Abstract
Background: Fragmented service provision and a lack of efficient cooperation between
health and welfare sectors serving children and families remain ongoing challenges in
South Africa. The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic escalated this
fragmentation. A community of practice (CoP) was established by the Centre for Social
Development in Africa to promote collaboration between the sectors and to assist
communities in their environments.
Aim: To explore and describe collaboration on child health promotion between professional
nurses and social workers, who formed part of the CoP during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Setting: The study was conducted in five public schools from four of the seven district regions
of the City of Johannesburg, Gauteng province.
Methods: A qualitative, exploratory, descriptive research design was employed to conduct
psychosocial and health screenings of children and their families. Focus group interviews
were conducted, and field notes were used to collect and confirm data from the team.
Results: Four themes emerged. Participants shared their positive and negative experiences
faced during the fieldwork, their realisation of the value of collaboration between various
sectors and their desire and capacity to do more.
Conclusion: Participants indicated that collaboration between the health and welfare sectors
is vital to support and promote the health of children and their families. The COVID-19
pandemic highlighted the need for collaboration between these sectors in the children and
their families’ ongoing struggles.
Contribution: The importance of these sectors being engaged as a team highlighted the
multisectoral influence shaping child development outcomes, supporting children’s human
rights and advancing social and economic justice.