Correction: Self-collected and clinician-collected anal swabs show modest agreement for HPV genotyping.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.

Screening of mushrooms from the woodlands of Zimbabwe: Occurrence of lectins and partial purification of a mucin specific lectin from Boletus edulis.

Mushrooms are known to possess a diversity of bioactive compounds that include lectins, which are proteins or glycoproteins that bind specifically to cell surface carbohydrates, culminating in cell agglutination. The present study describes the screening of lectin activity from ten local mushrooms, namely, Amanita zambiana, Boletus edulis, Cantharellus heinemannianus, Cantharellus miomboensis, Cantharellus symoensii, Lactarius kabansus, Amanita sp., Coprinus sp.

Effect of inappropriate complementary feeding practices on the nutritional status of children aged 6-24 months in urban Moshi, Northern Tanzania: Cohort study.

Introduction: Childhood undernutrition is a major public health problem especially in low and middle-income countries (LMIC). The prevalence of early introduction of complementary feeding, low meal frequency, and low dietary diversity are frequent in LMICs. The effect of inappropriate complementary feeding practices on the nutritional status of children is not well documented in East African countries including Tanzania.

Model strategies to address barriers to cervical cancer treatment and palliative care among women in Zimbabwe: a public health approach.

Background: Cervical cancer treatment and care remains limited in Zimbabwe despite the growing burden of the disease among women. This study was aimed at investigating strategies to address barriers in accessing treatment and care by women with cervical cancer in Harare, Zimbabwe.

Methods: A qualitative inquiry was conducted to generate evidence for this study.

Self-collected and clinician-collected anal swabs show modest agreement for HPV genotyping.

Background & Aim: Women with HIV/HPV coinfection and cervical lesions are at increased risk of developing HPV related anal cancer. Self-collection of anal swabs may facilitate HPV molecular testing in anal cancer screening, especially in high-risk groups, and yet it is not adequately studied. We evaluated level of agreement between self-collected anal swabs (SCAS) and clinician-collected anal swabs (CCAS) when used for HPV genotyping.

Impact of pretreatment low-abundance HIV-1 drug-resistant variants on virological failure among HIV-1/TB-co-infected individuals.

Objectives: To determine the impact of pretreatment low-abundance HIV-1 drug-resistant variants (LA-DRVs) on virological failure (VF) among HIV-1/TB-co-infected individuals treated with NNRTI first-line ART.

Methods: We conducted a case-control study of 170 adults with HIV-1/TB co-infection. Cases had at least one viral load (VL) ≥1000 RNA copies/mL after ≥6 months on NNRTI-based ART, and controls had sustained VLs <1000 copies/mL.

Socio-Demographic Determinants of Road Traffic Fatalities in Women of Reproductive Age in the Republic of Georgia: Evidence from the National Reproductive Age Mortality Study (2014).

Purpose: Globally and in the European region, the road traffic injuries (RTI) have emerged as a major public health and development problem, killing the most productive adult members of a population, including women. This study aimed to identify the key socio-demographic determinants of premature and avoidable RTI mortality in reproductive-aged women (15-49 years) in Georgia.

Materials And Methods: The study employed verbal autopsy data from the second national reproductive age mortality survey (RAMOS 2014).

A population pharmacokinetic model is beneficial in quantifying hair concentrations of ritonavir-boosted atazanavir: a study of HIV-infected Zimbabwean adolescents.

Background: Adolescents experience higher levels of non-adherence to HIV treatment. Drug concentration in hair promises to be reliable for assessing exposure to antiretroviral (ARV) drugs. Pharmacokinetic modelling can explore utility of drug in hair.

Prevalence and factors associated with early initiation of breastfeeding among women in Moshi municipal, northern Tanzania.

Background: Early initiation of breastfeeding (EIBF) is a predetermining factor for exclusive breastfeeding, and thus a foundation for optimal breastfeeding practices. Rates of EIBF are low globally (42%) and in Tanzania (51%), yet few studies have been done on this issue in Tanzania. This study aimed to determine the prevalence and factors associated with early initiation of breastfeeding among women in northern Tanzania.

Socio-Demographic Determinants of Mortality from Chronic Noncommunicable Diseases in Women of Reproductive Age in the Republic of Georgia: Evidence from the National Reproductive Age Mortality Study (2014).

Purpose: Worldwide, noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) are the leading cause of premature death of women, taking the highest toll in developing countries. This study aimed to identify key socio-demographic determinants of NCD mortality in reproductive-aged women (15-49 years) in Georgia.

Materials And Methods: The study employed the verbal autopsy data from the second National Reproductive Age Mortality Survey 2014.

Prevalence and factors associated with HIV and syphilis infection among children aged 0-36 months in Kilimanjaro, Tanzania: a community-based cross-sectional study.

Background: Childhood mortality is high in sub-Saharan Africa. Mother-to-child transmission (MTCT) of HIV and congenital syphilis are among significant causes. Dual elimination of these two infections is one of the international goals.

Characterization of Anti-Salmonella typhi Compounds from Medicinal Mushroom Extracts from Zimbabwe.

Antibiotic resistance has become a global concern and threatens the clinical efficacy of many drugs, leading to increased screening of several sources of potential antimicrobial substances. Mushrooms have long been recognized as a valuable source of nutritive and pharmacologically active compounds. Our previous studies showed that the acetone, ethanol, methanol, and cold water crude extracts of various mushrooms-Amanita and Cantharellus species, Ganoderma lucidum, and Lactarius kabansus-exhibited high antibacterial activity against Salmonella typhi.

