Frantz Josè M, Erasmus Pearl, Magidigidi-Mathiso Lumka
Department of Physiotherapy, Faculty of Community and Health Sciences, University of the Western Cape, Bellville 7535, South Africa.
Centre for Interdisciplinary Studies of Children, Families and Society, Faculty of Community and Health Sciences, University of the Western Cape, Bellville 7535, South Africa.
Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2025 Jul 1;22(7):1057. doi: 10.3390/ijerph22071057.
The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted the progress toward Sustainable Development Goal 3, particularly in developing countries, exacerbating existing health disparities and creating new challenges for health systems worldwide. This study explores the role of university research in advancing SDG 3 targets in a post-pandemic context using the University of the Western Cape as a case study. Through qualitative data analysis of research titles and abstracts registered between 2020 and 2022, we applied the WHERETO model of McTighe and Bloom's Taxonomy to categorize research according to the SDG 3 targets and indicators. This approach provides insight into which health priorities were addressed through scholarly research at UWC in alignment with the UN 2030 Agenda, particularly during pandemic recovery. Our findings indicate that research priorities largely corresponded with South Africa's health challenges, with the highest concentration of studies addressing non-communicable diseases and mental health (Target 3.4), infectious diseases (Target 3.3), and medicine development (Target 3.b). These priorities align with the National Health Research Committee's identified health priorities for disadvantaged communities in the Western Cape. Notably, research on mental health and emergency preparedness (Target 3.d) increased significantly during the pandemic period, reflecting shifting priorities in response to COVID-19. This study offers critical insights into how university research shifted priorities adapted during the pandemic and identifies areas requiring focused attention to support post-pandemic recovery. By highlighting research gaps and opportunities, our findings provide a foundation for developing more comprehensive approaches to health research that address the disparities exacerbated by COVID-19 while advancing the 2030 agenda. This model could inform research prioritization at other institutions facing similar challenges in both local and global contexts.
新冠疫情扰乱了实现可持续发展目标3的进程，尤其是在发展中国家，加剧了现有的健康差距，并给全球卫生系统带来了新挑战。本研究以开普敦大学为例，探讨了大学研究在疫情后背景下推进可持续发展目标3各项指标方面的作用。通过对2020年至2022年期间注册的研究标题和摘要进行定性数据分析，我们应用了麦克泰格的WHERETO模型和布鲁姆分类法，根据可持续发展目标3的各项指标对研究进行分类。这种方法有助于深入了解开普敦大学通过学术研究解决了哪些与联合国2030年议程相一致的卫生优先事项，特别是在疫情恢复期间。我们的研究结果表明，研究重点在很大程度上与南非的健康挑战相对应，其中针对非传染性疾病和心理健康（目标3.4）、传染病（目标3.3）以及医学发展（目标3.b）的研究最为集中。这些重点与国家卫生研究委员会为西开普省弱势社区确定的卫生优先事项相一致。值得注意的是，在疫情期间，关于心理健康和应急准备（目标3.d）的研究显著增加，反映出因应对新冠疫情而转变的优先事项。本研究为大学研究在疫情期间如何转变重点以及适应变化提供了重要见解，并确定了需要重点关注以支持疫情后恢复的领域。通过突出研究差距和机遇，我们的研究结果为制定更全面的卫生研究方法奠定了基础，这些方法既能解决新冠疫情加剧的差距问题，又能推进2030年议程。该模型可为在本地和全球背景下面临类似挑战的其他机构的研究优先排序提供参考。
