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SDG 3 in Sub-Saharan Africa: Emerging Public Health Issues
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SDG 3 in Sub-Saharan Africa: Emerging Public Health Issues

A special issue of International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (ISSN 1660-4601). This special issue belongs to the section "Global Health".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 April 2025) | Viewed by 1365

Special Issue Editor

Prof. Dr. Julian David Pillay

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Faculty of Health Sciences, Durban University of Technology, Durban 4001, South Africa
Interests: global health and sustainability; well-being

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The Special Issue invites original research articles, reviews, commentaries, etc. that address the pressing public health challenges facing Sub-Saharan Africa. We seek contributions that explore the complex interplay of social, economic, environmental, and political factors that shape health outcomes in this region.

Potential topics of interest include, but are not limited to:

  • The impact of climate change on health;
  • Emerging infectious diseases and antimicrobial resistance;
  • Mental health and psychosocial well-being;
  • Non-communicable diseases and their burden;
  • Maternal and child health;
  • Nutrition and food security;
  • Access to healthcare and health systems strengthening;
  • Health policies and interventions;
  • Health equity and social determinants of health;
  • Migrant health;
  • Wellbeing in marginalised/vulnerable groups.

We encourage submissions that employ innovative research methodologies and contribute to evidence-based policymaking. Interdisciplinary collaborations and studies that address the unique context of Sub-Saharan Africa are particularly welcome.

We look forward to receiving your contributions to this important field.

Prof. Dr. Julian David Pillay
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2500 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • sub-Saharan Africa
  • emerging public health issues
  • global health
  • epidemiology
  • public health policy
  • health disparities
  • social determinants of health
  • non-communicable diseases
  • infectious diseases
  • health systems strengthening

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Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

12 pages, 236 KiB  
Article
Inxeba Elinga Phakathi: The Danger of Mental Health Invisibility and the Role of Social Community Caregiving
by Nobuntu Penxa-Matholeni
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2025, 22(5), 786; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph22050786 - 16 May 2025
Viewed by 76
Abstract
The stigma and invisibility surrounding mental health often lead to alienation and reinforce societal misconceptions. This paper examines how the concept of inxeba elingaphakathi (the invisible wound) in isiXhosa encapsulates the emotional and psychological pain frequently overlooked in mental health discussions, particularly among [...] Read more.
The stigma and invisibility surrounding mental health often lead to alienation and reinforce societal misconceptions. This paper examines how the concept of inxeba elingaphakathi (the invisible wound) in isiXhosa encapsulates the emotional and psychological pain frequently overlooked in mental health discussions, particularly among Black South African women. Employing an Indigenous storytelling methodology, the study explores how social community caregiving can illuminate these hidden wounds and challenge prevailing stigma. By analyzing the societal factors shaping mental health perceptions, this research advocates for a culturally grounded approach to healing and belonging. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue SDG 3 in Sub-Saharan Africa: Emerging Public Health Issues)
11 pages, 258 KiB  
Article
Namibian Healthcare Professionals’ Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices Regarding Environmental Sustainability in Healthcare
by Helga Elke Lister, Karien Mostert, Gopika Ramkilawon, Cathrine Oelschig, Olwethu Ntiyane, Erika Richardt, Deonelia Paulo Da Silva Rocha, Savannah Sheerin, Tshepang Phaahla, Daniel Ashipala, Louise Pretorius, Takaedza Munangatire and Filip Maric
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2025, 22(5), 751; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph22050751 - 9 May 2025
Viewed by 348
Abstract
Among the many actions required to avert further intensification of today’s social, ecological and health crises is also the improvement of healthcare’s environmental sustainability, including in countries particularly vulnerable to such crises. The present study aimed to identify Namibian healthcare professionals’ knowledge, attitudes [...] Read more.
Among the many actions required to avert further intensification of today’s social, ecological and health crises is also the improvement of healthcare’s environmental sustainability, including in countries particularly vulnerable to such crises. The present study aimed to identify Namibian healthcare professionals’ knowledge, attitudes and practices, along with barriers and educational needs, as a foundation for context-relevant interventions. The study used a non-experimental, descriptive quantitative research design with an existing validated cross-sectional questionnaire as its data collection tool. Both purposive and snowball sampling were used to select healthcare professionals (n = 71) to participate in the quantitative online questionnaire. R (version 4.2.1) software was used to analyse the data from the completed questionnaires. The results showed that the Namibian healthcare professionals participating in this study have basic knowledge of and positive attitudes toward environmental sustainability in healthcare. However, various barriers to implementing strategies towards environmental sustainability exist that currently prevent the implementation of relevant practices. These should be overcome by the Namibian health system by providing the necessary frameworks, policies, measures and resources to drive improvements in environmental sustainability. Additionally, future and current healthcare professionals must receive training across all professional education levels to enable implementation in practice and effective advocacy and planetary health promotion. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue SDG 3 in Sub-Saharan Africa: Emerging Public Health Issues)
26 pages, 1930 KiB  
Article
Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Public Health Expenditures, and Maternal and Child Mortality in Selected African Countries: Forecasting Modelling
by Yetunde Adegoke, Josue Mbonigaba and Gavin George
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2025, 22(4), 482; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph22040482 - 24 Mar 2025
Viewed by 379
Abstract
This study projects the performance of maternal and child mortalities in relation to the SDGs target (70 maternal deaths and 25 child deaths) by year 2030, based on three simulation scenarios of public health expenditures (PHEs). In essence, this study investigates the predictability [...] Read more.
This study projects the performance of maternal and child mortalities in relation to the SDGs target (70 maternal deaths and 25 child deaths) by year 2030, based on three simulation scenarios of public health expenditures (PHEs). In essence, this study investigates the predictability of PHE in explaining maternal and child mortalities in a bid to confirm the possibility of meeting the SDGs target. The SSA is known to be facing critical health challenges; this study contributes to the problem underlying the health sector by forecasting PHEs in relation to goal 3 because the knowledge of correlation and threshold relationship between PHE and health outcomes, as seen in previous studies, may not be adequate to prepare the SSA countries towards achieving the SDGs target. This study uses Feasible Quasi-Generalised Least Squares as a baseline forecasting approach for 25 selected SSA countries. An increase in the PHE by 30 percent from the current level shows that only Botswana, Namibia, and South Africa will achieve the SDGs target of 70 maternal deaths, while Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Cote d’Ivoire, Eswatini, Lesotho, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Tanzania, and Togo may have to bear more than 200 maternal deaths by 2030. In contrast, about 60 percent of the countries will achieve the SDGs target for child mortality. PHEs must meet the 30% increase forecasted for a reduction in mortality, being the benchmark that will enable the SSA region to achieve the SDGs target by year 2030. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue SDG 3 in Sub-Saharan Africa: Emerging Public Health Issues)
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