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Background. Diabetes mellitus is one of the major killers in low- and middle-income countries. Health literacy of diabetes mellitus is crucial for effective management and prevention strategies. However, socioeconomic factors in Mthatha, South Africa, may limit adult awareness, exacerbating the prevalence of the chronic disease. Objectives. To assess the level of knowledge of diabetes mellitus among adults in work settings in Mthatha. Methods. This quantitative cross-sectional study used validated questionnaires to collect data among randomly selected adult workers in Mthatha. The study participants were aged 18 - 60 years, residing and working in Mthatha in the King Sabata Dalindyebo (KSD) subdistrict. Sample size calculations targeted recruiting a minimum of 118 participants. Knowledge adequacy was set at 70%. Helsinki declarations on ethical principles were adhered to throughout the study. Results. A total of 118 adults, predominantly female (60.2%), with a median age of 34 years and 64.8% with post-matriculation education, participated in the study. The study revealed that only 7.6% of the participants had an adequate knowledge of diabetes mellitus, while 64.4% had a poor knowledge. Only 69.5% of the participants associated excessive sugar consumption with the development of diabetes mellitus, while 44.1% believed that medication was a better option for the control of diabetes than a diet, 34.7% understood that poor blood circulation as a complication was associated with the condition, and only 16.1% identified excessive sweating and shaking as signs of increased blood sugar levels. Conclusion. Health literacy regarding diabetes mellitus among adult workers in Mthatha is notably low. Improving health literacy knowledge of public health and behaviour modification is crucial to successfully decrease the incidence and number of deaths associated with diabetes mellitus. Innovative approaches tailored for the control of diabetes mellitus in the workplace are needed to balance behaviour and clinical interventions on the management of the condition.

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Background. Endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) such as pesticides, plasticisers and food-related compounds are ubiquitous environmental pollutants linked to increased breast cancer risk. While substantial evidence exists from Western settings, limited data address these associations in African populations, where exposure patterns and regulatory frameworks differ markedly. Objectives. To synthesise global epidemiological evidence on EDC exposure and breast cancer, with a focus on identifying disparities between African and Western regions. Methods. A systematic review of PubMed (MEDLINE) was conducted by Mahasa et al. from 30 November 2024 to 14 July 2025, following the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) guidelines. The search used keywords including ‘endocrine disruptors’, ‘breast cancer’, ‘climate change’, ‘air pollution’, ‘water pollution’, ‘global warming’ and ‘greenhouse effect’, and included both case-control and cohort studies. Results. The search identified 172 eligible studies. Most were from Western countries and used biomarker-based exposure assessments. Most studies were conducted in Western countries, mainly the USA, Canada and parts of Europe, by authors such as Wolff, Brody, Stellman, Eskenazi and Rusiecki, who used biomarker-based methods to assess exposure to key endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) including dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT), dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene (DDE), bisphenol A (BPA), phthalates and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). These Western studies consistently linked higher levels of DDT/DDE, PCBs and certain phthalates to increased breast cancer risk. In contrast, there were only a few studies from African countries such as South Africa, Nigeria and Egypt, despite higher potential exposure through agriculture and food systems, and these were limited in scale and methodological depth, providing less conclusive evidence. Conclusion. Regional gaps in data limit our understanding of EDC-related breast cancer risk in Africa. Targeted research and region- specific policies are urgently needed.

Background. Community-based assault is a phenomenon carried out worldwide, which contributes to the rise in unnatural deaths due to violence. In South Africa (SA), this is often referred to as mob assault or vigilantism. There is a paucity of literature on the prevalence and epidemiology of this phenomenon in SA. Objectives. To profile fatal mob assault victim cases admitted at the Polokwane Forensic Pathology Services Laboratory, Limpopo Province. For this to be achieved, the study determined the demographic characteristics of the victims, examined the circumstances of the incidents and noted whether or not victims were hospitalised prior to death. Method. A quantitative, descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted using a sample of 141 community assault death victims that were selected using consecutive sampling of such victims admitted to Polokwane Forensic Pathology Services Laboratory over 5 years (2018 - 2022). Results. The study revealed that black adult males residing in townships suffered fatal mob assault. All victims were black men, mostly South African, from the Polokwane subdistrict (75.9%), with a median age of 28 years, and only 33.3% were hospitalised before their death. Within the Polokwane subdistrict, the majority of cases (59.6%) were from the two largest townships (Seshego (31.9%) and Mankweng (27.7%)). A higher proportion of victims (39.7%) had lower levels of education and were mostly unemployed (76.6%). The main causes of death included multiple injuries, head injuries and severe soft-tissue injuries. Conclusion. This study highlighted the complex dynamics of community assault and its impact on public health. The high incidence of multiple injuries and elevated fatality rates prior to hospital admission can be primarily attributed to the violent conduct of communities and mobs. These groups often engage in aggressive confrontations that escalate quickly, leading to severe injuries and fatalities. Addressing community assaults requires a multifaceted approach, including community engagement, conflict resolution programmes and preventive measures aimed at reducing the occurrence of mob assaults.

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