BIOSKETCH Prof Shenuka Singh is a Full Professor in the Discipline of Dentistry at the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN), and an honorary extraordinary professor in the Division for Medical Ethics and Law, Stellenbosch University, South Africa. She has two doctoral degrees: Ph.D. (Clinical and Research Ethics) (Stell); and Ph.D. (UWC) in the field of dental public health. She is Deputy Chairperson of the National Health Research Ethics Council (NHREC) in South Africa (2023-2026), which is a ministerial appointment. She is President of the IADR- South African Division (2024-2026). She is a member of the Ethics in Dental Research Committee at IADR. She was invited to be part of a World Health Organization joint working group (Regulation and Safety Unit and Health Ethics & Governance Unit) to develop a tool for benchmarking research ethics oversight in 2021. She is also an Associate Editor for BMC Oral Health journal. Prof Singh has been appointed Chair of the Biomedical Research Ethics Committee at UKZN from 2024. This is a Senate-approved appointment. She is also a member of the Human Sciences Research Council’s Research Ethics Committee (2019-to date). She was the appointed Research Ethics Chair for the Council for Science and Industry Research in South Africa (CSIR REC R&D: 2015-2018) and the Humanities and Social Sciences Research Ethics Committee at UKZN (2014-2018). As part of her ongoing engagement with research ethics, she conducted several training workshops at various institutions in South Africa such as UKZN, DUT, MANCOSA, TUT, South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC), and the University of Zululand. She is an NRF-rated researcher and is actively involved in research and postgraduate supervision. She presented papers at local and international conferences (including invitations as a keynote speaker). Prof Singh was a recipient of the 2018 College of Health Sciences Teaching Excellence Award, UKZN (in the category: Outstanding Contribution to Teaching) and was also awarded the UKZN Certificate of Excellence in Teaching (2018).
Research Interests
Dental public health
Oral health systems development
Research ethics
Teaching and learning
Legal and social implications of biobanking
LIST OF PUBLICATIONS
Singh S. Developing a short course on the ethical, legal, and social issues of biobanking practice – a participatory action research study in South Africa. 2024. Biopreserv Biobank, 00. http://dx.doi.org/10.1089/bio.2023.0165
Ekusai SD, Kyaddondo D, Kaawa-Mafigiri D, Singh S, Barugahare J, & Mwaka E. Genomic Data Sharing: Navigating The Ethical Issues In Collaborative Research Relationships Between The Global North-South. 2024. The Global Health Network Collections 2024. https://tghncollections.pubpub.org/pub/t5ch1d8a
Omutoko L, Chingarande RC, Botes M, Moyana F, Singh S, Jaoko W, Sevene E, Mtande TK, Edwin AK, Matandika L, Burgess T, Moodley K. Understanding and processing informed consent during data-intensive health research in sub-Saharan Africa: Challenges and opportunities from a multilingual perspective. Research Ethics 2024, 0(0) .https://doi.org/10.1177/17470161241274809
S Gumede, S Singh, M Radebe. Educators’ and caregivers’ perspectives on an implemented oral health promotion event at special needs schools in eThekwini district: a qualitative study. SADJ JULY 2024, 79 (6): 319-324. https://doi.org/10.17159/sadj.v79i06.18903
Gumede S, Singh S, Radebe M. Oral health care service delivery in schools for special needs in eThekwini District, KwaZulu-Natal. SADJ; 79(1): 21-29. http://dx.doi.org/10.17159/sadj.v79i01.16613
S Gumede, S Singh, M Radebe. Educators and caregivers’ oral health knowledge, attitudes, and practices in special education schools in the eThekwini District, KwaZulu-Natal. SADJ JUNE 2024, Vol. 79 No.5 P246-253 List of Public
2023 Dharmendran L, Singh, S. Community Perception and Knowledge on Oral Cancer Screening Methods in Kuwait Submitted to Cureus. Accepted for publication
2023 Ekusai-Sebatta D, Ocan M, Singh S, Kyaddondo D, Akena D, Nakalembe L, et al. (2023) Data sharing practices in collaborative human genomic research in low- and middle-income countries: A systematic review protocol. PLoS ONE 18(11): e0292996. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal. pone.0292996
2023 Gumede S, Singh S, Radebe MJ. Prevalence of dental caries among learners with disabilities attending special education schools in the eThekwini District, KwaZulu-Natal. SADJ July 2023, 78(6):292-.299