Emergency cesarean section among women in Robson groups one and three: A comparison study of immigrant and Norwegian women giving birth in a low-risk maternity hospital in Norway.

Researchers have shown that some immigrant groups have an increased risk of emergency cesarean section. The authors' aim was to examine the differences in emergency cesarean section rates among immigrant women in Norway with low obstetric risks by using the Robson classification system. We performed secondary analysis on a Norwegian cohort study, where 10,125 women were classified in Robson groups one and three.

An Exploration of Barriers and Enablers of Retention in a Program to Reduce Vertical Transmission of HIV at Health Centers in Zimbabwe.

Background: Poor retention in the prevention of women in prevention of vertical transmission programs remains a formidable common setback in elimination of HIV/AIDS. It creates new problems such as poor health outcomes and increased incidence of vertical transmission of HIV. There is a dearth of qualitative information to explain poor retention of women in prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) programs in Zimbabwe.

Laboratory characterisation of Salmonella enterica serotype Typhi isolates from Zimbabwe, 2009-2017.

Background: Typhoid fever remains a major public health problem in Zimbabwe with recurrent outbreaks reported since 2009. To provide guidance on appropriate treatment choice in order to minimise the morbidity and mortality of typhoid fever and prevent large scale outbreaks, we investigated the antimicrobial susceptibility patterns, prevalence of Salmonella enterica serotype Typhi (S. Typhi) H58 haplotype and molecular subtypes of S.

Trends in Pretreatment HIV-1 Drug Resistance in Antiretroviral Therapy-naive Adults in South Africa, 2000-2016: A Pooled Sequence Analysis.

Background: South Africa has the largest public antiretroviral therapy (ART) programme in the world. We assessed temporal trends in pretreatment HIV-1 drug resistance (PDR) in ART-naïve adults from South Africa.

Methods: We included datasets from studies conducted between 2000 and 2016, with HIV-1 sequences from more than ten ART-naïve adults.

Awareness and Factors Associated with Health Care Worker's Knowledge on Rubella Infection: A Study after the Introduction of Rubella Vaccine in Tanzania.

Congenital rubella syndrome is a global health problem. The incidence is much higher in Africa and Southeast Asia than the rest of the world, especially in countries where universal rubella vaccination has not been implemented. Healthcare worker's knowledge on rubella infection and the rubella vaccine is of utmost importance in achieving and maintaining vaccination coverage targets.

Exclusive Breastfeeding Rates and Factors Associated with Exclusive Breastfeeding Practices in Northern Tanzania: Measurement using Two Different Methodologies-24 Hours Recall and Recall Since Birth.

Background: Exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) has many benefits to the child from mental to physical growth and development; however, methods of measuring EBF have raised a number of policy and programmatic questions. This study assesses EBF rates and factors associated with EBF practices in Northern Tanzania using two different methodologies, namely, the 24-hours recall and recall-since-birth.

Methods: A cohort study was conducted from October 2013 to December 2015 among mother-infants' pairs.

Comparison of non-invasive methods of assessing liver fibrosis in combination ART-experienced Zimbabweans.

Background: The prevalence of morbidity and mortality associated with liver disease among HIV-infected individuals on combination antiretroviral therapy (ART) is high. Early screening of liver disease is essential, as it provides an opportunity for successful treatment. Hence, there is a need for reliable, inexpensive and non-invasive early markers of hepatic damage.

Facilitators and Barriers to Breastfeeding and Exclusive Breastfeeding in Kilimanjaro Region, Tanzania: A Qualitative Study.

Background: Breastfeeding is the best way to feed infants. It is a simple intervention to improve child health and development. Despite its advantages, there is a low global rate of exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) and, in Kilimanjaro region, Tanzania, EBF is rarely practiced.

KIR and HLA-C Genetic Polymorphisms Influence Plasma IP-10 Concentration in Antiretroviral Therapy-Naive HIV-Infected Adult Zimbabweans.

Past studies on the relationship between Killer cell Immunoglobulin-like Receptor (KIR) and Human Leukocyte Antigen (HLA) genetic variation and chronic immune activation (CIA) in HIV infection are not uniformly consistent. Moreover, interferon-γ-induced protein 10 (IP-10) is a soluble biomarker of immune activation, with high plasma concentrations predicting accelerated disease progression in HIV infection. Thus, we investigated the association of KIR and HLA-C genetic polymorphisms with plasma IP-10 concentration in 183 treatment-naive chronically HIV-infected adults of Bantu origin from Zimbabwe.

HLA-C*18:01 and KIR2DL2+C1 genetic variants are associated with low viral load in cART naïve HIV-infected adult Zimbabweans.

Introduction: Polymorphisms in killer cell immunoglobulin-like receptor (KIR) and human leukocyte antigen (HLA) gene families are implicated in differential outcomes of HIV infection. However, research findings on the influence of KIR and HLA-C polymorphism on HIV disease progression remain inconclusive. We thus investigated the association of KIR and HLA-C gene polymorphisms with plasma HIV load (VL) and CD4+ T lymphocyte (CD4) count in 183 chronically HIV-infected, combination antiretroviral therapy (cART) naïve Zimbabweans of Bantu origin.

Who obtains abortion in Georgia and why?

Purpose: While induced abortion practices are common in Georgia, the sociodemographic subgroups of women predominantly affected by abortion and their leading motives have not yet been explored. The study aims to understand differentials in women undergoing abortion according to background characteristics and get insight into their reasons for availing of abortion services.

Materials And Methods: We analyzed the data on 2,054 abortions from the Georgian Reproductive Health Survey 2010.