Public health challenges最新文献

{"title":"Understanding Care-Seeking Behavior for Reproductive Tract Infections Among Afghan Women: A Cross-Sectional Study.","authors":"Cecilia Acuti Martellucci, Nooria Mohammady, Fawzia Negin, Sayed Hamid Mousavi, Adriana Viola Miranda, Husna Safa, Bibi Qudsia Qasimi, Khaterah Mosavi, Basira Bek, Alisina Azimi, Zahra Annabi, Saddiqa Noorzai, Aabidullah Rahimee, Taha Balaghat, Fatema Rezaie, Fardına Temory, Mirwais Ramozi, Mosè Martellucci, Rahila Bek, Shabanah Noorzai, Madina Niro, Husna Sultani, Palwasha Farooqi, Ehsan Shayan, Mohammadgul Zhwand, Qasem Rezaee, Farzana Torgani, Bibi Shakiba Hussaini, Shaqaiq Akhtiyari, Farah Qaderi, Shohra Qaderi","doi":"10.1002/puh2.70072","DOIUrl":"10.1002/puh2.70072","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>In Afghanistan, providing care for reproductive tract infections (RTIs) is challenging, among other factors, due to the extreme scarcity of reliable data. To address this gap, the present study investigates symptoms, potential risk factors, knowledge, and care-seeking behavior in the largest sample of women to date.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>From September 16, 2022 to November 26, 2022, a structured questionnaire was administered to women presenting at multi-specialist clinics in the major cities of Afghanistan. Signs and symptoms of RTIs were investigated, together with reproductive history, hygiene practices, and sociodemographic characteristics. Logistic regression, adjusted for selected covariates, was used to assess predictors of delays (over 1 month) from symptoms onset to care-seeking, and of a history of RTI.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>A total of 601 responses were analyzed (80.2%). Mean age was 31.3 years (standard deviation [SD] 11.5). Signs symptoms related to RTIs were reported by 79.2%, knowledge of RTIs by only 23.0%, and care-seeking delays by up to 39.5%. Care-seeking delays were positively associated with abnormal vaginal discharge (odds ratios [OR] 4.12; 95% confidence intervals (CI) 2.01-8.45), lower abdominal pain (2.62; 1.44-4.77), and fever (1.93; 1.25-2.98) and negatively associated with being sedentary (0.38; 0.22-0.64), hand washing (0.61; 0.40-0.95), and knowledge about RTI, although borderline significant. A history of RTI (reported by 44.1%) was predicted by abnormal vaginal discharge, fever, irregular menstruations, and use of sanitary pads but not by the husbands' history of RTI.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>The majority of women presenting at clinics in Afghanistan reported symptoms related to RTIs, delayed care-seeking, and lack of knowledge about RTI. Healthcare providers should inform the population about RTIs and their standard care pathway, while adopting a multi-dimensional approach accounting for the cultural background of the women.</p>","PeriodicalId":74613,"journal":{"name":"Public health challenges","volume":"4 2","pages":"e70072"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-06-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12174964/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144328036","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":"Hepatitis B Infection in Outpatients and Pregnant Women Visiting a Mission Hospital in Ghana.","authors":"Margaret Addo, Sule Apaame, Michael Abbey Ghanney, Hannah Konadu Adu, Michael E DeWitt, Seth Offei Addo","doi":"10.1002/puh2.70071","DOIUrl":"10.1002/puh2.70071","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Millions of individuals worldwide suffer from hepatitis B, a serious, potentially fatal liver infection brought on by the hepatitis B virus (HBV). Although vaccines are available for HBV, infections continue to persist in Ghana. This study reports the prevalence of HBV infections in outpatients and pregnant women attending antenatal care at the Seventh-day Adventist (SDA) Hospital in Gbawe, Ghana. This retrospective cohort study involved the review of de-identified medical records of outpatients and pregnant women who visited the hospital between 2022 and 2024. Data on their HBV infection status, sex and age were analysed using R version 4.4.1. A total of 531 outpatients and 768 pregnant women visited the hospital during the study period. The prevalence of HBV infection was 7.5% in outpatients and 3.9% in pregnant women. It was observed that outpatients were more likely to be hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) positive (OR = 2.0, 95%CI = 1.24-3.28, <i>p</i> = 0.005). It was also seen that HBV prevalence increased from 2022 to 2023 and decreased in 2024. There is a need for more educational campaigns to raise awareness of HBV infections, especially in pregnant women due to the risk of mother-to-child transmission. Furthermore, vaccinations need to be made affordable and easily accessible to the general population to ensure maximum coverage within the country.