Degrees Held
- Doctor of Philosophy: Media and Cultural Studies, University of KZN (2013)
- Master of Arts: Media and Cultural Studies, University of KwaZulu-Natal (2007)
- Bachelor of Arts (Hons) in Culture and Media Studies, University of Natal (2003)
- Bachelor of Arts in Legal Studies, and Media and Communication, University of Natal (2002)
Research Interests
- Health communication
- Pandemic Risk Communication
- Participatory action research
- Development Communication for Social Change
- Art based methodologies: Body Mapping/ Journey Mapping
Teaching Interests
- Health Communication
- Research Fundamental and Methodologies
Research Record / Selected Publications
Books
Journal Articles
Chapters In Books
Books
- Lewis, M., Govender, E.M., Holland, K. (eds) (2024). Communicating COVID-19: Media, Trust and Public Engagement by Palgrave MacMillian. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-41237-0
- Lewis, M., Govender, E.M., Holland, K. (eds) (2021). Communicating COVID-19: Interdisciplinary perspectives by Palgrave MacMillian. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-79735-5
- Durden, E. and Govender E. (eds). 2012. Investigating Communication, Health and Development: 10 Years of Research in The Centre for Communication, Media and Society (CCMS). Johannesburg: Jacana Media. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/324910493_Investigating_Communication_Health_and_Development_10_Years_of_Research_in_The_Centre_for_Communication_Media_and_Society_CCMS_Johannesburg_Jacana_Media
- E.M. 2010. Students’ perceptions of HIV/AIDS prevention strategies in South Africa. Dialogue as a process toward students’ participation in HIV/AIDS message design. Saarbrucken, Germany: Lambert Academic Publishing.
Journal Articles
- Mahlase, G., Mohan, J., Abdool Karim, Q., Govender, E. (2026 forthcoming). Preparedness of Primary Health Care Clinic (PHCC) Providers for the provision of oral Pre -Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) to Adolescent Girls and Young Women (AGYW): Experiences from KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Aids and Behavior.
- Durden, E., Govender, E., Dlokweni, A., Ngubane, N., Myeni, N., Harkoo, I., Mansoor, L.E., Abdool Karim, Q., Abdool Karim, S.S & Gengiah, T.N (2026): “There is nobody who wouldn’t like to”: understanding the motivations behind women’s participation in a Phase I clinical trial for a subdermal HIV prevention implant in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, AIDS Care, DOI: 10.1080/09540121.2026.2635473.
- Durden, E., Govender, E., Dlokweni, A., Ngubane, N., Myeni, N., Harkoo, I., Mansoor, L.E., Abdool Karim, Q., Abdool Karim, S.S. & Gengiah, T.N. (2026). Written on the skin: Participants’ perspectives on scarring, discolouration and implant site reactions experienced during a Phase I clinical trial for a subdermal HIV prevention implant in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. AIDS and Behavior. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10461-026-05113-6
- Essel, E. & Govender, E. (2025). Exploring stigma, structure and cultural influences on COVID-19 prevention: perspectives of community members via community radio in Ghana. South African Journal for Communication Theory and Research, 50(2), pp.34–50. https://doi.org/10.1080/02500167.2025.2588132
- Govender, E. (2025). Interdisciplinary perspectives: Rethinking communication for development and social change in health communication. Social Sciences,14, 56. https://doi.org/10.3390/socsci14010056
- Essel, E. and Govender, E. (2024). Access, participation, and social capital as intangible outcomes of community radio practice in Ghana. Mediaciones, 33(21), pp. 23-44.
- Govender, E., Nota, P., Gumede, M. & Ngubane, N. (2024). Using participatory art-based methods with South African women to explore attitudes, experiences and practices for HIV prevention. Methods in Psychology.https://doi.org/10.1016/j.metip.2024.100160
- Essel, E. & Govender, E. (2024). Putting entertainment back into community radio-based COVID-19 messaging in the Global South. Journal of Alternative & Community Media, 8(2). https://doi.org/10.1386/jacm_00125_1
- Govender, E.M. (2024). A socio-ecological perspective to understand perceived risks and benefits of oral pre-exposure prophylaxis towards the promotion of combination HIV prevention strategies. Sociological Review of South Africa.https://doi.org/10.1080/21528586.2024.2360728
- Essel, E & Govender, E (2023): Vernacular Radio and the Practice of Resistance: Community Radio as a Cultural Tool to Engage on Health and Social Identities among Marginalized Communities in Ghana, Journal of Radio & Audio Media, DOI: 10.1080/19376529.2022.2142230
- Bokolo, S & Govender, E.M (2022). Educators’ perceptions on the benefits and barriers of oral PrEP uptake among adolescent girls and young women in Vulindlela, KwaZulu-Natal in Communicare, vol 41 (1). pp: 104-112.
