Context and intricacies in the evolution of master of public health programmes in post-apartheid South Africa
- 1Discipline of Public Health Medicine, College of Health Sciences, Howard College Campus, University of KwaZulu-Natal
- 2Division of Public Health Medicine, School of Public Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town
- 3South African Research Chairs Initiative (SARChI), School of Public Health, University of Witwatersrand
Abstract
Introduction: Globally, Master of Public Health (MPH) programmes provide essential skills in epidemiology, health policy, and management and prepare graduates to tackle complex health challenges across the lifespan, and to strengthen health systems. This study is a critical analysis of the evolution of MPH programmes in post-apartheid South Africa and the complex interplay between historical legacies, health system transformation, and shifting national and global public health priorities.
Methods: An exploratory, descriptive qualitative study combined in-depth interviews with key informants and a review of relevant documents on the evolution of MPH programmes. The interviews explored stakeholder perspectives on the evolution, development and transformation of MPH programmes, while the document review examined the historical development and evolution of MPH and postgraduate public health training in South Africa. Data were analysed thematically.
Results: MPH programmes emerged in the context of profound socio-political change following South Africa’s democratic transition in 1994. These programmes were developed to address health workforce gaps, redress apartheid-era inequities, and cultivate a multidisciplinary cadre of health worker equipped to respond to the country’s growing burden of disease and determinants of health. However, MPH programmes have been shaped by the tension between global public health standards and local contextual realities, variation in institutional capacity in different universities, and the need to balance academic rigour with practical relevance for a diverse health workforce. Notwithstanding several innovations, insufficient government investment and the lack of career pathways for MPH graduates remain unresolved issues.
Conclusion: MPH programmes in South Africa were shaped by contextual drivers and institutional dynamics, with ongoing developments linked to national efforts to address inequities inherited from apartheid and to build a multidisciplinary workforce capable of implementing population-based health strategies. Future research should compare public health curricula across South African institutions.
Related
- International School-Based HPV Vaccination Programmes: A Comparative Analysis and Recommendations for Adaptation to the French Context.
- Arrest-associated transcriptional programmes outweigh apoptosis-associated programmes in treatment-naive pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma
- Beyond helplines and programmes: What the union budget 2026 means for mental healthcare in India
- Physical activity programmes for promoting bone mineralisation and growth in preterm infants
- The Views of Clients and Healthcare Professionals on the Perceived Effectiveness of HIV Prevention Programmes in Selected O. R. Tambo District Municipality Clinics
BibTeX
@article{dlungwane2026context,
title = {{Context and intricacies in the evolution of master of public health programmes in post-apartheid South Africa}},
author = {Thembelihle Dlungwane and Virginia Zweigenthal and Laetitia Rispel},
journal = {Frontiers in Public Health},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.3389/fpubh.2026.1882277},
url = {https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2026.1882277/full},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Context and intricacies in the evolution of master of public health programmes in post-apartheid South Africa
AU - Thembelihle Dlungwane
AU - Virginia Zweigenthal
AU - Laetitia Rispel
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/14
JO - Frontiers in Public Health
DO - 10.3389/fpubh.2026.1882277
UR - https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2026.1882277/full
AB - Introduction: Globally, Master of Public Health (MPH) programmes provide essential skills in epidemiology, health policy, and management and prepare graduates to tackle complex health challenges across the lifespan, and to strengthen health systems. This study is a critical analysis of the evolution of MPH programmes in post-apartheid South Africa and the complex interplay between historical legacies, health system transformation, and shifting national and global public health priorities. Methods: An exploratory, descriptive qualitative study combined in-depth interviews with key informants and a review of relevant documents on the evolution of MPH programmes. The interviews explored stakeholder perspectives on the evolution, development and transformation of MPH programmes, while the document review examined the historical development and evolution of MPH and postgraduate public health training in South Africa. Data were analysed thematically. Results: MPH programmes emerged in the context of profound socio-political change following South Africa’s democratic transition in 1994. These programmes were developed to address health workforce gaps, redress apartheid-era inequities, and cultivate a multidisciplinary cadre of health worker equipped to respond to the country’s growing burden of disease and determinants of health. However, MPH programmes have been shaped by the tension between global public health standards and local contextual realities, variation in institutional capacity in different universities, and the need to balance academic rigour with practical relevance for a diverse health workforce. Notwithstanding several innovations, insufficient government investment and the lack of career pathways for MPH graduates remain unresolved issues. Conclusion: MPH programmes in South Africa were shaped by contextual drivers and institutional dynamics, with ongoing developments linked to national efforts to address inequities inherited from apartheid and to build a multidisciplinary workforce capable of implementing population-based health strategies. Future research should compare public health curricula across South African institutions.
SN - 2296-2565
ER -