2023 Singh S. Turning the moral compass towards transformative research ethics: an inflection point for humanized pedagogy in higher education. S Afr J Bioethics Law 2023;16(2):e232. https://doi.org/10.7196/SAJBL.2023.v16i2.232
2023 Nair, G., Burgess T., Obasa EA., Kling S, Singh S. Re-visiting community engagement methods in the context of data science research and Big Data use in South Africa. South African Journal of Science, 2023, 119: Issue 5/6
2023 Gerwel Proches, C., & Singh, S. (2023). Disruptions and flux in Higher Education: Turning the focus towards the early career researcher. Journal of University Teaching & Learning Practice, 20(2). https://doi.org/10.53761/1.20.02.14
2023 Balwant S, Singh S. Oral health care provision at long-term care facilities: Perspectives of staff involved in clinical coordination at seven long-term care facilities in the eThekwini district, KwaZulu-Natal. African Journal of Primary Health Care & Family Medicine 15 (1): 1-10 https://doi.org/10.4102/phcfm.v15i1.3884
2023 Kling S, Nair G, Burgess T, Singh S, Moodley K. The Role of an Ethics Advisory Committee in Data Science Research in sub-Saharan Africa. South African Journal of Science, 2023, 119: Issue 5/6.2023 Balwant S, Singh S. Oral health-related knowledge, attitudes, and practices: A cross-sectional survey among caregivers at long-term care facilities in the eThekwini district, KwaZulu-Natal Journal: Health SA Gesondheid. 2023, 28(0), a2147. https://doi.org/10.4102/ hsag.v28i0.214:
2022 BS Bauluck-Nujoo, S Singh. Self-reported oral health status: Perspectives of patients undergoing therapy for cancer of the head and neck region, in the eThekwini District, KZN, SADJ November 2022, 77(10): 542- 550. http://dx.doi.org/10.17159/2519-0105/2022/v77no10a3
2022 I Moodley, S Singh. A case study: Promoting interprofessional community-based learning opportunities for health sciences students at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa. Afr J Health Professions Educ 2022;14(3):146-151 https://doi.org/10.7196/AJHPE.2022.v14i3.1281
2022 Singh S, Cadigan RJ, Moodley K. Challenges to biobanking in LMICs during COVID-19: time to reconceptualise research ethics guidance for pandemics and public health emergencies? J Med Ethics 2022;48:466–471.
2022 “Invited Peer Commentary: Research site anonymity in context”. Journal of Empirical Research on Human Research Ethics 2022, 17(5):565-572. DOI: 10.1177/19401612221138478
2022 Singh S, Moodley R, Moodley I. “Students’ knowledge, attitudes and practices related to infection control in undergraduate dental clinical training during COVID-19 – A report from one South African university”. SADJ 2022, 77(6): 270-276 http://dx.doi.org/10.17159/2519-0105/2022/v77no6a3
2022 Singh S, Cadigan RJ, Moodley K. Research-Related Stakeholders’ Perspectives on Sociocultural Considerations in Biobanking Practice in South Africa. Biopreserv Biobank. 2022 Jun 27. doi: 10.1089/bio.2021.0149. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 35759422.
2022 Ramnarain, P. & Singh, S., 2022, ‘Public healthcare practitioners’ knowledge, attitudes and practices related to oral antibiotic prescriptions for dental use in Pietermaritzburg, KwaZulu-Natal’, Health SA Gesondheid 27(0), a1832. https://doi.org/10.4102/ hsag.v27i0.1832
2022 Singaram VS, Naidoo KL, Singh S. Self-Directed Learning During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Perspectives of South African Final-Year Health Professions Students. Adv Med Educ Pract. 2022 Jan 6;13:1-10. doi: 10.2147/AMEP.S339840.
2022 R Moodley, S Singh, I Moodley. Undergraduate dental students’ perspectives on teaching and learning during the COVID-19 pandemic: Results from an online survey conducted at a South African university using a mixed-methods approach, African Journal of Health Professions Education 2022;14(1):26. http://www.sajs.org.za/index.php/ajhpe/article/view/1219
2022 Ramnarain P, Singh S. Antibiotic prescription patterns for dental conditions at two public sector hospitals in Pietermaritzburg, KwaZulu-Natal. SADJ, 2022, 77(2): 85-91: https://doi.org/10.17159/2519-0105/2022/v77no2a5
2021 Singh S, Moodley K, Cadigan RJ. Online Training as a Means to Improve the Understanding of Ethical, Legal, and Social Aspects of Biobanking Research: Stakeholder Perspectives from South Africa. Biopreserv Biobank. 2021 Dec 20. doi: 10.1089/bio.2021.0088.
