Background: Obesity has been linked to an increased risk of dementia in the future. Obesity is known to affect core neural structures, such as the hippocampus, and frontotemporal parts of the brain, and is linked to memory, attention, and executive function decline. The overwhelming majority of the data, however, comes from high-income countries. In undeveloped countries, there is little evidence of a link between obesity and neurocognition. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of BMI on the key cognitive functioning tasks of attention, memory, and executive function in a South African cohort. Methods: A total of 175 females (NW: BMI = 18.5–24.9 kg/m² and OB: BMI > 30.0 kg/m²) aged 18–59 years (M = 28, SD = 8.87 years) completed tasks on memory, attention, and executive functioning. Results: There was a statistically significant difference between the groups. The participants who had a BMI corresponding with obesity performed poorly on the tasks measuring memory (p = 0.01), attention (p = 0.01), and executive function (p = 0.02) compared to the normal-weight group. Conclusions: When compared to normal-weight participants, the findings confirm the existence of lowered cognitive performance in obese persons on tasks involving planning, decision making, self-control, and regulation. Further research into the potential underlying mechanism by which obesity impacts cognition is indicated.

Against the background that crystal methamphetamine (colloquially known as “tik”) is extensively used by the emerging working class Coloured youth in Cape Town, South Africa, this exploratory qualitative study was conducted to explore the experience of mothers whose children use methamphetamine. The researchers conducted one-to-one semi-structured in-depth interviews with sixteen (16) purposively selected caregivers (mothers) whose sons use methamphetamine. Interviews were recorded and simultaneously translated and transcribed. Thematic analysis was used to identify themes related to the experiences of caregivers of youth with methamphetamine problems. Findings showed that youth misbehaviour provided a context that led to feelings of shame and embarrassment. Participants also experienced personal challenges which included emotional problems, fear and self-blame. Participants also expressed family disruptions and financial drain as adverse experiences as a results of their sons’ misbehaviour. The study results highlight the psychosocial challenges for caregivers of children who use methamphetamine. These findings underscore the need for effort to be directed at the development of formal support interventions for mothers of youth who are troubled with addiction.

The current study sought to explore the association between primary caregiver depressive symptoms and the psychological functioning in children vertically infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) living in Eastern Cape, South Africa. A cross-sectional data were collected using the Beck Depression Inventory and Strength and Difficulties Questionnaire in a sample of 152 caregiver/child dyads. The results revealed that poorer psychological functioning in children was significantly associated with depressive symptoms in caregivers. This relationship existed whether or not the child was raised by a biological or non-biological caregiver as well as for both genders. Younger children's psychological functioning was more negatively influenced than that of older children raised by a caregiver with depressive symptoms. In the context of a large treatment gap for common mental disorders in South Africa, there is a need for interventions to address maternal mental health in families infected and affected by the HIV/AIDS pandemic as a mental health promotion strategy given that HIV-infected children are a particularly vulnerable population for poor mental and behavioural health outcomes.

Background: While survival among HIV infected children has increased due to combination Antiretroviral Therapy (cART), many children remain vulnerable to the adverse effects of poverty and family disruptions as a result of the loss of one or both biological parents to Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS). The aim of this qualitative study was to develop an understanding of the psychosocial challenges experienced by caregivers caring for a child with perinatally acquired HIV. Method: A series of interviews were conducted with 44 HIV positive and negative primary caregivers of HIV + children. Data were analysed through Interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) using NVivo8 software. Findings: The findings suggest that caregiving is compromised by inadequate, financial resources and single-headed households where mainly grandparents assume the role of primary caregivers of HIV+ children. HIV remains a stigmatized illness that weakens support networks, as well as timeous and free accessibility to healthcare. This has a negative impact on the mental health of caregivers, with the majority of women in the study displaying symptoms of depression. Conclusion: The findings highlight the contextual challenges of caregiving in the presence of HIV, which impacts negatively on social ecology of the families. The need for interventions to enhance resilience and coping in families confronted with HIV is indicated.

Objective. Recent evidence suggests that obesity is increasing worldwide and may negatively impact neurocognition. Local studies on the association of weight status with neurocognitive function are sparse. This study is aimed at examining the association between body mass index (BMI) and neurocognitive functioning scores in a cohort of adult women. Methods. A convenience sample of 175 women aged 18 to 59 years (28.03 & PLUSMN;8.87) recruited in a community-based quantitative study completed the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA). The BMI metric was used to measure body fat based on weight and height and was stratified as high BMI (overweight or obese) or low BMI (normal weight). The Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) was used to assess depression. Pearson's correlation analysis and the student's t-test analysis were performed. Results. We observed a significant inverse association between BMI and performance on MoCA (r173=-0.32, p < 0.001). Performance on subtest of attention, memory, constructive abstraction, and executive functions significantly and inversely correlated with BMI. Significantly lower scores on the MoCA were found in women with a high BMI compared to women with a low BMI (23 & PLUSMN;4 vs. 26 & PLUSMN;3), t173=4.12, p < 0.0001). Conclusions. BMI and MoCA were inversely associated on both global and domain-specific neurocognitive test of attention, memory, and executive function; key neurocognitive control; and regulatory functions underlying behavior and decision-making. The findings provide a rationale for further research into the long-term effects of BMI on neurocognition.

Background: In South Africa, as in many countries, the nationwide spread of COVID-19 caused a public health emergency that resulted in the government implementing necessary restrictive measures such as the nationwide lockdown as a way of containing the pandemic. Such restrictive measure, while necessary, can disrupt many aspects of people's lives resulting in unprecedented psychosocial distress.Aim: The present study aims to describe the psychosocial health and situational factors associated with the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) in South Africa during the first wave of infection.Methods: This cross-sectional survey, recruited a total of 203 participants through convenience sampling via online platforms—WhatsApp, Facebook, emails, etc.—during COVID-19 lockdown in the country. Through the snowball technique, participants from across South Africa completed the online survey that assessed socio-demographic information, risk perception, history of mental health, COVID-19-related stress, and fears during the lockdown (first wave).Results: The majority of the participants who completed the survey were young, Black African, and female. Participants reported feelings of stress and anxiety (61.2%); stress about finances (39.5%); and feelings of sadness, anger, and/or frustration (31.6%) during the lockdown. Females compared to males were more likely to perceive COVID-19 as a risk to their household, X(20)2 = 45,844, p < 0.001 and community, X(20)2 = 40,047, p = 0.005. COVID-19 differentially impacted the mental health of participants with and without mental health diagnosis, X(4)2 = 16.596, p = 0.002. Participants with a prior mental health diagnosis reported significant extra stress during lockdown (p < 0.05).Conclusion: The findings may be of significance to assist in the development of targeted psychosocial interventions to help people during and after the pandemic.