Pranitha Maharaj
Dados Biográficos
| ID | 281234 |
|---|---|
| NOME | Pranitha Maharaj |
| PRENOMES | Pranitha |
| SOBRENOME | Maharaj |
| ASSINATURA | MAHARAJ P |
| AFILIAÇÕES | University of KwaZulu-Natal |
| ORCID | 0000-0003-3518-8237 |
| VERIFICADO | Sim |
| TOTAL DE OBRAS | 67 |
| TOTAL DE CITAÇÕES | 49 |
| TOTAL COMO AUTOR | 66 |
| TOTAL COMO EDITOR | 1 |
| PRIMEIRO ANO DE PUBLICAÇÃO | 2000 |
| ANO MAIS RECENTE DE PUBLICAÇÃO | 2026 |
| ÍNDICE H | 3 |
Unravelling pre-exposure prophylaxis initiation trends and patterns in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, 2015–2025
Between Hope and Hardship
Literature suggests that women are increasingly constituting a large share of international migrants. However, women have remained invisible, excluded from contributing their own share of migratory insights. This study investigates the migration experiences of African women in Durban, South Africa, examining the intricate and multiple realities of their lives. It examines in particular the motivations for their migration as well as the socio-econ…
The Influence of Maternal Absence on Family Dynamics
Family dynamics are evolving globally, influenced by factors such as parental absence, yet the impact of maternal absence remains underexplored, particularly in the South African context. This study aimed to examine how the absence of biological mothers shapes family dynamics and the experiences of young women. A qualitative research design was employed, with semi-structured interviews conducted among 20 young women aged 20–25 years residing in a…
‘Protection without negotiation’
Young women in sub-Saharan Africa continue to experience a disproportionate burden of HIV infection despite expanding biomedical prevention strategies such as oral pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP). While PrEP has been promoted as a woman-controlled prevention method, less is known about how its use is shaped by gendered power relations and relational contexts. This study contributes to understandings of HIV prevention by examining how female unive…
Navigating digital pathways
Agricultural cooperatives as a means of promoting local economic development in a township in South Africa
Cooperatives have long been recognized as a collaborative effort by a group of individuals to address their social and economic needs. In South Africa, cooperatives have been adopted to address the triple challenge of poverty, inequality, and unemployment. Drawing on 15 face-to-face interviews with members of agricultural cooperatives in a township in South Africa, this study interrogates the extent to which agricultural cooperative can enhance l…
Sexual pleasure or HIV prevention? A qualitative study of factors influencing male circumcision in Zambia
Male circumcision is often undertaken to reduce the spread of HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted infections. However, there has been a shift in the motivation to undergo the procedure, as many perceive it as improving their sexual performance. This study investigates factors that influence decision-making about male circumcision. This qualitative study used a combination of in-depth and focus group interviews with men and women to investigat…
Childbearing after treatment for obstetric fistula
Women who suffer from an obstetric fistula endure more than just physical pain. Their ability or desire to bear children may also be affected due to physical damage to their reproductive organs. In addition, they may suffer from emotional trauma which is likely to affect their decision to have children. The aim of this study therefore was to explore in more detail the perspectives of obstetric fistula survivors about childbearing after treatment …
The Challenges Associated with the Child Support Grant Application Process
Female Labour Force Participation in South Africa
The study uses data from the 2017 South African National Income and Dynamics Survey (NIDS) to investigate the determinants of female labour force participation in South Africa. The majority of women form part of the female labour force (50.21%). These estimates are similar in urban areas (55.77%) but lower among women in rural areas (40.29%). Age and education emerge as dominant predictors of female labour force participation. A large household s…
Conceptualizing Health-Seeking Behavior among Adolescents and Youth with Substance Use Disorder in Urban KwaZulu-Natal
In a setting where substance use is rife, understanding contextual factors that influence an individual's perceived eligibility to seek rehabilitation is paramount. The study explores how situational factors influence an individual's perceived eligibility for healthcare uptake in people with substance use disorder (SUD). Using qualitative methods, the study draws on in-depth interviews with 20 substance users and 20 family members to unpack how i…
Navigating young fatherhood in contemporary South Africa
Historically, fathers were often expected to be the primary providers of their families; however, the role of men has evolved substantially. Increasingly, men are changing and so are their responsibilities. The aim of this study is to explore the role that young fathers play in contemporary families and the challenges they are exposed to. This study focuses on 20 young men living in Durban, South Africa. The young men suggested that being able to…
