Attitudes and practices of travelers regarding COVID-19 vaccine and adverse reactions

Objective.In the context of the global COVID-19 pandemic, COVID-19 vaccines were made available to different countries. This study aimed to assess travelers' attitudes and practices toward the COVID vaccine and adverse events. Methods. A survey was conducted using a questionnaire from April 1 to June 30, 2021, among travelers who came for their COVID-19 test at the Institut Pasteur of Côte d'Ivoire.Results. A total of 527 travelers agreed to participate in this study, including 336 men and 161 women. Overall, 26% of respondents had already received their COVID-19 vaccine, while 76% of respondents responded they did not want to be vaccinated. The age of those most vaccinated (116) ranged from 25 to 64 years with a small proportion for those over 65 years (0.8%). Travelers (41) to France were the most vaccinated. All vaccinated persons (135) had a high level of education and were either Christian (89 persons), Muslim (45 persons) or animist (1 person). Adverse events related to the COVID vaccination were reported in seven individuals. These included muscle pain, fever and nausea. Conclusion.Negative attitudes towards vaccines are a major public health concern. In view of these results, for awareness raising, vaccination campaign may be focused on youthand people over 65 years of age. Public health messages containing information about vaccine safety should be tailored to address this vaccine hesitancy

Transport experiences of people with disabilities during learnerships

Transport is a known national barrier for people with disabilities in South Africa. It is similarly identified as a barrier in learnerships and economic opportunity programmes. This article discusses the extent to which transport is a barrier during learnerships for students with disabilities. The Department of Transport administered an online evaluation questionnaire to a random sample of students with disabilities. Results were coded in terms of 'barriers to access' and 'barriers to participation'. The data were organised into themes. The collated evidence is discussed in this article. The findings demonstrated that transport barriers were present in different modes of transport and different parts of the travel chain. However, the findings also demonstrated the negative impact of transport on the learnership experience and economic opportunities. The findings indicated that inaccessible transport is an integral cause of learnership incompletion for students with disabilities, where the universal accessibility of both transport and the built environment are a prerequisite need. Most students with disabilities reported that transport was not a barrier to learnership participation or that problems with transport could be resolved. Nevertheless, it was one of the identified barriers that negatively affected learnership participation experiences. It was a significant barrier to learnership completion for students with the most severe experience of disability. The sample consisted of only 32 students and a high number of unspecified responses. Evidence from other studies indicates that transport for all persons with disabilities remains a barrier warranting further examination, because public transport has remained inaccessible for over 23 years. Further research is required to verify this study and to investigate learnership cost­benefit for all students

The Effects of Psychological Inoculation on Cognitive Barriers Against Condom Use in Women with HIV: A Controlled Pilot Study

Past studies have shown that in attempts to prevent HIV; health education yields little change in condom use. The reason may be that education fails to target barriers for changing behaviour. The present controlled pilot study tested whether psychological inoculation (PI) reduces such barriers for using male condoms. Twenty-two Nigerian women with HIV were randomly assigned to receive PI or health education (control). In the PI condition; women learned to refute sentences reflecting barriers against condom use; while controls learned how to use condoms and the consequences of their non-use. Barriers for condom use; self-efficacy to negotiate condom use with partners and actual condom use were self-reported before and one week after interventions. Results revealed that only in the PI group were there statistically significant increases in condom use negotiating self-efficacy and reductions in barriers concerning motivation; sexual satisfaction and partners. Controls reported no statistically significant changes. However; actual reported condom use was unchanged in both groups. Thus; it is feasible to conduct PI interventions in an African sample of HIV patients. Furthermore; PI can reduce cognitive barriers for condom use; while health education yields little changes in such outcomes over time. If replicated in larger samples with longer follow-ups; these findings could eventually have implications for HIV prevention in several world regions

Hearing native voices: contraceptive use in Matemwe village; East Africa

Although fertility declines have been documented in various parts of Africa; fertility rates remain high in Tanzania. Widespread resistance to modern contraception is one factor associated with high fertility in Tanzania. The aim of this study was to identify cultural barriers to modern contraceptive use in Matemwe village; Zanzibar. In May 2003; more than 50 in-depth interviews were conducted with community leaders; health care workers and couples in Matemwe. Despite free and easy access to contraceptives; only 2 of Matemwe women participated in the village's family planning programme. Several factors were found to influence contraceptive use; including strong Muslim beliefs; male dominance over females (especially in polygynous relationships); and limited exposure to modern ideas via education and travel. Interviews indicated that in order to lower fertility in Matemwe; cultural barriers to family planning must be confronted. Successful implementation of a family planning programme hinges on the ability of policymakers to integrate modern ideas about contraception with Matemwe's traditional religious and political culture