The provision of psychological services is vital considering the complex nature of psychosocial issues facing people today. Nevertheless, the provision and utilization of psychological services has not been given due recognition in most African countries, including Botswana. Botswana is one of the countries faced by the challenges of the HIV/AIDS pandemic and other mental health problems, as well as poverty and unemployment. To date statistics on the magnitude of the HIV/AIDS epidemic in Botswana, published annually by the National AIDS Coordinating Agency (NACA) reflect an increased rate of mental illness and psychosocial problems. Considering the complex nature of issues that impact negatively on people in Botswana, there is a need for awareness and the provision of psychological services in the primary health care system. There is little research on the place of psychology and psychological services in Botswana. The availability of such information is crucial for the planning of effective community-based psychological services. The present study employed a quantitative research method to explore and describe awareness and attitudes towards psychological services and referral practices in relation to psychological problems, of health care providers in Botswana. The participants in the study were chosen, based on a non-probability, purposive sampling method. The sample consisted of ninety-six persons and constituted medical doctors, nurses, psychiatrists, psychiatric nurses and clinical social workers from governmental and non-governmental institutions from Gaborone and Francistown in Botswana. Data were analyzed by means of descriptive statistics in order to identify the mean, ranges and standard deviations. Frequency counts and percentages of the participants’ responses were computed. The results of the study revealed an awareness of available psychological services, positive attitudes towards psychology and psychological services and a reasonable percentage of referrals to psychological services. The results also revealed that available psychological services were limited and not easily accessible to patients. There was also an indication of a shortage of trained professionals to offer psychological services in health care centres, which resulted in psychological problems being referred to social workers.

While the mental health impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on the general U.S. public health workforce have been well described, the effects of the COVID-19 response on Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) working in public health have not been adequately characterized. BIPOC public health professionals may have suffered, potentially, greater stress and more negative health impacts during the pandemic due to being part of communities experiencing severe COVID-19 health inequities and the potential for racism-related stress in the workplace. This study utilized a cross-sectional design to investigate the associations between risk factors/predictors and higher levels of burnout among BIPOC public health professionals working during the COVID-19 pandemic. Survey data was collected using the Qualtrics survey platform and SPSS was used for data analysis. Survey items measured multiple domains including professional experience (i.e., years of experience, job functions, hours worked, volunteer work), mental and physical health status (i.e., co-morbidities, BMI, COVID-19 diagnosis, insomnia, anxiety, depression, trauma, burnout), professional and personal stress (before and during the pandemic), and racism-related stress (i.e., discrimination, harassment, heightened vigilance, cultural taxation). Of the total respondents (n = 486), 80% experienced insomnia, 68.5% experienced depression, 81.7% experienced anxiety and 61.3% experienced trauma. BIPOC public health professionals suffered a moderately high overall level of burnout (mean = 2.578, SD = 0.486, min = 1, max = 3.9) and a high level of exhaustion (mean = 2.744, SD = 0.532, min = 1, max = 4). Paired t-tests found respondents’ physical and mental health status were each significantly worse during the pandemic (p < .000). Respondents also had significantly worse professional and personal stress during the pandemic (p < .000). Backward stepwise regression found higher burnout significantly predicted by: not having sought counseling; lower rating of mental health during COVID-19; higher past year mental distress (i.e., depression, anxiety, insomnia and trauma); higher past month perceived stress; and higher vigilance. These findings emerge as important in informing the public health field regarding the current and future needs of BIPOC public health professionals during the pandemic and beyond.

Aim: The 1996 Choice on Termination of Pregnancy Act decriminalized abortion in South Africa and the South African Medicines Control Council in 2000 approved the dispensing of emergency contraceptive methods by pharmacists to women without a doctor's prescription. This legislation has been hailed as among the most progressive in the world with respect to women's reproductive justice. However the realisation of these rights in practice has not always met expectations in part due to medical practitioners' ethical objections to termination of pregnancy and the provision of related services. The aim of this study was to interpret the varying ways in which medical practitioners frame termination of pregnancy and emergency contraceptive services, their own professional identities and that of their patients/clients. Methods: Sample of 58 doctors and 59 pharmacists drawn from all nine provinces of South Africa. Data collected using an anonymous confidential internet-based self-administered questionnaire. Participants were randomly recruited from online listings of South African doctors and pharmacists practicing in both private and public sectors. Data were analysed using theoretically derived qualitative content analysis. Results: Participants drew on eight frames to justify their willingness or unwillingness to provide termination-of-pregnancy related services: the foetal life frame, the women's rights frame, the balancing frame, the social justice frame, the do no harm frame, the legal and professional obligation frame, the consequences frame and the moral absolutist frame. Conclusion: Health professionals' willingness or unwillingness to provide termination of pregnancy related services is highly dependent on how they frame or understand termination of pregnancy, and how they understand their own professional identities and those of their patients/clients.