Publications by authors named "Maria Fawzy"

Background: "Self-care" for sexual and reproductive health (SRH) includes contraceptive methods and other supplies that people can use with or without the support of a healthcare provider. Self-administered tests, self-injection of injectable contraception, or self-removal of intrauterine devices (IUDs) can increase people's access to and autonomy over their own SRH. Objectives of this study were to assess women's current interest in and use of SRH self-care and explore key informants' (KI) opinions of self-care, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic affected global access to health services, including contraception We sought to explore effects of the pandemic on family planning (FP) service provision and use in South Africa and Zambia, including on implant and intrauterine device (IUD) users' desire and ability to obtain removal.

Methods: Between August 2020 and April 2021, we conducted surveys with 537 women participating in an ongoing longitudinal contraceptive continuation study. We also carried out in-depth interviews with 39 of the survey participants and 36 key informants involved in FP provision.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Few longitudinal studies have measured contraceptive continuation past one year in sub-Saharan Africa. We surveyed 674 women who had been randomized to receive the three-month intramuscular contraceptive injectable (DMPA-IM), levonorgestrel (LNG) implant, or copper intrauterine device (IUD) during the Evidence for Contraceptive Options and HIV Outcomes (ECHO) trial in South Africa and Zambia and were subsequently followed for two additional years to explore method continuation, reasons for discontinuation, and access to implant and IUD removal services. We also conducted in-depth qualitative interviews with 39 participants.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Objectives: To assess differences in HIV testing at 6-months intervals over 24 months among intramuscular depot medroxyprogesterone acetate (DMPA-IM) injectable, levonorgestrel implant, or copper intrauterine devices (IUD) users in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, and Lusaka, Zambia. Testing at recommended intervals has not been previously assessed in long-acting reversible contraceptive (LARC) users (implant and IUD users) compared to those using effective but shorter-acting methods (such as DMPA-IM) in sub-Saharan Africa.

Study Design: As part of the longitudinal contraceptive use beyond ECHO (CUBE) study, we measured HIV testing over 24 months.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background: Evidence of HIV drug resistance (HIVDR) in individuals using oral pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) who acquire HIV is limited to clinical trials and case studies. More data are needed to understand the risk of HIVDR with oral PrEP during PrEP rollout. Mechanisms to collect these data vary, and are dependent on cost, scale of PrEP distribution, and in-country infrastructure for the identification, collection, and testing of samples from PrEP seroconverters.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Introduction: Men who have sex with men (MSM) and transgender women (TGW) in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) are profoundly affected by HIV with high HIV prevalence and incidence. This population also faces strong social stigma and legal barriers, potentially impeding participation in research. To date, few multi-country longitudinal HIV research studies with MSM/TGW have been conducted in SSA.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background: The US National Cancer Institute (NCI) developed software to gather symptomatic adverse events directly from patients participating in clinical trials. The software administers surveys to patients using items from the Patient-Reported Outcomes version of the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (PRO-CTCAE) through Web-based or automated telephone interfaces and facilitates the management of survey administration and the resultant data by professionals (clinicians and research associates).

Objective: The purpose of this study was to iteratively evaluate and improve the usability of the PRO-CTCAE software.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Purpose: To evaluate the reliability and construct validity of measures from the Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System(®) (PROMIS(®)) for patients with heart failure before and after heart transplantation.

Methods: We assessed reliability of the PROMIS short forms using Cronbach's alpha and the average marginal reliability. To assess the construct validity of PROMIS computerized adaptive tests and short-form measures, we calculated Pearson product moment correlations between PROMIS measures of physical function, fatigue, depression, and social function and existing PRO measures of similar domains (i.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background: Cancer incidence and mortality is increasing in the developing world. Inequities between low-, middle-, and high-income countries affect disease burden and the infrastructure needs in response to cancer. We surveyed early-career oncologists attending workshops in clinical research in three countries with emerging economies about their perception of the evolving cancer burden.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Introduction: Despite the ubiquity of 1-month recall periods for measures of sexual function, there is limited evidence for how well recalled responses correspond to individuals' actual daily experiences.

Aim: To characterize the correspondence between daily sexual experiences and 1-month recall of those experiences.

Methods: Following a baseline assessment of sexual functioning, health, and demographic characteristics, 202 adults from the general population (101 women, 101 men) were recruited to complete daily assessments of their sexual function online for 30 days and a single recall measure of sexual function at day 30.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Global climate change is projected to increase the frequency and duration of periods of extremely high temperatures. Both the general populace and public health authorities often underestimate the impact of high temperatures on human health. To highlight the vulnerable populations and illustrate approaches to minimization of health impacts of extreme heat, the authors reviewed the studies of heat-related morbidity and mortality for high-risk populations in the U.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Objective: Cancer and treatments for cancer affect specific aspects of sexual functioning and intimacy; however, limited qualitative work has been done in diverse cancer populations. As part of an effort to improve measurement of self-reported sexual functioning, we explored the scope and importance of sexual functioning and intimacy to patients across cancer sites and along the continuum of care.

Methods: We conducted 16 diagnosis- and sex-specific focus groups with patients recruited from the Duke University tumor registry and oncology/hematology clinics (N=109).

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Objective: Cancer and its treatments disturb sleep-wake functioning; however, there is little information available on the characteristics and consequences of sleep problems associated with cancer. As part of an effort to improve measurement of sleep-wake functioning, we explored the scope of difficulties with sleep in a diverse group of patients diagnosed with cancer.

Methods: We conducted 10 focus groups with patients recruited from the Duke University tumor registry and oncology/hematology clinics.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

A PHP Error was encountered

Severity: Notice

Message: fwrite(): Write of 34 bytes failed with errno=28 No space left on device

Filename: drivers/Session_files_driver.php

Line Number: 272

Backtrace:

A PHP Error was encountered

Severity: Warning

Message: session_write_close(): Failed to write session data using user defined save handler. (session.save_path: /var/lib/php/sessions)

Filename: Unknown

Line Number: 0

Backtrace: