Challenges in Palliative Care Provision in Ethiopia: An Exploratory Qualitative Study.

Background: The prevalence of chronic illnesses is increasing at an alarming rate in Ethiopia. However, the existing palliative care service is not adequate to address the palliative care need of the patients and their families. This demands the need to explore, among other things, the challenges in palliative care provision.

Knowledge of preconception care among healthcare providers working in public health institutions in Hawassa, Ethiopia.

Background: Preconception care (PCC) is an evidence-based health promotion intervention to prevent adverse pregnancy outcomes. Nevertheless, it is one of the missing elements within the continuum of maternal and child healthcare. Despite the WHO's recommendation, most of the developing countries have not yet started implementing preconception care.

Engagement with Care, Substance Use, and Adherence to Therapy in HIV/AIDS.

Engagement with care for those living with HIV is aimed at establishing a strong relationship between patients and their health care provider and is often associated with greater adherence to therapy and treatment (Flickinger, Saha, Moore, and Beach, 2013). Substance use behaviors are linked with lower rates of engagement with care and medication adherence (Horvath, Carrico, Simoni, Boyer, Amico, and Petroli, 2013). This study is a secondary data analysis using a cross-sectional design from a larger randomized controlled trial (n = 775) that investigated the efficacy of a self-care symptom management manual for participants living with HIV.

Challenges in the management of support and care programmes for child-headed households in South Africa.

Aims: The present study reports on data collected in a larger study on 'A situational analysis of child-headed households in South Africa'. The purpose of this study was to explore the management and control of available and required services, resources and safety nets for children in child-headed households.

Background: The significance of having a better understanding of the challenges, limitations but importance for government structures to manage and control programmes will enhance the implementation and maintenance of focused and sustainable support structures and programmes which will effectively address the needs of child-headed households.

Children's rights in the context of HIV/AIDS in Southern Africa.

Children in Southern Africa are living under extreme, difficult circumstances because of the spread of HIV/AIDS. Protecting and enhancing the rights of children can be regarded as an investment in the future. The principles identified in the World Fit for Children document from the United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund, within the context of HIV/AIDS, were used as a theoretical framework for a study conducted in one of the provinces of South Africa.