Darshini Govindasamy
Biographic Data
| ID | 1738252 |
|---|---|
| NAME | Darshini Govindasamy |
| GIVEN NAMES | Darshini |
| FAMILY NAME | Govindasamy |
| SIGNATURE | GOVINDASAMY D |
| AFFILIATIONS | South African Medical Research Council |
| ORCID | 0000-0001-5984-3588 |
| VERIFIED | Yes |
| TOTAL WORKS | 18 |
| TOTAL CITATIONS | 1 |
| AUTHOR COUNT | 14 |
| EDITOR COUNT | 4 |
| FIRST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2012 |
| LATEST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2026 |
| H-INDEX | 1 |
The Role of Housing Conditions, Air Quality and Green Spaces on the Psychological Well-being of Adolescents living with HIV
Background The psychological well-being of adolescents is often associated with environmental factors such as air pollution, green spaces and housing conditions; however, little is known about how these factors shape the experiences of adolescents living with HIV in under-resourced communities. Aim This study explored the role of urban environmental factors, including housing conditions, air quality and green spaces, on the psychological well-bei…
The correlates and experiences of HIV-related intersectional stigma among caregivers of adolescents living with HIV during Covid-19 in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
Caregivers play a critical role in promoting HIV adherence and positive mental health among adolescents living with HIV (ALHIV). However, the health and wellbeing of caregivers are often compromised by HIV-related stigma. Furthermore, in sub-Saharan Africa, the effects of HIV-related stigma are amplified by intersecting forms of stigma, such as poverty and gender. If we can identify the key drivers of HIV-related intersectional stigma, then we ca…
Depressive symptomatology and their correlates among caregivers of children and adolescents living with HIV in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
Background Few studies have examined factors linked to depressive symptomatology among caregivers of children and adolescents living with HIV (CALHIV). This study estimated prevalence of depressive symptoms and identified associated factors among caregivers of CALHIV in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.Methods We used baseline data from a cluster-randomised controlled trial of the impact of a cash transfer program and an economic empowerment intervent…
Attempted Femicide
Purpose Women often do not recognize when they experience attempted femicide, so another way of measuring it is needed for research. We examined narrative accounts of femicide attempts, and analysed data to determine whether we could systematically expand the definition of attempted femicide, for the purposes of research. Methods We recruited a non-probability sample of 3742 women into the Fedisa ModikologoStudy. They were 18–45 years and had exp…
Using a cash transfer plus SMS nudge package to improve the wellbeing among caregivers of adolescents living with HIV during the Covid-19 epidemic in South Africa
Caregivers of adolescents living with HIV encounter multiple economic and psycho-social challenges which impair their wellbeing and provision of optimal care. Cash transfers combined with short message service (SMS) nudges may address the financial and mental barriers to caregiver wellbeing in sub-Saharan Africa. We examined the preliminary effectiveness and feasibility outcomes of this multipronged approach for improving caregiver wellbeing. We …
Sexual and reproductive health interventions for mobile adolescents and young people in sub-Saharan Africa
Research exploring SRHR interventions for mAYP is limited in sub-Saharan Africa. Future research and interventions should be underpinned by an understanding of young people's health and wellbeing more broadly, and foreground the social, cultural, religious and economic factors shaping mAYP's SRH needs
Prevalence and predictors of depressive symptoms among people living with HIV in Pakistan; country-wide secondary data analysis from National Stigma Index Study
The objective of this analysis is to identify the prevalence of depressive symptoms and its predictors in the national cohort of people living with HIV (PLHIV) in Pakistan. This is a secondary data analysis of the National Stigma Index Study 2.0. We screened PLHIV in the Stigma Index study for depressive symptoms using the Urdu version of the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ)-9. We used stepwise multiple linear regression to identify predictors …
Increasing HIV testing and linkage to care among men in rural South Africa using conditional financial incentives and a decision support app
Men in sub-Saharan Africa are less likely to accept HIV testing and link to HIV care than women. We conducted a trial to investigate the impact of conditional financial incentives and a decision support application, called EPIC-HIV, on HIV testing and linkage to care. We report the findings of the trial process evaluation to explore whether the interventions were delivered as intended, identify mechanisms of impact and any contextual factors that…
Proximity to public green spaces and depressive symptoms among South African residents
Our findings suggest that public green spaces close to residential homes may be associated with a reduction in the occurrence of depressive symptoms among urban populations in resource-constrained settings like South Africa
Interventions to increase help-seeking for mental health care in low- and middle-income countries
Mental health problems are a significant and growing cause of morbidity worldwide. Despite the availability of evidence-based interventions, most people experiencing mental health problems remain untreated. This treatment gap is particularly large in low- and middle-income countries (LMIC) and is due to both supply-side and demand-side barriers. The aim of this systematic review is to identify and synthesise the evidence on interventions to impro…
Cognition in older adults in Uganda
Dementia is an important and growing issue in sub-Saharan Africa, but epidemiological data are lacking. Risk factors may differ from other regions due to high stroke incidence and HIV prevalence. Understanding the epidemiology of cognition in older adults in Africa is crucial for informing public health strategies to improve the lives of people with dementia and their carers. The Wellbeing of Older People Study in Uganda is an open cohort of adul…
Applying the HIV Prevention Cascade to an Evaluation of a Large-Scale Combination HIV Prevention Programme for Adolescent Girls and Young Women in South Africa
Adolescent girls and young women (AGYW) in South Africa are at a three times higher risk of acquiring HIV than their male counterparts. The HIV prevention cascade is a tool which can be used to measure coverage of HIV prevention services, although there is limited empirical evidence to demonstrate its application in low-resourced settings. The unifying framework is a conceptualisation of the HIV prevention cascade which theorises that both motiva…
It’s Better If I Die Because Even in the Hospital, There is a Stigma, People Still Gossip”
Navigating Education in the Context of Covid-19 Lockdowns and School Closures
Gender related vulnerabilities and inequalities place female learners at high risk of school disengagement due to COVID-19 disruptions. Understanding the impacts of school closures and educational disruptions on female learners in South Africa is critical to inform appropriate, gender-sensitive policies, and programs, to mitigate further exacerbation of educational inequalities. We examined the effects that COVID-19 and lockdowns have had on the …
These Girls Have a Chance to be the Future Generation of HIV Negative”
Daily oral pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is highly efficacious for HIV prevention. Adolescent girls and young women (AGYW) have been prioritised for PrEP delivery in South Africa. A combination HIV prevention intervention providing integrated biomedical, behavioural and structural interventions for AGYW aged 15-24 in twelve districts in South Africa characterised by high HIV prevalence, was implemented 2019-2022. We conducted qualitative interv…
Subjective well-being and Covid-19 prevention practices among people living with HIV in Cape Town, South Africa
COVID-19 poses significant threats to the health of people with underlying chronic conditions, including people living with HIV. The association between subjective well-being and practicing COVID-19 preventive behaviours among people living with HIV is yet to be empirically tested. The objective of the current study was to test the hypothesis that subjective well-being would be associated with engaging in greater COVID-19 preventive behaviours. A…
A qualitative enquiry into the meaning and experiences of wellbeing among young people living with and without HIV in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
Young people in sub-Saharan Africa encounter health and livelihood challenges which may compromise their wellbeing. Understanding how young people's wellbeing is defined could strengthen wellbeing policies. We investigated perceptions and experiences of young people's wellbeing, and whether these aligned with Ryff's psychological wellbeing (PWB) model. Data were collected between January-August 2018 through focus-group discussions (n = 12) and in…
Risk factors, barriers and facilitators for linkage to antiretroviral therapy care
OBJECTIVE: To characterize patient and programmatic factors associated with retention in care during the pre-antiretroviral therapy (ART) period and linkage to ART care. DESIGN: Systematic literature review. METHODS: An electronic search was conducted on MEDLINE, Global Health, Google Scholar and conference databases to identify studies reporting on predictors, barriers and facilitators of retention in care in the pre-ART period, and linkage to c…
A qualitative enquiry into the meaning and experiences of wellbeing among young people living with and without HIV in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
