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Copyright of African Journal of Reproductive Health is the property of Women's Health & Action Research Centre and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Ubuntu is an ancient concept and a way of life among most African cultures. It describes the fundamental principles of living for African communities and is rooted in the values of reciprocal sharing. Ubuntu encompasses the whole community in contrast to the Western ideology of individualism and hence the need to sustain and transmit these values from one generation to the next. The study focused on exploring the experiences of high school learners regarding Ubuntu education and training in South Africa. The study was conducted in two selected high schools in the Greater Giyani Municipality of the Limpopo Province. A qualitative research approach and an exploratory, descriptive design were applied. A purposive sampling method was used to identify 15 learners from the two selected high schools for the Boot Camp. Focus group discussions (FGDs) were conducted as a data collection method among the grade 10 and 11 learners. Trustworthiness and ethical consideration were ensured. The findings from the study revealed that learners shared different experiences during the Boot Camp. One of the experiences shared by the learners is the knowledge gained on applying the concept of the theology of the body to Ubuntu values. Internalisation of Ubuntu values forms an essential landmark in the individual's life, significantly young people growing up within African communities rooted in African culture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Healthcare professionals require adequate knowledge of genetics to be able to assess, diagnose, manage and prevent in good time genetic-related diseases. Healthcare professionals empowered in this field are able to differentiate at an early stage between genetic and genomic components of diseases. Advanced midwifery learners are trained to provide specialist holistic care that includes genetics upon course completion. Their genetic knowledge is crucial for them to provide genetic services in clinical- and in primary health care (PHC) settings. This study explores perceptions of advanced midwifery educators regarding genetics knowledge of their learners. A qualitative, explorative and descriptive design was employed. A total of 19 participants took part in this study. Data were collected through focus group discussions, individual face-to-face and telephone interviews. Thematic analysis was used for data analysis. Genetic knowledge emerged as a major theme under which genetic concepts, genetic history taking, common genetic disorders, genetic counselling, identification and management of genetic disorders were identified as sub-themes. At present, genetics education is addressed at the discretion of the individual advanced midwifery educators during training. This random kind of teaching is attributed to the lack of a curriculum framework that standardises genetics education at nursing education institutions (NEIs) in South Africa. The importance of genetics education is underrated in advanced midwifery courses, contributing to learners lacking adequate knowledge of genetics. Advanced midwifery learners need a sufficient knowledge of genetics to provide holistic care in clinical and PHC settings upon course completion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Traditional health practitioners (THPs) play an important role in communities by providing necessary health services for a variety of health problems. Possessing complementary biomedical knowledge and skills is vital in saving lives of patients. However, less is known about biomedical knowledge and skills among THPs. Aim: This study aimed to explore and describe the training needs of THPs on biomedical knowledge and skills in urban townships in South Africa. Setting: The study was conducted in a township in the City of Tshwane Metropolitan Municipality of Gauteng province, South Africa. Methods: A qualitative, explorative, descriptive design with 18 THPs was employed through snowballing sampling. Data were collected through a lekgotla group discussion and thematic content analysis undertaken. Results: Themes that emanated include knowledge of the basic physiological functioning of the human body; biomedical knowledge and skills required for the assessment of patients; managing emergency health conditions and understanding diagnostic concepts used in traditional health practice versus biomedical systems. Conclusion: Traditional health practitioners have demonstrated interest in being trained on certain skills used within the biomedical system to care for patients. Performing the necessary first-aid skills by THPs will assist patients in the communities while waiting for emergency services or referrals. Provision of training programmes for THPs on first aid interventions during emergencies is therefore recommended. Contribution: The study revealed that capacitating THPs with biomedical knowledge and skills can improve their ability to promote healthy living and prevent health problems in communities where access to resources is limited. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The Ubuntu philosophy which emanates from the African saying, muthu ndi muthu nga vhathu, a person is a person because of other persons, resonates with nursing ethics., Purpose: To describe the views of nurses and healthcare users on the development of the Ubuntu community model in nursing., Methods: A Participatory Action Research approach was used. The participants were professional nurses and healthcare users in three selected provinces in South Africa. Data were gathered through focus group discussions. Thematic analysis was used to analyze the data., Findings: The following themes were identified: the value of a person/human being; human beings are part of nature; values in nursing; principles of Ubuntu in health; and Ubuntu caring actions., Discussion: By upholding foundational values and principles of Ubuntu, healthcare professionals, particularly nurses, should aim to foster dialogue, empower patients, promote their emancipation, engage with them, and enable the people under their care., Conclusion: Ubuntu serves as a lens through which nursing can engage with South African populations to design and implement best care for population-specific care outcomes. Understanding the principles and values of Ubuntu can assist nursing students and practicing nurses in developing a moral consciousness that embodies the spirit of Ubuntu, thereby enhancing their ability to address health disparities and improve health outcomes., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare no conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2024. Published by Elsevier Inc.)

