Alastair Van Heerden

Biographic Data

ID221011
NAMEAlastair Van Heerden
GIVEN NAMESAlastair
FAMILY NAMEVan Heerden
SIGNATUREVAN HEERDEN A
AFFILIATIONSHuman Sciences Research Council
ORCID0000-0003-2530-6885
VERIFIEDYes
TOTAL WORKS37
TOTAL CITATIONS3
AUTHOR COUNT37
EDITOR COUNT0
FIRST PUBLICATION YEAR2014
LATEST PUBLICATION YEAR2026
H-INDEX1

  • Comparative cost analysis of community-based tuberculosis screening

    Open AccessHarsh Vivek Harkare, Anna Verjans et al.ARTICLEPLOS Global Public Health2026

    Community-based active case finding (ACF) for tuberculosis (TB) is recommended in high-burden settings, yet evidence on implementation costs from prospective programmatic data remains limited. We estimated and compared the costs of two community-based ACF screening approaches: Computer-Aided Detection of chest X-rays alone ( CAD4TBv7 approach ) and CAD4TBv7 followed by point-of-care C-reactive protein (CRP) testing within a predefined score windo…

  • Exploring Preferences for Long-Acting Injectable PrEP Among Postpartum Women in South Africa Using the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research

    Open AccessOluwaseyi O Isehunwa, Shannon Bosman et al.ARTICLEAIDS and Behavior2026

    South African women are disproportionately affected by HIV, with increased incidence during pregnancy and postpartum. While oral TDF/FTC pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is safe, effective, and recommended for pregnant and postpartum women, adherence to a daily pill is challenging, particularly during the postpartum period. Longer-acting injectable (LAI) PrEP products may be more desirable for postpartum women however, limited data on factors infl…

  • Household healthcare seeking patterns for emergent ill-health in Migori, Western Kenya

    Open AccessZachary A Kwena, Zachary Kwena et al.ARTICLEFrontiers in Public Health2025

    Background Healthcare-seeking decisions reflect personal assessments of illness etiology and severity to determine whether, how, and where to seek care. Understanding these contexts enables targeted interventions to address barriers and ensure timely access to quality services. We examined patterns of household healthcare seeking for emergent ill-health in Western Kenya. Methods As part of a multi-site mixed-methods study evaluating a patient-cen…

  • Drivers of chronic depressive and harmful alcohol use symptoms among adults living with HIV in Lesotho

    Open AccessGrace H Yoon, Natalie E Johnson et al.ARTICLESSM - Mental Health2025

    Introduction Mental health problems are prevalent among people with HIV (PWH) in Southern Africa. However, mental health problems are substantially under-diagnosed and under-treated in this setting. This study explores the drivers, explanatory factors, and coping mechanisms of mental health problems among PWH in Lesotho who have lived experience with depressive symptoms and/or alcohol use problems and attempts to contextualize the findings to loc…

  • If your CD4 count lowers, that is when you are similar to a person that is non-existent” A qualitative exploration of perceptions around advanced HIV disease in South Africa

    Open AccessT P Pita, TP Pita et al.ARTICLEBMC Public Health2025

    Clinicaltrials.gov: NCT05526885, 02 September 2022

  • Pilot Results of Masibambisane

    Open AccessAmy A Conroy, Rita M Butterfield et al.ARTICLEAIDS and Behavior2025

  • Face-to-face, confidential and health worker-led

    Open AccessGrace H Yoon, Natalie E Johnson et al.ARTICLECambridge Prisms Global Mental…2025References: 61

    Behavioral treatments can help people with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) improve their quality of life and treatment adherence. In Lesotho, where a fifth of adults live with HIV and depression and harmful alcohol use is prevalent among this group, little is known about the local suitability of established behavioral treatment strategies. We explored preferences regarding two strategies evaluated in other settings: involving phones and truste…

  • Engaging husbands in a digital mental health intervention to provide tailored counseling for women experiencing postpartum depression

    Open AccessAnvita Bhardwaj, Sujen Man Maharjan et al.ARTICLESSM - Mental Health2024

    Postpartum depression (PPD) is a common experience among mothers worldwide. Family members, especially husbands, can play an integral role in supporting and helping mothers recover from PPD. However, husbands are typically not included in interventions to address postpartum depression among women. This study explored husbands’ perspectives on engaging in a counseling intervention augmented with a digital health component for the treatment of PPD.…

