Shandir Ramlagan
Biographic Data
| ID | 246651 |
|---|---|
| NAME | Shandir Ramlagan |
| GIVEN NAMES | Shandir |
| FAMILY NAME | Ramlagan |
| SIGNATURE | RAMLAGAN S |
| AFFILIATIONS | Human Sciences Research Council |
| ORCID | 0000-0001-9906-4474 |
| VERIFIED | Yes |
| TOTAL WORKS | 35 |
| TOTAL CITATIONS | 10 |
| AUTHOR COUNT | 35 |
| EDITOR COUNT | 0 |
| FIRST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2006 |
| LATEST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2026 |
| H-INDEX | 2 |
Piloting the feasibility of a population-based joint TB-HIV survey in KwaZulu-Natal Province, South Africa, 2019
South Africa bears a high burden of infectious diseases, including intersecting epidemics of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and tuberculosis (TB). Among people living with HIV, TB is the predominant cause of death. Since 2002, South Africa has conducted six national population-based HIV surveys, and its first national TB prevalence survey between 2017 and 2019. Given the epidemiologic overlap of these conditions and dwindling resources, a joi…
Seroprevalence survey of anti-Sars-CoV-2 antibody and associated factors in South Africa
Population-based serological testing is important to understand the epidemiology and estimate the true cumulative incidence of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) to inform public health interventions. This study reports findings of a national household population SARS-CoV-2 serosurvey in people 12 years and older in South Africa. This cross-sectional multi-stage random stratified cluster survey undertaken from November 2…
“ … [I] f I can [be] infected now that means I am going to die … ”
In this paper, we explored how vulnerable, immunocompromised groups and caregivers of the elderly experienced and perceived the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic in South Africa. Semi-structured interviews were conducted remotely between the 5th andthe 18th of April 2020 in the three South African provinces hardest hit by Covid-19, namely Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal and the Western Cape. In total, 60 qualitative key informant interviews and one focus gro…
The HIV Epidemic in South Africa
South Africa has the largest number of people living with HIV worldwide. South Africa has implemented five population-based HIV prevalence surveys since 2002 aimed at understanding the dynamics and the trends of the epidemic. This paper presents key findings from the fifth HIV prevalence, incidence, and behaviour survey conducted in 2017 following policy, programme, and epidemic change since the prior survey was conducted in 2012. A cross-section…
Is There Risk Compensation among HIV Infected Youth and Adults 15 Years and Older on Antiretroviral Treatment in South Africa? Findings from the 2017 National HIV Prevalence, Incidence, Behaviour and …
In this paper, risk compensation among individuals on antiretroviral therapy (ART), using the 2017 South African national survey on HIV, is explored. A multi-stage stratified cluster random sampling approach was used to realize 11,130 participants 15 years and older. Logistic regression analysis assessed the association between multiple sexual partners, condom use at last sexual encounter, consistency of condom usage and potential explanatory var…
“… It is like it has come up and stole our lives from us” The first 21 days
We examined how different sectors of society experienced the first 21 days of the stay-at-home lockdown following the onset of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic in South Africa. This rapid qualitative assessment was conducted remotely with 60 key and community informants from different socio-cultural and economic backgrounds in Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal and the Western Cape provinces of South Africa. Atlas.ti.8 was used to facilitate …
Preparedness for self-isolation or quarantine and lockdown in South Africa
The findings highlight the challenge of implementing self-isolation or quarantine in a country with different and unique social contexts. There is a need for public awareness regarding the importance of self-isolation or quarantine as well as counter measures against contextual factors inhibiting this intervention, especially in impoverished communities
Association Between ART Adherence and Mental Health
Pushing the Boundaries
The outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) resulted in South Africa's shelter-in-place lockdown. South Africa is vulnerable to the negative outcomes of COVID-19 due to health systems inequalities, high prevalence of human immunodeficiency viruses, tuberculosis and the growing burden of non-communicable diseases. Conducting scientifically validated research during lockdown, in a country that's unequal, divided and resource poor, has resul…
Maternal and infant antiretroviral therapy adherence among women living with HIV in rural South Africa
