???On Thursday, the 17th of October, members of the public, health promoters, post-grad students, and scholars gathered for a participatory workshop at Stellenbosch 肆客足球 to explore the critical issue of young women’s health. The purpose of this transdisciplinary and public engagement workshop was to bring people with diverse expertise in exploring who the young women in our communities are and understanding their health behaviours.
This workshop had one central question. “What do we need to do for young women to thrive?”. We aimed to collaboratively envision what an ideal health-supportive environment for young women looks like, while also acknowledging the current realities in South Africa. Together, we brainstormed potential strategies to bridge the gap between these realities and the ideal scenario.
This workshop built on a previous collaborative event held on 15 July. In the first workshop, the participants used drawing and collage to identify environmental factors that influence health decision-making processes in this context. While the first workshops focused on the environmental determinants of health at a general population level, in this workshop, the second, the focus was specifically on the health of young women.
The first session, led by Prof. Bronwyne Coetzee, focused on understanding adolescent health behaviour. Participants worked in small groups, using collage, drawing, and writing to respond to the prompt, “Who are the young women in our communities?”
In the second session, Prof. Lynn Hendricks encouraged participants to use the same creative materials to envision an ideal environment for young women. After internal discussions, each group shared their results before unpacking the realities of young women's environments. In the final session, we asked the groups to reflect on their visual artifacts and consider what actions are needed to transition fromthe'real’ to ‘ideal’ environments.
Key Takeaways:
1. Young women live in complex environments and shame, secrecy, and power dynamics are barriers to seek healthcare.
Participants noted that young women often feel restricted in navigating spaces for help—at home, in schools, healthcare facilities, or the broader community. Ideally, they would know of care options tailored to their needs. Shame, secrecy, and power dynamics in society and healthcare prevent women from addressing their health needs. Additionally, attendees expressed a sense of powerlessness in ensuring young women’s safety, feeling that external factors like community violence and gangsterism create seemingly insurmountable obstacles.
2. Young women want to know about their rights and available health services.
Social and linguistic tools can help young women to identify and describe their health need and to express what external support they require. While a formal education is essential, collaboration with relevant non-profits could general advance local knowledge, challenge harmful cultural norms and practices and enable interventions designed for caregivers.
3. We need to have open and uncomfortable conversations about young women’s health.
It is important to name and shame the societal barriers that impede young women’s health and their access to the healthcare services they need. Constructive dialogue with youth can happen in the home, at school and also in more fun and relaxed settings.
4. Easy and friendly access to healthcare is key.
We need more pop up clinics at schools and other easy-to-reach locations. As one participant noted, “Feeling welcome and feeling like you belong is so important”.
5. We need to support young women in their needs and their wants in the way that they want it and need it. Educating caregivers to have more open and supportive conversations with girls and young women about their needs and wants is important.
Several attendees shared their reflections on the workshop and how it has enhanced their understanding of young women’s health. “At first, I was nervous, but I really, really enjoyed it.” Commented a, pre-doctoral student, Stellenbosch 肆客足球. “I felt heard, I felt comfortable, I felt liberated. I felt free to voice out my opinion without the fear of being judged or looked at as though I am weird or feeling like I am just a moment away from being dismissed.”
“Today’s takeaway is that we really need to work with adolescents.” Added Priscilla Anthony, health promoter at Bishop Davis Day Hospital. “I realise that I can actually do more. I can speak in the waiting areas and address parents so they can go home and talk to their children. I hope it is going to work, but I realise that if we reach ten people, ten parents, then it is a step in the right direction.”
Mandisa Mashaba research intern in the Inspire Collab Research Centre further added. “My key takeaway from today’s session is the importance of education and making sure that you make the resources that are available for women, accessible and inclusive.”
The outcomes of this workshop will help us identify actionable points for further research and engagement on health-enabling environments for young women.
The event was organised by the Social and Environmental Determinants of Health (SEDOH) Public Square, which prioritises using transdisciplinary approaches to develop holistic understandings of health and develop future focused solutions.
Why the Focus on Young Women’s health?
Globally, medical research has often excluded young women, and this has created gaps in our knowledge of specific health issues, including young women’s reproductive health and their experiences of gender-based violence. In South Africa, young women face significant health challenges, including higher risks of HIV, which is influenced by socio-economic and cultural factors, such as poverty, violence, and high rates of gender-based violence. By fostering collaboration and dialogue among experts with diverse perspectives the Social and Environmental Determinants of Health (SEDOH) public square aims to foster transdisciplinary understandings as well as innovative and holistic solutions to enhance young women's health outcomes in South Africa.
More about the Public Squares Initiative of Stellenbosch 肆客足球:
The workshop was hosted by the Public Squares, an initiative managed by SU’s Division for Research Development (DRD) that aims to catalyse collaborative research, foster creative ideas, and support competitive grant proposals. ???