Background: Theatre involves expressing meaning in a collaborative art using words, movements, and visual elements. However, theatre remains poorly used as a viable teaching strategy or a method for communicating health messages. Instead, it is relegated to solemnly transmitting indigenous knowledge., Aim: To explore and describe communication of educational health messages through theatre using an appreciative inquiry approach., Setting: The study was conducted among the Ubuntu theatre group from a rural province in South Africa. The group is famous for using theatre to communicate educational health messages through the lens of Ubuntu philosophy., Methods: A qualitative exploratory descriptive design was followed. A non-probability purposive sampling was used to select thirteen members of the Ubuntu theatre group. Data were collected by two moderators from the two focus group discussions through conference calls. Deductive thematic content data analysis was used to describe the 4-Ds of appreciative inquiry., Results: Theatre is a playful pedagogy that can cut through language and cultural barriers when used to communicate educational health messages. There is a need to formalise it as an alternative pedagogy within the health care sciences curriculum. Furthermore, the sustainability of theatre as an educational tool is dependent on expanding educational practices, documenting its success stories and periodical in-service training., Conclusion: Using Ubuntu innovation to communicate complex educational health messages through theatre can maximise learning. This study recommends that Ubuntu-infused health messages be conveyed using theatre., Contribution: The study adds to the body of knowledge by presenting Ubuntu innovation in communicating health messages through theatre., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no financial or personal relationships that may have inappropriately influenced them in writing this article., (© 2024. The Authors.)

Background: Participation of male partners in antenatal care (ANC) is a complicated process that involves social and behavioural transformation. It necessitates that males take a more active part in reproductive health. Men's participation in prenatal care has been linked to beneficial health outcomes such as enhanced maternal health outcomes across the world. However, culture has been identified as a barrier to male partners' participation in prenatal care., Aim: The aim of the study was to explore and describe the cultural barriers to male partner involvement in ANC., Setting: The study focussed on selected clinics and hospitals under Vhembe District, Limpopo province., Methods: Qualitative, exploratory, descriptive, and contextual research design was used in this study. Qualitative data were collected through individual semi-structured interviews and Focus Group Discussions (FGDs). A thematic analysis approach was used to analyse the collected data from semi-structured interviews and FGDs., Results: The findings revealed three themes: cultural beliefs and practices that affect male partners' involvement in ANC; gender-related barriers that affect male partners' involvement in ANC; and socioeconomic barriers to male partners' involvement in ANC., Conclusion: The study's findings revealed that certain cultural beliefs and practices are a stumbling block to male partners' involvement in antenatal healthcare., Contribution: Culturally based developed strategy might help in improving the knowledge and practices of male partners in ANC., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no financial or personal relationships that may have inappropriately influenced them in writing this article., (© 2024. The Authors.)

Bac Kground: Caregivers are offered health information on neonatal care before they are discharged from the healthcare facilities after giving birth. However, they continue to feed and bath neonates in ways that are informed by indigenous traditions. Notably, these ways include the provision of supplementary feeds before 6 months and bathing the neonate as early as possible, which are practices that contradict the World Health Organization (WHO) recommendations of neonatal care., Objectives: This study aimed to explore and describe the indigenous neonatal feeding and bathing practices of caregivers in Vhembe District, Limpopo province., Setting: This study was conducted in Limpopo province at Vhembe District, Makhado Municipality., Methodology: A qualitative, explorative and descriptive enquiry was used to conduct 18 semi-structured individual interviews to explore and describe their indigenous neonatal feeding and bathing practices. Purposive and snowball sampling methods were used to select participants. Creswell's method of data analysis was used to analyse data. Ethical principles were maintained., Results: Two themes with sub-themes resulted from data analysis presenting indigenous neonatal feeding practices and indigenous neonatal bathing practices., Conclusion: This study revealed that caregivers use indigenous neonatal feeding and bathing practices across age groups and social standing. Younger mothers receive guidance from older women in their families or community. Midwives should know the indigenous neonatal feeding and bathing practices of the communities they serve to offer relevant culture-sensitive health education., Contributions: This study contributes to the creation of knowledge about indigenous neonatal care practices amongst mothers and caregivers., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no financial or personal relationships that may have inappropriately influenced them in writing this article., (© 2021. The Authors.)

Background: South African maternity care guidelines stipulate that post-natal patients can be discharged within 6 h after delivery, provided that the condition of mothers and neonates do not require medical, surgical or obstetric attention. Hence in many instances post-natal care is rendered at home by traditional birth attendants (TBAs). Traditional birth attendants play a crucial role in the care of women during pregnancy, birth and puerperium within communities., Aim: To explore and describe the experiences of TBAs during the provision of post-natal care to mothers and their neonates in order to make recommendations to improve the quality of post-natal care delivered at home., Setting: The community hall of a selected rural traditional community was used as a setting for data collection., Methods: A qualitative, exploratory and descriptive design was used. Three focus groups were held with 26 TBAs whom were purposively selected. Data were analysed using qualitative content analysis., Results: The study confirmed two categories that included: lack of supportive working relationships between TBAs and midwives and lack of respect of TBAs, by post-natal women., Conclusion: It is evident that the TBAs experienced negative experiences. Therefore, initiation of teamwork, empowerment and confidence development are crucial to improve the working experiences of TBAs during the provision of post-natal care. Quality post-natal care might reduce maternal and neonatal morbidity and mortality rates. Teamwork between TBAs and midwives might be initiated. Continuity of care for post-natal women might be improved., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no financial or personal relationships that may have inappropriately influenced them in writing this research article., (© 2020. The Authors.)