</p>","PeriodicalId":74613,"journal":{"name":"Public health challenges","volume":"4 2","pages":"e70071"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-06-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12166552/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144303909","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":"Student Assessments of Early Childhood Caries in Some Informal Settlements of Cape Town: A 10-Year Series of Cross-Sectional Studies.","authors":"Larisa Krekmanova, Neil Myburgh, Ted Lundgren","doi":"10.1002/puh2.70049","DOIUrl":"10.1002/puh2.70049","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Aim: </strong>To assess Early Childhood Caries by measuring the dmft, Significant Caries Index (SiC), pufa, and caries-free status in informal settlements outside Cape Town, South Africa over a 10-year period.</p><p><strong>Method: </strong>A series of cross-sectional studies over a 10-year period (2009-2019). Surveys were carried out in preschools in informal settlements. A total of 5090 children aged from 1 to 5 years of age were examined.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>For 1- to 3-year-olds, the mean dmft was 4.33 ± 1.55, and for 4- and 5-year-olds, it was 6.34 ± 1.48. The difference in dmft for 1- to 3-year-olds increased but did not differ statistically between 2009 and 2019. For 4-5 years old, there was an increase over time. For 1- to 3-year-olds, the mean pufa was 0.34 ± 0.28, and for 4- to 5-year-olds, it was 0.63 ± 0.59. For 1- to 3- and for 4- to 5-year-olds, there was a statistically significant, lower pufa 2009-2019. For 1- to 3-year-olds, the mean SiC was 11.0 ± 2.35, and for 4- to 5-year-olds, it was 12.05 ± 1.89. There was a difference in SiC for 1-3 and for 4- to 5-year-olds, which was higher but did not differ statistically 2009-2019. Among 1- to 3-year-olds, 32.1% were assessed as caries-free. Among 4- to 5-year-olds, 16.0% were caries-free. There was a statistically significant, lower number of caries-free 1- to 3-year-old and 4- 5-year-old children 2009-2019.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>The mean dmft has been found to be continuously high from 2009 to 2019. The SiC score remained unchanged, whereas pufa was significantly lower. The frequency of caries-free children was lower over time.</p>","PeriodicalId":74613,"journal":{"name":"Public health challenges","volume":"4 2","pages":"e70049"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-04-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12039350/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144268109","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":"Detection and Determinants of <i>Leptospira</i> Infection in Rodents, Cattle, and Humans in Muheza District, Tanzania: A Call for One Health Approach.","authors":"Gamba Gerald Manyama, Gerald Dickson Mlowe, Athumani Msalale Lupindu, Abdul Suleman Katakweba","doi":"10.1002/puh2.70043","DOIUrl":"10.1002/puh2.70043","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Interaction among humans, livestock, and wildlife plays an important role in zoonotic disease transmission. The emergence of <i>Leptospira</i> in humans, rodents, and cattle remains relatively understudied. A cross-sectional study was conducted between February and May 2023 in Muheza to determine evidence of <i>Leptospira</i> infection and associated factors in rodents, cattle, and humans. A total of 479 serum samples from rodents (<i>n</i> = 201), humans (<i>n</i> = 198), and cattle (<i>n</i> = 80) were examined by microscopic agglutination test (MAT) to detect antibodies against 6 live <i>Leptospira</i> stock culture serovars, including Pomona, Hebdomadis, Canicola, Grippotyphosa, Sokoine, and Lora. Additionally, a questionnaire survey was conducted on 140 respondents to determine factors that are associated with <i>Leptospira</i> seropositivity. Descriptive statistics and Chi-square test were used to analyze the data. The overall <i>Leptospira</i> seroprevalence in rodents, cattle, and humans was 6.0% (12/201; 95% CI: 3.12%-10.20%), 12.5% (10/80; 95% CI: 6.16%-21.79%), and 13.1% (26/198; 95% CI: 8.76%-18.65%), respectively, and the most predominant serovars were Grippotyphosa, Sokoine, and Hebdomadis. A significant difference in the seroprevalence was observed in occupation, whereby farmers were more likely to be infected with <i>Leptospira</i> than those in other occupations (<i>χ</i> ²= 9.19, df = 3, <i>p</i> = 0.027). This study showed co-agglutination among rodents, cattle, and humans with serovars Hebdomadis, Sokoine, and Grippotyphosa. People aged 36-59 had the highest seropositivity, suggesting they are the most at-risk group. This study shed light on pathogenic serovars circulating among humans, rodents, and cattle and factors associated with seropositivity. The findings appeal for multisectoral One Health approach for effective control of <i>Leptospira</i> infection and other zoonotic diseases.