iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Institute for Life Course Health Research @ilchresearch.bsky.social · 23/07/2025

Last Friday, some of our Masiphuhlisane Research Centre colleagues visited three pre-schools in Khayelitsha to drop off toys and clothes from a recent drive. Thank you for representing us on Mandela Day 2025!

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Institute for Life Course Health Research @ilchresearch.bsky.social · 14/07/2025

In this publication drawn from her PhD, our Zara Trafford reflects on the value of emotions, empathy, and relationship-building in resource-constrained systems for distibuting disability-related social assistance. For more: doi.org/10.1016/j.so...

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Institute for Life Course Health Research @ilchresearch.bsky.social · 10/07/2025

Co-authored by our Marguerite Marlow, this study assessed community scales of neighbourhood cohesion for measurement invariance, using Evidence for Better Lives data from eight low- and middle-income countries. See the full article here: www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/22...

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Institute for Life Course Health Research @ilchresearch.bsky.social · 08/07/2025

Our Yeukai Chideya recently presented at the European Society for Traumatic Stress Studies conference in Tbilisi, Georgia. Her poster focused on caregiver and child accounts of intentional injuries in a low-resource setting.

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Institute for Life Course Health Research @ilchresearch.bsky.social · 04/07/2025

In her first PhD paper, our Ruth Useh explores through a scoping review how decision-makers think about disability—what shapes their choices, what evidence they use, and how policies are formed. A must-read for anyone working at the intersection of disability and policy. doi.org/10.1371/jour...

doi.org

Sources of evidence, pathways, and processes to support disability-inclusive decision-making in low- and middle-income countries: A scoping review

Widespread failure to sufficiently account for disability in policies and programming across sectors limits the inclusion of people with disabilities in global health and development strategies. These...

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Institute for Life Course Health Research @ilchresearch.bsky.social · 01/07/2025

We're proud to share that our Mark Tomlinson and Melissa Bradshaw contributed to the research and priority-setting exercise featured in the WHO Commission on Social Connection’s report. We’re proud to see our Institute contributing to this meaningful global conversation. www.who.int/groups/commi...

who.int

From loneliness to social connection - charting a path to healthier societies - report of the WHO Commission on Social Connection

This landmark report from the WHO Commission on Social Connection highlights that social isolation and loneliness are widespread, with serious but under-recognized impacts on health, well-being, and s...

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Institute for Life Course Health Research @ilchresearch.bsky.social · 30/06/2025

As #YouthMonth ends, we highlight young moms. The Masana Young Moms Project in Eastern Cape, South Africa, explores the journeys of girls and women aged 16-20 as they become mothers. They are defined by their strength, choices, and dreams. With support, they rise and lead change. #VoicesOfResilience

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Institute for Life Course Health Research @ilchresearch.bsky.social · 27/06/2025

PTSD Awareness Day In our Sinethemba Study (w University of Bath), 37% of 245 children (ages 8–16) in Khayelitsha met criteria for probable PTSD. After 3 months, 26% still met the criteria; 6 months after first interview, 22% still did. Trauma lasts. Support helps. @TheSADAG offers free counselling.

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Institute for Life Course Health Research @ilchresearch.bsky.social · 23/06/2025

In her recent op-ed published in the Mail & Guardian, our Yeukai Chideya, invite us to reflect on how we, as individuals and communities, can stand in solidarity with refugees and asylum seekers. mg.co.za/thought-lead...

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Institute for Life Course Health Research @ilchresearch.bsky.social · 19/06/2025

In her recent op-ed commemorating Youth Day, our Stefani du Toit reflects on the youth unemployment crisis in South Africa and its impact on mental health. Stefani urges us to think more deeply about how to support these young people with care and compassion. Read more: tinyurl.com/592kracr

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Institute for Life Course Health Research @ilchresearch.bsky.social · 18/06/2025

Our Marguerite Marlow & Mark Tomlinson visited Tanzania to support a workshop with government ministries focused on promoting nurturing care in health facilities. They were joined by various partners including @unicef.org, @who.int, TECDEN & @egpaf.bsky.social

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Institute for Life Course Health Research @ilchresearch.bsky.social · 13/06/2025

Play is essential for every child’s development and well-being. We’re delighted to share a new UNICEF course, “Play Matters: Advocating for a World of Play”. Our Mark Tomlinson contributed to this online course. More information is available here: agora.unicef.org/course/info....