- Gumede, N., Durden, E. & Govender, E. (2022). Presidential communication approaches and the impact on public health: a comparative analysis of three South African presidents’ communication on AIDS and COVID-19. African Journal of AIDS Research, Vol 21 – Issue 2: AIDS in the time of COVID-19. Pp 143-151.
- Sendra, A., Torkkola, S. Govender, EM (2021). Editorial: The breakthrough of digital health: communication as the catalyst of the transformation of care. Catalan Journal of Communication and Cultural Studies. Vol 13. No.1.
- E.M. (2021) Tailoring Communication to Increase the Promotion of Oral PrEP: A Culture-Centred Approach, Communicatio, 47:1, 122-142, DOI: 10.1080/02500167.2021.1894195.
- Nota, P., Govender, E.M., Yukapi, Y. (2020) “Male-supported female-initiated”: Exploring a cultural message for communicating around new HIV prevention technologies for women in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Communicare, Vol 39 (1). pp 18-32.
- Mbewe, L., Govender, E.M. (2020) Male partner’s influence on female’s acceptance and use of PrEP products across two high HIV burdened urban and rural districts in South Africa. African Journal of AIDS Research, DOI: 10.2989/16085906.2020.1727932.
- Govender, Eliza & Abdool Karim, Quarraisha 2018. Understanding women and men’s acceptability of current and new HIV prevention technologies in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, AIDS Care, 30:10, 1311-1314, DOI: 10.1080/09540121.2018.1488027
- Govender, EM., Mansoor, L.E., MacQueen, K., Abdool Karim, Q. (2017). The impact of Secrecy, Empowerment and Protection on Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) Adherence: Lessons from KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Culture, Health and Sexuality, 19:11, 1268-1285, DOI: 10.1080/13691058.2017.1309682
- Govender, E.M., Mansoor, L.E., & Abdool Karim, Q. (2017). Influences of geo-spatial location on pre-exposure prophylaxis use in South Africa: positioning microbicides for better product uptake, AIDS Care, 29:6, 734-740, DOI: 10.1080/09540121.2016.1248349
- Cardey, S., Govender, E., Dyll-Myklebust, L., Garforth, C. & Tomaselli, K. Entertainment-Education Theory and Practice in HIV and AIDS Communication: A South Africa / UK comparison. Critical Arts (Special Issue) 27(3).
- Govender, E.M and Reddy, S. (2014). The Only Media We Know: Empowering Young People for Social Change. The African Communication Research Journal. Vol 7 (1).
- Govender, E. (2013) Rethinking education-entertainment practice in Africa. The African Communication Research Journal. Vol 6 (1).
- Govender, E. (2013) Working in the greyzone: Exploring Education-entertainment in Africa. The African Communication Research Journal. Vol 6 (1).
- Govender, E.; Dyll-Myklebust, L.; Delate, R. and Sundar, T. (2013) Social networks as a platform to discuss sexual networks: Intersexions and Facebook as catalysts for social change, The African Communication Research Journal. Vol 6 (1).
- Govender, E.M. Durden, E and Reddy, S. 2010. How Participatory is “Participatory Communication” for HIV/AIDS Awareness in South Africa. African Communication Research, Vol. 3 (2), September: 281 – 304.
- Govender, E.M. 2010. How Effective is HIV and AIDS Communication in Africa? African Communication Research, Vol. 3 (2), September: 205 – 234.
Chapters In Books
- Lewis, M., Govender, E. and Skogerbo, E. (2025) ‘Living with COVID government narratives: Australia, Norway, and South Africa’, in Camporesi, S., Milubale, S. and Davis, M. (eds) Crisis, inequity, and legacy: Narrative analyses of the COVID‑19 pandemic. Oxford: Oxford University Press, pp. 60–
- Essel, E. and Govender, E. (2025) Voice, listening, and dialogue in Covid-19 communication in Ghana: Community Radio and Hegemonic Resistance, in: Asuman, M.K.A., Adjin-Tettey, T.D. and Fosu, M. (eds). Communication and social change in Africa: Selected case studies. Amsterdam: Institute of Network Cultures at the Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences, pp. 181-198. Available from: https://networkcultures.org/wpcontent/uploads/2025/01/PDFCommunicationandSocialChangeinAfrica_INC2025_TOD55.pdf.
