P Reddy
Biographic Data
| ID | 260974 |
|---|---|
| NAME | P Reddy |
| GIVEN NAMES | P |
| FAMILY NAME | Reddy |
| SIGNATURE | REDDY P |
| AFFILIATIONS | Human Sciences Research Council |
| ORCID | 0000-0002-0432-9060 |
| VERIFIED | Yes |
| TOTAL WORKS | 52 |
| TOTAL CITATIONS | 34 |
| WORKS AS AUTHOR | 52 |
| WORKS AS EDITOR | 0 |
| FIRST PUBLICATION YEAR | 1981 |
| LATEST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2024 |
| H-INDEX | 3 |
Prevalence, correlates of psychological distress and mental health challenges among college and university students during the Covid-19 lockdowns in South Africa
Introduction The outbreak of the SARS COVID-19 pandemic in late 2019 led to a total disruption of life and impacted mental health negatively worldwide. Studies across many countries showed the impact of COVID-19 on the mental health status of students enrolled in higher institutions due to the disruption of the school year and learning. This study was aimed a measuring the prevalence and psychosocial determinants of psychological distress experie…
Understanding Why Youth Drop Out of School in South Africa
Out of school youth (OSY) are adolescents who have not completed their schooling and are not currently enrolled in school. This study sought to understand why learners drop out of school by interviewing 41 OSY (aged 13-20 years). Respondent Driven Sampling was used to recruit OSY. Content analysis was used to analyze the data. Gender differences were found in the reasons for leaving school. Males dropped out due to poor school performance, vocati…
Prevalence and Psychosocial Correlates of Diabetes Mellitus in South Africa
In South Africa, there are a limited number of population estimates of the prevalence of diabetes and its association with psychosocial factors. This study investigates the prevalence of diabetes and its psychosocial correlates in both the general South African population and the Black South African subpopulation using data from the SANHANES-1. Diabetes was defined as a hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) ≥6.5% or currently on diabetes treatment. Multivariate…
Individual and area-level socioeconomic correlates of hypertension prevalence, awareness, treatment, and control in uMgungundlovu, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
Results from this study can assist policymakers and practitioners in identifying groups within the Black South African population that should be prioritized for public health interventions. Black South Africans who have and continue to face barriers to care, including those with low educational attainment or living in deprived wards had worse hypertension outcomes. Potential interventions include community-based programs that deliver medication t…
Trends in prevalence of overweight and obesity among South African and European adolescents
Our study shows that by 2016, the prevalence of adolescent obesity was high in South Africa - more than 1 in 5 adolescents - which is nearly similar to that in Europe, yet South African girls may be at a greater odd for overweight and obesity in contrast to Europe, as well as adolescents from high earning families. South African local and contextual factors may be driving higher prevalence in specific sub-population. Our study also shows the need…
Psychosocial determinants of the intention and self-efficacy to attend antenatal appointments among pregnant adolescents and young women in Cape Town, South Africa
Given the high means of the family, peer, partner and individual participant attitudes, the relevance of these attitudinal items as intervention targets was relatively low. Further studies are recommended to assess the relevance of these sub-determinants in similar populations
Determinants of Confidence in Overall Knowledge About Covid-19 Among Healthcare Workers in South Africa
Background: Adequate information and knowledge about COVID-19 has been shown to induce the confidence and positive performance among healthcare workers (HCWs). Therefore, assessing the relationship between confidence in knowledge and associated factors among HCWs is vital in the fight against COVID-19. This paper investigates factors associated with HCWs' confidence in their overall knowledge about COVID-19 in South Africa in the early stages of …
Mobile Health Interventions Addressing Childhood and Adolescent Obesity in Sub-Saharan Africa and Europe
Child and adolescent overweight is a growing public health problem globally. Europe and low and middle-income (LMIC) countries in Sub-Saharan Africa provide sufficiently suitable populations to learn from with respect to the potential for mobile health (mHealth) interventions in this area of research. The aim of this paper is to identify mHealth interventions on prevention and treatment of childhood and adolescent obesity in Sub-Saharan Africa an…
Race, geographical location and other risk factors for hypertension
There was no significant association between social stressors or psychological distress and hypertension. However, the study provides evidence of high-risk groups for whom hypertension screening and management should be prioritised, including older ages, males, people with diabetes or with family history of hypertension, and Africans who live in urban formal localities
