Vadwinkler8394

Strategies with potentials for curbing rape in the country include public enlightenment, multi-sectoral action, advocacy, amendment of rape-related laws; training targeted at personnel in health care and criminal justice systems and formulation of evidence-based policies.Sexual violence is a major public health problem due to the associated risk of acquiring sexually transmitted infections, behavioural disorders and risk of committing suicide. The Adult Rape Clinic (ARC) was established at Parirenyatwa Hospital, Harare in 2009 with the objective of providing medical and support services for survivors of sexual violence in a safe and private environment. The data collected had never been analysed since the establishment of the clinic. We described the clients' profile and the services offered at the clinic to identify gaps in service provision and areas of improvement. A retrospective record review of data was carried out from the ARC collected from February 2009 to December 2017. We analyzed 2343 affidavits that were available. Out of 2343 records analysed, (2190) 93.5% were female and 6.5 % (153) were male. The median age was 23years (Q1=21; Q3= 29) for males and 19 years (Q1= 17; Q2=25) for females. Among the clients, 2164 (92.4%) received a baseline HIV test, and 263 females and 6 males tested positive. From 2010 to 2017, six clients' seroconversion was recorded. Only 863(36.8%) clients presented within 3 days after the sexual assault. About 40% of male victims were assaulted by someone they knew and 27% were married. The study recommends further research on the determinants of late presentation after sexual assault.Ethnobotanical survey was undertaken in four communities located on the fringes of the Subri River Forest Reserve in the Mpohor Wassa East District of the Western Region, Ghana. Twelve informants, three each from the four communities were called upon to assist with collection of data. The informants who include community leaders, herbalists and traditional birth attendants assisted in field expeditions. They also provided relevant information to a structured questionnaire used to solicit information on the plants of abortifacient and contraceptive importance. In all, 18 angiosperm species distributed in 14 families were identified as being efficacious. Most of the species belong to the family Euphorbiaceae. The crude drugs are prepared mainly by grinding and by decoction of the plant parts. The drugs are administered mainly as enema or by oral and vaginal insertion. There is a high rate of patronage of herbal preparation among the women folk in the four communities where the study was undertaken.New ways of measuring pregnancy planning/intention such as the London Measure of Unplanned Pregnancy (LMUP), which recognise the complexity of the construct, are being adopted worldwide. The aim of this study was to evaluate the psychometric properties of the Krio version of the LMUP in Sierra Leone. An interviewer-administered version of the LMUP was translated into Krio and pre-tested with 12 pregnant women. Field testing involved 172 pregnant women aged 15-42, with 87 completing a re-test. Completion rates of LMUP items were 100%. LMUP scores 1-12 were captured. Reliability the scale was internally consistent (Cronbach's alpha 0.84) and stable (weighted Kappa 0.93). Construct validity all hypotheses were confirmed. Principal components analysis revealed five items (items 2-6) related to one construct. Mokken scaling procedure selected the same five items. Removal of item 1 (which had 97% endorsement of the ‗no contraception' response option) brought about only a very slight improvement in LMUP performance, therefore we recommend retaining all six items. The Krio LMUP is reliable, valid and suitable to use in Sierra Leone.The intrauterine contraceptive device (IUD) is one of the contraceptive methods that are under-utilized in many African countries, including Namibia. Abexinostat nmr The aim of this study was to explore and describe knowledge, attitudes and practices regarding the IUD among family planning (FP) acceptors in Khomas Region, Namibia. A non-experimental, quantitative, exploratory, descriptive study was conducted at nine health facilities in Windhoek. A probability sampling technique was applied to select the sample which was calculated using the Epi Info version 7, Statcalc. A total of 582 FP acceptors were interviewed, using a structured questionnaire. Descriptive statistical analyses were done and results presented in percentages, proportions and displayed in tables, graphs. Overall, about half of FP acceptors were not aware of the IUD, while almost all knew the injectables and oral contraceptive pills. FP acceptors lacked adequate specific knowledge content of the IUD. This study did not only establish limited awareness of the IUD among FP acceptors but also inadequate knowledge on IUD characteristics, benefits, common-side effects, which woman can use an IUD and associated myths. Therefore, this study recommends to Ministry of Health and Social Services and its partners to sensitize and educate family planning users on the IUD in order to increase demand and utilization.In spite of the improvements in knowledge about family planning (FP), the contraceptive prevalence rate and unmet need for FP remain poor in most parts of Northern Nigeria. This study sought to explore specific factors that influence contraceptive uptake and demand in North-West Nigeria. Key Informant and In-depth Interviews were conducted using guides among stakeholders in two selected states in North-West Nigeria, Kebbi and Sokoto States. Interviewees