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Institute for Life Course Health Research

@ilchresearch.bsky.social

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Improving health and wellbeing for women, caregivers, children and adolescents through evidence. The ILCHR is housed within the Department of Global Health, in the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences at Stellenbosch University in South Africa.

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Institute for Life Course Health Research @ilchresearch.bsky.social · Mar 3

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

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 · Jul 23

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!

Institute for Life Course Health Research @ilchresearch.bsky.social · Jul 14

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...

Institute for Life Course Health Research @ilchresearch.bsky.social · Jul 10

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...

Institute for Life Course Health Research @ilchresearch.bsky.social · Jul 8

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.

Institute for Life Course Health Research @ilchresearch.bsky.social · Jul 4

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...

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...

doi.org

Institute for Life Course Health Research @ilchresearch.bsky.social · Jul 1

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...

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...

www.who.int

Institute for Life Course Health Research @ilchresearch.bsky.social · Jun 30

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

Institute for Life Course Health Research @ilchresearch.bsky.social · Jun 27

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.

Institute for Life Course Health Research @ilchresearch.bsky.social · Jun 23

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...

Institute for Life Course Health Research @ilchresearch.bsky.social · Jun 19

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

Institute for Life Course Health Research @ilchresearch.bsky.social · Jun 18

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

Institute for Life Course Health Research @ilchresearch.bsky.social · Jun 13

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....

Institute for Life Course Health Research @ilchresearch.bsky.social · Jun 11

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.

Institute for Life Course Health Research @ilchresearch.bsky.social · Jun 9

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.

Institute for Life Course Health Research @ilchresearch.bsky.social · Jun 6

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.

Institute for Life Course Health Research @ilchresearch.bsky.social · Jun 4

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.

Institute for Life Course Health Research @ilchresearch.bsky.social · Jun 2

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.

Institute for Life Course Health Research @ilchresearch.bsky.social · May 30

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...

Institute for Life Course Health Research @ilchresearch.bsky.social · May 28

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

Institute for Life Course Health Research @ilchresearch.bsky.social · May 26

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.

Institute for Life Course Health Research @ilchresearch.bsky.social · May 23

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

Institute for Life Course Health Research @ilchresearch.bsky.social · May 20

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.

Institute for Life Course Health Research @ilchresearch.bsky.social · May 19

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.

Institute for Life Course Health Research @ilchresearch.bsky.social · May 15

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

Institute for Life Course Health Research @ilchresearch.bsky.social · May 13

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.