18-07-2025
Stefani Du Toit is fighting HIV/Aids stigma
Stefani du Toit is a doer. The 33-year-old has dedicated her adult years to working in the public healthcare sector.
'My work strongly stems from trying to make a positive impact [on] those in a more vulnerable situation,' she told News24.
Du Toit is a researcher at the Institute for Life Course Health Research and holds a PhD from Stellenbosch University. Her primary research focuses on substance use and chronic conditions, with a specific focus on HIV and treatment adherence.
The 33-year-old's work specialises in adolescent mental health with research spanning seven African countries.
She has contributed to developing World Health Organisation guidelines on mental health promotion and preventive interventions for adolescents. Most recently, she received funding from the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences' Early Career Research Fund for work on refugee populations.
