What we are reading...

This brief argues South Africa should transition from iron-folic acid to Multiple Micronutrient Supplementation (MMS) in antenatal care to improve maternal and newborn health. MMS containing 15 essential micronutrients more effectively reduces low birth weight, preterm birth and stillbirth, especially where anaemia and micronutrient deficiencies are high. It’s cost-effective, offers large economic returns, and aligns with national development goals, urging decisive policy action and integration into routine care.

This brief argues South Africa should transition from iron-folic acid to Multiple Micronutrient Supplementation (MMS) in antenatal care to improve maternal and newborn health. MMS containing 15 essential micronutrients more effectively reduces low birth weight, preterm birth and stillbirth, especially where anaemia and micronutrient deficiencies are high. It’s cost-effective, offers large economic returns, and aligns with national development goals, urging decisive policy action and integration into routine care.

This policy brief calls for urgent action to ensure all South African children access nutritious food. It proposes affordable food measures, stronger local food systems, better nutrition quality through fortification, and maternal support to reduce stunting, improve growth, and boost lifelong health and economic wellbeing.

This policy brief calls for urgent action to ensure all South African children access nutritious food. It proposes affordable food measures, stronger local food systems, better nutrition quality through fortification, and maternal support to reduce stunting, improve growth, and boost lifelong health and economic wellbeing.

This policy brief reviews evidence from 16 randomized evaluations of adolescent girls’ life skills programmes in low‑ and middle‑income countries. It shows that life skills training strengthens girls’ “power within” confidence, aspirations and gender attitudes enabling them to make choices that improve education, labour, health, and empowerment outcomes. The brief also outlines key behavioural mechanisms and design insights for effective life skills programming.

This policy brief reviews evidence from 16 randomized evaluations of adolescent girls’ life skills programmes in low‑ and middle‑income countries. It shows that life skills training strengthens girls’ “power within” confidence, aspirations and gender attitudes enabling them to make choices that improve education, labour, health, and empowerment outcomes. The brief also outlines key behavioural mechanisms and design insights for effective life skills programming.

This report is a 2016 study showing how South African experts, policymakers and the public think differently about early childhood development (ECD). It highlights where views overlap and diverge, especially around the age when key development happens, and offers suggestions for better communication to build wider understanding and support for early-childhood policies.

This report is a 2016 study showing how South African experts, policymakers and the public think differently about early childhood development (ECD). It highlights where views overlap and diverge, especially around the age when key development happens, and offers suggestions for better communication to build wider understanding and support for early-childhood policies.

This is an evidence-based article explaining how prenatal multiple micronutrient supplementation (MMS) improves pregnancy and newborn outcomes compared with iron-folic acid alone. It summarises research showing MMS reduces low birthweight, preterm births and stillbirths, emphasises early and sustained intake during pregnancy, and advocates for broader policy adoption to support healthier infant growth.

This is an evidence-based article explaining how prenatal multiple micronutrient supplementation (MMS) improves pregnancy and newborn outcomes compared with iron-folic acid alone. It summarises research showing MMS reduces low birthweight, preterm births and stillbirths, emphasises early and sustained intake during pregnancy, and advocates for broader policy adoption to support healthier infant growth.

This articles shows a comparison of trials where pregnant women received multiple micronutrients versus standard iron‑folic acid supplements, and found that multiple micronutrients improved infant length, weight, and other growth measures up to about 6 months of age and reduced risks like stunting and underweight at early ages.

This articles shows a comparison of trials where pregnant women received multiple micronutrients versus standard iron‑folic acid supplements, and found that multiple micronutrients improved infant length, weight, and other growth measures up to about 6 months of age and reduced risks like stunting and underweight at early ages.

This article proposes and tests a standardised measurement unit called the D‑score to make early childhood development assessments across ages, settings and different tools more comparable. Using data from tens of thousands of children and multiple instruments, the authors develop conversion keys and global scales that let diverse developmental tests be translated into a common metric, helping simplify research and policy comparisons.

This article proposes and tests a standardised measurement unit called the D‑score to make early childhood development assessments across ages, settings and different tools more comparable. Using data from tens of thousands of children and multiple instruments, the authors develop conversion keys and global scales that let diverse developmental tests be translated into a common metric, helping simplify research and policy comparisons.

This essay argues that the slow global rollout of maternal multiple micronutrient supplements (MMS) isn’t due to lack of evidence MMS reduces low birthweight and adverse outcomes but rather structural inequities in global health systems. Barriers include fragmented guidance, donor hesitancy, and higher evidence demands in low‑income settings compared with the Global North.

This essay argues that the slow global rollout of maternal multiple micronutrient supplements (MMS) isn’t due to lack of evidence MMS reduces low birthweight and adverse outcomes but rather structural inequities in global health systems. Barriers include fragmented guidance, donor hesitancy, and higher evidence demands in low‑income settings compared with the Global North.

