Alastair Van Heerden
Biographic Data
| ID | 221011 |
|---|---|
| NAME | Alastair Van Heerden |
| GIVEN NAMES | Alastair |
| FAMILY NAME | Van Heerden |
| SIGNATURE | VAN HEERDEN A |
| AFFILIATIONS | Human Sciences Research Council |
| ORCID | 0000-0003-2530-6885 |
| VERIFIED | Yes |
| TOTAL WORKS | 37 |
| TOTAL CITATIONS | 3 |
| AUTHOR COUNT | 37 |
| EDITOR COUNT | 0 |
| FIRST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2014 |
| LATEST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2026 |
| H-INDEX | 1 |
What Does Social Support Sound Like? Challenges and Opportunities for Using Passive Episodic Audio Collection to Assess the Social Environment
Background: The social environment, comprised of social support, social burden, and quality of interactions, influences a range of health outcomes, including mental health. Passive audio data collection on mobile phones (e.g., episodic recording of the auditory environment without requiring any active input from the phone user) enables new opportunities to understand the social environment. We evaluated the use of passive audio collection on mobi…
Differences in uptake of the DREAMS intervention in Lesotho among adolescent girls and young women
The Determined, Resilient, Empowered, AIDS-Free, Mentored, and Safe (DREAMS) Partnership is an initiative to reduce new HIV infections in Adolescent Girls and Young Women (AGYW) in 15 sub-Saharan countries. It is implemented through the delivery of a comprehensive package of evidence-based approaches and interventions in health, but also with an emphasis on addressing key drivers of high HIV prevalence in AGYW including poverty, gender inequality…
Childhood Economic Well-Being in South Africa
In-Home Passive Sensor Data Collection and Its Implications for Social Media Research
There has been a recent increase in debates on the ethics of social media research, passive sensor data collection, and big data analytics. However, little evidence exists to describe how people experience and understand these applications of technology. This study aimed to passively collect data from mobile phone sensors, lapel cameras, and Bluetooth beacons to assess people's understanding and acceptance of these technologies. Seven households …
Correlates of children’s travel to school in Johannesburg-Soweto—Evidence from the Birth to Twenty Plus (Bt20+) study, South Africa
Prior work on data obtained from the urban Johannesburg-Soweto based Birth to Twenty Plus (Bt20+) cohort has documented extensive levels of travel to school in the early post-apartheid era (1997-2003), with fewer than 20% of children attending the age-appropriate school closest to their home (de Kadt et al., 2014). These extremely high levels of schooling mobility impose costs on children and families, as well as the educational system more broad…
Rural–urban variations in age at menarche, adult height, leg-length and abdominal adiposity in black South African women in transitioning South Africa
In black South African women, the earlier onset of puberty, and consequently an earlier growth cessation process, may lead to central fat mass accumulation in adulthood
Understanding the Relationship between Socio-Economic Status, Physical Activity and Sedentary Behaviour, and Adiposity in Young Adult South African Women Using Structural Equation Modelling
Socio-economic status (SES) is an important predictor of obesity, but how it is associated with differences in physical activity and sedentary behaviour is less clear. This cross-sectional study examined the association between SES (sum of household assets), physical activity and sedentary time, and how they predict adiposity. Socio-demographic, anthropometric, and physical activity data on rural ( n = 509) and urban ( n = 510) South African wome…
Criterion Validity of Self-Reports of Alcohol, Cannabis, and Methamphetamine Use Among Young Men in Cape Town, South Africa
Perceived mHealth barriers and benefits for home-based HIV testing and counseling and other care
Men don't want things to be seen or known about them”
While evidence for home based counselling and testing (HBCT) as an effective HIV testing strategy is growing, men are often under-represented in this approach. Following up on a sample of households previously offered HBCT, the study contacted men who had not tested. Ninety men were randomly divided between voice, text or instant message arms, contacted and encouraged to test. Additionally, focus groups were conducted with 10 men and 10 women to …
Characteristics of sexually experienced HIV testers aged 18 to 32 in rural South Africa
These findings highlight the need for novel youth- and men-friendly testing services and emphasises the importance of discussions about HIV in the home and community to encourage testing
Pregnant Women Living with HIV (WLH) Supported at Clinics by Peer WLH
Perceived mHealth barriers and benefits for home-based HIV testing and counseling and other care
In-Home Passive Sensor Data Collection and Its Implications for Social Media Research
There has been a recent increase in debates on the ethics of social media research, passive sensor data collection, and big data analytics. However, little evidence exists to describe how people experience and understand these applications of technology. This study aimed to passively collect data from mobile phone sensors, lapel cameras, and Bluetooth beacons to assess people's understanding and acceptance of these technologies. Seven households …
Characteristics of sexually experienced HIV testers aged 18 to 32 in rural South Africa
