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COE-HUMAN Grant Awards
New grantee: Dr Rizwana Mia
GENETICS STUDY – SOUTH AFRICAN MEDICAL RESEARCH COUNCIL
In recent years, the incidence of infectious disease remains high in South Africa, female obesity and the chronic non-communicable diseases continues to rise, coupled with birth defects and other issues that have brought great challenges to South Africa. The approach to medical care is changing and developing countries like South Africa are looking at better ways to use a patient centric approach to create sustainable healthcare.
PURPOSE: The HELTI project has collected blood samples and corresponding clinical information of South African women aged 18 to 28 years old. We aim to conduct Whole Genome Sequencing (WGS) of nuclear genomic DNA (gDNA) at different sequencing depth gradients. The project will further construct from reproductive women genomes, specific genetic analysis in South Africa, and establish the database for a healthy population baseline and biobank.
New grantee: Prof Karen Hofman
USE OF CHAT-SOWETO TOOL – CENTRE FOR HEALTH ECONOMICS & DECISION SCIENCE: PRICELESS SA
Many urban areas, like Soweto in South Africa, are seeing a rise in the prevalence of malnutrition.
PURPOSE: The study seeks to understand supportive nutrition interventions in the ‘first 1000 days plus’ (preconception, pregnancy and first 2 years) period that simultaneously reduce the risk and burden of under- and over-nutrition in this population.
RESEARCH OBJECTIVES: To use the “Choosing All Together” (CHAT) tool along with the community to inform decisions about candidate interventions to improve maternal and child nutrition, based on effectiveness and cost.
“Assessing the effects of food insecurity, malnutrition and teenage pregnancy on pregnant and parenting adolescents’ mental health needs in DIMAMO Population Health Research Centre”
Food insecurity, a condition in which households lack access to adequate food because of limited money or other resources, is a leading health and nutrition issue (Gundersen & Ziliak, 2015). This can be coupled with lack of access to healthy and affordable foods; cycles of food deprivation and overeating; high levels of stress, anxiety, and depression; fewer opportunities for physical activity; greater exposure to marketing of obesity-promoting products; and limited access to health care (Chilton et al., 2007).
PURPOSE: The aim of the study is to investigate the effects of food insecurity, malnutrition and teenage pregnancy on pregnant and parenting adolescents’ mental health in DIMAMO Population Health Research Centre.
RESEARCH OBJECTIVES:
1. To determine the prevalence and severity of food insecurity 2. To determine proportion of malnourished pregnant and parenting adolescent’s 3. To determine the level of teenage pregnancy 4. To investigate the prevalence of depression and factors associated with depression amongst adolescent pregnant women. 5. To explore the knowledge and perception of adolescent pregnant women on depression associated with pregnancy 6. To explore the barriers that prevent mothers from seeking mental health services, and interventions for this vulnerable population that can be integrated into primary care services. 7. To investigate support structures for adolescent pregnant women.