Vision loss, vision difficulty and psychological distress in South Africa
Persons who self-reported vision difficulty experienced a higher prevalence of psychological distress. Therefore, comprehensive psychological care is needed for patients with eye disease or vision difficulties as part of a governmental strategy to provide mental health care for all South Africans
Developmental Assets in South African Adolescents Exposed to Violence
Violence exposure is associated with psychological and behavioural maladjustment in adolescents. Yet, not all adolescents exposed to violence experience negative symptoms. Resilience is an outcome that is in part determined by multiple protective factors, or developmental assets, that protect adolescents from the negative influence of encountered stressors and allow them to attain positive developmental outcomes. A qualitative study was conducted…
Mapping the Burden of Hypertension in South Africa
This study investigates the provincial variation in hypertension prevalence in South Africa in 2012 and 2016, adjusting for individual level demographic, behavioural and socio-economic variables, while allowing for spatial autocorrelation and adjusting simultaneously for the hierarchical data structure and risk factors. Data were analysed from participants aged ≥15 years from the South African National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (SAN…
The psychosocial determinants of the intention to test for HIV among young men in KwaZulu-Natal province, South Africa
Background: Voluntary counselling and testing is one of the effective prevention strategies against the HIV/AIDS epidemic. This study investigated the psychosocial determinants of the intention to be tested for HIV among young men in South Africa's KwaZulu-Natal province using the theory of planned behaviour as the guiding framework. Method: A facilitator-administered questionnaire was used to collect data among 350 isiZulu-speaking men between t…
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
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…
Violence typologies and sociodemographic correlates in South African adolescents
Sociodemographic factors are uniquely associated with different violence typologies suggesting the need for tailored interventions to target adolescents with differed risks to violence victimisation and perpetration. Strengthening family relations, particularly between mother and child, may protect adolescents from the experiences of victimisation and perpetration
Effectiveness of a Health Behavioural Intervention Aimed at Reduction of Risky Sexual Behaviours among Young Men in the KwaZulu-Natal Province, South Africa
Two studies evaluating the same behavioural intervention were conducted in two areas in the KwaZulu-Natal province of South Africa using a randomized pre-test post-test control group design for study 1 (peri-urban) and a pre-test post-test design without a control group for study 2 (rural). The intervention included discussions and skills training on: (1) notions of masculinity, manhood, and responsibility, (2) personal and sexual relationships, …
Cigarette smoking and reasons for leaving school among school dropouts in South Africa
More research is needed to understand why learners leave school and their subsequent tobacco use. This knowledge will help researchers identify and target those students that are at risk for dropping out of school and using tobacco
Understanding the role played by parents, culture and the school curriculum in socializing young women on sexual health issues in rural South African communities
BACKGROUND: the decline in South Africa's HIV infection rates especially among young women is encouraging. However, studies show that the 15-24-year-old cohort remains vulnerable. As they still report early sexual debut, being involved in sexual partnerships with older men as well as having unprotected sex. These risky sexual behaviors may be linked to factors such as the parent-child sexual health communication and the timing of the first talk. …
Understanding the Psychosocial Correlates of the Intention to Use Condoms among Young Men in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
South Africa leads the world with the number of people infected with HIV. Even with all attempts that have been made to curb HIV, it is still evident that new infections are on the rise. Condom use remains one of the best tools against this challenge yet a small number of sexually active men use them. This study investigates the psychosocial correlates of the intention to use condoms among young men in KwaZulu-Natal province. Using the Theory of …
The psychosocial determinants of the intention to avoid sexual engagement when intoxicated among young men in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
These findings imply that health education interventions should focus on changing the normative beliefs as well as control beliefs of the target population either directly through education and training or indirectly by creating physical and social environments that facilitate safe sexual practices, for example by organizing positive peer support for risk prevention and by making condoms freely available in community alcohol serving establishment…
