Violences sexuelles à l'hôpital Donka (Guinée)

Introduction. L'objectif de ce travail était de déterminer la prévalence, le profi l épidémiologique et clinique des victimes de violences sexuelles prises en charge au Centre Hospitalo-universitaire de Donka. Méthodes. Il s'agissait d'une étude rétrospective de type descriptif qui s'est déroulée du 01 Janvier2015 au 31 Décembre 2017à l'unité de médecine légale. Résultats. Sur un total de 1937 cas constituant l'ensemble des consultations en victimologie, 16% étaient descas de violence sexuelle.L'âge moyen des victimes était de 8 ansavec des extrêmes de 5 et 56ans et un écart type de 10,79.Dans la majorité des cas, l'agresseur était connu de la victime mais ne faisait pas partie de l'entourage familial direct (52,6%). Les victimes ont consulté majoritairement au cours des 5 premiers jours (55,8%) avec des extrêmes de 8heures et 30jours.Il s'agissait dans la majorité des cas des défl orations anciennes (54,2%). Conclusion : Nos résultats ne sauraient refl éter exactement l'ampleur du phénomène car la majorité des victimes préfère pour une raison ou une autre taire leur drame

HIV-prevention measures on a university campus in South Africa ­ perceptions, practices and needs of undergraduate medical students

Background: Young adults such as university students are considered to be a key population for HIV-prevention efforts. This study aimed to determine the perceptions, practices and needs of undergraduate medical students regarding HIV-prevention measures available on campus. Methods: The research design was descriptive cross-sectional. Data were collected using an anonymous, self-administered questionnaire distributed to all 745 undergraduate medical students in the School of Clinical Medicine, University of the Free State, South Africa, of whom 470 responded (63.1%). Results: Almost half (45.5%) of all respondents across the five academic years had received information about available HIV-prevention measures on campus. Most reported that information had been received during lectures (59.7%) and only 24.2% from the local health clinic on campus. The findings also revealed that 14.2% of students had used at least one prevention measure in the past, while the majority of students (70.2%) used abstinence as an HIV-prevention measure. A large percentage of all the students (47.6%) had been tested for HIV before the start of the study. Two-thirds (67%) of students indicated that the current HIV-prevention services on campus were not sufficient. Conclusion: Medical students received HIV-prevention information as part of their curriculum but this was deemed not to be sufficient. This study suggests that tertiary education institutions should evaluate the effectiveness of strategies currently in place for the distribution and awareness of HIV-prevention measures and sexual health issues affecting students, using a student-centred approach

Adolescent Religiosity and Attitudes to HIV and AIDS in Ghana

This study investigated the relationships between adolescent religiosity and attitudes to HIV/AIDS based on two major techniques of analysis; factor and regression analysis towards informing preventive school education strategies. Using cross-sectional data of 448 adolescents in junior high school; the study incorporated survey in a self-administered questionnaire and sought to identify underlying factors that affect pupils' responses; delineate the pattern of relationships between variables and select models which best explain and predict relationships among variables. A seven-factor solution described the 'attitude' construct including abstinence and protection; and six for 'religiosity'. The results showed relatively high levels of religiosity and a preference for private religiosity as opposed to organisational religiosity. The regression analysis produced significant relationships between factors of attitudes to HIV/AIDS and of religiosity. Adolescent with very high private religiosity are more likely to abstain from sex but less likely to use condoms once they initiate: protection is inversely related to religiosity. The findings suggest that religious-based adolescent interventions should focus on intrinsic religiosity. Additionally; increasing HIV prevention information and incorporating culturally relevant and socially acceptable values might lend support to improved adolescent school-based HIV/AIDS prevention programmes

HIV Protective Strategies Among College Students in Durban; South Africa

There is growing concern about the high level of HIV infection among young people in South Africa. The aim of the study is to examine the HIV protective strategies used by college students with specific emphasis on variations by race group. The data for the study come from a self-administrated survey that was conducted with 3 000 college students in Durban in order to understand the strategies they use to protect themselves against the risk of HIV infection. Overall; students perceived a far greater risk of pregnancy than HIV infection. The results show that abstinence is the most common protective factor among Indian and White students. Among African students; there is great concern about HIV but abstinence is less common. Among sexually active men and women; the majority report having more than one sexual partner (with the exception of Indian females). Female students among all groups were more likely than male students to report that they were faithful to their partners. In Africans the contrast is stark: 25 for women versus 6 for men. Condoms are the most commonly used method by students but are not used in every sexual encounter. Consistent condom use was highest among Indian males (46) and lowest among White females (13.7). More effort needs to be directed at promoting correct and consistent condom use in order to avoid the negative consequences associated with unprotected sexual intercourse including unwanted pregnancy and HIV/AIDS