Young people in sub-Saharan Africa encounter health and livelihood challenges which may compromise their wellbeing. Understanding how young people's wellbeing is defined could strengthen wellbeing policies. We investigated perceptions and experiences of young people's wellbeing, and whether these aligned with Ryff's psychological wellbeing (PWB) model. Data were collected between January-August 2018 through focus-group discussions (n = 12) and in…
Risk factors, barriers and facilitators for linkage to antiretroviral therapy care
OBJECTIVE: To characterize patient and programmatic factors associated with retention in care during the pre-antiretroviral therapy (ART) period and linkage to ART care. DESIGN: Systematic literature review. METHODS: An electronic search was conducted on MEDLINE, Global Health, Google Scholar and conference databases to identify studies reporting on predictors, barriers and facilitators of retention in care in the pre-ART period, and linkage to c…
A qualitative enquiry into the meaning and experiences of wellbeing among young people living with and without HIV in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
Young people in sub-Saharan Africa encounter health and livelihood challenges which may compromise their wellbeing. Understanding how young people's wellbeing is defined could strengthen wellbeing policies. We investigated perceptions and experiences of young people's wellbeing, and whether these aligned with Ryff's psychological wellbeing (PWB) model. Data were collected between January-August 2018 through focus-group discussions (n = 12) and in…
Subjective well-being and Covid-19 prevention practices among people living with HIV in Cape Town, South Africa
COVID-19 poses significant threats to the health of people with underlying chronic conditions, including people living with HIV. The association between subjective well-being and practicing COVID-19 preventive behaviours among people living with HIV is yet to be empirically tested. The objective of the current study was to test the hypothesis that subjective well-being would be associated with engaging in greater COVID-19 preventive behaviours. A…
Navigating Education in the Context of Covid-19 Lockdowns and School Closures
Gender related vulnerabilities and inequalities place female learners at high risk of school disengagement due to COVID-19 disruptions. Understanding the impacts of school closures and educational disruptions on female learners in South Africa is critical to inform appropriate, gender-sensitive policies, and programs, to mitigate further exacerbation of educational inequalities. We examined the effects that COVID-19 and lockdowns have had on the …
These Girls Have a Chance to be the Future Generation of HIV Negative”
Daily oral pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is highly efficacious for HIV prevention. Adolescent girls and young women (AGYW) have been prioritised for PrEP delivery in South Africa. A combination HIV prevention intervention providing integrated biomedical, behavioural and structural interventions for AGYW aged 15-24 in twelve districts in South Africa characterised by high HIV prevalence, was implemented 2019-2022. We conducted qualitative interv…
Interventions to increase help-seeking for mental health care in low- and middle-income countries
Mental health problems are a significant and growing cause of morbidity worldwide. Despite the availability of evidence-based interventions, most people experiencing mental health problems remain untreated. This treatment gap is particularly large in low- and middle-income countries (LMIC) and is due to both supply-side and demand-side barriers. The aim of this systematic review is to identify and synthesise the evidence on interventions to impro…
Cognition in older adults in Uganda
Dementia is an important and growing issue in sub-Saharan Africa, but epidemiological data are lacking. Risk factors may differ from other regions due to high stroke incidence and HIV prevalence. Understanding the epidemiology of cognition in older adults in Africa is crucial for informing public health strategies to improve the lives of people with dementia and their carers. The Wellbeing of Older People Study in Uganda is an open cohort of adul…
Applying the HIV Prevention Cascade to an Evaluation of a Large-Scale Combination HIV Prevention Programme for Adolescent Girls and Young Women in South Africa
Adolescent girls and young women (AGYW) in South Africa are at a three times higher risk of acquiring HIV than their male counterparts. The HIV prevention cascade is a tool which can be used to measure coverage of HIV prevention services, although there is limited empirical evidence to demonstrate its application in low-resourced settings. The unifying framework is a conceptualisation of the HIV prevention cascade which theorises that both motiva…
It’s Better If I Die Because Even in the Hospital, There is a Stigma, People Still Gossip”
Prevalence and predictors of depressive symptoms among people living with HIV in Pakistan; country-wide secondary data analysis from National Stigma Index Study