High school suicide in South Africa
Teachers in Limpopo Province need to be trained to identify students at risk, and to respond to situations by referring individuals at risk to appropriate mental health professionals. School-based suicide prevention programmes that are based on theory and evidence should be developed. These programmes should include teacher training to help teachers to identify symptoms of psychosocial problems that might lead to suicide, develop their skills in …
High school students’ knowledge and experience with a peer who committed or attempted suicide
School-based suicide prevention programs based on theory and evidence are necessary. Such interventions should also focus on detection of mental health problems by peers. Counseling services for students with mental health problems and suicide survivors should be available and made known to students at risk and peers
Correlates of consistent condom use among recently initiated and traditionally circumcised men in the rural areas of the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa
The study findings reveal important target points for future cultural sensitive health education aimed at increasing consistent condom use among initiated and traditionally circumcised men in the Eastern Cape Province
The Association Between Ethnic Identity and Condom Use Among Young Men in the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa
Prevalence and Correlates of Substance Use Among High School Students in South Africa and the United States
Objectives. We compared prevalence rates and correlates of substance use among high school students in South Africa and the United States. Methods. We used weighted data from 2 nationally representative surveys of high school students. We conducted bivariate and multivariate analyses and examined between-country differences in rates and correlates of substance use were examined. Results. Rates of past-month alcohol and marijuana use were lower am…
Understanding the role played by parents, culture and the school curriculum in socializing young women on sexual health issues in rural South African communities
BACKGROUND: the decline in South Africa's HIV infection rates especially among young women is encouraging. However, studies show that the 15-24-year-old cohort remains vulnerable. As they still report early sexual debut, being involved in sexual partnerships with older men as well as having unprotected sex. These risky sexual behaviors may be linked to factors such as the parent-child sexual health communication and the timing of the first talk. …
Access point analysis on the state of health care services in South African prisons
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…
Correlates of Grief Among Older Adults Caring for Children and Grandchildren as a Consequence of HIV and Aids in South Africa
This study provides insight into correlates of grief among older caregivers and results in useful information to inform the development of interventions to assist older persons in coping with their responsibilities as caregivers
Sista South Africa
Although new HIV treatments continue to offer hope for individuals living with HIV, behavioural interventions shown to reduce HIV risk behaviour remain one of the most powerful tools in curbing the HIV epidemic. Unfortunately, the development of evidence based HIV interventions is a resource-intensive process that has not progressed as quickly as the epidemiology of the disease. As the epidemic continues to evolve, there is a need to expedite the…
An Experiment in Action Anthropology
The Impact of a Community-based Pilot Health Education Intervention for Older People as Caregivers of Orphaned and Sick Children as a Result of HIV and Aids in South Africa
The increasing HIV and AIDS epidemic in South Africa poses a substantial burden to older people, in particular older women who mainly provide care for sick adult children and their grandchildren who have become orphaned and rendered vulnerable by the death or illness of their parents. In this study, 202 isiXhosa speaking older caregivers from Motherwell in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa were trained to provide care for grandchildren an…
The Association Between Ethnic Identity and Condom Use Among Young Men in the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa
Psychosocial determinants of suicide attempts among black South African adolescents
In South Africa, one in five adolescents attempt suicide. Suicide attempts continue to rise. We aimed to identify psychosocial target points for future educational interventions. One-to-one semi-structured interviews were conducted to explore psychosocial factors associated with past suicide attempts among suicide survivors in Limpopo province, South Africa. A total of 14 adolescents (eight girls and six boys) who recently attempted suicide were …
Traditional Leadership and Governance in Africa
Internationally, many countries are still grappling with the role and contribution of traditional leaders in governance, despite having ushered in a democratic dispensation. Some African countries have demonstrated that the aspirations of traditional structures can be reconciled quite effectively with those of government. They could cooperate and work in collaboration with each other positively for common good. This paper critiques traditional le…
