Abstract: Sexual and reproductive health (SRH) services have drawn much attention in most African countries. Special focus had been directed toward the utilization of sexual and reproductive health services by adolescents aged 15 to 19 years old. However, little is known about parental and guardians' roles in optimizing the utilization of sexual and reproductive health services by adolescents 15 – 19 years in Leribe district, Lesotho. The study aimed to explore the perceptions and experiences of parents and guardians regarding contraceptive use by adolescents to prevent teenage pregnancy in the Leribe district. A qualitative exploratory study design was done using one-on-one semi-structured interviews with parents and guardians raising adolescents aged 15-19 years in their homes. Twelve parents and guardians attending healthcare services at the selected hospital were purposively selected to participate in the study. Data was analyzed using six steps of Thematic data analysis by Braun and Clarke. Six themes were identified from the study, parents and guardians knew about contraceptives and their use, contraceptive use was understood to prevent problems to the family, contraceptives were viewed as resulting in unfavorable behaviour to adolescents, experiences on sexual health communication were considered as significant and non-significant, outreach services were needed to reach vulnerable adolescents, and awareness about contraceptive use by adolescents. Participants were aware of the prevailing situation of teenage pregnancy and its consequences. That is why they advocated for contraceptive use by adolescents and engage in sexual health communication for their adolescents to make the right decisions concerning SRH issues.
Abstract: Sexual and reproductive health (SRH) services have drawn much attention in most African countries. Special focus had been directed toward the utilization of sexual and reproductive health services by adolescents aged 15 to 19 years old. However, little is known about parental and guardians' roles in optimizing the utilization of sexual and reproduc...Show More
Abstract: Background: Approximately one third of all PLWHA are infected with latent TB infection and HIV`s attack on the immune system greatly increases the risk that latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) will progress to active TB form. Implementation of a co-infection prevention intervention addresses the HIV counseling and testing for all TB patients and this allows individuals to access comprehensive health care services for both diseases. Recognizing and treating TB in people living with HIV can be advantage to prevent or reduce TB-related morbidity and mortality. General objective of the study: Assess the Anti-TB treatment outcome among HIV positive and negative TB patients. Method: This study was conducted in SNNPR, Hawassa city, Adare Hospital from February 20 to 28/2011. A retrospective comparative cross-sectional quantitative study was conducted on a total of 1000 TB patients (existing facility based secondary data from TB registry book). Data was entered and analyzed using SPSS version17 statistical package. Percentages were calculated to describe all the variables, odd ration with 95% confidence intervals were calculated to assess associations between independent and dependent variables. Result: Only 72.9% were tested for HIV and out of these 32.6% were HIV positive. Among HIV negative patients “treatment success” rate was 85.7% whereas among HIV positive patients was 77.1%. These indicate that individuals with HIV positive its anti-TB treatment outcome is more associated with its HIV sero-status. Conclusion: strengthening of implementation of TB/HIV co-infection intervention and giving attention to those co-infected patients for better quality of care is recommended.
Abstract: Background: Approximately one third of all PLWHA are infected with latent TB infection and HIV`s attack on the immune system greatly increases the risk that latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) will progress to active TB form. Implementation of a co-infection prevention intervention addresses the HIV counseling and testing for all TB patients and t...Show More
Abstract: Background: HIV/AIDS and hepatitis B virus (HBV) are two serious global health threats that co-occur and are resistant to antiretroviral therapy (ART). Milions of people worldwide lost their lives to acquired immunodeficiency in 2019.Thus, this study was aimed to evaluate the survival status of patients co-infected with HIV and hepatitis B viruses who are on antiretroviral therapy (HART). Methods: A retrospective cohort study design was conducted. Individuals with HIV-HBV co-infected with HIV mono-infected in six health facilities in Mekelle City from January 2009 to February 2018. The total sample size was 466, of which 94 were HBV exposed and 372 were unexposed for HBV on ART clients. Kaplan-Meier survival and Cox proportional hazard models for survival analysis were used. Data was analyzed using STATA version 14. Result: Of the total patients, 300 (64.3%) were females and most age groups were 15-30 years old, 199 (43%). Over 1960 person years of observation time at risk, 23 (24%) HIV-HBV co-infected and 26 (7%) HIV mono-infected died. In the adjusted analysis, HIV-HBV co-infected group had a 2.53 times increased hazard of death (aHR: 2.52; 95% CI: 1.31-4.85) than HIV mono-infected. Conclusion: In this cohort study, mortality is higher in the HIV-HBV co-infected group. Hence, special attention shall be given to HIV-HBV co-infected groups, to significantly reduce mortality, and contribute to alleviating public health burden.
Abstract: Background: HIV/AIDS and hepatitis B virus (HBV) are two serious global health threats that co-occur and are resistant to antiretroviral therapy (ART). Milions of people worldwide lost their lives to acquired immunodeficiency in 2019.Thus, this study was aimed to evaluate the survival status of patients co-infected with HIV and hepatitis B viruses ...Show More