Beyond the statistics of sex-based differences in infection rates, there are profound differences in the underlying causes and consequences of HIV infections in male and female which need to be examined. The study therefore examines; the gender differences in the STI knowledge and gender-related potential risks of HIV heterosexual transmission. Quantitative and qualitative data were collected. A multistage random sampling procedure was employed in administration of 1358 questionnaires. For qualitative data, four focus group discussions (FGD) were conducted to collect information from stakeholders within the study population, while In-depth interview was employed to collect information from 188 people living with HIV/AIDS through support groups in the State. The data collected were subjected to basic demographic analytical techniques. Combination of univariate, bivariate, and multivariate analysis were employed. Information from focus group discussions and in-depth interviews were transcribed and organized under broad headings that depict different aspects of the discussions. Majority of the respondents interviewed did not inform their partners about their infection in the study area. It was also discovered that stigmatization did not allow some women to disclose their status to their sexual partners. Some of the HIV-positive patients interviewed agreed that they did not attend the health facilities to treat the STI's before they were finally confirmed positive. The study hypothesis revealed that communication between partners about STI's was associated with an increase in risk reduction behaviour. The paper concluded that there is need for more information and education on communication about STI's between the sexual partners; to reduce the spread of sexually transmitted diseases within the nation.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.4081/idr.2011.e7 | DOI Listing |
BMC Health Serv Res
January 2025
Centre for Infectious Disease Control, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment, P.O. Box 1, Bilthoven, 3720 BA, The Netherlands.
HIV self-sampling and -testing (HIVSS/ST) reduces testing barriers and potentially reaches populations who may not test otherwise. In the Netherlands, at-home HIV tests became commercially available around 2016, but data on user experiences are limited. This study aimed to explore characteristics of users and their experiences with HIVSS/ST.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFDiagn Microbiol Infect Dis
January 2025
Centre for HIV & Sexually Transmitted Infections, National Institute for Communicable Diseases, Division of National Health Laboratory Service, Johannesburg, South Africa.
Background: HIV rapid diagnostic tests are crucial for timely diagnosis, especially in resource-limited settings. The World Health Organization recommends sensitivity ≥99 % and specificity ≥98 %. This study assessed RDT performance across South Africa's provinces using a proficiency testing program.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFViruses
January 2025
Centre for Virus Research, The Westmead Institute for Medical Research, Westmead 2145, Australia.
Anogenital inflammation is a critical risk factor for HIV acquisition. The primary preventative HIV intervention, pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), is ineffective in blocking transmission in anogenital inflammation. Pre-existing sexually transmitted diseases (STIs) and anogenital microbiota dysbiosis are the leading causes of inflammation, where inflammation is extensive and often asymptomatic and undiagnosed.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPlants (Basel)
January 2025
College of Agriculture and Environmental Science (CAES), University of South Africa, Priva Bag X06, Florida 0710, South Africa.
Plants have long been used to treat serious illnesses in both humans and animals. A significant underappreciated medicinal tree, Sond is utilized by many different ethnic groups to cure a wide range of illnesses. A variety of electronic databases, including ScienceDirect, Scopus, Scielo, Scifinder, PubMed, Web of Science, Medline, and Google Scholar, were used to search the literature on , using key words such as uses, survey, pharmacology, antigonococcal, toxicity, phytochemistry and others.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFInt J Mol Sci
January 2025
Department of Dermatology, Sexually Transmitted Diseases and Clinical Immunology, Collegium Medicum, University of Warmia and Mazury, Al. Wojska Polskiego 30, 10-229 Olsztyn, Poland.
Vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) and E-selectin are involved in different inflammatory diseases and may be potential cardiovascular risk biomarkers in psoriasis. They play an important role in regulating the recruitment and adhesion to endothelial cells during inflammation, affecting various conditions like vasculitis, atherosclerosis, and cardiovascular diseases. Positive outcomes have been observed when using Tumor Necrosis Factor Alpha (TNF-α) inhibitors and biological therapies that target selectins to control the functioning of endothelial cells and reduce inflammation in psoriasis and related conditions.
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