Migrant Traders in South Africa
Motherhood, Childcare and Work
Most young South African mothers continue to face obstacles that impact their decision to participate in paid work. The responsibility to provide care to young children is one of the obstacles that influence their labour force participation. Drawing on qualitative data from 20 young mothers, this study explores how the availability and nature of childcare affects the ability to take part in paid work among young mothers. The findings suggest that…
“ Respecting One Another Does Not Work Here ”
The discourse on masculinities mainly focuses on men’s power over women and more emphasis should be geared towards understanding how the dynamics are changing, especially in the context of high levels of poverty. This study relied on qualitative interviews to examine dominant notions of masculinity among a sample of young migrant men residing in an informal urban settlement in Durban, South Africa. The interviews suggest that men face a multitude…
Heterogeneity in Covid-19 infection among older persons in South Africa
Background: The 2021 World Health Organization study on the impact of COVID-19 on older people (≥60 years) in the African region highlighted the difficulties they faced as the virus spread across borders and dominated the way of life. These difficulties included disruptions to both essential health care services and social support, as well as disconnections from family and friends. Among those who contracted COVID-19, the risks of severe illness,…
Older men, younger women
In sub-Saharan Africa, sexual relationships between younger women and older men have been shown to pose a risk of HIV transmission. In South Africa, there has been growing interest in blesser-blessee relationships. This study explores perceptions of these relationships among university students in Durban, South Africa. The study draws on 15 in-depth interviews with students. Participants suggest that older men engage in these relationships for se…
Livelihood strategies of marginalised Zimbabwean women living in South Africa
Zimbabwean women constitute a significant number of migrants living in South Africa. Both accompanying spouses and lone Zimbabwean migrant women face challenges in securing formal employment and are often forced to establish informal businesses for their survival. Drawing on qualitative interviews, this study explored perceived challenges and triumphs encountered by Zimbabwean women in informal trading across South Africa. All the women indicated…
Perspectives and Experiences of Young Mothers Utilizing Public Healthcare Services in a South African Township
The prevalence of disrespectful and abusive care by public healthcare workers toward women during labor has been widely described as a health concern in the continent of Africa. Studies conducted in South Africa have outlined the different forms of abusive care, which include disrespect, neglect as well as abandonment. Research conducted on the mistreatment have focused on matured and married women as it has been assumed that childbearing occurs …
Migrant Traders in South Africa
More dedicated, more loyal
A growing body of research in South Africa has focused on fathers but few have included men from various racial backgrounds. The aim of this study is to capture the experiences of young fathers from a range of racial backgrounds that are residing in the urban areas of Durban. This study draws on qualitative data collected from interviews conducted with 20 young men. The interviews suggest that the experience of becoming a father was not easy; how…
It’s Not Easy Being a Mom Especially When You Are Unemployed”
Childcare arrangements may act as a deterrent for mothers with young children who want to secure employment. The study aims to explore how childcare arrangements affects labor force participation of mothers with young children. Safe, reliable, and affordable childcare is a necessary social service that is not always available to lower-income women. Interviews were conducted with 15 Black African women between the ages of 21 to 35 in Durban, South…
Challenges with couples HIV counselling and testing among black MSM students
Research suggests that HIV infections among men who have sex with men (MSM) are acquired from primary partners, yet MSM continually fail to take part in couples HIV counselling and testing (CHCT). To identify factors that inhibit MSM in universities from regularly testing for HIV with their sexual partners, this study considered the perspectives and experiences of 15 MSM students in Durban, South Africa. The findings show that despite appreciatin…
Choosing between environmental conservation and survival
Poor rural communities in Zimbabwe are increasingly becoming more reliant on the natural environment for their livelihoods. This is in direct response to the prolonged economic crisis facing the country. However, it is unclear how these livelihood strategies affect the natural environment. The purpose of this article is to identify the livelihood strategies used by people living in a rural district in Zimbabwe and investigate how this impacts the…