2021 Ramson K, Singh S. Orthodontic status and treatment need of 13 to 15 year-old children in Kwa-Zulu Natal South Africa: An epidemiology study using the Dental Aesthetic Index (DAI). SADJ. 2021; 76(1): 414-421
2021 Singh S, Moodley K. Stakeholder perspectives on the ethico-legal dimensions of biobanking in South Africa. BMC Med Ethics, 2021, 22:84. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12910-021-00645-z
021 Singh S Public Oral Health Care During COVID-19: Time for Reflection and Action. Front. Med. 2021, 8: 610450.doi: 10.3389/fmed.2021.610450:
2021 Balwant S, Singh S. Voluntary Counselling and Testing for HIV in the dental setting: Knowledge, attitudes and practices of oral health care workers in eThekwini district, KwaZulu-Natal. SADJ. 2021, 76(1):6-11
2021 Naidoo LS, Onwubu SC. Murugan N. Singh S Examining the effect of exposure time on the erosive potential of sour candy SADJ. 2021. Accepted for publication
2020 Bauluck-Nujoo BS, Singh S. Oral health care for patients undergoing therapy for head and neck cancer in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa – A qualitative study. SADJ August 2020, 75(7): 353 – 361
2020 Obasa AE, Singh S, Chivunze E, Burgess T, Masiye F, Mtande T, Ochieng J, Chalwe V, Mokgatla B, Rennie S, Moodley K. Comparative strategic approaches to COVID-19 in Africa: Balancing public interest with civil liberties. S Afr Med J. Published online 12 August 2020. https://doi.org/10.7196/SAMJ.2020.v110i9.14934
2020 Naidoo LS, Onwubu SC, Murugan N, Pruessner K., Singh S. Evaluating the erosive effect of sour candy on human teeth. Journal of Dentistry and Oral Hygiene. 2020;12(2): 27-34
2020 Onwubu SC, Mdluli PS, Singh S. Nyembe S. Thakur M. Evaluating the Abrasivity of a Nanosized Eggshell–Titanium Dioxide on Tooth Enamel Using Atomic Force Microscopy. European Journal of Dentistry 2020. DOI: 10.1055/s-0040-1714172
2020 Deulkar S. Singh S. Tiwari D. Isolation of selected aerobic bacterial pathogens from the dental environmental surfaces after the use of disinfectants: A case study at a public dental clinic, in KwaZulu-Natal. SADJ. 2020; 75(5):241-245.
39. 2020 Radebe M, Singh S. Investigating dental caries rates amongst sentenced prisoners in KwaZulu Natal, South Africa. SADJ April 2020, 75(3): 137 -141
2020 Naidoo, M., Singh, S. A Dental Communication Board as an Oral Care Tool for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder. J Autism Dev Disord 50, 3831–3843 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-020-04436-0
2020 Moodley I, Singh S. Assessment consolidates undergraduate students’ learning of community-based education. African Journal of Health Professions Education, 2020, 12(1): 27-35. https://doi.org/10.7196/AJHPE.2020.v12i1.1135
2019 Thema KL, Singh S. Conceptual framework to guide oral health services in Limpopo Province. Journal of Health SA Gesondheid. 2019. 24(0): 1-6
2019 Onwubu SC, Mdluli PS, Singh S. Obiora CC. The application of the logistic equation model to predict the remineralization characteristics of desensitizing paste. International Journal of Dentistry 2019. Article ID 7528154: 1-8
2019 Onwubu SC, Mdluli PS, Singh S, Vishal Bharuth V, Makgobole MU. Evaluation of the Occluding Characteristics of Nanosized Eggshell/Titanium Dioxide with or without Saliva. Eur J Dent 2019;13:547–555
2019 Onwubu SC, Mdluli PS, Singh S. Ngombane Y, Madikizela LM, Characterization and in vitro Evaluation of An Acid resistant Nanosized Dental Eggshell-Titanium dioxide Material. Advanced Powder Technology 2019. 30: 766–773 Impact Factor: 2.943.