were selected purposively to include Reproductive Health Focal Persons at the local government level, service providers, Women of Reproductive Age (WRA) and FP coordinators. Factors inhibiting contraceptive uptake included lack of health education, religion, fear of spousal rejection and side effects. Poor government funding and inadequate number of health workers were also identified as systemic factors. Suggested methods of overcoming identified challenges include; task-shifting, increased stakeholder participation and political will.Genital Chlamydia trachomatis infection causes significant morbidity and mortality in women. A number of epidemiologic studies have suggested that Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) is more accurate as a diagnostic tool for Chlamydia trachomatis. However, the use of serological markers may be cost effective and practical in diagnosing and estimating the burden of the disease in resource limited countries.This study was aimed at determining the serological markers (IgG, IgM and IgA) of Chlamydia trachomatis, evaluate the association between Chlamydia trachomatis infection and the sociodemographic characteristics and clinical diagnosis of the participants. This was a cross sectional hospital-based study in which blood samples from 145 consenting participants were tested for IgG, IgM and IgA antibodies against Chlamydia trachomatis using enzyme linked immunosorbent assay and their clinical diagnosis, retrieved from their case notes. The cumulative prevalence of seropositivity for Chlamydia trachomatis (IgG, IgM, IgA) was 112 (77.2%) while 33 (22.8%) were seronegative. The overall predominant seromarker was IgG 91(62.8%) while IgM and IgA accounted for 85(58.6%) and 54(37.2%) respectively. A statistically significant association was found between Chlamydia trachomatis infection and PID (p value = 0.031), primary infertility (p value 0.011) and level of income (p value= (0,045).Sexual practices of adolescents have enormous consequences on their health and career outcome. The objective of this study was to assess the sexual practices among senior secondary students in private schools in Uyo, Nigeria. This was a descriptive crosssectional study. Data were collected using structured, self administered questionnaire and analyzed with SPSS version 23 software. Level of significance was set at 0.05. A total of 353 respondents participated in the study. The mean age was 14.84±1.10 years with a male to female ratio of 11.17. The prevalence of sexual intercourse was 14.2%. The mean age of sexual debut was 11.7±2.60 years, being significantly lower in males, (10.83 ±2.64 years) than females, (12.67±2.42 years) (p=0.00). Risky sexual behaviour included low contraceptive use 15 (30.0%) and having multiple sexual partners 9(18%). A total of 25.8% males and 9.0% females engaged in pornography (p=0.00). Also, 8.6% of males and 2.6% females both masturbated and had sexually active friends respectively (p=0.01). In view of the early sexual debut and risky sexual practices reported among senior secondary students in private schools in Uyo, there is need for early integration of sexuality education into the curriculum of such schools to improve sexual behaviour among the students.A systematic approach to scale-up was applied to expand an integrated package of family planning and primary healthcare services from the Democratic Republic of the Congo's South Kivu province to health zones in Lomami, Lualaba, and Kasai Central provinces. This approach was based on recommendations from the ExpandNet/WHO guide Beginning with the end in mind. The approach emphasized application of three recommendations engaging government stakeholders, ensuring the relevance of the intervention, and tailoring the innovation to the setting. This approach led to successful scale-up of community-based family planning, increasing access to and uptake of contraception and demonstrating potential for sustainability; 231,566 new acceptors were recruited and 149,826 couple-years of protection were generated. The systematic scale-up approach led to integration of community-based family planning indicators in the national health information system and transferred ownership of the interventions to the government, creating and strengthening government platforms with potential to sustain the interventions.In 2011, the Department of Health in South Africa committed to promote, support and protect breast-feeding. Subsequently, the supply of free formula milk to HIV-infected mothers was discontinued, with these mothers encouraged to breast-feed. This was also in compliance with the WHO's call for countries to adopt a single-feeding practice for HIV-infected mothers. This study explored the experiences of HIV-infected mothers regarding exclusive breast-feeding in the first six months following an infant's birth. Qualitative data was collected through in-depth unstructured interviews at a community health centre among mothers aged 18 years and above, who opted for exclusive breast-feeding. Thematic data analysis was undertaken. The study results revealed that mothers had positive experiences, such as motivation, satisfaction and being well informed. Some mothers had negative experiences, such as anxiety, family pressure and guilt, leading to non-adherence to exclusive breast-feeding. The experiences of participating mothers were mainly influenced by socio-cultural issues and information from healthcare workers. The study findings highlight the need to intensify advocacy, communication and social mobilization to the communities at large regarding exclusive breastfeeding.