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Institute for Life Course Health Research @ilchresearch.bsky.social · 11/06/2025

Our Tatenda Mawoyo participated in the Local Innovation for Global Application colloquium hosted by Queen’s University Belfast Innovation Zones in Belfast. He reflected on the value of authentic researcher-community collaboration, community-led research priorities, and the importance of patience.

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Institute for Life Course Health Research @ilchresearch.bsky.social · 09/06/2025

In our #MeetTheILCHR series, we spotlight a different team member each week. Today we are introducing Nomabhaso Mantyi!

Nomabhaso is the Institute's Finance Administrator. In this role, she manages processes associated with procurement, expenses, and quotes. She regularly works with the central Finance officers at the Faculty and the University, and is responsible for ensuring procedures for international payments are followed. She finds it particularly satisfying to successfully organise the complex arrangements involved with international travel for large project teams because this involves working with both internal and external partners, and so much can go wrong if these plans are not well-organised.

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Institute for Life Course Health Research @ilchresearch.bsky.social · 06/06/2025

Our Stefani Du Toit visited Serbia to support the World Bank’s Read@Home initiative. Our Marguerite Marlow also works on this project, which aims to ensure that children in communities around the world have access to high-quality reading materials.

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Institute for Life Course Health Research @ilchresearch.bsky.social · 04/06/2025

In this op-ed, our Kelly Gemmell reflects on parents' profound influence on child development: tinyurl.com/yew2mx3m Caregivers need the time and resources to look after themselves in order to provide nurturing care for their children.

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Institute for Life Course Health Research @ilchresearch.bsky.social · 02/06/2025

In our #MeetTheILCHR series, we spotlight a different team member each week. Today we are introducing Athenkhosi Mangele, from our Masiphuhlisane Centre!

Athenkhosi Mangele is a Community Research Officer at the Institute’s Masiphuhlisane Centre. She is passionate about languages and specialises in translating and transcribing interviews and survey data from isiXhosa to English. She enjoys working on research projects because of the opportunity to learn about life through participants’ experiences. She also appreciates the experience of gaining knowledge by feeling the different emotions and reactions of people toward life during listening to and transcribing interviews.

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Institute for Life Course Health Research @ilchresearch.bsky.social · 30/05/2025

In her opinion piece, our Yeukai Chideya challenges us to reflect on the 2025 Africa Day theme by considering how reparations can meaningfully address the needs of children who have been victims of violence in conflict areas. mg.co.za/thought-lead...

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Institute for Life Course Health Research @ilchresearch.bsky.social · 28/05/2025

In this op-ed, our Ruth Useh reflects on this year's Africa Day theme of 'Justice for Africans and People of African Descent Through Reparations’. To achieve real inclusive justice, access for people with disabilities must improve. This will transform lives and societies: tinyurl.com/4ubxex2u%22

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Institute for Life Course Health Research @ilchresearch.bsky.social · 26/05/2025

In our #MeetTheILCHR series, we spotlight a different team member each week. Today we are introducing Moroesi Makhetha!

Moroesi Makhetha is a public health researcher specialising in early childhood development, adolescent sexual and reproductive health, and HIV programming. She has a keen interest in understanding the unique challenges faced by adolescents from diverse backgrounds. Moroesi's research goal is to deepen her expertise in public health across various regions of Africa and beyond.