Factors influencing HIV-risk perception among MSM students at a university in Durban, South Africa
Risk perception is embedded in attitudes and beliefs that determine how one ultimately behaves. In relation to HIV-risk behaviours, risk perception is a key dimension in most health behaviour models used to construct health promotion campaigns. This study aimed to understand HIV-risk perception and associated factors among men who have sex with men (MSM). The qualitative data used in this study came from 15 in-depth interviews with MSM studying a…
Condom Use Within Marital and Cohabiting Partnerships in KwaZulu‐Natal, South Africa
Traditionally, the major focus of condom‐promotion strategies has been on increasing use outside marriage. This study explores the extent and determinants of condom use within marital and cohabiting partnerships in KwaZulu‐Natal, South Africa. In focus‐group discussions, in‐depth interviews, and individual survey responses, knowledge of condoms as an effective method of dual protection against the risk of pregnancy and disease was found to be hig…
Integration of sexual and reproductive health services in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
An integrated sexual and reproductive health package is widely regarded as essential for meeting the needs of both men and women. The practical realities of integration in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, were examined from the perspective of both providers and clients. Only minorities of clients received any assessment of reproductive and sexual health needs over and above their main presenting need or problem. The majority would have welcomed such …
Male Attitudes to Family Planning in the Era of HIV/Aids
Men have an instrumental role to play in reproductive decision-making and their attitudes may have a significant impact on fertility decisions and family planning. This article presents findings from a qualitative study of male attitudes towards family planning in the province of Kwazulu-Natal in South Africa. The study found that there is strong male approval of family planning as a method of fertility regulation. However, with reference to cond…
Childcare arrangements of migrant mothers in an urban township in South Africa
Since the 1980s there has been a steep increase in the number of women migrating from rural to urban areas in search of economic opportunities. The movement of women to urban areas has affected children as they depend on their mothers for their primary care. The aim of this study is to shed insights into childcare arrangements among migrant mothers in an urban township in South Africa. Data was collected from in-depth interviews with 20 migrant m…
Structural violence on the margins of society
This focus piece examines the findings of a qualitative study on the utilisation of health services among lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) students in Durban. In-depth interviews with 12 LGBT-identifying students from the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) shed light on the factors influencing uptake of health services within and outside the university. The interviews show that factors inhibiting use outweighed the factors promoting …
Access to sexual and reproductive health services
Sexual and reproductive health is recognised as an essential component of good health and personal development. However, a number of studies suggest that persons with disabilities (PWD) are often marginalised by sexual and reproductive health programmes. In this study in-depth interviews were conducted with sexually active women and men of reproductive ages with different types of disabilities in order to examine access to sexual and reproductive…
HIV protective strategies among college students in Durban, South Africa
There is growing concern about the high level of HIV infection among young people in South Africa. The aim of the study is to examine the HIV protective strategies used by college students with specific emphasis on variations by race group. The data for the study come from a self-administrated survey that was conducted with 3 000 college students in Durban in order to understand the strategies they use to protect themselves against the risk of HI…
Condoms Become the Norm in the Sexual Culture of College Students in Durban, South Africa
The aim of this study was to examine the factors contributing to the increase in condom use among college students in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, and some of the barriers to consistent condom use. The data were drawn from six focus group discussions with male and female students aged 18–24 in three public tertiary education institutions, supplemented by a survey of 3,000 students aged 17–24. Condoms had become “part of sex” and highly ac…
Promoting Male Involvement in Reproductive Health
PRANITHA MAHARAJ argues that the development of strategies for encouraging male participation in reproductive health is essential to improving women's health status
It’s Not Easy Being a Mom Especially When You Are Unemployed”
