Prevalence of HIV-2 Infection in a Family Planning Clinic in Lisbon

1992 ◽  
Vol 3 (4) ◽  
pp. 281-284 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rui M M Victorino ◽  
D Guerreiro ◽  
M Helena Lourenço ◽  
M O Santos Ferreira ◽  
L Cunha Teles

A significant proportion (10%) of notified AIDS cases in Portugal are due to HIV-2 infection as a result of the close connections of Portugal with Western African Countries (ex-Portuguese colonies) where there is a high HIV-2 seroprevalence. We conducted a seroepidemiological study of HIV-1 and HIV-2 infection in 1400 women attending family planning and antenatal clinics in a health centre in Lisbon with the objective of analysing whether there was evidence of HIV-2 spread in this population. The seroprevalence for HIV, as determined by ELISA and confirmed by Western Blot, was 0.42% (6 cases) and 50% of these were of HIV-2 infection. Analysis of the epidemiological inquiries reveals that out of the 6 seropositive cases, only one was a drug addict (HIV-1) and another a western African black woman (HIV-2). The other 4 cases (2 HIV-2 and 2 HIV-1) were white Portuguese women with no history of travelling to Africa or previous blood transfusions, and the only risk factor was a history of multiple sexual partners (in 3 out of 4).

1982 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
pp. 7-16 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. A. Khalifa

SummaryIn a survey of 1475 urban Moslem wives in the age group 15–49 living in the capital city of the Sudan, knowledge of birth control was reported by almost all respondents while a significant proportion had used contraception at least once. The mean age of the users was 32·8 years, their duration of marriage was 15·1 years and their mean number of surviving children was 4·6. Those who had never used contraception had a higher mean age, a longer duration of marriage and more surviving children. Most of the users had an urban residential background and belonged to the high socioeconomic class. They held favourable attitudes to family planning. Although they thought that having a large family (more than five children) was not desirable, their mean preferred family size was no different from that of the never users.The results indicate that contraception is used for the purpose of spacing births rather than limiting their ultimate number. At this early stage of contraceptive adoption in Sudan, the characteristics of the pioneer acceptors are similar to those observed in other African countries.


2011 ◽  
Vol 26 (S2) ◽  
pp. 641-641
Author(s):  
S.H. Kavari

IntroductionDepression is a serious condition that can impact every area of your life. Female depression and even the pattern of symptoms are often different.AimsThe aim of this research study is to investigate the rate of server depression in those who use propellant. In order to achieve this objective, 260 patients volunteered to participate in this investigation and they were referred to the family planning clinic at Hafez hospital, and were planted capsule of Norplant.MethodsIn order to further fulfill selection process of patients suitable for this project, 200 of the most suitable candidates who suffered from even minor depression but had no history of congenital and familial major depression were selected and considered fit for this research work.ResultsThe results drawn from this investigative study can be summarized as follows;1-The relationships between progesterone in anti pregnancy compound tablets, major depression and anxiety were recognized from many years ago. Norplant which is progestin itself can also be regarded as the cause of these conditions.2-This investigation concluded that, among those patients studied, only 0.5% started having major depression as a result of the plantation. Therefore, Norplant was removed from their body.ConclusionsA good consultation, awareness, correct guidance and efficient method of educating people before using Norplant, seeking prompt referral advice and future follow ups, will result in an effective way of preventing, diagnosis and treatment of these side effect conditions.


2021 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Angella Atukunda ◽  
Mwaka Amos Deogratius ◽  
Emmanuel Arinaitwe ◽  
Philip Orishaba ◽  
Moses R. Kamya ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Uganda's clinical management guidelines recommend a malaria laboratory test in all patients presenting with fever (history of fever or an axillary temperature ≥ 37.5 °C), and only those with a positive test receive anti-malarial treatment. However, the current practice in areas with declining malaria transmission remains unknown. This study assessed the clinicians’ diagnostic practices, the factors associated with recommending a test, and the risk of missing a malaria case when a test is not recommended in patients presenting with fever in Kampala, an area of declining malaria transmission in Uganda. Methods Between January and March 2020, 383 participants aged ≥ 12 years and presenting to Kisenyi Health Centre IV in Kampala district with fever were enrolled in the study. A questionnaire was administered during exit interviews, routine diagnostic practices were recorded from participant clinical notes, and a research blood slide was obtained for later reading. Results Of the enrolled participants, 356 (93%) had a malaria diagnostic test recommended by the clinician. Factors associated with increasing prevalence of having a test recommended included; history of overnight travel (adjusted prevalence ratio [aPR] 1.07, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.02–1.13, p = 0.011), being married (aPR = 1.07, 95% CI 1.01–1.13, p = 0.022), and having tertiary education (aPR = 1.09 95% CI 1.01–1.17, p = 0.031). Among the 27 participants where a malaria diagnostic test was not recommended, 4 (14.8%) had a positive study smear. Conclusion Despite having significant declines in malaria transmission in Kampala in the last decade, clinicians at the study health facility highly adhered to the clinical management guidelines, recommending a malaria test in almost all patients presenting with fever. However, a significant proportion of malaria cases was missed when a test was not recommended. These results highlight the importance of laboratory testing for malaria in all patients who present with fevers and live in endemic settings even when the transmission has significantly declined.