- Akinlade, A., Govender, E.M. and Madondo, E. (2024) ‘Authentic learning in the digital era: How running a digital news site equips students with 21st‑century skills’, in Nel, M., van Schalkwyk, P., Salawu, A., Butler, G. and Motsaathebe, G. (eds) Digital humanities in precarious times. Cape Town: AVARSITY Books, pp. 79– https://doi.org/10.4102/aosis.2024. BK466.05.
- Govender, E. (2024) ‘Communication for social and behavioural change: A review of HIV prevention communication in South Africa’, in The Palgrave handbook of global social change. London: Palgrave Macmillan, pp. 1–23.
- Gumede, N. and Govender, E. (2024) ‘Socio‑cultural influences of perceptions of risk and self‑efficacy on COVID messaging in South Africa’, in Lewis, M., Govender, E.M. and Holland, K. (eds) Communicating COVID‑19: Media, trust and public engagement. London: Palgrave Macmillan, pp. 169-188.
- Ndinzisa, N. and Govender, E. (2024) ‘Tracing the COVID‑19 pandemic response in Eswatini: Implications of dominant narratives in health communication’, in Lewis, M., Govender, E.M. and Holland, K. (eds) Communicating COVID‑19: Media, trust and public engagement. London: Palgrave Macmillan, pp. 285-300.
- Lewis, M., Holland, K. and Govender, E.M. (2024) ‘Picking up the threads and expanding the dialogue on communicating COVID‑19’, in Lewis, M., Govender, E.M. and Holland, K. (eds) Communicating COVID‑19: Media, trust and public engagement. London: Palgrave Macmillan, pp. 3-27.
- Holland, K., Lewis, M. and Govender, E.M. (2024) ‘The matter of trust in COVID‑19 communication’, in Lewis, M., Govender, E.M. and Holland, K. (eds) Communicating COVID‑19: Media, trust and public engagement. London: Palgrave Macmillan, pp. 481-491.
- Essel, E., Govender, E. and Gibson, S. (2024) ‘Using community radio to communicate COVID‑19 among marginalised communities’, in Henaku, N., Agbozo, G.E. and Nartey, M. (eds) Communicative perspectives on COVID‑19 in Ghana. London: Routledge, pp. 128– https://doi.org/ 10.4324/9781003330042-12
- (2023). Communicating COVID-19: Media, Trust and Public Engagement by Palgrave MacMillian.
- Holland, K. Lewis, M & Govender, E.M (2024). The matter of trust in COVID-19 communication in Lewis, M., Govender, E.M., Holland, K. (eds) (2024). Communicating COVID-19: Media, Trust and Public Engagement by Palgrave MacMillian.
- Essel, E., Govender, E., and Gibson, S. (2024) Using community radio to communicate COVID-19 among marginalized communities, in: Henaku, N., Agbozo, G.E. and Nartey, M. (eds). Communicative Perspectives on COVID-19 in Ghana: At the Intersection of Culture, Science, Religion and Politics. London: Routledge, pp. 128-143. Available from: https://doi.org/ 10.4324/9781003330042-12
- Gibson, S., Dyll, L., Govender, E.M., Gumede, M. (2023). Communication in Society: Health Communication and Cultural Studies in Introduction to Communication Studies. Juta.
- Govender, E.M. (2021) Tailoring COVID-19 communication for local South African contexts: Challenges, contradictions, and consequences of a dominant public health response in Lewis, M., Govender, E.M., Holland, K. (eds) (2021). Communicating COVID-19: Interdisciplinary perspectives by Palgrave MacMillian.
- Lewis, M., Holland, K. and Govender, E.M. (2021). The interdisciplinary communication dynamics of the COVID-19 pandemic in Lewis, M., Govender, E.M., Holland, K. (eds) (2021). Communicating COVID-19: Interdisciplinary perspectives by Palgrave MacMillian.
- Lewis, M., Holland, K. and Govender, E.M. (2021). Reflections on communicating COVID-19: An interdisciplinary and ongoing dialogue in Lewis, M., Govender, E.M., Holland, K. (eds) (2021). Communicating COVID-19: Interdisciplinary perspectives by Palgrave MacMillian.
- Teer-Tomaselli, R., Dyll, L., Govender, E.M. (2021). Twenty Years of Communicating Social Change: a Southern African Perspective on Teaching, Researching and Doing in Servaes J. (eds). Learning from Communicators in Social Change. Rethinking the Power of Development. Springer.
- Govender, E.M. (2018) Methodology is the engine of your study. In Tomaselli, K. G. Making sense of research. Pretoria, South Africa: Van Schaik, pp. 169-176.