2019 Onwubu SC, Mdluli PS, Singh S. Tlapana T. A novel application of nano eggshell/titanium dioxide composite on occluding dentine tubules: In vitro study. Brazilian Oral Research. 2019;33:e016: 1-10. Impact Factor 1,223
2019 Onwubu SC, Mdluli PS, Singh S. V. Baruth. Remineralization Potential of a Modified Eggshell–Titanium Composite-Scanning Electron Microscope Study. European Journal of Dentistry. 2019. 13(02): 187-192
2019 Onwubu SC, Mdluli PS, Singh S. Evaluating the buffering and acid-resistant properties of eggshell–titanium dioxide composite against erosive acids. Journal of Applied Biomaterials & Functional Materials 2019 March: 1-7. DOI: 10.1177/2280800018809914. Impact Factor: 1.397
2018 Radebe M, Singh S. Oral health status of the sentenced offenders in KwaZulu-Natal province. SADJ 2018; 73(8):514-519.
2018 Naidoo M, Singh S. The Oral health status of children with autism Spectrum disorder in KwaZulu-Nata, South Africa. BMC Oral Health 2018, 18:165: 1-9. Impact Factor: 1.949
2018 Onwubu SC, Mdluli PS, Singh S, Bharuth V. An in vitro examination on the effectiveness of commercial toothpastes in the prevention of tooth decay, using eggshell as a substitute for human tooth material. SADJ 2018; 73(7): 445-450.
2018 Onwubu SC, Mdluli PS, Singh S. The Effectiveness of Nanomaterials in the Management of Dentine Hypersensitivity-A Review. Journal of Clinical Review and Case Reports. 2018, 3(8): 1-5
2018 Onwubu SC, Mdluli PS, Singh S. The effect of colloidal silica and diamond suspension on the surface roughness of automatically finished heat-polymerize acrylic resins. The Journal of Prosthetic Dentistry. 2018, 120(3): 485e1-485e5 Impact Factor: 2.201
2019 Onwubu SC, Mdluli PS, Singh S. Nyembe S, Thakur R. Corrigendum to “an in situ evaluation of the protective effect of nano eggshell/titanium dioxide against erosive acids”. International Journal of Dentistry 2019, Article ID 4216415: 1-8. Impact Factor: 2.44
2018 Moodley I, Singh S Exploring Community-Based Training Opportunities for Dental Therapy Students in Non-Governmental and Private Sectors in KwaZulu-Natal. African Journal of Health Professions Education 2018, 10(3):176-182.
2018 Moodley I, Singh S. Strengths and challenges of community-based clinical training as viewed by academics at the University of KwaZulu-Natal. African Journal of Health Professions Education 2018, 10(2): 129-135.
2018 Moodley I, Singh S. Community-Based Education: Experiences of Undergraduate dental therapy students at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Journal: International Journal of Dental Hygiene. 2018, 6: 362-371. Impact Factor: 1.38.
2018 Kerr J, Singh S. Nursing students’ attitudes and practices of oral health self-care. African Journal for Physical Activity and Health Sciences (AJPHES). 2018, 24(2):143-155.
2018 Moodley I, Singh S. Creating opportunities for interprofessional, community-based education for undergraduate dental students within the School of Health Sciences at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa: Academics’ perspectives. African Journal of Health Professions Education 2018, 10(1):19-25.
2017 Dookie S, Singh S, Myburgh NG. Analysis of district oral health services in KwaZulu-Natal. Journal of African Population studies 2017, 31(2): 3683-3693.
2017 Thema KL, Singh S. Oral health service delivery in Limpopo Province. SADJ 2017 72(7): 310-314
2017 Singh S, Pottapinjara S. Dental undergraduate students’ knowledge, attitudes and practices in oral health self-care: A survey from a university in South Africa. African Journal of Health Professions Education, 2017, 9(2): 83-87.
2017 Thema KL, Singh S. Epidemiological profile of patients utilizing public oral health services in Limpopo Province, South Africa. Southern African Journal of PHC and Family Medicine 2017, 9(1): 1-5.
