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In a setting where substance use is rife, understanding contextual factors that influence an individual's perceived eligibility to seek rehabilitation is paramount. The study explores how situational factors influence an individual's perceived eligibility for healthcare uptake in people with substance use disorder (SUD). Using qualitative methods, the study draws on in-depth interviews with 20 substance users and 20 family members to unpack how individuals with SUD negotiate their eligibility for health services. Findings show that substance users are aware of their substance use habits and acknowledge their eligibility for health services with information on the navigation of health services is shared by peers and family members. Access and use of health services is hindered by individual determinants and the availability of health services for substance users, such as rehabilitation centers. The hunt for drugs and long waiting queues for health service acquisition overshadows substance users' claim to health services. Future research should prioritize understanding substance use and health seeking behavior at a context specific level in community settings so that, even in the absence of substance use health facilities, substance use is addressed at least from a harm reduction perspective which can improve health outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is evident from movies and social media discussions that coping mechanisms are conceived as a common lifestyle. However, coping mechanism is much more than a lifestyle to migrants, given that they also see it as a survival mechanism. In spite of this, not much scholarly attention has been devoted to migrant’s use of coping mechanisms. Through the purposive sampling technique, this paper attempts to examine the theme of coping mechanisms of immigrants using Nigerian immigrant women in Durban as a case study vis-à-vis their relevance to adaptation in foreign land. The study employs the intersectionality theory to capture the experience of Nigerian women. The findings show that the Nigerian immigrant women in Durban have experimented with a number of coping techniques at the individual and group levels. These range from learning the indigenous language to acquiring new skills that will help them extend social networks through utilising social support schemes and any other identified virtue from immigrant home culture. The paper concludes that their challenges stem from navigating the complexities of two spatial worldviews (those of their host country and those of their homeland), which also impacts how they adapt to these complexities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Zimbabwean women constitute a significant number of migrants living in South Africa. Both accompanying spouses and lone Zimbabwean migrant women face challenges in securing formal employment and are often forced to establish informal businesses for their survival. Drawing on qualitative interviews, this study explored perceived challenges and triumphs encountered by Zimbabwean women in informal trading across South Africa. All the women indicated that they established survivalist businesses once in South Africa. Lack of fulfilling employment, poor wages, family financial pressures, disruptions and exclusion from social welfare benefits during the coronavirus lockdown were some of the factors that pushed migrant women into informal businesses. Establishment of informal businesses protected women from resorting to commercial sex work and other transactional relations. Challenges encountered include lack of funding to establish their businesses, low returns, crime, sexual harassment from clients, extortion, and fear of xenophobic attacks. Despite these challenges, Zimbabwean women described how they managed to build a strong clientele and improve their financial wellbeing in the process. Funding institutions can support migrant women through the provision of business loans, and training women on how to run businesses and saving. This will financially empower migrant women and protect their physical, sexual, and mental health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The discourse on masculinities mainly focuses on men's power over women and more emphasis should be geared towards understanding how the dynamics are changing, especially in the context of high levels of poverty. This study relied on qualitative interviews to examine dominant notions of masculinity among a sample of young migrant men residing in an informal urban settlement in Durban, South Africa. The interviews suggest that men face a multitude of challenges. In the informal settlement, toxic notions of masculinity are adopted by men that are demonstrated by their use of violence, denoting their power and authority. This study highlights the importance of incorporating men into multidisciplinary research in an effort to understand and combat widespread acts of violence inflicted by men. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In sub-Saharan Africa, sexual relationships between younger women and older men have been shown to pose a risk of HIV transmission. In South Africa, there has been growing interest in blesser–blessee relationships. This study explores perceptions of these relationships among university students in Durban, South Africa. The study draws on 15 in-depth interviews with students. Participants suggest that older men engage in these relationships for sexual gratification and younger women do so for monetary or material gain. Interviews revealed that participants believed that these relationships are common with both men and women engaging in them and putting themselves at risk of HIV infection. It is imperative to explore the context and motivation for these relationships because of their broader social and health implications. In addition, greater effort should be geared towards addressing the underlying factors that facilitate blesser–blessee relationships. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]