy, service delivery and workforce capacity, while noting ongoing system and individual challenges. The findings can inform policy and practice to strengthen adolescent-responsive HIV care in Zambia and similar contexts.</p>","PeriodicalId":47037,"journal":{"name":"African Journal of Primary Health Care & Family Medicine","volume":"18 1","pages":"e1-e13"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2026-02-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12969646/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147345237","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":"Perceptions of Family Medicine among first-year medical students at Aga Khan University, Nairobi, Kenya.","authors":"Catherine Gathu, Lucy W Mwangi, Peter Kioko, Tatiana Elwes","doi":"10.4102/phcfm.v18i1.5073","DOIUrl":"10.4102/phcfm.v18i1.5073","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong> Family Medicine (FM) is vital in delivering comprehensive and continuous care essential for robust primary healthcare systems. However, it remains underappreciated in many settings, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa.</p><p><strong>Aim: </strong> This study aimed to assess the perceptions of FM among first-year medical students at Aga Khan University (AKU), Kenya.</p><p><strong>Setting: </strong> A cross-sectional survey was conducted between August 2024 and September 2024 among the first-year medical students at AKU. All were invited to participate via email.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong> An 18-item questionnaire focused on three areas: perception and choice of medicine as a career, perception of FM and choice of FM as a career. Descriptive statistics were used to analyse the data collected.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong> Of the 59 first-year medical students, 49 participated (83% response rate). While 88% acknowledged FM's importance, only 35% understood a family physician's role. Only one participant indicated that they would choose FM as a career, while 61% were uncertain. Reasons for not considering FM included a lack of interest, limited knowledge and negative experiences with FM physicians. Only 16% reported that interactions with FM physicians and the first-year curriculum significantly improved their understanding of FM; many respondents disagreed that the first-year curriculum content advanced their understanding of FM.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong> Integration of FM into undergraduate curricula could promote students' interest. Additional research is needed to explore perceptions among medical students at different levels of their training and across different medical schools in our region.Contribution: This study establishes baseline perceptions of family medicine among first-year Kenyan medical students, identifying how knowledge gaps and limited curricular exposure undermine interest in the specialty.</p>","PeriodicalId":47037,"journal":{"name":"African Journal of Primary Health Care & Family Medicine","volume":"18 1","pages":"e1-e8"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2026-02-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12969591/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147345263","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":"Alarmingly high recent human immunodeficiency virus infection burden among newly diagnosed individuals in Mongu District, Zambia.","authors":"Masiliso A Liamba, Nawa Mukumbata, Sepiso K Masenga","doi":"10.4102/phcfm.v18i1.5202","DOIUrl":"10.4102/phcfm.v18i1.5202","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong> Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) recency assays are essential for distinguishing recent infections (≤ 12 months) from long-term infections, enabling targeted interventions. Western province, Zambia, has the nation's highest HIV prevalence (16%), yet recent infection data in Mongu District remain unknown.</p><p><strong>Aim: </strong> To determine the burden of recent HIV infection and associated factors in Mongu District, Western province, Zambia.</p><p><strong>Setting: </strong> The study was conducted in Mongu district, a provincial town in Western province in Zambia.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong> This cross-sectional analytical study was conducted from 12 February 2024 to 30 May 2024 in 19 health facilities in Mongu District offering HIV testing services (HTS), using Asante recency test kits to identify recent infections. A total of 771 newly diagnosed individuals were included, and logistic regression analysis was employed to identify factors associated with recent infections, with adjusted odds ratio (AOR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) calculated, and significance determined at a p-value 0.05.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong> Among 771 antiretroviral therapy (ART)-naïve individuals (median age 27 years; 71% female participants), 34% (n = 262) were identified as recent infections. Participants with medium (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 13.43, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 5.85-30.83) or low (AOR = 13.33, 95% CI: 5.67-31.33) HIV knowledge had higher odds compared to those with high knowledge (p  0.001). Unsuppressed viral load (VL) (≥ 1000 copies/mL) showed the strongest association (AOR = 852.1, 95% CI: 521.1-1432; p  0.001). Cluster of differentiation 4 (CD4) counts 200 cells/mm3 had 1848-fold higher odds (AOR = 1848.2, 95% CI: 192.8-17714.1; p  0.001). Clients who entered through the Prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmission had higher odds (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 2.67, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.11 - 6.11, p = 0.028) compared to the reference group.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong> Mongu District exhibits alarmingly high recent HIV infections (34%), concentrated among youth, women, and individuals with suboptimal knowledge.Contribution: These findings underscore the urgent need for scaling recency testing, strengthening youth-focused prevention, and improving HIV literacy as critical public health priorities.