Caution must be applied when using either definition for obesity. However, very high levels of agreement occur for overweight. There is no obvious relationship between overweight and stunting in this study, but high levels of mild stunting were observed. Regular clinical and epidemiological monitoring of nutritional status needs to be undertaken in South Africa to examine possible future trends of overweight/obesity and their relationship with stunting, and for comparisons with global trends.

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 towards people with STIs and/or HIV/AIDS, as well as increased intention to practice safe sex. Laduma did not influence communication about sexually transmitted infections and reported sexual behaviour and condom use. While print media proved to be an effective strategy to reach large numbers of youth and prepare them for adequate preventive behaviours, the study also identified the need to combine print media with other planned theory-based interventions that build confidence and skills to initiate the preventive behaviour.

Globally, models of extending universal health coverage through primary care are influenced by country-specific systems of health care and disease management. In 2015 a rapid assessment of the ward-based outreach component of primary care reengineering was commissioned to understand implementation and rollout challenges.AimThis article aims to describe middle- and lower-level managers’ understanding of ward-based outreach teams (WBOTs) and the problems of authority, jurisdiction and practical functioning that arise from the way the model is constructed and has been operationalised.SettingData are drawn from a rapid assessment of National Health Insurance (NHI) pilot sites in seven provinces.MethodsThe study used a modified version of CASCADE. Peer-review teams of public health researchers and district/sub-district managers collected data in two sites per province between March and July 2015.ResultsRespondents unequivocally support the strategy to extend primary health care services to people in their homes and communities both because it is responsive to the family context of individual health and because it reaches marginal people. They, however, identify critical issues that arise from basing WBOTs in facilities, including unspecific team leadership, inadequate supervision, poorly constituted teams, limited community reach and serious infrastructural and material under-provision.ConclusionMany of the shortcomings of a facility-based extension model can be addressed by an independently resourced, geographic, community-based model of fully constituted teams that are clinically and organisationally supported in an integrated district health system. However, a community-oriented primary care approach will still have to grapple with overarching framework problems.

Aim: To determine the baseline data of secondary school students in the Midlands district of Kwa‐Zulu, Natal, South Africa. The data provide details of students' knowledge about sexually transmitted infections (STIs) including HIV and AIDS, spread, prevention, how they can protect themselves from contracting an STI, their general awareness and sources of information, their perceptions of their vulnerability and their sexual practices. Methods: A cross‐sectional study was carried out among 1113 grade 11 students in 19 randomly allocated secondary schools. Data were collected through structured questionnaires and analysed using the SPSS software package. Results: The results confirm that knowledge levels were high for causes and spread of STIs and the participants were well informed about issues relating to protection against STIs and seeking treatment. However, there was significant deviation in reported behaviours. Conclusion: This discrepancy between awareness and behaviour calls for a reorientation of sexuality education to include those elements critical for behavioural change, such as addressing gender discrepancies and promoting skills for communication through planned intervention programmes.

Single interventions for helminthic infections and micronutrient deficiencies are effective, but it is not clear whether combined interventions will provide equal, additive or synergistic effects to improve children's health. The study objective was to determine the impact of single and combined interventions on nutritional status and scholastic and cognitive performance of school children. A double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial in 11 rural South African primary school randomly allocated 579 children aged between 8 and 10 years into six study groups, half of whom received antihelminthic treatment at baseline. The de-wormed and non-de-wormed arms were further divided into three groups and given biscuits, either unfortified or fortified with vitamin A and iron or with vitamin A only, given daily for 16 weeks. The outcome measures were anthropometric, micronutrient and parasite status, and scholastic and cognitive test scores. There was a significant treatment effect of vitamin A on serum retinol (p < 0.01), and the suggestion of an additive effect between vitamin A fortification and de-worming. Fortified biscuits improved micronutrient status in rural primary school children; vitamin A with de-worming had a greater impact on micronutrient status than vitamin A fortification alone and antihelminthic treatment significantly reduced the overall prevalence of parasite infection. The burden of micronutrient deficiency (anaemia, iron and vitamin A) and stunting in this study population was low and, coupled with the restricted duration of the intervention (16 weeks), might have limited the impact of the interventions.