​​​An Economic Management and Sciences Faculty member's knack for using photo novels (fotonovelas) to address key health issues has been recognised by the Western Cape Department of Health who commissioned him to develop a storybook to create awareness about diabetes.

Fotonovelas portray a dramatic story using posed photographs and text bubbles or captions and are usually set in everyday life.

Dr Burt Davis, a senior lecturer at the Africa Centre for HIV/Aids Management, previously developed the photo novel “Spyt kom te laat" (“Better safe than sorry") as a tool to address the tik problem in the Western Cape.

He said a research talk that he presented at Stellenbosch University's 9th Annual Rural Health Research Day in Worcester about his tik photo novel led to him meeting Dr Lizette Phillips, director: Western Cape Government Health in the Cape Winelands District, who was instrumental in getting the Department to commission him for a similar project about diabetes.

Diabetes is the second most common cause of death in the country, according to a Statistics South Africa report on mortality and causes of death. The costs associated with diabetes are also alarming. These include hospital and medication costs and disability grants, as well as indirect costs, such as work absenteeism, time spent caring for sick relatives and reduced productivity.

The aim of the diabetes photo novel is to provide a narrative to help those patients with diabetes accept their diagnoses and also to dispel the myths associated with the disease.

Davis said the Department wants the booklet to target younger Coloured females in their early 40s because this is the category of people they have identified in the Winelands area who have problems coming to terms with their diagnosis.

“The reason why the Department also wants to focus on younger people is that they want to dispel the myth that diabetes just affects old people. Research from the International Diabetes Federation shows that 60 to 80% of diabetes-related deaths in South Africa occur in people younger than 60 years – the most economically active age group of the population," said Davis.

He is now conducting empirical research for the project which will be officially launched at the end of January 2020.

The photo book will be used by Department staff in the course of providing counselling in clinics and hospitals in the Winelands district. The booklet will be made available in Afrikaans, English and isiXhosa.

Davis says although the use of photo novels to address health issues is new in South Africa, it has the potential to positively influence awareness and prevention campaigns in schools and health clinics.

• Besides the Western Cape Department of Health, which will also assist with printing and translating costs, the SU's Division of Social Impact made it possible for Davis to attract the interest of the Department by providing him with an initial grant to develop and publish his tik photo novel.
• Photo: Dr Burt Davis