Dr Shandir Ramlagan
Mr Shandir Ramlagan is a Senior Research Specialist in the Social Aspects of Public Health (SAPH) research unit of the Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC). He obtained his master?s degree in development studies from the University of Natal and is currently studying towards his doctoral degree in psychology at Maastricht University, the Netherlands. Mr Ramlagan has experience in social science research; both in the areas of qualitative and quantitative research design, research methodology, management of surveys as well as data analysis and report writing. His project experience includes working on all South African National HIV Prevalence, Incidence, Behaviour and Communication surveys? in roles ranging from data collector to Project Director. He has worked on NIH R01 funded randomized controlled trials as well as on projects for organizations such as the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, Nelson Mandela Children's Fund, the World Bank, Population Council, and various government departments. His publication record spans over 50 peer reviewed journal articles, project reports, co-authored book chapters, conceptual and epidemiological models. Mr Ramlagan is currently Managing Editor on the Journal of Social Aspects of HIV/AIDS Research Alliance (SAHARA-J)..
Supplement funding: Implemting comprehensive PMTCT & HIV prevention for South African couples
The supplement will expand the implementation and evaluation component of the parent grant and support infrastructure strengthening for the conduct of....
The HSRC's response to graduate unemployment: an experiential learning and personal skills development initiative to prepare for the world of work
The unemployment rate in South Africa has risen to an all-time high of 32.6%. 43% of young people are unemployed or have been employed in short-term w....
Sexual risk behaviour among HIV-infected women in the first twelve months after delivery in South Africa
This study aimed to assess sexual risk behaviour and its social correlates in HIV-infected women living in rural South Africa at six and twelve months....
Prevalence and factors associated with fixed-dose combination antiretroviral drugs adherence among HIV-positive pregnant women on option B treatment in Mpumalanga province, South Africa
The possibility for all babies to be born and remain HIV-negative for the first year of life is achievable in South Africa. HIV-positive mothers??? ad....
The achilles
The Joint United Nations Programme on HIV and AIDS proposed to reduce the vertical transmission of HIV from 72,200 to 8300 newly infected children by ....
PMTCT implementation in rural community health centres in Mpumalanga province, South Africa: final report
As part of a global plan, the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV and AIDS (UNAIDS) implemented a plan to reduce the prevalence of vertical transmis....
Risks deter but pleasure allure: is pleasure more important?
The pursuit of unhealthy behaviors, such as smoking or binge drinking, not only carries various downside risks, but also provides pleasure. A parsimon....
Implementing comprehensive prevention of mother-to-child transmission and HIV prevention for South African couples: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial
In rural South Africa, only two-thirds of HIV-positive pregnant women seeking antenatal care at community health centers took full advantage of 'preve....
The role of parents and peers in young people initiating sexual debut in South Africa
Age at sexual debut is an important indicator for exposure to heterosexual HIV transmission. Studies show that early sexual debut is associated with i....
Depression and social functioning among HIV-infected and uninfected persons in South Africa
Depression and other health problems are common co-morbidities among persons living with human immunodeficiency virus infection/acquired immunodeficie....
Hand grip strength and associated factors in non-institutionalised men and women 50 years and older in South Africa
Little is known about the prevalence, predictors and gender differences in hand grip strength of older adults in Africa. This study aims to investigat....
Social and health determinants of gender differences in disability amongst older adults in South Africa
There has been an unprecedented increase in population ageing resulting in the increase in prevalence of various health conditions, including disabili....
Social capital and health among older adults in South Africa
Little is known about social capital and health among older adults in South Africa. This study investigates the association between social capital and....
Self-reported prevalence of chronic non-communicable diseases and associated factors among older adults in South Africa
Little is known about the prevalence and predictors of chronic non-communicable diseases (NCDs) of older adults in South Africa. This study aims to in....
The South African National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 2012: SANHANES-1: the health and nutritional status of the nation
South Africa is undergoing a process of epidemiological transition from infectious to non-communicable diseases (NCDs). While the burden of infectious....
Study on global AGEing and adult health (SAGE), Wave 1: South Africa National Report
The Study on global AGEing and adult health (SAGE) is part of a Longitudinal Survey Programme in WHO's Multi-Country Studies unit. The main SAGE surve....
