PhD graduates from the University of Pretoria’s School of Health Systems and Public Health (SHSPH) showcased cutting-edge research at the School’s Annual Research Day on 3 July 2025. This year’s event, themed “Navigating the Grey Zones: Ethics and AI in Public Health Research,” explored complex public health challenges at the intersection of technology, policy, and human well-being.

The day offered a platform for emerging scholars to present their doctoral research on some of the most urgent issues facing South Africa and the continent, including air pollution, occupational health, healthcare integration, and malaria control.

Unmasking invisible threats of  air pollution in townships

Dr. Mandla Bhuda opened the event with presentation on air pollution in Mabopane and Soshanguve, where his study focused on the health effects of PM2.5, which is fine particulate matter invisible to the naked eye.

“This was the first study of its kind in the area. We wanted to provide local evidence to guide air quality policy,” he explained.
“Children in these areas are twice as exposed to harmful pollutants compared to World Health Organization (WHO) standards.”

Dr. Bhuda’s data showed that 15.4% of preschool children in the study exhibited symptoms of severe asthma, far exceeding global averages. Despite high levels of access to electricity, many households relied on gas and open fires during power outages, dramatically increasing children’s exposure to pollutants.

“You can’t manage what you don’t measure. Without working air quality monitoring systems, cities like Tshwane cannot respond to this crisis,” he warned.

Calling for Ubuntu in Occupational Health

In his study on occupational health systems for healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic, Prof. Muzimkhulu Zungu highlighted both successes and shortcomings.

“Occupational health is a human right, yet access remains limited. Less than 60% of workers in public hospitals had access to basic occupational health services.”

He evaluated tools like HealthWISE and OASIS that were introduced to improve safety during the pandemic -but noted that implementation dwindled over time.

“By the third wave, the systems were breaking down. Only 45% of facilities were using available data for decision-making. We must do better - for our healthcare workers, and for public health resilience.”

Bridging the gap between NCDs and HIV services

Dr. Maureen Chilufya tackled the integration of non-communicable disease (NCD) care within HIV services at primary healthcare level, an increasingly urgent priority in resource-limited settings.

Her mixed-method study found high prevalence of hypertension (20%) and diabetes (5.4%) among people living with HIV, but poor coordination between NCD and HIV services.

“Integration is recognised as important, but there is limited progress in implementation—especially when it comes to mental health and data systems,” she said.

Dr. Chilufya’s findings culminated in a practical framework for integrated care, with a cost estimate of roughly $240 per patient, essential for future scale-up and policy adoption.

Testing footwear as a Malaria control measure

Taking the audience into the field, Dr. Graça Salomé shared findings from a community trial in Southern Mozambique, where repellent-treated sandals were tested to protect against mosquito bites.

“We found that repellent-treated sandals had similar outcomes to untreated ones, but both were significantly better than being barefoot,” she noted.

Her study highlighted how vector behaviour is changing, with increased outdoor transmission, and emphasized the need for new malaria control tools, improved water infrastructure, and cross-border collaboration.

From battling invisible air toxins in townships to reimagining frontline healthcare and community-based disease prevention, this year's SHSPH Research Day reflected the SHPH’s deep commitment to ethical, evidence-based public health research.