Morphological variations of auditory bullae in otomyine rodents (Rodentia: Otomyini) in southern African biomes.

Mammalian middle ear cavities differ from those of other taxa as they comprise three ossicles and in rodents, can be encapsulated by an auditory bulla. In small mammals, the middle ear cavity (bulla) was found to be enlarged in the desert-dwelling species; however, differences in bullar size could have been due to ancestry. In this study, we sampled seven species from three genera (Myotomys, Otomys, and Parotomys) of the African murid tribe Otomyini (laminated-toothed rats), and compared the bullar volumes and shapes between the otomyine species and within the species Myotomys unisulcatus.

Differences between health and ethical vegetarians. Strength of conviction, nutrition knowledge, dietary restriction, and duration of adherence.

Little research has been published concerning the differences between health oriented and ethically oriented vegetarians. The present study compared differences in conviction, nutrition knowledge, dietary restriction, and duration of adherence to vegetarianism between the two groups. Subjects completed an online survey and were grouped by original reason for becoming vegetarian (n=292, 58 health, 234 ethical), and current reason for remaining vegetarian (n=281, 49 health, 232 ethical).

Trends in antenatal HIV prevalence in urban Uganda associated with uptake of preventive sexual behaviour.

Background: Epidemiological surveillance in Uganda has consistently shown declining HIV prevalence particularly among young antenatal women since the early 1990s, correlated with increased uptake of protective sexual behaviour.

Objective: To describe trends in sexual behaviour nationwide and antenatal HIV prevalence from urban sentinel sites in Uganda (1989-2002).

Methods: Review of antenatal HIV seroprevalence data from the sentinel surveillance system (1989-2002) and data on sexual behavioural indicators from the AIDS module of the National Demographic and Health Surveys (1989, 1995 and 2000/01).

An evaluation of post-campaign knowledge and practices of exclusive breastfeeding in Uganda.

Despite the benefits of exclusive breastfeeding for the health of mothers and children, its practice has markedly declined throughout the developing world. Mass media-communication programmes could play an important role in reversing this trend. This study evaluated the extent to which exposure to behaviour change communication (BCC) messages in the media determined recent improvements in exclusive breastfeeding knowledge and practices in areas targeted by the Delivery of Improved Services for Health (DISH) Project of Uganda.

Facility-level reproductive health interventions and contraceptive use in Uganda.

Context: In Uganda, modern contraceptive use has recently increased in areas served by the Delivery of Improved Services for Health (DISH) project. Whether these increases are associated with facility-level factors is unknown, however.

Methods: Data from the 1999 DISH Evaluation Surveys were used in multivariate logistic regressions to assess the independent relationships of five indicators of the family planning service environment with individual-level use of a modern contraceptive in rural and urban areas.