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Institute for Life Course Health Research @ilchresearch.bsky.social · 23/05/2025

Join our Yeukai Chideya at this year’s Africa Day event, where she will be sharing findings regarding health system responses to child intentional injury in South Africa. Register for the event on Tuesday 27 May, Stellenbosch University Tygerberg Campus from 11:30-14:00: tinyurl.com/ydwj4am3

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Institute for Life Course Health Research @ilchresearch.bsky.social · 20/05/2025

In our #MeetTheILCHR series, we spotlight a different team member each week. Today we are introducing Christina Laurenzi!

Christina is a Senior Researcher at the ILCHR. Originally from the United States, she has spent the last decade in South Africa, and her research interests span adolescent mental health, lay health worker interventions, and implementation science. She is excited to continue exploring opportunities to bridge academic and policy spaces, and identify ways to integrate capacity building into the Institute’s work.

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Institute for Life Course Health Research @ilchresearch.bsky.social · 19/05/2025

At last week's SU Ukwanda Division of Rural Health conference, our Andisiwe Bovu presented findings from his analysis of a prospective cohort study. This study is exploring adverse birth outcomes in infants who are HIV-exposed but uninfected with those who are HIV-unexposed and uninfected.

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Institute for Life Course Health Research @ilchresearch.bsky.social · 15/05/2025

In partnership with the University of Bath, we invite you to the Project Kwakhanya Artwork Exhibit on 4 June 2025, the International Day of Innocent Children Victims of Aggression. Please see attached image for details, and register for the lunchtime presentation here: tinyurl.com/cjv4y3ke

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Institute for Life Course Health Research @ilchresearch.bsky.social · 13/05/2025

In our #MeetTheILCHR series, we spotlight a different team member each week. Today we are introducing Zena Jacobs!

Zena Jacobs oversees project coordination, financial operations, and the technical aspects of managing the Institute. Her role involves expertise in finance, administrative support, staff management, HR functions, and risk management. She manages and increases the effectiveness and efficiency of Support Services (HR, IT and Finance), through coordination and communication between these services, the Institution and its staff, and plays a significant role in long-term planning. She also contributes to short and long-term organisational planning and strategy and risk management.

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Institute for Life Course Health Research @ilchresearch.bsky.social · 05/05/2025

In our #MeetTheILCHR series, we spotlight a different team member each week. Today we are introducing Siphokazi Hlati, from our Masiphuhlisane Centre!

Siphokazi Hlati is a Community Research Officer at the Institute's Masiphuhlisane Centre. In this work, she loves being exposed to learning new things. She has collaborated and worked with various stakeholders in different communities to refer research participants and ensure they get access to the services they need. She is particularly committed to ensuring the integrity of research and respecting the rights and wellbeing of participants. As a researcher, she enjoys adapting to new ideas and perspectives and working with others to share ideas and learn from different perspectives.

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Institute for Life Course Health Research @ilchresearch.bsky.social · 30/04/2025

Our Cassandra Carels & Mark Tomlinson visited Uganda to plan the Advancing Children's Continued Education through Sustainable Scaling (ACCESS) project. This War Child collaboration is supported by GPE KIX & IDRC, aiming to enhance the scalability of the SchoolLinks programme. bit.ly/3YVmTc2

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Institute for Life Course Health Research @ilchresearch.bsky.social · 29/04/2025

In our #MeetTheILCHR series, we spotlight a different team member each week. Today we are introducing Kelly Gemmell!

Kelly Gemmell is a public health nutrition practitioner and researcher with 14 years experience working in this field. As a community-based dietitian working for the South African Department of Health, she gained an awareness of how the complementary aspects of nurturing care and enabling environments are needed to realise optimal early childhood development in low-resource settings. With her research career, she is keen to bridge the gap between what evidence-based research tells us about optimal early childhood development and how it can be applied in the health systems strengthening sphere.

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Institute for Life Course Health Research @ilchresearch.bsky.social · 25/04/2025

Our Masiphuhlisane Centre, with Dr Tamsin Sharp and Prof Sarah Halligan from the University of Bath, recently exhibited Project Kwakhanya artwork. Phumeza Madikane & Nompumelelo Rakabe’s paintings shared powerful stories of care from children and caregivers after traumatic events.