Author(s):  
Akinwale Oladayo Damilola ◽  
Akinbade Musiliat Olufunke ◽  
Ogunsina Ibukunoluwa Deborah ◽  
Akinwale Akinwumi Adebowale

Aims: Utilization of modern contraception to prevent pregnancies is a unique health intervention as unplanned pregnancies expose women to additional health risks and lifetime risk of maternal mortality by increasing the number of lifetime pregnancies and deliveries. This study therefore aims at evaluating the prevalence and pattern of modern contraceptive choices among women of reproductive age and to identify the most commonly used modern contraceptives. Study Design: Retrospective study carried out at family planning clinic of Community Health Centre, Osun State University Teaching Hospital, Osogbo, Osun State, South-West Nigeria between January 2013 to December 2020. Methodology: The clients who had attended family planning clinic for modern contraceptive services during the period of eight (8) years were identified from clinic register. Their case files were retrieved and relevant data extracted with the use of standardized pro forma. Two hundred and twenty-two (222) case notes were available and suitable for analysis. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics and inferential statistics of chi square and ANOVA. Results: The result revealed highest prevalence of modern contraceptive utilization among young women with slight increase in rate of utilization as the age increases and decreases with older age. The most commonly utilized methods of contraception were Injectables: Noristerat and Depo-Provera; and IUCD. Result further showed significant relationship between age, number of children alive, breastfeeding status and desire to have more children and choice of modern contraceptive (P- value < 0.000). Conclusion: Utilization of modern contraceptives can be improved through adequate public health education, thus, this study recommended that health education should be intensified at antenatal clinic, infant welfare clinic, religious places, market places and any place of public gathering.


1988 ◽  
Vol 152 (3) ◽  
pp. 330-339 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gillian C. Mezey ◽  
Pamela J. Taylor

Twelve women, reporting rape to the police, were interviewed on three occasions over a 4-month period. Their psychological and behavioural experiences, during that time, were compared with those of 12 controls: women who were attending a Family Planning Clinic and without a history of such trauma, and small numbers of victims of non-sexual assault. All victims showed, initially, high levels of distress or some psychopathology but only the rape victims were reliable in attending follow-up appointments. In all but one case the acute, intense symptoms of distress resolved, but other substantial changes in lifestyle had taken place. The particular difficulties in counselling and research in this area were highlighted by this pilot work. Would-be counsellors should be cautious about taking on this kind of work unless considerable practical and emotional support is available to them.


2006 ◽  
Vol 175 (4S) ◽  
pp. 306-306
Author(s):  
Yefim R. Sheynkin ◽  
David A. Schulsinger
Keyword(s):  

Author(s):  
Gerald O. West

Liberation biblical interpretation and postcolonial biblical interpretation have a long history of mutual constitution. This essay analyzes a particular context in which these discourses and their praxis have forged a third conversation partner: decolonial biblical interpretation. African and specifically South African biblical hermeneutics are the focus of reflections in this essay. The South African postcolony is a “special type” of postcolony, as the South African Communist Party argued in the 1960s. The essay charts the characteristics of the South African postcolony and locates decolonial biblical interpretation within the intersections of these features. Race, culture, land, economics, and the Bible are forged in new ways by contemporary social movements, such as #FeesMustFall. South African biblical studies continues to draw deeply on the legacy of South African black theology, thus reimagining African biblical studies as decolonial African biblical studies—a hybrid of African liberation and African postcolonial biblical interpretation.


Viruses ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (7) ◽  
pp. 1287
Author(s):  
T. Walter ◽  
Jennifer Iudicello ◽  
Debra Cookson ◽  
Donald Franklin ◽  
Bin Tang ◽  
...  

Methamphetamine (METH) use disorder is highly prevalent among people with HIV (PWH) and is a significant public health problem. HIV and METH use are each associated with immune system dysfunction; however, the combined effects on the immune system are poorly understood. This cross-sectional project measured soluble immune biomarkers in plasma and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) collected from a control group, people with a history of a METH use disorder (METH+), PWH with no history of METH use disorder (HIV+), and PWH with a history of METH use disorder (HIV+/METH+). HIV, METH, and immune dysfunction can also be associated with affective and cognitive deficits, so we characterized mood and cognition in our participants. Two factor analyses were performed for the plasma and CSF biomarkers. Plasma IL-8, Ccl2, VEGF, and 8-isoprostane loaded onto one factor that was highest in the HIV+/METH+ group (p < 0.047) reflecting worse inflammation, vascular injury, and oxidative stress. This plasma factor was also negatively correlated with delayed recall (R = −0.49, p = 0.010), which was worst in the HIV+/METH+ group (p = 0.030 compared to the control group). Overall, these data implicate that combined HIV-1 infection and METH use may exacerbate inflammation, leading to worse cognition.


2021 ◽  
Vol 149 ◽  
Author(s):  
Leeberk Raja Inbaraj ◽  
Sindhulina Chandrasingh ◽  
Nalini Arun Kumar ◽  
Jothi Suchitra ◽  
Abi Manesh

Abstract Varicella infection during pregnancy has serious and/or difficult implications and in some cases lethal outcome. Though epidemiological studies in developing countries reveal that a significant proportion of patients may remain susceptible during pregnancy, such an estimate of susceptible women is not known in India. We designed this study to study the prevalence and factors associated with susceptibility to varicella among rural and urban pregnant women in South India. We prospectively recruited 430 pregnant women and analysed their serum varicella IgG antibodies as surrogates for protection. We estimated seroprevalence, the validity of self-reported history of chickenpox and factors associated with varicella susceptibility. We found 23 (95% CI 19.1–27.3) of women were susceptible. Nearly a quarter (22.2%) of the susceptible women had a history of exposure to chickenpox anytime in the past or during the current pregnancy. Self-reported history of varicella had a positive predictive value of 82.4%. Negative history of chickenpox (adjusted prevalence ratio (PR) 1.85, 95% CI 1.15–3.0) and receiving antenatal care from a rural secondary hospital (adjusted PR 4.08, 95% CI 2.1–7.65) were significantly associated with susceptibility. We conclude that high varicella susceptibility rates during pregnancy were noted and self-reported history of varicella may not be a reliable surrogate for protection.


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