University of the Western Cape

Hypertension self-management support: relationship between nurses’ knowledge, self-efficacy, and practice in Ghana

Self-management support for people living with chronic diseases, such as hypertension, can improve treatment outcomes. However, to effectively provide self-management support, nurses must possess adequate knowledge, demonstrate self-efficacy, and actively engage in it. The study...

Biochemical defence of plants: redox molecules and their role in the alleviation of heavy metal stress

Abstract Heavy metal contamination poses a major constraint to plant growth and agricultural productivity by disrupting cellular metabolism and inducing oxidative stress. Exposure to toxic metals results in excessive accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), which damage bio...

Boundaries Between Freedom of Expression and Hate Speech: The Case of Struggle Songs Current Perspectives From the Global South

This discussion article addresses the historical, political and social context of struggle songs in South Africa and the circumstances in which such songs should be considered prohibited hate speech. The analysis is framed around the decision in AfriForum v Malema , in which the...

Development of the Heart Return to Work Intervention Programme (HRTWIP): a Delphi study

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a leading cause of mortality in South Africa. According to results from a larger study the prevalence of CVD is increasing amongst individuals in the working age group and return to work (RTW) rates are less than 50%. In the Western Cape, South Afr...

Maiming by design: Structural harm in oral health systems globally

Tooth extraction is among the most common dental interventions, particularly in underfunded health systems where preventive, restorative, and rehabilitative dental services remain scarce. Drawing on Jasbir Puar's concept of 'maiming' tooth extraction is reframed from technical/ec...

Strait of Hormuz: The Geopolitical to Cybercrime Cascade Framework and the 2026 US-Israel-Iran Conflict

War rarely stays contained; like dominoes, its effects can fall far beyond the battlefield. This conceptual paper develops the Geopolitical to Cybercrime Cascade Framework (GCCF) to explain how geopolitical conflict may generate downstream civilian cybercrime vulnerability in non...

Hindlimb and pelvic girdle reduction with associated skeletal changes in the South African limb-reduced skink Scelotes Fitzinger, 1826

We used stained specimens to describe hindlimb and pelvic girdle reduction in a skeletal morphocline of Scelotes species, a South African scincine group, as well as how the two processes are interrelated. The findings reflect the generally varied nature of the evolutionary pathwa...

Female Scrap Collectors in Qumbu, Eastern Cape, South Africa Through the Lens of Resilience Theory

Background/Objectives: Women working in the informal sector are frequently exposed to multiple layers of vulnerability and trauma, yet their mental health experiences remain insufficiently explored. Methods: This qualitative study examined the mental health implications of trauma...

Beyond Publication: Clinical and Translational Research under Pressure

Clinical and translational research (CTR) aims to move scientific knowledge into practice and improve health outcomes. This function is increasingly challenged by declining confidence in institutions, fragmented information environments, and changing roles of researchers in socie...

Male partners’ roles in women’s contraceptive decision-making in Nigeria: a secondary qualitative data analysis

Male partners can play important roles in contraceptive decisions, especially in patriarchal societies like Nigeria, where restrictive gender norms influence women’s reproductive choices. However, little has been explored about how women navigate male influences and its impact on...

Accumulation of Metals and Metalloids in Marine Invertebrates and Macroalgae in False Bay (Cape Town, South Africa)

The concentrations of 18 metal(loid)s were measured in five marine invertebrate species (Oxystele tigrine and sinensis, Marthasterias glacialis, Cymbula oculus and granatina, Parechinus angulosus, and Mytilus galloprovincialis) and five macroalgae/seaweed species (Aeodes orbitosa...