- Govender, E.M. (2018) Action research: how to make a difference. In Tomaselli, K. G. Making sense of research. Pretoria, South Africa: Van Schaik, pp. 357-362.
- Govender, E.M and Reddy, S. (2015). Empowering HIV+ Youth for Treatment Adherence through Entertainment Education. In Onuekwe, C., E. (eds.) EE for Health Behaviour Change: Issue and perspectives in Africa. Friesen Press, Inc
- Govender, E.M., Reddy, S & Durden. E. (2014). Higher Degree Consciousness: A Freirian approach to postgraduate study methods in the Culture, Communication and Media Studies department at the UKZN. The Para-Academic book. Hammer on Press.
- Govender, E.M. 2013. Conflicting Paradigms: Challenges to HIV and AIDS Communication, a South African Perspective. In Tufte, T., Wildermuth, N., Hansen-Skovmoes, A.S., Mitullah, W. (eds) Speaking Up and talking Back? Media, Empowerment and Civic Engagement among East and Southern African Youth. Goteborg: NORDICOM
- Govender, E.M. and Reddy, S. 2011. Drawing the bigger picture: Giving voice to HIV positive children. In: Theron, L., Mitchell, C., Stuart, J. and Smith, A. (eds.) Picturing Research: Drawing as Visual Methodology. Rotterdam: Sense.
- Govender, E.M. 2011. Tracing development and health communication for HIV and AIDS prevention within a South African context in Health and Development Communication. Cape Town: Pearson.
- Govender, E.M., Mathew, W. and McDonough, A. 2011. Tokens or Participation: A case of development support communication with the AIDS Foundation of South Africa in Health and Development Communication. Cape Town: Pearson.
Teaching Expertise
- Associate professor (current): Centre for Communication, Media and Society (CCMS), University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa
- Senior lecturer (July 2017 to Dec 2020): Centre for Communication, Media and Society (CCMS), University of KwaZulu-Natal
- Lecturer (2014 – 2015): Centre for Communication, Media and Society (CCMS), University of KwaZulu-Natal
- Guest lecturer (2009:2023): School of International Training (SIT Study Abroad)
Student Supervision
Masters
PhD
Masters
- 2026: Nontokozo Gwala (MSS). Investigating a youth-focused communication strategy to address vaccine hesitancy: A Case study of COVID-19.
- 2023: Sandile Kanyile (M, Soc Sc, 2020) Exploring the COVID-19 communication messages and strategies adopted by the University of KwaZulu-Natal to raise awareness among studentsSA
- 2023: Ngobile Ngubane (M.Soc.Sc) Understanding women’s perceptions of the acceptability of vaginal health product use: Towards inclusion of women in HIV prevention research. SA
- 2022: Aadila Ahmed (M. Soc.Sc): Exploring the role of social media in health promotion in a COVID-19 context: A case study of the South African level 5 lockdown.
- 2022: Lungelo Ndlovu (M. Soc.Sc). Repositioning Oral PrEP uptake: Male involvement in Oral uptake among adolescent girls and young women in Vulindlela, KwaZulu-Natal.
- 2021: Buyisiwe Lorraine Dlamini (M.Soc Sc). The Communicative Role Played by Social Workers in the Introduction and Uptake of Oral Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (Oral Prep) in Vulindlela.
- 2021: Yandisa Ntshongwana (M.Soc.Sc). The Use of Social Media by AIDS Foundation of South Africa to Promote HIV Testing and Prevention Following the Release of Universal Test and Treat Policy in 2016.
- 2021: Tamanda Chipo Masumbuka (M.Soc.Sc). University of KwaZulu-Natal Female Students’ Perceptions of Female Sexuality and Influence on Sexual Behaviour and HIV and AIDS Prevention. Malawi
- 2021: Lungelo Khanyile (M. Soc.Sc). Exploring HIV Risk Compensation among Men with Medical Male Circumcision Uptake and Oral Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis Use. A Comparative Study in Umlazi and Vulindlela in KwaZulu-Natal. SA
- 2020: Noluthando Precious Nomalungisa Fadane (M, Soc Sc) The role of community leaders in effective implementation of Oral Pre-Exposure Prophlaxis in the Vulindlela community in KwaZulu-Natal.
- 2020: Bunmi Okelela (M, Soc Sc) Exploring students’ uptake of HIV testing services at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, Howard College as part of the Universal Test and Treat initiative. Nigrian
- 2020: Simamkele Bokolo (MSocSc): Exploring adolescent girls and young women’s oral PrEP readiness from a school based’ perspective in Vulindlela, KZN.