‘Mother-to-child transmission of HIV’ can occur during the period of pregnancy, childbirth, or breastfeeding. ‘Prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV’ (PMTCT) in Mpumalanga Province, South Africa, is especially vital as the prevalence of HIV is 28.2% in women aged 15–49. PMTCT interventions resulted in a drop of MTCT rates in Mpumalanga from ∼2% in 2015 to 1.3% in 2016. This randomised controlled trial in Mpumalanga examined the potent…
Influence of Male Partners on HIV Disclosure Among South African Women in a Cluster Randomized PMTCT Intervention
Stigma interdependence among pregnant HIV-infected couples in a cluster randomized controlled trial from rural South Africa
Correlates of perceived HIV-related stigma among HIV-positive pregnant women in rural Mpumalanga province, South Africa
The study investigated correlates of perceived HIV-related stigma among 673 HIV-positive women from rural Mpumalanga province, South Africa (mean age 28 years old, SD = 5.73 years). The women completed measures of HIV-related stigma experience and related personal factors. Following multivariable logistic regression, results showed that lack of male involvement during the ante-natal visits was significantly associated with all four perceived HIV-…
Self-Reported Long-Term Antiretroviral Adherence
We evaluate the impact of a multi-session cognitive behavioral prevention of mother to child transmission (PMTCT) intervention on antiretroviral therapy (ART) adherence. A total of 683 women were enrolled into a randomized control trial conducted at twelve community health centres (CHCs) in Mpumalanga Province. Participants were randomized to Standard Care or Enhanced PMTCT Intervention (EI). EI received three group and three individual intervent…
Determinants of disclosure and non-disclosure of HIV-positive status, by pregnant women in rural South Africa
Disclosure of HIV status remains one of the major challenges to the effectiveness of the prevention of mother to child transmission of HIV in rural areas in South Africa. This study aimed at assessing the determinants of HIV status disclosure among HIV infected pregnant women who have disclosed their HIV status to someone, as well as among those who have disclosed to their partners. Cross-sectional data was collected from 673 HIV sero-positive pr…
Prevalence and Factors Associated with Fixed-Dose Combination Antiretroviral Drugs Adherence among HIV-Positive Pregnant Women on Option B Treatment in Mpumalanga Province, South Africa
The possibility for all babies to be born and remain HIV-negative for the first year of life is achievable in South Africa. HIV-positive mothers' adherence to their antiretroviral medication is one of the crucial factors to achieve this target. Cross-sectional data were collected at 12 community health centres, over 12 months (2014-2015), from 673 HIV-positive women, less than 6 months pregnant, attending antenatal care, and on Option B treatment…
Sexual risk behaviour among HIV-infected women in the first twelve months after delivery in South Africa
This study aimed to assess sexual risk behaviour and its social correlates in HIV-infected women living in rural South Africa at six and twelve months post-partum. Participants were 699 HIV-positive women recruited prenatally by systematic sampling from twelve community health centres in Mpumalanga province, South Africa (mean age = 28.4 years, SD = 5.7; married =41.1%; serodiscordant or unknown partner status = 74.9%). They self-reported on thei…
Self-Report and Dry Blood Spot Measurement of Antiretroviral Medications as Markers of Adherence in Pregnant Women in Rural South Africa
The Achilles' heel of prevention to mother-to-child transmission of HIV
The Joint United Nations Programme on HIV and AIDS proposed to reduce the vertical transmission of HIV from ∼72,200 to ∼8300 newly infected children by 2015 in South Africa (SA). However, cultural, infrastructural, and socio-economic barriers hinder the implementation of the prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) protocol, and research on potential solutions to address these barriers in rural areas is particularly limited. This study …
Do Customers Flee From HIV? A Survey of HIV Stigma and Its Potential Economic Consequences on Small Businesses in Tshwane (Pretoria), South Africa
Depression and social functioning among HIV-infected and uninfected persons in South Africa
Depression and other health problems are common co-morbidities among persons living with human immunodeficiency virus infection/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS). The aim of this study was to investigate depression, health status, and substance use in relation to HIV-infected and uninfected individuals in South Africa. Using a cross-sectional case-control design, we compared depression, physical health, mental health, problem alcohol …
Self-reported prevalence of chronic non-communicable diseases and associated factors among older adults in South Africa
INTRODUCTION: Little is known about the prevalence and predictors of chronic non-communicable diseases (NCDs) of older adults in South Africa. This study aims to investigate the self-reported prevalences of major chronic NCDs and their predictors among older South Africans. METHODS: We conducted a national population-based cross-sectional survey with a sample of 3,840 individuals aged 50 years or above in South Africa in 2008. The outcome variabl…