Impact of national HIV and AIDS communication campaigns in South Africa to reduce HIV risk behaviour
In South Africa social and behavioural communication interventions are a critical component of HIV/AIDS prevention, and numerous communication campai....
Self-rated health and associated factors among older South Africans: evidence from the study on global ageing and adult health
Background: Population ageing has become significant in South African society, increasing the need to improve understandings of health and well-being ....
Alcohol use, problem drinking and health risk factors among South African youths
The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence and associated factors of problem drinking among South African youth (18-24 years). A cross-section....
Early sexual debut and associated risk factors among male and female youth in South Africa
The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence and correlates of early sexual debut among youth aged 18-24 in South Africa. In a cross-sectio....
Data resource profile: the World Health Organization study on global AGEing and adult health (SAGE)
Population ageing is rapidly becoming a global issue and will have a major impact on health policies and programmes. The World Health Organization's S....
Efficacy of a lay health worker led group antiretroviral medication adherence training among non-adherent HIV-positive patients in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa: results from a randomized trial
There is a lack of theory-based randomized controlled trials to examine the effect of antiretroviral adherence in sub-Saharan Africa. We assessed the....
Predicting (un)healthy behavior: a comparison of risk-taking propensity measures
We compare four different risk-taking propensity measures on their ability to describe and to predict actual risky behavior in the domain of health. T....
A community-based study to examine the effect of a youth HIV prevention programme in South Africa
The aim of this study was to examine the relationships among changes in self-reported HIV and sexually transmitted infection (STI) and exposure to the....
Study of global ageing and adult health (SAGE): South Africa 2007-2008: executive summary
The phenomenon of population ageing has become more significant in South African society during recent decades, with the cohort aged 50 years or older....
Evaluating the value that young people attach to LoveLife and investigating factors impacting the life choices and risk tolerance of youth
There is no abstract available due to the confidential status of the report.....
The social and clinical characteristics of patients on antiretroviral therapy who are 'lost to follow-up' in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa: a prospective study
A significant proportion of those initiating antiretroviral treatment (ART) for HIV infection are lost to follow-up. Causes (including HIV symptoms....
Epidemiology of substance use and abuse in South Africa
At the end of the apartheid era, research relating to the nature and extent of use of drugs other than alcohol and tobacco among the general adult pop....
Prevalence of obesity and associated factors in South Africans 50 years and older
This study aimed to determine the prevalence of obesity, overweight, central obesity and their associated factors in older South Africans who particip....
A comparison of EPI sampling, probability sampling, and compact segment sampling methods for micro and small enterprises
Finding an efficient method for sampling micro- and small-enterprises (MSEs) for research and statistical reporting purposes is a challenge in develop....
Antiretrovirals and the use of traditional, complementary and alternative medicine by HIV patients in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa: a longitudinal study
The aim of this prospective study (20 months) was to assess HIV patients' use of Traditional, Complementary and Alternative Medicine (TCAM) and its e....
Perceived stigma among patients receiving antiretroviral therapy: a prospective study in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
The aim of this study is to examine whether internalized AIDS stigma among HIV patients one year after antiretroviral therapy (ART) initiation is asso....
Illicit drug use and treatment in South Africa: a review
This review synthesizes available epidemiological data on current drug use and substance user treatment admissions in South Africa since 1994, and how....
The who & why of antiretroviral treatment adherence
Successful antiretroviral (ARV) treatment depends on whether patients take their medication consistently and over a long period. This means taking the....
Safer sexual behaviours after 1 year of antiretroviral treatment in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa: a prospective cohort study
Abstract. Background: As antiretroviral treatment (ART) becomes more widely available in low and middle income countries, the relationship between tre....
Epidemiology of drug abuse treatment in South Africa
Background. The aim of the study was to explore the epidemiology of drug abuse treatment in South Africa. Methods. Treatment demand statistics were a....
Support group needs for people living with HIV and AIDS (PLWHA) in communities around Durban, South Africa
The study constructed a participant centred perspective of what members of a support group for people living with HIV and AIDS (PLWHA) desired from th....
Illicit drug use in South Africa: findings from a 2008 national population-based survey
Objective. The aim of this secondary analysis of the South African National HIV, Incidence, Behaviour and Communication (SABSSM) 2008 survey is to pro....