- 2019: Sandile Sydwell Nkosi (M Soc Sc) Health promotion: The effectiveness of University of KwaZulu-Natal health promoters on Universal Test and Treat (UTT) in 2016-2018.
- 2019: Gethwana Mahlase (MSocSc): Exploring readiness of the Primary Health Care Clinics for the provision of Pre Exposure Prophylaxis to Adolescent Girls and Young Women (AGYW): A case study in Vulindlela.
- 2018: Nqobile Ndzinisa (M.SocSc): Communicating PrEP – understanding factors that influence adoption and rejection among young women in rural KwaZulu- Natal, South Africa.
- 2018: Mpume Gumede (M.Soc.Sc) Parent/Child communication approaches on Sexual and reproductive Health.
- 2017: Gina Coetzee (M.Soc.Sc): Mapping Sexuality: Understanding the knowledge, attitudes and perceptions of adolescent females towards sexuality and sexual and reproductive health in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.
- 2017: Londeka Mbewe (M.Soc.Sc): Microbicide acceptability and utility study: Investigating perceptions of men and women across urban and rural settings in Durban and Nelspruit.
- 2016: Yonela Vukapi (M.SocSc): “ZAZI-Know Your Strength”- A Reception Analysis of young female learner’s perceptions on contraceptive knowledge and utilisation in Umnini and Umlazi District in KwaZulu-Natal.
- 2016: Phiwe Nota (M.SocSc) A comparative study of student’s attitudes, preferences and acceptance levels towards microbicide products; The Tenofovir Gel and The Ring at UKZN.
- 2016: Celani Constance Mkhize (M.SocSc): Development Goals or Corporate Agendas?: Examining the perceptions of NGOs and communities towards CSR funding, a case study of CINDI HIV prevention Programme, KwaZulu-Natal.
- 2015: Abulele Njisane (MA): Reception Analysis of Intersexions: An exploration of perceptions of risk in relation to Multiple and concurrent Partners in rural KZN.
- 2015: Phebbie Sakarombe (MA): Knowledge and perceptions of medical male circumcision as an HIV prevention procedure by white and Indian male students at the University of KwaZulu-Natal. Zim
- 2014: Temitope Ogunlela (MA): Women and HIV & AIDS: Perceptions of female condoms among students at UKZN, Howard college campus. Nigrian
- 2013: Wandile Sibisi (MA): Breaking Free: Exploring dialogue for collective action in the Footballers 4 Life Intervention at the Heidelberg Correctional Centre.
PhD
- 2025: Promise Nompumelelo Gumede (PhD): Investigating student participation in the design, implementation and evaluation of social and behaviour change communication strategies for COVID-19 interventions at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa.
- 2025: Ezekiel Eze (PhD): The Influence of Musical Interventions on Drug Abuse Reduction among Nigerian Undergraduates: A study of David Jones’s Popular Music (2017 – 2022).
- 2025: Odette Mpungirehe (PhD): Exploring community based participatory approaches to Covid-19 communication in Kigali City’s crowded settlements- Rwanda
- 2025: Simamkele Bokolo (PhD) Understanding HIV prevention and treatment communication in the context of COVID-19 in KwaZulu Natal, South Africa.
- 2023: Emmanuel Essel (PhD): An exploration of community radio, culture and health communication among rural and semi-urban dwellers in the Central Region, Ghana: A case study of COVID-19 and Radio Peace.
- 2022: Adedamola Akinlade (PhD): Exploring the use of Social Media for the effective introduction of Oral Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) among 18-24 male and female students of the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) at Howard College Campus.
- 2021: James Akpan (PhD): The role of communication in addressing sociocultural factors that influence pregnant women to drink alcohol in Durban, Kwazulu-Natal. (co-supervision with Prof Dyll) Nigrian
- 2020: Phiwe Nota (PhD): An investigation into the integration of oral PrEP in Sexual and Reproductive Healthcare services in rural and urban KZN: informing HIV prevention implementation. SA
- 2020: Yonela Vuyapi (PhD): Exploring youth friendly services in primary health-care clinics and its influence on non-adherence to PrEP among young women ages (18-24) in Vulindlela, KwaZulu-Natal. SA
- 2019: Petronella Chipo Mugoni (PhD) (Re) Positioning communication to support biomedical multidrug-resistant tuberculosis interventions in eThekwini Metro, KwaZulu-Natal: Towards an integrated mass media and interpersonal communication approach (co-supervision with Dr Lubombo). Zim