</p>","PeriodicalId":74613,"journal":{"name":"Public health challenges","volume":"4 1","pages":"e70043"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-03-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12039342/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144268073","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":"SWOT Analysis of Communicable Disease Surveillance in Sudan.","authors":"Alhadi Khogali, Rahaf AbuKoura, Nada Abdelmagid, Mona Ibrahim, Ruwan Ratnayake, Maysoon Dahab","doi":"10.1002/puh2.70024","DOIUrl":"10.1002/puh2.70024","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Effective communicable disease surveillance is critical in Sudan to addressing the compounded health impacts of concurrent epidemics, health systems collapse and acute conflict. This article aims to map the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats of Sudan's communicable disease surveillance systems before the current conflict to inform future health system rebuilding efforts. Despite existing for 50 years, little is published on Sudan's disease surveillance systems. We conducted a scoping review to map the existing evidence on Sudan's surveillance systems and utilized a strength, weakness, opportunities and threats (SWOT) analysis to identify current and future gaps and opportunities to improve the performance of these systems for communicable diseases in Sudan. Our review shows that, prior to the conflict, disease-specific surveillance and response activities were fragmented across various divisions of the Federal Ministry of Health, hindering a clear national-level hierarchy. Sudan has committed to strengthening its disease surveillance system as part of its national health sector policy. Efforts to bolster pandemic preparedness and response were and continue to be recognized as critical. Chiefly among them is the need to invest in a fit-for-purpose national surveillance system that can operate against a background of acute crisis. Greater transparency and data sharing, clear guidelines for communication and collaboration and a centralized data management system can enhance the effectiveness of Sudan's communicable disease surveillance systems. Investment in a consolidated national surveillance system can support more efficient and coordinated responses to outbreaks and other health emergencies, with a view to future health system reconstruction.</p>","PeriodicalId":74613,"journal":{"name":"Public health challenges","volume":"4 1","pages":"e70024"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-03-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12039346/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144268095","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":"Opioid-Related Challenges Faced by Palliative Healthcare Providers in Both Hospital and Home Care Settings: A Multi-Center-Based Descriptive Cross-Sectional Study.","authors":"Mastura Kashmeeri, A N M Shamsul Islam, Palash Chandra Banik","doi":"10.1002/puh2.70013","DOIUrl":"10.1002/puh2.70013","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Palliative care aims to alleviate suffering and improve the quality of life for patients with life-limiting illnesses through effective pain management with opioids. Despite its global importance, opioid use in palliative care faces significant challenges, particularly in resource-poor settings like Bangladesh. In Bangladesh, opioid use is notably low, with disparities between urban and rural areas. Cultural stigmas, strict regulations, and inadequate healthcare provider training further obstruct effective pain management.</p><p><strong>Objective: </strong>This study aims to explore the challenges healthcare providers face regarding opioid use in both hospital and home-based palliative care settings.</p><p><strong>Method: </strong>A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted using face-to-face semistructured interviews with 135 licensed healthcare providers from August to September 2022.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The respondents, predominantly young (57% aged 20-39) and female (68.9%), primarily manage late-stage cancer patients (98.5%), with pain (100%) being the primary symptom treated. Morphine syrup is commonly used (68.1%), whereas oxycodone and buprenorphine are unavailable. Side effects such as deep sedation (43.7%) and addiction (34.1%) highlight the need for careful monitoring. Limited awareness (10.4%) of national opioid policies results in inconsistent practices (<i>p</i> = 0.001) and (<i>p</i> = 0.004). Prescribing restrictions (60.7%) and dispensing rights issues contribute to operational challenges, affecting patient access to pain management. Misconceptions about palliative care (32.6%) and inter-departmental non-cooperation (38.5%) hinder patient referrals (<i>p</i> = 0.001) and continuity of care.