The objective of this analysis is to identify the prevalence of depressive symptoms and its predictors in the national cohort of people living with HIV (PLHIV) in Pakistan. This is a secondary data analysis of the National Stigma Index Study 2.0. We screened PLHIV in the Stigma Index study for depressive symptoms using the Urdu version of the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ)-9. We used stepwise multiple linear regression to identify predictors …
Increasing HIV testing and linkage to care among men in rural South Africa using conditional financial incentives and a decision support app
Men in sub-Saharan Africa are less likely to accept HIV testing and link to HIV care than women. We conducted a trial to investigate the impact of conditional financial incentives and a decision support application, called EPIC-HIV, on HIV testing and linkage to care. We report the findings of the trial process evaluation to explore whether the interventions were delivered as intended, identify mechanisms of impact and any contextual factors that…
Proximity to public green spaces and depressive symptoms among South African residents
Our findings suggest that public green spaces close to residential homes may be associated with a reduction in the occurrence of depressive symptoms among urban populations in resource-constrained settings like South Africa
Using a cash transfer plus SMS nudge package to improve the wellbeing among caregivers of adolescents living with HIV during the Covid-19 epidemic in South Africa
Caregivers of adolescents living with HIV encounter multiple economic and psycho-social challenges which impair their wellbeing and provision of optimal care. Cash transfers combined with short message service (SMS) nudges may address the financial and mental barriers to caregiver wellbeing in sub-Saharan Africa. We examined the preliminary effectiveness and feasibility outcomes of this multipronged approach for improving caregiver wellbeing. We …
Sexual and reproductive health interventions for mobile adolescents and young people in sub-Saharan Africa
Research exploring SRHR interventions for mAYP is limited in sub-Saharan Africa. Future research and interventions should be underpinned by an understanding of young people's health and wellbeing more broadly, and foreground the social, cultural, religious and economic factors shaping mAYP's SRH needs
The Role of Housing Conditions, Air Quality and Green Spaces on the Psychological Well-being of Adolescents living with HIV
Background The psychological well-being of adolescents is often associated with environmental factors such as air pollution, green spaces and housing conditions; however, little is known about how these factors shape the experiences of adolescents living with HIV in under-resourced communities. Aim This study explored the role of urban environmental factors, including housing conditions, air quality and green spaces, on the psychological well-bei…
The correlates and experiences of HIV-related intersectional stigma among caregivers of adolescents living with HIV during Covid-19 in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
Caregivers play a critical role in promoting HIV adherence and positive mental health among adolescents living with HIV (ALHIV). However, the health and wellbeing of caregivers are often compromised by HIV-related stigma. Furthermore, in sub-Saharan Africa, the effects of HIV-related stigma are amplified by intersecting forms of stigma, such as poverty and gender. If we can identify the key drivers of HIV-related intersectional stigma, then we ca…
Depressive symptomatology and their correlates among caregivers of children and adolescents living with HIV in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
Background Few studies have examined factors linked to depressive symptomatology among caregivers of children and adolescents living with HIV (CALHIV). This study estimated prevalence of depressive symptoms and identified associated factors among caregivers of CALHIV in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.Methods We used baseline data from a cluster-randomised controlled trial of the impact of a cash transfer program and an economic empowerment intervent…
Attempted Femicide
Purpose Women often do not recognize when they experience attempted femicide, so another way of measuring it is needed for research. We examined narrative accounts of femicide attempts, and analysed data to determine whether we could systematically expand the definition of attempted femicide, for the purposes of research. Methods We recruited a non-probability sample of 3742 women into the Fedisa ModikologoStudy. They were 18–45 years and had exp…
Medicine (12 works) · HIV/AIDS Research and Interventions (9 works) · Psychiatry (8 works) · Psychological intervention (7 works) · Family medicine (6 works) · Gerontology (6 works) · Psychology (6 works) · Public health (6 works) · Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health (5 works) · HIV, Drug Use, Sexual Risk (5 works)