Self-rated health and associated factors among older South Africans
BACKGROUND: Population ageing has become significant in South African society, increasing the need to improve understandings of health and well-being among the aged. OBJECTIVE: To describe the self-reported ratings of overall health and functioning, and to identify factors associated with self-rated health among older South Africans. DESIGN: A national population-based cross-sectional survey, with a sample of 3,840 individuals aged 50 years and o…
Data Resource Profile
Population ageing is rapidly becoming a global issue and will have a major impact on health policies and programmes. The World Health Organization's Study on global AGEing and adult health (SAGE) aims to address the gap in reliable data and scientific knowledge on ageing and health in low- and middle-income countries. SAGE is a longitudinal study with nationally representative samples of persons aged 50+ years in China, Ghana, India, Mexico, Russ…
Early Sexual Debut and Associated Risk Factors Among Male and Female Youth in South Africa
The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence and correlates of early sexual debut among youth aged 18–24 in South Africa. In a cross-sectional population based survey 3123 youth were interviewed with a structured questionnaire in four provinces (Eastern Cape, Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal and Mpumalanga). Data analysis was restricted to youth who reported ever having sex (N=2072). Multivariable logistic regression was used to examine the rela…
Pushing the Boundaries
The outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) resulted in South Africa's shelter-in-place lockdown. South Africa is vulnerable to the negative outcomes of COVID-19 due to health systems inequalities, high prevalence of human immunodeficiency viruses, tuberculosis and the growing burden of non-communicable diseases. Conducting scientifically validated research during lockdown, in a country that's unequal, divided and resource poor, has resul…
A comparison of EPI sampling, probability sampling, and compact segment sampling methods for micro and small enterprises
The Achilles' heel of prevention to mother-to-child transmission of HIV
The Joint United Nations Programme on HIV and AIDS proposed to reduce the vertical transmission of HIV from ∼72,200 to ∼8300 newly infected children by 2015 in South Africa (SA). However, cultural, infrastructural, and socio-economic barriers hinder the implementation of the prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) protocol, and research on potential solutions to address these barriers in rural areas is particularly limited. This study …
Stigma interdependence among pregnant HIV-infected couples in a cluster randomized controlled trial from rural South Africa
Efficacy of a lay health worker led group antiretroviral medication adherence training among non-adherent HIV-positive patients in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
There is a lack of theory-based randomized controlled trials to examine the effect of antiretroviral adherence in sub-Saharan Africa. We assessed the effectiveness of a lay health worker lead structured group intervention to improve adherence to antiretroviral therapy (ART) in a cohort of HIV-infected adults. This two-arm randomized controlled trial was undertaken at an HIV clinic in a district hospital in South Africa. A total of 152 adult patie…
Responsible Alcoholic Beverages Sales and Services Training Intervention in Cape Town
The aim of this study was to pilot a responsible beverage service intervention in order to reduce alcohol-impaired road use. The sample included 20 shebeens including 10 licensed and 10 unlicensed establishments chosen from a list of alcohol serving establishments in Gugulethu, Cape Town. The study examined whether changes in knowledge, attitudes, and behaviour of servers as well as BAC levels of patrons occurred as a result of receiving server i…
HIV/Aids and ‘othering’ in South Africa
In order to explore the relevance of social concepts such as stigma and denial to the transmission of HIV, this qualitative study sought to examine cultural and racial contexts of behaviour relevant to the risk of HIV infection among South Africans. A cultural model was used to analyse transcripts from 39 focus group discussions and 28 key informant interviews. Results reveal how cultural and racial positionings mediate perceptions of the groups …
Use of traditional complementary and alternative medicine for HIV patients in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
Traditional herbal therapies and TCAM are commonly used by HIV treatment naïve outpatients of public health facilities in South Africa. Health care providers should routinely screen patients on TCAM use when initiating ART and also during follow-up and monitoring keeping in mind that these patients may not fully disclose other therapies
Antiretroviral treatment adherence among HIV patients in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