  • Two-way associations between relationship quality and uptake of couples health screening including HIV testing and counselling together

    Open AccessFatma Abdelkhalek, Phillip Joseph et al.ARTICLEAIDS Care2024

    In the context of a couples cohort established to evaluate an optimised couples-focused behavioural intervention in rural South Africa, we examined: (1) Is couples’ relationship quality (RQ) associated with couples HIV testing and counselling (CHTC) uptake? (2) Does CHTC uptake or the intervention components uptake improve subsequent RQ? Enrolled couples, (n = 218), previously naïve to couples HIV testing, were invited to two group sessions and o…

  • Development and empirical test of the research‐informed South African Relationship Functioning Assessment ( Sarfa )

    Open AccessJennifer M Belus, Abigail C Hines et al.ARTICLEPersonal Relationships2024

    Intimate partners play an important role in chronic diseases. Despite the chronic disease burden in sub‐Saharan Africa, very few culturally relevant quantitative measures of intimate relationship functioning are available. We conducted an empirical investigation evaluating the psychometric properties of the South African Relationship Functioning Assessment (SARFA) assessing healthy relationship functioning in N = 150 community members (50% women;…

  • A collaborative realist review of remote measurement technologies for depression in young people

    Open AccessAnnabel Walsh, Georgia Naughton et al.ARTICLENature Human Behaviour2024

    Digital mental health is becoming increasingly common. This includes use of smartphones and wearables to collect data in real time during day-to-day life (remote measurement technologies, RMT). Such data could capture changes relevant to depression for use in objective screening, symptom management and relapse prevention. This approach may be particularly accessible to young people of today as the smartphone generation. However, there is limited …

  • Relationships Among Covid-19-Related Service Uptake, HIV Status, Drug Use, and Covid-19 Antibody Status Among HIV Testing Intervention Participants in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

    Open AccessLeslie D Williams, Phumlani Memela et al.ARTICLEInternational Journal of…2024

    People living with HIV (PLWH) and people who use drugs are vulnerable populations who may face barriers to accessing health services and may have irregularities in immune function. People with undiagnosed HIV infection may be particularly likely to have compromised immune function. However, research about whether/how HIV status is related to COVID-19-related health outcomes has been equivocal, and research on the predictors of COVID-19-related he…

  • Perceptions of Pre-exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) for HIV prevention among men living with HIV in the context of reproductive goals in South Africa

    Open AccessXolani Ntinga, Oluwaseyi O Isehunwa et al.ARTICLEBMC Public Health2024

    Despite PrEP implementation in South Africa, awareness of PrEP among men with HIV in rural areas remains low. Engaging MWH to support their partners in accessing PrEP could be an innovative strategy to promote HIV prevention. Additionally, providing men with comprehensive reproductive health information can empower them to make more informed decisions, adopt safer sexual practices, and challenge societal norms and stigmas around HIV

  • Exploring upbringing styles of highly resilient students in South Africa

    Open AccessFranco Musiello, Zaynab Essack et al.ARTICLEJournal of Psychology in Africa2024

    Parents play a critical role in supporting the development of resilience in childhood and early adolescence. Research into and commitment to resilience is of great importance, as most South Africans lack basic resources. This study investigated the styles of parenting experienced by highly resilient South African students. Participants were 136 South African university students aged 18 to 23 (female = 44.9%, black = 66.9%). They completed the Chi…

  • Changes in Stigma and Social Support among Participants in a Randomized Trial of a Novel Expanded Social Network-based HIV Testing Intervention in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

    Open AccessLeslie D Williams, Alastair Van Heerden et al.ARTICLEAIDS and Behavior2024

  • Population health impact, cost-effectiveness, and affordability of community-based HIV treatment and monitoring in South Africa

    Open AccessMaitreyi Sahu, Cara J Bayer et al.ARTICLEPLOS Global Public Health2023

    Community-based delivery and monitoring of antiretroviral therapy (ART) for HIV has the potential to increase viral suppression for individual- and population-level health benefits. However, the cost-effectiveness and budget impact are needed for public health policy. We used a mathematical model of HIV transmission in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, to estimate population prevalence, incidence, mortality, and disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs) …

  • Opportunities to leverage reproductive goals and ideals among South African men to promote HIV testing, treatment and prevention

