Research
Study finds black men underrepresented in public healthcare facilities
A critical observation that instigated the research study of Mampete Mookeng, whose thesis has been recently accepted, found that despite the availability of free public primary health care services, often located within walking distance in many townships of South Africa, Black men seldom utilise these services.
"I was particularly concerned about the underrepresentation of men in these facilities, which are typically dominated by women and children," mentioned Mookeng.
Mampete Mookeng
With that insight, Mookeng’s goal was also to identify possible interventions or strategies that could encourage greater health service uptake among Black men and, ultimately, reduce premature deaths from preventable diseases.
Her doctoral research investigated the determinants of Black men’s health-seeking behaviours in public primary health care settings and facilities of Ga-Rankuwa Township, Tshwane.
Addressing the gap in health care access
In pursuing social impact by addressing the gap in health care access and utilisation among Black men in township communities, Mookeng states that by uncovering the reasons why many of them avoid or delay seeking medical help at public primary healthcare facilities – despite the services being free and easily accessible – she hopes to contribute to developing strategies that make these services more responsive, inclusive and appealing to men.
The goal, she says, is to inform health policy, influence health promotion campaigns and guide community-based interventions that reduce preventable illnesses and premature deaths among Black men.
"My research," she states, "brings to light the sociological factors that discourage men from engaging with the health care system and by addressing these, we can work towards building a more equitable and effective public health system that serves all members of society equally."
Unisa shaping the research future of postgraduate students
Mookeng’s passion for her research study earned her the Best Oral Presentation award in the doctoral category within the social sciences discipline at the 2024 annual Unisa Research & Innovation Postgraduate Student Showcase.
The showcase, an interdisciplinary platform for Unisa’s postgraduate students, provides them with an opportunity to present their research findings, share novel ideas and interact with a network of peers, industry leaders, community members and established academics.
"My winning oral presentation was about the impact of structural barriers on Black men’s health-seeking behaviours in public primary health care settings of Ga-Rankuwa. I show that despite the availability of free and accessible public health care services, many Black men delay or avoid seeking medical help," says Mookeng.
The presentation focused on the role of systemic issues, such as long waiting times, poor quality of care, overcrowding and the gender dynamics of health care providers, which discourage men from using these facilities. She also shared insights into how these barriers contribute to preventable illnesses and early deaths among Black men and proposed potential strategies to make public health care more inclusive and responsive to Black men’s needs.
"Participating in the showcase was an incredible and rewarding experience for me. It gave me the opportunity to network, build confidence and share my research on a public platform," said Mookeng. Furthermore, she stated that standing in front of an audience and seeing how engaged people were with her presentation helped her realise the impact and relevance of her study.
Upward trend in research and professional space
Mookeng is a qualified medical technologist with a specialisation in cyto-technology and has worked as a cytology screener in both the public and private health care sectors. She holds a National Diploma in Medical Technology, a BTech in Biomedical Technology and an MA in Public Health.
Professionally, she has played a key role in introducing liquid-based cytology to South Africa. "I served as a clinical (cytology) application specialist for ThinPrep and SurePath - the only FDA-approved liquid-based cytology technologies used in the country at the time between June 2006 and September 2010," she stated.
Her master’s research focused on Factors influencing cervical cancer screening programme implementation within private health care sectors in Soshanguve. She co-authored a journal article with her supervisor and co-supervisor from her master’s dissertation titled Barriers to cervical cancer screening within private medical practices in Soshanguve.
In 2024, Mookeng presented part of her PhD work at the Unisa’s Three-Minute Thesis (3MT) competition and won first position. She subsequently represented Unisa at the 2024 National 3MT competition that took place at the University of the Free State.
Mookeng successfully completed her PhD in 2024 and is keen to graduate as the first doctor in her family.
*By Mpho Moloele, PR and Communications, Department of Research, Innovation and Commercialisation
Publish date: 2025-06-20 00:00:00.0
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