The Influence of Biological Factors on Students' Sexual Behaviour at the University of KwaZulu-Natal; South Africa

Studies in South African universities reveal that the prevalence of sexual risk behaviour is very high; putting many students at high risk of HIV infection. This study explored the biological influences on students' sexual taking behaviour at the University of KwaZulu-Natal; South Africa. A qualitative approach was used; comprising a total of 80 in-depth interviews and 4 focus group discussions. These were conducted between late 2008 and early 2010. The research had equal representation of male and female students; different races; two campuses and different levels of study. Factors associated with students' sexual behaviour were identified. The data were analysed using thematic analysis; and the themes identified form the basis for discussion in this paper. Students' sexual behaviour was positively associated with the influence of a range of biological factors. Factors such as age; judgement of the health of the partner by looking at appearances; pursuit of physical beauty; sexual debut; sexual fit; and search for sexual pleasure encouraged students to engage in sexual behaviour. Most students are young and lack experience in assessing the influence of biological factors on their sexual behaviours; and need education on biological factors. This poses a big challenge to controlling students' sexual behaviour; especially if HIV and sexually transmitted diseases prevention interventions are to be successful

Meaning-Making of a Group of South Africans in their Experience of Living with HIV : a Phenomenological study

With the primary focus of disease specific studies on the medical and biological transmission and progression of HIV/AIDS; the lived experience and meaning-making of individuals who live with this disease; is a literary scarcity. Similarly; the idiosyncratic meaning-making of middle class citizens diagnosed with HIV/AIDS appears largely unexplored. Addressing these concerns; the aim of this article is to explore the lived experience and meaning-making of four middle-class South Africans diagnosed with HIV. Open-ended questions were formulated and used to elicit the rich idiosyncratic meaning of the complex experiences of the participants. The research indicates that HIV/AIDS is experienced as an intrusive violation of one's way of being-in-the-world in relation to one's self and others and involves a complex process consisting of overwhelming and intense feelings. The research also indicates that; in the experience of living with HIV/AIDS; a space is created for the rediscovery of spirituality; religion and compassion. Consequently; an appreciation for life; a need for belongingness; community; and also a transcendence of the mundane by positive embrace of one's time on earth is facilitated in the experience of living with this disease. This positive shift in what it means to live with HIV/AIDS in South Africa might have important implications for the helping professions and from which many therapeutic benefits might derive

Profil biologiques compares du myelome multiple de l'adulte jeune (60ans) et de l'adulte age (60 ans)

L'etude retrospective comparative des aspects biologiques du myelome multiple chez 12 patients de plus de 60 ans et chez 19 patients de moins de 60 ans realisee au service d'hematologie clinique du C.H.U. de Yopougon de septembre 2003 a fevrier 2004 a donne les conclusions suivantes: AU PLAN EPIDEMIOLOGIQUE : L'age moyen est de 55;58 ans avec des extremes de 40 a 75 ans; un sex-ratio de 4 hommes pour I femme chez les malades de moins de 60 ans et 2 femmes pour 1 homme chez les patients de plus de 60 ans. Le groupe ethnique Kwa semble le plus touche. La plupart des patients resident a Abidjan avec un niveau socio-economique faible. La profession n'a pas d'influence sur la maladie. AU PLAN BIOLOGIQUE : Concernant le bilan hematologique; la plasmocytose medullaire est elevee (moyenne de 33;38pour cent) avec une legere accentuation chez les malades de moins de 60 ans (36;4pour cent). L'anemie avec un taux d'hemoglobine inferieur a 8.5 g/dl est generalement observee dans les deux groupes de notre serie et une thrombopenie chez 50pour cent des patients de notre serie. Concernant le bilan biochimique; la protidemie est elevee dans notre serie (moyenne de 106 g/fl. A l'electrophorese des protides; le pic monoclonal dans la zone des gamma globuline est generalement constante dans notre serie de meme que l'hypoalbuminemie qui est cependant tres severe chez les patients de plus de 60 ans. L'hypercalcemie et la fonction renale ne sont pas influencees par l'age. Le syndrome tumoral est tres important et s'accompagne d'une hyperactivite intrinseque chez l'adulte jeune caracterise par une elevation de la beta2 microglobuline et la CRP. Concernant le bilan immunologique; le myelome a lgG est predominant dans notre serie quel que soit le groupe d'age. La plupart des patients presentent un myelome a chaine legere kappa. Le taux d'IgG monoclonale ne semble pas etre influence par l'age et la baisse des Ig normales est constante dans les deux groupes d'age. AU NIVEAU PRONOSTIQUE : Le pronostic est generalement mauvais selon la classification de Dune et Salmon (stade III) dans les deux groupes. Il est moyen selon la classification de la SWOG; par contre la classification de KLEIN revele un pronostic sombre (groupe III) chez les patients de moins de 60 ans faisant ainsi de l'age jeune un facteur de mauvais pronostic