Childcare arrangements may act as a deterrent for mothers with young children who want to secure employment. The study aims to explore how childcare arrangements affects labor force participation of mothers with young children. Safe, reliable, and affordable childcare is a necessary social service that is not always available to lower-income women. Interviews were conducted with 15 Black African women between the ages of 21 to 35 in Durban, South…
Perception of risk of HIV infections and sexual behaviour of the sexually active university students in Zimbabwe
The study sought to establish university students' perceptions of risk of HIV infections. A cross-sectional survey was conducted on 345 sexually active students at two universities in Zimbabwe (one state and one private). Results revealed that above a quarter of the respondents felt at risk of getting HIV due to their regular partners' sexual behaviours and more than half felt at risk of getting HIV due to their casual partners' sexual behaviours…
Female Labour Force Participation in South Africa
The study uses data from the 2017 South African National Income and Dynamics Survey (NIDS) to investigate the determinants of female labour force participation in South Africa. The majority of women form part of the female labour force (50.21%). These estimates are similar in urban areas (55.77%) but lower among women in rural areas (40.29%). Age and education emerge as dominant predictors of female labour force participation. A large household s…
Challenges with couples HIV counselling and testing among black MSM students
Research suggests that HIV infections among men who have sex with men (MSM) are acquired from primary partners, yet MSM continually fail to take part in couples HIV counselling and testing (CHCT). To identify factors that inhibit MSM in universities from regularly testing for HIV with their sexual partners, this study considered the perspectives and experiences of 15 MSM students in Durban, South Africa. The findings show that despite appreciatin…
Meeting the Sexual Health Needs of LGBT Youth
Limited research on access and utilization of sexual health services by sexual minorities has disadvantaged improvements of health systems in terms of providing appropriate treatment and care. Studies demonstrate that LGBTQ persons are more likely to experience health inequities, and are seldom recognized in health research and interventions. Using qualitative methods, this study aimed to shed insights into the utilization of health care services…
Reasons for Delaying Marriage
Globally, marriage is on a decline and this can be traced to as early as the 1940s in South Africa. This paper explores marriage declines in South Africa, specifically the reasons why young, educated women are delaying marriage. It draws on a qualitative study using in-depth interviews with thirty Zulu-speaking female university students in Durban, South Africa. Women with higher education attainment opt for a later age of marriage in order to es…
Childbearing in the Context of the Child Support Grant in a Rural Area in South Africa
Although teenage pregnancy appears to be on the decline in South Africa, it is still high and a matter of heated debate. Some commentators argue that the child support grant is fuelling the high levels of childbearing among young women in South Africa. To investigate this relationship, qualitative data using in-depth interviews was conducted with women aged 18 to 24 years who were recipients of the child support grant. The study was conducted in …
Difficulties facing healthcare workers in the era of Aids treatment in Lesotho
Sub-Saharan Africa is most affected by the AIDS pandemic and Lesotho is no exception. In many countries, healthcare workers are at the forefront of the fight against AIDS. This study explores the difficulties facing healthcare workers in Lesotho using a combination of qualitative methods--focus group discussions and in-depth interviews. The findings suggest that healthcare workers are afraid of contracting HIV from their patients and this affects…
Promoting Male Involvement in Reproductive Health
PRANITHA MAHARAJ argues that the development of strategies for encouraging male participation in reproductive health is essential to improving women's health status
Male Attitudes to Family Planning in the Era of HIV/Aids
Men have an instrumental role to play in reproductive decision-making and their attitudes may have a significant impact on fertility decisions and family planning. This article presents findings from a qualitative study of male attitudes towards family planning in the province of Kwazulu-Natal in South Africa. The study found that there is strong male approval of family planning as a method of fertility regulation. However, with reference to cond…
Perception of risk of HIV infection in marital and cohabiting partnerships
The purpose of this paper is to understand how married and cohabiting men and women define risk and to identify the factors that influence risk perceptions in a setting with a high prevalence of HIV infection. A combination of qualitative and quantitative methods was used during a cross-sectional survey conducted among 248 men and 289 women in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Forty in-depth interviews were conducted with sexually-active men and women…
