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Recent Submissions

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    Measuring Parent–Adolescent Communication and Interaction Using Video: A Pilot Study of the ‘TEENCAM’ Video Observational Methodology in Soweto, South Africa
    (University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2025) Lekhuleni, Fortunate; Coetzee, Bronwynè; Rochat, Tamsen
    Background: Adolescents in South Africa deal with many challenges pertaining to their development and mental health. Parent-adolescent communication is essential for promoting and fostering strong parent-child relationships, which in turn promote increased supervision and monitoring of adolescent behaviour, which is known to improve adolescent outcomes. Generally, parent-adolescent communication is measured using subjective self-report questionnaires, which are known to have bias and tend to focus more on broader aspects of parenting and adolescent behaviours or attitudes, and less on communication and quality in parent-adolescent relationships. Similarly, qualitative interviews tend to have an individual rather than a didactic focus, relying on audio recording transcripts which provide limited insight into relational interactions and communication. Observational video methodology has for a long time been used in early childhood research to measure parent-child relationships objectively, and video feedback methods are often used as an intervention tool in parenting programs. However, video observation has seldom been applied to parent-adolescent interactions, and potentially offers a new and objective method to measuring communication and interaction between parents and adolescents. Little is known about the acceptability or feasibility of this methodology for this age group or its potential for use in a South African urbanised context, or its relative advantages to other current observational methods. Aim: The aim of this qualitative study was to explore the acceptability and feasibility of using 'Teencam' to observe parent-adolescent communication and interaction in a South African urban setting and, to explore its potential acceptability as a video feedback intervention tool. Methods: The study enrolled 16 parent-adolescent pairs in Soweto, South Africa (SA). The adolescents (60% females), aged 11 to 15 years, were paired with their biological parent, who identified as the adolescent’s current primary caregiver, and the pair needed to be co-resident to be eligible for participation. Communication and interactions between the parents and adolescents were assessed over several time- points, using a novel video observational portable headcam device called ‘Teencam’. Video data were coded using manual (audio and video coding) and automated coding (FaceReader software – capable of detecting basic facial expressions). Feasibility was evaluated by the reliability of the Teencam device to record v interactions that were usable or codable in terms of audio and video content, and by evaluating the Teencams relative performance and added value against other methods of self-report (audio transcripts only) and analysis (automated software). To determine acceptability, 14 parents participated in one-on-one interviews about their perceptions on their adolescent’s behaviour during observation, the comfortability of wearing the Teencam device, and the feasibility of using the observational game tasks during their interactions with their adolescents. Results: The Teencam methodology proved to be feasible and acceptable amongst parent-adolescent pairs in Soweto, South Africa (SA). The Teencam device was able to capture verbal and non-verbal communication and interactions amongst parent-adolescent pairs enhancing the quality of data available for interpretation, and the inferences that could be made, when compared to audio transcript only. Limitations in the Teencam device's capacity to handle participant movement and some operational constraints, such as turning on and off and beginning recording were noted. Furthermore, the quality of lighting in the assessment rooms and the colourful decoration of the headcam device impeded the performance of the FaceReader software in analysing facial expressions. Parents reported the method to be acceptable and engaging, with specific preferences for card game interactions and endorsed that the approach could be helpful in interventions that aimed to improve the parent-adolescent relationship and communication. Conclusion: This study demonstrates that with some technological enhancements, the feasibility and acceptability of measuring parent-adolescent communication and interaction in research using Teencam video observational methods in urban South Africa is promising. The highest quality of analytic output stemmed from manual coding and triangulation of data, which while appropriate for qualitative investigations or pilot studies, would be unfeasible to replicate at a larger scale without significant human and time resources. Advances in technology are needed to use this method on a larger scale.
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    A 3-Year Retrospective Analysis Comparing Flow Cytometry-Based DNA Ploidy (DNA Index) to Conventional Cytogenetics in Paediatric Patients Diagnosed with B-cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia
    (University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2025) Henderson, Delwen Carla; Bouwer, Nikki; Baiden, Anima
    Flow cytometric analysis is a valuable tool in the diagnostic work-up of patients with B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukaemia. Flow cytometry is commonly employed to assign the DNA index (an evaluation of leukaemic ploidy status) and the immunophenotypic profile of the blasts. This retrospective data analysis compared the DNA index to conventional cytogenetics to determine the clinical utility in accurately predicting ploidy states and examined the relationship between ploidy states and immunophenotypic profiles in the local patient population. The DNA index displayed poor sensitivity, specificity and predictive values and was deemed to not be a reliable indicator of the ploidy status as it is currently interpreted. Changes to definitions of the ploidy states improved the performance of the test and are a key factor in improving the utility of the assay. Brighter expression of CD34 and CD123 were noted in the cytogenetically hyperdiploid group, in keeping with the international literature. However, the decreased expression of CD45 and brighter expression of CD20 typically described were not appreciated. Further studies with larger numbers and more in-depth cytogenetic analysis are needed to clarify the role of the DNA index in the local patient population.