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Inconsistent awareness of opioid policies causes varied practices and attitudes. Addressing referral challenges and prescribing restrictions requires interdisciplinary solutions, enhanced education, better policy dissemination, and standardized guidelines for effective palliative care opioid management.</p>","PeriodicalId":74613,"journal":{"name":"Public health challenges","volume":"4 1","pages":"e70013"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-03-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12039347/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144268079","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":"Building Trust and Resilience: Bhutan's Approach to Risk Communication During the COVID-19 Pandemic.","authors":"Ugyen Tshering, Tandin Dendup, Sonam Wangda, Sonam Wangdi","doi":"10.1002/puh2.70039","DOIUrl":"10.1002/puh2.70039","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, effective risk communication emerged as pivotal in fostering positive behavioral changes that aligned with the evolving evidence and stages of the pandemic. It stood alongside key strategies like enhanced surveillance, extensive testing, stringent quarantine, and strategic case management in Bhutan's response. Over the last 3 years of the pandemic, we have gained profound insights into risk communication's impact. This article aims to illuminate diverse approaches in managing public information during the pandemic. The authors also suggest potential research agendas and policy and system-level reforms in the realm of risk communication.</p>","PeriodicalId":74613,"journal":{"name":"Public health challenges","volume":"4 1","pages":"e70039"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-03-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12039344/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144268143","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":"Understanding Health Inequality, Disparity and Inequity in Africa: A Rapid Review of Concepts, Root Causes, and Strategic Solutions.","authors":"Gabriel Ilerioluwa Oke, Olivier Sibomana","doi":"10.1002/puh2.70040","DOIUrl":"10.1002/puh2.70040","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Health inequality, disparity, and inequity are critical global health challenges, particularly in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Africa's healthcare systems have been profoundly impacted by these issues for decades, leading to severe and far-reaching consequences. This rapid review aims to explore the concepts of health inequality, disparity, and inequity in Africa, identify their root causes, and propose practical recommendations to address them.</p><p><strong>Methodology: </strong>A comprehensive search was conducted across PubMed, Google Scholar, the Directory of Open Access Journals (DOAJ), and through manual searches on Google to identify literature on health inequalities, disparities, and inequities in Africa. Key terms, such as \"Health inequality,\" \"Health disparity,\" \"Health inequity,\" \"Health injustice,\" \"Health unfairness,\" \"Healthcare access,\" and \"Health challenges,\" were employed. The identified literature was carefully reviewed, and relevant sources were selected to discuss the concepts, causes, and potential solutions to these differences in health outcomes across Africa.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Although some aspects of health inequality are linked to unmodifiable factors, health disparities and inequities are often the result of preventable and modifiable factors and can be addressed through targeted efforts. The root causes of health inequality, disparity, and inequity in Africa include poverty, inadequate education, corruption, poor governance, geographic isolation, unsupportive environmental conditions, cultural norms, and international influences. Solutions to these differences in health outcome lie in reversing the root causes.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Addressing health inequality, disparity, and inequity in Africa requires a multifaceted approach, including improving education, healthcare infrastructure, and gender equality, alleviating poverty, and ensuring fair governance to achieve equitable health outcomes.</p>","PeriodicalId":74613,"journal":{"name":"Public health challenges","volume":"4 1","pages":"e70040"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-03-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12039359/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144268107","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":"Understanding the Determinants of Adolescent Pregnancy among an Indigenous Community in Rural Nepal: A Qualitative Exploration.","authors":"Kusumsheela Bhatta, Pratiksha Pathak, Madhusudan Subedi","doi":"10.1002/puh2.70041","DOIUrl":"10.1002/puh2.70041","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Adolescent pregnancy is a global concern, with a higher occurrence among more disadvantaged groups. Within Nepal's highly marginalized Chepang community, adolescent pregnancies are notably more prevalent. This study aimed to understand the determinants of adolescent pregnancy among Chepang community in Raksirang Rural Municipality, Makwanpur District of Nepal using qualitative methods.