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Institute for Life Course Health Research @ilchresearch.bsky.social · 22/04/2025

In our #MeetTheILCHR series, we spotlight a different team member each week. Today we are introducing Stefani Du Toit!

Stefani Du Toit is a senior researcher with a PhD in public health. Her interests span various topics, including adolescent mental health and perinatal mental health in under-resourced settings. She is dedicated to understanding the complexities of mental health issues across different life stages and aims to contribute to the improvement of mental health services and outcomes for underserved populations.

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Institute for Life Course Health Research @ilchresearch.bsky.social · 16/04/2025

The latest #CIPHERGrant spotlight highlights innovative research from grantees tackling critical health challenges worldwide. Among them, our Christina Laurenzi’s work in South Africa focuses on improving HIV care for young mothers. bit.ly/4cy3rIh

bit.ly

A special spotlight on CIPHER Grantees

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Institute for Life Course Health Research @ilchresearch.bsky.social · 14/04/2025

In our #MeetTheILCHR series, we spotlight a different team member each week. Today we are introducing Ntombizakhe Dyonase, from our Masiphuhlisane Centre!

Ntombizakhe Dyonase is a Community Research Officer at the Institute's Masiphuhlisane Centre. She loves working with her colleagues because everyone works well as a team. She enjoys the development of new skills, and learning from her participants' experiences. She is eager to learn more about other aspects of research as her career at the Centre continues.

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Institute for Life Course Health Research @ilchresearch.bsky.social · 10/04/2025

This week, our Tatenda Mawoyo presented at the PHASA Conference, sharing qualitative insights from a collaborative project with @ucl.ac.uk and @ox.ac.uk on the referral needs of children and adolescents who lost a parent or caregiver during the COVID-19 pandemic.

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Institute for Life Course Health Research @ilchresearch.bsky.social · 09/04/2025

In this piece commemorating World Health Day, our Co-Director, Mark Tomlinson, reflects on the importance of perseverance, hope and investment in decreasing infant and maternal mortality toward the creation of a society where our children and country can thrive. mg.co.za/thought-lead...

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Institute for Life Course Health Research @ilchresearch.bsky.social · 31/03/2025

In our #MeetTheILCHR series, we spotlight a different team member each week. Today we are introducing: Yeukai Chideya!

Yeukai Chideya is a researcher and clinical social worker with extensive experience supporting individuals affected by violence and trauma. As a PhD candidate, she is investigating the impact of intentional injuries. Her research interests include violence, injuries, trauma, sexual and reproductive health, mental health, and refugee studies. Yeukai aims to use research to raise awareness of the experiences of those impacted by violence and trauma, and to inform evidence-based practices and policy initiatives that promote healing and social justice.

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Institute for Life Course Health Research @ilchresearch.bsky.social · 28/03/2025

Last week, our Kelly Gemmell presented at the SU and Northwestern University Global Health Knowledge Hub Networking Conference. She discussed building partnerships in low- to middle-income contexts. Kelly highlighted the ILCHRs efforts in growing our Community and Adolescent Advisory Boards.

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Institute for Life Course Health Research @ilchresearch.bsky.social · 26/03/2025

In our #MeetTheILCHR series, we spotlight a new team member each week. Today we are introducing: Prince Changole!

Prince Changole is an economic researcher who specialises in development economics. His research at the ILCHR focuses on disability-inclusive decision-making in low- and middle-income countries, including brief writing and evidence synthesis on disability inclusion. Prince has coauthored several briefs documenting the impact of social cash transfers across Africa. Before joining the ILCHR, he consulted for a national youth public employment program for South Africa’s Department of Basic Education.

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Institute for Life Course Health Research @ilchresearch.bsky.social · 25/03/2025

Our Tatenda Mawoyo joined the National Institute of Medical Research (NIMR) Tanzania team to begin data collector training. The team will be working on the ParentApp for Kids project. This project forms part of the Global Parenting Initiative.

