Maternal and Child Health

This research project focuses on the nexus between migration and urban health in the context of urban inequality, health inequity, xenophobia and anti-foreigner sentiments in South Africa and Johannesburg in particular.

The central focus is on how the inner-city urban space influences maternal healthcare experiences of migrant Zimbabwean and South African women during pregnancy and child birth in Johannesburg. Women who are relying on the public healthcare system because they are without medical aid, are unemployed or employed informally. The project will employ interviews and diary techniques to understand women’s experiences.

Women have special health needs which are primarily related to their reproductive health. Thus basically this project views these women as on the urban margins, healthcare margins and socially marginalized because of their migrant and reproductive status.

About Tackson Makandwa

Tackson Makandwa is a postdoctoral researcher at the African Centre for Migration & Society (ACMS). He has worked as an assistant lecturer in the Department of Psychology at the Great Zimbabwe University, and as a processing officer in the Ministry of Home Affairs before joining the ACMS.

Since 2014 Tackson has worked on various projects that seek to improve healthy responses to migration in Southern Africa. His interests are in migration, urban health, social justice and maternal health issues in Southern Africa. He has worked and researched on maternal healthcare experiences of Zimbabwean women in Johannesburg (South Africa).

Under maHp work and for his PhD, Tackson focuses on migration and urban health in Johannesburg, using a maternal health lens – bringing those on the urban and healthcare margins on the spotlight.

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