[Impact of mid-level management and support on the performance of a district health system in the Democratic Republic of the Congo].

Introduction: The aim of this study was to assess the contribution of mid-level management and support practices to the overall performance of a district healthcare system.

Methods: This case study was carried out in the North Kivu Province of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. It was based on analysis of (i) preventive and curative healthcare services and (ii) management and support practices provided from 2000 to 2008.

Species and sex identification of western lowland gorillas (Gorilla gorilla gorilla), eastern lowland gorillas (Gorilla beringei graueri) and humans.

Methods for the identification of the sex and species of individuals from samples non-invasively taken from humans and gorillas were established. Amplification of a segment of amelogenin (AMG), which is an X-Y homologous gene, using two pairs of primers from human AMG, revealed both X- and Y-specific bands. The possibility of sex identification was examined by typing the AMG gene using hair and fecal samples from captive western lowland gorillas (Gorilla gorilla gorilla) in Japan and hair samples from wild eastern lowland gorillas (Gorilla beringei graueri) in the Kahuzi-Biega National Park, Democratic Republic of Congo, which were sexed by direct observation.

Does increased general schooling protect against HIV infection? A study in four African cities.

Background: The association between educational attainment and risk of HIV infection varies between populations and over time. Earlier studies in sub-Saharan Africa have found that those with more education are at increased risk of HIV infection.

Methods: We investigated the associations between general schooling and both HIV and herpes simplex-2 (HSV-2) infection using data from the multicentre study on factors determining the differential spread of HIV in four African cities.

HIV risk in relation to marriage in areas with high prevalence of HIV infection.

In sub-Saharan Africa, the prevalence of HIV infection among young women is much higher than that among young men. Many women enter marriage HIV-infected, suggesting that men may be predominantly infected by their wives. Using data from cross-sectional surveys in Kisumu, Kenya, and Ndola, Zambia, in 1997, the prevalence of HIV infection at marriage was estimated from age at marriage and age- and sex-specific prevalence of HIV infection among unmarried individuals.

The epidemiology of HSV-2 infection and its association with HIV infection in four urban African populations.

Objectives: To estimate age- and sex-specific herpes simplex virus type-2 (HSV-2) prevalence in urban African adult populations and to identify factors associated with infection.

Design And Methods: Cross-sectional, population-based samples of about 2000 adults interviewed in each of the following cities: Cotonou, Benin; Yaoundé, Cameroon; Kisumu, Kenya and Ndola, Zambia. Consenting study participants were tested for HIV, HSV-2 and other sexually transmitted infections.