This study surveyed private health facilities across South Africa to assess newborn hearing screening coverage, methods used, and implementation challenges. It found only about half of private obstetric units offer any screening and very few provide universal screening, highlighting gaps in systematic newborn hearing loss detection and the need for improved standardised services.

This study surveyed private health facilities across South Africa to assess newborn hearing screening coverage, methods used, and implementation challenges. It found only about half of private obstetric units offer any screening and very few provide universal screening, highlighting gaps in systematic newborn hearing loss detection and the need for improved standardised services.

This article analyses the economic value of scaling up WHO-recommended ear and hearing care interventions (HEAR) across 172 countries. It models costs and benefits from 2020–2030, finding that investing in screening, prevention, hearing technologies and rehabilitation could avert over 130 million DALYs and deliver roughly US $15 in economic return for every US $1 spent, showing strong cost-effectiveness.

This article analyses the economic value of scaling up WHO-recommended ear and hearing care interventions (HEAR) across 172 countries. It models costs and benefits from 2020–2030, finding that investing in screening, prevention, hearing technologies and rehabilitation could avert over 130 million DALYs and deliver roughly US $15 in economic return for every US $1 spent, showing strong cost-effectiveness.

This article argues that universal neonatal hearing screening (NHS) should be implemented worldwide as a public health priority. Early detection of hearing loss in newborns occurring in about 1–2 per 1000 births allows timely intervention, which greatly improves children’s language, cognitive, social, and educational development. Although some countries have effective universal NHS programs, others (like Greece) lack nationwide mandates. The authors emphasize that universal NHS is cost‑effective, ethically necessary, and crucial for equitable access to early intervention and lifelong opportunities for children with hearing impairments.

This article argues that universal neonatal hearing screening (NHS) should be implemented worldwide as a public health priority. Early detection of hearing loss in newborns occurring in about 1–2 per 1000 births allows timely intervention, which greatly improves children’s language, cognitive, social, and educational development. Although some countries have effective universal NHS programs, others (like Greece) lack nationwide mandates. The authors emphasize that universal NHS is cost‑effective, ethically necessary, and crucial for equitable access to early intervention and lifelong opportunities for children with hearing impairments.

This global survey of newborn and infant hearing screening (NIHS) in 158 countries shows major disparities in program coverage: about 33% of babies are screened universally while 38% have little or no screening. Early screening dramatically lowers the age of diagnosis and intervention for permanent childhood hearing loss. The authors call for stronger investment, data collection, and program expansion—especially in low-income countries.

This global survey of newborn and infant hearing screening (NIHS) in 158 countries shows major disparities in program coverage: about 33% of babies are screened universally while 38% have little or no screening. Early screening dramatically lowers the age of diagnosis and intervention for permanent childhood hearing loss. The authors call for stronger investment, data collection, and program expansion—especially in low-income countries.

This is a research article examining the sustainability of the audiology and speech-language therapy workforce in South Africa. It identifies workforce shortages, unequal geographic distribution, high exit rates, and training-to-employment gaps. The study highlights barriers like limited posts, poor career pathways and resource constraints, and recommends strategic planning, workforce investment and supportive policies to strengthen service availability.

This is a research article examining the sustainability of the audiology and speech-language therapy workforce in South Africa. It identifies workforce shortages, unequal geographic distribution, high exit rates, and training-to-employment gaps. The study highlights barriers like limited posts, poor career pathways and resource constraints, and recommends strategic planning, workforce investment and supportive policies to strengthen service availability.

This report estimates the global costs when hearing loss goes untreated, including health, education, productivity and social care impacts, and evaluates how early detection and cost-effective interventions (like screening and hearing aids) can reduce this burden.

This report estimates the global costs when hearing loss goes untreated, including health, education, productivity and social care impacts, and evaluates how early detection and cost-effective interventions (like screening and hearing aids) can reduce this burden.

This report highlights global hearing loss as a major public health issue, urges integration of people‑centred ear and hearing care into health systems, and promotes cost‑effective interventions to prevent and address hearing loss across the lifespan.

This report highlights global hearing loss as a major public health issue, urges integration of people‑centred ear and hearing care into health systems, and promotes cost‑effective interventions to prevent and address hearing loss across the lifespan.

This study evaluated a community‑based universal newborn hearing screening (UNHS) pilot across three primary health clinics in rural Limpopo, South Africa. Reviewing 2 302 infant records, it assessed coverage, referral, and follow‑up rates. While benchmarks weren’t fully met, high screening coverage and manageable referral rates demonstrate the feasibility of implementing rural UNHS. The authors argue that regular monitoring and evaluation can strengthen early hearing detection and intervention in underserved contexts.

