Institute for Social and Health Sciences (ISHS)

Professor Ashley van Niekerk

College of Human Sciences
Institute for Social and Health Sciences (ISHS)
Professor
Tel: 021 938 0399
E-mail: vnieka4@unisa.ac.za

Qualifications

  • PhD Social Medicine (Karolinska Institutet)
  • MA Clinical Psychology (University of the Western Cape)

Fields of academic interests

  • The interplay of human, energy impoverishment and spatial-environmental determinants of injury, especially burns
  • Spatial-environmental enablers of human safety agency
  • Optimal human, material and system conditions for safety promotive policy in South Africa

Books

  • Van Niekerk, A, Taliep, N, Ismail, G, Louw, S, & Bulbulia, S. (Forthcoming). Violence and crime. In M.  Visser, R. Carollisen, J. Akhurst & N. Matamela (Eds). Community psychology – South African praxis (pp. 323-341). Cape Town: Van Schaik.
  • Shefer, T., Duncan, N. & van Niekerk, A. (2021). Adolescence, Adulthood and Ageing. In L. Swartz, C. de la Rey & N. Duncan (Eds), Psychology: An Introduction, 7th Edition (pp. 91-125). Cape Town: Oxford University Press.
  • Van Niekerk, A., & Mathews, S. (2019). Child Violence, Injury and Safety: A challenge for child health. In M. Shung-King, L. Lake, D. Sanders & M. Hendricks (Eds). South African Child Gauge 2019 (pp. 114-130). Cape Town: University of Cape Town.