The learning curve
An Experiment in Action Anthropology
The socio-cultural contexts of sexually transmitted diseases in South Africa
Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) are widespread in South Africa and contribute to the growing HIV epidemic. As an important step in curtailing the spread of STDs, this study explores STD patients' illness representations within its socio-cultural context, particularly gender relationships. In-depth interviews were conducted with Xhosa- and Zulu-speaking patients in clinics in Cape Town, Western Cape (N = 67) and in rural areas of Kabokweni, M…
The learning curve
Cigarette use among male and female grade 8–10 students of different ethnicity in South African schools
In order to tailor tobacco control programmes to the needs of students, historical "racial"/ethnic and sex differences have to be taken into account. Specific determinant studies are needed to understand these differences and to develop appropriate responses
The effects of a systematically developed photo-novella on knowledge, attitudes, communication and behavioural intentions with respect to sexually transmitted infections among secondary school learner…
A pre-post test follow-up design was used to test the effects of a systematically developed photo-novella (Laduma) on knowledge, attitudes, communication and behavioural intentions with respect to sexually transmitted infections, after a single reading by 1168 secondary school learners in South Africa. The reading resulted in an increase in knowledge on the spread of sexually transmitted infections (STIs), change in attitude to condom use and tow…
Global priority setting for Cochrane systematic reviews of health promotion and public health research
The 26 priority titles provide an opportunity for potential reviewers and indeed, the Cochrane Collaboration as a whole, to address the previously unmet needs of global health policy and research agencies
Access point analysis on the state of health care services in South African prisons
Determinants of smoking among adolescents in the Southern Cape-Karoo region, South Africa
Tobacco control programmes in multi-ethnic societies must take into account ethnic differences in the determinants of smoking. The I-Change Model, an extension of the Theory of Planned Behaviour, was used to investigate the factors related to smoking among a sample of 3378 Black African, Coloured and White, monthly and non-monthly smokers in the Southern Cape-Karoo Region, South Africa. Across the ethnic groups, non-monthly smokers reported a mor…
Prevalence and Correlates of Substance Use Among High School Students in South Africa and the United States
Objectives. We compared prevalence rates and correlates of substance use among high school students in South Africa and the United States. Methods. We used weighted data from 2 nationally representative surveys of high school students. We conducted bivariate and multivariate analyses and examined between-country differences in rates and correlates of substance use were examined. Results. Rates of past-month alcohol and marijuana use were lower am…
Are Students in Public High Schools in South Africa Physically Active
Association of snuff use with chronic bronchitis among South African women
These data suggest that snuff use, in the form predominantly used in South Africa, increases the risk of CB. This challenges the idea that snuff may be a much less harmful alternative to smoking in South Africa
Longitudinal Association of Smoking‐Related Attitude to Oral Health with Adolescents' Smoking Onset
The study findings support the development of smoking prevention programs that include restructuring of cognitions about the oral health outcomes of smoking
Sista South Africa
Although new HIV treatments continue to offer hope for individuals living with HIV, behavioural interventions shown to reduce HIV risk behaviour remain one of the most powerful tools in curbing the HIV epidemic. Unfortunately, the development of evidence based HIV interventions is a resource-intensive process that has not progressed as quickly as the epidemiology of the disease. As the epidemic continues to evolve, there is a need to expedite the…
Condom use promotion among isiXhosa speaking women living with HIV in the Western Cape Province, South Africa
The prevalence of HIV infection continues to increase among women in South Africa while there are few interventions specifically targeting condom use promotion in this population. We report the results of an experimental pilot study of a health education intervention aimed at enhancing coping skills and consistent condom use among HIV-positive women attending primary health clinics in the Western Cape province of South Africa. One hundred and twe…
HIV/Aids, STIs and condom use beliefs among male prison inmates in two South African provinces
The purpose of this study was to describe the characteristics of a random sample of prison inmates from two provinces in South Africa with respect to correct knowledge regarding HIV/AIDS and sexual transmitted infection (STI) risk and beliefs about condom use. This cross-sectional descriptive study of 357 prison inmates formed part of a larger longitudinal investigation designed to implement a health education intervention for prison inmates in t…