Traditional complementary and alternative medicine and antiretroviral treatment adherence among HIV patients in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
Adherence to antiretroviral medication in the treatment of HIV is critical, both to maximize efficacy and to minimize the emergence of drug resistance....
Antiretroviral treatment adherence among HIV patients in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
Background: Successful antiretroviral treatment is dependent on sustaining high rates of adherence. In the southern African context, only a handful of....
Drug prescription habits in public and private health facilities in 2 provinces in South Africa
The aim of this study was to explore drug prescription habits using WHO standard indicators in 15 public hospitals and 36 private surgeries in 2 provi....
Alcohol use trends in South Africa
The purpose of this review is to synthesize the prevalence data from five national surveys and local surveys on alcohol use in South Africa over the p....
Primary health care service delivery in South Africa
The paper's aim is to determine the role of non-profit organizations (NPOs) in filling possible gaps in primary health care (PHC) service provision. ....
A baseline assessment of Department of Health partnerships with non-profit organisations
A baseline assessment was conducted in five provinces participating in the Partnership for the Delivery of Primary Health Care Programme. It included ....
The public education sector and HIV/AIDS
There has been growing attention to the issue of HIV/AIDS and its potential impact on education. A number of research projects have provided a very g....
Use of traditional complementary and alternative medicine for HIV patients in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
Background: Traditional medicine use has been reported is common among individuals with moderate and advanced HIV disease. The aim of this cross-secti....
Household survey on the pattern of utilization of medicines in selected communities in South Africa
The aim of this study was to examine the prevalence of drug use, and how morbidity, use of health services, self-evaluated health, demographic pattern....
Smoke this: dagga use among young men gets higher
The increase in cannabis production and improved technology call for more substance abuse treatment centres in South Africa following a study on user ....
Substance abuse trends in the Western Cape: a review of studies conducted since 2000
A consortium of researchers from the South African Medical Research Council, Human Sciences Research Council, University of Cape Town and Dopstop was ....
Cannabis use trends in South Africa
The purpose of this review is to synthesise cannabis use data from surveys, specialised alcohol and drug treatment centres, cannabis-related trauma un....
Rapid appraisal of substance abuse and HIV awareness messages in poster communication to disadvantaged youth in South Africa
In this study the authors explore the responses of youth from selected disadvantaged urban communities in Gauteng province, South Africa, to a poster ....
Impact of the national drug policy on pharmaceuticals in two provinces in South Africa
Provincial baseline surveys on NDP were carried out between 1996 and 1998 in eight of South Africa's nine provinces. These Surveys were conducted to e....
Responsible alcoholic beverages sales and services training intervention in Cape Town: a pilot study
The aim of this study was to pilot a responsible beverage service intervention in order to reduce alcohol-impaired road use. The sample included 20 sh....
Educator supply and demand in the South African public education system: integrated report
Education plays a key role in the development of any society. Responding to the need for empirical evidence on the demand for and supply of public edu....
Baseline assessment: European Union partnerships for the delivery of primary health care programme in South Africa
In their quest to strengthen the delivery of PHC services in South Africa, the European Union, the Government of South Africa and UK's Department for ....
Do customers flee from HIV?: a survey of HIV stigma and its potential economic consequences on small businesses in Tshwane (Pretoria), South Africa
HIV stigma and discrimination affect care seeking behavior and may also affect entrepreneurial activity. We interview 2382 individuals in Pretoria, So....
Self-report and dry blood spot measurement of antiretroviral medications as markers of adherence in pregnant women in rural South Africa
Antiretroviral (ARV) adherence is essential to prevent mother-to-child transmission of HIV. This study compared self-reported adherence versus ARV det....
Self-esteem, sexual-risk behaviour and loveLife exposure among South African young women
Various risk behaviours have been identified to explain the increased risk of HIV infection among young women including factors such as poverty, gende....
Daily tobacco use and problem drinking among urban adults in South Africa: a longitudinal study
There is a lack of longitudinal studies investigating daily tobacco use and problem drinking in Africa. The aim of this study was to explore the preva....
South African National HIV Prevalence, Incidence, Behaviour and Communication Survey, 2017
A cross-sectional, population-based household survey was conducted using a multi-stage stratified cluster random sampling approach. The study design w....