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>The study was conducted from September 2022 to April 2023. Twenty participants (10 in-depth interviews and 10 key informant interviews) were recruited through judgmental sampling. An interview guide was used for interviewing the participants. All interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed, translated, and analyzed using R-based Qualitative Data Analysis package. Braun and Clarke's six-step thematic analysis was used to perform analysis.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Six key themes were identified as determinants of adolescent pregnancy among Chepang community: (i) inadequate access to and use of sexual and reproductive health services, (ii) gaps in programmatic implementation, (iii) elopement marriage as a form of escape, (iv) discontinuation of education, (v) limited knowledge and understanding of marriage, pregnancy, and childbirth, and (vi) early pregnancy as a sign of prosperity. Challenges such as difficult geographical terrain, limited access to adolescent-friendly healthcare, gender inequality, child labor, weak enforcement of child marriage laws, and societal stigma exacerbated these determinants.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>A multifaceted approach, including improved access to adolescent-friendly healthcare, enforcement of child marriage laws, access to secondary education, efforts to raise awareness of sexual and reproductive health, and a shift in sociocultural norms, should be implemented to reduce adolescent pregnancy in the Chepang community.</p>","PeriodicalId":74613,"journal":{"name":"Public health challenges","volume":"4 1","pages":"e70041"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-03-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12039362/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144268108","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 Conceptual Framework for Psychosocial Support of Orphaned and Vulnerable Children in the Vhembe District, South Africa.","authors":"Livhuwani Precious Matshepete, Lufuno Makhado, Ntsieni Stella Mashau","doi":"10.1002/puh2.70045","DOIUrl":"10.1002/puh2.70045","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>The lack of a conceptual framework (CF) that can be utilized to manage the psychosocial well-being of orphans and vulnerable children present a challenge in the Vhembe district, South Africa.</p><p><strong>Aim: </strong>This article sought to provide a CF for psychosocial support of OVC in the Vhembe district, South Africa using Practice-Oriented Theory and Donabedian's structure Outcome Model features.</p><p><strong>Method: </strong>The study incorporated a four-phased research strategy using a multiphase mixed methods approach. An exploratory, descriptive design was used for the study. The practice-oriented theory of Dickoff et al. and Donabedian's SPO model provided a starting point in the ultimate development of the framework. Data were collected from three sources, orphans and vulnerable children <i>n</i> = 34, to explore and describe the experiences conducted with community-based workers working with orphaned and vulnerable children within the Vhembe district to explore possible approaches for psychosocial support towards orphans and vulnerable children <i>n</i> = 4, CBOS, and social workers <i>n</i> = 10 working with OVC in the Vhembe district to explore the possible approaches for psychosocial support towards OVC until data saturation.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The study revealed that OVC faces many challenges including loss/absence of parents, living arrangements, deprivation and neglect, abuse and alienation. Challenges exist and this was confirmed by the qualitative findings with community-based workers and social workers, including lack of resources, lack of proper training, lack of funding and poor relationship between stakeholders and the absence of the CF that guide the provision of psychosocial support to OVC.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The study findings were conceptualized to describe and develop a framework for psychosocial support of OVC in order to improve the psychosocial well-being of OVC.</p>","PeriodicalId":74613,"journal":{"name":"Public health challenges","volume":"4 1","pages":"e70045"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-03-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12039460/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144268140","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}