Addressing the effects of urban violence on youth access to health services in South Africa and Brazil
15 September 2021Improving adherence, retention in care and treatment outcomes for adolescents in the Western Cape Metropole
15 September 2021Team Members
- Nomazizi Cishe
- Nomfundo Cishe
- Ntobeko Ngwagi
- Michelle Odendaal
Youth health service access: the impact of violence and crime
The study explored the effects of violence and crime on youth access to HIV and sexual and reproductive health care delivery in violence- and crime-vulnerable suburbs in Cape Town
Project period
01 March 2016 – 28 February 2020
Project Summary
Completed in 2020, this project sought to understand the mechanisms employed by youth and public sector primary healthcare providers to cope with the impact of endemic violence on youth access to HIV services in violence-and-crime vulnerable suburbs in Cape Town. It also explored which initiatives may be helpful in addressing these challenges, relevant for both South Africa as well as other contexts with endemic urban violence.
The in-depth interviews with healthcare providers revealed that the effects of crime and violence impacted on providers at the level of their workplace and within the surrounding communities; and identified levels of resilience. Findings from interviews with youth attending health services revealed fear of encountering crime and violence on their way to visit health services as hindering their access. Despite this, most youth reported devising strategies to access health service when they needed to. The project resulted in a number of publications – like an article in the Journal for Advanced Nursing – and engagements with stakeholders to share findings.
The project was funded by the South African Medical Research Council and a small seed grant from the University of Essex in the UK.
Funders
- South African Medical Research Council
- University of Essex
Partners and Collaborators
- University of Essex