</p>","PeriodicalId":47037,"journal":{"name":"African Journal of Primary Health Care & Family Medicine","volume":"18 1","pages":"e1-e7"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2026-02-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12969639/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147345245","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":"Lived experiences of ethical dilemmas in pricing life-saving medicines among private-sector pharmacists in Zimbabwe.","authors":"Daniel Sibanda","doi":"10.4102/phcfm.v18i1.5205","DOIUrl":"10.4102/phcfm.v18i1.5205","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong> Access to affordable medicines is central to primary health care and universal health coverage. In Zimbabwe, the absence of national price regulation and heavy out-of-pocket expenditure place private-sector pharmacists at the centre of difficult decisions, as they balance professional duty with business survival.</p><p><strong>Aim: </strong> This study aimed to explore the ethical dilemmas faced by pharmacists in Zimbabwe's private sector when pricing life-saving medicines and the coping mechanisms and support systems they employ.</p><p><strong>Setting: </strong> The study was conducted in private community pharmacies located in Harare and Bulawayo, Zimbabwe's two largest urban pharmaceutical markets.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong> A qualitative interpretive phenomenological design was used. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 12 pharmacists (6 Harare, 6 Bulawayo) who were purposively sampled from independent and chain pharmacies. Interviews were recorded, transcribed verbatim, and thematically analysed using Braun and Clarke's six-phase framework. NVivo supported coding.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong> Pharmacists described moral distress when patients could not afford medicines, particularly insulin and antihypertensives. Informal coping strategies included silent discounts, partial dispensing, referrals, and credit sales. Harare participants emphasised currency volatility and chain-store policies, whereas Bulawayo pharmacists highlighted community solidarity. All called for systemic support through ethical pricing guidelines, subsidy mechanisms, and professional forums.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong> Ethical dilemmas in pricing are pervasive. Coping strategies provide temporary relief but are unsustainable and may compromise care. Systemic reforms are required to balance affordability with sustainable pharmacy practice.Contribution: This study highlights the moral dimension of medicine pricing in Zimbabwe and provides evidence to guide ethical frameworks, regulatory reforms, and professional support for equitable access to medicines.</p>","PeriodicalId":47037,"journal":{"name":"African Journal of Primary Health Care & Family Medicine","volume":"18 1","pages":"e1-e8"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2026-02-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12969599/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147345231","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":"Evaluating the efficacy of digital media platforms in disseminating public health information: A global review with implications for South Africa.","authors":"Hulisani Matakanye, Ndivhuwo D Sundani","doi":"10.4102/phcfm.v18i1.5182","DOIUrl":"10.4102/phcfm.v18i1.5182","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong> This study employs a non-empirical review to examine how digital media platforms support public health education and awareness, with specific relevance to the South African context.</p><p><strong>Aim: </strong> To explore the use of digital media in disseminating public health information and its implications for improving citizens' awareness and health literacy. Drawing on global evidence, the review highlights relevance for South Africa's digital communication landscape.</p><p><strong>Method: </strong> The review followed Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. A comprehensive search was conducted across databases including Google Scholars, EBSCOhost, PubMed, ScienceDirect, Sabinet, ProQuest, Scopus and MEDLINE. Studies were selected using predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria, resulting in 15 peer-reviewed full text articles published between January 2019 and March 2023. Quality appraisal was conducted using the Joanna Briggs Institute Qualitative Assessment and Review Instrument, and findings were synthesised thematically.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong> Findings indicate that digital media use reduces misinformation, strengthens social support networks, enhances the reach and efficiency of health information, and promotes positive health behaviours. Improvements in health knowledge and engagement were observed across diverse populations. However, challenges such as digital literacy gaps, unequal access to digital platforms, and algorithmic bias remain significant concerns.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong> Digital media represents a transformative tool for public health communication. When strategically implemented, it enhances awareness, supports behaviour change, and strengthens public engagement with health information.Contribution: The review highlights the importance of collaboration between health professionals and digital communication specialists to optimise digital strategies. It underscores policy imperatives such as improving digital literacy, ensuring equitable access, strengthening regulation of online health information, and fostering public-private partnership to improve health outcomes in South Africa.</p>","PeriodicalId":47037,"journal":{"name":"African Journal of Primary Health Care & Family Medicine","volume":"18 1","pages":"e1-e10"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2026-02-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12969657/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147345261","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}