For the patients in this study, particularly those not living in urban areas, additional support may be needed to ensure patients are able to attend appointments or obtain their medications more easily. Adherence information and behavioural skills as part of the IMB model should be strengthened to improve adherence. Further psychological support is also required and patients' perceived need for ARTs should be routinely assessed
Support Group Needs for People Living with HIV and Aids (PLWHA) in Communities around Durban, South Africa
The study constructed a participant centred perspective of what members of a support group for people living with HIV and AIDS (PLWHA) desired from their group meetings. The study sample (n = 34) was from three support groups of PLWHA in a province of South Africa (males = 7, female = 27, mean age = 34.2 years, SD = 6.8 years). Participants completed a brief survey and participated in focus group discussion on views on the ideal support group, ac…
Perceived stigma among patients receiving antiretroviral therapy
The aim of this study is to examine whether internalized AIDS stigma among HIV patients one year after antiretroviral therapy (ART) initiation is associated with sociodemographic characteristics, health status, social support, quality of life (QoL), and ARV adherence. This is a prospective study of all treatment-naive patients (N=735) recruited from all three public hospitals in Uthukela health district in KwaZulu-Natal and followed up at 6 and 1…
A comparison of EPI sampling, probability sampling, and compact segment sampling methods for micro and small enterprises
The social and clinical characteristics of patients on antiretroviral therapy who are 'lost to follow-up' in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
A significant proportion of those initiating antiretroviral treatment (ART) for HIV infection are lost to follow-up. Causes (including HIV symptoms, quality of life, depression, herbal treatment and alcohol use) for discontinuing ART follow-up in predominantly rural resource-limited settings are not well understood. This is a prospective study of the treatment-naïve patients recruited from three (one urban, one-semi-urban and one rural) public ho…
Data Resource Profile
Population ageing is rapidly becoming a global issue and will have a major impact on health policies and programmes. The World Health Organization's Study on global AGEing and adult health (SAGE) aims to address the gap in reliable data and scientific knowledge on ageing and health in low- and middle-income countries. SAGE is a longitudinal study with nationally representative samples of persons aged 50+ years in China, Ghana, India, Mexico, Russ…
Early Sexual Debut and Associated Risk Factors Among Male and Female Youth in South Africa
The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence and correlates of early sexual debut among youth aged 18–24 in South Africa. In a cross-sectional population based survey 3123 youth were interviewed with a structured questionnaire in four provinces (Eastern Cape, Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal and Mpumalanga). Data analysis was restricted to youth who reported ever having sex (N=2072). Multivariable logistic regression was used to examine the rela…
Alcohol Use, Problem Drinking and Health Risk Factors Among South African Youths
The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence and associated factors of problem drinking among South African youth (18–24 years). A cross-sectional population-based household survey was conducted using a multi-stage stratified cluster sampling approach. The total sample included 3123 participants (age range 18–24 years, 45.4% women) from four of nine provinces in South Africa. Results indicate that current alcohol was relatively more common …
Efficacy of a lay health worker led group antiretroviral medication adherence training among non-adherent HIV-positive patients in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
There is a lack of theory-based randomized controlled trials to examine the effect of antiretroviral adherence in sub-Saharan Africa. We assessed the effectiveness of a lay health worker lead structured group intervention to improve adherence to antiretroviral therapy (ART) in a cohort of HIV-infected adults. This two-arm randomized controlled trial was undertaken at an HIV clinic in a district hospital in South Africa. A total of 152 adult patie…
Self-reported prevalence of chronic non-communicable diseases and associated factors among older adults in South Africa
INTRODUCTION: Little is known about the prevalence and predictors of chronic non-communicable diseases (NCDs) of older adults in South Africa. This study aims to investigate the self-reported prevalences of major chronic NCDs and their predictors among older South Africans. METHODS: We conducted a national population-based cross-sectional survey with a sample of 3,840 individuals aged 50 years or above in South Africa in 2008. The outcome variabl…
Self-rated health and associated factors among older South Africans