This study evaluated a community‑based universal newborn hearing screening (UNHS) pilot across three primary health clinics in rural Limpopo, South Africa. Reviewing 2 302 infant records, it assessed coverage, referral, and follow‑up rates. While benchmarks weren’t fully met, high screening coverage and manageable referral rates demonstrate the feasibility of implementing rural UNHS. The authors argue that regular monitoring and evaluation can strengthen early hearing detection and intervention in underserved contexts.

This report investigates gaps in maternity and parental benefits for self‑employed workers, especially those in the informal economy. It finds current systems exclude self‑employed parents from social protection, worsening inequality and limiting women’s economic participation. The report explores legal and policy shortcomings, South Africa’s constitutional and international obligations, and proposes how and who should extend maternity and parental benefits to self‑employed workers.

This report investigates gaps in maternity and parental benefits for self‑employed workers, especially those in the informal economy. It finds current systems exclude self‑employed parents from social protection, worsening inequality and limiting women’s economic participation. The report explores legal and policy shortcomings, South Africa’s constitutional and international obligations, and proposes how and who should extend maternity and parental benefits to self‑employed workers.

This working paper uses Bayesian meta-analysis to combine evidence from 115 studies of 72 unconditional cash transfer (UCT) programs in low- and middle-income countries. It finds strong positive effects on consumption, income, school enrollment, food security, assets, and child growth, and explores hypotheses about labor supply, targeting, and program design.

This working paper uses Bayesian meta-analysis to combine evidence from 115 studies of 72 unconditional cash transfer (UCT) programs in low- and middle-income countries. It finds strong positive effects on consumption, income, school enrollment, food security, assets, and child growth, and explores hypotheses about labor supply, targeting, and program design.

This page reviews global research showing that unconditional cash transfers (UCTs) direct financial payments with no requirements on how they’re spent raise incomes, improve food security and mental well-being, and often lead to greater spending on essentials. Evidence from randomized studies finds that recipients invest, maintain employment, and don’t waste funds on harmful goods, with some effects lasting years and benefiting local economies too.

This page reviews global research showing that unconditional cash transfers (UCTs) direct financial payments with no requirements on how they’re spent raise incomes, improve food security and mental well-being, and often lead to greater spending on essentials. Evidence from randomized studies finds that recipients invest, maintain employment, and don’t waste funds on harmful goods, with some effects lasting years and benefiting local economies too.

This is a 2025 meta‑analysis of 51 studies that assessed how ChatGPT affects student learning outcomes. It found that using ChatGPT is associated with large improvements in learning performance and moderate gains in students’ learning perceptions and higher‑order thinking. The effects varied by course type, learning model and duration of use, and the study recommends structured integration of ChatGPT into teaching and learning to enhance educational benefits.

This is a 2025 meta‑analysis of 51 studies that assessed how ChatGPT affects student learning outcomes. It found that using ChatGPT is associated with large improvements in learning performance and moderate gains in students’ learning perceptions and higher‑order thinking. The effects varied by course type, learning model and duration of use, and the study recommends structured integration of ChatGPT into teaching and learning to enhance educational benefits.

This peer-reviewed systematic review and meta-analysis examines how cash transfer (CT) programmes affect child nutrition in low- and middle-income countries. It updates earlier evidence by pooling 129 study estimates, finding that cash transfers modestly improve height-for-age and other nutrition outcomes (e.g., reduced stunting and increased dietary diversity), especially when combined with behavioural support such as water, sanitation and hygiene communication.

This peer-reviewed systematic review and meta-analysis examines how cash transfer (CT) programmes affect child nutrition in low- and middle-income countries. It updates earlier evidence by pooling 129 study estimates, finding that cash transfers modestly improve height-for-age and other nutrition outcomes (e.g., reduced stunting and increased dietary diversity), especially when combined with behavioural support such as water, sanitation and hygiene communication.

This study explores how South African caregivers of children who are deaf or hard of hearing understand and enact their role in early hearing detection and intervention (EHDI). It highlights caregivers’ lived experiences, perceived responsibilities, and the barriers they face—including systemic, logistical and resource constraints—that influence access to timely screening, diagnosis and intervention services.

This study explores how South African caregivers of children who are deaf or hard of hearing understand and enact their role in early hearing detection and intervention (EHDI). It highlights caregivers’ lived experiences, perceived responsibilities, and the barriers they face—including systemic, logistical and resource constraints—that influence access to timely screening, diagnosis and intervention services.

This study quantifies the global burden of dietary iron deficiency using Global Burden of Disease 2021 data. It shows that about 16.7 % of people worldwide had dietary iron deficiency in 2021, with higher prevalence among women, children and low-SDI regions. Although rates fell since 1990, the condition remains widespread, highlighting the need for supplementation, food security and fortification efforts.