Condom Use Within Marital and Cohabiting Partnerships in KwaZulu‐Natal, South Africa
Traditionally, the major focus of condom‐promotion strategies has been on increasing use outside marriage. This study explores the extent and determinants of condom use within marital and cohabiting partnerships in KwaZulu‐Natal, South Africa. In focus‐group discussions, in‐depth interviews, and individual survey responses, knowledge of condoms as an effective method of dual protection against the risk of pregnancy and disease was found to be hig…
Integration of sexual and reproductive health services in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
An integrated sexual and reproductive health package is widely regarded as essential for meeting the needs of both men and women. The practical realities of integration in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, were examined from the perspective of both providers and clients. Only minorities of clients received any assessment of reproductive and sexual health needs over and above their main presenting need or problem. The majority would have welcomed such …
Access to voluntary counselling and testing services
Voluntary counselling and testing for HIV (VCT) is seen as an important component of any HIV intervention strategies, providing a range of benefits to individuals, families and communities. This study examines the key factors that influence the uptake of VCT among students aged between 18 and 24 years at a tertiary institution in KwaZulu-Natal. Knowledge of VCT is fairly high with the majority of students. The desire to know one's status was a ma…
Sexual Risk Behavior among South African Adolescents
Condoms Become the Norm in the Sexual Culture of College Students in Durban, South Africa
The aim of this study was to examine the factors contributing to the increase in condom use among college students in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, and some of the barriers to consistent condom use. The data were drawn from six focus group discussions with male and female students aged 18–24 in three public tertiary education institutions, supplemented by a survey of 3,000 students aged 17–24. Condoms had become “part of sex” and highly ac…
Coerced First Sexual Intercourse and Selected Reproductive Health Outcomes Among Young Women in Kwazulu-Natal, South Africa
Coercion may play an important role in compelling young women to engage in sexual intercourse at an early age. With a decline in age at first intercourse and increased reporting of coercive first sex, concerns of adverse reproductive health outcomes such as unintended pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections (STIs), including HIV, have become important issues, particularly in the context of a high HIV prevalence. This paper uses data collect…
Rites of passage to adulthood
The HIV/AIDS epidemic and its disproportionate effect on the lives of young people has been a source of major concern in South Africa. Research has, until now, focussed on the broad cultural determinants of risky sexual behaviour among this group and on the barriers that impede the promotion of health seeking behaviour in the context of HIV/AIDS. Still missing is a dedicated investigation into the role of traditional rites of passage customs in i…
Ethnicity and sexual lifestyles among college students in a high-risk environment, Durban, South Africa
The aim of the study is to examine the protective behavioural strategies used by college students in response to high levels of HIV infection, with a particular emphasis on ethnic variations. The data for the study are drawn largely from self-completed questionnaires among college students in Durban. The results suggest that abstinence is most common protective factor among Indian and white students. However, among African students, abstinence is…
Reasons for multiple sexual partnerships
Epidemiological evidence so far suggests that multiple sexual partnerships are an important factor driving the HIV epidemic. Recently, there has been renewed emphasis on fidelity and partner-reduction in preventing HIV infections. Like many countries in sub-Saharan Africa, Zambia is facing a severe HIV epidemic and young people are heavily affected. This study explores youths' perspectives on multiple sexual partnerships in the context of HIV and…
The Experiences of Immigrants in South Africa
HIV-prevention interventions targeting men having sex with men in Africa
The HIV prevalence rate among men who have sex with men in Africa is high, yet a limited number of prevention interventions target this vulnerable group. The study aims to explore factors affecting the design and implementation of HIV-prevention interventions for men who have sex with men in Cameroon using Alternatives-Cameroun as a case study. It further examines the context in which these interventions are created and implemented. Operating in …
Masculinity and male sexual behaviour in Mozambique