Impact of male partner involvement on mother-to-child transmission of HIV and HIV free survival among HIV-exposed infants in rural South Africa: results from a two phase randomised controlled trial
The Sub-Saharan Africa region still remains the epicentre of the global HIV/AIDS epidemic. With regards to new paediatric HIV infections, almost 90% o....
South African National HIV Prevalence, Incidence, Behaviour and Communication Survey, 2017: towards achieving the UNAIDS 90-90-90 targets
The 2017 National HIV Prevalence, Incidence, Behaviour and Communication Survey is the fifth wave in a series of national cross-sectional surveys that....
Understanding ART adherence: exploring the structural and psychosocial determinants of antiretroviral therapy adherence among pregnant women in Mpumalanga province, South Africa
Walking a mile in someone elses shoes is a phrase often used to state that one should not judge another until you experience what they experience on a....
Correlates of perceived HIV-related stigma among HIV-positive pregnant women in rural Mpumalanga province, South Africa
The study investigated correlates of perceived HIV-related stigma among 673 HIV-positive women from rural Mpumalanga province, South Africa (mean age ....
Self-reported long-term antiretroviral adherence: a longitudinal study among HIV infected pregnant women in Mpumalanga, South Africa
We evaluate the impact of a multi-session cognitive behavioral prevention of mother to child transmission (PMTCT) intervention on antiretroviral thera....
Maternal factors associated with infant neurodevelopment in HIV-exposed uninfected infants
This study evaluated maternal factors associated with infant neurodevelopmental outcomes among HIV-exposed uninfected (HEU) infants in rural South Afr....
Stigma interdependence among pregnant HIV-infected couples in a cluster randomized controlled trial from rural South Africa
Stigma can exacerbate negative health outcomes in people living with HIV (PLWH). This longitudinal, cluster randomized controlled trial in rural Mpuma....
Pushing the boundaries: adapting research methodology to document the COVID-19 pandemic from a socio-behavioural perspective in a low/ middle level income country: the case of South Africa
The outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) resulted in South Africas shelter-in-place lockdown. South Africa is vulnerable to the negative ou....
Compliance with lockdown regulations during the COVID-19 pandemic in South Africa: findings from an online survey
SARS-CoV-2 has resulted in the COVID-19 pandemic. Based on a nationally representative online survey conducted several weeks on the pandemic, this pap....
Preparedness for self-isolation or quarantine and lockdown in South Africa: results from a rapid online survey
The World Health Organization (WHO) declared the COVID-19 pandemic a public health emergency of international concern. South Africa, like many other c....
"It is like it has come up and stole our lives from us": the first 21 days: a rapid qualitative assessment of how different sectors of society experienced the COVID-19 lockdown in South Africa
We examined how different sectors of society experienced the first 21 days of the stay-at-home lockdown following the onset of the coronavirus disease....
Influence of male partners on HIV disclosure among South African women in a cluster randomized PMTCT intervention
Disclosure of HIV serostatus is beneficial for women, their partners, and their infants as it enables women to actively participate in preventative ca....
Adolescents living with HIV in South Africa
As we approach the fourth decade of the HIV pandemic, there are still glaring gaps in the evidence base regarding the mode of transmission, health, be....
Report on the joint tuberculosis and HIV pilot survey in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa 2019
South Africa has a high infectious disease burden with overlapping Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and tuberculosis (TB) epidemics. People living w....
Prevalence and correlates of hazardous, harmful or dependent alcohol use and drug use amongst persons 15 years and older in South Africa: results of a national survey in 2017
Harmful alcohol and illicit drug use significantly contribute the burden of disease. Aim: This study aimed to assess the prevalence and correlates of ....
Association between ART adherence and mental health: results from a national HIV sero-behavioural survey in South Africa
This paper assesses the levels of antiretroviral treatment (ART) adherence and mental health distress among study participants in a national behaviour....
Is there risk compensation among HIV infected youth and adults 15 years and older on antiretroviral treatment in South Africa?: findings from the 2017 national HIV prevalence, incidence, behaviour and communication survey
In this paper, risk compensation among individuals on antiretroviral therapy (ART), using the 2017 South African national survey on HIV, is explored. ....