This study quantifies the global burden of dietary iron deficiency using Global Burden of Disease 2021 data. It shows that about 16.7 % of people worldwide had dietary iron deficiency in 2021, with higher prevalence among women, children and low-SDI regions. Although rates fell since 1990, the condition remains widespread, highlighting the need for supplementation, food security and fortification efforts.

The South African Depression and Anxiety Group (SADAG), with the Department of Social Development, has launched the Ke Moja WhatsApp chat platform to support youth struggling with substance abuse. It offers free, easily accessible live chat counselling via WhatsApp, aiming to reach more young people who prefer messaging and to guide them toward help and resources.

The South African Depression and Anxiety Group (SADAG), with the Department of Social Development, has launched the Ke Moja WhatsApp chat platform to support youth struggling with substance abuse. It offers free, easily accessible live chat counselling via WhatsApp, aiming to reach more young people who prefer messaging and to guide them toward help and resources.

This handbook provides judges and legal practitioners with guidance on applying South African law to online harms — such as hate speech, disinformation, and harmful digital content. It explains legal standards, relevant statutes, case law, and practical decision‑making tools to help courts protect fundamental rights while addressing emerging digital challenges.

This handbook provides judges and legal practitioners with guidance on applying South African law to online harms — such as hate speech, disinformation, and harmful digital content. It explains legal standards, relevant statutes, case law, and practical decision‑making tools to help courts protect fundamental rights while addressing emerging digital challenges.

This is a research article examining how well pregnant women in the Parepare district of Indonesia adhere to recommended multiple micronutrient supplementation (MMS) during pregnancy. It finds that while over half of women took many MMS tablets, many started late, and earlier initiation was linked to higher adherence, highlighting the importance of early antenatal care engagement.

This is a research article examining how well pregnant women in the Parepare district of Indonesia adhere to recommended multiple micronutrient supplementation (MMS) during pregnancy. It finds that while over half of women took many MMS tablets, many started late, and earlier initiation was linked to higher adherence, highlighting the importance of early antenatal care engagement.

This article describes a planned mixed‑methods research project to learn how two parenting programmes Parenting for Lifelong Health for Young Children and for Parents & Teens are being spread and scaled across multiple low‑ and middle‑income countries. It explains how the study will examine how these interventions are implemented, factors affecting implementation and sustainment, programme reach, family outcomes, and costs to better understand dissemination and scale‑up processes in real‑world settings.

This article describes a planned mixed‑methods research project to learn how two parenting programmes Parenting for Lifelong Health for Young Children and for Parents & Teens are being spread and scaled across multiple low‑ and middle‑income countries. It explains how the study will examine how these interventions are implemented, factors affecting implementation and sustainment, programme reach, family outcomes, and costs to better understand dissemination and scale‑up processes in real‑world settings.

This story shows how Julia’s mother shares a creative skill passed down from her grandmother, allowing Julia to explore, learn, and express herself in her own way. It highlights the value of family traditions and shared experiences in nurturing creativity. By offering supportive guidance and new opportunities, parents can help children discover their abilities, grow confidence, and surprise them over time with their unique talents.

This story shows how Julia’s mother shares a creative skill passed down from her grandmother, allowing Julia to explore, learn, and express herself in her own way. It highlights the value of family traditions and shared experiences in nurturing creativity. By offering supportive guidance and new opportunities, parents can help children discover their abilities, grow confidence, and surprise them over time with their unique talents.

The Ethnikids website promotes an online children’s bookstore specialising in diverse, inclusive books and stationery featuring characters of colour and materials in various South African languages. Its mission is to ignite a love of reading and representation for young readers, offering selections by language, age group, and cultural relevance.

The Ethnikids website promotes an online children’s bookstore specialising in diverse, inclusive books and stationery featuring characters of colour and materials in various South African languages. Its mission is to ignite a love of reading and representation for young readers, offering selections by language, age group, and cultural relevance.

This is a UNICEF Innocenti strategic framework that identifies key research priorities to close critical evidence gaps for children with disabilities and ensure their full inclusion in policy and programs. Developed through extensive global consultation, it promotes disability-inclusive, participatory research, outlines priority topics (e.g., education, protection, social support), and calls governments, donors and researchers to act on evidence for real-world impact.

This is a UNICEF Innocenti strategic framework that identifies key research priorities to close critical evidence gaps for children with disabilities and ensure their full inclusion in policy and programs. Developed through extensive global consultation, it promotes disability-inclusive, participatory research, outlines priority topics (e.g., education, protection, social support), and calls governments, donors and researchers to act on evidence for real-world impact.