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Institute for Life Course Health Research @ilchresearch.bsky.social · 25/03/2025

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Institute for Life Course Health Research @ilchresearch.bsky.social · 19/03/2025

In our #MeetTheILCHR series, we spotlight a new team member each week. Today we are introducing: Cassandra Carels!

Cassandra Carels is a research psychologist and registered counsellor, who recently completed her PhD in Psychology with a focus on factors contributing to alcohol use and risky sexual behaviour among young adults. As an earlier career researcher, Cassandra has a keen interest in the well-being of young people in low resourced communities and developing and evaluating school-based intervention programs in these settings. She has collaborated with and worked for various stakeholders in low-income communities within the NPO and education sector to lead school-based psychosocial interventions through sports. With her research, she aims to inform holistic interventions for young people in low- to middle- income communities.

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Institute for Life Course Health Research @ilchresearch.bsky.social · 14/03/2025

Our research team wrapped up a productive week at Mont Fleur for our writing retreat. Grateful for the inspiring setting, collaborative energy, and the impactful work we get to do!

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Institute for Life Course Health Research @ilchresearch.bsky.social · 12/03/2025

In our #MeetTheILCHR series, we spotlight a new team member each week. Today we are introducing: Melissa Bradshaw! @melissaebradshaw.bsky.social

Melissa Bradshaw is a researcher specialising in child and adolescent development, with research interests in paediatric HIV, caregiving, and adolescent sexual and reproductive health and rights. Starting her PhD at Queen's University Belfast in 2025, Melissa will explore strategies to engage boys in gender equality and comprehensive sex education. Through her work, she is committed to enhancing access to resources and support for children and young people, especially in LMICs.

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Institute for Life Course Health Research @ilchresearch.bsky.social · 10/03/2025

In this piece, our Yeukai Chideya commemorates International Women's Day. Whilst gender-based violence, healthcare gaps & mental health issues still hold women back, research & collaboration are sparking real change, transforming lives worldwide and empowering women. bit.ly/3XBCexO

bit.ly

Empowering women on International Women’s Day | confronting violence and health challenges

Explore the interconnected challenges of gender-based violence and unemployment facing South African women, and discover how research-driven solutions can pave the way for empowerment and equality.

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Institute for Life Course Health Research @ilchresearch.bsky.social · 03/03/2025

In 2025, we’re kicking off our #MeetTheILCHR series, spotlighting a new team member every week. Today we are introducing: Andisiwe Bovu!

In 2025, we’re kicking off our #MeetILCHR series, spotlighting a new team member every week. Today we are introducing: Andisiwe Bovu!
Andisiwe Bovu is a statistician with an MSc in Statistics and has worked as a data analyst since 2013, specializing in statistical research and data interpretation. Andisiwe is currently conducting data analysis for the prospective cohort study of Children HIV Exposed Uninfected Research to Inform Survival and Health being conducted in the Breede Valley and Gugulethu. He is also supporting data analyses for A Harmonized Infrastructure for Monitoring Health Outcomes of the HIV FREE Generation study. He aims to identify factors that contributes to adverse birth outcomes in HIV exposed uninfected and HIV unexposed uninfected infants.

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Institute for Life Course Health Research @ilchresearch.bsky.social · 03/03/2025

For those that are new here, at the #ILCHR, we explore the intersection of health, environment, and society to pave the way for a healthier future. Follow along for updates on our work in South Africa and beyond! #LifeCourseHealthResearch youtu.be/16vqwIiVWls

youtu.be

Introducing the ILCHR

YouTube video by Institute for Life Course Health Research

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Institute for Life Course Health Research @ilchresearch.bsky.social · 28/02/2025

We urgently need innovative accessible solutions to bridge the gap in maternal mental health services. Prof Sarah Skeen spoke this week on CHIME, a group singing intervention for pregnant women to reduce stress and improve mental health. www.enca.com/videos/mater...

enca.com

Maternal Mental Health | How can music reduce prenatal anxiety

Research has found that engaging with music can boost your health and well-being.

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