    Open AccessOluwaseyi O Isehunwa, Xolani Ntinga et al.ARTICLEGlobal Public Health2023

    Despite significant gains in HIV testing, treatment and prevention in sub-Saharan Africa, male engagement and retention in HIV care remains a challenge. We conducted in-depth interviews with 25 men with HIV (MWH) living in rural South Africa to explore how men's reproductive goals could inform approaches to engage men and their female partners in HIV care and prevention. Themes were organised into opportunities and barriers for HIV care, treatmen…

  • Reflections on Digital Maternal and Child Health Support for Mothers and Community Health Workers in Rural Areas of Limpopo Province, South Africa

    Open AccessLivhuwani Muthelo, Masenyani Oupa Mbombi et al.ARTICLEInternational Journal of…2023

    Participants expressed the significant role of digital support apps in maternal and child health, which is impacted by various challenges. Addressing the lack of digital resources could improve access to health instructions for pregnant women and mothers

  • Pilot Testing Two Versions of a Social Network Intervention to Increase HIV Testing and Case-finding among Men in South Africa’s Generalized HIV Epidemic

    Open AccessLeslie D Williams, Alastair Van Heerden et al.ARTICLEInternational Journal of…2023

    Locating undiagnosed HIV infections is important for limiting transmission. However, there is limited evidence about how best to do so. In South Africa, men have been particularly challenging to reach for HIV testing due, in part, to stigma. We pilot-tested two versions of a network-based case-finding and care-linkage intervention. The first, TRIP, asked "seeds" (original participants) to recruit their sexual and/or injection partners. The second…

  • Perceptions of the Covid-19 pandemic

    Open AccessTakana M Silubonde, Lucia Knight et al.ARTICLEBMC Public Health2023

    With the existing mistrust of government, there is need for government to leverage existing trusted sources in communities to aid in the implementation of preventative measures. These findings support the development of context specific solutions to address challenges faced at different socioeconomic levels

  • Computer-based cognitive training for cognitive development of alcohol-exposed children in South Africa

    Open AccessJacobus G Louw, Alastair Van Heerden et al.ARTICLESouth African Journal of Psychology2023References: 44

    Children exposed to alcohol in utero may suffer from cognitive and physical sequelae. The most impactful damage in terms of daily functioning is to higher order cognitive functions involved in planning and goal-directed behaviour, referred to as executive functions. Cognitive training interventions are used as a remedial tool for executive function deficits but require implementation by professionals. For the South African context, where resource…

  • Secondary Distribution of HIV Self-Testing Kits to Social and Sexual Networks of PLWH in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. A Brief Report

    Open AccessNsika Sithole, Olivier Koole et al.ARTICLEFrontiers in Public Health2022

    Background: To reach 95% of persons living with HIV (PLWH) knowing their HIV status, alternative testing approaches such as HIV self-testing (HIVST) and secondary HIVST kit distribution are needed. We investigated if secondary HIVST kit distribution from male and female PLWH in South Africa would successfully lead to their contacts testing for HIV and linking to care if positive. Methods: Male and female PLWH participating in an HIV treatment tri…

  • A scoping review of mHealth use in South Africa

    Natasha Van der Pol, Xolani Ntinga et al.ARTICLEDevelopment Southern Africa2022

    This scoping review synthesises evidence on mHealth in South Africa specifically related to the use and application of mobile technology, the population groups targeted, and the health outcomes measured. Three scholarly databases were searched, data was extracted using standard scoping review methods. Of 287 peer-reviewed articles, 36 articles meeting inclusion criteria were analysed. Mobile applications and short-messaging services were the prim…

  • “I think it’s communication and trust and sharing everything”

    Open AccessJennifer M Belus, Valerie D Bradley et al.ARTICLEFamily Process2022

    In South Africa, couple‐based interventions (CBIs) have been used to increase HIV testing, reduce HIV transmission, and shift relationship dynamics. To understand local definitions of healthy relationships, this study sought to collect qualitative data on a model of healthy relationships in a semi‐rural area of KwaZulu‐Natal, South Africa. We conducted semi‐structured qualitative interviews with HIV‐positive women ( n = 15) and men of mixed HIV s…

  • Protocol

    Open AccessNicky Mcgrath, Nathi Ngcobo et al.ARTICLEBMC Public Health2022

    Retrospectively registered. ISRCTN Registry ISRCTN 46162564 Registered on 26th May 2022