11th Annual IBD Interest Group Meeting : Cape Town 2018

The idyllic Vineyard Hotel, with its beautiful backdrop of Table Mountain, played host to the 11th Gastroenterology Foundation of Sub-Saharan Africa Inflammatory Bowel Disease [IBD] Interest Group Meeting held on 27 October 2018. The meeting was well attended by local Capetonian gastroenterologists and others with an interest in IBD

9th Liver Interest Group Annual Meeting

On a beautiful Saturday morning, I made my way to the Radisson Blu Gautrain hotel in Sandton for the 9th annual liver interest meeting. After a quick cup of coffee to catch up with colleagues, we made our way into the modern and stylish conference centre to begin the talks of the day

Most at-risk populations: contextualising HIV prevention programmes targeting marginalised groups in Zanzibar, Tanzania

According to a 2009 UNAIDS report the HIV/AIDS prevalence rate in Zanzibar; Tanzania; is low in the general population (0.6); but high among vulnerable groups; specifically sex workers (10.8); injecting drug users (15.1; and men who have sex with men (12.3). In response to this concentrated epidemic; the Government of Zanzibar; international and local non-profit organisations have focused their prevention activities on these marginal populations. Although these efforts are beneficial in terms of disseminating information about HIV/AIDS and referring clients to health clinics; they fail to address how the socio-economic status of these groups places them at a greater risk for contracting and dying from the virus. Furthermore; there is an absence of qualitative research on these populations which is needed to understand the challenges these groups face and to improve the effectiveness of interventions. Through interviews with employees of government agencies and non-profit organisations; medical professionals; vulnerable populations and HIV/AIDS patients; this paper used a political economy of health and syndemic framework to examine how local realities inform and challenge HIV/AIDS programmes in Zanzibar

Sero-Epidemiology of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) in Plateau State; Nigeria

Introduction: Previous sentinel surveys of HIV in Nigeria studied pregnant women attending antenatal care; thereby omitting other important high-risk groups. We therefore investigated the prevalence of HIV/AIDS in low- and high-risk populations in the state of Plateau; Nigeria. Methodology: Blood samples were collected by venepuncture from 5;021 adults aged ?15 years between August and October 2008. At least one major town and one rural community were selected in each Local Government Area (LGA). Samples were initially screened with a rapid HIV testing kit; reactive samples were further tested using Stat Pak. Discordant samples were confirmed using Genie-II. Results: Of 5;021 subjects screened; 245 (4.88) were seropositive. Local Government prevalence ranged from 0.68 in Bassa to 16.07 in Jos North. On average; LGAs in the Southern Senatorial Zone had higher rates. Most (over 80) positive cases were younger than 40 years. Females had a significantly higher (6.85) prevalence than males (2.72). Age-specific prevalence was higher among females aged 25 to 29 years (2.09). Risk factors identified for acquisition of HIV infection were previous history of STDs (6; 16.28); men having sex with men (2; 11.76); having multiple sexual partners (97; 10.49); intravenous drug use (10; 7.58); sharing of sharp objects (20; 4.82); and history of blood transfusion (21; 3.65). Conclusion: The seemingly higher prevalence recorded in this survey could be attributed to the inclusion of high- and low-risk groups in the general population; unlike previous reports which studied only antenatal care attendees. This survey provides useful baseline information for further studies

Patterns of Knowledge and Condom Use among Population Groups: Results from the 2005 Ethiopian Behavioral Surveillance Surveys on HIV

Background:Behavioral surveys help interpret the magnitude of HIV/AIDS. We analyzed indicators of knowledge on HIV/AIDS and condom use among different groups of populations selected for behavioral surveillance in Ethiopia.Methods: We used HIV/AIDS Behavioural Surveillance Surveys (BSS) data collected from ten target groups in Ethiopia. These were female sex workers; military personnel; police force; pastoralists; long distance truck drivers; intercity bus drivers; road construction workers; teachers; factory workers and ANC catchment populations. Results: Data from 14;524 individuals were analyzed. The majority were male (63.6). Knowledge of the three preventive methods (abstinence; faithfulness and consistent condom use); misconceptions and comprehensive knowledge was 57; 75and 18.5; respectively. Female sex workers and the defence force showed positive results in using condom during last sexual encounter and did so consistently with non regular sexual partners and paying partners. Women; pastoralists and the illiterate were negatively impacted. Conclusion: Inadequate and incorrect knowledge on HIV/AIDS was observed with special deficiency among the underserved groups such as pastoralists. Women and the older age group were found to be at a disadvantage. The findings indicate the need to expand prevention activities to hard-to-reach groups and such a certain specific population segments. Population groups such as female sex workers and the defense force that were known to be severely affected by the epidemic and are focus of HIV/AIDS interventions showed positive behaviors. Although this is encouraging; considerable proportion of the study groups did not use condom during sex with non regular partners. This underscores the importance of intensifying interventions across all groups and extended to their localities