Young South Africans' viewson; and Perceptions of; Abstinence and Faithfulness

The goals of the Abstinence and Be Faithful Among Youth (ABY) project were to enhance local responses among the youth in South Africa to prevent HIV infection through encouraging abstinence; faithfulness and avoidance of unhealthy sexual behaviour among youths over a five-year period. A quantitative baseline evaluation of the ABY project was conducted in five cities in South Africa. Data were collected from learners and youths just before the ABY intervention started at nine randomly selected sites in Johannesburg; Cape Town; Durban; Port Elizabeth and Mthatha using a three-stage cluster sampling design. In total; nine sites were randomly selected from a possible eighteen. At each of the data-collection points; data were collected from 60 participants. In total there were 27 data-collection points and 1620 respondents. Young people have strong views on abstaining from sexual intercourse; as 83said that it was possible not to have sex for as long as you can. There was also strong support for abstinence; as 78.5said that not having sex was the best way of preventing infection with HIV. In total; 68.1of the youths said that the media had a positive influence on encouraging abstinence and 72.1said role models could help them not to have sex; while 84.3said that leadership and life skills workshops were helpful in encouraging them to abstain from sex. In total; 68.7of young people said that the media encouraged faithfulness in relationships and 84.6said that life skills workshops were helpful in encouraging them to remain faithful to one partner. Young people have strong views on and support for abstinence. They also have strong views on and perceptions of remaining faithful to one partner. These findings are a valuable guide to the views and perceptions of young people with respect to abstinence and faithfulness before interventions are implemented

Postpartum sexual abstinence and breastfeeding pattern in Sagamu, Nigeria

This was a prospective study involving 371 mothers. The mean age of the mothers was 27.5 (.3.6) years with a mean years at school (Educational years) of 11.3 (2.9) years. All the mothers had previously breastfed at one of their infants for at least 6 months, while the mothers also breastfed their last child for an average (mean) of 10.3 (4.0) months. The overall mean of previous live births was 1.9 (0.8). In the first month postpartum, 84.6% of the mothers abstained from sexual intercourse, but by the 4th-5th month the proportion had dropped to 18.1%, with just 2.1% of the study population abstaining from sexual intercourse at 11-15 months post-partum. Forty seven (13.5%), 30 (8.6% ) and 3 (0.9 % ) mothers in social classes 2,3 and 1 respectively have resumed sexual intercourse at 4-5 months, while only 12(3.4%) and 4(1.1%) in social classes 2 and 3 respectively continued with sexual intercourse at 11-15 months. More mothers resumed sexual intercourse from 1 to 15 months post-partum when they breast fed for 6-10 minutes and 11-15 minutes than those who breast fed for 1-5 minutes, 16-20 minutes and 21-25 minutes. Also more mothers within the 25-29 years age group resumed sexual intercourse from the first month to the fifteenth month post-partum than mothers in the other age groups. (Afr Reprod Health 2008; 12[1]:96-100)

Perceptions and Attitudes of Secondary School Students in Kwazulu-Natal towards Virginity Testing

This study describes the prevalence of virginity testing (VT) amongst rural secondary school students in KwaZulu- Natal (KZN); compares the attitudes of students of both sexes to VT; the differences in attitudes between girls who would/would not undergo such testing; and explores the relationship between risky sexual behaviour and girls who underwent virginity testing. A cross sectional descriptive study was undertaken with stratified random sampling of 10 secondary schools in Ugu District; KZN. Of 846 isiZulu-speaking students whose mean age was 16.1 years (SD 2.4); 492 (58.2) were girls; of whom 286 (58.1) had undergone VT and; in total 347 (70.5 ) girls supported VT.Girls whose mothers had less formal education were more likely to have participated in VT (P-0.03) with fewer older girls participating (P=0.0003). More girls than boys considered VT to protect against sexually transmitted infections (STIs) (P=0.02); and to be empowering (P0.005); but VT received support from both sexes as a traditional cultural practice. Participation in VT failed to prevent sexual intercourse and sexually transmitted diseases or to improve rates of condom use amongst those who were sexually active. South Africa's Bill of Rights supports gender equity. At community level VT has support despite its conflicting relationship with human rights; and questionable impact on preventing HIV/AIDS