Full Project Name: Umlazi Surveillance Initiative to Nurture Grassroots Action
Project Acronym (if applicable): USINGA
Project Duration (Start – End Date): Established in 2022 – Ongoing
Project Status (Ongoing / Completed / Upcoming): Ongoing
Project Overview
The Umlazi Surveillance Initiative to Nurture Grassroots Action (USINGA) is a longitudinal, population-based research platform established in Umlazi, KwaZulu-Natal. It is designed to monitor and understand the health, socio-economic conditions, and population dynamics of a low-income urban community facing significant challenges such as poverty, unemployment, and a high burden of disease, particularly HIV and tuberculosis. The project operates within a defined demographic surveillance area covering Wards 79, 82, and 88 with approximately 66,907 individuals under observation. Its overall aim is to generate high-quality, locally relevant data that can inform public health policy, improve service delivery, and support interventions that enhance community well-being.
The study uses a longitudinal design, meaning that data are collected from the same households and individuals over time. It consists of several integrated components. The household component involves annual face-to-face interviews and additional telephonic follow-ups to collect information on household composition, socio-economic conditions, and demographic events. The individual component targets residents aged 15 years and older, gathering detailed information on health status, healthcare utilisation, and sexual and reproductive health, alongside biological measurements such as blood samples for HIV testing and physical assessments like blood pressure and body measurements.
In addition, the study includes a verbal autopsy component, where interviews are conducted with caregivers or relatives after a death to determine the probable cause of death. USINGA also strengthens its data by linking with routine service delivery records from government departments such as health, education, and social development. This integration allows for a more comprehensive understanding of how individuals interact with public services and how these services impact health and socio-economic outcomes.
Overall, USINGA is an important research initiative that addresses gaps in data from urban township settings. By providing detailed, longitudinal insights into health and socio-economic conditions, it plays a critical role in informing policy decisions, improving service delivery, and supporting interventions aimed at enhancing the quality of life in Umlazi.
Background and Rationale
South Africa continues to face significant challenges related to health inequities, poor service delivery, and socio-economic disparities, particularly in densely populated urban townships. Umlazi, one of the largest townships in the country, represents a unique context where health outcomes are shaped by a complex interplay of social, environmental, and economic determinants. Despite its size and significance, Umlazi remains underrepresented in national population health data systems.
The Umlazi Surveillance Initiative to Nurture Grassroots Action (USINGA) was established to address this gap by generating robust, longitudinal data on health, socio-economic conditions, and population dynamics in the Umlazi community. As part of the South African Population Research Infrastructure Network (SAPRIN), USINGA contributes to a national effort to provide timely, high-quality data that can inform public health policy, social programming, and resource allocation.
Objectives
- Identify the structural, behavioural, and biological drivers of the major socio-economic and health burdens facing eThekwini, including poverty, unemployment, psychosocial challenges, communicable and non-communicable diseases.
- Elucidate the intersecting nature of risk factors and the syndemic manifestations of poor health and well-being in eThekwini.
- Provide a platform for interventions to improve population health, as well as economic and social outcomes.
- Establish the effects and impacts of innovative population-based approaches to improve population well-being.
Study Setting and Population
Geographic Area: Umlazi (Wards 88,79 and 82), Durban, KwaZulu-Natal
Target Population: All households and individuals aged 15 and older
Is the project nested within the HDSS cohort? (Yes/No – Explain) Yes
Estimated Sample Size (if applicable): ~37,505 individuals
Partnerships and Collaborators
- Academic: University of KwaZulu-Natal, SAPRIN, SAMRC
- Implementing: USINGA research units
- Government: Department of Health, Social Development, Education, and Home Affairs
- Community: CAB, CPF, local stakeholders
Community Engagement
Community involvement is a central pillar of the USINGA project, ensuring that the research is ethical, participatory, and responsive to local needs rather than being conducted on the community.
Firstly, the project works closely with a Community Advisory Board (CAB) made up of local representatives. The CAB serves as a bridge between researchers and the community, providing input on study design, advising on culturally appropriate approaches, and helping to address concerns from residents. This structure ensures that the community has a voice in how the research is conducted and that it aligns with local priorities.
Secondly, USINGA actively engages the community through regular meetings and stakeholder engagements, including local leadership structures and “war rooms.” These platforms are used to share study updates, discuss findings, and gather feedback. This two-way communication helps build trust, improves transparency, and encourages continued participation in the study.
The project also involves the community through direct participation in data collection activities. Household members take part in surveys, interviews, and health assessments, while trained fieldworkers recruited from our demographic surveillance area conduct these activities. This not only improves data quality through cultural and linguistic familiarity but also creates employment and skills development opportunities within the community.
In addition, USINGA conducts community outreach activities, such as school visits and awareness campaigns, to educate residents about health issues and the importance of research participation. Social media and other communication platforms are also used to keep the community informed and engaged.
Importantly, the project ensures that findings are fed back to the community in accessible ways, through community meetings, booklets, and pamphlets.
Ethical Approval
Name of Ethics Committee: BREC, UKZN
Consent Procedures: Written consent and assent procedures
Confidentiality and Data Protection Measures: De-identified data, secure systems, POPIA compliant
Outputs and Impact
-Publications (if available)
-Reports or Policy Briefs
-Conference Presentations
-Expected Outputs (if ongoing)
-Policy or Community Impact
Data Access (if applicable)
Is data available for external researchers? Yes (upon approval)
Data Access Process: Requests via SAPRIN repository
Link to Data Access Policy: SAPRIN framework
Project Team (Please provide head shots as well)
Principal Investigator -Dr Nompumelelo Nzimande
Co-Investigators- Prof Pranitha Maharaj
Project Manager- Miss Palesa Mataboge
Field Operations Department
Field Coordinator- Miss Nokwanda Ngcobo
Field Supervisors:
Mr Nzukiso Ngqambi
Mr Siyasanga Mbaligontsi
Mr Xolani Mdletshe
Data Management Department
Data Manager: Mr Auguustine Simpondo Khumalo
Data Analyst: Mr Daniel Phooka Moketose
GIS Coordinator: Mr Philane Mazibuko
IT Techncian: Mr Samkelo Mhlongo
Community Engagement Department
Community Engagement Coordinator: Miss Zandile Msimango
Community Engagement Officers:
Mr Vikangani Zulu
Miss Thandeka Ndebele
Research Department
Research Coordinator: Miss Sindisiwe Ngobese
Research Assistants:
Miss Nothando Nzuza
Miss Olwethu Mlangeni
Mr Minenhle Mbanjwa
Administration
Senior Administrator: Miss Nothando Nyaka
Contact Information
Project Email: USINGA@ukzn.ac.za
Social media platforms: Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn
Physical Address: 269 Mazisi Kunene Rd, Glenwood, Durban, 4041
Website link (if applicable): https://usinga.ukzn.ac.za/
Visual Content (Optional for Website Use)
-Maps of Study Area
-Infographics
-Photographs (with consent)
-Project Timeline