2017 Reddy M, Singh S. The promotion of oral health within Health Promoting Schools in KwaZulu-Natal. South African Journal of Child Health2017;11(1):16-20. DOI:10.7196/SAJCH.2017.v11i1.1132
2017 S. Singh. Can undergraduate student learning in prevention influence oral health self-care practices? – a report from a South African University. Int J Dent Hygiene 2017, 15:e100-e112. Impact Factor: 1.38.
2016 Moodley K, Singh S. “It’s all about trust”: reflections of researchers on the complexity and controversy surrounding biobanking in South Africa. BMC Medical Ethics. 2016, 17:57. DOI 10.1186/s12910-016-0140-2. Impact factor: 1.969.
2016 Jorma I. Virtanen, Essi Pellikka, Shenuka Singh, Eeva Widström. The professional role of a dental hygienist in Finland. Int J Dent Hygiene 14, 2016: 231–238. DOI: 10.1111/idh.12166 Impact Factor: 1.38.
2016 BG Nair, S Singh. Parental perspectives on self-care practices and dental sealants as preventive measures for dental caries. SADJ May, 2016;71(4):156-160
2016 S. Singh, D R Wassenaar. Contextualising the role of the gatekeeper in social science research. Afr J BL, 2016;9(1):42-46. DOI:7196/SAJBL.465
2015 Reddy M, Singh S. Dental Caries status in six-year-old children at Health Promoting Schools in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. SADJ October, 2015;70(9):396-401
2015 Reddy M, Singh S. Viability in delivering oral health promotion activities within the Health Promoting Schools Initiative in KwaZulu-Natal. S Afr J Child Health, 2015;9(3):93-97. DOI:10.7196/SAJCH.7944
2013 KL Thema; S Singh. Integrated primary oral health services in South Africa: The role of the PHC nurse in providing oral health examination and education. African J Primary Health Care & Family Medicine, 2013;5(1). Website: http://dx.doi.org/10.4102/phcfm.v5i1.413
2012 S Singh. Evidence in Oral Health Promotion – Implications for Oral Health Planning. American Journal of Public Health, 2012;102(9): e15-e18 Impact Factor: 4.13
2012 S Dookie, S Singh. Primary health care services at district level in South Africa: a critique of the primary health care approach. BMC Family Practice, 2012;13 (67):1-4 Impact Factor: 2.032.
2011 S Singh. Dental Caries Rates in South Africa: Implications for Oral Health Planning. Epidemiology and Infection Control, 2011;26(4):259-261.
2011 S Singh. School based Sealant Programme: Report and Assessment. SADJ, 2011;66:384-388.
2010 S. Singh, NG Myburgh; R Lalloo. Policy Analysis of Oral Health Promotion in South Africa. Global Health Promotion, 2010;1757-9759 [Vol. 17(1)]:16-24 Impact Factor: 0.522.
Chapters in Books#Year Authors, title, publisher details, pages
2023 Singh S, Sekhoacha M, Engel-Hills P, Makhubela L. Bioethics: an African perspective. In: The Kaleidoscope of Global Bioethics, 2023. First edition, May 2023. ISBN: 978-972-8368-43-2. Conselho Nacional de Ética para as Ciências da Vida. LISBOA
2021 SC Onwubu, PS Mdluli, S Singh, S Thakur. Biodegradable natural materials in dentistry: fiction or real? n Applications of Advanced Green Materials. Woodhead Publishing: 77-88
2021 Onwubu SC, Mdluli PS, Singh S, Thakur S, Mkhize C. Chapter 29: Cytotoxicity of bionanocomposites in the treatment of dentine hypersensitivity. Bionanocomposites in Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine. Elsevier-Woodhead Publishing, UK. 2021. 10.1016/B978-0-12-821280-6.00020-9
2019 Onwubu SC, Mdluli PS, Singh S. Alginates in evolution of restorative dentistry. In: Alginates-Food Industry and Biomedical Application. Publishers: Wiley-Scrivener Publishing LLC, USA. 2019: 125-140.
2019 Onwubu SC, Mdluli PS, Singh S. The application of mechanochemistry in composite preparation. In Composites for Environmental Engineering. Wiley-Scrivener Publishing LLC, USA. 2019.
2018 S Singh. Oral Health Promotion – A guide from Policy to Practice. In Public Health – Policy and Practices. Editors: SK Paul, F Li. Publishers Empire Books International. 2018: 46-62