Like many countries in sub-Saharan Africa, Mozambique is facing a severe HIV epidemic. Evidence suggests that male sexual behaviour is one of the driving forces behind the epidemic. Yet, there is limited understanding of how notions of masculinity influence such behaviour in the context of HIV. Using data collected through focus group discussions and in-depth interviews with sexually active men and women, this paper investigates how notions of ma…
HIV protective strategies among college students in Durban, South Africa
There is growing concern about the high level of HIV infection among young people in South Africa. The aim of the study is to examine the HIV protective strategies used by college students with specific emphasis on variations by race group. The data for the study come from a self-administrated survey that was conducted with 3 000 college students in Durban in order to understand the strategies they use to protect themselves against the risk of HI…
Condom use within marriage
The aim of the study is to measure trends in condom use in marital and cohabiting relationships in South Africa and Uganda. The data for the study come from two cross sectional surveys conducted in 1998 and 2008 among adult men and women and their partners in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa and the Jinja district, Uganda. The findings suggest that consistent condom use has risen substantially in both countries. The percentage reporting consistent con…
Stalling contraception? Perspectives and experiences of sexually active women and men
The aim of the study reported on in the Article was to identify some of the factors influencing contraceptive use in the context of a high prevalence of HIV/AIDS using focus group discussions with men and women. In the focus groups, it was clear that men and women are very aware of the high economic costs of raising large families and they would prefer to have fewer children and they would like to have space between their births. However, there a…
The Prevalence of Condom Use Among University Students in Zimbabwe
Young people, especially university students, are at high risk of HIV infections because of little or no parental or administrative prohibitions in campus environments. The aim of this study was to ascertain the level of condom use among university students in Zimbabwe; that is, condom use at last sex and consistent condom use among both regular and casual partners. The study draws on self-completed questionnaires administered to university stude…
On the Fringe of the Economy
Traditional male circumcision for reducing the risk of HIV infection
Increasing evidence suggests that medical male circumcision is associated with a reduced risk of HIV infection for men in sub-Saharan Africa. The aim of this study was to understand the importance of male circumcision as a risk-reducing strategy by exploring perceptions of young men and women. The study draws on focus-group discussions conducted with both men and women in South Africa. The findings suggest that there is widespread support for tra…
Perception of risk of HIV infections and sexual behaviour of the sexually active university students in Zimbabwe
The study sought to establish university students' perceptions of risk of HIV infections. A cross-sectional survey was conducted on 345 sexually active students at two universities in Zimbabwe (one state and one private). Results revealed that above a quarter of the respondents felt at risk of getting HIV due to their regular partners' sexual behaviours and more than half felt at risk of getting HIV due to their casual partners' sexual behaviours…
‘Becoming a father’
This study explores the perspectives and experiences of early fatherhood among university students in Durban. The in-depth interviews with young fathers revealed that all the young fathers who participated in this study had not intended or planned to have children, and were therefore not ready to become fathers when their partners told them that they were pregnant. Young fathers in the study wanted to assume financial responsibility for their chi…
“We have to try and have this child before it is too late”
Men and women living with HIV with access to ARVs are living longer, healthier lives that can and often do include bearing children. Children occupy a key space in men and women's personal and social lives and often play a fundamental role in maintaining these relationships, irrespective of illness concerns. Couples living with HIV need to balance prevention needs and ill-health while trying to maintain healthy relationships. Health-care provider…
Social representations of male circumcision as prophylaxis against HIV/Aids in Zimbabwe
There is an urgent need for the development of communications that directly address the misconceptions about voluntary medical male circumcision. There is need for communication that encourages circumcised men to continue using condoms
Sociology (44 obras) · Medicine (41 obras) · Psychology (35 obras) · Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health (32 obras) · Population (30 obras) · Gender Studies (26 obras) · Geography (26 obras) · Political science (26 obras) · Economic growth (25 obras) · HIV/AIDS Research and Interventions (25 obras)