The burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) is increasing in South Africa in both urban and rural settings (1). Owing to the strain this growing burden places on the country's public health system, it is essential for policy-makers, researchers, and practitioners to adopt innovative approaches to understand healthcare access and experiences of those with these diseases in South Africa. Despite extensive healthcare system reforms in the 20 years since this country's first democratic election, a number of challenges persist, and much still needs to be done to provide equitable access to healthcare, and for the primary health care approach to be fully realised.

In his paper, ‘Perspectives on healthcare, chronic non-communicable disease and healthworlds in an urban and rural setting’ (2), Dr. Daniel Lopes Ibanez-Gonzalez acknowledges these healthcare challenges, and draws on concepts from objectivist and social constructionist approaches within public healthcare in order to expand our understanding of NCDs and healthcare access. One of the key concepts he uses is the ‘healthworld’, which is a ‘tool to explain the empirical complexity of health beliefs and behaviours’ (3).