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    Silent LossesSilent Data Reviewing Stillbirth Data Quality in Low and MiddleIncome Countries Using Data Quality Dimensions
    (WILEY-BLACKWELL) A. K Pandey; S. B Neogi; D Gautam; B. M Thomas; Jayati Basu; E et al
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    A Comparative Analysis of the Cannabis Regulatory Frameworks in South Africa, Canada and Uruguay and Their Impact on the Growth of the Industry
    (University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2025) Du Plessi, Darren; Banoo, Shabir
    The global shift towards decriminalisation and legalising cannabis for medical and non- medical purposes continues to rise, requiring robust regulatory frameworks to ensure safety, quality, and accessibility. South Africa, with its favourable climate and evolving legal landscape, has significant potential to develop a functional local cannabis industry. This study employed a qualitative, deductive framework analysis to compare South Africa’s evolving cannabis regulations with those of Canada and Uruguay, focusing on key areas such as policies, legislative and regulatory systems, public health considerations, quality standards, labelling, possession limits, accessibility, taxation, and penalties. The findings of this study highlight significant gaps in South Africa's current regulatory framework, including the absence of a structured commercialisation pathway and a centralised regulatory authority. Canada’s model balances public health and economic growth through strict controls, while Uruguay’s state-controlled approach prioritises social equity. South Africa’s recent policy shifts, including the transfer of the National Cannabis Master Plan (NCMP) to the Department of Trade, Industry, and Competition (DTIC), underscore the need for a clear, unified cannabis policy. This study recommends establishing a dedicated regulatory authority and aligning policies with international best practices to guide industry development. A comprehensive cannabis framework should include tax incentives, quality control measures, home-grower regulations, and public education initiatives to balance economic potential with public health and safety considerations. By adopting insights from Canada and Uruguay, South Africa can develop a well- regulated cannabis industry that fosters economic growth while ensuring social and health protections. This research underscores the urgent need for a cohesive, evidence-based approach to cannabis regulation.
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    Political Subjectivities in Post-colonial States: Identity and Belonging Among Botswana’s non–Tswana Migrant Descendants
    (University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2025) Mlilo, Silindile Nanzile; Landau, Loren B.; Misago, Jean Pierre
    This thesis explores the experiences of people with immigrant ancestry in Botswana. It considers how they position themselves in relation to political communities where indigeneity and ethnicity are the foundations of official national imaginaries and state practice. The thesis draws on various methodological approaches and interdisciplinary scholarship to address a gap in the literature on citizenship and state-building in postcolonial Africa. It is based on historical comparative research that combines two primary methodologies: a historiography of state formation and in-depth narrative interviews with research participants and key informants. The thesis finds that people with migrant backgrounds in Botswana embody a politics of ambivalent citizenship, characterised by their mixed feelings towards the Botswana nation-state and its citizenship. This is visible in their ambiguity and use of various tactics and strategies – conscious and unconscious – to navigate their ambivalence and assert their identities and belonging. This ambivalence is further enunciated in their multiple, hyphenated identities and their diverse, multi-sited forms of belonging. The politics of ambivalent citizenship described here, challenges traditional nationalistic notions and highlights the complexity of people with a migrant background’s engagement with the state. In surfacing the experiences of non-citizens and citizens with a migrant background, the study also reveals how such seemingly marginal groups actively shape their citizenship experiences and challenge dominant hegemonic narratives through their agential practices. This work contributes to postcolonial and citizenship studies through its nuanced perspectives on belonging shaped by generation and geography. Moreover, it challenges conventional citizenship views framed on civil and social rights, active political participation and identity. It does so by building on studies that have explored unconventional forms of citizenship such as citizenship from below and acts of citizenship. This body of work further highlights the tactical and strategic actions of what scholarship considers as “marginalised” groups and demonstrates how they react to this marginality by offering a fresh lens to discuss migrant struggles without reinforcing problematic stereotypes. In its exploration of life in the margins, the study shows that sites often portrayed as oppressive or exclusionary, are potential sites where agency and creativity can be expressed as acts of citizenship. Moreover, the study reveals that despite facing some structural challenges, people with migrant backgrounds continuously influence decisions and contribute to shaping and re-shaping the postcolonial state through their ambivalence which is expressed in their agency and ambiguity. This research ultimately contributes to African scholarship examining the tensions within postcolonial nation-states as they construct a national “political community” amidst diverse ethnic loyalties. It enhances discussions on citizenship by integrating postcolonial nation-building and migrants' discourses and thus offering a nuanced understanding of their intersection. In so doing, the thesis further challenges the conventional understanding of citizenship to provide nuanced insights into tactical citizenship and the agency of migrant descendants in influencing state practices and discourses on identity and belonging in postcolonial states.