These findings highlight the need for novel youth- and men-friendly testing services and emphasises the importance of discussions about HIV in the home and community to encourage testing
Pregnant Women Living with HIV (WLH) Supported at Clinics by Peer WLH
Men don't want things to be seen or known about them”
While evidence for home based counselling and testing (HBCT) as an effective HIV testing strategy is growing, men are often under-represented in this approach. Following up on a sample of households previously offered HBCT, the study contacted men who had not tested. Ninety men were randomly divided between voice, text or instant message arms, contacted and encouraged to test. Additionally, focus groups were conducted with 10 men and 10 women to …
Understanding the Relationship between Socio-Economic Status, Physical Activity and Sedentary Behaviour, and Adiposity in Young Adult South African Women Using Structural Equation Modelling
Socio-economic status (SES) is an important predictor of obesity, but how it is associated with differences in physical activity and sedentary behaviour is less clear. This cross-sectional study examined the association between SES (sum of household assets), physical activity and sedentary time, and how they predict adiposity. Socio-demographic, anthropometric, and physical activity data on rural ( n = 509) and urban ( n = 510) South African wome…
Criterion Validity of Self-Reports of Alcohol, Cannabis, and Methamphetamine Use Among Young Men in Cape Town, South Africa
Perceived mHealth barriers and benefits for home-based HIV testing and counseling and other care
Rural–urban variations in age at menarche, adult height, leg-length and abdominal adiposity in black South African women in transitioning South Africa
In black South African women, the earlier onset of puberty, and consequently an earlier growth cessation process, may lead to central fat mass accumulation in adulthood
Childhood Economic Well-Being in South Africa
In-Home Passive Sensor Data Collection and Its Implications for Social Media Research
There has been a recent increase in debates on the ethics of social media research, passive sensor data collection, and big data analytics. However, little evidence exists to describe how people experience and understand these applications of technology. This study aimed to passively collect data from mobile phone sensors, lapel cameras, and Bluetooth beacons to assess people's understanding and acceptance of these technologies. Seven households …
Correlates of children’s travel to school in Johannesburg-Soweto—Evidence from the Birth to Twenty Plus (Bt20+) study, South Africa
Prior work on data obtained from the urban Johannesburg-Soweto based Birth to Twenty Plus (Bt20+) cohort has documented extensive levels of travel to school in the early post-apartheid era (1997-2003), with fewer than 20% of children attending the age-appropriate school closest to their home (de Kadt et al., 2014). These extremely high levels of schooling mobility impose costs on children and families, as well as the educational system more broad…
Differences in uptake of the DREAMS intervention in Lesotho among adolescent girls and young women
The Determined, Resilient, Empowered, AIDS-Free, Mentored, and Safe (DREAMS) Partnership is an initiative to reduce new HIV infections in Adolescent Girls and Young Women (AGYW) in 15 sub-Saharan countries. It is implemented through the delivery of a comprehensive package of evidence-based approaches and interventions in health, but also with an emphasis on addressing key drivers of high HIV prevalence in AGYW including poverty, gender inequality…
What Does Social Support Sound Like? Challenges and Opportunities for Using Passive Episodic Audio Collection to Assess the Social Environment
Background: The social environment, comprised of social support, social burden, and quality of interactions, influences a range of health outcomes, including mental health. Passive audio data collection on mobile phones (e.g., episodic recording of the auditory environment without requiring any active input from the phone user) enables new opportunities to understand the social environment. We evaluated the use of passive audio collection on mobi…
Secondary Distribution of HIV Self-Testing Kits to Social and Sexual Networks of PLWH in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. A Brief Report
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
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”
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
Retrospectively registered. ISRCTN Registry ISRCTN 46162564 Registered on 26th May 2022
Population health impact, cost-effectiveness, and affordability of community-based HIV treatment and monitoring in South Africa
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
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
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
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
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
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…
Engaging husbands in a digital mental health intervention to provide tailored counseling for women experiencing postpartum depression
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
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 )
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;…
Medicine (28 works) · Psychology (20 works) · HIV/AIDS Research and Interventions (19 works) · Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health (16 works) · Environmental health (14 works) · Family medicine (14 works) · Nursing (14 works) · Psychiatry (14 works) · Public health (13 works) · Sociology (12 works)