Journal articles

  • Van Niekerk, A., Kimemia, D., Seedat, M., & Annegarn, H. (2022). Energy impoverishment and burns: The case for an expedited, safe and inclusive energy transition in South Africa. South African Journal of Science, 118(3/4), https://doi.org/10.17159/sajs.2022/13148
  • Van Niekerk, A. (2022). Burn-related injuries. In Oxford Research Encyclopedia of Global Public Health, https://doi.org/10.1093/acrefore/9780190632366.013.305
  • Sukhai, A., Govender, R., & Van Niekerk, A. (2021) Fatality risk and issues of inequity among vulnerable road users in South Africa. PLoS ONE, 16(12), https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0261182.
  • Govender, R., Sukhai, A., Roux, D., & Van Niekerk, A. (2021). Alcohol use and associated risk factors associated with driver mortality. South African Medical Journal, 111(10),968-973.
  • Ismail, G., & Van Niekerk, A. (2021). Validation of an assessment tool to measure psycho-social factors associated with willingness to participate in child-centred initiatives. SAGE Open, https://doi.org/10.1177/21582440211043928
  • Seedat, M., van Niekerk, A., & Suffla, S. (2021). Mobilizing science, community and policy for violence prevention. Social and Health Sciences, 19(1), 80-102.
  • Kimemia, D., Van Niekerk, A., & Seedat, M. (2021). Paraffin dangers, health and socioeconomic consequences: Urgent need for policy action. South African Medical Journal, 111(1),17-19.
  • Bulbulia, S., Van Niekerk, A., Swart, L., & Seedat, M. (2020). Neighbourhood characteristics associated with child pedestrian fatalities in Johannesburg, South Africa. International Journal of Injury Control and Safety Promotion, 27(4), 537-545.
  • Ismail, G., & Van Niekerk, A. (2020). Enablers and inhibitors associated with the willingness to participate in child safety initiatives. Community Psychology in Global Perspective, 6 (2/1), 1-19.
  • Govender, R., Kimemia, D., Hornsby, N., & Van Niekerk, A. (2020). Differentiation of paediatric burn injury by household energy source in South Africa. Journal of Energy in Southern Africa, 31(2),48-58.
  • Van Niekerk, A., Jacobs, R., Hornsby, N., Adriaanse-Singh, R., Sengoelge, M., & Laflamme, L. (2020). Enablers of psychosocial recovery in pediatric burns: perspectives from the children, parents and burn recovery support staff. BMC Pediatrics, 20:289, https://doi.org/10.1186/s12887-020-02180-z
  • Simons, A., Saunders, C., Govender, R., Adriaanse-Singh, R., & Van Niekerk, A. (2020). Child and Adolescent drowning fatalities in the Western Cape, South Africa: risk differences across age and gender. Child: Health, Development and Care, 46(5), 607-616.
  • Govender, R., Hornsby, N., Kimemia, D., & Van Niekerk, A. (2020). The role of concomitant alcohol and drug use in increased risk for burn mortality outcomes. Burns, 46, 58-64.
  • Kimemia, D., Van Niekerk, A., Annegarn, H. & Seedat, M. (2020). Passive cooling for thermal comfort in informal housing. Journal of Energy in Southern Africa, 31(1), 28-39.
  • Janmohammed, A., Van Niekerk, A., Samuels, R., Naidoo, M., & Van As, A.B. (2019). Engaging minibus taxi drivers in the quest for child safer roads. Global Health Innovation, 2(1), DOI 10.15641/ghi.v2i1.728.
  • Saunders, C., Singh, R., Simons, A., & Van Niekerk, A. (2019).  Fatal drowning in the Western Cape, South Africa: a seven-year retrospective, epidemiological study. Injury Prevention, 25, 529-534.
  • Kimemia, D., Van Niekerk, A., Govender, R., & Seedat, M. (2018). Burns and fires in South Africa’s informal settlements: Have approved kerosene stoves improved safety. Burns, 44(4), 969-979.
  • Dekel, B., & Van Niekerk, A. (2018). Young women’s stories of their (re)negotiation of appearance, identity and psychological adjustment, and social reintegration following burn injury. Burns, 44(4), 841-849.
  • Simons, A., Koekemoer, K., Van Niekerk, A., & Govender, R. (2018). Parental supervision and discomfort with children walking to school in low-income communities. Traffic Injury Prevention, 19(4), 391-398.
  • Titi, N., Van Niekerk, A., & Ahmed, R. (2018). Child understandings of the causation of childhood burn injuries: Child activity, parental domestic demands, and impoverished settings. Child: Health, Development and Care, 44(3), 494-500.
  • Bangdiwala, S., Hassem, T., Isobell, D., Swart, L., Van Niekerk, A., Taliep, N., Bulbulia, S., Suffla, S., & Seedat, S. (2017). Evaluating the effectiveness of complex, multicomponent, dynamic, community-based interventions: A statistical framework. Evaluation & the Health Professions, DOI: 10.1177/0163278717709562
  • Van Niekerk, A., Govender, R., Jacobs, R., & Van As, A.B. (2017). Schoolbus driver performance can be improved with driver training, safety incentivisation, and vehicle roadworthy modifications. South African Medical Journal, 107(3), 188-191.
  • Kimemia D.K., & Van Niekerk, A. (2017). Energy poverty, shack fires and childhood burns. South African Medical Journal, 107(4), 289-291.
  • Kimemia, D.K., & Van Niekerk, A. (2017). Cookstove options for safety and health: comparative analysis of technological and usability attributes. Energy Policy, 105, 451-457.
  • Van Niekerk, A., Govender, R., Hornsby, N., & Swart, L. (2017). Household and caregiver characteristics and behaviours as predictors of unsafe exposure of children to paraffin appliances. Burns, 43, 866-876.
  • Koekemoer, K., Van Gesselleen, M., Van Niekerk, A., Govender, R. & Van As, A.B. (2017). Child pedestrian safety knowledge, behaviour and road injury in Cape Town, South Africa. Accident Analysis & Prevention, 99, 202-209.

Professional positions, fellowships & awards

  • Van Niekerk, A. (2021-current). Member of the Academy of Sciences in South Africa.
  • Van Niekerk, A. (2021-current). Interim Director of the SAMRC/UNISA Masculinity and Health Research Unit.
  • Van Niekerk, A. (2018-current). Associate Editor: Injury Prevention.
  • Van Niekerk, A. (2013-2021). Editor-in-Chief: African Safety Promotion: A Journal of Injury and Violence Prevention/Social and Health Sciences.
  • Unisa IDEAS and ISHS Partners, including Van Niekerk, A. (2021). NRF Science Team Award for “Factors that impact on the efficiency of biogas technology and effectiveness of uptake”.
  • Van Niekerk, A. (2010-2020). Professor Extraordinarius at Unisa Institute for Social and Health Sciences
  • Van Niekerk, A. (2017). South African Medical Research Council Silver Award for Research Excellence.
  • Van Niekerk, A. (2013-2017). National Health Research Committee, National Department of Health.
  • Seedat, M., Van Niekerk, A. & ISHS Staff (2016). Psychological Society of South Africa Award for Community Service.
  • Van Niekerk, A. (2013-2016). Adjunct Professor (Research) at Monash Injury Research Institute.