BACKGROUND: Population ageing has become significant in South African society, increasing the need to improve understandings of health and well-being among the aged. OBJECTIVE: To describe the self-reported ratings of overall health and functioning, and to identify factors associated with self-rated health among older South Africans. DESIGN: A national population-based cross-sectional survey, with a sample of 3,840 individuals aged 50 years and o…
Depression and social functioning among HIV-infected and uninfected persons in South Africa
Depression and other health problems are common co-morbidities among persons living with human immunodeficiency virus infection/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS). The aim of this study was to investigate depression, health status, and substance use in relation to HIV-infected and uninfected individuals in South Africa. Using a cross-sectional case-control design, we compared depression, physical health, mental health, problem alcohol …
Do Customers Flee From HIV? A Survey of HIV Stigma and Its Potential Economic Consequences on Small Businesses in Tshwane (Pretoria), South Africa
Self-Report and Dry Blood Spot Measurement of Antiretroviral Medications as Markers of Adherence in Pregnant Women in Rural South Africa
The Achilles' heel of prevention to mother-to-child transmission of HIV
The Joint United Nations Programme on HIV and AIDS proposed to reduce the vertical transmission of HIV from ∼72,200 to ∼8300 newly infected children by 2015 in South Africa (SA). However, cultural, infrastructural, and socio-economic barriers hinder the implementation of the prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) protocol, and research on potential solutions to address these barriers in rural areas is particularly limited. This study …
Determinants of disclosure and non-disclosure of HIV-positive status, by pregnant women in rural South Africa
Disclosure of HIV status remains one of the major challenges to the effectiveness of the prevention of mother to child transmission of HIV in rural areas in South Africa. This study aimed at assessing the determinants of HIV status disclosure among HIV infected pregnant women who have disclosed their HIV status to someone, as well as among those who have disclosed to their partners. Cross-sectional data was collected from 673 HIV sero-positive pr…
Prevalence and Factors Associated with Fixed-Dose Combination Antiretroviral Drugs Adherence among HIV-Positive Pregnant Women on Option B Treatment in Mpumalanga Province, South Africa
The possibility for all babies to be born and remain HIV-negative for the first year of life is achievable in South Africa. HIV-positive mothers' adherence to their antiretroviral medication is one of the crucial factors to achieve this target. Cross-sectional data were collected at 12 community health centres, over 12 months (2014-2015), from 673 HIV-positive women, less than 6 months pregnant, attending antenatal care, and on Option B treatment…
Sexual risk behaviour among HIV-infected women in the first twelve months after delivery in South Africa
This study aimed to assess sexual risk behaviour and its social correlates in HIV-infected women living in rural South Africa at six and twelve months post-partum. Participants were 699 HIV-positive women recruited prenatally by systematic sampling from twelve community health centres in Mpumalanga province, South Africa (mean age = 28.4 years, SD = 5.7; married =41.1%; serodiscordant or unknown partner status = 74.9%). They self-reported on thei…
Correlates of perceived HIV-related stigma among HIV-positive pregnant women in rural Mpumalanga province, South Africa
The study investigated correlates of perceived HIV-related stigma among 673 HIV-positive women from rural Mpumalanga province, South Africa (mean age 28 years old, SD = 5.73 years). The women completed measures of HIV-related stigma experience and related personal factors. Following multivariable logistic regression, results showed that lack of male involvement during the ante-natal visits was significantly associated with all four perceived HIV-…
Self-Reported Long-Term Antiretroviral Adherence
We evaluate the impact of a multi-session cognitive behavioral prevention of mother to child transmission (PMTCT) intervention on antiretroviral therapy (ART) adherence. A total of 683 women were enrolled into a randomized control trial conducted at twelve community health centres (CHCs) in Mpumalanga Province. Participants were randomized to Standard Care or Enhanced PMTCT Intervention (EI). EI received three group and three individual intervent…
Influence of Male Partners on HIV Disclosure Among South African Women in a Cluster Randomized PMTCT Intervention
Stigma interdependence among pregnant HIV-infected couples in a cluster randomized controlled trial from rural South Africa
Medicine (34 works) · HIV/AIDS Research and Interventions (24 works) · Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health (20 works) · Environmental health (17 works) · Family medicine (17 works) · Psychiatry (16 works) · Demography (14 works) · Public health (14 works) · Psychology (13 works) · Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV (12 works)