Researchers: Jagidesa Moodley, Yogan Pillay, Olive P. Khaliq November 2025 What Is The Study About? South Africa, like many low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), is now facing a double burden of disease, rising rates of non-communicable diseases alongside ongoing infectious disease challenges. Increasing numbers of women of reproductive age are entering pregnancy with obesity, diabetes, hypertension and HIV – conditions that significantly raise the risk of maternal and

Researchers: Discovery Health's Josie Grubb (Actuarial Analyst), Anesu Williams (Actuary), Dr Noluthando Nematswerani (Chief Clinical Officer), Amalia Theologides (Content Lead), Shirley Collie (Chief Health Research Actuary), Lara Wayburne (Chief Health Intelligence Actuary) April 2025 What Is The Study About? This study highlights the success of the infertility treatment funded by the Assisted Reproductive Therapy Benefit introduced by Discovery Health Medical Scheme (D

Researchers: P Barron, N Lince-Deroche, L Bamford, H Subedar, T Mbatha and Y Pillay. March 2026 What Is The Study About? In South Africa (SA), adolescent pregnancy, particularly in very young girls, is an issue of keen public and political concern given its social and health implications. This study provides a quantitative baseline that SA can use for targeting its efforts to address adolescent pregnancy and for measuring progress over time. Why Is This Important? Bar

Key Breastfeeding Metrics Exclusive Breastfeeding (EBF) Rates According to data released by the National Department of Health and the National Food and Nutrition Security Survey, SA’s exclusive breastfeeding rate for infants under 6 months old has experienced a troubling downward trend: • (2024–2026): 22% of infants under six months are exclusively breastfed. • This is a notable decline from the 32% reported in the 2016 South African Demographic and Health Survey (SADHS).

Paediatricians are vital because they specialise in the unique physical, emotional, and social needs of developing bodies (children). In SA, there are 279 registered paediatrician locations as of April 2026, marking a 3.7% increase since 2023. Why Are Paediatricians Important Unlike general practitioners, paediatricians are trained specifically to manage children from birth through young adulthood (typically up to age 16 or 18). Their importance lies in several key areas: - T

Your fertility is affected by everything from age, your partner’s age and sperm health, daily diet, BMI, stress and even pollution. Lifestyle factors like smoking, drinking and drugs might seem like obvious things to avoid, but did you know that excessive exercise, is also not a good idea when trying to fall pregnant? Let’s separate the facts from the fallacies. Key Fertility Statistics for South African Women: - Total Fertility Rate (TFR): 2.21 in 2025, falling from 2.78 in