Underweight, overweight and obesity among South African adolescents
Objective The present paper reports the prevalence of underweight, overweight and obesity by gender, ethnicity and grade, among participants in a 2002 national survey among South African school-going youth that included height and weight measurements. Design A stratified two-stage sample was used. Nationally representative rates of underweight, overweight and obesity were calculated using weighted survey data and compared using χ 2 analysis. Sett…
Correlates of Grief Among Older Adults Caring for Children and Grandchildren as a Consequence of HIV and Aids in South Africa
This study provides insight into correlates of grief among older caregivers and results in useful information to inform the development of interventions to assist older persons in coping with their responsibilities as caregivers
The Impact of a Community-based Pilot Health Education Intervention for Older People as Caregivers of Orphaned and Sick Children as a Result of HIV and Aids in South Africa
The increasing HIV and AIDS epidemic in South Africa poses a substantial burden to older people, in particular older women who mainly provide care for sick adult children and their grandchildren who have become orphaned and rendered vulnerable by the death or illness of their parents. In this study, 202 isiXhosa speaking older caregivers from Motherwell in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa were trained to provide care for grandchildren an…
Explaining perceived ability among older people to provide care as a result of HIV and Aids in South Africa
In South Africa, older people have become the primary caregivers of children and grandchildren infected or affected by HIV and AIDS. This study explores the determinants of the perceived ability to care for children and grandchildren in the domains of providing nursing care, communicating with (grand) children, generating income and to relax. Structured one-on-one interviews were conducted among 409 isiXhosa speaking older people in two sites in …
The role of community advisory boards in health research
In the light of the growing involvement of community advisory boards (CABs) in health research, this study presents empirical findings of the functions and operations of CABs in HIV/AIDS vaccine trials in South Africa. The individual and focus group interviews with CAB members, principal investigators, research staff, community educators, recruiters, ethics committee members, trial participants and South African AIDS Vaccine Initiative (SAAVI) st…
Psychosocial determinants of suicide attempts among black South African adolescents
In South Africa, one in five adolescents attempt suicide. Suicide attempts continue to rise. We aimed to identify psychosocial target points for future educational interventions. One-to-one semi-structured interviews were conducted to explore psychosocial factors associated with past suicide attempts among suicide survivors in Limpopo province, South Africa. A total of 14 adolescents (eight girls and six boys) who recently attempted suicide were …
Traditional Leadership and Governance in Africa
Internationally, many countries are still grappling with the role and contribution of traditional leaders in governance, despite having ushered in a democratic dispensation. Some African countries have demonstrated that the aspirations of traditional structures can be reconciled quite effectively with those of government. They could cooperate and work in collaboration with each other positively for common good. This paper critiques traditional le…
Psychosocial correlates of condom use consistency among Isixhosa-speaking women living with HIV in the Western Cape Province of South Africa
Many HIV-positive South African women continue to have unprotected sex. The aim of this cross-sectional study was to assess correlates of condom use consistency among Xhosa-speaking HIV-positive women in South Africa. One hundred and twenty women were recruited from five primary care clinics and completed a questionnaire. Regression analyses indicated that assertive negotiation and self efficacy for condom use were proximal correlates of condom u…
Crossing the Invisible Line
This study explores the discursive accounts of women's alcohol dependence, treatment history and barriers in accessing alcohol dependence treatment. Participants were 10 women with alcohol dependency (age range=30 to 65, ethnicity= 70% White and 30% Black). Data were collected through the life story (narrative) interview method and thematically analyzed. A social constructionist approach was utilized to access and construct meaning from the disco…
Transactional Sexual Relationships, Sexually Transmitted Infection Risk, and Condom Use among Young Black Women in Peri-Urban Areas of the Western Cape Province of South Africa
Medicine (47 works) · Psychology (32 works) · Environmental health (26 works) · Psychiatry (23 works) · Demography (21 works) · Sociology (21 works) · Family medicine (19 works) · Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health (16 works) · Demography (16 works) · Population (15 works)